Come,-Follow-Me
The Church has released a single “Come, Follow Me” manual for use at home and at church in 2024 as members study the Book of Mormon.2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.This story appears here courtesy of TheChurchNews.com. It is not for use by other media.
By Ryan Jensen, Church News
In the weeks following general conference in April 2023, the First Presidency notified local Church leaders to expect changes to the 2024 version of “Come, Follow Me.”
That letter said the move is part of “an effort to strengthen and simplify home-centered, Church-supported gospel learning.”
Instead of separate manuals for Primary, Sunday School, Young Women classes and Aaronic Priesthood quorum meetings, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will have one resource for these classes and for use in the home. Seminary will still have separate manuals, but the topic of study will continue to align with “Come, Follow Me.”
The new resource is now available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org under the “Libraries” and “Come, Follow Me” tabs. It is titled “Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024.” It can also be found in the Gospel Library app under “Library” and “Come, Follow Me” with the same title. One physical manual, titled “Come, Follow Me — For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024,” will be provided to each family through their ward or branch. Individuals who wish to purchase their own personal copy may do so starting in December.
‘Conversion Is Our Goal’
The new manual leads with a section explaining how the goal of learning the gospel is to help individuals become more like the Savior.
“For this reason, when we study the gospel, we’re not just looking for new information; we want to become a ‘new creature’ (2 Corinthians 5:17). This means relying on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to help us change our hearts, our views, our actions, and our very natures.”
Come,-Follow-Me
Anthony Butters, who portrays Jesus, prays during a scene as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ production of the fourth season of Book of Mormon videos is filmed near Springville, Utah, on July 26, 2021. Photo by Jeffrey D. Allred, courtesy of Church News.Copyright 2023 Deseret News Publishing Company.President Russell M. Nelson has encouraged members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost in their lives. This new manual also invites those who study the Book of Mormon to “first and foremost seek the companionship of the Spirit” to allow the Holy Ghost to confirm truth as they study.
The new resource’s introduction gives a few paragraphs of instruction for using its contents at home, in Primary, in youth and adult Sunday School classes, and in Aaronic Priesthood quorums and Young Women classes.
Weekly ‘Come, Follow Me ‘Study Outlines
Similar to previous years’ “Come, Follow Me” manuals, the 2024 version contains outlines by month for each week of the year, beginning with the introductory pages of the Book of Mormon and carrying through with each book from 1 Nephi through Moroni. The weekly lessons include special Easter and Christmas lessons in March and December.
It also includes four appendixes — one for parents, two for Primary leaders and teachers, and one for Aaronic Priesthood quorums and Young Women classes.
The appendix for parents provides some suggestions on how to help prepare children to stay on the covenant path throughout their lives.
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Come,-Follow-Me
The new “Come, Follow Me” manual for 2024 may help families have a unified scripture study experience.2023 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.“There are many ways to prepare your children for this journey on the covenant path, and Heavenly Father will help you discover the best way to help them,” the manual says.
This section includes ideas on how to teach children about baptism, confirmation, priesthood power, authority and keys, worshipping and making covenants in the temple, receiving a patriarchal blessing, and serving a mission.
The first of two appendixes for use in Primary gives learning activity suggestions for fifth Sundays during the year. The ideas include many of the same topics provided to parents in Appendix A, but this one also includes topics of gospel principles, the sacrament and family history.
Appendix C gives general instruction to Primary leaders on singing time and the children’s sacrament meeting presentation. It also includes potential songs to learn each month that coincide with the month’s Book of Mormon lessons.
Useful to Primary leaders, parents and others who have responsibilities with Primary children, the end of this appendix shares ways to use music to teach doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These ideas can help in singing time, family nights or during other activities with children.
The final appendix, for Aaronic Priesthood quorums and Young Women classes, gives a suggested meeting agenda for those groups to use when meeting together on Sundays.
More than an outline, this agenda gives quorum and class leaders questions that could be asked to help them as they counsel together about the needs of individuals or their groups as a whole.
Each set of questions is listed under one of four headings that are also listed in the Church’s General Handbook as pertaining to “God’s Work of Salvation and Exaltation.” They are:
- Living the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Caring for those in need.
- Inviting all to receive the gospel.
- Uniting families for eternity.
Deepen Conversion
“Come, Follow Me” is a Church resource intended to “strengthen families and individuals through a home-centered and Church-supported plan to learn doctrine, strengthen faith and foster greater personal worship.”
President Nelson announced “Come, Follow Me” in October 2018 general conference, calling it “a new balance and connection between gospel instruction in the home and in the Church.”
“In recent years, we in the presiding councils of the Church have wrestled with a fundamental question: How can we take the gospel in its simple purity and the ordinances with their eternal efficacy to all of God’s children?” he said.
“As Latter-day Saints, we have become accustomed to thinking of ‘church’ as something that happens in our meetinghouses, supported by what happens at home. We need an adjustment to this pattern. It is time for a home-centered Church, supported by what takes place inside our branch, ward and stake buildings.”
In speaking about “Come, Follow Me” during October 2018 general conference, Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said the purposes and blessings associated with this resource and other associated changes include the following:
- Deepening conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and strengthening faith in Them.
- Strengthening individuals and families through home-centered, Church-supported curriculum that contributes to joyful gospel living.
- Honoring the Sabbath day, with a focus on the ordinance of the sacrament.
- Helping all of Heavenly Father’s children on both sides of the veil through missionary work and receiving ordinances and covenants and blessings of the temple.
In the four years since its release, “Come, Follow Me” has helped Latter-day Saints “have a transformational experience with the scriptures,” he said.
Last year Sunday School General President Mark L. Pace said Church members are studying the scriptures as never before.