3 Nephi Chapter 27 Jesus commands that the Church be called in His name—His mission and atoning sacrifice constitute His gospel—Men are commanded to repent and be baptized that they may be sanctified by the Holy Ghost—They are to be even as Jesus is. About A.D. 34–35.
3 Nephi Chapter 28 Nine of the twelve disciples desire and are promised an inheritance in Christ’s kingdom when they die—The Three Nephites desire and are given power over death so as to remain on the earth until Jesus comes again—They are translated and see things not lawful to utter, and they are now ministering among men. About A.D. 34–35.
3 Nephi Chapter 29 The coming forth of the Book of Mormon is a sign that the Lord has commenced to gather Israel and fulfill His covenants—Those who reject His latter-day revelations and gifts will be cursed. About A.D. 34–35.
3 Nephi Chapter 30 The latter-day Gentiles are commanded to repent, come unto Christ, and be numbered with the house of Israel. About A.D. 34–35.
4 Nephi Chapter 1 The Nephites and the Lamanites are all converted unto the Lord—They have all things in common, work miracles, and prosper in the land—After two centuries, divisions, evils, false churches, and persecutions arise—After three hundred years, both the Nephites and the Lamanites are wicked—Ammaron hides up the sacred records. About A.D. 35–321.
The Church of Jesus Christ
3 Nephi 27
I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “3 Nephi 27-4 Nephi”
- To introduce the importance of the name of Jesus’s Church, talk with your children about their own names. Why are our names important? Then you could read 3 Nephi 27:3 together, looking for the question that Jesus’s disciples had. Help your children find the answer in 3 Nephi 27:5–8. Why is the name of the Church important?
- You could also help your children think of different groups they belong to, such as a family or a Primary class. Ask them what they like about belonging to each group. Then you could sing “The Church of Jesus Christ” (Children’s Songbook, 77) together and talk about why you are thankful to belong to the Savior’s Church.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “October 19–25. 3 Nephi 27–4 Nephi:
- Ask the children to help you write each word of the name of the Church on a separate piece of paper. Then mix the papers up, and invite the children to arrange these words in order.
- What blessings have we received because we are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
Blessings of the gospel Activity: Read the clues below (not the answer) and let the children pick which picture it is describing.
- Prophet: Because of this blessing of the gospel we have the privilege to hear Gods words and direction about current issues and challenges we face. This gift is God’s living spokesman.
- Book of Mormon: Because of this blessing of the gospel we know the purpose of life. We also know what we need to do to gain eternal salvation and how to live happy lives.
- Temples: This blessing of the gospel allows us the opportunity to receive saving ordinances for ourselves and our dead. We can also be sealed to our family so that we can be with them forever.
- Priesthood: Because of this blessing of the gospel we can receive healing blessings for the sick, blessings of comfort and guidance, and have authority to act in Gods name and perform saving ordinances, such as baptism.
- Baptism Because this blessing of the gospel, when performed by proper priesthood authority, we can receive a remission of our sins and enter into the gate that leads to eternal life.
- Holy Ghost Because of this blessing of the gospel we can receive personal revelation and guidance throughout our lives. We can also receive comfort during difficult times.
Friend November 2018 “The Correct Name of the Church” The prophet, Russell M. Nelson, directs church members to use the correct name of the church. Questions are answered to explain why. Also a book mark is included and an example cartoon of how to respond when people ask what church we belong to.
Friend July 2019 “It is His Church” When Taniela B. Wakolo of the Seventy was learning about the church, the missionaries asked him what he would name his grocery store if he had one. He said he would call after his name because it would be his store. They then ask who a church should be name after. He knew that the true Church would be named after Jesus because it’s His Church. (Activity: In any language, the Church is still named after Jesus Christ. Match each language with the Church’s name in that language.
Ensign October 2020 “Family Study Fun: Act a Song”
Read 3 Nephi 27:8 together. Explain what each word in the name of the Church means: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- Sing “The Church of Jesus Christ”(Children’s Songbook,77).
- Come up with actions for the different words in the song. For example, you could stand up when you sing the word “I,” touch your head when you sing “know,” and march in place for “follow.”
