Youth – 5 CFM Ideas for Jan 29 – Feb 04, 2024

by | Jan 19, 2024

5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS

See the complete list of CFM Lessons

1 Nephi 16-22

Nephi can do tough things; despite the setbacks, he has accomplished miracles.

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 (the bow)

Possible engagement tool: Say something like, “Think about this question as we read the following verses: When facing setbacks and unexpected disappointments – how do you react”?

Possible discussion questions: How would you describe the different reactions between the brothers? What kind of attitude did Nephi have? How can a positive attitude influence our actions and choices? How can we keep a positive attitude?

Possible teacher resource: It’s best not to play videos in class – but this is excellent prep for you as a teacher. Elder Wirthlin tells a great story from his football days (Only 3 minutes long). Watch this video with the closed caption turned on; Elder Wirthlin is a little hard to understand in a couple of places. But what a rich resource! Come What May, and Love It. (Turn on CC)

Tell the story in your own words. “Come What May and Love It”

Main quote: “The simple secret is this: put your trust in the Lord, do your best, then leave the rest to Him.”

Isn’t that what Nephi did with a positive, calm attitude?

Quote #2 (choice?)

Nephi tells us the Lord selects “chosen people” to whom He gave choice lands – ask your class to listen to how the Lord chooses them.

When referring to the ancient Israelites who drove the previous occupants out and conquered their lands, Nephi says:

34 Do ye suppose that our fathers would have been more choice than they if they had been righteous? I say unto you, Nay.
35 Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God. But behold, this people had rejected every word of God…
(1 Nephi 17:34-35)

Possible discussion questions: Before the inhabitants of Canaan were driven out, what choices did they make? (reject every word of God) Does the Lord bless some groups of people more than others? (YES) Does that mean He plays favorites (accept all reasonable answers – can be yes or no depending on how the answer is framed)? How do you personally become chosen?

Quote #3 (prayer)

This verse is simple, but the cause-and-effect formula taught is powerful.

Possible engagement tool: Ask your class to listen for a cause and an effect.

3 And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things. (1 Nephi 18:3)

Possible discussion questions: What is the cause, and what is the effect? How do we get better at receiving and recognizing answers from the Lord through prayer?

President Nelson gave us a simple way to strengthen our ability to get and recognize answers to prayer AND personal revelation.

My plea to you this morning is to find rest from the intensity, uncertainty, and anguish of this world by overcoming the world through your covenants with God. Let Him know through your prayers and your actions that you are serious about overcoming the world. Ask Him to enlighten your mind and send the help you need. Each day, record the thoughts that come to you as you pray; then follow through diligently.

First principle: Allow the Lord to decide what revelation and answers He will give you.

Invitation to act: Get a small journal book or notepad and try it out. It becomes your very own, highly inspired playbook from Heaven. And not in a small way. Did you notice the picture at the top of this article – the lighted path? That’s what a prayer journal does.

Possible handout and activity: You might get small, attractive notebooks and invite class members to experiment with this advice and see what happens. They could even report their general results back in a couple of weeks.

Quote #4 (grace)

It is essential to be able to talk to other Christians about grace. There are a lot of false reports on what Latter-day Saints believe about grace.

Possible Engagement tool: Ask your class to think about this question as we read several verses, “Do we believe in grace”?

For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet. Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak in other words—they set him at naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels. (1 Nephi 19:7)

Possible discussion questions: What does Nephi mean by trampling God “under their feet”? Can you consider yourself a Christian and dismiss Christ’s counsel as unnecessary?

‘Grace Only’

“Grace only” is a common concept in the Christian world. It means our salvation does not depend on obeying Christ’s calls to action in the Four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). We will be exalted regardless of what we do since Christ saves us. While that sounds nice, it is a corruption of what Jesus Christ actually taught.

If you love me, keep my commandments. (John 14;15)

To worship Jesus means to follow and do His teachings.

Jesus taught good works serve an essential purpose.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

Our house is built upon the Rock.

Christ also warns us!

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:24-27)

Explain True Grace

We are often criticized because we believe in Christ’s many calls for good works and obedience. They say two untrue things: 1) we don’t believe in grace, and 2) that because of grace, no works are necessary.

They base the effortless ‘grace alone’ doctrine on later verses by Paul, who talked about the Mosaic law no longer being necessary. They misinterpret it to mean Christ’s law is no longer required.

So the common prevailing thought is that Latter-day Saints sin by emphasizing good works and rejecting Christ’s grace. They say we think our good works will save us. These are all false reports about our faith. It’s good to help others understand how we feel about the mercy and grace of our Savior.

Whenever I talk to those of other faiths who question our belief in grace, I say something like this:

We know that it is by grace we are saved and that without Jesus Christ, there is no salvation or resurrection. We do not believe our works save us, and our doctrine is clear on this point (Mosiah 2:21). Nonetheless, we know Christ instructed us how to live and was very clear about His expectations and calls to action.

It’s a simple formula. Christ asked it. We do it because we love Him and follow Him. In turn, Christ gifts us with exaltation and eternal life through His grace – something we could never earn or make happen on our own. Nonetheless, good works are required by the Master Himself.

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)

Quote #5 (hard times)

Nephi quoted two chapters of Isaiah – let’s pick one verse and see what it means to us.

10 For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. (1 Nephi 20:10)

Furnace of affliction is a strong term. Sometimes, it feels like life bombards us with several problems and setbacks at once. We may suppose we are not chosen or favored, but that is precisely the opposite of how the Lord feels about us.

We are guaranteed weaknesses and trials of our faith. Those are necessary elements of life; the process grows us and makes us a better, more elevated version of ourselves.

Possible discussion questions: Who can you think of in the scriptures or Church history that had a lot of affliction or persecution even though God highly favored them? (accept all reasonable answers – Jesus, Joseph Smith, Nephi, Moroni, Mormon, John the Revelator, etc.) Do problems and disappointments mean you are not favored or chosen by God? What determines if we are selected or favored by God? Who do you know that doesn’t have problems or afflictions?

Many years ago, I was first counselor to a district president in the eastern United States. More than once, as we were driving to our little branches, he said to me, “Hal, when you meet someone, treat them as if they were in serious trouble, and you will be right more than half the time.” Not only was he right, but I have learned over the years that he was too low in his estimate.

Today I wish to encourage you in the troubles you face. Our mortal life is designed by a loving God to be a test and source of growth for each of us. (Try, Try, Try – President Eyring, Oct 2018)

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.

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