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COME FOLLOW ME: DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS – TEACHING IDEAS & RESOURCES | D&C 81 – 83

 Weekly Free Come Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Resources, Activities, Ideas, Printables, and Supports for Your Students, Toddlers, Family, and Individual Study!

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Week 30 COME FOLLOW ME: Doctrine and Covenants – TEACHING IDEAS & RESOURCES | D&C Sections 81 – 83

Questions to Ponder:

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. Each Come Follow Me Lesson asks important and reflective questions.

  • Do you sometimes wonder how you can fulfill the important responsibilities in your life?
  • What are some ways a person can be “weak”? What does it mean to “succor” those who are weak?

  • What might cause a person’s hands to figuratively “hang down”? How can we “lift up” those hands?

  • What might the phrase “feeble knees” mean? How can we “strengthen” those with feeble knees?

  • Perhaps studying this verse has brought to mind someone you could “succor,” “lift up,” or “strengthen.” What will you do to minister to that person?
  • As you read Doctrine and Covenants 82:1–7, consider making two lists of things you learn: warnings about sin and truths about forgiveness. How can these truths help you resist the temptations of the adversary?
  • What insights in these verses could help you explain to someone why you choose to follow the Lord’s commandments?
    • You might also consider how His commandments have changed your life.
    • What do you learn about the Lord as you read verse 10?
  • What do you learn from section 83 about how the Lord feels about widows and orphans?
    • Do you know anyone in this situation who would benefit from your love or care?
  • Discuss how your family can regularly serve each other in simple ways.
  • What can each family member do to “improve upon his [or her] talent” and “gain other talents”?
  • What do you find in this section that can help you fulfill the responsibilities given to you by the Lord?

Lesson:

When I first read through this week’s Come Follow Me section in the manual, I was INSTANTLY reminded of a presentation by Brooke Romney I had attended with my mom in 2019 at a Time Out For Women Tour.

For whatever reason, this lesson has stayed with me.

I may butcher this story, and this may be so far off from the main idea and details of the story, however, I know I will at least get the spirit of it right, because it was one of those moments where the spirit taught me a much needed lesson through someone else’s words and experience.

Brooke mentioned a time when she felt impressed to check-in on a ward member. As her busy week went on she continued to feel a prompting that she needed to reach out.

Brooke mentioned acknowledging these promptings, and setting them aside until she had something to bring, maybe dinner or banana bread, or a little trinket…etc.

Like with my life, these intentions to act and to bring something are good. However, often the need to bring something, or do something that justifies these little drop-ins, often get in the way of the actual acting, remaining forever only an intention.

The week went on.

Life is busy.

Brooke never followed through with the prompting, and in time the once prodded promptings paused. (The teacher in me can’t help but throw in a little alliteration when I can :D) 

Brooke then went to church on Sunday, where she saw this sister in a meeting. The sister made a comment about sharing about what a horrible time she had been going through this week, and how she had been served by others in the ward. These other members in the ward were actual answers to her desperate prayers.

Brooke approached the sister after the meeting, expressing how she had felt impressed to check in with this sister.

I can’t remember the sister’s polished reply, something to the effect that she was glad that others DID repspond and act on those promptings.

But I do remember Brooke’s takeaway after that moment.

This is “My” work. “My” work will go on with, or without you.

Brooke concluded her talk, urging us to CHOOSE to hear Him, and to CHOOSE to ACT when we do.

This story reminds me of  Doctrine and Covenants 81. In this section, the Lord calls Jesse Gause to be a counselor to Joseph Smith in the Presidency of the High Priesthood (now called the First Presidency). The revelation instructs Brother Gause, in his new calling and promises him blessings for serving faithfully.

…But Jesse Gause did not serve faithfully. So Frederick G. Williams was called to replace him, and Brother Gause’s name was replaced with Brother Williams’s name in the revelation.

This is “My” work. “My” work will go on with, or without you.

 

“[…] No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (History of the Church, 4:540).”

Click Here to read the rest of the address

Teaching Ideas for Toddlers & Young Children

Watch or Listen To:

With young children, 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.  Many of these are PERFECT for when everyone is strapped in the car seat. My 5-year-old now requests many of these over the radio. 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.  You can even head to their website to download discussion questions to go along with the video and a fun coloring page.

 

Drawn In: Free Sample of Subscription Videos

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 one of 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!

