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December 28–January 3. Heavenly Father Wants Me to Learn and Progress

“December 28–January 3. Heavenly Father Wants Me to Learn and Progress,” Come, Follow Me: For Individuals and Families at Home (2015), 2–3

“December 28–January 3. Heavenly Father Wants Me to Learn and Progress,” For Individuals and Families at Home, 2–3

December 28–January 3

Heavenly Father Wants Me to Learn and Progress

Introduction and Impressions

As a child of Heavenly Father, I received my “first lessons” in His presence in the spirit world (D&C 138:56). I learned about His plan for His children. This plan allowed me to come to earth to grow and progress—to learn for myself, through my own experience, the things I could not learn in any other way. In reality, God’s plan is all about learning and progressing. It is a crucial part of how I fulfill my destiny to become like my heavenly parents. This is what I was created to do.

See also Teaching, No Greater Call (1999), 61–62; “Gospel Learning,” Gospel Topics, topics.lds.org.

Record Impressions

It is very important that you seek impressions from the Spirit to help you and your family. Therefore, before reading this study outline, read 2 Nephi 25:26; 28:30; Alma 5:45–46; 3 Nephi 14:7–8; and Moroni 10:3–5. What messages do you find for your life? What will be of most value to you and your family? What can you share in your Church classes? Record your thoughts and impressions below or in a journal or notebook.

Ideas for Personal Learning

Matthew 11:28–30. The Savior invites me to learn of Him.

The Savior’s invitation to “learn of me” is also an invitation to bind ourselves to Him and walk with Him. What am I learning about Jesus Christ through my experiences as His disciple?

See also Doctrine and Covenants 19:23; “Daily Bread: Pattern” (video), LDS.org.

2 Nephi 28:30; 3 Nephi 14:7–8. I receive more knowledge as I ask, seek, and knock.

God wants to give me great knowledge, but I cannot receive it all at once. What do I learn from 2 Nephi 28:30; 3 Nephi 14:7–8; and Doctrine and Covenants 50:24 about receiving greater knowledge and understanding? What experiences have taught me the truth of this principle?

See also Russell M. Nelson, “Ask, Seek, Knock,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 81–84; “Patterns of Light: Spirit of Revelation” (video), LDS.org.

Alma 5:45–46. I must learn for myself.

Elder David A. Bednar taught: “Learning by faith requires spiritual, mental, and physical exertion and not just passive reception. … Learning by faith cannot be transferred from an instructor to a student through a lecture, a demonstration, or an experiential exercise; rather, a student must exercise faith and act in order to obtain the knowledge for himself or herself” (“Seek Learning by Faith,” Ensign, Sept. 2007, 64). What does this counsel help me understand about learning and teaching? How is this counsel demonstrated in Alma 5:45–46? What goals will help me to become a better learner?

See also 2 Nephi 2:14; Doctrine and Covenants 88:118–22; Joseph Smith—History 1:10–20; “Education,” in For the Strength of Youth (2011), 9–10.

Ideas for Family Learning

Family Discussions

1 Nephi 1:1. What are some of the ways we can learn from members of our family?

3 Nephi 14:24–27. What are the differences between the wise man and the foolish man? How can we be like the wise man?

Moroni 10:3–5. Why must we have the Holy Ghost with us as we learn gospel truths?

Family Home Evening

3 Nephi 14:24–27. How can we live what we are learning?

The Savior’s parable in these verses can help us understand the importance of not just learning the gospel but living it. To visualize this parable as a family, we could build small, temporary structures on different surfaces, such as sand or rock, and then simulate the parable by pouring water over and around the structure. How does living gospel truths help us build our lives on a firm foundation? What will we do to encourage each other to live what we are learning together?