Come, Follow Me Daily Study Guide for the week of August 24-30, 2020 covering Helaman 7-12. 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.
SIGNS ARE NOT ALWAYS ENOUGH TO CHANGE A PERSON’S HEART
BACKGROUND
VIDEO: The Murder of the Chief Judge (4:01), click HERE
SCRIPTURE
*All the scriptures suggested to read today have to do with signs from heaven. You may choose to start a scripture chain – cross-referencing one scripture verse to the next, and so on. The very last scripture verse you read, cross-reference it back to the first one that you started with.
If signs or miracles were enough to change a person’s heart, then all of the Nephites would have been converted by the great miracle which Nephi had done in telling them concerning the death of the chief judge. But instead, the following happened.
READ: Helaman 10: 13-19 and a similar thing happened in 3 Nephi 2:1-2
What does this teach us about how the wicked often react to signs and miracles?
MINI LESSON
(The following is taken from “Signs” in Gospel Topics)
Some people claim that they would believe in God or His work if they were able to receive a sign. But faith does not come by signs; it comes through the Holy Ghost as individuals study the scriptures and prayerfully seek to learn the plan of God.
READ: D&C 63:9
Such signs are given to those who are faithful and obedient to strengthen them in their faith and to help them carry out the will of God. Because signs are associated with faithfulness, nonbelievers often mock believers with requests for a sign.
In tempting Jesus Christ, Satan made this mocking request…
READ: Matthew 4:3, 6
As did those who crucified the Christ…
READ: Matthew 27: 40, 42
Jesus taught what kind of generation seeks after a sign…
READ: Matthew 12: 39
Signs are not given to produce faith but to confirm faith and to bless the faithful.
PONDER & DISCUSS
What is the danger of making signs the foundation of a testimony?
According to The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, it says:
In the present dispensation of the fulness of times are signs pertaining to the second coming of Christ. The Lord has revealed the signs of the times to guide the faithful in their preparation for the “great and dreadful day of the Lord” (D&C 110:14) -that is, for Christ’s second coming to the earth. Thus, the faithful watch for the signs so that when the hour comes, it will be great, but not dreadful to them.
What signs have you seen that bear witness to you regarding the second coming of Christ?
Do the signs you see today confirm your faith? How do non-believers respond to these signs?
PONDERING INVITES REVELATION
BACKGROUND/SCRIPTURE/MINI LESSON
SHOW IMAGE:
*Image used for educational purposes
EXPLAIN: In this picture of our galaxy, there are only 9 planets shown. It wasn’t very long ago that astronomers used to believe that this was all that existed in space. It was believed that anything beyond this was just a big black void.
With the invention of powerful telescopes, astronomers can now see farther than ever before. They can now see farther than the Milky Way. They have now discovered that there is much more beyond our galaxy than just a big black void.
VIDEO: Star Size Comparison 2 (6:50), click HERE
Compare the difference between the image of the Solar System and what was just shown in this video.
Our knowledge of the universe has increased a thousand times more in the last century. Even with all that the scientists know now, they realize that there is still much more to learn.
Almost 200 years ago, by the power of revelation, scripture was brought to light by the Prophet Joseph Smith.
READ: Moses 1:33
We live in the fullness of times “in which nothing shall be withheld” (D&C 121:28, 30–31). But we have to do our part. God has given us specific steps we can take in order to gain greater light and knowledge.
- Search the Word of God
- Ponder
- Pray
- Live the gospel principles
Nephi was a great example of this.
READ: Helaman 10:2-7
When Nephi pondered on what the Lord had taught him, he invited further revelation. When we ponder the scriptures, general conference talks, or other inspiring content, we invite the Spirit into our lives and let Him know we are ready for more knowledge.
What does pondering mean to you?
QUOTE BY ELDER NEAL A. MAXWELL:
“Pondering, for most of us, is not something we do easily. It is much more than drifting or daydreaming, for it focuses and stirs us, not lulls us. We must set aside time, circumstances, and attitude in order to achieve it.” (That Ye May Believe [1992], 183).
