This guide is not meant to replace the Come, Follow Me curriculum by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is merely a study tool and a helpful guide to aid in your study as you follow along the church’s curriculum. If there are any questions feel free to reach out to us.
We cover some frequently asked questions, include some criticisms that occur often, as well as the answers to them with some helpful resources from our website and of course, the Church’s website. While we cannot address every question and criticism and cannot provide every resource, we hope what we have included in this guide will be helpful to you.
WEEK 14 (March 31 - April 6)
Weekly Questions
Section 29 contains vivid imagery about the Second Coming, the gathering of the elect, and the judgment of the wicked. This revelation was given in September 1830, a time when early Church members believed the Second Coming was imminent. These apocalyptic themes are consistent with the approach in some biblical prophecies, such as those in Matthew 24 and in the book of Revelation, and serve as a warning to repent and prepare spiritually.
For Latter-day Saints, the focus on gathering (verses 7–8) underscores a divine plan to bring together the righteous in preparation for Zion and the Millennium. The descriptions of destruction (verses 15–20) emphasize the justice of God, serving both as a warning to the wicked and a comfort to the faithful. This section reinforces the importance of being spiritually ready for the events prophesied to occur before Christ’s return.
While the imagery may appear harsh, it aligns with other scriptures that call for purification and the establishment of righteousness (see Malachi 4:1). Latter-day Saints interpret these prophecies as part of God’s mercy, giving humanity time and guidance to repent.
Sources and Resources:
Section 29 introduces pre-mortal themes, such as the existence of spirits before birth and the war in heaven (verses 36–38). This doctrine is distinctive to Latter-day Saint theology, contrasting with mainstream Christian teachings that generally focus on humanity’s mortal and post-mortal existence without a pre-mortal context.
LDS teachings about pre-mortal life emphasize that all people lived as spirit children of Heavenly Father before coming to Earth. Section 29 highlights the agency given to these spirits and recounts the rebellion of Lucifer and his followers, who were cast out for rejecting God’s plan. This pre-mortal framework is essential to understanding the LDS Plan of Salvation, which views earthly life as a test and an opportunity to progress spiritually.
The LDS interpretation offers a perspective on humanity’s purpose and potential, framing mortal life as part of an eternal journey. Critics may question the scriptural basis for these teachings, but Latter-day Saints point to passages such as Jeremiah 1:5 and Job 37:7 as supportive of the concept of pre-mortal existence.
Sources and Resources:
FAIR Evidences: Premortal Life
Questions: What biblical evidence is there for a pre-mortal existence?
Modern revelation regarding a pre-mortal existence
Gospel Study Guide: Premortal Life
The doctrine of the elect in Section 29 (verses 7–8) emphasizes the responsibility of those who accept the gospel to prepare for Christ’s Second Coming. The term “elect” refers to individuals who hear and follow God’s voice, signifying those who choose to covenant with Him and live according to His teachings. This concept is not about exclusivity but rather about agency, accountability, and readiness.
Latter-day Saints believe that the gathering of Israel is a physical and spiritual process involving missionary work, temple building, and covenant-keeping. While the phrase “the elect” might sound restrictive, LDS doctrine teaches that God invites all to become part of His covenant people through personal choice and discipleship. This inclusivity is reinforced by scriptures such as 2 Nephi 26:33, which declare that God denies no one the blessings of the gospel.
The gathering is a central theme in Latter-day Saint theology, focusing on unity, preparation, and the fulfillment of God’s promises to His people.
Sources and Resources:
Gospel Study Guide: Gathering of Israel
The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior’s Second Coming
WEEK 15 (April 7 - 13)
Weekly Questions
Doctrine and Covenants 30-36 contain personalized revelations for a number of early Church leaders, emphasizing how God tailored His counsel to individual circumstances and callings. This is exemplified in Section 31, where Thomas B. Marsh is encouraged to preach the gospel and given promises of success as long as he remains faithful. Similarly, Section 32 highlights the role of Sidney Rigdon and Parley P. Pratt in the Lamanite mission, signifying how early revelations often had specific geographic and missionary purposes.
