5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS

See the complete list of CFM Lessons

Doctrine and Covenants 41 – 44

This week’s topics are how to teach, why natural disasters happen, the value of work, only one prophet, the Millennium, and the many voices of warning.

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 Doctrine and Covenants (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 them (pick one of the questions below and give it to them, along with the assigned quote). The sooner you do this, the better, but if possible, at least show it to them before the Sacrament meeting. You can also text or email it.
• 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.

• Ensure every class member has a set of scriptures in front of them or on their phone. Always invite the class to read along—hearing and seeing the words together increases comprehension and engagement.
• Avoid videos – they shut down discussion. Save them for personal study.
• If the discussion gets too non-spiritual, pull it back by going to the next quote or question.
• Make sure you assign others to read the quotes. You’re talking enough already, and 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 the discussion takes a different turn than your planned lesson, roll with it. The Spirit intends for you to be successful.

Quote #1 (teach)

Possible Intro: Before the Doctrine and Covenants was published, it was referred to as “covenants and articles,” so when we read that phrase, it’s referring to the book we now have—the Doctrine and Covenants.

12 And again, the elders, priests and teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the gospel.

13 And they shall observe the covenants and church articles to do them, and these shall be their teachings, as they shall be directed by the Spirit.

14 And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach. (Doctrine and Covenants 42:12-14)

Possible discussion questions: What resources does the Lord want us to use when preaching and teaching? (Accept all reasonable answers – ALL of the scriptures, prayer, and the Spirit) Why is it important to read all of the standard works? (Accept all reasonable answers – because each standard work contains teachings and truths the others don’t, AND each one fortifies and strengthens our understanding of the others.) Why is it essential to pray as you prepare and teach? Have you ever felt the Spirit? Can the Spirit make a lesson better? (Yes, because it enhances the understanding and wisdom of both the teacher and the hearer.)

Quote #2 (work)

Possible engagement tool: Say something like, “Being willing to work hard is one of the most valuable traits we can acquire.”

Note: You can pick one quote or use both. Can be divided between two or more readers.

Quote A: By work we sustain and enrich life. It enables us to survive the disappointments and tragedies of the mortal experience. Hard-earned achievement brings a sense of self-worth. Work builds and refines character, creates beauty, and is the instrument of our service to one another and to God. A consecrated life is filled with work, sometimes repetitive, sometimes menial, sometimes unappreciated but always work that improves, orders, sustains, lifts, ministers, aspires. (Elder Christofferson – Oct 2010)

Quote B “Work is honorable. It is good therapy for most problems. It is the antidote for worry. It is the equalizer for deficiency of native endowment [or solution to humble beginnings]. Work makes it possible for the average to approach genius. What we may lack in aptitude, we can make up for in performance. “As recommended by Korsaren: ‘If you are poor, work. … If you are happy, work. Idleness gives room for doubts and fears. If disappointments come, keep right on working. If sorrow overwhelms you, … work. … When faith falters and reason fails, just work. When dreams are shattered and hope seems dead, work. Work as if your life were in peril. It really is. No matter what ails you, work. Work faithfully. … Work is the greatest remedy available for both mental and physical afflictions. (Presiding Bishop J. Reuban Clarke – April 1982)

Possible discussion question: Why is steady work essential to a happy life? How does work benefit us, even if it’s menial or tedious?

Possible intro: “Let’s hear what the Lord says about the importance of work.”

Note: You can pick 1-3 verses to share.

42 Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer. (D&C 42:42)

—AND—

30 And the inhabitants of Zion also shall remember their labors, inasmuch as they are appointed to labor, in all faithfulness; for the idler shall be had in remembrance before the Lord.

31 Now, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them; and their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also seek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness. (D*C 68:30-31)

—AND—

29 Let every man be diligent in all things. And the idler shall not have place in the church, except he repent and mend his ways. (D&C 75:29)

Possible discussion questions: How does the Lord feel about those who avoid working or engaging in labor? What is the opposite of work? How can we learn to love work and be good at it? (Accept all reasonable answers – Practice at it, learn more, increase your skill set.)

Quote #3 (only one)

Possible engagement tool: It’s essential to understand that we have only one prophet who heads the Church and the only one authorized to receive commandments and revelations for the whole Church. These verses specifically refer to Joseph Smith.

Note: Can be divided between 2-5 readers.

3 And this ye shall know assuredly—that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.

4 But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him; for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead.

