Post # 255 -- Come, Follow Me -- Week# 38 -- September 21–27 -- 3 Nephi 12–16 -- “I Am the Law, and the Light”

Dear Family and Friends

This has been another long long week. I feel like somehow it id the week that i have my chemotherapy that the week is the longest. My weeks here lately just seem to blend right into one and then another. This usually takes place without my knowledge or my permission:) not that my permission was ever needed in these cases at any time before. 

Shoot, there are some nights when I awake in the night only to look at my phone to realize that it is 11:45 pm instead of 11:45 am. ... and the day did not pass away when I was sleeping. Other days when I have tried to stay awake until 8 pm but have fallen asleep right away I slept all night, thinking that I had a good night’s rest.

As it turned out I got up on time only to fall back to sleep before I needed to leave for work. I am so grateful for alarms. I am such a mess these days. I think I have written my blog only to find out that it was not even started or that it was all done and I forgot to press the publish button to get it out there to you. 

So, I am hoping that I will do better for you this week:) Maybe if i can get this one out on time i can begin a new pattern for myself. If i can stay awake long enough to get it done for you and get it published too:) I really do try not to make the same mistake twice. Oh no, already my plan has failed. 


I just got reminded that I need to drive my granddaughter to town. She needs to go shopping and the store hours only work with or schedules today. I will be back hopefully tonight, it is really hard to get anything done after work because i am usually so very tired. This part comes from our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families manual: 

1. There are many principles to find in 3 Nephi 12–16. Some are highlighted in this outline, but you may find others. Let Heavenly Father, through His Spirit, teach you what you need right now.

I was watching an episode of Peppa Pig with my grandchildren, when in the episode Peppa and her friends were trying to run away from their shadows. Mr Rabbit told them that they could never run away from their shadows. He told them that their shadows will always be with them. Just as the Holy Ghost can always be with you and your family members ad friends.

The reason I bring this up to you is actually for more than a reason. First thing that came to my mind as I was watching this episode was that my preschool class would love this episode. The next thing that came to me was that we want to Always be in places where the Holy Ghost will be with us. This next part comes directly to you from our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families:


2. Like Jesus’s disciples who gathered at the mount in Galilee, the people who gathered at the temple at Bountiful had lived under the law of Moses. They had followed it because it pointed their souls to Christ (see Jacob 4:5), and now Christ stood before them, declaring a higher law. But even those of us who have never lived the law of Moses can recognize that the standard Jesus set for His disciples is a much higher law. “I would that ye should be perfect,” He declared (3 Nephi 12:48). If this makes you feel inadequate, remember that Jesus also said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (3 Nephi 12:3). This higher law is an invitation—another way of saying “Come unto me and be ye saved” (3 Nephi 12:20). Like the law of Moses, this law points us to Christ—the only One who can save and perfect us. “Behold,” He said, “I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live” (3 Nephi 15:9).


In our lesson today we are learning more about the characteristics of Christ. So, basically becoming more like Him is for us to emulate Christ like attributes. My preschoolers are so pure and so willing and eager to learn. You and your family members and friends should choose to be like those little preschoolers.

 They should never try to chase their shadows [the Holy Ghost]away [by going into place where the Holy Ghost would not go, or participating in activities which the Holy Ghost would not participate in]or speaking in a manner in which the Holy Ghost would not like . you and your family members and friends should always try to do your best every day and do all that you can do to keep the Holy Ghost close to you.

Speaking of preschoolers. How are you doing with your counting skills? Oh, you say that you are up to par on your counting skills. If not just ask your preschooler to help you out. You need to get together with your family members and friends. And get out a piece of your wonderful poster board. Now get ready to write!!!

Do your family members and friends like to talk about the things that they have learned each week from their scripture reading sessions? You may want to turn on your counting skills and write the numbers 12-16 right across the top of your poster board. Next you will ask each one to go on a search with you:)

You and your family members and friends will need to search through these chapters looking for a verse that has meaning to each one of them and then write the verse number underneath the corresponding chapter number on the board. This way you will have a written record for future study of these important gospel gems.

Twelve Thirteen Fourteen Fifteen Sixteen

Twelve	Thirteen	Fourteen	Fifteen	Sixteen

 After you have your chart filled up you can pick and choose which ones to talk about together with your family members and friends. In your discussion you may find out why they felt like these particular verses are meaningful to them. Be sure to tell your family members and friends why your verses are meaningful to you. This next part comes directly to you from our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families:

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
3 Nephi 12–14
The Savior’s teachings show me how to be a true disciple.
There are many truths, words of counsel, and warnings in 3 Nephi 12–14. Here’s one way to study and apply what the Savior taught in these chapters: Pick a group of verses, and see if you can summarize what the verses teach in one sentence that begins with “True disciples of Jesus Christ …” For example, a summary of 3 Nephi 14:1–5 might be “True disciples of Jesus Christ are not judgmental.” You might want to choose a verse from these chapters that is especially meaningful to you and memorize it or copy it and place it where you will see it often. Ponder how you can apply what you learn to your personal efforts to be a better disciple of Jesus Christ.

See also Matthew 5–7; Luke 6:20–49.

3 Nephi 12–14
The Savior’s teachings show us how to be true disciples.
For the following activity you may want to consider writing on your poster board the incomplete phrases, including some references like the following: 3 Nephi 12:3–16, 38–44; 13:1–8, 19–24; and or there may be other passages which you have found in your own personal study that you would care to share with your family members and friends. 

I have only put into my chart the first verse of the first passage. You and your family members and friends may choose to add more rows to your chart to include more teachings / attributes of Jesus Christ,

Scripture passages “True disciples of Jesus Christ …”

3 Nephi 12:3–16, 
blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. “True disciples of Jesus Christ …”mourn with those who mourn.
3 Nephi 12: 38–44

3 Nephi  13:1–8, 

3 Nephi 13:19–24

3 Nephi  14:21–27 

Scripture passages	“True disciples of Jesus Christ …”
3 Nephi 12:3–16,	blessed are all they that amourn, for they shall be bcomforted. “True disciples of Jesus Christ …”mourn with those who mourn.
3 Nephi 12: 38–44
3 Nephi  13:1–8,
3 Nephi 13:19–24
3 Nephi  14:21–27

You will find in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families suggests that we should be summarizing the passages in 3 Nephi 12–14. In summarizing the passages within these chapters we are to complete the phrase “True disciples of Jesus Christ …”

You and your family members and friends might choose a passage to read either individually or as a group. In this way you could suggest a way to simply complete the phrase which you have written on your poster board. You complete this phrase based on what those verses have taught you in your search. 

