Come, Follow Me Daily Study Guide for the week of January 20-26, 2020 covering 1 Nephi 11-15. For personal and/or family study of the scriptures, geared towards 8 years old and older. 

 

*This is a suggested outline that coincides with the Come, Follow Me manual. There is not just one right way when it comes to studying the scriptures. Everyone should study in a way that is best for them, but I do hope that you find these outlines helpful.

**I highly suggest getting a scripture journal. Throughout the year there will be several times that I will suggest jotting something down in your scripture journal. These are also great for writing down any impressions or “Aha” moments that you might have as you study the scriptures. 

 

FHE DAY

Start the week off right with a Family Home Evening that introduces what you’ll be studying during the week. Sign up for the Teach Me FHE email group and receive an FHE outline delivered right to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up at the bottom of this post. 

 

LATTER-DAY SCRIPTURE RESTORES “PLAIN AND PRECIOUS THINGS.”  

BACKGROUND

Have everyone bring something that is precious to them or means a lot to them. Have each person share what they brought and why it means so much to them.
OR
ASK: If the house was burning and you had to quickly get out of the house and you only had time to grab one thing to take with you, what would it be? Have each person tell what they would grab and why.

Just as we have things that are precious to us, the Lord has “precious” things that mean a lot to Him. They are precious because of their “purity and profound worth, their saving significance and eternal importance to the children of God.” (Elder Holland, see Additional Resources below) 

SCRIPTURE

READ: 1 Nephi 13:23, 28

Nephi saw in a vision that the Bible—which he described as “a record of the Jews”—would have “many plain and precious things taken away from [it]”.

READ: 1 NEPHI 13:39-40

However, he also saw that God would restore these things through “other books”—the Book of Mormon and other latter-day scripture.

MINI LESSON

Why is the Book of Mormon Important as a Companion to the Bible?

VIDEO: The Book of Mormon – a Book from God (1:55) by Elder Callister, Click HERE

What Plain and Precious Truths Were Restored by the Book of Mormon?

Show pg 37 of the January 2020 Ensign and discuss what plain and precious truths were restored by the Book of Mormon. Click HERE for the online version.

PONDER & DISCUSS

Discuss together and/or note in your scripture journals the plain and precious truths that were restored by the Book of Mormon and answer the following question:

How is your life different because these plain and precious things have been restored?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)

VIDEO: The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like Without It? By Pres Nelson (15:01)
ENSIGN ARTICLE: “Plain and Precious Truths Restored.” 
QUOTE: Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained: “Elements … missing from the Bible were both ‘plain and most precious.’ They were plain in their simplicity and clarity, being easy to ‘the understanding of … men’; they were precious in their purity and profound worth, their saving significance and eternal importance to the children of God” (Christ and the New Covenant [1997], 5).

 

WHAT IS THE “GREAT AND ABOMINABLE CHURCH” THAT NEPHI SAW?   

BACKGROUND

In Nephi’s vision he saw the future of his people and the people of Laman and Lemuel. He saw “the formation of a great church” (1 Nephi 13:4). 

SCRIPTURE/MINI LESSON

READ: 1 Nephi 14:10

In this verse, we read how there are “two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil” Let’s look at the differences between these two churches.

OPTIONAL – In your scripture journals make two columns. At the top of one column put “The Church of the Devil” and at the top of the other column write “The Lamb of God.” 

The Church of the Devil

READ: 1 Nephi 13:5–9 looking for characteristics of this church. List these characteristics in your scripture journals. 

The Lamb of God

READ: 1 Nephi 14:12 & 14 looking for characteristics of the church of the Lamb of God. List these characteristics in your scripture journals.   

“Do you find it interesting that Nephi’s…definitions of good and evil 600 years before Jesus came are just as relevant to those of us living today? One binds, yokes, and brings others down; the other arms with righteousness and God’s own power. Each church leaves its mark, and we are given the opportunity to choose. Power over captivity. Light over darkness. Good over evil.”    -Emily Belle Freeman

PONDER & DISCUSS

How can recognizing the characteristics associated with the great and abominable church help you avoid deception?
Why are we “armed with righteousness and with the power of God” when we live true to our covenants with God?
Have you felt yourself being armed with righteousness?
When have you experienced God’s own power?
Why is it important for us to know that the work of God will ultimately triumph?
How might this knowledge have helped Nephi as he coped with trials and tragedies in this life?

Can you be a member of both churches? (answer with the following quote)

During the Missouri persecutions there were many who apostatized from the Church and even became enemies. The Prophet Joseph Smith spoke of their sad state and warned against apostasy. At the conclusion of the Prophet’s remarks, Isaac Behunnin, a member of the Church, stated: “If I should leave this Church, I would not do as those men have done – I would go to some remote place where Mormonism had never been heard of, settle down, and no one would ever learn that I knew anything about it.” To which Joseph Smith replied: “Brother Behunnin, you don’t know what you would do. No doubt these men once thought as you do. Before you joined this church you stood on neutral ground. When the gospel was preached good and evil were set before you. You could choose either or neither. There were two opposite masters inviting you to serve them. When you joined this church you enlisted to serve God. When you did that you left the neutral ground, and you never can get back on to it. Should you forsake the Master you enlisted to serve, it will be by the instigation of the evil one, and you will follow his dictation and be his servant.” He [further] emphasized the fact that a man or woman who had not taken sides either with Christ or Belial could maintain a neutral position, but when they enlisted under either the one or the other, they left the neutral ground forever. (Juvenile Instructor, Aug. 15, 1892, p. 492). . . Why is it, then, that the apostates will not leave the Church alone? Because they are the servants of sin and have another master whose bidding they now do. (Church News, January 4, 1997, p. 13)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)

CONFERENCE TALK: The Power of Godliness by Elder Kent F. Richards
WOMEN’S CONFERENCE: “Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God in Great Glory” by Ruth Todd

 

STRENGTHENING OUR FAITH AND TRUST IN THE LORD

*For an optional activity at the end under Ponder & Discuss, be prepared to use a dartboard or a nerf gun.

