TO STAY UP TO DATE, MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW @LIVINGONLEMONLANE ON INSTAGRAM!
Make sure to tag a friend to help spread the word.
Week 18: Come Follow Me: Book of Mormon, Teaching Ideas and Free Resources
April 27th – May 3rd
MOSIAH 7-10
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.
- verses 18–20). How do these accounts, as well as other scriptural accounts or personal experiences, help you trust God?
- “The First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve are sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators” (Bible Dictionary, “Seer”). When was the last time you pondered the blessing of having prophets, seers, and revelators on the earth?
- The Prophet Joseph Smith is the great seer who stands at the head of our dispensation (see D&C 21:1; 124:125; Joseph Smith—History 1:62). How did he exemplify Ammon’s description of a seer during his ministry?
- As you read Mosiah 9–10, look for what Zeniff’s people did to show their faith.
- How did God strengthen them? What does it mean to you to go forth “in the strength of the Lord”? (Mosiah 9:17; 10:10–11).
- Mosiah 10:11–17, How did the actions and attitudes of the Lamanites’ ancestors prevent the Lamanites from knowing the truth?
- How did the choices of the Lamanites’ ancestors affect future generations?
- Think about the people who might be influenced by your beliefs and choices; what are you doing to help them more fully have faith in Christ?
- What examples from the scriptures inspire us to “trust in God”?
- What does it mean to put our trust in God? (see also Mosiah 9:17; 10:19).
- What stories from our lives or our ancestors’ lives can we share to inspire greater trust in God?
- Mosiah 7:26–27, What do we learn about the Savior from these verses? (see also Doctrine and Covenants 130:22). Why are we grateful to know these things?
- (see Moses 6:35–36). What can seers see that we do not? What evidence do we have that Joseph Smith was a seer?
- How are we following Latter Day Seers?
- What can we learn from Zeniff and his people about preparing for challenges?
Lesson:
I loved the question posed in Come Follow Me this week,
- What stories from our lives or our ancestors’ lives can we share to inspire greater trust in God?
I was reminded of the different apps the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint’s has put together in an effort to support Family History efforts, and thought this week was the perfect week to explore those options and tools!
Before discussing two apps I think you will love and should implement this week, I personally was extremely touched and impressed by the following quotes I stumbled across pertaining to the blessings one receives when they do work for their ancestors or loved ones that have passed. My goal was to find one powerful quote to use in the images for this blog post, but I couldn’t pick just one. I had to share them all with you.
Click Here to Learn More about Temple Work Done for those that have Passed Away
These quotes are from a document titled, Blessings of Family History for the Living. Prophets and apostles have literally promised that when we are involved in family history work we will receive help and support from the other side, spiritual protection, an increase in our testimony and conversion, as well as an enhanced temple experience… Wow. Yet another nudge it’s time to get to work.
President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has taught that “family history work has the power to do something for the dead. It has an equal power to do something to the living. Family history work … has a refining, spiritualizing, tempering influence on those who are engaged in it” (Boyd K. Packer, “Your Family History: Getting Started,” Ensign, Aug. 2003, 17).
Read what Apostles have taught about the blessings available to us when we engage in family history and temple work.
Help from the Other Side
“Brother Widtsoe reaffirmed that ‘those who give themselves with all their might and mind to this [family history] work receive help from the other side. Whoever seeks to help those in the other side receives help in return in all the affairs of life’” (Boyd K. Packer, The Holy Temple, 252).
“Remember that the names which will be so difficult to find are of real people to whom you owe your existence in this world and whom you will meet again in the spirit world. … Their hearts are bound to you. Their hope is in your hands. You will have more than your own strength as you choose to labor on to find them” (Henry B. Eyring, “Hearts Bound Together,” April 2005 general conference).
Spiritual Protection
“Do you young people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your life? Immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors” (Richard G. Scott, “The Joy of Redeeming the Dead,” Oct. 2012 general conference).
“I promise you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary. As you participate in and love this holy work, you will be safeguarded in your youth and throughout your lives” (David A. Bednar, “The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn,” Oct. 2011 general conference).
Increased Testimony and Conversion
“I invite the young people of the Church to learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah. …
“As you respond in faith to this invitation, your hearts shall turn to the fathers. The promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be implanted in your hearts. Your patriarchal blessing, with its declaration of lineage, will link you to these fathers and be more meaningful to you. Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will increase. Your testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding (David A. Bednar, “The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn,” Oct. 2011 general conference).
Enhanced Temple Experience
“Any work you do in the temple is time well spent, but receiving ordinances vicariously for one of your own ancestors will make the time in the temple more sacred, and even greater blessings will be received” (Richard G. Scott, “The Joy of Redeeming the Dead,” October 2012 general conference).
“When members of the Church find the names of their ancestors and take those names to the temple for ordinance work, the temple experience can be greatly enriched” (First Presidency Letter, Oct. 8, 2012).
If you’re like me, after reading those quotes there is a part of you that has been stirred and is ready to go! I wanted to share a lesson/activity idea with you this week that will marry the question from Come Follow Me and Family History.
Click Here for More Information|Support in starting Family History Work
Activity:
If you haven’t already, I would begin by downloading the Family Search App to your device or visiting the family search website. Your account login will be the same as your church ID login and password if this doesn’t sound familiar start with creating a church account, or use the forgot username or password to get things straightened out. Never be afraid to reach out to a ward clerk, or Family History Consultant, all the support in the world is there but it may require you reaching out!
Once logged in, you can explore your family tree. This alone is pretty incredible. Maybe much of your work is done, maybe it’s easy to see where you should begin. Explore your tree, notice the memories that have been added, consider the memories you could add. Reflect again on the question,
- What stories from our lives or our ancestors’ lives can we share to inspire greater trust in God?
Now record those thoughts or memories and attach them to your ancestors or loved one’s account. To do this from your phone, download the Family Search Memory App. See the video below for a tutorial:
Keep in mind that these memories you record or add can be those of both the living and those that have passed. What a treasure for the future. Consider adding your own testimony, written or recorded to your own account. May it be an anchor and influence for others for years to come.
Share stories of faith or inspiration with your children or students. Allow them to explore and connect and lead on this one.
Click Here to Visit the Family Search Website
Click Here for More Information on the Family Search App and the Memories App
If you do an activity 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.
To stay up to date, and show your support make sure to follow @livingonlemonlane on Instagram!
Make sure to tag a friend to help spread the word.
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 Serving Others. 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
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. 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 recieve 10% off of the yearly membership!
Read:
Activity
Click Here for Free Prophet, Seers and Revelators Coloring Page
- For Mosiah 11–17 : Read Mosiah 12:33–34 together and help your little ones say, “Commandments help us stay safe.” Then make up hand motions together for this rhyme: “This is the mountain where Moses went. This is the tablet the Lord did send. This is His finger that wrote the words. This is the voice that Moses heard. This is the cloud on the mountain tall. These are the commandments—count ten in all!” Then count to ten!
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.
Read:
- 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.
- Are You Listening: New Era Article
- Prophets Seers Revelators
Activity Suggestions:
See above for activity suggestions based on ancestors and their influence on faith
Click here for a fun FREE Coloring Page to go along with this week’s Activity and Lesson Suggestion
Click Here to Download the Chart above
Individual Study & Extension
Watch or Listen To:
Excellent Video and Explanation of the chapters for this week!
Read:
: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.
