These original activity sheets that align with the Come, Follow Me
lessons each week are totally free and easy to print from a Google Doc
file. They're designed to print double-sided 2-to-a-page and are perfect for
introducing or reviewing the concepts from the Come, Follow Me lesson.
Our home ward hands them out along with the sacrament programs on
Sundays, others use them in their family or Sunday School lessons. I
hope they add an element of fun to your gospel learning and help to engage even the most reluctant learners. Make sure to come back each week for the latest!
This activity sheet is based on the CFM lesson for April 5th and contains a coloring sheet, word search puzzle, and fill-in-the-blank scripture.
******************************* How fun to have Easter and General Conference on the same weekend! I have lot of Easter ideas posted here on this blog, so rather than reinventing the wheel, I thought I'd just link to a list of Easter resources and ideas that I compiled last year. If you're looking for a little more, here are some scriptures and questions you can ponder together.
SOME SCRIPTURES TO READ THROUGH
FIND PEACE AND JOY THROUGH CHRIST'S ATONEMENT Moses 5:9-10 (Adam - find joy on earth through God’s plan)
Psalms 16:8-11 (Joy comes through walking with Christ)
Psalms 30:2-5 (Giving thanks and praise to Christ brings joy even though we have challenges)
Isaiah 12:1-3 (Joy comes through salvation possible through Christ)
Isaiah 25:9 (Joy through salvation possible through Christ)
Isaiah 40:28–31 (strength renewed and wings as eagles - through Christ)
John 14:27 (Christ gives peace)
John 16:23 (Christ has overcome the world and can help us find peace)| Alma 26:11-12 (Ammon finds joy in miracles wrought by Christ’s strength)
ATONEMENT HELPS US OVERCOME SIN, DEATH, TRIALS, AND WEAKNESSES: D&C 19:15-16 (we will not suffer if we repent)|
Isaiah 61:1-3 (liberty to captives and opening of prison to those that are bound)
Ezekiel 36:26-28 (give us a new heart)
Matthew 11: 28-30 (give rest to the heavy ladened)
Luke 1:49-51 (Lord does great things for us) Romans 8:35-39 (nothing separate us from the love of Christ)
Alma 7:10-11 (Christ suffered for us to know what to comfort us in our trials)
Alma 11:42 (Christ’s atonement looses the bands of temporal death)
Alma 58:11 (Christ’s ministry provides promise of our delivery)
Moroni 10:32-35 (we can become perfect in Christ) *********************************************
SOME QUESTIONS TO PONDER TOGETHER:
Why do we celebrate Easter?
Why is the atonement important for us?
End with D&C 59:23 “But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come.”
When we walk with Christ, we can have joy now, see his miracles, and know that we will eternal life in the world to come!
These original activity sheets that align with the Come, Follow Me
lessons each week are totally free and easy to print from a Google Doc
file. They're designed to print double-sided 2-to-a-page and are perfect for
introducing or reviewing the concepts from the Come, Follow Me lesson.
Our home ward hands them out along with the sacrament programs on
Sundays, others use them in their family or Sunday School lessons. I
hope they add an element of fun to your gospel learning and help to engage even the most reluctant learners. Make sure to come back each week for the latest!
These original activity sheets that align with the Come, Follow Me
lessons each week are totally free and easy to print from a Google Doc
file. They're designed to print double-sided 2-to-a-page and are perfect for
introducing or reviewing the concepts from the Come, Follow Me lesson.
Our home ward hands them out along with the sacrament programs on
Sundays, others use them in their family or Sunday School lessons. I
hope they add an element of fun to your gospel learning and help to engage even the most reluctant learners. Make sure to
come back each week for the latest!
*NOTE: See the post for March 22nd with another coloring sheet and activity page to go with Joseph of Egypt. ******************************* "THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH"
Last time we studied the Old Testament for Come, Follow Me, my husband and I were youth Sunday School teachers. It was the first time we'd had a calling that we did together and we enjoyed the opportunity to study and teach together. We worked really hard to keep the focus of our class on Christ and how
the lessons applied to us in modern times. What worked for our class
may not work for yours, but I encourage you to not get caught up so much
in the story or history, but find a way to make it mean something. This lesson plan was one I've adapted from that time here for the blog.
LESSON PLAN IDEAS We taught the youngest class of 12-13 year olds, so we always threw in some games and light-hearted aspects to the lesson, to keep them engaged. (ITEMS NEEDED: scriptures, slips of paper, writing utensils)
SNOWMAN OR OTHER WORD GAME TO INTRODUCE MAIN TOPICS FROM LESSON {or spotlight them from the word search below} (Snowman is a politically correct version of "hangman" where you'll add a part of the snowman for every wrong guess and the goal is to guess the words before it's complete ) Set up the chalkboard with SNOWMAN with these 4 words: 1. FORGIVENESS (11 letters), 2. TEMPTATION (10 letters), 3. PRAYER (6 letters), 4. CHRIST (6 letters)
After they guess the 4 words, talk about how today's lesson is going to be about Joseph's story from the Old Testament and then you'll find a way to connect each of those words from the story with a modern day application.