BACKGROUND

Lehi’s family traveled together through the same wilderness; however, some looked to God…while others complained and showed a spirit of rebellion…It is not the conditions people are in that produce happiness but how they respond to those conditions. (emphasis added)…Those who are faithful and seek the Lord during difficult times will be supported by him. Even though we may be required to experience great hardship, we will prevail over any difficulty by exercising faith and trust in the Lord. (Book of Mormon Student Institute Manual, pg 15)

SCRIPTURE/MINI LESSON

There are two sure ways that we can strengthen our faith and trust in the Lord so that we can prevail over any difficulty, they are inquiring of the Lord and holding fast to the word of God.

INQUIRE OF THE LORD

READ: 1 Nephi 15: 3

MUSIC VIDEO: Ask of God: 2017 Youth Theme Video, click HERE

QUOTE BY PRESIDENT JAMES E FAUST:

“Searching and inquiring are a means of coming to a knowledge of all truth, whether that truth be spiritual, scientific, or moral. The restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and all that means to us came about because of the inquiring after truth of the 14-year-old Joseph Smith, guided by the passage, ‘If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him’ (James 1:5).”  -President James E. Faust (“The Truth Shall Make You Free,” Ensign, Sept. 1998, 4.)

HOLDING FAST TO THE WORD OF GOD 

READ: 1 Nephi 15:24 and then compare and cross-reference this verse with Ephesians 6:16 and Doctrine and Covenants 27:17.

Image is taken from Pinterest, no source found; used for educational purposes

SHOW PICTURE ABOVE: Can you think of anything that might be missing in this picture? Read the following quote by Elder Maxwell and then ask the question again. 

QUOTE BY ELDER NEAL A MAXWELL:

“Real disciples [withstand] the fiery darts of the adversary by holding aloft the quenching shield of faith with one hand, while holding to the iron rod with the other…There should be no mistaking; it will take both hands!” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1987, 87; or Ensign, May 1987, 70).

PONDER & DISCUSS

What are some “fiery darts” we face in the world today?

(OPTIONAL– if you have a dartboard or nerf gun, set up a target and have each person take a turn shooting “fiery darts” and for each one that they shoot they have to name an example of a fiery dart that we face in the world today)

What does 1 Nephi 15:24 warn will be the results of succumbing to Satan’s fiery darts?
In what ways can the word of God help us withstand the fiery darts of the adversary?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)

ENSIGN ARTICLE: Have Ye Inquired of the Lord? By John Hilton III
BYUI DEVOTIONAL ADDRESS: Have Ye Inquired of the Lord? by Gary B. Porter
MERIDIAN MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Have you Inquired of the Lord? By Brent L. Top
VIDEO: What are the “Fiery Darts of the Adversary” Spoken of by Nephi? (1:11)
YOUTH VIDEO: Protection in the Family (0:40)

 

GENERAL CONFERENCE DAY

Study a recent General Conference talk. A great way to study a conference talk is to have your own conference issue of the Ensign and a highlighter. Listen to the talk and as you listen, highlight the part(s) that stands out to you. Then after the talk, review and/or share and discuss what you have highlighted.   

THIS WEEK’S TALK: Watchful Unto Prayer Continually by Elder David A. Bednar, Click HERE

SUMMARY: Watching for hours how a pair of cheetahs stalked a large group of topis on African grasslands led to discussing what was observed and identifying valuable lessons. Three such lessons are to beware of evil’s beguiling disguises, to stay awake and be alert, and to understand the intent of the enemy. Spiritually dangerous ideas and actions frequently can appear to be attractive, desirable or pleasurable. In our contemporary world, each needs to beware of beguiling bad that pretends to be good. Spiritually speaking, individuals need to stay awake and be alert to the promptings of the Holy Ghost and to the signals that come from the Lord’s watchmen on the towers. “I invite and encourage you to reflect on this episode with the cheetahs and the topis and identify additional lessons for you and your family. Please remember always that your home is the true center of gospel learning and living. “As you respond in faith to this invitation, inspired thoughts will come to your mind, spiritual feelings will swell in your heart, and you will recognize actions that should be undertaken or continued … “I promise that the blessings of effective preparation and spiritual protection will flow into your life as you are watchful unto prayer vigilantly and continually.”

*For a list of discussion questions that go along with this talk, check out these from Chicken Scratch n Sniff by Clicking HERE

 

CATCH UP DAYS

Do one of the days that you missed OR any of the additional resources listed.

Yours Truly,

P.S. For more Come, Follow Me resources, check out my post Your Ultimate Guide to Come, Follow Me. It lists over 100 Come, Follow Me resources that are available online starting with the church’s resources at the top. You can find it by clicking HERE. 

P.P.S. Sign up here for the Teach Me FHE email group and receive FHE outlines delivered right to your inbox every Sunday morning. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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