How do you imagine you would have felt if you had been one of the believers during the time described in 3 Nephi 1–7? How might it have felt, for example, to wait for the night with no darkness that would announce the Savior's birth, knowing you would be killed if it didn't happen? As you read 3 Nephi 1:4–21 and 5:1–3, look for what Nephi and the other believers did to keep their faith during these difficult times. How did the Lord bless them? What do you learn that can help when you find yourself waiting for blessings promised by the Lord?
The Lord's words are inspiring to all who face persecution or doubt and need to know that light will eventually always overcome darkness.
What ancestor stories can you find in which the heroes and heroines lifted up their heads with faith? As you read their stories (or stories from church leaders), make a list of what they did to "be of good cheer" as they lived with faith in Christ. Select qualities they exhibited and focus on incorporating them into your life. This idea also is great to do as families.
The following activity ideas can help you find ancestor stories. In addition, check out these links:
Discover ancestor stories on the FamilySearch Fan Chart along with Family lines, birth country, sources, photos, research helps, and ordinances.
Search Family Repositories
Diaries, letters, postcards, scrapbooks, photos, baby books and other passed-down items from trunks, closets, and attics hold "everyday life" details and stories you won't find anywhere else. Watch this video to see how one man discovered his grandfather through a box of photos and a movie reel that was given to him.
Forgetting spiritual experiences makes me vulnerable to Satan's temptations.
From Come, Follow Me :
You might think that witnessing something so miraculous as a night without darkness would stay with you for a long time and be an anchor to your testimony. But the memories of the signs and wonders the Nephites witnessed seemed to fade over time. What caused them to forget, and what were the results of forgetting? (see 3 Nephi 1:22; 2:1–3).
What are you doing to remember and renew your witness of spiritual truths? For example, consider how recording your spiritual experiences can help you. How will you share your witness with those closest to you to help them believe?
Watch the following video from Elder Andersen's conference talk:
Decide how you will begin or continue to follow his counsel. With the FamilySearch Memories Audio app or the Record My Story feature on FamilySearch Discovery, gathering, recording, sharing, and preserving has never been easier. Read more in The Family History Guide here.
Along with the counsel to write a journal of the Lord's hand in your life ( Henry B. Eyring, O Remember, Remember), see these previous 2020 Come, Follow Me Companion lessons for journaling and preservation ideas:
Make a goal for what you want to accomplish and follow and follow through.
Create a Timeline
Creating a timeline is a fun way to share your spiritual defining memories with your family. Check out the free option on https://twile.com/. Add unlimited events and photos to your timeline.Also read Twile Adds Timeline Capability for FamilySearch.
The Lord strengthens His Saints against spiritual danger.
From Come, Follow Me :
In 3 Nephi 5:24–26 we read of the gathering of the Lord's people in the latter days. What do these verses teach about how the Lord is gathering His people today?
"My dear extraordinary youth, you were sent to earth at this precise time, the most crucial time in the history of the world, to help gather Israel. There is nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important than that. There is nothing of greater consequence. Absolutely nothing. This gathering should mean everything to you. This is the mission for which you were sent to earth. So my question to you is 'Are you willing to enlist in the youth battalion of the Lord to help gather Israel?' ... So, now I am inviting every young woman and every young man between the ages of 12 and 18 in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to enlist in the youth battalion of the Lord to help gather Israel ... Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel. It is as simple as that. As you pray about this sacrifice of time, you will be guided to know both what you can give up that week and what you can do instead to help gather Israel."
To help youth catch the vision and desire to participate (or continue their efforts) in gathering Israel, check out this youth activity idea:
As you can see in the video (used with permission), many activities can be added to make this event interactive, informative, spiritual, and so much fun!
This activity could be adapted for ward youth, stake or ward young adults, ward primary children, entire wards, families, and groups of families or friends.
The stake pictured in the video organized a myriad of activity stations in the cultural hall, such as:
When each station's activity was completed (as many times as desired), the youth received a ticket to exchange for food.
In the "escape rooms" leaders taught about temple and family history work, including what many of our ancestors sacrificed to provide freedom.
The youth found puzzle pieces to create a picture relating to the service of a special veteran from the stake, and then the leader introduced that veteran as he came in the room to tell his story. The youth rotated in groups during the event from the cultural hall to one of these rooms.
On the stage, indexing was set up with temple and family history consultants from the wards there to help teach them the process.
When the youth finished in a room or on the stage, they got a "get out of prison" card to release someone from spirit prison. During the event, certain youth were "sent" to spirit prison to wait for their "work" to be done. At the end of the event, the stake patriarch addressed the group and wrapped up the experience by bearing witness of the plan of salvation, the power and blessings of missionary, temple and family history work on both sides of the veil, and the love our Father in Heaven has for each of us.
Your Personal History
One idea is to write (or audio-record) a story about your life as you study each Come, Follow Me lesson By the end of the year, you will have 50 stories! For example:
What sacrifice of time have you made to do temple and family history work?
How have you been encouraged to lift up your head and be of good cheer" because you have been inspired by an ancestor?
