Lesson 41: 3 Nephi 27- 4 Nephi

 October 19-25
3 Nephi 27- 4 Nephi
"There could not be a happier people" 

Materials: a blanket, printout cards, scissors, tape
Opening Song: "The Church of Jesus Christ" (Children's Songbook, 77)
Opening Prayer: 
Scripture: 4 Nephi 1:17

Attention Activity: 

Lay out a large blanket or sheet on the ground and have your family stand on it. Challenge your family to flip over the blanket so that they are standing on the other side of the blanket without stepping off.

Lesson:

After the Savior's visit to the Nephites, the land was blessed with peace. Everyone was righteous and did good things. Unlike times before, this period of peace lasted a long time--nearly 200 years. What do you think it would have been like to live in such a peaceful time?

So what was their secret? How did the Nephites and Lamanites live in peace, harmony, and unity for so long? 

Activity: 4 Nephi cards

Before the lesson print and cut out the cards below. Tape them around the room. Each family member can take a turn choosing a card and reading the scripture. Discuss how the actions in each verse would help to build a happy peaceful society. Some sample discussion questions are below.

• How would personal repentance lead to peace in a community?
• How do contention and arguments take away the spirit?
• Having everything in common means that everyone would equally contribute to society. How would our society be different if we could live this principle?
• Why would more miracles be possible in a righteous society?
• What are some outward blessings of living the gospel described in this verse?
• Why are strong marriages and families an important part of a peaceful people?
• What is the difference between the law of Moses and the law of the gospel?
• How can we have the love of God in our hearts?
• The world tries to find happiness via wickedness. How did the Nephite people prove that living righteously brings happiness?
• What can we do to be more unified as a family? As a community? As a church? 

For 200 hundred years, the Nephites proved that living the gospel of Jesus Christ brings joy and prosperity. Righteousness is freedom. Trying your best to live the teachings of Jesus Christ will bring you a full and happy life.

Closing Song: "I believe in Christ" (Hymnal, 134)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Butterscotch Brownies recipe here 

Lesson 40: 3 Nephi 20-26

 October 12-18
3 Nephi 20-26
"Ye are the children of the covenant"

Materials: family photo albums, personal journal, paper, art supplies, pens, small notebooks for anyone in your family without a journal
Opening Song: "Families Can be Together Forever" (Children's Songbook, 188) 
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: 3 Nephi 24:16

Attention Activity: Have your family look through some old photo albums. Look at pictures you've taken this year. 

Lesson:
As Jesus was teaching the Nephites, he wanted to stress the importance of the scriptures. He quoted the prophets Isaiah and Malachi. He also told the people that they should be keeping records of all that has happened to them. Read 23:6-13. The Nephites had not yet recorded the prophesies of Samuel the Lamanite. Christ makes it clear the he wants his disciples to keep good records. 

What are some wayswe can keep records? (Journaling, writing down family stories, taking and captioning pictures, keeping scripture journals, reading general conference talks, reading church magazines, updating records and pictures on Family Search)

If the Savior were to come meet with our family right now and examine our family records, how would we do? Could we be more diligent in keeping a journal and doing these other things?

Show the pictures below and read the quotes. We have been asked by modern prophets to keep a journal. What kinds of things should we journal about? Journals should not include mundane details like what we had for lunch, etc. Good journal keeping means that we records important life events, our thoughts and feelings, family stories, personal revelations, spiritual experiences, and our testimonies. (If there are members of your family who do not have a personal journal, you can give them a small notebook to use)

Activity: 2020 Family Record. 

2020 has been an interesting year. Many important events have happened. Staring with the beginning of the year, ask your family to think back to everything that has happened this year so far. You may even want to look through recent photos on your phone to help you remember. 

Give each family member a piece of paper. Have them write down their memories of 2020 so far. Encourage your family to write down not just what happened but how they felt about it. Including interesting details or stories is always good in journaling too. Encourage younger family members to draw pictures. When everyone has finished,  print some pictures to go along with your memories and bind them into a small book. You can even leave a few pages blank to record important events in the upcoming months.

