1 Nephi 17 They were “past feeling”

1 Nephi 17— The Ship Easy Difficult How would you describe your life right now? 1 Nephi 17:1-6 How did Nephi describe his life? Why? How?

1 Nephi 17— The Ship 1. What did the Lord command Nephi to do? (1 Nephi 17:7−8) 2. How did Nephi respond? (1 Nephi 17:9−11, 15−16) 3. How did his brothers respond? (1 Nephi 17:17−21) 4. How did the Lord help Moses accomplish the task he was commanded to do? (1 Nephi 17:23−29) 5. How were Nephi’s brothers like the children of Israel? (1 Nephi 17:30, 42)

1 Nephi 17— The Ship Children of Israel: Lead by the Lord (vs 23) Lead from bondage (vs 24) Lead by a prophet (vs 26) Destroyed enemies (vs 27) Fed in the wilderness (vs 28) To a promised land (vs 32) Murmured (vs 35) Rejected the Lord (vs 41-42)

1 Nephi 17— The Ship Elder David A. Bednar : “Nephi was not a sailor. He had been reared in Jerusalem, an inland city, rather than along the borders of the Mediterranean Sea. It seems unlikely that he knew much about or had experience with the tools and skills necessary to build a ship. He may not have ever previously seen an oceangoing vessel. In essence, then, Nephi was commanded and instructed to build something he had never built before in order to go someplace he had never been before” (“Learning to Love Learning” [Brigham Young University commencement address, Apr. 24, 2008], 4, speeches.byu.edu).

1 Nephi 17 What are some ways the Lord had communicated with Laman & Lemuel? Read 1 Nephi 17:45 Which of these seems to be the way the Lord most commonly seeks to communicate with us?

1 Nephi 17 President Boyd K. Packer: “The Holy Ghost speaks with a voice that you feel more than you hear. It is described as a ‘still small voice’ [D&C 85:6]. And while we speak of ‘listening’ to the whisperings of the Spirit, most often one describes a spiritual prompting by saying, ‘I had a feeling …’” (“Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise,” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 60).

1 Nephi 17 The Holy Ghost speaks with a still, small voice that we feel more than we hear. When have you felt the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost speak to you? What do you do that helps you to feel and recognize the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost?

1 Nephi 17 President James E. Faust: “Cell phones are used for much of the communication in our time. Occasionally, however, we find dead spots where the signal coming to a cell phone fails. This can happen when the cell phone user is in a tunnel or a canyon or when there is other interference. “So it is with divine communication. … We often put ourselves in spiritual dead spots—places and situations that block out divine messages. Some of these dead spots include anger, pornography, transgression, selfishness, and other situations that offend the Spirit” (“Did You Get the Right Message?” Ensign orLiahona, May 2004, 67).

1 Nephi 17 President Boyd K. Packer: “The world grows increasingly noisy. This trend to more noise, more excitement, more contention, less restraint, less dignity, less formality is not coincidental nor innocent nor harmless. “The first order issued by a commander mounting a military invasion is the jamming of the channels of communication of those he intends to conquer. “Irreverence suits the purposes of the adversary by obstructing the delicate channels of revelation in both mind and spirit” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 28; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 22).

How can Satan influence the following senses? 1 Nephi 17

TASTE/SMELL 1 Nephi 17

TOUCH 1 Nephi 17

SIGHT 1 Nephi 17

HEAR 1 Nephi 17

What is one feeling that Satan cannot reproduce? 1 Nephi 17

What helps you when you feel like you’re past feeling? President Kimball said, "I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures, the distance narrows and the spirituality returns" (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982), p. 135). 1 Nephi 17

Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit “I am convinced that there is no simple formula or technique that would immediately allow you to master the ability to be guided by the voice of the Spirit. Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ. Were you to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, you would become weak and ever more dependent on Them. They know that essential personal growth will come as you struggle to learn how to be led by the Spirit… Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

“What may appear initially to be a daunting task will be much easier to manage over time as you consistently strive to recognize and follow feelings prompted by the Spirit. Your confidence in the direction you receive from the Holy Ghost will also become stronger. I witness that as you gain experience and success in being guided by the Spirit, your confidence in the impressions you feel can become more certain than your dependence on what you see or hear. (Elder Richard G. Scott, April 2010) Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

“We watch. We wait. We listen for that still, small voice. When it speaks, wise men and women obey. Promptings of the Spirit are not to be postponed.” President Thomas S. Monson, October 1988 General Conference

Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit "The sweetest experience I know in life is to feel a prompting and act upon it and later find out that it was the fulfillment of someone's prayer or someone's need. And I always want the Lord to know that if He needs an errand run, Tom Monson will run that errand for Him” (President Thomas S. Monson, Biographic DVD) Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

VideoVideo: Enemy Territory Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

Doctrine & Covenants Have you ever… Been guided to a place that blessed you? D&C 6:14 Felt peace in your mind? D&C 6:23 Just felt something was right? D&C 9:8-9 Known just what to say when teaching others? D&C 84:85 Had a question occupy your mind? D&C 128:1 Been strengthened by others testimonies of Christ? D&C 46:13-14 Felt spiritually lifted up as someone was teaching? D&C 50:21-22 Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

Book of Mormon Felt like praying? 2 Nephi 32:8 Had a speaker touch your heart? 2 Nephi 33:1 Heard a voice in your mind? Enos 1:10 Not wanted to do bad things, but just be good all the time? Mosiah 5:2 Wanted to share the gospel? Mosiah 28:1-4 Looked upon sin with abhorrence (disgust)? Alma 13:12 Perceived someone else’s thoughts or intentions? Alma 18:16 Protected from harm while doing the Lord’s work? Helaman 16:2 Healed by the Lord? 3 Nephi 7:22 Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

Old Testament Given advice or counsel that helped others follow the Lord? Isaiah 11:2 Helped someone feel better about their life? Isaiah 61:1 New Testament Felt comforted? John 14:26-27 Felt a desire to resist a temptation? Matthew 26:41 Felt love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness? Galatians 5:22-23 Defended yourself or the Lord with the word of God? Ephesians 6:17 Felt a lack of fear, but rather power, confidence, and love? 2 Timothy 1:7 Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

“Now, if there be any who have stepped over the line, who may already have transgressed, is there any hope for you? Of course there is. Where there is true repentance, there will be forgiveness. That process begins with prayer. Share your burden with your parents if you can. And by all means, confess to your bishop, who stands ready to help you” (President Hinckley, “A Prophet’s Counsel and Prayer for Youth,” New Era, Jan. 2001, 12–13).

Elder Richard G. Scott: “When another’s acts of violence or perversion hurt you terribly against your will, you are not responsible and you must not feel guilty. You may be left scarred, but those scars need not be permanent. “If you are now or have in the past been abused, seek help now. Talk to your bishop in confidence. His calling allows him to act as an instrument of the Lord in your behalf. He has the right to be inspired of the Lord in your behalf. He can use the priesthood to bless you” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1992, 44; or Ensign, May 1992, 32).

1 Nephi 17 They were “past feeling”