Take turns having members of the class pick the next word to discuss. Below I've included some potential questions to ask, activities, and scriptures to read for each word. If you're running low on time, prioritize talking about Christ. PRAYER What kind of person was
Joseph? Faithful. What do you think Joseph did when he was thrown
into a pit by his own brothers? What about when he was sold? What
about when he was a servant? When he was falsely accused and
imprisoned for doing something he didn’t do? Joseph prays for
deliverance.
What would have happened if God had answered Joseph’s prayers the way that he had expected?
Share
story of praying to find out the right thing for our family. It
really seemed like the right thing, but I got an unexpected NO answer.
TEMPTATION What are some of the temptations that Joseph faced? What did he do?
What kinds of temptations do we face today? HAND OUT PIECE OF PAPER AND PEN and have everyone write one thing that tempts them
Go through each item (anonymously) and talk about ways to avoid that temptation .
Not just get away from temptation, but sometimes we need to fill our lives with good things
Have someone recite the 13th article of faith and relate it to temptation
FORGIVENESS ASK FOR A VOLUNTEER: to recount some of the wrongs that had been committed against Joseph (sold into Egypt, coat was stolen, accused of wrongdoing and thrown into prison, etc)
SOME SCRIPTURES TO READ/DISCUSS: Genesis 37:3-4 – (Joseph’s family before forgiveness) Genesis 45: 9-10, 14-15 (Joseph’s family after forgiveness) 45: 7-8 (Joseph recognizes that God’s purposes were at play) 50:20-21 (Joseph recognizes that God’s purposes were at play)
QUESTIONS TO PONDER: What role did forgiveness play in the change in Joseph’s family? How might things have turned out differently if Joseph had not been willing to forgive?
You might invite class members to suggest ways this story could help families today overcome contention and jealousy.
What are the benefits of forgiveness?
If inspired, share a personal story of forgiveness:
CHRIST Joseph becomes a TYPE of Christ. Explain what a "type of Christ" is if they don't know.
Joseph is a type of Christ in 7 ways: 1. 1st born of his mother 2. beloved by his father 3. betrayed 4. avoids temptation 5. gets accused of things he didn’t do 6. washes feet of brothers (Genesis 43:24) 7. both end up being deliverers (Genesis 45: 4-5)
INTERESTING FACT: It was about 22 years between when brothers sold Joseph to when they saw him again.
QUESTION TO PONDER: How have I seen God’s purpose in my life?
These original activity sheets that align with the Come, Follow Me
lessons each week are totally free and easy to print from a Google Doc
file. They're designed to print 2-to-a-page double-sided and are perfect for
introducing or reviewing the concepts from the Come, Follow Me lesson.
Our home ward hands them out along with the sacrament programs on
Sundays, others use them in their family or Sunday School lessons. I
hope they add an element of fun to your gospel learning. Make sure to
come back each week for the latest!
******************************* "Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?"
I feel like learning to trust in the Lord's timing is one of the hardest spiritual journeys I've been on. Of course it's not bad to want what we want, especially when those desires are righteous, but I have to remember that God sees the big picture, while I can only see what's right in front of me. How often in my life have I gotten caught up in how things should be, instead of what God would have them be?
SOME TALKS AND SCRIPTURES ABOUT TRUSTING THE LORD'S TIMING:
This blogpost features a half-sheet activity page to complement the
Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for January 26 - February 1, which
includes more details about the story of Enoch mentioned in Genesis. Click here for an index and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks. ***************************** I, like Enoch, often feel inadequate for the tasks I am called to do. I feel like we have much to learn from his story and I enjoyed creating the activity sheet to reflect some of the lessons we can learn from him.
These activity sheets align with
the Come, Follow Me reading each week, and are great to introduce or
review the material. Our ward hands them out along with the sacrament
programs on Sundays, but they're also perfect for classroom and home
use. They are best printed double-sided and cut in half.
I'm back and ready to go with activity sheets for the Old Testament!
These activity sheets align with
the Come, Follow Me reading each week, and are great to introduce or
review the material. Our ward hands them out along with the sacrament
programs on Sundays, but they're also perfect for classroom and home
use.
Printable activity sheet for Intro to Old Testament (link here, in case it's not showing below) :
These
activity sheets are designed to print double-sided and cut in half.
They're perfect for reviewing or introducing the content found in the
Come, Follow Me reading each week and would be great used in a classroom
or home setting. I have no children at home, nor do I have a calling
working with youth, so I copy these to be handed out with the sacrament
programs each week. Kids, teens, and adults enjoy them...especially when it's a word search!
