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FAIR Resources for Come, Follow Me – Restoration Scripture
Week 44: October 26 - November 1: "I Will Turn Their Mourning into Joy"

Jeremiah 31-33; 36-38; Lamentations 1; 3

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

Doctrinal Focus

  • Key doctrines addressed in this week’s reading

Jeremiah’s prophecies were given to a people who had experienced rebellion, captivity, and the destruction of Jerusalem. Yet the Lord promised, “I will turn their mourning into joy” (Jeremiah 31:13), showing that sorrow and failure do not have to be the end of our story. Lamentations 3:22–26 similarly emphasizes that the Lord’s mercies are not exhausted and that those who seek Him can still have hope.

Lamentations acknowledges the profound sorrow caused by sin and its consequences, but its message ultimately points toward hope in God’s mercy (Lamentations 3:20–33). The Savior’s Atonement allows those who repent to receive forgiveness and begin rebuilding what sin or adversity has damaged, making His grace central to the process of turning mourning into joy.

  • Jeremiah prophesied of a “new covenant” in which the Lord’s law would be written “in their inward parts” and “in their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:31–34). This describes more than simply knowing God’s commandments; it points toward becoming internally converted so that covenant faithfulness influences our desires, choices, and character.

The Lord promised, “They shall be my people, and I will be their God” (Jeremiah 32:38), and He further promised to establish an “everlasting covenant” with His people (Jeremiah 32:40). As disciples make and keep sacred covenants, their relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ becomes personal and transformative rather than merely cultural or external. The principles in Jeremiah 31–32 connect closely with Elder David A. Bednar’s teaching that covenant connection with the Father and the Son can become a living reality in our lives.

Jeremiah 36 demonstrates the importance of recording and hearing God’s word. The Lord commanded Jeremiah to have his prophecies written so that the people might hear them and turn from their wickedness (Jeremiah 36:2–3). This illustrates that scripture is not merely historical information; God’s word can invite repentance and change when people receive it with faith.

  • Elder David A. Bednar teaches that discipleship involves both abiding in Christ and walking with Him. Drawing on John 15:4–10 and Alma 32:37–41, he compares nourishing God’s word to cultivating a growing tree: faith, diligence, and patience allow the word to take root and produce spiritual fruit. This principle complements Jeremiah’s teaching about having God’s law written in our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). Genuine conversion is therefore an ongoing process in which we continually receive Christ’s word, keep our covenants, and allow the Savior to shape our lives.

Historical & Contextual Insights

  • Insights in this week’s study
  • Jeremiah 31–33 and 36–39 belong to the final period of the kingdom of Judah, when Jerusalem was facing or experiencing destruction and Babylonian captivity. Lamentations reflects on the devastation after Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed.

Jeremiah had spent years warning Judah that its covenant violations would bring serious consequences. The people eventually experienced those consequences through Babylon’s conquest, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the loss of the temple. Yet Jeremiah’s message did not end with destruction; alongside warnings, he prophesied restoration, a new covenant, and a future return of God’s people. Lamentations gives emotional expression to the grief caused by Jerusalem’s fall while still preserving hope in God’s mercy.