- Practice using these different actions as you sing the song together.
Discussion: Why is the full name of the Church important? How can you politely help people understand the full name of the Church when they refer to us as “Mormons”?
“The Church of Jesus Christ” (Children’s Songbook, 77)
Friend November 2018 A simplified version of the song that is easy to play. Also, a sing-along video.
The Cozy Red Cottage “The Church of Jesus Christ is on the Earth?
The Church of Jesus Christ is built upon His gospel.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “3 Nephi 27-4 Nephi”
The Savior summarized His gospel in 3 Nephi 27. You might explain to your children that the word gospel means “good news.” What good news do we find in 3 Nephi 27:13–16? Use this week’s activity page to teach that the Savior’s Church is built upon His gospel. (see Bible Dictionary, “Gospels”)
Write on the board principles of the gospel like faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. Invite the children to search 3 Nephi 27:19–21, looking for these words or similar words in Jesus’s description of His gospel. Why are we grateful to know the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Friend March 2024 “Come, Follow Me Activities” Nephi taught that we follow Jesus Christ when we have faith in Him, repent, are baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. Write each step on a different piece of paper, then spread them on the floor. One person closes their eyes and counts to 10 while everyone else stands on a paper. The person who counted then says one of the steps to follow Jesus. The person on that paper counts next.
For younger children: When we have faith in Jesus Christ, we follow what He says. Form a line and walk around. The person in front is the leader. Each person copies how the leader walks. Take turns being the leader!
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “2 Nephi 31-33” Explain that the doctrine of Christ includes the things Jesus Christ taught that we need to do to return to Heavenly Father. Write on different sheets of paper faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, and scatter them around the room. Read to the children 3 Nephi 27:13–22, and invite the children to take turns jumping from paper to paper as they hear these principles mentioned. Help them think of an experience they have had with each principle.
Heavenly Father rejoices when His children return to Him.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “3 Nephi 27-4 Nephi”
- Consider playing a game in which someone hides and others try to find him or her. This could lead to a conversation about the joy we feel when someone who was lost is found. After reading 3 Nephi 27:30–31, you could talk about how to help each other stay close to Heavenly Father so that “none … are lost.”
Friend February 2017 “The Best Part of the Week” Jenny’s family doesn’t go to church very often, but Jenny decides to go by herself after her friend invites her to sit with her family.
Friend November 2018 “Sharing Friendship” Elenoa’s parents buy extra copies of the Friend when they go to the temple. Elenoa and her siblings think of friends who haven’t been coming to Primary, and then they visit them and take them a Friend magazine and a treat. (Photos included in article.)
See more ideas for fellowshipping here.
- To help family members understand the joy the Savior described in these verses, you could play a game in which family members hide and another family member tries to find them. This could lead to a conversation about why it’s important to find every family member so that “none of them are lost.” How can we help our family members stay strong in the gospel or return if they have left?
Friend April 2017 “Be Consistent and Keep Trying” Elder Bednar persisted in having family prayer and scripture study and in trying to get his father to join the church, and his persistence paid off.
Jesus Christ Blesses His Disciples
3 Nephi 28
Primary 4: Book of Mormon “Lesson 38: Peace among the Nephites”
As I purify my desires, I become a more faithful disciple.
What would you say if the Savior asked you, as He asked His disciples, “What is it that ye desire of me?” (3 Nephi 28:1). Think about this as you read about the experience of the Savior’s disciples in 3 Nephi 28:1–11. What do you learn about the desires of the disciples’ hearts from their answers to His question?
Book of Mormon: Coloring Book “The Twelve Nephite Disciples” Nine of Jesus’s twelve disciples lived to age 72 because they wanted to speedily return to Jesus. The other three disciples wanted to live until Jesus comes again. Find the Three Nephites in the bottom half of the page who did not get old.
What can we learn from Mormon’s example when he did not understand everything about the change that happened to the three Nephite disciples? What can we do when we don’t understand everything about a gospel principle?
