“God is Love”
November 27–December 3
FAIR Faithful Resources for Come, Follow Me 2023 November 27–December 3. 1–3 John; Jude: “An High Priest of Good Things to Come.” 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 1–3 John; Jude. 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 encourages us to consider John’s counsel in our efforts to become more like Christ. The following scriptures can give you comfort and confidence in your efforts to become a true disciple of Christ.
- 1 John 2:28
- 1 John 2:24–29
- 1 John 3:1–3
- Moroni 7:48
- Doctrine and Covenants 88:67–68
- Scott D. Whiting, “Becoming like Him”
- Scripture Central, Lynn Hilton Wilson: 1, 2, 3 John & Jude: New Testament with Lynne Wilson
- Scripture Central, Taylor and Tyler: 1–3 John; Jude | Nov 27 – Dec 3 | Come Follow Me Insights
- The Scriptures are Real, Kerry Muhlestein: S2 E 90 Epistles of John on the Love and Nature of Christ and Us (week of Nov. 27 first episode), S2 E91 Epistles of John, second episode
- Follow Him, John Bytheway and Hank Smith: 1-3 John; Jude Part 1 • Dr. Justin & Sis. Aislin Dyer • Nov 27 – Dec 3, 1-3 John; Jude Part 2 • Dr. Justin & Sis. Aislin Dyer • Nov 27 – Dec 3
- Unshaken, Jared Halverson: Come Follow Me – 1 John (1-3 John; Jude; part 1): God Is Love, Come Follow Me – 2-3 John & Jude (1-3 John; Jude; part 2): My Children Walk in Truth
- Talking Scriptures, Bryce Dunford and Mike Day: Ep 231 PODCAST | 1 -3 John; Jude, Come Follow Me 2023 (Nov 27-Dec 3)
- Don’t Miss This, David Butler and Grace Freeman: Come Follow Me New Testament 1-3 John; Jude (Nov. 27-Dec. 3) Don’t Miss This
- BYU Scripture Roundtable Discussions: What Manner of Love: 1 John, Remember Ye the Words: Jude
- The Bible Project: Books of 1-3 John Summary: A Complete Animated Overview, Jude, A Complete Animated Overview
- Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 49: November 27–December 3, Jonn Claybaugh
- The New Testament in Context: Come, Follow Me Lesson 49
- Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me New Testament Lesson 47 (1–3 John and Jude)
- Has Anyone Seen God?, Hales Swift
- Scripture Roundtable: New Testament Gospel Doctrine Lesson 44, “God Is Love”
- Scripture Roundtable: New Testament Gospel Doctrine Lesson 43, “A Chosen Generation”
- Twilight in the Early Church, Ray L. Huntington
- The Overlooked Epistle of Jude, Ray L. Huntington
- What King Benjamin and John the Elder Teach us about being Children of God, Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me – 1-3 John; Jude, Book of Mormon Central Archive
- The Acts to Revelation, Discussions on the New Testament: 1 John
- The Acts to Revelation, Discussions on the New Testament: Jude
- Come Follow Me 2019: 1-3 John; Jude, Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me 1-3 John; Jude (Dec. 2-8), Don’t Miss This
- Come Follow Me—Podcast #47 “God is Love” 1-3 John; Jude, Meridian Magazine
- Come, Follow Me for Families and Individuals: “God is Love”, 1-3 John, Jude, Meridian Magazine
- Come, Follow Me for Sunday School: “God Is Love”, 1-3 John; Jude, Meridian Magazine
- 1–3 John; Jude – “God Is Love”, BYU Studies
- “Come, Follow Me” December 2–8: “God Is Love”, LDS Living
- “Come, Follow Me” FHE: What Does It Really Mean to Overcome the World?, LDS Living
- General Conference Talks
- President Henry B. Eyring: Walk in the Light
- Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf: Bearers of Heavenly Light
- Carole M. Stephens: “If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments”
- BYU Devotionals
- Elder Dale G. Renlund: Experience God’s Love | Dale G. Renlund – BYU Speeches
- Rollin H. Hotchkiss: God Loves You – Rollin H. Hotchkiss – BYU Speeches
Lesson Devotional
Hailing from Bonners Ferry, Idaho, Robert Swanson got his BA in History at Brigham Young University and his MA in History from Rutgers University–Camden, and he is currently a History PhD student at the University of Missouri focusing his work on abolitionism in the Early American Republic. He is married to his best friend, Bridget Garner Swanson, and they have two little girls who have made life even more of a fantastic adventure than they thought possible.
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.
