“Mosiah 21–24, Part 2: Turning to the Lord for Deliverance from Trials,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)
“Mosiah 21–24, Part 2,” Book of Mormon Teacher Manual
Mosiah 21–24, Part 2
Turning to the Lord for Deliverance from Trials
How do you respond when you experience trials and difficulties? Why do you think some people draw closer to the Lord while others retreat from Him? In Mosiah 21–24, we learn that the people of Limhi and the people of Alma turned to the Lord for strength and deliverance from captivity. This lesson is intended to help you rely on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to help you through your trials.
Assist learners in recognizing the Lord’s influence in their lives. As students learn how the Savior blessed people in the scriptures, help them recognize the role He plays in their lives as well. Invite students to reflect on how the Savior helps them by offering healing and giving them strength.
Student preparation: Students could talk with a family member about a trial or affliction the family member experienced and ways the Lord strengthened him or her to endure it.
Possible Learning Activities
This is the second of two lessons that address Mosiah 21–24. If you have not already done so, teach Part 1 before this lesson. If class time is limited and only one lesson on Mosiah 21–24 can be taught, consider how the two lessons might be effectively combined.
Responding to trials
The following activity is intended to help students do some self-assessment about a trial they are experiencing or have experienced. You may want to include some writing prompts or questions on the board to guide students as they record their thoughts. Students do not need to share their responses at this point in the lesson.
In the previous lesson, you were invited to think about a trial you are experiencing or have experienced. You may have learned some truths in your study of Mosiah 21–24 that helped you understand why the Lord allows you to experience trials. Today, think about your trials again, but this time consider how you have responded to them. You may want to record obstacles or successes you experienced and ways you have felt the Lord’s influence or blessings.
The Lord’s power of deliverance
Consider inviting one or more students to summarize what they remember from the previous lesson about the captivity of the people of Limhi and the people of Alma. If necessary, the following summary could be used.
You might remember studying the people of Limhi (in the land of Nephi) and the people of Alma (in the land of Helam). They both experienced difficult trials while in captivity to the Lamanites. This image illustrates their journeys in Mosiah 21–24.
Today you will learn how the Lord delivered both groups of people out of bondage and into the land of Zarahemla. As you study, keep your trials in mind and look for truths that help you recognize ways the Lord exercises His power of deliverance in your life.
The following activity is intended to help students learn about the deliverance of the people of Limhi and the people of Alma. It may be helpful to divide the class into small groups and assign these groups to study either the people of Limhi or the people of Alma. Students could then summarize their accounts and share meaningful verses or phrases and the principles that stood out to them.
Create the following chart in your study journal. Be sure to leave plenty of room to record multiple answers in each box.
Mosiah 21–24: Strength and Deliverance
Book of Mormon Teacher Manual (2024)—“Mosiah 21–24, Part 2: Turning to the Lord for Deliverance from Trials”
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People of Limhi |
People of Alma | |
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What actions did the people take to receive the Lord’s help? | ||
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How was the Lord involved in their deliverance? | ||
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What are some favorite phrases to remember from these verses? |
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After students have had sufficient time to study, invite them to share their responses to the questions listed in the chart. Be sure to allow multiple students to share their insights.
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What were some of the actions that the people took to receive the Lord’s help?
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What did you learn about the Lord and His power as you studied these accounts?
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What was a favorite phrase you identified from one of the verses you studied?
Recognizing and rejoicing in the Lord’s power
Among many truths we can learn from these verses, you may have noticed from your studies that as we turn to Him, Heavenly Father will sustain us during our trials and deliver us in His time (see Mosiah 21:14–16). We also learn that when we endure our trials cheerfully and patiently, the Lord can strengthen us to bear our burdens with ease (see Mosiah 24:15).
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How can knowing these things about the Lord influence how you respond to your trials?
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How has the Lord supported and strengthened you or someone you know to endure a trial or carry a burden? How did this experience impact your feelings for Him?
Consider sharing a personal example as part of the discussion of the previous question. Depending on class time, you may also want to show the following video.
Watch the video “Feeling the Lord’s Love and Goodness in Trials” (4:18) on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Look for how the truths or phrases you identified in the scriptures could relate to the experience of the Gutierrez family.
Your next steps
After sharing the following instructions, consider displaying on the board the questions for students to answer so they can refer to the questions as they write.
Reflect on what you have learned today that could help you with the trials you face.
Add a new column to the chart you created earlier in the lesson and label the top row of this column “Me.” Then complete your new column by answering the following questions. (If you do not have room to create a new column, answer the questions in a separate space in your study journal.)
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What actions can you take to receive more of the Lord’s help in your trials?
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What have you learned about the Lord today that can help you understand the kind of help or strength He can provide you?
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What words or phrases from the verses you studied do you think could relate to your circumstances? Why?
Consider inviting a few volunteers to share some of their responses to the previous questions. Testify of the truths you have discussed today and of the Lord’s power to deliver us from our afflictions.