Come, Follow Me Daily Study Guide for the week of May 25-31, 2020 covering Mosiah 29 – Alma 4. 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.
I CAN RECOGNIZE AND REJECT FALSE DOCTRINE
(Much of today is taken from Come Follow Me Through the Book of Mormon)
Print out a copy of the following PDF for each person to use today and to also keep in their scripture journals.
BACKGROUND
Referring to the first chart on the PDF, go over what the book of Alma consists of and discuss the following:
The book of Alma is named after Alma the Younger. He is the primary writer.
The 63 chapters in Alma cover only 39 years (91 BC – 51 BC)
The last 63 chapters we’ve studied (2 Nephi 10-Mosiah 29) covered 459 years.
Alma + Helaman + 3 Nephi = 49% of the total pages in the Book of Mormon.
Alma, Helaman, and 3 Nephi cover only 12% of the total timeline!
What are some possible reasons that could explain why Mormon chose to focus 49 percent of the Book of Mormon on only 12 percent of the total timeline? (Alma, Helaman, and 3 Nephi cover from 91 BC to 35 AD)
SCRIPTURE
VIDEO: Chapter 20: Alma and Nehor (1:47)
MINI LESSON
What are some of the lies Satan tells today that are easily believed? Set a timer for sixty seconds, and see how many you can quickly come up with.
QUOTE: Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, “Satan is the great deceiver, the father of lies….This is not because Satan tells only lies. His most effective lies are half-truths or lies accompanied by the truth.”
READ: Alma 1:2-4 and look for the truths and lies Nehor teaches
PRIESTCRAFT VS. PRIESTHOOD
What is priestcraft? (refer to 2 Nephi 26:29)
Using the second chart on the PDF, read the different scriptures and see the difference between priestcraft and priesthood.
PONDER & DISCUSS
QUOTE: President Nelson has warned, “Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord ‘shall suffer persecution.’ That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives.”
How should members of the church deal with persecution?
In Alma, we read of two different ways that people dealt with persecution.
READ: Alma 1:22, 25
Is having patience when being persecuted easy? What are some things we could do if/when we are persecuted that would help us endure it patiently?
*If you read Alma 1:29-31 you can see ways that those who were patient prospered because they endured persecution in a righteous way.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: Face the Future with Faith By Russell M. Nelson
VIDEOS: A list of Religious Freedom Videos
UNLESS WE ARE ONE WE ARE NOT THE LORDS
SCRIPTURE/MINI LESSON/PONDER & DISCUSS
Chapters 1 and 4 of Alma both describe periods when the Church prospered, but Church members responded to that prosperity differently in each case.
READ: Alma 1:29-30 and Alma 4:6-8
What differences do you notice?
READ: Alma 4:15
On electronic devices, click on “inequality” in verse 15 and read 2 Corinthians 8:14 and D&C 49:20. What does it mean to have equality? Why is equality important in God’s church? (Discuss how inequality causes a division among people.)
What are some ways you can help ensure equality among your circle of friends, family members, and other fellow members of the church?
At the beginning of the book of Alma, we read of a man named Amlici who rose in popularity and began a rebellion against the people and government of the Nephites. Eventually, he proclaims himself to be king of the rebellion movement. The people who followed him did something to their physical appearance that they might be identified as Amlicites.
READ: Alma 2:11 and Alma 3:4
What message did the Amlicites want to communicate when they “set [a] mark upon themselves”? (Discuss how their mark was a physical sign of division from the people of God.)
SHARE QUOTE:
“…Unless we are one we are not the Lord’s.” -Ezra Taft Benson
Satan would love for us to be divided. Why?
SHOW PICTURE:
Alma and Amlici, by Scott M. Snow
Let’s read what happened as a result of their division.
READ: Alma 3: 20-26
Thousands and tens of thousands of people died as an end result of the division that was created. Thousands died leaving this world to be rewarded according to their works “whether they be good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed to obey.”
SHORT STORY: The Tale of Two Wolves, Click HERE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
FOR THE STRENGTH OF YOUTH: Review “Dress and Appearance”
CONFERENCE TALK: Beware of Pride By Ezra Taft Benson
THE “WORD OF GOD” AND “PURE TESTIMONY” CAN CHANGE HEARTS
BACKGROUND/SCRIPTURE
How hard is it for you to wake up in the morning? Do you have to hit the snooze button once or twice before you can finally get out of bed? How long does it take for your body to wake up? What helps you to wake up?
READ: Alma 4:1-3
How would you compare the challenges of waking up physically to the challenges of waking up spiritually?
After awakening to the “remembrance of their duty”, they began to establish the church and many were baptized. Sadly, they did not remember their duty for very long. Pride quickly took hold of their hearts.
READ: Alma 4: 9-10
MINI LESSON/PONDER & DISCUSS
Pride in members of the church caused a “great stumbling-block to those who did not belong to the church.” How can we avoid being a “stumbling-block to those who [do] not belong to the church”?
How we can make sure the actions of others, particularly fellow Church members, do not become stumbling blocks for our spiritual progress?
OBJECT LESSON
(Taken from Experiments Upon the Word by Susan Luke)
Item Needed: Show a piece of unknotted rope or twine. Then tie the rope into several knots – some tight, some loose. When the time is appropriate during the lesson, try to untie the knots.
Lesson: Testimonies are like knots in a rope. Some testimonies have been made strong by trials and tribulations – just as some knots are made strong by pulling and tugging at the ends of the rope to tighten and strengthen the knot. Some testimonies have not been tested and are weaker – just as some knots are loose from lack of opposition at each end of the rope. Just as it is harder to undo a tight knot compared to a loose knot, it is harder to “undo” a strong testimony compared to a weak one. If we were hanging by a rope over the edge of a cliff, we would want to be sure that the knots in the rope were strong enough to keep us from falling. We should have the same desire to make sure our testimony is strong enough to keep us from falling to the hands of the adversary.
Strong testimonies can be very powerful both in helping yourself not be tricked by Satan and to be an inspiration to others. Alma knew the power of testimony and that is why he stepped down as being the chief judge.
READ: Alma 4:15-19
- Can you think of a time when hearing someone’s testimony affected you deeply?
- Why is bearing your testimony more effective than other methods people might use to persuade others to change?
- Are there people whose faith we could strengthen by sharing our testimonies with them?
End by watching the following video of Apostles’ first testimonies after being called to their sacred roles.
VIDEO: Apostle Testimony Montage (1:57), click HERE
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES (optional)
CONFERENCE TALK: The Power of a Strong Testimony by Richard G. Scott
VIDEO: Increase Your Testimony (4:59)
FRIEND ARTICLE: Three Ways to Build a Strong Testimony By President Thomas S. Monson
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: United in Accomplishing God’s Work By Jean B. Bingham, click HERE
SUMMARY: When Adam and Eve entered mortality, they learned to counsel and work together, teach their children gospel principles and accomplish God’s work for them in partnership. Over time, Satan has largely succeeded in dividing men and women. This division destroys families and creates confusion about individuals’ divine purpose and identity. The Restoration of the gospel, which began with Joseph Smith’s First Vision in 1820, has shined light on the truth that women and men are equal partners in God’s plan. The Relief Society is a unique organization because it operates under the priesthood authority of God, giving women the power necessary to fulfill their responsibilities. President Russell M. Nelson has cited Lucy and Emma Smith as examples of women who played vital roles in the Restoration. Both women and men must see each other as true partners in order to experience the joy and unity God intends for his children.
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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