Read 25:5-6 How do we turn our hearts to the fathers?

Just as we are asked to keep journals and records of what happen to us, our ancestors also kept records. How can we learn more about our ancestors? (reading written accounts, looking up family documents, and looking at your family tree on Family Search.) How can we help our family members who have passed away? We can continue to do family history work by indexing, updating family search, and finding names to take to the temple.

Closing Song: "The Hearts of the Children" (Children's Songbook, 92)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Pumpkin pie twists recipe here 

Lesson 39: 3 Nephi 17-19

 September 28 - October 11
3 Nephi 17-19 
"Behold, My Joy is Full" 

Materials: a rock, bread, water, a grape vine, printouts (below)
Opening Song: "Reverently, Quietly" (Children's Songbook, 26)
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: 3 Nephi 18: 5:12

Attention Activity: Show the following items to your family: a rock, water, a grape vine, bread. What do all of these things have in common? These common objects are also names for the Savior used in the scriptures (the rock, the living water, the true vine, the bread of life). These everyday objects can remind us of the Savior and the role He has in our lives. Every week we get to remember the Savior in a special ordinance--the sacrament.

Lesson:

When Christ came to visit the Nephites, He showed them how to administer and partake of the sacrament just like He did at the last supper. He wanted everyone to know that this special ordinance was to be done often to remember His atonement. 

Read 3 Nephi 18:5-6 Jesus explained that the person who breaks, blesses, and administers the bread must be ordained--that is they must have the priesthood. This is important because the sacrament is a priesthood ordinance that reminds us of the atonement and renews the covenants we made with Heavenly Father when we were baptized. 

(Hold up the bread.) During the sacrament we take the bread first. What does the bread represent? Read 3 Nephi 18:7. The bread reminds us of the body of Christ. It is broken bread should remind us of all of the physical pains that the Savior went through for us to ensure the atonement. What were some of the things that happened to Jesus when He was crucified?

(Hold up the water.) What should the water remind us of? Read 3 Nephi 18:11. The water helps us to remember the blood that Christ shed for us in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. It should help us remember the Savior suffered to save of from out sins and weaknesses. You may need to remind your family that we drink water instead of wine because in D&C 27 the Lord revealed that water should be substituted to coincide with the Word of Wisdom. (Here's the church if they have more questions.)

In 3 Nephi it speaks of how the people were "filled" after they had partaken of the sacrament. This means they were spiritually filled. What do you think it means to be spiritually filled? When we partake of the sacrament, we can get a sense of completeness. We can feel more holy. 

The sacrament is a time when we try to be very reverent. We should try our best not to be distracted and focus on Jesus Christ. It is also a good time to reflect. We can ask ourselves questions like "How do I feel about the Savior's sacrifice for me?", "What can I do this week to become more Christlike?" "Am I acting like a disciple of Christ?" "What can I do to improve?" "Who can I serve this week?" You can also try to remember your baptism and the covenants you made. 

Have a family member read the following quote from President Eyring: “As you examine your life during the ordinance of the sacrament, I hope your thoughts center not only on things you have done wrong but also on things you have done right—moments when you have felt that Heavenly Father and the Savior were pleased with you. You may even take a moment during the sacrament to ask God to help you see these things. … When I have done this, the Spirit has reassured me that while I’m still far from perfect, I’m better today than I was yesterday. And this gives me confidence that, because of the Savior, I can be even better tomorrow” (“Always Remember Him,” Ensign, Feb. 2018, 5).

Print out the picture below. Encourage family members to put this in the scriptures or someplace they will be able to find it. Choose a question that you want to ask yourself this coming Sunday as you partake of the sacrament. Bear your testimony of the sacrament. 

