Come, Follow Me 2021 Doctrine and Covenants 10 AND 11,
As we study about the history of our church, it just strengthens my testimony even more. Last week, we learn that our Heavenly Father, truly cares about what we desire! We learned that we need to hold onto the witnesses we receive and to exercise faith. It was a wonderful week of study!
This week, we get to learn more about how we have an all knowing all loving Heavenly Father, whose purposes can not be stopped. He is much wiser than our adversary, Satan. We also learn about the beautiful revelation that the Lord has for the Prophet's brother, Hyrum.
Throughout this blog post you will find images I create daily, which I am offering as free printables. As well as insights and links to resources to help with individual, family and even class room study. Remember to check back throughout the week as more printables and resources are added daily.
Day 1:
Did you see the video shared today, “In Search of Truth”? It is excellent!! I shared that video tonight with my family and we had a great discussion of being seekers of truth and where to find truth, in this ever divisive and conflicting world.
We know that there is safety in listening to and following our prophet. He receives direction from our Heavenly Father, instructions and guidance that are specific to our time! Just think, the talk that President Oaks gave that this video is based off of, was given back in October 2018 General Conference. The warning to be cautious in where we seek for truth was given 2 and a half years ago, but we see how extremely relevant it is for right now. We see how blessed we have been by the changes to ministering, to our church schedule and to Home Centered Learning. We have been instructed by President Nelson to increase our abilities to receive personal revelation. How grateful I am for him and all of the truths and guidance he has given to us from the Lord!
As we have been studying the Doctrine and Covenants, it has really stood out to me how when translating, if Joseph or Oliver had a question, they took it to the Lord. Actually, that was the pattern we see in their lives leading up to the translating as well. Wisdom and truth are found by asking of God. ♥️ I love Joseph and Oliver’s examples of this!
I am grateful for the role of the Holy Ghost, of being a witness of truth. ♥️
Here is the link to that great video: Watch: Be cautious in seeking truth, President Oaks says in new video
Here’s the link to President Oaks’ talk: Truth and the Plan
Day 2:
Well, let’s just say contention was a very fitting lesson for our family tonight! You know when you are really trying to do everything right, is when Satan really tries anything he can to get to you! Two of my kiddos were relentless in the contention area tonight, even after our lesson on contention. It all starts with one joking around and then it turns into my whole house smelling like pomegranate febreeze 🙄
Tomorrow, we will be doing a little follow up of how we can avoid contention. When we give into it, then we are allowing Satan to stir our hearts up. There’s a reason why the Savior said, Blessed are the Peacemakers! Peacemakers put a stop to contention, they thwart Satan’s attempts to turn people against each other!
In our study of D&C 10:63, we read, “Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine;“ One way that Satan works against our Heavenly Father, is by stirring up the hearts of His children in contention. Even contending the doctrine of the church. I have been so saddened as I have read comments on church posts and seen such contention. I hate contention and try to avoid it at all costs. I know that contentions gets us nowhere. It brings unhappiness into our lives. I’m grateful for a Savior who has taught us by example to be a peacemaker, to lead with love and do things that invite the constant companion of the Holy Ghost into our lives. We can pray for his help in our lives. We can pray to overcome and resist the adversary and keep contention out of our hearts.
What has helped you avoid and resist contention?
Here’s a great lesson I found, where I found the quote,
Contention from Family Home Evening Resource Book
I listened to a fabulous Podcast today! It is a must to listen to it: Follow Him Ep 6 part 1 and Part 2
Day 3:
Isn’t it beautiful that God allows us our agency?! Yes, He knows we will make mistakes and He works with us where we are. He gives us the opportunity to repent and to continue to be apart of His work. He does not want us to make mistakes or have hard things happen because of our choices, but He allows us our agency and the consequences that follow. He knows us perfectly and has foreknowledge and wisdom, His work will not be stopped because of our mistakes.
We see a prime example of this in this week’s study. Did God want Martin Harris to loose the 116 pages? No He did not, but because of His foreknowledge and because He knew Martin and Joseph so perfectly and because they have their agency. He planned for those 116 pages to be lost. Mormon, when speaking about the plates of Nephi said that it was for a “wise purpose”. In D&C 10:45, “Behold, there are many things engraven upon the plates of Nephi which do throw greater views upon my gospel; therefore, it is wisdom in me that you should translate this first part of the engravings of Nephi, and send forth in this work.”
We learn that our Heavenly Father’s power and wisdom is greater than Satan’s. The key thing that our Heavenly Father wants for us, is to be smarter than the Adversary as well!
I was listening to a wonderful podcast @followhimpodcast today. @hankrsmith brought up how many times the word heart or hearts showed up in section 10 of the Doctrine and Covenants & what a great opportunity it would be to point this out to our families. So, I did. I had them count how many times, there are eleven times. Then each family member chose one of those verses to read. We then discussed how Satan tries to influence our hearts and what we can do to combat that. To resist Satan’s influence entering our hearts, we need to set our hearts on Christ and on God. We need to fill them with gratitude to them, we need to immerse them in the good things of the gospel. We need to turn our hearts to our fathers and keep them open to the influence of the Holy Ghost.
