Hello! And welcome to Come, Follow Me – New Testament. Unlike other classes you have for school, this is organized into weeks to match the pace of classes and lessons at church. If you miss a day, skip ahead to be sure you stay in the right week. A day with an asterisk (*) means you have something to print!
There are two sections for each lesson, Primary and Youth. Be sure to choose the lesson that’s right for your age.
Links for other months: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
January, Week 1
Day 1
Primary
1. This year, you will read many stories from the life of Jesus Christ. The reason we are learning these stories is so that we can better follow Jesus Christ’s perfect example.
2. Read Matthew 4:18-22. In this scripture the Savior told his disciples to follow Him. In what ways can we follow the Savior?
3. Watch the video “Light the World.” How are the people in the video following the example of Jesus Christ?
4. Listen to the song “Books in the New Testament.” This time, listen to the whole song.
Youth
1. “What seek ye?” Jesus asked the disciples of John the Baptist (John 1:38). You might ask yourself the same question—for what you find in the New Testament this year will greatly depend on what you seek. “Seek, and ye shall find” is the Savior’s promise (Matthew 7:7). So ask the questions that come to your mind as you study, and then seek diligently for answers. In the New Testament you will read about the powerful spiritual experiences of disciples of Jesus Christ. As a faithful disciple of the Savior, you can have your own powerful spiritual experiences as you accept the Savior’s invitation, found throughout this sacred volume, “Come, follow me” (Luke 18:22).
2. The Savior’s invitation, “Come, follow me,” applies to all — whether we are new on the path of discipleship or have walked it all our lives. This was His invitation to a rich young man who was striving to keep the commandments (see Matthew 19:16–22; Luke 18:18–23). What the young man learned—and what we all must learn—is that being a disciple means giving our whole souls to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We progress in our discipleship as we identify what we lack, make changes, and seek to more fully follow Them. Learning from the Savior starts when we strive to understand what He taught.
3. Listen to the song “Books in the New Testament.” This time, listen to the whole song.
Day 2
Primary
1. The scriptures are a gift to us from Heavenly Father, and we can gain a testimony that the scriptures are true. The scriptures contain the word of God for us. They tell of people who really lived and things that really happened.
2. Read Moroni 10:3-5. Moroni testified that the scriptures were from God, and told us how we can gain our own testimony of the scriptures’ truthfulness. What did Moroni say you should do to learn if the scriptures are true?
3. Listen to the song “A Child’s Prayer.”
Youth
1. Elder David A. Bednar taught:
We should not expect the Church as an organization to teach or tell us everything we need to know and do to become devoted disciples and endure valiantly to the end. Rather, our personal responsibility is to learn what we should learn, to live as we know we should live, and to become who the Master would have us become. And our homes are the ultimate setting for learning, living, and becoming. (“Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 102)
2. What does it mean to take responsibility for your own learning? Look for answers in the following scriptures:
Day 3
Primary
1. Read John 5:39. What does this verse say that we should do?
2. We can learn from the scriptures and find valuable treasures of knowledge in them, but that will only happen if we read our scriptures. Why can it sometimes be difficult to read the scriptures? What blessings can we receive if we do? (2 Timothy 3:15)
3. Listen to the song “Jesus Once Was a Little Child.”
Youth
1. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:
The scriptures contain the words of Christ and are a reservoir of living water to which we have ready access and from which we can drink deeply and long. …
Through normal activity each day, you and I lose a substantial amount of the water that constitutes so much of our physical bodies. Thirst is a demand by the cells of the body for water, and the water in our bodies must be replenished daily. It frankly does not make sense to occasionally ‘fill up’ with water, with long periods of dehydration in between. The same thing is true spiritually. Spiritual thirst is a need for living water. A constant flow of living water is far superior to sporadic sipping. (“A Reservoir of Living Water” [Church Educational System fireside, Feb. 4, 2007], 1, 7, broadcast.lds.org)
2. What principle can we learn from Elder Bednar about what we can receive from daily scripture study? (As we study the scriptures daily, we receive the “living water” we need.)
3. Read 2 Timothy 15-17. According to these verses, what blessings are available to us as we study the scriptures and live their teachings? (As we study the scriptures, we can receive wisdom, correction, and instruction that will lead us to salvation.)
