5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS
See the complete list of CFM Lessons
Mosiah 7 – 10
These chapters are a little harder to pull out memorable class discussions – but here are some great suggestions. Good luck as you teach and discuss with each other!
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 (diplomacy)
Possible engagement tool: Ask your class to consider how Ammon followed President Nelson’s counsel.
My dear brothers and sisters, this should not be. 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)
Remind your class that Ammon was taken, bound, and cast into prison for two days without a chance to talk.
8 And it came to pass when they had been in prison two days they were again brought before the king, and their bands were loosed; and they stood before the king, and were permitted, or rather commanded, that they should answer the questions which he should ask them.
12 And now, when Ammon saw that he was permitted to speak, he went forth and bowed himself before the king; and rising again he said: O king, I am very thankful before God this day that I am yet alive, and am permitted to speak; and I will endeavor to speak with boldness; (Mosiah 7:8,12)
Possible discussion questions: (Accept all reasonable answers and acknowledge/compliment attempts to participate.) How might Ammon have reacted to the injustice he experienced? What did he choose instead? Was he quick to point out how wrong King Limhi was? What would you have done if the same thing happened to you? How did Ammon’s confident kindness influence the relationship between King Limhi, Ammon and his men?
Possible Final Question: How can President Nelson’s counsel and Ammon’s example help us in today’s world?
Quote #2 (flesh and blood)
Possible engagement tool: Tell your class that in the following verses, King Limhi refers to the wrongful death of the prophet Abinidi by his father King Noah.
27 And because he said unto them that Christ was the God, the Father of all things, and said that he should take upon him the image of man, and it should be the image after which man was created in the beginning; or in other words, he said that man was created after the image of God, and that God should come down among the children of men, and take upon him flesh and blood, and go forth upon the face of the earth—
28 And now, because he said this, they did put him to death… (Mosiah 7:27-28)
Before Christ came, many people were persecuted and ridiculed for saying that God would come down and dwell with us as a mortal in flesh and blood. It was an outrageous, unimaginable thought for most people. After Christ died, people were persecuted and ridiculed for saying Christ now had a glorified body of flesh and bones and that we are created in His literal image. That idea became so unpopular over the centuries, that today, most of the Christian world believes God is a formless Spirit with no body.
Our knowledge that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have glorified, exalted bodies of flesh and bone is one of our great treasures.
Possible discussion questions: (Accept all reasonable answers and validate/acknowledge all attempts to participate.) Why is it essential that you understand that God the Father and Jesus Christ have glorified bodies of flesh and bone — that they are individual persons with their own will, just like you? How does knowing that you are literally created in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s image make you feel? What does that tell you about your own worth?
As Joseph Smith said, “Having a knowledge of God, we begin to know how to approach Him, and how to ask so as to receive an answer” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 40).
Quote #3 (seer)
17 But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.
18 Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings. (Mosiah 8:17-18)
Possible discussion questions: Do we have a seer today? (Yes, the prophet President Nelson. – Explain that all of the apostles hold the keys of “prophet, seer, and revelator” but those keys are held in latent reserve until a prophet dies. Only one man receives revelation and doctrine for the whole church at a time. However, the apostles get revelation for the stewardship and regions that are assigned to them. But their main calling and duty is to testify of Christ and expound on all the revelations and commandments that already exist.)
Optional – Deepen the Understanding
“Under this process a particular man becomes the senior Apostle. Residing latent in him, and in his associate Brethren, given to each at the time of ordination, are all of the keys of the priesthood. But authority to exercise those keys is restricted to the President of the Church.
Institute Manual, Succession in the Presidency – Chapter 3
Here is the link if it interests you: Succession in the Presidency
“President Gordon B. Hinckley described the process of seniority and succession that begins when a man is called to the Quorum of the Twelve:
“This transition of authority, in which I have participated a number of times, is beautiful in its simplicity. It is indicative of the way the Lord does things. Under His procedure a man is selected by the prophet to become a member of the Council of the Twelve Apostles. He does not choose this as a career. He is called, as were the Apostles in Jesus’ time, to whom the Lord said, ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you’ (John 15:16).
“The years pass. He is schooled and disciplined in the duties of his office. He travels over the earth in fulfilling his apostolic calling. It is a long course of preparation, in which he comes to know the Latter-day Saints wherever they may be, and they come to know him. The Lord tests his heart and his substance. In the natural course of events, vacancies occur in that council and new appointments are made.
