Come, Follow Me Daily Study Guide for the week of July 6-12, 2020 covering Alma 30-31. For personal and/or family study of the scriptures, geared towards families with teenagers, single adults, and empty nesters.
*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. OR you can add Melanie’s Library to your mobile device home screen by following these instructions, click HERE
****SONGS – For a list of suggested songs for each day of the week, be sure and check out the blog called Music for Latter-day Life by clicking HERE
FHE DAY
Start the week off right with a Family Home Evening that is focused around the upcoming week’s Come, Follow Me. 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.
ALL THINGS DENOTE THERE IS A GOD
BACKGROUND/SCRIPTURE
(Taken from Come Follow Me Through the Book of Mormon)
Korihor wanted a sign from Alma. Alma tried to give Korihor evidence of God’s existence, but it was not the kind of sign Korihor wanted.
READ: Alma 30: 44
In this verse, Alma testified that the proof of God’s existence is in the scriptures and in the natural world.
MINI LESSON
TWO OPTIONS
There are two options you can do for this lesson:
1.Go for a walk for at least ten minutes and look at nature. Share what you see that testifies of God. (*If you’re like my family who does scripture study at night when it’s dark outside, consider star gazing and talk about the greatness of God to able to create the millions of stars and worlds without end.)
OR
2. Show pictures of God’s beautiful world (perhaps family pictures of a hike or a beautiful place you went that was outdoors) Talk about how God created this beautiful world for us. Then play this game to continue thinking about God’s creations.
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- Have each family member write the letters of the alphabet in a list down one side of a paper or in your scripture journals.
- For three minutes, everyone should try to write a creation that begins with each letter. For example, you could write “Trees” for the letter T
- When time runs out, have everyone share their list.
PONDER & DISCUSS
- What do you think it is about nature that connects us to God?
- Where do you like to go in nature to feel more connected to God?
- What adjustments can your family make to spend a little more time in nature surrounded by God’s divine creations? You may even set aside some time each week to study the scriptures outside, if possible.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
BYU RELIGIOUS STUDIES: “All Things Denote There Is a God”: Seeing Christ in the Creation
GOD’S WORD HAS THE POWER TO LEAD PEOPLE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS
BACKGROUND
(Taken from Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families)
Place a sword (or a picture of one) and some scriptures next to each other on a table.
Ask your family which they would rather have in a battle.
What if the battle is with evil ideas?
READ: Alma 31:5 and tell which one Alma thought was more powerful.
SCRIPTURE
Read the following verses to see what Alma did next and who the Zoramites were.
READ: Alma 31: 6-11
What were some of the reasons why the Zoramites left the Church? (refer to verses 9 & 10)
MINI LESSON
Watch the following 2 short videos.
VIDEO: Why Does God Give Us Commandments & Why Should I Encourage Others to Keep the Commandments? Click HERE
In the first video, you could compare that to the Zoramites disregarding God’s commandments and not doing what they should. Because of it, they became a hardened and wicked people.
In the second video, you could compare the first boy to that of Alma. He had once disregarded God’s commandments but has since repented and is now on a mission to preach the gospel and share the message of repentance and forgiveness.
Has there been a time when you have seen someone make the same mistake you have made in the past but have since repented of? How did it make you feel? Were you able to help that person or bear your testimony to them? Perhaps the spirit will whisper to you someone today that could use your testimony and encouragement to keep the commandments of God. Make a plan to follow through with that prompting.
PONDER & DISCUSS
The Zoramites are a perfect example of what would happen if you were to turn away from God. How would the Zoramites’ lives be different had they kept the commandments of God?
How does God’s word inspire change in people’s lives?
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being the most powerful), how powerful do you think the word of God is and why? Perhaps the following quote can help you answer that question.
QUOTE BY PRESIDENT NELSON: “My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.”
How have you seen the word of God lead “people to do that which [is] just”? Have you had an experience where the word of God led you to do something good?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It? By Pres. Nelson
ENSIGN ARTICLE: The Power of the Word of God
NEW ERA ARTICLE: Scripture Power and You
WHAT IS A SELFSAME PRAYER?
BACKGROUND
(Taken from Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families)
In your scripture journals, have everyone jot down 5 words or phrases that they think are the most common or over-used words/phrases used by Church members in their prayers.
READ: Matthew 6:7 and see what the Lord called thoughtlessly using the same words over and over again, or in other words, vain repetitions
As a family discuss the words/phrases everyone wrote down and come up with a TOP FIVE list. (Write your TOP FIVE list on a blank piece of paper and hang on to this for later in the lesson.)
SCRIPTURE
When Alma and his brethren visited the Zoramites, they found the Zoramites doing more than just repeating a few words or phrases over and over again.
SHOW PICTURE
“…they had a place built up in the center of their synagogue, a place for standing, which was high above the head; and the top thereof would only admit one person.”
They would take turns standing on top of this stand – which was called “Rameumpton, which being interpreted, is the holy stand” (verse 21) – and repeat the same prayer … every person … word for word.
*OPTIONAL have someone stand on a chair and say the Zoramite prayer
READ: Alma 31:15-18 to read the Zoramite prayer
When Alma saw this he was not only astonished but also “grieved; for he saw that they were a wicked and a perverse people” (verse 24).
MINI LESSON/PONDER & DISCUSS
Now read Alma’s prayer and then discuss the differences between the two prayers.
READ: Alma 31: 32-36
- What are some of the differences between Alma’s prayer and the Zoramite prayer?
- Who did Alma primarily pray for?
- What does this teach us about the Zoramites?
- What does this teach us about Alma?
- What does this teach us about prayer?
According to Alma 31:23, after the Zoramites said their prayer, they would return to their homes and never speak of God again until the next time they gave the prayer. What are we doing each day in our home to learn about and speak of God?
Referring to your family’s TOP FIVE list, challenge everyone to go 1 week without saying any of those words/phrases in their prayers. Then hang up the list in your home where everyone can see it.
SONG: Sing the hymn “Sweet Hour of Prayer” pg 142, or listen to it by clicking HERE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: The Lord Jesus Christ Teaches Us to Pray
NEW ERA ARTICLE: The Rameumptom Conundrum
NEW ERA ARTICLE: Praying Like Alma for My Friend
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: Sharing the Message of the Restoration and the Resurrection By Elder D. Todd Christofferson, click 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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