Post # 168 – Come, Follow Me – Week # 6 -- February 3–9. 2 Nephi 1–5: “We Lived after the Manner of Happiness”

Dear Family and Friends

I hope that your week has not been as crazy busy as mine has been. You see there are 4 of us that have jobs and we all work different schedules, which is fine. The dilemma some days is trying to figure out how we are going to make it work😊 It can be kind of stressful trying to fit all of our work schedules and then there are all of my appointments.

😊 And all of the appointments for the children and the other adults, there are six of us all together😊 and four of us depend upon the one car to meet our needs. Oh, did I forget to mention that we only have two cars, so three of us share one car😊 Oh, and there is also sharing the caring of the 11 month old little Angel

So, last week was my chemotherapy week, this week, I needed to get a shot in my right hip for pain management and then in two weeks I will have my chemo again as well as physical therapy for my lymphedema. It seems whenever I have appointments each week for something, the weeks tend to run all together and it also seems like I am going to chemo like I just had it last week instead of it actually having been the normal three week span in between😊😊 Crazy!!! Right?

So my granddaughter that lives with me informed me that my posts are too long for her to read and they are too ‘churchy’ for her to read☹ I do hope and I pray that you do not feel the same way. And I hope and I pray often that she will soon realize that God is in charge of the world. He will never force us to believe and He will always love each one of us no matter what we have done. He, like any good parent loves His each one of His children.

And just as any parent, He only wants what He feels is the very best for each one of them😊 He has provided us with this beautiful world, that we are not taking very good care of☹ by the way. And through His Son, Jesus Christ he has provided a plan for each one of us to return to live with Them in heaven after this mortal life is done😊 we only need to learn of Him and His plan, to believe in His Son, Jesus Chrism believe that He is in fact Jesus the Christ!

I know, for myself am deeply saddened when I see  my children and now my grandchildren and my great grandchildren choose to walk a different path than the one that will lead them back to our Heavenly Home, where we can live as an eternal family after this life is done here in mortality. I remember when they each were young children nd so excited to be going to church with me – even more so when their dad was able and willing to go with us😊 😊 😊

It was so wonderful when we were all able to go to church as a family. It just made our lives do much richer and fuller. There seemed to be less contention and less stress at home when we were each doing our part to learn of our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Especially when we were reading from the Book of Mormon together each day. My oldest daughter was very good to share the stories from the scriptures with her siblings and she did such a great job😊

That did not last very long though. After a short while he would just tell them that they needed to go to church with their mother😊 and they would always go with me. For a few years, then each one in turn stopped attending church or they would go to see their friends. They eventually they each one in turn stopped going to church at all. They decided that they wanted to stay home with their dad, which I totally understood as he was not always around.

His job took him away more often than not☹ They all wanted to spend time with him! My youngest daughter went with me up until she went off to college. And my granddaughter that is living with us goes with me each week, but only to see her friends☹ But I am so grateful that she is willing to go to church with me for ever how long she will continue to go with me. I really appreciate all that she does with me, she is so amazing!!!

You know, I only want what is the very best for her in this life as well as the life to come😊 I know that I have been so blessed by having the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and by living after the manner that He and His Father had set for each one of us. I remember what me life was like before my baptism and my becoming a member of His Church – even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints😊 I only want my family to have all of those blessings as well😊

You know that I want all of those blessings for each of you as well😊 that is why I share these things on my blog with you. To give each one of you the opportunity to learn of Jesus Christ and His Father, God. You cannot be prepared for His Second Coming if you do not make the choice to take the time to learn of Him! To make the decision to Come, Follow Him as He has asked many times throughout the scriptures😊

Oh, but I guess I am rambling again and it is probably time for us to get right into our lesson😊 This week February 3–9 we are studying 2 Nephi 1–5, which has the following title: “We Lived after the Manner of Happiness”. Let’ go find out just how we ‘live after the manner of happiness?” Are you all ready? Have you got your scriptures out? Come on, let’s get right to it then😊 Here we go!!! What? You say you aren’t quite ready yet??? Come on, let’s get it together😊 😊

You may find that there are many more principles in these chapters than what you have time to share with your family members and friends at one time, so be sure to follow the Spirit as you read and study during your  preparation. The you can better decide which principles you want to share during this week’s lesson. There may be other principles and /or parts of this lesson you can use for this week’s family home evening😊 This first part comes to you directly from the Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families manual:

The scriptures can open the door to personal revelation. As you read 2 Nephi 1–5, you may find that the Lord has something specific that He wants to teach you.

