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'.

You can purchase my book, From Father to Child: Raising a Child to Spiritual Strength in Generation Alpha at the link here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Father-Child-Spiritual-Strength-Generation-ebook/dp/B08DRLWWZD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=from+father+to+child&qid=1596387393&sr=8-3

Join us today as we continue our study of this week's Come Follow Me materials with one of the earliest recorded revelations we have given to Joseph. We consider how a witness of the Book of Mormon can be received and what Martin Harris had to do to receive this. 

Revelations in Context: For months Martin Harris remained at his Palmyra home, haunted by the loss of the manuscript. He was also distressed to discover that his wife and others sought to discredit Joseph Smith and make him out to be a fraud who was simply after Martin’s money. Longing for reconciliation and bearing news of these disturbing efforts, he visited Joseph Smith in Harmony in March 1829.

To Martin’s relief, Joseph had obtained forgiveness and was preparing to resume the translation. Martin asked Joseph once again for the privilege of seeing the plates. He desired a firm witness that “Joseph hath got the things which he hath testified that he hath got,” perhaps to stifle his lingering doubts and to help him persuade Lucy. Joseph received a revelation for Martin, found today in Doctrine and Covenants 5.

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'.

You can purchase my book, From Father to Child: Raising a Child to Spiritual Strength in Generation Alpha at the link here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Father-Child-Spiritual-Strength-Generation-ebook/dp/B08DRLWWZD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=from+father+to+child&qid=1596387393&sr=8-3

Join us today as we continue our study of this week's Come Follow Me materials with one of the earliest recorded revelations we have given to Joseph. We considerwhat this teaches about the character of Joseph's father and we reflect on how we can desire to serve God. 

Elder David A Bednar: We come to know the Savior as we do our best to go where He wants us to go, as we strive to say what He wants us to say, and as we become what He wants us to become. As we submissively acknowledge our total dependence upon Him, He enlarges our capacity to serve ever more effectively. Gradually, our desires align more completely with His desires, and His purposes become our purposes, such that we would “not ask that which is contrary to [His] will.”

Serving Him requires all of our heart, might, mind, and strength. Consequently, selflessly serving others counteracts the self-centered and selfish tendencies of the natural man. We grow to love those whom we serve. And because serving others is serving God, we grow to love Him and our brothers and sisters more deeply. Such love is a manifestation of the spiritual gift of charity, even the pure love of Christ.

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'.

You can purchase my book, From Father to Child: Raising a Child to Spiritual Strength in Generation Alpha at the link here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Father-Child-Spiritual-Strength-Generation-ebook/dp/B08DRLWWZD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=from+father+to+child&qid=1596387393&sr=8-3

Join us today as we continue our study of this week's Come Follow Me materials with one of the earliest recorded revelations we have given to Joseph. We considerwhat this teaches about the character of Joseph's father and we reflect on how we can desire to serve God. 

Revelations in Context: Soon after returning to Manchester, Joseph Sr. agreed to welcome as a boarder at his home a schoolteacher named Oliver Cowdery. Joseph Sr. hesitated when Cowdery, who had heard rumors about Joseph Jr.’s visions and the plates, began to pepper him with questions. Father Smith may have been reluctant due to the harassment his family had received from neighbors and local clergy. Whatever the reason for his initial hesitation, he yielded to the revelation’s mandate and served as a faithful witness to Joseph Smith’s early visions.

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'.

You can purchase my book, From Father to Child: Raising a Child to Spiritual Strength in Generation Alpha at the link here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Father-Child-Spiritual-Strength-Generation-ebook/dp/B08DRLWWZD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=from+father+to+child&qid=1596387393&sr=8-3

Join us today as we continue our study of this week's Come Follow Me materials with the earliest recorded revelation we have given to Joseph. We consider lessons Joseph learnt from this difficult period and reflect on what we learn for our own personal lives. 

President Dallin H Oaks: Joseph’s candor about his shortcomings is evident in the fact that one of the first revelations he recorded in writing and published to the world was a crushing rebuke he received from the Lord. The first 116 manuscript pages of the Book of Mormon translation were lost because 22-year-old Joseph yielded to entreaties and loaned them to Martin Harris. “Behold,” the Lord declared, “how oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men” (D&C 3:6). The Lord told Joseph to repent or he would be stripped of his prophetic role. Four later revelations, also published by the Prophet, command him to “repent and walk more uprightly” (D&C 5:21), speak of his having “sinned” (D&C 64:7; see also D&C 90:1), and rebuke him for not keeping the commandments (see D&C 93:47).

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'.

You can purchase my book, From Father to Child: Raising a Child to Spiritual Strength in Generation Alpha at the link here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Father-Child-Spiritual-Strength-Generation-ebook/dp/B08DRLWWZD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=from+father+to+child&qid=1596387393&sr=8-3

Join us today as we begin our study of this week's Come Follow Me materials with the earliest recorded revelation we have given to Joseph. We consider the role Martin Harris played in the early stages of the Book of Mormon and we reflect on the lessons we learn from the 'lost' 116 pages of the Book of Mormon. 

Revelations in Context: He at last entered, and having little appetite for the dinner they had prepared for him, he soon “pressed his hands upon his temples and cried out in a tone of deep anguish, ‘Oh! I have lost my soul!’” Joseph understood immediately what had happened. He demanded that Martin return and look again for the manuscript, but Martin insisted that further searching would be in vain.

