I WIll Love Them Freely – Hosea 1-6; 10-14; Joel

Gathered in this post are resources to help you teach your family not only the stories of the people in the Old Testament but also the doctrine and principles found in the study block for the Come, Follow Me reading of Hosea 1-6; 10-14; Joel. There are resources for children, youth, and adults. Every resource linked to is free! Most links are to church websites or websites approved for further gospel study. Choose on thing a day to do with your family or a couple to do for family home evening. Enjoy!

Everyone

Video – Handel’s Messiah: Debtor’s Prison – President Russell M. Nelson taught that the release of these prisoners from debtor’s prison beautifully symbolizes our own redemption through the Savior Jesus Christ. (3:35 minutes)

Video – There Is No Limit to God’s Love | His Grace – Carissa shares how she felt His grace despite failing repeatedly to conquer an addiction. She learned there was no limit to the number of times God would forgive her earnest efforts to repent. (5:38 minutes)

Primary Children

I can faithfully keep my covenants. Hosea 2: 19-20

Activity – Keeping My Promise – Includes activity to look up scriptures about the signs of a covenant and then draw a line to the picture that represents the scripture. Then color the pictures.

Activity/Article – I Can Keep My Covenant – An explanation of covenants and the covenants we make at baptism. Includes an activity to make a “movie” of your covenants.

Article – A Covenant People – President Gordon B. Hinckley teaches about some of the obligations that come with being a covenant people.

Article – What will help me keep the promises I make when I am baptized? – Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shares some thoughts on how to keep covenants.

I can seek the Lord. Hosea 10:12

Activity/Article – Seek the Lord – Includes a timeline of prophets who sought the Lord.

Music – Seek the Lord Early – Sing along to this Primary song.

Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. Hosea 13:4, 14

Activity – He Sent His Son: The Story of Easter – Create a booklet that tells the story of Easter through pictures, scripture, and song.

Activity/Article – The Sacrament Helps us Remember Jesus – Overview of the Last Supper and bookmark with ideas for what kids can think of during the sacrament.

Article – Learn about Jesus – President Russell M. Nelson shares some ways we can take advantage of the power of Jesus Christ.

Story – He Broke the Bands of Death – Elder Patrick Kearon of the Seventy shares how he and his wife taught their children about the Atonement.

The Holy Ghost can guide me. Joel 2:28-29

Activity – The Holy Ghost Can Guide Me – Coloring page

Activity – The Holy Ghost – A crossword puzzle about the Holy Ghost.

Article – Courting the Holy Ghost – Carlos E. Asay tells how to attract and maintain the Holy Spirit.

Article – The Holy Ghost Is . . .” – An explanation of who the Holy Ghost is and some of the ways He can help us.

Article – How can I know when I am feeling the Holy Ghost?” – Several children share how they recognize the Spirit.

Sunday School – Youth and Adults

Video – An Evening with a General Authority—Elder Bednar Discussion – Excellent discussion with Elder Bednar teaching about personal revelation and guidance from the Holy Ghost. (1:01:28 minutes)

Video – Hosea’s Message of Mercy– Book of Mormon Central (8:12 minutes)

The Lord always invites me to return to Him. Hosea 1-3; 14

Article – God’s Love for Us Transcends Our Transgressions – God is our father; he loves us; his love is infinite and unconditional. His sorrow is great when we disobey his commandments and break his laws. He cannot condone our transgressions, but he loves us and wants us to return to him.

Article – The Miracle of Repentance– Whatever has gone wrong in our lives that has tainted or darkened our souls can be erased and purified by the power of sincere repentance.

Video – Hosea: God’s Covenant Relationship – Book of Mormon Central (16:16 minutes)

Video – Hosea’s Account of the Lord’s Everlasting Love – Book of Mormon Central (5:53 minutes)

Video – God’s Mercy is Always There – Book of Mormon Central (7:51 minutes)

Devotion to God must be felt inwardly, not just expressed outwardly. Hosea 6:4–7; Joel 2:12–13

Article – Opening the Heavens for Help – Let us put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ into action!

