Come, Follow Me Daily Study Guide for the week of February 15-21, 2021 covering Doctrine and Covenants 14-17. 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, we 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 for 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.
A MARVELOUS WORK AND SALVATION THROUGH SERVICE
(Optional) ACT OF SERVICE BEFOREHAND: The day before or the morning of, leave each member of the family their favorite treat or soda with a simple note of appreciation or a “just because” note. Leave it where each person will find it before you do scripture study.
BACKGROUND/SCRIPTURE
(Taken from Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families)
Write each of the following scripture references on a slip of paper and place them in a jar.
- 1 Nephi 14:7
- 1 Nephi 22:8
- 3 Nephi 21:9
- D&C 4:1
- D&C 14:1
*If you have more than 5 people, you can add in D&C 6:1, 11:1, and 12:1
Ask family members to draw slips of paper from the jar until it is empty. Have each person read aloud his or her scripture verses.
ASK:
- What phrase is found in all of these verses? (marvelous work)
- What “great and marvelous work” do you think is being foretold in these verses? (Consider sharing the following quote by President Howard W. Hunter: “This church,…that had been prophesied to be a latter-day marvelous work and a wonder, has come forth from the most humble of beginnings.”)
- Which of these prophecies is the oldest? (1 Nephi 14:7, about 600 B.C.)
- How does it feel to be a member of a Church that was prophesied to come forth thousands of years ago?
MINI LESSON
(Adapted from Come Follow Me Through the Doctrine & Covenants)
*The synoptic lines in D&C are the lines just above the first verse of each section that outline the section. For example, the synoptic lines in D&C 4 read: 1-4, Valiant service saves the Lord’s ministers; 5-6, Godly attributes qualify them for the ministry; 7, The things of God must be sought after.
According to the synoptic lines, read what the first set of verses in each of the following sections are about: D&C 4, 6, 14, and 75.
(D&C 4: Valiant service saves the Lord’s ministers; D&C 6: Laborers in the Lord’s field gain salvation; D&C 14: Laborers in the vineyard will gain salvation; D&C 75: Faithful elders who preach the gospel will gain eternal life)
- Referring to what we just read, who does the Lord promise to save?
- Does that include me and you?
- What do we need to do to be saved? (reach out and serve those around us; share the gospel)
- How does this consistent promise relate to the Savior’s teaching in Matthew 16:25-26?
- Does an act of service have to be big?
*If you did the optional act of service beforehand, say the following:
Did everyone like the treat/soda I left for them? You’ve had your favorite treat/soda many times, what makes this time any different? (Because someone thought about you). Service does not have to be big. It could be just doing something thoughtful for someone so they feel loved.
*If you didn’t do the act of service before hand, no problem, just say the following:
Service does not have to be big. Have you ever had someone surprise you with your favorite candy bar or soda? The candy bar or soda is wonderful, but you’ve had it 1,000 times before, so why does this particular candy bar or soda experience stick out? Because someone thought about you and noticed you.
PONDER & DISCUSS
SCRIPTURE JOURNALS: In your scripture journals, list at least 3 small, simple ways that you can serve someone else during the week. (Share what you wrote is optional)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: Service, a Divine Quality By Elder Carlos H. Amado
TEACHINGS OF BRIGHAM YOUNG: Salvation through Jesus Christ
MUSIC VIDEO: A Marvelous Work is About to Come Forth
VIDEO: Unselfish Service (2:25)
ETERNAL LIFE IS “THE GREATEST OF ALL THE GIFTS OF GOD”
BACKGROUND/SCRIPTURE
OBJECT LESSON: Show your family a wrapped gift and ask…
- What is the greatest gift you have ever received?
- What is the greatest gift a person could receive from Heavenly Father?
READ: D&C 14:7
Why is eternal life the “greatest of all the gifts of God”? (The following quote may help answer this question.)
QUOTE BY PRESIDENT RUSSELL M. NELSON:
“Under God’s great plan of happiness, families can be sealed in temples and be prepared to return to dwell in His holy presence forever. That is eternal life!” (Thanks Be to God, Ensign, May 2012)
MINI LESSON
FIND A SCRIPTURE: Have everyone find “Eternal Life” in the Topical Guide or Guide to the Scriptures.
(For those on electronic devices go to: GOSPEL LIBRARY>>SCRIPTURES>>STUDY HELPS>>GUIDE TO THE SCRIPTURES>>ETERNAL LIFE)
Have each person look through the list of scriptures and find one that helps them understand more about eternal life that they can cross-reference with D&C 14:7. Give everyone a couple of minutes to find one that they really like. Then have everyone share the one they picked and explain why they picked it.
TWO THINGS WE MUST DO
Refer back again to D&C 14:7. What are 2 things we must do to obtain this gift?
