Come, Follow Me: Matthew 4, Luke 4-5

In “Come, Follow Me” this week, we read in Matthew and Luke that during his mortal ministry Jesus called disciples to follow him. He said to Simon Peter and Andrew, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.” (Matthew 4:19-20)

When the resurrected Christ appeared to the Nephites in ancient America, he also called twelve disciples there. The Book of Mormon recounts, “When Jesus had spoken these words he looked upon the twelve whom he had chosen, and said unto them: Remember the words which I have spoken. For behold, ye are they whom I have chosen to minister unto this people…But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (3 Nephi 13: 25, 33)

This painting by C. C. A. Christensen is one of the very earliest depictions of a Book of Mormon scene. It was part of a panorama scroll of several images from the Bible and Book of Mormon that was used by 19th-century LDS missionaries preaching to the Paiute and Shoshone people. The image shows Christ in ancient America with his twelve disciples. Notice the Egyptian-style pyramid in the background combined with a lush American forest in the foreground. Christensen was a trained artist from Denmark who joined the Church and came to Utah as a handcart pioneer.

As followers of Jesus Christ today, we are also called to seek “first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” What is one way that you can put the Lord first this week and be a “fisher of men”?

-Jenny Champoux

Christ and His Disciples in the New World