Come, Follow Me Daily Study Guide for the week of June 21-27, 2021 covering Doctrine and Covenants 67-70. For personal and/or family study of the scriptures, geared towards families with teenagers.
*These are suggested resources that coincide with the Come, Follow Me manual that I have gathered along with my own thoughts and testimony.
*SCRIPTURE JOURNALS – I strongly suggest having a scripture journal. On occasion it is suggested to write 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. You can also 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. Suggestion for NON-SINGERS: Instead of singing, listen to the song suggested on Music for Latter-day Life and as you listen, write in our scripture journals how you have seen the hand of the Lord in your life or something you are grateful for. It is a great way to invite the Spirit to your scripture study.
FHE DAY
For additional resources to help you prepare a Family Home Evening that goes along with Come Follow Me, sign up for the Teach Me FHE email group and receive FHE resources delivered right to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up at the bottom of this post.
TO PROCLAIM THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL, BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD
SCRIPTURE
D&C 68:1-8
SUMMARY
The words in these verses were spoken as Orson Hyde and others were called “to proclaim the everlasting gospel, by the Spirit of the living God, from people to people, and from land to land” (verse 1). (CFM manual)
VIDEOS
- Testimony of Truth (3:31), click HERE
- The Holy Ghost is the Teacher (2:21), click HERE
- Spiritually Prepared (2:18), click HERE
- #ShareGoodness – Elder David A. Bednar (2:31), click HERE
- Compelling Witness (7:46), click HERE
ACTIVITIES
Several suggested activities along with discussion questions on “Learning to Recognize and Follow the Spirit” on the church website, click HERE
QUOTES
ELDER D. TODD CHRISTOFFERSON: “As we share testimony of the gospel by the Spirit, those who are willing to hear will receive sufficient witness to begin to have faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. That faith will give them the will to repent. Members and full-time missionaries can, again by the Spirit, teach them what changes they need to make and invite and commit them to act. The ultimate commitment we invite the investigator to accept and act upon is baptism in water. This baptism is followed by, or better said, completed by, the reception of the Holy Ghost, which brings a remission of sins as well as sanctification (see 2 Nephi 31:17).” (Why We Share the Gospel)
M. RUSSELL BALLARD: The key [to sharing the gospel] is that you be inspired of God, that you ask Him for direction and then go and do as the Spirit prompts you.
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Used for educational purposes; From Deseret News
PONDER & DISCUSS
How might the declaration in verse 4 help someone who is being sent to preach the gospel? How do these words apply to you? Think of a time when you were “moved upon by the Holy Ghost” (verse 3) to say or do something. What do you find in these verses that can give you confidence to follow spiritual promptings? (CFM manual)
CONFERENCE TALKS
We Proclaim the Gospel by M. Russell Ballard, click HERE
PARENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO TEACH THEIR CHILDREN
SCRIPTURE
D&C 68:25-35
SUMMARY
The duties and responsibilities of parents concerning their children are outlined. Parents are commanded to teach the gospel to their children, if not, “the sin be upon the heads of the parents.”
VIDEOS
- Highlight: Parents: The Prime Gospel Teachers of Their Children (0:55), click HERE
- Parenting: Touching the Hearts of Our Youth (3:02), click HERE
- Parents Crash Teen Dance Party (3:07), click HERE *Great way to start a conversation about how “cool” your kids think you are 😉 and then lead into a discussion on the role of parents
ACTIVITIES
GAME: Print out the following scripture verse. Using the printed out verse, a pair of dice, and your scripture journals to write the scripture in, play the following game. When you are done, discuss what the Lord commands parents to teach their children.
Here’s how to play: (Taken from church website)
- Sit around a table and pick a scripture verse together (Use D&C 65:25 you printed out). Give everyone a piece of paper (OR use your scripture journals). Put the pen in the middle of the table.
- Have one person roll the dice until they roll doubles. They pass the dice to their left, grab the pen, and start writing the scripture on their paper as quickly as possible.
- While the first player writes, the second player rolls until they get doubles. As soon as they do, they should pass the dice, grab the pen from the first player, and start writing.
- Each player keeps rolling, grabbing, and writing until someone finishes the entire scripture verse. If you get around the circle before someone finishes, players can keep writing where they left off the first time.
Whoever finishes first wins! Have fun! *You may have a treat for the winner OR a little treat for everyone but the winner gets a double portion! 🙂
QUOTES
JOY D. JONES: “[A] key to helping children become sin-resistant is to begin at very early ages to lovingly infuse them with basic gospel doctrines and principles—from the scriptures, the Articles of Faith, the For the Strength of Youth booklet, Primary songs, hymns, and our own personal testimonies—that will lead children to the Savior” (“A Sin-Resistant Generation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 88).
