5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS
See the complete list of CFM Lessons
Alma 36 – 38
I’ve been traveling and this is late, but here are some wonderful gospel concepts for this week.
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 (trust)
Possible engagement tool: Write the phrase “put your trust in God” on the board and ask your class to consider what it means to them as you read the following verses.
Note: These verses can be divided between two readers.
And now, O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day. (Alma 36:3)
5 And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day. (Alma 38:5)
trust: confidence, faith, hope, dedication, and allegiance to, conviction, positiveness, sureness
Sometimes, we are delivered from our trials like Alma 36:3 mentions, and at other times, we are supported and strengthened through them (Alma 38:5) like the people of Limhi – whose burdens were made light.
Whether we are delivered or supported, both are miracles!
Possible discussion questions: What happens when we put our faith in man instead of God? In what ways do you trust God? How can we “put our faith in God?” (Accept all reasonable answers. For me, I can feel my trust increase when I quit griping and second-guessing life’s unfairness and challenges and start relying on Him in prayer and seeking His inspiration.)
Quote #2 (beginnings)
6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.
7 And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls. (Alma 37:6-7)
Joseph Smith started as a poor farm boy with a severe limp and little education. Nephi had abusive family members to contend with. Jesus Christ was born in a donkey stall and slept in a feeding trough. He grew up in humble neighborhoods and did menial labor for a living. (Carpentry was considered a humble occupation, unlike today.)
Possible discussion question: Is there a message from Joseph Smith, Nephi, and Christ’s early lives for us? Does greatness always have a comfortable start? Do beginnings determine the rest of our lives? Can you make important contributions by the power and gift of God? Why is it important to keep trying and to keep serving?
Quote #3 (glimpse)
Alma gives us a glimpse of what it feels like to be wicked and then come into God’s presence and be measured.

12 But I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.
13 Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments. (Alma 36:12-13)
Possible activity: Let’s compare Alma’s description to Christ’s description
15 Therefore I command you to repent—repent, lest I smite you by the rod of my mouth, and by my wrath, and by my anger, and your sufferings be sore—how sore you know not, how exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.
18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink— (D&C 19:15,18)
Possible discussion question: What are Alma and Christ trying to tell us? (Accept all reasonable answers – “You really, really do not want to go there and go through that”!)
Possible discussion questions: If you didn’t use the D&C verse or ask the question above, ask what is Alma trying to tell us? Why is this important for us to know? (Accept all reasonable answers so that the consequences of our choices are clear.)
Quote #4 (rescue)
Possible engagement tool: Share with your class that one of the most important, pivotal moments recorded in the Book of Mormon is Christ rescuing Alma.
18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! (Alma 36:18-20)
Possible discussion questions: How was Alma able to escape his suffering after three days? (Accept all reasonable answers—He called on Jesus Christ to deliver Him.) Who else will Christ rescue? Do we need to be rescued sometimes? Why do you feel this is such a powerful story? How would you describe it to a friend?
Quote #5 (church culture)
Possible engagement tool: Share something like, “Alma was shocked by the corruption he saw in the church among his brethren the Zoramites. It’s an extreme example of church culture gone wrong. Nonetheless, can some of the Zoramite culture show up among our active members? Alma seems to think so because he warns his son against it. Please listen for examples that Alma gives his son to watch out for.”
Note: Can be divided between two readers.
11 See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength.
12 Use boldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness.
13 Do not pray as the Zoramites do, for ye have seen that they pray to be heard of men, and to be praised for their wisdom.
14 Do not say: O God, I thank thee that we are better than our brethren; but rather say: O Lord, forgive my unworthiness, and remember my brethren in mercy—yea, acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times. (Alma 38:11-14)
Deepen the Understanding
“Acknowledge your unworthiness before God at all times.” Christ told the story of a publican, a sinner who modeled just how to do what Alma teaches:
Note: Can be divided between two readers.
10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:10-14)
Possible discussion questions: Why did Jesus tell this story? What is its message for us in our lives?
Possible activity: Either have the list printed ahead of time and give each class member a copy -OR- have your class help you pull out and create the list of do’s and don’ts from Alma’s counsel. Write them on the board as they are suggested. First ask, what are the things Alma counsels his son (and us) not to do…what are the “Don’ts.” (The list does not need to be complete or worded the same as the list below.) Write the list on the board.
Next, ask the class to pull out what Alma said to do and write them on the board.
Alma’s List
Don’t
- Be really into yourself, think about yourself a lot
- Praise your own know-how
- Boast about your strength
- Pray to be heard by others and show off spirituality/wisdom
Do
- Use boldness in appropriate amounts (be assertive, but not aggressive).
- Manage and actively subdue your temper and other emotional responses so you can feel more love (both to give and receive).
- Lead a productive life. (Learn to love work, rather than seeking to be entertained.)
- Pray for forgiveness often, and acknowledge your shortcomings to God in prayer every day.
- Be generous in your thoughts and pleas for others. Pray they will receive mercy in the same way you hope to receive mercy.
Possible discussion questions: How do you feel about Alma’s counsel to his son? Why do you suppose Alma was inspired to write it down and Mormon was inspired to include this counsel in the Book of Mormon for our time? Is it needed in today’s world? Is there something from Alma’s counsel that feels like good advice for you to do?
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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