Come, Follow Me Activity Sheet and Thoughts on Temples: D&C 124 (Nov 2)

    This blogpost features some thoughts on temples and a half-sheet activity page to complement the Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for  October 27 - November 2,  which includes Doctrine and Covenants 124.    Click here for an index and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks.
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RESOURCE THAT MAY BE INTERESTING, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF PRESIDENT OAKS' RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT SLOWING THE PACE OF TEMPLE ANNOUNCING:  
https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/temples/chronology/ 

That's over 100 temples that have been announced and haven't even started construction on yet!  

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TEMPLES:  MY STORY
This blogpost was previously published in 2020. 


I grew up in the great state of Minnesota.    It was a great place to grow up, but when I was a child, the closest temples were over 1000 miles away.  Idaho Falls, Cardston, Washington DC, and the Utah temples were all right about the same distance away, which meant that going to the temple was quite an ordeal for the people in our area.    Our family didn't have much money, but my parents always did love a good road trip, so they'd build visiting temples into our family trips. 

That's me in the piggy tails on the front row! 

That distance meant that they generally only went to the temple once a year or so, but my parents would usually set aside a day or two out of our vacation  and attend as many sessions as they could during that time.  I learned first-hand from their example,  that the temple  was important to my parents. 

This is what visiting the temple looked like when I was a child:

Then, in the year I turned 12, the temple in Chicago, Illinois was dedicated and that is where I went on all of our youth temple trips.  Chicago is about 400 miles away from where I grew up, so significantly closer than driving to Utah, Cardston, Idaho, or DC, but still an event.  We generally went with the youth a couple times per year and my parents would do babysitting exchanges with other families, so they could be away for 20+ hours at a time while they did a session.

This is what traveling to the temple looked like when I was a teen: 
 

When I was a college student, I worked at a store that sold glass temples at the University Mall in Provo.    As part of that job, I had the opportunity to get asked a lot of questions about temples.   I got asked design questions--why don't all temple have an angel Moroni statue?   And a lot of questions about where temples were and why?   I was quite the temple trivia whiz in my time and I enjoyed learning more about temples in a time when the internet wasn't really a widespread thing yet.  haha. 😂

 At the time I worked there in the early 1990's, there were about 50 temples in operation around the world.  It was sometime in that time period that Gordon B. Hinckley announced his plan to have 100 temples built by the year 2000.   As someone who grew up so far away from a temple, that announcement blew me away.   What a blessing it was going to be for so many people around the world and I wondered if Minnesota would ever get one. 

Sure enough, in 1998, plans to build one in Minnesota were announced and in January of the year 2000 it was completed--the 69th temple.   There were 102 dedicated by the end of that year.  The year 2000 was a great year for temples in the latter-days! 

Though I no longer lived in Minnesota, I rejoiced with the people of Minnesota and with all the people in the upper-midwest who now had a temple in their backyards after having sacrificed so much money and so many hours  of their time to go to the temple for so many years.     Today there are 208 functioning temples with another 40 or so somewhere in the process of being built (source).   Think of all the people in the world who are blessed for their closer proximity to the temple. 

WHY DO TEMPLES MATTER? 
So I've spent all this time telling you about how great it is that temples are more accessible to the people, but why does that matter? 

#1. I think the first thing people think of when they think of blessings of the temple is that when couples are married and/or families are sealed in the temple, those families are sealed together forever. 

"The full realization of the blessings of a temple marriage is almost beyond our mortal comprehension. Such a marriage will continue to grow in the celestial realm. There we can become perfected."  Russell M. Nelson

The ability to be sealed to our families is a wonderful blessing and should be a goal for all to strive for, but you don't have to wait until you're married or sealed to enjoy the blessings of the temple. 

President Russell M. Nelson told us that “Building and maintaining temples may not change your life, but spending your time in the temple surely will.”

Why is that?  

Elder Quentin L. Cook answers it well:   

“The temple is also a place of refuge, thanksgiving, instruction, and understanding, “that [we] may be perfected … in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God on the earth.” Throughout my life it has been a place of tranquility and peace in a world that is literally in commotion. It is wonderful to leave the cares of the world behind in that sacred setting.”(source)

#2.  The temple is a haven from the world. 

I'll be totally honest here.   The temple hasn't always been easy for me to attend.   BUT, when I do make the effort to go,  even when I am tired or feeling frazzled,  I STILL AM BLESSED WITH PEACE.    The world is more fast-paced than it's ever been and we literally need...yes, need...this time for our minds, spirits, and bodies to take a break from the freneticism of the world.  Now,  more than ever,  we need to give ourselves that quiet time to commune with God without the distractions that beset us almost everywhere else we could otherwise be.  