This blogpost features a link to a lesson (with printable visuals) and a half-sheet activity page to complement the Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for November 17-23, which
includes Doctrine and Covenants 133-134. Click here for an index and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks. ****************************** Here's a fun FHE lesson from back in the day that goes along well with this week's come follow me lesson. It was a favorite of ours when the kids were younger and we used it in primary lessons, family home evenings, and adapted it for teens as well. Hope you all have a great week studying the gospel together.
PRINTABLE LESSON ON PREPARING FOR THE SECOND COMING
Quotes to Ponder On About Temples and Family History
1. "Each [temple] stands as a beacon to the world, an expression of our testimony that God, our Eternal Father, lives, that He desires to bless us and, indeed, to bless His sons and daughters of all generations."—President Thomas S. Monson (a modern prophet who passed away in 2018)
2. “When you were baptized, your ancestors looked down on you with hope. Perhaps after centuries, they rejoiced to see one of their descendants make a covenant to find them and to offer them freedom. In your reunion, you will see in their eyes either gratitude or terrible disappointment. Their hearts are bound to you. Their hope is in your hands. You will have more than your own strength as you choose to labor on to find them."--President Henry B. Eyring (a living apostle)
3. “The temple lies at the center of strengthening our faith and spiritual
fortitude because the Savior and His doctrine are the very heart of the
temple. Everything taught in the temple, through instruction and through
the Spirit, increases our understanding of Jesus Christ. His essential
ordinances bind us to Him through sacred priesthood covenants. Then, as
we keep our covenants, He endows us with His healing, strengthening power”President Russell M. Nelson (a modern prophet who just passed away in 2025)
4. "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? " —1 Corinthians 15:29
5. "The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men." —Psalms 11:4
6. "As we follow the guidance of the prophets and learn how to do our family
history and perform the temple ordinances for our ancestors, we will
experience great joy to the point that we will not want to stop doing
it. The Spirit will flood our hearts, awaken our faculties to do it, and
guide us as we search for the names of our ancestors. But let us
remember that family history is more than just looking for names, dates,
and places. It is uniting families and feeling the joy that comes from
extending to them the ordinances of the gospel." Elder Benjamin de Hoyos (a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
7. "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” --Malachi 4:6
8. "I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually."—I Kings 9:3
****************************** PRINTABLE ACTIVITY SHEET These
activity sheets are designed to print double-sided and cut in half.
They're perfect for reviewing or introducing the content found in the
Come, Follow Me reading each week and would be great used in a classroom
or home setting.
This blogpost features a half-sheet activity page to complement the Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for October 20-26, which includes Doctrine and Covenants 121-123. Click here for an index and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks. ********************** QUOTES "“The Lord proves us in much the same way to strengthen us. That proving
does not come in moments of ease or comfort. It comes in moments when we
feel stretched beyond what we thought we could bear.” Henry B. Eyring, October 2025
“I recognize that, on occasion, some of our most fervent prayers may seem to go unanswered. We wonder, ‘Why?’ I know that feeling! I know the fears and tears of such moments. But I also know that our prayers are never ignored. Our faith is never unappreciated. I know that an all-wise Heavenly Father’s perspective is much broader than is ours. While we know of our mortal problems and pain, He knows of our immortal progress and potential. If we pray to know His will and submit ourselves to it with patience and courage, heavenly healing can take place in His own way and time.”
**************************** GRACE My husband and I just received challenging new callings that seem very daunting and this is a topic that's very near and dear to our hearts right now.
#1 “The Savior’s gift of grace to us is not necessarily limited in time to ‘after’ all we can do. We may receive his grace before, during and after the time when we expend our own efforts” (Bruce C. Hafen, The Broken Heart: Applying the Atonement to Life’s Experiences [1989], 155–56)
#2 “So grace is not a booster engine that kicks in once our fuel supply is exhausted. Rather, it is our constant energy source. It is not the light at the end of the tunnel but the light that moves us through the tunnel. Grace is not achieved somewhere down the road. It is received right here and right now. It is not a finishing touch; it is the Finisher’s touch.” Elder Brad Wilcox
#3 "...every one of us aspires to a more Christlike life than we
often succeed in living. If we admit that honestly and are trying to
improve, we are not hypocrites; we are human. May we refuse to let our
own mortal follies, and the inevitable shortcomings of even the best men
and women around us, make us cynical about the truths of the gospel,
the truthfulness of the Church, our hope for our future, or the
possibility of godliness. If we persevere, then somewhere in eternity
our refinement will be finished and complete—which is the New Testament
meaning of perfection.
I
testify of that grand destiny, made available to us by the Atonement of
the Lord Jesus Christ, who Himself continued “from grace to grace” until in His immortality He received a perfect fulness of celestial glory.
