5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS
See the complete list of CFM Lessons
Mosiah 11-17
These chapters contain lessons for our day and time as well as profound truths that illuminate our spiritual awareness.
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 (warnings)
Possible engagement tool: Tell your class to imagine a prophet came to them with the same message as the one “we’re about to read.”
20 And it came to pass that there was a man among them whose name was Abinadi; and he went forth among them, and began to prophesy, saying: Behold, thus saith the Lord, and thus hath he commanded me, saying, Go forth, and say unto this people, thus saith the Lord—Wo be unto this people, for I have seen their abominations, and their wickedness, and their whoredoms; and except they repent I will visit them in mine anger.
21 And except they repent and turn to the Lord their God, behold, I will deliver them into the hands of their enemies; yea, and they shall be brought into bondage; and they shall be afflicted by the hand of their enemies. Mosiah 11:20-21)
One of a prophet’s duties is to deliver warnings from the Lord. You may hear a warning just like this someday.
Possible discussion questions: (Accept all reasonable answers and validate/compliment/interact with all attempts to participate.) How does the world typically respond to a message like that from a prophet? (See Mosiah 11:29 and read if you feel it helps) How would you react to a message like that? Would you be more tempted to look at the sins of others or your own life? Why is it important to focus on your own words, thoughts, and actions? (Accept all reasonable answers – For me, there are two reasons. (1) I have plenty to work on and keep myself busy. And (2) the parable of the beam in my eye and the mote in everyone else’s eye…the Savior commissioned us to concentrate on our own failings and let Him work with everyone else.)
Quote #2 (public square)
Possible engagement tool: Tell your class that public opinion is often far from the truth. Yet, sometimes, people are swayed by the number of people repeating a message—consider this public opinion, which was loudly voiced after Abinadi warned them of destruction.
13 And now, O king, what great evil hast thou done, or what great sins have thy people committed, that we should be condemned of God or judged of this man?
14 And now, O king, behold, we are guiltless, and thou, O king, hast not sinned; therefore, this man has lied concerning you, and he has prophesied in vain.
15 And behold, we are strong, we shall not come into bondage, or be taken captive by our enemies; yea, and thou hast prospered in the land, and thou shalt also prosper. (Mosiah 12:13-15)
Possible discussion questions: (Accept all reasonable answers and validate/acknowledge all attempts to participate.) Everyone was repeating this opinion/message. Does that make it more likely to be right? (Accept all reasonable answers – No, in today’s world, the sentiment and opinion are likely to often be against God’s laws.) How true did this particular public opinion turn out to be? What message does this record have for us in today’s world?
Quote #3 (Father)
This section is longer but can be very helpful. It also explains Christ’s essential roles and why He is sometimes called the Father. Teaching this section will help your class understand the scriptures better in many places.
Possible engagement tool: Benjamin Franklin is known as the father of electricity because of his discoveries and inventions, including the lightning rod and the first electric circuit. In 1752, he demonstrated that lightning is electricity through his famous kite experiment. During a storm, he tied an iron key to a kite string and noticed that it had an electrical charge.
Benjamin Franklin is not a literal father but a symbolic one. Father can mean founder or creator.
Jewish culture and teachings were rich in symbolism, and so were their conversations. They were comfortable talking about Jesus Christ symbolically and referring to Him by the roles he played, such as founder/father. Since we tend to be very literal, sometimes the “father” term Abinadi uses can be confusing.
A few verses in Mosiah 15 are puzzling because they might sound like Abinadi believed Christ and Heavenly Father were one Being. Instead, Abinadi understood Christ’s different roles, including his roles as founder/father of the Earth, the Church, our spiritual life, etc. Abinadi is referencing Jesus Christ with symbolism to clarify how important the Savior’s roles are.
Let’s also read some corresponding footnotes from those same verses so Abinadi’s intent is clear.
Note: For best effect and teaching, have just one person read all of the Abinadi verses when they come up and have different people read the footnote verses as a follow-up.