The individualized nature of these revelations serves as a model for understanding that God is deeply invested in the lives of His followers. He speaks to us based on our unique circumstances, talents, and needs. This is similar to how members today receive personal counsel through patriarchal blessings or personal revelation. God’s ability to guide individuals through specific, personal instruction reflects His awareness and care for each person’s role in His kingdom.
Latter-day Saints believe that the Lord speaks to individuals not only through general counsel but also through specific revelations, demonstrating that God’s purposes for His children are detailed and intentional. This idea is reinforced by passages like D&C 33:8, which emphasizes the importance of following personal revelation in spreading the gospel, a reminder that all members have specific roles within the Church.
Sources and Resources:
Thomas Marsh and the Individualized Instructions of Doctrine & Covenants 30-36
How can you know if your answer to prayer, your personal revelation, is true?
What Can I Do to Prepare to Receive Personal Revelation at General Conference?
The Blessing of Continuing Revelation to Prophets and Personal Revelation to Guide Our Lives
Sections 30-36 of the Doctrine and Covenants frequently stress the universal responsibility of Latter-day Saints to share the gospel. Section 36, directed to Edward Partridge, serves as an example of how the Lord calls all to be missionaries. While Partridge is specifically called to serve in spreading the gospel, the underlying principle is that all members of the Church should be actively involved in the missionary work.
This principle is expanded further in D&C 33, where every member, regardless of their personal circumstances, is urged to “go forth and preach the gospel.” This is reflective of the broader Latter-day Saint belief that missionary work is not just for full-time missionaries, but is a responsibility for all members. Whether through formal missionary service, supporting the efforts of others, or living in a way that draws people to the gospel, all believers are expected to help spread the message of Jesus Christ.
In fact, the command to preach the gospel is tied to the very purpose of human existence in LDS theology. The idea is that all people are here to fulfill the divine command to share the gospel with others, exemplifying Christ’s love through their actions and teachings.
Sources and Resources:
Come, Follow Me Week 15 – Doctrine & Covenants 30-36
The Essential Role of Member Missionary Work
Sections 30-36 offer significant insights into God’s expectations of leaders within the Church. These sections focus on individuals such as Sidney Rigdon, Ezra Thayre, and others, who were called to serve in leadership roles. For example, in Section 33, Ezra Thayre is reminded that, as a leader, he must be humble, faithful, and diligent in sharing the gospel. Leaders are given specific counsel on how to balance their personal lives with their Church responsibilities, highlighting the importance of integrity and the need to stay spiritually prepared.
Leadership in the early Church was challenging, and the revelations in these sections serve as guidance on how to approach service. God instructed these leaders to be proactive in their ministry, to strengthen their own faith, and to direct others with the Spirit. The counsel often involves practical steps—such as preaching the gospel or setting a good example—illustrating that leadership in God’s kingdom is about service, humility, and personal righteousness. These revelations show that leaders are expected not to act with self-interest but to help lead others toward Christ through their words and actions.
Additionally, the revelations highlight that leaders should not seek power or prestige but focus on fulfilling their divine callings. The personal revelations given to each individual leader were meant to remind them of their divine role and reinforce the idea that leaders are servants to the people, not rulers over them.
Sources and Resources:
WEEK 16 (April 14 - 20)
Weekly Questions
Members of the Church do not use the cross as a symbol in their worship or Easter celebrations because their focus is on the resurrection of Jesus Christ rather than His death. While Christ’s death is an essential aspect of the Atonement, members of the Church emphasize his victory over death and sin through the resurrection. For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the resurrection represents the ultimate triumph of life and hope, which is why they focus on the living Christ rather than the symbol of suffering and death.
The choice to not use the cross as a prominent symbol is not a rejection of Christ’s sacrifice, but rather a reflection of a broader theological emphasis. Members of the Church believe that Jesus Christ’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He took upon Himself the sins and pains of the world, was just as central as his death. The Atonement is seen as a combination of his suffering in Gethsemane, his death on the cross, and his glorious resurrection. The living Christ is the focus of worship, and the resurrection is seen as the ultimate symbol of his power over death and the hope he offers to all.