  • This historical setting makes the Lord’s promises especially powerful. Jeremiah was not offering superficial optimism to people experiencing minor difficulties; he was speaking hope to a covenant people who had witnessed the collapse of their nation and sacred center of worship.
  • God’s promises remain meaningful even when circumstances appear ruined beyond repair. The story of Judah teaches that consequences can be real and painful, but through Jesus Christ, repentance, covenants, and God’s mercy, destruction does not have to be the final chapter.
  • Jeremiah’s audience had repeatedly demonstrated that outward religious activity could coexist with disobedience. The promised covenant would be different because God’s law would be written “in their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33). The Lord wanted a people whose relationship with Him was internalized—people who did not simply know what God commanded but whose hearts had been changed through covenant relationship with Him.
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  • This helps explain why covenant keeping is more than completing religious requirements. Ordinances and commandments are intended to connect us with Jesus Christ and gradually transform our desires and character.
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  • Elder Bednar’s teaching reinforces this principle by describing covenant connection with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as something that can become “living and transforming” in our individual lives. Abiding in Christ therefore involves allowing gospel truths to become part of who we are, not simply something we believe.
  • Lamentations does not minimize the suffering caused by Jerusalem’s destruction. Its poems express profound sorrow, loneliness, loss, and mourning (Lamentations 1:1–2, 16). Yet in the middle of this grief, the writer remembers that “it is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed” and declares that the Lord is good to those who seek Him (Lamentations 3:22–26). The juxtaposition teaches that faith does not require pretending that suffering is easy.
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  • Gospel hope is not the denial of pain. A disciple can acknowledge genuine grief while simultaneously trusting that God’s mercy, justice, and promises are greater than the present circumstance.
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  • This makes Lamentations especially relevant to disciples experiencing disappointment, consequences of sin, family struggles, or other forms of mourning. The Lord’s promise to “turn their mourning into joy” (Jeremiah 31:13) points ultimately to the healing and redemption made possible through Jesus Christ.

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

Apologetic Application

  1. Claim: The destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering of Judah show that God either abandoned His people or was unable to protect them.
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  3. Response:
  4. Historical Evidence: Jeremiah’s prophecies show that Jerusalem’s destruction occurred in the context of repeated covenant violations, warnings, and calls to repentance (Jeremiah 7:1–15; 36–39). The destruction therefore does not appear in the text as evidence of God’s absence but as a consequence the Lord had repeatedly warned His people about.
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  6. Eyewitness Support: Jeremiah personally experienced the destruction and suffering surrounding Jerusalem’s fall. His writings are significant because he did not offer an idealized account that ignored suffering; Lamentations openly records the anguish, devastation, and mourning of the people.
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  8. Spiritual Confirmation: Lamentations teaches that genuine faith can coexist with profound grief: “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed” (Lamentations 3:22). The Lord’s mercy can remain present even when His children are experiencing consequences, loss, or circumstances they cannot immediately understand.
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  10. Logical Analysis: Love does not necessarily mean preventing every consequence of human choices. Jeremiah’s message presents a God who warns, invites repentance, allows agency, and continues offering restoration even after devastating consequences.
  • Claim: Christianity created the concept of a new covenant and incorrectly applied it to Jesus Christ.
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  • Response:
  • Historical Evidence: Jeremiah explicitly prophesied of a future “new covenant” in Jeremiah 31:31–34. The prophecy predates the ministry of Jesus Christ and describes a covenant in which God’s law would be written in the hearts of His people.
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  • Eyewitness Support: Jesus and His Apostles later taught about a new covenant and connected covenant relationship with the Savior’s redeeming work. The New Testament’s use of Jeremiah 31 therefore reflects an earlier Jewish prophetic expectation rather than inventing the concept from nothing.
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  • Spiritual Confirmation: Jeremiah’s promise is experienced spiritually as God’s commandments become matters of the heart rather than merely external requirements. Disciples can seek confirmation through prayer and the Holy Ghost that covenant relationship with Christ produces genuine inner transformation.
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  • Logical Analysis: Jeremiah’s prophecy provides an important chronological point: the concept of a new covenant existed before Christianity. Whether someone accepts its Christian fulfillment is a separate question, but the criticism that Christians invented the idea is inconsistent with Jeremiah 31.
  • Claim: Jeremiah’s warnings of destruction conflict with his later promises of restoration, forgiveness, and joy.
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  • Response:
  • Historical Evidence: Jeremiah consistently presents both sides of God’s covenant relationship. He warned Judah about real consequences for persistent rebellion (Jeremiah 7:9–15), while also prophesying restoration and forgiveness (Jeremiah 31:31–34; 32:37–42).
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  • Eyewitness Support: Jeremiah’s own ministry demonstrates this combination. He continued preaching repentance and hope even while Jerusalem was being destroyed, showing that judgment and the possibility of restoration were not contradictory messages.
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  • Spiritual Confirmation: Lamentations 3:22–33 invites believers to trust in the Lord’s compassion even during suffering. Disciples can experience that mercy personally as repentance, forgiveness, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ bring hope after mistakes and loss.
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  • Logical Analysis: Justice and mercy answer different aspects of the same problem. A loving God can allow consequences for destructive choices while simultaneously providing a path of repentance and redemption; in the gospel of Jesus Christ, those principles work together rather than contradicting each other.