Check out the last FREE Sample Video! Head to davidbowmanart.com for more information!

 

 

 

Read:

 

Activity Suggestions:

 

Click Here to Download

Doctrine and Covenants Coloring Book:

***Also Available as a DIGITAL coloring page through the Gospel for Kids App

Kindred Kids: Kindred Cards and Weekly FREE Download

As someone who LOVES all things: Good-Design, and Attention to Detail, I’m a complete fangirl of Kindred Kids.  I don’t mention many paid options for Come Follow Me, but if you are teaching young children, you need to know about Kindred Cards! This is one of those brilliant ideas made to make your life and implementation of Come Follow Me with young children easier. Each week your little ones add a new card to their collection. Each card includes a beautiful illustration, a scripture (perfect for memorizing and rehearsing each day), and a challenge/activity suggestion to try that applies the principle! The cards are TOUGH and made with those tiny destructive hands in mind. I’m so thrilled to offer an exclusive discount code to Living on Lemon Lane readers!

 

Use promo code   LEMONLANE20  for 20% off your purchase of Kindred Cards! CLICK HERE to Learn More!

As if that wasn’t enough, Kindred Kids ALSO creates a FREE download/activity every week for Come Follow Me.

 True to Kindred Kid style, each activity is thoughtful, creative, and completely beautiful! In order to access the FREE download, you will need to “shop” for it. Meaning you will add the activity to your shopping cart, then check out with your email and address. No payment information is needed, just continue to the next step! Click on the link below to check out this week’s FREE Come Follow Me Download/Activity!

Click Here to “Shop” for this week’s Come Follow Me Freebie by Kindred Kids

Click Here to follow Kindred Kids on Instagram  ***This is a great way to support & say THANK YOU for sharing and keeping the weekly activities FREE

 

The Red Crystal:

Since stumbling across Crystal’s website, she continues to AMAZE me at the FREE and creative content she makes WEEKLY. I can’t wrap my mind around the commitment, time, and talent she devotes each week. If this isn’t an example of sharing your talents to build up the Kingdom, I’m not sure what is…. Make sure to check out @the.red.crystal activities for the week! Here you will find fun interactive printables, games, and activities aligned with Come Follow Me for the Week!

Click Here to Check Out the Red Crystal

Come Follow Me Activities:

Kate of Play Beyond the Box started @comefollowmeactivities Each week she posts a FREE Weekly Lesson plan that breaks down Come Follow Me into simple, easy to digest and implement, DAILY LESSONS and activities. Her lessons and activities are created with primary-aged children in mind.

Click Here to check out this week’s Activity Schedule for Come Follow Me by @Comefollowmeactivities

Norman The Latter Day Saint

I found ANOTHER free, weekly resource that you are going to LOVE! Danette Smith and Brittany Smith, the creators behind @NormantheLatterdaySaint share the sweetest illustrated coloring pages to go along with Come Follow Me each week! Check out this week’s coloring page below, then check out their, “Norman the Latter Day Saint,” picture-book series! They create wonderful children’s book with LDS themes.

***There are lots of fun coloring pages to pick from, SCROLL DOWN to the bottom of the page to find the most recent Come Follow Me Coloring Page

CLICK HERE to Download this week’s Norman Book Series Coloring Page

 

Activity Suggestion from Church Magazines

  • Words of Comfort

    For Doctrine and Covenants 81–83

    • Sing “Have I Done Any Good?” (Hymns, no. 223).

    • Jesus taught that we should “lift up the hands which hang down” (Doctrine and Covenants 81:5). That means helping others and encouraging them when they are sad or tired.

    • Make a helping hand! Trace your hand on a piece of paper and cut it out. Write something on it that you will do to help others and then hang it up where you can see it. If you want, you could hang your family’s hands up together to make a helping hands tree!

  • For Doctrine and Covenants 81–83: Think of someone your family can serve. Give them a treat or card or help them with something. Help your little ones say, “I can help others!”

Activity Suggestions From Come Follow Me:

  • You could give paper hearts to family members and invite them to draw or write something they would like to pray about. Talk about what it means to pray “always, vocally and in thy heart.”

