The August 2024 Come, Follow Me Ministering Printable ties together Elder Ronald A. Rasband’s April 2024 General Conference talk, “Words Matter,” with “Jesus Christ can help me with my spiritual battles” in the August “Come, Follow Me” message from Alma 43-50.
Download August 2024 Ministering Printable (4×6)
I also made a copy in red (4×6 in Red)
You can print these printables as 4×6 photo prints. My local drugstore prints them for just pennies. They are also a higher resolution if you want to enlarge them.
August 2024 Come Follow Me Ministering Message
Alma 43 to 50 – Tempted to Act in Anger
In Alma’s war chapters, we learn a lot about how the adversary can attack us by studying the tactics that he uses here. For example, one of the tactics he uses is to tempt us to act in anger. When we are angry, it is easier for others to have power over us. This works so well, that in just a few years, we see two leaders cause a lot of damage using anger.
Zerahemnah Preserves Their Hatred
In Alma 43, Zerahemnah prepares the Lamanites to attack the Nephites. Although it is a Lamanite army, he appoints Amalekites and Zoramites as the chief captains.
Why did Zerahemnah do this? The scriptures explain, “Now this he did that he might preserve their hatred towards the Nephites, that he might bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of his designs. For behold, his designs were to stir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into bondage” (Alma 43:7-8).
Because these Nephite dissenters were already very angry with the Nephites, they had become more wicked and murderous – making them perfect tools for stirring up more anger.
Amalickiah Stirred Them Up To Anger
Later, Amalickiah uses anger as well. Amalickiah was a Nephite dissenter who wanted to become king and re-establish a monarchy. After a failed coup, he flees to the Lamanites and convinces the Lamanite king to declare war against the Nephites. But the Lamanites are so scared of going against the Nephites that they refuse. They even establish their own army to go against their king.
However, through political intrigue and murder, Amalickiah takes over the rebel army and eventually the Lamanite throne. As king, Amalickiah begins a concerted effort to incite the Lamanites to war.
“And now it came to pass that, as soon as Amalickiah had obtained the kingdom he began to inspire the hearts of the Lamanites against the people of Nephi; yea, he did appoint men to speak unto the Lamanites from their towers, against the Nephites” (Alma 48:1).
It wasn’t enough to be king over the Lamanites, he wanted to rule over the Nephites as well. And Amalickiah was able to accomplish what the previous king had not been able to do.
“Therefore he had accomplished his design, for he had hardened the hearts of the Lamanites and blinded their minds, and stirred them up to anger, insomuch that he had gathered together a numerous host to go to battle against the Nephites” (Alma 48:3).
Remarkably, Amalickiah built up an army of men who had previously been so determined not to go to battle against the Nephites that they were willing to fight against their own king. We see how anger can completely change our hearts.
Anger Enslaves Us
Although anger is a powerful emotion, we are wrong if we think it makes us powerful. Even though it can make us feel justified and invincible; in reality, it clouds our judgment, chases away the spirit, and enslaves us.
We become slaves to our own prejudices and grievances. Even though we cannot know another’s heart, we assume we know a bad motive or even a bad person when we see one. We make exceptions when it comes to our own bitterness because we feel that it is deserved. We seek to justify our anger as righteous, but our anger is never justified.
In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul warned, “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things” (Romans 2:1).
When we judge others of wrong doing, we only condemn ourselves because we are guilty of the same things.
Relying On The Spirit
Instead of relying on anger, we need to rely on the spirit. President Monson shared, “To be angry is to yield to the influence of Satan. No one can make us angry. It is our choice. If we desire to have a proper spirit with us at all times, we must choose to refrain from becoming angry. I testify that such is possible. Anger, Satan’s tool, is destructive in so many ways.”
The Lamanites felt justified in their anger against the Nephites, and Zerahemnah fostered that anger because he knew he could use it to control them. Anger does not make us mighty, it turns us into prisoners. We should be wary of those who seek to stir us up to anger. And we should think twice when we start to feel angry.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband in his April 2024 General Conference talk, “Words Matter,” warns that our words set the tone for how we connect with others. We must be careful how we use them. “Our words can be supportive or angry, joyful or mean, compassionate or tossed aside. In the heat of the moment, words can sting and sink painfully deep into the soul—and stay there. Our words on the internet, texting, social media, or tweets take on a life of their own. So be careful what you say and how you say it. In our families, especially with husbands, wives, and children, our words can bring us together or drive a wedge between us.”
August 2024 Come Follow Me Ministering Handout
Could anything be more perfect for this message than SweeTARTS with words on them?! Our words can be either sweet or tart! I originally did the printable in red, but made another version to match the SweeTARTS box.
Did you like this August 2024 Come Follow Me Ministering message? Find more Relief Society Ministering Printables for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
These ministering printables are a great way to help families incorporate the “Come, Follow Me” lessons into their own study. They are also perfect for Young Women’s, Relief Society, Sunday School, or Family Home Evening. I hope that these ministering printables will be a simple way to reach out to those we minister to.