Day 4
Primary
1. Watch the video about the ten virgins.
2. The lamps in this story are like our testimonies. It is important for us to have our own testimonies. The women in the story could not share their lamps with each other, they each needed to have their own oil while they waited for the bridegroom to come and let them in. If we strengthen our testimonies, we can be like the wise women who had extra oil for their lamps. What are some things we can do to strengthen our testimonies?
3. Listen to the song “Come, Follow Me.”
Youth
1. Read Matthew 25:1-13.
2. In this parable, some of the women were prepared for a long wait and others were not. It is wise of us to strengthen our testimonies while we can, so that during times of trial we have the strength to hold on. What are some things we can do to strengthen our testimonies?
3. The quest for a testimony begins with a righteous, sincere desire. Speaking to a group of people who did not yet have testimonies of the gospel, Alma taught: “If ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words” (Alma 32:27).
4. Testimony comes through the quiet influence of the Holy Ghost. The results of a testimony can be miraculous and life changing, but the gift of testimony usually comes as a quiet assurance, without spectacular displays of God’s power. Even Alma, who had been visited by an angel and had seen God sitting on His throne, needed to fast and pray so he could receive a testimony through the power of the Holy Ghost (see Alma 5:45–46; 36:8, 22). Testimony grows gradually through experiences. No one receives a complete testimony all at once. It grows as individuals show willingness to serve in the Church and to study, pray, and learn. It increases as individuals obey God’s commandments. Testimony grows as it is shared.
Week 2
Day 1*
Primary*
1. Print a copy of this year’s Doctrinal Mastery scriptures. Write your name on it and save it to use this year.
2. Read Matthew 1.
3. Mary and Joseph were each visited by an angel who announced the birth of Jesus Christ. The angel told Mary that her baby would be called the Son of God. In addition, Joseph was asked to protect and take care of Jesus while He lived on earth.
4. Watch the video “Joseph and the Angel.”
5. Listen to the song “Jesus Once Was a Little Child.”
Youth*
1. Print a copy of this year’s Doctrinal Mastery scriptures. Write your name on it and save it to use this year.
2. Read Matthew 1.
3. Matthew 1:1–17 lists the Savior’s ancestors. Verse 1 mentions that Jesus Christ was a descendant of David and of Abraham. Old Testament prophecies declared that the Messiah would be a descendant of David and that an offspring of Abraham would bless “all the nations of the earth.” Matthew wanted readers to know that Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah. The genealogy given in Matthew 1:1–17 shows that Jesus was the promised Messiah and the rightful heir to the throne of David.
4. According to Matthew 1:18, Joseph and Mary were espoused. This means they were betrothed, or engaged, and legally bound to each other but not yet living together as husband and wife. However, before the wedding, Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant. In verse 19 we read that Joseph intended to “put her away privily” (meaning Joseph planned to cancel the engagement privately without forcing Mary to face public humiliation or the possible penalty of stoning.) What does that tell us about the type of man Joseph was?
5. Read verse 20. Why did Joseph decide not to cancel his engagement? What do we know about Jesus’ divine parentage? According to by Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
Just as Jesus is literally the Son of Mary, so he is the personal and literal offspring of God the Eternal Father. … Matthew’s statement, ‘she was found with child of the Holy Ghost,’ properly translated should say, ‘she was found with child by the power of the Holy Ghost.’ (Matt. 1:18.) … Alma perfectly describes our Lord’s conception and birth by prophesying: Christ ‘shall be born of Mary, … she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.’ (Alma 7:10.)” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 1:82).
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Luke 1:1-38.
2. The births of Jesus and John the Baptist were possible only through the power of God. Zacharias and Elisabeth had probably been praying for a child for many years. Eventually Heavenly Father answered their prayers by sending them a son, John the Baptist. On the other hand, Jesus Christ is the Son of Heavenly Father and Mary. His birth was a miracle, too.
3. Watch the video “Elisabeth and Zachariah.”
4. Watch the video “Mary and the Angel.”
5. Listen to the song “A Child’s Prayer.”
Youth
1. Read Luke 1:1-38.
2. Zacharias and Elisabeth had been praying for a son their whole lives, but now they were too old. One day, Zacharias was appointed to burn incense in the Jerusalem temple, an honor that came to a priest perhaps only once in his life. Read Luke 1:11-13 to see what happened while he was in the temple. The angel Gabriel told Zacharias that he and Elisabeth would “have joy and gladness” and that their son would prepare many people for the Lord.