  • To learn about the principles in this verse, perhaps family members could share examples of when they felt “weak” or “feeble” and someone succored or strengthened them. You could also watch videos about serving others, such as “Works of God” or “The Miracle of the Roof”
  • Perhaps a simple game would help your family feel thankful for God’s commandments. One family member could give instructions to help a blindfolded family member make a sandwich or go through an obstacle course. Think of something fun and creative! Then discuss how God’s commandments are like the instructions in this game.
  • What can each family member do to “improve upon his [or her] talent” and “gain other talents”? It might be fun to have a family talent show. Think of ways to include talents that aren’t easily displayed (such as spiritual gifts; see Doctrine and Covenants 46:11–26). How can we use our talents and share the things we have to bless our family and neighbors? What does it mean to use our talents “with an eye single to the glory of God”?
  • Read Doctrine and Covenants 82:19 to the children, emphasizing the phrase “seeking the interest of his neighbor.” Explain that this means doing things that help our neighbors—including our family. Help the children think of ways they can serve someone this week.
  • Invite the children to take turns setting up dominoes (or similar objects) while naming ways they can serve others. Ask a child to knock over one domino and notice how it affects the others. How can our service have a similar effect on people around us? (See also the video “Dominoes,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org.) Tell about how someone’s loving service encouraged you to serve someone else.

 

Watch or Listen To:

The church recently released, “Saints,” A New Narrative approach to church history. It. Is. WONDERFUL. This gives such depth and understanding to the early saints. Historians did a remarkable job marrying facts, conversations, and primary sources with the art of storytelling. Every conversation read, or detail noted, comes from a primary account. Saints is also intended to be read and comprehended at an 8th-grade reading level making it accessible to nearly every Latter-Day Saint. Please add this to your study this year!

Click Here to Listen to or Read Chapter up to Chapter 15,” (**To listen, click on the headphone icon in the bottom right-hand corner)

 

…I am SO EXCITED to share the following videos with you! In a nutshell, they are a short introduction and overview of the sections of the Doctrine and Covenants. You get a brief, historically accurate backstory to the section, as well as a quick look at what it contains. In other words, this is the PERFECT support to add to your family’s study!

These videos are put together by Doctrine and Covenants Central, like Book of Mormon Central. Their vision is to “build enduring faith in Jesus Christ by making the Doctrine and Covenants accessible, comprehensible, and defensible to people everywhere.” 

I remember first hearing about their vision during a Fair Mormon Conference a few years ago when this vision was still just a vision, tears filled my eyes and my heart swelled at the thought of how needed and necessary their vision and efforts are, especially today. I wish I could put into words how grateful I am to those that share their talents so freely. If you really want to dive in deep to each section, consider visiting their website and looking up the section you would like to study, or downloading their FREE Scripture Study App, (Scripture Plus)

Click Here to Visit Doctrine and Covenants Central

Click Here to Download the Scripture Plus App

Video hasn’t been posted yet, check out last weeks!

Read:

 

 

 

Church Essays:

People of the Doctrine Covenants:

Activity Suggestions:

 

Saving Talents:

My other favorite find comes from the efforts of Tiffany over at Saving Talents. She puts together DAILY, FREE Devotionals for Come Follow Me. One of my favorite resources she creates are these Scripture of the Week Handwriting Practice Verses in both print and cursive. This makes my teacher heart swell! To download these, head to her site, click on the image then use the shortcuts link {control P} or right click on the image to print!

Click Here to visit this week’s Saving Talents Post for Come Follow Me

 

 

Individual Study & Extension

Watch or Listen To:

Really enjoying the new podcast “Follow Him,”  by John Bytheway and Hank Smith, each week they bring in a new expert to discuss the sections covered in Come Follow Me. A dear friend David Perry actually helps produce this podcast and it is truly exceptional.

 

Read:

: IMPORTANT PART :

Comment below and share YOUR favorite resources for This week of Come Follow Me in the Doctrine and Covenants. Join the conversation on @livingonlemonlane on Instagram and stay updated on new blog posts!  If you enjoyed this PLEASE SHARE! Another great way to share or support the efforts of Living on Lemon Lane is to simply pin your favorite images to Pinterest! Till next week.

Comments

  1. Hi ! I’m so thankful for this post, is the first time i read it and watch the videos entirely. This past weeks have been hard and this lesson of Come follow me has touched my heart. It made me realised many things that I’ve acomplished and count my blessings. Thank you for your effort and for sharing this resources <3

    • Wow, your comment touched MY heart. Thank you for taking the to comment it made my day, and makes the time to share these resources worth it.

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