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Roger Connors: Understanding God’s Patterns

As a former mission president and former MTC branch president who currently serves in a YSA stake presidency, Roger Connors has heard from a lot of young people who feel like God just isn’t keeping His end of the deal. It is for these people that Connors set out to write his new book, Divine Patterns. It is His belief that as we observe the way that our unchanging God has worked in the lives of men and women throughout history, we can more easily recognize that He is with us every minute of every day.

43: “I Will Turn Their Mourning into Joy” (Jeremiah 30–52, Lamentations)

We all have experienced wounds of some sort. These can be physical wounds, like those that come from falling off a bike, or emotional wounds, like those that occur when your feelings are hurt. Jeremiah and his people saw many kinds of wounds in their day, and the prophet lamented over them in his writing. But these scriptures are about more than mourning—Jeremiah 30–52 and the book of Lamentations also express sympathy for those with wounds of their own while promising that all will be healed through Christ.

47: “Seek the Lord, and Ye Shall Live" (Amos, Obadiah)

The prophet Amos’s name has a Hebrew translation that we find fascinating; Amos means being burdened or troubled. At first that seems like an odd name for a prophet, but when you consider the weighty responsibilities God’s chosen servants carry, the name makes sense. In this week’s study of Amos and Obadiah, we’ll learn about the vital role of prophets and why they are asked to carry such a heavy burden. We will also find the comforting reassurance that the Lord “will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”

7: “Ye Must Be Born Again” (John 2-4)

Faith doesn’t have to fade in the face of uncertainty. Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman at the well, Mary the mother of Christ—they all held to their seed of faith even though they didn’t understand everything, and then they witnessed miracles. In this week’s lesson in John 2–4, we’ll dive into several accounts from the Savior’s early ministry and see how a precious bit of faith led to conversion. And along the way we’ll come to better appreciate the role that active and continuous belief has in our lives.

15: “O Grave, Where Is Thy Victory?” (Easter)

The gospel classic Jesus the Christ was released over 100 years ago, 108 to be exact. When the book became available, a Church announcement said of it, “The sacred subject of our Savior’s life and mission is presented as it is accepted and proclaimed by the Church that bears his Holy Name. We desire that the work, Jesus the Christ be read and studied by the Latter-day Saints.” In this special Easter episode, we study this monumental book and talk to four women who accepted the invitation to read it—and how that experience changed them.

16: “Thou Art the Christ” (Matthew 15–17; Mark 7–9)

Nothing may be sweeter than a young Primary child nervously (or sometimes not so nervously) stepping up to the microphone during fast and testimony meeting. What is your earliest memory of bearing your testimony? Whether you were five or sixty-five, in a chapel or in a car, bearing our witness of Christ can be a spiritually defining moment. Today’s study of Matthew 15–17 and Mark 7–9 will give us powerful examples of bearing testimony and show us that testimonies can be born in the most unique of places.

3: “We Have Come to Worship Him” (Matthew 2, Luke 2)

If you’re like us, now that the new year has begun you might be experiencing holiday withdrawals. But what if we told you that Christmas can keep on going? Luckily, this week’s Come, Follow Me lets us revisit the story of the Savior’s birth in the second chapters of Luke and Matthew. In these verses, we learn of early witnesses of Christ from the shepherds to the wise men from afar who recognized that this baby boy was called to an important work. So let’s start out the new year by studying this miraculous story and bringing the Savior into the season and into our hearts once again.

5: “Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord” (Matthew 3, Mark 1, Luke 3)

Think back to your baptism—who helped you prepare for that special day and who stood with you in the water? And even more importantly, why were you baptized and what covenants did you make? In this week’s lesson, we have the opportunity to remember this sacred ordinance by reflecting about the Savior's baptism. As we study Matthew 3, Mark 1, and Luke 3, we'll meet John the Baptist, who helped prepare the way for Christ's coming. We'll learn about how the Savior was baptized in the Jordan River. And we'll discover anew the beauty of Christ’s example of obedience and remember why we all follow Him into the water.

The Doctrine of Friendship with Melinda Brown

Friendship is an essential and eternal part of our Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness! We can develop these divine relationships in our lives right now, as we are, where we are. Friendships can help us experience heaven on earth today. In this episode, we discuss how we can start building these relationships by following Jesus Christ’s example, and loving our friends with genuine kindness and compassion the way He would. If you are ready for more soul-filling connection in your life (and who isn't!?)--this episode is for you!

10: “Thy Faith Hath Saved Thee” (Matthew 8, Mark 2-4, Luke 7)

The famed poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once penned the beautiful words, “Be still, sad heart! and cease repining; Behind the cloud is the sun still shining; Thy fate is a common fate of all, Into each life some rain must fall.” Longfellow is right—rain comes at different times to all of us. But his words also remind us that behind the clouds, the sun is always still shining. In this week’s lesson in Matthew 8, Mark 2–4, and Luke 7, we’ll read about when a tempest caught Jesus’s disciples unaware. And we’ll see that just as the physical sun always still shining, so too is the Son of God always there for us.