“Under this process a particular man becomes the senior Apostle. Residing latent in him, and in his associate Brethren, given to each at the time of ordination, are all of the keys of the priesthood. But authority to exercise those keys is restricted to the President of the Church.
“At his passing, that authority becomes operative in the senior Apostle, who is then named, set apart, and ordained a prophet and President by his associates of the Council of the Twelve”
Apostles are given keys and authority and sustained to be “prophet, seer and revelator.” But that office and key is only active in one man at a time.
Some verses to help with this principle:
1 Behold, I say unto thee, Oliver, that it shall be given unto thee that thou shalt be heard by the church in all things whatsoever thou shalt teach them by the Comforter, concerning the revelations and commandments which I have given.
2 But, behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses. (Doctrine and Covenants 28:2)
—AND—
3 And this ye shall know assuredly—that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.
4 But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him; for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead.
5 And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments; (Doctrine and Covenants 43:3-5)
“In the context of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the principle of revelation for the whole church is closely tied to the role of the prophet. According to the teachings of the Church, the prophet, who is the president of the Church, is the only person who can receive revelation for the Church as a whole. This principle is based on a divine mandate that places the prophet at the head of the Church as a seer, a revelator, and a prophet.
“This idea is rooted in the scriptures, which state that the duty of the President of the office of the High Priesthood is to preside over the whole church and to be like unto Moses, including being a seer, a revelator, and a prophet. This role is not shared with anyone else in the Church, as only the prophet has the right to receive revelations for the Church, either new or amendatory, or to give authoritative interpretations of scriptures that are binding on the Church. This is supported by the understanding that the Lord reveals His will to the Church through His prophet.
“However, it is important to note that revelation for the whole Church does not preclude individual members from receiving personal revelation to guide their own lives. In fact, members are encouraged to seek personal revelation to help them in their own responsibilities within the Church and in their personal lives. This includes seeking guidance on decisions, gaining a testimony of the gospel, and understanding the teachings of the Church.
“In summary, while only the prophet receives revelation [and doctrine] for the whole Church, individual members are expected and encouraged to seek personal revelation to guide their own lives and to support the work of the Church as a whole.” (AI summary of Church doctrine on revelation and establishing binding doctrine for the whole Church.)
Quote #4 (world)
20 O how marvelous are the works of the Lord, and how long doth he suffer with his people; yea, and how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men; for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she should rule over them!
21 Yea, they are as a wild flock which fleeth from the shepherd, and scattereth, and are driven, and are devoured by the beasts of the forest. (Mosiah 8:20-21)
Possible discussion questions: (Accept all reasonable answers and attempts to participate.) Who is the shepherd? Who are the wild flock? Are we sometimes stubborn and have to learn things the hard way? (how blind and impenetrable we can be!) What kinds of disobedience can devour people’s lives?
Quote #5 (wronged)
Possible activity: Divide your class into two or more teams. Have them count together how many times the words: wronged, wroth, and robbed appear. See if they come up with the same numbers and then reconcile.
12 They were a wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, believing in the tradition of their fathers, which is this—Believing that they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem because of the iniquities of their fathers, and that they were wronged in the wilderness by their brethren, and they were also wronged while crossing the sea;
13 And again, that they were wronged while in the land of their first inheritance, after they had crossed the sea, and all this because that Nephi was more faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord—therefore he was favored of the Lord, for the Lord heard his prayers and answered them, and he took the lead of their journey in the wilderness.
14 And his brethren were wroth with him because they understood not the dealings of the Lord; they were also wroth with him upon the waters because they hardened their hearts against the Lord.
15 And again, they were wroth with him when they had arrived in the promised land, because they said that he had taken the ruling of the people out of their hands; and they sought to kill him.
16 And again, they were wroth with him because he departed into the wilderness as the Lord had commanded him, and took the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, for they said that he robbed them.
17 And thus they have taught their children that they should hate them, and that they should murder them, and that they should rob and plunder them, and do all they could to destroy them; therefore they have an eternal hatred towards the children of Nephi. (Mosiah 10:12-17)
Possible discussion questions: (Accept all reasonable answers and attempts to participate.) Why did Laman and Lemual invent those stories and explanations and then pass them on to their posterity? What happens to an individual or a group of people when they focus on how they have been wronged? (My thought: they become embittered and hateful, they chase away light and Spirit from their lives, they destroy – they do not build up the world or themselves.) What happens to you when you recount over and over in your head, the trespasses and poor behavior of others? (We are miserable when we focus on the guilt of others.)
Optional – Deepen the Understanding
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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