5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS

See the complete list of CFM Lessons

Doctrine and Covenants 88

This week’s topics include: the voices of natural disasters, the importance of education, everyone’s voice, the Lord’s chosen goals for us, and a very interesting insight into the School of the Prophets and the “everlasting covenant.”

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 becomes too non-spiritual, pull it back by moving on 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 you had planned, roll with it. The Spirit intends for you to be successful.

Quote #1 (voices)

Possible engagement tool: Write the major types of natural disasters on the board: hurricanes (typhoons), earthquakes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes, tsunamis, famine, volcanic eruptions, extreme lightning, blizzards, landslides, and droughts. (People may add others, that’s fine.)

Note: Can be divided among several readers.

81 Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor.

82 Therefore, they are left without excuse, and their sins are upon their own heads. (Doctrine and Covenants 88:81-82)

—AND—

88 And after your testimony cometh wrath and indignation upon the people.

89 For after your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes, that shall cause groanings in the midst of her, and men shall fall upon the ground and shall not be able to stand.

90 And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds.

91 And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people. (Doctrine and Covenants 88:88-91)

Possible discussion questions: Which natural disasters have you experienced? What happened, what was it like? How did it make you feel? (Accept all reasonable answers – humbled, small) The Lord refers to natural disasters as voices – what does that mean? Why does the Lord have to use natural disasters to get people’s attention? (Accept all reasonable answers – natural disasters help us realize what matters most >> our standing before God.)

Quote #2 (learn)

Possible intro: In Doctrine and Covenants 93:36, it says: “The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.”

Note: can be divided between two readers.

118 And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith. (Doctrine and Covenants 88:118)

—AND—

It is so important that you young men and you young women get all of the education that you can. The Lord has said very plainly that His people are to gain knowledge of countries and kingdoms and of things of the world through the process of education, even by study and by faith. Education is the key which will unlock the door of opportunity for you. It is worth sacrificing for. It is worth working at, and if you educate your mind and your hands, you will be able to make a great contribution to the society of which you are a part, and you will be able to reflect honorably on the Church of which you are a member. (President Spencer W. Kimball, Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 386)

Possible discussion questions: How does reading and studying benefit us? What kinds of education and learning are available to us? What are some of your favorite subjects? What kind of career most interests you right now? Where can you obtain an education or hands-on training to support your career goal?

Quote #3 (all)

Possible Intro: The Lord wants everyone to express themselves and be heard. Everyone has something worthy to contribute to the group, even if it’s questions about the gospel. Some of the best gospel discussions start out as someone’s question.

122 Appoint among yourselves a teacher, and let not all be spokesmen at once; but let one speak at a time and let all listen unto his sayings, that when all have spoken that all may be edified of all, and that every man may have an equal privilege. (Doctrine and Covenants 88:122)

Possible discussion questions: Have you ever been touched by someone’s comment in class? Why is it important to speak up and share what you know about the gospel in class? What are some of your questions about the scriptures, the church, or the gospel? (If someone asks a question – open it up to the whole group to respond, something like “Let’s open this up to all of us, how would you answer Mike’s question”? (Note: if someone asks a faithful, sincere question no one can answer – say, “that’s a great question, let me talk to some people and get you an answer.)

Quote #4 (goals)

The Lord picked some goals for us!

Possible engagement tool: Remind your class that the following verses need an open heart and a willingness to be introspective about ourselves. Have them listen for the advice they might need the most today directly from the Lord.

124 Cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated.

125 And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace.

126 Pray always, that ye may not faint, until I come. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen. (Doctrine and Covenants 88:124-126)

Possible discussion question: These verses contain several items of important guidance. If you were to make a goal to improve, which one would you pick? How would you go about improving? What are some things you could stop or start doing? If you could summarize these verses in three short phrases, what would you come up with? (Volunteer your own first. Accept all reasonable answers – mine is “Be Productive, Control Your Mouth, Pray More”) Where can we find more strength to be successful with these instructions? (vs. 126! Through prayer.)

Quote #5 (school)

The School of the Prophets was a pivotal organization in the early Church. Only those who qualified attended.

Possible engagement tool: Ask your class to listen for the qualifications and notice which ones they might need to work on more.

Note: Can be divided among three readers.

132 And when any shall come in after him, let the teacher arise, and, with uplifted hands to heaven, yea, even directly, salute his brother or brethren with these words:

133 Art thou a brother or brethren? I salute you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in token or remembrance of the everlasting covenant, in which covenant I receive you to fellowship, in a determination that is fixed, immovable, and unchangeable, to be your friend and brother through the grace of God in the bonds of love, to walk in all the commandments of God blameless, in thanksgiving, forever and ever. Amen.

134 And he that is found unworthy of this salutation shall not have place among you; for ye shall not suffer that mine house shall be polluted by him. (Doctrine and Covenants 88:132-133)

Possible activity: Have your class help you list some of the qualifications. The list doesn’t need to be in the same order or

Qualifications to Be Included In the School of the Prophets

• Be willing to salute another brother out loud with uplifted hands and feel the power of that exchange
• Support the everlasting covenant**
• Strong determination to fellowship and love everyone in the School as a friend and serve them as a brother, despite difficulty or challenges (immovable and unchangeable)
• Keep all the commandments fully and faithfully (no outstanding sin that still needs repentance)
• Be a thankful, grateful person

Possible discussion questions: Would you like to be a member of Joseph Smith’s society? What principles can we learn from the salutation that Jesus Christ provided them? What is the everlasting covenant spoken of in these verses?

**What is the “everlasting covenant”?

Note: Can be divided among several readers.

The “everlasting covenant” generally refers to the fulness of the gospel—the comprehensive covenant God makes with His people to bring about their salvation and exaltation through obedience to His laws. It is “everlasting” because it is eternal, unchanging, and spans all dispensations. In Doctrine and Covenants 66:2, for example, the Lord describes the everlasting covenant as “the fulness of my gospel, sent forth unto the children of men, that they might have life and be made partakers of the glories which are to be revealed.” This includes all the ordinances, covenants, and principles necessary for exaltation.

Note: Pick any or all of the following verses for your class.

11 And if thou do this, I have prepared thee for a greater work. Thou shalt preach the fulness of my gospel, which I have sent forth in these last days, the covenant which I have sent forth to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel. (Doctrine and Covenants 39:11)

2 Verily I say unto you, blessed are you for receiving mine everlasting covenant, even the fulness of my gospel, sent forth unto the children of men, that they might have life and be made partakers of the glories which are to be revealed in the last days, as it was written by the prophets and apostles in days of old. (Doctrine and Covenants 66:2)

“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.” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:12)

Note: A couple of verses become more specific about the “everlasting covenant,” such as baptism in D&C 22 or eternal marriage in D&C 132. Nonetheless, most verses refer to the everlasting covenant as the fullness of the gospel, meaning the whole of the gospel: all teachings, commandments, and ordinances. (See also D&C 1:20-23)

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 the lives of others.

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.