“Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only”
November 13–19
FAIR Faithful Resources for Come, Follow Me 2023 November 13–19. James: “Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only.” Find answers to difficult questions to help you in your learning and teaching. Here is a collection of reliable resources to supplement your study of James. FAIR Resources link to relevant questions which have been answered on the FAIR website. Under Church Resources you’ll find links to the different Come, Follow Me manuals, as well as other helpful links as applicable. Other Resources link to resources outside of FAIR that are trustworthy and helpful.
Main points to ponder
The lesson invites us to ask ourselves these questions:
- How do I know if I have faith in Jesus Christ?
- How do my works demonstrate my faith in God?
- How can I become a better “doer of the word?”
Ponder these questions as you study James’ teachings about faith. The following scriptures may help provide insight.
Come Follow Me for Individual Study: November 13–19. James: “Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only”
Come Follow Me for Sunday School: November 13–19. James: “Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only”
Come Follow Me for Primary: November 13–19. James: “Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only”
- The Bible Project: Book of James Summary: A Complete Animated Overview
- Elder Earl C. Tingey: The Widows of Zion
- Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 47: November 13–19, Jonn Claybaugh
- The New Testament in Context: Come, Follow Me Lesson 47
- Book Review: Forgery and Counterforgery: The Use of Literary Deceit in Early Christian Polemics, by Bart D. Ehrman, Robert S. Boylan
- “Creator of the First Day”: The Glossing of Lord of Sabaoth in D&C 95:7, Matthew L. Bowen
- Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me New Testament Lesson 45 (James)
- Faith without Works in James 2, Hales Swift
- James. Exhort and Encourage, Taylor Halverson
- Scripture Roundtable: New Testament Gospel Doctrine Lesson 42, “Pure Religion”
- Paul and James on Faith and Works, Mark D. Ellison
- “As the Body without the Spirit”, Ray L. Huntington
- “The Tongue Is a Fire”: The Symbolic Language of James 3, Ray L. Huntington
- “If Any of You Lack Wisdom”: James’s Imperative to Israel, Ray L. Huntington
- Agency and Self-Deception in the Writings of James and 1 John, Ray L. Huntington
- James Treasured the Words of the Lord, His Brother, Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me – James, Book of Mormon Central Archive
- The Acts to Revelation, Discussions on the New Testament: James 1; 3-5
- The Acts to Revelation, Discussions on the New Testament: Heb. 11; James 2
- Come Follow Me: James, Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me James (Nov. 18-24), Don’t Miss This
- Come Follow Me Podcast #45 – “Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only”, James, Meridian Magazine
- Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families: “Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only”, James, Meridian Magazine
- Come, Follow Me for Sunday School: “Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only”, James, Meridian Magazine
- James – “Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only”, BYU Studies
- “Come, Follow Me” November 18–24: “Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only”, LDS Living
- “Come, Follow Me” FHE: Why Is Temptation Necessary?, LDS Living
Be sure to listen to Jennifer Roach’s presentation for this week!
- General Conference Talks
- Elder Larry S. Kacher: Ladder of Faith
- Elder Robert S. Wood: “The Tongue of Angels”
- Elder Robert J. Whetten: Strengthen Thy Brethren
- Elder Joe J. Christensen: Greed, Selfishness, and Overindulgence
- BYU Speeches
- Don R. Clark: Devotional: Pure Religion | Don R. Clarke – BYU Speeches
- Bonnie H. Cordon: Ask of God: Our Solace, Guide, and Stay | BYU Speeches
Lesson Devotional
Lyndie is working toward a degree in Public Relations at Brigham Young University. Originally from Idaho Falls, Idaho, she enjoys running, spending time with her husband and family, and reading. Lyndie served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hermosillo, Mexico, where she developed a love for the Spanish language and the people there. She was drawn to the Wilford Woodruff Papers out of a desire to learn more about Church history and enjoys being part of the organization’s efforts to touch lives with Wilford Woodruff’s words.
Lesson devotionals are provided by the Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation. Its mission is to digitally preserve and publish Wilford Woodruff’s eyewitness account of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ from 1833 to 1898. It seeks to make Wilford Woodruff’s records universally accessible to inspire all people, especially the rising generation, to study and to increase their faith in Jesus Christ. See wilfordwoodruffpapers.org.
