Welcome to the Come Follow Me podcast for teens and for parents of teens. A podcast to supplement your weekly study of the Come Follow Me curriculum. with thoughts, ideas, principles, stories and questions all geared towards helping teenagers better follow Christ through their teenage years.
Hey guys, welcome back to the show. Happy New Year. It's great to have you here. I'm excited for the year ahead as we get to go into the Doctrine and Covenants. This will officially be the episode that... kicks off our study of the Doctrine and Covenants this year.
I absolutely love the Doctrine and Covenants. So I have a little bit of a confession to make. It is one of the harder teaching years of the standard works because the stories aren't naturally built into it like they are with the Old Testament and the New Testament.
you know, even obviously the Book of Mormon. So I'm going to do everything that I can to include some of the church history stories as we go through this together so that, especially for those that are teaching, you'll have access to those. sure to include as much of that as i can
in my studying and teaching guides that are a part of the membership, which we'll continue through this year. And I have some big plans for the membership that I'm looking forward to adding some things to it to make it of even greater value to you guys that are a part of that. And thank you.
always for the support in that. It really helps free up my time and ability to put more things into this podcast and into the program in general. Which, by the way, before we get into today's episode, let me give you a little bit of a peek behind the curtain of some. the things that I am hopeful will be coming out this next year.
There are three things in particular that I'm working on that I am hoping to have ready to launch here at the beginning of the new year. And the first one is kind of a spinoff of this podcast that will be branded under the same name. but with a very distinct purpose. And I'm looking to call it something along the lines of come follow me for teens shorts or come follow me for teens daily, regardless of what I end up calling it.
It will be a Come Follow Me for Teens podcast that will be comprised of very short episodes. And I'm talking... two to three minutes max. Kind of a daily thought from the Come Follow Me material. And the reason for this is I've long felt, and my intent in starting the podcast was to keep it very brief.
But there's a lot of material that needs to be covered in a relatively short period of time. And so I've tried to do my best to keep the episodes relatively... short uh in the principles in particular to about 10 minutes per principle but maybe about three as you've noticed throughout each week's material
However, I know teenagers, and I've long felt that those episodes are just too long, especially for the teenager today who is always on the go, has so much going on, and because of the world that we live in, just naturally has a... shorter attention span. And so I'm going to keep my podcast as is. It's a great resource for those that really want to get in depth and certainly isn't as long as some of the other come follow me podcasts that are out there.
But for teenagers, I'm going to do this little spinoff where, you know, I think for the most part each day, there may be at times maybe three during the week or four, but I will shoot for kind of a daily just really quick.
Here is a thought from the Come Follow Me material. Here's a scripture. Here's a quote. Something very short and simple just to kind of give a quick little shot for the day that will give you something to think about, to ponder over, to consider from the Come Follow Me material of the week.
hopefully as a teenager, will just be a great way to start your day. And again, we'll be really short so that you can just listen to it, maybe on your way to school, before you go into class, in between classes, on your way home, just something like that. to give you a little bit of a spiritual boost throughout your day.
So be on the lookout for that. I'm sure I'll have more information the next episode about that. The two other things that I'll make mention here aren't necessarily tied to this particular podcast, but I do a lot of work with teenagers, with adults, with parents of children.
teenagers in the personal growth and development space in mental health space and one of the things that i have been working on for quite some time is a online coaching program because as i said i do a lot of individual coaching of the things that i've come to learn and recognize is there are some very basic things some foundational things that when life just isn't seem to be coming together like it should, more often than not, it's because some of these foundational things are out of alignment.
And so I've wanted to put together this coaching program and course to give kind of greater access to those that are looking to do some work individually on themselves to better their life. Some very key components and... concepts that i know i sure wish that i would have learned long before i was 40 years old
And I have seen some amazing things, especially in working with teenagers, where I've started to teach them some of these concepts at a very early age and the effect that it has had on their lives, even in these younger years, let alone in the years to come.
last thing I'll make mention here that you'll see coming out that I'm sure I'll mention a little bit more in the days ahead and weeks ahead are some audio books that I have been working on putting together from kind of in the same vein and space as a person.
growth and development, albeit you can absolutely count on a faith-based approach to personal growth and development. I really think that's one of the things that is missing in the world today. Everybody is talking about how to grow and develop. individually and into how to do work on themselves, but we often are afraid to include God in that process.
