Come, Follow Me Daily Study Guide for the week of December 28, 2020 – January 3, 2021 covering Doctrine and Covenants 1. For personal and/or family study of the scriptures, geared towards families with teenagers.  

**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.

**SCRIPTURE JOURNALS – I highly suggest getting a scripture journal for each person. Many times my outlines will suggest writing 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. Composition books found at the Dollar Store work great!   

**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

**OPENING SONG SUGGESTION FOR NON-SINGERS – We are not big singers in our family but I know how powerful music can be when it comes to inviting the Spirit. Instead of singing, my family and I have begun listening to the song suggested on Music for Latter-day Life and as we listen we each write in our scripture journals how we have seen the hand of the Lord in our lives or something we are grateful for. It has been a wonderful way to get everyone in the right mindset and to invite the Spirit to our family scripture study.    

 

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. 

 

GOD SPEAKS THROUGH HIS SERVANTS, AND HIS WORDS WILL BE FULFILLED

BACKGROUND

DISCUSSION: Talk about warnings we receive from others about dangers we cannot see—such as a slippery floor, a violent storm, or an approaching car. Perhaps share a personal story if you have one or ask if anyone would like to share a time when they were glad someone had given them a warning. 

How can we relate the warnings we receive from others to the warnings the Lord gives us?  

SCRIPTURE

READ: D&C 1: 1, 2, and 4

What is the Lord telling us in these verses? Who are His warnings for? How does the Lord warn us?

READ: D&C 1:38 

Does the Lord ever excuse Himself for what He has said because it’s not popular with the world or that He is afraid He’ll hurt someone’s feelings?

SHARE QUOTE BY PRESIDENT HINCKLEY:

“When critics mock, when enemies deride, when cynics belittle this work, there comes into my mind this tremendous statement of the Almighty. The Lord does not excuse Himself for what He has said or done. Every promise shall be kept, every prophecy fulfilled.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Order and Will of God,” Ensign, Jan. 1989)

MINI LESSON

VIDEO: Deceive Me Not by Elder Stevenson (4:21), click HERE

How might we find heavenly help so that we are not deceived or give in to temptation? A clear channel for divine assistance was declared by the Lord in D&C 1:17.

How blessed we are to have a living prophet today. God’s chosen servant to help guide us through these turbulent times.

What has God warned us about recently? (Optional – Read parts of recent general conference messages and look for examples of God’s “voice of warning.”) 

PONDER & DISCUSS

MUSIC VIDEO: We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet (4:53), click HERE

Optional – invite family members to share their testimony of our living prophet today OR have everyone write their thoughts/testimonies in their scripture journals. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)

CONFERENCE TALK: Deceive Me Not
CONFERENCE TALK: His Servants, the Prophets by Elder F. Michael Watson
NEW ERA: Doctrine and Covenants 1:38

 

 

IF I AM HUMBLE, THE LORD’S CHASTENING CAN LEAD ME TO REPENT 

BACKGROUND

VIDEO: Studio C: Shoulder Angel and Devil (5:48), click HERE

Discuss the importance of making the right choice even when you don’t think anyone would know that you made the wrong one. 

SCRIPTURE

Can people make wrong choices without anyone else knowing about it? Do you think there will ever come a time that all wrong choices made in secret will become known and not be a secret anymore?  

READ: D&C 1:3 and 24-28

Notice how the Lord said that people’s sins and errors would be made known. In one case this is a painful, sorrowful experience, and in the other case, it is instructive. Why are these situations so different?

How do you react when you become aware of your sins and weaknesses?

Elder Neil L. Andersen has said that when we have been instructed by the Lord where we need to focus our repentance “we then are allowed to choose. We can repent or we can pull the shades down over our opened window into heaven.” (Elder Andersen video)

MINI LESSON

(The following is adapted from Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families)

SCRIPTURE JOURNALS: Print the following PDF of “True or False” statements and put the paper where everyone can see it. Tell everyone to read D&C 1:29-33 on their own to find the answers to these statements and have them write their answers in their scripture journals. When everyone is done, go over the answers.

 

 

ANSWERS:  

1. Joseph Smith was able to translate the Book of Mormon by the power of God. (True)
2. There is only one true and living church upon the face of the whole earth. (True)
3. The Lord is well pleased with every member of the Church. (False)
4. The Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance. (True)
5. Those who are unrepentant shall lose the Spirit and the light they have already received. (True)

PONDER & DISCUSS

• What kinds of things do Church members do that keep the Lord from being “pleased” with them?
• What can our family do to help the Lord be “well pleased” with His Church and with us individually?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)

CONFERENCE TALK: Repentance Is Always Positive By Stephen W. Owen
GUIDE TO THE SCRIPTURES: Chasten, Chastening

 

 

THE ONLY TRUE AND LIVING CHURCH

BACKGROUND

OBJECT LESSON: Have a discussion about the difference between living and nonliving things. To start, show examples of both living and nonliving things that you have in your home. (For example a pet, plant, laptop, or chair) 

SCRIPTURE/MINI LESSON

READ: D&C 1:30

What does it mean to say that the Church is “true and living”?

VIDEO: Rip Van Winkle by Dieter F. Uchtdorf (3:06), click HERE

The Church IS “true and living” and how exciting it is to be able to be alive at this time and help participate in preparing the world for the Lord’s Second Coming. 

QUOTE: President Nelson shared his own excitement when speaking to a gathering of Saints in September 2019 when he said, “There are exciting things ahead, and there is more to come. This work is moving forward at an accelerating pace. I can hardly wait to bounce out of bed each morning and see what the new day will bring.” (Deseret News, September 2, 2019)

President Nelson is definitely NOT sleeping through the restoration 🙂 

What does it mean in verse 30 when it says “the ONLY true and living church upon the face of the WHOLE earth?” (emphasis added)

INSIGHT FROM MARY JANE WOODGER:

(Taken from The Essential Doctrine and Covenants Companion; referring to verse 30 where it says “the only true and living church”)

Although we can find truths in other churches, only one church – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – possesses the fulness of the gospel and the priesthood keys designated by our Heavenly Father. President Boyd K. Packer pointed out that the doctrine of the only true and living Church may seem presumptuous and sometimes repels those who are not serious investigators- and was, in fact, a cause of serious persecution in the early days of the Church. If the Church, then, was concerned only about popularity or diplomacy, it would surely change that claim. However, as President Packer states, if we give up that doctrine, we cannot justify the Restoration. It is a true doctrine, and we are required to teach the truth. (see Conference Report, Oct. 1985)

PONDER & DISCUSS

Because we live in the latter days, we are and will be faced with many distressing days. The Lord has warned us about many calamities. For example, read the following scripture verses and discuss some of the calamities the Lord has warned us about. 

READ: D&C 1: 13-16 and 35 

What other calamities do you notice in today’s world or in your own life? 

Although section 1 warns of distressing days to come, it also contains a reassuring message.

READ: D&C 1: 17-23 and discuss what are some reassuring messages in those verses.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)

VIDEO: Good Things to Come (4:55)
VIDEO: The Ongoing Restoration (5:54)

 

 

GENERAL CONFERENCE DAY

Study a recent General Conference talk. A great way to study a conference talk is to read along and highlight the parts that stand out to you. Then after the talk, review and discuss what you have highlighted.    

THIS WEEK’S TALK: God Will Do Something Unimaginable By Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 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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