CFM for May 8-14, 2023 {Matthew 19-20; Mark 10; Luke 18}

 This blogpost is dedicated to helping parents and church teachers teach the Come, Follow Me curriculum for the week of May 8-14, 2023.   You will find a printable activity page, quotes, videos, and teaching ideas.  Feel free to add your own in the comments. 

Click here to see an index of all my CFM posts.

PRINTABLE ACTIVITY PAGE:  This 1/2 page double-sided activity sheet is perfect for handing to kids during sacrament meeting, as an attention getting activity in a class, or as a review for families.  My teens  {and husband }love it when there's a word search!  


HANDS-ON TEACHING IDEA: 

This video has a great hands-on / visual  way to teach about the Parable of the Laborers.  It's not taught from an LDS perspective, but the overall principles are good and easily adjustable to fit with church doctrine.  You could put a small picture of Christ in the bottom of the bag, instead of the cross.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rat_wlLUnCw

QUOTES:
"Brothers and sisters, there are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those.

Furthermore, envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving. Obviously we suffer a little when some misfortune befalls us, but envy requires us to suffer all good fortune that befalls everyone we know! What a bright prospect that is—downing another quart of pickle juice every time anyone around you has a happy moment! To say nothing of the chagrin in the end, when we find that God really is both just and merciful, giving to all who stand with Him “all that he hath,”2 as the scripture says. So lesson number one from the Lord’s vineyard: coveting, pouting, or tearing others down does not elevate your standing, nor does demeaning someone else improve your self-image. So be kind, and be grateful that God is kind. It is a happy way to live."  Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Laborers in the Vineyard," April 2012

"I would like to suggest that each of you participate in a spiritual exercise sometime soon, perhaps even tonight while saying your prayers. Humbly ask the Lord the following question: “What is keeping me from progressing?” In other words: “What lack I yet?” Then wait quietly for a response. If you are sincere, the answer will soon become clear. It will be revelation intended just for you.

Perhaps the Spirit will tell you that you need to forgive someone. Or you may receive a message to be more selective about the movies you watch or the music you listen to. You may feel impressed to be more honest in your business dealings or more generous in your fast offerings. The possibilities are endless.

The Spirit can show us our weaknesses, but He is also able to show us our strengths. Sometimes we need to ask what we are doing right so that the Lord can lift and encourage us. When we read our patriarchal blessings, we are reminded that our Heavenly Father knows our divine potential. He rejoices every time we take a step forward. To Him, our direction is ever more important than our speed.

Be persistent, brothers and sisters, but never be discouraged. We will have to go beyond the grave before we actually reach perfection, but here in mortality we can lay the foundation. “It is our duty to be better today than we were yesterday, and better tomorrow than we are today.”9

If spiritual growth is not a priority in our lives, if we are not on a course of steady improvement, we will miss out on the important experiences that God wants to give us." Larry Lawrence, "What Lack I Yet?", October 2015

VIDEOS: 

Jesus Christ and the Rich Young Man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4FnoXC9xIA

The Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUBf5rRSyO0

Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YehxfK8oXx0



Enjoy learning the gospel together! 

CFM for May 1-7 {Luke 12-17; John 11}

 This post contains a printable activity sheet, some quotes, teaching ideas, and links to videos which complement the material found in the Come, Follow Me reading for May 1-7, 2023.   Enjoy teaching your families and classes about these powerful stories from the New Testament!  

Click here to see an index of all my CFM posts

PRINTABLE ACTIVITY SHEET:  this 1/2 page activity sheet would be great as a handout for kids in sacrament meetings, as a review for families, or as an attention getter in a church class. 

QUOTES: 

"This type of gratitude transcends whatever is happening around us. It surpasses disappointment, discouragement, and despair. It blooms just as beautifully in the icy landscape of winter as it does in the pleasant warmth of summer.

When we are grateful to God in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise. In pain, we can glory in Christ’s Atonement. In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven’s embrace.

We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly shortsighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?

Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges." Dieter Uchtdorf, "Grateful in Any Circumstances", April 2014

"Now, if for any reason you individually or as a family have lost your way, then you need only apply the Savior’s teachings from Luke, chapter 15, to correct your course. Here the Savior tells of the effort of a shepherd searching for his lost sheep, of a woman searching for a lost coin, and of the welcome received by the prodigal son returning home. Why did Jesus teach these parables? He wanted us to know that none of us will ever be so lost that we cannot find our way again through His Atonement and His teachings. As you seek to live the gospel and doctrine of Christ, the Holy Ghost will guide you and your family. You will have a spiritual GPS to tell you always where you are and where you are going."  M. Russell Ballard, "That the Lost May Be Found", April 2012

TEACHING  IDEAS:   Hot and cold game!  Hide something valuable (ideally something the kids will be excited about, like some treats or something) and have the kids start looking for them.   Let them know when they are hot  (close) or cold (far away).  Use this as a launching point for discussion of the lost sheep, or the prodigal son. 

VIDEOS:  

Jesus Gives the Parables of the Prodigal Son
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_QCQ5i7NKs




The Prodigal Son
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCOPOrxU0Nc

 

Russell M Nelson on the Healing Power of Gratitude: 
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2020-11-1100-president-russell-m-nelson-on-the-healing-power-of-gratitude?lang=eng

 

SUPER SHORT General Conference Talk Summaries {Sunday Sessions/April 2023}

Here are the summaries I came up with for the talks from the Sunday sessions of General Conference in April 2023. This was a great exercise to keep me focused during the talks and I hope they're helpful to someone else out there.   

Disclaimer:   These notes are rough and there was no attempt to be grammatically correct; they're simply summaries of each talk.  

Click here for my  summaries from the Saturday session of April 2023.  

SUNDAY MORNING:

D. TODD CHRISTOFFERSON

  BE ONE IN CHRIST.
 Begin with yourself to find oneness, Christ will help us find unity, love one another as we love ourself AND as He loves us.  Story of BH Roberts and his experience being offended by church leaders and eventually seeking unity and peace again.  Unity doesn't require sameness, but it does require harmony.  

CAMILLE N. JOHNSON
JESUS CHRIST CAN LIGHTEN OUR LOADS
 What heavy "rocks" are we carrying in our backpacks?  Yoke yourself to the Savior and gain His strength to help you lift your life's burdens.  Sometimes we are too prideful and we try to do life alone... but we need the Savior!  Repentance is what relieves us of the rocks of sin.  The atonement can help us find forgiveness for wrongs that have been committed against us, thereby relieving us of more heavy rocks that burden us. Jesus Christ IS relief. The relief he offers us is everlasting. 

ULISSES SOARES
EMBRACE CHARITY AND SHUN CONTENTION
 Heal contention that may be weighing us down.  Christ is the best example of charity. Seek to develop the characteristics of charity {love, patience, humility, etc}, so that we can treat others the way Christ would.  Satan rejoices when we have discord and contention.  The gospel represents good tidings of great joy--don't get caught up in the contentions of the world. Joy, peace, and spiritual growth can be ours if we turn to Him and seek to have charity. 

KAZUHIKO YAMASHITA
PATRIARCHAL BLESSINGS ARE FOR ALL!
 Patriarchal blessings are for all ages (with no maximum age).   They are NOT just for those preparing to serve missions.   If you have a desire, do not be afraid to pursue and prepare to receive a patriarchal blessings.  Two purposes of Patriarchal Blessings:   1.  personal counsel from the Lord to you  2.  declares your lineage in the House of Israel.  It's a message from your Heavenly Father.  It is a guide, but it's not going to map out your life.

NEIL L. ANDERSEN
LET OUR THOUGHTS BE ON CHRIST
When Alma the Younger caught hold of Jesus Christ, his heart was changed. Let our thoughts be circumscribed of Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives.   We are spirit children of God.  View the world through the lens of our love for Christ and let go of things that don't fit his mission. He will bring us hope, peace, and love to all parts of our lives. 

KEVIN R. DUNCAN
 CHRIST'S WORK  IS DONE IN TEMPLES
Families can be united in the temple.   Think about the doctrine of eternal families through the lens of a nonmember or new member.  Every time we attend the temple and live up to our covenants, it is a protection from the adversary.  You will feel joy as you serve in the temple. 

