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 20-22 —"The Rise of the Church of Christ"
Sacred ordinances are an essential part of the restored Church.
From Come, Follow Me :
When the Church was organized, the Lord taught His Saints about sacred ordinances, including baptism and the sacrament. As you read the instructions "concerning the manner of baptism" in verse 37, think about your own baptism. Did you have any of the feelings described in this verse? Do you have them now? Ponder what you can do to keep vibrant your "determination to serve [Jesus Christ] to the end."
"Let me assure you that these are principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation ... they without us cannot be made perfect—neither can we without our dead be made perfect." (D&C 128:15)
"Because baptism by water and of the Spirit is essential for full salvation, in the eternal nature of things, all of God's children should have this opportunity—including those who have lived in centuries past ... Doing something so vital for those who cannot do it for themselves is truly Christ-like. (James E. Faust, Born Again)
Baptism Memories
Take turns telling about your baptismal day. Where were you baptized and by whom? Who was there to share your baptism? What do you remember about that day? How did you feel when you were baptized? Help younger children and others who have not yet been baptized express their feelings about looking forward to that day. What does baptism mean to you?
Capture these stories as they are being told, using the FamilySearch Memories App, or use Record My Story (see this blog post). You might want to create a folder, book, or digital file of baptism memories of family members. When and where were you baptized? Who baptized you? How did you feel when you were baptized? Who attended? How did making covenants change your life? Upload the photos to FamilySearch Memories. This would be a beautiful gift for anyone of any age preparing for baptism or just a wonderful way to share memories with those you love.
Finding Ancestors Who Need Ordinance Work Done
"What a marvelous thing that is that you ... can stand in the place of some great man or woman who at one time lived upon the earth but who is now powerless to move forward without the blessing that you can give to him or her. … There is no greater blessing. ... And it will be your privilege and your opportunity and your responsibility to live worthy to go to the temple of the Lord and there be baptized in behalf of someone else." (Gordon B. Hinckley, Baptism for the Dead)
You and your family may enjoy reading a printed baptismal program or searching for other documents about an ancestor's baptism. Where was he or she baptized? At what age? Who performed the baptism and confirmation? How is your child related to this person? If related, can you find him or her on the family tree?
To find those persons in your family tree without the ordinances of baptism and confirmation, find step-by-step instructions in the Church of Jesus Christ section of The Family History Guide. Here you will find links to the following and more:
The Church of Jesus Christ is led by a living prophet.
From Come, Follow Me :
What do you learn from Doctrine and Covenants 21:4–9 about the words of the Lord's prophets? Consider the promises described in verse 6 for those who receive the Lord's words through His prophet. What do these promises mean to you?
How can you receive the living prophet's word "as if from [God's] own mouth"? (verse 5). What counsel has today's prophet given that could lead to the blessings promised in verse 6?
Doctrine and Covenants 21:6 For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory.
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 my question to you is "Are you willing to enlist in the youth battalion of the Lord to help gather Israel?" Worldwide Youth Devotional
Elder Bednar: "I invite the young people of the Church to learn about and experience the Spirit of Elijah. I encourage you to study, to search out your ancestors, and to prepare yourselves to perform proxy baptisms in the house of the Lord for your kindred dead (see D&C 124:28–36). And I urge you to help other people identify their family histories.
As you respond in faith to this invitation, your hearts shall turn to the fathers. The promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be implanted in your hearts. Your patriarchal blessing, with its declaration of lineage, will link you to these fathers and be more meaningful to you.
Your love and gratitude for your ancestors will increase. Your testimony of and conversion to the Savior will become deep and abiding. And I promise you will be protected against the intensifying influence of the adversary." (General Conference October 2011, The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn)
The Challenge Given By Elder Andersen
Elder Neil L. Andersen invites you to accept the following invitation, accomplish it, and share it:
As you do, Elder Andersen gives amazing promises including this one: You will better understand the power of His Atonement and you will be safeguarded from the distractions that can so easily pull you from His commandments." (RootsTech 2015)
"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)