READ: 1 Nephi 11:1 and 3 Nephi 17:2-3 and discuss what are some results of pondering the things of God
SHARE QUOTE BY ELDER BRUCE R. MCCONKIE:
I have spent many hours poring over and pondering the scriptures. In seeking to learn the doctrines of salvation I have studied, weighed, and compared what the various prophets have said about the same subjects. Time and again, after much praying and pondering about a given point, new and added concepts have burst upon me showing deep and hidden truths that I had never before known. It can be so with all of us if we will read, ponder, and pray about the holy word. (Come: Hear the Voice of the Lord, New Era, December 1985)
PONDER & DISCUSS
Have you ever felt downtrodden, anxious, or confused? It was during a time when Nephi felt “cast down” that he was pondering. When we take time to ponder, we open our minds to recognizing the will of our Heavenly Father in our lives. We can receive answers to prayers.
Is there something you’ve been struggling with that you would love an answer to? Plan now to make time to not only read your scriptures and pray but to also ponder.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: Pondering Strengthens the Spiritual Life
CONFERENCE TALK: Serve with the Spirit
CONFERENCE TALK: My Heart Pondereth Them Continually
NEW ERA ARTICLE: Ponder, Pray, Perform, Persevere
THE LORD WANTS ME TO REMEMBER HIM
BACKGROUND/SCRIPTURE
ACTIVITY: Do one of the following activities – or make one of your own – that involves balance
- Egg Race – Using hard-boiled eggs and spoons, divide up into two teams. Each team has one person go at the same time. Each person is to carry an egg on a spoon to the other end of the room and then return back by walking backward as they continue to carry their egg on a spoon. When they return, then the next person can go. You keep going until everyone has had a chance to go. The first team to have everyone on their team complete the task wins. *Optional – every time the egg falls, the person has to start over from the beginning.
- Squat Trust – click HERE for an explanation on how to do it
- Book Balance – Have each person walk around with a book balanced on their head. See who can last 3 minutes without the book falling (or falling the least amount of times)
- If you have a balance beam, have everyone walk across the balance beam (or you can lay a ladder across the floor with pillows underneath at each end and walk across the ladder)
READ: Helaman 12: 1
Discuss the reasons why people can be unsteady in following the Lord
MINI LESSON
CONTINUE READING: Helaman 12: 2-6
Are men slow or quick to do iniquity? (vs 4)
According to these verses, what causes people to forget God?
VIDEO: Spiritual Eclipse, click HERE
What are some things that can block the sun (Son) and cause us to forget the Lord?
What if we are just forgetful by nature? (Share the following to help answer this)
SHARE INSIGHT BY EMILY BELLE FREEMAN: (Taken from Don’t Miss This)
There are some things I am always good at. I am good at making cookies. I am good at mowing the lawn. I am good at telling stories. But there are some things I am not good at. One of those is remembering. I am terrible at remembering birthdays, and remembering deadlines, and remembering stuff at the grocery store. So it brings me great comfort in [Helaman 11:7] that when the people saw they were about to perish by famine, they began to remember the Lord. Sometimes I forget. I love that in those moments it’s okay to begin to remember.
Because I know I am bad at remembering, I have learned to set up plenty of reminders for myself. I make double alarms on my cell phone. Sometimes I wear all my rings on one finger because the uncomfortableness reminds me that I am trying to remember something, I often write things on the palm of my hand. These are tricks to help me begin to remember.
I also have spiritual reminders that help me remember the Lord. Paintings that hang on my walls. A Christ-centered playlist. Scriptures verses placed throughout the house. Even the sacrament is a sacred time for helping me begin to remember.
Don’t worry if you aren’t good at remembering – just find things that will help you begin to remember. Those little reminders will draw your heart to Him.
PONDER & DISCUSS
What can you do to help you remember the Lord?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
VIDEO: The Will of God
VIDEO: That They Do Always Remember Him (6:29)
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: Fulfillment of Prophecy By Elder Ronald A. Rasband, 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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