2008 Gospel Doctrine Lesson 6: “Free to Choose Liberty and Eternal Life”

This lesson covers 2 Nephi 1–2.

Link to full lesson is here:  http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=32c41b08f338c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=ebe512ca67c20110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1&contentLocale=0

2 Nephi 1 contains Lehi’s counsel to his sons before he died. 

Consider the relevance of the words free, act, and choose.

·         Read 2 Nephi 2:6–8 and consider how you “make these things known” and how this shows gratitude for His Atonement?

·         Read 2 Nephi 2:15–25 and think about (1) the condition of Adam and Eve before leaving the Garden and (2) opposition and challenges they faced after leaving the Garden. Are there any blessings that came because of the Fall (and the opposition it brought into the world)? (See 2 Nephi 2:23–27; Moses 5:10–12.)

Suggestion for Family Discussion

Invite family members to pretend to be investigators and missionaries.  Have the investigators ask the questions below and the missionaries have to answer them using scriptures from 2 Nephi 2.

·         What do members of your church mean when they say that Jesus is their Savior? (See 2 Nephi 2:5–10.)

·         Why do good and evil co-exist in the world and why does God allow this? (See 2 Nephi 2:11–13.)

·         I don’t like commandments -- won’t they limit my freedom? (See 2 Nephi 2:26–29.)

Comments

[Stan]

I hadn't really thought about how we express gratitude for Christ's atonement by "making these things known" - by sharing the message of his sacrifice and his atonement. Keeping this to ourselves would then be a form of ingratitude. I need to do a much better job of showing gratitude to Christ by sharing his good news.

The doctrines found in the Book of Mormon about opposition in all things, and the necessity of having to choose good or evil, provide a lot of clarity about concepts that are fairly mysterious if all you have is the Bible to rely upon. What an incredible insight that opposition is not only inevitable but necessary for us to experience mortality and ultimately joy! If I am not experiencing joy, perhaps it is because I am not always making the choices that lead to or permit joy.

2 Nephi 5 makes it clear that without Christ and His grace and mercy, there is no salvation for me or anyone. This is His church and His gospel. It is hard to imagine how anyone could claim that members of the Church of Jesus Christ are not Christians.