3. How did Zacharias respond to this announcement? (Luke 1:18-20) What happened to Zacharias because he doubted the angel’s words? When Zacharias left the temple, he could not speak. Elisabeth later became pregnant, as the angel had promised.
4. Reread Luke 1:28-33. What did the angel say to Mary? What was her response? (Luke 1:38).
Day 3
Primary
1. Read Luke 1:39-80.
2. What happened when Mary went to visit Elisabeth? How do you think that helped Mary’s testimony? After Elisabeth’s baby was born, everyone asked her what he should be named. They wanted to name him Zacharias, after his father. Zacharias wrote that the baby’s name should be John, just like the angel had told him, and then he was able to speak again.
3. Watch the video “John the Baptist is Born.”
4. Listen to the song “Come, Follow Me.”
Youth
1. Read Luke 1:39-80.
2. After being visited by the angel, Mary took a trip to see her cousin, Elisabeth. Elisabeth bore her testimony to Mary about what was happening. (Luke 1:41-45) How do you think this testimony might have helped Mary?
3. Elder James E. Talmage of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:
That Child to be born of Mary … was of right to be called the ‘Son of the Highest.’ In His nature would be combined the powers of Godhood with the capacity and possibilities of mortality; and this through the ordinary operation of the fundamental law of heredity, declared of God, demonstrated by science, and admitted by philosophy, that living beings shall propagate—after their kind. The Child Jesus was to inherit the physical, mental, and spiritual traits, tendencies, and powers that characterized His parents— one immortal and glorified — God, the other human — woman” (Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. [1916], 81)
Elder Talmage also taught that through Jesus’s mortal mother, Mary, He inherited the ability to ‘lay down His life voluntarily.’ But from His Heavenly Father, Jesus inherited the ability to endure suffering during His atoning sacrifice ‘such as no other being who has lived on earth might even conceive as possible’ (Jesus the Christ, 613). Since this suffering would be ‘more than man can suffer, except it be unto death’ (Mosiah 3:7), only a Being with power over death could endure it.
4. After Elisabeth gave birth, Zacharias affirmed that the child should be named John. When he did so, he immediately regained his ability to speak and he prophesied about the missions of Jesus Christ and John. Zacharias and Elisabeth were both descendants of Aaron, from whose lineage came all priests and high priests of Israel. John was therefore a natural heir of the Aaronic Priesthood and its leadership.
Week 3
Day 1
Primary
1. Read Luke 2:1-20.
2. Jesus left His home with Heavenly Father to be born on earth so He could be our Savior. We study the story of His birth every year at Christmas time, but it is important to remember that it was full of miracles. Prophets had prophesied of Jesus’ birth for many years. The angels testified of His birth to the shepherds. Later, wise men would travel and bring gifts for the new king. Even though this story is familiar to us, it was still miraculous.
3. Watch the video “Jesus Christ is Born.”
4. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in today’s reading: Luke 2:10-12.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Youth
1. Read Luke 2:1-20.
2. Although Jesus Christ had glory with God the Father “before the world was” (John 17:5), He was willing to be born in lowly circumstances and live among us on earth.
3. Why did Mary and Joseph go to Bethlehem to be taxed?
Caesar Augustus was a capable and energetic Roman ruler whose reign—from 31 B.C. to A.D. 14—was marked by order and lawfulness. The “taxing” mentioned in Luke 2:2 was actually an enrollment [or census] of persons for future taxation purposes, an enrollment that required the taxpayer to personally submit required information. Because both Joseph and Mary were descendants of King David, they were required to make the journey to Bethlehem, which was King David’s hometown. … Ancient prophets had testified that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, in the land of Jerusalem (see Micah 5:2 ; Alma 7:10).Bethlehem lay approximately 85–90 miles (137–145 kilometers) south of Nazareth, a trek of at least four to five walking days, perhaps longer considering Mary’s condition. (New Testament Student Manual [2014], 143)
4. Watch the video “Shepherds Learn of the Birth of Christ.”
5. There is a doctrinal mastery scripture in today’s reading: Luke 2:10-12.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Matthew 2.
2. This chapter tells the story of the Wise Men. They lived far away from Bethlehem, but had been watching for the sign of Jesus’ birth. Prophets had testified that Jesus would be born and had given signs of His coming – that’s how they knew what to look for. When they came, they brought gifts for Him. However, they also put Jesus in danger by letting Herod know that the Savior had been born. They were told in a dream not to return to Herod and tell him where to find Jesus, but Joseph and Mary had to flee to Egypt to escape Herod’s attempt to kill the baby Jesus.
