Come, Follow Me Daily Study Guide for the week of August 31-September 6, 2020 covering Helaman 13-16. 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.
TENDER MERCIES OF THE LORD
BACKGROUND/SCRIPTURE
Write the following 3 definitions of Chastened on notecards. Set them out and ask which one is correct.
Chastened: To have been pursued or chased after
Chastened: To have kept one’s self morally pure
Chastened: To have been corrected through punishment or suffering
Read the following verses to find which one is correct.
READ: Helaman 15: 1-3
How does God’s correction show His love for us?
Do you think God hates any of his children?
READ: Helaman 15:4 and discuss what he might have meant when he said he hated the Lamanites.
SHARE INSIGHT:
This is strong language. One would assume that Samuel did not mean to convey the thought that God actually hated the Lamanites, at least not in the sense that mortal men hate one another. Rather, because of their rebellion, because they rejected the light and spurned the association with God through the Spirit that they might have enjoyed, they alienated themselves from the love of the Father. It is not that God does not love them, but that he simply is unable to bless them as he would those who choose the right. “If you keep not my commandments,” a modern revelation attests, “the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness” (D&C 95:12). (Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon by McConkie and Millet)
MINI LESSON
Originally, Samuel was sent to the Nephites to share the joyful news of the Savior’s coming (see Helaman 13:7). Because they rejected him, he returned with stern warnings of the judgments of God. But those warnings consistently included a merciful invitation to repent. (CFM manual)
READ: Helaman 13: 6, 11
Does the Savior want to forgive us?
VIDEO: The Savior Wants to Forgive (5:50), click HERE
Go around and ask each person what stood out to them or what they liked about the video.
SHARE THE FOLLOWING TWO QUOTES:
Taken from HERE
PONDER & DISCUSS
Invite family members to humbly ask the Lord what they can do to improve.
READ: Helaman 15: 5-6 and ask what does “unwearied diligence” mean to you?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
VIDEO: Why Did Samuel Say the Lord Hated the Lamanites
VIDEO: The Tender Mercies of the Lord
FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE: God Will Forgive
SIGNS & WONDERS CAN STRENGTHEN THE FAITH OF THOSE WHO DO NOT HARDEN THEIR HEARTS
BACKGROUND/SCRIPTURE
(Adapted from Scripture Study for the Latter-Day Saint Families)
SHOW IMAGE:
Here are some common road signs. What do they mean? How are these road signs helpful to us?
The Lord provided signs of the Savior’s birth and death. His signs were a little different than these signs.
READ: Helaman 14: 12 to learn the reason the Lord provided signs of the Savior’s birth and death.
MINI LESSON
ACTIVITY: Make signs announcing the signs of the Savior’s birth and death.
Set out different colors of paper, scissors, glue sticks, glitter, markers, etc.. that your family can use to make signs.
Divide your family into 2 groups. Give each group the following scripture verses to read on their own and to create a sign that depicts what is described in those verses, or in other words, a sign announcing to the world what is going to happen. Be creative! Have fun!
*Optional – if you’d rather, you could also read the verses together as a family and then each draw in their scripture journals a picture of what those verses describe
Group 1: Helaman 14: 1-8
Group 2: Helaman 14:20-27
Have each group share their sign.
PONDER & DISCUSS
Can you think of any signs the Lord has given to help you believe in Him? For instance, prophets have predicted signs that will appear before the Savior’s Second Coming. See “Signs of the Times,” Guide to the Scriptures, scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Have any of these signs been fulfilled in our day?
Other signs that lead to faith in Jesus Christ may be more personal and less dramatic. Take a moment to ponder ways you have witnessed His hand in your life. You may want to jot them down in your scripture journal. (CFM manual, pg 139)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: By Divine Design
THE TEACHINGS OF JOSEPH SMITH: The Second Coming and the Millennium
BYU RELIGIOUS STUDIES: The Second Coming of Jesus
TO BE LIKE SAMUEL
BACKGROUND
VIDEO: Samuel and the Star (3:04), click HERE
SCRIPTURE
(Taken from Scripture Study for the Latter-Day Saint Families)
After a talk in Church, have you ever heard someone say, “That was a great talk,” and another person say, “That talk was totally boring”?
How could two people have such opposing views after hearing the same talk?
Explain that there are probably many answers to this question. To see one possible explanation, read the following verses.
READ: Helaman 16: 1-8
What are the two different ways that people responded to Samuel’s message?
Why do you suppose some believed his words and sought to be baptized?
Why were others angry enough to try and kill him?
MINI LESSON
ACTIVITY: Act out the story of Samuel the Lamanite using marshmallows or wads of paper for the rocks and arrows that were thrown at him. *Optional -Have someone hold a cookie sheet or pan to stop the marshmallows or wads of paper from hitting Samuel.
FIRST DISCUSS: Before acting out the story, be sure to discuss what were some of the things that Samuel told the people. *If needed, refer to the scripture references noted in the list below of an example of things Samuel could say.
An Example of Things Samuel Could Say:
- If it were not for the few righteous people in the city, you would be destroyed by fire. (Helaman 13:12-14)
- You do not remember the Lord, instead, you remember your riches. (Helaman 13:22)
- In 5 years, a sign will indicate the birth of Jesus Christ. There will be a day, a night, and a day without darkness. A new star will appear. (Helaman 14: 2-6)
- Following Jesus’ death, there will be total darkness for 3 days, until Jesus is resurrected. There will be thundering and lightning, violent earthquakes, and tempests. Entire cities will be destroyed. (Helaman 14: 21-24)
- After Christ’s Resurrection, many righteous dead will be resurrected. (Helaman 14:25)
PONDER & DISCUSS
In your scripture journals, jot down your answers to the following questions:
How can you be like Samuel and share the gospel with others despite your fears?
How can knowing about Samuel help when you suffer persecution?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: The Prophet of God
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: A Perfect Brightness of Hope By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, 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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