RUSSELL M. NELSON
FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST AND TREAT OTHERS WITH CIVILITY AND RESPECT
 We live in an era of incivility where people feel like it is okay to vilify those who do not agree with them.   Contention never leads to inspired solutions. How compassionately do we treat other people...including those who do not agree with us?  True disciples of Christ build, lift, inspire, and encourage others.   Contention is evil and drives away the spirit--become a peacemaker now and always.  Those who foster contention are taking a page out of Satan's playbook.  If there is anything virtuous, lovely, praiseworthy, or of good report...these are the things we should speak to and about other people.   Differences of opinion are a part of life; manage them with dignity and respect.  Charity is the antidote to contention.    The Lord will magnify your efforts and the Lord invites ALL to come until Him!  

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

DALLIN H. OAKS
FIND TRUTH AND GET TO KNOW CHRIST IN THE SCRIPTURES
 Christ will lighten our loads.   Quoted lots and lots of scriptures about Christ, peace, love, etc.  

M. RUSSELL BALLARD
THINGS THAT MATTER MOST
 We need a relationship with Christ and this is of utmost importance.   Family relationships are also among those things that matter most (friends, family, and ward families are included in this).  We should use the spirit as we nurture these important relationships. Don't be afraid to testify of truth.  Testify to those we love. 

RONALD A. RASBAND
HERALD THE COMING OF CHRIST WITH THE PALMS OF DISCIPLESHIP
 The story of Ghanaians celebrating Palm Sunday in a beautiful way.   1. Prophecy--old testament prophets foretold Christ's coming 2.  the companionship of the Holy Ghost--we need the Holy Ghost to recognize truths, 3. Discipleship is unfailing commitment and love of God 4.  the atonement of Jesus Christ.  Fill your buckets with oil, by seeking the living water of Christ.

VERN P. STANFILL
PERFECTIONISM IS NOT THE SAME AS BEING "PERFECT IN CHRIST"
 Don't obsess with perfection.  Perfectionism is not the same as being "perfect in Christ".   Our best is good enough with the grace of our Savior. Story of harvest on the farm and the machine that left seeds behind.   Then the birds came and ate the rest. Used as analogy about God knowing the overarching plan.  Our clumsy efforts can lead to miracles.   Comparison to others is not emulation and can be destructive.  It is only through Christ that we can be made perfect.  

W. MARK BASSETT
DO ALL THAT WE CAN DO AND CHRIST WILL DO WHAT ONLY HE CAN DO
 That which the disciples could do themselves (rolling away the stone, removing the grave clothes, etc) and then Christ did what only he could do (raising Lazarus from the dead).  WE need to do all we can do.  The Lord loves effort.   When we embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, the blessings comes....sometimes later than we expect, but they will come. 

AHMAD S . CORBITT
JESUS CHRIST IS OUR SAVIOR
 Jesus Christ is our Savior and is an integral part of the eternal plan of happiness. We come unto Christ by following the Doctrine of Christ. The Doctrine of Christ is powerful and can heal nations. Do not speak ill of church leaders to our children, but teach them instead to turn to Christ.  

DAVID A. BEDNAR
ABIDE IN THE SAVIOR'S LOVE AND HE WILL ABIDE IN US
 in Enoch, it says "Go forth and do as I have commanded thee and no man shall pierce thee".= Do our best in our callings and don't worry about what other people think.     Come unto Christ with conviction and endurance and stay!  Truly feast upon the words of Christ to abide in his love. Try to make Christ the center of our lives.  Are the words of the Savior written in our hearts?   Plant the seed of faith in our hearts and allow the tree of faith to grow.  Power, guidance, protection, and peace are promised when we come unto Christ and walk with him.  Believe that the promises of Christ are for you individually.

RUSSELL M. NELSON
JESUS IS THE REASON WE BUILD TEMPLES
 Study the last week of Christ's life leading up to Easter, as well as His visit to the Americas in the Book of Mormon.  It is through Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven.  Jesus is the reason we build temples.   New temples will be built:  1. Guatemala, 2. Peru, 3 & 4. Brazil x2,  5 & 6. Philippines x2, 7. Indonesia, 8. Hamburg, Germany, 9. Lethbridge, AB, Canada 10. San Jose, CA  11. Bakersfield, CA  12. Springfield, MO 13. Charlotte, NC 14. Winchester, VA, 15. Harrisburg, PA 

SUPER SHORT Talk Summaries of General Conference Saturday Sessions: April 2023

A few years ago, I challenged myself to take notes at General Conference in a way that I could summarize each talk into one sentence or phrase.  It was a challenge that helped me to focus in what the overall message was instead of getting bogged down in writing everything down.   I haven't done it that way for a while, but today I decided to try it that way again! 

