Youth – 5 CFM Ideas for July 01 — 07, 2024

by | Jun 30, 2024

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5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS

See the complete list of CFM Lessons

Alma 17 – 22

This post is almost finished. Quotes #1, #2, and #3 have enough content to fill a 2nd-hour class on Sunday (easily). I will keep adding to this lesson.

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 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.

  • 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 (prophecy)

The following verses are highlighted OFTEN because they are ultra-important instructions for how to get close to God and experience His miracles more abundantly. But let’s take a deeper look:

Optional: Discuss the Terms!

When we fully comprehend the different phrases, the scriptures open up to us even more.

Possible engagement tool: Write the three terms on the board. “diligently,’ ‘spirit of prophecy,’ and ‘spirit of revelation.’

After the word ‘diligently’ write its three definitions – attentive, persistent, and studious.

diligently: attentive, persistent, studious

spirit of prophecy: “A prophecy consists of divinely inspired words or writings, which a person receives through revelation from the Holy Ghost. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (Rev. 19:10). A prophecy may pertain to the past, present, or future. When a person prophesies, he speaks or writes that which God wants him to know, for his own good or the good of others. Individuals may receive prophecy or revelation for their own lives.” (Guide to the Scriptures, Prophecy, Prophesy)

spirit of revelation: “Revelation is communication from God to His children on the earth and one of the great blessings associated with the gift and constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “The Holy Ghost is a revelator,” and “no man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations.” …Sincere desire and worthiness invite the spirit of revelation into our lives. (Elder Bednar, The Spirit of Revelation – April 2011).

Possible discussion questions: Describe in your own words how the Sons of Mosiah acquired the spirit of prophecy and revelation. (accept all reasonable and partial answers – they searched scriptures diligently, and they had given themselves to much fasting and prayer) What does it mean to search the scriptures diligently? How would you explain the spirit of prophecy to a friend who asked you what it was? How would you describe the “spirit of revelation” in your own words? Who can have the spirit of prophecy and revelation?

Quote #2 (however)

Hard work was an essential element of their success.

Hard work is always more valuable than luck. Luck is seldom long-lasting, timely, or frequent. However, hard work is an option for each of us; it brings about many desired outcomes. Learning to love hard work is one of the most powerful characteristics a person can acquire, only outranked by true charity.

The sons of Mosiah served missions and worked hard for 14 years. That’s a lot of doing and giving!

Possible engagement tool: Ask your class to ponder, “Why is noting how hard they worked an important message for us?” as you read this following quote.

Possible discussion question: In your own words, what does Elder Christofferson teach about “work”?

Setbacks, Difficulties, and Trials

Possible engagement tool: Ask, “Was it always easy for the sons of Mosiah?” Sometimes, glorifying heroes and ignoring their trials and tribulations is tempting.

Possible discussion questions: The real question is, why didn’t trials and tribulations stop the sons of Mosiah? Should trials and tribulations stop you? Does having difficult circumstances or hardships mean God does not favor or love you? (Absolutely not. God’s most chosen prophets and apostles faced hard trials and afflictions. Even Christ was very ill-treated and poorly thought of.) Should we stop working hard when life is rough or lacking good fortune? What did the sons of Mosiah do when the going got tough? Why does that matter to us – what is the message?

Quote #3 (fathers)

For the Lamanites, their fathers’ traditions led away from God rather than toward Him. They didn’t fully realize that until the sons of Mosiah pointed that out to them. Sometimes, our family history or family culture also has traditions, habits, and beliefs that lead us away from God. We are so used to them we don’t think of them as wrong or limiting. Ponder that thought as you listen to the following verse:

baseness: immorality, depravity, wickedness

Possible discussion questions: How do incorrect traditions sneak into our family’s culture? (Accept all reasonable answers – they’ve been around so long we don’t stop to notice how incorrect they are.) What past or present traditions of your fathers are you aware of that are incorrect and lead away from God? Can we develop traditions and habits of our own that are not correct and lead us away from God? Is it possible to pass false traditions on to our children someday?

Optional – Deepen the Understanding

One of the best talks ever about opening our eyes to better paths is the General Conference talk, “What Lack I Yet?” by Elder Larry R. Lawrence of the Seventy (Oct 2015). He relates several accounts of people discovering false traditions they needed to change through prayer and the Spirit.

Have several people read these mini-stories shared by Elder Lawrence (read all of them or pick the ones you feel your class needs.)

Intro

Stories

Possible discussion question: Which story stood out to you the most and why?

Quote #4 (give away)

Possible engagement tool: Ask your class to listen to this scripture story about what happens to the king (King Lamoni’s father) after Aaron teaches him about Christ, the atonement, and repenting of sins:

Note: This can be divided between 2-4 readers.

Possible activity: Have your class list the positive steps the king took.

  • became aware of his “wicked spirit”
  • desired to change completely
  • wanted to feel the Lord’s Spirit instead
  • was willing to walk away from all his power and all his wealth to have it (hungered and thirsted after righteousness)
  • bowed down in humble, honest prayer, confessing he had sins
  • willing to change his life

Possible discussion questions: What sins might a king with a warring heart want to repent of? (Whose lifestyle and culture condoned robbing and plundering others.) (Accept all reasonable answers – making war, inciting violence, chaos, anger and victimizing others instead of being peaceful and a peacemaker.)

Deepen the Understanding

While this story about a king of war and chaos is dramatic, it highlights the steps we must take to get closer to God and feel his power. Notice the repeating, similar message in this Bible verse:

Possible discussion questions: Is a warring heart a sin? How is the king’s story important in our lives? What can we do to have more peace with others?

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

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