which to me personally is so sad because I believe that without him, we barely have begun to scratch the surface of our true potential. He's the one that knows us best. He's the one that knows exactly what we need, what we need to work on. And he has the power to ensure that. we can do anything and everything that is in our best interest to do
So again, be on the lookout for those things. I'm sure I'll make more mention of them as we kind of move forward. And you can find all of those things on my website at joshdowns.com. And I will make sure to keep you informed of all those things as they are released. Now let's get into this week's episode. The background of this week's study is as follows. How do you commemorate the 200th anniversary of an event that changed the world?
That's the question the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles pondered as April of 2020 approached, marking 200 years since Joseph Smith's first vision. we wondered if a monument should be erected president russell m nelson recalled but as we considered the unique historic and international impact of that first vision
we felt impressed to create a monument not of granite or stone, but of words. Not to be carved in tables of stone, but rather to be etched in the fleshy tables of our hearts. The monument of words they created is simply titled, The Restoration of the Fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a bicentennial proclamation to the world.
it's a monument not just to the first vision but also to everything jesus christ has done and is still doing since then the restoration of his gospel started when one person turned to god and heard him it continues that same way one heart one sacred experience at a time including yours It's a great introduction as always. Where I wanted to start out in addressing the restoration is by first looking at the apostasy.
Now, the word apostasy means the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief. And I think it's important to recognize that without the apostasy, there would be no need for the restoration.
In order for us to fully understand the restoration, we need to understand the great apostasy. In the Bible, the people at the time were starting to become a little... overzealous about the second coming of Christ, thinking that it was going to be happening in a matter of days or weeks or even months. However, the apostles knew it was still going to be quite some time before the Savior would come again and that there would be a significant event that would take...
place first. And we recognize and learn about this event in the book of 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verses 1 through 3. And this is going to be a huge missionary scripture, you guys. So pay close attention to that. I would invite you to look for is what is it that the Lord taught would happen prior to his second coming. In 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verses 1 through 3, we read the writings of Paul to the saints in Thessalonia in reference to the second coming and the overzealousness that was
among the people at the time. In verse 1, we read, word nor by letter as from us is that the day of Christ is at hand. let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed the son of perdition taught once that just as a man does not really desire food until he is hungry, so he does not desire the salvation of Christ until he knows why he needs Christ.
And that no one adequately or properly knows why he needs Christ until he understands and accepts the doctrine of the fall and its effect upon all mankind. And I would like to take that quote and basically apply it here to the restoration. Because I really believe that before we can understand and appreciate the restoration fully for what it is, we must first understand the fall or what's known as the great apostasy.
Following the death of Jesus Christ, wicked people persecuted and killed many church members. Other church members drifted from the principles that were taught by Jesus Christ and His apostles. And the apostles were eventually killed. including the keys to direct and receive revelation for the church they were taken from the earth because the church was no longer led by priesthood authority
Error and false ideas began to creep into church teachings. Good people and much truth remained, but the gospel as established by Jesus Christ was lost. This period is what is called the great apostasy. And see, God knew that there would be an apostasy. Obviously, God knows all things. And through an Old Testament prophet, he even said, and this is another great missionary verse. It's in Amos chapter 8, verses 11 through 12.
where the Lord said through Amos, Behold, the days come that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.
and people shall wander from sea to sea and from north even to the east they shall run to and fro seeking the word of the lord and shall not find it now i find it ironic that in the history books this same time period is known as the dark ages and that's not by coincidence the light of the gospel of jesus christ in his church and the light that comes from direct revelation to his church through prophets and apostles was no longer on the earth and so
there was a darkness that started to envelop over the earth and over humankind for that matter. Some inspired people a little bit later, such as Martin Luther and John Calvin. recognized that practices and doctrines had been changed or lost, and so they tried to reform the churches to which they belonged. Without priesthood authority, however, Christ's gospel could not fully be returned to its original form a restoration was needed
and ironically in the history books this particular period that ushered in the restoration is referred to by the world as the renaissance or the awakening again not a coincidence it matches up perfectly with both the apostasy and the restoration and what took place during both of those time periods it's important to see i believe what led to the great apostasy you guys which one of the key things that caused the apostasy to happen
is referenced in ephesians chapter 2 verse 20 where in referencing the lord's church and its physical structure for that matter the apostle paul teaching some of the saints references how they are built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets jesus christ himself being the chief cornerstone
So what really led to the great apostasy? It was the apostles being killed. And that direct line of revelation to lead and guide the church with Jesus Christ being lost because... his prophets and apostles were no longer on the earth direct revelation to the church was lost which led to priesthood authority being lost which led to false ideas and teachings beginning to spread
which led to different churches forming because they could not agree on some of the basic things that were taught in the Bible, which then as worldliness and wickedness began to spread, darkness began to more fully envelop the earth. The great apostasy, much like the restoration, was not a singular event, but was a process that gradually led to a darkening of the faith and the spiritual capacity.