I’m grateful for my Heavenly Father, for His wisdom and love.
What have you learned from this week’s study?! Please share your insights!!
I've linked to the Follow Him podcast for day 2.
Here are a couple links to some study guides:
Day 4:
I have been reading article after article for the past hour trying to find a quote that I could use for tonight, but what came to my mind was to use this scripture from our study, the very scripture I was using to look up the articles.
I looked up the word enlighten on the online dictionary, it is defined as, “give (someone) greater knowledge and understanding about a subject or situation.” And to “give (someone) spiritual knowledge or insight.” Or “shed light on (an object).”
That is the role of the Holy Ghost, he “reveals and teaches “the truth of all things”” (True to the Faith: Holy Ghost)
I love this quote from the True to the Faith Book, “His communication to your spirit carries far more certainty than any communication you can receive through your natural senses.”
I think in my life when I have been enlightened by the spirit would be when I am studying, particularly the words of God and His prophets. When I am actively trying to learn by way of the spirit. Then, my knowledge and understanding increases by way of the spirit and my heart is filled with joy.
Another way, I feel that my mind is enlightened, is when I am trying to teach by the spirit. Thoughts and words come to my mind, that I know are enlightenment from the spirit. Maybe it’s that someone I’m teaching needs to hear that thing, or maybe it is just the spirit teaching me 
Elder Bednar has a fabulous talk. He teaches us that revelation sometimes comes to us “line upon line, precept upon precept.” God does not give us all of our knowledge at once, but will gradually throughout our lives enlighten our minds and touch our hearts.
I love that the teaching “enlighten minds” as a way the spirit speaks to us was given to both Oliver Cowdrey and Hyrum Smith! It is a pattern of revelation that we can notice in our own life as well.
Here’s the link to Elder Bednar’s talk:
Study guide:
The Hear Him series of videos are great for this week's study too:
Hear Him
Day 5:
I just love learning about Hyrum Smith!! He was so supportive of his younger brother Joseph! He was so excited to be an active part in building up Christ’s church.
I think Hyrum is very relatable! Thinking back to when my husband and I had just started our family, I had a strong desire to serve & I remember at times possibly feeling overlooked. But I understand now that all that the Lord does is in His wisdom. Hyrum was told to be patient and to prepare, that his time would come to engage in the work.
I think about the preparation that I have experienced in my life. I served as a primary teacher for pretty much the same age group for many years, I was able to serve as a Webelos scout leader, even though my only child at the time was just a baby. I also was able to serve as an activity days leader. These callings gave me experience and prepared me for when I would serve in presidency positions.
I love how the Lord is always helping us prepare, through experience for things ahead. For opportunities we will have to serve in building His kingdom.
I loved this quote from Elder Bednar, that I shared in the image. Life is a preparation period. We are here to learn and gain wisdom and experience. To show our willingness to live God’s teachings. To emulate the Savior in our actions. And it is about becoming. I know that our Heavenly Father and Savior know us so perfectly. They know our potential. How important then is it for us to trust in them and to realize what they “would have us become”. Sometimes I think we do not fully understand that potential within us! Often times I feel a stirring of the spirit trying to remind me, that I am designed for greatness. We all are!!
How has patience and preparation blessed your life & helped you to better serve the Lord?
Here is the link to Elder Bednar’s talk:
I also love the resources that the church has provided us with in regards to Church History! Here is one I found in the gospel library that I thought was great for this week!
Day 6:
Communication with God is a very personal thing. When I pray to my Heavenly Father, I am speaking to my almighty Father, who knows me and loves me perfectly. Elder Bednar said in his talk, “Pray Always”, “Prayer becomes meaningful as we remember our relationship to Deity” I have found this to be true. I know that He is a loving Father in Heaven and that knowledge influences how I communicate with Him.
That knowledge also helps me to have faith that He will answer. That He will give me the guidance I need through revelation. I know that revelation is not just a one time thing, but rather it is how my Father in Heaven communicates with me, giving me the guidance I need and the knowledge to navigate this life and return safely back to Him.
In D&C 10:5 it says, “Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.” I know that prayer helps us to overcome the attacks of the adversary.
I loved this talk by Elder Bednar and his explanation of how to pray always. I encourage you to read it, because my brief comments here can not do it justice. The just I got from it is, our morning prayers prepare us for our day, throughout the day we can have a prayer in our heart, be mindful of our Heavenly Father, express gratitude and invite His guidance and assistance. Our evening prayer. is a reflection on our day. Or a reporting back to our Heavenly Father. I love this concept and hope to better incorporate it into my daily life.
How do you make your prayers more meaningful? In what ways does God answer your prayers?
Here is the link to the talk:
Remember to check back throughout the week. You could also follow along on Facebook and Instagram.
Here are the links to prior Come, Follow Me Resource posts:
