Lesson 1: Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Doctrine and Covenants Section 1 Modern Revelation

Lesson 1: Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Doctrine and Covenants Section 1 Modern Revelation

Attention Activity:
Bring in two clear glasses, one full of salt water and the other full of sugar water. Have one student come up and take a drink of each one, without telling them that there is salt and sugar in them. They will of course react differently to the two tastes. Then take the glasses, turn around and switch them around so the class cannot know which is salt and which is sugar. Ask for volunteers to come up and taste the water again. Tell the class that they only have to taste one of the two. They just need to figure out which one has the sugar and the salt. Ask the students how they can know which one is which without tasting them. Is there any way? Do you have to taste them to know which one is good and which one is bad? Wait until they come up with the suggestion of asking you. The teacher is the only one that knows which is which. Even if they are switched. The teacher still knows which will lead to happiness and which will lead to misery. Ask, “How is that like the Gospel?” (Discuss answers and make sure they understand that it is like receiving revelation from the Lord. He is the only one that knows—even in a changing world.)

Class Discussion:
As we start a discussion of the Doctrine and Covenants, one of the major themes is the importance of modern revelation. The Lord teaches us that in the 1st Section as well as giving us many of the reasons for revelation as well as for the D&C. The first important doctrine of the Doctrine and Covenants is found in D&C 1:2. Who does the Lord want to know about revelation? Who does he want to tell about the salt and the sugar? So what is the main purpose of the D&C. The Lord gives at least 9 reasons in verses 17-28

He knows the calamity that is coming. Verse 17
That we might know God and be able to perform ordinances in His name. Verse 20
To increase our faith. Verse 21
Establish his everlasting covenant. Verse 22
Give us the fullness of the gospel, so that it can be preached to all. Verse 23
Tell us what we are doing wrong. Verse 25
Give us increased wisdom. Verse 26
Help us to repent. Verse 27
Be made strong and receive knowledge. Verse 28.


Have class members look through these verses and see what they come up with for purposes of the Doctrine and Covenants. Take some time to discuss these purposes of revelation. You can ask, “Which one do you think is the most important to us today?” After a few minutes of discussion ask, “What does revelation have to do with verse 30?” “Why do we consider ourselves the “only true and living church?” (We are true because we have the fullness of the gospel and we are living because we believe in modern revelation. God still speaks to us today to help with our changing world. You can go back to the salt and sugar here. What good is it to know which was which before you turned around and switched them up? What value is there today to old information? Why do we need modern revelation? What problems exist now that we need specific direction on? Make sure to point out that modern revelation does not render the Bible or Book or Mormon invaluable because they teach doctrines that never change as well as being the gateway to revelation from the Lord. Modern revelation simply gives us continual guidance to our ever-changing world.) Make sure to point out the source of revelation in verses 37-38. “What role do prophets play in helping to guide our lives?” “What do these verses teach about why we need prophets and why we need to follow them?”

Application:
Ask, “When did you learn that following revelation from the Lord will lead to greater happiness?” (Again you can go back to the example of the water with salt and sugar.) Wait to get a few responses and share your testimony as well.

Chapter 24: Leading in the Lord’s Way,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith Chapter 24: Leading in the Lord’s Way

Attention Activity:
Tell the class that there is going to be a re-election of the countries president. Rather than go through the whole election process it has been decided that you (meaning the members of the class) will simply select who you would like to be president. Have each class member write down two people that they would select as president. One must be someone that most people in the class will know and one must be someone that most people in the class will not know. For each person have the class member write a characteristic or two that would make this person a great president. Discuss answers and characteristics for a few minutes. (Make absolutely sure that you do not slip into a discussion on politics!)