3. Watch the video “The Wise Men.”
4. Watch the video “Wicked King Herod.”
5. Listen to the song “Jesus Once Was a Little Child.”
Youth
1. Read Matthew 2.
2. It may have been as long as two years before the Wise Men arrived and found Jesus. They had been watching for the signs foretold in the writings of the prophets, as recorded in the Old Testament. They apparently did not have all of the scripture concerning this, because they visited King Herod in Jerusalem to gain more concrete direction. Herod had his scribes scour the records and directed them to Bethlehem. Herod was very curious about what they had to say, questioning them closely to find out exactly when the sign had appeared, and directed them to return and tell him where he could find the young Jesus.
3. After the Wise Men had delivered their gifts, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod. Then Joseph was warned in a dream to flee to Egypt to escape Herod’s slaughter of all baby boys in the area of Bethlehem up to two years of age. They stayed in Egypt until Herod died, and then Joseph was directed to return to Nazareth.
4. Why did Herod slaughter innocent children? King Herod, “troubled” by the news that another “King of the Jews” had been born (Matthew 2:2–3), wanted to kill Jesus to secure his own throne. Knowing that Jesus had been born in Bethlehem about two years earlier, Herod ordered the deaths of all children there under the age of two (see Matthew 2:4, 7, 12–16). Herod was infamously ruthless against suspected threats, even having his wife and three of his sons executed.
5. Watch the video “The Wise Men Seek Jesus.”
Day 3
Primary
1. Read Luke 2:21-39.
2. Righteous people were waiting for Christ to be born. They had studied the scriptures and knew that He would be coming soon. A man named Simeon had been waiting for Christ to come for a long time. The Holy Ghost told him that he would see Jesus before he died. When Simeon saw the baby Jesus at the temple, the Spirit told him that this was the Savior. A righteous woman named Anna also recognized the baby Jesus. If we listen to the promptings of the Spirit, we can be guided and directed just like Anna and Simeon.
3. Watch the video “Presentation at the Temple.”
4. Listen to the song “A Child’s Prayer.”
Youth
1. Read Luke 2:21-39.
2. Eight days after Jesus’s birth, Mary and Joseph presented the baby Jesus at the temple in accordance with Jewish law (see Exodus 13:2). Simeon and Anna, who were at the temple, recognized the infant Jesus as their Savior through the influence of the Spirit.
3.President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency explained how the Holy Ghost testifies of Christ:
It is the Holy Ghost who testifies that Jesus Christ is the Beloved Son of a Heavenly Father who loves us and wants us to have eternal life with Him in families. With even the beginning of that testimony, we feel a desire to serve Him and to keep His commandments. When we persist in doing that, we receive the gifts of the Holy Ghost to give us power in our service. We come to see the hand of God more clearly, so clearly that in time we not only remember Him, but we come to love Him and, through the power of the Atonement, become more like Him. (Henry B. Eyring, “O Remember, Remember,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 68–69)
4. Watch the video “The Christ Child is Presented at the Temple.”
Day 4
Primary
1. Read Luke 2:40-52.
2. What do these verses say about what Jesus was like as a child? How was Jesus doing His ‘Father’s business’? Even as a young man, Jesus was teaching the gospel in the temple.
3. Watch the video “The Boy Jesus.”
4. Listen to the song “Come, Follow Me.”
Youth
1. Read Luke 2:40-52.
2. As a young man, the Savior taught the gospel so powerfully that even the teachers in the temple were astonished at His “understanding and answers” (Luke 2:47). What do you learn from these verses about the Savior as a young man?
3. From Luke 2:52 we learn that we follow the example of Jesus Christ as we improve intellectually, physically, spiritually, and socially. President Bonnie H. Cordon, former Young Women General President, taught:
We start with a little bit at a time. Walking on the covenant path really is just placing one foot in front of the other. Make one goal. Start simply. The guidebooks for youth and children will give us a wonderful pattern to follow. …This is an amazing opportunity to grow as the Savior did! If we’re wondering, “What do I focus on?” we can remember that we are already doing many things to become like Him. Gospel learning is happening in many homes and at church. We’re serving and participating in activities. This new effort is simply a way for us to be intentional and accountable about acting on what we are learning—and to focus that growth in the four areas that the Savior grew: spiritually, socially, physically, and intellectually (see Luke 2:52). This will bring joy, peace, and lasting happiness to us all as we follow the Savior! (Bonnie H. Cordon, in “Children and Youth: Starting Strong,” Ensign, Jan. 2020, 54, 55)
4. Watch the video “Young Jesus Teaches in the Temple.”
Week 4
Day 1
Primary
1. Read John 1:1-18.
2. Even before He was born, Jesus played an important part in Heavenly Father’s plan. He volunteered to be our Savior, and helped create the Earth.