I testify that in this and every hour He is, with nail-scarred hands,
extending to us that same grace, holding on to us and encouraging us,
refusing to let us go until we are safely home in the embrace of
Heavenly Parents." President Jeffrey R. Holland
#4 “The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can be cleansed and consoled but that we can be transformed.”Elder Brad Wilcox
#5 “God’s grace is sufficient. Jesus’s grace is sufficient. It is enough. It is all we need. Don’t quit. Keep trying. Don’t look for escapes and excuses. Look for the Lord and His perfect strength. Don’t search for someone to blame. Search for someone to help you. Seek Christ, and, as you do, you will feel the enabling power and divine help we call His amazing grace.” Elder Brad Wilcox
#6 “Thus, the enabling and strengthening aspect of the Atonement helps us to see and to do and to become good in ways that we could never recognize or accomplish with our limited mortal capacity. I testify and witness that the enabling power of the Savior’s Atonement is real.” Elder David A. Bednar
#7 “In all of these cases there should never be just two options: perfection or giving up. When learning the piano, are the only options performing at Carnegie Hall or quitting? No. Growth and development take time. Learning takes time. When we understand grace, we understand that God is long-suffering, that change is a process, and that repentance is a pattern in our lives. When we understand grace, we understand that the blessings of Christ’s Atonement are continuous and His strength is perfect in our weakness. When we understand grace, we can, as it says in the Doctrine and Covenants, “continue in patience until [we] are perfected”. Elder Brad Wilcox
#8 "Another
element of God’s grace is the opening of the windows of heaven, through
which God pours out blessings of power and strength, enabling us to
achieve things that otherwise would be far beyond our reach. It is by
God’s amazing grace that His children can overcome the undercurrents and
quicksands of the deceiver, rise above sin, and “be perfect[ed] in
Christ.”
Though
we all have weaknesses, we can overcome them. Indeed it is by the grace
of God that, if we humble ourselves and have faith, weak things can
become strong."Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Christ’s arrangement with us is similar to a mom providing music lessons for her child. Mom pays the piano teacher. How many know what I am talking about? Because Mom pays the debt in full, she can turn to her child and ask for something. What is it? Practice! Does the child’s practice pay the piano teacher? No. Does the child’s practice repay Mom for paying the piano teacher? No. Practicing is how the child shows appreciation for Mom’s incredible gift. It is how he takes advantage of the amazing opportunity Mom is giving him to live his life at a higher level. Mom’s joy is found not in getting repaid but in seeing her gift used—seeing her child improve. And so she continues to call for practice, practice, practice.
If the child sees Mom’s requirement of practice as being too overbearing (“Gosh, Mom, why do I need to practice? None of the other kids have to practice! I’m just going to be a professional baseball player anyway!”), perhaps it is because he doesn’t yet see with mom’s eyes. He doesn’t see how much better his life could be if he would choose to live on a higher plane.
“But Brother Wilcox, don’t you realize how hard it is to practice? I’m just not very good at the piano. I hit a lot of wrong notes. It takes me forever to get it right.” Now wait. Isn’t that all part of the learning process? When a young pianist hits a wrong note, we don’t say he is not worthy to keep practicing. We don’t expect him to be flawless. We just expect him to keep trying. Perfection may be his ultimate goal, but for now we can be content with progress in the right direction. Why is this perspective so easy to see in the context of learning piano but so hard to see in the context of learning heaven?
In all of these cases there should never be just two options: perfection or giving up. When learning the piano, are the only options performing at Carnegie Hall or quitting? No. Growth and development take time. Learning takes time. When we understand grace, we understand that God is long-suffering, that change is a process, and that repentance is a pattern in our lives. When we understand grace, we understand that the blessings of Christ’s Atonement are continuous and His strength is perfect in our weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). When we understand grace, we can, as it says in the Doctrine and Covenants, “continue in patience until [we] are perfected” (D&C 67:13).
***********************************
FILL IN THE BLANK SCRIPTURES ABOUT GRACE
Doctrine and Covenants 106:8 "And I will give him grace and ______________ wherewith he may __________; and if he continue to be a faithful witness and a light unto the church I have prepared a _____________ for him in the mansions of my Father. Even so. Amen."
2 Nephi 25:23 "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be ____________ to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are ____________, after all we can do."
Philippians 4:13 "I can do _________ things through _____________ which strengtheneth me."
Moroni 10:32-33 "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny youselvs of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all you might, mind and strenth, then is his grace __________________ for you, that by his grace ye may be ______________ in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the _______________ of _________."
Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is ___________ for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they ________________ themselves before me, and have ___________ in me, then will I make weak things become ______________ unto them."
************************************ AN ORIGINAL ACTIVITY SHEET (PRINTABLE)
These
activity sheets are designed to print double-sided and cut in half.
They're perfect for reviewing or introducing the content found in the
Come, Follow Me reading each week and would be great used in a classroom
or home setting. I have no children at home, nor do I have a calling
working with youth, so I copy these to be handed out with the sacrament
programs each week. Kids, teens, and adults enjoy them...especially when it's a word search!
"Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God." D&C 101:16
One of the things I love to do is hike. Because we lived at sea level for so many years, though, we sometimes get a little intimidated by hiking in the mountains. One day we were trying a new trail that had a pretty significant incline early on in the hike. I was ready to turn around and find a flatter trail, when we came across a group coming down the mountain. I stopped and asked one of them if it was worth the effort to continue on, and his answer surprised me. Instead of a yes or no, he simply said, “You can hear the sounds of peace.”
To be honest, at that point in the hike, the only sound I could hear was my own heavy breathing and I certainly wasn’t feeling very peaceful! But something about that comment inspired us to keep going.
Although the trail didn’t get easier for a while, I noticed that when I shifted my focus from thinking “this is so hard” to listening for the “sounds of peace,” my entire experience changed.
Later, I reflected on that moment and realized it taught me something profound about peace. I used to think peace was just something that fell upon you in quiet, perfect moments. And while that can happen, the more life experiences I have, the more I’ve come to believe that peace is most often something we must actively seek and choose, especially in hard times.
I want to explore that idea a little more.
Elder Waddell (source) taught us in a general conference talk several years ago that, “Peace of mind, peace of conscience, and peace of heart are not determined by our ability to avoid trials, sorrow, or heartache. Despite our sincere pleas, not every storm will change course, not every infirmity will be healed, and we may not fully understand every doctrine, principle, or practice taught by prophets, seers, and revelators. Nevertheless, we have been promised peace–but with a condition....The peace we all seek requires more than {just} a desire. It requires us to act—by learning of Him, by listening to His words, and by walking with Him. We may not have the ability to control all that happens around us, but we can control how we apply the pattern for peace that the Lord has provided—a pattern that makes it easy to think often about Jesus.”
When I look back at different times in my life when I desperately needed peace, I see how different those situations looked on the surface.
There were times when I was making big decisions, or caught in conflict, or facing a huge trial. Other times it was more internal—moments of doubt, guilt, anxiety, or just feeling overwhelmed by life.
In the New Testament, Jesus says:
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
I love that verse—but I’ll be honest: not letting my heart be troubled is easier said than done!
So what is this pattern for peace, and how do we live it and apply it in all the different situations?
Elder Waddell quotes the Savior directly:
“Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me.” D&C 19:23
Learn. Listen. Walk. A simple pattern—with a powerful promise.
As part of my reflections on peace while preparing this, I decided to look back at a couple of experiences in my life where I sought for and received peace and see how that pattern came into play.
One of the biggest experiences was when several years ago my husband and I were preparing talks on the topic of the “Worth of Souls” to share in sacrament meeting. It was a busy season in our lives with 5 young kids at home, so taking time to dive into a gospel topic took a very deliberate effort on our parts. I had a couple hours while everyone was at their various activities, so I turned off my phone and ended up having one of the most memorable spiritual experiences of my life when I read these words from Elder Uchtdorf:
“The most powerful Being in the universe is the Father of your spirit. He knows you. He loves you with a perfect love. God sees you not only as a mortal being on a small planet who lives for a brief season—He sees you as His child. He sees you as the being you are capable and designed to become. He wants you to know that you matter to Him.” President Dieter Uchtdorf, “You Matter to Him,” General Conference, October 2011
I had read them before, but this time the words hit me differently and I became overwhelmed with an immeasurable peace and reassurance that I was a child of God and that the worth of my soul was indeed great. I was overcome with an unmistakable feeling that God was keenly aware of me personally, as well as my family. My heart was touched and I packed up my talk that day with a deep sense of calm and gratitude for God’s love in my life.
Although it was meant to be preparation for a talk, in reality that experience instead became a much needed spiritual preparation for the storm that was about to befall our family. Within a few hours of that powerful, yet very personal spiritual experience, we received the news that our sixteen-year-old son, Spencer, didn’t have mono like we thought, but actually had leukemia. Further tests showed that his leukemia was aggressive and would require many months of fully in-hospital treatment. A few days after our son’s diagnosis, my husband was very unexpectedly laid off from his job.
In a matter of days, our world was turned upside down. But somehow, amid the chaos, we still felt peace—because of that quiet experience I’d had just before the storm hit. I knew deep down inside that whatever happened-- it would be okay. Not that we wouldn’t experience fear, or that we’d enjoy every moment along the way, but that whether our son lived or died or whether my husband found a job soon or not, that God was in the details and that in the end it would be alright. And it was. I had learned of Christ, I had listened, and when it came time to walk with Him, we found those sounds of peace throughout that journey.
Our son is now 30 years old, and that experience still reminds me that peace is not about circumstances—it’s about Christ.
Thankfully, not all my experiences with seeking peace have been that dramatic. More often than not, my need for peace comes in the middle of everyday chaos—when there’s too much to do and not enough time, or when I feel inadequate or stretched thin.
But the pattern still applies in those moments. Learn. Listen. Walk.
Sometimes it can feel like too much. Like how can I take the time to learn, listen, and walk when I already feel too stretched? How can I possibly fit in one more thing? It’s those times in life when I feel like Christ has invited me to think outside the box. Why not do scripture study in the car? Or during my morning workout? Why not pray in the shower when my phone is put away and no one bothers me? Those are things I’m doing anyway and changing the focus from just me to me and Christ can absolutely change the trajectory of my day.
