Come, Follow Me Daily Study Guide for the week of November 30-December 6, 2020 covering Moroni 1-6. For personal and/or family study of the scriptures, geared towards families with teenagers, single adults, and empty nesters.
*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.
***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
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.
THAT THEY DO ALWAYS REMEMBER HIM
BACKGROUND
SHOW IMAGE:
Used for educational purposes
ASK: Do you think we would come into the sacrament room more reverently if we knew that the Savior was there? If we could actually see Him standing there how differently would we act?
SHARE QUOTE BY PRESIDENT JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH:
“I have seen two members of the Church sitting together [in sacrament meeting], enter into a conversation, stop long enough for the blessing to be asked on the water or on the bread, then start again on their conversation. … That is shocking to me, and I am sure it is to the Lord.
“It is our duty to carefully and thoughtfully consider the nature of [the sacrament] prayers when we hear them offered in our meetings…
“I want to ask you a few questions, and I speak, of course, to all the members of the Church. Do you think a man who comes into the sacrament service in the spirit of prayer, humility, and worship, and who partakes of these emblems representing the body and blood of Jesus Christ, will knowingly break the commandments of the Lord? If a man fully realizes what it means when he partakes of the sacrament, that he covenants to take upon him the name of Jesus Christ and to always remember him and keep his commandments, and this vow is renewed week by week—do you think such a man will fail to pay his tithing? Do you think such a man will break the Sabbath day or disregard the Word of Wisdom? Do you think he will fail to be prayerful, and that he will not attend his quorum duties and other duties in the Church? It seems to me that such a thing as a violation of these sacred principles and duties is impossible when a man knows what it means to make such vows week by week unto the Lord and before the saints.“
Discuss how much more powerful the partaking of the sacrament would be if we came with a spirit of prayer, humility, and worship. Do you think we’d knowingly break the commandments of the Lord?
SCRIPTURE
In Moroni chapters 4 & 5, Moroni shares with us the sacrament prayers.
READ: Moroni 4:3 and 5:2
MINI LESSON
SCRIPTURE JOURNALS: In your scripture journals, write the following statement by Elder L. Tom Perry:
“Partaking of the sacrament provides us with a sacred moment in a holy place.”
- How might this idea of “a sacred moment” and “a holy place” influence our thoughts and actions as we partake of the sacrament?
- Discuss how your family can treat the sacrament with more reverence.
**There are 2 really good videos about the sacrament. Choose which one to watch.**
VIDEO: That They Do Always Remember Him (6:29), click HERE
OR
VIDEO: Always Remember Him (5:27), click HERE
PONDER & DISCUSS
QUOTE BY PRES. NELSON:
“How do we hallow the Sabbath day? In my much younger years, I studied the work of others who had compiled lists of things to do and things not to do on the Sabbath. It wasn’t until later that I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father. With that understanding, I no longer needed lists of dos and don’ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, ‘What sign do I want to give to God?’ That question made my choices about the Sabbath day crystal clear” (“The Sabbath Is a Delight,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 130).
- How can asking ourselves “What sign do I want to give to God?” help us to make better choices about what we do on the Sabbath?
- How do you think your efforts to keep the Sabbath day holy affect the other days of the week?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: The Sabbath and the Sacrament by L. Tom Perry
CONFERENCE TALK: The Sabbath Is a Delight By Elder Russell M. Nelson
CONFERENCE TALK: Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament
CONFERENCE PARABLE: Spiritual Alarms
OBJECT LESSON: The Backpack
VIDEO: John Bytheway on Sacrament Covenant (8:19)
PRIESTHOOD ORDINANCES MUST BE ADMINISTERED AS THE LORD COMMANDS
BACKGROUND
(Taken from Come Follow Me Through the Book of Mormon)
Do the following in 3 minutes:
- Write down all the priesthood ordinances you can think of. (Priesthood ordinances are sacred acts given by the Lord and performed by the authority of the priesthood.)
- Circle the ones that are considered “saving ordinances” (A saving ordinance is one that is essential for exaltation.)
You get 1 point for each correct answer and 1 bonus point for all the saving ordinances you get correct.
Here’s the list of ordinances I came up with. Did I miss any? (The bold and italicized ordinances are saving ordinances.)
- Naming and blessing children
- Baptism
- Confirmation and receiving the Holy Ghost
- Conferring the priesthood and ordaining to priesthood offices
- Sacrament
- Patriarchal blessing
- Consecrating oil
- Blessing the sick
- Father’s blessings and blessings of comfort
- Dedicating graves
- Dedicating buildings (temple, church, home, etc.)
- Initiatory and endowment
- Marriage sealing
- Setting apart for Church callings
Why are ordinances so important? (Read the following quotes to help answer this question)
SHARE 2 QUOTES FROM PRES. BOYD K. PACKER:
- “Ordinances and covenants become our credentials for admission into His presence. To worthily receive them is the quest of a lifetime; to keep them thereafter is the challenge of mortality” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1987).
- “Good conduct without the ordinances of the gospel will neither redeem nor exalt mankind; covenants and the ordinances are essential” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1985).
SCRIPTURE/MINI LESSON
During His mortal ministry, the Savior received and administered sacred ordinances, such as baptism, priesthood ordination, and the sacrament. However, because of the Great Apostasy, many people today are confused about how ordinances must be performed—and even whether they are needed at all. In Moroni 2–6, Moroni provided important details about certain priesthood ordinances that can help clear up some of that confusion. (CFM manual)
*Below is a list of sacred ordinances. With each one there is a picture to show, scripture verses to read, and questions to answer. Pictures are taken from the Family Guidebook and used for educational purposes.
