Prepare your mind and heart to learn. Music, especially the hymns of the Church, can invite the influence of the Holy Ghost. To help you feel reverent, consider listening to a hymn before you begin your study.
Begin your study with prayer.
Every sin has consequences. Sometimes, however, we justify sin by telling ourselves that “little” sins won’t harm anyone.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, while serving in the First Presidency, addressed this attitude by sharing an account of what happened to those on board a large passenger jet. What can we learn from this account about sins that we think are minor?
You can read the text for this video here: “A Matter of a Few Degrees,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 57–59.
In 2 Samuel 11 we read that David committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged for her husband, Uriah, to be killed so that David could marry Bathsheba and avoid suspicion. As recorded in 2 Samuel 12:1–9, the prophet Nathan revealed to David that the Lord knew what David had done. Nathan then prophesied of the consequences David and his family would suffer as a result of David’s actions.
Read 2 Samuel 12:10–14, looking for the consequences of King David’s sinful choices. Because Nathan was a prophet, he foretold consequences that would come to David’s family, but the Lord wasn’t punishing David’s baby, nor was the Lord trying to hurt David by hurting David’s child. Remember that we bring the consequences of sin upon ourselves and sometimes others.
The phrase “the sword shall never depart from thine house” in 2 Samuel 12:10 refers to a terrible consequence of David’s actions. The sword is symbolic of violence and war. For the rest of David’s life and reign as king, conflict and war would plague his family and kingdom.
What principle can we identify from these verses about the consequences of sin?
Consequences of Sin
From 2 Samuel 12:10–14 we can identify the principle that when we choose to sin, we may bring unforeseen and long-term consequences upon ourselves and others.
Read the following statement by Elder Richard G. Scott (1928–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, looking for what is important to understand about the consequences of sin and about complete repentance.
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Richard G. Scott
“It is a fundamental truth that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be cleansed. We can become virtuous and pure. However, sometimes our poor choices leave us with long-term consequences. One of the vital steps to complete repentance is to bear the short- and long-term consequences of our past sins” (Richard G. Scott, “Personal Strength through the Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 82–83).
In 2 Samuel 13–18 we read about further tragic events involving two of King David’s sons, Amnon and Absalom. These chapters also show the fulfillment of the prophesied consequences of David’s sins. In 2 Samuel 13, David’s son Amnon acted on his lustful feelings for his half-sister Tamar and sexually assaulted her. After satisfying his lustful desires, Amnon despised Tamar and sent her away. Both David and his son Absalom (who was Tamar’s brother) were angry because of Amnon’s wicked actions. Absalom waited two years, then deceived King David into letting all of the king’s sons, including Amnon, travel to a place called Baal-hazor to help shear Absalom’s sheep.
Read 2 Samuel 13:28–29, looking for what Absalom plotted to do during the feast. What did he do because of his anger?
What can we learn from this account of Absalom and Amnon?
A False Idea
From the account of Absalom in 2 Samuel 13, we can learn that if not controlled, anger can lead to greater sin and more violent crimes.
What are some ways that anger can come subtly into our lives?
Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Presidency of the Seventy once explained one of the false ideas many people have about anger.
You can read the text for this video here: “Agency and Anger,” Ensign, May 1998, 80.
Elder Lynn G. Robbins of the Presidency of the Seventy once explained one of the false ideas many people have about anger.
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Lynn G. Robbins
“A cunning part of [Satan’s] strategy is to dissociate anger from agency, making us believe that we are victims of an emotion that we cannot control. We hear, ‘I lost my temper.’ Losing one’s temper is an interesting choice of words that has become a widely used idiom. To ‘lose something’ implies ‘not meaning to,’ ‘accidental,’ ‘involuntary,’ ‘not responsible’—careless perhaps but ‘not responsible.’
“‘He made me mad.’ This is another phrase we hear, also implying lack of control or agency. This is a myth that must be debunked. No one makes us mad. Others don’t make us angry. There is no force involved. Becoming angry is a conscious choice, a decision; therefore, we can make the choice not to become angry. We choose!
“To those who say, ‘But I can’t help myself,’ author William Wilbanks responds, ‘Nonsense.’
“‘Aggression, … suppressing the anger, talking about it, screaming and yelling,’ are all learned strategies in dealing with anger. ‘We choose the one that has proved effective for us in the past. Ever notice how seldom we lose control when frustrated by our boss, but how often we do when annoyed by friends or family?’ (“The New Obscenity,” Reader’s Digest, Dec. 1988, 24; emphasis added)” (Lynn G. Robbins, “Agency and Anger,” Ensign, May 1998, 80).
What did you learn about controlling anger from Elder Robbins’s statement?
The Importance of Controlling Anger
2. Answer the following questions:
When has the Lord helped you control or avoid anger? What blessings came as a result of that choice?
How did that experience strengthen your faith in the Savior?
What choices will you make today to help you control or avoid anger?
After Absalom had Amnon killed, he escaped justice by fleeing to a place called Geshur, where he was under the protection of the king of that nation. After three years, he was allowed to return to Jerusalem and was eventually reconciled with his father, King David. Before long, however, Absalom began conspiring against his father and seeking power.
We read in 2 Samuel 18 that during the battle between Absalom’s supporters and King David’s men, Absalom became entangled in a tree. When Joab, the captain over King David’s army, found Absalom, he killed him.
Read 2 Samuel 18:33, looking for how David reacted to Absalom’s death.
King David’s feelings toward his son Absalom can remind us of the love that Jesus Christ has for us. Because of this love, the Savior was willing to die for us so that we can be forgiven if we repent.
According to 2 Samuel 19–24, King David and the children of Israel experienced additional conflict and strife, including war, famine, and plague.
What effects did the choices of King David, Amnon, and Absalom have on their family and others?
The following truths were identified in this lesson:
When we choose to sin, we may bring unforeseen and long-term consequences upon ourselves and others.
If not controlled, anger can lead to greater sin and more violent crimes.
Think about the choices you are currently making and how those choices might affect those around you, especially your family. Select one or two choices that you feel could significantly affect you and your family. In your personal journal or your Notes on LDS.org, write answers to the following questions:
What effects might these choices be having on you and your family now?
What might be some of the long-term consequences of these choices and behaviors?
What changes could you make that could bless you and your family both now and in the future?
