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Come Follow Me: Book of Mormon, Teaching Ideas and Free Resources
ALMA 39-42
QUESTIONS TO PONDER:
Each Come Follow Me Lesson asks important and reflective questions. When I first began my individual study these questions threw me off. Simply because many of these questions required so much depth and individual reflection in order to answer honestly. My first approach to come follow me was to get in, get out, get it done, check it off. These questions simply didn’t allow me to do so. In fact, I felt a little sick when I would read a question like, “How does the spirit speak to you?” and I wouldn’t know the answer right away. After a time, and pondering on that specific question I realized IT’S OKAY. In fact, I think these questions were meant to be set aside, thought about, and pondered. When we try and come up with the quick easy, obvious, answer, we are depriving ourselves of an opportunity to reflect, ponder, pray, and RECEIVE REVELATION. Is this not the whole reason for Come Follow Me? Are we not trying to finetune and recognize how we, and how to receive personal revelation.
So each week I will list out some of the questions issued in Come Follow Me. Maybe you pick to ponder about all of them, maybe you pick just one. Whatever you do, ponder on this for the ENTIRE week. Pray about it, discuss it with loved ones, then at the start of the new week, take the time to write down your impressions or thoughts, share them with your family, testify of powerful insights.
- Lord” (Alma 39:5). Why is chastity important to you?
- Why is it important to the Lord?
- Consider the counsel Alma gave Corianton in Alma 39:8–15. How does it help you further understand the importance of the law of chastity and how to overcome temptation?
- As you read Alma 39–42 this week, look for evidence of God’s mercy. How has God’s mercy blessed you?
- What truths did Alma teach in chapters 40–41 that would have been helpful for Corianton—and anybody who has sinned—to understand?
- How can remembering these truths help you when you feel tempted or are seeking forgiveness?
- Notice that throughout chapter 40, Alma had several unanswered questions about life after death. What did he do to find answers?
- What did he do when he didn’t have answers?
- As you read Alma 42, look for how the Savior’s Atonement makes it possible for you to receive mercy without “rob[bing] justice” (verse 25). What truths do you find in this chapter that help you feel His mercy?
- Would your family benefit from a discussion about the law of chastity?
- Ponder how you can help your family understand the blessings of chastity and of intimacy in marriage
- Alma 39:9–15: What do we learn from these verses about how to avoid sin?
Lesson:
I have carried with me a great desire to bear testimony of the Lord, Jesus Christ. I have yearned to tell you in as simple terms as I can, what He did, and who He is. Although I know how poor mere words can be, I know also that such feelings are often carried by the spirit, even without words[…] How sweet it is, on those occasions, to be reassured that He lives, and to have my witness reaffirmed. I want, with fervent desire, to show you how our burdens of disappointment, sin, and guilt can be laid before Him, and on His generous terms have each item on the account marked, “Paid in Full.”
The Mediator, Boyd K. Packer
This week I wanted to share a text my husband shared in our extended family’s group message, as well as segments from the conversation we’ve had this week.I found the pattern and repetition of the emphasis on MERCY inspiring this week and last week. Here’s some of the scripture chain I thought worth sharing.Alma 32 “whosoever repenteth shall find MERCY; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved.”Alma 34 “he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of MERCY, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.16 And thus MERCY can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety‘Mercy overpowers justice’Alma 36 “as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have MERCY on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.”LDS definition of Mercy: “Mercy is the compassionate treatment of a person greater than what is deserved, and it is made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Our Heavenly Father knows our weaknesses and sins. He shows mercy when He forgives us of our sins and helps us return to dwell in His presence.God’s compassion may seem to conflict with the law of justice, which requires that no unclean thing be permitted to dwell with Him (see 1 Nephi 10:21). But the Atonement of Jesus Christ made it possible for God to “be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also” (Alma 42:15).The Savior satisfied the demands of justice when He stood in our place and suffered the penalty for our sins. Because of this selfless act, the Father can mercifully withhold punishment from us and welcome us into His presence.Every blessing we receive is an act of mercy, more than we could ever merit on our own.”
Since he sent out the text above we’ve discussed and pondered this idea of Mercy taught by Alma. As we began to discuss mercy my husband also began to notice the repetitiveness of this Gospel Concept in the book of Alma. What is so interesting is that to our knowledge, every time Alma is teaching a group of people he discusses the idea of Mercy. This lead me to do a rough count of the word “mercy.” When you search the word mercy in the Book of Mormon, it is mentioned 93 times in the 15 books that make up the Book of Mormon, 42 of those times come from the chapters found in Alma. Now Alma is one of the longest books in the Book of Mormon, however to me this makes him even more real. Isn’t it interesting that almost half of the mentions of the word mercy, come from Alma? Arguably someone that had experienced the reality of mercy and justice to one of the greatest extents in scripture. Of course, the idea of mercy would be a reoccurring and POWERFUL principle.