Sources and Resources:
Members of the Church deeply honor the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, including his crucifixion, but the focus of their Easter celebrations is primarily on the resurrection because it represents the culmination of the Atonement. While Christ’s death is essential for the atonement process, the resurrection is seen as the ultimate victory over sin and death. Members of the Church believe that Christ’s victory over death through the resurrection offers hope and eternal life to all of God’s children, which is why it takes center stage during Easter celebrations. The resurrection is the defining event of Christian faith, as it guarantees that all will be resurrected and live again.
Sources and Resources:
Come, Follow Me Week 14 – Easter
Jesus Christ is unquestionably the central figure of members’ faith. He is the Savior, the Redeemer, and the focus of all worship and doctrine. The belief in Christ’s atonement and resurrection is foundational to Church’s theology, and every ordinance, teaching, and practice centers on him. That being said, the role of Joseph Smith is viewed within the Church as that of a prophet who was called by God to restore the full gospel and the authority necessary to perform sacred ordinances.
Members of the Church believe that the Restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith is a vital part of God’s plan for his children. In restoring Christ’s Church, Joseph Smith received keys of priesthood authority and restored the doctrines and ordinances that were lost after the death of the early apostles. Joseph Smith’s role, while significant, is not to replace or overshadow Jesus Christ. Instead, he is seen as a servant and messenger who helped to bring the world back to the full knowledge of Jesus Christ’s teachings.
The importance of Joseph Smith in the Church is not about exalting him over Christ but about recognizing his role in facilitating the Restoration. For members, Joseph Smith is revered as a prophet, but he is always pointed back to Christ. Everything Joseph Smith did was to testify of Jesus Christ and restore his true gospel. The ultimate goal is to help individuals follow Christ and come closer to Him through his teachings, ordinances, and grace.
Sources and Resources:
Members of the Church do not use the cross as a symbol in their worship or Easter celebrations because their focus is on the resurrection of Jesus Christ rather than His death. While Christ’s death is an essential aspect of the Atonement, members of the Church emphasize his victory over death and sin through the resurrection. For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the resurrection represents the ultimate triumph of life and hope, which is why they focus on the living Christ rather than the symbol of suffering and death.
The choice to not use the cross as a prominent symbol is not a rejection of Christ’s sacrifice, but rather a reflection of a broader theological emphasis. Members of the Church believe that Jesus Christ’s suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, where He took upon Himself the sins and pains of the world, was just as central as his death. The Atonement is seen as a combination of his suffering in Gethsemane, his death on the cross, and his glorious resurrection. The living Christ is the focus of worship, and the resurrection is seen as the ultimate symbol of his power over death and the hope he offers to all.
Sources and Resources:
Members of the Church deeply honor the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, including his crucifixion, but the focus of their Easter celebrations is primarily on the resurrection because it represents the culmination of the Atonement. While Christ’s death is essential for the atonement process, the resurrection is seen as the ultimate victory over sin and death. Members of the Church believe that Christ’s victory over death through the resurrection offers hope and eternal life to all of God’s children, which is why it takes center stage during Easter celebrations. The resurrection is the defining event of Christian faith, as it guarantees that all will be resurrected and live again.
Sources and Resources:
Come, Follow Me Week 14 – Easter
Jesus Christ is unquestionably the central figure of members’ faith. He is the Savior, the Redeemer, and the focus of all worship and doctrine. The belief in Christ’s atonement and resurrection is foundational to Church’s theology, and every ordinance, teaching, and practice centers on him. That being said, the role of Joseph Smith is viewed within the Church as that of a prophet who was called by God to restore the full gospel and the authority necessary to perform sacred ordinances.
Members of the Church believe that the Restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith is a vital part of God’s plan for his children. In restoring Christ’s Church, Joseph Smith received keys of priesthood authority and restored the doctrines and ordinances that were lost after the death of the early apostles. Joseph Smith’s role, while significant, is not to replace or overshadow Jesus Christ. Instead, he is seen as a servant and messenger who helped to bring the world back to the full knowledge of Jesus Christ’s teachings.