And while sometimes that may feel like “checking a box,” it’s better than not doing it at all. And I’ve learned that He honors even small efforts.
In my personal experience, I think the listening part of the pattern is the hardest. It requires me to quiet my mind, put down my phone, and push past the noise of life and self-doubt—so I can hear those sounds of peace. The temple is a great place to do that. So is being out in nature. But, even in those quiet places, it takes effort. If I’m not deliberately trying to quiet my mind to listen, the noise in my brain can easily drown out the sounds of peace.
In the Old Testament, Isaiah calls Christ the Prince of Peace. And it is through Him that we find the peace our souls long for.
Just like that steep mountain trail, peace often requires us to keep climbing—but if we stay the course, we’ll hear the sounds of peace. Not just in stillness, but in the midst of the struggle.
And those sounds—His peace—can carry us through anything.
********************************** PEACE IN CHRIST MUSIC VIDEO
********************************** ORIGINAL ACTIVITY PAGE
These
activity sheets are designed to print double-sided and cut in half.
They're perfect for reviewing or introducing the content found in the
Come, Follow Me reading each week and would be great used in a classroom
or home setting. I have no children at home, nor do I have a calling
working with youth, so I copy these to be handed out with the sacrament
programs each week. Kids, teens, and adults enjoy them...especially when it's a word search!
There are several verses that mention "light and truth" in Doctrine and Covenants 93, but the one that stood out to me was:
"The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth." D&C 93:36
Light lends itself well to many gospel analogies, but my favorite are when compared to hope and/or truth. To me, it just makes it easier to understand these concepts to compare it with something as familiar as light.
Twice, our family has traveled to see a solar eclipse in totality and twice I've been in awe at the power the light has to dispel the darkness, even when it's only a tiny sliver. I've thought of that power many times in my life when I feel like hope and truth are feeling elusive for whatever reason.
I love this quote from Elder Uchtdorf:
“Night is nothing more than a shadow. Even in the darkest of nights, the sun does not cease to radiate its light. It continues to shine as bright as ever. But half of the earth is in darkness. The absence of light causes darkness. When the darkness of night falls, we do not despair and worry that the sun is extinguished. We do not postulate that the sun is not there or is dead. We understand that we are in a shadow, that the earth will continue to rotate, and that eventually the rays of the sun will reach us once again. Darkness is not an indication that there is no light. Most often, it simply means we’re not in the right place to receive the light….”
It reminds me, that just because I happen to be standing in a shadow in my life's journey, that the sun still shines. God's love is just as real as it ever was and I just need keep on moving toward whatever sliver of light I can see!
John 8:12: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in [the] darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
D&C 84:45: "For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ." D&C 93:36 "The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth."
Matthew 6:22: "The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light."
Matthew 5:16: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
2 Nephi 31:20: "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."
TEACH ME TO WALK IN THE LIGHT / LOVE ONE ANOTHER MEDLEY
AN ORIGINAL CFM ACTIVITY SHEET THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITY SHEET LINK (in case it's not showing below)
********************* SEEK LEARNING AND WISDOM, BY STUDY AND FAITH
I've tried to make these two verses in the Doctrine and Covenants a sort of mantra for my life.
D&C 88:118-119 And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith. Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house,
even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house
of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;
This is a bit embarrassing to admit, but there's not a single item listed in these scriptures that comes naturally to me. I daresay that I would even consider most of these traits my weaknesses and I've had to deliberately work to incorporate them into my life. But I'd like to think that over the course of my life, I've lived Ether 12:27 many times over (see below) and made some of them my strengths. And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. Ether 12:27
Organizing myself and establishing a house of order is probably something I'll be struggling with my whole life, but one of the areas which I've managed to turn into a strength is to "seek diligently out of the best books and to seek learning, even by study and also by faith." I used to feel guilty when I took the time to read and when I did read, I would read fluffy things that didn't enrich me, because those were books I could read quickly. At some point I realized that I was a better parent/ friend / human when I learned about the world by reading good books and I have definitely gained much wisdom through life experiences, but even more by reading the words of others.
TOO MUCH INFORMATION
In this day and age we are inundated with far more information than we could ever use and one of the greatest challenges we face when seeking wisdom and learning is sorting through this bombardment of information and determining what is of value to our lives and what isn’t worth our time. Seeking wisdom in this overload of information can be a little like searching for the proverbial needle in a haystack unless we can find connections that make it more meaningful.
LEARNING THROUGH LIFE EXPERIENCES IS EFFECTIVE, BUT OFTEN EXTRA PAINFUL
Sometimes we make those meaningful connections during our studies and sometimes they come to us through painful life experiences. For instance take this experience from when I was a young child about 4 years old. I did not yet have my own bike and I begged my dad to take me for a ride on his bike. He was reluctant, but after much begging eventually put me up on the crossbar of his bike, carefully held on to me with one arm and steered with the other and took me for a short ride. Although the distance we traveled was not far, it was long enough for me to weary of holding my legs up and for me to let my foot dangle into the spokes of the bike, breaking my leg in the process.
