Come Follow Me: Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34 — When Waiting Tests Our Covenants

Have you ever meant every word of your promise to God, and then felt your heart drift when life got tense? Come Follow Me this week, for April 20–26, holds that exact tension in Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34. The people covenant with confidence, then “turn aside quickly” when waiting feels scary (see Exodus 32:8).

If you are preparing a lesson, planning family scripture time, or searching for an Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34 study guide, these chapters offer both warning and hope. This Come Follow Me lesson puts Sinai in your living room: covenant words, daily choices, and a God who keeps reaching.

What Is Come Follow Me Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34 About?

Sinai is where the Lord forms a people, not just with rules, but with relationship. He calls Israel to come near, prepares them to meet Him, gives them commandments that protect worship, and invites them into covenant identity.

Then the story turns. While Moses is on the mountain, the people choose something visible and controllable, a golden calf, and the covenant breaks almost as soon as it is spoken (see Exodus 32:1, 8).

Read this week as a pattern you can recognize.

• Preparation before presence: the Lord commands sanctifying and readiness (see Exodus 19:10–11, 17).
• Covenant words spoken out loud: “All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient” (see Exodus 24:7).
• A sign of belonging: the Sabbath as a covenant sign (see Exodus 31:13, 16–17).
• A quick drift: impatience and fear produce idolatry (see Exodus 32:8).
• Mercy after failure: the Lord declares His character (see Exodus 34:6).

If you only remember one line from Come Follow Me Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34, keep this one close:

“The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.”

(Exodus 34:6)

Key Themes in Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34

These chapters can feel like a whirlwind, thunder on the mountaintop and heartbreak in the camp. A few themes help the pieces fit together for Come Follow Me Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34.

1) Covenant identity: “peculiar treasure” and “holy nation”

Before the commandments, the Lord gives Israel a name and a future. He calls them His “peculiar treasure” and promises they can become “a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” (see Exodus 19:5–6).

That identity matters when you feel ordinary or overlooked. God’s covenant people are not disposable to Him, even when they struggle to live up to what they promised.

• Read Exodus 19:5–6 and ask: What kind of person does God say I can become?
• In family study, let each person name one way they want to be “holy” this week, in words a child can understand.

2) The first commandment and the battle for “before me”

The Ten Commandments begin with worship. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (see Exodus 20:3).

That line is more than ancient history, because the golden calf shows what “other gods” look like under pressure. When fear rises and waiting stretches on, people reach for something they can see, measure, or control (see Exodus 32:1, 8).

• “Other gods” can be a relationship, a habit, a screen, a reputation, or a plan that crowds out prayer.
• Try a small check-in question: What do I run to first when I feel stressed?

3) Public promises and the weight of “we will do”

Israel’s covenant is not private. Moses reads “the book of the covenant” and the people answer together: “All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient” (see Exodus 24:7).

That kind of promise builds belonging. It also creates accountability, because covenant language is meant to shape Monday as much as Sunday.

• Consider writing Exodus 24:7 on a card and placing it where your family prays.
• In a class, ask learners to share one covenant phrase they repeat often, like “take upon them the name of thy Son,” and what it looks like in daily life.

4) Mercy after failure: God’s name revealed

The golden calf is a hard chapter to read. Moses comes down, the tables break, and the people face the consequences of their choice (see Exodus 32:19).

Then the Lord reveals His character in words that can anchor repentance: “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (see Exodus 34:6). He does not pretend sin is harmless, but He also does not stop being God.

• If you are carrying regret, sit with Exodus 34:6 during prayer.
• Ask: Do I believe the Lord’s patience applies to me, or only to other people?

Discussion Questions for Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34

Use these for Sunday School, youth discussion, or family scripture time in Come Follow Me Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34.

1. What does it look like to “meet with God” today, and what preparation helps you feel ready? (see Exodus 19:10–11, 17)
2. When have you felt pulled toward an “other god,” something you put before the Lord? (see Exodus 20:3)
3. Why do you think Israel “turned aside quickly,” and what makes drifting easier when we are tired or afraid? (see Exodus 32:8)
4. What does the Sabbath communicate about your relationship with God? (see Exodus 31:13, 16–17)
5. What do you learn about God from His self-description in Exodus 34:6? How does that change your view of repentance?
6. How can a family or ward support each other in keeping covenant promises like Exodus 24:7?

How to Teach Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34

Kids understand mountains, rules, and waiting. They also understand wanting something “right now,” which makes the golden calf story a natural bridge to everyday discipleship.

Try teaching with simple contrasts they can feel.

• Object lesson: Hold up a picture of a temple and a toy or shiny object. Ask, Which one helps us feel close to Heavenly Father? Then connect to “that I may dwell among them” (see Exodus 25:8) and the people building a substitute (see Exodus 32:1).
• Commandment focus: Choose one commandment from Exodus 20 and role-play what it looks like at school or at home.
• Mercy focus: Read Exodus 34:6 and invite children to finish the sentence: “When I make a mistake, I can…”

Practical Application for Personal and Family Study

Spiritual whiplash, covenant confidence followed by quick drifting, still happens. These practices help Come Follow Me Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34 move from reading to living.

1. Build “Sinai preparation” into your week. Choose one small act of readiness from Exodus 19:10–11, like setting a phone aside for prayer, arriving early to church, or reading scriptures before school.

2. Name your “before me” pressures. In a journal, write Exodus 20:3 and finish the prompt: When I feel anxious, I am tempted to put ______ before God. Then plan one replacement habit, like a short prayer before you open an app.

3. Make the Sabbath a sign, not a checklist. Read Exodus 31:13 and ask, What do I want my Sabbath to communicate to the Lord? Pick one action that signals love, such as ministering, sacrament meeting preparation, or a family gospel conversation.

Explore This Week's Full Study Guide

You can cover the basics of Come Follow Me Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34 in one sitting, but these chapters reward slow reading. The commandments connect to covenant identity, the golden calf connects to modern substitutes, and Exodus 34:6 can become a personal lifeline.

Open the Gospel Study App for the full Come Follow Me Exodus 19–20; 24; 31–34 experience, with verse-by-verse notes, discussion prompts, and study tools that help you teach with clarity. If you are following Come Follow Me 2026, the app also keeps your weekly plan in one place so you can return to Sinai all week long.