Lessons for Our Day From the Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ -2024
Lesson No. Twenty-Six

Russell M. Nelson and Samuel the Lamanite On Repentance

Samuel the Lamanite was a lone prophet from an ethnic minority. He denounced the wicked Nephites, a civilization which was unknown to the rest of the ancient world. Samuel was likely in the prime of life and able to scale city walls. His ministry lasted a year or less.

President Nelson is very different from Samuel. He is 100 years old, and has served 40 years as an apostle. He presides over a world-wide rapidly growing church with millions of members. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is recognized by honest people for the good it does around the world.

President Nelson and Samuel the Lamanite are similar in the most important ways:

Both are prophets called and preserved by God so they could deliver their message. Samuel was miraculously protected from arrows and stones. President Nelson is 100 years old, and preserved by the Lord and is the longest living prophet of our dispensation.

The Lord commanded them both to teach repentance. Their circumstances are different, yet they have both taught the doctrine of repentance by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Samuel’s ministry is this week’s focus of Come Follow Me, and it is recorded in Helaman 13-15. There are many verses that teach repentance. They were preserved in The Book of Mormon, and the fact that Jesus was well aware of and approved of what Samuel taught is clearly shown in 3 Nephi 23:9-13. What Samuel wrote regarding repentance is what the Lord wants us to know and do. It is wonderful to know that through The Book of Mormon Samuel the Lamanite also has an important latter day ministry. (My comments on Samuel’s teachings are in italics)

Samuel teaching on repentance is doctrinal and is a warning of what the Lord would have us apply to ourselves: “And it came to pass that in this year there was one Samuel, a Lamanite, came into the land of Zarahemla, and began to preach unto the people. And it came to pass that he did preach, many days, repentance unto the people, and they did cast him out…” (13:2-3). Do we mentally cast out President Nelson or anyone else who preaches repentance?

“Therefore, thus saith the Lord: Because of the hardness of the hearts of the people of the Nephites, except they repent I will take away my word from them, and I will withdraw my Spirit from them, and I will suffer them no longer, and I will turn the hearts of their brethren against them” (13:8). This is a powerful warning to us.

“But if ye will repent and return unto the Lord your God I will turn away mine anger, saith the Lord; yea, thus saith the Lord, blessed are they who will repent and turn unto me, but wo unto him that repenteth not… But blessed are they who will repent, for them will I spare.” (3:11, 13). This is a beautiful application of the “carrot” (incentive) and the “stick” (warning).

“And in the days of your poverty ye shall cry unto the Lord; and in vain shall ye cry, for your desolation is already come upon you, and your destruction is made sure; and then shall ye weep and howl in that day, saith the Lord of Hosts. And then shall ye lament, and say: O that I had repented… O ye people of the land, that ye would hear my words! And I pray that the anger of the Lord be turned away from you, and that ye would repent and be saved” (13:32,33, 39). Don’t procrastinate repentance.

“And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits” (14:13). The merits of the Lord Jesus Christ, particularly His infinite and eternal atonement, makes repentance possible.

“But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord. Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance, that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire; but whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness. Therefore repent ye, repent ye, lest by knowing these things and not doing them ye shall suffer yourselves to come under condemnation, and ye are brought down unto this second death” (14:17-19). The atonement of Christ overcomes the first spiritual death, which is to be separated from God, and gives all mankind the opportunity to be taught the gospel and to repent. Those who still choose not to repent will suffer a second spiritual death.

President Nelson’s teaching on repentance is a liberating and joyful invitation from the Lord to repent, change and improve. “Recently I have found myself drawn to the Lord’s instruction given through the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Say nothing but repentance unto this generation” (D&C6:9). This declaration is often repeated throughout scripture. It prompts an obvious question: “Does everyone need to repent?” The answer is yes.

“Too many people consider repentance as punishment—something to be avoided except in the most serious circumstances. But this feeling of being penalized is engendered by Satan. He tries to block us from looking to Jesus Christ, who stands with open arms, hoping and willing to heal, forgive, cleanse, strengthen, purify, and sanctify us.

The word for repentance in the Greek New Testament is metanoeo. The prefix meta- means “change.” The suffix -noeo is related to Greek words that mean “mind,” “knowledge,” “spirit,” and “breath.”

“Thus, when Jesus asks you and me to “repent, He is inviting us to change our mind, our knowledge, our spirit—even the way we breathe. He is asking us to change the way we love, think, serve, spend our time, treat our wives, teach our children, and even care for our bodies.

“Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. Repentance is not an event; it is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind. When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

“Whether you are diligently moving along the covenant path, have slipped or stepped from the covenant path, or can’t even see the path from where you are now, I plead with you to repent. Experience the strengthening power of daily repentance—of doing and being a little better each day.

“When we choose to repent, we choose to change! We allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves. We choose to grow spiritually and receive joy—the joy of redemption in Him. When we choose to repent, we choose to become more like Jesus Christ!” (Russell M. Nelson, We Can Do Better and Be Better, April 2019 General Conference).

Testimony – I love how the Lord gives us every incentive to repent. Through Samuel the Lamanite He warns us of the consequences if we don’t repent. Through President Nelson He invites us to change and improve and thereby experience the joy and eternal blessing of daily repentance.

Released on September 14th. 2024.