Lesson 20 Teacher Material

The Blessings of Religious Freedom

Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right. The Book of Mormon contains numerous examples of both the blessings of religious freedom and the consequences of restricting religious freedom. In this lesson, students will have the opportunity to identify the blessings of religious freedom and assess what they can do to help preserve and protect it in our day.

Suggestions for Teaching

King Mosiah establishes a form of government that protects religious freedom.

Note: The state of religious freedom varies widely throughout the world. As you discuss religious freedom, be sensitive to the unique circumstances where you live. Encourage students to speak respectfully of governments, other churches, and all religious traditions.

Remind students that in preparation for class, they were invited to have a conversation with one or more people of another faith. Students were encouraged to ask these individuals why their religion is important to them and if they have ever experienced religious persecution. Invite some students to share what they learned from their conversations or from past experiences with those of other faiths.

Consider asking one or more of the following questions:

• How would you define religious freedom? (If needed, invite students to review the introduction and section 1 of the preparation material.)

• Why do you think it is important for all people to have the right to express and act on their religious beliefs? (It may be helpful to review the eleventh article of faith and the statement by Joseph Smith in section 1 of the preparation material.)

• How might our lives be affected if we were not free to express or act on our core beliefs, including our religious views? What are some examples of religious freedoms being threatened in our day?

Remind students that King Mosiah established a law to protect the people of his kingdom who were being persecuted because of their beliefs. You might review Mosiah 27:1–4 with students and ask:

• What can we learn about religious freedom from King Mosiah’s proclamation?

Korihor Confronts Alma, by Robert T. Barrett

Consider displaying the accompanying image, and invite students to summarize some of the ideas Korihor was teaching (see section 1 of the preparation material). Invite students to review Alma 30:7–9, 11 and look for what these verses teach about religious freedom. Consider which of the following questions you could ask that will most help your students to learn deeply:

• What can we learn from these verses about the value Heavenly Father places on religious freedom? (Students may identify a principle similar to the following: God desires all of His children to have equal rights and privileges so that they are free to choose to serve Him without compulsion, as well as free to choose not to serve Him.)

• Why is it important in God’s plan that we are not forced to believe in or follow Him?

• What does it mean to you that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will never force you to believe in or follow Them? What does this teach you about Their character?

• How does religious freedom benefit all members of society? How does it benefit you?

Captain Moroni raises the title of liberty and rallies the people to preserve freedom.

Invite a few students to share examples of how religious liberty can be threatened. (If needed, you might ask them to review section 2 of the preparation material.)

Invite students to read Alma 46:4, 10, and then explain how Amalickiah threatened the freedoms of the Nephites, including their religious freedom. Ask students how Captain Moroni responded to this threat. (If needed, ask students to review Alma 46:12–13, 19–20.) Consider discussing the following questions:

• What gospel principles about religious freedom might we learn from the efforts of Captain Moroni and his people? (Help students identify a principle similar to the following: When we call upon God and prepare ourselves to act, He will strengthen us in protecting our families, our religion, and our freedom.)

• What impact did Captain Moroni and the title of liberty have on the people? Why do we need Heavenly Father’s help in our efforts to defend religious freedom?

• In what way is Captain Moroni’s defense of religious freedom similar to how Jesus Christ has defended our freedom to choose?

To help students consider how to be civil when defending religious freedom, you might display the following statement by President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency:

President Dallin H. Oaks

We should love all people, be good listeners, and show concern for the sincere beliefs of others. We should be wise in explaining and pursuing our positions and in exercising our influence. We should seek the understanding and support of nonbelievers. And we must also enlist the official actions of governments and appropriate multinational bodies. All of this is necessary to preserve the great good that religious organizations and believers can accomplish for the benefit of all humanity. (“Challenges to Religious Freedom” [address at the Argentina Council for Foreign Relations (CARI), Apr. 23, 2015], newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

To help students practice defending religious freedom, invite them to work with a partner and discuss how they would respond to the following scenario:

You have a Muslim friend at work who finds a private place to pray during his breaks. Several coworkers begin mocking this practice. One coworker finally says, “He should just keep his religion to himself and not practice it at work.” She then turns to you and says, “What do you think?”

After students have had time to discuss their response with their partners, invite a few students to share how they responded to the scenario.

Improving Our Teaching and Learning

Invite students to set goals. President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles observed, “I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the technique of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential” (“Do Things That Make a Difference,” Ensign, June 1983, 69–70). Provide students with opportunities to think about and create specific goals that can help them take effective, righteous action. Unless their goals are too personal to share, invite students to share their goals with you, and consider how you can follow up with students about their goals.

Invite students to set a specific goal of what they can do to be better prepared to protect the sacred right of religious freedom. (It may be helpful to display and review the statement by Elder Robert D. Hales in section 2 of the preparation material.) Consider inviting students to write a simple plan of action to accomplish their goal. Consider bearing your testimony of the importance of religious freedom to end the lesson.

For Next Time

Ask students to consider why pride is such a common theme in the Book of Mormon. Point out that President Ezra Taft Benson observed, “Pride is a sin that can readily be seen in others but is rarely admitted in ourselves” (“Beware of Pride,” Ensign, May 1989, 5). Invite students to deepen their understanding of the teachings on pride in the Book of Mormon and how pride might be affecting their lives.