Class Discussion:
Have the class look at the second paragraph under the heading “Leaders receive the wisdom they need from the Spirit…” to look for the three characteristics that Joseph Smith states that good leaders will posses. (humble, desire salvation of fellow man, and don’t seek own aggrandizement and selfish interests.) The next two sections deal with these three principles. Leaders love those they serve—they are humble. Leaders lead by example and service—seek the good of others. There are great quotes in these two sections to talk about. Some good questions to ask are, “How do you feel about leaders who have shown these qualities?” “How do you develop these type of attributes?” “Why do we follow those that lead by example?” “Why do we follow those that serve us?” “What do you see that would have made you willing to follow Joseph Smith?”

Application:
Ask the class, “What is the main characteristic that inspires us to follow the prophet?” Point out the first two paragraphs of page 284. The message is that prophets teach us correct principles and those principles come from God. We follow the prophet because we want to follow God. There are two questions you could ask: “What can we do to strengthen our ability to lead or families in this same pattern?” or “What specific principle would President Thomas S Monson ask you to live?” (You may want to read President Monson’s latest conference talks so that you are aware of what he was asking the Church as a whole in order to give a few ideas about what he might ask us individually.)

Lesson 48: “Come unto Christ” Charity and Gaining a Testimony of The Book of Mormon

Lesson 48: “Come unto Christ” Charity and Gaining a Testimony of The Book of Mormon

Attention Activity:
Before class prepare about 10 cards that have written on them different priorities in life (house, money, entertainment, friends, work, family, God, prestige, looks, athletics). There are a couple of ways to do this activity. You can have all students prioritize the ten items on a piece of paper, or have the class work together to prioritize them by bringing up 10 students and have them hold one card each for the remainder of the class to see. Bring up another student and tell them that you want them to put the cards in order of what is most important, from least to greatest, in their lives. Tell them that the key to knowing their true priorities is to ask yourself would you be willing to give up this for that if you had to make a choice. Have the student move the card holding students around and put everything in priority. Ask the class what the connection is between love and sacrifice. (What we love the most is what we are most willing to sacrifice for. The card that is your highest priority is what you are willing to give the most up for.)

Class Discussion:
Tell the class that today you are going to discuss a specific kind of love. Turn to Moroni 7:47 to find the kind of love that Moroni wants to teach us about. (pure love of Christ or charity). Ask, “If love requires sacrifice, what does that teach us about what is required for ‘pure love?’” (Requires pure sacrifice or ultimate sacrifice.) Now have class members look in verse 45 and have them find the one characteristic of charity that they think takes the most sacrifice. Discuss answers for a few minutes. The two main questions that we need to answer about charity are, “How do I get it?” and “Why do I need it?” Discuss the answers to these questions on verse 48. This part of the lesson could take the whole class, but try to keep it fairly quick because you need to get to Moroni 10. If I were teaching this lesson, at this point I would have someone read Moroni 10:3-5 and share my testimony and experience gaining a testimony of The Book of Mormon and then give the rest of the time to the class to share their testimonies on The Book of Mormon. You might ask class members to keep it on topic (The Book of Mormon) and to keep it fairly brief so more class members get a chance to share. If you feel that some class members might not share their testimonies, you might prepare a few stories of people and their testimonies. Two that you might consider are included below.

