5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS

See the complete list of CFM Lessons

Jacob 5-7

Also, reference the CFM lesson for Jacob 1-4 for excellent topics like “the Doctrine of Christ” that were missed because of General Conference.

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 (your story)

Possible engagement tool: Summarize the allegory of the Olive Tree in a few sentences. I would say something like, “Jacob chapter 5 is about an orchard of olive trees. Some trees were magnificent and produced good fruit, while others had wild branches that produced bad fruit. To save some of the trees, the Lord of the Vineyard would take outstanding branches from tame trees and graft them into wild trees in poor spots to see if he could save the wild or bad trees that weren’t doing so well. And vice versa.”

Short Intro

Let me share a personal experience with the Olive Tree allegory in Jacob chapter 5.

More than a decade ago, I found myself in socially challenging circumstances. They caused me a fair amount of concern, self-doubt, and questioning the logic of life.

Then came Jacob, chapter 5 in the Book of Mormon— The Olive Tree allegory, which I had previously assumed was meant for the Nephites and mostly blood Israelites.

The branches of the olive tree are an interesting visual sermon about becoming the Lord’s intentional transplant somewhere, but the analogy hadn’t yet hit me.

Then, one morning, that lengthy, symbolic, just-get-through-it allegory of the Olive Tree in Jacob chapter 5, and I came to an understanding.

It hit like a cascading burst of light.

There I was on the treadmill at the gym with my headphones on, not expecting to get much out of this chapter, when the Spirit whispered, “…this is your story.”

THIS IS YOUR STORY

It was one of those treasured, personal ah-hah moments that sank rather deep and explained my then-baffled, uncomfortable situation.

My social challenges gained tremendous meaning – and my outlook turned a corner.

Somewhere – in some place, you are the tame olive branch grafted in among the wild branches.

For example, it could be the family you were born into, the family you marry into, or perhaps your workplace, school, ward, church calling, community, or some other group.

Wherever it is, the allegory of the Olive Tree is your story, and it divinely and wisely replaces the “I’m out of place” story we tell ourselves—that self-talk story that messes with our sense of well-being, contentment, and maybe even our identity.

I cannot share all the intimate details of this personal revelation, but the overall beauty of it—I will.

The Lord (as quoted by Zenos) says:

51 And the Lord said: Yea, I will spare it a little longer, for it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard.

52 Wherefore, let us take of the branches of these which I have planted in the nethermost parts of my vineyard, and let us graft them into the tree from whence they came [or vice versa]; and let us pluck from the tree those branches whose fruit is most bitter, and graft in the natural branches of the tree [you] in the stead thereof.

53 And this will I do that the tree may not perish, that, perhaps, I may preserve unto myself the roots thereof for mine own purpose…

59 And this I do that, perhaps, the roots thereof may take strength because of their goodness; and because of the change of the branches, that the good may overcome the evil. (Jacob 5)

You’re not out of place; you’re not the stand-alone. You’re the branch whose good fruit was meant to take hold and spread to the other branches, as many as will allow it. Your singularity was always okay; in fact, it’s not just okay—it’s your extraordinary contribution by being you and doing good anyway, despite the orientation and reaction of others.

14 And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard went his way, and hid the natural branches of the tame olive tree in the nethermost parts of the vineyard, some in one and some in another, according to his will and pleasure. (Jacob 5:14)

The Sons of Mosiah

With this fresh perspective in the background of my awareness, along comes the story of the sons of Mosiah. The ones who purposely undertook a suicide mission to bring the gospel to the most scornful, non-receptive crowd of all times – the Lamanites.

14 And assuredly it was great, for they had undertaken to preach the word of God to a wild and a hardened and a ferocious people; a people who delighted in murdering the Nephites, and robbing and plundering them; and their hearts were set upon riches, or upon gold and silver, and precious stones; yet they sought to obtain these things by murdering and plundering, that they might not labor for them with their own hands. (Alma 17:14)

It touched my soul deeply to realize that those four boys willingly took on that extreme, unfriendly rabble. In fact, they even VOLUNTEERED to let the Lord graft them in the most obnoxious, hopeless, gnarled tree in the vineyard. My conscience contrasted their readiness and zeal with my own resistance and awkward discomfort with the social dynamics of where I lived at that time.

I got it. Here, I deal with far fewer challenges, cultural differences, and social maladies. Yet, I’m still nursing my plight in my head, letting myself long for former groups of friends and different social cultures of times past. In short, I wrestled with reality.

