Remembering the Goal of Come, Follow Me

By Lauren Madsen

At the end of each year as we are about to begin a new year of Come, Follow Me, I have fallen into a predictable pattern. Perhaps it will sound familiar. I start searching for all the new products coming out and all the most helpful ideas that were created to help me get the very most out of my scripture study. These countless resources are wonderful, and we are blessed that there is so much available to enhance our experience in the scriptures. But between books, study journals, workbooks, podcasts, and social media feeds, we actually have access to more than we could possibly read or listen to.

Because we have so much information at our fingertips, it has become important for me to remind myself that consuming all the information I can about the week's readings is not the goal at all, my continual conversion and discipleship is. According to the Come, Follow Me Introductory Materials, the “aim of all gospel learning and teaching is to deepen our conversion and help us become more like Jesus Christ. For this reason, when we study the gospel, we’re not just looking for new information.” We should study with the intention of becoming “new creatures” by relying on our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ “to help us change our hearts, our views, our actions, and our very natures.”

With these aims in mind, I can more easily focus in on which resources I may choose to use through the year. The following questions are helpful in making decisions:

• Will this resource help deepen my faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

• Will this resource help me draw near to Them so They can help me change my heart, my views, my actions, and my nature?

With different personalities and learning styles, I imagine the answers to these questions will vary from person to person! Some may feel a pull to supplement their scripture study with other materials, while others won't. In the end, what matters in our gospel study is the becoming. Dallin H. Oaks explained, “the Final Judgment is not just an evaluation of a sum total of good and evil acts—what we have done. It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become.” We can read our scriptures, and read/listen to other resources, check that off our list and go about our lives. Or we can do all those things with the intent and subsequent actions of having it all lead us to become more like Christ.

We also read in the Introductory Materials about the role of the Holy Ghost in the process of conversion: “In our efforts to live, learn, and teach the gospel, we should first and foremost seek the companionship of the Spirit. This goal should govern our choices and guide our thoughts and actions. We should seek after whatever invites the influence of the Spirit and reject whatever drives that influence away.” As we begin a new year of studying the Book of Mormon as individuals, families, and as a church, let us live worthy of the influence of the Holy Ghost, and let our learning lead to increased belief and greater discipleship of our Savior Jesus Christ.