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.
From Come, Follow Me:
Your story, though not as well-known as David’s, is sure to include Goliath-size challenges to overcome and opportunities to exercise faith in the Lord. What does David’s example teach you about facing the adversity in your story?
Ponder the personal battles you are facing. What can you find in 1 Samuel 17 that strengthens your faith that the Lord can help you?
“There are Goliaths all around you, hulking giants with evil intent to destroy you. These are not nine-foot-tall men, but they are men and institutions that control attractive but evil things that may challenge and weaken and destroy you. Included in these are beer and other liquors and tobacco. Those who market these products would like to enslave you into their use. There are drugs of various kinds…There is pornography, seductive and interesting and inviting….The giants who are behind these efforts are formidable and skillful. They have gained vast experience in the war they are carrying on. They would like to ensnare you….But you need not fear if you have the slingshot of truth in your hands. You have been counseled and taught and advised. You have the stones of virtue and honor and integrity to use against these enemies who would like to conquer you. Insofar as you are concerned, you can hit them “between the eyes,” to use a figurative expression. You can triumph over them by disciplining yourselves to avoid them.”
“Victory will be yours…You have His power within you to sustain you. You have the right to ministering angels about you to protect you. Do not let Goliath frighten you. Stand your ground and hold your place, and you will be triumphant. As the years pass, you will look back with satisfaction upon the battles you have won in your individual lives.” Gordon B. Hinckley, Overpowering the Goliaths in Our Lives
See how Steven Jezek overcomes his addition and begins to feel the spirit by indexing.
FamilySearch has improved the technology behind indexing, giving you new opportunities to volunteer your indexing skills. See the Get Involved section of the "Get Involved App" on this FamilySearch page for more information, or watch this video.
The Lord has revealed that “there are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it.” (D&C 130:5.)
Joseph F. Smith said, "When messengers are sent to minister to the inhabitants of this earth, they are not strangers, but from the ranks of our kindred [and] friends . . . In like manner, our fathers and mothers, brothers, sisters, and friends who have passed away from this earth, having been faithful, and worthy to enjoy these rights and privileges, may have a mission given them to visit their relatives and friends upon the earth again, bringing from the divine Presence messages of love, of warning, of reproof and instruction to those whom they had learned to love in the flesh." Gospel Doctrine, Deseret Book Co., 1970 (read more here).
Find ways to get to know those who have gone on before you.
Check out these FamilySearch Activities:
Have fun exploring additional activities to get to know your ancestors in FamilySearch Discovery and in The Family History Guide Activities pages. See also 10 Ways to Find Ancestor's Stories, your FamilySearch fan chart, and check out the All The Stories site to see a searchable list of all the stories anyone has placed on your part of the Family Tree.
Sister Wendy Nelson shares about asking for angels to help you. See this article by Larry E. Dahl and this video by Elder Holland: Angels Round About You.
The Lord can give me direction.
From Come, Follow Me:
Once David was able to unite Israel (see 2 Samuel 5:1–5), he had to defend his people from the Philistines. As you read 2 Samuel 5:17–25, consider how David’s example can help you in the challenges you face…How are you seeking the Lord’s direction in your life? How are you being blessed by acting on the revelation you receive?
From President Nelson’s address, Hear Him:
"I promise that as you increase your time in temple and family history work, you will increase and improve your ability to hear Him."
Watch President Nelson's temple invitation here.
See also: Leadership Instruction: Hear Him Through Temple & Family History Work, RootsTech Family Discovery Day, and Personal Revelation and Family History.
The dead are taught the gospel in the spirit world and may accept the ordinances performed for them in mortality. Read more here.
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 (specifically Temple Opportunities).
Pray to find your ancestors who are being taught the gospel in the spirit world so that God can inspire you to find their information needed for temple work. You will be helped to be successful. “You should not underestimate the influence of the deceased in assisting your efforts" Quentin L. Cook, Roots and Branches
When using Ordinances Ready, you can “learn more” about each ancestor before going to do their work.
You will be taken to their profile pages on FamilySearch to view your relationships and learn more. You can also record about your experience in FamilySearch Memories and tag your ancestor.
What is the “house” the Lord promised to David?
When David offered to build a house, meaning a temple, for the Lord (see 2 Samuel 7:1–3), the Lord responded that David’s son would build it (see verses 12–15; see also 1 Chronicles 17:1–15). The Lord also said that He in turn would build David a “house,” meaning a posterity, and that his throne would last forever (see 2 Samuel 7:11, 16, 25–29; Psalm 89:3–4, 35–37). This promise was fulfilled in Jesus Christ, our Eternal King, who was a descendant of David (see Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:32–33; John 18:33–37).
Consider creating a “Temple Book” to share feelings and experiences you and your family members have had in attending the temple and doing temple and family history work. This will become a treasure for generations to come.
Because youth as young as 11 can enter the temple, parents and leaders have an even greater responsibility to prepare them early for temple service. In addition, others who are preparing for the temple can benefit from meeting with those who love the temple to learn more, get their questions answered, and to find family names for proxy temple work once they have received their own temple ordinances.
Resources for temple preparation activities:
Look through some of the ideas below and determine how you will preserve your family history. What methods will you use? How will you divide up the work? When do you plan to accomplish this? Set some smart goals to enable you to preserve your family history.
Use the Countries Knowledgebase
As you do research in various countries around the world, see the Countries Knowledgebase.