of men and women on earth in a great article that i came across referencing the church news back in 1987 it's quoted as saying that the war in heaven never ended we simply switched battlefields In pre-earth life, Satan sought us by gift and was rejected with his plan by our Father in heaven. Now here upon the earth, he seeks us by the commission of sin.
During the Missouri persecutions, there were many who apostatized from the church and even became enemies. The prophet Joseph Smith spoke of their sad state and warned against apostasy.
At the conclusion of the prophet's remarks, Isaac Buhunin, a member of the church, stated, if i should leave the church i would not do as those men have done i would go to some remote place where mormonism had never been heard of settle down and no one would ever learn that i knew anything about it to which joseph smith replied brother mehunen you don't know what you would do no doubt these men once thought as you do before you joined this church you stood on neutral ground
when the gospel was preached good and evil were set before you you could choose either or neither there were two opposite masters inviting you to serve them when you joined this church you enlisted to serve god When you did that, you left the neutral ground, and you never can get back on it. Should you forsake the master you enlisted to serve, it will be by the instignation of the evil one and you will follow his dictation and be his servant.
he further emphasised the fact that a man or woman who had not taken sides either with christ or belial could maintain a neutral position but when they enlisted under either the one or the other they left the neutral ground for ever why is it then that the apostates will not leave the church alone because they are the servants of sin and have another master whose bidding they now do
I love that quote, and I found it to be very true in my own life. And I think many of you may begin to see this as well in individuals that have left the church that you're aware of. Isn't it interesting how hard it is for people to leave the church and leave the church alone? Those that tend to leave the church do so with a lot of disdain, a lot of anger, and they seem to take every opportunity that they can get to try to...
convince others to do the same. It's very interesting, the process of apostasy in individuals' lives. I have seen it firsthand in others. And I have also seen and experienced the seeds of apostasy in myself. There have been times in my own life where I've questioned things, where I've doubted things, or I've been angry and upset at God.
times where I was not doing the things that I needed to do in terms of saying my prayers, reading my scriptures, attending church, and I began to feel that loss of light. The great apostasy isn't something that just happened once and will never happen again, but it's something that continues to happen in the lives of individuals. And it's something that I would invite you guys to be on guard against.
And one of the great principles I would invite you to consider is if the Lord's Church was built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, guess what pattern our testimonies should be built upon as well? if not the foundation of apostles and prophets with jesus christ being the chief cornerstone once those apostles and prophets were killed
The church basically fell apart and fell into darkness. And I would submit to you that the same is true of individual testimonies. Our testimony of Christ and His church.
needs to be built on the foundation of apostles and prophets. They are the ones that deliver the Lord's messages to us directly. They always have, and they always will. Without them in our lives, our testimonies are also prone to... crumble to fall apart and us as individuals in our lives can find ourselves in greater darkness now a few journal discussion questions for you to consider number one is is what is the great apostasy do you understand it
What is personal apostasy and how do the two relate to each other? What is it that causes both? And was this known beforehand that it would happen? It's important for you to recognize that. How does apostasy explain the origins of so many different churches? How does the apostasy illustrate the importance of direct revelation to the church? How does the apostasy illustrate the importance of a prophet and apostles being the foundation of the church?
