5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS
See the complete list of CFM Lessons
Mosiah 29 – Alma 4
This week’s lesson discusses the corruption that can sneak into our Church and our government. These are important repeating patterns to recognize and discuss.
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 (king)
Note: Quotes #1 and #2 cover similar topics. I would pick one or the other and not both. Quote #2 is a deeper conversation. Consider your age group and interests!
Possible engagement tool: Remind the class that King Mosiah switched his people over from having kings rule over them to judges elected by the people, and he explains why:
16 Now I say unto you, that because all men are not just it is not expedient that ye should have a king or kings to rule over you.
17 For behold, how much iniquity doth one wicked king cause to be committed, yea, and what great destruction!
18 Yea, remember king Noah, his wickedness and his abominations, and also the wickedness and abominations of his people. Behold what great destruction did come upon them; and also because of their iniquities they were brought into bondage. (Mosiah 29:16-18)
Possible discussion questions: What did King Mosiah teach about having kings? Why is it better to have elected people in charge of the government?
Quote #2 (corruption in government)
Possible engagement tool: Ask your class to notice the strategy and pattern used by corrupt high-ranking rulers as described by King Mosiah.
Note: This quote can be divided between 2-3 people.
21 And behold, now I say unto you, ye cannot dethrone an iniquitous king save it be through much contention, and the shedding of much blood.
22 For behold, he has his friends in iniquity, and he keepeth his guards about him; and he teareth up the laws of those who have reigned in righteousness before him; and he trampleth under his feet the commandments of God;
23 And he enacteth laws, and sendeth them forth among his people, yea, laws after the manner of his own wickedness; and whosoever doth not obey his laws he causeth to be destroyed; and whosoever doth rebel against him he will send his armies against them to war, and if he can he will destroy them; and thus an unrighteous king doth pervert the ways of all righteousness. (Mosiah 29:21-23)
Possible discussion questions: Why is understanding the pattern King Mosiah describes important? (Because governments in our day can do the same, and we need to recognize the pattern.) Does the same thing happen today? Why does the Church recommend we be active in our local politics?
Quote #3 (priestcraft)
Possible engagement tool: Write “priestcraft” on the board. And ask, “What do we know about priestcraft”? (Accept all reasonable answers.) Then read:
29 He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion. (2 Nephi 26:29)

Possible engagement tool: Ask, “Does anyone remember who Nehor is”? After a quick discussion, read the following verses from this week’s CFM.
3 And he [Nehor] had gone about among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against the church; declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people.
5 And it came to pass that he did teach these things so much that many did believe on his words, even so many that they began to support him and give him money. (Alma 1:3,5)
What Nehor taught:
4 And he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life. (Alma 1:4)
Possible discussion questions: What did Nehor teach that made people want to give him money? (Don’t worry about sin, it doesn’t matter.)
Often, people who are paid to preach are motivated to teach things that will be popular and that people want to hear, such as “Don’t worry about sin,” so that people will give them money,
More possible discussion questions: Are our bishops and teachers paid? How does that make a difference? Why is it better that people give each other the gospel freely? (Accept all reasonable answers – it’s given to us freely.)
Quote #4 (zion)
Zion is a community of the “pure in heart” where the Saints will “hold all things in common” and await the second coming of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith taught that Zion is a community where people live by principles of love, unselfishness, and working for the common good, resulting in economic and political equality and freedom.
Possible engagement tool: Ask your class to listen to how the Church during Alma’s time is similar to Zion.
Note: This quote can be divided between 2 readers.
29 And now, because of the steadiness of the church they began to be exceedingly rich, having abundance of all things whatsoever they stood in need—an abundance of flocks and herds, and fatlings of every kind, and also abundance of grain, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious things, and abundance of silk and fine-twined linen, and all manner of good homely cloth.
30 And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need. (Alma 1:29-30)
Possible discussion questions: Was there anything about the Church in Alma’s day that appeals to you? Why is that? How are the descriptions of Zion and the Ancient Church alike? What would it be like to live in a community like this? How would you explain to a friend what this quote means: “In Zion, we seek to give to others, rather than have others give to us”?
Quote #5 (which)
Possible engagement tool: Ask your class to listen to the two types of Church members described in Alma chapter 4 and see if either of those descriptions resembles them today.
Please caution them to focus on themselves when discussing these verses.
Two Kinds of Church Members
Member #1
8 For they saw and beheld with great sorrow that the people of the church began to be lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and to set their hearts upon riches and upon the vain things of the world, that they began to be scornful, one towards another, and they began to persecute [dogpile or group-shun on social media] those that did not believe according to their own will and pleasure.
[Like how the Second Coming will happen and when. Or politically correct issues, especially trans / LGBTQ+. Or should we get COVID shots and mask up?]
9 And thus, in this eighth year of the reign of the judges, there began to be great contentions among the people of the church; yea, there were envyings, and strife, and malice, and persecutions, and pride, even to exceed the pride of those who did not belong to the church of God. (Alma 4:8-9)
Member #2
13 Now this was a great cause for lamentations among the people, while others were abasing themselves, succoring those who stood in need of their succor, such as imparting their substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all manner of afflictions, for Christ’s sake, who should come according to the spirit of prophecy;
14 Looking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins; being filled with great joy because of the resurrection of the dead, according to the will and power and deliverance of Jesus Christ from the bands of death. (Alma 4:13-14)
Possible discussion question: Which member sounds more like you? (There are times I’ve been member #1, and I need to guard against that more carefully.)
What has Jesus Christ said about contention at Church? (Accept all reasonable answers and then read the following verses together.)
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)
What has the prophet said about contention at Church? (Accept all reasonable answers and then read the following quote together.)
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to be examples of how to interact with others—especially when we have differences of opinion. One of the easiest ways to identify a true follower of Jesus Christ is how compassionately that person treats other people. (President Nelson, Peacekeepers Needed – April 2023)
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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