Closing Song: "The Sacrament" (Children's Songbook, 72)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Cinnamon Apple Fritter Bread Recipe here

Lesson 38: 3 Nephi 12-16

 September 21-27
3 Nephi 12-16
"I Am the Law and the Light" 

Materials: Beattitude cards (below) printed and cut on yardstick, Law of Christ Matching printout. 
Opening Song: "Keep the Commandments" (Hymnal, 303)
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: 3 Nephi 12:48

Attention Activity:
Before FHE, print and cut out the cards onto card stock. Using the cards below, play the Beattitudes Matching game. Match the Beattitude to its blessing. Use 3 Nephi 12 or Matthew 5 for reference. 

Lesson:

During the Saviors mortal ministry in Israel, Jesus set up His church. He called twelve apostles and taught the people the gospel. What are some things Jesus taught while on the earth? Just like in Judea, when Jesus appears to the Nephites, He calls twelve apostles (disciples) and teaches the people the gospel. 

Do you remember leaning about the Sermon on the Mount? Well, in 3 Nephi 12, Jesus gives a similar sermon to the Nephites. He teaches them the beattitudes (point to the cards). He also teaches the Law of Christ. The Law of Christ is a kind of more advanced version of the 10 commandments and the Law of Moses. 

Activity: Law of Christ Matching

Print out the Matching sheet below. Have your family match the old mosaic laws to the new law of Christ taken from 3 Nephi 12. 

Read 3 Nephi 12: 47. Christ explains that the old laws, The Law of Moses, are done. The practice of sacrifice, which the Nephites had been doing is now fulfilled in Christ. Now people are to follow Christ's teachings. 

Read 3 Nephi 12: 48. Woah! Raise your hand if you are perfect. Uh oh! No one is raising their hand. Christ said that we need to be perfect like Heavenly Father and He is. So what now? Do we give up? In October Conference 2017, Elder Holland gave a marvelous talk on perfection called, "Be Ye Therefore Perfect--Eventually." (Have your family take turns reading the quotes from the talk below. You may also read or listen to the talk in it's entirety here.)

_________________________________________________

"I also know that, as children of God, we should not demean or vilify ourselves, as if beating up on ourselves is somehow going to make us the person God wants us to become. No! With a willingness to repent and a desire for increased righteousness always in our hearts, I would hope we could pursue personal improvement in a way that doesn’t include getting ulcers or anorexia, feeling depressed or demolishing our self-esteem."

"As President Russell M. Nelson has taught, here in mortality perfection is still “pending.”

"From the beginning the gospel has been “for the perfecting of the saints, … till we … come … unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”

Our only hope for true perfection is in receiving it as a gift from heaven_—we can’t “earn” it.

"It is not too much for Them to ask us to be a little more godlike in little things, that we speak and act, love and forgive, repent and improve..."

"So while in mortality let’s strive for steady improvement without obsessing over what behavioral scientists call “toxic perfectionism.”

"Brothers and sisters, every one of us aspires to a more Christlike life than we often succeed in living. If we admit that honestly and are trying to improve, we are not hypocrites; we are human."

"If we persevere, then somewhere in eternity our refinement will be finished and complete—which is the New Testament meaning of perfection."

______________________________________________________

 

Obviously perfection is a tall order. It's impossible for us as mortal beings to be perfect. We make mistakes. But we can always try a little harder and do a little better. We can't do everything perfect all the time, but we can start with doing one small thing perfect right now. For example there's no such thing as a perfect child, but there is such a thing as a perfectly clean room. 

Read Moroni 10:32-33. Through Christ's atonement we are made perfect as we repent. After all when we repent Heavenly Father remembers our sins "no more." We obtain ultimate perfection as we receive celestial glory and everyday we can try to come a little closer to that goal by following the Savior's teachings.

