Post # 235 -- Come, Follow Me -- Week # 26

=- June 29–July 5 -- Alma 23–29 -- 

They “Never Did Fall Away”

Dear Family and Friends

This week seems to have slipped by me rather quickly. I only

realized the day last night when my son-in-law told me that on

his way home he had a flat tire on my car. Now I will need to put

a set of new tires on my car. Urrgh!!

I was not prepared to spend that kind of money right now. My

Son went out to fix it this morning and found that there was no

way of fixing the tire that went flat. So I will definitely need

to put a new set of tires on my car.

Here it is Thursday and I am barely getting back to our lesson

which I started on this Saturday past. The following comes to

you directly from our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and

Families manual:

As you study Alma 23–29, what messages do you find for yourself and your

family? What can you share in your Church classes?

Do you sometimes wonder whether people can really change? Maybe you

worry about whether you can overcome poor choices you’ve made or bad

habits you’ve developed, or you may have similar worries about loved ones.

If so, the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies can help you. These people were

the sworn enemies of the Nephites. When Ammon and his brethren

decided to preach the gospel to them, the Nephites

“laughed [them] to scorn.” Killing the Lamanites seemed like a more

plausible solution than converting them. (See Alma 26:23–25.)

But the Lamanites did change—through the converting power of the Lord.

Where once they were known as “a hardened and a ferocious people”

(Alma 17:14), they became “distinguished for their zeal towards God”

(Alma 27:27). In fact, they “never did fall away” (Alma 23:6).

Maybe you have false traditions to abandon or “weapons of … rebellion”

to lay down (Alma 23:7). Or maybe you just need to be a little more

zealous in your testimony and a little less prone to falling away. No

matter what changes you need, Alma 23–29 can give you hope that,

through the atoning power of Jesus Christ, long-lasting change is possible.

It is always best for us to remember that it is so much easier

to teach your family members and friends the truths  found

in each chapter that we study if you have had some meaningful  experiences with the truths yourself.  So as you are reading

this week’s assigned chapters in Alma 23–29,  please keep

this in mind.

If your family members and friends are old enough to write on

your poster board, you might consider having them write out

some verses from this week’s reading that stood out to them.

Or you could share something from this week's reading that

has inspired you in some way or other, or share verses that

stood out to you.

You coil;d then discuss any truths they learned from the verses

that they write down on the poster board. If your family

members and friends are not to this level yet you might want

to check out the Primary lesson pages at the bottom of the

page. They have some really good ideas there for the

children, especially for the younger ones.

And of course if you have teenagers the place for you to look in

on the youth pages for ideas on how to present this lesson. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/come-

follow-me-for-aaronic-priesthood-quorums-and-young-

women-classes-doctrinal-topics-2020/12?lang=eng 

Alma 23–25; 27

Our conversion to Jesus Christ and His gospel

changes our lives.

As you  know, each one of us is working hard to deepen our

conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of

His Church here on this earth. We work hard at this  and His

disciples. Possibly this story that is in our assigned chapters

to read and study might be helpful for you and your

family members . 

Reading the story of the Anti--Nephi -Lehies could encourage

you and your family members and friends in their efforts to

deepen their conversion to the teachings of the Church of

Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One good way to begin your conversation might be to get out your poster board or

chalkboard or whatever you are using.

Have you got your poster board out yet?  Alright then, we

are ready to begin. You may want to write the following

questions on your poster board. B sure you leave room for

your answers or responses from your family members and

friends. What does it mean to be converted? or What kinds

of changes occur in people’s lives when they are converted? 

You and your family members and friends can look for answers

to these questions in the following scripture passages:

Alma 23:6–7, 17–18; 24:17–19; 25:15–16; and 27:26–30. 

You and / or your family members aqbd friends might possibly

be able to  share wom insights from other verses which they

have read in this week’s reading of Alma 23–25 and 27.

Your family members qnd friends could also find some helpful

answers to these questions in following message  bt Elder

David A. Bednar Titled  “Converted unto the Lord”

Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 106–9.

Converted unto the Lord.

Elder David A. Bednar taught:

“The essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ entails a fundamental and

permanent change in our very nature made possible through the Savior’s

Atonement. True conversion brings a change in one’s beliefs, heart, and

life to accept and conform to the will of God (see Acts 3:19; 3 Nephi 9:20)

and includes a conscious commitment to become a disciple of Christ.”

After quoting Alma 23:6–8, Elder Bednar went on to explain:

“Two major elements are described in these verses: (1) the knowledge of

the truth, which may be interpreted as a testimony, and (2) converted unto

the Lord, which I understand to be conversion to the Savior and His gospel.

Thus, the powerful combination of both testimony and conversion unto the

Lord produced firmness and steadfastness and provided spiritual protection.

“They never did fall away and surrendered ‘the weapons of their rebellion,

that they did not fight against God any more.’ To set aside cherished ‘

weapons of rebellion’ such as selfishness, pride, and disobedience requires

more than merely believing and knowing. Conviction, humility, repentance,

and submissiveness precede the abandonment of our weapons of rebellion.

