This week’s “Come, Follow Me” lessons cover “the Vision” of the afterlife that dramatically expanded Mormon theology in 1832. In my most detailed response on the 2021 curriculum so far, we take a close look at the historical and intellectual context of D&C § 76, and how the modern church is shifting its narrative.
This week’s “Come, Follow Me” lessons lead a discussion on how members should respond to critics of the church, with a reminder that its each members duty to share the gospel with their neighbors. Also discussed are the ministerial responsibilities of bishops to their wards.
The decision to publish the Book of Commandments, and the revelations produced between 1–12 Nov 1831, were all in direct response to Ezra Booth’s opposition to Smith and the church. The “Come, Follow Me” manuals ignore this context entirely, favoring instead to present a message about how awesome are God’s mouthpieces. Also, baptize your kids.
This week’s “Come, Follow Me” lessons ask members to “be not weary” in offering the “heart and a willing mind” in the service of the church. Members are to “forgive everyone” or remain condemned of the greater sin. They are reminded that theirs is the responsibility of preparing the world for Christ’s return.
This week we cover the church’s messaging about the importance of missionary work, the context of the “curse upon the waters” in D&C 61, and the counsel that members need not wait on the Lord’s inspiration for every decision in their lives.
This week’s Come, Follow Me lessons use the revelation addressing the Shakers, and another on spiritual discernment, as a platform to propagandize heteropatriachal marriage as essential to God’s “plan of exaltation.”
In this week’s Come, Follow Me response, we’ll take a look at the expressions of religious enthusiasm that emerged in Kirtland and how Joseph Smith responded to them. Then we’ll look at what lessons the 2021 curriculum has for members today.
The culture of authoritarianism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is on full display in this week’s Come, Follow Me lessons. Covering Doctrine and Covenants § 41–44, the manuals focus on the revelations comprising “the law of the Church” that Joseph Smith produced shortly after arriving in Kirtland, Ohio.
This week’s lessons focus on the theme of missionary work. In the latter half of 1830, Joseph Smith received a series of revelations calling newly ordained elders to serve a mission to the Lamanites, and today the church says you can too!