To apply this, I would invite you to consider writing of how you have seen or experienced some form of apostasy in your life or in the lives of others. How have you seen someone fall away from the church? And can you see a similar process of events in their personal life? Now for principle number two, we're going to take a look at the restoration of all things. Once we...
know and understand the apostasy and how it happened and why it happened. We can better understand and appreciate the restoration and the need for it. Now, like with the scriptures in the Bible that foretold the apostasy, there were many verses throughout the Bible that...
also foretold of the restoration. Isaiah chapter 2 verse 2 is one of those, where it talks about the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, which by the way, Utah means mountaintop. We just find that an interesting interesting ironic coincidence. Isaiah 29 14 that God will do a marvelous work in a wonder among his people. Daniel chapter 2 verse 44 talks about how God shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed.
Matthew chapter 17 verse 11, that Elias will come and restore all things, which we'll learn about this year in the Doctrine and Covenants. Acts chapter 3 verse 21, that there will come times of restitution of all things. Ephesians 1.10, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times, God will gather together in one all things. And finally, in Revelations 14.6,
The reference is made of another angel having the everlasting gospel to preach. Now, all those verses are amazing. I would invite you to look at them, to read them, to mark them. find your favorites that kind of point to the restoration. They will be great for you to have, especially as a missionary, as you go out in the mission field and teach about the restoration, which is something that I had the opportunity to do and I loved. And in referencing the...
restoration, I remember coming across a story, a true story, told by a man by the name of Floyd Weston. And I'm including this story in the study and teaching guide. its full account, as well as a link to listen to the talk that he gave many years ago on YouTube. You can access all that online yourself. But it's a really neat story where he, as a young man with four friends,
basically went through the Bible and came up with 17 points of what they considered would have to be in place if the Lord's church was still on the earth. And they set out on a quest to try to find that church. points included things like how Christ must organize the church in our day and time, that the true church must bear the name of Jesus Christ, that the true church must have a foundation of apostles and prophets.
That the church must have the same organization as Christ's church. That the true church must claim divine authority. That the true church must have no paid ministry. That the true church must baptize by immersion. That the true church must... bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands, that the true Church must practice divine healing,
That the true church must teach that God and Jesus Christ are separate and distinct individuals. That the true church must teach that God and Jesus Christ have bodies of flesh and bone. That the officers of the church must be called of God. That the true church must claim revelation from God. That the true church must be a missionary church. That the true church must be a restored church. And that the true church must practice baptism for the dead.
And finally, that by their fruits ye shall know them. And as Floyd Weston tells the story, he and his friends put these 17 points on kind of a three by five type card with the verses that they had found these points in the Bible next to each one. And they just carried this with them as they went on kind of throughout their lives.
with the intent of looking for and hopefully one day finding a church that met all of these different points. Well, over time, basically each of these four friends kind of... got separated from one another a few of them served in the military and one was actually killed as as a pilot while serving in the military but the other three had basically lost contact with each other
Floyd Weston ended up being introduced to the church through a friend and missionaries. And as he went through and was taught by them, he said he just got so excited as one by one, he came to recognize that this church that he had found, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Day Saints had every single one of these points that he and his four friends had found.
He then tells how a little bit later he attended a conference at one of the local stake centers. And as he walked in, lo and behold, there in the same building was one of his good friends. And when they approached each other, they both asked each other, what are you doing here? And the other said, well, what are you doing here? One said, well, this is my church. And the other one said, well, this is my church. They had both found the same church.
And their other friend, come to find out, had also found the same church, that all three of the remaining friends that were living had found this church separately on their own, but were now all members of it. All thanks to these 17 points. put down on this little card in search of the Lord's church on the earth today. It's a great story and obviously kind of a faith-promoting story. However, he would be the first to tell you and mention several times.
that it wasn't just these things that converted him to the church, but it was the revelation that he received from the Holy Ghost as he studied, as he prayed, and as he searched for the truth. He had received a witness.
of the truthfulness of the book of mormon which led him to to gain a testimony of the truthfulness of the prophet joseph smith which then helped him to further know that the church that he had found the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints was in fact the lord's church restored to the earth, fulfilling all those requirements that he had long ago written from the Bible that were to be a part of the Lord's church today.
Now I know that many of you listening, like me, were probably born into the church. We didn't have to go through necessarily this process of trying to find it or not having it for a time. And we always appreciate more those things that we don't have.
but i have tried very much and i hope you will as well to fully recognize and appreciate the blessing that it is to be a member of the lord's restored church on the earth to have that knowledge when really compared to the rest of the world there are so few that do what a blessing it is i want you to know how grateful i am to know what I know and to have what I have as it relates to the Lord's restored gospel and His restored church.
