Come, Follow Me Daily Study Guide for the week of February 24 – March 1, 2020 covering 2 Nephi 26-30. 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.
***A FREE PDF DOWNLOAD of the Study Guide is available at the bottom of this post. Making it easy for those who’d like to print out a copy.
==>>NEW<<==
SONGS – For a list of suggested songs for each day of the week, be sure and check out the new blog called Music for Latter-day Life by clicking HERE
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.
JESUS CHRIST INVITES ALL TO COME UNTO HIM
BACKGROUND
(Taken from Scripture Study for Latter-Day Saint Families)
OBJECT LESSON: If possible, write out a check for a large amount of money. Be sure to void it when you’re through 🙂 Show it and ask what they would be willing to do for this check. (You might need to prompt them with ideas, such as take out the trash, do the dishes, run a marathon, exclude television watching for one year, get straight A’s, go on a mission, get married in the temple, and so on) What wouldn’t you be willing to do for any amount of money?
Nephi warns us of what some people will do in the last days for money. One being priestcraft. Priestcraft is preaching for money or the world’s praise without caring for Zion.
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are the opposite. They love each of us more than we can imagine. They do not do anything except it be for the benefit of the world.
QUOTE: The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that Heavenly Father is more “boundless in his mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive” (The Joseph Smith Papers, “History, 1838–1856, volume D-1,” p. 4 [addenda], josephsmithpapers.org).
SCRIPTURE
Read what Nephi taught about the Savior and compare this to Joseph Smith’s statement.
READ: 2 Nephi 26: 23-33
DISCUSS: What do you learn about the Lord’s boundless mercy?
MINI LESSON
SHARE QUOTE FROM DAVID BUTLER: (Taken from Don’t Miss This)
During Jesus’s earthly ministry, He was often criticized by religious leaders for the kind of people He chose to eat with. He would sit with outsiders, foreigners, sinners, and people with questionable reputations, and He would treat them like they were lifelong friends. In His day, the table where you ate was a table of fellowship. Eating with people was a social sign that you accepted those people just as they were. I imagine there were people back then – perhaps as many as we have today – who felt unwelcomed and uninvited. There are people who feel less than, and overlooked, and unloved.
There are a lot of things that are uncertain in this world, but I know of at least two things that will never change. First, you and I are always welcomed, invited, and loved by Jesus. We will always have a place at His table – no matter who we are, where we come from, or what we have done. The second thing I know for sure about Him is that all He does is for the good of the world. His heart and mind are set on it. And when I say the world, I mean everybody who is in it. Not just the lump sum of the population, but each and every person is specifically invited to come and sit with Him and partake of His goodness. When Jesus gets to the table, He looks around to see who is missing.
PONDER & DISCUSS
(Adapted from Come Follow Me Through the Book of Mormon)
STATEMENT: In what ways would ______________ be different if everyone really believed that “all are alike unto God”?
Fill in the blank with words such as these: your ward, lunch at school, recess, work, your friend group, your community, your nation
Then answer in your scripture journal, in what way would you be different if you really believed that ALL are alike unto God? (Even so-and-so who you don’t care for or someone who is unkind to you.)
What can you do as a member of Jesus Christ’s Church to be more Christlike in the way you treat God’s children?
Is there someone you can invite or welcome to your table of fellowship today?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: God’s Love for His Children
BOOK OF MORMON CENTRAL VIDEO: Why The Book of Mormon’s Depiction of a Loving God Fits with the Old Testament
PICTURE AND QUOTE: A Heart Like His
GOD PREPARED THE BOOK OF MORMON FOR OUR DAY
BACKGROUND
(Taken from Institute Teachings and Doctrine of the Book of Mormon)
The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel prophesied that the stick of Judah and the stick of Joseph would be joined together. A “stick” can refer to either a wooden tablet or a scroll that was rolled around wooden rods.
READ: Ezekiel 37:17, 19 *As you read, keep in mind that the “stick of Judah” refers to the Bible and the “stick of Ephraim” to the Book of Mormon.
DISCUSS: What do you think it means that these two sticks or books of scripture “shall become one in thine hand”?
