The Book of Mormon begins with an account of a real family experiencing real struggles. It happened in 600 BC, but there are things about this account that might sound familiar to families today. Throughout 1 Nephi 1-7, you could encourage family members to notice interactions between members of Lehi and Sariah's family. What can we learn from these relationships that can help our family?
How are you and your siblings the same? How are you different? How are you like your parents? How are you different? What things do you like to do together? Try some fun activities and see how much you have changed over the years. How about your parents and siblings?
Recreate Childhood Photos
Recreate childhood photos, for a blast from the past. See this blog post from The Family History Guide to get started.
Compare-a-Face
What ancestors do you look most like? Try out Compare-a-Face on FamilySearch to see which ancestors you resemble. Then click on "Learn More" to see if there are any stories to check out for other similarities, and maybe add more memories. See ideas in this blog post.
Another aspect of family interactions throughout 1 Nephi 1-7, is how Lehi, Sariah, Nephi, and others suffered when Laman and Lemuel abused Nephi. Oftimes others were also abused. In the specific verses 19-21, what can we learn from Nephi's example of forgiveness?
From Come, Follow Me :
What impresses us about Nephi's example in these verses? How is our family blessed when we "frankly forgive" each other?
As you read the story below, ponder how Nephi's example of forgiveness ties in to what the Pratt brothers learned about the power and promises of temple and family history.
Elder Renlund: "Family relationships can be some of the most rewarding yet challenging experiences we encounter. Many of us have faced a fracture of some sort within our families. Such a fracture developed between two heroes of the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ in these latter days. Parley and Orson Pratt were brothers, early converts, and ordained Apostles...During the Nauvoo era, their relationship became strained, culminating in a heated, public confrontation in 1846. A deep and prolonged rift developed. Parley initially wrote to Orson to resolve the rift, but Orson did not reply. Parley gave up, feeling that correspondence was over forever, unless initiated by Orson. Several years later, in March 1853, Orson learned about a project to publish a book on the descendants of William Pratt, the brothers' earliest American ancestor. Orson began to weep "like a little child" as he glimpsed this treasure trove of family history. His heart melted, and he determined to repair the breach with his brother.
Orson wrote to Parley, 'Now my dear brother, there are none among all the descendants of our Ancestor, Lieut[enant] William Pratt, who have so deep an interest in searching out his descendants as ourselves.' Orson was one of the first to understand that Latter-day Saints have an obligation to research and compile family histories so that we can perform vicarious ordinances for our ancestors. His letter continued: 'We know that the God of our fathers has had a hand in all this. ... I will beg pardon for having been so backward in writing to you. ... I hope you will forgive me.' Despite their unshakable testimonies, their love for their ancestors was the catalyst to heal a rift, mend a hurt, and seek and extend forgiveness.
"... as we participate in family history and temple work today, we also lay claim to 'healing' blessings promised by prophets and apostles. These blessings are also breathtakingly amazing because of their scope, specificity, and consequence in mortality. This long list includes these blessings:
Increased understanding of the Savior and His atoning sacrifice;
Increased influence of the Holy Ghost7 to feel strength and direction for our own lives;
Increased faith, so that conversion to the Savior becomes deep and abiding;
Increased ability and motivation to learn and repent because of an understanding of who we are, where we come from, and a clearer vision of where we are going;
Increased refining, sanctifying, and moderating influences in our hearts;
Increased joy through an increased ability to feel the love of the Lord;
Increased family blessings, no matter our current, past, or future family situation or how imperfect our family tree may be;
Increased love and appreciation for ancestors and living relatives, so we no longer feel alone;
Increased power to discern that which needs healing and thus, with the Lord's help, serve others;
Increased protection from temptations and the intensifying influence of the adversary; and
Increased assistance to mend troubled, broken, or anxious hearts and make the wounded whole.
If you have prayed for any of these blessings, participate in family history and temple work. As you do so, your prayers will be answered. When ordinances are performed on behalf of the deceased, God's children on earth are healed. No wonder President Russell M. Nelson, in his first message as President of the Church, declared, 'Your worship in the temple and your service there for your ancestors will bless you with increased personal revelation and peace and will fortify your commitment to stay on the covenant path.' (Dale G. Renlund, "Family History and Temple Work: Sealing and Healing," General Conference, April 2018)
As a family, read stories about your ancestors and research ideas for compiling and sharing histories, stories collections, and memories. Continue to share what you are working on and any finished projects. Sharing family history stories, events, photos and memories on social media might help unite your family and open the door to receive promised blessings. Read Hashtags, Tweets, and Blogs: the New Language of Family History for ideas to get started.
