Family Home Evening Lesson #65: SAMUEL THE LAMANITE

1. Opening Prayer

2. Sing "Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus" Children's Songbook pg. 36

3. Read Helaman 16:2   But as many as there were who did not believe in the words of Samuel were angry with him; and they cast stones at him upon the wall, and also many shot arrows at him as he stood upon the wall; but the Spirit of the Lord was with him, insomuch that they could not hit him with their stones neither with their arrows.
4. Read and discuss "Samuel the Lamanite on the Wall" from The Gospel Art Picture Kit:

At a time when the Lamanites were more righteous than the Nephites, a Lamanite prophet named Samuel preached repentance to the Nephites. After the Nephites cast Samuel out of the city, he started back to his own land. However, the Lord told him to return and say whatever the Lord put into his heart. (See Helaman 13:1–3.)

The people would not let Samuel back into their city, so he climbed on top of the city wall. From there Samuel foretold the destruction of the Nephite nation in about 400 years. He said that if the Nephites did not repent, they would be destroyed by war, famine, and pestilence. (See Helaman 13:4–11.)

Samuel said that if it were not for the few righteous people in the city, they would be destroyed by fire (see Helaman 13:12–14). He told the people that they did not remember the Lord. Instead, they remembered their riches. (See Helaman 13:17–22.) The people were so wicked they made fun of the prophets and murdered them (see Helaman 13:24–26).

Samuel declared that in five years a sign would indicate that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, had been born. There would be a day, a night, and a day without darkness. A new star would appear, and there would be other signs in heaven. (See Helaman 14:2–6.)

Samuel also told them the signs of Jesus’ death. Following Jesus’ death, there would be total darkness for three days, until Jesus was resurrected (see Helaman 14:20). There would also be thundering and lightning, violent earthquakes, and tempests. Entire cities would be destroyed. (See Helaman 14:21–24.) After Christ’s Resurrection, many righteous dead would be resurrected (see Helaman 14:25).

Many Nephites believed Samuel. Those who did not believe threw stones and shot arrows at him as he stood on the wall, but they could not hit him. When some realized the Spirit of the Lord was protecting him, they too believed. (See Helaman 16:1–3.)

Most Nephites, however, did not believe Samuel. When they saw the stones and arrows were not hitting him, they tried to capture him. Samuel jumped down from the wall and left the land. The Nephites never heard from him again. (See Helaman 16:6–8.)
5. Closing Prayer

Additional Resources:  Finding Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Ensign, Nov. 2004)
Samuel the Lamanite tells About Jesus Christ (Book of Mormon Stories)
Samuel the Lamanite (Friend, Sept. 1992)