What a fresh perspective to emulate the sons of Mosiah…to be among Lamanites with goodwill, real intent, tolerance, and service. To not mind being singular or different, to not mind contempt for being me, to know the Lord grafts in natural branches here or there to salvage more of the tree.

This understanding is joyful and brings great strength and resolve. The darts thrown by others lose their velocity and sharpness.

To the grafted-in olive branches, wherever you are, take heart. It’s worth saving the tree.

Possible discussion questions: Can you think of any scripture heroes who have been put in a very uncomfortable situation regarding other people, like a tame olive branch grafted into a wild tree? (Accept all reasonable answers—Joseph of Egypt, Moses, Nephi, Sons of Mosiah, etc.) If we find ourselves in that situation, does it mean the Lord disfavors us? How could someone strengthen themselves if they find themselves in that situation? (Accept all reasonable answers—attitude, perspective, prayer, gratitude, scriptures, seek out good and humble friends, be a good friend, serve others, and above all, develop a closeness to Christ and counsel with the Heavens in everything.)

Quote #2 (close to god)

Possible engagement tool: Tell your class that Jacob gives us essential, heartfelt advice. See what you think of his message:

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts. (Jacob 6:5)

Possible discussion questions: Who needs to repent of something, right now, today? (Every one of us—whether we take advantage of repentance or not is another story.) How would you describe ‘full purpose of heart’? (Accept all reasonable answers—sincere and all in.) What does it mean to come to Christ with full purpose of heart? What does that look like for you? What kinds of things would you do? What does “cleave unto God” mean?

cleave: be devoted to, be true

Another possible question is: What happens when we get rebellious and harden our hearts? (Accept all reasonable answers—we can’t hear the Spirit well and miss golden opportunities for inspiration and blessings.)

Quote #3 (wise)

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

O be wise; what can I say more? (Jacob 6:12)

Possible discussion question: What thoughts came to mind when you heard the prophet Jacob tell you to be wise? What do you need to be more wise about? What do you need to start doing or stop doing to be wise? (Do not require anyone to respond, but allow them to share if they want to. It’s best if you start by sharing what came to your mind and what you decided to change.)

Quote #4 (convincing)

Faithless and spiritually harmful voices can be compelling.

Note: This quote can be divided among 2–4 readers.

1 And now it came to pass after some years had passed away, there came a man among the people of Nephi, whose name was Sherem.

2 And it came to pass that he began to preach among the people, and to declare unto them that there should be no Christ. And he preached many things which were flattering unto the people; and this he did that he might overthrow the doctrine of Christ.

3 And he labored diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people, insomuch that he did lead away many hearts; and he knowing that I, Jacob, had faith in Christ who should come, he sought much opportunity that he might come unto me.

4 And he was learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil. (Jacob 7:1-4)

Possible discussion questions: Why was Sharem able to sway people away from the gospel? (He used flattery and the power of speech.) Have you ever heard someone who could sound convincing in almost anything—even if you knew they were probably wrong? Why are heartfelt prayer, scripture reading, taking the sacrament, and keeping the Sabbath day holy so important? (Accept all reasonable answers—it keeps the spirit of Christ in our lives, and we will not be so easily deceived.)

Quote #5 (proof)

Possible engagement tool: Miracles and signs mean nothing to the unfaithful. They do not convert people. It’s a repeating pattern that even if they witness a miracle, they will explain it away. Mosiah tells the wicked Sherem that a sign won’t matter. Listen for why it doesn’t matter:

14 And I said unto him: What am I that I should tempt God to show unto thee a sign in the thing which thou knowest to be true? Yet thou wilt deny it, because thou art of the devil. Nevertheless, not my will be done; but if God shall smite thee, let that be a sign unto thee that he has power, both in heaven and in earth; and also, that Christ shall come. And thy will, O Lord, be done, and not mine. (Jacob 7:14)

More than 400 years later, before Christ visited the Nephites, we see the same pattern of denial:

1 And it came to pass that thus passed away the ninety and fifth year also, and the people began to forget those signs and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen—

2 Imagining up some vain thing in their hearts, that it was wrought by men and by the power of the devil, to lead away and deceive the hearts of the people; and thus did Satan get possession of the hearts of the people again, insomuch that he did blind their eyes and lead them away to believe that the doctrine of Christ was a foolish and a vain thing. (3 Nephi 2:1-2)

Possible discussion question: What are the similarities between the two Book of Mormon verses 400 years apart? We know great signs and wonders are coming before Christ comes again. Will everyone believe them or be influenced by them? Why? What kinds of signs and wonders can we expect to see? (See Doctrine and Covenants 43:25)

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.