When God has monumental work for His prophet to do, He often gives that prophet a monumental vision. Moses, John, Lehi, and Joseph Smith all had visions like that—visions that expanded their minds and helped them see just how grand and awe-inspiring God’s work really is.
Nephi also had one of these life-changing visions. He saw the ministry of the Savior, the future of Lehi’s posterity in the promised land, and the latter-day destiny of God’s work. After this vision, Nephi was better prepared for the work that lay ahead. And reading about this vision can help prepare you too—for God also has work for you to do in His kingdom. You are among “the saints of the church of the Lamb” seen by Nephi, “who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory” (1 Nephi 14:14).
See also “Nephi Sees a Vision of Future Events” (video), Gospel Library.
God sent Jesus Christ as an expression of His love.
When Nephi asked the angel about the meaning of the tree in Lehi’s vision, the angel could have simply said, “It represents the love of God.” Instead, he showed Nephi a series of symbols and events from the Savior’s life. Look for these symbols and events as you read and ponder 1 Nephi 11. What do you find that helps you understand why Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of God’s love?
You might also consider watching Bible Videos in the Gospel Library that correspond with the events Nephi saw. How has the Savior helped you feel your Heavenly Father’s love?
Nephi would not live to witness much of what he saw in his vision. Why do you think it was valuable for Nephi to know these things? Why is it valuable for you to know them? Ask these questions each time you read about something that Nephi saw in his vision (see 1 Nephi 12–14). What impressions do you receive about your role in the Lord’s “great and … marvelous work”? (1 Nephi 14:7). What are some of the great and marvelous things He has done for you?
Consider especially the promise in 1 Nephi 14:14. How has the Savior fulfilled this promise in your life? (For some examples, see David A. Bednar, “With the Power of God in Great Glory,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 28–30, especially the last two sections.)
What is the “great and abominable church” that Nephi saw?
President Dallin H. Oaks explained that the “great and abominable church” Nephi described represents “any philosophy or organization that opposes belief in God. And the ‘captivity’ into which this ‘church’ seeks to bring the saints will not be so much physical confinement as the captivity of false ideas” (“Stand as Witnesses of God,” Ensign, Mar. 2015, 32). How does the Savior help you avoid—and escape from—the captivity of false ideas?
Have you ever felt like you weren’t receiving personal revelation—that God wasn’t talking to you? What counsel did Nephi give his brothers when they felt this way? (See 1 Nephi 15:1–11.) How can you apply Nephi’s counsel in your life?
Holding fast to the word of God helps me resist Satan’s influence.
Nephi often had urgent things to say to his brothers. But he seemed especially passionate about what he told them in 1 Nephi 15:23–25. What was Nephi’s message, and why do you think he felt so strongly about it?
Elder David A. Bednar taught that “the word of God” can refer to the scriptures, to the words of living prophets, and to Jesus Christ Himself. What do you think it means to “hold fast” to the scriptures and words of living prophets? What might it mean to “hold fast” to Jesus Christ? You might look for possible answers to these questions in Elder Bednar’s message “But We Heeded Them Not” (Liahona, May 2022, 14–16).
How does holding fast to the word of God help you resist the adversary? Filling out a table like this one could help organize your thoughts:
… help me overcome the darkness of temptation? (see 1 Nephi 12:17)
… help me “heed not” the vanity and pride of the world? (1 Nephi 12:18)
How does holding fast to the scriptures and words of living prophets …
Heavenly Father sent Jesus Christ because He loves me.
To teach Nephi about God’s love, an angel showed Nephi events from the Savior’s life. You could do the same for your children—give them pictures of the events Nephi saw in 1 Nephi 11:20, 24, 27, 31, and 33 (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 30, 35, 39, 42, 57). As you read these verses, help your children find the picture that matches it. What do we learn about Jesus Christ from these verses and pictures?
Singing a song like “He Sent His Son” (Children’s Songbook, 34–35) could help your children feel God’s love. After you sing, ask your children what they learn from the song. What else do we learn about God’s love from 1 Nephi 11:22–23?
Use art to help children learn. When you teach your children a scripture story, help them visualize it. You could use pictures, videos, puppets, costumes, and so on.
To help your children value the “plain and precious” truths in the Book of Mormon, you could draw a picture and invite your children to change or remove parts of the picture to make it look different. You could use this to teach that things in the Bible were changed and taken out over time. Read together 1 Nephi 13:40 and talk about how the Book of Mormon (“these last records”) helps us understand the “plain and precious things” that were lost from the Bible (the “first” records). What “plain and precious” truths have you learned from the Book of Mormon?
The video “The Book of Mormon—a Book from God” (Gospel Library) could help your children see why it’s important to have both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Children might enjoy re-creating the illustration from the video.
Holding fast to the word of God helps me resist temptation.
Give your children a chance to share what they remember about Lehi’s vision. It might help to use a picture, like the one in last week’s outline. What kept people from reaching the tree? What helped them reach it? You might ask them to find the iron rod in the picture. Read together 1 Nephi 15:23–24 to find out what the iron rod represents and how it can help us.
For more ideas, see this month’s issue of the Friend magazine.
