Book of Mormon Study Guide Lesson Four

The Things which I saw when I was

carried away in the spirit
Purpose: to help class members understand Nephis vision of the future and how the warnings
and promises in it apply to us today

1 Nephi 12:1- And it came to pass that the ________________________ said unto me, Look, and behold they
___________________, and also the __________________________________________________________.
According to his verse Nephi knew from very early on that there would be a permanent division in the family.
Earlier he had learned that his brothers would not partake of the tree of life. Later he will learn that the
seed of his brothers will have many wars with his descendants. In addition to what Nephi learned about his
own family, he was shown the entire history of the world as it would yet unfold. Fill in the following to get a
brief glimpse into what Nephi saw.

Verse
1 Nephi 11:13-21

1 Nephi 11:26-27

1 Nephi 11:32-33

1 Nephi 12:6

1 Nephi 12:19-21

1 Nephi 12:7-10

1 Nephi 13:33-37

What Nephi saw

Where it is fulfilled in
scripture

Do you find it comforting or disquieting that the Lord knows everything that is to unfold as the world progresses?

If the Lord already knows what is going to happen, do you still have your free agency? How does this work?

Modern scripture speaks unequivocally of the foreknowledge of God: "All things are present before mine eyes (D&C
38:32) It affirms that God has a fullness of truth, a "knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as
theyare to come (D&C 98:24)
Divine foreknowledge includes the power to know even the thoughts and intents of the human heart: "There is
none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart (D&C 61:16). Divine foreknowledge is at
least, in part, knowledge of his own purposive plans for the cosmos and for humankind, plans that "cannot be
frustrated, neither can they come to naught (D&C 3:1) "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of
the world (Acts 15:18). These include the conditions of the Plan of Salvation. For example, "God did elect or
predestinate that all those who would be saved, should be saved in Christ Jesus, and through obedience to the
Gospel" (TPJS, p. 189).
It is likewise foreknown that all humankind will die, be resurrected, and be brought to judgment. Consequently
divine foreknowledge, however it is finally defined, is not predestination. What God foresees is not, for that reason,
divinely caused, even though it is in some sense known (Talmage, p. 317). Divine foreknowledge is the background
offoreordination. But, again, foreordination is not pre-causation. Rather, "foreordination is a conditional bestowal of
a role, a responsibility, or a blessing which, likewise, foresees but does not fix the outcome" (Maxwell, p. 71).
The Encyclopedia of Mormonism

Does your patriarchal blessing give you any ideas about the Lords plans for you and your family? If it has been a
while, read through it and record your impressions about this question below.

Who will judge the nations?

We often imagine that Jesus Christ will be our judge. In John 5:22 we learn that the Father judgeth no man
but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. The Son, however, has committed judgment unto others. The
Savior delegated the responsibility to the twelve apostles and twelve disciples.
Bruce R. McConkie said, Under Christ a great hierarchy of judges will operate, each functioning in his assigned
sphere. John saw many judges sitting upon thrones (Revelations 20:4). Paul said the saints would judge both
the world and angels (1 Cor 6:2-3). The elders are to sit in judgment on those who reject them (D&C 75:21-22).
Daniel saw that judgment would be given to the saints (Dan 7:22). The Nephite Twelve will be judged by the
Twelve from Jerusalem and they in turn will judge the Nephite nation (1 Nephi 12:9-10). And the Twelve who
served with our Lord in his ministry shall judge the whole house of Israel ( D&C 29:12). No doubt there will be
many others of many dispensations who will sit in judgment upon the peoples of their days and generations
all judging according to the judgment which Christ shall give the, which shall be just (3 Nephi 27:27) Doctrinal
New Testament Commentary

You will come before the judgment seat of God full of rebellion and mistakes. Because of his justice he cannot
dismiss your sin, but because of his love he cannot dismiss you. So, in an act which stunned the heavens, God
punished his son on the cross for your sins. Gods justice and love are equally honored. And you, Gods creation,
are forgiven.
The final judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil actswhat we have done. It is
an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughtswhat we have become. It is not enough
for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are
not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that
shows us how to become what our heavenly Father desires us to become.
Are you not only the doing the things that you should be doing, but becoming what the Lord would have you
become? How do you know? What is the Lord most proud of you for overcoming? What would he have you
work on next?

Thought Questions
Nephis vision emphasizes the fact that some plain and precious parts would be taken from the scriptures. When Joseph
Smith was given the Inspired Version of Genesis, it was discovered that over 50 percent of the text was missing from the
first six chapters of our modern Bible. How many plain and precious truth can you recall which have come to us as a result of
the restoration of the Bible? As a result of the Book of Mormon?

1 Nephi 14:4 says that those who do not follow the commandments of God will be subject to, the captivity
of the devil. Name some ways that disobedience to Gods commandments can makes us captives of the
adversary.

On several occasions the Lord has revealed great secrets to his prophets and then forbidden them to
share these secrets with the world. Why would the Lord give this information to His prophets if they were
not boing to be able to reveal them to the people?