CARTOON: Really? You give up NOW?!?!?!, click HERE (Share the cartoon and thoughts from this post)
PONDER & DISCUSS
MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE: As a family make a goal to memorize D&C 14: 7. Have a reward that the family will receive when everyone has it memorized (for example, ice cream or do something fun together).
Start memorizing today and then if people need more time, you can set a goal to have it memorized in 24 hours or whatever time limit you choose.
Things you can do right now:
- Have everyone write the verse in their scripture journals (As they do that, write it on a big piece of paper or a white board)
- Together using the verse you wrote on the large piece of paper or white board, memorize a phrase at a time. Each time a phrase is memorized, scribble out the word except for the first letter. (Eventually you’ll only have the first letter of each word left)
- Then say the verse with only the first letter of each word.
*You can then take away the first letter of each word and see who can say the verse AND/OR you can save this paper and hang it on the fridge to help family members finish memorizing it on their own by the time limit you set.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: Thanks Be to God By Elder Russell M. Nelson
TRUE TO THE FAITH: Eternal Life
OF MOST WORTH
BACKGROUND
David Whitmer (who was one of the Three Witnesses) had two brothers, John and Peter Whitmer Jr. D&C sections 15 and 16 are revelations give through the Prophet Joseph Smith to John and Peter Whitmer Jr. Each of them had received testimonies of the sacred work and wanted to know what their duty was. Joseph Smith respected their requests and inquired of the Lord.
SCRIPTURE
Pick two people. Assign section 15 to one person and section 16 to another person. Ask them to start reading their assigned section at the same time. Tell them when to go.
- What is unique about these two sections?
- Do these two sections seem very personal if they are almost identical?
SHARE INSIGHT FROM DAVID BUTLER: (Taken from Don’t Miss This)
“…At first glance, it doesn’t seem very intimate or personal at all, with the next section being just the same, basically a copy and paste. And when I think about my own call to serve. Except for a name and a date and a place, it was identical to the missionary calls of every one of my friends who received their letters that same winter. Every word. And yet, as I read it, it felt very intimate, and my experiences were impressively personal. It was from the Lord to me – just me. So many moments are like this. Same talks, prayers, hymns, and words in ordinances – and yet we walk away from those moments with personal inspiration and experiences and impressions and the knowledge that the Lord will speak just to us in a personal and intimate way.”
When have you read a scripture or heard a talk or sung a hymn with others and had an intimate and impressively personal experience?
MINI LESSON
(Taken from Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families)
Invite your family to identify the first word in D&C 15 and 16.
Write the word HEARKEN in large letters on a sheet of paper and show it to your family.
Ask them what they think it means.
Cross out the first letter and the fifth through seventh letters so you are left with EAR (HEARKEN)
- How does this help explain what the word HEARKEN might mean?
- What part does the ear play in hearkening to the Lord?
- Does HEARKEN mean to just listen?
In the dictionary, the first two definitions say:
1.To listen; to lend the ear; to attend to what is uttered, with eagerness or curiosity. 2. To attend; to regard; to give heed to what is uttered; to observe or obey.
It means more than listening. It also implies action.
Now look over section 15 (or 16) and find the message that God said is of “most worth” (refer to verse 6)
- What is of most worth?
- Why would missionary work be considered the thing of “most worth”?
- Does missionary work take action?
- Is the Lord picky on who we should preach the gospel to? Or does He expect us to preach the gospel to all people?
OBJECT LESSON: (Adapted from LDSLiving)
Materials Needed: A flashlight and a mirror.
Procedure: Briefly explain that by using the mirror you can reflect the beam of light to various areas of the room. Give a quick demonstration, select a target point in the room, then use the mirror to direct the beam to that place (practice before). Tell the family that even the darkest area of the room can be reached. It may take time and thought and effort to get around obstacles and figure out which angle to use, but all areas can be reached.
Liken this to missionary work. With Christ as our light source, we act as the mirror which reflects the love and truth He offers. We can reflect this to all of our Heavenly Father’s children. To us, some people may appear unapproachable, impossible to reach. Yet just like this light, it may take some time and effort, but we can figure out how to share God’s light with them. With faith and diligence, we can be successful.
(Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, More Power Tools for Teaching, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1991], p. 47.)
PONDER & DISCUSS
SHARE QUOTE FROM PRESIDENT EZRA TAFT BENSON: “Missionaries are engaged in the greatest work in all the world – saving souls of our Father in Heaven’s children.”
What words do returned missionaries usually use to describe how they felt about doing missionary work? (Happy, joy, and love)
*If your family did Monday’s “Ponder & Discuss” and listed 3 small, simple ways that they could serve someone else, you may follow up and see how everyone is doing.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: Finding Joy in Sharing the Gospel By Cristina B. Franco
FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE: The Thing of Most Worth By President Gordon B. Hinckley
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: The Healing Power of Jesus Christ By Cristina B. Franco, 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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