You should be sure to encourage your family members and friends to make certain that each one of them write down in their journal just what they will commit to do to follow Jesus Christ, their Savior, more closely and more faithfully simply because of what they have learned from these versus during this week!!!

You may want to consider asking one of your family members and / or friends to study Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s message “Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 40–42) before you and your family members and friends meet together in your family study group next week.

Doing this before you meet together will help them to be able to share insights that help them understand this verse. This might also help your family members and friends to better understand the Savior’s words in 3 Nephi 12:48. 

You might want to read this verse together then you can ask one or more of them to share their thoughts with the group. This next part comes directly to you from our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families:


3. Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
3 Nephi 12:1–2; 15:23–24; 16:1–6
Blessed are those who believe without seeing.
Compared to the total number of God’s children, very few have seen the Savior and heard His voice, as the people at Bountiful did. Most of us are more like the people described in 3 Nephi 12:2; 15:23; and 16:4–6. What promises are made to such people in these verses? How have these promises been fulfilled in your life?

See also John 20:26–29; 2 Nephi 26:12–13; Alma 32:16–18.

3 Nephi 12:21–30
Our thoughts lead to actions.

Just how close do you and your family members and friends feel that your thoughts and our actions are??? You will need to get out your poster board again 

Making a chart seems to almost always help people to see better what is right there. Your discussion could begin right here with this chart on your poster board.

Passages Actions We Want to Avoid Thoughts or Emotions That Lead to Them
3 Nephi 12:21
thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment of God; Anger
3 Nephi 12:22 
whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgment.
3 Nephi 12: 27

3 Nephi 12: 28

3 Nephi 12: 29

3 Nephi 12: 30 

Passages	Christlike Actions We Want to Avoid	Thoughts or Emotions That Lead to Them
3 Nephi 12:21	thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment of God;	rage
3 Nephi 12:22	whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgment.	anger
3 Nephi 12: 27
3 Nephi 12: 28
3 Nephi 12: 29
3 Nephi 12: 30

You and your family members and friends could work together or in small groups to read through the following verses 3 Nephi 12:21–30. You could discuss how controlling our thoughts, leads us to controlling our actions. Search through these verses to fill in the table which you have created on your poster board.

You should then ask your family members and friends if they can think of some other things that you could each add to the list. You are trying to think of some actions and thought that you could add to your list under each of the headings on your chart. The next thing for you to do would be to take on some questions. Are you ready???

What other actions and thoughts could you or your family members and friends add to the lists? How can we “suffer none of these things to enter into '' our hearts? (3 Nephi 12:29). 

29 Behold, I give unto you a commandment, that ye suffer none of these things to enter into your heart;

How can we drive them out when they do enter? After reading President Ezra Taft Benson’s counsel you might create a new table.


We can control our thoughts.

President Ezra Taft Benson taught:

“The mind has been likened to a stage on which only one act at a time can be performed. From one side of the wings the Lord, who loves you, is trying to put on the stage of your mind that which will bless you. From the other side of the wings the devil, who hates you, is trying to put on the stage of your mind that which will curse you.
“You are the stage manager—you are the one who decides which thought will occupy the stage. … You will be what you think about—what you consistently allow to occupy the stage of your mind. …
“If thoughts make us what we are, and we are to be like Christ, we must think Christlike thoughts” (“Think on Christ,” Ensign, Apr. 1984, 10–11).

The new table could have the headings Christ Like Actions We Want to Develop and Thoughts That Lead to Them. u so hope that you and your family members and friends will enjoy making the charts and filling them in together. Be sure to share with your little family study group how you find your answers for filling in your chart.

Passages Christlike Actions We Want to Develop Thoughts That Lead to Them 
3 Nephi 12:21
Love one another Kind thoughts
3 Nephi 12:22 

3 Nephi 12: 27

3 Nephi 12: 28

3 Nephi 12: 29

3 Nephi 12: 30 

Passages	Christlike Actions We Want to Develop	Thoughts That Lead to Them
3 Nephi 12:21	Love one another	Kind thoughts
3 Nephi 12:22
3 Nephi 12: 27
3 Nephi 12: 28
3 Nephi 12: 29
3 Nephi 12: 30

You may have noticed that my charts are a little different and you and your family members and friends can choose the one that works for your family study group. This next part comes directly to you from our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families:


4. Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
3 Nephi 12:21–30; 13:1–8, 16–18; 14:21–23
Righteous acts are not enough; my heart must also be pure.
One theme you might notice in these chapters is the Savior’s invitation to live a higher law—to be righteous not only in our outward actions but also in our hearts. Look for this theme when the Savior speaks of contention (3 Nephi 12:21–26), immorality (3 Nephi 12:27–30), prayer (3 Nephi 13:5–8), and fasting (3 Nephi 13:16–18). What other examples can you find? What can you do to purify the desires of your heart rather than focus on outward actions only?


3 Nephi 13:1–8, 16–18
Our service and worship must be done for the right reasons.
To begin your discussion of this section you might choose to read together with your family members and friends the following verses 1–2 and 16. After you've finished your reading of these verses you will want to share the following definition of hypocrites: “Pretenders; the Greek word [used in the New Testament] means ‘a play actor,’ or ‘one who … exaggerates a part’” (Matthew 6:2, footnote a). 

It might be fun for your family members and friends to pretend or act like they are giving some things to those who are poor and/or needy or fasting for them. You know in studying  3 Nephi 13 you will see this as a food time for you and your family members and friends to search themselves as to the reason why they do good work for others.

Here are a few more questions for you and your family members and friends to answer together: Why is pretending or acting a good metaphor for hypocrisy? How can we make sure our service, prayer, and fasting are sincere and free from hypocrisy? What are the good works that are mentioned in 3 Nephi 13:1–8 and 16–18?

After you and your family members and friends have found out what good works are mentioned in the following passages: 3 Nephi 13:1–8 and 16–18

Verses Good works Found
3 Nephi 13:1-4
ye should do alms unto the poor
3 Nephi 13:5-8

3 Nephi 13:16-18

Verses	Good works Found
3 Nephi 13:1-4	ye should do alms unto the poor
3 Nephi 13:5-8
3 Nephi 13:16-18

You and your family members and friends should use this time to discuss together the good works that you have written on your poster board chart. Next you can answer the following questions: what motives might lead a person to do these things or other things God asks us to do? 

What would we say to someone who asks us why we do good things? Make sure to encourage your family members and friends to ponder their personal reasons for doing good works like those we have been studying this week.

