Lesson 42: "This is My Gospel"

Reading:
3 Nephi 27 & 28
4 Nephi 1

Additional reading: 
Doctrine and Covenants 39:1–6
The Gospel of Jesus Christ - April 2008 General Conference - L. Tom Perry
Handbook 2 - 1.2.1  The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Articles of Faith - Particularly 1-4 and 13

Overview:
a. 3 Nephi 27. The Savior commands His twelve Nephite disciples to call the Church after His name. He expounds His gospel.
b. 3 Nephi 28. One by one, the Savior grants His twelve Nephite disciples the desires of their hearts. Three of the disciples desire and are given power to remain on earth to preach the gospel until the Savior returns in His glory.
c. 4 Nephi 1. All the people are converted, and they establish a society of perfect peace. Many years later, the majority of the people dwindle in unbelief and reject the gospel.

Questions to Ponder:
a. The Savior commands His Nephite disciples to call the Church after His name. He expounds His gospel. 3 Nephi 27.

• Jesus’ Nephite disciples were “united in mighty prayer and fasting” when Jesus came to them and asked, “What will ye that I shall give unto you?” (3 Nephi 27:1–2). 
  • What did the disciples ask of Him? (See 3 Nephi 27:3.) 
  • What was His answer to their question? (See 3 Nephi 27:4–9.)
• The Lord has commanded that His restored Church, like His Church among the Nephites, be called after His name (D&C 115:4). 
  • Why is it important for us to remember that the Church is called after the name of Jesus Christ?
• Jesus said, “Whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name” (3 Nephi 27:7). 
  • What are some things we do in the name of Christ? 
    • President Boyd K. Packer said:
    • “Every prayer we offer is in His name. Every ordinance performed is in His name. Every baptism, confirmation, blessing, ordination, every sermon, every testimony is concluded with the invocation of His sacred name. It is in His name that we heal the sick and perform other miracles of which we do not, cannot, speak.
    • “In the sacrament we take upon ourselves the name of Christ. We covenant to remember Him and keep His commandments. He is present in all that we believe” (“The Peaceable Followers of Christ,” Ensign, Apr. 1998, 64).
• Jesus taught that in addition to being called after His name, His Church must be “built upon [His] gospel.” He said, “If it so be that the church is built upon my gospel then will the Father show forth his own works in it” (3 Nephi 27:10). 
  • What are the works of the Father? (See 3 Nephi 21:1–9, 24–29; Moses 1:39.) 
  • How have you seen these works in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
  • When we as Latter-day Saints bear testimony, we often say that they know the gospel is true. 
    • How they would respond if, after saying “I know the gospel is true,” you were asked, “What is the gospel?”
  • After Jesus said that His Church must be built on His gospel, He gave His disciples a concise, complete definition of His gospel. (See 3 Nephi 27:13–22).
• What did the Savior promise to those who live according to His gospel? (See 3 Nephi 27:21–22.)
• Jesus asked His disciples, “What manner of men ought ye to be?” 
  • What was the answer to this question? (See 3 Nephi 27:27).
  • What can you do to be more like the Savior.

b. The Savior grants the desires of His twelve disciples. 3 Nephi 28

• Nine asked that their ministries might end when they reached a certain age and that they might then go speedily to Him in His kingdom. 
• The last three Nephite disciples wanted to remain on earth and bring souls to Christ until the end of the world. 
  • Jesus said that these disciples were “more blessed” because of their desire (3 Nephi 28:7). 
  • What can we learn from this statement? (See D&C 15:6; 16:6; 18:10–16.)
• In response to their request, the three disciples were transfigured, meaning that their bodies were changed so they “could behold the things of God” (3 Nephi 28:13–15). Then they were translated. 
  • What does the account in 3 Nephi 28 teach about translated beings? (See 3 Nephi 28:7–40). 

   a. Translated beings never taste of death or endure the pains of death (3 Nephi 28:7–8, 38).
b. When the Savior comes in His glory, they will be “changed in the twinkling of an eye from mortality to immortality” (3 Nephi 28:8).
c. Except for the sorrow they feel for the sins of the world, they do not experience pain or sorrow (3 Nephi 28:9, 38).
d. They help people become converted to the Lord (3 Nephi 28:9, 18, 23, 29–30).
e. They cannot be killed or harmed in any way (3 Nephi 28:19–22).
f. Satan cannot tempt them or have any power over them (3 Nephi 28:39).
g. They remain in a translated state until the Judgment Day, when they will be resurrected and received into the kingdom of God (3 Nephi 28:40).
c. After many years of peace, the majority of the people dwindle in unbelief and reject the gospel.  4 Nephi 1

• According to verses from 4 Nephi 1:1–18 what are some of the characteristics of the people described in these verses?
• For many years after Jesus’ visit, there was no contention among the people (4 Nephi 1:2, 4, 13, 15–18). 
  • Why was there no contention? (See 4 Nephi 1:15.) 
  • How can we become like the righteous people described in 4 Nephi? 
  • What can we do so that the love of God will dwell in our hearts?
    • President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “If the world is to be improved, the process of love must make a change in [our] hearts. … It can do so when we look beyond self to give our love to God and others, and do so with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind” (“And the Greatest of These Is Love,” Ensign, Mar. 1984, 5).
• During this period of peace, there was not “any manner of -ites” (4 Nephi 1:17). 
  • What does this mean? (See 4 Nephi 1:2–3, 15–17.) 
  • What problems exist today because of distinctions between groups of people? 
  • In what ways can the gospel help us become united, despite our differences?
• What contributed to the end of this long era of peace? (See 4 Nephi 1:20–46.)

a. Division and the creation of classes (4 Nephi 1:20, 26, 35)
b. Pride and greed because of riches (4 Nephi 1:23–25, 41, 43; see also 3 Nephi 27:32)
c. Churches that professed to know Christ but denied most of His gospel (4 Nephi 1:26–29, 34)
d. Churches built up to help people get gain (4 Nephi 1:26–29, 41)
e. Hard-heartedness (4 Nephi 1:31)
f. Persecution of Christ’s followers (4 Nephi 1:29–34)
g. Parents teaching children not to believe in Christ (4 Nephi 1:38)
h. Parents teaching children to hate (4 Nephi 1:39)
i. Secret combinations (4 Nephi 1:42, 46)

• The attitudes and actions described in 4 Nephi 1:40–46 led to the Nephites’ destruction. 
  • Why is it important for us to examine this account?