Perhaps simply making a family history connection with family members will be the beginning to healing troubled relationships. Think of any ways you may have offended another family member and ask for forgiveness. Make a call, write a message online, or write a letter. Pray as a family for help to clear up any misunderstandings, and become closer to those you love. Rely on the promises!
When the Lord commanded Lehi and his family to obtain the plates of brass from Laban, He did not give specific instructions on how to accomplish this commandment. This is often true of other commandments or personal revelations we receive from God, and this might lead us to feel like He has required "a hard thing" (1 Nephi 3:5). What inspires you about Nephi's response to the Lord's command, found in 1 Nephi 3:7, 15–16? Is there anything you feel impressed to "go and do"?
Like Nephi, we have opportunities every day to "go and do" what the Lord commands. Nephi and his brothers were commanded to go back to Jerusalem for the brass plates. What do we learn from this scriptural passage about the importance of records? These young men risked their lives to attain the brass plates. How important are our family records and what are we willing to give to create and preserve them? How can we "go and do" more to discover and preserve our family history this year?
Re-enact 1 Nephi 1-7
You might want to do some re-enactments from 1 Nephi 1-7 complete with costumes, props, and a spiritual wrap-up. This is a fun and memorable way to create an atmosphere in which family members can begin to feel what it must have been like for Nephi to "go and do" what the Lord commanded.
Look in FamilySearch to see what your family tree looks like. You could look for photos of your ancestors or read stories about them. You might also have some stories or photos of your own to add.
President Nelson and his wife Wendy at RootsTech 2017 Discovery Day encouraged us all to prayerfully consider where we could make a sacrifice of personal time to the Lord by increasing the amount of time that we spend doing temple and family history work. As we do so, Sister Nelson said, "Watch what happens!" You can watch a short video clip below, or read or watch the full talk "A Sacrifice of Time" here.
It's About Time
You can make meaningful progress learning about family history in as little as 15 minutes a day. Check it out here. Read and discuss the new youth theme together as a family and decide what you will do this year to sacrifice time to gather Israel on both sides of the veil - have confidence that you will receive all the help you need as you diligently do your best!
These verses could inspire your family to keep a record of important events and experiences from your lives. Maybe you could start a family journal, similar to the records Nephi and Lehi kept about their family's experiences. What might you include in your family record?
Discuss with your family or ponder how you individually would like to keep a record of important events and experiences in each of your lives. Here are some ideas:
Keep a written account, or maintain it online.
Video your activities, or create a photo account or timeline.
Decide how often you will update your record. Perhaps an older child could take the responsibility to help it happen.
Whatever you decide, keeping it simple will help you be consistent. Remember: Have fun with it!
Preparing for April 2020 General Conference
President Russell M. Nelson closed the October 2019 general conference with an invitation for Latter-day Saints to prepare for the subsequent April 2020 general conference, 200 years since Joseph Smith's First Vision. The year 2020 will be designated as a bicentennial year. "General conference next April will be different from any previous conference. In the next six months, I hope that every member and every family will prepare for a unique conference that will commemorate the very foundations of the restored gospel."
One idea is to review one or more of these documents—Gospel Topics Essay: Accounts of the First Vision, Primary Accounts of the First Vision—and watch these videos—First Vision: Now You Know, Church History: First Vision Resources. You could discuss how each account of the First Vision by Joseph Smith and his contemporaries has its own history and context that influenced how the event was recalled, communicated, and recorded. As you read the stories, details, and accounts of your ancestors who lived during the time period of the restoration, consider the historical context that may have influenced their lives at that time and how the stories and events are recalled, communicated, and recorded.
Check out the FamilySearch update Historical Events Your Ancestors Lived Through. This helps you to understand more about them by adding historical events to their timelines. For help using the timeline feature, see Using the TimeLine and Map in Family Tree.
Your Personal History
Write one brief story about your life as you study each Come, Follow Me lesson. By the end of the year, you will have compiled 50 stories to add to your personal history. Save as a story (also consider audio-recording it) and add it to your FamilySearch memories to preserve it. Use your own questions or those from (or inspired by) the #52 Stories Project below. For example:
I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father... (1 Nephi1:1) What do you know of your parents or your early education?
How did your parents meet and fall in love? What about your grandparents?
What was your first introduction to formal education--preschool, kindergarten, homeschooling? What do you remember about those first few years?
In what ways did your parents informally teach you?
How did your parents teach you the gospel and correct principles?