Practical Applications

Practical solutions for someone in faith crisis:

Action Step: Choose one commandment or gospel principle and deliberately practice it throughout the week.

Jeremiah taught that under the new covenant, God would write His law “in their inward parts” and “in their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33). This reminds us that discipleship is not merely about checking religious boxes; it is about allowing Jesus Christ to change our desires and character.

  1. – Read Jeremiah 31:31–34.
  2. – Choose one gospel principle you want to internalize.
  3. – Write down one specific behavior that demonstrates that principle.
  4. – Pray for help applying it.
  5. – At the end of each day, reflect on how your actions affected your heart.

Encouraging Thought:

The goal of covenant living is not merely to have God’s commandments in front of us—it is to have His law become part of who we are.

Action Step: When facing a difficult circumstance, read Lamentations 3:21–26 and deliberately identify one evidence of God’s mercy.

Lamentations does not pretend that suffering is easy. Instead, it acknowledges deep sorrow while deliberately remembering God’s compassion and faithfulness. This allows disciples to experience hope without denying the reality of their pain.

  1. – Read Lamentations 3:20–26.
  2. – Write down what is causing you sorrow.
  3. – Identify one blessing or evidence of God’s mercy.
  4. – Pray and express gratitude for that mercy.
  5. – Repeat the exercise whenever discouragement returns.

Encouraging Thought:

  • “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed” (Lamentations 3:22). Hope can begin with remembering what God has already done.
  • Action Step: Establish one consistent practice that helps you “abide” in the Savior.

Jeremiah’s promise that God’s law can be written in our hearts requires an ongoing relationship with Him (Jeremiah 31:33). Elder David A. Bednar’s teachings on abiding in Christ similarly emphasize nourishing God’s word and developing a lasting covenant connection with the Savior.

  1. – Choose a daily practice such as scripture study, prayer, or worship.
  2. – Connect the practice specifically to Jesus Christ.
  3. – Set a consistent time and place.
  4. – Record one spiritual impression each day.
  5. – Review your progress at the end of the week.

Encouraging Thought:

  • Spiritual strength usually grows through repeated, faithful nourishment rather than through one dramatic spiritual experience.

Ideas for Teaching

Objective: Help learners understand how faith in God’s mercy can coexist with genuine grief.

  • – Scriptures
  • – Two pieces of paper per participant
  • – Pens
  • – Optional: a box or container

Activity Steps:

  1. Introduction (5 min): Give participants two pieces of paper. On one, privately write something that causes discouragement or sorrow; on the other, write something that gives them hope. They do not need to share anything personal.
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  3. Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read Lamentations 3:20–26 and Jeremiah 31:13. Discuss how the writer can acknowledge deep suffering while still remembering God’s mercy and anticipating joy.
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  5. Application (5 min): Invite participants to write one specific way they can seek Christ during a difficult circumstance rather than waiting for the circumstance to disappear.

Follow-Up Question: How can Jesus Christ give us hope without requiring us to pretend that our pain is not real?

Objective: Help learners distinguish between outward religious observance and genuine internal conversion.

  • – Scriptures
  • – Paper hearts or index cards
  • – Pens
  • – Whiteboard

Activity Steps:

Introduction (5 min): Write two statements on the board: “I know what I should do” and “I want to do what God asks.” Ask learners what difference exists between the two.

Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read Jeremiah 31:31–34. Discuss the significance of the Lord promising to write His law “in their inward parts” and “in their hearts.”

Application (5 min): Ask participants to identify one commandment they want to move from something they simply obey into something they genuinely value.

Follow-Up Question: What changes when obedience becomes something we want to do rather than something we merely feel required to do?

Objective: Teach learners about the resilience of God’s word and the importance of responding to revelation.

  • – Scriptures
  • – Paper
  • – Scissors
  • – Optional: replica scroll or rolled paper

Activity Steps: 

Introduction (5 min): Show a piece of paper and ask, “What would happen to a message if someone destroyed the paper it was written on?” Explain that Jeremiah faced a similar situation when King Jehoiakim burned his scroll.

Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read Jeremiah 36:20–28, then verses 28–32. Discuss what the king’s actions reveal about his response to God’s word and what Jeremiah did afterward.

Application (5 min): Invite learners to identify one piece of inspired counsel they have received but may have been tempted to ignore. Discuss ways to respond to God’s word with greater faithfulness.

Follow-Up Question: What should we do when God’s word challenges something we want to believe or do?

QUICK REFERENCE

  • God can turn mourning into joy. Even after profound loss and suffering, the Lord promised to restore His people and bring them joy (Jeremiah 31:13).
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  • God desires inward conversion. The Lord promised a new covenant in which His law would be written in His people’s hearts rather than existing only as an outward requirement (Jeremiah 31:31–34).
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  • God’s covenants create a lasting relationship with Him. The Lord promised, “They shall be my people, and I will be their God” (Jeremiah 32:38).
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  • God’s word cannot be permanently silenced. When King Jehoiakim destroyed Jeremiah’s scroll, the Lord instructed Jeremiah to have the words written again (Jeremiah 36:27–32).
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  • God’s mercy remains available during suffering. Lamentations acknowledges intense grief while affirming that the Lord’s compassions “fail not” and that He is good to those who hope in Him (Lamentations 3:22–26).
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  • Jesus Christ provides the ultimate source of hope and restoration. The promises of forgiveness, covenant renewal, and future joy ultimately point disciples toward the Savior (Jeremiah 31:31–34; Lamentations 3:22–26).
  • Why trust modern prophets?
  • Jeremiah illustrates the biblical pattern of prophetic ministry: God calls a prophet, gives him His word, and sends him to teach, warn, and invite His people to repent (Jeremiah 1:4–10). Prophets are not presented as flawless or all-knowing individuals; rather, they serve as witnesses and messengers who seek to communicate God’s will. Trust in a modern prophet should therefore include studying his teachings, comparing them with scripture, seeking the witness of the Holy Ghost, and observing the fruits of following inspired counsel.
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  • Why does God allow mistakes?
  • Jeremiah’s ministry demonstrates that God works through imperfect people and that His purposes do not require His servants to be incapable of mistakes. Jeremiah himself experienced fear, discouragement, and emotional suffering (Jeremiah 20:7–9), while the people he served repeatedly made serious errors. The gospel distinguishes between God’s perfection and human imperfection: God can guide imperfect individuals while allowing them agency to learn, grow, and sometimes make mistakes. This is also why disciples are encouraged to seek personal revelation rather than treating every human statement or action as infallible.
  1. Jeremiah 31:31–34 — The new covenant and God’s law being written in the heart.
  2. Lamentations 3:21–26 — Hope, mercy, and faithfulness in the midst of suffering.
  1. Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026, “I Will Turn Their Mourning into Joy” — Jeremiah 31–33; 36–39; Lamentations 1; 3.
  2. David A. Bednar, “Abide in Me, and I Will Not Leave You” — teachings on covenant connection with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, spiritual nourishment, and abiding in the Savior.
  1. Come, Follow Me—Old Testament 2026: Jeremiah 31–33; 36–39; Lamentations 1; 3
  2. Gospel Library — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints