5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS
See the complete list of CFM Lessons
Ether 6 – 11
This week’s lesson covers several important topics: the courage of the Jaredites, the importance of song, the strength of humble beginnings, and dealing with secret combinations.
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 than you planned, 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 (story)
Possible intro: (Set the scene!) The Jaredites built enclosed barges that no one had ever seen or traveled in and boarded them. Imagine the feelings and bravery it took to journey into the unknown, deep ocean for a destination they’ve never seen.
4 And it came to pass that when they had prepared all manner of food, that thereby they might subsist upon the water, and also food for their flocks and herds, and whatsoever beast or animal or fowl that they should carry with them—and it came to pass that when they had done all these things they got aboard of their vessels or barges, and set forth into the sea, commending themselves unto the Lord their God.
5 And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind.
6 And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind. (Ether 6:4-6)
commend: to entrust (or put in charge of) for care or preservation
Possible discussion questions: Can you imagine the courage and faith it took to step off the beach and into one of these vessels? Would you do it? Why or why not? Have you ever done anything new or scary, and you didn’t know the outcome? How can prayer and looking to Christ help us in moments like these?
Quote #2 (sing)
Possible Intro: How does the Lord feel about singing? Have your class consider why singing is essential to our Sunday worship as you read the following verses.
Note: Best divided among four readers. Have them read the four in a row and announce where the verse comes from (Come Follow Me reading assignment, Bible, Doctrine and Covenants, Book of Mormon).
Come Follow Me: And they did sing praises unto the Lord; yea, the brother of Jared did sing praises unto the Lord, and he did thank and praise the Lord all the day long; and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord.
10 And thus they were driven forth; and no monster of the sea could break them, neither whale that could mar them; and they did have light continually, whether it was above the water or under the water. (Ether 6:9-10)
Bible: Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. (Psalm 100:2)
D&C: And it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy. (Doctrine and Covenants 45:71)
Book of Mormon: And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God. (1 Nephi 1:8)
Possible Intro: Now, let’s read about how the Lord feels about singing.
Reader #5
12 For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads. (Doctrine and Covenants 25:12)
Possible discussion questions: How do you feel when you sing a hymn and feel the words you are singing in your heart or soul? Do you have a favorite hymn? How does the Lord feel about singing? Do you think your songs are heard?
Possible activity: Sing a hymn! Preferably a joyful and upbeat song with meaningful words. Ask your class to notice how they feel as they sing.
A few suggestions, plus how many times they have been sung at General Conference:
- ‘Redeemer of Israel’ – 32 times
- ‘High on the Mountain Top’ – 30 times
- ‘Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah’ – 28 times
- ‘How Firm a Foundation’ – 28 times
- ‘Now Let Us Rejoice’ – 24 times
- ‘Come, Ye Children of the Lord’ – 22 times
- ‘Rejoice, the Lord Is King’ – 21 times
- ‘The Morning Breaks’ – 20 times
- ‘I Know That My Redeemer Lives’ – 17 times
Quote #3 (a start)
Possible intro: Notice how grateful the Jaredites were to have the chance to start from scratch. They did not have homes, streets, or farms—they began with just themselves and the natural resources around them.

12 And they did land upon the shore of the promised land. And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them.
13 And it came to pass that they went forth upon the face of the land, and began to till the earth. (Ether 6:12-13)
Sometimes, life doesn’t give us much to start with. It’s part of our divine nature to create and bring to pass what wasn’t there before. Consider Nephi and his family, who landed on a distant shore and built up whole civilizations from scratch. Life isn’t so much about what happens to us. It’s much more about how we respond to what happens that matters. Learn, build, create, and pursue – you are given talents and the capacity to bring a lot to pass.
Possible discussion questions: If you start humble and are not given many advantages, does that mean the Lord is not blessing you? How can hardships and difficult situations be good for us? (Accept all reasonable answers – They cause us to gain strength through problem-solving, learning new things, acquiring skills, walking new paths, and expanding our horizons.) Have you ever gone through something challenging and realized it made you stronger and that you were a better person because of it?
Being blessed does not mean having lots of material things and the status the world values most. It means discovering a new, better version of yourself capable of tackling problems and climbing obstacles. Much strength comes from humble starts.
Quote #4 (combinations)
Moroni writes us a compelling letter about the secret combinations found in our government.

Note: Can be divided between three readers.
23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.
24 Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.
25 For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning. (Ether 8:23-35)
Whose job is it to get rid of secret combinations? Ours!
Possible discussion questions: Why is knowing how our country, state, or town leaders function essential? Why is voting important? Do you plan to vote when you are old enough? Have you or your family ever been involved in a political campaign? Whose responsibility is it to get rid of secret combinations?
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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