Church of Jesus Christ Study Session with Come Follow Me

Church of Jesus Christ Study Session seeks to generate reflection about areas in the Restored Gospel. Whether it's Come Follow Me, a General Conference talk or a recent Gospel Topic, hopefully you'll find something to keep the Spirit of Christ in your life. Twitter - @mattsroberts90

You can also join the discussion in the Facebook Group 'Church of Jesus Christ Study Session with Come Follow Me'.

Elder Jeffrey R Holland: Latter-day Saints know more than most about Melchizedek because of references to him in the thirteenth chapter of Alma in the Book of Mormon. Indeed, in that other ‘testament of Jesus Christ,’ Melchizedek is clearly a very specific Old testament type of Jesus Christ that was to come in New Testament times. It is noted that Melchizedek was ‘king over the land of [Jeru]Salem,’ ‘did reign under his father,’ ‘received the office of the high priesthood’ in ‘the holy order of God,’ ‘did preach repentance unto his people,’ ‘did establish peace,’ and ‘was called the prince of peace’—all recognized by even the most casual of readers as characteristics of Jesus when He came in mortality

Church of Jesus Christ Study Session seeks to generate reflection about areas in the Restored Gospel. Whether it's Come Follow Me, a General Conference talk or a recent Gospel Topic, hopefully you'll find something to keep the Spirit of Christ in your life. Twitter - @mattsroberts90

You can also join the discussion in the Facebook Group 'Church of Jesus Christ Study Session with Come Follow Me'.

Join us today as we begin Alma's fascinating discourse on the holy order of God. We consider how this awesome power is available to mankind and how we see its effect in our daily lives. 

Henry B Eyring: One way to respond to such awe-inspiring descriptions of the power of the priesthood is to assume that they do not apply to us. Another way to respond is with soul-searching questions, asked in our own hearts, such as these: Have I ever felt that the heavens have been opened to me? Would anyone use the phrase ‘ministering of angels’ to describe my priesthood service? Do I bring the ‘power of godliness’ into the lives of those I serve? Have I ever broken a mountain, defied an army, broken someone’s bands, or subdued worldly powers—even if only figuratively—in order to accomplish God’s will? Such introspection always brings a feeling that we could be doing more in the service of the Lord. I hope it also brings you a feeling that you want to do more—a longing to participate more fully in the Lord’s miraculous work. Such feelings are the first step toward becoming the kind of men that priesthood service is meant to produce.

Church of Jesus Christ Study Session seeks to generate reflection about areas in the Restored Gospel. Whether it's Come Follow Me, a General Conference talk or a recent Gospel Topic, hopefully you'll find something to keep the Spirit of Christ in your life. Twitter - @mattsroberts90

You can also join the discussion in the Facebook Group 'Church of Jesus Christ Study Session with Come Follow Me'.

Today we study Sister Bingham's recent talk from the April 2020 General Conference. We consider the role that sisters in the Church play in using the priesthood to further God's work and we reflect on the impact this has for men and women. 

Sister Jean B Bingham: So what does that mean for you and me? How does understanding priesthood authority and power change our lives? One of the keys is to understand that when women and men work together, we accomplish a great deal more than we do working separately. Our roles are complementary rather than competitive. Although women are not ordained to a priesthood office, as noted previously women are blessed with priesthood power as they keep their covenants, and they operate with priesthood authority when they are set apart to a calling.

Church of Jesus Christ Study Session seeks to generate reflection about areas in the Restored Gospel. Whether it's Come Follow Me, a General Conference talk or a recent Gospel Topic, hopefully you'll find something to keep the Spirit of Christ in your life. Twitter - @mattsroberts90

You can also join the discussion in the Facebook Group 'Church of Jesus Christ Study Session with Come Follow Me'.

Join us as we conclude our study of the main portion of Alma and Amulek’s preaching to Zeezrom and the others in Ammonihah. We consider the need to open our hearts to the word of God and we also reflect on the changing power of this word. 

Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L Millet: We see in this verse an example of the marvelous transformation that can begin to take place because of the power of the word. Zeezrom, only a short time before, had asked baiting, trapping questions. Now that he is confronted by the power of God and having his sins laid open to view, his queries begin to change, to reflect a type of sincere inquiry after the truth.

Church of Jesus Christ Study Session seeks to generate reflection about areas in the Restored Gospel. Whether it's Come Follow Me, a General Conference talk or a recent Gospel Topic, hopefully you'll find something to keep the Spirit of Christ in your life. Twitter - @mattsroberts90

You can also join the discussion in the Facebook Group 'Church of Jesus Christ Study Session with Come Follow Me'.

Today we begin studying Alma's response to Amulek's teaching. We consider the further doctrines of the plan of redemption he taught and we reflect on the wonderful hope we receive from the resurrection. 

