The Helps You Need to Teach Mosiah 7-10 "In the Strength of the Lord" (April 27- May 3)
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Get ready for some travel across lands and time as you study Come, Follow Me Mosiah 7-10 “In the Strength of the Lord” (April 27- May 3). If these chapters get a little confusing, be sure to check out my Key Events and Themes section as well as the mapping and timeline activities under Teaching Ideas and Activities.
Jump Ahead to the Section You Need
Okay, this is where things start to get confusing because we jump around in the timeline. Remember, Mosiah I (dad to King Benjamin) fled the land of Nephi (see Omni 1:12). They discovered another group of people living in a land they called Zarahemla. These people and the people with Mosiah I joined together and Mosiah I became their king. Sometime after Mosiah I came to the land of Zarahemla, Zeniff led a group of people back to the land of Nephi (see Omni 1:27-30; Mosiah 7:21). Zeniff ended up colonizing among the Lamanites. We start Zeniff’s history in Mosiah 9 which is why we go back in time here. King Noah reigns after Zeniff so this is where we get the story of Abinadi, Alma the older, and King Limhi (who we meet in Mosiah 7). And to make matters more confusing, Alma has to escape from King Noah but we’ll get to that next week.
Also, the Ammon mentioned in Mosiah 7 IS NOT the Ammon that we know for the “army” scene in Alma 17. Here are some great key points to focus on for Mosiah 7-10:
If we trust the Lord and turn to Him, we will be delivered (Mosiah 7:14-33).
We’re introduced to the 24 plates which contain the record of the Jaredites. These abridged plates are now known as the book of Ether (Mosiah 8:5-12).
God gives us prophets, seers, and revelators to help us (Mosiah 8:12-19).
We can go forward “in the strength of the Lord” as we face our struggles- definitely a tender mercy from the Lord (Mosiah 9-10).
Our choices can influence generations- the danger of false traditions (Mosiah 10:11-17).
Something else to keep in mind is the inserted heading above Mosiah 9 is part of the original record. However, the phrase “Comprising chapters 9 to 22 inclusive” was added after the Book of Mormon was broken up into chapter format in the 1879 edition.
Videos
Zeniff (about 2 minutes)- Illustrated scripture story
The Passover (about 3 1/2 minutes)- Illustrated story
The Israelites in the Wilderness (about 2 1/2 minutes)- Illustrated scripture story
Articles and General Conference
“Turn to the Lord” by Elder Donald L. Hallstrom
“Joseph the Seer” by Richard E. Turley Jr. (Assitant Church Historian and Recorder)
“Prophets, Seers, and Revelators” by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
“Seer Stones”- Topic on ChurchofJesusChrist.org
“‘Delivered by the Power of God’” by Jonathan A. Dibble
“In the Strength of the Lord” by President Henry B. Eyring
“In the Strength of the Lord” by Elder David A. Bednar
“Strength During Struggles” by Elder L. Lionel Kendrick
“A Good Foundation against the Time to Come” by Elder Gary E. Stevenson
“Finding Refuge from the Storms of Life” by Elder Ricardo P. Giménez
- Remember to grab your Fine Art Kit for May from My Computer Is My Canvas. Each week you get a beautiful piece of artwork that helps you contemplate the scriptures. Plus there is a little note to ponder to help you.
As you review the various journeys in these chapters, you may want to draw your own map to better understand it or use the mapping activity from the Book of Mormon Seminary Student Manual activity.
To help you with the timeline in these chapters, see the appendix in the Book of Mormon student manual or get out your timeline from when we studied Words of Mormon.
- The Red Headed Hostess has a great visual for mapping out the expeditions in these chapters which is helpful. Plus a lot of more, of course!
If we trust the Lord and turn to Him, we will be delivered (Mosiah 7:14-33)
As we face the new illness that is confronting the world, how can past examples of the Lord delivering His people give you comfort now? How did General Conference give you comfort? How can you then move forward after this illness is controlled and help deliver others with other challenges like poverty and hunger?
God gives us prophets, seers, and revelators to help us (Mosiah 8:12-19)
With General Conference just barely in our rearview mirror, this is an excellent time to show how prophets, seers, and revelators help us. Review the messages from this past General Conference- at least some of the talks from the 15 apostles and prophets. What were some of their main messages? What things did they tell us to watch out for? What do you think they see because of the messages they gave? Fill in some of the key points in the boxes in the worksheet above. How is the prophet today like a person on a watchtower? (see D&C 101:54) Why are you grateful we have prophets, seers, and revelators?