 How can we purify our motives? This next part comes directly to you from our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families:


5. Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
3 Nephi 14:7–11
If I seek “good things” from Heavenly Father, I will receive.
President Russell M. Nelson said: “Does God really want to speak to you? Yes! … Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know” (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95). As you read the Lord’s invitation in 3 Nephi 14:7–11 to ask, seek, and knock, ponder what “good things” He might want you to ask for. The following additional scriptures may help you understand how to ask, seek, and knock. They may also help explain why some prayers are not answered the way you expect: Isaiah 55:8–9; Helaman 10:5; Moroni 7:26–27, 33, 37; and Doctrine and Covenants 9:7–9.


3 Nephi 14:7–11
If we seek “good things” from Heavenly Father, we will receive.
Are you ready to make another chart? Okay, then get out your poster board. Remember that the Lord has invited you and your family members and friends [and all of the rest of His children as well] to asl. Seek, and to knock. In order to help you and your family members and friends to better understand this invitation from the Lord, 

This invitation includes the following: to seek, to ask, to knock, it may be a good thing to explore these words -- what do they mean? What does each word imply about what the Lord invites each one of us to do? What does each word imply about what the Lord invites us to do? 

How do we ask, seek, and knock? How have the promises in 3 Nephi 14:7–8 been fulfilled in our lives? You and your family members and friends could also review President Russell M. Nelson’s counsel: you and your family members and friends will be looking for the questions he asks and the invitations he gives. 

God wants to speak to you.
President Russell M. Nelson said:
“What will your seeking open for you? What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.
“Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. …
“Does God really want to speak to you? Yes! … I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation. …
“Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know” (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95).

Remember to give your family study group  time to ponder and write down their answers to his questions in their journals as well as their plans to act on his invitations. This next section is full of questions:) You and your family members and friends might consider reviewing some of the following scriptures together:

 Isaiah 55:8–9; Helaman 10:4–5; 3 Nephi 18:20; and Doctrine and Covenants 9:7–9; 88:64. Reviewing these scripture passages could help you and your family members and friends to answer these questions: Are you or any member of your family study group.uncertain  about what the Savior meant when He said, 

“Every one that asketh, receiveth” (3 Nephi 14:8). Why do some prayers seem to go unanswered, and why do we sometimes get answers we don’t want? Make sure to encourage the members of your family study group to share what they find. How might these insights affect how we pray?

I want you and your family members and friends to think about or you might rather try to imagine what it would be like to hear the Savior, Jesus Christ, Himself actually praying for you and for each one of them. What a sight, right??? We will be learning about some people who actually had this very sacred experience. 

Be sure to read  3 Nephi 17–19. When you say your family prayers, do you pray for your family members and friends? U have learned over the years that it is most important for you to pray for one another and let them hear you praying for them and their needs. This next part comes directly to you from our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families:

Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evening
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.

3 Nephi 12:48
How does Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s message “Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 40–42) help us understand the Savior’s words in this verse? You could also find help in Moroni 10:32–33.

3 Nephi 12:9, 38–42; 14:3–5, 12
How do these verses apply to interactions among family members? Perhaps your family could set some goals together to live by these principles more faithfully.

3 Nephi 13:19–21
These verses could prompt a discussion about what your family treasures. Are there some treasures on earth that are keeping you from laying up treasures in heaven? You could reinforce this point by leading the family on a treasure hunt to find things in your home that remind your family members of treasures with eternal value.

3 Nephi 14:7–11
Younger children might enjoy a game, inspired by 3 Nephi 14:8–9, in which they ask for something and receive something entirely different. What did the Savior want us to know about our Father in Heaven when He shared this example?

3 Nephi 14:15–20
What “good fruit” helps us know that Joseph Smith, or the current President of the Church, is a true prophet?

3 Nephi 14:24–27
Think of ways you could help your family visualize the parable in these verses. Perhaps family members could draw pictures, do actions, or build things on solid and sandy foundations.

For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.

Suggested song: “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man,” Children’s Songbook, 281.\

I love this song. I am going to teach it to my preschoolers this week. There are some really cute activities that we can do with this song that I think they will all enjoy. They get so excited when I tell them that we have a new song and even more excited when I tell them we are going to have a story or movie about Jesus Christ

Well here we are down at the bottom of the last page of our lesson, we have no teaching help or any personal scripture study help for this lesson but we surely do have  a lot of important teachings that we have learned during this week. I think these truths should be written in our journals for future reference and study. 

Please remember who you and your family members and friends are. You are each a child of God, no matter what your age is I hope and 
pray that your and your family and friends are all healthy and doing well and that you continue to do so every day!! 

Remember to keep up with our lessons. I am glad that I am able to share these wonderful lessons with a few of you Until my next post please remember to stay safe and keep up with your reading in the Book of Mormon. Remember that there is truly great power in this special sacred book.

Post # 253 -- Come, Follow Me-- Week 36 -- September 7–13 --- 3 Nephi 1–7 -- “Lift Up Your Head and Be of Good Cheer”

Dear Family and Friends

I do hope and pray that all is well with you and your family members and friends. I am sorry for getting these last posts out to you in such a slow manner. I guess I am still getting used to this new chemotherapy and my pain management therapy as well. 

I am so glad that I am still able to teach  my preschool class with all this other stuff going on in my life. I am so very grateful that i have my family right here for me when I need them as well as some pretty amazing friends. And my bosses are very helpful which keeps me hopeful...

 i have been blessed so much throughout these past five years since the days prior to my diagnosis with stage four breast cancer. I realize that the Lord has been looking out for me throughout my entire life. but since my diagnosis, i have realized that my Savior Jesus Christ has played a very important role throughout my life as well. 



I have been learning bits and pieces about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how it isn't just for cleansing us from our sins. His Atonement is also provided to enable us to have this wonderful peace that i have felt since my diagnosis and days prior to it as well:) This first part comes from our manual:

The Nephites witnessed miraculous signs, but over time they forgot what they had experienced (see 3 Nephi 2:1). Recording your experience will help you remember your spiritual experiences. While studying 3 Nephi 1-7.

In some ways, it was an exciting tie to be a believer in Jesus Christ. Prophecies were being fulfilled -- great signs and miracles among the people indicated that the Savior would soon be born. On the other hand, it was also an anxious time for believers because, in spite of all the miracles, unbelievers insisted that “the time was past” for the Savior to be born.(3 Nephi 1:5). These people caused “a great uproar throughout the land” (3 Nephi 1:7) and even set a date to kill all the believers if the sign prophesied by Samuel the Lamanite -- a night without darkness -- did not appear.