5 And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments;

6 And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me.

7 For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before, to teach those revelations which you have received and shall receive through him whom I have appointed. (Doctrine and Covenants 43:3-7)

Possible discussion question: Why is it important to know that only the prophet receives revelation for the entire Church? How do you feel about the Prophet President Nelson? What did he say during our last General Conference or any General Conference that stuck with you? (You can ask a couple of people to come prepared to share their favorite President Nelson quote from any conference.)

Deepen the Understanding

This quote comes from President Hinckley and is found in Chapter 3, Succession in the Presidency—Teachings of the Living Prophets Institute Manual.

First: The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.

In section 132, verse 7, of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord speaks of the Prophet—the President—and says: “There is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred.

President Gordon B. Hinckley

“The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles holds all of the priesthood keys, power, and authority needed to guide the Church (see D&C 107:23–24; 112:14–15). Each member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is given the keys of the priesthood at the time of his ordination as an Apostle and calling to the Quorum. Only the President of the Church has the authority to exercise all of the keys of the priesthood, but, as President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) explained, each member of the Quorum of the Twelve “holds the keys of this dispensation in latent reserve. Inherent in that divine residual is the assured ongoing leadership of the Church.”

latent reserve: a potential capacity that isn’t currently being utilized but could be activated when needed

Quote #4 (voices)

Possible Intro: Everyone’s learning style is different, and God will speak in the voice you can hear.

24 O, ye nations of the earth, how often would I have gathered you together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, but ye would not!

25 How oft have I called upon you by the mouth of my servants, and by the ministering of angels, and by mine own voice, and by the voice of thunderings, and by the voice of lightnings, and by the voice of tempests, and by the voice of earthquakes, and great hailstorms, and by the voice of famines and pestilences of every kind, and by the great sound of a trump, and by the voice of judgment, and by the voice of mercy all the day long, and by the voice of glory and honor and the riches of eternal life, and would have saved you with an everlasting salvation, but ye would not!” (Doctrine and Covenants 43:24-25)

Possible activity: have your class help you pull out all the voices Jesus Christ uses to reach us and help us to a better path. (Your list does not need to include everything or be worded the same.)

Voices Jesus Christ Will Use to Bring You Back

• Send prophets
• Send angels and their unseen influence
• His own voice
• Thunder
• Lightning
• Tempest (violent windstorm with rain, hail, or snow)
• Earthquakes
• Hailstorms
• Famine (severe food shortage)
• Pestilences (plagues, outbreaks, and disease)
• Sound of a trump
• Voice of judgment
• Voice of mercy (tender blessings and expressions of love)
• Voice of glory and honor, and the riches of eternal life
• (means teaching and showing us the significant number of rewards and rich blessings that come from obedient living)

Possible discussion questions: What voices have you heard? Which voice is the voice you hear best and respond to? Why do some people need natural disasters to wake up their souls? Where would mankind be if there were never any voices?

My Story

I lived in Salt Lake City when the 5.7 Magna earthquake hit in 2020. Not only did it hit once, but it kept going with sizable aftershocks for weeks.

That earthquake jolted my whole being to its very core. I felt every aftershock take inventory of my soul.

The earthquake has a voice by divine design. How miraculous that so many of us heard that same voice. “Repent! Reset your priorities and get your affairs in order.”

Some of my friends started paying attention to their food storage for the first time in years. Others realized their lives were wrapped around things that didn’t matter, and it was time to embrace higher pursuits.

People’s lives altered course.

Several of my lagging good intentions and procrastinated promptings were finally jerked into motion. (That’s how the Divine Code blog  started.)

Earthquakes talk. Natural events speak to us.

They are part of God’s design to reach us in a way that motivates us to return to God and upgrade our existence.

Quote #5 (millennium)

Possible intro: Christ has a few words to say about the Millennium we hear so much about.

28 Wherefore, labor ye, labor ye in my vineyard for the last time—for the last time call upon the inhabitants of the earth.

29 For in mine own due time will I come upon the earth in judgment, and my people shall be redeemed and shall reign with me on earth.

30 For the great Millennium, of which I have spoken by the mouth of my servants, shall come. (Doctrine and Covenants 43:28-30)

Possible discussion questions: Why is sharing the gospel with others significant? How do you feel when Christ says you shall reign with Him on earth during the Millennium? Do you have faith that the Millennium will come?

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 Doctrine and Covenant 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.