3. Watch the video “Our Heavenly Father’s Plan.”
4. Listen to the song “Jesus Once Was a Little Child.”
5. Listen to the song “Books in the New Testament.” Make sure you can sing it through John. (The first John.)
Youth
1. Read John 1:1-18.
2. There are a lot of Johns in the New Testament, so let’s clarify which one we are talking about here. John was a disciple of John the Baptist and later became one of the first followers of Jesus Christ and one of His Twelve Apostles. He wrote the Gospel of John, several epistles, and the book of Revelation. In his Gospel, he referred to himself as the disciple “whom Jesus loved” and the “other disciple” (John 13:23; 20:3). John’s zeal for preaching the gospel was so strong that he asked to stay on the earth until the Savior’s Second Coming so he could bring souls unto Christ (see Doctrine and Covenants 7:1–6).
3. The New Testament contains many verses that have retranslations done by Joseph Smith. Sometimes the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of a verse or section of scripture can clarify confusing parts or principles. Compare John 1:1-5 with the Joseph Smith Translation of the same verses. How does this change your understanding?
4. John was inspired to seek the Savior because of the testimony of John the Baptist, who declared that he “was sent to bear witness of … the true Light” (John 1:8–9). John himself also bore powerful witness of the life and mission of the Savior.
5. Let’s look at one more verse with a Joseph Smith Translation. John 1:18 states that no one has seen God. Click on footnote c and read what the retranslated verse has to say about that. How does that change the meaning of the scripture?
6. Listen to the song “Books in the New Testament.” Make sure you can sing it through John. (The first John.)
Day 2
Primary
1. Read John 1:19-34.
2. This section is about John (not the Baptist) talking about John the Baptist. John the Baptist was Jesus’s cousin, and the son of Elisabeth and Zacharias. John the Baptist testified of Jesus Christ. The priests of the Jews came to him, asking if he was the Messiah, or if he was the prophet testified of in the Old Testament who would come. John the Baptist testified that Jesus Christ was coming, and that He was the Messiah.
3. Listen to the song “A Child’s Prayer.”
Youth
1. Read John 1:19-34.
2. Read the Joseph Smith Translation of John 1:20-28.
3. The Jews sent priests to John the Baptist asking if he was the Messiah. John explained that his role was to bear record of the Messiah, who would baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
4.
The Jewish leaders asked John if he was ‘Elias’ (the Greek name for the Hebrew ‘Elijah’), who was prophesied to someday return (see Malachi 4:5–6). In the Joseph Smith Translation, the Lord revealed a more complete account of John’s response to the Jewish leaders, which conveys John’s knowledge of his own mission as one who came to prepare the way for the Messiah. To their queries, John ‘confessed, and denied not that he was Elias; but confessed, saying; I am not the Christ’ (Joseph Smith Translation, John 1:21 [in the Bible appendix]).
John understood, as the priests and Levites apparently did not, that there are various meanings for the name-title Elias (see Bible Dictionary, ‘Elias’; Guide to the Scriptures, ‘Elias’; scriptures.lds.org). John was an Elias, which means a forerunner of the Messiah, but he was not the Elias, who is Jesus Christ, the Messiah. John was also not Elijah the prophet, whose name in Greek is Elias. …
When John denied that he was Elijah, the Jewish leaders asked him, ‘Art thou that prophet?’ (John 1:21). Their question likely had reference to the prophecy of Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15: ‘The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.’ However, by asking John if he was ‘that prophet’ after John had already denied that he was the Christ, these Jews showed that they did not understand the messianic nature of Moses’s prophecy. Many of the Jews in Jesus’s day anticipated the coming of a prophet who would be like unto Moses but who was not the Messiah. This is evident when many in Jerusalem later proclaimed that Jesus Christ was ‘the Prophet,’ while others declared that He was ‘the Christ’ (John 7:40–41; see also 6:14)” (New Testament Student Manual [Church Educational System manual, 2014], 201–2).
