I Will Prepare the Way Before You – 1 Nephi 16-22

We all face challenges and trials. If we keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ we learn that He is never far away and always provides means for us to get through hard times.

Free resources for children, youth, and adults to enhance learning gospel principles found in this week’s Come, Follow Me reading of 1 Nephi 16 – 22.

EVERYONE

Video – 1 Nephi 16 – The families of Lehi and Ishmael continue their journey through the wilderness and are guided by the Lord in faith. Book of Mormon Videos.

Video – 1 Nephi 17-18 – Nephi follows the Lord’s commandment to build a ship despite persecution from his elder brothers. Book of Mormon Videos.

Video – 1 Nephi 18 – Lehi’s family sails to the promised land on the ship built by Nephi and his brothers. Book of Mormon Videos.

Video – I Will Prepare the Way – The support and direction the Lord gave to Nephi when he was commanded to build a ship serves as a model for a young woman as she faces an overwhelming task of her own.

Video – Hope of Israel – Watch the full devotional given by President Russell M. Nelson and Sister Wendy W. Nelson inviting youth to join the Lord’s youth battalion and help gather Israel.

CHILDREN

Activity – Nephi Builds a Ship – coloring page

Activity – The Liahona – Draw and Color. Book of Mormon Coloring Book

Activity – Nephi Built a Boat – Dot-to-dot in the Book of Mormon Coloring Book

Activity – Laman and Lemuel Bind Nephi – Search and find the hearts. Book of Mormon Coloring Book

Activity – Heavenly Father Commands Nephi to Build a Ship – scripture figures

Activity – Scripture Boats – Several ideas for a family activity including reading and acting out a skit about Nephi building the ship, making your own small boats, etc.

Activity – Book of Mormon Puzzle – What do these symbols remind you of in the story of Nephi and his family?

Activity – Nephi Trusted God – coloring page of Nephi and his bow

Activity – I Can Make Good Choices – Point to the good choices.

Activity – I Love the Scriptures – coloring page

Activity/Article – Sharing Time: Nephi Builds a Ship – A retelling of the story and scripture figures for children to use to tell the story.

Activity/Article – Compass of Faith – Scripture figures to color and a dot-to-dot of the Liahona.

Article – Nephi’s Broken Bow – An illustrated retelling of the story for children.

Article – Bringing the Scriptures to Life – This page from the Friend can help children know what it means to liken the scriptures to themselves

Audio – Building the Ship – Book of Mormon Stories and Discussion with Primary children. Sometimes we have challenges in our lives that seem difficult or even impossible to solve, but if we do everything we can and then put our trust in Heavenly Father, He will help us. We’ll also talk about faith, the blessings of obedience, working together, and Nephi-like courage.

Audio – Crossing the Sea – Book of Mormon Stories and Discussion with Primary children. The Holy Ghost can help us in our daily lives if we do what is right. Guidance we receive from the Holy Ghost is like the direction Lehi and his family were given through the Liahona. We’ll also talk about recognizing the Holy Ghost, forgiving others, and share testimonies and experiences when the Holy Ghost has helped us.

Poster – Nephi – Full page hero card from the 2016 Friend

Story – The Liahona – Illustrated scripture story in the February 2024 Friend

Video – Building the Ship – Book of Mormon scripture readers

Video – Crossing the Sea – Book of Mormon scripture readers

Video – Nephi’s Broken Bow – Book of Mormon Stories for Young Readers

Video – Nephi’s Family Crosses the Ocean – Book of Mormon Stories for Young Readers

YOUTH

Article – Liken It – You’ll find strategies you can use to liken the scriptures to yourself in this New Era article.

Article – 12 Facts about the Gathering of Israel – This article from the New Era offers facts about the gathering of Israel to help you understand its background and the part you play in it.

Article – A Call to Enlist and Gather Israel – This New Era article provides excerpts from the worldwide youth devotional by President Russell M. Nelson and Sister Wendy W. Nelson in which they invited all youth to help gather Israel.

Article – I Had a Ship to Build – Elder Juan Pablo Villar shares how Nephi’s experience helped him see how to deal with challenges in his own life.

Article – Nephi’s Bow – The story of the weapon Nephi built in order to solve a problem may hold lessons for you.

