3 Nephi 23

Searching the Scriptures Diligently

Christ and people in the Americas looking at gold plates

How are you doing with your personal scripture study? What difference does this make in your life? In 3 Nephi 23, Jesus emphasized the importance of preserving and studying the scriptures and the words of prophets. This lesson is intended to help you study the Lord’s words more diligently.

Helping students develop study skills. To help students be more successful in their scripture study, assist them in developing a variety of scripture-study skills. These skills should aim to help students invite the Spirit into their study, better understand the scriptures, and discover and apply gospel doctrine and principles.

Student preparation: Invite students to spend time studying the scriptures before this lesson, paying particular attention to what they do that makes their study more meaningful. Encourage them to evaluate the value and quality of their study and the impact it is having, or not having, in their lives.

Possible Learning Activities

Your personal scripture study

Before class, consider hiding various objects throughout the room. Write the word “search” on the board. Tell students what they are searching for, and invite them to find as many items as possible.

• What does it mean to search?

• What is interesting or exciting about searching?

• What can be difficult or discouraging about it?

The Savior’s invitation

Read 3 Nephi 23:1–5, looking for what the Savior commanded us to search and why.

Invite students to share what they found.

In the previous chapters, the Savior quoted much of Isaiah to help and bless the Nephites. (See 3 Nephi 16:18–20; 20:32, 34–45; 21:8; 22:1–17.)

• What reasons did the Lord give for us to search the words of Isaiah? (see 3 Nephi 23:1–3).

  You may want to spend some time in class discussing the value of Isaiah’s teachings. For example, you could ask students to share how they feel about Isaiah’s words. They could read and reflect on verses from Isaiah and ponder why they are valuable to study. Examples could include Isaiah 7:14; 9:6–7; 41:10; 49:13–16; 53:1–5; 55:1–3; 61:1–3.

• According to 3 Nephi 23:5, why should we hearken to the Lord’s words and the words of the prophets?

Listen carefully to students’ answers and consider writing them on the board.

One of the important principles we learn in this lesson is that the Savior commands us to heed His words and search diligently the words of the prophets.

• What do you think it means to search the scriptures diligently?

Take a moment to reflect on your scripture study. This can include personal and family study as well as study in church and seminary. Do you feel you search the scriptures diligently? Why or why not?

• What are some reasons it might be difficult to search the scriptures diligently?

  As students share, consider writing their answers on one side of the board. If applicable, you could refer to the searching activity at the beginning of the lesson. To think of potential difficulties, students could compare searching the scriptures to searching for the objects in the activity.

  One answer might be that it can be difficult to take time to search the scriptures when we do not feel we are finding anything significant. Or it may be difficult to understand or boring. One of the best ways to overcome many of these difficulties is to know how to find insights or truths that can help us in our lives.

• Despite these difficulties, what are some things you have done, or could do, to have a meaningful scripture study experience?

As students answer, make a list on the other side of the board. If useful, add any of the following examples.

Here are some examples:

• Pray before you study.

• Mark important words and phrases, especially those that help you know the Savior better.

• Look up words or phrases that are difficult to understand.

• Pause and summarize what you have read.

• Use cross-references to understand a topic or doctrine better.

Christ talking to Nephi about the records

To practice two of these skills, read 3 Nephi 23:6–14 and do the following:

• Summarize in your own words what you read.

• Mark any words or phrases that help you better understand the Savior.

  Invite students to share what they found. To do this, they could work in pairs, with one student summarizing the verses and the other pointing out words or phrases that help them understand the Savior.

  If students struggle summarizing what they read, you could explain that the Savior asked to see the Nephite records. He pointed out that Samuel’s prophecy about resurrected saints appearing to many (see Helaman 14:25) had been fulfilled, but the fulfillment was not in the records. The Savior commanded the Nephites to record this account.

• What words make it clear that the Savior cares about what is recorded in scripture?

• How might knowing this about the Savior affect how you study the scriptures?

Practicing effective scripture study

Take a few minutes to practice searching the scriptures diligently. You might choose to study a chapter or to search verses about a topic you want to know more about. Use at least one scripture skill you thought of or discovered in the list above.

