The Book of Mormon in 2024
An Invitation to Study with Me
On June 29, 2018 the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints made the following announcement:
We are pleased to announce Come, Follow Me-For Individuals and Families, a new resource to support personal and family scripture study. This resource is aligned with two additional new resources for Church classes: Come, Follow Me-For Primary and Come, Follow Me-For Sunday School. Teachers should begin using these resources in January 2019. More information is provided in Instructions for Curriculum 2019 and at ComeFollowMe.lds.org. Living by and reading the word of God will build faith in Heavenly Father and His plan of salvation and in the Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
More details about this announcement were shared during the October 2018 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and shortly thereafter. (see here, here, and here)
We started with the New Testament in 2019, followed by the Book of Mormon in 2020, the Doctrine and Covenants in 2021, the Old Testament in 2022, and the New Testament again in 2023.
In 2021 I started a study group that meets each Sunday afternoon to discuss the lesson and the things that we learn in connection with the lesson during the week. We continued to meet to study Doctrine and Covenants in 2021, the Old Testament in 2022, and the New Testament in 2023.
These are the invitations that I made for our study group:
Come, Follow Me - The Old Testament (2022): “By an Electric Light”
Come, Follow Me - The New Testament (2023): “The New Year, the New Testament”
I have thoroughly enjoyed studying the Standard Works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This year, 2023, in addition to studying the New Testament, I also studied the Book of Mormon, complete with my own Book of Mormon Notes. My Book of Mormon Notes have been recorded in my Substack “The Torch” as well as on my YouTube Channel “The Torch”.
I would like to keep up the momentum and continue to think celestial in the New Year. I am very excited for the opportunity to study the Book of Mormon again as part of the Come, Follow Me curriculum for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
If you would like to participate in our weekly Come, Follow Me conversation group for the Book of Mormon in 2024, please contact me by email ricordate@gmail.com to indicate your interest. Alternatively, you can simply join us at the designated time via Google Meet at the following link:
https://meet.google.com/top-zqua-hqz
We will begin our first conversation of the year about the Introductory Pages of the Book of Mormon on Sunday, January 7, 2024.
Again, I am grateful for the reminder about the purpose of our study and conversation at the beginning of the manual:
Conversion Is Our Goal
The aim of all gospel learning and teaching is to deepen our conversion and help us become more like Jesus Christ. For this reason, when we study the gospel, we’re not just looking for new information; we want to become a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17). This means relying on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to help us change our hearts, our views, our actions, and our very natures.
But the kind of gospel learning that strengthens our faith and leads to the miracle of conversion doesn’t happen all at once. It extends beyond a classroom into an individual’s heart and home. It requires consistent, daily efforts to understand and live the gospel. True conversion requires the influence of the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost guides us to the truth and bears witness of that truth (see John 16:13). He enlightens our minds, quickens our understandings, and touches our hearts with revelation from God, the source of all truth. The Holy Ghost purifies our hearts. He inspires in us a desire to live by truth, and He whispers to us ways to do this. Truly, “the Holy Ghost … shall teach [us] all things” (John 14:26).
For these reasons, in our efforts to live, learn, and teach the gospel, we should first and foremost seek the companionship of the Spirit. This goal should govern our choices and guide our thoughts and actions. We should seek after whatever invites the influence of the Spirit and reject whatever drives that influence away—for we know that if we can be worthy of the presence of the Holy Ghost, we can also be worthy to live in the presence of Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
With this purpose in mind, I invite whomever is interested to join us in our study of the Book of Mormon in 2024.
Thank you.