Editor's note: “Resources to follow Him” curates study resources, teachings, and thoughts to deepen your study of this week's Come, Follow Me.
As you explore Alma 8–12, here are some principles from gospel teachers to spur discussion with your families or study groups. We hope these prompts, in addition to the Come, Follow Me manual, will enhance your understanding of these chapters.
Topics
- Stand for courage
- The Lord knows our needs
- "When you know, but you would not know"
- The message of the gospel is joyful
- The plan of redemption provides answers
Stand for courage
The rejection Alma faced as a missionary may mirror rejection faced by members today. Speaking in general conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland shared that sometimes our efforts to share the gospel do not go as we hope, but we should still stand courageously as we continue to defend our beliefs. The following part of his address is quoted in the Sunday School Come, Follow Me manual:
“If you haven’t already, you will one day find yourself called upon to defend your faith or perhaps even endure some personal abuse simply because you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Such moments will require both courage and courtesy on your part. “. . . You may wonder if it is worth it to take a courageous moral stand in high school or to go on a mission only to have your most cherished beliefs reviled or to strive against much in society that sometimes ridicules a life of religious devotion. Yes, it is worth it. . . . “Friends, especially my young friends, take heart. Pure Christlike love flowing from true righteousness can change the world. . . . “Be strong. Live the gospel faithfully even if others around you don’t live it at all. Defend your beliefs with courtesy and with compassion, but defend them.”
Watch Elder Holland’s address, “The Cost—and Blessings—of Discipleship” below.
The Lord knows ours needs
In these chapters, we see Alma provide for Amulek’s needs. In this week’s episode of the Sunday on Monday Study Group, the group shares scriptures that explain how the Lord provides for our needs:
- “But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.” (1 Nephi 9:6).
- “Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” (Matthew 6:8).
The group also shares a quote from Elder Brook P. Hales from his April 2019 general conference address, “Answers to Prayers.”
“The Father is aware of us, knows our needs, and will help us perfectly. Sometimes that help is given in the very moment or at least soon after we ask for divine help. Sometimes our most earnest and worthy desires are not answered in the way we hope, but we find that God has greater blessings in store. And sometimes our righteous desires are not granted in this life. . . . Brothers and sisters, sometimes our prayers are answered quickly with the outcome we hope for. Sometimes our prayers are not answered in the way we hope for, yet with time we learn that God had greater blessings prepared for us than we initially anticipated. And sometimes our righteous petitions to God will not be granted in this life. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, ‘Faith also includes trust in God’s timing.’”
The Sunday on Monday Study Group is a Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ original presented by LDS Living. You can access the full study group discussion through the Bookshelf app. Listen to a segment of this week's episode below or listen to the full Sunday on Monday episode here.
"When you know, but you would not know "
In this week’s episode of “Don’t Miss This,” David Butler and Emily Belle Freeman talk about three different lessons we learn from these chapters: when you want to give up, when you have forgotten, and when you know, but you would not know. The third phrase is a phrase inspired by Amulek in Alma 10:6, “Therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know.”
Freeman and Butler share three things that caused Amulek to make the change from not knowing to knowing:
- Amulek accepted the invitation for God to bless his life (Alma 10:7).
- Amulek lived in thankfulness (Alma 10:11).
- Amulek found a holy mentor in the prophet Alma (Alma 10:9).
Each week this summer, Butler and Freeman are selecting a hero for the “Summer of Heroes” and issuing a battle-ready challenge. This week’s challenge is to live in daily thanksgiving.
“It becomes a pattern of life for us when we learn how to do that, how to live in thanksgiving,” Freeman said.
Watch the full lesson below and be sure to pick up a Don’t Miss This 2020 Journalso you can follow along.
The message of the gospel is joyful
A Book of Mormon video shares the story of Alma 8–15. Though the video sneaks into next week’s Come, Follow Me curriculum, the video portrays Alma’s meeting with Amulek. LDS Living author Jannalee Sandau wrote the following after watching the episode:
“In all the times I have read this story in the scriptures, I have never pictured Amulek’s meeting with Alma, who was the high priest, as being one that Amulek was excited about. But that is exactly what happened in this representation, and it changed my entire perception of the story. As the video illustrates, after the prophet Alma had been cast out of the city and returned at the encouragement of an angel, Amulek was happy to welcome Alma into his home and was eager to hear the teachings and knowledge that the prophet had to share, and which he did share for several days. It is no wonder, then, that Amulek was able to speak with such sincerity and power when he finally joined Alma in preaching the gospel to others in the city. He was not just fulfilling the instructions of an angel or doing his duty—he had learned, believed, and grown to love the gospel and the power of Jesus Christ that he testified about.”
Watch the video below or read more of Sandau’s thoughts here.
The Plan of Redemption provides answers
Alma teaches about the plan of redemption in Alma 12:24–34. In October 2016, then-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave a general conference address, “O How Great the Plan of Our God!” A section of his talk, “We Have Answers!” shares the answers to questions like, “Where did I come from? Why am I here? What will happen after I die?”
The Youth Come, Follow Me manual suggests, “Maybe you could write these questions on the board and invite quorum or class members to find statements in President Uchtdorf’s message that help answer these questions. They could write their answers on the board under the appropriate question. Why are the answers to these questions important in our lives?”
Watch President Uchtdorf’s address below.
