Fourth Nephi covers the nearly 200 years of unity and harmony following Jesus Christ's visit to the Americas. The people were all converted unto the Lord (4 Nephi 1:2), resulting in a society that people of all ages have dreamed of. There were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another. They had all things common among them and there were neither rich nor poor. It was the happiest of all times. As you study 4th Nephi, seek to understand what led to the happiness of the Nephite society as well as what led to the misery and destruction of their society.
Read 4th Nephi 1:1-4, and 16-17 and see if you can list the attributes associated with a converted people. Elder Dallin Oaks says the conditions described in verses 15-17 describe a Zion society. Cross reference Moses 7:18.
How does becoming a Zion people bring us closer to Christ?
How would your life be different if you lived in a society similar to the one described in the first half of 4th Nephi? How can you help create this same kind of harmony and peace in your family and home?
In the second half of 4th Nephi the people fell into destruction. How can you avoid making the same mistakes the Nephites made at the end of the 200 years of peace and prosperity?
"neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God."- Vs 17. This vs really stood out to me. A zion society of a truly converted people is one where we let nothing and no one (ahem, Satan) pit us against our brothers and sisters in any way for any reason. I experienced this feeling of unity/zion most at byu Hawaii which was the most diverse environment id ever been exposed to. Yet there was no manner of ites. It didn't matter where each person came from we were all one in Christ.
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