Closing Song: "Love One Another" (Children's Songbook, 136).
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: S'mores cookies recipe here

Lesson 37: 3 Nephi 8-11

 September 14-20
3 Nephi 8-11
"Arise and Come Forth Unto Me"

Materials: picture of the Christus Statue, "Testaments" video (optional)
Opening Song: "This is My Beloved Son" (Children's Hymnbook, 76)
Opening Prayer: 
Scripture: 3 Nephi 11: 7-8 Behold my ^aBeloved Son, ^bin whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him. And it came to pass, as they understood they cast their eyes up again towards heaven; and behold, they ^asaw a Man ^bdescending out of heaven; and he was clothed in a white robe; and he came down and stood in the midst of them; and the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him, and they durst not open their mouths, even one to another, and wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them.

Attention Activity:

Show a picture of the Christus statue like the one below. Have you ever seen this statue before in person? If so, what was it like? What can you see in the Savior's hands and feet? This statue reminds us of sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It also depicts how the Savior's arms are always open for us, inviting us to come unto Him. 

Lesson:

When Jesus came to the Nephites, he invited everyone in attendance to "Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may ^athrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may ^bfeel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the ^cGod of Israel, and the God of the whole ^dearth, and have been slain for the sins of the world." (3 Nephi 11:14). Jesus wanted the people to know with a surety that He was the Redeemer. 

Read 3 Nephi 11:15 and show the pictures that come in the manual: "One by One" by Walter Rane (pg. 147) and "One Shepherd" by Howard Lyn (pg. 149) Later, we read their were about 2,500 people in attendance that day. How long do you think it would  have taken for each and every person to meet the Savior and feel his wounds? If each person would have taken only 5 seconds, this would have taken just under 4 hours. Despite the length of time, this was important to the Savior. In fact, it's the first thing he does after descending from the heavens. 

The Savior wanted everyone there to have a personal testimony of him. He wants each of us to have personal spiritual experiences that build faith in Christ. Have you ever had a spiritual experience where you felt your testimony of the Savior grow? 

What are some things we can do to "Come unto Christ" to strengthen our testimonies of him? One of the amazing things about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is that it has some amazing programs and organizations put in place to help its members gain stronger testimonies. (Depending on the age of your family members, discuss some programs and experiences that can help everyone "Come unto Christ" i.e. primary activity days, youth activities, the Children and Youth goal setting program, seminary, church camps, FSY conferences, institute, Relief Society and Elder's Quorum activities, ministering, the Come Follow Me program, etc.) How have these programs strengthened your testimony? 

Just as the Savior ministered to the Nephites one by one, He has asked each of us to minister to those around us. He wants to act in His stead to help others and comfort those who need comfort. We can do this by doing acts of kindness for those in our family, helping in our community, and serving any who we have been assigned to as ministering brothers and sisters.

Jesus Christ know you by name. You are special to Him. If He were here now, we would also have the opportunity to see His scarred hands, feet, and side. We would fall to our knees, knowing that He saved us from our sins and enabled us to repent and live with Heavenly Father again. Jesus wants us to get to know Him. To learn about His life, His ministry, and His gospel. He wants us to bear testimony of Him. Bear your testimony of Jesus Christ. 

Optional Activity: "Testaments" video 

Closing Song: "He Sent His Son" (Children's Hymnbook, 34)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Snickerdoodle Zucchini Bread recipe here

Lesson 36: 3 Nephi 1-7

September 7-13

3 Nephi 1-7

"Lift up your head and be of good cheer"

Materials: "Following the Leader" video clip (below), print out disciple quote strips, Badge printouts (below), coloring supplies, 

Opening Song: "I'm trying to be like Jesus" (Children's Songbook, 78)

Opening Prayer:

Scripture: 3 Nephi 5:13

Attention Activity: 

Watch the video clip below.

Who were the lost boys following? Who are we supposed to follow? Another word for a follower is a disciple. 

Lesson:

What do you think it means to be a disciple of Christ? Sometimes in the scriptures the word "disciple" refers to the apostles, but today we are going to talk about disciples as "followers of Jesus Christ." We obviously cannot follow Jesus like the lost boys followed John around Neverland. So, how can we follow Jesus? 

