Come, Follow Me—the Lord’s Counterstrategy and Proactive Plan

Building a Solid Spiritual Foundation

Just as a physical temple needs a solid foundation, so do we need a spiritual foundation in our lives. This foundation is established on our conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ. Following the counsel of prophets and apostles helps us establish this firm foundation.

As Latter-day Saints, we seek a similar firm and sure foundation in our lives—a spiritual foundation needed for our journey through mortality and back to our heavenly home. That foundation is established on the bedrock of our conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ.

We recall the teachings of Helaman from the Book of Mormon: "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, … it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall" (Helaman 5:12).

Gratefully, we live in a time when prophets and apostles teach us of the Savior Jesus Christ. Following their counsel helps us establish a firm foundation in Christ.

• What does it mean to have a spiritual foundation?
• Why is it important to establish our spiritual foundation on our conversion to Jesus Christ?
• How can following the counsel of prophets and apostles help us establish a firm foundation in Christ?
• How have you felt the importance of having a solid spiritual foundation in your life?
• In what ways can you strengthen your spiritual foundation?
• How has following the counsel of prophets and apostles helped you in your spiritual journey?

The Come, Follow Me Program as a Counterstrategy

The Come, Follow Me program is a counterstrategy and proactive plan against the adversary's increasing attacks. It is designed to help members learn the gospel in the home, balance church and home experiences, and increase faith and spirituality. It is helping us establish a sure foundation—a testimony anchored firmly in our conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ.

To survive spiritually, we need counterstrategies and proactive plans.

The new home-study Come, Follow Me resource … is designed to help members learn the gospel in the home.

Our purpose is to balance the Church and the home experiences in a way that will greatly increase faith and spirituality and deepen conversion to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

With the Come, Follow Me resource, the Lord is preparing us "for the perilous times that we now face". He is helping us establish that "sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall" (Helaman 5:12)—the foundation of a testimony anchored firmly in the bedrock of our conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ.

• What is the purpose of the Come, Follow Me program?
• How does the Come, Follow Me program serve as a counterstrategy against the adversary's attacks?
• How does the Come, Follow Me program help us establish a sure foundation?
• How has the Come, Follow Me program helped you in your spiritual journey?
• How can you make better use of the Come, Follow Me program in your personal and family study?
• What changes have you noticed in your life since you started using the Come, Follow Me program?

Experiences with the Come, Follow Me Program

Members around the world have shared their positive experiences with the Come, Follow Me program. They have reported increased faith and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, improved gospel instruction, greater family joy and unity, and a deeper understanding of the scriptures. The program has also been described as a personal ministry from the Savior.

After nine months of this worldwide scripture study effort, what do we see? We see Latter-day Saints everywhere growing in faith and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ. We see individuals and families setting aside time throughout the week to study the words of our Savior. We see improving gospel instruction in our Sunday classes as we study the scriptures at home and share our insights at church. We see greater family joy and unity as we have moved from simply reading the scriptures to studying the scriptures in a profound way.

Come, Follow Me feels like the Savior is personally ministering to me. It is heaven inspired.

• How has the Come, Follow Me program affected the faith and devotion of members to the Lord Jesus Christ?
• How has the program improved gospel instruction and brought about greater family joy and unity?
• What does it mean that the Come, Follow Me program feels like a personal ministry from the Savior?
• How has the Come, Follow Me program affected your faith and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ?
• How has the program improved gospel instruction and brought about greater joy and unity in your family?
• How has the Come, Follow Me program felt like a personal ministry from the Savior to you?

Individual Responsibility in Spiritual Growth

We are each responsible for our individual spiritual growth. Studying the scriptures with the Come, Follow Me program as a guide strengthens our conversion to Jesus Christ and His gospel. It requires consistent effort throughout the week, not just on Sundays.

After all, as President Nelson also said, "We are each responsible for our individual spiritual growth".

Learning the gospel is a consistent effort throughout the week. As one sister insightfully shared, "The goal is not to make church one hour shorter; it is to make church six days longer!"

• What is our individual responsibility in spiritual growth?
• How does studying the scriptures with the Come, Follow Me program as a guide strengthen our conversion?
• Why is it important to make learning the gospel a consistent effort throughout the week?
• How have you taken responsibility for your individual spiritual growth?
• How has studying the scriptures with the Come, Follow Me program as a guide strengthened your conversion?
• How can you make learning the gospel a consistent effort throughout the week?

The Lord's Protection Against the Adversary

Despite the adversary's increasing attacks, the influence of the adversary can actually decrease in our lives. This is possible because the Lord prepares His people against the adversary's attacks. The Come, Follow Me program is part of this preparation, helping us transform our homes into sanctuaries of faith.

How can the attacks of the adversary be increasing exponentially while at the same time the influence of the adversary is actually decreasing? It can happen, and it is happening throughout the Church, because the Lord prepares His people against the attacks of the adversary. Come, Follow Me is the Lord’s counterstrategy and proactive plan.

As President Nelson taught, "The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families." However, it does and will require our best efforts; we need to "[follow] through conscientiously and carefully to transform [our] home into a sanctuary of faith".

• How can the influence of the adversary decrease in our lives despite his increasing attacks?
• How does the Lord prepare His people against the adversary's attacks?
• How does the Come, Follow Me program help us transform our homes into sanctuaries of faith?
• How have you felt the Lord's protection against the adversary's attacks in your life?
• How has the Come, Follow Me program helped you transform your home into a sanctuary of faith?
• What can you do to better follow through conscientiously and carefully in your efforts to transform your home into a sanctuary of faith?