So those are some nice blessings for us when we go to the temple, but what about the actual work you do while you're there?

“After we receive our own temple ordinances and make sacred covenants with God, each one of us needs the ongoing spiritual strengthening and tutoring that is possible only in the house of the Lord. And our ancestors need us to serve as proxy for them."  Russell M. Nelson

#3.  Our ancestors are relying on us to perform important saving ordinances for them. 

“This work is all about people. It’s about giving every one of our Heavenly Father’s sons and daughters the chance to make covenants and receive saving, exalting ordinances. It’s all about helping his children return home to him.”-- Sheri Dew 

I love that when we walk in the doors of the temple all people are equal. We walk in the doors to do a selfless work of saving our ancestors, and there are no distinctions of wealth, status, or position. We all wear the same clothing, missionaries don't wear their tags, and general authorities sit in the same seats with the rest of us. It's actually a beautiful thing to behold....people from all walks of life gathering together to do an important work that can't be done anywhere else. And it doesn't matter to our ancestors whether a farmer, grocery store clerk, or CEO is the one doing their work. They're just happy it's being done. Think of the joy we facilitate on the other side of the veil when we participate in temple work.

“Those who understand the eternal blessings which come from the temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings.”  Thomas S. Monson (source

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PRINTABLE ACTIVITY SHEET

THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITY SHEET LINK (in case it's not showing below)

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Have fun learning the gospel together and make sure to come back each week for a new activity sheet! 

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CFM Activity Sheet for D&C 121-123 (Oct 26)

   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. 
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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.”

—Russell M. Nelson, “Jesus Christ—the Master Healer,” Ensign, Nov. 2005, 86


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PRINTABLE ACTIVITY SHEET

THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITY SHEET LINK (in case it's not showing below)

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Have fun learning the gospel together and be sure to check in each week for a new activity sheet!  

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Come Follow Me Thoughts on "My Sacrifices are Sacred to the Lord" D&C 115-120 (Oct 19)

  This blogpost features some thoughts, quotes, and a half-sheet activity page to complement the Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for  October 13-19,  which includes Doctrine and Covenants 115-120.    Click here for an index and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks. 

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MY SACRIFICES ARE SACRED TO THE LORD

By definition, sacrifice means to give up something of value for the sake of something else even more important or more worthy. Sometimes I think we think of sacrifice and we think of big things--like donating lots of money or spending hours and hours on a church calling, but I think that the sacrifices that really matter are the day-to-day ones. The little things we give up to bless our families and to keep Christ in our daily lives.

A perfect example of this is the sacrifice mothers and fathers make to raise their children in faith. That may mean waking up a little earlier than you want to say a prayer with the kids that leave the house first. That may mean not watching that show on Saturday night, so you can finish reading the Come, Follow Me reading for that week. Or it may mean sacrificing your free time, turning off all the screens, and spending quality time with your family on a daily basis.    

If you will sacrifice what the Lord has asked you to sacrifice, he will make more out of your life than you can on your own.

In researching on this topic I came across many examples of people all over the world that sacrifice huge things in the name of following Christ. One talk that really struck me was about members of the church in Sub-Saharan Africa not working their farms on Sunday and somehow finding that their fields are yielding more crops than neighboring farms that are much larger. 

In my own family, my parents gave up 2-years of their retirement to serve the people of Paris, France on a senior mission. It was a sacrifice not only of comfort, but also of money, and time away from family and friends. Us kids honestly wondered if they would even be able to get their house ready to rent out for two years, let alone have the stamina to do what needed to be done on a mission. Yet they thrived. They were stretched in ways that blessed their lives as much as the people they served. The blessings they gained far outweighed the sacrifices they made and when my Dad passed away a few years ago, I know he died happy that he'd been able to serve in that way with my Mom.   

This quote illustrates this point perfectly:
“The Lord’s ways are higher than our ways—and so is His arithmetic. It is different than ours.” (Chad Webb, S&I Broadcast, August 2015)

Yes, it’s true that 0 x 0 = 0 and that if we don’t put any effort to studying Come, Follow Me with our families, we’ll receive zero blessings for it. BUT 1 + 1 in the Lord’s arithmetic is much greater than 2. Christ takes us where we are and makes us more. Makes us enough. He blesses us in beautiful and multitudinous ways that we can barely fathom. CHRIST + ME = MORE

Elder Richard G Scott has said, “Are there so many fascinating, exciting things to do, or so many challenges pressing upon you, that it is hard to keep focused on that which is essential? Satan has a powerful tool to use against good people, those who are committed to a worthy, righteous life, who want to do good and intend to make the most of this life. His tool is distraction. He would have good people fill life with "good things" so there is no room for the "essential ones." Have you unconsciously been caught in that trap?” (Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy [2007])

What is distracting us? For me it’s often my darn phone. It’s a blessing to be able to communicate so easily with my family that live scattered all over the world, but how often do I let myself get sucked into social media or games that have no lasting value? It’s all about balance. Let’s council together as families and discuss what we can put away to make way for Christ and his blessings in our lives? 
 