In these trying circumstances, the prophet Nephi “cried mightily to his God on behalf of his people” (3 Nephi 1:11). The Lord’s response is inspiring to anyone who faces persecution or doubt and needs to know that light will overcome darkness: “Lift up your head and be of good cheer;,.. I will fulfill all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets” (3 Nephi 1:13).



As you know the Holy Ghost might give impressions to you wanting you to focus on certain principles that are from 3 Nephi 1-7 as you study the material for this lesson. If you follow the promptings you may find out that those particular principles are the ones that will bless one of your family members and friends..

One way that you might be able to help your family members and friends to share some of what they are learning from your lessons and their study, you could have everyone in your family study group to write on piece of paper some of the truths they found in 3 Nephi 1-7 and the scripture references for the truth. 

After they have written out their  truths which they have found as well as writing down the scripture passage which they found their truths you should collect all of their papers and put them into a 'feeley' box. Oh, you ask, what is a feeley box? It can be any size box that you will need to put whatever items in it that you need. i made one from an empty trash bag box:)

You could actually use any open box, but I think it might be more fun to use a feeley box sometimes when you are teaching at home. I use mine a lot in my preschool as well as teaching at home. It works really well with young children up to middle school age. But it can be fun for the whole family. 



So, a feeley box is a closed box with only a whole in it that allows your hand to go inside the box. I use mine for my students to feel for different objects that can go along with a scripture story. In this case we will use our box to hide the papers inside. You can choose one of your family members and /or friends to draw out one slip of paper at a time. 

You may want to consider drawing out a few to begin the lesson and discuss them. Then save the others for later on in the lesson or at the end of the lesson. If you have younger children you might consider having them draw a picture representing what truth they have found or remember from listening as others have read to them,

3 Nephi 1-7 
Conversion is a process that requires diligent effort.

If you noticed during your study that 3 Nephi 1-7, these chapters describe the people who were already converted to Jesus Christ and His gospel as well as those who were not converted either to Jesus Christ or His gospel. In order to help your family members and friends find and understand the difference between these two groups of people, you will need to get out your poster board you could create a chart on your poster board.


You can make your chart with the following headings Beliefs and actions that weaken conversion and Beliefs and actions that strengthen conversion. You might want to divide the following scripture passages among your family members and friends or you could work together to solve the mysteries of each passage, writing your answers on your poster board in the correct boxes. Your chart could look something like mine here below:

i am sorry, i do not know what happened with the chart maker on this computer, but it doesn't seem to be working. i have tried to make it work multiple times. i want to get this out to you today so this is what i came up with. i hope it comes out well in the final publishing of it:)


Scripture passages      Beliefs and actions  that          Beliefs and actions that                                          weaken conversion        strengthen conversion.



3 Nephi 1:4-23, 29-30  not believing the prophet's     faith in the prophet’s 
                                   words and making fun of       words and praying
                                    righteous people (5 -6)       for help (verses 8, 11)




3 Nephi 2:1-3 '

3 Nephi 3:12-16


3 Nephi 4:8-10, 30-33

3:Nephi 6:13- 18

3 Nephi 7:15-22

Now here is a question for you and your family members to ponder: How can we keep our conversion strong despite opposition? This is a very important question that we all should ask ourselves … often. I believe we should ask ourselves this question on a regular basis. How often is something that you can decide, but it is worth doing.

Who do you think is “the rising generation” which is referred to at the end of the following passage: 3 Nephi 1:27-30. You  and your family members and friends could now have a discussion trying to find out how to strengthen this “riding generation.” Maybe you could look through these verses to find out just why these young Nephites as well as the young Lamanites were unable to withstand the wickedness which surrounded them. 



Be sure to include in your discussion with your family members and friends some of the challenges which are facing our rising generation today. Talk together to find out ways in which they can develop their faith in Jesus Christ and in His gospel. You and your family members and friends will find some suggestions in Elder Vien V, Cordon of the Seventy in his message here below:

Helping build faith in the rising generation.

Elder Vleri V. Cordon of the Seventy suggested three ways to help the rising generation stay true to the gospel:
1 “Being More Diligent and Concerned at Home, ;;; Powerful teaching is extremely important to preserve the gospel in our families, and it requires diligence and effort. We have been invited many times to quite the practice of daily family and personal scripture study. Many families that are doing this are blessed each day with greater unity and  closer relationship with the Lord.”

2. “Strong Modeling in the Home, … It is not enough just to talk to our children about the importance of temple marriage, fasting, and keeping the Sabbath day holy. They must see us making room in our schedules to attend the temple as frequently as we can. They must see our commitment to fasting regularly and keeping the entire Sabbath day holy.”



3. “Traditions. … As families, we need to avoid any tradition that will prevent us from keeping the Sabbath day holy or having daily scripture study and prayer at home. We need to close the digital doors of our home to pornography.and all other evil influences. To combat the worldly traditions of our day, er need to use the scriptures and the voice of our modern prophets to teach our children about their divine identity, their purpose in life and the divine mission of Jesus Christ” (“ The Language of the Gospel,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 56-57;; italics added).

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
3 Nephi 1:22; 2:1-3 
Forgetting spiritual experiences makes me vulnerable to Satan;s temptations.
You might think that witnessing something so miraculous as a sight without darkness would stay with you for a long time and be an anchor to your testimony. But the memories of the signs and wonders the Nephites witnessed seemed to fade over time. What caused them to forget, and what were the results of forgetting? (3 Nephi 1:22; 2:1-3).
What are you doing to remember and renew your witness of spiritual truths? For example, consider how recording your spiritual experiences can help you. How will you share your witness with those closest to you to help them believe?
See also Alma 5:6; Henry B. Eyring, “O Remember, Remember,: Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 66-69; Neil L. Andersen, :Faith Is Not by Chance, but by Choice,” Ensign, or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 65-68.



3 Nepji 1:4-21; 5:1-3
The Lord will fulfill all His words.

Have you ever thought about the promises of the Lord? He has made many promises to His faithful servants throughout the years in the scriptures. How can yo strengthen you faith in these promises? One way that you can strengthen your faith and your family members and friends’ faith in the promises of the Lord could be to read together the accounts found in the following scripture passages:  3 Nephi 1:4-21  and 5:1-3.

You may decide to read together with your family members and friends the following scripture passage  3 Nephi 1”4-7. Once you have completed your reading of this passage you will need to get out your poster board and make a list of how you and each one of your family study group might feel if you and or they happen to be the believers which are described in these verses.

After you have finished your list, you may want to consider and ask your family members and friends to think about some similar situations or circumstances which you and or they might br facing today.  You  could write these on your poster board as well. Now, let’s take a look at some other scripture passages from 3 Nephi 1:8-21 and 5:1-3 and find out what we can learn from these passages about the Lord and His promises to His children.




