LESSON 4: THE THINGS WHICH I SAW WHILE I WAS CARRIED AWAY IN THE SPIRIT

LESSON 4

"The Things Which I Saw While I Was Carried Away in the Spirit"

a. The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ (a.d. 33)
b. The Great Apostasy (approximately a.d. 100 through a.d. 1800)
c. The final battle between the Lamanites and the Nephites (about a.d. 385)
d. The discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus (a.d. 1492)
e. 95 thesis by Martin Luther (a.d. 1517)
e. The Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ (a.d. 1820-present)

In 1 Nephi 12, Nephi describes his vision of the future of his seed (his descendants) and the seed of his brothers. In what ways did the symbols in the vision of the tree of life (the mist of darkness, the great and spacious building, and the river of filthy water) foreshadow the downfall of Nephi's seed?

1. Mist of Darkness: Foreshadowed the falling away of the Nephites from the truth into the darkness through the temptations of the Devil.

2. Great and Spacious Building: The pride of the people in the great and spacious building reflected the same pride that brought about the downfall of the Nephite Nation.

3. The River of Filthy Water: Represented the depths of hell that the Nephites would be sent to because of their falling away

What did Nephi see formed "among the nations of the Gentiles"? (See 1 Nephi 13:4-5.)

1 NEPHI 13:-4-5
4 And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the Gentiles the formation of a great church.
5 And the angel said unto me: Behold the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints of God, yea, and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity.


Who is the founder of the great and abominable church? (See 1 Nephi 13:6.)

1 NEPHI 13:6
6 And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the founder of it.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie said, "The titles church of the devil and great and abominable church are used to identify all churches or organizations of whatever name or nature—whether political, philosophical, educational, economic, social, fraternal, civic, or religious—which are designed to take men on a course that leads away from God and his laws and thus from salvation in the kingdom of God" (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 137-38).

What evidence do you see of the great and abominable church working to destroy the Saints today? How can we ensure that we are not deceived by people or organizations that lead people away from God and His laws?

What did the great and abominable church do to the Bible? (See 1 Nephi 13:20-26.)

1 Nephi 13:20-26
20 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that they did prosper in the land; and I beheld a book, and it was carried forth among them.
21 And the angel said unto me: Knowest thou the meaning of the book?
22 And I said unto him: I know not.
23 And he said: Behold it proceedeth out of the mouth of a Jew. And I, Nephi, beheld it; and he said unto me: The book that thou beholdest is a record of the Jews, which contains the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; and it also containeth many of the prophecies of the holy prophets; and it is a record like unto the engravings which are upon the plates of brass, save there are not so many; nevertheless, they contain the covenants of the Lord, which he hath made unto the house of Israel; wherefore, they are of great worth unto the Gentiles.
24 And the angel of the Lord said unto me: Thou hast beheld that the book proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God.
25 Wherefore, these things go forth from the Jews in purity unto the Gentiles, according to the truth which is in God.
26 And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.

Why? (See 1 Nephi 13:27.)

1 NEPHI 13:27

27 And all this have they done that they might pervert the right ways of the Lord, that they might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men.

What are some doctrines that are difficult to understand in the Bible but plain and precious in the Book of Mormon?

1. Baptism
2. Resurrection
3. Atonement


How has the Book of Mormon helped make the Bible more understandable to you or increased your testimony of the Bible?

(I would love people to share their feelings about this question.)

How has the Book of Mormon helped make the Bible more understandable to you or increased your testimony of the Bible?

(I would love people to share their feelings about this question.)

Nephi saw that even though the members of the Lord's Church in the last days would be comparatively few, they would be able to overcome the persecution of the great and abominable church. What did Nephi see the Saints of God armed with? (See 1 Nephi 14:14.)

1 NEPHI 14:14
14 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.


How can you be "armed with righteousness and with the power of God"?

1. Prayer
2. Reading the Scrpitures
3. Keeping Morally Clean
4. Being Charitable

The Gentiles who "went forth ... upon the many waters" are understood to be Christopher Columbus and other early explorers and settlers of the Americas (1 Nephi 13:12-13).

1 NEPHI 13:12-13
12 And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.
13 And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters.


What enabled these explorers and settlers to be successful in their endeavors? (See 1 Nephi 13:14-19.)

1 NEPHI 13:14-19
14 And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles upon the land of promise; and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten.
15 And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance; and I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they were slain.
16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them.
17 And I beheld that their mother Gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them.
18 And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle.
19 And I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.