March 2021 Come Follow Me Ministering – Armor of God
The March 2021 Come Follow Me Ministering Printable ties together President Nelson’s October 2020 General Conference talk “Embrace the Future with Faith” and this March’s Come, Follow Me lesson on Doctrine and Covenants 27:15-18 – “The armor of God will help me stand against evil.”
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.
Download March 2021 Come Follow Me Ministering Printable (PDF) (Four to a Sheet)
You are never too old for stickers! So I paired my message this month with these cute Armor of God stickers. There is a shiny and not shiny option. Of course, I went with shiny! They would be fun to stick in a bullet or scripture journal.
Or even better, you could use them for a Family Home Evening. Print out full-length photos of your kids and let them put the Armor of God on themselves while you teach!
I minister to a sister who has a sweet tooth but who can’t have candy. So I picked her up some sugar-free chocolate covered almonds and placed it in this cute box. I love these boxes because there is so much you can do with them.
March 2021 Come Follow Me Ministering Printable
Doctrine and Covenants 27:15-18 – The armor of God will help me stand against evil
In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul talked about putting on the whole armor of God. Then over 1,800 years later, Joseph Smith received the revelation contained in Doctrine and Covenants 27 about the armor of God. It is one of the beautiful things about scripture. God ties us together throughout history by using similar imagery and language. But the personal application of scripture can vary according to time and situation.
The Evolution of Armor
During those 1,800 years, armor has changed a lot. Designs improved with technology and innovation. We evolved from Roman armor to chain mail. Then in the 15th Century, we got better at designing plate armor that could move with the body. Suits of armor now covered the entire body, with only a small slit in the visor to see out of.
But with the development of gunpowder weapons, armor had to change. It couldn’t stop bullets and it slowed you down and wore you out. Today, soldiers wear body armor made from Kevlar and ceramics. It is designed to protect them from things like bullets, shrapnel, and explosions.
Changes in Spiritual Armor
Between Paul and Joseph, the types of spiritual threats had changed dramatically as well. Paul was preparing the saints against an eventual apostasy. But Joseph was preparing the saints for the restoration. During different time periods, church members would have different needs, face different threats, and live in different cultures.
They all needed gospel ordinances and the Atonement of Jesus Christ, but some battles were going to be different. It makes me grateful for prophets to guide us and help us prepare for our set of unique challenges.
Latter-Day Armor
While reading through Doctrine and Covenants 27:15-18, think about the armor God prepared specifically for us as we gird up our loins in the latter days. What latter-day threats do they protect us from?
God gave us “the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you.” The bringing forth of the Book of Mormon was key to the restoration. It was armor forged thousands of years ago for our day. Then continuing revelations and the restoration of temple ordinances helped not only prepare and protect early saints, but us as well, so that we can “withstand the evil day.”
The restoration of the priesthood and the organization of the Relief Society prepared us as our feet were “shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you.” Modern-day revelations and institutions like the Word of Wisdom, Family Home Evenings, The Family Proclamation, emergency preparedness, and principles of self-sufficiency prepare us to stand against “the fiery darts of the wicked.”
Importance of Prophets
Throughout the scriptures we see prophets like Joseph of Egypt and Moses prepare their people for upcoming threats. And this past year, we have witnessed this firsthand as President Nelson prepared us for challenges we didn’t even know were coming. Despite the pandemic and social upheaval we have seen, I feel at peace and prepared. Changes to programs, church schedules, and focus have helped our worship become more home-centered even before quarantines made it necessary. And the Christ-centered focus of ministering has helped me feel closer to those around me instead of divided.
In the October 2020 General Conference, President Nelson reminded us that, “Even when things went well, Captain Moroni continued to prepare his people. He never stopped. He never became complacent. The adversary never stops attacking. So, we can never stop preparing! The more self-reliant we are—temporally, emotionally, and spiritually—the more prepared we are to thwart Satan’s relentless assaults.”
Lift Up Your Heart and Rejoice
In Doctrine and Covenants 27, the Lord tells us to “lift up your hearts and rejoice.” We are preparing for battle, but we already know the outcome. We already know how to win. And the Lord has taken upon Himself the causalities of war through His Atonement. “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)
We do not have to drown in the sorrow of war, but we can rejoice in a Savior who has prepared a way for us. A Savior who pleads with us to “be faithful until I come, and ye shall be , that where I am ye shall be