Parley P. Pratt spoke of the Book of Mormon as the principal means in directing the entire course of his life. In describing his first reading of the book he said:
“I opened it with eagerness, and read its title page. I then read the testimony of several witnesses in relation to the manner of its being found and translated. After this I commenced its contents by course. I read all day; eating was a burden, I had no desire for food; sleep was a burden when the night came, for I preferred reading to sleep.
“As I read, the spirit of the Lord was upon me, and I knew and comprehended that the book was true” (Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, p. 20).
Elder Spencer W. Kimball had a similar experience and spoke of his “adventure” with the Book of Mormon:
“May I tell you of a great adventure? As I traveled to a weekend assignment, I took with me an unusual book which was my constant companion. I could lay it down only to sleep, eat, and change trains. It fascinated me, captivated me, and held me spellbound with its irresistible charm and engaging interest. I have read it many times.
“As I finished it, I closed the book and sat back, absorbed as I relived its contents. Its pages held me, bound me, and my eyes were riveted to them. I knew the book was factual, but as has been said, ‘Truth is stranger than fiction.’ . . .
“I found in it life at its best and at its worst, in ever-changing patterns. I hardly recovered from one great crisis until another engulfed me. . . .
“This dramatic story is one of the greatest ever played by man. . . .
“Its story has a vital message to all people. . . .
“Archaeologists may be excited as they read of ruins of ancient cities, highways, and buildings. . . .
“Journalists will find in this book crisis after crisis, presenting rich material for limitless climactic stories. . . .
“This unparalleled book should intrigue navigators. . . .
“The student of economics will find in this unusual book the disintegration of nations through pride, soft living, and luxuries, terminating finally in hunger and fetters. . . .
“The astronomer and geologist here may see signs in the heavens and new stars come into focus, three days without sun . . . nights without darkness . . . and a vapor of darkness so impenetrable that no glimmer, nor candles, nor torches, nor fire could give any light. . . .
“Engineers will learn . . . that . . . centuries ago, men erected buildings, temples, and highways with cement. . . .
“The psychologists may find studies in human behavior and the workings of the human mind and the rationalizing processes where men convince themselves that ‘good is bad, and that bad is good.’ . . .
“The educator will find treasures of literature and poetry. . . .
“This comprehensive book should be studied by politicians, government leaders, kings, presidents, and premiers to see the rise and fall of empires, and the difference between statesmanship and demagoguery. . . .
“Scientists will read of unusual instruments never patented or remade or duplicated, of elements which, without recharging, illuminate dark spaces indefinitely. . . .
“Military men may learn much in strategy, intrigue, in movements, in morale. . . .
“But after all, it is not the book’s dramatic crises, its history, its narrative that are so important, but its power to transform men into Christlike beings worthy of exaltation.
“It is the word of God. It is a powerful second witness of Christ. And, certainly, all true believers who love the Redeemer will welcome additional evidence of his divinity. . . .
“My beloved friends, I give to you the Book of Mormon. May you read it prayerfully, study it carefully, and receive for yourselves the testimony of its divinity” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1963, pp. 62–65, 67–68).

Joseph Smith Lesson #23: “How Good and How Pleasant It Is … to Dwell Together in Unity”

Joseph Smith Lesson #23: “How Good and How Pleasant It Is … to Dwell Together in Unity”

Attention Activity:
Have your class imagine that your ward has been asked to build a new Church building. Have the class work in groups for about 2-3 minutes to discuss how they are going to plan to build a new church. Spend some time discussing what are the ward’s greatest strengths and greatest limitations in building a new church? Do you think we could do it?

Class Discussion:
Look in the “From the Life of Joseph Smith” section to see what these Saints were asked to build. What is interesting is what Joseph Smith says is the key element in their success. Look in the 1st paragraph on page 275 for what he says allowed them to be able to accomplish the work. (“Unity of purpose and design,…put[ting] their shoulder to the wheel.”) Look at what he says is the outcome of this type of unity in the rest of that paragraph. Ask the class to explain why the last sentence, “Unity is power” is true. Now what is important is that we be able to apply this principle to our own lives. Read the last paragraph on page 274. Point out that Joseph was interested in what lead them to be able to accomplish “this great work.” What is the great work in you need to perform in your families?” Have people think about broad general topics, but also about things that would apply only to your specific family—but if there are things that are too private, don’t have class members share them with the class. So, what are some ways we can build the same kind of unity in our families that this group of Saints in Kirtland experienced?
Ask class members, “What is wrong with the idea ‘I would love total unity because then everyone would see things the same way I do?’” Now look in the 1st paragraph on page 276 for Joseph’s answer. (We more often must sacrifice our way for the Lord’s or another’s way in order to obtain unity.) The third paragraph is another idea to explore. We must sacrifice to the way God wants things done, and focus on His work if we want true unity. You can also discuss the idea on the top of page 278 that unity requires that we do nothing—especially talk about people—in a way that would be hurtful, because it also hurts ourselves. You may want to take some time discussing this principle. Also discuss the third paragraph under the heading “The greatest temporal and spiritual blessings…” Ask, “What role have you seen patience with other’s weaknesses play in your efforts to be unified in the Church and in your families?” Finally point out the great truth on page 279. Unity will take great effort, but will produce “glory and triumph.”

