Nehemiah Inspects the Walls of Jerusalem, by Robert T. Barrett
Ezra 1; 3–7; Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8: Lesson 93
Nehemiah
“I Am Doing a Great Work, So That I Cannot Come Down”
Visit “Studying the Scriptures” to help prepare yourself spiritually to learn.
God inspired Nehemiah to protect his people by rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. Nehemiah’s people had to overcome constant threats and distractions to accomplish this work. We also have been given important work from God, and we may face difficulties in accomplishing it. This lesson can help you remain focused on the work Heavenly Father has given you to do.
Study the Scriptures
Watch the video “Doing What Matters Most” (1:42), or read the following account:
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Years ago, as pilots prepared to land a plane, a tiny light in the cockpit failed to illuminate. The crew became so focused on the light bulb that they failed to notice the plane was descending into a swamp. The plane crashed, killing over 100 people.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, taught an important lesson from this tragedy:
The plane was in perfect mechanical condition. Everything was working properly—all except one thing: a single burned-out lightbulb. That tiny bulb—worth about 20 cents—started the chain of events that ultimately led to the tragic death of over 100 people.
Of course, the malfunctioning lightbulb didn’t cause the accident; it happened because the crew placed its focus on something that seemed to matter at the moment while losing sight of what mattered most.
The tendency to focus on the insignificant at the expense of the profound happens not only to pilots but to everyone. We are all at risk. (“We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 59)
As you read the following statement, ask Heavenly Father to guide you through the Spirit to understand how this message applies to you personally.
President Uchtdorf continued:
Pause for a moment and check where your own heart and thoughts are. Are you focused on the things that matter most? How you spend your quiet time may provide a valuable clue. Where do your thoughts go when the pressure of deadlines is gone? Are your thoughts and heart focused on those short-lived fleeting things that matter only in the moment or on things that matter most? (“We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 60)
Record in your notebook three things God has asked you to focus on through His prophets. You may look through the most recent general conference talks or review For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices (2022).
An Israelite named Nehemiah was a servant of Artaxerxes, king of Persia. Many Israelites had returned to Jerusalem years earlier to rebuild the temple. Nehemiah learned that they were in danger of attack because the protective walls and gates around Jerusalem were broken down.
Nehemiah was inspired to rebuild the walls surrounding Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 1:1–4; 2:1–6, 11–12, 17–18).
Read Nehemiah 2:19; and 4:1; 7–8. Mark how the Jews’ enemies reacted to the work God gave them.
Add to your notebook entry ways Satan uses similar tactics today to get us to lose focus on what God asks us to do.
Read Nehemiah 4:9; 14–20. Mark what you learn about overcoming distractions and difficulties.
Read Nehemiah 6:1–4; 15–16 and ponder what you learn from Nehemiah’s response to his enemies’ attempts to pull him away from God’s work.
In your notebook, write a one-sentence summary of what you learned or felt about doing the work Heavenly Father has given you.
Review the following study options. Complete one or more.
Option A
What does God desire me to focus on?
Read Nehemiah 6:3. Mark the response Nehemiah gave when asked to stop focusing on God’s work.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, taught:
[T]hink of the power we would have as individuals … if, in response to every temptation to lose focus or lower our standards—the standards of God, we responded, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down.” …
Our Heavenly Father seeks those who refuse to allow the trivial to hinder them in their pursuit of the eternal. He seeks those who will not allow the attraction of ease or the traps of the adversary to distract them from the work He has given them to perform. He seeks those whose actions conform to their words—those who say with conviction, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down.” (“We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 59)
Create a note from Nehemiah’s response in Nehemiah 6:3. Rephrase his response in your own words.
Complete the following statements based on your life in your notebook.
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I believe Heavenly Father would like me to focus on.
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Some potential distractions or difficulties I might face are.
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Some ways I can remain focused on Heavenly Father’s work are.
Option B
How am I protected by staying focused on God’s work?
Nehemiah showed how focusing on God can help accomplish His work. Lehonti, a Lamanite leader from the Book of Mormon, was distracted by a wicked Nephite dissenter named Amalickiah.
Compare Nehemiah’s and Lehonti’s experiences of distractions.
Read Alma 47:10–11, looking for what Amalickiah wanted Lehonti to do. Mark each attempt. How is this like Nehemiah’s situation?
Read Alma 47:12–19, looking for what happened.
In your notebook, record what you learned from the examples of Nehemiah and Lehonti.
Share Your Thoughts
Lesson Purpose: To encourage you to remain focused on the work Heavenly Father has given you to do.
Share one or more of the following with your teacher or class:
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The responses to all three statements you finished about focusing on Heavenly Father’s work.
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What you learned from the examples of Nehemiah and Lehonti.
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Something specific you did to achieve the purpose of this lesson.
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Any questions this lesson raised for you. How will you try to find answers to your questions?