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FAIR Resources for Come, Follow Me – Restoration Scripture
Week 43: October 19 - 25: "Before I Formed Thee in the Belly I Knew Thee"

Jeremiah 1-3; 7; 16-18; 20

Doctrinal Focus
Historical & Contextual
Apologetic Application
Practical Applications
Ideas for Teaching
Quick Reference

Doctrinal Focus

  • Key doctrines addressed in this week’s reading

The Lord told Jeremiah, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee” (Jeremiah 1:5). This powerful declaration reveals that Jeremiah’s calling did not begin in mortality alone but was connected to a premortal relationship with God. The doctrine of premortal existence helps explain why God can guide His children according to divine purposes while still honoring their agency. Modern revelation expands this doctrine. Abraham saw “noble and great ones” chosen before birth (Abraham 3:22–23), and Doctrine and Covenants 138:53–56 teaches that many were prepared in premortality for their earthly missions. Understanding this truth can strengthen faith and provide confidence during times of uncertainty.

Jeremiah initially felt inadequate, saying, “I cannot speak: for I am a child” (Jeremiah 1:6). The Lord responded by assuring him of divine support and promising, “I am with thee to deliver thee” (Jeremiah 1:8). God’s foreknowledge of Jeremiah did not remove his fears, but it gave him confidence that the Lord would help him succeed. President Russell M. Nelson taught that we were chosen to come to earth at this specific time because of spiritual qualities developed before mortality. When disciples remember their divine identity and eternal potential, they are better equipped to face challenges with faith rather than fear.

  • Jeremiah’s ministry demonstrates that prophets often face resistance because they call people to repentance. The Lord commanded Jeremiah to speak His words despite opposition from political leaders, priests, and the people themselves (Jeremiah 1:17–19; 7:1–7). Prophetic messages frequently challenge cultural assumptions and invite people to align their lives with God’s will. Jeremiah’s warnings to Judah were not motivated by personal opinion but by divine commission. Similarly, modern prophets are called to testify of truth regardless of whether their teachings are accepted by society.

The Lord declared, “Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth” (Jeremiah 1:9). Jeremiah’s authority came not from education, status, or personal influence but from God Himself. This pattern is consistent throughout scripture, where prophets act as authorized messengers of the Lord. Even when Jeremiah became discouraged, he testified that God’s word was “in mine heart as a burning fire” (Jeremiah 20:9). Genuine prophets speak because they have received revelation and cannot remain silent about what God has revealed.

The Lord lamented that His people had “forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13). In an arid climate, a fountain represented a reliable source of life, while a broken cistern symbolized disappointment and spiritual insufficiency. Jeremiah used this imagery to teach that worldly substitutes cannot satisfy the deepest needs of the soul. Wealth, power, popularity, and self-reliance cannot provide the peace and eternal life available through Jesus Christ.

Throughout Jeremiah, the Lord repeatedly calls His covenant people to return despite their rebellion (Jeremiah 3:12–14). God’s willingness to forgive and restore demonstrates His enduring mercy and covenant faithfulness. This imagery anticipates the Savior’s later teachings about “living water” (John 4:10–14). Jesus Christ remains the only source capable of satisfying spiritual thirst and bringing lasting joy.

Historical & Contextual Insights

  • Insights in this week’s study
  • Jeremiah ministered in the Kingdom of Judah during the final decades before Jerusalem’s destruction by Babylon in 586 BC. Political instability, spiritual decline, and widespread idolatry characterized this period.

Many people outwardly practiced religion while inwardly rejecting God’s covenant. Jeremiah repeatedly warned that temple attendance and religious rituals could not protect Judah if the people refused to repent and obey God’s commandments (Jeremiah 7:4–11).

  • Jeremiah’s ministry demonstrates that covenant relationships require sincere devotion rather than mere outward observance. His prophecies prepared God’s people to understand the consequences of continued rebellion while offering hope for future restoration.
  • Modern disciples face similar temptations to rely on outward appearances rather than genuine conversion. Jeremiah reminds us that God desires transformed hearts, not merely religious habits.
  • Ancient prophets often recorded their feelings of inadequacy when called by God. Jeremiah’s objection, “I cannot speak: for I am a child” (Jeremiah 1:6), highlights a recurring biblical theme: God frequently chooses unlikely servants so that His power, rather than human ability, becomes evident. The Lord’s response focused not on Jeremiah’s talents but on divine support and foreordination.
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  • This pattern appears throughout scripture. Moses felt inadequate because of his speech, Enoch considered himself slow of speech, and Joseph Smith was a young farm boy with limited formal education. God consistently magnifies humble servants.
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  • Modern disciples often feel similarly unprepared for callings, missionary opportunities, or family responsibilities. Jeremiah’s experience teaches that God’s help is more important than personal perfection.
  • In ancient Judah, water was essential for survival. Natural springs and fountains provided fresh, flowing water, while cisterns collected rainwater for storage. A cracked cistern could not retain water, making it unreliable and potentially dangerous during drought. Jeremiah used this familiar image to illustrate the spiritual consequences of abandoning God.
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  • The comparison highlights the irrational nature of idolatry. Choosing a broken cistern over a living fountain would make little sense physically, just as turning from God to false sources of security makes little sense spiritually.
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  • Modern “broken cisterns” may include anything people trust more than God for lasting happiness—materialism, status, addictions, or worldly philosophies. Jeremiah’s warning remains relevant because only Christ can provide living water that truly satisfies.