President Russell M Nelson: Life does not begin with birth, nor does it end with death. Prior to our birth, we dwelled as spirit children with our Father in Heaven. There we eagerly anticipated the possibility of coming to earth and obtaining a physical body. Knowingly we wanted the risks of mortality, which would allow the exercise of agency and accountability. ‘This life [was to become] a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God.’ But we regarded the returning home as the best part of that long-awaited trip, just as we do now. Before embarking on any journey, we like to have some assurance of a round-trip ticket. Returning from earth to life in our heavenly home requires passage through—and not around—the doors of death. We were born to die, and we die to live. As seedlings of God, we barely blossom on earth; we fully flower in heaven.

Church of Jesus Christ Study Session seeks to generate reflection about areas in the Restored Gospel. Whether it's Come Follow Me, a General Conference talk or a recent Gospel Topic, hopefully you'll find something to keep the Spirit of Christ in your life. Twitter - @mattsroberts90

You can also join the discussion in the Facebook Group 'Church of Jesus Christ Study Session with Come Follow Me'.

Join us today as we begin our deep study of Alma 11-12. We consider the approach that Zeezrom makes using money and snare-ridden questions to trick Amulek and we reflect on the insightful answers that Amulek gives. 

Elder D Todd Christofferson: God will always love us, but He cannot save us in our sins. Remember the words of Amulek to Zeezrom that the Savior would not save His people in their sins but from their sins, the reason being that with sin we are unclean and ‘no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven’ or dwell in God’s presence. ‘And [Christ] hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem [His people] from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls.

Church of Jesus Christ Study Session seeks to generate reflection about areas in the Restored Gospel. Whether it's Come Follow Me, a General Conference talk or a recent Gospel Topic, hopefully you'll find something to keep the Spirit of Christ in your life. Twitter - @mattsroberts90

You can also join the discussion in the Facebook Group 'Church of Jesus Christ Study Session with Come Follow Me'.

Today we see what happens as Alma and Amulek begin their teaching in Ammonihah. We consider how their teaching warned the Nephites about their responsibility to act in faith. We also reflect on how Amulek came to his realisation about what he wouldn't know before. 

President M Russell Ballard: Miraculous things happen when members join with missionaries and share pure testimony with those who are not members of the Church. For example, while many people were touched by Alma’s testimony in the land of Ammonihah, when Amulek stood and added his testimony to Alma’s, ‘the people began to be astonished, seeing there was more than one witness who testified’. The same thing can happen with us today. As we stand together the Lord will help us find many more of His sheep who will know His voice as we unitedly share our testimonies with them.

Church of Jesus Christ Study Session seeks to generate reflection about areas in the Restored Gospel. Whether it's Come Follow Me, a General Conference talk or a recent Gospel Topic, hopefully you'll find something to keep the Spirit of Christ in your life. Twitter - @mattsroberts90

You can also join the discussion in the Facebook Group 'Church of Jesus Christ Study Session with Come Follow Me'.

Join us as we continue our study of Alma 8. We consider the important role that Amulek played in this story and we also reflect on on what we learnt from Alma's readiness to listen to the angel.

George Reynolds and Janne Mattson Sjodahl: Filled with the Holy Ghost, these servants of God went forth and valiantly delivered their terrible message. They were strengthened and preserved by power from On High. So greatly were they guarded by heavenly care, that by the grace of God ‘they could not be confined in dungeons; neither was it possible that any man could slay them.’ In spite of the extreme sufferings they endured, and the gentleness of their ways—they having sensibilities most keen and feelings most poignant—they shunned using their powers until, as a demonstration of God's fearsome strength, burst the bands that when in prison held them tight

Church of Jesus Christ Study Session seeks to generate reflection about areas in the Restored Gospel. Whether it's Come Follow Me, a General Conference talk or a recent Gospel Topic, hopefully you'll find something to keep the Spirit of Christ in your life. Twitter - @mattsroberts90

You can also join the discussion in the Facebook Group 'Church of Jesus Christ Study Session with Come Follow Me'.

Today we begin our study of the Alma 8. We follow the progress of Alma as he seeks to change the hearts of those in Melek and Ammoniah. We consider how he takes the time to recuperate before he continues and reflect on the principles we learn from his interaction with the same angel that rebuked him previously. 

Elder Jeffrey R Holland: From the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children. Time in this setting does not allow even a cursory examination of the scriptures or our own latter-day history, which are so filled with accounts of angels ministering to those on earth, but it is rich doctrine and rich history indeed

Church of Jesus Christ Study Session seeks to generate reflection about areas in the Restored Gospel. Whether it's Come Follow Me, a General Conference talk or a recent Gospel Topic, hopefully you'll find something to keep the Spirit of Christ in your life. Twitter - @mattsroberts90

You can also join the discussion in the Facebook Group 'Church of Jesus Christ Study Session with Come Follow Me'.

Join us today as we consider a couple of recent developments in Church announcements. We consider President Nelson's statement on race and respect and we also hear the news about October 2020 General Conference. 

President Russell M Nelson: We join with many throughout this nation and around the world who are deeply saddened at recent evidences of racism and a blatant disregard for human life. We abhor the reality that some would deny others respect and the most basic of freedoms because of the color of his or her skin.