Lesson 7: D&C 12-13; JSH 1:66-75

 February 8-14
Doctrine and Covenants  12-13; Joseph Smith History 1:66-75
"Upon you my fellow servants"

Materials: Pictures from the church website below, scriptures, whiteboard and marker
Opening Song: "The priesthood is restored" (Children's Songbook, 89)
Opening Prayer:

John the Baptist Conferring the Aaronic Priesthood (The Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood) © Del Parson, Courtesy of LDS Media Library

Attention Activity:

Show the following pictures below taken from the church website. What do all three pictures have in common? These 3 pictures show priesthood ordinances. Ask your family members what order of the priesthood is in charge of these ordinances? The sacrament and baptisms are ordinances carried out by the Aaronic Priesthood. 

Lesson:

On May 15, 1829, while Joseph and Oliver were working on The Book of Mormon translation, they read Jesus's sermon in 3 Nephi about baptism. This inspired them to have a lot of questions about baptism. Who has the authority to baptize? How is it done? They knew this was important so they decided to ask the Lord. 

They went into a small patch of woods to pray near Joseph and Emma's home in Harmony, Pennsylvania to ask God about baptism when an angel appeared. 

Activity: Name the angel game

Give your family clues about the angel sent to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in order. When they think they know who the angel is, they should raise their hand. 

1. When he was only 8 days old, an angel ordained him for a sacred mission
2. He grew up in the desert, eating locusts and honey for food and wearing clothes made from camel hair. 
3. His father died to keep him safe from being murdered. 
4. He was baptized as a child.
5. His parents were Zacharias and Elizabeth.
6. He has been called "a burning and a shining light" and "the voice that cries in the wilderness."
7. He was imprisoned and beheaded for offending the royal family.
8. He prepared the way for the Messiah.
9. He was Jesus's cousin.
10. He baptized Jesus.

Who was it that came to Earth to answer Joseph and Oliver's questions about baptism? Read the first 5 lines of JSH 1:72. What do you think John the baptist say about baptism? Read JSH 1:69. He conffered upon them the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood. The Aaronic Priesthood is in charge of what three things? List these on a whiteboard: ministering of angles, gospel of repentance, and baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. 

John the Baptist conferred these keys upon Joseph Smith and explained that the Gift of the Holy Ghost would be given later. He instructed Joseph to baptize Oliver in the nearby Susquehanna River. Then Oliver baptized Joseph. They also took turns ordaining each other to the Aaronic priesthood as John directed. 

Activity: "Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood" Video

How has your life been blessed because of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood? Because the Aaronic Priesthood was restored we are able to be baptized and renew our baptismal covenants by partaking in the sacrament. Bear your testimony of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood.

Closing Song: "When Jesus Christ was baptized" (Children's Songbook, 102)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Ocean water floats recipe here