3 Nephi 28:24-32 They are as angels of God

What do you think the 3 Nephites who chose to remain to preach the Gospel are doing right now? Have each person write a few sentences or draw a picture of what you think they might be doing now.

What do you think it means that "they are as angels of God?" What sort of great and marvelous works do you think they have wrought?

Of course, we really don't know what they are doing. As it says in verses 27 and 28 "the Gentiles shall know them not" and "the Jews shall know them not." So it's all speculation. But someday we will probably be able to find out what great works they have wrought on the earth.

3 Nephi 28:13-23 They did go forth among all the people

3 Nephi 28:13-23

Draw a picture of one of the events in these verses. You have many choices:

• They were caught up into heaven
• They did go forth upon the face of the land and did minister unto all the people
• baptizing and as many as were baptized did receive the Holy Ghost
• they were cast down into the earth but were delivered
• they were cast into a furnace with no harm
• they were cast into a den of wild beasts

Why did they spend so much time preaching? Why would they sacrifice so much to preach the Gospel? Do you think you could be saved from such dangerous situations? How?

3 Nephi 28:1-12 What is it that ye desire of me?

3 Nephi 28

Draw a picture of the Savior and His 12 apostles. It could be as they are talking, or when they are caught up into heaven, or the 3 who chose to tarry ministering.

What did the disciples desire from the Savior? Did they all ask for the same thing? What would you ask for (could be the same as the apostles, or something different). Why?

Are the 3 Nephites still on the earth? What do you think they are doing?

3 Nephi 27:28-33 Ask and ye shall receive

What are we promised in v29? What would you ask for? Have each person draw a picture of one or two things they would ask for.

3 Nephi 27:27 What manner of men ought ye to be?

3 Nephi 27:27

Memorize. Take some time to commit this verse to memory. If you have young children at home, you may want to simply memorize the last 2 sentences. It may take several days to memorize it.

Ideas for memorizing verses

3 Nephi 27:22-26 Write the things which ye have seen and heard

3 Nephi 27:22-26

Discuss
What were the things that they had seen and heard?
Why do you think Jesus asked them to write these things down?
Why do you think prophets have asked us to keep a journal?

Make a journal entry for today. If you need ideas about what to write, write down the good things that happened to you today. Or write down how the Lord has blessed you today. Or write down the things that impressed you from these verses. Or write down a goal, something that you feel like you should be doing.

3 Nephi 27:13-22 This is my Gospel

 3 Nephi 27:13-22

Scripture search for big kids:
What does Gospel mean? Who can be the first person to find the meaning of the word Gospel? (Easiest place to find it is in the Bible Dictionary). Maybe provide a treat for the first person who can find it.

Scripture search for everyone:
As you read these verses, try to pick out those things that make up the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Make a list together. If you're feeling competitive, list them separately and see who can find the most. Then discuss what you've found. How many did you find?

According to verses 13-22, the Gospel of Jesus Christ includes these things:

• The Savior came into the world.
• The Savior was lifted up on the cross.
• Men are to come unto Christ.
• Men are judged according to their works.
• In judgment, the Savior will find men guiltless who 
• repent and 
• are baptized and 
• endure to the end.
• Men who do not endure will be "cast into the fire". 
• (discussion for another day: What does it mean to be "cast into the fire?")
• After repentance and baptism men are sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
• Men shall do the works they have seen the Savior do.

3 Nephi 27:3-9 Why are we called the Church of Jesus Christ?

 3 Nephi 27:3-9

Discussion: Why is the church called the Church of Jesus Christ? Brainstorm together. How many reasons can you think of why the church is called the Church of Jesus Christ. There is not one right answer, and there can be more reasons than are listed in these verses.

Here are some examples if they need an idea to get going:

• We have covenanted to take upon us the name of Christ - v5
• We are commanded to do everything in His name - v7
• How can it be my church save it be called in my name? v8
• We are to call whatever we do in His name - v9
• It is the church that Jesus established. 

Scripture search for older children: Find and share other scriptures that explain the naming of the church. Here are a few:

• D&C 115:4 The Lord decrees that it is to be called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in this dispensation.
• The sacramental bread prayer (Moroni 5) says that we take upon us His name.  

3 Nephi 26:19-21 They had all things common among them

 3 Nephi 26:19-21

Draw a picture of what life was like during this time period.

What does it mean that "they had all things common among them?"

Now draw yourself in the picture.

How would your life be different if your life was like verses 19-21?