If you have questions on this week’s reading, please email your questions to us here.

Apologetic Application

  1. Claim: Prophets belonged to ancient times, and modern claims of prophetic authority are not needed.
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  3. Response:
  4. Historical Evidence: Jeremiah’s call demonstrates a consistent biblical pattern in which God chooses prophets to communicate His will to His people (Jeremiah 1:4–10). Throughout the Old Testament, prophets served as God’s authorized messengers, calling people to repentance, teaching covenant obligations, and warning of spiritual dangers.
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  6. Eyewitness Support: Jeremiah testified that the Lord personally called him and put divine words in his mouth (Jeremiah 1:9). Despite opposition, Jeremiah continued to declare God’s message because he knew the source of his calling and could not deny the revelation he had received (Jeremiah 20:9).
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  8. Spiritual Confirmation: Members of the Church are invited to seek personal confirmation of prophetic teachings through prayer and the Holy Ghost. Many testify that following living prophets has brought greater faith in Jesus Christ, spiritual guidance, and protection from deception.
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  10. Logical Analysis: If God loved and guided His children through prophets in biblical times, it is reasonable that He would continue to provide prophetic guidance in a world facing complex spiritual challenges. Jeremiah’s ministry illustrates that divine communication through prophets is a recurring feature of God’s dealings with His children.
  • Claim: Jeremiah 1:5 does not teach a premortal existence but merely expresses God’s foreknowledge.
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  • Response:
  • Historical Evidence: Jeremiah 1:5 explicitly states, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee.” The passage presents a relationship between God and Jeremiah before birth and teaches that Jeremiah was set apart for a divine mission before entering mortality.
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  • Eyewitness Support: Modern prophets and apostles have repeatedly taught that Jeremiah’s experience reflects broader truths about God’s children. The Come, Follow Me lesson connects Jeremiah 1:5 with Abraham 3:22–23, Alma 13:1–4, and Doctrine and Covenants 138:53–56, which further describe premortal preparation and foreordination.
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  • Spiritual Confirmation: Many believers find increased purpose, confidence, and hope through the doctrine that they are known and loved by God. Prayerful study often brings a spiritual witness that life has eternal meaning extending beyond mortality.
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  • Logical Analysis: Jeremiah’s calling makes greater sense when viewed in light of God’s preparation of His servants. While foreordination does not remove agency, it helps explain how God can prepare individuals for specific responsibilities while still allowing them freedom to choose.
  • Claim: Religious observance is meaningless because people often fail to live what they profess.
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  • Response:
  • Historical Evidence: Jeremiah himself condemned religious hypocrisy. He warned people who trusted in the temple while neglecting justice, mercy, and obedience (Jeremiah 7:2–11). Rather than defending hypocrisy, scripture openly condemns it.
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  • Eyewitness Support: Jeremiah courageously confronted priests, leaders, and worshippers who relied on outward appearances while ignoring God’s commandments. His ministry demonstrates that true prophets call people to authentic repentance rather than superficial religion.
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  • Spiritual Confirmation: Sincere disciples testify that living the gospel of Jesus Christ changes hearts and produces genuine spiritual growth. The existence of hypocrisy does not invalidate authentic faith any more than counterfeit money invalidates real currency.
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  • Logical Analysis: Jeremiah’s criticism of hypocrisy actually strengthens the credibility of scripture. Rather than idealizing God’s people, the Bible honestly records their failures and repeatedly calls them to higher standards of discipleship.

Practical Applications

Practical solutions for someone in faith crisis:

Action Step: Create a personal statement describing who you are as a child of God and review it daily for one week.

Jeremiah’s call began with the Lord reminding him that he was known and prepared before birth (Jeremiah 1:5). Remembering our divine identity can strengthen confidence, reduce fear, and help us make decisions consistent with our eternal purpose.

  1. – Read Jeremiah 1:5.
  2. – Write three truths you know about your divine identity.
  3. – Include one strength and one spiritual goal.
  4. – Read the statement during morning prayers.
  5. – Reflect on how it influences your choices each day.

Encouraging Thought:

“Your Heavenly Father has known you for a very long time.” (Nelson) Remembering that truth can help you face challenges with greater courage and faith.

Action Step: Identify one habit, distraction, or influence that pulls you away from Christ and replace it with a Christ-centered practice.

