3 Nephi 6–7

Pride Leads to Division and Destruction

angry teenager slumped on couch

Have you ever noticed that even after amazing experiences with God, some people eventually turn away from Him? After God protected the Nephites from the Gadianton robbers, they returned to their homes and began to rebuild their lives. Through pride and division, Satan led the people to rebel against God. The consequences were so severe that the government collapsed, and the people were divided into tribes. This lesson can help you better understand the impact of pride and how to overcome it by following the Savior.

Helping learners understand the context and content. Understanding the context and content of the scriptures prepares students to recognize the inspired messages of the authors. The context and content clarify and illustrate the doctrine and principles recorded in the experiences. Wisely determine how much to emphasize context and content to help students more fully understand the truths the scriptures teach.

Student preparation: Invite students to pray and ask Heavenly Father to help them recognize spiritual promptings as they study their scriptures.

Possible Learning Activities

One way to begin class is to bring in some corn kernels, some popped popcorn (unbuttered, because the butter provides a barrier against water), and a bowl of water. Invite students to predict what will happen when you put the kernel and popped popcorn into the water. Drop the kernel and popcorn in the water (the kernel will remain unchanged while the popcorn will begin to dissolve). Tell students that the water represents evil, and the kernel or popcorn may represent each of us. As they study, they can look for lessons that relate to the object lesson and to themselves. Consider giving each student a kernel to look at while they study.

Invite students to explain their answers to the following questions:

• Is it possible for someone to be:

• Rich and humble?

• Poor and prideful?

• Educated and humble?

• Uneducated and prideful?

Think about what leads some people to be prideful in our day. How does being prideful impact you, others, and society? As you study, ponder how this lesson might apply to your life and circumstances.

Satan’s continual temptations

After defeating Giddianhi and the Gadianton robbers with the help of the Lord, the Nephites “put an end to all those wicked, and secret, and abominable combinations” (3 Nephi 5:6). They returned to their homes and began to rebuild their lives. But Satan continually worked to deceive the people into following him. In a short time, the Nephites changed. In 3 Nephi 6–7, Mormon helped us understand what the people did that eventually caused many of them to die in the destructions that preceded the Savior’s coming to the Americas (see 3 Nephi 8). These teachings also explain why others were prepared for Christ’s appearance at the temple in the land Bountiful (see 3 Nephi 11).

The following chart can help students see the change in the Nephites in such a short time. An alternate way to complete the chart would be for students to draw a simple picture that illustrates the condition of the people in each set of verses.

Create a chart like the following. Read the passages and fill out what you learn about the condition of the people.

The 26th year (3 Nephi 6:4–9)	The 29th year (3 Nephi 6:10–18)
The 26th year (3 Nephi 6:4–9)	The 29th year (3 Nephi 6:10–18)

• What caused the change in such a short time?

• What truths can we learn from these examples?

One truth you may have identified is when we are prideful, we give Satan greater power to tempt us and lead us to iniquity.

Think about what it means to be prideful. Search for insights in the following statement from President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994).

President Ezra Taft Benson

The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means “hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.” It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us. (Ezra Taft Benson, “Beware of Pride,” Ensign, May 1989, 4)

• Why do you think being prideful enables Satan to have greater influence on us?

• How is this different from how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ encourage us?

Effects of pride then and now

Because of the pride of the people, every part of society began to be impacted. Read either 3 Nephi 6:20–30 or 7:1–14, looking for examples of how pride impacted individuals and society.

Consider having half of the class read 3 Nephi 6:20–30 and the other half read 3 Nephi 7:1–14 in small groups. Or invite students to choose one of the passages, read it, and prepare to report on what they found.

Invite students to list the answers on the board to the next question. Students might find things such as divisions, secret works that are wicked, plotting against the righteous, and angering against that which is good.

• What examples of the impact of pride did you find in these verses?

• In what ways does Satan use pride to lead people to iniquity in our day?

Overcoming pride

Think about how your pride or the pride of others is impacting you and how you can overcome pride and its effects.

Though pride caused so much destruction, some heeded the words of the prophet and continued to follow the Savior.