If you knew your life was coming to an end, what final messages would you want to share with those you love most? When the prophet Lehi felt he was nearing the end of his life, he gathered his children together one last time to prophesy and share the gospel truths he cherished with the people he cherished. He taught of liberty, obedience, the Fall of Adam and Eve, redemption through Jesus Christ, and joy. Not all of his children accepted his final testimony, but those who did—along with the millions who read it today—found in his testimony principles for living “after the manner of happiness” (2 Nephi 5:27).

Have your family members and friends read the assigned readings 2 Nephi 1–5. As they are reading have them look for doctrines and principles in these chapters and look for verses that are meaningful to them. When you begin your lesson for this week you might want to have each one of your family members and friends share those verses that were meaningful to them.

If your family members and friends are fairly young, you might want to share with them those verses that you have made notes by or that were meaningful to you and tell them why they are meaningful to you.😊 You may want to share with them the doctrines and principles that you found in those verses as well as those found in the chapters that you read for this week😊

2 Nephi 2:11–30

We are free to act for ourselves.

You know, so much of the time people use their agency far too often to cause so much suffering to others with the choices that they choose to make.  So why is agency so important to Heavenly Father? You might wnt to write this question down on a poster board for your family to see. Then together you could search for some answers in 2 Nephi 2:11–30.

You could write down their answers on your poster board for everyone to see as you are talking about their answers😊 Then you might want to further your discussion as you  ask your family members and friends the following questions: How does the adversary try to undermine our agency? How does the Savior help us “choose liberty and eternal life”? (2 Nephi 2:27).

 There is at least one hymn about agency you might consider singing together such as “Know This, That Every Soul Is Free” (Hymns, no. 240).  If you are like me and not a good singer, you can at least read the words together with your family members and friends and together see if you can make a list of insights that you have gained form this hymn😊

You could write down the words to the song on the back of your poster board for discussion with your family and friends. Then after your discussion you could write your insights below the song😊 you could also choose another hymn; I love the hymns that I learned when I was teaching in Primary. Some of those include the following:

• Choose the Right (#239)
• Come Along, Come Along (#244)
• Do What Is Right (#237) 
• Who’s on the Lord’s Side? (#260)
• Teach Me to Walk in the Light (#304) 
• Know This, That Every Soul Is Free (#240)

Lyrics

1. Know this, that ev’ry soul is free To choose his life and what he’ll be; For this eternal truth is giv’n: That God will force no man to heav’n.	2. He’ll call, persuade, direct aright, And bless with wisdom, love, and light, In nameless ways be good and kind, But never force the human mind.
3. Freedom and reason make us men; Take these away, what are we then? Mere animals, and just as well The beasts may think of heav’n or hell.	4. May we no more our pow’rs abuse, But ways of truth and goodness choose; Our God is pleased when we improve His grace and seek his perfect love.

There are four conditions that make agency possible that are identified in this week’s outline in the Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families.  You may want to prepare a poster board with those four conditions on it. Then when you are teaching this lesson to your family members and friends you could search  2 Nephi 2 to find statements from this chapter that teach why each one of these conditions are absolutely essential to reaching our divine potential. This next part comes to you directly from the Come, Follow Me manual:

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

2 Nephi 2

I am free to choose eternal life.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson said: “God intends that His children should act according to the moral agency He has given them. … It is His plan and His will that we have the principal decision-making role in our own life’s drama” (“Free Forever, to Act for Themselves,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 16).  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2014/10/free-forever-to-act-for-themselves?lang=eng&para=p11#p11

In his teachings about agency, Lehi identified essential conditions that make agency possible and enable us to reach our divine potential, including the following:

1. A knowledge of good and evil (2 Nephi 2:5)
2. A law given to mankind (2 Nephi 2:5)
3. Opposing, enticing choices (2 Nephi 2:11)
4. Power to act (2 Nephi 2:16)

As you read 2 Nephi 2, what do you learn about each of these conditions of agency and their relationship to each other? What would happen to our agency if one or more of these conditions were missing? What else do you learn about agency from Lehi’s words?

2 Nephi 2:15–29

The Fall and the Atonement of Jesus Christ are essential parts of Heavenly Father’s plan.

