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Come, Follow Me – Book of Mormon (July)

Welcome to July!

Links for other months: January, February, March, April, May, June, August, September, October, November, December

July, Week 1

Day 1

Primary
1. Read Alma 17.
2. Imagine trying to preach the gospel to a group of people who could be described as wild, hardened, and ferocious. This is exactly what the sons of Mosiah chose to do when they went to the land of the Lamanites to preach the gospel to them. Alma 17 describes the help Ammon received from God as he began his ministry among the Lamanites in the land of Ishmael.
3. Watch the video “Ammon.”
4. Listen to the song “I Want to Be a Missionary Now.”
5. Listen to the song “Books in the Book of Mormon.” Make sure you can sing it through Alma.

Youth
1. Read Alma 17.
2. Imagine trying to preach the gospel to a group of people who could be described as wild, hardened, and ferocious. This is exactly what the sons of Mosiah chose to do when they went to the land of the Lamanites to preach the gospel to them. Alma 17 describes the help Ammon received from God as he began his ministry among the Lamanites in the land of Ishmael.
3. Listen to the song “Books in the Book of Mormon.” Make sure you can sing it through Alma.
4. Today watch the following videos.

Day 2

Primary
1. Read Alma 18 and Alma 19.
2. After Ammon had finished preparing the king’s horses and chariots, he came to the king and noticed that Lamoni’s countenance had changed. Through the Spirit, Ammon perceived the king’s thoughts and knew that Lamoni was marveling over the miraculous way Ammon defended the king’s flocks. Ammon taught King Lamoni about the gospel. King Lamoni believed him and fell to the earth. Although many of the Lamanites thought Lamoni had died, Ammon later helped them understand that the king “was under the power of God,” or “carried away in God”.
3. When the queen of the Lamanites learned of her husband’s death, she sent for Ammon so she could speak to him. He testified to her, and both Ammon and the queen (and the servants) were overcome by the Spirit and fell to the earth. A woman named Abish, who understood what had happened, called the people to come see, but they thought that they were all dead and began arguing. Abish touched the queen’s hand and everyone began to wake up, testifying and praising God.
4. Watch the videos “The Faith of a Queen” and “Abish.”

Youth
1. Read Alma 18 and Alma 19.
2. We don’t know why King Lamoni regarded Ammon so highly when they first met. Perhaps it was Ammon’s willingness to serve or the light of Christ he reflected, or that he was King Mosiah’s son. Whatever the reason for the positive first impression of Ammon, Lamoni was deeply touched by the faithfulness with which Ammon served him over the following three days. Because of what he felt, Lamoni was willing to believe all of Ammon’s words.
3. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, taught:

One of the greatest sermons ever pronounced on missionary work is this simple thought attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi: “Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words.” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Waiting on the Road to Damascus,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 77)

4. What role do you think Ammon’s Christlike love and service played in the king’s willingness to believe Ammon’s words? One truth we can learn from this account is that through our Christlike love and service, God can prepare the hearts of those we serve to receive gospel truths.
5. Although many of the Lamanites thought Lamoni had died when he fell to the earth, Ammon later helped them understand that the king “was under the power of God,” or “carried away in God”. When the queen of the Lamanites learned of her husband’s ‘death,’ she sent for Ammon so she could speak to him. Ammon testified, and he, the queen, and her servants all fell to the earth as well. This led to some anger, fear, and misunderstandings on the part of the Lamanites, but when everyone woke up they testified of what they had learned.
6. Watch the following videos:

Day 3

Primary
1. Today read Alma 20 and Alma 22:1-26.
2. While Ammon was serving and teaching King Lamoni’s people in the land of Ishmael, the Lord revealed to Ammon that Aaron and others from their group had been imprisoned in the land of Middoni. Ammon and the king made plans to travel there to deliver Aaron and the others. On their way, they met Lamoni’s father, who was the king over all the land. After he was freed from prison, Ammon’s brother Aaron taught King Lamoni’s father about the gospel.
3. Watch the video “The King of All the Lamanites.”
4. Listen to the song “Faith.”

