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 77-80: "I Will Lead You Along"
From Come, Follow Me :
Less than two years after the Church of Jesus Christ was restored, it had grown to over 2,000 members and was spreading quickly. In March 1832 Joseph Smith met with other Church leaders "to discuss Church business": the need to publish revelations, purchase land to gather on, and care for the poor (see Doctrine and Covenants 78, section heading). To meet these needs, the Lord called on a small number of Church leaders to form the United Firm, a group that would join their efforts to "advance the cause" of the Lord (verse 4) in these areas. But even in such administrative matters, the Lord focused on the things of eternity. Ultimately, the purpose of a printing press or a storehouse—like everything else in God's kingdom—is to prepare His children to receive "a place in the celestial world" and "the riches of eternity" (verses 7, 18). And if those blessings are hard to comprehend right now, in the midst of the busyness of daily life, He reassures us, "Be of good cheer, for I will lead you along" (verse 18).
"It is said that Satan told his followers: 'We can't keep Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from forming an intimate, abiding relationship experience in Christ. If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their churches; let them have their conservative lifestyles, but steal their time, so they can't gain that relationship with Jesus Christ ... Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds...Every minute of every hour, all through the day ... 'When this is the situation there will be no time for temple worship, family history work, ministering and the simple acts of discipleship to love one another as yourself.'" Elder Okechukwu Imo, Are We Too Busy?
Make Time to Make Family History
Make something new that documents, creates, or contributes to your family history and legacy. See makefamilyhistory.org for a myriad of fun and doable ideas. Here are just of few of the many suggestions:
Do you ever feel like a little child, perhaps because of something you "have not as yet understood" or "cannot bear"? (Doctrine and Covenants 78:17–18). Look for counsel in these verses that can help you "be of good cheer" (verse 18) in such times. Why do you think the Lord sometimes calls His followers "little children"? (verse 17). You could also ponder how the Lord might be "lead[ing] you along" (verse 18).
"[Ye] have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you. And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours." (Doctrine and Covenants 78:17–18)
"Restored truth reveals that blessings are never earned, but faith-inspired actions on our part, both initial and ongoing, are essential...most blessings that God desires to give us require action on our part—action based on our faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in the Savior is a principle of action and of power. First we act in faith; then the power comes—according to God's will and timing. The sequence is crucial. The required action, though, is always tiny when compared to the blessings we ultimately receive...When you receive any blessing from God, you can conclude that you have complied with an eternal law governing reception of that blessing. (Abound with Blessings, Dale G. Renlund)
This verse explains that John ate a book that represented his mission to gather Israel. What does the symbolism of eating suggest about how we should approach our role in gathering Israel or doing other things the Lord wants us to do? Here are some other scriptures in which eating is used to teach a spiritual truth: John 6:48–51; 2 Nephi 32:3; Moroni 4. Perhaps you could make a favorite family dish to eat together during this discussion.
Food is often used in symbolism in the scriptures. Food is also something that ties families together. Do you have traditions in your family that are centered around food?
"Food is a perfect way to connect to your culture and heritage - your ancestral homeland - and, because food provides such powerful memories, it seems to be part of some sort of genetic memory as well ... Perhaps you recall your grandmother's fluffy yeast rolls on the Sundays of your childhood, or can still taste the soft, giving sweetness of your Aunt Maudie's graham and marshmallow slices ...
If you're in possession of beloved or long-forgotten family recipes, I encourage you to make good use of them….Don't let them be lost forever; keep them alive and every bit as current as they ever were." (Food is Family History)
Learn a Family Recipe
Choose a family recipe to make and make it together. "By learning a family recipe you are also carrying on a tradition. You're learning from the past, continuing the act in the present, and creating the ability to pass your knowledge onto the future." (Learn a Family Recipe)
Experience Some International Recipes
Foods are not only a part of your family, but they are often a part of where you live. Food may hint at your cultural heritage and maybe your ancestry. Cooking techniques and recipes are often passed down through generations. What foods are part of your heritage? See some ideas on how to share and Savor your Family's Story or try some of the recipes below:
Note: President Nelson encouraged us to do the following for six months, but it may be a wonderful opportunity to carry this invitation through your study of the Doctrine and Covenants this year:
"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)
