September 13-19
Doctrine and Covenants 102-105
"After much tribulation... cometh the blessing"
Materials: 6 pieces of camping gear, scriptures below printed out and taped to camping gear,
Opening Song: "We are all enlisted" (Hymns, 250)
Opening Prayer:
Attention Activity: Choose a spot in your neighborhood to "travel to" on a walk with your family. As you start walking have each family member take turns choosing fun and different to go down the street (backwards, grapevine, skipping, slow motion running, dancing, etc.) Just before you get to your destination announce that you think everyone should turn back and go home. Walk home with your family without answering any questions why you didn't make it the whole way.
When you get back from your walk, ask your family if they had fun on the journey. Did they enjoy themselves? Explain that often the purpose of a journey is not in getting to the destination, but in the experience you have along the way.
Lesson:
Last week, we talked about trials--that our trials can be good for us because they can help us to overcome adversity and become more Christlike. Blessings from Heavenly Father come after trials too.
In 1834, many members in Jackson County had been violently driven from their homes. This saddened fellow members in Kirkland and so, 200 Ohio saints put a group of men together to march to Missouri in hopes of restoring the homes to the Missouri saints. They called the endeavor the Camp of Israel or Zion's Camp. When they were approaching Jackson County, Joseph had a prompting to stop the company and return to Kirkland. Many of them were confused and saw the mission as a failure. Others however, realized that their faith had grown through the experience of Zion's camp. They were able to recognize the blessings of the Lord that had come through a great trial.
Directions: Before FHE, gather together 6 different pieces of camping equipment (i.e. tent, sleeping bag, lantern, canteen, backpack, bug spray, camp chair, etc.) Print the scriptures below. And tape 1 scripture to each piece of camping gear. Have family members choose an item and read the scripture on it. As you go through each scripture, read the discussion points and questions listed below to help your family learn more about Zion's Camp.
#1: D&C 103: 12 For after amuch tribulation, as I have said unto you in a former commandment, cometh the blessing. 13 Behold, this is the blessing which I have promised after your tribulations, and the tribulations of your brethren—your redemption, and the redemption of your brethren, even their restoration to the land of Zion, to be established, no more to be thrown down.
#2 D&C 104:33 And, inasmuch as they are faithful, I will multiply blessings upon them and their aseed after them, even a multiplicity of blessings.
#3 D&C 105: 3 But behold, they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I required at their hands, but are full of all manner of evil, and do not aimpart of their substance, as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted among them; 4 And are not aunited according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom; 5 And aZion cannot be built up bunless it is by the cprinciples of the dlaw of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself.
#4 D&C 105: 14 For behold, I do not require at their hands to fight the battles of Zion; for, as I said in a former commandment, even so will I fulfill—I will afight your battles.
#5 D&C 105:18 But inasmuch as there are those who have hearkened unto my words, I have prepared a blessing and an aendowment for them, if they continue faithful.
#6 D&C 105:19 19 I have heard their prayers, and will accept their offering; and it is expedient in me that they should be brought thus far for a atrial of their bfaith.
Discussions Points and Questions:
#1 D&C 103: 12 Heavenly Father gives us blessings after tribulations and trials. That's why we are here on earth, to be tried. If we are faithful in our trials, the Lord has promised us blessings in eternity. What blessings have you received because of a hardship in your life?
#2 D&C 104:33 Heavenly Father wants to give us a lot of blessings. The season of Thanksgiving is not to far away now. What can we do to show more gratitude? What blessings are you thankful for?
#3 D&C 105:3-5 The city of Zion has still not been built in Jackson County. Here the Lord makes it clear that in order for that to happen, we need to live the principles of the celestial kingdom. What can we do to better live celestial principles?
#4 D&C 105: 14 The saints in Zion's Camp were marching to Missouri kind of looking for a fight. The Lord says he will fight our battles and destroy His enemies. He wants us to fight against Satan by joining the Lord's battalion in the gathering of Israel "to gather together for the redemption of my people" (v.16) It is through missionary and temple work that we can fight for Zion.
#5 D&C 105:18 At this time the Kirtland temple was not yet complete. The Lord promised and still promises that those who heed his words will be given a blessing and an endowment. How has your life been blessed because of the temple?
#6 D&C 105: 19 Zion's Camp did not make it to their destination, but the Lord wanted them to still do the journey. He called it a "trial of faith." What's an example from your own life when your learned from the experience more than the outcome?
Even though Zion's Camp was something of a misery and a failure, it also acted as a training tool for many of the future leaders of the church.
President Wilford Woodruff (1807–1898) testified of the blessings he received as a participant in Zion’s Camp: “I was in Zion’s Camp with the Prophet of God. I saw the dealings of God with him. I saw the power of God with him. I saw that he was a Prophet. … When the members of Zion’s Camp were called, many of us had never beheld each other’s faces; we were strangers to each other and many had never seen the prophet. … We accomplished a great deal, though apostates and unbelievers many times asked the question, ‘What have you done?’ We gained an experience that we never could have gained in any other way. We had the privilege of beholding the face of the prophet, and we had the privilege of traveling a thousand miles with him, and seeing the workings of the Spirit of God with him, and the revelations of Jesus Christ unto him and the fulfilment of those revelations. The experience [we] obtained in travelling in Zion’s Camp was of more worth than gold” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff [2011], 135, 138).
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, no longer calls 200 members at a time to march to Missouri, but it does try to make similar faith building experiences for it's young members. Experiences like young mens and young women's camps, youth conferences, YSA camps, treks, and FSY camps are all meant to be faith building experiences for the youth of the church. If someone in your family has participated in one of these experiences, have them share how it strengthened their faith.
Closing Song: "Count your blessings" (Hymns, 241)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: S'more Truffle Recipe here
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