5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS

See the complete list of CFM Lessons

2 Nephi 3-5

Let’s meet the four Josephs and their miraculous role in our story.

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

Put the quotes in any order that makes sense to you. I would start with the ones you feel are most important and work 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 (joseph)

Only in the Book of Mormon do we find out that Joseph of Egypt also prophesied of our time.

1 And now, I, Nephi, speak concerning the prophecies of which my father hath spoken, concerning Joseph, who was carried into Egypt.

2 For behold, he truly prophesied concerning all his seed. And the prophecies which he wrote, there are not many greater. And he prophesied concerning us, and our future generations; and they are written upon the plates of brass. (2 Nephi 4:1-2)

We do not have Joseph’s prophecies except for the one Lehi mentions when talking to his son, Joseph.

Note: The following quote can be split up into two smaller quotes.

7 Yea, Joseph truly said: Thus saith the Lord unto me: A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins. And unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren, which shall be of great worth unto them, even to the bringing of them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers.

15 And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation. (2 Nephi 3:7,15)

Possible discussion questions: How do you think Joseph Smith felt when another prophet prophesied about him in approximately 600 BC? How do prophecies about our day help us? Who can name the four Josephs found in 2 Nephi 3? (son of Lehi, Joseph of Egypt, Joseph Smith Sr., and Joseph Smith Jr.)

Optional Deepen the Understanding

Let’s take a moment to talk about Joseph Smith and why Joseph of Egypt prophesied he would be a “choice seer.”

President Nelson reminds us that Joseph Smith is still quite relevant to us today.

Note: The following quote can be split up into two smaller quotes.

“A testimony of the Prophet Joseph’s pivotal role in the Restoration is crucial for all of us who are preaching the Lord’s gospel.” (New Mission Leader Training, President Nelson June 2021)

“Regardless of where you live or what your circumstances are, the Lord Jesus Christ is your Savior, and God’s prophet Joseph Smith is your prophet. He was foreordained before the foundation of the earth to be the prophet of this last dispensation, when ‘nothing shall be withheld’ from the Saints.” (President Nelson, April 2020)

Possible Activity: Invite a couple of class members to share their feelings and testimony about Joseph Smith beforehand. Have them share their testimony about Joseph Smith after these quotes. Please invite others to share their feelings as well.

My Testimony of Joseph Smith

For me, Joseph was more significant than just the first prophet of this dispensation. He had more than 130 unique heavenly visitors speak with him and teach him (that we know of). No prophet since Joseph comes close to his volume of revelations and enlightenment. Even though I love other prophets and apostles dearly, especially President Nelson – Joseph Smith is light years out of anyone’s league.

Joseph wrote or translated 99% of the verses in our three modern sets of scriptures (Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price). Almost 11,000 verses. Plus, he went through the Bible and changed or added 3,400 verses.

Joseph recorded the Savior’s direct words – talking in the first person – about 91,000 of them in the Doctrine and Covenants. (The Book of Mormon has 41,700, and the Pearl of Great Price has 7,900.) How many are in the New Testament? About 22,200.

His insights are more profound than most.

One of my most sacred spiritual experiences was the manifestation I received of Joseph Smith as a prophet.

Witness of Joseph Smith, Jr.

I prayed and worked hard for this testimony. I had significant doubts. The answer wasn’t just “yes, he’s a prophet.” My spiritual eyes were opened, and I could see and feel a continuum that went eons back and forever forward. The answer was that he was always one of our noble and great leaders forever back and will be forever forward, and suddenly, my entire soul knew that I always understood who he was. His standing and position are eternal. This realization wasn’t new knowledge but a recall of something familiar. That revelation blazed onto my soul with fire. From that moment, I loved Joseph Smith profoundly and dearly. Nothing can erase that experience; nothing can change my regard. I am a huge fan, and what he says goes. I leave this witness with you in the name of our dear Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Amen: “I affirm with my whole soul and being.”

Quote #2 (delight)

Possible engagement tool: Write the definition of delight on the board and ask your class to tell something in their life that delights them.

delight: gladden, thrill, cheer, captivate, greatly please

Let’s listen as Nephi tells what delights him.

15 And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.

16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard. (2 Nephi 4:15-16)

Possible discussion question: According to Nephi, what delights him? (accept all reasonable answers – writing about his thoughts and scriptures, recalling past spiritual experiences) Have you ever found yourself enjoying the scriptures? Who can share how they felt in their own words?

Quote #3 (trust)

Possible engagement tool: Write the definition of trust on the board and ask your class to listen for why Nephi trusted God.

trust: rely on, count on, depend on, be sure of

19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.

20 My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. (2 Nephi 4:19-20)

Possible discussion questions: What makes it possible for Nephi to recover from his sins? (accept all reasonable answers – Jesus Christ has promised to take care of the sins we repent of) Why does Nephi trust God? Does God trust Nephi? How can we either grow our trust in God or grow God’s trust in us?

Nevertheless, they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God. (Helaman 3:35)

Quote #4 (anger)

The reality of anger is one of the most critical commentaries Nephi makes in these chapters.

Possible engagement tool: Invite your class to think about the last time they got angry, indignant, or upset. See if they can relate to Nephi’s remorse.

27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?

28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

29 Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions. (2 Nephi 4:27-28)

Possible discussion questions: Who is the enemy of Nephi’s soul? (Satan) How does Satan influence our hearts, and how does he gain the power to agitate our souls?

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: How do we feel after we’ve been angry or upset at the actions and choices of others? Does it help you feel the Spirit or be closer to the Savior? (Share what happens to you)

Personally, it might feel good, sort of, to tell someone off and speak my mind about all their atrocities, etc. But afterward, it doesn’t feel good anymore, and if I peel back a layer or two and look inside to see what’s still bothering me, it’s not what they did or said (no matter how bad) – it’s how low I stooped to their level in response to them. It’s my loss of control, of getting sucked in, losing composure (i.e., the Spirit and peace).

Great peace happens afterward when we don’t respond in kind or retaliation. I know from personal experience I will never regret kindness or civility ten years later. On the other hand, angry words can haunt our subconscious for many years.

Quote #5 (book of mormon)

Nephi makes a keen observation about people’s reactions to his writings.

And I engraved that which is pleasing unto God. And if my people are pleased with the things of God they will be pleased with mine engravings which are upon these plates. (2 Nephi 5:32)

Nephi makes a strong case for the Book of Mormon as a litmus test of how close people are to God. While it may take some people a while to understand the truths expressed in the Book of Mormon and take them a while to get a testimony – they will not reject the essential truths and precepts taught in the book. The Light of Christ testifies to all men.

Possible discussion questions: Is it possible to appear religious and not love the things of God?

Note: The following quote can be split up into two smaller quotes.

18 No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects was right (for at this time it had never entered into my heart that all were wrong)—and which I should join.

19 I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” (JSH1:18-19)

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 put the quotes in any order that makes sense to you.