Activity: Disciple Strips

Before the lesson cut out the quotes below. Pass out the strips containing quotations from the scriptures and President James E. Faust's talk, "Discipleship" from October 2006 General Conference. Have family members read their strips in order to spell out the word "Disciple." After they read each quote, use the talking points to discuss each letter.

______________________________________________________________

D- “The word for disciple and the word for discipline both come from the same Latin root_—discipulus, which means pupil. It emphasizes practice or exercise.” 

I- D&C 41:5  He that ^areceiveth my ^blaw and ^cdoeth it, the same is my disciple; and he that saith he receiveth it and ^ddoeth it not, the same is not my disciple, and shall be ^ecast out from among you;

S- “The disciples of Christ receive a call to not only forsake the pursuit of worldly things but to carry the cross daily. To carry the cross means to follow His commandments and to build up His Church on the earth. It also means self-mastery.”

C- “Our true claim as disciples comes when we can say with certainty that His ways have become our ways.”

I- D&C 52: 40 And remember in all things the ^apoor and the ^bneedy, the ^csick and the afflicted, for he that doeth not these things, the same is not my disciple.

P- D&C 45: 32 But my disciples shall ^astand in holy places, and shall not be moved;

 

L- D&C 103:27-28 27 Let no man be afraid to lay down his life for my sake; for whoso layeth down his life for my sake shall find it again.

28 And whoso is not willing to lay down his life for my sake is not my disciple.

“For most of us, however, what is required is not to die for the Church but to live for it. For many, living a Christlike life every day may be even more difficult than laying down one’s life.”

E- “Discipleship brings purpose to our lives so that rather than wandering aimlessly, we walk steadily on that strait and narrow way that leads us back to our Heavenly Father.”

__________________________________________________________________

Discussion Points: 

D- Disciples are students of Jesus, who learn from and practice his teachings.

I- Disciples are obedient to the laws and commandments of God. The not only don't do the things they aren't supposed to, but also they do the things they should. 

S- Disciples try to build God's Kingdom; they share the gospel with others. 

C- Disciples seek to do the Lord's will and follow direction from the Holy Ghost. 

I- Disciples serve others. They help those less fortunate and serve their families and communities.

P- Disciples stand in holy places and are not moved. This means that they stick to their standards wherever they are. They try to make their homes a sacred, holy place. And they try to attend church and the temple often.

L- Disciples should be willing to die for their testimony. Or as President Faust said, live for their testimony. This means living the what you believe. 

E- Disciples have purpose; they set goals. They understand the plan of salvation and seek celestial glory.  

Read 3 Nephi 5: 12-13. Mormon interrupts his narration to declare that he is a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Have you ever noticed any one in our family acting as a disciple of Christ? What did they do? Who else are good examples of discipleship?

Activity: Badge Coloring. 

Print out the page and cut out one per family member. Each person can color their own badge. Encourage your family to put it somewhere they will see it often (like their bathroom mirror, locker, etc.) The badge will remind them what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. 

Share your testimony of Jesus Christ and what you believe it means to be a true disciple. 

Closing Song: "The Church of Jesus Christ" (Children's Songbook, 77)

Closing Prayer:

Refreshment: Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

Lesson 35: Helaman 13-16

August 31- September 6

Helaman 13-16

"Glad Tidings of Great Joy"

Materials: Crayons, 5 pieces of paper cut into 2 halves width wise, a chair, balls of paper, a simple costume for Samuel the Lamanite made our of robes, towels, etc.) 

Opening Song: "Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus" (Children's Songbook, 36)

Opening Prayer:

Scriptures: Hel. 14:28 And the angel said unto me that many shall see greater things than these, to the intent that they might believe that ^athese signs and these wonders should come to pass upon all the face of this land, to the intent that there should be no cause for unbelief among the children of men

Attention Activity: Show the picture below. What are these? These are signs that warn drivers of things to come like railroad crossings, hills, exits, and stops. Why is it important to have warning sings? Heavenly Father also gives us warning signs sometimes. He has prophets tell us of things to come and signs to watch out for. One of these prophets was Samuel the Lamanite.