Exhausted and discouraged, Joseph returned to Harmony and, walking a short distance from his home, prayed for mercy. The angel appeared and gave again to Joseph the Urim and Thummim, or interpreters, that Joseph had originally received with the plates but had lost for having “wearied the Lord in asking that Martin Harris might take the writings.” Using the Urim and Thummim, Joseph received the earliest of his revelations for which a text survives.

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'.

You can purchase my book, From Father to Child: Raising a Child to Spiritual Strength in Generation Alpha at the link here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Father-Child-Spiritual-Strength-Generation-ebook/dp/B08DRLWWZD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=from+father+to+child&qid=1596387393&sr=8-3

Join us today as we pause from our Come Follow Me study and consider another principle we learnt from last week. We consider the importance of seeking spiritual inspiration and we reflect on what small steps we can take to fine tune ourselves. 

Liahona Jan 2021: When we talk about personal revelation, our minds often jump to visions, angelic visitations, or striking voices. And when we don’t experience these things, we might feel that receiving guidance from the Spirit is hopeless. We might feel like something is wrong with us, which can lead us to giving up on seeking the Spirit altogether.

But we need to realize that feeling the Spirit is not about those big, earth-shattering moments, nor does the Lord only speak to us about our big life decisions. Another pitfall we stumble into is that we often turn to the Lord for help with only big decisions like schooling, careers, marriage, and family, but we neglect to turn to Him in every thought (see Doctrine and Covenants 6:36). But Heavenly Father speaks to us often. He speaks to us in the way we recognize it best individually.

6Church 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'.

You can purchase my book, From Father to Child: Raising a Child to Spiritual Strength in Generation Alpha at the link here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Father-Child-Spiritual-Strength-Generation-ebook/dp/B08DRLWWZD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=from+father+to+child&qid=1596387393&sr=8-3

Join us today as we pause from our Come Follow Me study and consider another principle we learnt from last week. We consider the the differences between Moroni's message and the verses in Malachi and we reflect on the promises planted in the hearts of the children. 

Elder Quentin L Cook: Family history work, heaven-blessed by technology, has dramatically increased in the past few years. We would be unwise to become complacent about this divinely appointed responsibility and expect that Aunt Jane or some other committed relative will take care of it. Let me share President Joseph Fielding Smith’s jarring comments: “None is exempt from this great obligation. It is required of the apostle as well as the humblest elder [or sister]. Place, or distinction, or long service in the Church … will not entitle one to disregard the salvation of one’s dead.”

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'.

You can purchase my book, From Father to Child: Raising a Child to Spiritual Strength in Generation Alpha at the link here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Father-Child-Spiritual-Strength-Generation-ebook/dp/B08DRLWWZD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=from+father+to+child&qid=1596387393&sr=8-3

Join us today as we pause from our Come Follow Me study and consider another principle we learnt from last week. We consider the wonderful teaching about the coming of Elijah and we reflect on how early in Joseph's teaching from Moroni this was delivered. 

Casey Paul Griffiths: Doctrine and Covenants 2 is an excerpt from the history started by Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in 1838 and later canonized as Joseph Smith—History in the Pearl of Great Price. This section is one of a number of Old Testament prophecies highlighted by the Angel Moroni during his first visit to Joseph Smith in 1823. Moroni quoted, with some important variations in the text, the famous prophecy from Malachi about the return of Elijah. This section was first included in the 1876 edition Doctrine and Covenants when Apostle Orson Pratt, acting under the direction of President Brigham Young, added it to the scriptural canon. At the same time that section 2 was added, so were a number of important texts relating to temple work and priesthood keys, including Doctrine and Covenants 109 and 110, which record the actual appearance of Elijah in the Kirtland Temple (see commentary for Joseph Smith—History 1:27–65).

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'.

You can purchase my book, From Father to Child: Raising a Child to Spiritual Strength in Generation Alpha at the link here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Father-Child-Spiritual-Strength-Generation-ebook/dp/B08DRLWWZD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=from+father+to+child&qid=1596387393&sr=8-3

Join us today as we pause from our Come Follow Me study and consider another principle we learnt from last week. We consider what scriptures Moroni taught Joseph with and we reflect on the ancient promises that were about to be fulfilled. 

Sister Julie B Beck: We can do the work of the Lord in His way when we seek, receive, and act on personal revelation. Without personal revelation, we cannot succeed. If we heed personal revelation, we cannot fail. The prophet Nephi instructs us that the Holy Ghost will show us “all things what [we] should do.” It was prophesied that in the latter days the Lord would pour out His Spirit upon His handmaids. This will happen as we allow ourselves to be still enough and quiet enough to listen to the voice of the Spirit. Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught us that receiving revelation for our calling and in our personal lives “requires serious mental effort on our part. … Revelation is not a matter of pushing buttons, but of pushing ourselves, often aided by fasting, scripture study, and personal pondering.

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'.

You can purchase my book, From Father to Child: Raising a Child to Spiritual Strength in Generation Alpha at the link here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Father-Child-Spiritual-Strength-Generation-ebook/dp/B08DRLWWZD/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=from+father+to+child&qid=1596387393&sr=8-3

Join us today as we pause from our Come Follow Me study and consider another principle we learnt from last week. We consider evidence we have of this stone repository and we reflect on the lessons we learn from Joseph's development. 

Chicago Times:

"Three times has he, [David Whitmer], been at the hill Cumorah and seen the casket, [meaning the box], that contained the tablets and the seer-stone. Eventually the casket has been washed down to the foot of the hill, but it was to be seen when he visited the historic place"