Article/Poster – Figures From the Book of Mormon: Nephi

Video – Our Own Liahona – (1 Nephi 16:16-32) Elder David A. Bednar talks about how the Book of Mormon can be our own Liahona.

Video – Past Feeling – (1 Nephi 17:45) President James E. Faust talks about being past feeling.

Video – Sensitivity to Spiritual Communication, Part 2 – (1 Nephi 17:45) President Boyd K. Packer exhorts us to be sensitive to the sacredness of personal, spiritual experiences.

Video – Sensitivity to Spiritual Communication, Part 3 – (1 Nephi 17:45) Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin talks about recognizing spiritual promptings .

Video – Liken All Scriptures – (1 Nephi 19:23-24) Elder Robert D. Hales talks about likening the scriptures unto ourselves.

Video – We are “Graven on the Palms of His Hands” – (1 Nephi 21:13-16) Elder Jeffrey R. Holland talks about how we are “graven” on the palms of His hands.

Video – The Righteous Need not Fear – (1 Nephi 22:17) Elder Dallin H. Oaks talks about how the righteous have no need to fear.

YOUTH & ADULTS

Teaching Resources – Come Follow Up: 1 Nephi 16 – 22 – Artwork, quotes, and video clips to aid teachers in leading the discussion for the lesson.

Article – Likening the Scriptures to Our Personal Lives – The scriptures are alive. Though they were written long ago, they have application today. That makes them powerful.

Article – The Book of Mormon, the Gathering of Israel, and the Second Coming – In this Ensign article, President Russell M. Nelson provides the Lord’s perspective on the purpose of the Book of Mormon: to help gather scattered Israel and prepare the world for the Second Coming.

Article – Patriarchal Blessings – A patriarchal blessing is a sacred guideline of counsel, promises, and information from the Lord.

Article – Patriarchal Blessings: Inspired Guidance for Your Life – What We Believe

Article – Your Patriarchal Blessing: A Liahona of Light – The same Lord who provided a Liahona for Lehi provides for you and for me today a rare and valuable gift to give direction to our lives, to mark the hazards to our safety, and to chart the way, even safe passage—not to a promised land, but to our heavenly home. The gift to which I refer is known as your patriarchal blessing.

Article – Understanding Your Patriarchal Blessing – Identifying the parts of your blessing can help you find direction for your life.

Article – What Did it Take to Build the Ship? – An Ensign article about Nephi’s faith and courage.

Article /Video – When Your Bow Breaks – Like Nephi, each one of us is likely to experience the breaking of a bow—a major life challenge that has all the makings of a personal or family disaster or one that has all the makings of an opportunity to grow.

ADULTS

Article – The Liahona Triad – BYU Religious Studies Center

Article – “For Our Profit and Learning”: One Method for Likening the Scriptures – BYU Religious Studies Center

Article – “That Ye May Have Hope”: Nephi’s Use of Isaiah 49:22-23 in Teaching the Concept of Hope – BYU Religious Studies Center

Article – Isaiah and the Restoration of Israel – BYU Religious Studies Center

Article – “A Prophet . . . like unto Thee” – BYU Religious Studies Center

Article – What Is Isaiah Doing in First Nephi? Or, How Did Lehi’s Family Fare So Far from Home? – BYU Religious Studies Center

Video – Discussions on the Book of Mormon: 1 Nephi 16-18 – Professors from the BYU Department of Ancient Scripture discuss the happenings of Lehi and his family as they complete their journey to the southern end of the Arabian peninsula and build the boat that will carry them to the promised land. BYUtv.

Video – Discussions on the Book of Mormon: 1 Nephi 19-22 – Professors from the BYU Department of Ancient Scripture discuss the time that Nephi received instructions to begin the large plates, as well as significant prophecies of Isaiah and other prophets about the House of Israel and the coming of Christ. BYUtv.

Video – Come Follow Up: I Will Prepare a Way 1 Nephi 16-22 – Come Follow Up host Ben Lomu leads the discussion with gospel scholar Melissa Inouye and special guests Erik and Emily Orton on the following topics: The Savior Will Help Me Face Life’s Challenges and God Guides Me through Small and Simple Means. BYUtv