My New Calling: Sunday School Lesson Recaps

[Anonymous]

Old Timer wrote:

We read D&C 46:11-14, where it says: 1) not everyone has all gifts; 2) all gifts are given to humanity to help each other; 3) SOME people are given the gift to know that Jesus is the Christ; 4) others are given the gift to believe those who know. We talked about how even the most central aspect of our beliefs won’t be known by all members – that some carry on in faith. We talked about not being ashamed or depressed or feeling inferior or worthless if we can’t say we know something – that faith also is a gift and that believing or wanting to believe is good enough. Verse 14 says the ultimate reward for knowledge AND for continue faithfulness is the exact same. Knowledge is not morally or spiritually better than faith; it just is different.

We talked about how some people testify of specific things and promise everyone they also can know those things. I told them directly and clearly that such statements aren’t consistent with the verses we had read. I told them I don’t know paying tithing keeps people from financial difficulty; in fact, my own experiences have taught me otherwise. I have NO problem with other people making that claim, since that is their experience, and I understand why they beleive it can be true for everyone else (“If God will bless me, God will bless anyone,” is a sincere statement based on humility.), but it is inaccurate as a collective standard – even if it is said by an Apostle from the General Conference pulpit. I will not argue with people about their own views on it, but I also will explain my experiences to help provide balance and help others not feel inferior or guilty.

I really liked this. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

With two snowstorms that canceled church two weeks in November and December when we would have had Sunday School, it has been over a month since I posted a lesson recap.

Yesterday, I covered the opening stuff and 1 Nephi 1-7. I started by telling the students that when I was young and reading the Book of Mormon for the first few times, I remember thinking, during church on more than one occasion, “That isn’t what the BofM actually says.” I then explained the way the BofM was used initially in the Church – not as a doctrinal prooftext but as a witness of Joseph’s divine calling. I explained that it had no chapter and verse structure – that each book functioned like a chapter and that people would be asked to read it straight through like a regular book. They then would be asked to pray about it – with the understanding that some people could gain a witness even without prayer. I told them the concept of “speaking from the dust” was part of how it was viewed – that the book itself would speak to people who could hear it with spiritual ears. I told them I had talked with the Bishop about making sure to follow the curriculum guidelines but teaching the Book of Mormon by focusing on its claim to be a historical record – and, therefore, studying it also as I would a history textbook, for example. I told them we would look at history, family dynamics, threads, demographics, themes, etc.

We read the introduction that describes the BofM and its purpose. We listed all of the stated reasons it was recorded. I highlighted the primary intended audience as the descendants of the people who wrote and compiled it – then, “also”, to everyone else. We read the focus on convincing people that Jesus was the Christ. We talked about the last sentence that says, explicitly, there are human mistakes in it – that it is not our version of the perfect, inerrant Bible of much of Christianity. I told them I would point out mistakes we now understand differently than they did when we cover them.

I sped-read, generally, through the first seven chapters, covering all of the doctrinal points and pausing to highlight specific things of historical interest and significance. I told them that would not be the case always but that I wanted to show them just how much detail we miss when we don’t read carefully and simply use the BofM to prove doctrine. When we got to a few verses to discuss in more detail, each student took a turn reading those sections more slowly. The following are the passages we discussed in much deeper detail:

Chapter 1: Verses 1-2 = Nephi was taught in ALL the learning of his father, including written Egyptian (and, presumably, spoken Egyptian, as well). We talked about why Lehi would know Egyptian and teach it to his children – that he most likely traveled to and from Egypt as part of the career (merchant?) that made him extremely wealthy and that he probably was teaching his son(s) to take over his business at some point. Verse 3 = “True” means, “I wrote it personally and based on my knowledge,” – not “factually accurate in every detail”.

Chapter 2: Verse 4 = Lehi was rich – apparently extremely rich. We talked about the family dynamics of rich kids and the old inheritance system that would have given everything to Laman (and Lemuel, probably, by Laman, as the favorite brother). We discussed that theme throughout the lesson as issues arose with control, power, leadership, inheritance, etc. claimed by their baby brother. Verse 11 = What would it have meant to be a “visionary” person back then? We discussed that theme throughout the lesson, as the other visionary person in the family (Nephi) and his actions clashed with non-visionary family members (Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Sariah). Why couldn’t Laman and Lemuel accept Nephi? Verses 19-22 = How would Nephi’s description of being chosen to rule his family have sounded to his brothers, especially? (How would the students respond if their youngest sibling said something similar to them?) Verses 23-24 = Who was to blame for the destruction of the Nephite nation at the end of the BofM? (the Nephites)