Allow sufficient time for students to read and reflect. Invite students to share something they studied that is meaningful to them and what skills they used. The following questions are intended to help with a discussion.

• What study approach did you use? Why might this help you study more diligently?

• What did you learn about the Savior that you had not understood before?

• Which of these skills could you implement into your future scripture study? How will you do it?

During the coming week, reflect on what you have learned today. Choose one way you can strive to search the scriptures more diligently. Consider how this can help you in your life.

Commentary and Background Information

What are some blessings that can come from studying the scriptures?

Elder Richard G. Scott (1928–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Elder Richard G. Scott

Pondering a passage of scripture can be a key to unlock revelation and the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Scriptures can calm an agitated soul, giving peace, hope, and a restoration of confidence in one’s ability to overcome the challenges of life. They have potent power to heal emotional challenges when there is faith in the Savior. They can accelerate physical healing. (Richard G. Scott, “The Power of Scripture,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 6)

How can reading the Book of Mormon help my family?

President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency taught:

President Henry B. Eyring

Through the Book of Mormon the Lord can also teach us about being with and serving people. This book reveals the will of the Lord for family life in a way that the other scriptures don’t even approach. I believe that is largely because of its interesting structure. It’s about families; it’s about people’s relationships. It starts with families, it ends with families, and we come to love these families. (Henry B. Eyring, “A Discussion on Scripture Study,” Ensign or Liahona, July 2005, 22)

How can I improve my own scripture study?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Elder David A. Bednar

One of the best ways to draw near unto Him and to both learn about and become more like the Lord Jesus Christ is to consistently study the holy scriptures—to daily “feast upon the words of Christ” (2 Ne. 32:3).

Please notice that I used the word study and not the word read. Studying and feasting suggest a focus and an intensity that reach far beyond casual reading or quick perusing. Studying and feasting, followed by sincere prayer and steadfast application of the truths and principles we learn, yield personal resolve, spiritual commitment, and the bright light of testimony. Studying, learning, praying, and appropriately applying gospel truths are all key elements in the process of coming unto the Savior. (David A. Bednar, “Because We Have Them before Our Eyes,” New Era, Apr. 2006, 4)

Supplemental Learning Activities

3 Nephi 23:1. “Great are the words of Isaiah”

This activity can encourage students to study the words of Isaiah. Students could read 3 Nephi 20:11; 23:1, in which the Savior commands us to search Isaiah’s words. Students could also read 1 Nephi 19:23; 2 Nephi 6:5; 25:7–8, looking for additional reasons to study Isaiah.

Then invite students to search in the teachings of Isaiah for insights that are significant to them. Some examples are Isaiah 1:18; 9:6; 26:3–4; 40:31; 41:10; 48:17; 53:3–5; 55:1, 8–9.

Highlighting seminary

As students discuss how to search the scriptures diligently, acknowledge their attendance in seminary and study of the scriptures in class. One of the purposes of seminary is to help youth come closer to the Savior through the scriptures. Consider asking, “How has seminary helped you search the scriptures more diligently?”

Recording spiritual experiences

If it would be useful to focus on recording spiritual experiences, bring in a journal, or show pictures or videos of memories from your life. You could also ask students to bring their own journals, pictures, or videos to class to share. Ask why recording experiences is important.

Invite students to read 3 Nephi 23:6–13, looking for the experience the Nephites had failed to record. Help students identify the truth that recording spiritual experiences can help strengthen our faith and the faith of others.

Consider sharing President Henry B. Eyring’s experience recording spiritual experiences that he shared in his address “O Remember, Remember” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 66–69). Or share an example from Elder Neil L. Anderson’s “Spiritually Defining Memories” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 18–22) and read the last two paragraphs of the address.

Give students time to record their own spiritual experiences. Help them realize that spiritual experiences may not be overly dramatic or sensational, but rather quite simple and, at the same time, very important. Invite students to share why recording personal spiritual experiences can strengthen our faith and the faith of others.