Lesson 39: D&C 106-108

 September 20-26
Doctrine and Covenants 106-108 
"To have the heavens opened"

Materials: paper, art supplies, whiteboard and marker, paper strips on priesthood duties prepared, a bag, apostle match game 
Opening Song: "Follow the Prophet" last verse (Children's Songbook, 110)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity:

Give each family member a piece of paper and art supplies. Have them draw a picture of President Nelson.

President Nelson by Caytie Jensen

image used with permission

 

Lesson:

In 1835, the Lord called 12 men to be the first apostles in the latter-days. These men needed further instruction and direction and so, Joseph received further revelations about the priesthood. Truths are often revealed to us a little bit at a time or "line upon line, precept on precept." The duties, purposes, and other aspects pertaining to the priesthood were revealed little by little throughout early church history. D&C 106-108 contain revealed more about priesthood authority and ordinances.

Activity: Sort Game

Directions: Print the lines below and cut out into strips. Place the strips in a bag. On a whiteboard, label 4 sections: "the First Presidency", "the 12 Apostles", "The Seventy", and "Bishops". Split your family into 2 teams. Each team will take turns choosing a strip from the bag and placing it on the correct office of the priesthood. Give the team 30 seconds to decide. If the team is correct, that team gets 1 point. If they get it wrong, the other team gets 30 seconds to steal. 

The President and First Presidency:

• have a right to officiate in all the offices in the church. (v.9)
• chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and ^cupheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church, form a quorum (v. 22)
• appointed of the ^aHigh Priesthood to preside over the priesthood (v. 65)
• the ^aPresiding High Priest over the High Priesthood of the Church (v. 66)
• to ^apreside over the whole church, and to be like unto ^bMoses (v. 91)
• a ^aseer, a ^brevelator, a translator, and a ^cprophet, having all the ^dgifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the church (v. 92)

The 12 Apostles:

• special ^cwitnesses of the name of Christ in all the world (v. 23)
• a quorum, ^aequal in authority and power to the three presidents (v. 24)
• a ^bTraveling Presiding High Council, to officiate in the name of the Lord...  agreeable to the institution of heaven; to build up the church, and regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations, first unto the ^cGentiles and secondly unto the Jews (v. 33)
• being ^asent out, holding the keys, to open the door by the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and first unto the Gentiles and then unto the Jews (v. 35)
• to call upon the ^aSeventy, when they need assistance, to fill the several calls for preaching and administering the gospel, instead of any others (v. 38)
• to ^bordain and set in order all the other officers of the church (v. 58)

The Seventy:

• called to ^bpreach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling (v. 25)
• form a quorum, equal in ^aauthority to that of the Twelve special witnesses or Apostles (v. 26)
• act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the traveling high council, in building up the church and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations, first unto the Gentiles and then to the Jews (v. 34)
• have seven presidents to preside over them... the seventh president of these presidents is to preside over the six (v.93-94)
• And also other seventy, until seven times seventy, if the labor in the vineyard of necessity requires it (v. 96)
• ^btraveling ministers, unto the Gentiles first and also unto the Jews (v. 97)

Bishops:

• administers all ^btemporal things (v. 68)
• must be chosen from the ^bHigh Priesthood, unless he is a ^cliteral descendant of Aaron (v. 69)
• Nevertheless, a high priest, that is, after the order of Melchizedek, may be set apart unto the ministering of temporal things, having a ^aknowledge of them by the Spirit of truth (v. 71)
• to be a ^ajudge in Israel, to do the business of the church, to sit in ^bjudgment upon transgressors upon testimony as it shall be laid before him according to the laws, by the assistance of his ^ccounselors, whom he has chosen or will choose among the elders of the church (v. 72)
• a ^ajudge, even a common judge among the inhabitants of Zion, or in a stake of Zion, or in any branch of the church where he shall be ^bset apart unto this ministry, until the borders of Zion are enlarged and it becomes necessary to have other bishops or judges in Zion or elsewhere (v. 74)
• preside over forty-eight ^apriests, and sit in council with them, to teach them the duties of their office, as is given in the covenants (v. 87)

We have a big church event coming up in a few weeks. What is it? During General Conference, we get to hear from many of the people who hold the offices we talked about today. What can we do to prepare for General Conference? What can we do to show Heavenly Father that we are willing to follow the prophet?

Game: Apostle Match Game 

Play a round of the apostle match game at this link.

In a few weeks, we will be asked to sustain our church president, his counselors, and the apostles as prophets, sears, and revelatory  When we raise our hands to do this, we are showing our support and our willingness to follow their counsel. When we harken to the leadership of the church, we are doing what Christ wants us to do. He said, "by mine own voice, or by the voice of mine servants, it is the same." Bear your testimony of priesthood leadership. 

Closing Song: "We thank thee oh God, for a prophet" (Hymns, 19)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Caramel Apple Pretzel Pie Recipe here