Lesson:

At this point in the Book of Mormon the Nephites have not been being very good. The Lord sends Samuel to try to teach the people repentance, but they turned him away. God told Samuel to go back and he would help Samuel know what to say to them. Samuel climbed a high wall to get back into the city and started to teach from the wall. He prophesied of many things including the destruction of the Nephites. He also prophesied of the Savior's birth and death. 

Activity: Coloring share. 

Before the lesson: Cut 5 pieces of paper width wise (hamburger) to make 10 halves. On each piece write one of the following verses from Helaman 14: 3, 5, 6, 7, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. Pass out the papers to each person (some may take two depending on the size of your family).

Directions: You will each read the verse from Helaman 14 on the top of your paper. The verse describes a sign of either Jesus's birth of His death. Draw a picture of representing the sign. (i.e. if the sign was that there would be a lot of snow, draw a snowflake or a snowman)

When your family is finished coloring, have each person share their drawings and tell what the sign was that Samuel the Lamanite said would happen. The signs should include: (birth signs) a day with no darkness, a new star, many wonders in the heavens, everyone fallen to the earth in wonder; (death signs) darkness for 3 days, thunderings and lightenings, earthquakes, new mountains and valleys, destroyed cities, people resurrecting (after 3rd day). 

As latter-day saints we are taught to have faith in God and not ask for signs. However sometimes God gives us signs to strengthen our faith and tell of things to come. Samuel said that Heavenly Father gives us these signs with the "intent that ye may believe on His name." (Hel. 14:12) Can you thunk if any signs the Lord has given to help you believe in Him? Signs that leas to faith are often more personal and less dramatic than earthquakes and new stars. What are some simple signs from your own life that lets you know that Jesus is the Christ. 

After Samuel taught about the signs, did the people listen? Some did, but others did not believe his words and were angry with him. What did the unbelievers do to Samuel. They fired many arrows and threw rocks at Samuel. The Lord protected him so that none of the projectiles hit him. When the people saw the Samuel was safe some people believed him and asked the prophet, Nephi to be baptized. 

Activity: Role play.

Have your family members take turns acting as Samuel. They can dress in a simple costume and stand on a chair to act as a wall. Have them tell one of the signs of Christ's birth or death. Then have the others throw paper balls, nerf bullets, etc. towards the Samuel actor. Remember the projectiles are not supposed to hit Samuel. 

Closing Song: "Book of Mormon Stories" verse 7 (Children's Songbook, 118)

Closing Prayer:

Refreshment: Chocolate Delight recipe here

Lesson 34: Helaman 7-12

August 24-30

Helaman 7-12

"Remember the Lord"

Materials: printed pictures of prophets below (1/person), popsicle stick (1/person), scissors, glue

Opening Song: "Follow the Prophet" (Children's Songbook, )

Opening Prayer:

Scripture: D&C 1:38

Attention Activity:

I am going to read out a list of facts about a specific person. When you think you know who it is, raise your hand. 

1. He is one of 4 children; he has two sisters and one brother. 

2. He joined the church when he was 16.

3. He met his wife while acting in a play in college. 

4. He was robbed at gunpoint in Mozambique, Africa.

5. He was a captain in the army.

6. He speaks fluent Chinese.

7. He has 10 children (9 daughters and 1 son)

8. He has perfect pitch and sings baritone.

9. He has performed surgery on dogs. 

10. He completed a surgical residency at Harvard University. 

Who is it? That is right; it is President Russel M. Nelson. 

Lesson:

At this point in the Book of Mormon, the prophet and leader of the church is Helaman's son, Nephi. Nephi encourages his people to "remember the Lord." Today we are going to talk about prophets. What do prophets do? 

Prophet Game: Before the game: print and cut out pictures of the two prophets below. Glue them together back to back on a popsicle stick. Make enough so that each person may have a prophet popsicle stick. 

Directions:  In order to learn more about what prophets do I'm going to read you a quote and I want you to show me with your popsicle stick whether the person talking is Nephi or President Nelson. Hold the correct person out towards me. 

