Come, Follow Me Daily Study Guide for the week of July 27 – August 2, 2020 covering Alma 39-42. 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.
I WILL BE RESURRECTED AND STAND BEFORE GOD TO BE JUDGED
BACKGROUND
When Alma noticed that his son Corianton had questions about the Resurrection, he taught him about what happens after we die.
VIDEO: (2:35) Alma Teaches Corianton about Resurrection and Judgment, click HERE
SCRIPTURE/MINI LESSON/PONDER & DISCUSS
(Taken from Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families)
Why might the idea of being resurrected to stand before God worry Corianton?
READ: Alma 39:8
What would he have to do to be happier about the resurrection?
READ: Alma 39:13
TRUE OR FALSE
Read Alma 40: 2-26. Before reading each verse, ask family members the accompanying true/false questions. Have them find the correct answers as they study the scriptures.
- T F No resurrection took place until after Christ’s first coming. (vs 2)
- T F Christ brings about the resurrection. (vs 3)
- T F Priesthood holders know when their family members will be resurrected. (vs 4)
- T F As soon as we die, we will be resurrected. (vs 6)
- T F Mortals are more concerned about time than God is. (vs 8)
- T F Righteous spirits will go to paradise, where they will be happy, peaceful, and at rest from their troubles, cares, and sorrows. (vs 12)
- T F Wicked spirits will also be in paradise, but they will weep, wail, and gnash their teeth because of their own iniquity. (vs 13)
- T F Wicked people do not choose to be evil. (vs 13)
- T F The devil takes possession of wicked people. (vs 13)
- T F Everyone will have to remain in paradise until the resurrection. (vs 14)
- T F We will not be judged until after we are resurrected. (vs 21)
- T F The wicked will be consigned to partake of the fruits of their labors. (vs 26)
DID IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Did Alma’s loving talk make a difference? About one year later we get the answer.
READ: Alma 49:30
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
DOCTRINES OF THE GOSPEL: The Resurrection and the Judgment
GUIDE TO THE SCRIPTURES: The Last Judgment
GOSPEL PRINCIPLES: The Final Judgment
I CAN SEEK ANSWERS TO MY GOSPEL QUESTIONS IN FAITH
BACKGROUND
GAME: Use the following PDF to play a quick game of Book of Mormon Trivia. (The following PDF is the first 18 trivia questions from my free Book of Mormon Trivia download that you receive when you sign up for my monthly Finding Joy Newsletter. If you haven’t signed up for my Finding Joy Newsletter, you can below.)
After you play the game, explain how sometimes we don’t know all the answers and that there are times when the prophets don’t have all the answers either.
SCRIPTURE/MINI LESSON
Sometimes we might think that prophets know the answer to every gospel question. But notice that throughout chapter 40, Alma had several unanswered questions about life after death.
READ: Alma 40:3
SHARE THE FOLLOWING FROM DAVID BUTLER: (Taken from Don’t Miss This)
I once heard an interview with a man who said he had so many questions about faith and God when he was growing up. One day, while asking his religious leader some of those questions, the leader responded by saying, “Good little boys don’t ask questions like that.” That answer turned him off from asking and eventually turned him off from faith. Interestingly, they go hand in hand. Faith is born out of an inquisitive mind.
Alma was talking to a son who was worried and had questions about truth and doctrine – especially about the next life. As Alma spoke with his son, he taught him that we do not have the answer to many mysteries about God. However, he was able to share one mystery because it was one that God had shared with him. We get a little peek into Alma’s past in the process of learning that mystery when he said, “I show unto you one thing which I have inquired diligently of God that I might know.” Then a little later he said [in Alma 40:9], “the thing which I have inquired diligently of the Lord to know…this is the thing of which I do know”…
I wonder what it looked like for Alma to inquire diligently. I am also intrigued that his mind and heart were focused on learning one truth but he still was at peace with others he did not have answers to. The Lord loves an inquiring mind – and He counsels us that diligence, not just curiosity, leads to answers.
PONDER & DISCUSS
Consider how Alma’s example might help you with gospel questions you have.
What is your “one thing” that you are inquiring diligently to know right now? (Perhaps write it down in your scripture journal and commit to seeking diligently for an answer. Then when you receive an answer, write it down)
What does “inquired diligently” look like to you?
*An excellent resource that gives 12 tips on seeking gospel answers, is in a letter addressed to “Honest Truth Seekers” from Bruce R. McConkie. Click HERE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
ENSIGN ARTICLE: Finding Answers By Joseph Fielding McConkie
GOSPEL TOPICS: Answering Gospel Questions
*I have also listed some books at the bottom of this post that you may be interested in that can be found on Amazon.
THE ATONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST MAKES THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION POSSIBLE
BACKGROUND/SCRIPTURE
GAME: Download and cut out the PDF of Christlike attributes and gospel principles. Scatter the papers around the room. Set a timer for 15 seconds and see if family members can pick up all the pieces of paper in that amount of time.
READ: Alma 42:4
EXPLAIN: Just as you had a certain amount of time to pick up these papers, we each have been given a certain amount of time here on this earth, or in other words “probationary time,” for us to repent and serve God.
Serving God involves becoming like him and living the gospel.
DISCUSS: How do the things written on these papers help us become more like God?
MINI LESSON/PONDER & DISCUSS
Becoming perfect like God is our ultimate goal but will we achieve that goal in this life? No, we won’t because we all make mistakes. But does that mean we shouldn’t try? What happens if we don’t try? (Then instead of coming closer to God and closer to becoming more like God, we go in the opposite direction. Plus this “probationary time” is our time to show God that we desire to return back to Him)
What happens if we are trying our best but we make a mistake, then what? Does that mean we no longer have a chance of making it back to live with God? No, but according to the law of justice, someone has to pay for our sins.
Alma’s son, Corianton, believed that punishment for sins was not fair.
READ: Alma 42:1
But Alma taught that there is a way to escape from the “state of misery” that sin puts us in: repentance and faith in the Atonement of Jesus Christ, which is both merciful and just.
READ: Alma 42: 15
SHOW PICTURE
What happens to the scale when we sin? What does justice require for the scale to be balanced? How does the Savior meet the demands of justice and make mercy possible?
*Here are 2 very good videos on justice and mercy. Pick one to share.
VIDEO: (5:31) Justice and Mercy, click HERE
OR
VIDEO: (5:35) Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet, click HERE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
CONFERENCE TALK: Justice and Mercy by James A. Cullimore
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: Ensuring a Righteous Judgment By Elder James R. 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.
P.P.P.S. Sign up to receive inspiring gospel resources once a month in my popular Finding Joy Newsletter. Helping you be the most effective teacher you can be at home and in your calling.
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