Application:
Have class members share the principle that they think would make the biggest impact in their family if they personally started to live it.

Lesson 47: “To Keep Them in the Right Way" Moroni Teaches on Sacrament, A Friend, A Responsibility, and Nourishing by the Good Word of God.

Lesson 47: “To Keep Them in the Right Way" Moroni Teaches on Sacrament, A Friend, A Responsibility, and Nourishing by the Good Word of God.

Attention Activity:
Have class members write down everything that they did this week to get ready to come to Church today. Starting with when Church ended last week, what all do you have to do to be ready to come back in a week? (You might offer a treat to the person who comes up with the most if you are teaching a younger class. You can also talk about all the things you have to do to get others ready if you are teaching an older class.) Take some time to discuss answers.

Class Discussion:
Moroni gives us a slightly different list of things that we need to do to be ready for Church. “Based on what you know, what do we find in the first 6 chapters of Moroni?” (Give some hints until they mention the sacrament prayers.) Turn to the Sacrament prayers in Moroni 4 and 5. (You might take a minute here and point out in chapter 1 that Moroni wasn’t planning on writing any more. He thought that the end of the Book of Ether was it. But because he isn’t dead, and he has a little space, he decided to write some more. Obviously God wanted us to have this information!) Moroni is going to teach us what we need to do to get ready for the sacrament. Go to Moroni 6:1 and find out the first thing that we needed to do to be ready this week for the sacrament. (The answer is, “brought forth fruit meet that they were worthy of it.” Point out that he is talking about baptism. As the sacrament is the renewal of the baptismal covenant, the preparation ought to be the same.) The answer here is a lot of scripture talk that we don’t use much anymore. Take a minute to discuss what that means. You may want to use the foot note that takes you to TG Baptism, Qualifications for. You can simply discuss it as a class, or if you need to get the students more involved, put them in a group or pair them up and have them look in the Topical Guide for what some of the qualifications are. Now look in verses 2-3 for the rest of the list of things we need to do to prepare for taking the sacrament. Ask, “What are some of the things that you did this week to prepare yourself in this way? What are some of the things that you can do next week to be more prepared to take the sacrament?”
The next thing that Moroni teaches us is what we do once we get to church. Find as many things as you can in verses 6-9 that we should do in church. Take time to discuss the answers. You may ask, “Which item that Moroni lists is one of your favorite parts of church?” (You may point out that these verses match up perfectly with what President Hinckley said every convert needs, a calling, a friend, and nourishment with the good word of God.) I would also point out here that Moroni now uses three chapters to talk about us renewing our baptismal covenant. Particularly in chapter 6 he talks a lot about repentance and forgiveness. Church has never been a place for people to come and show off how righteous or smart they are, but rather a place to come, with humble hearts, admitting shortcomings and hoping to improve.

Application:
What are some things that we can do to be better prepared for the sacrament next week. When has church been a help to you in your efforts to improve your life? What are the best ways you have found to focus on self-improvement while at church?

Lesson #46 “By Faith All Things Are Fulfilled” Moroni's Teaching on Faith

Lesson #46 “By Faith All Things Are Fulfilled” Moroni's Teaching on Faith

This lesson will be done slightly differently. I will put up some of the lesson and then add more in the next couple days, with the promise that it will be done in full by Friday night. Check back for the finishing touches and leave a comment on what you think of the lesson plan.

