Did you know that the Book of Mormon doesn't begin with "I, Nephi?" In our first study group of 2020, Tammy and her friends Sharmaine and Tamu dig into the real beginning of the Book of Mormon — the introductory pages — and share how the entire purpose of the Book of Mormon can be found in just four simple words.

Laman and Lemuel are clearly the "bad guys" of the Book of Mormon, right? Or were they more like us than we realize? In this week’s study group, join Tammy and her friends Holly and Jalyn as they dig into 1 Nephi chapters 1–7 to discuss how Laman's and Lemuel’s murmurings aren't so different from our own and how we can strive to “go and do” like Nephi.

Have you ever had a dream so vivid you felt like it was real? A dream so impactful you even wondered if maybe it was revelation from God? In this week’s Sunday on Monday study group, we’ll be studying Lehi’s revelatory dream in 1 Nephi 8–10 and learning how to distinguish between inspiration and indigestion.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

What do you immediately picture when you hear the phrase “the great and abominable church”? Hint, it’s not just one religion. In fact, there’s a lot that has been said on this topic, and it’s easy to become confused when it comes to answering these three basic questions: Who is the great and abominable church? Who founded it? And does its future look like? In this week’s Sunday on Monday study group, we’re going to tackle all of these questions and more as we study 1 Nephi 11–15.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

*This week's study group originally noted that one-third of the Book of Mormon consists of Isaiah. The transcript and show notes have been updated to note that one-third of Isaiah is in the Book of Mormon.

Do you ever wish you had a Magic 8-Ball that could answer all the important questions you have about your life? Like what God wants you to be doing or how to get through a trial? While those Magic 8-Balls don’t actually exist, God has given us something much better—our own personal Liahonas. In this week’s Sunday on Monday study group, we’ll be digging into 1 Nephi 16–22 to find out what our Liahonas are and how they can help guide us through the storms of life.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

Let’s see if you can finish this scripture: “Men are that they might have . . . ?” If you said "joy," you're absolutely right. But has it ever felt like the opposition in your life makes it difficult to feel that joy? In this week’s Sunday on Monday study group, we’ll be digging into 2 Nephi 1–5 and learning more about the law of opposition and why it’s essential for experiencing joy.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

When you were a kid, were you ever afraid of monsters? Maybe you still peak under the bed or in your closets just to be sure nothing is lurking there? In this week’s Sunday on Monday study group, we're digging into 2 Nephi 6–10 to talk about THE monster—death and hell—and it's pretty scary. But don’t worry, we’re also going to share how to defeat this monster through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

Do you ever get to 2 Nephi 12, see “compare to Isaiah 2” in the heading and just want to skip past the next few chapters? You’re not alone, in fact, it’s no secret that the Isaiah chapters in the Book of Mormon are difficult to understand—if you don’t know what this Old Testament prophet is really talking about. That's why in this week’s Sunday on Monday study group, we are going to dig into 2 Nephi 11–25 to discover the important messages Isaiah wants to share with us in the latter days.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

Hey Friends! Here's a little public service announcement for the week. If you're looking for a way to celebrate the bicentennial of the First Vision with your whole family and you're in the Salt Lake or Ogden area, you should totally check out Deseret Book's First Light concert event on March 14 in Ogden, Utah. It's one night only and it's full of beautiful songs sung by some of our favorite artists to celebrate this significant event in our church's history. Find more information and reserve tickets at blog.deseretbook.com.

Hey Friends! Here's a little public service announcement for the week. If you're looking for a way to celebrate the bicentennial of the First Vision with your whole family and you're in the Salt Lake or Ogden area, you should totally check out Deseret Book's First Light concert event on March 14 in Ogden, Utah. It's one night only and it's full of beautiful songs sung by some of our favorite artists to celebrate this significant event in our church's history. Find more information and reserve tickets at blog.deseretbook.com.

Have you ever had to have an uncomfortable conservation with a loved one? That’s exactly what happened to the prophet Jacob when he had a tough conversation with his family and friends about pride, chastity, and “a grosser crime." But his words about these topics weren’t all bleak. In fact, in this week’s Sunday on Monday study group, we’re digging into Jacob 1–4 to learn how Jacob’s words apply to us today and how they can lead to hope and healing for us all.

So you’ve survived the Isaiah chapters and maybe even feel a little bit more confident about this prophet's teachings, but now you’ve hit Jacob 5—the longest chapter in the Book of Mormon. And if you feel a little overwhelmed about this chapter and what the allegory of the olive tree represents, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this week’s Sunday on Monday study group, we’re going to dig into Jacob 5–7 to learn more about the symbolism of the allegory of the olive tree and Jacob’s final message to us.