Before I became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I was told, like many other Christians believe…  that the Fall of Adam and Eve was a tragedy and that being so because Eve made a terrible mistake. Our Heavenly Father has included in these verses in 2 Nephi 2 clarification of the truths about the Fall of Adam and Eve. 😊 And they also testify that Jesus Christ truly redeems us from the Fall.

Inviting or asking your family members and friends to search 2 Nephi 2:15–25 for truths about the Garden of Eden and what happened there. Then you could get out your poster board and make a list of truths they learn about what happened in the Garden of Eden, could be a great way to begin your discussion on this section 😊  What other insights do they find in the quote from President Dallin H. Oaks? This quote is found below:

The Fall was part of God’s plan.

President Dallin H. Oaks taught:

“When Adam and Eve received the first commandment, they were in a transitional state, no longer in the spirit world but with physical bodies not yet subject to death and not yet capable of procreation. They could not fulfill the Father’s first commandment without transgressing the barrier between the bliss of the Garden of Eden and the terrible trials and wonderful opportunities of mortal life. …

“… The Prophet Lehi explained that ‘if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen’ (2 Ne. 2:22), but would have remained in the same state in which he was created.

“… The Fall was planned, Lehi concludes, because ‘all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things’ (2 Ne. 2:24).

“It was Eve who first transgressed the limits of Eden in order to initiate the conditions of mortality. Her act, whatever its nature, was formally a transgression but eternally a glorious necessity to open the doorway toward eternal life. Adam showed his wisdom by doing the same. And thus Eve and ‘Adam fell that men might be’ (2 Ne. 2:25).

“Some Christians condemn Eve for her act, concluding that she and her daughters are somehow flawed by it. Not the Latter-day Saints! Informed by revelation, we celebrate Eve’s act and honor her wisdom and courage in the great episode called the Fall. …

“Modern revelation shows that our first parents understood the necessity of the Fall. Adam declared, ‘Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God’ (Moses 5:10)” (“The Great Plan of Happiness,” Ensign, Nov. 1993, 72–73). https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1993/10/the-great-plan-of-happiness?lang=eng

Wow! He has added quite a bit of clarification don’t you think. Here is another question for you and your family members and friends: How did Jesus Christ redeem us from the Fall? Be sure to search 2 Nephi 2:6–8, 26–29 to find some  answers. 😊Okay, what have you and your family members and friends learned from these passages of scripture?

Here are a few more questions to write upon a poster board for you and your family members and friends to answer together and then you can share what insights you each had as you searched through 2 Nephi 2:6–8, 26–29, 😊 Read through the following questions with your family members and friends then search through the assigned passages to find the answers for each question:

• How do Lehi’s teachings in these verses correct some common misunderstandings about the Fall?
• In what ways is the Fall a blessing?
• How does correctly understanding the Fall help us better understand our need for Jesus Christ and His Atonement?
• What is one reason you are grateful for Adam and Eve’s choice in the Garden of Eden?
• How was your choice to come to earth similar to Adam and Eve’s choice to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil?
• ~What is the purpose of life? Why was the Fall necessary to achieve this purpose?

So how did you do? Were you able to find answers for each of the questions above? If you still have questions that you could not find an answer for I a sure that if you go to the following site and ask to speak with a missionary, they would be more than happy to answer your questions😊
You can go here to chat with a missionary: https://www.comeuntochrist.org/chat

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

2 Nephi 2:22–29

The Fall and the Atonement of Jesus Christ are essential parts of Heavenly Father’s plan.

Many people see the Fall of Adam and Eve as a tragic event. However, Lehi’s teachings about the Fall reveal why it was a necessary part of the Father’s plan for our eternal progression. As you read these verses, look for why the Fall needed to happen in order for us—Heavenly Father’s children—to progress. How did the Savior’s atoning sacrifice redeem us from the Fall?

See also Moses 5:9–12; 6:51–62; “Fall of Adam and Eve,” Gospel Topics, topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

2 Nephi 3:6–24

Joseph Smith was foreordained to restore the gospel.

The last part of 2 Nephi 3 contains a prophecy given by Joseph of Egypt about a future seer who would share his name (see verses 14–15)—Joseph Smith. It also has a lot to say about Joseph Smith’s mission. What do verses 6–24 say that Joseph Smith, a “choice seer,” would do to bless God’s people? How has Joseph Smith’s work been “of great worth” to you?