Attention Activity:
You should get to this lesson around Christmas time, so this will work. Ask the class to write down one physical thing they hope they will get for Christmas if money were not an option—there really is a Santa Claus. (Make sure to use the word “hope”) Now ask, “If you want to get that gift, what do you have to do? (Talk about how you would have to please Santa Claus or whoever is going to get you the gift.) Now assume it is your parents, spouse, or friend that is giving you the gift. What would you do to get them to give you the gift? Now we are going to look at this same process with a spiritual sense. Ask, “If we were making a list of spiritual gifts, what would you hope for most?”

Class Discussion:
Turn to Moroni 7:41. What does he say we should hope for? (eternal life through the atonement) Now turn to Ether 12:28. What other two things do we have to have? (Faith and charity). We will talk about charity in a couple weeks when we get to Moroni 7. Today was are going to talk about one of the other characteristics. “If we want eternal life, what are some of the things that are required of us?” (Try and stick with basic answers here; faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the Holy Ghost, endure to the end.) What is the purpose of all of these signs of faith? (You could use Hebrews 11:6 to point out that we are trying to please God.) “So if we are trying to please God, what do the scriptures teach is the best way to serve Him? (Mosiah 2:17) Another way to say this is that we have to have charity. (Ether 12:28) All three of these principles are connected. We have hope in eternal life so we work toward that goal with faith. The best way to show faith is through charity to others—particularly our families. (Two good quotes about focusing faith on the family are:

It is significant that after inviting us to have charity toward “all men,” the Lord added the phrase “and to the household of faith.” Why? Doesn’t “all men” include the household of faith? Consider the implications when this added phrase is understood to mean more specifically “your very own household of faith.” Unfortunately, there are a few within the Church who exhibit greater charity toward nonfamily members than toward their own spouses and children, siblings and parents. They may show feigned kindness publicly while privately sowing and cultivating seeds of contention, demeaning those who should be closest to them. These things should not be. (Craig A. Cardon, “Moving Closer to Him,” Ensign, Nov 2006, 94–96)

Many believe that for service to be meaningful it should consist of having elaborate plans and forming a committee. Although many of these worthwhile projects help, much of the service needed in the world today relates to our day-to-day associations with each other. Often we find these opportunities within the confines of our own home, neighborhood, and ward.
The following advice, given by the deceitful Screwtape to his nephew Wormwood in C. S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters, describes a common malady afflicting many of us today: “Do what you will, there is going to be some benevolence, as well as some malice, in your patient’s soul. The great thing is to direct the malice to his immediate neighbours whom he meets every day and to thrust his benevolence out to the remote circumference, to people he does not know. The malice thus becomes wholly real and the benevolence largely imaginary. Michael J. Teh, “Out of Small Things,” Ensign, Nov 2007, 35–37

We will now focus on what this chapter teaches about faith. From Ether 12:7-22 there are many examples of faith in the scriptures. Study a few of these examples and ask, "What do we learn about faith that is so important from this story that Moroni would have put it in this chapter?" (One thing that you might want to point out is that every one of these examples show faith by service to toher people. You might even do an activity for the students to find what faithful service was performed in each example.) Ask, "What story of faith would you have used that Moroni did not? Why that story?"

It is hard to teach Ether 12 without talking about verse 27. Try to leave some time for this verse. Bring in some small weights and set them on the table. Ask all the students to guess how many times they could lift the weights. "Why is there a limit? Why can't you go forever? (Your muscles are not strong enough.) What would be the course of action if you wanted to get stronger? (Get to the point that they understand that you have to attack this problem with a show of increased strength.) How is this different from how the Lord teaches about how to overcome our problems? Why do we have to show humility--what some might even call weakness--to get stronger? What does this teach us about the character of God? Why is it so hard to be humble when you face problems? How have you been able to show humility and faith to overcome your weaknesses?