Lehi’s family traveling in the desert

Lehi Traveling Near the Red Sea, by Gary Smith

January 6–12

1 Nephi 1–7

“I Will Go and Do”

Your preparation as a Sunday School teacher begins with your personal study of the scriptures. Pay attention to and record the spiritual promptings you receive. Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families can supplement your study.

Record Your Impressions

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Invite Sharing

Many of your class members are probably familiar with 1 Nephi 1–7, but each time we read the scriptures, we can learn truths that apply to our current circumstances. To begin your discussion, perhaps you could ask class members what they learned or were reminded of as they studied this week.

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Teach the Doctrine

1 Nephi 1; 3–6

The scriptures are of great worth.

• One prominent message in the Book of Mormon is the great value of the word of God. This could be a good message to share as your class begins studying the Book of Mormon. You could begin by asking each class member to select a chapter from 1 Nephi 1; 3–6 and scan it, looking for ways the word of God directly or indirectly blessed Lehi’s family members. (Class members may benefit from doing this activity in small groups.) Then invite individuals to share what they find. What do these accounts teach us about the importance of the scriptures?

• One of your goals as a teacher is to encourage individuals and families to study the gospel outside of class. Perhaps you could invite class members to examine how Lehi studied the plates of brass (see 1 Nephi 5:10–19), and then you could ask questions like the following: What was Lehi’s attitude toward the scriptures? What did he find of value in them? Class members could also explore Elder Richard G. Scott’s message “The Power of Scripture” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 6–8) or read an excerpt from this message in “Additional Resources.” How can we apply Elder Scott’s teachings as we study the Book of Mormon this year?

• As a class, you could sing a hymn about the scriptures, such as “As I Search the Holy Scriptures” (Hymns, no. 277). You could then invite class members to share how their personal scripture study has blessed their lives. They could also share how the scriptures have inspired them to “come unto … God … and be saved” (1 Nephi 6:4).

1 Nephi 2:11–19; 3:28–31

We can gain our own testimonies as we soften our hearts.

• Nephi is known for his powerful faith in the Lord, but it may be helpful for class members to realize that he had to work to gain his testimony—just as we all do. Perhaps class members could identify in 1 Nephi 2:16–19 what made it possible for Nephi to gain his witness. They could also review verses 11–14 to observe why Laman and Lemuel didn’t gain a witness. This might be a good time to invite class members to share how they gained their testimonies.

• Sometimes we might want to have a miraculous experience in order to gain or strengthen our testimonies. But Laman and Lemuel encountered an angel, and yet their faith seemed minimally affected. What can class members learn from this experience, described in 1 Nephi 3:28–31, about what strengthens our own testimonies? (see also 1 Nephi 2:16). Consider sharing the quotation by President Harold B. Lee in “Additional Resources.” What can we do to keep our testimonies strong?

1 Nephi 3–4

God will prepare a way for us to do His will.

• The experience of Lehi’s sons in 1 Nephi 3–4 may seem exceptional, but many of us have had experiences where we followed God’s will even though it seemed difficult. As class members read 1 Nephi 3–4 this week, what truths did they find that reminded them of a personal experience? Maybe you could ask class members to share verses that taught these truths, and invite them to share their experiences. How do these truths help us when we are expected by God to do something that seems difficult?

  Lehi and Sariah greeting Nephi and his brothers

  Their Joy Was Full, by Walter Rane

• You could divide the class into three groups and assign each group to study one of the attempts to get the brass plates from Laban (see 1 Nephi 3:9–21; 1 Nephi 3:22–31; 4:1–4; and 1 Nephi 4:5–38). Then you could invite each group to share what each of these attempts teaches us about accomplishing the Lord’s will. How do these examples apply to our own efforts to do God’s will?

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Encourage Learning at Home

To inspire class members to read 1 Nephi 8–10, you might share this statement from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf: “With so many forces trying to draw us away, how do we keep our vision fixed on the glorious happiness promised to the faithful? I believe the answer can be found in a dream that a prophet had thousands of years ago. The prophet’s name is Lehi, and his dream is recorded in the precious and wonderful Book of Mormon” (“Three Sisters,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 18–19).

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Additional Resources

Book of Mormon videos.

Find videos that depict accounts from 1 Nephi 1–7 in the Book of Mormon Videos collection on ChurchofJesusChrist.org or the Gospel Library app.

The scriptures have potent power.

Elder Richard G. Scott testified of the value of the scriptures:

“Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

“The scriptures … can become stalwart friends that are not limited by geography or calendar. They are always available when needed. Their use provides a foundation of truth that can be awakened by the Holy Ghost. Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world. …

“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” (“The Power of Scripture,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 6).

Our testimonies must be renewed daily.

President Harold B. Lee taught, “That which you possess today in testimony will not be yours tomorrow unless you do something about it” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee [2000], 43).

Improving Our Teaching

Use stories and examples to teach gospel principles. Many of the eternal truths in the scriptures are taught through the experiences or stories they contain. As you prepare to teach, think of experiences you have had that could add a second witness to the accounts in the scriptures and the principles they illustrate. (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 22.)