5 TEACHING IDEAS FOR COME FOLLOW ME LESSONS
See the complete list of CFM Lessons
3 Nephi 12-16
Hope you enjoyed General Conference as much as I have. Let’s face the future with courage and Christ’s Sermon on the Mount.
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 (more)
Possible intro: Sometimes, we read amazing accounts like Christ appearing to the Nephites and wish we had similar encounters. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus says those who do not have those spectacular experiences and still believe are even more blessed?
Please note: Verse 1 is just the last sentence.
1 ….therefore blessed are ye if ye shall believe in me and be baptized, after that ye have seen me and know that I am.
2 And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am. Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in your words, and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins. (3 Nephi 12:1-2)
Possible discussion questions: Who does Jesus Christ say is more blessed—those who have miraculous visitations or those who don’t? What takes more faith—believing in Christ before you see Him, or after you see Him? How can we strengthen our testimony about Jesus visiting the Nephites even though we weren’t there? (Accept all reasonable answers – read the story in 3 Nephi!)
Quote #2 ()
Possible Intro: The Savior repeated an important sermon he gave in Jerusalem known as the “Sermon on the Mount.” (Matthew 5). It’s a to-do list for the real followers of Christ.
Possible activity: Each verse has footnotes that help us understand the verse more fully. Read the footnote verse for each verse below and discuss what that verse means.
Verse 3 – 4
3 Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Footnote:
28 ¶ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)
-OR- Use the following quote (recommended)
The first words Jesus spoke in His majestic Sermon on the Mount were to the troubled, the discouraged and downhearted. “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” He said, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” …I speak to those who are facing personal trials and family struggles, those who endure conflicts fought in the lonely foxholes of the heart, those trying to hold back floodwaters of despair that sometimes wash over us like a tsunami of the soul. I wish to speak particularly to you who feel your lives are broken, seemingly beyond repair.
To all such I offer the surest and sweetest remedy that I know. It is found in the clarion call the Savior of the world Himself gave. He said it in the beginning of His ministry, and He said it in the end. He said it to believers, and He said it to those who were not so sure. He said to everyone, whatever their personal problems might be:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matt. 11:28–29)
In this promise, that introductory phrase, “come unto me,” is crucial. It is the key to the peace and rest we seek. Indeed, when the resurrected Savior gave His sermon at the temple to the Nephites in the New World… (Elder Holland, Broken Things to Mend – April 2006)
Possible quick discussion question: What does it mean to be poor in spirit and come unto Christ? (Accept all reasonable answers.)
Verse 5
5 And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Footnote: And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart. (Moroni 7:43)
“Meekness is vital for us to become more Christlike. Without it, we won’t be able to develop other important virtues. Being meek does not mean weakness but behaving with goodness and kindness, showing strength, serenity, healthy self-worth, and self-control.
“Meekness was one of the most abundant attributes in the Savior’s life. He Himself taught His disciples, “Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart.” (Elder Soares – Oct 2013)
Possible discussion questions: Does being meek mean being timid and quiet – would you describe Christ as timid and quiet? Who can describe “meek” in their own words?
Verse 6
6 And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Footnote: And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
When you reach up for the Lord’s power in your life with the same intensity that a drowning person has when grasping and gasping for air, power from Jesus Christ will be yours. When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him—when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life—you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do….When you spiritually stretch beyond anything you have ever done before, then His power will flow into you. (President Nelson)
Possible questions: What does Jesus Christ mean by “hunger and thirst”? (Accept all reasonable answers – what Jeremiah said, “search for [Christ] with all your heart.” Have you ever felt hungry or thirsty for the gospel of Christ? How do you feel after reading an inspiring verse or saying a heartfelt prayer? How can the gospel help us when we are feeling troubled or discouraged?
Verse 7
7 And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
mercy; benevolence, blessing, charity, forgiveness, goodwill, pity, sympathy
Footnote: He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6:8 ~ Old Testament
To be Christlike, a person loves mercy. People who love mercy are not judgmental; they manifest compassion for others, especially for those who are less fortunate; they are gracious, kind, and honorable. These individuals treat everyone with love and understanding, regardless of characteristics such as race, gender, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and tribal, clan, or national differences. These are superseded by Christlike love. (Elder Renlund – Oct 220)
Verses 9-12
Note: Can be divided between 2 readers.
9 And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.
10 And blessed are all they who are persecuted for my name’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake;
12 For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you. (3 Nephi 12:3-12)
Quote: Elder Uchtdorf: When we feel hurt, angry, or envious, it is quite easy to judge people. This topic could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or wanting to cause harm, please apply the following:
Stop it!
We have to stop judging others and replace judgmental thoughts and feelings with a heart full of love for God and His children. God is our Father. We are His children. We are all brothers and sisters.
Is this difficult to do? Yes. How is it done? Through the love of God.
- Let us be kind.
- Let us forgive.
- Let us talk peacefully with each other.
- Let the love of God fill our hearts.
- “Let us do good unto all men” (Galatians 6:10).
Possible discussion question: Why is it important to not retaliate when someone behaves poorly? What can we do instead?
Quote #3 (shine)
Stand Out & Shine
14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
15 Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house;
16 Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (3 Nephi 12:14-16)
Possible engagement tool: Ask your class to think about, “What gift, passion or talent do you need to give more energy and light to?” as we read the following verse. You are so needed! Practice makes progress. Perchance, give yourself permission to create and to grow.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor [strength and testimony] wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing [or commonplace], but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men [in other words, assimilated into the sheep herd]. (3 Nephi 12:13)
Now, when I eat a steak or a baked potato, salt makes a BIG difference in how good they taste. Yet, the amount of salt actually on my plate, compared to the rest of the food is very small. Likewise, the number of people the Savior has, who will stand up, who will make a difference and who are the strong seasoning of gospel light for the rest of the world are also quite small.
So, the big question is…are you salt?
Possible discussion question: What can you do to be salt?
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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