Fast forward a couple of years when the pain of the broken bone had been forgotten and I once again begged my dad to take me for a ride on his bike. My begging skills must have been pretty persuasive, because a little while later we found ourselves reliving the past--right down to the foot in the spoke and the broken bone--although this time it was my collarbone instead of my leg. Two broken bones was enough though and finally we made the connection that two people on a bicycle built for one is a recipe for pain.
This example, though painful to learn, was relatively insignificant in the way of life lessons. While physical safety is important, lessons of eternal nature are far more important in the long run. As with lessons about how to avoid broken bones, we can learn these eternal lessons in a variety of ways. Real life experiences are among the most powerful ways to learn a lesson, unfortunately (and fortunately) there are only so many life experiences one person can have and we must turn to other sources to continue our search for the meaningful connections that lead to wisdom. We must open our hearts in faith and seek them by learning from the words of others, .
LEARNING--CONNECTIONS -- WISDOM
Most scientific discoveries were made when some scientist put two ideas together and connected them into something bigger. Benjamin Franklin made the connection that lightning and electricity were related and through that connection has saved countless buildings from destruction over the years with his simple but important invention of the lightning rod.
Not too many years after Benjamin Franklin’s earth-shaking connection, an even greater connection was made by a young boy who happened to be studying the Bible in the spring of 1820. He was the kind of young man who didn’t just read the scriptures; he had an inclination to feast upon them, to study them, and to ponder them in his heart. One day he read a passage of scripture from the book of James:
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:5–6).
Joseph described his reaction in the following words: “Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. … I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God”.
Joseph’s inspired ability to make this connection led him into the Sacred Grove. From thence, he became an instrument in the hands of God in bringing forth modern scriptures, in restoring the true church of Jesus Christ and the gospel in its fulness, and in restoring the power to perform eternal ordinances which enable us to return into the presence of a loving Heavenly Father. Joseph Smith’s connection not only shook the earth, it opened the heavens!
MAKING A WEAK THING INTO A STRENGTH THROUGH LEARNING
While our son was in the hospital for months on end several years ago, I had the unique opportunity to devote more of my time than I normally could have at home, to reading and to personal study. During that time, the hospital room truly became my Sacred Grove and I was led to devote much of my study time to reading Ensign articles, parts of the Old and New Testaments and the Book of Mormon in its entirety.
Though that time was very difficult, it was hard not to feel God’s peace through these experiences and I was so grateful for that time in a lonely hospital room when I feel like that weakness of mine, truly became a strength.
******************** SOME QUOTES ABOUT LEARNING
“If we let ourselves, we shall always be waiting for some distraction or other to end before we can really get down to our work. The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable. Favorable conditions never come.”
― C.S. Lewis “The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you.”
******************* PRINTABLE ACTIVITY SHEET (AN ORIGINAL) These
activity sheets are designed to print double-sided and cut in half.
They're perfect for reviewing or introducing the content found in the
Come, Follow Me reading each week and would be great used in a classroom
or home setting.
If you like what you see here, be sure to come back every week for more Come, Follow Me thoughts and teaching ideas. I wouldn't mind if you left me a comment too. I spend a lot of time on these each week and a little feedback goes a long way to keeping me going!
WHAT IS THE OATH AND COVENANT OF THE PRIESTHOOD? This lesson plan was designed to teach to a mixed group of males and females or just to females. It will likely be way too much information for one lesson, so prayerfully adjust it to the attention span and understanding of your group.
DISCUSSION STARTER:
ASK YOUR STUDENTS TO NAME SOME THINGS WITH WORLDLY POWER: Some potential examples could be: waterfalls, certain people, tornado, superheroes, fast cars, dams, hurricanes, etc. There are no wrong answers.
ASK: HOW DO PEOPLE OF THE WORLD GAIN POWER? By having lots of money, by being loud, by stepping on people's toes, by being charismatic speakers, etc.
SHOW PICTURE OF THE PLANET EARTH--
READ THIS QUOTE: “Brothers and sisters, the power by which the heavens and earth were
and are created is the priesthood…Not only is the priesthood the power
by which the heavens and the earth were created, but it is also the
power the Savior used in His mortal ministry to perform miracles, to
bless and heal the sick, to bring the dead to life, and, as our Father’s
Only Begotten Son, to endure the unbearable pain of Gethsemane and
Calvary—thus fulfilling the laws of justice with mercy and providing an
infinite Atonement…The same priesthood power that created worlds,
galaxies, and the universe can and should be part of our lives to
succor, strengthen, and bless our families, our friends, and our
neighbors—in other words, to do the things that the Savior would do if
He were ministering among us today.”M. Russell Ballard
WRITE THE FOLLOWING WORDS ON THE BOARD: Motherhood Fatherhood Childhood Neighborhood
ASK: WHAT DO YOU THINK THE SUFFIX "HOOD" MEANS?
