Come, Follow Me Daily Study Guide for the week of March 15-21, 2021 covering Doctrine and Covenants 27-28. 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.
THE ARMOR OF GOD WILL HELP ME STAND AGAINST EVIL
(Taken from Scripture Study for Latter-Day Saint Families)
BACKGROUND
OBJECT LESSON:
- Show your family a piece of protective equipment that is essential to the safety of the person wearing it, such as a football helmet. (If you don’t have anything, you can show a picture.)
- Ask them what is likely to happen if a person tried to play a serious football game without a helmet.
- READ: D&C 76:28-29 and Ephesians 6:12 and identify what kind of serious battle we are in and who we are fighting against.
- Today we are going to discuss ways we can protect ourselves against Satan.
SCRIPTURE/MINI LESSON
VIDEO: Put on the Whole Armor of God (3:10), click HERE
OR
VIDEO: The Armor of God (2:01), click HERE
*Show the following image. If possible, have it visible while reading and discussing the following scripture verses. This image can be found in your physical Come, Follow Me manual on page 52.
SHOW IMAGE:
READ: D&C 27:15-18 and look for ways we can protect ourselves in our war against Satan.
*Have everyone write down the following in their scripture journals and/or have someone be the “scribe” and write it on a big piece of paper or white board.
Make 2 columns with the following headings:
Physical Armor
Spiritual Armor
Referring to the verses 15-18 write down under the appropriate column the physical armor that is mentioned and what the Lord said it represents spiritually. *I’ve listed them below. I’ve also included some points to discuss with your family.
Loins girt = Truth
“Girt about” is to have a large belt around you, and the “loins” are your many vital organs and the sacred procreative parts of your body. Satan shows no respect for the sacredness of our creative powers. Talk about what gospel truths can help protect us from violating the law of chastity.
Breastplate = Righteousness
What important organ does a breastplate cover? (The heart.) READ: 3 Nephi 6:15-16 and discuss what Satan did and how he was able to do it. In contrast, read the promise in 1 Nephi 22:26 discussing what it says about righteousness, hearts, and Satan.
Feet shod = Preparation of the gospel of peace
Ask your family how far they think they could walk without shoes compared to how far they could walk with shoes. Remind them that mortal life is like a long journey to a place we can’t really see at this time. What keeps us going? Read the first paragraph of the entry for “Gospels” in the Bible Dictionary. What is the meaning of the word “gospel”? What is the gospel? How does this knowledge keep us walking through the challenges of mortal life?
Shield = Faith
Look again at verse 17 and identify what the shield specifically does. (Stop the fiery darts of the wicked.) Why do you think Satan’s weapon is compared to a dart rather than a large tank or cannon? How have others (including Satan) tried to get you to doubt the truths of the gospel? How has your faith helped you to overcome?
Helmet = Salvation
Elder Harold B. Lee said: “Did you ever hear of that kind of helmet? The helmet of salvation….Salvation is to be saved. Saved from what? Saved from death and saved from sin….A helmet of salvation shall guide our thinking all through our days.” What can we do to more often remember Christ and the salvation He offers us? How would remembering Christ more regularly help us resist the influence the devil tries to have over us?
Sword = Spirit
How is the sword different from the other pieces of armor listed? (It is a weapon rather than merely protection.) What did the Lord say about the Spirit in verse 18? (The Spirit is His word) What are some ways we can receive God’s word through the Spirit? How could it then be compared to a sharp sword? (For one example, see Helaman 3:29-30)
PONDER & DISCUSS
President M. Russell Ballard said: “There is not one great and grand thing we can do to arm ourselves spiritually. True spiritual power lies in numerous smaller acts woven together in a fabric of spiritual fortification that protects and shields from all evil.”
What does this mean to you? What are some of the “numerous smaller acts” we can do?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: Put on the Whole Armor of God by N. Eldon Tanner
ENSIGN ARTICLE: Be Strong in the Lord by Elder M. Russell Ballard
VIDEO: The Whole Armor of God (1992)
VIDEO: Put on the Armor of God | Kids Animated Scripture Lesson
THE LIVING PROPHET IS GOD’S MOUTHPIECE FOR HIS CHURCH
BACKGROUND
VIDEO: WW2 Message Fail – Studio C (4:05), click HERE
- How important is it that we receive a message directly from it’s source? What can happen if we don’t?
- How important is it that the Church receives guidance from God’s living prophet and not from other sources?
- Can you imagine what it would be like if any good standing member of the church could receive commandments and revelation for the entire church?
In July and August of 1830, persecution was growing intense for the Prophet and the Saints in Colesville and Harmony. Peter Whitmer Sr. invited the Prophet and his family to live with him again in Fayette, New York. When the Prophet arrived, he found that Hiram Page was claiming that he had received revelation regarding the location of Zion, Church organization, and other doctrines from a seer stone. The Prophet found many Fayette Saints being deceived by these revelations and so Joseph confronted Hiram and then asked the Lord for further direction and received the revelation in D&C 28.
SCRIPTURE
INTERESTING TO NOTE: Hiram was married to Catherine Whitmer, the oldest daughter of Peter Whitmer, Sr., and Oliver was married to her sister, Elizabeth Ann. So, they were all part of the same family. The Whitmer’s and Oliver Cowdery were accounted among the Saints who believed that Hiram had received revelation through a seer stone.