Main Verses – Abinadi
1 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.
2 And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son— (Mosiah 15:1-20
Note: The meaning will become more apparent if you replace the word “the Father” with “Jehovah” each time in verse 2.
See Footnote 2c
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Main Verse – Abinadi
3 The Father, because he was conceived by the power of God; and the Son, because of the flesh; thus becoming the Father and Son— (Mosiah 15:3)
Note: If you replace the word “the Father” with “Jehovah” each time in verse 3, the meaning will become more evident.
See Footnote 3b
8 And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary. (Mosiah 3:8)
Main Verse – Abinadi
4 And they are one God, yea, the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth. (Mosiah 15:4)
they: think “Jehovah and the Son of God.”
See Footnote 4c
12 And also that ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent that ye might believe on his name. (Helaman 14:12)
Possible discussion question: When we understand that Father, Creator, Jehovah, Son of God, Eternal Father, and God are all terms used to describe Jesus Christ – does that make Abinadi’s teachings and his efforts to teach about Jesus Christ easier to understand? Why is it important to understand the Savior’s “father” roles?
For Better Understanding
Joseph Fielding Smith explains why Christ’s “father” role is important:
Possible engagement tool: Ask the class, “Who is the “Father” in the verses we just read”? (Jesus Christ). Let’s read an explanation by Joseph Fielding Smith.
What did our Savior do? …He became a father to us because he gave us immortality or eternal life through his death and sacrifice upon the cross. I think we have a perfect right to speak of him as Father.
The Son of God has a perfect right to call us his children, spiritually begotten, and we have a perfect right to look on him as our father who spiritually begot us.
Pause the quote and have someone read:
And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters. (Mosiah 5:7)
Now if these critics would read carefully the Book of Mormon, they would find that when the Savior came and visited the Nephites, he told them that he had been sent by his Father. He knelt before them, and he prayed to his Father…
Pause and have someone read these verses.
15 And when he had said these words, he himself also knelt upon the earth; and behold he prayed unto the Father, and the things which he prayed cannot be written, and the multitude did bear record who heard him.
16 And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father; (3 Ne. 17:15-16)
He taught them to pray to his Father but that did not lessen in the least our duty and responsibility of looking upon the Son of God as a father to us because he spiritually begot us.
Possible discussion question: In your own words, please explain why Jesus Christ is sometimes called “the Father”?
Quote #4 (publish)
Possible activity: Before Sunday, ask 2-3 people to bring one of their favorite inspirational quotes by one of the prophets. You can also pick one out yourself.
Possible engagement tool: Our world is filled with hostile and angry messengers. Our culture teaches people to feel self-important if they deliver angry or indignant messages, and such people are often celebrated.
Is that what Christ and the gospel teach us?
Abinadi teaches who the heirs of God’s kingdom will be and what makes a righteous prophet:
14 And these are they who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!
15 And O how beautiful upon the mountains were their feet!
16 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still publishing peace!
17 And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this time henceforth and forever! (Mosiah 15:14-17)
Possible discussion questions: Can people get lost in a message full of contention with a negative focus? What would happen if modern society valued messages of good news, happiness, inspirational thoughts, and peace? How might that change today’s culture? Why is it important to be the one to look for the good and to “publish peace”? What’s a peaceful message of good tidings you could share?
Possible activity: Have those prepared with an inspirational quote by a prophet; share theirs and why they like it. Share yours and tell why it inspires you and how it makes you feel.
Quote #5 (resurrection)

7 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.
8 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.
9 He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death. (Mosiah 16:7-9)
Possible discussion questions: People of other faiths are often surprised at how upbeat and happy Latter-day Saint funerals are – even though it is a sad occasion. Why do you think that is? Who brought us the resurrection? (Jesus Christ) Why is resurrection and living forever so important to us? Do you have anyone you look forward to seeing after the resurrection? Does the resurrection give you hope? Why?
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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