Article – Giving Holiness to the Lord – Sacrifice is less about “giving up” and more about “giving to” the Lord.

Video – Piano Recital – (Joel 2) A young man learns the importance of practice and to avoid procrastination. (5:42 minutes)

Video – The Gardner – (Joel 2) A gardener anxiously awaits the return of the housemaster. (3:50 minutes)

Video – Empty Vines and Plowing Wickedness – Book of Mormon Central (7:48 minutes)

“I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh.” Joel 2

Article – “And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit” – We know we are successful if we live so that we qualify for, receive, and know how to follow the Spirit.

Article – Living in the Fulness of Times – Notwithstanding the afflictions about us, notwithstanding the sordid things we see almost everywhere, notwithstanding the conflict that sweeps across the world, we can be better.

Video – What is the Day of the Lord?– Book of Mormon Central (5:11 minutes)

Video – The Day of the Lord – The book of Joel, while small, can be a little intimidating because it contains a lot of predictions of devastation and destruction in the day of the Lord. But the book isn’t all doom and gloom. While the first half of the book focuses a lot on destruction in the day of the Lord, the second half of the book gives Israel great hope of redemption. But it’s also conditional. The structure of the book of Joel shows that the Lord can extend mercy to Israel, but only if they repent as a people. Book of Mormon Central (4:20 minutes)

Youth Doctrinal Topics

How Can I Receive an Outpouring of the Lord’s Spirit?

Article – God Will Do Something Unimaginable – God has prepared His children and His Church for this time.

Article – Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives – In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.

Video – President Nelson: Hear Him – Personal Revelation – It has never been more imperative to know how the Spirit speaks to you than right now. Do whatever it takes to increase your spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation. (59 seconds)

Adults

Article – The Marriage Metaphor – The Lord uses the metaphor of marriage to testify of his great love for and patience with us.

Article – Joel: God Will Not Be Mocked – Old Testament Institute Manual

Article- The Ministry of Hosea: A Call to Faithfulness (Hosea) – Old Testament Institute Manual

Article – The Marriage of Hosea and Jehovah’s Covenant with Israel – BYU Religious Studies Center

Article – The Imagery of Hosea’s Family and the Restoration of Israel – BYU Religious Studies Center

Podcast – Follow Him: Hosea and Joel part 1 (video link) – How is Hosea a love story between God and His people? Dr. Aaron Schade examines the symbolism of the Bride and Bridegroom and the deep and everlasting love between God and covenant Israel. Find the audio of the episode here.

Podcast – Follow Him: Hosea and Joel part 2 (video link) – Dr. Schade returns to explore the Book of Joel and a clarion call to return to the Lord and be prepared to meet Him. Find the audio of the episode here.

Video – Discussions on the Old Testament: The Book of Hosea – Religious scholars from BYU discuss Hosea. BYUtv (26:14 minutes)

Video – Discussions on the Old Testament: The books of Micah and Joel – Study the words of the prophets Micah and Joel, contemporaries during the events in 2 Kings. BYUtv (27:31 minutes)

Video – Come Follow Up: Hosea 1-6; 10-14; Joel – Come Follow Up host Ben Lomu meets with Old Testament scholar Jennifer Lane, as well as special guest Elder David L. Buckner, to discuss the notability of the trumpet in Zion and how the Lord will pour out His spirit upon all flesh. BYUtv (54:59 mintues)

Video – Come Follow Me Insights PART 1 | Hosea 1-14; Joel – Taylor and Tyler explore the books of Hosea and Joel in this week’s episode. Book of Mormon Central (49:19 minutes)

Video – Come Follow Me Insights PART 2 | Hosea 1-14; Joel – Taylor and Tyler explore the books of Hosea and Joel in this week’s episode. Book of Mormon Central (24:05 minutes)