Repent and Prepare
Mormon 1-6 | October 26 – November 1
Mormon grew up in a time when the people were very wicked. As a young man, he was asked to be a leader of a Nephite army. Thousands of Lamanites and Nephites were killed in battle. They relied on their own strength and refused to repent, even when the Lord mercifully spared them from their enemies. Eventually, Mormon witnessed the destruction of his people, the Nephites.
Mormon warns us that we must also repent and prepare ourselves. In our day, just like Mormon, we have to live with wickedness around us. Mormon relied on his faith and he prayed often for strength. We can also remain righteous and find peace, no matter what is happening around us, if we have faith in Jesus Christ and pray for strength and comfort.
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Read and Discuss
Scripture
Mormon 3:22
“And I would that I could persuade all ye ends of the earth to repent and prepare to stand before the judgment-seat of Christ.”
- Why didn’t the Nephites have the strength of the Lord to help them in battle?
- Why did the Lord give the people another chance to repent?
- How can we prepare ourselves to resist temptations?
- Why is it important to repent quickly?
- How can we be righteous even though there is wickedness around us?
Quote
“The best time to resist temptation is early. The best time to repent is now. The enemy of our souls will place thoughts in our minds to tempt us. We can decide early to exercise faith, to cast out evil thoughts before we act on them. And we can choose quickly to repent when we do sin, before Satan can weaken our faith and bind us. Seeking forgiveness is always better now than later… Decisions now to exercise faith and be steady in obedience will in time produce great faith and assurance. That is the spiritual preparedness we all will need.” Henry B. Eyring
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Activity
The Steps of Repentance
We know it’s important to repent, but how do we do it? This activity will help your children understand the basic steps of repentance.
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Treat
“White as Snow” Candy
We’ve been promised that if we repent, “though [our] sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). This treat turns red cinnamon bears into a delicious, white treat.
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Mormon 1: Ammaron instructs Mormon concerning the sacred records—War commences between the Nephites and the Lamanites—The Three Nephites are taken away—Wickedness, unbelief, sorceries, and witchcraft prevail. About A.D. 321–26.
Mormon 2: Mormon leads the Nephite armies—Blood and carnage sweep the land—The Nephites lament and mourn with the sorrowing of the damned—Their day of grace is passed—Mormon obtains the plates of Nephi—Wars continue. About A.D. 327–50.
Mormon 3: Mormon cries repentance unto the Nephites—They gain a great victory and glory in their own strength—Mormon refuses to lead them, and his prayers for them are without faith—The Book of Mormon invites the twelve tribes of Israel to believe the gospel. About A.D. 360–62.
Mormon 4: War and carnage continue—The wicked punish the wicked—Greater wickedness prevails than ever before in all Israel—Women and children are sacrificed to idols—The Lamanites begin to sweep the Nephites before them. About A.D. 363–75.
Mormon 5: Mormon again leads the Nephite armies in battles of blood and carnage—The Book of Mormon will come forth to convince all Israel that Jesus is the Christ—Because of their unbelief, the Lamanites will be scattered, and the Spirit will cease to strive with them—They will receive the gospel from the Gentiles in the latter days. About A.D. 375–84.
Mormon 6: The Nephites gather to the land of Cumorah for the final battles—Mormon hides the sacred records in the hill Cumorah—The Lamanites are victorious, and the Nephite nation is destroyed—Hundreds of thousands are slain with the sword. About A.D. 385.
Guest Author
dyejo