Read 3 Nephi 7:15–26, looking for what Nephi taught the people and how it impacted them. It might be helpful to mark each time the Savior is mentioned.

Students could write the answers to the following question on the board. As they write their answers, they can cross off the board the effects of pride that can be overcome by the answers they list.

Students could also find doctrinal mastery scripture passages that illustrate additional ways to overcome pride.

• What examples did you find in these verses of how the Savior and His gospel helped some people overcome pride and iniquity?

The following scenario and questions that follow are intended to provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate that they know various ways that pride can impact them, but also how following Jesus Christ can help them overcome pride. You may choose to adapt the scenario in ways that could make it more meaningful for students.

young man looking neutral

This is Jim. He doesn’t know it yet, but he has a problem with pride.

• What evidence might you expect to see in Jim’s life that he has a problem with pride?

Students might come up with things related to 3 Nephi 6–7. For example, he categorizes people into groups in his mind—good groups and bad groups. He also does some things that he knows are wrong and keeps them secret. He reacts in frustration to people that encourage him to change. He frequently criticizes his parents and his bishop for the things they ask him to do.

After realizing his problem and recognizing that so many of the biggest frustrations in his life are the result of his pride, he wants answers on how to get rid of pride.

• What solutions would you propose to help Jim overcome pride?

Consider inviting students to reach out to someone they know to ask about their suggestions on how to overcome pride. Share your testimony of the Savior’s power to help us overcome pride and wickedness.

Commentary and Background Information

How do we see pride and division in our day?

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:

Elder Quentin L. Cook

In our day, the scriptural imperative for unity is largely ignored, and for many people the emphasis is on tribalism, often based on status, gender, race, and wealth. In many countries, if not most, people are deeply divided about how to live. In the Lord’s Church, the only culture we adhere to and teach is the culture of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The unity we seek is to be unified with the Savior and His teachings. …

… The Book of Mormon makes it clear that there must be no -ites, tribes, or classes. We must be united and equal before God. (Quentin L. Cook, “Prepare to Meet God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 116)

What are some indicators of pride?

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated:

Elder Gary E. Stevenson

When prideful, we tend to take honor to ourselves rather than giving it to others, including the Lord. Pride is often competitive; it is a tendency to seek to obtain more and presume we are better than others. Pride often results in feelings of anger and hatred; it causes one to hold grudges or to withhold forgiveness. (Elder Gary E. Stevenson, “Spiritual Eclipse,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 47)

How are the events in the Book of Mormon relevant to our day?

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) compared the events in the Book of Mormon to our day by stating:

President Ezra Taft Benson

In the Book of Mormon we find a pattern for preparing for the Second Coming. A major portion of the book centers on the few decades just prior to Christ’s coming to America. By careful study of that time period, we can determine why some were destroyed in the terrible judgments that preceded His coming and what brought others to stand at the temple in the land of Bountiful and thrust their hands into the wounds of His hands and feet. (Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign, Nov. 1986, 6–7)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Remembering Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ helps overcome pride

When the Nephites became wicked, men were inspired from heaven to testify of the Savior’s Redemption and Resurrection (see 3 Nephi 6:20). Consider inviting students to think about what the Savior has done for them and how that increases their gratitude and humility. They could identify ways they can more frequently remember the Savior’s Redemption and Resurrection during their day.

Treating others the way the Savior would treat them

At the end of the lesson, students could be invited to make a plan to avoid pride. To help them accomplish this, they could be invited to make a list of the people they interact with daily and reflect on how they treat them. Students could rate how they treat each person using a scale from one (poorly) to five (as the Savior would treat them). They could then make a personalized plan based on whom they feel they could treat better.

Christ’s example of humility

Jesus Christ, the great example for us all, continually chose humility over pride. Invite students to list a few examples from His life where He could have been prideful but demonstrated His perfect humility instead. Examples include His encounter with Satan in Matthew 4:1–11 and the miracle at the Pool of Bethesda in John 5:1–9, 19. It may be helpful to review some of the Bible videos to find examples.