Come, Follow Me Daily Study Guide for the week of May 18-24, 2020 covering Mosiah 25-28. 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 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. 

 

3 LESSONS LEARNED IN MOSIAH 26 

(Taken from Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families)

LESSON #1

READ: Mosiah 26: 1-6 and find all the phrases “did not,” “could not,” and “would not.” In your scripture journals, make a list of all the things the “rising generation” did not, could not, and would not do.

OBJECT LESSON: Show a rock and a pillow.

DISCUSS:

• Which of these best represents the hearts of that “rising generation”?
• Which of the “nots” was the CAUSE of the people’s hard hearts and which of the “nots” were the RESULT of the people’s hard hearts? (Cause: would not pray or call upon God; Result: all the others)
• What happened because of their hard hearts? (See verse 6)

LESSON #2

Have your children imagine the following situation:

One day you walk home from school and find the house locked when you get home. You try your key and it doesn’t work. You then ring the doorbell and your mom answers, but instead of welcoming you in she says, “Who are you?” Your brothers and sisters are all there, but no one seems to know you. You try to explain that you live there, but they just look at you as if you are crazy. It seems as though your whole family has got amnesia. They finally tell you to stop playing silly games and just go find your own house.

*Give your children a minute to really think about that situation and then ask how they would feel.

READ: Mosiah 26: 25-28 

DISCUSS:

• What will happen at the judgment that is like the story you just heard?
• Who did Jesus say will not get to go home anymore?
• Where will they have to go instead?
• What would you be willing to do to make sure Jesus welcomed you home?

LESSON #3

VIDEO: Hidden Wedges, click HERE

READ: Mosiah 26: 30-31

DISCUSS:

• What does the Lord do about our sins when we repent?
• How often will he forgive us?
• What are we to do with those who trespass against us and then repent? 
• What are we to do with those who trespass against us but are not sorry and they do not repent? (Refer to D&C 64:9-11)

QUOTE:

Elder Marion D. Hanks: It is reported that President Brigham Young once said that he who takes offense when no offense was intended is a fool, and he who takes offense when offense was intended is usually a fool. It was then explained that there are two courses of action to follow when one is bitten by a rattlesnake. One may, in anger, fear, or vengefulness, pursue the creature and kill it. Or he may make full haste to get the venom out of his system. If we pursue the latter course, we will likely survive, but if we attempt to follow the former, we may not be around long enough to finish what we started.

What is the meaning behind the analogy of the snake? 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)

CONFERENCE TALK: The Measure of Our Hearts by Marvin J. Ashton
VIDEO: God helped me to forgive 
PODCAST: Love Thy Enemies  
OBJECT LESSON: Walking Backwards with Our Eyes Closed 

 

 

GOD’S FAITHFUL SERVANTS SEEK TO DO HIS WILL

BACKGROUND

VIDEO: Studio C: We Need an Answer, Mr. President (2:40), click HERE

Just as Jason struggled to make a big decision, in Mosiah chapter 26 Alma is also faced with a big decision to make. Today we’ll discuss what Alma did in order to make his big decision.  

SCRIPTURE

Many of the “rising generation” (as we learned yesterday) rejected the testimony of their fathers and led some Church members to “commit many sins” (Mosiah 26:1, 6). They also began persecuting those who followed God. 

READ: Mosiah 26: 8-12

Now it was in Alma’s hands to decide what to do. 

Sometimes we might think that a Church leader like Alma always knows the right thing to do. But here we read of a problem that Alma had never dealt with, and “he feared that he should do wrong in the sight of God” (Mosiah 26:13). Read the following verses and see what Alma did in this situation.

READ:  Mosiah 26:13–14, 33–34, 38–39

MINI LESSON/PONDER & DISCUSS

(Taken from New Era article What God Wanted for Me.)

Following God’s will means doing what the Lord would have us do, both when it’s easy and when it’s tough or inconvenient. We all face the challenge of aligning our will with God’s. 

SHARE THE FOLLOWING TWO STORIES

Annie P, from Texas writes:

When seminary started my freshman year, I was pumped and ready for it—but that excitement lasted probably about a week and a half. By then I was just tired, and I was going to bed late and waking up so early. Every morning, I just thought, “This is such a bummer.” And even though seminary was held at my kitchen table in my own home, I didn’t want to go. It was becoming such a burden for me.

Eventually I said to myself, “Why am I even going? I don’t need to go!” But then I decided to change my attitude. I started writing down something I’d learned every morning, and I did that for the rest of the year. At the end of the year, I read the things I’d written. Going to seminary and writing down insights every day helped me appreciate seminary and have a stronger testimony of the gospel—especially when I read through all of it and realized how much I’d grown.

