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Faithful Study Resources for Come, Follow Me

FAIR Resources for Come, Follow Me – Restoration Scripture
Week 23: June 2 - 8: "Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause"

DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 58 – 59

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

Doctrinal Focus

  • Key doctrines addressed in this week’s reading
  • The Saints expected immediate joy upon arriving in Zion, but instead, they faced hardships. The Lord reminded them that they could not see His full design and that trials would ultimately lead to glory. This teaches us that difficulties are often necessary steps in God’s plan for our growth and refinement. (D&C 58:3–4)

The Lord promises that those who keep His commandments will find peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come. This assurance reminds us that no matter how difficult our current circumstances may be, we can look forward to lasting peace through our faithfulness.(D&C 59:23)

Rather than compelling us in all things, God expects us to be proactive in doing good. Our choices shape our character, and as we take initiative in righteous efforts, we align ourselves with God’s purposes and receive His blessings. (D&C 58:26–28)

The ability to choose between good and evil allows us to develop faith, strength, and wisdom. When we actively seek to do good, we not only bless others but also grow closer to Christ, who is the ultimate example of choosing righteousness. (2 Nephi 2:27)

  • Observing the Sabbath helps us remain “unspotted from the world” by refocusing our hearts on God. This day is meant to be one of joy, worship, and spiritual renewal, allowing us to draw strength from the Lord. (D&C 59:9–12)

The Lord invites us to recognize His hand in all things and to express our gratitude through Sabbath observance. As we focus on worship, service, and spiritual reflection, we develop a greater appreciation for God’s gifts and receive peace in our lives. (D&C 59:18–21)

Historical & Contextual Insights

  • Insights in this week’s study
  • In 1831, the early Saints, under Joseph Smith’s direction, traveled to Jackson County, Missouri, believing it to be the prophesied land of Zion. They anticipated an established community of Saints but instead found a sparsely populated frontier town with few resources and significant hardships.
  • The Saints were commanded to build Zion in Jackson County, but they faced hostility from local settlers, internal struggles, and difficult living conditions. Many expected an immediate gathering and flourishing community but instead experienced trials and setbacks. The Lord reassured them in Doctrine and Covenants 58:3–4 that they could not see His full purpose and that blessings would come only after tribulation.
  • This revelation tested the Saints’ faith and willingness to follow the Lord’s timing rather than their own expectations. It emphasized the principle that spiritual progress often requires enduring challenges with faith.
  • Like the early Saints, we may face unexpected difficulties when pursuing righteous goals. The Lord’s promises remain true, even if fulfillment comes after tribulation. Trusting in His plan allows us to persevere with faith, knowing that blessings will come in His time.
  • Many of the early members thought Zion would already be a thriving, prepared city when they arrived. Instead, they found a rough and undeveloped settlement that required hard work to transform into the prophesied gathering place. The Lord’s commandment to “build Zion” (D&C 58:7) signified that Zion was not just a place but a way of living that required active participation.
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  • The Saints’ disappointment in Missouri mirrored a common human struggle—expecting immediate rewards rather than understanding that spiritual progress takes effort and endurance.
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  • This principle applies today as well; we must actively build spiritual strength, family unity, and community rather than expect ideal conditions to already exist. Zion is created through faith, obedience, and sacrifice.
  • In Doctrine and Covenants 58:26–28, the Lord instructed the Saints to be “anxiously engaged in a good cause” and to act of their “own free will.” This teaching was significant because some members expected the Prophet to direct every aspect of their efforts. Instead, they were told to take initiative in righteous works rather than wait for constant instruction.
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  • This principle taught the Saints that spiritual maturity comes from making righteous choices independently. Rather than being commanded in all things, they were expected to develop faith and self-reliance.
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  • Today, this teaches us that faithfulness requires action. Whether in our callings, personal growth, or service to others, we must take responsibility and proactively seek ways to further God’s work.

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

Apologetic Application

  1. Claim: “Joseph Smith falsely declared Jackson County, Missouri, as the location of Zion, yet the Saints were later expelled.”
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  3. Response:
  4. Historical Evidence: The Lord revealed that Jackson County would be Zion (D&C 57:1–3), but He never promised an immediate fulfillment. Instead, He commanded the Saints to build Zion over time and warned that tribulation would come first (D&C 58:3–4).
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  6. Eyewitness Support: Historical records show that Joseph and other early leaders maintained their belief in Missouri as Zion, even after being forced to leave, reaffirming that the Lord’s timing—not human expectations—dictates fulfillment.
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  8. Spiritual Confirmation: Many Saints received personal spiritual witnesses that Missouri was Zion, reinforcing that divine plans unfold according to God’s will, not human impatience.
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  10. Logical Analysis: If Missouri as Zion was a fabrication, Joseph Smith would likely have abandoned the idea after the Saints’ expulsion. Instead, he continued to teach that Zion’s redemption would come “after much tribulation” (D&C 103:11–13).
  • Claim: “Doctrine and Covenants 58:26–28, which teaches agency, contradicts other passages where God commands specific actions.”
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  • Response:
  • Historical Evidence: The Lord has consistently emphasized agency in scripture, from Adam and Eve’s choice in the Garden (Moses 3:17) to Nephi’s decision to obtain the brass plates (1 Nephi 3:7). D&C 58 expands on this principle by teaching that individuals should act “of their own free will.”
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  • Eyewitness Support: Joseph Smith and other Church leaders frequently taught that obedience is meaningful only when it is a choice, reinforcing the doctrine of agency rather than contradicting it.
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  • Spiritual Confirmation: The Spirit testifies that we are accountable for our own decisions, a principle repeatedly taught in the Book of Mormon (2 Nephi 2:27).
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  • Logical Analysis: If agency were contradictory to divine commandments, the entire plan of salvation would collapse. Instead, agency allows us to willingly choose righteousness, making obedience a test of faith rather than mere compulsion.
  • Claim: “The idea that repentance leads to complete forgiveness ignores the complexity of justice and accountability.”
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  • Response:
  • Historical Evidence: The doctrine of repentance has been consistently taught throughout scripture (Isaiah 1:18, Mosiah 26:30), emphasizing God’s willingness to forgive. D&C 58:42 clarifies that true repentance results in the Lord “remembering sins no more.”
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  • Eyewitness Support: Joseph Smith personally experienced the power of repentance, as seen in his own writings about being forgiven after the loss of the 116 pages of the Book of Mormon manuscript. Other early Saints testified of the peace that followed sincere repentance.
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  • Spiritual Confirmation: Many believers have felt the assurance of forgiveness after sincere repentance, confirming that God’s promise in D&C 58:42–43 is real.
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  • Logical Analysis: If repentance did not lead to full forgiveness, then Christ’s Atonement would be incomplete. The justice of God requires that consequences exist for sin, but His mercy provides a way for complete healing when repentance is genuine.

Practical Applications

Practical solutions for someone in faith crisis:

Action Step: Reflect on a current challenge and write down how you can exercise patience and faith in the Lord’s plan.

When the early Saints arrived in Missouri, they expected immediate blessings but instead faced hardships. The Lord reminded them that tribulation often precedes blessings (D&C 58:3–4). Trusting in God’s timing helps us endure trials with hope rather than frustration.

  1. – Identify an area where you are struggling with patience (e.g., waiting for a blessing, healing, or opportunity).
  2. – Read D&C 58:1–5 and pray for understanding about God’s timing.
  3. – Write down ways you can exercise faith while waiting for His promises to be fulfilled.
  4. – Look for small blessings and ways God is working in your life now.

Encouraging Thought:

  • “Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God … and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation” (D&C 58:3).

Action Step: Choose one small but meaningful way to serve someone this week without being asked.

The Lord taught that we should be “anxiously engaged in a good cause” and act of our “own free will” (D&C 58:27). Rather than waiting for assignments or specific inspiration, we can develop Christlike character by seeking opportunities to bless others.

  1. – Pray for guidance on how you can serve someone today.
  2. – Look for a simple but impactful act of kindness (e.g., offering encouragement, helping a neighbor, or supporting a friend).
  3. – Act on your prompting immediately rather than waiting for perfect circumstances.
  4. – Reflect on how you felt after serving and how it strengthened your discipleship.

Encouraging Thought:

  • “When we are anxiously engaged in a good cause, we become instruments in God’s hands to bless His children.”
  • Action Step: Plan one new way to make your Sabbath more spiritually fulfilling.

The Lord commanded the Saints to keep the Sabbath holy, not as a burden but as a source of rejoicing (D&C 59:9–15). By intentionally focusing on worship and gratitude, we can experience the peace and renewal that the Sabbath is meant to bring.

