4 November 2013 Seminary Lesson 40

2 Nephi 31

Opening Hymn: BaptismOpening Prayer

Scripture Mastery: 2 Nephi 28:7–9 Eden First Reader: Foster

Scripture Mastery 2 Nephi 28:7–9

Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with usAnd there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God- he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.

Scripture Mastery 2 Nephi 28:7–9

Y__, and there s____ be many w____ shall say: E__, drink, andb_ merry, for t_______ we die; a__ it shall b_ well with u_And there s____ also be m___ which shall s__: Eat, drink, a__ be m erry; n__________, fear God- h_ will justify i_ committing a l_____ sin; yea, l__ a little, t___ the advantage o_ one because o_ his words, d__ a pit f__ thy neighbor; t____ is no h___ in this; a__ do all t____ things, for t_______ we die; a__ if it s_ be that w_ are guilty, G__ will beat u_ with a f__ stripes, and a_ last we s____ be saved i_ the kingdom o_ GodYea, a__ there shall b_ many which s____ teach after t___manner, false a__ vain and f______ doctrines, and s____ bepuffed u_ in their h_____, and shall s___ deep to h___ theircounsels f___ the Lord; a__ their works s____ be in t__ dark.

Scripture Mastery 2 Nephi 28:7–9 Y__, and t____ s____ be m___ w____ shall s__: E__, drink, a__ b_ merry, f__ t_______ we d__; a__ it s____ b_ well w___ u_ And t____ s____ also b_ m___ which s____ s__: Eat, d____, a__ be m____; n__________, fear G__- h_ will j______ i_ committing a l_____ sin; y__, l__ a l_____, t___ the a________ o_ one b______ o_ his w____, d__ a p__ f__ thy n_______; t____ is n_ h___ in t___; a__ do a__ t____ things, f__ t_______ we d__; a__ if i_ s_ be t___ w_ are g_____, G__ will b___ u_ with a f__ stripes, a__ a_ last w_ s____ be s____ i_ the k______ o_ God Y__, a__ there s____ b_ many w____ s____ teach a____ t___ manner, f____ a__ vain a__ f______ doctrines, a__ s____ be p_____ u_ in t____ h_____, and s____ s___ deep t_ h___ their c_______ f___ the L___; a__ t____ works s____ be i_ t__ dark.

Scripture Mastery 2 Nephi 28:7–9 Y__, a__ t____ s____ b_ m___ w____ s____ s__: E__, d____,a__ b_ m____, f__ t_______ w_ d__; a__ i_ s____ b_ w___w___ u_ A__ t____ s____ a___ b_ m___ w____ s____ s__: E__, d____, a__ b_ m____; n__________, f___ G__- h_ w___ j______ i_ c_________ a l_____ s__; y__, l__ a l_____, t___ t__a________ o_ o__ b______ o_ h__ w____, d__ a p__ f__ t__n_______; t____ i_ n_ h___ i_ t___; a__ d_ a__ t____ t_____,f__ t_______ w_ d__; a__ i_ i_ s_ b_ t___ w_ a__ g_____, G__w___ b___ u_ w___ a f__ s______, a__ a_ l___ w_ s____ b_s____ i_ t__ k______ o_ G__ Y__, a__ t____ s____ b_ m___ w____ s____ t____ a____ t___ m_____, f____ a__ v___ a__ f______ d________, a__ s____ b_ p_____ u_ i_ t____ h_____, a__ s____ s___ d___ t_ h___ t____ c_______ f___ t__ L___; a__ t____ w____ s____ b_ i_ t__ d___.

Scripture Mastery 2 Nephi 28:7–9

Y, a t s b m w s s: E, d, a b m, f t w d; a is b w w uA t s a b m w s s: E, d, a b m; n, f G - h w ji c a l s; y, l a l, t t a o o b o h w, d a p ft n; t i n h i t; a d a t t, f t w d; a i i s b tw a g, G w b u w a f s, a a l w s b s i t ko GY, a t s b m w s t a t m, f a v a f d, a s bp u i t h, a s s d t h t c f t L; a t w s b i td.

Scripture Mastery 2 Nephi 28:7–9

Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with usAnd there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God- he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.

Introduction to 2 Nephi 31

Many years before Jesus Christ was born, Nephi received a revelation about the Savior’s baptism. As Nephi told his people of this revelation, he taught what he called “the doctrine of Christ”—that in order to receive eternal life, we must exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repent of our sins, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end.

Read 2 Nephi 31:1–13Nephi teaches that when we are baptized, we follow the Savior’s example.

