This week’s readings: Matthew 16–17; Mark 9; Luke 9
Don’t forget to record your impressions and read the ideas an outline in the new Come, Follow Me manuals on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Bible Video
Scripture Insight
This week’s scriptural insight comes from Verse by Verse: Volume 1 by Andrew C. Skinner and D. Kelly Ogden.
Speaking specifically to Peter, the Lord promised that he would receive the keys of the kingdom, and the sealing power—to seal on earth and in heaven. Those keys and powers Peter did receive just a week later, on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1). As the book of Acts opens (it being the second volume of Luke’s two-volume history of the ancient Church), we see that Peter held the keys and served as the presiding authority in that part of the earth (Nephi was serving in that capacity in the western hemisphere; Helaman 10:7). Peter presided over choosing the new apostle to fill the vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve (Acts 1:15) and at Pentecost (Acts 2:14); and Peter received the revelation to open the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10).
Study Ideas
These ideas and topics are compiled from Come, Follow Me and have been adapted for specific situations. Check out the manuals online for more ideas, or come up with your own as you study!
For couples:
In this week’s reading in Matthew 16:13–17, Peter testifies of Christ. As you read these verses together, consider sharing with each other how you gained your testimonies or an experience that strengthened them. These verses may also lend themselves to a discussion about how to receive and recognize personal revelation. You might even pick a concern that you can focus on seeking revelation for individually or together this week.
For singles:
Priesthood keys can benefit us no matter our family situations. As you read about Peter receiving “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” this week, you might take a deeper dive into understanding what priesthood keys are, how they work, and the role they can have in your own life. For example, Handbook 2 has a good explanation of the authority held by apostles, prophets, Seventies, and local leaders. A particularly good activity if you feel that there is a lack of priesthood influence in your life might be to list the names of the priesthood holders in your ward, stake, neighborhood, or family and consider how their righteous exercising of priesthood keys has influenced your life for good.
For families with young children:
In this week’s readings, there are many opportunities to use object lessons to teach young children gospel principles. For example, you might consider using a pair of car keys or house keys to illustrate priesthood authority (see Come, Follow Me–For Primary). You might also use a drive into the mountains and a mustard seed to illustrate Christ’s statement about faith in Matthew 17:20. You can then adapt these discussions to your own family to talk about the role the priesthood and prophet play in your family’s life or to talk about metaphorical “mountains,” or hard things, that the Lord can help us overcome if we have faith.
For families with teens:
As you study with your family this week, you and your teens might benefit from focusing on the story of the father whose faith was not perfect (Matthew 17 and Mark 9). As you discuss this story as a family, you might take the opportunity to ask family members in what areas their faith is strong and what areas it might be struggling. You can discuss the fact that, like the man in the story, it is okay if our faith is not perfect when we approach the Lord and ask for help. If it feels appropriate for your family, perhaps you can even brainstorm a list of actions, quotes, or experiences that have helped or could help increase the faith of your family members.
Stay in the loop on Come, Follow Me discussions and insights throughout the week by following the Brightly Beams Instagram account, or check out this week's FHE lesson, focused on personal revelation and preparing for the upcoming general conference by reviewing the October 2018 general conference.