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 31 (July 28 - August 3)
Weekly Questions
Some critics have misinterpreted Doctrine and Covenants 84:22 in an effort to destroy the testimony of Joseph Smith with regard to the reality of the First Vision. Their effort fails when the text is seen in its proper context and then compared with other writings that were prepared by the Prophet.
It is important to consider Doctrine and Covenants 84:21-22 as a whole:
21 And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; 22 For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.
In other words, for a mortal to act in God’s name he must have priesthood. These verses are not intended to restrict God in initiating contact with mortals. In other words, with the priesthood restored, God would normally work through those lines of authority, but God or Christ may reveal themselves in any way they wish, as happened to Paul on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). In fact, the very next verse (Doctrine and Covenants 84:23) refers to a time when the Lord was planning to show himself to all the people of Israel at once, but they lacked the faith to receive this blessing (Exodus 19:11).
Sources and Resources:
Question: How could Joseph Smith have seen God if the Bible says that God cannot be seen by mortals?
Deuteronomy 18:20-22 is often misunderstood as a rigid prophetic test, but a closer examination shows it addresses false prophets who speak presumptuously in God’s name, particularly those who lead people to worship other gods or claim divine authority without revelation. It is more concerned with identifying those who deliberately deceive rather than prophets who are genuinely called by God but whose prophecies might be delayed or misunderstood.
In Joseph Smith’s case, his prophecies, like the one in Doctrine and Covenants 84, are better seen in the context of God’s timing and human conditions—prophecies can be contingent on the faith, righteousness, or actions of people, and God may choose when and how they are fulfilled. Thus, the Missouri temple prophecy is not a failed prediction but an unfulfilled one, awaiting God’s appointed time.
Sources and Resources:
Alleged false prophecies of Joseph Smith
Doctrine and Covenants 84:19–22 does not address access to God’s power. It teaches that in the ordinances administered by the Melchizedek priesthood “the power of godliness is manifest.” Critics might interpret this passage as exclusionary, suggesting that only those ordained to the priesthood can fully experience God’s power. However, Doctrine and Covenants 84 does not restrict God’s power to priesthood holders alone. Instead, it highlights the importance of priesthood as a system for facilitating access to ordinances and covenants that empower all individuals. Both men and women are sanctified and strengthened as they participate in these ordinances, rely on the Savior, and fulfill their divine responsibilities.
The phrase “the power of godliness” (v. 20) refers to the divine strength and sanctification that come through receiving saving ordinances like baptism, confirmation, and temple ordinances. While priesthood authority is necessary to perform these ordinances—and thereby “the power of godliness is manifest”—all Church members, regardless of ordination, are recipients of their spiritual power.
Sources and Resources:
Consider Conference: Put Ye On the Lord Jesus Christ
Women, Men, and Priesthood Power
The Power of Jesus Christ in Our Lives Every Day
WEEK 32 (August 4 - 10)
Weekly Questions
LDS scripture and teachings provide clear principles for discerning whether a revelation is from God. Moroni 7:20-25 teaches that anything that invites us to do good, believe in Christ, and love God is from God, as all good comes from Him. Doctrine and Covenants 49:7-27 emphasizes that true revelation aligns with Christ’s teachings and leads to repentance, while false revelations come from deceptive spirits. Doctrine and Covenants 50:1-3 warns of false spirits and teaches that true revelation brings light and understanding, not confusion or darkness. The Preach My Gospel manual adds that the Spirit is recognized through feelings of peace, love, joy, and clarity, and that promptings from the Holy Ghost will always be in harmony with the scriptures, modern prophets, and Christ’s example. Altogether, revelation from God is consistent with righteousness, clarity, and the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Sources and Resources:
Question: How can we tell if a modern revelation comes from God or Satan?
Doctrine and Covenants 85-87 (Come, Follow Me)
The Davidic Servant mentioned in some interpretations is often misunderstood; in mainstream LDS teachings, there is no doctrine that asserts the Church will fall into apostasy before Christ’s return. Instead, the Church remains led by living prophets and apostles who are divinely guided to lead in righteousness.
The prophecy in Doctrine and Covenants 85 refers to a future event where proper order will be maintained, not restored from corruption. As Doctrine and Covenants13 tells us, the priesthood will not be taken from Earth again. Other verses in the Doctrine and Covenants likewise make clear that the Church as a whole will not apostatize. The phrase “one mighty and strong” refers to someone called to help in specific circumstances—such as ensuring the Church’s temporal and spiritual needs are properly met—but it does not suggest widespread apostasy within the Church itself.
Sources and Resources:
Doctrine and Covenants 85 focuses on the importance of maintaining accurate Church records in a number of areas such as history, tithes, and consecration. Recordkeeping such as this has been emphasized since the earliest days of the Church. (See Doctrine and Covenants 21:1.) In Doctrine and Covenants 85, the importance of records is emphasized in relation to the receipt and distribution of Church properties.
Sources and Resources:
Is the Church Archives Closed?
Church History and Record Keeping
Teachings of Wilford Woodruff: The Importance of Record Keeping
Doctrine and Covenants 87, often called the “Civil War Prophecy,” predicts the outbreak of a war beginning in South Carolina and escalating into widespread global conflict. Critics have questioned whether this prophecy was retroactively applied or coincidental.
The revelation was received on December 25, 1832, long before the Civil War began in 1861. It specifically mentions South Carolina’s secession and the division between the Northern and Southern states. While the prophecy’s initial fulfillment occurred in the American Civil War, its broader implications of “war poured out upon all nations” reflect the widespread conflicts of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
The Lord often reveals warnings and instructions through His prophets to prepare His people. This prophecy serves as a reminder of the consequences of rebellion against God and underscores the need for righteous living and preparedness.
Sources and Resources:
Joseph Smith’s prophecy of the Civil War
Prophecy of War, Prescription for Peace
Section 87, War in the Last Days
Lesson 99—Doctrine and Covenants 87: Joseph Smith Prophesied of War
WEEK 33 (August 11 - 17)
Weekly Questions
There is more required than simply praying in order to receive a confirmation of the
truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. One should also seek to make themselves worthy to receive the Spirit’s influences. The Gospel provides some more generous epistemic doors to walk through. In other words, the Gospel makes possible many ways of learning and coming to the truth. We need to first follow Moroni’s promise (Moroni 10:3-5) if we really want its promised blessings, by reading the Book of Mormon, asking God of its truthfulness, and then pondering on our thoughts and feelings. Though not everyone is meant to receive a witness of the Book of Mormon’s truthfulness in this life, the Gospel invites even those who may struggle with faith to continue learning (See Doctrine and Covenants 88:118).
Source(s):
Question: What about those who pray and don’t receive a confirmation the Book of Mormon is true?
Criticism of Mormonism/Video/Search for the Truth DVD/Burning in the Bosom
No. The Spirit does not confirm apostasy. Stories of apostasy are an attempt to diminish the experience of those who have truly had the Spirit testify of Christ. A more accurate way to phrase this question would be: “Why did I feel good as I listened to the stories of apostates sharing how they discovered for themselves that Mormonism is not true?” After all, ex-Mormons have already concluded that the “Spirit” is unreliable and inconsistent. The likely answer, of course, is that the stories that the ex-Mormon is hearing support the conclusion that they have already formed.
Source(s):
Question: Can the Spirit confirm to me that I’m okay to leave the Church?
Question: Can someone feel the spirit when listening to stories of apostasy?
This is not a characteristic of “every major religion”. Latter-day Saints have a theology that can reconcile the reports of spiritual experiences of people among other religions. Latter-day Saints believe that truth can be found in every religion and that God can work through these religions to bring individuals unto him gradually over time.
Sources:
The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 38
Question: Can a person receive a spiritual witness about any book?
This is not true. Church leaders have repeatedly emphasized the importance of learning and education over the pulpit and in Church publications. The claim of anti-intellectualism is often made as an ad hominem attack: Instead of interacting with faithful intellectual counterarguments, Latter-day Saints are portrayed as not even being able to formulate such arguments and to bolster the critics’ own “authority” and compliance with the rules of academia.
Sources:
The CES Letter Rebuttal — Part 63
The Opportunities and Responsibilities of CES Teachers in the 21st Century
The Light of Christ and Its Universal Application: One of the key features of Section 88 is its description of Christ as the source of all light and truth, which fills the universe (D&C 88:7-13). Critics have raised questions about how to understand this light in relation to physical laws and the universe. Some wonder whether this implies a pantheistic view, where God is directly identified with the universe, or how it relates to scientific understanding of light and energy. However, the section does not claim that the universe itself is divine, but that Christ is the source of light and life that underpins and gives meaning to creation. It’s important to remember that this understanding complements, rather than conflicts with, other doctrinal perspectives about creation and God’s role within it.
- The Nature of Resurrection and the Afterlife: Another common question is how the teachings about the resurrection and afterlife in Section 88 relate to the broader Christian doctrine of the afterlife. Section 88 describes how the Earth itself will be sanctified and resurrected, and how different levels of glory are associated with celestial, terrestrial, and telestial kingdoms. Some critics might find these ideas too complex or divergent from traditional Christian views of heaven and hell. The section emphasizes that the resurrection is an essential part of the plan of salvation, where individuals inherit different degrees of glory based on their faithfulness and ability to abide by divine laws. Latter-day Saints believe this interpretation is consistent with a loving God who offers opportunities for growth and repentance.
Sources:
https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/blog/2021/08/13/come-follow-me-week-33-doctrine-and-covenants-88
https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/blog/2024/01/28/consider-conference-kingdoms-of-glory
https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Plan_of_salvation/Three_degrees_of_glory]
WEEK 34 (August 18 - 24)
Weekly Questions
Observance of the Word of Wisdom has changed over time, due to on-going revelation from modern-day prophets, who put greater emphasis on certain elements of the revelation originally given to Joseph Smith. Early Latter-day Saints were not under the same requirements as today’s Saints are. In the 19th century, the Word of Wisdom was not defined as a commandment, but rather as a wise counsel. The use of whiskey as a stimulant while traveling was allowed, but abusing it by getting drunk was not.
Sources:
Joseph Smith and the Word of Wisdom
Because many members were unable to break the habit, tobacco was being imported. Brigham realized that a considerable sum was being spent annually on tobacco. He preferred that these funds remain within the territory to foster further economic growth and self-sufficiency.
Source(s):
In Timothy’s day, water was often not safe to drink. Historically, it is interesting that the temperance movement opposing alcohol only took off in the United States once relatively clean water supplies were available to most people—prior to that, alcohol mixed with water was a necessary way of keeping water drinkable. The Word of Wisdom was also given to modern saints as protection against “the designs of conspiring men in the last days.” (Doctrine and Covenants 89:4)
Source(s):
WEEK 35 (August 25 - 31)
Weekly Questions
The Gospel teaches us what we need to do to fulfill God’s commandments and purposes. It does not spend much time telling us what Jesus was required to do—clearly, he had many duties and abilities which far outstripped ours. That is why he was God and Savior before we came to this earth, and why we must rely upon his grace for salvation.
Source(s):
Question: How did Christ achieve deification before mortality?
Yes, the Bible teaches that God is spirit (not precisely “a” spirit), but it also says that we need to worship God in the spirit. Since this does not mean that we can only worship God once we are dead and leave our mortal bodies, it does not mean that God is only spirit.
Source(s):
Question: Is the doctrine that God the Father and Jesus Christ have physical bodies not Biblical?
This topic is hotly debated in all of Christianity. The Church takes no position on this, aside from affirming that agency is a fundamental part of the Plan of Salvation.
Source(s):
If that were so, Early Christians up until the 6th Century AD didn’t know it, for they discussed and debated this commonly, until the doctrine of premortal life was rejected as heresy.
Source(s):
Questions: What biblical evidence is there for a pre-mortal existence?
Question: Did Jesus and the apostles believe in pre-mortal life?
Question: Did the early Christian fathers express a belief in a pre-mortal life?
As a matter of fact, the belief that God created everything out of nothing was first developed in the late 2nd century AD. Prior to that, it was generally understood that everything was created Ex Materia, or out of matter, whether it be in the form of primeval waters (Gen 1:1-3; 2 Peter 3:5) or formless matter (Wisdom of Solomon 11:17). The presence of creation out of nothing is debated in only 2 Maccabees 7:28, but neither the rest of the Bible, nor the church fathers before the late 2nd century taught the belief.
Source(s):
Creation out of nothing (creatio ex nihilo)
The Doctrine Of Creation Ex Nihilo Was Created Out Of Nothing