Jeremiah taught that people often abandon the “fountain of living waters” in favor of broken cisterns that cannot satisfy (Jeremiah 2:13). Replacing worldly substitutes with spiritual nourishment brings greater peace, purpose, and lasting joy.

  1. – Prayerfully identify a “broken cistern” in your life.
  2. – Choose a gospel-centered replacement activity.
  3. – Set a specific goal for one week.
  4. – Record how you feel spiritually each day.
  5. – Evaluate the difference at the end of the week.

Encouraging Thought:

  • Every time we turn to Christ through prayer, scripture study, or worship, we are choosing living water over temporary substitutes.
  • Action Step: Pray specifically about one area where you need God’s guidance and commit to follow the impressions you receive.

Jeremiah 18 teaches that the Lord is like a potter who patiently shapes clay according to His purposes. Trusting God’s guidance allows Him to refine our character and help us become who He knows we can become.

  1. – Read Jeremiah 18:1–6.
  2. – Identify one challenge or decision you face.
  3. – Pray for direction and understanding.
  4. – Study the scriptures related to your concern.
  5. – Act on righteous impressions and continue seeking guidance.

Encouraging Thought:

  • Elder Richard J. Maynes taught that clay succeeds on the potter’s wheel when it is properly centered. Likewise, lives centered on Jesus Christ experience greater stability, joy, and spiritual growth.

Ideas for Teaching

Objective: Help learners understand their divine identity and premortal potential.

  1. – Scriptures
  2. – Small mirrors (optional)
  3. – Paper and pens
  4. – Whiteboard

Activity Steps:

  1. Introduction (5 min): Ask participants, “If you could tell your younger self one thing about who you are, what would it be?” Write responses on the board and discuss how identity influences choices.
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  3. Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read Jeremiah 1:5 and compare it with Abraham 3:22–23. Discuss what Jeremiah learned about himself and why that knowledge would have helped him accept a difficult calling.
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  5. Application (5 min): Invite participants to write one sentence beginning with “Because I am a child of God…” and one action they will take this week because of that truth.

Follow-Up Question: How would your daily decisions change if you consistently remembered that God knew and prepared you before birth?

Objective: Help learners identify modern substitutes for Christ and recognize Him as the true source of spiritual fulfillment.

  1. – Two containers (one intact, one cracked or leaking)
  2. – Water
  3. – Scriptures
  4. – Whiteboard

Activity Steps:

Introduction (5 min): Pour water into both containers. Ask which one they would trust during a drought and why.

Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read Jeremiah 2:13 and discuss what the “broken cisterns” and “fountain of living waters” symbolize. List examples from ancient Israel and modern life.

Application (5 min): Invite participants to identify one “broken cistern” that can distract people from Christ and one way to seek more “living water” through prayer, scripture study, or worship.

Follow-Up Question:

  • What are some modern “broken cisterns” that people often trust instead of Jesus Christ?

Objective: Help learners understand how God shapes disciples who willingly follow Him.

  1. – Modeling clay or playdough
  2. – Scriptures
  3. – Pictures of pottery (optional)

Activity Steps: 

Introduction (5 min): Allow participants to shape a piece of clay into any object they choose. Discuss how the clay changes when it is moldable versus hardened.

Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read Jeremiah 18:1–6 and discuss why the Lord used the potter’s workshop as an object lesson. Explore what it means to be clay in God’s hands.

Application (5 min): Ask learners to identify one area of their lives where they need to be more teachable and willing to follow the Lord’s guidance.

Follow-Up Question: What does it look like to let the Lord shape your life while still exercising your agency?

QUICK REFERENCE

  • God knew Jeremiah before he was born and prepared him for a mission (Jeremiah 1:5).
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  • Prophets are called and empowered by God to speak His words (Jeremiah 1:7–10; 20:9).
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  • The Lord’s people often forsake the “fountain of living waters” for spiritual substitutes (Jeremiah 2:13).
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  • Outward religious practices must be accompanied by sincere obedience (Jeremiah 7:2–11; 21–23).
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  • The gathering of Israel is one of God’s great latter-day works (Jeremiah 3:14–18; 16:14–16).
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  • The Lord can shape and refine willing disciples like a potter shapes clay (Jeremiah 18:1–6).
  • Why trust modern prophets?
  • Jeremiah’s calling demonstrates the biblical pattern of God calling prophets, giving them authority, and placing His words in their mouths (Jeremiah 1:7–10). Modern prophets fulfill the same role by teaching repentance, testifying of Jesus Christ, and guiding God’s people through revelation. The scriptural pattern supports the continuing need for prophetic leadership.
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  • Why does God allow mistakes?
  • Jeremiah’s ministry shows that God works through imperfect people while respecting agency. The Lord called Jeremiah despite his feelings of inadequacy (Jeremiah 1:6–8), and He repeatedly invited His covenant people to repent when they made mistakes. Scripture teaches that God accomplishes His purposes through imperfect individuals who are willing to learn, grow, and follow Him.