The following quote comes from President Packer shortly after the Church had published new editions of the Book of Mormon and the Bible. Each book contained footnotes and other scripture helps that referred to the other book, thereby uniting the two in a new way.
QUOTE BY PRESIDENT PACKER: “The stick or record of Judah … and the stick or record of Ephraim … are now woven together in such a way that as you pore over one you are drawn to the other; as you learn from one you are enlightened by the other. They are indeed one in our hands. Ezekiel’s prophecy now stands fulfilled… The revelations will be opened to [new generations] as to no other in the history of the world. Into their hands now are placed the sticks of Joseph and of Judah. They will develop a gospel scholarship beyond that which their forebears could achieve.” (“Scriptures,” Ensign, Nov. 1982, 53).
SCRIPTURE/MINI LESSON
Nephi warns us of what some people would say in the last days when we share with them the Book of Mormon.
READ: 2 Nephi 29: 3
What might you say to someone who expresses doubts about the Book of Mormon because God has already given us the Bible?
(Taken from John Bytheway blog post)
Here is John Bytheway’s answer to that question:
The Book of Mormon cannot, and does not replace the Bible. In fact, the Book of Mormon vigorously defends the importance and truthfulness of the Bible! The Bible and the Book of Mormon are not rivals. They are companion volumes which combine to testify of Christ.
Some of Mormon’s very last words to future generations testify of the Bible’s truthfulness:
*Have everyone look up Mormon 7:8-9 and read along while you read the following, inserting “The Bible” and “The Book of Mormon” as indicated. This helps to clarify what Mormon is talking about.
Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews [The Bible], which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you. For behold, this [The Book of Mormon] is written for the intent that ye may believe that [The Bible]; and if ye believe that [The Bible] ye will believe this [The Book of Mormon] also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them (Mormon 7:8-9).
…Not only does the Book of Mormon defend the Bible, but the Lord chastises the world for their treatment of those who worked and sacrificed to bring the Bible to the world…
READ: 2 Nephi 29:4-5
DISCUSS: Who wrote the Bible? Do people recognize and give thanks to those who worked and sacrificed to bring the Bible to the world? How can we?
*The following is still from John Bytheway’s post. If needed, skip “Defender of Bible Stories” and “Defender of the Divinity of Christ” and go to “Written for Our Day.”
(Optional) Defender of Bible Stories
Some Christians doubt that there really was a garden of Eden, a tower of Babel, an ark built by Noah, and so forth, believing these accounts to be only allegorical. The Book of Mormon validates the Biblical account of Adam and Eve (2 Nephi 2), mentions Noah and the ark (Alma 10:22, Ether 6:7), the tower of Babel (Omni 1:22, Mosiah 28:17, Helaman 6:28, Ether 1:3), Melchizedek (Alma 13:14-17), and Moses and the brazen serpent. (Interestingly, the Book of Mormon adds one important detail to Moses’ story – it testifies that as Moses raised the brazen serpent, he explicitly bore testimony “that the Son of God should come” – a fascinating prophesy and foreshadowing of Christ that is not in the current Old Testament [see Helaman 8:14, Numbers 21:8-9]).
(Optional) Defender of the Divinity of Christ
Just as there is a broad spectrum of belief in political matters, from liberal to conservative, there is also a broad spectrum of belief in Christian doctrine. In my graduate studies in Religious Education, I was surprised to learn that many Bible scholars are not necessarily Bible believers — and that some liberal Christians believe Jesus to be merely a great moral teacher, but not the divine Son of God. They also discount miracles and prophecy, and the authorship of many books within the Bible.
By contrast, the Book of Mormon declares Jesus Christ to be the divine Son of God on the Title Page and on practically every page thereafter!