1. Prophets cry repentance and warn of the consequences of sin.

Nephi: Helaman 7:17–19. "17 O repent ye, repent ye! ^aWhy will ye die? Turn ye, turn ye unto the Lord your God. Why has he forsaken you? 18 It is because you have hardened your hearts; yea, ye will not ^ahearken unto the voice of the ^bgood shepherd; yea, ye have ^cprovoked him to anger against you. 19 And behold, instead of ^agathering you, except ye will repent, behold, he shall scatter you forth that ye shall become meat for dogs and wild beasts."

"Repentance is the key to avoiding misery inflicted by traps of the adversary. The Lord does not expect perfection from us at this point in our eternal progression. But He does expect us to become increasingly pure. Daily repentance is the pathway to purity, and purity brings power." (President Nelson, "We Can Do Better and Be Better" General Conference, April, 2019.)

2. Prophets know by revelation from God what the people need to hear.

Nephi: Helaman 7: 29 Behold now, I do not say that these things shall be, of myself, because it is not of myself that I ^aknow these things; but behold, I ^bknow that these things are true because the Lord God has made them known unto me, therefore I testify that they shall be.

"Our Father knows that when we are surrounded by uncertainty and fear, what will help us the very most is to hear His Son. Because when we seek to hear—truly hear—His Son, we will be guided to know what to do in any circumstance...In those two words—“Hear Him”—God gives us the pattern for success, happiness, and joy in this life. We are to hear the words of the Lord, hearken to them, and heed what He has told us!" (President Nelson, "Hear Him" General Conference. April, 2020). 

3. Prophets are given the power to seal on earth and in heaven.

Nephi: Helaman 10:7. "Behold, I give unto you ^apower, that whatsoever ye shall ^bsealon earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people."

"Dear brothers and sisters, I express my love for you. During this time of tension and uncertainty, and invoking the authority vested in me, I would like to confer upon you an apostolic blessing. I bless you with peace and increasing faith in the Lord. I bless you with a desire to repent and become a little more like Him each day. I bless you to know that the Prophet Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness. Should there be illness among you or your loved ones, I leave a blessing of healing, consistent with the will of the Lord. I so bless you, adding once more my expression of love for each of you, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen." (President Nelson, "Go Forward in Faith" General Conference. April, 2020). 

4. Has priesthood authority to act in God's name. 

Nephi: Helaman 10:6 Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and shall smite the earth with ^afamine, and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people.

"I give you my solemn witness that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, and that President Russell M. Nelson is His anointed prophet upon the earth." (Neil L. Anderson, "The Prophet of God" General Conference, April 2018). 

5. Declare the word of God (the gospel). 

Nephi: Helaman 10: 11 And now behold, I command you, that ye shall go and declare unto this people, that thus saith the Lord God, who is the Almighty: Except ye repent ye shall be smitten, even unto ^adestruction.

"So tonight, my dear brothers and sisters, in the spirit of the sons of Mosiah, who gave themselves to much fasting and prayer,¹⁴ and as part of our April 2020 general conference, I am calling for another worldwide fast. For all whose health may permit, let us fast, pray, and unite our faith once again. " (President Nelson, "Opening the Heavens for Help" General Conference. April, 2020). 

So what do prophets do? Reread the 5 things prophets do in bold above. Today, our prophet is President Russel M. Nelson. Every general conference, we get to hear from him and listen to his council. We get to sustain him as our prophet, seer, and revelator. Last conference he counseled us to fast and pray, to attend the temple, to remember the work of the prophet Joseph in the Restoration of the gospel, and to "Hear Him," that is to try and come closer to the Savior and hear what He has to say to each of us.

As we read the teachings of the prophets of old and hearken unto the counsel of our current prophet, we will be blessed. 

Closing Song: "We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet" (Hymnal, )

Closing Prayer:

Refreshment: Sea salt butterscotch pretzel cookies recipe here