I think it could be a good thing for you and your family members and friends to write in your / their journal anything that we write on your poster board. I could be helpful to have for future reference for each of you. It is just something that i was thinking about just now. And for me, when a thought comes through I need to act on it before it goes away.

This next part for you and your family members and friends is to review a hymn about trusting God. Here are a few you can choose from: Hymn nos. 270 “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go”; hymns nos. 2, “The Spirit of God”; Hymns nos. 187 “God so Loved us So He Sent His Son”; Hymns nos. 304 “Teach Me to Walk in the Light”; hymns nos. 128, When Faith Endures.

Your family study group could now share with one another any experiences that you have had or that any of your family members and friends have had or when your faith and trust in God was rewarded, or when anu of their faith and trust in God was rewarded, despite any opposition that may have come your way during your circumstances or their circumstances.


.
Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

3 Nephi 1:4-21; 5:1-3
The Lord will fulfil all His words.

How do you imagine you would have felt if you had been one of the believers during the time described in 3 Nephi 1-7? How might it have felt, for example, to wait for the night with no darkness that would announce the Savior’s birth, knowing you would be killed if it didn't happen? As you read 3 Nephi 1:4-21 and 5:1-3, look for what Nephi and the other believers did to keep their faith during these difficult times. How did the Lord bless them? What do you learn that can help when you find yourself waiting for blessings promised by the Lord?

3 Nephi 1:4-15; 5: 12-26; 6: 10-15; 7:15-26
We are disciples of Jesus Christ

In this next section you and your family members and friends are going to learn about or review what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. In order to do this you will need to read and study together the following scripture passages: 3 Nephi 1:4-15; 5:12-26; 6:10-15; and 7:15-26 if you remember if was in 3 Nephi 5:13 when Mormon declared to his people “Behold, i am a disciple of Jesus Christ.” 



The next thing you can do with your family members and friends is to search through these scripture passages  3 Nephi 1:4-15; 5:12-26; 6:10-15; and 7:15-26/ you will be searching for qualities, beliefs, and any actions which are of Jesus Christ. Then you might consider asking your family study group to write in their journals something that they can each do that will help them to become better disciples of Jesus Christ.

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

3 Nephi 5:12-26;7:15-26
I am a disciple of Jesus Christ

What do you think it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? (see Doctrine and Covenants 41:5). Om 3 Nephi 5:12-26, Mormon interrupted his abridgment of the Nephite records and declared that he was a disciple of Jesus Christ. Then, in 3 Nephi 7:15-26, he described the ministry of another disciple -- the prophet. What do you find in these two passages that helps you understand what it means to be a disciple of Christ?




3 Nephi 2:11-12; 3:12-26; 5:24-26
When the righteous gather, the Lord can strengthen and protect them.

After you have read through the following scripture passages : 3 Nephi 2:11-12; 3:12-26; 5:24-26, you will learn that part of the reason that the Nephite people were able to beat the Gadianton robbers was because the Nephites joined forces with the converted Lamanites. Also that the Nephites followed the words and directions which were inspired of God and given to Lachoneous. The message from God was for them to “gather themselves together” in Zarahemla as we find in 3 Nephi 3:22.

It’s time for a few questions: What lessons might this hold for you and your family members and friends?  You might consider asking your family study group to share with one another any experiences they have had when they have been strengthened by those righteous people all around them. I have been strengthened many times by those righteous friends around me.

Ask your family members and friends to review 3 Nephi 3:12-26. During your review be sure to be watching out for any reasons that the Nephites gathered together. And also look for any blessings the Nephites had experienced. Ask your family study group what they can each do to to gain some of those same experiences when you gather with your family members and friends




How do you and your family members and friends experience those same blessings as you gather with members of our branches or our wards? you and your family members and friends search through 3 Nephi 5:24-26 to find out what more can you and your family study group learn from these verses about gathering together?

Okay, so, picture in your mind -- or you can do this little object lesson with your family members and friends -- have someone come up to the front of the room. Put one strand of yarn around their hands and tie it in a knot. Asj this person to try to break the string. They should be able to break it easily enough to make your point.

After this person has easily broken the string, you begin again with the yarn adding one strand and then another, and then another, and another, and another, and one more just for good measure. Now ask the same person to try to break the yarn now. Gee, so how did they do? Were they able to break the yarn? You may want to check this out beforehand.

If you wanted to do this as an object lesson you may want to try it out with the person who is going to help you during the lesson so that you get exactly the right amount of yarn so that your helper cannot break the yarn once you have it wrapped the second time. After you have practiced you will feel more comfortable doing this object lesson with your family study group.



You also need to make sure that your helper can actually break the single strand of yarn. Also find out how many strands you need to find out just how many strands of yarn you need to add before your helper can no longer break the yarn. This will make it more fun because you can then ask how many strands they think you need to add before (s)he can break the stands.

Then you can point out that when you tie a single strand of year around his / her hands (s)he could break the yarn easily enough, but when you add more strands of yarn what happened? The yarn became stronger which prevented him/her from breaking it!!!  Just like when you and your family members and friends get together you are always stronger than when you're alone .

Now, this quite possibly may be a good opportunity for you and your family members and friends to gain help to see how much stronger we are when we gather together. However we are at our strongest when we gather together with righteous people in righteousness. You may have noticed this as you were reading through 3 Nephi 3 for examples.

Just imagine if you and your family members and friends were asked to try to convince the Nephites of the benefits of gathering together as is described in verses 12-26. It may work well for you to divide your family members and friends. You may want to have them work in small groups and discuss how they could do this.Only if this is conducive to your family group.



If you decide to work in groups, let your family members and friends share how they would convince the Nephites of the benefits of gathering together and just how they might do this based upon what they have read in these verses. Them upi can have your groups share what they have come up with.

If your family members and friends are not enough or too young to do this activity in groups you could do this activity together with your family members and friends. When you are finished you can ask the following questions to create a group discussion: What challenges do we face that might be likened to the Gadianton robbers and how can we make our homes and our ward places of refuge?

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study

The Lord strengthens His Saints against spiritual danger.

In our day, we usually don't face vans of robbers that force us to leave our homes and gather in one place. But we do face spiritual dangers, and the Nephutes’ experience may contain lessons that can help us. Look for these lessons as you read 3 Nephi 2:11-12 and 3:1-26.
In 3 Nephi 5:24-26 we read about the gathering of the Lord’s people in the latter days. What do these verses teach about how the Lord is gathering His people today?
See also “Worldwide Devotional for Youth: Messages from President Russell M. Nelson and Sister Wendy W. Nelson,: June 3, 2018, ChurchofJesusChrist.org “Israel-- The gathering of steak” Guide to the Scriptures, scripturesChurchofJesusChrist.org.