Have you ever wondered if your prayers make a difference? Has your soul ever hungered for an answer to a question? In this week’s Sunday on Monday study group, we’re going to study the purpose and meaning of prayer as we dig into Enos, Omni, Jarom, and the Words of Mormon. In fact, we’re going to look at a recipe based on Enos’s prayer that will help us find answers to our own prayers.

What do you know about the Marys? That’s right, Marys. There are actually several Marys mentioned throughout the New Testament, and many had a personal connection to the Savior. In this week’s Sunday on Monday study group, we’re going to learn more about four of these Marys: Mary the mother of Jesus, Mary of Bethany, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the wife of Cleopas and their powerful testimonies of the Savior.

Have you ever wondered what general conference might have been like for people in the Book of Mormon? In this week's Sunday on Monday study group, we get to draw comparisons between the messages taught in King Benjamin’s address, and the messages we “gathered” to receive at General Conference. We will dig into powerful truths of the Atonement of Jesus Christ taught in Mosiah 1-3 that apply to us, no matter when, or where, we come listen to a prophet’s voice.

What would you say to someone who asks: “How do I know if I've been forgiven of my sins?” It can be a hard question, right? Forgiveness of sins is sometimes a difficult concept for us to navigate in our lives. That’s why in this week’s study group we turn to Mosiah 4-6 for answers on how we can receive a remission of our sins, and also how we can retain a remission of our sins throughout our lives. Spoiler alert: there is “exceedingly great joy” involved.

Have you ever had an experience where you’ve been called to repentance and it was pretty hard to swallow? In this week’s study group, Tammy guides us through this sometimes confusing section of the Book of Mormon that covers a lot of different people, places, and timelines. We will dig into Mosiah 7-10 to learn from examples (both good, and bad) of people who receive course corrections from the Lord, through prophets, seers, and revelators.

Imagine you are going to teach someone who has never heard about Jesus Christ before. What would be the first thing that you would tell them? In this week’s study group, we dig into Mosiah 11-17, some of the most concentrated chapters in the Book of Mormon about Jesus Christ's role in our salvation. We'll learn, from the prophet Abinadi's fervent efforts to bring King Noah and the wicked priests to a knowledge of Christ, how we can one day have an “endless happiness.”

Do you ever wonder what grace really looks and feels like in your everyday life? The phrase: “After all we can do” from 2 Nephi might seem like a pretty high bar to reach. This week we turn to Mosiah 18-20 to really dig into what grace means, and to learn just how far His grace extends into our imperfect lives.

Have you ever felt “harrowed” by your sins? Or maybe “harrowed” at the thought of confessing your sins? In this week’s study group, we turn to Mosiah 18-24 to dig into the ins and outs of repentance. We learn from Alma the younger’s experience to see what role confession plays, how we can embrace those who have sinned, and most importantly, how those harrowing feelings don't need to last.

Have you ever encountered someone, or something, that made you question your beliefs, or that may even have lead to a difficult faith crisis? In this week's study, we turn to Mosiah 29–Alma 4, where we learn from the story of Nehor and his false preachings about how we can determine between what is true and what is popular. We will also dig into what we can do to find truth and peace as we continue the search for answers to our questions.

Do you have an image that pops into your mind when you hear “judgement day”? Does that image maybe invoke a little nervousness—or even some fear? This week we dig into Alma 5–7, specifically Alma’s “test” in Alma 5, to learn comforting truths about what God requires and expects of us, and to discover that He, and Christ, are always on our side.

Have you ever psyched yourself up to share the gospel with someone, and then. . . it didn’t go how you had hoped? Turns out Alma may know a little of what that feels like. In this week's study group, we'll talk about Alma's missionary efforts and uniting with Amulek in Alma 8–12 to see what that can teach us about God's presence behind the scenes of our lives.

Sister Neill F. Marriott once said, “the priesthood is not the men of the Church.” In that case, what exactly is the priesthood, and how does priesthood power apply to women? Join us in this week’s exciting study group as we dig into Alma 13-16 with special guest Barbara Morgan Gardner to discuss what priesthood power is and learn how we can access that priesthood power in our everyday lives.

Have you ever wondered how to call on priesthood power as a Latter-Day Saint woman? Turns out you’re not the only one. Join us for a super exciting bonus episode with Tammy and Barbara Morgan Gardner as they answer questions gathered from social media about women and the priesthood. We promise you are not going to want to miss this one.

Do you have a favorite mission story, whether it’s a funny one from your own mission or an inspiring one that you heard from a friend? This week we dig into a treasure chest of great mission stories in Alma 17–22 that teach us about how we can become instruments in the hands of God and what we can do when we, like them, face discouragement and are tempted to turn back.