Youth
1. Today read Alma 20 and Alma 22:1-26.
2. While Ammon was serving and teaching King Lamoni’s people in the land of Ishmael, the Lord revealed to Ammon that Aaron and others from their group had been imprisoned in the land of Middoni. Ammon and the king made plans to travel there to deliver Aaron and the others. On their way, they met Lamoni’s father, who was the king over all the land. The two of them had an interesting interaction.
3. After Aaron and those who were with him were released from prison, Ammon returned to the land of Ishmael with King Lamoni. The Spirit led Aaron to visit Lamoni’s father in the land of Nephi. Read Alma 22:2–6. What questions did Lamoni’s father have while meeting with Aaron?
4. Read Alma 22:15–18. What was the king willing to do after Aaron taught him? When we understand our need for Jesus Christ, our desire to follow Him and receive the blessings He can offer us increases.
5. How can I experience the “great joy” described by Lamoni’s father? President Russell M. Nelson taught:

If we look to the world and follow its formulas for happiness, we will never know joy. The unrighteous may experience any number of emotions and sensations, but they will never experience joy! Joy is a gift for the faithful. It is the gift that comes from intentionally trying to live a righteous life, as taught by Jesus Christ.

He taught us how to have joy. When we choose Heavenly Father to be our God and when we can feel the Savior’s Atonement working in our lives, we will be filled with joy. (Russell M. Nelson, “Joy and Spiritual Survival,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 84)

6. Watch the video “Ammon Meets King Lamoni’s Father” and “Aaron Teaches King Lamoni’s Father.”

We took Week 2 off.

Week 3

Day 1

Primary
1. Today read Alma 30.
2. A man named Korihor taught lies about the gospel. How did Alma respond to those lies?
3. Watch the video about Korihor.
4. Listen to the song “I Want to Be a Missionary Now.”

Youth
1. Today read Alma 30.
2. A wicked man named Korihor came among the Nephites. He preached against the prophecies about Jesus Christ and led many people’s hearts away from God. In our day there are many voices that seek to lead us away from Jesus Christ.
3. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke about Korihor and his teachings.

[People such as] Korihor … deny the very existence of Christ and any such thing as sin. Their doctrine is that values, standards, and even truth are all relative. Thus, whatever one feels is right for him or her cannot be judged by others to be wrong or sinful.

On the surface such philosophies seem appealing because they give us license to indulge any appetite or desire without concern for consequences. (D. Todd Christofferson, “The Divine Gift of Repentance,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 38)

4. Why is it important to accept counsel from modern prophets and apostles? President Henry B. Eyring said:

Korihor was arguing, as men and women have falsely argued from the beginning of time, that to take counsel from the servants of God is to surrender God-given rights of independence. But the argument is false because it misrepresents reality. When we reject the counsel which comes from God, we do not choose to be independent of outside influence. We choose another influence. We reject the protection of a perfectly loving, all-powerful, all-knowing Father in Heaven, whose whole purpose, as that of His Beloved Son, is to give us eternal life, to give us all that He has, and to bring us home again in families to the arms of His love. In rejecting His counsel, we choose the influence of another power, whose purpose is to make us miserable and whose motive is hatred. (Henry B. Eyring, “Finding Safety in Counsel,” Ensign, May 1997, 25)

5. Alma testified that “all things denote there is a God” (Alma 30:44). Korihor denied the existence of God until he was struck dumb by God’s power.
6. What if I believe in God but don’t know for sure that He is real? Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared:

A 14-year-old boy recently said to me a little hesitantly, “Brother Holland, I can’t say yet that I know the Church is true, but I believe it is.” I hugged that boy until his eyes bulged out. I told him with all the fervor of my soul that belief is a precious word, an even more precious act, and he need never apologize for “only believing.” I told him that Christ Himself said, “Be not afraid, only believe” [Mark 5:36] . … I told this boy that belief was always the first step toward conviction. … And I told him how very proud I was of him for the honesty of his quest. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Lord, I Believe,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 94–95)

Day 2

Primary
1. Read Alma 31.
2. Worshipping Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is intended to bring us closer to Them. But what if we lose sight of the real reason for worship? The Zoramites, who had once belonged to the true Church of God, began to believe in false teachings. Their corrupt form of worship drew their hearts away from God and led them to judge unrighteously and mistreat others.
3. Watch the video “The Zoramites and the Rameumpton.”
4. Listen to the song “Faith.”