Define the roles of each: prophet, seer, and revelator. How are they similar? What sets them apart? Why do we sustain each member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and First Presidency as prophets, seers, and revelators? Why are you grateful we have all three and not just one role?
A good example of how a seer can help us today is D&C 89. Read it together and discuss the blessings of having this knowledge. What do we know now that the people didn’t know back then?
Hide General Conference quotes inside balloons. You can ask everyone in your family to submit one quote that they feel is important to remember from this past Conference or choose them yourself. The key is to focus on quotes that show how the prophets guide us today. Drop the filled balloons from somewhere high to represent how a prophet and seer can see further out than we can. You can either do this next part as a competition or slow-paced: Grab a balloon, pop it (sit on it, use a pin, etc), and read the quote out loud. Share one reason why that quote is helpful to you at this time. The team with the greatest amount of complete answers wins. After the competition, go back and review some of the quotes again and make a plan to follow the counsel.
What did you gain from this last General Conference? Did you gain more peace, answers to your prayers, a stronger testimony? Why are you grateful for the insights of prophets, seers, and revelators today? How is your life different now because of the things you learned during General Conference?
Imagine you just learned about living prophets, seers, and revelators. How do you think you would feel? Why would it matter to you? How could it help your life? Think of someone that doesn’t know about living prophets today. How can you share this knowledge with them? You may want to study the new proclamation, “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World” and practice sharing the knowledge found within.
We can go forward “in the strength of the Lord” as we face our struggles (Mosiah 9-10).
What are some examples of people that have gone up in the strength of the Lord? Draw an example of a scriptural figure as well as an ancestor. What did they teach you through their example? How did they point the way back to Jesus Christ through their actions? How can we follow their example and go forward with strength? How does recognizing different examples help you? What examples were given in Mosiah 7:19-20?
Read the last three paragraphs of the Salt Lake Temple Dedicatory prayer (President Nelson also quoted parts of this in his closing comments this past General Conference). What blessings can we expect even when our temples are closed? What does this prayer teach us about facing our struggles?
If you have a family that enjoys exercising their artistic side, sculpt, paint, draw, etc. a poster example of someone they know or read about that has to face their challenges with the strength of the Lord as you listen to Mosiah 9-10. How do the examples in these chapters and the one you drew build your faith and confidence? How do the two examples relate to one another?
Before we can have the strength of the Lord with us, we must prepare ourselves. Discuss some of the ways we can always be prepared and how the Lord arms us as you play Sock Wars! It’s a great activity you can do in the comfort of your home while learning some key gospel principles.
How has your physical preparation helped you in these last few weeks of craziness? What ways do you wish to be more prepared in the future? Make a list and begin preparing as soon as you can.
If your family loves music, learn to sing or play, “The Lord Is My Strength” (June 1982 New Era).
Who do you know that could use some additional strength? Check in on your ministering families, friends, and neighbors and see if you can be like Ammon and help them lift up their heads to God.
Compare the way the people of Zeniff found strength to how the Lamanaites sought strength. See Mosiah 9:14-18 for the people of Zeniff and Mosiah 10:6-8, 11, 19-20 for the Lamanites. What was the result of the preparations? How are you preparing?
Our choices can influence generations- the danger of false traditions (Mosiah 10:11-17)
How have your ancestors’ choices affected you? Has it changed where your family lives, what your family believes, or other things? Research some family history and share stories around a campfire (real or fake) about how you have been blessed or life has been more challenging because of your ancestors’ choices. What choices are you making that you hope will be an influence on your future generations?
Read the stories from Elder Donald L. Hallstrom’s talk “Turn to the Lord” and compare it to the Lamanites and Nephites. How are we sometimes more like the Lamanites than we want to be? How can we be more like the couple who turned to the Lord in their trials? How can the way we face challenges have a lasting effect on our descendants?
If you enjoy digging into possible locations for these events, check out “Digging into the Book of Mormon” from the September 1984 Ensign and the continuation in the October 1984 Ensign.
- Need something different? If your family likes videos, check out Drawn In with David Bowman. There are two videos a week you can use to help enrich your study experience. Use my affiliate promo code CKN10 for 10% off. You can check out some of his free videos first to make sure you like his style.
- Also consider subscribing to Meck Mom. I'm looking forward to her balloon activity and more this week.
- Love Pray Teach packets include a 7-day lesson plan so you don't have to worry about a thing. Plus there are fun games every week.
- The Red Headed Hostess has a great visual for mapping out the expeditions in these chapters which is helpful. Plus a lot of more, of course!
- If you have little ones, remember to head over to My Computer Is My Canvas and grab her paper dolls for May. They are great for helping tell the scripture stories!