QUOTES AND SCRIPTURES ABOUT SACRIFICE 

 D&C 64:34, “Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell said: “The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar. The many other things we ‘give’…are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us.” We can surrender our will to His, and dedicate our lives to building up His kingdom and serving His children.”

 D&C 64:33, ‘Be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.” 

D&C 117: 1-11 speaking of Newell K. Whitney and his wife leaving their prosperous circumstances and traveling to Adam-ondi-Ahman

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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.   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! 

THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITY SHEET LINK (in case it's not showing below)



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Have fun learning the gospel together! 

Come back every week for a new printable activity sheet! 

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Come, Follow Me Original Activity Page for Doctrine and Covenants 111-114 (October 12)

 This blogpost features a half-sheet activity page to complement the Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for  October 6-12,  which includes Doctrine and Covenants 111-114.    Click here for an index and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks. 

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Life has gotten a little crazy around here and I'm not sure I'll be able to do very many more Come, Follow Me study guides anymore.   I'll still try to share my activity sheets every week and perhaps I'll have time to do a few here and there, but sadly it definitely won't be every week anymore.   

ORIGINAL COME, FOLLOW ME ACTIVITY SHEET

This week's activity sheet link, in case it's not showing below

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Come back each week for an activity sheet.

Have fun learning the gospel together. 

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Come, Follow Me Study Guide for D&C 109-110 with a Focus on Family History (Oct 5)

This blogpost features a half-sheet activity page to complement the Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for  September 29-October 5,  which includes Doctrine and Covenants 109-110.    Click here for an index and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks. 
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FAMILY HISTORY: A STUDY GUIDE 
This week during my CFM studies, I was drawn to the section of the manual entitled: 

THE SAVIOR WANTS ME TO TURN MY HEART TO MY ANCESTORS

It made me reflect on an experience I'd had several years ago, while I was YW president, and our stake president  issued a challenge to all the youth in our stake to do enough family history work that they could supply all the names for our next ward temple trip to do baptisms. 

Sounds great, huh?

Except, I was just like most people...living a busy life raising kids, serving in the church, and thinking that family history was something I'd do SOMEDAY...when I magically had enough time.   I had heard about all the technological advances that had been made since the days of holing up in family history centers looking through rolls of microfiches, but I didn't really have the desire to figure out what that meant.   Until the challenge was issued.  

After the challenge, I decided it was time to humble myself, find someone to teach me a few things, so I could learn how to do it myself, and hopefully help the youth while I was at it.   And we did it.   We held several family history nights at our house and got to the point where ALL of the names for our temple trip for the 60+ youth in our ward were provided by the youth.  It was a humbling, yet empowering experience for me.     

That was several years ago and I’m here today to tell you that family history in 2025 is NOT the same as family history 20, 10, or even 5 years ago. Changes in technology have made family history easier than ever and have made it so we don’t even have to leave our homes if we don’t want. Basically any and all excuses you’ve been tucking away as a reason why you’re not doing your family history are no longer valid. 

EXCUSES 
When I polled some people about why they don’t do family history, I heard these four main excuses repeated over and over : 

1.  It’s not my season in life to spend time doing genealogy. I’ll do it someday….

2. My great-aunt (or some other relative) is a professional genealogist and has already done all of the work. There’s literally nothing for me to do. 

3. It’s too complicated and I don’t know how. 

4.  I’m too busy. 

PROMISED BLESSINGS
We have powerful promises given to us by modern apostles that when we engage in family history work our entire families--both living and dead--will be blessed. These promised blessings range from increased protection from the adversary, strengthened testimonies, and greater light and knowledge from the Holy Ghost. These are blessings that we all could use….no matter what season of life we are in. 

VIDEO OF SOME OF THE PROMISED BLESSINGS


Why are we making excuses and not allowing ourselves to receive those blessings?

In Malachi we read:  “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: 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.” 

