Lesson 35: Repent and Return unto the Lord

Purpose:

To remind class members of the importance of repenting, turning to the Lord, and following the prophets.

Reading:

Helaman 13-16

Additional Reading:

Preserving the Heart’s Mighty Change - Dale G. Renlund - October 2009

Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins - David A. Bednar - April 2016

Overview:

a. Helaman 13. A Lamanite prophet named Samuel prophesies that the Nephites will be destroyed unless they repent.

b. Helaman 14. Samuel prophesies of the signs that will precede the birth and death of the Savior. He continues to call the people to repentance.

c. Helaman 15–16. Samuel tells the Nephites of the conversion of the Lamanites. Some Nephites believe Samuel and are baptized. Others harden their hearts and try to kill Samuel, but he is spared by the power of God.

Questions to Ponder:

a. Samuel warns the Nephites that they will be destroyed unless they repent.  Helaman 13. 

A Lamanite prophet named Samuel went to preach in Zarahemla, but the Nephites cast him out of the land. The Lord commanded Samuel to return to Zarahemla and prophesy. When the Nephites did not allow Samuel to enter the city, he stood on the city wall and prophesied to them (Helaman 13:1–4).

• Samuel warned the people that because of the hardness of their hearts, the Lord would take His word from them and withdraw His Spirit from them (Helaman 13:8). 
• ]Why do these consequences come to people who harden their hearts? (See Mosiah 2:36–37.) 
• What can we do to soften our hearts?
• Through the prophet Samuel, the Lord said, “Blessed are they who will repent and turn unto me” (Helaman 13:11). 
• How might some people attempt to repent without turning to the Lord? 
• Why is turning to the Lord an essential part of repentance?
• President Ezra Taft Benson taught:
• “Repentance means more than simply a reformation of behavior. Many men and women in the world demonstrate great will-power and self-discipline in overcoming bad habits and the weaknesses of the flesh. Yet at the same time they give no thought to the Master, sometimes even openly rejecting Him. Such changes of behavior, even if in a positive direction, do not constitute true repentance. …
• “… True repentance is based on and flows from faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no other way. True repentance involves a change of heart and not just a change of behavior (see Alma 5:13)” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 71).
• The Nephites had “set their hearts upon riches” (Helaman 13:20–21). 
• In addition, they had not hearkened to the words of the Lord, who had given them their riches (Helaman 13:21). 
• Because of this, the Nephites and their riches were cursed (Helaman 13:17–22). 
• In what ways do people give more time and attention to worldly concerns than to spiritual concerns? 
• How can we assess whether we are giving enough attention to our spiritual welfare?
• Samuel said that the Nephites always remembered their riches but did not remember to thank the Lord for them (Helaman 13:22). 
• Why is it difficult for some people to remain grateful when they are blessed with abundance? 
• How does gratitude counteract pride? 
• In what ways can we show gratitude to the Lord?
• The Nephites persecuted and killed the prophets of their day, but they said, “If our days had been in the days of our fathers of old, we would not have slain the prophets” (Helaman 13:24–25; compare with Matthew 23:29–39). 
• Why do people sometimes praise past prophets and reject living prophets? (See Helaman 13:26.) 
• How do some people allow themselves to “be led by foolish and blind guides”? (See Helaman 13:27–29.)
• According to Samuel, the Nephites had “sought for happiness in doing iniquity” (Helaman 13:38). 
• Why is it impossible to find true happiness in sin? (See Helaman 13:38; see also Alma 41:10–11.) 
• How can we find true happiness? 
• How can we help others find true happiness?
• The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 255–56).

b. Samuel prophesies of the signs that will precede the birth and death of the Savior. He continues to call the people to repentance.  Helaman 14.

• Samuel prophesied of the Savior’s birth and death (Helaman 14:2, 15). 
• What signs did Samuel say would attend the Savior’s birth and death? (See Helaman 14:3–7, 20–28.)
• Samuel said that if the people would repent, they would receive a remission of their sins through the merits of Christ (Helaman 14:13). 
• Merits are qualities or actions that entitle a person to claim rewards. 
• Why is it only through the Savior’s merits that we can be forgiven of our sins? (See 2 Nephi 2:7–9; Alma 22:14.)
• President Ezra Taft Benson taught, “Even the most just and upright man cannot save himself solely on his own merits” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 71).
• According to Samuel, why did Jesus have to die? (See Helaman 14:15–18.) 
• How does knowing of the Savior’s sacrifice affect you?
• Samuel said, “If [people] are condemned they bring upon themselves their own condemnation” (Helaman 14:29). 
• Why is this so? (See Helaman 14:30–31.) 
• Why is it essential that we be “permitted to act for [our]selves”?

3. Some believe Samuel and are baptized. Others harden their hearts and try to kill Samuel.  Helaman 15–16

• Why did the Lord chasten the Nephites? (See Helaman 15:3; see also Hebrews 12:6.) 
• How does the Lord’s chastening show His love for us? 
• What can we learn from the Lord’s chastening?
• The Lamanites who experienced a change of heart remained “firm and steadfast in the faith” (Helaman 15:8). 
• When we experience a change of heart, what must we do to ensure that the change is lasting? (See 2 Nephi 31:19–20.)
• How did the Nephites respond to Samuel’s prophecies and warning? (See Helaman 16:1–7.) 
• Why do you think many of the people did not believe Samuel even when they saw that he was miraculously protected?
• Although they saw that the words of the prophets were being fulfilled, the majority of the Nephites began to harden their hearts and depend on their own strength and wisdom (Helaman 16:13–15). 
• How did these unbelieving Nephites explain away the signs that they had seen? (See Helaman 16:16–23.) 
• What are the dangers of trying to understand the gospel with only our intellect?