• What do you think it means to “fulfill all righteousness”? (It means to keep all the commandments. President Joseph F. Smith said that “to fulfill all righteousness” is “to fulfill the law” [in Conference Report, Apr. 1912, 9].)

• How do these verses explain the importance of baptism? (Nephi teaches that baptism is a commandment from Heavenly Father, that it is required in order to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and that it is necessary in our efforts to follow Jesus Christ.)

Summarize the doctrines and principles you have learned from 2 Nephi 31:5–12.

Did you include:• Jesus Christ set the perfect example of obedience for us

to follow.• We must follow Jesus Christ, be baptized, and receive the

Holy Ghost.• Jesus Christ, though sinless, was baptized to fulfill all

righteousness.

Re-read 2 Nephi 31:13. What is the meaning of the phrases “with full purpose of heart,” “acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God,” and “with real intent.” You may want to mark these phrases.• What do these phrases mean to you? (All three phrases refer to the need to be sincere in our efforts to exercise faith in the Savior, repent of our sins, and follow the Savior’s example.)• How might these phrases apply to such activities as daily scripture study and Church attendance?• What is the difference between “saying a prayer” and praying “with full purpose of heart”?• What is the difference between eating the sacrament bread and partaking of the sacrament bread “with real intent”?• What is the difference between saying that you are sorry about something you have done and repenting “with full purpose of heart”?

Read 2 Nephi 31:14–21 Nephi teaches that after baptism, we need to receive the Holy Ghost and continue following the Savior’s example

Repentance and Baptism• Based on 2 Nephi 31:17, what is the gate? • How are repentance and baptism like a gate?• According to 2 Nephi 31:18, what does the path lead to?• Nephi taught that after baptism, we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (see 2 Nephi 31:13–14). According to 2 Nephi 31:17–18, what does the Holy Ghost do for us?The Holy Ghost witnesses of the Father and the Son and brings a remission of sins.• Why is it essential for us to receive a testimony of the Father and the Son through the Holy Ghost?

Eternal Life

Read the following statement by Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Listen for what it means to be baptized by fire and by the Holy Ghost.“The gate of baptism leads to the strait and narrow path. …“We are commanded and instructed to so live that our fallen nature is changed through the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost. President Marion G. Romney taught that the baptism of fire by the Holy Ghost ‘converts [us] from carnality to spirituality. It cleanses, heals, and purifies the soul. … Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, and water baptism are all preliminary and prerequisite to it, but [the baptism of fire] is the consummation. To receive [this baptism of fire] is to have one’s garments washed in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ’ (Learning for the Eternities, comp. George J. Romney [1977], 133; see also3 Nephi 27:19–20).

“Hence, as we are born again and strive to always have His Spirit to be with us, the Holy Ghost sanctifies and refines our souls as if by fire (see 2 Nephi 31:13–14, 17). Ultimately, we are to stand spotless before God” (“Clean Hands and a Pure Heart,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 81).

• What did Elder Bednar and President Romney say the “baptism of fire” does for us?• What additional blessings can we receive through the influence of the Holy Ghost?• How do you “strive to always have His Spirit” to be with you?• When have you felt the Holy Ghost acting in your life?

In 2 Nephi 31:18, the word strait means narrow, strict, exacting, and allowing for no deviation. Nephi used this word to describe the path we must take after baptism in order to receive eternal life.

• What do we need to do after baptism in order to stay on the path to eternal life?

If we live according to the doctrine of Christ, we will receive eternal life.Re-read 2 Nephi 31:19–20 which is a scripture mastery passage. Please mark this passage in a distinctive way so you will be able to locate it easily.

Give your answer to one of the following questions in your journal:

• Based on what you have studied in this lesson, what gives you hope that you can receive eternal life?

• How has the covenant you made at baptism influenced your life?

2 Nephi 31:18-21

The Doctrine of Christ

"This is not easy or whimsical teaching, but it is plain and it is simple. It is not convenient or even comfortable doctrine for some—especially the repentance part—but it is very plain and very precious. The doctrine of Christ is not complicated. It is profoundly, beautifully, single-mindedly clear and complete" (Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant, 55–56).

Closing PrayerTomorrow’s Assignments

4-Nov-13 Lesson 40 2 Nephi 31 2 Nephi 28:7–9 Eden Foster

5-Nov-13 Lesson 41 2 Nephi 32 2 Nephi 28:7–9 David Anna

6-Nov-13 Lesson 42 2 Nephi 33 2 Nephi 28:7–9 Jackson Eden

7-Nov-13Introduction to the Book of Jacob

Lesson 43 Jacob 1–2:11Lesson 44 Jacob 2:12–35

2 Nephi 28:7–9 Foster David

8-Nov-13 Teacher Workday