Do you and I still possess weapons of rebellion that keep us from becoming

converted unto the Lord? If so, then we need to repent now.

“Note that the Lamanites were not converted to the missionaries who taught

them or to the excellent programs of the Church. They were not converted to

the personalities of their leaders or to preserving a cultural heritage or the

traditions of their fathers. They were converted unto the Lord—to Him as

the Savior and to His divinity and doctrine—and they never did fall away”

(“Converted unto the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 107–9).

Here are a couple of questions  for you and your family

members and friends to finish up this section; What changes

did the Anti-Nephi-Lehies make as a result of their

conversion? How does their example inspire us to deepen our

conversion to Jesus Christ and His gospel?

And still more questions! What are some ways that you might

inspire your family members and friends to abandon any of

the false traditions and bury their weapons of rebellion, just

as the Anti-Nephi-Lrhies did in Alma’s time? 

You might consider reading together through Alma 23:5–7,as

a review with your family members and friends. Then ask the

following questions:. What are some good traditions that the

gospel helps us develop? What might the Lamanites’ “weapons

of … rebellion” represent in our day? How can we “bury them

up deep in the earth”? (Alma 24:17). 

To complete this section you could have your family members

and friends think about what false traditions or weapons of

war that they need to leave behind. Are there false traditions

in your family that you need to leave behind? You must leave

\these things behind so that you will be able to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ more completely.

The following section come to you directly from the

Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families manual:

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

Alma 23:1–5

When God’s children accept the gospel, great

blessings follow.

When the king of the Lamanites declared that the word of God should

\“have no obstruction” among his people (see Alma 23:1–5), he opened

the door to great blessings for them. As you read Alma 23–29, look for

these blessings. How can you ensure that the word of God has

“no obstruction” in your life or in your family?

Alma 23:1–5

When God’s children accept the gospel, great

blessings follow.

When the king of the Lamanites declared that the word of God should

“have no obstruction” among his people (see Alma 23:1–5), he opened the

door to great blessings for them. As you read Alma 23–29, look for these

blessings. How can you ensure that the word of God has “no obstruction”

in your life or in your family?

Alma 23:6–7

Alma 23:17–18

Alma 24:11–19

Alma 25:13–16

Alma 27:26–30

 

Alma 24:7–16

Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can

be forgiven when we repent.

You might consider reading together  Alma 24:7–16 and then

write on your poster board something that you and / or your

family members and friends have learned from this passage

about repentance. You should do this only if you are prompted

to have a discussion about repentance with your family

study group.

This account of the Anti- Nephi - Lehies as found in Alma

chapter 24 is definitely a very inspiring example you can use

for a great discussion about repentance with your family

members and friends.  

You could and your family members and friends could search 

through the following scriptures where you will find additional \information about repentance:

Isaiah 53:5–6; 2 Nephi 2:6–8; and Mosiah 5:2.

Alma 24:13–15; 26; 29

The gospel brings joy.

Wow! Did you count all that joy as you studied In Alma 23–29?

Did you realize that  the word “joy” appears in these chapters 24 times. This makes these chapters a very good place for you

and your family members and friends to learn  just how living ]

the gospel—and sharing it—brings joy into our lives. 

At this point you might consider separating your family

members and friends into pairs or small groups (if this is

appropriate for your family study group). Then ask your pairs

or groups to review a few of the following passages of ]

scripture:  Alma 24:13–15; 26:12–22; and 29:1–17. 

As you are doing  your review of these passages be looking for

the reasons why Ammon, and the sons of Mosiah, as well as

Alma rejoiced. Why did they all rejoice? If you have room on ]

your poster board you may want to write down a list of what

\ you found in your review of these passages.

Another question coming your way! What do we learn from

these verses about how the gospel brings us joy? \

President Russell M. Nelson taught: “When the focus of our lives is on

God’s plan of salvation … and Jesus Christ and His gospel, we can feel joy

regardless of what is happening—or not happening—in our lives. Joy comes

from and because of Him. He is the source of all joy”

(“Joy and Spiritual Survival,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 82). 

\

If you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of

Latter-day Saints now coils be a great time for you to share

any experiences you may have had that have helped you to

understand the truth of President Nelson’s words you have

just read together 

In reading through these chapters in Alma you may have

noticed that Alma and Ammon found great joy as they were

sharing the gospel with the people. Now with your family

members, and friends search the following chapters  in Alma 26 and 29. You will be looking for some verses that

could inspire a young man or a young woman  to have a

burning desire to serve a mission. You might even inspire

\someone that you know to share the gospel with others.

You might want to consider taking a few minutes for you

and your family members and friends to have a discussion

at this time.

This discussion is  to plan something together that you can do

to share the gospel with someone not in your family study group.

Invite them to act on their plans, and in a future class you can

encourage them to talk about their efforts. After your

discussion you should make a plan of action. 