CONFIRMATION
READ: Moroni 2; 6:4
ASK: What do the Savior’s instructions in Moroni 2:2 teach you about the ordinance of confirmation? What do you think it means to be “wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost”? (Moroni 6:4).
PRIESTHOOD ORDINATION
READ: Moroni 3
ASK: What do you find in this chapter that could help someone prepare to be ordained to the priesthood? What do you find that would help someone perform an ordination?
THE SACRAMENT
READ: Moroni 4–5; 6:6
ASK: Note the promises in the sacrament prayers (see Moroni 4:3; 5:2), and ponder what you are doing to keep your promises. What can you do to invite the influence of the Spirit more powerfully as you participate in the sacrament?
BAPTISM
READ: Moroni 6:1–3
ASK: What is something meaningful you remember about your baptism? What can you do to continue to meet the qualifications for baptism given in these verses, even after you are baptized? How well do you feel you have kept your baptismal covenants?
PONDER & DISCUSS
Why is it important that these ordinances be “administered … according to the commandments of Christ”? (Moroni 4:1).
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
FAMILY GUIDEBOOK: Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings
DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST LOOK AFTER THE WELFARE OF EACH OTHER’S SOULS
BACKGROUND/SCRIPTURE
GAME: The Human Knot
- Stand in a circle
- Reach into the circle with your right hand.
- Take the right hand of another family member.
DO NOT take the hand of the person next to you.
If an odd number of people, have the person leftover take someone’s left hand. - Reach into the circle with your left hand. Take the left hand of another family member.
DO NOT take the hand of the person you are already holding
DO NOT take the hand of the person next to you. - Now get untangled without letting go of the hands you are holding.
- The result will be a new circle. The order will be different and some people may be facing outward.
READ: Moroni 6:4-6
- What do these verses tell us that we need to do as a church? (meet together oft)
- In the game, what did it take on your part in order to untangle? Did it take patience? Action? Kindness?
- In order to create unity in the church, doesn’t that also take patience, action, and kindness?
MINI LESSON
Moroni taught the importance of “meet[ing] together oft” with fellow believers and how it can help keep us “in the right way.”
(Adapted from Book of Mormon Seminary Teacher Manual)
Ask your family to imagine that they are a parent of a young man or young woman who, for the past few weeks, has said that he or she does not want to go to church because it seems meaningless and boring. Invite your family to consider what they might say to encourage the teenager to go to church and how they might help him or her understand the right reasons for attending church regularly.
SCRIPTURE JOURNALS: In your scripture journals, have everyone write…
As Church members, we are to meet together often to …
Referring to the scripture verses you previously read, discuss how you would answer that question. Have everyone write the answers in their journals. (As Church members, we are to meet together often to be nourished by the good word of God, to fast, to pray, to strengthen each other, and to partake of the sacrament.)
SHARE QUOTE BY ELDER JEFFREY R. HOLLAND:
“Most people don’t come to church looking merely for a few new gospel facts or to see old friends, though all of that is important. They come seeking a spiritual experience. They want peace. They want their faith fortified and their hope renewed. They want, in short, to be nourished by the good word of God, to be strengthened by the powers of heaven” (“A Teacher Come from God,” Ensign, May 1998, 26).
VIDEO: The Needs Before Us (2:27), click HERE
*Here’s another great video – you can play both or choose between the two.
VIDEO: Lifting Others (2:49), Click HERE
PONDER & DISCUSS
Think about all the people in the church who have prayed for you, prepared lessons for you, organized and put together activities for you, and who have helped you through any challenges you have faced.
Then ask:
- How might our experience at church be different if we go with the desire to strengthen others spiritually?
- How can seeking to strengthen others while at church help us to have a “more enjoyable and fulfilling” experience?
- What are some experiences you have had as you have sought to strengthen others at church?
OPTIONAL – WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE YOUR NAME “BLOTTED OUT”? (Taken from Seminary Teacher Manual)
READ: Moroni 6:7 and look for why it may be necessary for a person to no longer be numbered among the members of the Church. Explain that in this verse, the phrase “blotted out” refers to excommunication, or loss of Church membership, which is a form of Church discipline. Explain that if Church members commit serious sin and do not repent, they can be excommunicated, or lose their membership in the Church and the blessings of their covenants.
Note: If family members have questions about what “serious sins” include, consider sharing the following statement from True to the Faith:
“Bishops and branch presidents and stake, mission, and district presidents have a responsibility to help members overcome transgression through repentance. The most serious transgressions, such as serious violations of civil law, spouse abuse, child abuse, adultery, fornication, rape, and incest, often require formal Church discipline. Formal Church discipline may include restriction of Church membership privileges or loss of Church membership” (True to the Faith [2004], 37).
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: A Teacher Come from God by Jeffrey R. Holland
CONFERENCE TALK: Why the Church By Elder D. Todd Christofferson
CONFERENCE TALK: The Needs before Us By Bonnie L. Oscarson
VIDEO: “The Needs Before Us” Bonnie L. Oscarson (2:25)
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: Finding Joy in Christ By Steven J. Lund, 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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