The importance of Joseph Smith in the Church is not about exalting him over Christ but about recognizing his role in facilitating the Restoration. For members, Joseph Smith is revered as a prophet, but he is always pointed back to Christ. Everything Joseph Smith did was to testify of Jesus Christ and restore his true gospel. The ultimate goal is to help individuals follow Christ and come closer to Him through his teachings, ordinances, and grace.
Sources and Resources:
WEEK 17 (April 21 - 27)
Weekly Questions
In Section 37, the Lord commands the Saints to gather to Ohio, marking the first time the Church was directed to physically relocate as a group. This command had both spiritual and practical implications.
From a spiritual perspective, Ohio became a place of preparation and revelation. The Lord had promised that the Saints would “be endowed with power from on high” (Doctrine and Covenants 38:32), which referred to the sacred teachings, ordinances, and keys they would receive at the Kirtland Temple. The gathering to Ohio was also symbolic of the Lord’s desire to unite His people in both purpose and location to accomplish His work. For example, the law of consecration, an important foundational principle for building Zion, was first taught in Ohio (Doctrine and Covenants 42).
From a practical standpoint, moving to Ohio provided the Saints with a refuge from persecution in New York. Ohio offered a chance to strengthen their community in an area where early missionary efforts had already found success. The command also demonstrated the importance of obedience, even when the reasons for a commandment were not immediately apparent.
The principle of gathering continues today, though it is now spiritual rather than physical. Members are encouraged to gather in stakes of Zion, build strong communities, and support each other in faith and righteousness.
Sources and Resources:
Come, Follow Me Week 16 – Doctrine & Covenants 37-40
Doctrine and Covenants 37-40 (Come, Follow Me)
Joseph Smith Papers: Revelation, 30 December 1830
In Doctrine and Covenants 38:13, the Lord mentions “secret combinations,” warning the Saints about the dangers of secretive, corrupt, and conspiratorial groups. During this period, such warnings could be interpreted as referring to the organized persecution and opposition the Saints faced in New York and other regions.
The phrase “secret combinations” is more broadly understood in Latter-day Saint theology as representing any group or system that operates through secrecy, deception, and power-seeking to undermine righteousness and freedom. This concept has roots in the Book of Mormon, where secret combinations are associated with the Gadianton robbers, who conspired to overthrow righteous governance and create societal chaos (see Helaman 6:38–40).
In a modern context, this warning continues to resonate. Members of the Church are encouraged to avoid corruption, dishonesty, and influences that erode moral values or promote unethical practices. The Lord’s warning in Section 38 reminds us to be vigilant in safeguarding freedom, truth, and righteousness in both individual lives and larger communities.
Sources and Resources:
Flaxen Cords: A Connection between Secret Combinations and Ancient Khipu Knotted Devices
How the Light of Christ Can Dispel the Darkness of Secret Combinations
Doctrine and Covenants 39 is a revelation through Joseph Smith, given at the request of James Covill, who desired to know what the Lord would have him do and promised he would obey any command given to him through Joseph. The revelation chastised Covill lightly and commanded him to repent, be baptized, and proclaim the gospel.
Covill, despite his promise, rejected the revelation and returned to his previous ways. Doctrine and Covenants 40 addresses the reason for Covill’s rejection of the Lord’s commands in Section 39, attributing it to “fear of persecution and the cares of the world” (Doctrine and Covenants 40:2).
This account illustrates a principle that applies universally: the challenge of prioritizing spiritual commitments over worldly concerns. Covill’s hesitation likely stemmed from the significant sacrifices required to join the fledgling Church, which included leaving behind his former religious position, social standing, and personal security.
For modern readers, Covill’s story serves as a cautionary example of how worldly fears and distractions can hinder spiritual growth and prevent us from fulfilling divine purposes. It also underscores the principle of agency—while God provides opportunities and guidance, individuals must choose to act in faith. The Lord’s acknowledgment of Covill’s struggle reflects both His understanding of human weakness and His respect for personal agency.
Sources and Resources:
Joseph Smith Papers: Revelation, 5 January 1831