Youth
1. Read Alma 31.
2. Worshipping Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is intended to bring us closer to Them. But what if we lose sight of the real reason for worship? The Zoramites, who had once belonged to the true Church of God, began to believe in false teachings. Their corrupt form of worship drew their hearts away from God and led them to judge unrighteously and mistreat others.
3. How were the Zoramites affected by pride? President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then of the First Presidency, taught:

When our hearts are filled with pride, we commit a grave sin, for we violate the two great commandments. Instead of worshipping God and loving our neighbor, we reveal the real object of our worship and love — the image we see in the mirror. Pride is the great sin of self-elevation. It is for so many a personal Rameumptom, a holy stand that justifies envy, greed, and vanity. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Pride and the Priesthood,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 56)

4. How can I improve my prayers? Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917–2008) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles asked some great questions and provided this counsel:

Do your prayers at times sound and feel the same? Have you ever said a prayer mechanically, the words pouring forth as though cut from a machine? Do you sometimes bore yourself as you pray?

Will prayers that do not demand much of your thought merit much attention from our Heavenly Father? When you find yourself getting into a routine with your prayers, step back and think. Meditate for a while on the things for which you really are grateful. Look for them. They don’t have to be grand or glorious. Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things like the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite food, or the sound of a loved one’s voice (Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Improving Our Prayers,” Ensign, Mar. 2004, 26)

5. Watch the following videos:

Week 4

Day 1

Primary
1. Today read Alma 32.
2. Alma compared the word of God to a seed to help the people understand the process of gaining a testimony.
3. Watch the video “The Zoramites.”
4. Then watch “Alma Teaches about Faith and the Word of God.”
5. Listen to the song “Faith.”

Youth
1. Today read Alma 32.
2. As Alma and Amulek were serving among the Zoramites, a group of people expressed concern that they couldn’t worship God since they had been cast out of their places of worship because of their poverty (see Alma 32:5). While we know the Lord has clearly taught the importance of attending His Church on the Sabbath, Alma responded by teaching those who were not allowed to attend Church important truths about worship that can take place in our hearts, regardless of our physical location.
3. Read the first sentence of Alma 32:28, then read verse 41 and look for a comparison Alma used that can apply to you as well. What similarities do you see between growing a fruit tree from a seed and growing your testimony of Jesus Christ and His teachings?
4. How can I develop more faith in Jesus Christ and His gospel? Elder Richard G. Scott (1928–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

A strong testimony cannot be built upon a weak foundation. Therefore, don’t pretend you believe something when you are not sure of it. Seek to receive a ratifying witness. Wrestle in mighty prayer, living righteously, and ask for a spiritual confirmation. … Let your Father in Heaven know of your feelings, your needs, your concerns, your hopes and aspirations. Speak to Him with total confidence, knowing that He will hear and respond. Then patiently go forth in your life doing those things you know are correct, walking with confidence born of faith and righteousness, patiently waiting for the response that will come in the manner and at the time the Lord considers most appropriate. (Richard G. Scott, “The Power of a Strong Testimony,” Ensign, Nov. 2001, 88)

5. President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency explained:

Testimony requires the nurturing by the prayer of faith, the hungering for the word of God in the scriptures, and the obedience to the truth we have received. There is danger in neglecting prayer. There is danger to our testimony in only casual study and reading of the scriptures. They are necessary nutrients for our testimony. (Henry B. Eyring, “A Living Testimony,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 127)

6. Watch the video “Alma Compares the Word of God Unto a Seed.”

Day 2

Primary
1. Read Alma 33.
2. The Zoramites asked Alma how they could exercise their faith. Alma told them they should pray, believe in Jesus, and look to him for healing.
3. Listen to the song “I Want to Be a Missionary Now.”