1Nephi 3:1-13
We need not fear Satan.

As you have learned in your reading -- the leader of the Gadianton robbers was called Giddianhi. He sent an epistle or a fancy letter, to the Nephites to try to deceive or to intimidate them. You might consider searching 4 Nephi 3:2-10 to review the words of this epostel which Giddianhi had written to the Nephites.

You and your family members and friends may find it interesting to compare the words of this epistle to the different ways that satan might try to deceive and / or to intimidate us today. And here is your final question for this lesson: What do we learn from the reaction of Lachoneus, the chief judge of the Nephites?

Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evening
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.

3 Nephi 3:13-14, 25-26
What did the nephites do to protect themselves from the enemy they faced? What are we doing to make our home a place of safety and protection from the evil in the world?



3 Nephi 2:1-3; 6:15-17
To help your family learn how Satan can deceive us, draw a body. And as your family reads 3 Nephi 2:1-3 and 6:15-17, mark the different parts of the body mentioned. According to these verses, what are some of the ways satan tempts us to forget God snf turn to sin?

3 Nephi 4:7-12,30-33
What did the Nephites do when they saw the Gadianton robbers coming? What can our family learn from the Nephites when we face difficult situations? Wha5r can we learn from the Nrphites’ words after the Lord helped them in their time of difficulty?

3 Nephi 5:13; Doctrine and Covenants 41:5
Read 3Nephi 5:13m and discuss what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Maybe family members could talk about times when they noticed eqh oth34 being disciples. If you have small children, you might make a badge that says “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ,: and let them wear the badge whenever you notice them following the Savior.

For more ideas for teaching children, see this weekend's outline in Come, Follow Me-- For Primary

Suggested song: “I]m Trying to Be Like Jesus,” Children;s Songbook, 78-79.

Improving Our Teaching
Help your family liken the scriptures to themselves. Nephi said, “I did liken the scriptures unto us, that it might be for our prophet and learning.” (1Nephi 19:23). To help your family liken the scriptures to themselves, you could invite them to ponder what they would have done if they had been among the believers described in 3 Nephi 1:4-9 (see Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 21).




Our readings for this next week will contain the ”crowning event” in the Book of Mormon -- this would be Jesus Christ’s personal ministry while He was among the Nephites after His death and resurrection in the old world, which can be found in 3 Nephi chapter 11. Knowing this should inspire you and your family members and friends to want to read 3 Nephi chapters 8-11.

I hope you and your family members and friends are doing well during this week, stay safe and continue to learn of our Heavenly Father and of His Son Jesus Christ. Learning about Them is the most important thing that we can do in our lives, especially right now when the world is in such uncertainty.  

We need the strength that only Jesus Christ and His Father can provide for us.
It is only our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ who can provide us with the peace that we need in this world of unsettled seas -- no matter what type of ‘troubled waters’ you may find yourselves in -- 

Jesus Christ has already paid the price of all of our sins and transgressions. He has borne the burden so that we would not have to go through all of the pain and suffering that He went through for each one of us.



Please remember who you are!!! You are each one a child of God!!! You are soooo very important!!! Even if you do not think so at this very moment. You are each one of you also very special. Your Heavenly Father loves you so very much… He sent His Only Begotten Son.

He sent His Son... who came into this world as a newborn babe, born in a stable because there was no room at the inn for this most special child.

Have you and your family members and friends ever stopped and really thought about how much your Savior suffered for you and me and every person who has ever or who will ever live upon this earth. 

He suffered every pain that any of us could ever have … physically; socially; emotionally; morally; mentally...etc., that any of us have ever felt or will ever feel. I would say that alone makes Him a great person of interest wouldn't you?
I guess I have rambled enough for today. 

I hope and i pray that you and your family members and friends have learned a lot with this lesson and you each have a desire to learn more. Please keep praying as there is great power in prayer. Keep studying your scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon; ... 




There too is great power in this most sacred book. Please read from this book every day.You will notice a change in your lives as you faithfully and consistently read the Book of Mormon every day. You may have already noticed this change if you have already been reading from this great book each day:) 

I will leave you with this thought on your mind to ponder along with this week’s readings. Until my next post, please continue to stay safe  and share what you are learning with those around you:) Have a great week!!!

Post # 252 -- Come, Follow Me -- Week # 35 --August 31–September 6 -- Helaman 13–16 -- “Glad Tidings of Great Joy”

Dear Family and Friends

In our lesson this week we will find out that the accounts found in Helaman Chapters 13-16 are of prophecies and many events which do parallel accounts, signs and events of our day which will come prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The following comes directly to you from our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families manual: 

As you record your impressions this week, think about how the principles in Helaman 13–16 build on and reinforce other things you have been learning in the scriptures.

The first time Samuel the Lamanite tried to share “glad tidings” in Zarahemla (Helaman 13:7), he was rejected and cast out by the hard-hearted Nephites. You might say it was as if they had built an impenetrable wall around their hearts that prevented them from receiving Samuel’s message. Samuel understood the importance of the message he bore and demonstrated faith by following God’s commandment “that he should return again, and prophesy” (Helaman 13:3). Just as Samuel did, we all encounter walls as we “prepare the way of the Lord” (Helaman 14:9) and strive to follow His prophets. And like Samuel, we too bear witness of Jesus Christ, “who surely shall come,” and invite all to “believe on his name” (Helaman 13:6; 14:13). Not everyone will listen, and some may actively oppose us. But those who believe in this message with faith in Christ find that it truly is “glad tidings of great joy” (Helaman 16:14).




Ask your family members and friends to choose a partner to share with them something that they have learned during their study this week. What they share must be something they learned that they understood better this time. 

Or it could be something they were able to apply in their lives , …
… just as or right after they read through the account of Samuel the Lamanite as found in Helaman 13–16 as they read these chapters during this week. 

Maybe you could also share with your family and friends something that you learned while you have studied these chapters in Helaman 13-16.

Helaman 13

The Lord’s servants speak and act according to God’s direction.

You know i don't know if i would have been able to follow what the Lord had asked Samuel the Lamanite to do. Do you remember what id was that the Lord asked Samuel to do? He asked Samuel to return to teach the very same people who threw him out of their midstr beforehand. 




As you have read though Helaman 13:2–5 with your family members and friends were you reminded of anything difficult which the Lord has asked you to do? Three is a good example in verse 4 when the Lord asks him to do something -- to say something to something to someone. 

Maybe you and or your family members and friends may have a few experiences to share with your family study group. After which you and they might think about what blessings have your family members and friends received from following the Lord’s directions?

The prophet points us to Jesus Christ.

You might want to begin this section with a piece of poster board so we can do some charting. You will be searching through Helaman Chapter 13, looking for warning words from this prophet of old. I have only just begun to fill in my chart this is what your chart might look like:




Helaman Chapter 13
Verse 2 Verse  6 Verse 8 Verse 21-22 Verse 26-29
Samuel preached Repentance. He was cast out of the city Nothing but Repentance and Faith on the Lord Jesus Christ will save you Repent or loose the word of God, and withdraw my spirit Hearken unto my words

You may want to remind your family members and friends that even though for the most part Samuel the Lamanite’s warnings  in this chapter were given to those Nephites that were hard-hearted . You must remind them that Helaman 13 has some lessons tucked away in this chapter for all of us. 

You  and your family members and friends can find some personal meaning in the words written in this chapter. You  might want to read aloud any particularly enlightening verses with your family study group. What did you and your family study group find in this chapter?

 In searching through together Helaman 13 you and your family members and friends should be looking for a relevant message for our day. Something that was going on during Helaman’s day and it is the same thing or something similar going on today in our world as well.




If your family members and friends need some help they might want to divide up into pairs and review the following scripture passages:  8, 21–22, 26–29, 31, and 38. After they have looked up their passages have them share with the rest of your little study group what they found and you can add it to your chart:)

After you have searched through Helaman chapter 13 and shared together with your family members and friends the warnings and other teachings from Samuel the Lamanite, a prophet of the Lord, answer together the following question and add your answers to your poster board. What similar messages have prophets given us today?
The following comes directly to you from our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families manual: 

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
Helaman 13
The Lord gives warnings through His prophets.
In the scriptures, prophets are sometimes compared to watchmen on a wall or tower who warn of dangers (see Isaiah 62:6; Ezekiel 33:1–7).
President M. Russell Ballard taught: “Through the centuries, prophets have fulfilled their duty when they have warned people of the dangers before them. The Lord’s Apostles are duty bound to watch, warn, and reach out to help those seeking answers to life’s questions” (“God Is at the Helm,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 25).
As you study and ponder Helaman 13, you could mark the many warnings that Samuel gave. For example, what did he teach about repentance? about humility and wealth? How might these warnings apply to you? What warnings have modern prophets given recently, and what do you feel you should do about those warnings?




Helaman 14; 16:13–23

Signs and wonders can strengthen the faith of those who do not harden their hearts.

As you read through This week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families you may have noticed that it suggests looking for signs that the Lord has given us “that [we] might believe on his name” as we read in Helaman 14:12, as well as we find in other verses throughout these chapters. So please do leep your eyes wide open!!!

• 12 And also that ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent that ye might believe on his name.

Now may be a good time to ask your family members and friends to share with your family study group one way that the information on your chart can help you and/or your family members and /or friends prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. 



Have you thought about the idea that one should look for signs to gain our testimony.  You  could have a discussion about this with your family members and friends, making sure to share with your little family study group that the signs in our lives could very well and most likely 

… be less dramatic and much more personal than those signs which Samuel the Lamanite predicted in his teachings. As you may have noticed there are different reasons for the signs given in the scriptures.

You and your family members and friends could search through  Helaman 14:28–30 to find out what some of those other purposes are? Something else you might want to try with your family members and friends, …

…  is to ask them to share some of the ways that  the Lord has helped each one of them to develop faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. As you read to your family members and friends about just how Samuel the Lamanite’s prophecies were fulfilled.

This alone could be one of the first factors in building their faith in Jesus Christ and in His mission. You could all use Helaman 14 to create a chart on your poster board that lists Samuel the Lamanite’s prophecies,... To make our list, you know just what we need?



That’s right, we need our poster board. Have you got your poster board handy? Okay then, let’s get to it!!  On one side of your chart you will list Samuel’s prophecies about Jesus Christ’s birth and of His death on one side of your chart. 

On the other side the scripture reference where these prophecies were fulfilled. You may want to ask your family members and friends the following question: Why do you think it is important for us to know about these prophecies and their fulfillment? 

If you and your family members need a little help you may want to have them look up the following passages to find the prophecy and the fulfillment of the prophecy and which ones these passages teach us about? 

Remember these are the scripture passages which we are searching at this time in this week’s lesson: 3 Nephi 1:15–21 and 3 Nephi 8:5–25. During your study of the scriptures you may have noticed that even when people see signs and wonders that doesn't mean that they will gain a testimony of Jesus Christ, … 



Or  will cause a person to believe in or develop faith in Jesus Christ from seeing those signs and wonders. There are examples in  Helaman 16 and throughout the scriptures i am sure that will show us that seeing signs and wonders do not make a person believe in Christ. 


You and your family members and friends can search through Helaman Chapter 14 for examples of this -- of people who saw the signs and wonders and yet did not believe in Christ. When you find these examples you can make a list for discussion,  have your family members and friends search the following passage.

 And  answer the following questions: According to Helaman 16:13–23, why did many people in Samuel the Lamanite’s time not believe the signs and prophecies? How does Satan persuade people to “depend upon their own strength and … wisdom” today? (Helaman 16:15). 



What do we learn from this account that can help us avoid similar errors? The following comes directly to you from our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families manual: 

Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
Helaman 13–15
The Lord is merciful to those who repent.
Originally, Samuel was sent to the Nephites to share the joyful news of the Savior’s coming (see Helaman 13:7). Because they rejected him, he returned with stern warnings of the judgments of God. But those warnings consistently included a merciful invitation to repent; look for these invitations throughout Helaman 13–15 (see especially Helaman 13:6, 11; 14:15–19; 15:7–8). How do these invitations apply to you? What do you learn from these verses about repentance? When have you experienced the mercy of God that comes from repentance?

Helaman 15:3’

The Lord chastens those He loves.

You may have noticed that Samuel the Lamanite shared many stern words or chastisements with the people who had hardened their hearts. You will notice in Helaman 15:3  this verse gives us a very unique way of looking at how chastening comes from the Lord. 

You could read this verse with your family members and friends to help them each to understand this unique way of looking  at chastening.  After reading this verse together, ask your family study group if they can each share one piece of evidence they found of Heavenly Father’s love,... 

 And  His mercy within Samuel the Lamanite’s prophecies and or his warnings. Then answer this question : How could chastisement from the Lord be a sign of His love? You could give your family members and friends further help and a better understanding of Helaman 15:3. 



One way you can do this is to share with them three purposes for divine chastening taught by Elder D. Todd Christofferson found here just below:

Purposes of divine chastening.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson shared three purposes of divine chastening (see “As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 97–100):
1. “To persuade us to repent.” See Ether 2:14–15; Doctrine and Covenants 1:27; 93:41–50; 105:6.
2. “To refine and sanctify us.” See Mosiah 23:21–22; Doctrine and Covenants 101:1–5; 136:31.
3. “To redirect our course in life to what God knows is a better path.” See the story of President Hugh B. Brown and the currant bush in Elder Christofferson’s talk (pages 98–99); “The Will of God” (video, ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

You could then separate your family members and friends into pairs of into three small groups if this will work for your family study group dynamics:) After you have your groups chosen, you should have each group discuss one of the three purposes. 

You should use the video and the scripture passages listed above as they can be very helpful. When all groups have finished you might consider asking each group to share with one another anything from their group discussion and searching that helped their group to better understand that our Heavenly Father truly does chasten those whom He loves!!! The following comes directly to you from our Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families manual: 



Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
Helaman 14; 16:13–23
Signs and wonders can strengthen the faith of those who do not harden their hearts.
In Helaman 14, Samuel explained the reason the Lord provided signs of the Savior’s birth and death: “To the intent that ye might believe on his name” (Helaman 14:12). As you study Helaman 14, note the signs of the Savior’s birth in verses 1–8 and the signs of His death in verses 20–28. Why do you think these signs would be effective ways to signify the birth and death of Jesus Christ?
Can you think of any signs the Lord has given to help you believe in Him? For instance, prophets have predicted signs that will appear before the Savior’s Second Coming (see “Signs of the Times,” Guide to the Scriptures, scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Have any of these signs been fulfilled in our day? Other signs that lead to faith in Jesus Christ may be more personal and less dramatic. Take a moment to ponder ways you have witnessed His hand in your life.
What caution is given about signs in Helaman 16:13–23? How can you avoid the attitude of the people described in these verses?
See also Alma 30:43–52; Ronald A. Rasband, “By Divine Design,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 55–57.



Helaman 16
The prophet points us to the Lord.

At this point in your lesson you may consider asking your family members and friends to share with one another just how each of them has gained their own testimony of the importance of following our living prophet, you should also study Helaman 16. 

After you have finished with your study of Chapter 16 in Helaman, Ask  your family members and friends the following questions: What do we learn from those who accepted Samuel’s teachings? What do we learn from those who rejected him? 

How  would  you and your family members and friends use Helaman 16 , or Elder Andersen’s words -- found just below -- in order  to explain to someone who might ask them, why they choose to follow the prophet?



We rejoice to have a prophet.
Elder Neil L. Andersen taught:
“A prophet does not stand between you and the Savior. Rather, he stands beside you and points the way to the Savior. A prophet’s greatest responsibility and most precious gift to us is his sure witness, his certain knowledge, that Jesus is the Christ. Like Peter of old, our prophet declares, ‘[He is] the Christ, the Son of the living God’ [Matthew 16:16; see also John 6:69].
“In a future day, looking back on our mortality, we will rejoice that we walked the earth at the time of a living prophet. At that day, I pray that we will be able to say:
“We listened to him. We believed him. We studied his words with patience and faith. We prayed for him. We stood by him. We were humble enough to follow him. We loved him” (“The Prophet of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 27).

I love this quote from Elder Andersen’s teachings above: “A prophet does not stand between you and the Savior. Rather, he stands beside you and points the way to the Savior.” I hope that you do as well because no matter if you are a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or not. 

You can still choose to listen to and to follow the words of our living prophet. You can decide for yourself what you will do with the information each prophet gives in his messages during each general conference,  This next section comes to you directly from our Come, Follow Me manual: 




Ideas for Personal Scripture Study
Helaman 16
Following the prophet’s counsel brings me closer to the Lord.
Elder Neil L. Andersen taught: “I have found that as I prayerfully study the words of the prophet of God and carefully, with patience, spiritually align my will with his inspired teachings, my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ always increases. If we choose to set his counsel aside and determine that we know better, our faith suffers and our eternal perspective is clouded” (“The Prophet of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 26–27). How do the words and actions of the Nephites in Helaman 16 confirm what Elder Andersen taught? What personal commitments do you feel you should make regarding the Lord’s prophets and their messages?
Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evening
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.
Helaman 13:3–4
What inspires your family about Samuel’s response to the Lord’s command in Helaman 13:3–4? During your family study this week, perhaps you could encourage family members to share impressions that “come into [their] heart.”
Helaman 13:38
The idea that happiness can be found “in doing iniquity” is common in our day. In what ways has living the gospel brought us true happiness?



Helaman 15:3
How does God’s correction show His love for us? Invite family members to humbly ask the Lord what they can do to improve.
Helaman 15:5–8
What do we learn about conversion from the Lamanites described in these verses? How can we follow their example?
Helaman 16:1–3
Would your family enjoy acting out the story of Samuel the Lamanite? After reading the account, maybe family members could take turns standing on a chair and reading some of Samuel’s prophecies while other family members pretend to shoot arrows or throw stones. This could help your family understand how Samuel and the Nephites may have felt. Young children might also enjoy drawing pictures of the story. How can we be like Samuel and share the gospel with others despite our fears?
For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.
Suggested song: “Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus,” Children’s Songbook, 36.

For our lesson next week we are to read 3 Nephi 1–7. It could be important for you and your family members to know that many of these prophecies of which we have read about this week will be fulfilled within these chapters in 3 Nephi. 



I hope that you all enjoy your reading:) Again, I have included the secretion at the bottom of the last age of our lesson for this week on improving personal study. Each one of these sections teach us some very valuable information that can help us to improve our personal study. This  next section comes to you directly from our Come Follow Me manual: 

Improving Personal Study
Look for patterns. A pattern is a plan or model that can be used as a guide for accomplishing a task. In the scriptures, we find patterns that show how the Lord accomplishes His work, such as sending His servants to warn the people.

I do hope and pray that each of you and your family members and friends have enjoyed this lesson, u also pray that each one of you are all healthy and doing well? Remember even though things may get tough for us. 

We need not have fear if we put our trust in and rely on Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Please remember that you are a child of God. He loves you and is always looking out for your best interest. I know that I have struggled throughout the years, …



… but during those struggling days I have learned to keep my faith in my Heavenly Father. I have learned that the very best thing that I can do is to put my faith and my trust in Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. 

I promise you that if you will do this as well your life will change for the better!!!. Until my next post, please do all you can to continue to keep yourself and your family members and friends safe and well.