So...here you go!    Here are my super short summaries of each of the talks given at General Conference today (Saturday).   Please ignore the grammar and all the run-in sentences and enjoy the messages shared!   I'll add links to each of the talks once they're published.  

CLICK HERE FOR MY SUMMARIES OF THE SUNDAY SESSIONS. 

SATURDAY MORNING:

GARY STEVENSON

  WE NEED MORE CHRIST AND THE BOOK OF MORMON IN OUR EASTER CELEBRATIONS.
 Make sure we are studying the Book of Mormon always, but it’s also one of the best Easter stories ever. 3 Nephi 11:1-17

BONNIE CORDON
NEVER GIVE UP AN OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY OF CHRIST
 Look for Christ everywhere. He didn’t invite his followers to follow from a distance; he invited them to gather around and to touch his wounds.  Never give up an opportunity to testify of Christ, We can feel his power every day through the power of the Holy Ghost

CARL COOK
   SOMETIMES WE FEEL LIKE RUNNING AWAY; RELY ON THE SPIRIT AND JUST KEEP GOING WITH FAITH
 Talked of the stake conference with Elder Packer and having to give 7 talks. Rely on the Spirit--in how you minister and how you live your life.  Christ will help us over the rocky parts of life, 

GERRIT GONG 
 FAITHFUL CONSISTENCY IN MINISTERING BRINGS MIRACLES:
 minister to the ministers, faithful consistency brings miracles, we need to be building relationships, be like the lord of the vineyard in the parable and ask “What more can we do?” Ministering blesses generations, Christ is ministering personified and we should build relationships ONE BY ONE,

QUENTIN L. COOK
LET’S JOIN IN THE WORK OF THE GATHERING OF ISRAEL 
 eternal blessings are for all, The gathering of Israel is the greatest challenge and mission on the earth, , the gathering of Israel is happening now, The Book of Mormon is a tool for gathering Israel, members of the church are to love, share, invite, and help to bring the gospel and gather Israel, 62,544 missionaries currently serving, SAFELY GATHERED HOME

ALLEN D. HAYNIE
   WE ARE NEVER SPIRITUALLY AT RISK WHEN WE FOLLOW THE PROPHET
we are never spiritually at risk when following prophetic counsel, it is no small thing to have a prophet of God in our midst, do not use the words of past prophets to dismiss the words of living prophets, when we ignore the teaching of the prophets; we are denying the blessings that would come otherwise,

HENRY B. EYRING
   THE MIRACLE OF FINDING PERSONAL PEACE
If you love me, keep my commandments, don’t be troubled or afraid, 5 truths about John 14:27: 1. the gift of peace is given AFTER we have faith 2. The holy ghost will come and abide with us 3. As we keep our covenants, we can better for the love of God for us and each other 4. Keeping the lord’s commandments requires more than obedience; we also need to love. 5. The lord loves us enough to pay the price of our sins. the adversary wants to keep us from peace (seeks to sow hatred and contention), the Lord loves us and always has


SATURDAY AFTERNOON:

DALLIN H. OAKS

  SUSTAINING OF OUR LEADERS.
New YW General Presidency called:  Emily Belle Freeman, Tamara W. Runia, Andrea Munoz Spannaus
New YM General Counselors:  Bradley Wilcox, Michael T. Nelson

JARED B. LARSEN

  REPORT OF CHURCH AUDIT
 

DALE G. RENLUND

THE COVENANT PATH LEADS US TO BACK TO CHRIST
 We have to learn to go against the natural man (like the Tidal Bore that goes against the Amazon). Through the covenant path, we intentionally and incrementally take upon ourselves the name of Christ.  The covenant path leads us to the ordinances of the temple, we should seek to learn, repent, find hope, comfort, and joy in amidst life's challenges.  

PETER F. MEURS

  JESUS OFFERS COMPASSION, HEALING, REDEMPTION, AND MERCY.
 Jesus sees us through the lens of his atonement and loves us unconditionally, Jesus is filled with compassion for each of us, shared the story of how he fell asleep while driving and caused a horrible accident, has had to learn how find forgiveness, repentance, and replacing guilt with peace.