Youth
1. Read Alma 33.
2. In Alma chapter 32, the prophet Alma had invited the Zoramites to strengthen their testimonies by nurturing the word of God in their hearts. They responded by asking him some important questions. Read Alma 33:1, looking for the questions they asked the prophet.
3. Exercising faith is more than simply believing in Jesus Christ. We exercise faith when we do what the Savior asks and intentionally seek to follow Him. Alma responded to the Zoramites’ question by teaching them multiple ways we can exercise our faith in Jesus Christ.

  1. We can exercise faith in God through worshipping Him in prayer. Alma 33:3–11
  2. We can exercise faith through believing in God’s Son. Alma 33:12–18
  3. We can exercise faith through looking to Jesus Christ for healing. Alma 33:18–23

4. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared:

Heavenly Father knows us, and He will find us wherever we are. It is comforting to know that wherever we may be, He will speak to us if we seek Him in prayer. (D. Todd Christofferson, “Friend to Friend: Seeking Him in Prayer,” Friend, Feb. 2006, 9)

Day 3

Primary
1. Read Alma 34.
2. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter, Alma 34:9-10.

9 For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.

10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.

3. Amulek taught the people about the atonement of Jesus Christ. Because of the atonement of Jesus Christ, our sins can be forgiven and we can live with Heavenly Father again.
4. Listen to the song “My Heavenly Father Loves Me.”

Youth
1. Read Alma 34.
2. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in this chapter, Alma 34:9-10.

9 For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are hardened; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made.

10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.

3. Have you ever thought about what your life would be like without Jesus Christ and His Atonement? Amulek taught the Zoramites that all people are hardened, fallen, and lost without the infinite and eternal sacrifice of the Son of God.
4. What do you think it means that Jesus Christ’s Atonement is infinite and eternal? President Russell M. Nelson shared the following insights:

His Atonement is infinite — without an end. It was also infinite in that all humankind would be saved from never-ending death. It was infinite in terms of His immense suffering. … It was infinite in scope — it was to be done once for all. And the mercy of the Atonement extends not only to an infinite number of people, but also to an infinite number of worlds created by Him. It was infinite beyond any human scale of measurement or mortal comprehension. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Atonement,” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 35)

5. Watch the video “Amulek Testifies that Salvation is in Jesus Christ.”

Day 4

Primary
1. Read Alma 35.
2. The Zoramites did not like the lessons that Alma and Amulek taught, because it interfered with the way they did things. They found everyone who believed in their teachings and cast them out of the land. The Zoramites who believed in Alma and Amulek’s teachings moved to the land of Jershon.
3. Listen to the song “I Want to Be a Missionary Now.”

Youth
1. Read Alma 35.
2. Have you wondered what it will be like to meet Heavenly Father after this life? Amulek reminded the Zoramites that “this life is the time … to prepare to meet God” (Alma 34:32)
3. We are taught that repentance can occur in the spirit world. But scriptural and latter-day prophets have emphasized how important it is that we repent in mortality. Elder Melvin J. Ballard [1873–1939] of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles provided this guidance:

It is much easier to overcome and serve the Lord when both flesh and spirit are combined as one. This is the time when men are more pliable and susceptible. … This life is the time to repent. (Melvin J. Ballard: Crusader for Righteousness (1966), 212–13; quoted in Dallin H. Oaks, “Cleansed by Repentance,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 94)

4. Repentance is an essential part of preparing to return to the presence of God. Remember that the Lord lovingly extends mercy to those who strive to repent, even when they have difficulty overcoming certain sins. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Sometimes in our repentance, in our daily efforts to become more Christlike, we find ourselves repeatedly struggling with the same difficulties. … Don’t be discouraged. If you are striving and working to repent, you are in the process of repenting. (Neil L. Andersen, “Repent …. That I May Heal You,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 41)

5. The Zoramites did not like the lessons that Alma and Amulek taught, because it interfered with the way they did things. They found everyone who believed in their teachings and cast them out of the land. The Zoramites who believed in Alma and Amulek’s teachings moved to the land of Jershon.