A few additional thoughts on lesson #3

Regarding 1 Nephi 8:26-27, the lesson manual asks, "In what ways might our attitudes toward others lead them to fall away?" and notes: “[A]ccountable individuals are responsible for their own actions; however, our attitude toward others can either strengthen them in their righteous efforts or discourage them. [We must] strengthen each other and … never mock or belittle others.” (Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Teachers Manual, p. 15.)

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland told of “a young man who "for many years was more or less the brunt of every joke in his school.… He eventually joined the army and had some successful experiences there in getting an education and … he discovered the beauty and majesty of the Church and became active and happy …

          “Then, after several years, he returned to the town of his youth. Most of his generation had moved on but not all. Apparently, when he returned quite successful and quite reborn, the same old mind-set that had existed before was still there … [H]e was still just old ‘so-and-so’ ... And wasn’t it all just hilarious?

          “Little by little this man’s Pauline effort to grasp the prize that God had laid before him was gradually diminished until he came full circle … Yet he had had that one bright, beautiful midlife moment when he had been able to … truly see who he was and what he could become. Too bad he was again to be surrounded by a whole batch of  those who … managed to rip out of his grasp that for which Christ had grasped him. And he died … inactive and unhappy … through little fault of his own.” (January 2010 Ensign, 25-26.)

Regarding 1 Nephi 8:33; 11:22; 15:36 ...

          “To partake of the love of God is to partake of Jesus’ Atonement and the emancipations and joys which it can bring” (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, October 1999 General Conference).

          “[The] love of God is the root from which springs all other types of love … all virtue … all goodness … all strength [and] fidelity to do right.… Love the Lord your God, and love His Son, and be ever grateful for their love ... Whenever other love fades, there will be that shining, transcendent, everlasting love of God and … of His Son, who gave His life for each of us.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, December 1996 Liahona, 8.)

          “[T]he most important attribute of Heavenly Father and of His Beloved Son that we should desire and seek to possess within our lives is the gift of charity, ‘the pure love of Christ.’ From this gift springs our capacity to love and to serve others as the Savior did.….

          “[M]ay we show our love and appreciation for the Savior’s atoning sacrifice through our simple, compassionate acts of service to our brothers and sisters at home, at church, and in our communities.” (Elder M. Russell Ballard, April 2011 General Conference.)