5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS

See the complete list of CFM Lessons

Mosiah 1–3

These are powerhouse verses. Some of the most inspirational verses come from King Benjamin’s last sermon.

Please note: There are more than 5 scriptures below. Please read each quote idea and prioritize what you want to teach the most. For example, Quote #4 will take around 20 minutes, so if that is a high priority, I would teach it first or second. A printable PDF file is available to help you with Quote #4.

Lesson Notes

You can find the full Come, Follow Me lesson here. Unless you opt to spend a lot of time on a particular quote, try to pick around 2 questions per quote. Choose the questions that resonate the most with you and make a meaningful discussion for your group of personalities.

All blue quotes from the Book of Mormon (unless otherwise noted).

Lesson Prep

• If you want the discussion to be more meaningful, hand out reading assignments ahead of time and ask the reader to answer one question about it (pick one of the questions below and give it to them, along with the assigned quote). The sooner you do this, the better, but at least show it to them before Sacrament meeting if possible. You can text it or email it, too.
• Ask various people to read and participate – especially those who aren’t asked as much.

Lesson Delivery

You can arrange the quotes in any order that makes sense to you. I suggest starting with the most important ones and working your way down. Don’t worry about covering all the quotes.

• Make sure you assign others to read the quotes. You’re talking enough already. Letting others read allows more people to participate.
• Encourage discussion by accepting all reasonable answers. Validate people for participating and be thankful they spoke up. Engage with the answer in a conversational way whenever it feels natural. Never say, “That’s not the right answer,” or “We haven’t got to that part of the lesson yet.”
• Remember, spiritual discussion is golden. We want people to talk about the gospel together.
• If a lesson takes a different turn, roll with it. The Spirit intends for you to be successful.
• If the discussion gets too non-spiritual, pull it back by going to the following quote or question.
• Avoid videos – they shut down discussion. Save them for personal study.

Quote #1 (name)

Possible engagement tool: King Benjamin promises to give his people a name when he speaks to them the next day and gives them a couple of clues. What clues stand out to you?

11 And moreover, I shall give this people a name, that thereby they may be distinguished above all the people which the Lord God hath brought out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I do because they have been a diligent people in keeping the commandments of the Lord.

12 And I give unto them a name that never shall be blotted out, except it be through transgression. (Mosiah 1:11-12)

Clues

• Stand out above all people
• Because they have been obedient to the Lord’s commandments
• Never blotted out – except by transgression

Possible discussion questions: What clues did King Benjamin give? Which name will King Benjamin give them? (If they’re not sure – go straight to the following scripture. If they guess correctly, congratulate/validate them and read the following scripture.

And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent. (Mosiah 3:17)

omnipotent: all-knowing, all-seeing, boundless, divine, immortal, everlasting, all-powerful

(pronounced aam·ni·puh·tnt)

More possible discussion questions: What name did King Benjamin give his people so they would never be blotted out? When someone suggests that we think Joseph Smith or anyone else saves us, what can you tell them? (Accept all reasonable answers – share a verse with that person, like Mosiah 3:17, and explain that we know only Jesus Christ can save and redeem us) When the scriptures describe Christ as omnipotent, what ideas come up for you—why is He omnipotent?

Quote #2 (list to obey)

Possible engagement tool: Ask your class to listen for where King Benjamin says contention comes from.

32 But, O my people, beware lest there shall arise contentions among you, and ye list to obey the evil spirit… (Mosiah 2:32)

contention: Strife in debate, dispute, or controversy, the disagreement that results from opposing arguments.

list to obey: to choose to follow guidance or commands. Want to please. So replace the word list with choose, “and ye choose to follow the commands of the evil spirit.”

Jesus Christ further deepened that understanding when He told the Nephites:

29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

30 Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away. (3 Nephi 11:29-30)

Possible discussion questions: Why is it important to recognize where contention comes from? How much contention is in our world today? Does Satan benefit when we are angry? How?

Quote #3 (wisdom)

Possible engagement tool: Listen to this verse and see what thoughts come up for you.

And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved (Mosiah 2:36)

wise: having or showing experience, knowledge, and good judgment

prosper: to be successful, to thrive

Possible discussion question: What blessings come from wisdom? (Accept all reasonable answers—it leads us down paths that allow us to be blessed and successful.) Where does wisdom come from? (Accept all reasonable answers – from the Spirit of the Lord.) Also read:

The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. (Doctrine and Covenants 93:36)

Possible discussion question: Where do we turn when we need help to succeed, thrive, and have knowledge and good judgment? Who did Joseph Smith turn to? How did the First Vision come about?

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5)

Possible discussion question: Where do light, wisdom, and truth come from? What happens when we partner with the Heavens through prayer and pondering and ask for help and guidance with our lives, path, and questions?

