5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS

See the complete list of CFM Lessons

Doctrine and Covenants 85 – 87

This week’s topics are: saviors on Mt. Zion, the Civil War prophecy, Last Days signs, and holy places.

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 your planned lesson, roll with it. The Spirit intends for you to be successful.

Quote #1 (saviors)

Possible engagement tool: As we listen to the following verses and quotes, ask yourself, who are these verses talking about?

Note: Please divide among several readers.

8 Therefore, thus saith the Lord unto you, with whom the priesthood hath continued through the lineage of your fathers—

9 For ye are lawful heirs, according to the flesh, and have been hid from the world with Christ in God—

10 Therefore your life and the priesthood have remained, and must needs remain through you and your lineage until the restoration of all things spoken by the mouths of all the holy prophets since the world began.

11 Therefore, blessed are ye if ye continue in my goodness, a light unto the Gentiles, and through this priesthood, a savior unto my people Israel. The Lord hath said it. Amen. (Doctrine and Covenants 86:8-11)

—AND—

The election of the promised seed still continues, and in the last day, they shall have the Priesthood restored unto them, and they shall be the “saviors on Mount Zion,” the ministers of our God. (Joseph Smith – TPJS pg. 189)

—AND—

You are one of God’s noble and great spirits, held in reserve to come to earth at this time. In your premortal life you were appointed to help prepare the world for the great gathering of souls that will precede the Lord’s second coming. You are one of a covenant people. You are an heir to the promise that all the earth will be blessed by the seed of Abraham and that God’s covenant with Abraham will be fulfilled through his lineage in these latter days. (Russell M. Nelson, Choices – Oct 1990)

Possible discussion questions: Who are these verses and quotes talking about? (Us) What are some of the ways we can be a light to others? (Accept all reasonable answers – service, kindness, civility, friendliness, approachable, mindful of others, cheerful, optimistic, helpful) In what ways can we be a “savior” on Mt. Zion? (Accept all reasonable answers – missionary work, strengthening the faith of others, spreading the gospel message, being worthy of the priesthood, and exercising it)

Quote #2 (civil war)

Possible Intro: Joseph Smith made several astounding prophecies, and today we will read about one of them.

Note: Please divide among several readers.

1 Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls;

2 And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place.

3 For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon all nations. (Doctrine and Covenants 87:1-3)

—AND—

In 1832, he prophesied that the southern states and northern states would shortly be divided in civil war, that this war would be the beginning of world wars which would eventually involve all nations and result in the death and misery of many souls. Specifically, he said that the great Civil War would begin with a rebellion in South Carolina. This prophecy was published to the world in 1851.

As every schoolboy knows, the Civil War began with the secession of South Carolina from the Union, and other states followed. When Lincoln sent provisions to the Union forces at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, the Confederate forces opened fire on the fort. Since that fateful day in 1861, the world has seen as a result of warfare the death and misery of many souls.

The desire of the Prophet Joseph Smith was to save the Union from that bloody conflict. He recognized the iniquity of slavery and urged Congress to abolish it and to pay the slaveholders from the sale of public lands. The message went unheeded, and nearly one-half million souls died in the Civil War. (President Ezra Taft Benson – Oct 1962)

Possible discussion questions: What would have happened differently if the U.S. government had listened to Joseph Smith? Why is this prophecy so important? Have you ever applied counsel from one of the prophets? What was it, and how did it turn out?

Quote #3 (last days)

Possible engagement tool: Though the final days will be turbulent and challenging, the Lord reveals what lies ahead to help us prepare.

Note: Please divide among two or more readers.

6 And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn; and with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation, and chastening hand of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations; (Doctrine and Covenants 87:6)

—AND—

And now I am prepared to say by the authority of Jesus Christ, that not many years shall pass away before the United States shall present such a scene of bloodshed as has not a parallel in the history of our nation; pestilence, hail, famine, and earthquake will sweep the wicked of this generation from off the face of the land, to open and prepare the way for the return of the lost tribes of Israel from the north country. (Joseph Smith, TPJS – pg. 17)

Possible discussion question: As times get tougher, how will you react? Why is it important to know these things are coming?

Quote #4 (stand)

How can we best prepare for the trials of the last days?

8 Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen. (Doctrine and Covenants 87:8)

—AND—

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

Possible discussion questions: What holy places have you stood in? Why are holy places important to us? Where did the Nephites go after all the destruction in their lands? (the temple in Bountiful) When was the last time you were at the temple? How did you feel when you went there? Have you ever felt peace from the Spirit? How does it make you feel?

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.