Day 3
Primary
1. Read John 1:35-51.
2. In this section of the chapter, we see Jesus beginning to gain disciples. Because John bore his testimony that Jesus was the Messiah, others began to follow Him. When the disciples asked questions, Jesus told them to “come and see.” How can we invite others to “come and see” what is good about the Savior?
3. Listen to the song “Come, Follow Me.”
Youth
1. Read John 1:35-51.
2. The Apostle John wrote about how John the Baptist introduced some of his followers to Jesus Christ. What invitations in these verses did the Savior’s disciples accept to help them follow Him? What can you do to respond to the Savior’s invitation to “come and see”?
3. Elder Ulisses Soares said,
When we accept the Savior’s invitation to “come and see,” we need to abide in Him, immersing ourselves in the scriptures, rejoicing in them, learning His doctrine, and striving to live the way He lived. Only then will we come to know Him, Jesus Christ, and recognize His voice, knowing that as we come unto Him and believe in Him, we shall never hunger nor thirst. We will be able to discern the truth at all times, as occurred to those two disciples who abode with Jesus that day.
Week 5
Day 1
Primary
1. Today read Matthew 3.
2. We know that Jesus was baptized. He was baptized the same way that we are today! We are baptized by immersion (that means going all the way under the water) by someone with the proper priesthood authority. The person with the authority to baptize Jesus was John. The Holy Ghost descended on Jesus when He was baptized, and a dove appeared as a sign to show that this had happened.
3. Watch the video “Jesus is Baptized.”
Youth
1. Today read Matthew 3.
2. Before Jesus Christ began His public ministry, John the Baptist sought to prepare others to accept and follow the Savior. John invited them to repent and be baptized. How did people respond to John’s message? (Matthew 3:5-6)
3. The Pharisees were a religious group of Jews whose name suggests being separate or apart. They took pride in strictly observing the law of Moses and believed that man-made additions to it, known as the oral law, were as important as the law of Moses itself. The Sadducees were a small but politically powerful group of Jews who believed in obeying the letter of the law of Moses. They did not believe in the doctrine of resurrection or eternal life. What did John call the Pharisees and Sadducees? (Matthew 3:7) Vipers are active at night and typically hunt by hiding and then sneaking up on their prey. When they feel threatened, vipers will coil their body, hiss, and strike at their opponents. Why do you think John referred to the Pharisees and Sadducees as vipers? (The Pharisees and Sadducees felt threatened by John, as he drew many people away from their evil influence and false teachings.)
4. Matthew 3:13-17 tells of the baptism of Jesus. Why did Jesus travel so far to have John baptize him? (John held the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood and was the only man at that time who had the authority to perform the ordinance of baptism.) How is Jesus’s baptism similar to the way we are baptized today?
5. John was initially reluctant to baptize the Savior. Why did Jesus say that he needed to be baptized? (Matthew 3:15) “To fulfil all righteousness” means doing all that Heavenly Father requires of us so that we can live with Him again. This includes receiving the ordinances of salvation, which God requires of all of His children, including Jesus. By being baptized, Jesus set the perfect example for us to follow, demonstrated humility, obeyed the commandments of His Father, and received an ordinance necessary to attain eternal life.
Day 2
Primary
1. Read Luke 3.
2. John the Baptist (in this chapter he is called John, the son of Zacharias) was going about preaching and baptizing, to “prepare the way” for Jesus. What did John tell the people they needed to do? (Luke 3:8)
3. John told the people they needed to bring forth “fruits worthy of repentance.” That means they needed to change their actions. If we are truly sorry for the things we have done wrong, we will change our actions to do something different in the future. That is one way to show we have truly repented.
4. Listen to the song “Come, Follow Me.”
Youth
1. Read Luke 3.
2. One way John the Baptist helped the people prepare themselves to receive Jesus Christ was by inviting them to repent.
3. President Russell M. Nelson taught the following about how we can receive joy in our lives:
When we choose to repent, we choose to change! We allow the Savior to transform us into the best version of ourselves. We choose to grow spiritually and receive joy—the joy of redemption in Him.
(Russell M. Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Better,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 67)
Repentance is changing by turning away from sin and drawing closer to God through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Why might someone not always immediately feel joy while repenting?