One important part of Joseph Smith’s mission was to bring forth the writings of the seed of Joseph, which are contained in the Book of Mormon. What do you learn from this chapter about the importance of the Book of Mormon?

See also Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 50:24–38 (in Bible appendix).

2 Nephi 4:15–35

We can turn to God in our weakness.

Whenever we feel like we are overwhelmed by our struggles and/ or by our weaknesses we can turn to the writings of Nephi. The writings of Nephi can bring us comfort and hope and peace as we read and study these passages in 2 Nephi 4:15–35. You read and study these passages with your family members and friends and then see if you do not agree with me okay? 😊 😊

If your family members and friends are numerous enough, you may want to consider having them review these passages in pairs and then find passages that they might use if the need should arise to give comfort to someone who may feel burdened by their afflictions. Then you could ask your family members and friends to have each of the pairs choose one person to share these passages with the rest of your family study group

😊 

 Maybe there is someone among you and your family members and friends who could share an experience that they have had in which they had found comfort by turning to God, as Nephi did in these passages. There is yet another way that you could review 2 Nephi 4  and that could be to invite a few of your family members and friends ahead of time to come to your family study group prepared to share the verses and phrases from this chapter that were meaningful to them😊

Then, because as you know, we all have or will at some point in our lives face discouragement, trouble , or be face to face with our weaknesses, you may want to ask your family members and friends to tell you and your other family members and friends who are in your family study group just what they do whenever they feel like they are overwhelmed by their weaknesses and their discouragements☹ What do each of you do when faced with these trials?

Next you might want to consider singing the following hymn about comfort and hope, like “Where Can I Turn for Peace?” (Hymns, no. 129). You know the words to this hymn could very well add to your discussion at this time😊 You could sing the hymn, read through the words of thee hymn with your family members and friends  and see how this hymn does in fact reinforce Nephi’s example of relying on the Lord during his times of discouragement and trouble, and in times of weaknesses☹

129 - Where can I turn for peace

1. Where can I turn for peace? Where is my solace When other sources cease to make me whole? When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice, I draw myself apart, Searching my soul?

2. Where, when my aching grows, Where, when I languish, Where, in my need to know, where can I run? Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish? Who, who can understand? He, only One.

3. He answers privately, Reaches my reaching In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend. Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching. Constant he is and kind, Love without end.

Here are a few more hymns of hope and encouragement that are found in the Hymn book:

Abide with Me! - #166 Abide with Me; 'Tis Eventide - #165 As I Search the Holy Scriptures - #277 As the Shadows Fall - #168 Be Still, My Soul - #124 Cast Thy Burden upon the Lord - #110 Children of Our Heavenly Father - #299 Come, Ye Disconsolate - #115 Come unto Him - #114 Come unto Jesus - #117 Does the Journey Seem Long? - #127 Father, Cheer Our Souls Tonight - #231 Father in Heaven - #133 God Moves in a Mysterious Way - #285 How Firm a Foundation - #85

How Gentle God's Commands - #125 How Gentle God's Commands (Women) - #314 I Need Thee Every Hour - #98 I Need Thee Every Hour (Men's Choir) - #334 Jesus, Lover of My Soul - #102 Lean on My Ample Arm - #120 Let the Holy Spirit Guide - #143 Master, the Tempest Is Raging - #105 O My Father - #292 Oh, May My Soul Commune with Thee - #123 The Lord Is My Shepherd - #108 The Lord Is My Shepherd (Women) - #316 Though Deepening Trials - #122 When Faith Endures - #128  Where Can I Turn for Peace? - #129

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

2 Nephi 4:15–35

I can turn to God in my weakness.

Nephi had recently lost his father. The responsibility for leading his family now rested on him. He felt surrounded by temptation and was discouraged because of his sins. Even if your circumstances are different from Nephi’s, you may relate to some of his thoughts and emotions recorded in 2 Nephi 4:15–35. What helped Nephi in his afflictions? How can Nephi’s response to his challenges help you face your struggles?

2 Nephi 5

Happiness is found in living the gospel.

As we have been learning about Nephi and his people and what they faced, they were still able to build a society based on principles that lead to happiness, despite the challenges that the each faced individually and collectively. What principles did you and your family  members and friends find in their your study of 2 Nephi 5 that would have contributed to the happiness the Nephites experienced?  

to look for the principles that lead to happiness. You could give them each a piece of paper and then ask them to write down the principles that they found that lead to happiness.