“ A Foundation: Love of God and Fellow Man”
By Robert Swanson
On October 6, 1887, Wilford Woodruff helped pen an epistle to the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association (YMMIA). Unable to attend the YMMIA’s conference, President Woodruff and fellow Apostles Joseph F. Smith and Moses Thatcher sent an epistle encouraging the young men of the Church and providing counsel and direction. They offered the young men this counsel for how to leave the conference:
On returning home from this conference, we trust that you will carry with you the Spirit thereof and renewed determination to labor diligently and earnestly for improvement in the interest of purity and holiness. Remembering always the reason for the hope within you, make the love of God and of your fellows the foundation of your work; and moving forward steadily and prayerfully and earnestly, you cannot fail in accomplishing that which brings peace, happiness and salvation.1
This week’s Come, Follow Me lesson focuses on the “love of God” and takes us through the writings of John the Beloved and Jude. John especially emphasized the importance of love as a component of faithful discipleship, tying together the love of fellow men and the love of God as inseparable. To love God we keep His commandments (1 John 5:2–4), which results in us loving our fellow man. Wilford, who had spent a lifetime in service to his fellow man, understood this concept and thus urged the young men to make the two great commandments the center of discipleship, which he knew would bring them the peace and happiness promised in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
My own life has been dramatically impacted by those who understand this concept, who have made the foundation of their lives the two great commandments. I could name many individuals, but I will highlight my grandfather, who throughout his mortal life showed what it meant to serve and love. Whether it was being at service projects, going on a mission and trying to learn a new language in the twilight years of his life, or being the ward clerk for what seemed to be the hundredth time, he showed that loving God and serving others was the way to peace and happiness. It’s a formula not only for temporal happiness, but for eternal happiness that stretches beyond this mortal sphere.
1 Epistle to the YMMIA, October 6, 1887 p. 3, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/letter/1887-10-06, emphasis added.
Chapter Summaries
1 John:
Chapter 1: The Saints gain fellowship with God by obedience—We must confess our sins to gain forgiveness.
1-4: John verifies that his testimony is based on his personal experiences with Jesus.
5-10: God is light. As we acknowledge and repent of our sins, we forsake spiritual darkness and enter into God’s light.
Chapter 2: Christ is our Advocate with the Father—We know God by obedience—Love not the world—Anti-Christs will come in the last days.
1-2: Jesus atoned for our sins.
3-6: We come to know Jesus better as we obey His commandments.
7-14: No matter our age or how long we have been on the Christian path, if we love others we are walking in God’s light. If we hate others we walk in darkness.
15-17: We must avoid setting our hearts on the things of this world.
18-29: We must also avoid those who attempt to deceive us or teach what is contrary to the truth of God – antichrists. If we remain faithful we enjoy fellowship with the Savior during this life and the hope of eternal life.
Chapter 3: The sons of God will become like Christ—Love for others is required to gain eternal life—Obedience ensures us an answer to our prayers.
1-10: We are children of God, and as part of His family we strive to obey His commands. Those who continue in sin are following the devil.
11-24: A last plea to obey the commandments, particularly to love one another and show this love by our actions.
Chapter 4: Try the spirits—God is love and dwells in those who love Him.
1-6: We need to avoid false teachers and the spirit of the antichrist. Teachers who teach truth will testify of Jesus Christ’s divine mission.
7-21: God showed perfect love by sending Jesus Christ to be our Savior. As we love others God lives in us and our love is made complete. God is love.
Chapter 5: Saints are born of God through belief in Christ—Water, blood, and the Spirit testify of Christ—Belief in Christ is required in order to gain eternal life.
1-12: The Spirit, blood and water testify that Jesus is the Christ. We receive life and victory through faith in Him.
13-21: John’s final counsel: 1) to pray in faith, 2) to correct those who do wrong and 3) to live in God’s grace and truth.
2 John
Chapter 1: John rejoices because the children of the elect lady are true and faithful.
1-13: Some general counsel to walk in truth, love one another, show love to God by obeying the commandments and do not be deceived by those who do not teach that Jesus was the promised Messiah.
3 John
Chapter 1: John commends Gaius for his help to those who love the truth.
1-4: John is happy to hear that they continue to walk in truth.
5-8: The Saints are encouraged to continue to treat those who are helping to spread the gospel with love.
9-11: They are warned that Diotrephes is doing and saying things that have a negative impact on the church and faith. Paul hopes to come soon to do damage control.
12-14: Until then he hopes they will cling to the truth. John hopes to see them soon.
Jude
Chapter 1: Contend for the faith—Some angels kept not their first estate—Michael disputed about the body of Moses—Enoch prophesied of the Second Coming—Mockers will come in the last days.
1-25: Jude, a brother to James, warns the Saints of the evil influences around them. He uses many stories from the Old Testament and other metaphors to remind them that those who have evil intentions and acts will eventually suffer negative consequences and come to naught. The Saints are encouraged to remain steadfast in their faith, to experience God’s love and help their brothers and sisters who stumble or are weak.
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.
