5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS

See the complete list of CFM Lessons

Pearl of Great Price: Moses 1, Abraham 3

This week’s lesson plan includes: the Godhead and the essence of being God, humanity’s pivotal choices in turning away from the divine (and how it relates to us), God’s inspiring revelations to prophets, and the rewarding journey of faithfully keeping our first and second estates.

Tips for delivering a successful lesson are located at the end of the article.

Note: All blue quotes are from the Pearl of Great Price (unless otherwise noted).

Quote #1 & 2 (godhead)

Possible Intro: As we read the following three verses, consider how the word ‘God’ can be used differently.

Possible activity: Write “God” on the board. Ask your class to notice who the word God refers to in each of the three verses. As they identify “God,” with each verse, write it underneath the word God. It should be: 1) the Father, 2) Jesus Christ, and 3) All Three (or very similar words for each of them).

Note: Please divide among three readers.

6 And I have a work for thee, Moses, my son; and thou art in the similitude of mine Only Begotten; and mine Only Begotten is and shall be the Savior, for he is full of grace and truth; but there is no God beside me, and all things are present with me, for I know them all. (Moses 1:6)

—AND—

“And now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people.” (Mosiah 15:1)

—AND—

And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen (2 Nephi 31:21)

Note: I find it helpful to substitute the word ‘Godhead’ for ‘God’ in this last verse to aid in understanding the message. Often, the terms “one God” and “one Godhead” can be used interchangeably.

Godhead: the Godhead comprises three distinct divine beings: God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. These beings are perfectly united in purpose, doctrine, and love, working in complete harmony to execute Heavenly Father’s divine plan of salvation. Their stewardship encompasses presiding over this earth and all of God’s creations, overseeing the spiritual and temporal welfare of humanity.

Possible discussion question: In your own words, how would you describe “the Godhead” to a friend?

Optional – Deepen the Understanding

Orson Pratt provided an excellent explanation for the various uses of the word ‘God’ and why it can be used to refer to either the Father, the Son, or maybe all three.

Orson Pratt: “There is no God besides me.” Moses 1:6 In these expressions, “God” has reference to the great principles of light and truth, or knowledge, and not to the tabernacles [bodies or persons] in which this knowledge may dwell…the truth or knowledge which is often personified and called God, is one, being the same in all; God is one, being a unity… (JD 2:345a)

Simplified: Instead of referring to one physical body or a particular person, “God” is often shorthand for the light, power, glory, knowledge, truth, and supreme authority of the Godhead, which all Three possess in unity. God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.

Quote #3 (worthless?)

Possible engagement tool: Write the word, “Worthless?” on the board. Have your class consider the question: “Has God’s true gospel ever won the world’s popularity contest”? as you read the following verses.

40 And now, Moses, my son, I will speak unto thee concerning this earth upon which thou standest; and thou shalt write the things which I shall speak.

41 And in a day when the children of men shall esteem my words as naught and take many of them from the book which thou shalt write, behold, I will raise up another like unto thee; and they shall be had again among the children of men—among as many as shall believe. (Moses 1:40-41)

naught: meaning “will regard my words as nothing” or “will consider my words worthless or of no value.”

Possible discussion questions: “Has God’s true gospel ever won the world’s popularity contest”? (If they mention Israel, mention the countries around Israel that hated them and warred with them.) What happens instead? If people around us reject the Creator of the Universe, should we feel bad when they reject us for our beliefs? How do you feel about having the actual and true words of Moses at your fingertips today?

Optional Scripture

18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. (John 15:18-19)

Quote #4 (face to face)

Possible engagement tool: The following two verses show how God interacted with two great prophets, Moses and Abraham. See if you notice any similarities.

Note: Please divide between two or more readers.

2 And he saw God face to face, and he talked with him, and the glory of God was upon Moses; therefore Moses could endure his presence.

37 And the Lord God spake unto Moses, saying: The heavens, they are many, and they cannot be numbered unto man; but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine.

38 And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works, neither to my words. (Moses 1:2, 37-38)

—AND—

11 Thus I, Abraham, talked with the Lord, face to face, as one man talketh with another; and he told me of the works which his hands had made;

12 And he said unto me: My son, my son (and his hand was stretched out), behold I will show you all these. And he put his hand upon mine eyes, and I saw those things which his hands had made, which were many; and they multiplied before mine eyes, and I could not see the end thereof. (Abraham 3:11-12)

Possible discussion question: What did you notice was the same between these two accounts? Does God talk to His prophets? What evidence have you seen that we have a living prophet? Why is it so important to have a prophet on the earth?

Quote #5 (2nd estate)

Possible intro: Abraham teaches us about first and second estates?

Note: Please divide between two readers.

25 And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;

26 And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever. (Abraham 3:25-26)

Possible discussion questions: What are the first and second estates? (see vs. 27 for clues if needed – pre-earth life and earth life.) Did you keep our first estate? (Yes – that’s why you are here.) What happens if we keep our second estate faithfully? Were we sent here to be tested under calm and pleasant circumstances? How many of God’s commandments should we do? Why do you want to keep your 2nd estate?

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 sharing powerful Pearl of Great Price teachings with 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.

(You can find the Church’s Come, Follow Me lesson here.)

How to Teach Successfully and Give a Better Lesson

You have great content; now let’s ensure the lesson goes smoothly.

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 would make a meaningful discussion for your group of personalities.

Lesson Prep

• If you want the discussion to be more robust and meaningful, hand out reading assignments ahead of time and ask the reader to answer one question about them (i.e. pick one of the questions from each quote 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 send it via text or email.
• Ask various people to read and participate, especially those who are not often asked to do so.
• Don’t ever worry about covering all the quotes and verses…rushed lessons are less effective.

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 during class. If you want more discussion and engagement, here are some tips:

• 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.