If your family members and friends are old enough for reading and writing, you could ask them to search through  2 Nephi 5

Then follow it up by asking your family members and friends the following questions: How are the ways the world seeks happiness different from what we find in 2 Nephi 5? What goals can you and your family members and friends set to apply one of these principles?

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

2 Nephi 5

Happiness is found in living the gospel.

How would you define happiness? Nephi wrote that his people lived “after the manner of happiness” (2 Nephi 5:27). You might look for choices Nephi and his people made that led to happiness—ways they supported each other and their families, what they valued in their community, and so on. What do you learn that can help you build a life of happiness, as the people of Nephi did?

2 Nephi 5:20–21

What was the curse that came upon the Lamanites?

In Nephi’s day the curse of the Lamanites was that they were “cut off from [the Lord’s] presence … because of their iniquity” (2 Nephi 5:20–21). This meant the Spirit of the Lord was withdrawn from their lives. When Lamanites later embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ, “the curse of God did no more follow them” (Alma 23:18).

The Book of Mormon also states that a mark of dark skin came upon the Lamanites after the Nephites separated from them. The nature and appearance of this mark are not fully understood. The mark initially distinguished the Lamanites from the Nephites. Later, as both the Nephites and Lamanites each went through periods of wickedness and righteousness, the mark became irrelevant as an indicator of the Lamanites’ standing before God.

Prophets affirm in our day that dark skin is not a sign of divine disfavor or cursing. The Church embraces Nephi’s teaching that the Lord “denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female” (2 Nephi 26:33). President Russell M. Nelson declared: “The Lord has stressed His essential doctrine of equal opportunity for His children. … Differences in culture, language, gender, race, and nationality fade into insignificance as the faithful enter the covenant path and come unto our beloved Redeemer” (“President Nelson Remarks at Worldwide Priesthood Celebration” [June 1, 2018], newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/president-nelson-remarks-worldwide-priesthood-celebration

See also “Till We All Come in the Unity of the Faith” (video, ChurchofJesusChrist.org). https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media-library/video/2014-10-01-till-we-all-come-in-the-unity-of-the-faith?lang=eng

You know that one of the best sermons about the Atonement of Jesus Christ in all of scripture is found in 2 Nephi 6–10, which as you know is this next week’s reading . you might want to read ahead a bit and then you could share a verse you find in these chapters with your family members and friends, one that makes you excited to read it. Enjoy these chapters as you will learn a lot about the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evening

As you read the scriptures with your family, the Spirit will help you know what principles to emphasize and discuss in order to meet the needs of your family. Here are some ideas.

2 Nephi 1:13–25

What do these verses teach us about a righteous parent’s greatest wishes for his or her children?

2 Nephi 3:6

Read together “Seer” in the Bible Dictionary. How was Joseph Smith a seer? Why are we grateful for the work that Joseph Smith accomplished? (see 2 Nephi 3:6–24).

2 Nephi 4:20–25

As you read 2 Nephi 4:20–25 together, pause after each verse, and invite family members to share when they have experienced or felt what Nephi describes. What has God done for our family?

2 Nephi 5

What are some of the ways your family is living “after the manner of happiness”? As your family reads 2 Nephi 5, you could discuss the things the Nephites cared about: family (verse 6), the commandments (verse 10), the scriptures (verse 12), education (verse 15), temples (verse 16), work (verse 17), and Church callings (verse 26). One way to do this is to find objects that represent some of these things and talk about how we show that we, like the Nephites, value these same things.

For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.

My Dear Family and Friends we are not entering the end of this post. Please return to your seats and place your seatbelts on as our landing may be a bit bumpy as we descend back into your regularly scheduled programming😊 As always I hope and I pray that I have shared something that has perked your interest in further study of this subject. Or that you have been uplifted in some small way by what I have shared with you today😊

Even that you may have learned just a little bit more about this subject than you had previously had😊 Remember that it is a very good thing to continue your learning, no matter what your age is😊 My mom used to say that “the day that you decide that there is nothing left to learn is the day you may as well lay down and die because your end is not far away.”

Again, as always, please do remember who you are!!! You are each a child of God!!! Don’t forget to say your prayers every morning and every night😊 remember a prayer is the way that we can speak to our Father in Heaven. Please do continue to study the Book of Mormon with me and of course, all of our cyber study buddies out there in cyber space😊as we have so much more to learn together😊