In Alma 29:10–13 we learn that Alma was reminded of God’s

goodness. You may want to have your family members and

friends study together this pasaye and make a list on your

poster board of what it was that Alma remembered. What

]reminds us of God’s goodness? How have we seen God’s

goodness in our lives?

Alma 26–27

We can be instruments in God’s hands.

You dqn begin this section by asking your family members and

friends what it means to be “instruments in the hands of God”

as we find in Alma 26:3, you could even show your family

]members and friends  a few different  types of instruments

or tools. After showing all of the instruments to your family

study group you can talk about them.

You could also invite class members to bring some tools that

they use. How are these instruments useful? How are we like

instruments in God’s work? Now is a good time to ask your

family members and friends  to identify  some ways that

Ammon and his fellow missionaries were instruments in the

hands of God as found in Alma 26:1–5, 11–12.

What insights do we gain from Doctrine and Covenants 4 about

being instruments in His hands? If you are a member of the

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints you could also

share experiences of a time when you or they have felt the joy

that comes from being an instrument in the hands of God.

The following section come to you directly from the Come,

Follow Me for Individuals and Families manual:

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

Alma 24:7–19; 26:17–22

God is merciful.

While the sins that Ammon and the Anti-Nephi-Lehies had to overcome were

\ likely quite different from anything in your life, we all rely on the mercy of

God. What do you find in Alma 24:7–19 and 26:17–22 that helps you

understand His mercy? As you read, you might think about these things: the

ways you have been invited to repent, your experiences with repentance, how

you have tried to avoid sinning again, and the blessings that have come to you

'through repentance. When you read the verses in this way, what do you learn about God’s mercy in your life?

Alma 26; 29

Serving the Lord brings joy.

Despite their different experiences, Ammon and Alma expressed similar feelings about their missionary labors. Consider reading Alma 26 and 29 and comparing them. What similarities do you notice? What words and phrases are repeated? What can you learn from Ammon and Alma about how to find true joy in spite of your challenges? (To review the challenges Alma faced, see the chapter headings for Alma 5–16. To review the challenges of Ammon and his brethren, see the chapter headings for Alma 17–28.)

Alma 26:5–7

What are sheaves and garners?

At harvest time, grain is often gathered into bundles called sheaves and

placed in storehouses, sometimes called garners. Elder David A. Bednar\

shared a possible interpretation of the symbolism in Alma 26:5: “The

sheaves in this analogy represent newly baptized members of the Church.

The garners are the holy temples” (“Honorably Hold a Name and Standing,”

Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 97). Consider what the analogy in

Alma 26:5–7 teaches you about the importance of temple covenants.

The following section come to you directly from the Come,

Follow Me for Individuals and Families manual:

Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evenings

As you read the scriptures with your family, the Spirit can help you know

]what principles to emphasize and discuss in order to meet the needs of

your family. Here are some ideas.

Alma 24:6–19

Why did the Anti-Nephi-Lehies bury their weapons “deep in the earth”?

(Alma 24:16). Maybe family members would enjoy writing on pieces of

paper things they would like to overcome or abandon. They could then dig a hole and bury the papers.

Alma 24:7–12

Studying these verses can help your family understand the wonderful gift

of repentance. What did the Anti-Nephi-Lehies do to repent of their sins?

How did the Lord help them repent? What can we learn from this example?

Alma 24:20–27

What have we seen that testifies of the truth of Mormon’s declaration:

“Thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his

people”? (Alma 24:27).

Alma 26:2

How would your family answer Ammon’s questions in Alma 26:2? Perhaps

you could make a list of their answers on a large piece of paper and hang it

in a place where everyone can see it. Encourage family members to add to it

as they think of other blessings God has “bestowed upon us.”

Alma 29:9

How were Ammon and Alma instruments in God’s hands? Consider looking

at tools or instruments in your home and discussing how they are each

helpful to your family. How does this help us understand how we can each

be “an instrument in the hands of God”?

For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come,

Follow Me—For Primary.

Suggested song: “For Health and Strength,” Children’s Songbook, 21.

You  may have noticed that there are many of the same false

teachings or ideas that lead  Heavenly Father's children away

]from Him in our day that were also found  and very common

during the days of Alma.  You and your family members and

friends will find  in  Alma 30–31  how Alma and his people

\responded to those false teachings and the false ideas .  I bet

you will see that we can learn from thrift examples..

You know where we are just now? We are at the end of today’s

lesson and my post for today. I pray that all is well in your home

and your family members and friends are all healthy and doing

well, that no one is sick. We  are all doing well here in my home.

I hope you always remember who you truly are.

You are a child of God.

Please continue to study the Book of Mormon with me and our

cyber friends out there in cyberspace. Please remember to say

your prayers each day morning and night.

Don't forget to share with our family members and friends what you have learned from today's lesson. Until my next post, please

stay safe and make it a good week!!! i would like to thank Maeser Anderson for sharong the quotes. i wish that i was so talented.