  1. – Evaluate how you currently spend your Sabbaths. Are there activities that distract from worship?
  2. – Choose one new way to enhance your Sabbath, such as deeper scripture study, journaling spiritual impressions, or more meaningful family time.
  3. – Make a commitment to limit distractions and focus on the Lord’s purposes for the day.
  4. – At the end of the day, reflect on how your efforts made a difference in your spiritual well-being.

Encouraging Thought:

“The Sabbath is a delight when we focus on worship and gratitude. It is not about restrictions but about renewal.” (See The Sabbath Is a Delight [D&C 59 resource]​.)

Ideas for Teaching

Objective: Help learners understand that Zion is something we build through faith, effort, and obedience rather than a place we simply arrive at.

Blank paper, pens, small building blocks (LEGO, Jenga, etc.).

Activity Steps:

  1. Introduction (5 min): Ask the group: “If you could live in a perfect community, what would it look like?” Have them list key traits on paper. Discuss what makes a strong, unified people.
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  3. Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read D&C 58:7 and discuss how the early Saints expected to find Zion already established but were instead commanded to build it. Have participants stack blocks to symbolize the effort needed to build Zion in our own lives.
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  5. Application (5 min): Ask learners to write one personal goal they can work on to “build Zion” in their homes or communities (e.g., kindness, service, unity).

Follow-Up Question: How does viewing Zion as something we build rather than find change our approach to the gospel?

Objective: Help learners recognize that trials are often a necessary part of receiving God’s blessings.

A small plant (or picture of one), a flashlight, a heavy book.

Activity Steps:

    1. Introduction (5 min): Show the plant and ask: “What does this plant need to grow strong?” (Sunlight, water, nutrients.) Then, place the heavy book on it and ask: “Would this help it grow?” Discuss how too much weight (trials) might seem harmful, but in nature, adversity often strengthens roots.
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    3. Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read D&C 58:3–4 and discuss how trials precede blessings. Share an example of a historical or personal story where someone grew stronger through trials.
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    5. Application (5 min): Have participants write or share a trial they’ve faced and what they learned from it. How did it strengthen them? Encourage them to see their current struggles in the same way.

Follow-Up Question: How does understanding God’s timing help us endure challenges with faith?

Objective: Show that the Sabbath is meant to be a joyful day of worship, not just a set of rules.

Two small bags—one labeled “Restrictions,” filled with random objects (e.g., clock, phone, TV remote), and one labeled “Blessings,” filled with uplifting items (e.g., picture of Christ, scriptures, a happy note).

Activity Steps: 

    1. Introduction (5 min): Ask: “What words come to mind when you think of the Sabbath?” Let them respond. Then, have them pull items from each bag and discuss whether the Sabbath is about restrictions or blessings.
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    3. Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read D&C 59:9–15. Highlight words like “rejoicing” and “cheerful” to show that the Sabbath is a day of spiritual renewal.
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    5. Application (5 min): Ask learners to come up with one new way to make the Sabbath more joyful for themselves or their families this week.

Follow-Up Question: How can shifting our mindset about the Sabbath change our experience with it?

QUICK REFERENCE

  • – Blessings often come after tribulation (D&C 58:3–4).
  • – We are meant to build Zion, not just find it (D&C 58:7).
  • – The Lord encourages us to act of our own free will in righteousness (D&C 58:26–28).
  • – True repentance leads to complete forgiveness (D&C 58:42–43).
  • – The Sabbath is a day of joy and spiritual renewal, not just restriction (D&C 59:9–15).
  • Why trust modern prophets?

     

    • – Prophets provide divine guidance, not personal opinions. Joseph Smith’s revelations align with biblical patterns (Amos 3:7).
    • – Prophets’ teachings withstand scrutiny over time—many early revelations (e.g., Word of Wisdom) have proven both spiritually and physically beneficial.
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  • Why does God allow mistakes?

     

    • – Growth comes through learning from errors (Ether 12:27). The early Saints’ challenges in Zion reinforced faith and reliance on God’s plan.
    • – Even biblical prophets made mistakes (Moses striking the rock, Jonah fleeing his mission), yet their divine callings remained valid.

Teaching in the Savior’s Way (Guidance for conducting effective Church meetings)

“For the Strength of Youth” (Repentance section) – Answers common repentance questions.