READ: D&C 28:6-7
- Why is it important to know that only the living prophet can receive revelation for the whole Church?
- How does this protect us from deception?
MINI LESSON
READ: D&C 28:11
SHARE THE FOLLOWING FROM DAVID BUTLER: (Taken from Don’t Miss This)
“Hiram Page was a respected member of the core leadership of the Church. He was married to one of the Whitmer daughters, brother-in-law to Oliver Cowdery, and one of the Eight Witnesses to the Book of Mormon. He was not an obscure person; he was involved. So when he started telling people that he was receiving revelations from a seer stone, people believed him. Even prominent people like Oliver. And why wouldn’t they? That was how Joseph had received several revelations. It took a lot of convincing and heart-to-heart conversations to convince Hiram and others who believed him that the revelations he was receiving were deceptions. Every time I read in the revelation that the Lord wanted Hiram to know that “Satan deceiveth him” (D&C 28:11), I cringe a little. Was he embarrassed? Confused? What about the others?”
- When we want to offer someone correction, why is it important to handle it “between him and thee alone”?
- Would you rather have someone correct your mistakes in public or private? Why?
- What can we do to know for ourselves if what someone is telling us is true so that we are not deceived by Satan?
- Why is it important for us to heed the words of our living prophet? (To help answer this, watch the following short video)
VIDEO: How Can People Today Avoid Being Destroyed Like the Nephites Were? (0:53), click HERE
Discuss what you learned from the video and share the following quote.
SHARE QUOTE BY PRESIDENT M. RUSSELL BALLARD:
“Keep your eyes riveted on the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. We will not lead you astray. We cannot. …
“… If someone tells you that they have received revelation that the First Presidency and the Twelve have not received, run away from them.”
PONDER & DISCUSS
Name some counsel that President Russell M. Nelson has given us. How does this counsel help us to follow Jesus Christ?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: Two Lines of Communication by Dallin H. Oaks
OLIVER COWDERY’S MISSION TO THE LAMANITES
BACKGROUND
VIDEO: Book of Mormon in 60 Seconds, click HERE
As noted in this video, where does the setting of the Book of Mormon take place? (In the Americas over 2,000 years ago)
If someone were to ask you if any of those ancient people from the Book of Mormon had any posterity on the earth today, what would you say? (To help answer this or to confirm your answer is correct, read the following…)
READ: Introduction to the Book of Mormon, the first two paragraphs (The very last sentence of the second paragraph states, “After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians.)
SCRIPTURE
In D&C 28 the Lord corrects Oliver for accepting the revelations given to Hiram Page concerning where the city Zion (the New Jerusalem) would be built. That is something the Lord had not yet revealed. The Lord also counsels Oliver not to give revelations by way of commandment. He reminds Oliver of his ability to receive his own personal revelation. Oliver remains an apostle and the second elder of the Church and is now given a new charge. A charge to lead the first mission of the Church.
READ: D&C 28:8-10
Within a few weeks of receiving this revelation, Oliver departed with several missionaries to the borders of the United States to teach the gospel to Native Americans. Remember that back then, Missouri was considered the border of the United States. “Because of the Indian Removal Act passed in May 1830, the new territory for relocating American Indians was to be in present-day Kansas and Oklahoma.” Oliver and his fellow missionary companions set out “to go west from Independence, Missouri, into Indian Territory.” (Revelations in Context)
MINI LESSON
ROLE PLAY: Select a number of family members to be Oliver Cowdery and other Latter-day Saint missionaries who journeyed to Indian Territory and met with American Indians. Have other family members be the American Indians. Have them role play what the missionaries might have said to the American Indians to teach them the gospel and about the Book of Mormon.
How do you think the American Indians received Oliver Cowdery and the other Latter-day Saint missionaries? (Read the following to find out.)
SHARE QUOTE FROM REVELATIONS IN CONTEXT
…Oliver Cowdery, Parley P. Pratt, and Frederick G. Williams went over into Indian Territory. They first preached to the Shawnees and then to the Delawares. Speaking through an interpreter, Oliver Cowdery shared the essential message of the Book of Mormon. Part of his message, as recorded by Parley P. Pratt, was that “the Lord commanded Mormon and Moroni, their last wise men and prophets, to hide the Book in the earth, that it might be preserved in safety, and be found and made known in the latter day to the pale faces who should possess the land; that they might again make it known to the red man; in order to restore them to the knowledge of the will of the Great Spirit and to His favor.”
The Delaware Indians were receptive, and the chief requested that the missionaries return in the spring when “you shall read to us and teach us more concerning the Book of our fathers and the will of the Great Spirit.” However, because of an order by a federal agent, the missionaries were expelled from Indian Territory. Seeking unsuccessfully to get authorization from William Clark, the superintendent of Indian affairs in the area, the missionaries were no longer able to proselytize in Indian Territory.
PONDER & DISCUSS
If someone were to ask you, “What does your church believe?” What would you say?
GO TO: GOSPEL LIBRARY APP>>SHARING THE GOSPEL>>WHAT TO SHARE>>BASIC BELIEFS
Choose one or more videos to watch and discuss. A great one is “60 Beliefs in 60 Seconds”
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALKS: Topic: Missionary Work
CHURCH HISTORY TOPICS: American Indians
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: Seek Christ in Every Thought By Elder Ulisses Soares, 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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