3 Nephi 26:13-18 Babes...did utter marvelous things...

 3 Nephi 26:13-18

Take a second to draw a picture of the children speaking. Draw a comic strip bubble that shows them speaking, and write in there what you think they might have said.

What marvelous things do you think the babes and children said?

3 Nephi 26:1-12 And he did expound all things...

3 Nephi 26:1-12
What did Jesus teach the people in this chapter? Why didn't Mormon write it on these plates? Where is it written? What do we need to do to be able to see it?

What do you think Jesus taught the people? Write your own verse describing what Jesus might have taught the people. Little children can draw a picture. Do you think we might already have some of the teachings through modern day prophets? Or are they teachings we have yet to receive?

3 Nephi 25:5-6 He shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children...

3 Nephi 25:5-6
Have each person draw a family picture as you discuss these questions:

What does it mean to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers? Why is it important? What can children do to accomplish this? What are you personally doing to accomplish this?

3 Nephi 24:8-11 Will a Man Rob God?

3 Nephi 24:7-11
Search: Have someone look up the word "tithe" or "tithing" in the dictionary. Why do you think most other churches believe that members don't need to donate 10%? "Rob God" is pretty strong language to describe someone who doesn't pay their tithing. Do you think such strong language is justified? How would you feel to be accused of robbing God?

Have everyone draw a picture of v10: The windows of heaven open and blessings so great there is not room to receive them pour out. An incredible promise. Have each person share how he/she has been blessed by obedience to the law of tithing.

3 Nephi 20:11,13-16,29-33 The Savior Quotes Isaiah

background: Who was Isaiah?

The prophets speak the word of God. Why does the Savior need to quote the prophets yet again?

Isaiah writes of several different time periods (his own day, the time of Christ, the latter days, the millenium). These verses are the words of the Savior and Isaiah. What time period(s) is he writing about here? List each verse of the reading here, and then indicate next to it which time period he is referring to.

3 Nephi 20:2-9 Jesus administers the sacrament

Background question: What's going on here? Where were they? What has Jesus been doing?

Draw a picture of Jesus passing the sacrament to the people.

How do you think it was done? He probably didn't use little plastic cups like we use today. What do you think Jesus used to pass the water? Do you think they used metal trays like we do today? Do we have to use the plastic cups and metal trays to pass the sacrament? Does it have to be bread and water?

What does the bread represent? What does the water represent? Why do we take the sacrament?

3 Nephi 20:1 Do not cease to pray in your heart

What did the Savior command the people in this verse?

He is going to administer the sacrament, and it would be inappropriate to be praying aloud during the sacrament. Others would not be able to focus on the sacrament. On a piece of paper, have each person list (or draw a picture of) 3-5 situations where it would be inappropriate to pray aloud. Then discuss what they've written.

How can you pray in a situation where it would be inapropriate to speak? Does a prayer always need to contain words? How could you pray without using words?

3 Nephi 19:24-36 ...nevertheless they did not cease to pray

On a piece of paper or on a whiteboard, write down as you read the words that are used to describe the people as they prayed. If you need a hint, look for the answers to these questions: What was their attitude? What was there physical appearance? What sort of words did they pray? Did they take breaks? Jesus said he had never seen so much of something among the Jews. What was it? How does it describe their hearts?

Why did they pray so much? What was their attitude as they prayed? How can you pray with the same attitude?

3 Nephi 19:8-14 Filled with the Holy Ghost and with Fire

Draw a picture of the events in these verses. If possible, draw them in color, to really bring out the contrast of the fire/light and the water with the multitude in the middle. Painting would be fun if you can make time. But if not, at least try colored pencils, markers, or crayons.

Do you think they were really surrounded by fire? Remember that fire was the only source of light they had other than the sun. If Nephi were to describe any other light, it would be in terms of a light source he knew about. So it would have to be in terms of either the sun or fire. How did Joseph Smith describe the light he saw, both during the first vision and when Moroni visited him?

What do you think was the source of the fire-like light that surrounded the multitude?

What does it mean "they were filled with the Holy Ghost and with fire?"

3 Nephi 19:1-7 It was noised abroad concerning Jesus

Draw a picture of what you think the multitudes looked like after they separated into twelve bodies so the disciples could teach them. What do you think the 12 disciples taught the people? Write down at least 3 things.

Why do you think the people worked all night to spread the word that Jesus was here?

3 Nephi 18:15-23 Pray Always

Commit verses 19 & 20 to memory.

How is it possible to pray always? How can you pray while you are busy doing chores or homework or something else? If we can pray always in our hearts, why do we need to kneel to pray every morning and evening?

Ideas for memorizing verses