2 Nephi 5-8

Lesson Quotes:
President Boyd K. Packer

“We cannot set off on a wrong course without first overruling a warning.” (quoted by Elder Kenneth Johnson, Ensign, Nov. 2002, 90)

Elder Jensen
“Certain unchanging principles and truths bring happiness to our lives. This subject has been of interest to me for many years because although I am richly blessed and have every reason to be happy, I sometimes struggle and do not always have the natural inclination toward happiness and a cheerful disposition that some people seem to enjoy.

“For that reason, several years ago a Book of Mormon passage caught my attention. … Nephi established a society founded on gospel truths; and of that society he says, ‘And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness’ (2 Ne. 5:27). The passage deeply impressed me. … I wondered … what the individual elements of a truly happy society and life might be, and I began to search Nephi’s writings for clues. I … invite you to conduct your own personal search. It could be a lifelong and worthwhile pursuit. …

“… The same patterns and elements of daily life that enabled Nephi and his people to be happy 560 years before Christ work equally well today” (“Living after the Manner of Happiness,” Ensign, Dec. 2002, 56, 61).

President Gordon B. Hinckley

“Happiness comes of righteousness. ‘Wickedness never was happiness.’ (Alma 41:10.) Sin never was happiness. Selfishness never was happiness. Greed never was happiness. Happiness lies in living the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ” (in “Fast-Paced Schedule for the Prophet,” Church News, Apr. 20, 1996, 3).

Elder Marlin K. Jensen

“Nephi writes, ‘And I, Nephi, did build a temple’ (2 Ne. 5:16). Nephi’s temple may have differed in some ways from our latter-day temples, but its central purpose was likely the same: to teach and orient God’s children concerning His plan for their happiness and to provide the ordinances and covenants essential to the attainment of that happiness.

“After living on this good earth for over five decades, I can honestly say that the most spiritually mature and happy people I know are ardent temple goers. There is good reason for that. It is in the temple that the full sweep of God’s program for us is told and retold, each telling bringing greater understanding and commitment to living life His way. …

“A good test of how well we are doing in our quest to come unto Christ may be how we feel about the temple and our experiences there. Temple can be synonymous with happiness and joy. It was for Nephi and his people” (“Living after the Manner of Happiness,” Ensign, Dec. 2002, 60).

Elder Jeffery R. Holland

"As for the shortening of his hands, the scriptures repeatedly testify that the reach of God's arm is more than adequate, the extent of his grace entirely sufficient. He can always claim and embrace the Israel that he loves. In spite of their unfaithfulness, his hand remains constant, not shortened or slackened or withheld." (Christ and the New Covenant, 84-85)

Story from Lesson:

Elder F. Burton Howard

“A few years ago I was asked to speak to a group of young men. I don’t remember now exactly what was said, except that near the end I made the statement that no one … present had done anything for which he could not be forgiven.

“After the meeting was over one of them came up to me and said, ‘I just have to talk to you.’ …

“… We found a little unused classroom, went in, and closed the door. ‘Did you really mean it? Did you?’ he asked.

“‘Mean what?’ I said.

“‘The part about how none of us had done anything that could not be forgiven,’ he replied.

“‘Of course I did,’ I said.

“Through his tears his story came. He was of goodly parents. All of his life his mother had told him that he was going on a mission. Before he turned nineteen he was involved in serious transgression. He didn’t know how to tell his parents. He knew it would break their hearts. He knew that he wasn’t worthy to serve a mission. In desperation, he began to look for an excuse not to go. He decided to take up smoking. He felt that his father could understand that better and would not probe for the real reason. Smoking would hurt his parents, he rationalized, but not as deeply as the truth.

“He soon found, however, that the bishop wasn’t put off by his use of tobacco. The bishop told him to just stop it and go on a mission anyway. So to get away from the bishop, he entered the military service. There he fell under the influence of some good Latter-day Saints. He stopped smoking. He was able to avoid major temptations. He served his time, received an honorable discharge, and returned home.

“There was only one problem. He felt guilty. He had run away from a mission. He had run from the Lord and sensed somehow that gnawing discontent which comes when men do not live up to the purpose of their creation” 

“[The young man] said, ‘But after all of that, how can I ever know the Lord has really forgiven me?’

“‘That is the easy part,’ I replied. ‘When you have fully repented, you feel an inner peace. You know somehow you are forgiven because the burden you have carried for so long, all of a sudden isn’t there anymore. It is gone and you know it is gone.’

“He seemed doubtful still.

“‘I wouldn’t be surprised,’ I said, ‘if when you leave this room, you discover that you have left much of your concern in here. If you have fully repented, the relief and the peace you feel will be so noticeable that it will be a witness to you that the Lord has forgiven you. If not today, I think it will happen soon.’

“… I opened the door and we went out together. I didn’t know if we would ever meet again. The following Sunday evening, I received a telephone call at my home. It was from the young man.

“‘Brother Howard, how did you know?’

“‘How did I know what?’ I asked.

“‘How did you know I would feel good about myself for the first time in five years?’

“‘Because the Lord promised he would remember no more,’ I said. (See Heb. 8:12.)

“Then came the question: ‘Do you think the Church could use a twenty-four-year-old missionary? If they could, I would sure like to go’” (“Repentance,” Ensign, May 1983, 59).