Chapter 3: Verse 3 = Why did Lehi say they needed the brass plates? (to have the history of the Jews and their own genealogy) We talked about how the word “Jews” is used in a way that refers to other people (“the Jews”) and usually in an insulting way – and why that would be (because Lehi found out he wasn’t a Jew but was descended from Joseph, and probably because it was Jews who tried to kill him). Verse 7 – We talked about following the commandments as we feel they are given to us, personally, since Nephi’s statement dealt with a command given directly to his father. Verses 11-27 = How did they try to get the plates? (Laman, first asked directly; Nephi tried to purchase them and ended up losing all of their treasures, squandering Laman’s inheritance; Laban was a BAD person.) Verses 28-31 = Why did Laman and Lemuel beat Nephi and Sam? (See above)

Chapter 4: How did they get the plates? (Nephi went in alone; he saw Laban drunk; he saw the sword; he pulled it out to look more closely; he had the thought he should kill Laban; he rejected it at first; he constructed a legal, moral, and scriptural defense in his mind; he cut off the head – probably to hide it so the corpse couldn’t be identified quickly, if ever; Zoram agreed to go with them – perhaps to save his life either then or later, if Laban was discovered and he was blamed.)

Chapter 5, Verses 1-3 = Sariah complained and hadn’t believed her husband fully. I asked why she went, and one of the young women said, “She was his wife. She didn’t have a choice.” Verses 10-16 = What was on the brass plates that was so important? The five books of Moses, the history of the Jews, the teachings of the prophets, and Lehi’s genealogy (which told Lehi he was descended from Joseph). Verses 21-22 = I emphasized once again that Nephi had not wanted to kill Laban but that he did so largely to preserve his people. We talked about how he must have felt after his later vision of the destruction of his people, when he realized he had killed Laban but his people still would perish. I mentioned thinking of that again when we study 2 Nephi 4 and see how torn-up inside and self-critical Nephi was.

Chapter 6 = Why did Nephi create the record we now have called The Book of Mormon? Completely to persuade people to believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (NOT “Jesus Christ” – since Nephi hadn’t had his vision of Jesus yet, but Jehovah – whom he came to know as Jesus through the vision)

Chapter 7 = Who was Ishmael and his family? They obviously knew Lehi and his family previously. Ishmael also was descended from Joseph. They were perfectly matched to have their kids marry each other – and the two oldest sons already were married with kids. Just like Laman and Lemuel, Ishmael’s oldest sons would have felt compelled to obey their father, and when they realized they also were going to lose their inheritance, they would have been just as mad and naturally sided with Laman and Lemuel against Nephi (and Sam). It is not stated, but Ishmael also probably was extremely wealthy and able to travel at a moment’s notice – so it is likely he was a business partner or investor with Lehi.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Curt. Wish I were in your SS rather than the one I was in, which was not anywhere near as insightful and took a whole hour of my time as opposed to the couple minutes reading your post.

[Anonymous]

Thanks! This is helpful!

[Anonymous]

Church was cancelled again last week due to another snowstorm, and I will be out of town next Sunday when I normally would be teaching a lesson.

I just want everyone to know why there will be a six-week gap between lesson recaps.

(Also, I plan on covering the Tree of Life vision the next time we meet, even though it will be long past that lesson date. There are a TON of lessons in the vision that almost never, if not never, get discussed. If we have time, I will cover other things, as well.)

[Anonymous]

I focused today on 1 Nephi 19:23 where it talks about likening things unto ourselves. I used Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life as the central example, since I was gone two weeks ago when that would have been the lesson.

We took the first few minutes to read the likening verse and talk about what it means to liken something to ourselves. We settled on two things: 1) seeing what lessons we could take from it; and 2) putting ourselves in the story and seeing what we learn from that. I told them I wanted to go back to the Tree of Life vision and do those those two things, focusing on each unique element of the vision. We created the following list of elements: Lehi, the tree and fruit, the path to the tree and the iron rod, the great and spacious building, the groups of people, Lehi family, the mists of darkness, the river and pit.

1) LEHI AND HIS FAMILY: I asked how Lehi got to the tree. The immediate response was by holding onto the iron rod. I shook my head and asked the question again. They thought about it and said by following the guide. We modified “the path to the tree” into “the paths to the tree”. We talked about people being able to get to the tree by following someone who is at the tree and not having to struggle for a long time through the mists of darkness – like following parents, for example.

I asked whom Lehi called to the tree. They said his family. I nodded then asked them if he had called his family all at once. They said he called Sariah, Sam, and Nephi first. I said to put themselves in Lehi’s shoes and tell me why he might have done that. They realized Lehi probably thought immediately of his favorite, “righteous” family members. I asked them to put themselves in Laman and Lemuel’s shoes and tell me what they might have seen and felt. “You want us to have the leftovers.” “Sure, they got to eat first and NOW you’re calling us?” One of them pointed out that Laman and Lemuel might have seen and heard Lehi’s first call and might have been angry and frustrated before Lehi thought to call to them. (I had not considered that. I think it is profound.)

