Come, Follow Me Daily Study Guide for the week of December 30-January 5, covering Introductory Pages of the Book of Mormon. For personal and/or family study of the scriptures, geared towards 8 years old and older.
*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.
FHE DAY
Start the week off right with a Family Home Evening that introduces what you’ll be studying during the week. 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 Book of Mormon Outlines the Plan of Salvation
SONG
I Will Follow God’s Plan pg 164 – Video with lyrics, click HERE
BACKGROUND
VIDEO: Because He Loves Us (58 seconds), by clicking HERE.
Heavenly Father made the Plan of Salvation because He loves us and wants us to return home to Him.
“The plan of salvation is Heavenly Father’s plan to help His children become exalted…and experience the joy He feels. The Atonement of Jesus Christ makes this plan possible, and every doctrine, ordinance, covenant, and commandment that God has given is meant to help accomplish the plan.
If you want to understand the plan of salvation, there’s no better book to read than the Book of Mormon. It refers to God’s plan – using a variety of names – more than 20 times.” (CFM, pg 3)
SCRIPTURE/MINI LESSON
Look up and read the following scripture verses and list the different names given to God’s plan in your scripture journal:
2 Nephi 9:13
2 Nephi 11:5
Alma 12:32-34
Alma 24:14
Alma 41:2
Alma 42:15-16
PONDER & DISCUSS
What does each of these names suggest to you about the Father’s plan?
Can you understand why each of us fought for this plan in the pre-existence?
VIDEO: Choose Him Again by clicking HERE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
PONDER: Where is one place that we can come close to feeling and comprehending the love Heavenly Father has for us? (In Families) Watch one of the two Family Music Videos below.
MUSIC VIDEO: Families Can Be Together Forever
MUSIC VIDEO: What Family Means to Me
SHORT STORY: Arland Williams
VIDEO: The Plan of Happiness | Animated Scripture Lesson (4:12)
THE KEYSTONE OF OUR RELIGION
SONG
Search, Ponder, and Pray – Sing-along Video, click HERE
OR
The Iron Rod pg 274
BACKGROUND/SCRIPTURE
*Write the following on index cards, one word per card: Mormon, Lord, Testimony, God, Jesus, Joseph, Plates, Prophet.
Layout all the index cards. Have an electronic device read The Introduction to the Book of Mormon. As it is being read, point to the appropriate card when you hear that word being said. (*Optional: divide up the cards giving 1-2 cards per person and instruct them to raise their card when that word is said)
DISCUSSION: Just as you had to listen intently to The Introduction to the Book of Mormon, why is it important that we really listen to the teachings of the Savior and Book of Mormon prophets and follow their teachings? (Ensign, January 2020)
MINI LESSON
This time you read the 6th paragraph of The Introduction to the Book of Mormon.
Concerning this record the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”
DISCUSS: What is a keystone?
Show this picture and explain how a keystone is a central stone at the top of an arch that holds it all together.
Make a tower out of blocks. (*If you don’t have blocks, find household items that you can stack such as tissue boxes or plastic cups)
What happens if we take a block out from the middle of the tower? (Have someone demonstrate)
Just as the tower fell by removing a block from the middle, if you were to take the keystone out of the arch in this picture, the entire arch would fall down. It’s the most important piece that keeps the arch together.
SHARE:
President Benson taught that there are 3 ways in which the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion. (See Oct 1986 Conference Talk)
1) It is the keystone in our witness of Christ.
It testifies of His existence and teachings.
2) It is the keystone of our doctrine.
It contains the fullness of the gospel.
3) It is the keystone of testimony.
Tad R. Callister once said, “The Book of Mormon is not only the keystone of our religion, but it can also become the keystone of our testimonies so that when trials or unanswered questions confront us, it can hold our testimonies securely in place.” (Tad R. Callister, God’s Compelling Witness: The Book of Mormon)
PONDER & DISCUSS
What would happen if we did not have the Book of Mormon?