RANDALL K. BENNETT

     STUDY AND TREASURE YOUR PATRIARCHAL BLESSINGS
 Patriarchal blessings help us to focus and to experience joy,  they can bring us strength and help us to do better and be better, if you have not received yours yet, you should seek to receive one.   Study and treasure your patriarchal blessings. they can bring us comfort, peace, hope, joy, guidance, and increase faith

CRAIG C. CHRISTENSEN

     JOY IS FOUND BY THOSE WHO COME UNTO JESUS AND HIS ATONEMENT
 Joy can be found in repentance, joy > passing feelings of contentment, the gospel is a message of hope, joy is bought by the blood of Jesus Christ, repentance requires change and discomfort, being filled with the Holy Ghost=joy, helping others repent and find joy will bring us much joy as well, God's great plan of happiness is for us to find eternal joy, Christ is the way, the truth, and the light

    EVAN A. SCHMUTZ

     TRUST THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST MORE THAN THE PHILOSOPHIES OF MEN
Doctrine of Christ is much more profound than the summary of its 5 key parts, we must root it in the marrow of our bones and invite the Holy Ghost to engrave it in our hearts, make prayer a priority in your lives, set aside the shiny things of the world to focus on the Doctrine and Christ, only in Christ we find truth and lasting fulfillment.  

BENJAMIN DE HOYOS

     UNITING FAMILIES {PAST AND PRESENT} IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE GOSPEL
 since the appearance of Elijah in the Kirtland, the hearts of the children have been turning to their fathers and we have been a temple building people.  Temples are a sign of the true church.  learn from our ancestors,  family history consultants are there to help, family history is MORE than looking for names, date, and places...it's uniting families!   The temple is central to our faith. 

DIETER F. UCHTDORF

         CONSISTENCY, PERSONAL REVELATION, AND RELIANCE ON CHRIST ARE THE KEYS TO EFFECTIVE PARENTING
 We often learn as much about faith, hope, and charity from our children as they learn from us.  The Lord loves parents, he stands beside us as we seek to teach and lead our children in righteousness.   Jesus Christ is the strength of parents.  A parents' love for their children is one of the strongest forces on earth and is the closest thing to God's love.  Parents can provide a steady, daily ongoing influence for good in their children's lives.  Consistency is the key!  You are laying the foundation of a great work.  God will help you see your children as he sees them.  We all worry about not being good enough.  With God, he will make weak things become strong.  He will help us to be better!   Like flowers bloom in their own time, so do children.  All we can do is to enrichen their soil, water well, and help them to find the sunshine!   Jesus Christ is the strength of families, youth, and parents!  

SATURDAY EVENING

MARK A. BRAGG

    TAKE A DEEP BREATH, LOOK TO CHRIST, AND DEVELOP SPIRITUAL POISE 
 Focus on what matters most in difficult situations to find spiritual poise.  Christ is the ultimate example of divine poise...not my will, but thine be done.  Don't be discouraged if you have difficulty finding Christlike poise.  Don't compare ourselves to others.   We are children of God, children of the covenant, and disciples of Christ.  We are divine spiritual beings having a mortal experience.  Poise comes when we see things from an eternal perspective and understanding our divinity. It is through Christ and his atonement that all good things come into our lives.  

MILTON DA ROCHA CAMARGO

    MAKE OUR HOMES A SANCTUARY OF FAITH AND GOSPEL LEARNING
 Jesus Christ has the solutions to our weaknesses and issues.  We often lose sight of Christ.  Covenants help us to focus on what's important.  Covenant keeping invites us to seek after what brings the spirit.  We have the opportunity to refocus each week when we take the sacrament. Promises from Pres. Nelson from making our homes a sanctuary of faith and  learning the gospel:    1. your sabbath will truly be a delight  2.  your children will be excited to learn the Savior's teachings  3.  influence of the adversary in your home/life will decrease  4.  changes in your family will be dramatic and sustaining   

K. BRETT NATTRESS

    CHRIST IS ALWAYS THERE TO LOVE AND WELCOME US--NO MATTER WHAT
 Shared story about young man suffering from addiction.  Shared Alma 36 with him.  Begin your journey of finding forgiveness by turning to Christ.  Look forward with faith. His promises are eternal.  There is always hope. there is always healing.  There is always a way back.   

JUAN UCEDA

    CHRIST IS A LOVING SHEPHERD
 Christ is referred to as a shepherd in all books of scriptures.   No matter how many people you have the opportunity the shepherd, minister one by one.  With our Savior's help we can love and minister as the Savior would.