5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS

See the complete list of CFM Lessons

Mosiah 25-28

These chapters offer lovely insights into less common yet essential gospel lessons.

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 (most blessed)

Sometimes, we wish the heavens would open and that angels and heavenly visitors could tell us everything we want to know. But those kinds of events don’t build the most robust people or the strongest faith. Alma teaches an important eternal principle about believing in the prophet’s words alone. The greater the faith required, the greater the blessings.

15 Blessed art thou, Alma, and blessed are they who were baptized in the waters of Mormon. Thou art blessed because of thy exceeding faith in the words alone of my servant Abinadi.

16 And blessed are they because of their exceeding faith in the words alone which thou hast spoken unto them. (Mosiah 26:15-16)

Possible discussion questions: How do you feel about the words written in the Book of Mormon? What is one of your favorite verses and why? (Try to assign this ahead of time!) How do you recognize when something comes from God? (Accept all reasonable answers – by a manifestation of the Spirit.) Why is it important to learn how to recognize gospel truths just by hearing them? (Accept varied answers – it builds stronger spiritual muscles. The Lord is in the business of growing the best possible version of you.)

Quote #2 (self-reliance)

Possible engagement tool: Self-reliance is a powerful spiritual principle. We spend much of our youth and young adulthood learning a trade, acquiring skills, or getting an education to become self-reliant. One of the most essential attributes of becoming more spiritual is learning to love hard work and feeling satisfied with work well done.

Assign someone to read this quote from Presiding Bishop H. David Burton:

Today, many have forgotten the value of work. Some falsely believe that the highest goal in life is to achieve a condition in which one no longer needs to work. President David O. McKay was fond of saying, “Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that power to work is a blessing, that love of work is success.”

Work is not a matter of economic need alone; it is a spiritual necessity. (Bishop H. David Burton, The Blessing of Work, Dec 2009)

Possible engagement tool: Ask the class how the following verses teach the same principle about work.

4 That they should let no pride nor haughtiness disturb their peace; that every man should esteem his neighbor as himself, laboring with their own hands for their support.

5 Yea, and all their priests and teachers should labor with their own hands for their support, in all cases save it were in sickness, or in much want; and doing these things, they did abound in the grace of God. (Mosiah 27:4-5)

Possible discussion questions: How did the people of Mosiah abound in the grace of God according to these verses? (They labored with their own hands for their own support.) Have you ever worked hard at something and felt fulfillment or a sense of achievement when you were done? What happened? How does the Lord feel when we work hard and do our best? Do you suppose Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ work hard, or do they live a life of leisure and vacations – letting others do the work? (See Moses 1:39)

Quote #3 (basketball)

I once had a dear friend who was very athletic in high school and who lettered in several sports. She taught me one of the most important life skills I still practice. “When throwing or passing the ball, make sure you reach upward over your head to throw the ball, you keep all of your balance, and you’re harder to push or move. If you reach with the ball to the side towards other players, you’ll lose your balance and are easily knocked down.” She later realized that it worked the same with friends and peers. “When I reach upward towards God and just care about His opinion of me or my actions – my balance stays strong, and others can’t pull me down or knock me over. As soon as I lean to others and start worrying about what others think, my balance is much weaker, and my self-esteem is easy to push to the ground.”

Possible engagement tool: Tell your class something like, “People gave Alma and the sons of Mosiah a tough time for being members of the Church after they converted. Listen to how they responded.”

32 And now it came to pass that Alma began from this time forward to teach the people, and those who were with Alma at the time the angel appeared unto them, traveling round about through all the land, publishing to all the people the things which they had heard and seen, and preaching the word of God in much tribulation, being greatly persecuted by those who were unbelievers, being smitten by many of them.

33 But notwithstanding all this, they did impart much consolation to the church, confirming their faith, and exhorting them with long-suffering and much travail to keep the commandments of God. (Mosiah 27:32-33)

Possible discussion questions: How did Alma and Mosiah’s sons respond to the persecution? Why were Alma and the sons of Mosiah able to show such strength despite significant opposition? (They were close to God, and God mattered more.) How does that example help us today – what can we do when people are antagonistic about our faith or our dedication to our religion? (Accept all reasonable answers – there will always be opposition – remember to reach up to God and then be willing to encourage others to live the gospel.)

Quote #4 (playbook)

Possible engagement tool: Remind the class that the scriptures describe the sons of Mosiah as the vilest of sinners. (See Mosiah 28:4) Yet they turn their lives around to save others.

Note: This quote can be divided between 2 readers.

1 Now it came to pass that after the sons of Mosiah had done all these things, they took a small number with them and returned to their father, the king, and desired of him that he would grant unto them that they might, with these whom they had selected, go up to the land of Nephi that they might preach the things which they had heard, and that they might impart the word of God to their brethren, the Lamanites—

2 That perhaps they might bring them to the knowledge of the Lord their God, and convince them of the iniquity of their fathers; and that perhaps they might cure them of their hatred towards the Nephites, that they might also be brought to rejoice in the Lord their God, that they might become friendly to one another, and that there should be no more contentions in all the land which the Lord their God had given them. (Mosiah 28:1-2)

Possible discussion question: What was the plan of action that the sons of Mosiah mentioned? Have the class members help you list their hopes and goals. (See list)

Plan of Action

• Travel to enemy territory
• Share the gospel with them
• Convince them of their fathers’ iniquity
• Cure their hatred
• Spread goodwill
• Help them rejoice in Jesus Christ
• Increase friendship
• Do away with contention

More possible questions: How can the objectives of the sons of Mosiah inspire us today in our time and our situation? Pick one of their action steps and liken it to something we could do today to help others. What could you do that is similar?

Quote #5 (nevertheless)

Possible engagement tool:

4 And thus did the Spirit of the Lord work upon them, for they were the very vilest of sinners. And the Lord saw fit in his infinite mercy to spare them; nevertheless they suffered much anguish of soul because of their iniquities, suffering much and fearing that they should be cast off forever. (Mosiah 28:4)

Possible discussion questions: Is it possible to repent, even when the sins are serious? (Absolutely, but it is hard and takes a while.) Are there any reasons to avoid grave sin even though forgiveness is possible? “Sin now, repent later.” Is that a safe plan? Why or why not? What happens when we sin knowingly? (We lose the Spirit and the light of understanding. Often, people don’t return and repent later because sin is a trap and hard to escape.) Is the Lord willing to forgive severe sin, and is it worth it? Who can help us with serious sins? (The bishop or stake president.)

2 Nevertheless, there are those among you who have sinned exceedingly; yea, even all of you have sinned; but verily I say unto you, beware from henceforth, and refrain from sin, lest sore judgments fall upon your heads.

3 For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation. (Doctrine and Covenants 82:2-3)

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.