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Used for educational purposes
PONDER & DISCUSS
Referring to Joy D. Jones quote above and according to Doctrine and Covenants 68:25–28, what are some of the “basic gospel doctrines” that President Jones mentioned that parents should teach their children? Why is this important responsibility given to parents? What would you say to a parent who doesn’t feel qualified to teach these things to his or her children? (CFM manual)
CONFERENCE TALKS
- A Sin-Resistant Generation by Joy D. Jones, click HERE
- Parents: The Prime Gospel Teachers of Their Children by Tad R. Callister, click HERE
ONE WHO WILL BE TRUE AND FAITHFUL
SCRIPTURE
D&C 69:1-2
SUMMARY
Oliver Cowdery was sent to Missouri with written copies of the Prophet’s revelations to be printed, along with money to help build the Church there. (CFM manual) The Lord told him to go with someone who will be true and faithful.
VIDEOS
- A True Friend (2:51), click HERE
- Studio C: Easily Offended Friends (3:01), click HERE *A great way to start a conversation about the qualities we should look for in a friend.
ACTIVITIES
1.Review the For the Strength of Youth on Friends and role-play situations where friends try to make you compromise your standards. You could role-play situations such as your friends trying to get you to bully another person, lie to your parents, drink alcohol, or look at pornography. Discuss and decide now what you will do in these situations.
2. Share/discuss the New Era article “What is a True Friend?” by Elaine S. Dalton especially this story that she shares: When my daughter, Emi, was 15, she made a decision about what kind of friends she would seek. One morning I noticed her copy of the Book of Mormon opened to Alma 48. She had marked the verses that describe Captain Moroni: “Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding. … Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ” (verses 11, 13). In the margin she had written, “I want to date and marry a man like Moroni.” As I watched Emi and the kind of young men she associated with and later dated when she turned 16, I could see that she was exemplifying those qualities herself and helping others live up to their identity as sons of God, priesthood holders, and future fathers and leaders.
3. Share/discuss the New Era article “True Friendship” by Elder Ronald A. Rasband, click HERE
4. The way you live your life attracts other people to you. What kind of people are you attracting? In order to attract good friends and those who live gospel standards, you must also be a good friend and living gospel standards. Share the following quote and poem by President David O. McKay and then ASK: What are you radiating to other people?
There is a responsibility that no man can evade. That is the responsibility of personal influence … You cannot escape it … It is simply the constant radiation of what a man (or woman) really is. Every man (& woman) by his mere living is radiating positive or negative qualities. Life is a state of radiation. To exist is to be the radiation of our feelings, natures, doubts, schemes, or to be the recipient of those things from somebody else. You cannot escape it. Man (& woman) cannot escape for one moment the radiation of his (or her) character. You will select the qualities that you will permit to be radiated. That reminds me of the following poem, the author of which is unknown.
You tell on yourself by the friends you seek,
By the very manner in which you speak,
By the way you employ your leisure time,
By the use you make of dollar and dime.
You tell what you are by the things you wear,
And even by the way you wear your hair,
By the kind of things at which you laugh,
By the records you play on your phonograph.
You tell what you are by the way you walk,
By the things of which you delight to talk,
By the manner in which you bury deceit,
By so simple a thing as how you eat.
By the books you choose from the well fitted shelf.
In these ways and more you tell on yourself.
QUOTES
ELDER ROBERT D. HALES: “Friends are people who make it easier to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
FOR THE STRENGTH OF YOUTH: “Everyone needs good and true friends. They will be a great strength and blessing to you. They will influence how you think and act, and even help determine the person you will become. They will help you be a better person and will make it easier for you to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Choose friends who share your values so you can strengthen and encourage each other in living high standards.”
JAMES CLEAR: *In his book “Atomic Habits” he points out how our behavior is impacted by those we spend the most time with. His thoughts on this subject really stood out to me and I felt like we could easily relate this to the importance of not only being around those with the same good habits we want to have but also the importance of just being around those with the same values and beliefs as ourselves. Great book, I highly recommend it 🙂
“We tend to imitate the habits of three social groups: the close (family and friends), the many (the tribe), and the powerful (those with status and prestige)…One of the most effective things you can do to build better habits is to join a culture where (1) your desired behavior is the normal behavior and (2) you already have something in common with the group…The normal behavior of the tribe often overpowers the desired behavior of the individual. Most days, we’d rather be wrong with the crowd than be right by ourselves…If a behavior can get us approval, respect, and praise, we find it attractive.” (Atomic Habits)
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PONDER & DISCUSS
Why is it important to be with people “who will be true and faithful”? (verse 1). When have friends influenced us to make good or bad decisions? How can we be a good influence on others? (CFM manual)
CONFERENCE TALKS
True Friends by Henry B. Eyring, click HERE
GENERAL CONFERENCE DAY
Study a recent General Conference talk. A great way to study a conference talk is to read along as you listen and highlight the parts that stand out to you. Then after the talk, review and discuss what you have highlighted.
THIS WEEK’S TALK: Teaching in the Savior’s Way by Jan E. Newman, 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 resources delivered right to your inbox every Sunday morning.
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