Written for our Day
The Bible is like a journal for the House of Israel, a record of God’s dealings with the Old Testament prophets, and the New Testament apostle’s testimonies of Christ’s ministry. The Book of Mormon, on the other hand, was written specifically for our day by prophets who saw our day and tailored their messages just for us. President Ezra Taft Benson observed:
[The Book of Mormon] was written for our day. The Nephites never had the book, neither did the Lamanites of ancient times. It was meant for us. Mormon wrote near the end of the Nephite civilization. Under the inspiration of God, who sees all things from the beginning, he abridged centuries of records, choosing the stories, speeches, and events that would be most helpful to us. (Ezra Taft Benson, The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 1988, 58.)
PONDER & DISCUSS
Nephi knew by revelation, even before the Book of Mormon had been completely written, that it would one day “be of great worth unto the children of men” (2 Nephi 28:2). How has the Book of Mormon been of great worth to you? What are some of the “marvelous” works that God is accomplishing in the world and in your life through the Book of Mormon? (CFM manual)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
VIDEO: The Witness: Martin Harris (18:32)
ENSIGN ARTICLE: Russell M. Nelson, “Scriptural Witnesses”
ENSIGN ARTICLE: Tad R. Callister, “The Book of Mormon—a Book from God”
GOD CONTINUES TO GIVE REVELATION TO GUIDE HIS CHILDREN
BACKGROUND/SCRIPTURE
READ: 2 Nephi 28:27-31
DISCUSS: Why does God reveal truth to us line upon line?
WATCH VIDEO: Why Did Nephi Say That People Had to Learn Things Line Upon Line? (1:25) by clicking HERE
MINI LESSON
What does complacent mean? (To become overly content) What does it mean to become complacent spiritually?
SHARE: One of the best ways to ensure that we do not become complacent in the gospel is to be sure that we are continually seeking and receiving personal revelation, line upon line. There are two ways we can do that.
1.Get Better Revelation Reception, to illustrate do this object lesson from the New Era by clicking HERE OR Watch Video The Voice of the Spirit (3:53) by clicking HERE
2. Start a Prayer Journal *You can use a notebook or an index card that you keep near your bed or in your scriptures. This is a very effective faith-building activity. As you do this activity you become more aware of the answers you receive and HOW the Lord answers your prayers. Answers seem to come a little differently for everyone. This activity strengthens your testimony as you look back at all the many answers to prayers that you have been given.
HOW TO START ONE:
Write down what you’re worried about or need help with.
Talk to Heavenly Father about it in prayer.
After you pray, quietly listen for the Holy Ghost.
During the week, keep watching and listening for answers.
When you feel you received an answer, write it down.
PONDER & DISCUSS
WATCH VIDEO: Matt’s Favorite Scripture (1:17), click HERE
DISCUSS:
Why is it important to not get frustrated when others are not learning the things that we think they should learn?
Why is it important to keep in mind that everyone learns differently and that we are all on different spiritual levels?
How can knowing this help us in our families and in our associations with others?
How can knowing this help us to not get frustrated with ourselves?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives” by President Russell M. Nelson
NEW ERA ARTICLE: “Revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith—and to You.” This New Era article
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: Be Faithful, Not Faithless by Brother Stephen W. Owen, Young Men General President, Click HERE
SUMMARY: In a complex and contentious world with the bombardment of relentless messages from social media and news, individuals must deliberately take time each day to “disconnect from the world and connect with heaven.” Just as hay does not provide adequate nourishment for deer, the trending news does not offer true spiritual nourishment. Church members must press forward on the covenant path and be truly converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through His prophet, the Lord is preparing His people to face challenges with faith. President Russell M. Nelson’s recent call for a home-centered Church is designed to provide spiritual nutrition to “survive and thrive in the latter days.” To further support spiritual nourishment in the home, curriculum for Aaronic Priesthood and Young Women will be aligned with “Come, Follow Me — For Individuals and Families” starting in January 2020. The Church also supports home-centered learning through the ordinance of the sacrament and providing the opportunity to gather: “Never underestimate the strength that comes from gathering with others who are also trying to be strong.” Children and youth need to know they are not alone on the covenant path. They need more time from bishops, leaders and parents — not less. Helping connect a young person with heaven is another way to provide spiritual nourishment needed to “be faithful and not faithless.”
*For a list of discussion questions that go along with this talk, check out these from The Practical Dreamers 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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