DISCUSS: What did Annie do to align her will with God’s? Is there something in your life that a change of attitude could help you align yourself more with God? 

Katie G., from Idaho writes:

When the mission age changes were announced, I felt excitement reverberate throughout the meetinghouse where I was watching it. Yet when I considered serving a mission, I felt hesitant and knew I needed to truly ponder the opportunity. Soon after graduating high school, I realized I could start my mission papers and began to feel that almost every lesson in church focused on either missionary work or discovering the will of the Father. The Spirit was prompting me to seek answers to my questions concerning a mission.

I began to pray for courage to accept God’s will for me. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment of decision, but after studying the scriptures, continuing to pray for guidance, talking with my parents, and pondering in my heart, I felt that serving a mission was not the right path for me. I inquired of the Lord to receive confirmation of this choice and was blessed with peace.

DISCUSS: What did Katie do to align her will with God’s? What does Katie’s experience teach you about how to align your will with God’s?  

(OPTIONAL) SHARE & DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING QUOTE:

Elder Neal A. Maxwell: “The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. The many other things we ‘give,’ … are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give!” (Ensign, Nov. 1995)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)

VIDEO: Seek the Lord (6:18)
CONFERENCE TALK: “Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father” by Elder Neal A. Maxwell
CONFERENCE TALK: Knowing the Lord’s Will for You by Anne C. Pingree

 

 

THE HOPE OF GOD’S LIGHT

(Taken from Come Follow Me Through the Book of Mormon)  

BACKGROUND/SCRIPTURE

Suppose a person is diagnosed with a cancerous tumor. The doctor may recommend radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy to shrink and remove the tumor. The hope is that through these forms of treatment the cancer will be completely removed, never to return. If this happens, we say the patient is “healed” or is “cancer-free”

What is the cause of the suffering the patient endured? (Possible answers: the tumor, radiation, surgery, recovery, chemotherapy.)

But what is the real answer? The cause of suffering is the tumor! Radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy can be very difficult to endure, but they are part of the healing process; they are not the cause of the suffering. 

Hopefully, this helps how we view sin and repentance because we often get this backward. We think repentance causes suffering, and we avoid it. No, sin is the cause of suffering. Repentance is the experience of healing through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Simply put, sin brings suffering; repentance brings healing. 

READ: D&C 19:4, 16-17 which makes this absolutely clear: “And surely every man must repent or suffer….For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; but if they would not repent they must suffer even as I” (emphasis added).

MINI LESSON

(*If you did the FHE lesson then you have watched the Book of Mormon video of Alma’s conversion. If not, then you may briefly discuss and go through Mosiah chapter 27 before watching this video)

In Mosiah chapter 27 is the miraculous conversion story of Alma the Younger, now we are going to watch a similar but modern-day version.

VIDEO: The Hope of God’s Light (6:46), click HERE

DISCUSS:

What are the different ways God reached out to Todd?
What are some things Todd did to take responsibility for his past sins and act in faith?
What did Todd learn about the character of God?

(OPTIONAL) Ask these same three questions in regard to Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah. What is similar in these stories? What is different? (Refer to Mosiah chapter 27)

PONDER & DISCUSS

READ: Mosiah 27: 14, 19-24

Maybe you know a parent in Alma the Elder’s situation, whose son or daughter is making destructive choices. Or maybe you are that parent. What do you find in these verses that gives you hope? How might these verses influence your prayers in behalf of others? (CFM manual)

Using the example from these verses, consider someone your family could pray and fast for.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)

CONFERENCE TALK: The Hope of God’s Light By President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
CONFERENCE TALK: To Help a Loved One in Need By Richard G. Scott
BOOK: Rescuing Wayward Children By Larry Barkdull  (Excellent book!)

 

 

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: A Living Witness of the Living Christ By Bishop Gérald Caussé, click HERE

SUMMARY: The central message of the Book of Mormon is to restore knowledge of Jesus Christ’s essential role in mankind’s salvation and exaltation. “Plain and precious truths about the Savior’s atonement resound throughout the Book of Mormon.” These truths have changed or can change each person’s life. The Lord’s Atonement is a personal and intimate gift for each person individually. “Just as Jesus invited each one of the Nephite disciples to feel His wounds, He died for each one of us, personally, as if you or I were the only person on Earth.” The Book of Mormon also contains the conversion stories of many individuals, showing how hearts and lives can be changed through the Lord’s goodness and mercy. The Lord’s redeeming power should accompany, motivate and change his disciples every day. “As you study this book, you will hear the voice of the living Christ inviting you to come unto Him. I promise that if you accept this invitation and pattern your life after His example, His redemptive influence will come into your life.

 

 

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. 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: Melanie’s Library is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.