2 Nephi 21–24 The Millennium

Imagine what life would be like if there was no evil in the world. One day the world will be this way. It will
happen during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. Many prophets, including Nephi and Isaiah, prophesied
about the 1,000 years of peace called the Millennium.
This lesson can help you understand and prepare for the Savior’s millennial reign. The future
- What are some important events in the future you look forward to? Why?
- What feelings do you have when you think about these events?
-What are you doing to prepare?

The Millennium
One significant event in the future is the Millennium.
- What do you know about the Millennium?
-What questions do you have about it?

You may want to write down the questions you have and leave space to make notes. As you study today,
look for answers to your questions. The prophet Nephi wrote about the last days and included many of
Isaiah’s prophecies about the last days. Isaiah prophesied of the destruction of Assyria and Babylon as a
type of the destruction at the Second Coming (see 2 Nephi 20; 23). He also prophesied of the Restoration
of the gospel preceding the millennial reign of Jesus Christ. His prophecies are rich with symbolism and
imagery that add depth to our understanding of the Millennium.

Read the following prophecies from Nephi and Isaiah and look for descriptions of the Millennium. You may
want to draw some of the descriptions.
1 Nephi 22:24–26
2 Nephi 21:6–9
2 Nephi 22:1–6
2 Nephi 24:3, 7

Answer the following questions:

- From these descriptions, how do you think your life will be different in the Millennium?
-What descriptions of the Savior did you find?
-What do they teach you about Him?

One of the truths we learn from these scriptures is that Jesus Christ will reign on the earth in
righteousness and peace during the Millennium. Visualize in your mind what it may be like to live during
the Millennium—when the Savior reigns in righteousness and peace.
Reflect on how the Savior’s peace could bless your life. President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency
described another blessing of the Millennium: Singleness, childlessness, death, and divorce frustrate
ideals and postpone the fulfillment of promised blessings. … The Lord has promised that in the eternities
no blessing will be denied his sons and daughters who keep the commandments, are true to their
covenants, and desire what is right. Many of the most important deprivations of mortality will be set right
in the Millennium, which is the time for fulfilling all that is incomplete in the great plan of happiness for all
of our Father’s worthy children. We know that will be true of temple ordinances. I believe it will also be
true of family relationships and experiences. (President Dallin H. Oaks, “The Great Plan of Happiness,”
Ensign, Nov. 1993, 75)

Answer two or more of the following questions:

- What does this statement teach you about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
-Which of the blessings of the Millennium do you most desire? Why?
-During the lesson, what answers did you find to your questions about the Millennium?
Preparation for the Millennium
In 2020, renovations began on the Salt Lake Temple. Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles spoke about these renovations. Look for how he compared them to our own lives. Watch the
video “A Good Foundation against the Time to Come,” available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, from time
code 14:51 to 15:26, or read the statement below.

It is the sincere hope of Church leaders that the significant renovations to the Salt Lake Temple will
contribute to the fulfillment of Brigham Young’s desire to see “the temple built in a manner that it will
endure through the millennium.” During the coming years, may we allow these improvements made to
the Salt Lake Temple to move and inspire us, as individuals and families, so that we too —
metaphorically—will “be built in a manner that will endure through the millennium.” (Gary E. Stevenson,
“A Good Foundation against the Time to Come,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 51–52)
-What do you think it means to “be built in a manner that will endure through the millennium”?

Answer the following questions:

-When you think about the Savior’s millennial reign, what do you feel?
-What can you do now to prepare for the Millennium?
-What challenges might you face as you make these preparations?

2 Nephi 25
Saved by Jesus Christ
Has someone ever relieved or rescued you from a difficult situation? How did you feel about that person
after his or her help? After emphasizing the importance of prophetic teachings, Nephi testified that only
Jesus Christ has the power to save all people. This lesson will help you understand how you are saved by
the grace of Jesus Christ.

The only way we can be saved

In 2 Nephi 25, Nephi reminded his people that prophets testified that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, which
means the Anointed One or Deliverer, of all people (see Guide to the Scriptures, “Messiah,”
scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Nephi recorded that even though the Jews will be scattered because
of their unbelief, if they believed in Jesus Christ, the Lord would gather and “restore [them] from their lost
and fallen state” (2 Nephi 25:15–17).
Read 2 Nephi 25:18–20, looking for what Nephi taught about how the Jews (and all of God’s children) will
be saved. It may help to know that in the scriptures, the word name can be used to represent a person’s
power or authority. This is particularly true in reference to the Savior.
- What does Jesus Christ save us from?
- What would it be like if we did not have a Savior?

Saved by grace
Read 2 Nephi 25:23, looking for how Jesus Christ saves us.
-What are some questions you might ask to gain a deeper understanding of Nephi’s teachings in verse 23?

The following material can help answer questions you may have about verse 23. Grace is the divine help
or strength extended to us through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. … Grace is a gift from Heavenly
Father given through His Son, Jesus Christ. The word grace, as used in the scriptures, refers primarily to
enabling power and spiritual healing offered through the mercy and love of Jesus Christ. (Gospel Topics,
“Grace,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org) President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency,
explained:
 I wonder if sometimes we misinterpret the phrase “after all we can do.” We must understand that
“after” does not equal “because.” We are not saved “because” of all that we can do. Have any of us done
all that we can do? Does God wait until we’ve expended every effort before He will intervene in our lives
with His saving grace? Many people feel discouraged because they constantly fall short. They know
firsthand that “the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” [Matthew 26:41]. They raise their voices
with Nephi in proclaiming, “My soul grieveth because of mine iniquities” [2 Nephi 4:17]. I am certain
Nephi knew that the Savior’s grace allows and enables us to overcome sin [see Alma 34:31]. This is why
Nephi labored so diligently to persuade his children and brethren “to believe in Christ, and to be
reconciled to God” [2 Nephi 25:23]. After all, that is what we can do! And that is our task in mortality! …
Today and forevermore God’s grace is available to all whose hearts are broken and whose spirits are
contrite [see 3 Nephi 9:19–20]. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Gift of Grace,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 110)

Answer the following questions:

-How would you describe your feelings for the Savior, knowing that His grace is available to you
personally?
-What are some of the ways you can access the Savior’s grace?
-What aspects of your life might be different if you felt more of the Savior’s grace? In what ways?

Rejoice in Christ
Because Nephi knew of the Savior’s grace and power to save, he wrote to help others believe in Christ.
Read 2 Nephi 25:26 looking for what we can do to help others believe in Jesus Christ. You may want to
mark the different action words that are used in this verse. -Which words in this verse stood out to you?
- How has your life been influenced by what someone else has shared about Jesus Christ?
-How could your relationship with Jesus Christ be strengthened by sharing personal feelings about Him
with others?

Doctrinal Mastery: 2 Nephi 26:33 “All Are Alike unto God”

33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of
men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come
unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond
and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and
Gentile.