Come, Follow Me Sunday School 2 Learning Resources for Youth teaching and learning for conversion Sunday School July–December 2013 Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © 2012 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved English approval: 4/13 10879 000 About This Manual The lessons in this manual are organized into units Counsel together that address doctrinal fundamentals of the restored Counsel with other teachers and leaders about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each lesson focuses on ques- youth in your class. What are they learning in other tions that youth may have and doctrinal principles settings—at home, in seminary, in other Church that can help them find answers. The lessons are classes? What opportunities could they have to teach? designed to help you prepare spiritually by learning (If sensitive information is shared in these conversa- the doctrine for yourself and then plan ways to tions, please keep it confidential.) engage the youth in powerful learning experiences. Learning outlines More online You can find additional resources and teaching ideas For each of the doctrinal topics listed in the contents, for each of these lessons at lds.org/youth/learn. there are more learning outlines than you will be able Online lessons include: to teach during the month. Let the inspiration of the Spirit and the questions and interests of the youth • Links to the most recent teachings from the living guide you as you decide which outlines to teach and prophets, apostles, and other Church leaders. These how long to spend on a topic. links are updated regularly, so refer back to them often. The outlines are not meant to prescribe what you will say and do in class. They are designed to help you • Links to videos, images, and other media that you learn the doctrine for yourself and prepare learning can use to prepare yourself spiritually and to teach experiences adapted to the needs of the youth you the youth. teach. • Videos that demonstrate effective teaching to Prepare yourself spiritually enhance your ability to help the youth become To help the youth understand the principles in these converted. outlines, you must understand and apply them • Additional teaching ideas. yourself. Study the scriptures and other resources provided, and look for statements, stories, or exam- ples that may be especially relevant or inspiring to the youth. Plan ways to help the youth discover these principles for themselves, gain a testimony of them, and apply them in their own efforts to learn and teach the gospel. Contents July: Ordinances and Covenants What spiritual truths can I learn from the ordinances of the gospel? How can I deepen my understanding of covenants? How can I make the sacrament more meaningful to me? How do I keep my covenant to always remember the Savior? How can I prepare to receive temple ordinances? August: Marriage and Family How will keeping a personal journal bless me and my family? Why is it important to learn about my family history? How can I teach others how to do family history work? How can I explain the importance of marriage and family to others? What opportunities are there for learning and teaching in the home? September: Commandments How do the commandments help me learn to be more like Heavenly Father? How can I help others understand my standards? How does keeping the commandments affect my ability to learn the gospel? How can I inspire others to obey the commandments? What blessings does Heavenly Father promise if I obey the commandments? October: Becoming More Christlike How can I invite others to become more like the Savior? How can I show love for those I teach? How did the Savior compare gospel truths to familiar objects and experiences? How can I use the scriptures to help others become more Christlike? How can I use questions effectively as I teach? What can I learn about gospel learning from the Savior’s example? November: Spiritual and Temporal Self-Reliance How can I become spiritually self-reliant? How can I find answers to my own gospel questions? How can I learn to make my own decisions? How can setting goals help me become self-reliant? How can I prepare to be financially self-reliant? December: Building the Kingdom of God in the Latter Days How can I learn to serve more effectively in the Church? How can I become a better leader? How can I become a better teacher? What are effective ways to share the gospel with others? How can I understand the symbols used to teach about the Second Coming? What can I learn from the scriptures to help me prepare for the Second Coming? UNIT OVERVIEW July: Ordinances and Covenants “In the ordinances ... the power of godliness is manifest” (D&C 84:20). Our Father in Heaven uses the ordinances and covenants of the gospel to teach us and prepare us to live with Him. In this unit, you will have the opportunity to help the youth enhance their efforts to study and teach the gospel as they learn about ordinances and covenants. Encourage the youth to ask questions about what they are learning, to seek to learn more, and to teach others what they discover. Outlines to choose from this month: What spiritual truths can I learn from the ordinances of the gospel? How can I deepen my understanding of covenants? How can I make the sacrament more meaningful to me? How do I keep my covenant to always remember the Savior? How can I prepare to receive temple ordinances? Visit lds.org/youth/learn to view this unit online. July: ORDINANCES AND COVENANTS What spiritual truths can I learn from the ordinances of the gospel? Ordinances are sacred, formal acts performed under priesthood authority. Ordinances symbolize gospel truths and teach us about Heavenly Father’s plan of salvation and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Ordinances also teach us about who we are and remind us of our duty to God. Learning about the symbolism in the ordinances helps us understand the gospel more completely and strengthens our faith in Jesus Christ. Prepare yourself spiritually Reflect on the ordinances Prayerfully study these scriptures and resources. What can the youth learn from the you and your family have symbolism in the ordinances of the gospel? received (such as baptism, Luke 22:19–20; 3 Nephi 18:1–11 (The Dennis B. Neuenschwander, the sacrament, and temple sacrament represents the body and “Ordinances and Covenants,” ordinances). What gospel blood of the Savior) Ensign, Aug. 2001, 20–26 truths do you learn from these ordinances? Romans 6:3–6; D&C 76:51 (Baptism “Remembering the Savior and His by immersion symbolizes the death Atonement,” True to the Faith (2004), Do the youth in your and resurrection of Christ and our 147–48 class appreciate the own spiritual rebirth) significance of the ordi- “Ordinances,” True to the Faith (2004), nances of the gospel? Do D&C 84:19–22 (The power of godliness 109–10 they understand the is manifest through the ordinances of “Comparisons and Object Lessons” in symbolism of baptism the priesthood) and the sacrament? Teaching, No Greater Call, 163–64 Boyd K. Packer, “The Holy Temple,” Ensign or Liahona, Oct. 2010, 29–35 Make connections During the first few minutes of every class, help the youth make connections between things they are learning in various settings (such as personal study, seminary, other Church classes, or experiences with their friends). How can you help them see the relevance of the gospel in daily living? The ideas below might help you: • Invite any youth who has had an an ordinance recently (such as bap- opportunity to explain a doctrinal tism, ordination to the priesthood, or truth to a friend to share the experi- temple ordinances). Encourage them ence with the class. to share their experiences. What impressed them about the ordinance? • Ask the youth if any of them or their family members have received Learn together Gospel study skills Each of the activities below will help the youth find spiritual truths in the ordinances of the gospel. Following the inspiration of the Spirit, select one or more that will work best Understanding symbols. To for your class: understand parables and symbols in the scriptures, • Divide the class into two groups. “What do the ordinances of the gospel the youth need to be able Assign one group to study about teach us about God?” Ask them to to recognize symbols, what baptism symbolizes, and assign share what they find. Encourage them identify parts of the the other group to study about what to ask themselves this question the symbols, and interpret the sacrament symbolizes, using the next time they witness or participate them. One way to recog- scriptures and other resources (such in an ordinance and write down their nize a symbol is to look for as those suggested in this outline). thoughts and impressions to share in words such as like, likened, What do these ordinances teach them a future class. like unto, as, or as it were. about the Atonement? Ask each group • As a class, read “Comparisons and The youth can then make to teach what they learn to the rest of Object Lessons” in Teaching, No a list of the parts of the the class. They could use pictures Greater Call, 163–64. Ask the youth to symbol (such as bread or 103–4 and 107–8 in the Gospel Art look for reasons the Lord teaches us water). To interpret the Book. Ask the youth how understand- through symbols. What are some of symbols, they can refer to ing the symbolism of these ordinances the eternal truths or principles that other Church resources will affect their thoughts and feelings the Lord teaches us through the (such as Church maga- the next time they participate in the ordinances of baptism and the zines, conference talks, ordinances.