Have you ever committed to do something, or not do something, and then the minute you make that commitment, something comes up that really tests your decision? In this week's study group we learn why it's important to have a continual commitment to change like the Anti-Nephi-Lehies in Alma 23-29, and also, why it’s not the end of the world when we mess up.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

Have you ever had a hard time “likening” the scriptures to your life? Don’t worry, Tammy and her guests have got you covered. In this week’s study group, we dig into the story of the infamous Korihor in Alma 30–31, where we learn about the false teachings the people in the Book of Mormon faced, the way they withstood them, and how we can do the same.

It's easy to think of "faith" as a super basic topic, but it can be much harder to figure out what it actually looks like IRL (in real life). In this week's study group, we're digging into some pretty well-known chapters on faith in Alma 32-35, and even if you think you know all the Sunday School answers, you might be surprised at all the different ways we can nourish and live our faith, especially during some of our darkest moments.

Did you know Alma had a favorite child? (cough, Shiblon) Okay, maybe he didn't, but his ability to give individual advice to his sons in Alma 36–38 shows he was a prophet AND a father who cared about the struggles his children might face. Join us in this week's study group as we take Alma's incredible advice and apply it to our own lives.

Okay, let's take a second to send a big, heartfelt thank you to Corianton. It's not easy to have a parent call you out for the sins you've committed, let alone have those sins immortalized in the scriptures—ouch. But because of Corianton, and other teachings recorded in Alma 39–42, we learn very important lessons about what it means to be converted to Christ. In this week's study group, we are going to dig into those lessons and learn the foundational doctrines we need nourish our testimony of the gospel.

The war chapters—sounds kind of like a PBS documentary, don't you think? Well with all the contention, tactics, wins, and losses, Alma 43–52 would make an epic war movie. So why would Mormon choose to include these stories about battles and intrigue in the Book of Mormon? Join us in this week's study group as we dig into the scriptures to discover how the war chapters apply to our day and why we might actually grow to love them and their message to us.

On a scale of 1–10, how busy are you? Okay, okay, maybe the scale should be 1–1,000,000 with all the things we have to do nowadays. But what if some of our perceived duties are actually distractions that hold us back? In this week’s study group, we’ll dig into Alma 53–63 and discover how distractions, big and small, can be destructive in our lives.

If you knew Christ was coming in three days, what would you do? That’s a terrifying question, right? Well, what would you do if you knew Christ was coming in 85 years? That’s plenty of time to stock up on toilet paper. However, even that amount of time wasn’t enough to help the Nephites. In Helaman 1–6, we’ll see how some contentions and “serious difficulties” prevented the Nephites from preparing spiritually for Christ’s coming and we'll learn how we can avoid making the same mistake.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

How would you react if you came home from a long trip only to find your once-clean home messy? Like everything-is-sticky-and-all-over-the-place messy. That’s kind of what happened to Nephi when he returned from preaching in a different land. But instead of coming back to a dirty home, Nephi came back to find the Nephites had turned to chaos and wickedness. In this week’s study group, we’ll dig into to Helaman 7–12 to find how Nephi reacted to the wickedness of the Nephites and how his actions proved he was a prophet of the Lord.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

Do any of the signs of Christ's Second Coming scare you? All the thunder and lightning, earthquakes and tempests, war and famine—it’s enough to make anyone nervous. But that’s just the thing: We don’t have to be afraid! In this week’s study group, we’ll dig into Helaman 13–16 to study how the signs of Christ’s birth and death are mirrored in the Second Coming and why these signs are “glad tidings” and not sad warnings.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

Okay friends, THIS. IS. IT! Today marks the beginning of our study of 3 Nephi, which, according to Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, is “the focal point, the supreme moment, in the entire history of the Book of Mormon." And our study this week of 3 Nephi 1–7 is exactly what we need as we prepare for the Second Coming of Christ. So grab your scriptures and let's dig into some of the most powerful moments in all of scripture.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

Imagine you are gathered at the temple in the land of Bountiful after Christ’s Crucifixion. You have seen fires, tempests, earthquakes, whirlwinds, floods, and so much more destroy the land. You’re exhausted, homeless, and just trying to survive. And then you hear a voice. But it’s not just any voice. It’s His voice. In this week’s study group, we’re going to dig into 3 Nephi 8–11 to learn more about Christ’s visit to the Americas and what His first words were to the people.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

This week’s lesson is going to be riveting. Can you even imagine what it must have been like to hear Christ pray or learn at His feet? There is just so much to study in 3 Nephi 12–16 that we could spend a lifetime learning from the Savior's words. So, as a roller coaster operator would say, “take a seat and buckle up. Please safely store any loose items or clothing. Keep your eyes forward, head up, and be sure to enjoy the ride” as we dig into this week’s lesson.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

You may be tempted to look at 3 Nephi 17–19 and think, “What’s there to study in just three chapters?” But these chapters are packed with a treasure trove of gospel gems, including when Christ heals the multitude, blesses the children, gives the sacrament to the people, and so much more. And so as we prepare for general conference, let’s dig into this week’s lesson, grab our colored pencils, and study these chapters like we never have before.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

Right about now, we're probably all missing the temple. Never before has the need for the instant peace that comes from stepping into these sacred spaces been more keenly felt by so many members. But we can do more during this time than eagerly await the day when we can finally return to full temple worship. In this week’s bonus episode, we invite religious scholar Donald W. Parry to help us dig into the meaning behind temple symbols so that we can be ready to enter the Lord’s house with new perspective and greater understanding.