I also have come to know and understand over my lifetime that that knowledge does not take away from the Lord's work and from the love that He has for His children in all and any other church. that he is present and that he is active in all of them because he loves all of his children and he wants them all to have the blessings of the gospel and any sincere seeker of truth, I believe, will be led.
line upon line, precept upon precept, little by little, until they also find the Lord's church today. Now, a few discussion questions for you to consider. Number one, why was a restoration needed? And how was it prophesied to happen? Which verses in the Bible do you like most about the restoration? Which of the 17 points of the true church stands out to you the most?
What is the best way to learn of the truthfulness of the restoration? And why is it not enough to be converted through logic or reason? How can the Holy Ghost help you to know the truthfulness of the restoration of the Gospel and the restoration of the Lord's Church? To apply this, I'd invite you to simply write down how you personally have experienced the restoration in your own life. How has your life been impacted by it? And what does the restoration mean to you?
Now for our last principle today, I want to take a look at the pattern that we've kind of gone through now in terms of the apostasy and the restoration. and i use the word pattern because i think it's a very important term my daughter one of the things she loves to do is sew and she's very good at it but in order for her to make something she typically has to follow a pattern and the more closely she follows that pattern
the more accurate what it is she's trying to make is. Now there's a great verse in scripture that we'll use to kind of illustrate this principle. It's in the Doctrine and Covenants. And it was given as a means of counteracting the influence or darkness of Satan. Elder Marvin J. Ashton actually references this principle and this verse in a talk that he gives titled, A Pattern in All Things.
He begins by first reading the verse, Doctrine and Covenants 52, 14, which reads, I will give unto you a pattern in all things that ye may not be deceived. For Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving. commenting on that verse he then says a pattern is a guide for copying a design a plan a diagram or model to be followed in making things a compositive traits or features characteristic of an individual it is also the ordered
The gospel of Jesus Christ, he says, is God's pattern for righteous living and eternal life. It makes possible goal-setting and lofty priorities. Satan and his advocates will constantly try to deceive and entice us to follow their patterns. If we are to achieve daily safety, exaltation, and eternal happiness, we need to live by the light and truth of our Savior's plan.
All salvation revolves around our Savior. Now, the reason that I love that principle and verse so much is because of the way it references a pattern. And I've come to learn that it's very important. And I would invite you personally to consider. the patterns that you see in the way the restoration unfolded, and how light can be restored or lost in a person's life.
Because I've seen it myself. As referenced earlier, the same process that led to the great apostasy is the same process that will lead to a person's personal apostasy in life. And on the flip side, the same process...
that led to the restoration of the gospel to the world is the same process that can lead to a personal restoration of light and truth in a person's life. In a similar quote as Elder Ashton's, Elder Paul E. Koliker of the 70s said, in June of 1831, as calls were being extended to early church leaders, Joseph Smith was told that Satan is abroad in the land, and that he goeth forth deceiving the nations.
combat this distracting influence. The Lord said that he would give us a pattern in all things that we may not be deceived. And he also says that patterns are templates, guides, repeating steps or paths one follows to stay aligned with God's purpose. And then he says this, If followed, they will keep us humble, awake, and able to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit from those voices that distract us and lead us away.
Now let's pause here for a moment, and I'd invite you to consider... the pattern of the restoration and what lessons we can learn, not just about how to restore light to the world or how it was restored to the world, but most importantly, how to restore and keep light in a person's life. Do you remember and recall how the restoration started? It started from a need, a question, and a desire for truth.