Have you felt your heart turning to your fathers? It is rare thing to feel the spirit of Elijah UNTIL we obey. We have to begin. We have to start now and do something. The Spirit of Elijah is a real and powerful motivation–but it seems we have to choose to put one foot in front of another to be able to feel it.

THE LORD'S MATH AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO FAMILY HISTORY

If  you're a long-time reader of this blog, you've heard me refer to the "Lord's Math" before, but if you're new here, let me give you a recap. 

What is 0x0?     

It's zero, of course.  

The answer is simple and applies to family history work as well.     When we put zero effort into doing family history, we get zero of the promised blessings from it.  

So, 0 x 0 = 0 but here’s another simple math question for you. What is 1x 52 ? Most kids in the room can tell that the answer is = 52. If you could work on family history just one hour per week, that’s 52 hours of work over the course of a year to help in the salvation of YOUR ancestor’s souls! That’s 52 out of nearly 9000 hours in a year or less than half of one percent of your time to help our departed loved ones be able to enjoy the full blessings of eternal life.

Still sound like too much of a sacrifice to you? What about doing just one hour a month….maybe on Fast Sundays? 1x 12 = 12, and twelve hours of family history (and the blessings that come with it) is still a whole lot better than 0.

In D&C 64:33 we read, ‘Be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.”

In no area of our lives does this apply more than in family history. Start now. Do small things; and I promise great things will happen!  The Lord's math is that He takes our small efforts and rains down blessings upon us for those efforts.  The blessings far out-weigh the efforts we put into it.   

“The Lord’s ways are higher than our ways—and so is His arithmetic. It is different than ours.” (Chad Webb, S&I Broadcast, August 2015

The Lord's math is pretty awesome, isn't it? 

Whether you’re finding names, indexing, keeping a journal, interviewing relatives, or researching sources, there is a work for us all to do--a work that will bless our families through the eternities. Don’t let these blessings slip away because your great-aunt Judith already wrote a book about your family.  The only way to get zero blessings from family history is to give it zero effort. 

THE DAY DAWN IS BREAKING BY THE TRUMAN BROTHERS (HYMN #52) 

Verse #2 is particularly apt for this topic.   
"In many a temple the Saints will assemble And labor as saviors of dear ones away.  Then happy reunion and sweetest communion.  We'll have with our friends in the beautiful day.”

SCRIPTURES
"To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—"  D&C 110:15

 "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

"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

"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

 "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

QUOTES:  

“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."--Henry B. Eyring 

“It is no coincidence that FamilySearch and other tools have come forth at a time when young people are so familiar with a wide range of information and communication technologies, “Your fingers have been trained to text and tweet to accelerate and advance the work of the Lord—not just to communicate quickly with your friends. The skills and aptitude evident among many young people today are a preparation to contribute to the work of salvation”  Elder Bednar

 “No work is more of a protection to [us] than...genealogical research. ... No work is more spiritually refining. No work we do gives us more power. No work requires a higher standard of righteousness. Our labors...cover us with a shield and a protection.” Boyd K. Packer


PRINTABLE ACTIVITY SHEET (AN ORIGINAL) 
 

THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITY SHEET LINK (in case it's not showing below)

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Be sure to bookmark this site and come back every week for more Come, Follow Me resources!  

Enjoy learning the gospel together!   

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Come Follow Me Study Guide on the Topic of Grace from D&C 106-108 (Sept 28)

    This blogpost features a study guide and a half-sheet activity page to complement the Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for  September 22-28,  which includes Doctrine and Covenants 106-108.    Click here for an index and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks. 

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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.    

QUESTIONS TO PONDER/ASK:  

What is grace? {here's a good summary}

How do YOU define grace? 

How have you been CHANGED by grace? 
 

QUOTES ABOUT GRACE:

#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

#9  "When our earnest efforts fall short of our aspirations due to circumstances beyond our control, the Lord still accepts the desires of our hearts as a worthy offering."  Elder Gerald Causse

TALKS ABOUT GRACE
"His Grace is Sufficient" by Elder Brad Wilcox
"Compensating Grace" by Elder Gerald Causse 
"In the Strength of the Lord" by Elder David Bednar
"Am I Good Enough? Will I Make it?" by Elder J. Devn Cornish
"The Gift of Grace" by Elder Dieter Uchtdorf 
"Be Ye Therefore Perfect--Eventually" by President Jeffrey R. Holland


ANALOGY ABOUT GRACE
from "His Grace is Sufficient" by Brad Wilcox

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).

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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."


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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! 

THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITY SHEET LINK (in case it's not showing below)

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Have fun learning the gospel together!


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Study Guide on Being a Peacemaker and An Original CFM Activity Sheet for D&C 102-105 (Sept 21 )

    This blogpost features a half-sheet activity page to complement the Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for  September 15-21,  which includes Doctrine and Covenants 102-105.    Click here for an index and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks. 

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STUDY GUIDE ON BEING A PEACEMAKER

ARTICLES ON BEING A PEACEMAKER 

Peacemakers Needed by President Nelson (Apr 2023)

Following Christ (section III) by President Oaks (Oct 2024)

Following Jesus: Being a Peacemaker by Elder Andersen (Apr 2022) 


SCRIPTURES:

D&C 105:38-40
 "And again I say unto you, sue for peace, not only to the people that have smitten you, but also to all people. And lift up an ensign of peace, and make a proclamation of peace unto the ends of the earth. And make proposals for peace unto those who have smitten you, according to the voice of the Spirit which is in you, and all things shall work together for your good."

Matthew 25:40
"And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Matthew 5:9, 44
9 "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"

QUESTIONS TO PONDER 

1. How Christ is the perfect example of being a peacemaker. 

2. How can I find and share  peace in a world filled with turmoil?  

3. How can we be peacemakers in the contentious society we live in?

"HOW CAN I BE A PEACEMAKER?" VIDEO CLIP (WITH VISUALS) FROM PRESIDENT NELSON https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqM7LFOIXBs

ORIGINAL COME FOLLOW ME ACTIVITY SHEET

THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITY SHEET LINK (in case it's not showing below)


FOR KIDS
I Can Be A Peacemaker When...

A VIDEO FOR KIDS: A STORY ABOUT RESOLVING CONTENTION





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Be sure to come back every week and check for more Come, Follow Me resources.  

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Finding Peace in Christ Study Guide and an Original Activity Sheet for D&C 98-101 (Sept 14)

   This blogpost features a half-sheet activity page to complement the Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for  September 8-14,  which includes Doctrine and Covenants 98-101.    Click here for an index and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks. 

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FINDING PEACE IN CHRIST 

"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.

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PEACE IN CHRIST MUSIC VIDEO



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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! 

THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITY SHEET LINK (in case it's not showing below)

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Be sure to come back every week for a new Come, Follow Me activity page and other resources. 

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Come Follow Me Printable Activity Sheet for D&C 94-97 (Sept 7)

   This blogpost features a half-sheet activity page to complement the Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for  September 1-7,  which includes Doctrine and Covenants 94-97.    Click here for an index and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks. 
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AN ORIGINAL PRINTABLE 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! 

THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITY SHEET LINK (in case it's not showing below)

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Be sure to come back every week for a new Come, Follow Me activity sheet and maybe a  study guide!  

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Receiving Light and Truth CFM Study Guide and An Original Activity Sheet D&C 93 (Aug 31)

  This blogpost features a study guide and a  half-sheet activity page to complement the Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for  August 25-31,  which includes Doctrine and Covenants 93.    Click here for an index and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks.

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 Receiving Light and Truth

 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!   

ARTICLES 
“Bearers of Heavenly Light” by Elder Uchtdorf 
"Walk in God's Light" For the Strength of Youth
"My Thoughts on Light and Hope" 

SCRIPTURES ABOUT LIGHT 

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)


PATTERNS OF LIGHT VIDEO SERIES BY ELDER BEDNAR
Part 1 
Part 2 
Part 3 

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Be sure to come back every week for more Come, Follow Me resources.  

Have fun learning the gospel together! 


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WORD OF WISDOM: Printable CFM Activity Sheet on D&C 89-92 (Aug 24)

 This blogpost features a half-sheet activity page to complement the Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for  August 18-24,  which includes Doctrine and Covenants 89-92.    Click here for an index and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks. 
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AN ORIGINAL 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.   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 WEEK'S ACTIVITY SHEET LINK (in case it's not showing below)



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Be sure to check back here every week for more CFM resources!

Enjoy learning the gospel together! 

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Seeking Learning and Wisdom and a CFM Activity Sheet for D&C 88 (Aug 17)

  This blogpost features some of my life experiences about seeking learning by study and  faith, including a half-sheet activity page to complement the Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for  August 11-17,  which includes Doctrine and Covenants 88.    Click here for an index and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks.

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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.

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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.” 

― B.B. King

“We learn to do by doing.” 

― Spencer W. Kimball

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” 

― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

“Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it.” 

― Edmund Burke

“Education is the power to think clearly, the power to act well in the world's work, and the power to appreciate life.” 

― Brigham Young

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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.  

THIS WEEK'S ACTIVITY SHEET LINK (in case it's not showing below)

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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!  

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