This week I wanted to include additional videos, resources, and activities centered on the idea of Mercy.
Activities or Object Lessons on Justice | Mercy
Create a Justice & Mercy Scale, Free printable and tutorial from Living Scriptures
Read: Justice | Mercy
Watch or Listen: Justice |Mercy
If you do any of these activities PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take pictures and tag me! Post to the Facebook group, or tag @livingonlemonlane on Instagram! Don’t forget to pin these images to your Pinterest. This is a SMALL and SIMPLE way to support the efforts of Living on Lemon Lane and sharing these ideas with your friends and family.
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Teaching Ideas for Toddlers & Young Children
Watch or Listen To:
With a 2-year-old and 4-year-old, I understand the STRUGGLE and the attention span you are dealing with. Below are some of my favorite videos or audio recordings|podcasts you can listen to and watch with your children. My favorites right now are the Book of Mormon Story videos.**Different from the newly released B.O.M. videos. These are illustrated and READ stories to your children. THESE are PERFECT for when everyone is strapped in the car seat. My 4-year-old now requests these over the radio. Each segment is only 2-4 minutes long. This allows us to listen, review and discuss together, and listen again throughout the week. Many of the videos I share can be found on the Saint’s Radio Channel App. (Formerly Mormon Channel App, If you don’t already have this, DOWNLOAD NOW.)
I am absolutely LOVING the YouTube Channel, Latter Day Kids. Each week they put out a beautifully illustrated video meant for young children to be used in conjunction with the Come Follow Me Lessons. This week’s video is all about All Things Denoting there is a God! You can even head to their website to download discussion questions to go along with the video and a fun coloring page.
Click Here to access this week’s Printables and Activities
Click here to subscribe to Latter Day Kids
Drawn In: Free Sample of Subscription Videos
The ONLY Paid Subscription I use for Come Follow Me
I’ve recently teamed up with David Bowman artist, author and creator of the Drawn-In Video Subscription to bring a discount to all Living on Lemon Lane readers. This is the ONLY Paid Come Follow Me product that I have a subscription to, and it is worth every cent. Each week you get TWO engaging and fun videos (around 20 minutes long each!) as well as exclusive content and printables! Like his books, instead of just introducing the scripture story he explains a principle, then takes it a step further by exploring APPLICATION. Click here to watch his Free Videos, If you’re interested make sure to use the promo code LEMONLANE10 at checkout to receive 10% off of the yearly membership!
Click Here to Learn More, Use Code LEMONLANE10 for an exclusive discount off the yearly membership!Head to davidbowmanart.com to watch more FREE episodes and learn more about subscribing ($4.95 per month – gets you 2 episodes PER WEEK that go directly with Come Follow Me as well as supplemental PDF print outs)
Wonderful Podcast geared towards younger (Primary) reviewing some of the chapters this week.
Try this link if you’re having trouble playing the podcast:
Read:
Activity Suggestions:
Click Here for the Free Living Scripture Lesson Plan this Week
Free Coloring Page & Activity from the Red Crystal Click Here to Download
Come Follow Me Suggestions:
- Alma 42:4 You could play a game in which pieces of paper with Christlike attributes or gospel principles written on them are scattered around the room. You could see how many pieces of paper family members can gather in a certain amount of time, then discuss how the things written on the papers can help us become more like God. How is the “time granted” to us on earth like the time allotted in this game? How can we use our “probationary time” on earth to become more like the Savior?
- Alma 42:12–15, 22–24 Perhaps you could illustrate the relationship between justice and mercy by using a drawing of a simple scale to discuss questions like these: What happens to the scale when we sin? What does justice require for the scale to be balanced? How does the Savior meet the demands of justice and make mercy possible?
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Explain that Shiblon and Corianton were brothers and that Shiblon was a good example for Corianton. Invite the children to repeat this question with you: “Has he not set a good example for thee?” (Alma 39:1). Ask the children to talk about someone who is a good example for them.
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Play a game or sing a song in which the children follow or imitate you, such as “Do as I’m Doing” (Children’s Songbook, 276). Let each child have a turn being the leader or example. Ask the children how they can be a good example to someone.
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Show pictures of Jesus doing good things, and explain that He is our perfect example. Explain that we can be good examples, like Jesus was. Invite the children to draw pictures of themselves.