And that led to a young boy going into a grove of trees and offering a prayer. That prayer led to opposition. There's always going to be opposition. We'll talk about that in depth when we study the first vision. But as Joseph pushed through that opposition, he then had a personal experience, which pushed him forward and led to the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. After the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, the next step in the restoration was the restoration of priesthood authority.
which then led to the organization of the church and the ability to administer the ordinances of the gospel, which then led to missionary work being implemented in the church and eventually to the culmination of the building of temples. the sacred ordinances that take place there. Now, what can we learn personally from this pattern about how
to gain light or lose light in life. As we've talked about, I've seen firsthand how people, when they begin to move towards apostasy, these things begin to go in a reverse order. There is a stoppage of attending the temple. Missionary work isn't a priority. Eventually, they stop going to church and exercising any kind of priesthood authority. They stop reading their scriptures, and they stop saying personal prayers. And then that person finds themselves in darkness and in a...
which can really lead to all kinds of sin and entanglement in snares of the world. But on the other hand, if a person desires to restore light into their life, There's the pattern. There's the process for us to follow. It begins by a desire and a need for truth and light, which then leads them to pray, which then leads them to search and study the scriptures, which then leads them to seek.
out priesthood authority and the organization and structure of the church where they can participate more fully in the purposes of the restored gospel through missionary work and then eventually at the culmination of the temple. The process is this. same. And I think that's important, you guys. I want you to see that for what it is because it's also the way that we keep light in our life and keep from moving.
towards apostasy in any of its forms. And we do that by keeping prayer in the forefront of our lives, by keeping the scriptures in the forefront of our lives, by staying close to the priesthood and priesthood authority and priesthood leaders, by being a part of the organization. the church, by serving and by performing missionary work, and finally by attending and serving in the temple. Those things, when they are in place, will keep a person from moving towards apostasy.
And it also helps us to know and understand how to work with those that maybe have lost their way. We don't shove the temple down their throats right at the beginning. They're not ready for it. We start at the very beginning. If you have friends that are struggling with the gospel or struggling with the church, invite them to just simply pray. Help them to develop that connection more fully with God, and the rest will begin to fall into place as they do.
Keeping in mind that one of the crowning events of the restoration was the building of temples and the making and keeping of covenants that take place within its walls. That's where they come. covenant path can be best accessed and kept and followed in a person's life. It's within those walls and the covenants that are made there that the restoration and all of its pattern is meant to lead us to.
Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve said this. He said, the way you feel in the temple is a pattern for how you want to feel in your life. And boy, isn't that true.
elder robert d hales in a great talk titled prayer the key to testimony and the restoration a pattern for us to follow says brothers and sisters can we see the pattern every major event of the restoration the first vision the appearance of moroni the coming forth of the book of mormon the restoration of the priesthood and the appearance of jesus christ in his holy temple was preceded by prayer Follow the example of Joseph Smith and the pattern of the restoration.
Turn to the Scriptures. Kneel in prayer. Ask in faith. Listen to the Holy Ghost. And in the name of Jesus Christ, I promise, if ye will, ask Heavenly Father in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping the Lord's commandments. Surely these things shall be made known unto you.
Boy, you guys, some of the greatest lessons of my life I have learned from the pattern of the restoration and the pattern of the apostasy as well. It's helped me to recognize things in myself when they needed to be corrected and also helped me to recognize things I needed. needed to do to help make sure that light never leaves.
now some journal discussion questions for you to consider number one what impresses you about the pattern and the order of the restoration which part of the restoration stands out to you the most and why How do you see personal application in your life from the process and pattern of the restoration? How important was the principle of prayer to the restoration? How important was the role of the Book of Mormon and Scripture to the process of the restoration?
What is the lesson for us in both of those things? How have you felt a loss of light when prayer and the scriptures have been missing from your life? And what can you do to apply the restoration and its pattern more fully in your life? Now to apply this, I just simply invite you to write down something that you feel impressed to do or to remember.
from the lesson of apostasy and the restoration today. I am excited to get into the Doctrine and Covenants and the restoration more fully to watch and study firsthand how it all unfolds and how it continues to unfold today. There's so many great lessons we'll be taking a look at as we study the Doctrine and Covenants this year. So I hope you're ready. If not, get ready, because it's going to be a great year as we study another great book.
As always, please remember that that person is greatest and most blessed and joyful whose life most closely approaches the pattern of the Christ. Speaking of patterns, this has nothing to do with the earthly wealth, power, or prestige. The only true test of greatness, blessedness, joyfulness is how close a life can come to being like the Master Jesus Christ. He is the right way, the full truth, and the abundant life. And he invites us all to come follow me.
So as always, let's follow his pattern better this week and become better as we follow him. Until next week, everyone, I'm Josh Downs, and you've been listening to Come Follow Me for Teens.