Find full episodes of the Sunday on Monday study group here. Start your free trial of Deseret Bookshelf PLUS+ here.

It can be so easy to breeze through 3 Nephi 20–26. You may even think, “I’ve read these verses so many times, what else is there for me to learn?” But, like each brushstroke is intentional in a painting, every word in these chapters has a purpose. And as we dig into this week’s lesson, we’ll see how all the beautiful details of 3 Nephi 20–26 come together to create a scriptural masterpiece.

There is no doubt that 2020 has been full of physical and emotional challenges, some of which have had profound global effects. But what if there was a good challenge that could come out of this year? Something that would help you grow spiritually and maybe even change your life? In this week’s lesson, we’re going to dig into 3 Nephi 27–4 Nephi to uncover a spiritual challenge based on these chapters that will help bring you closer to Christ.

War, wickedness, destruction, sorrowing of the damned—there’s no shortage of grief in Mormon 1–6. And the saddest part is that all this heartache follows hundreds of the most peaceful, righteous years the people of Nephi ever had. But these chapters, no matter how tragic, hold vital lessons for our spiritual survival during the latter days. So grab your tissues and let’s dig into this week’s lesson.

It can be easy to look at the world today with devastating natural disasters, a sweeping pandemic, and horrifying social injustices and assume the day of miracles has passed. But that’s simply not the case. In this week’s study group, we’ll dig into Mormon 7–9 to find that not only do miracles still exist today, but we can experience them in our lives as we seek to come closer to Christ.

Imagine an entire nation formed by a single prayer. That’s how the book of Ether begins, and it only picks up the pace from there. Barges built after the manner of Noah, stones touched by God, sea creatures threatening to dash boats to pieces—there’s no doubt Ether 1–5 is one fast-paced adventure. But it’s also chock-full of spiritual moments that teach us what it means to pray with faith and rely on the Lord, which are lessons we need today more than ever. So grab your scriptures and let’s dig into some of the most incredible moments in scripture.

All of the Church’s Book of Mormon videos begin with this statement: “Based on actual events as recorded in the Book of Mormon.” And as we begin our study of Ether 6–11, it’s important that we keep in mind that these chapters are “based on actual events” because so many crazy things take place. Sons imprison fathers, fathers imprison sons, famines and poisonous serpents plague the land—it honestly sounds like the Jaredites had their own version of 2020. So grab your scriptures, and let’s dig into these events to find the warnings that are preserved for us in our day.

Do you have a favorite, go-to scripture for when things get tough? Maybe it’s just a line or a verse that seems to bring you peace no matter what? In this week’s lesson, we’ll be studying Ether 12–15, which are arguably the least peaceful narratives in the Book of Mormon. But hidden in these sad tales of bloodshed and chaos could be verses that brought Joseph Smith’s brother Hyrum peace during his final days and may bring peace to our lives as well.

“Wondering for the safety of his life.” This is how the book of Moroni begins. It’s difficult to even imagine the loneliness and sorrow Moroni must have felt as he watched all of his family and friends perish. Though he didn't think he would live long enough to write them, Moroni's words in Moroni 1–6 are vital to us as members. So grab your scriptures and let’s dig into what Moroni has to teach us.

Faith, hope, and charity. Many have heard these three words, but why are they so often used together? And what is it about having faith, hope, and charity that is so powerful? As one of his last lessons to us, Moroni beautifully answers these questions and teaches us how vital these three little words are to our salvation. So grab your scriptures, and let’s dig into Moroni 7–9 to study one of Moroni’s last lessons for us in the latter days.

This is the time of year we all think about gifts, whether it’s the gifts we’ve been given or the gifts we would like to receive. But what if we could all receive a gift that didn’t come with a price tag? And not just one gift, but as many gifts as we asked for? In this week’s lesson, we’ll dig into Moroni 10 to study spiritual gifts and how we can discover what ours might be and how to cultivate more.

We did it! We made it through the entire Book of Mormon for this year’s Come, Follow Me study. To celebrate, we asked some of our study group guests and listeners to share their ultimate takeaways. So grab your headphones and let’s spend this Christmas reflecting on what we learned this year from the Book of Mormon.