Quote #4 (natural man)

Possible engagement tool: Tell your class we’re about to hear a list of saint-like qualities we’re to develop. Ask them to pick out one to work on as we listen to the verse.

19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father. (Mosiah 3:19)

Possible activity: Let’s make a list of saint-like qualities we need to develop:

• yields to the Holy Spirit
• become as a child
• submissive
• meek
• humble
• patient
• full of love
• willing to submit to the Lord
• endure trials

Possible activity: Draw quotes** out of a hat. Which quality does it describe? (It’s okay if they select the wrong one or more than one… keep going.)

Possible discussion question: What does it mean to become a child? By a show of hands, how many of us heard something from King Benjamin’s list that we need to work on? Does anyone mind sharing what they came up with? (Be ready to prayerfully share your own—be self-disclosing and humble; it helps others do the same.)

**Quotes (Printable PDF Below)

Yields to the Holy Spirit:

Looking through a gospel lens, God endows His children with many spiritual gifts, making them spiritually gifted people…What are the fruits of exercising spiritual gifts? They include promptings from the Spirit that help us face our daily needs and show us what to do and say and blessings of peace and comfort. As we listen and act on spiritual promptings, the Holy Ghost magnifies our abilities and capacities to far exceed what we can do on our own. These precious spiritual gifts will help us in every aspect of our lives.

The constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is one of the greatest spiritual gifts Latter-day Saints enjoy. (Elder Stevenson, Promptings of the Spirit – Oct 2023)

Become As a Child:

Our natures must be changed to become as a child to gain the strength we must have to stand steady and at peace in times of peril.

We receive that change as we make and renew covenants with God. That brings the power of Christ’s Atonement to allow a transformation in our hearts. We can feel it every time we partake of the sacrament, perform a temple ordinance for a departed ancestor, testify as a witness of the Savior, or care for someone in need as Christ’s disciple. (President Eyring, Steady in the Storms – Oct 2022)

Submissive

Accommodating, dutiful, compliant, yielding

The submissive soul will be led aright, enduring some things well while being anxiously engaged in setting other things right—all the time, discerning the difference. As the Lord communicates with the…submissive, fewer decibels are required, and more nuances are received. (Neal A. Maxwell, Willing to Submit – April 1985)

Meek

“Mormon taught that a man “cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.” He added that without such attributes, “faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart.

“Meekness is vital for us to become more Christlike. Without it, we won’t be able to develop other important virtues. Being meek does not mean weakness but behaving with goodness and kindness, showing strength, serenity, healthy self-worth, and self-control.

“Meekness was one of the most abundant attributes in the Savior’s life. He Himself taught His disciples, “Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.” (Elder Soares – Oct 2013)

Humble

modest, respectful, unpretentious

As you open your heart to the Savior and His teachings, He will show you your weakness. If you trust Jesus Christ with a humble heart, He will make weak things become strong. He is the God of miracles. (Elder Uchtdorf – April 2023)

Patience

capable, willing to endure, calm, forgiving

Spiritual matters cannot be forced. You can cultivate an attitude and an environment that invite the Spirit, and you can prepare yourself, but you cannot dictate how or when inspiration comes. Be patient and trust that you will receive what you need when the time is right. (Elder Stevenson – Oct 2023)

Full of Love

fondness, tenderness, warmth, attachment, endearment, devotion

“One way to demonstrate our love is by joining family, friends, and neighbors in doing some small things to better serve each other. Do things that make this world a better place.

“What things can you do within your own life to show that you love the Lord first?

“As we focus on loving our neighbors as He loves them, we start to truly love those around us.” (Elder Ballard – Oct 2021)

Willing to Submit to the Lord

Exercising faith in Christ means trusting not only in God’s will but also in His timing. For He knows exactly what we need and precisely when we need it. When we submit to the will of the Lord, we will ultimately receive substantially more than that which we had desired. (April A. Wright – April 2022)

Endure Trials

As you think celestial, you will view trials and opposition in a new light. When someone you love attacks truth, think celestial, and don’t question your testimony. The Apostle Paul prophesied that “in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (President Nelson – Oct 2023)

Summary

Summarize class discussion highlights and/or share your testimony and feelings about the lesson. Thank your class for their excellent contributions and insights.

Final Comment

As you study and teach, you can help others find more truths in the scriptures. Thank you for bringing powerful Book of Mormon teachings into other people’s lives.

If you would like some tips on how to feel more confident while teaching, try “9 Tips for More Class Participation.” Please arrange the quotes in any order that makes sense to you.

Printable PDF for Quote #4

(Click the Blue Word link to view online.)