Come, Follow Me Companion

“Be Still and Know That I Am God”

From Come, Follow Me:

For the Saints in the 1830s, Independence, Missouri, was literally the promised land. It was “the center place” of Zion (see Doctrine and Covenants 57:3)—the city of God on earth—which they were making great sacrifices to build. To them, the gathering of Saints there was an exciting and glorious prelude to the Second Coming. But their neighbors in the area saw things differently. They took issue with the claim that God had given the land to the Saints, and they were uncomfortable with the political, economic, and social consequences of so many people from an unfamiliar religion moving into the area so quickly. Soon concern turned into threats, and threats turned into persecution and violence. In July 1833, the Church’s printing office was destroyed, and in November the Saints were forced to abandon their homes in Jackson County, Missouri.

Joseph Smith was over 800 miles away in Kirtland, and this news took weeks to reach him. But the Lord knew what was happening, and He revealed to His Prophet principles of peace and encouragement that would comfort the Saints—principles that can also help us when we face persecution, when our righteous desires go unfulfilled, or when we need a reminder that our daily afflictions will eventually, somehow, “work together for [our] good” (Doctrine and Covenants 98:3).

What principles did you identify that will help you face challenges in your life? What principles might you be able to learn from experiences of ancestors help you face your challenges today? 

L. Tom Perry stated in his October 2009 Conference address, The Past Way of Facing the Future, "Former United States president Ronald Reagan has been quoted as saying, 'I do not want to go back to the past; I want to go back to the past way of facing the future.' His counsel still resonates within me. There is something about reviewing the lessons of the past to prepare us to face the challenges of the future."

What principles might you be able to learn from the experiences of your ancestors that can help you face your challenges today?

Plan a get-together with family members to discover more about the life of one or more ancestors. Each person can be a "detective" to find information by using tools of discovery. For example:

• FamilySearch profile timeline and map (Project 1: Goal 2, Choice E)
• FamilySearch fan chart: locate locate family lines, birth countries, sources, stories, photos, research helps and more (see Project 1: Goal 5, Goal B)
• FamilySearch/Discovery (sign into your FamilySearch account first)
• Google for information, along with using Google maps and the Countries page of The Family History Guide.

You could also include making that ancestor's favorite recipe to enjoy!

As the "detectives" see, touch, read, hear, and taste what that ancestor did, and do their best to learn what was learned and feel what was felt, they will feel empathy for the ancestor. Discuss as a family how this activity can help develop an understanding of who we are and what we can become. How can the past influence you today?

You may also want to consider creating a collection of the stories of the first converts in your family lines. 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. See this link for ideas to illustrate conversion stories.

Put together an ancestor profile with the help of this Deseret News article. The article suggests looking at “every known detail of a human life, which includes information about the individual, their relationships and their origin.” As a family, pick an ancestor or two and try discovering a few aspects of their lives. Maybe you want to start with where they were born and what their neighborhoods and cultures may have been like. Look at the article and pick a topic of interest to your family.

If you are interested in ancestors originating in a particular country, you can locate ancestors on your part of the FamilySearch tree using the Birth Country option in the fan chart. Read more here. Also, check out this activity found on the "Activities" menu on FamilySearch: Where Am I From?

Doctrine and Covenants 98:1–3, 11–14; 101:1–16

My trials can work together for my good.

From Come, Follow Me:

Some of our afflictions in life are caused by our own choices. Others are caused by the choices of others. And sometimes no one is to blame—bad things just happen. Regardless of the cause, adversity can help fulfill divine purposes. As you read what the Lord said about the Saints’ hardships in Doctrine and Covenants 98:1–3, 11–14 and 101:1–16, what do you find that can help you with your trials? How can these verses influence the way you view the challenges you face? Ponder how your trials have worked together for your good and accomplished God’s purposes in your life.

Find some of the stories of your ancestors. If you need help locating some stories, All the Stories is a tool which syncs with FamilySearch to help you easily find the stories of your ancestors. Read these stories together as a family. Discuss the following questions and share your thoughts and feelings with each other.

• What do you learn about your ancestors? In what time period did they live?
• What were conditions like at that time? 
• What was going on around them? 
• What were their challenges? 
• How did they overcome them? 
• What brought joy into their lives? 
• What else can you learn about your ancestors? 
• How do their experiences help you? 
• How do their lives help you have gratitude for your life? 
• How can their challenges help you face yours?

Note: You can also locate stories on your part of the FamilySearch tree using the fan chart option “Stories.” Read more here.

Go on a scavenger hunt to learn about your ancestors. First, download the Scavenger Hunt document created by Familylocket.com. Next, login to your FamilySearch account and click “Family Tree.” Then, look for ancestors in your family tree that match each of the clues. You will discover some interesting facts about your ancestors and also learn how to better navigate FamilySearch. (A FamilySearch account is required for this activity.)

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: 

Suggestion for journaling this week: Find the promises in Doctrine and Covenants 98-101. Write or audio-record about their influence in your life, and share with your family.