5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS

See the complete list of CFM Lessons

Doctrine and Covenants 111 – 114

This week’s lesson topics are: answers to prayers, favoritism, calamities of the last days, reaching the world with the gospel, faith-based works, and the power of the priesthood.

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 Doctrine and Covenants (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 (i.e., 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 send it via text or email.
• 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 during class. If you want more discussion and engagement, here are some tips:

• Ensure every class member has a set of scriptures in front of them or on their phone. Always invite the class to read along—hearing and seeing the words together increases comprehension and engagement.
• Avoid videos – they shut down discussion. Save them for personal study.
• If the discussion becomes too non-spiritual, pull it back by moving on to the next quote or question.
• Make sure you assign others to read the quotes. You’re talking enough already, and 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 the discussion takes a different turn than you had planned, roll with it. The Spirit intends for you to be successful.

Quote #1 (abound)

Possible Intro: In the following verses, the Lord talks directly to Thomas B. Marsh, who was President of the Quorum of the Twelve.

Note: Please divide between three readers for emphasis.

10 Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.

11 I know thy heart, and have heard thy prayers concerning thy brethren. Be not partial towards them in love above many others, but let thy love be for them as for thyself; and let thy love abound unto all men, and unto all who love my name. (Doctrine and Covenants 112:10-11)

—AND—

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. (Matthew 25:45)

abound: thrive, flourish, be generous

Perhaps one of our most significant challenges is how to love others who are not comfortable or familiar.

Possible discussion questions: How important is humility? Can the Spirit dwell with those who are not humble? Has the Lord ever answered your prayers? What people did the Lord tell Thomas B. Marsh to love? Why might the Lord counsel against leaders showing favoritism? How can we love others who are not immediate family or friends? (Accept all reasonable answers – doing service is a great way to show love.)

Quote #2 (my house)

Possible engagement tool: This is a powerful warning from the Lord to us.

23 Verily, verily, I say unto you, darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the minds of the people, and all flesh has become corrupt before my face.

24 Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth, a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation; and as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith the Lord.

25 And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord; (Doctrine and Covenants 112:23-25)

Possible discussion questions: Do the influences of the world corrupt us? Who is the Lord referring to when He says “my house”? (Accept all reasonable answers – members of the Church.) Why is it important to be aware of the hard times that will come? (Accept all reasonable answers – so we can become close to Christ and be spiritually and emotionally ready.)

Quote #3 (preach)

Possible Intro: Reaching out to others and delivering the gospel message is a high priority to the Lord.

28 But purify your hearts before me; and then go ye into all the world, and preach my gospel unto every creature who has not received it;
29 And he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not, and is not baptized, shall be damned. (Doctrine and Covenants 112:28-29)

Possible discussion questions: How many of you are planning to go on missions? What was the moment you decided to go? What are your personal reasons for wanting to go on a mission? How can we help the Lord today, when we’re not serving a full-time mission?

Quote #4 (works)

Sometimes, other Christians criticize our faith by saying we try to earn our own salvation through good deeds instead of relying on Jesus Christ. They might label our faith as a “works-based religion.”

When someone says that to me, my response goes something like this: The whole story of Jesus’s life, as told in the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—is basically a big invitation to take action. He calls us to serve others, participate in sacred ordinances, and follow His commandments.

We put the Savior’s teachings above everything else. We’re not “works-based” in the sense that we think we can save ourselves—that’s not what we believe at all. Instead, we love Jesus and recognize that only through Him can we be saved. Our actions are rooted in faith, as we try to live out the very things He taught us. Instead of being saved by works (which we do not believe – no one could do enough to save themselves), we have faith-based works, prompted by our love of Christ as we follow His amazing life and example.

“If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

Possible engagement tool: We believe in faith-based works because Jesus Christ calls us to action. He calls us to love, serve, obey, and bring about many good things of our own will and choice.

Be faithful until I come, for I come quickly; and my reward is with me to recompense every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega. Amen. (Doctrine and Covenants 112:34)

—AND—

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12)

Possible discussion question: Who or what saves us? (Accept all reasonable answers – only Jesus Christ has enough power and mercy to save us.) Why would we want to follow Him and do good works if He already saves us? How do you feel when you’ve served others and have been righteous? How would you explain the importance of “works” to a friend?

Quote #5 (strength)

Possible intro: The Lord explains what “Put on thy strength, O Zion” actually means.

Note: For emphasis, please divide between two readers.

7 Questions by Elias Higbee: What is meant by the command in Isaiah, 52d chapter, 1st verse, which saith: Put on thy strength, O Zion—and what people had Isaiah reference to?

8 He had reference to those whom God should call in the last days, who should hold the power of priesthood to bring again Zion, and the redemption of Israel; and to put on her strength is to put on the authority of the priesthood, which she, Zion, has a right to by lineage; also to return to that power which she had lost. (Doctrine and Covenants 13:7-8)

Possible discussion questions: In what ways could the priesthood be considered a strength? What benefits has the priesthood brought to your life? How do we best define Zion? (Consider the quotes below by Presidents Nelson and Kimball. President Kimball gives an excellent clarification of what Zion is.)

What is Zion?

Please divide among two or more readers.

The Lord described the Zion He will create during Christ’s millennial reign: ‘The Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them’ (Moses 7:18). Our goal as a covenant people is to become such a Zion people.”
(President Russell M. Nelson, “The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior’s Second Coming,” Apr 2020)

—AND—

“Zion can be built up only among those who are the pure in heart, not a people torn by covetousness or greed, but a pure and selfless people. Not a people who are pure in appearance, rather a people who are pure in heart. Zion is to be in the world and not of the world, not dulled by a sense of carnal security, nor paralyzed by materialism. No, Zion is not things of the lower, but of the higher order, things that exalt the mind and sanctify the heart.

“Zion is ‘every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God.’ (D&C 82:19) As I understand these matters, Zion can be established only by those who are pure in heart, and who labor for Zion, for ‘the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.’ (2 Ne. 26:31)” (President Spencer W. Kimball – April 1978)

Possible discussion questions: What stands out to you today from these two quotes? What thoughts come up for you? How would you describe Zion to a friend?

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 Doctrine and Covenant teachings into the lives of others.

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.