"Come, Follow Me" Topic for February: The Plan of Salvation

[Joshua Nelson]

Below are the link's for this month's topic. Here are the links to this month's topic with each organization's Learning Outlines. We only have 3 weeks of 'Come, Follow Me discussion opportunities since the last weekend is Stake Conference. I am looking forward to seeing each of the Youth attend the Saturday 'adult' session and look forward to hearing what our Stake Presidency is planning for the coming sessions of Stake Conference and for this coming year and ongoing. We play an important part in not only The Plan of our Salvation in lives but in the lives of others in this 'Work of Salvation.'

Again, for the YM & YW, you will notice the Mutual and Duty to God/Personal Progress sections for each month. If you haven't had the chance to look at these sections, please do.

If we were to truly learn where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going; our everyday decisions would be made with Our Eternal Purpose on our minds and not just the here and now. Refer to the below links often throughout the month.

Aaronic Priesthood Learning Outlines for February

Young Women Learning Outlines for February

Sunday School Learning Outlines for February

Here are the videos for February. Some of these videos are my favorite and can be used in your study and lessons. Let me know if you need help with showing them. These will also appear in each applicable outline:

 

02 - February: The Plan of Salvation

February's New Era not only has great articles and resources for this month's Sunday's lessons. There are a lot of great articles that apply to each of the Youth regarding dating. It is February, of course. Research Supports LDS Dating Guidelines - I love when independent studies/research are paid for and results are released to show what God already knows and has blessed us with. Here are some of the links in case you don't get the magazine delivered to you:

February New Era

Come, Follow Me Share Cards - Knowing the Purpose of Life

Why Making Choices Matters - “Each of us has the responsibility to choose. You may ask, ‘Are decisions really that important?’ I say to you, decisions determine destiny. You can’t make eternal decisions without eternal consequences.”  President Thomas S. Monson, “Pathways to Perfection”

Conference Poster: Our Everyday Decisions

[Joshua Nelson]

Just a 'short' thought to close out the short month of February. I asked the question a couple weeks ago and I really didn't know the answer in depth. It was more that I had the question myself. Who won the "War in Heaven?" Did we, as choice Spirits, feel and know that we had chosen the winning side? When I first thought about it, of course, the 'War' was won because Heavenly Father's and Jesus Christ's Plan of Salvation for us was the plan that was chosen and of course, we chose the winning side because we all came to Earth.

As I thought about this more in depth and why something so simple had me thinking about how it applies today. I believe that the War was declared and never ended with Lucifer and his followers being dismissed. This war or conflict for the spirit children of God rages on. There have been moments in the history of the world that I think the conflict or fighting has intensified and has been even more active. Fro example (with a lot left out): In the Garden of Eden and the events that followed Adam and Eve; the events leading up to the flood and immediately following; the events leading up to, during the life and ministry of our Savior, and especially towards the end and after His death & Resurrection; the events leading up to the Reformation, the First Vision, the Restoration of the Gospel, translation of the Book of Mormon, and all events of the life of Joseph Smith and the early saints; and so many other times in the history of our world with every people and every nation; and then now, our day, when the battle and Warfare has seem to be more intense and active then perhaps any part of history. When, at times, it may be easy to look around and think that there is no hope, no way to conquer, and no way to overcome Satan's power and influence. He may create the illusion that he is more powerful than us and that we are on the losing side, but I know as we recognize his tools, lies, and deceptions that we will be able to overcome him with the help of our parents, leaders, friends, the scriptures, and with the Godhead on our side. They have a plan for each of us and They have not left us alone or without direction.

When the stakes are high and when it all comes down to this, the final minutes, lay all your cards on the table and declare what side you are on (sorry for the gambling terms) 

"The nature of the conflict, however, is such that there could be no neutrals, then or now." See Bible Dictionary for more on War in Heaven

In these final days in preparation of our Savior's Second Coming, I hope that we are all prepared to give it our all and come out victors in this ongoing, intense fight and war for the souls and children of our Heavenly Father. Who would want to be on the losing team anyways? We know what the final score will end up.