4. President Russell M. Nelson had this to say about repentance and the Savior Jesus Christ.
Too many people consider repentance as punishment — something to be avoided except in the most serious circumstances. But this feeling of being penalized is engendered by Satan. He tries to block us from looking to Jesus Christ, who stands with open arms, hoping and willing to heal, forgive, cleanse, strengthen, purify, and sanctify us.
The word for repentance in the Greek New Testament is metanoeo. The prefix meta- means “change.” The suffix -noeo is related to Greek words that mean “mind,” “knowledge,” “spirit,” and “breath.”
Thus, when Jesus asks you and me to “repent” [ Luke 13:3, 5 ], He is inviting us to change our mind, our knowledge, our spirit — even the way we breathe. He is asking us to change the way we love, think, serve, spend our time, treat our wives, teach our children, and even care for our bodies.
Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. Repentance is not an event; it is a process. It is the key to happiness and peace of mind. When coupled with faith, repentance opens our access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
Whether you are diligently moving along the covenant path, have slipped or stepped from the covenant path, or can’t even see the path from where you are now, I plead with you to repent. Experience the strengthening power of daily repentance — of doing and being a little better each day. (Russell M. Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Better,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 67)
5. Watch the video “The Baptism of Jesus.”
Day 3
Primary
1. Read Mark 1:1-20.
2. Why do you think we are reading about the baptism of Jesus again? Why do you think it was important for more than one person to write about the same thing?
3. After Jesus was baptized, he was ready to begin what we call “ministry,” or the time that He began teaching and performing miracles. The first thing He did was to go into the wilderness and fast for 40 days. Then he began calling disciples to follow Him. Tomorrow we will see what else He did!
4. Listen to the song “A Child’s Prayer.”
Youth
1. Read Mark 1:1-20.
2. Among the authors of the Gospels, we know the least about Mark. We know that he was a missionary companion of Paul, Peter, and several other missionaries. Many biblical scholars believe that Peter directed Mark to record the events of the Savior’s life. Mark’s Gospel was likely written before the other three (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). Mark’s account of the Savior’s life is different from Matthew’s. It begins suddenly and is fast-paced, emphasizing the Savior’s divinity by focusing on His works and miracles.
3. What is the very first thing that Mark wrote about the life of Jesus Christ? Why do you think he chose to begin his record there?
4. This is the third record of Jesus’s baptism that we have read this week. Why do you think it is important that this record was written by more than one person, in more than one place? (2 Corinthians 13:1)
5. After Jesus was baptized, he went into the wilderness where he fasted for 40 days and was tempted by the devil. (Mark 1:12-13). We will cover this more in depth in another lesson.
6. Upon returning from the wilderness, Jesus began to call disciples to follow Him. What promise did Jesus give them in verse 17?
Day 4
Primary
1. Read Mark 1:21-45.
2. After he was baptized, Jesus began his ministry – or his work of helping and teaching people. There are multiple miracles recorded in this section of Mark 1. Can you find 3 different ones?
3. Listen to the song “Jesus Once Was a Little Child.”
Youth
1. Read Mark 1:21-45.
2. Now begins Christ’s ministry. Jesus taught at the synagogue, cast out devils, healed the sick, and cleansed a leper.
3. Leprosy is a chronic disease that attacks skin, nerves, eyes, bones, and limbs. Left untreated, it leads to a painful death. In ancient times, it was believed that anyone who came in contact with lepers would contract the disease. To protect a community’s health and well-being, lepers were forced to live outside the town. The law required them to call out “Unclean!” to warn anyone approaching them. Read Mark 1:40-42. How did the leper show faith in Jesus Christ? How did Christ respond?
4. How can leprosy be likened to sin? Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:
Leprosy in biblical times, in addition to its desolating physical effects, was looked upon as the symbol of sin and uncleanness, signifying that as this evil disease ate away and destroyed the physical body, so sin eats away and corrupts the spiritual side of man. (The Mortal Messiah, 4 vols. [1979–81], 2:45)
What principle can we learn by likening the healing of the leper to being cleansed from sin? (As we exercise faith and come unto the Savior, He will have compassion on us and cleanse us from sin.)
5. The law of Moses required those healed of leprosy to show themselves to a temple priest and offer a sacrifice. Read Mark 1:43-45. What did Jesus tell the man to do? What did he do instead? What happened because he disobeyed?
6. Watch the video “Jesus Heals a Possessed Man.”
You’re done with January, please proceed to February!