- Bring a flashlight or a picture of the sun, and compare light to the power of a righteous example. Just as the light from a flashlight or the sun can help us see a path we need to follow, a righteous example shows us what to do in order to follow Heavenly Father. Share an experience when someone’s good example helped you. What can the children do to be a good example to others? Testify that Jesus Christ is our perfect example.
- Encourage the children to thank a family member who has been a good example to them and to think of one way they can be good examples this week.
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Without going into detail about the nature of his sins, explain that Corianton made a wrong choice. What could we say to help him? Read to the children what Alma, Corianton’s father, said to him: “Ye should repent and forsake your sins” (Alma 39:9). Tell them that “repent” means that we ask Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to forgive us and help us correct our mistakes and that we then try to be more like Them.
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Give a child something heavy to hold while you tell a story about someone who did something wrong and felt bad. Tell the children that the object is like the bad feelings we may have when we make a mistake. Take the heavy object from the child as you testify that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can take away the heavy, bad feelings and help us correct our mistakes when we repent. Sing together a song about repentance, such as “Repentance”(Children’s Songbook, 98).
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While you read Alma 40:23 aloud, have the children use this week’s activity page to help them visualize what this verse is teaching. Invite each child to use the activity page to teach another child what resurrection is.
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Show a picture of the resurrected Savior, and teach the children a song about the Resurrection, such as “Did Jesus Really Live Again?” or “He Is Risen” (Children’s Songbook, 64; Hymns, no. 199). Pause periodically to explain the meaning and significance of the words and phrases.
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Ask the children if someone they know has died. Bear your testimony that someday that person and everyone else will be resurrected because of Jesus Christ. If needed, use this week’s activity page to explain what it means to be resurrected.
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Click Here to Download the Coloring Page
Teaching Ideas for Families
Watch or Listen To:
Finding time to make Come Follow Me can be tough, it can also be tough to keep the attention of family members. The Book of Mormon videos recently released by the church are a WONDERFUL resource.
CLICK HERE: Listen to the Podcast: Stories from General Conference: Repentance
Read more about Rich Millar’s story here:
Read:
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- I LOVE using the Institute and Seminary Manuals to aid my study! They answer questions, provide insight and background coupled with beautiful quotes from Prophets and Apostles.
- Put Your Trust in God: The Admonition of Alma to His Sons CRAIG C. CHRISTENSEN (BYU Commencement Speech)
- Steps to Happiness: Christofferson
- Why Can Wickedness Never Bring Happiness, (Great Infographic Included)
- New Era & Ensign Articles:
- Saving You Is the Plan—He Is the Way
- Seeing Yourself in the Great Plan of Happiness
- How Do You Know that Heavnly Father has Forgiven You?
- 4 Tools for Answering Questions
- Dealing with Difficult Questions, 3 Principles that can Help
- When Doubts and Questions Arise
- Talk to your Parents about Sex New Era Article
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Living the Law of Chastity in a Dating World Full of Gray Areas (Young Adults)
Activity Suggestions:
Activity Suggestion from Ensign:
Flip a Choice
Alma 42:4 together and talk about how this life is a time for us “to repent and serve God.”
Sit in a circle and give each family member three index cards.
On two of the cards, write good choices. On the third card, write a bad choice.
Turn the cards face down and mix them up in the middle of the circle.
Take turns flipping over one card at a time. When someone reads a good choice, give the person a high-five (or another gesture that means “Good job!” in your culture).
When someone reads a bad choice, the person shares something they could do to repent and serve God instead.
Discussion: Testify that Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to change and become better people. How can we use our time this week to follow Him and serve God?
Click Here to Download the Infographic
Click Here to Download the Infographic based on Alma 39 by Book of Mormon Central
Individual Study & Extension
Watch or Listen To:
Read:
- John Welch Notes: Learn about the Book of Mormon with verse by verse commentaries from renowned Book of Mormon scholar.
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Put Your Trust in God: The Admonition of Alma to His Sons CRAIG C. CHRISTENSEN (BYU Commencement Speech)
- Elements of Happiness: BYU Speech
- EXTENSIVE Resources and Videos about dealing with Pornography as a parent, individual or spouse by the Church.
- Teaching How to Be Sexually Pure and Prepared: Ensign Article & Resources
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How, When, and Why: Talking to Your Children about Sexuality
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Bridling Your Passions: How to Align Sexual Thoughts and Feelings with the Lord’s Expectations
:MOST IMPORTANT PART:
Comment below and share YOUR favorite resources for this week of Come Follow Me in the Book of Mormon. Join the conversation on @livingonlemonlane on Instagram and stay updated on new blog posts! If you enjoyed this PLEASE SHARE! Till next week.