Peace in America
4 Nephi
Book of Mormon Stories “Chapter 48: Peace in America” Images and video
Following Jesus Christ brings me joy.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “3 Nephi 27-4 Nephi”
- To help your children learn about the happiness of the people described in 4 Nephi, you could show them pictures of happy people. Then, as you read together verses 2–3 and 15–17 (or “Chapter 48: Peace in America,” Book of Mormon Stories, 136–37), they could point to the pictures when you get to something in the story that brings happiness.
Explain that the people in 4 Nephi had almost 200 years of happiness because they all tried their best to live the gospel. Help the children think of some commandments they could obey. For example, you could read them 4 Nephi 1:15 to teach that the people didn’t fight with each other anymore. Invite the children to act out obeying the commandments they thought of. Sing together a song about the joy that comes from living the gospel, such as “When We’re Helping” (Children’s Songbook, 198).Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “October 19–25. 3 Nephi 27–4 Nephi: “There Could Not Be a Happier People”
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “3 Nephi 27-4 Nephi”
- To help your children practice what is taught in 4 Nephi 1:15–16, you could present them with situations where people are angry with each other. Invite them to role-play what the situation might be like if we have the “love of God” in our hearts.
Friend February 2019 “A Little Better Every Day”
Friend October 2020 “Coloring Page: People Lived Happily” What can you do to help your family be happy?
Friend October 2020 “Faithful People Followed Jesus”
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “October 19–25. 3 Nephi 27–4 Nephi
- Prepare strips of paper with phrases from 4 Nephi 1:2–3, 5, and 15–17 that describe the blessings the people received (such as “there was no contention in the land”). Put the papers in a container, and let each child pick one and read it. Encourage the children to find their phrase in these verses from 4 Nephi. What do we learn from these phrases? What similarities do we see between these verses and the definition of Zion in Moses 7:18?
Friend October 2024 “Come, Follow Me Activities: Jesus Brings Joy”
In 4 Nephi, the Nephites were joyful because they followed Jesus Christ (see 4 Nephi 1:15–16). Take turns silently acting out things you do to follow the Savior that bring you joy. Have everyone else guess what the person is acting.
Come Follow Me Kid Smiley Faces – Print up the smiley faces on page 5 below. There are lots of ways these could be used, so do what you think will be best for your family. Some ideas:
- Brainstorm ways your family could be more loving this week, write them on the back of the smiley faces, and string them onto yarn to make a banner.
- For younger kids, have them color in a smiley face for each way they can think of for what we can do to make our home a happy and loving place this week.
- For younger kids, have them color in a smiley face for each way they can think of for what we can do to make our home a happy and loving place this week.
- Take turns saying something someone in the family does that makes you happy and give them a smiley face as you share.
- Give each family member some smiley faces. Have them look for secret acts they can do throughout the week to help make the home a happy place and leave a smiley face behind whenever they do something (make someone’s bed, do their chores, make them a treat, etc.).
- Write notes on the back of the smiley faces telling family members why they make you happy.
- Use them to make a “Random Acts of Kindness Wall” as described here.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “October 19–25. 3 Nephi 27–4 Nephi
- Read phrases from 4 Nephi 1:24–29, 34–35, and 43 that describe what happened when some of the Nephites stopped keeping the commandments. As you do, invite the children to make a sad face when they hear something that sounds unhappy. Testify that keeping the commandments leads to happiness.
- Read with the children the following verses, and ask them to find reasons the Nephites and Lamanites no longer had peace and happiness: 4 Nephi 1:20, 24–29, 34–35, and 43. How can we avoid these dangers?
Lesson 38: Peace Among the Nephites Lesson ideas
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Book of Mormon 2020 “October 19–25. 3 Nephi 27-4 Nephi
- To reduce contention in your home, perhaps family members could set a goal to be more loving to each other this week. After the week is over, review your progress together and discuss how showing greater love has affected your family.
Ensign October 2020 “What Does it Mean to be Truly Converted?”
Latter Day Kids “”Living the Gospel Brings Joy”- Come Follow Me: Oct. 19th-25th” Also includes lesson ideas to go along with the below video.
Friend October 2024 “The People Live Happily”
Friend September 1988 Review of Story
Additional Resources
Come Follow Me Kid Lesson ideas
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