ANSWER (in case no one knows): Hood = Added as a suffix to a word it shows a current condition or state.
RELATE TO THE WORDS ON THE BOARD:
Motherhood = A condition or state of being a Mother Fatherhood = A condition or state of being a Father Childhood = A condition or state of being a child Neighborhood = The condition or state of being neighbors in a proximity
ASK: CONSIDERING THIS, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE WORD PRIESTHOOD MEANS?
ANSWER: The quality or state of being a Priest.
ASK: WHAT IS A PRIEST? LOOK UP: “Priest” in the Bible Dictionary and read the first sentence together. DISCUSS THE CONCEPT: Priests are mediators between us and God. Through their various (and very organized) duties, they help save us.
RELATE IT BACK TO THE ORIGINAL DEFINITION: Priesthood = The condition or state of being mediators between man and God and helping save us.
READ QUOTE: “We are not accustomed to speaking of women having the authority of the
priesthood in their Church callings, but what other authority can it be?
When a woman—young or old—is set apart to preach the gospel as a
full-time missionary, she is given priesthood authority to perform a
priesthood function. The same is true when a woman is set apart to
function as an officer or teacher in a Church organization under the
direction of one who holds the keys of the priesthood. Whoever functions
in an office or calling received from one who holds priesthood keys
exercises priesthood authority in performing her or his assigned
duties.” Dallin H. Oaks
READ ABOUT THE OATH AND COVENANT OF THE PRIESTHOOD in the scriptures:
Doctrine and Covenants 84:35-40 (Oath and the Covenant)
And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord; For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me;And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father;And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him.And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood. Therefore, all those who receive the priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of my Father, which he cannot break, neither can it be moved.
WATCH THIS ~4 MINUTE VIDEO ABOUT THE OATH AND COVENANT OF THE PRIESTHOOD AND HOW IT APPLIES TO MEN AND WOMEN (or if your group is too young, then summarize it) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAPACYiU-DQ&t=18s
READ THIS QUOTE: “A man may open the drapes so the warm sunlight comes into the room, but
the man does not own the sun or the light or the warmth it brings. The
blessings of the priesthood are infinitely greater than the one who is
asked to administer the gift.”Neil L. Andersen SUMMARIZE A FEW CONCEPTS OF THE OATH AND COVENANT:
We receive the holy priesthood by an “oath and covenant.” This means
that Heavenly Father gives us His oath (guarantee) that we can have the
power and blessings of the priesthood if we covenant (promise) with
Him to do certain things. “Therefore, all those who receive the
priesthood, receive this oath and covenant of [the] Father, which he
cannot break, neither can it be moved” (D&C 84:40). Elder Paul B. Pieper taught: “It is interesting that in the oath and covenant of the priesthood , the Lord uses the verbs obtain andreceive. He does not use the verb ordain.
It is in the temple that men and women—together—obtain and receive the
blessings and power of both the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods”. In verse 38, it says that we can obtain ALL that the Father hath and that is a promise to men and women!
HARK BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE LESSON AND TALK ABOUT HOW THE PRIESTHOOD HELPS US BECOME POWERFUL IN GOD'S EYES: FINISH UP WITH THIS QUOTE "...We must each walk through life on our own, we don’t have to do it
alone. Four principles explain why:
First, God wants a powerful people.
Second, He gives His power to those who are faithful.
Third, we have a sacred obligation to seek after the power of God and then to use that power as He directs.
Fourth, when we have the power of God with us, nothing is impossible.
I repeat, God wants a powerful people. Ammon taught that “a man may have great power given him from God”, and Nephi prophesied that we of the latter days would be “armed with . . . the power of God in great glory”. There are many evidences that God wants a powerful people. This is
one reason that at baptism we become eligible to receive “the gift and
the power of the Holy Ghost” and the privilege of constant access to the third member of the Godhead. This is one reason that 12-year-old boys may be ordained to the
Aaronic Priesthood, which holds “the key of the ministering of angels” .This is one reason every worthy adult may go to the temple, from which he or she emerges surrounded and protected by God’s power. God wants a powerful people. No one better understands that Satan is
real and that he has power. No one better understands that none of us is
smart enough or resilient enough to spar with Satan and survive
spiritually." Sheri Dew
These
activity sheets are designed to print double-sided and cut in half.
They're perfect for reviewing or introducing the content found in the
Come, Follow Me reading each week and would be great used in a classroom
or home setting. I have no children at home, nor do I have a calling
working with youth, so I copy these to be handed out with the sacrament
programs each week. Kids, teens, and adults enjoy them...especially when it's a word search!
*********************** Make sure to bookmark this site and come back each week and check out my Come, Follow Me resources and activity sheets!
