“March 2–8. 2 Nephi 31–33: ‘This Is the Way,’” Come, Follow Me—For Sunday School: Book of Mormon 2020 (2020)
“March 2–8. 2 Nephi 31–33,” Come, Follow Me—For Sunday School: 2020
Christ Teaching His Disciples, by Justin Kunz
March 2–8
2 Nephi 31–33
“This Is the Way”
As you study 2 Nephi 31–33, keep the members of your class in mind and consider what experiences they may have had with the truths Nephi taught. How can you invite them to teach each other what they have learned and felt about these doctrines?
Record Your Impressions
Invite Sharing
Did anyone in your class have a meaningful experience this week with one of the study suggestions in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families? Give class members the opportunity to share their experiences.
Teach the Doctrine
Jesus Christ and His doctrine are the only way to eternal life.
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Perhaps it would benefit your class to see how faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end relate to each other and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. To do this, you could draw a path on the board and invite class members to write along the path some of the principles found in 2 Nephi 31. Each class member could select one of these principles and search 2 Nephi 31–32 to find something that Nephi taught about it. Then they could share with each other what they found and discuss how it helps them understand the principles better. How does living these principles bring the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ into our lives?
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How might you begin a discussion on Nephi’s plain and simple description of “the way” to salvation? (2 Nephi 31:21). Perhaps you could ask class members what they would say if they only had 60 seconds to explain what a person must do to receive salvation. Then class members could scan 2 Nephi 31–32, looking for statements that could help. What do we learn from these chapters about the Savior’s central role in our salvation? The statements in “Additional Resources” could be helpful to this conversation.
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Sometimes we see gospel principles as distinct and separate, but in reality they are interrelated. To help class members see how the principles in 2 Nephi 31 are connected, invite class members, individually or in small groups, to read verses 4–21 and create a diagram that shows how faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end build on each other, relate to each other, and so on. Encourage them to be creative. As they share their diagrams with the class, ask them to share what they learned about these principles. How can we make them part of our daily lives?
“He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.”
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Do class members understand what it means to endure to the end? Here’s an activity that can help. Write on the board How do I know if I am enduring to the end? Then invite class members to search 2 Nephi 31:15–20 to find possible answers to this question. Ask class members to write on the board any helpful words or phrases they find. Why is enduring to the end an essential part of the doctrine of Christ? You could also share Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s statement in “Additional Resources” or the statement about enduring to the end on page 6 of Preach My Gospel.
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Do class members know anyone who is an example of enduring to the end? What has helped this person “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ”? (verse 20). Consider sharing stories of other people mentioned in the scriptures who endured to the end.
The Holy Ghost will show us what we should do.
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In 2 Nephi 32, Nephi addressed a concern he perceived his people had about applying the doctrine of Christ. You could invite class members to look for this concern in 2 Nephi 32:1 and then read Nephi’s answer in 2 Nephi 32:2–6. How would class members restate in their own words what Nephi taught? What experiences have class members had when the Holy Ghost or the words of Christ have shown them what they needed to do?
The Book of Mormon persuades us to believe in Christ.
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Nephi hoped that his words would persuade us “to do good [and] to believe in [Christ]” (2 Nephi 33:4). What passages or stories from 1 and 2 Nephi have persuaded us to do good and believe in Christ? Consider finding some hymns your class could sing or listen to that reinforce these messages, such as “I Believe in Christ” or “Have I Done Any Good?” (Hymns, nos. 134, 223).
Encourage Learning at Home
One way to inspire class members to study Jacob 1–4 next week is to explain that in these chapters they will find Jacob’s warnings about two sins that are particularly prevalent in our day.
Additional Resources
The doctrine of Christ.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught: “The ‘doctrine of Christ’ as taught by Nephi in his grand, summational discourse focuses on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. It does not, in this declaration, attempt to cover the entire plan of salvation, all the virtues of a Christian life, or the rewards that await us in differing degrees of heavenly glory. It does not, in this declaration, deal with the offices of the priesthood, the ordinances of the temple, or many other true doctrines. All these are important, but as used in the Book of Mormon, ‘the doctrine of Christ’ is simple and direct. It focuses on the first principles of the gospel exclusively, including an expression of encouragement to endure, to persist, to press on. Indeed, it is in the clarity and simplicity of ‘the doctrine of Christ’ that its impact is found” (Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 49–50).
Elder D. Todd Christofferson said: “I appeal to all … to seek through prayer and study of the scriptures [a] witness of the divine character, the Atonement, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Accept His doctrine by repenting, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and then throughout your life following the laws and covenants of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (“The Doctrine of Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 89).
Enduring to the end.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained:
“When I was a young boy, ‘endure to the end’ meant to me mainly that I had to try harder to stay awake until the end of our Church meetings. Later as a teenager … I linked it with youthful empathy to the efforts of our dear elderly members to hang in there until the end of their lives. …
“… Enduring to the end is not just a matter of passively tolerating life’s difficult circumstances or ‘hanging in there.’ Ours is an active religion, helping God’s children along the strait and narrow path to develop their full potential during this life and return to Him one day. Viewed from this perspective, enduring to the end is exalting and glorious, not grim and gloomy. This is a joyful religion, one of hope, strength, and deliverance. …
“Enduring to the end implies ‘patient continuance in well doing’ (Romans 2:7), striving to keep the commandments (see 2 Nephi 31:10), and doing the works of righteousness (see Doctrine and Covenants 59:23)” (“Have We Not Reason to Rejoice?” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 20).
Improving Our Teaching
We learn together. As a teacher, you do more than just dispense information—you are learning with the rest of your class. Share with them what you are doing to learn from the scriptures.