“Let Patience Have Her Perfect Work”
By Lyndie Jackson
We live in a world of immediate results. Lose weight fast. Get rich quick. Be successful now.
With the constant pressure to have it all immediately, James’s counsel to “let patience have her perfect work” seems a little unreasonable—but I love the promise that follows: “That ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:4).
If we have patience, we can be whole, complete, wanting nothing. However, sometimes it’s hard to be patient when trials come upon us. It’s easy to feel that we really do need the answers and the ability to overcome now.
In a letter to his wife Phebe, Wilford Woodruff said,
Should it be our lot to enjoy a long Eternity together in that society where tears are wiped from all faces and sorrow and sighing are known no more, we should not regret having passed through trials here in the flesh. As we are living in this last dispensation and have a great work to do, then should we not act nobly, walk by faith and do our work in patience until we can say it is finished? We are not alone in this great cause. The Heavens are deeply interested in our welfare, our cause, and our work.1
Although we may pass through trials, sorrow, and afflictions, we can rest assured that all will be made right in the eternities. Because of the experience and blessings we have gained, we will never regret having passed through our trials. Thankfully, we can always be comforted in knowing that our Father in Heaven has a deep interest in our wellbeing and our work. He and so many others are cheering us on.
Elder Holland reinforced this promise when he said, “Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come.”2
I have personally seen the evidence that God’s promises are always fulfilled, and I am grateful that, while I desperately need more patience, I have chosen to wait upon the Lord.
May we choose to be patient in an increasingly impatient world so that God can reward us with all the blessings He has in store.
1 Letter to Phebe Whittemore Carter Woodruff, November 24, 1839, p. 2, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/letter/1839-11-24.
2 Jeffrey R. Holland, “An High Priest of Good Things to Come,” November 1999, Ensign, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Chapter Summaries
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God—Resist temptation—Be doers of the word—James explains how to recognize pure religion.
1-4: Trials build spiritual endurance, which produces spiritual maturity.
5-8: If any of you lack wisdom, ask of God.
9-11: Do not take pride in riches, for they fade.
12-18: Temptations don’t come from God. Still, they also have the ability to help us grow spiritually.
19-27: Control your language, especially when angry. Don’t only listen to the gospel message, but practice it as well. Pure religion involves both service to others and personal purity.
God has chosen the poor of this world who are rich in faith—Salvation is gained by keeping the whole law—Faith without works is dead.
1-7: Do not be hypocrites in the way you treat people, favoring the rich over the poor.
8-13: Keep all the commandments, remembering that God will be merciful to you as you have been merciful to others.
14-26: Faith without works is dead. We demonstrate our faith through our actions.
By governing the tongue, we gain perfection—Heavenly wisdom is pure, peaceable, and full of mercy.
1-12: It is very hard to control the tongue/language. Small negative comments can have a devastating impact. We should work to become consistent sources of positive language.
12-18: Seek the wisdom from above, which is a source of good fruits. Shun the wisdom of the world which leads to selfishness and envy.
Wars are born of lusts—The friends of the world are the enemies of God—Sin is failure to walk in the light we have received.
1-10: Friendship with the world causes enmity with God. God will draw near to us as we humble ourselves and draw near to Him.
11-12: Don’t judge others. Only God can judge.
13-17: Include God in your plans for the day and for the future.
Misery awaits the wanton rich—Await the Lord’s coming with patience—The elders are to anoint and heal the sick.
1-6: James warns the rich that their love of money may have very negative consequences, both for themselves and for others.
7-12: Have patience as you wait for the Lord’s second coming. We should learn from the examples of patience in the scriptures.
13-18: Prayers of petition and thanksgiving have the power to bless our lives.
19-20: Strive to bring back those who have wandered from the faith. It will bless both you and them.
Faithful Resources, and Faithful Resources. Also, Faithful Resources therefore Faithful Resources. But without Faithful Resources you’ll need Faithful Resources; because Faithful Resources help. Twelve apostles give Faithful Resources, therefore Faithful Resources abound. Since Faithful Resources at Faithful Resources then Faithful Resources because Faithful. Resources at Faithful Resources as Faithful Resources are Faithful Resources therefore Faithful Resources. Again, Faithful Resources Faithful Resources Faithful Resources Faithful Resources Faithful Resources Faithful Resources Faithful Resources. Since Faithful Resources then Faithful Resources. Mormon. Mormon Church. Ex-mo.