Finally, Lehi watched everyone else struggle and didn’t call out to anyone else. We talked about the tendency to judge others and “call out” only to people whom we love already or who seem to be ready and/or willing to accept our message.

2) THE TREE AND THE FRUIT: The fruit is the love of God (which, in Mormon terms, can be called The Atonement), so the tree has to be the producer of the love of God – which means the tree has to be God (or The Godhead). We talked about how people might try to offer fruit that isn’t connected to the tree – or how we might associate things we do with the love of God without really doing them from a sense of love. We talked about everything hanging on love and how removing the connection to love makes the fruit rot.

I stressed at this point that NOTHING in the vision was symbolic of a church or any other formal organization.

3) THE PATHS TO THE TREE: We talked about the difference between “the word” (the scriptures) and “The Word” (Jesus). We talked about whether we rely on the scriptures or if we rely on Jesus and use the scriptures to help us get to Jesus. We also talked again about Lehi getting to God directly without the scriptures – and why that is an important distinction for them.

4) THE GREAT AND SPACIOUS BUILDING: We talked about those adjectives. The building was spacious (objective) simply because it was large enough to hold a lot of people without being crowded. It appeared “great”(subjective) because everyone seemed happy and wealthy and elevated. We talked about how easy it is to value each of those things in our own lives. We talked about mocking – especially others who are doing their best to find love. We talked about how we might mock others who don’t have what we have or believe as we believe. We talked mocking being a character trait, not just an action. We talked about thinking and saying we are connected to the tree but acting in a non-loving way.

One of the students mentioned that the temple can be used as a great and spacious building if we are so proud of ourselves for being there that we put ourselves above people who don’t go there.

5) THE GROUPS OF PEOPLE: We talked about how we tend to rank the groups of people. We talked about how people who struggle without ever giving up, especially when they have not experienced godly love, might be more “valiant” and “faithful” than those whose parents take them to the tree without ever sharing the fruit with others. I described two situations where people I know have left the LDS Church over severe treatment by other church members – and how judging them for it doesn’t reflect compassion and love. We talked about the concept that God ultimately doesn’t condemn people for not making it to the tree in this lifetime.

6) THE MISTS OF DARKNESS: We identified the mists of darkness as everything that obscures the love of God. We talked about general things, like racism, oppression, hatred, bigotry, nationalism, etc. that put some people above others, but we focused on identifying specific things about themselves and their attitudes that were not truly loving. I didn’t ask them to share anything with the group, but I asked them to look inside themselves and see what might need to go in order for them to be connected to the tree, partaking of and sharing the fruit. I told them that process should be a lifelong journey and that it is what I believe is the heart of the vision – NOT the more narrow interpretations that have developed over the last 200 years, but what it can mean indivudlaly when we liken it to ourselves.

[Anonymous]

What a wonderful discussion! Sounds like you have a great class!

[Anonymous]

Old Timer wrote:

I focused today on 1 Nephi 19:23 where it talks about likening things unto ourselves. I used Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life as the central example, since I was gone two weeks ago when that would have been the lesson.

We took the first few minutes to read the likening verse and talk about what it means to liken something to ourselves. We settled on two things: 1) seeing what lessons we could take from it; and 2) putting ourselves in the story and seeing what we learn from that. I told them I wanted to go back to the Tree of Life vision and do those those two things, focusing on each unique element of the vision. We created the following list of elements: Lehi, the tree and fruit, the path to the tree and the iron rod, the great and spacious building, the groups of people, Lehi family, the mists of darkness, the river and pit.

1) LEHI AND HIS FAMILY: I asked how Lehi got to the tree….

2) THE TREE AND THE FRUIT: The fruit is the love of God (which, in Mormon terms, can be called The Atonement), so the tree has to be the producer of the love of God – which means the tree has to be God (or The Godhead)…

I stressed at this point that NOTHING in the vision was symbolic of a church or any other formal organization.

3) THE PATHS TO THE TREE: We talked about the difference between “the word” (the scriptures) and “The Word” (Jesus)…

4) THE GREAT AND SPACIOUS BUILDING: We talked about those adjectives. We talked about thinking and saying we are connected to the tree but acting in a non-loving way….

5) THE GROUPS OF PEOPLE: …We talked about the concept that God ultimately doesn’t condemn people for not making it to the tree in this lifetime.

6) THE MISTS OF DARKNESS: We identified the mists of darkness as everything that obscures the love of God.

Thanks for this. I had been mulling over the fruit = Charity; so the iron rod by definition is a road that leads us to being more charitable instead of other traditional symbols. However, yours is a more in-depth look that provides deeper meanings. I actually talked it over with my friend the Primary President on the way home from the training. I was mostly test-driving the idea that this different interpretation was viable for a variety of belief paradigms.

Thank you!

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