Come, Follow Me is a resource offered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is designed to be used in the home to support personal and family scripture study to build faith in Heavenly Father and His plan of salvation and in the Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Come, Follow Me is self-contained and adequate, when used properly. Products and materials designed to supplement this resource, though they may be helpful in some instances, are not necessary for a successful home study program.
Doctrine and Covenants 3-5 —"My Work Shall Go Forth"
As you read Doctrine and Covenants 3:1–15, ponder how other people's opinions may be influencing you. You may also note that in addition to rebuking Joseph Smith, the Lord spoke words of mercy. What do you learn from the way the Lord both corrected and encouraged Joseph? What counsel do you find that can help you when you are tempted to fear other people more than God?
As you consider the lessons from " target="_blank">Doctrine and Covenants 3:1–15, what heroes and heroines come to mind who have repented of mistakes and sins, and gone on to become better people? What ancestors or living relatives have helped shape your life through their example of overcoming the fear of man?
Re-enact Ancestor Stories
Discover the stories of the heroes and heroines in your family lines using 10 Ways To Discover, Gather, and Share Ancestor Stories. If you don't have many stories from the lives of your ancestors available, you could learn from conversion stories and other stories from the lives of our church leaders.
Read more here. Watch the video below to see how one family learned about grandpa from his journals, dressed up in his flight uniforms, and re-enacted his stories.
Which ancestor story would you and your family like to re-enact? Share with each other what you learned from this experience.
You may want to put these stories in your Memories on FamilySearch by writing them or audio recording. The Family History Guide gives step-by-step instructions for preserving your photos and stories in FamilySearch in Project 2: Memories. See this blog post for more ideas.
When someone is pressuring us to disobey God, what truths in these verses can help us remain faithful? Perhaps family members could role-play a situation in which someone remains faithful despite pressure to disobey God.
"This game is fun for all ages and all kinds of groups. As individuals or with others you select from the group, you take turns acting out family history stories that you draw from a hat (key words from the story are written on a slip of paper). The object is to get the rest of your family to guess the answer using gestures alone. When the correct ancestor is discovered, share more stories about him or her, and take time (now or another time) to find (or enter) that ancestor into your part of the tree on FamilySearch."
Section 4 is often applied to full-time missionaries. However, it's interesting to note that this revelation was given originally to Joseph Smith Sr., who wasn't being called on a mission but still had "desires to serve God" (verse 3).
One of the many ways to serve the Lord with all your heart is to do family history work. You don't need to be called on a mission, because this kind of missionary work can be done anytime and pretty much anywhere! We are all called to the work!
(From Hope of Israel - Worldwide Youth Devotional June 3, 2018):
"Would you like to be a big part of the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on the earth today?"
"My dear extraordinary youth, you were sent to earth at this precise time, the most crucial time in the history of the world, to help gather Israel."
"There is nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important than that. There is nothing of greater consequence. Absolutely nothing. This gathering should mean everything to you. This is the mission for which you were sent to earth."
"So now, I am inviting every young woman and every young man between the ages of 12 and 18 in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to enlist in the youth battalion of the Lord to help gather Israel."
"And now I invite you to prepare yourself by doing five more things—five things that will change you and help you change the world." Note: Even if you have already done these five things, you could decide to do them again, or select one or more to work on (or begin) this week.
Disengage from a constant reliance on social media—take a break from fake.
Make a weekly sacrifice of time to the Lord, for three weeks in a row.
Do a thorough life assessment with the Lord, perhaps with parents and a bishop, to ensure you are firmly planted on the covenant path.
Pray daily that all of God's children might receive the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In October 2018 General Conference, President Nelson spoke during the women's session about their role in gathering Israel. In 2016 he addressed millennials: "Spend more time—much more time—in places where the Spirit is present. That means more time with friends who are seeking to have the Spirit with them. Spend more time on your knees in prayer, more time in the scriptures, more time in family history work, more time in the temple. I promise you that as you consistently give the Lord a generous portion of your time, He will multiply the remainder." Becoming True Millennials (see also this article).
This generation shall receive God's word through Joseph Smith.
What does Doctrine and Covenants 5:1–10 teach you about Joseph Smith's important role in our dispensation—and in your life? Ponder how you have received the word of God through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Consider recording in a journal or sharing with someone your gratitude for the truths that were restored or clarified through him. See also 2 Nephi 3:6–24.
"As you study your scriptures during the next six months, I encourage you to make a list of all that the Lord has promised He will do for covenant Israel. I think you will be astounded! Ponder these promises. Talk about them with your family and friends. Then live and watch for these promises to be fulfilled in your own life." (President Russell M. Nelson, Let God Prevail, October 2020 General Conference)
Suggestion for journaling this week: Find the promises in Joseph Smith—History 1:1—26 and write or audio record about their influence in your life.