How can we make the Book of Mormon the keystone of our faith in Jesus Christ? (CFM, pg 4)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
VIDEO: What is the Book of Mormon? A 60-Second Overview
VIDEO: Book of Mormon: An Introduction with Elder Holland (2:42)
CONFERENCE TALK: God’s Compelling Witness: The Book of Mormon By Tad R. Callister
CONFERENCE TALK: The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion By Ezra Taft Benson
THE TESTIMONY OF THE 3 AND 8 WITNESSES
SONG
Testimony pg 137
OR
The Church of Jesus Christ pg 77
BACKGROUND
Imagine that you are in a courtroom. What is the purpose of bringing in witnesses to the stand? What kinds of things might witnesses be asked to testify of? How strong a case would a lawyer have with only one witness? How many witnesses would be needed to make a stronger case? (Scripture Study for Latter-Day Saint Families: The Book of Mormon)
Just as witnesses are important in a court of law, they are also important to the Lord in every new dispensation of revealed truth.
The Lord has said, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” (see 2 Cor. 13:1; Deut. 17:6; 19:15; Matt. 18:15-16)
Heavenly Father provided several witnesses to the Book of Mormon.
SCRIPTURE/MINI LESSON
READ AND DISCUSS:
Read The Testimony of Three Witnesses and Testimony of Eight Witnesses
What is the difference between the experience recorded by the Three Witnesses and the experience recorded by the Eight Witnesses? What stood out to you? How strong are both their testimonies?
How do you think Joseph Smith felt after the Lord allowed there to be witnesses?
SHARE: Quote from Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph’s mother
On coming in, Joseph threw himself down beside me, and exclaimed, “Father, mother, you do not know how happy I am: the Lord has now caused the plates to be shown to three more besides myself. They have seen an angel, who has testified to them, and they will have to bear witness to the truth of what I have said, for now they know for themselves, that I do not go about to deceive the people, and I feel as if I was relieved of a burden which was almost too heavy for me to bear, and it rejoices my soul, that I am not any longer to be entirely alone in the world.” (Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, pp. 152-53.)
VIDEO: The Testimony of the Three Witnesses by Dallin H. Oaks (3 minutes), click HERE
PONDER & DISCUSS
What are some ways that we can be a witness of the Book of Mormon and Jesus Christ?
Write down your own testimony about the Book of Mormon in your scripture journal and sign your name.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
ENSIGN ARTICLE: Knowing is Nice but Not Enough by Steven C. Harper
VIDEO: A Witness of God (2:40)
VIDEO: Mary Whitmer Sees the Gold Plates (1:36)
VIDEO: Are the Descriptions of the Plates Believable? (2:10)
CHURCH NEWS: Four Women Were Witnesses
QUOTE: In Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie it states
“Never does one man stand alone in establishing a new dispensation of revealed truth, or in carrying the burden of such a message and warning to the world. In every dispensation, from Adam to the present, two or more witnesses have always joined their testimonies, thus leaving their hearers without excuse in the day of judgment should the testimony be rejected” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], 436)
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: Your Great Adventure By Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Click HERE
SUMMARY: Before anyone was born, God invited His children to embark on an adventure. It wouldn’t be easy, and it meant leaving the comfort and security of God’s presence. “But we also knew that we would gain precious treasures, including a physical body and experiencing the intense joys and sorrows of mortality.” Despite making mistakes, each person has the promise that “because of the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we could be cleansed of our transgressions, refined and purified in our spirits, and, one day, resurrected and reunited with those we love.” Trusting in the promises and power of God and His Son, Jesus Christ, each person who has come to earth accepted the challenge. To begin on this journey, first, “you need to choose to incline your heart to God. Strive each day to find Him. Learn to love Him. And then let that love inspire you to learn, understand and follow His teachings and keep God’s commandments.” The path of discipleship is to help others. “Faith, hope, love, compassion and service refine us as disciples.” Help the poor and needy and reach out to those in distress. Do not be ashamed of being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ. Each member must take upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ.
*For a list of discussion questions that go along with this talk, check out these from Chicken Scratch n Sniff by Clicking 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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