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

Lesson 6: D&C 10-11

 February 1-7
Doctrine and Covenants 10-11
"That you may come off conqueror"

Materials: video, whiteboard and marker, scriptures
Opening Song: "The Golden Plates" (Children's Songbook, 86b)
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: D&C 10:52

Attention Activity: 

Play a round of 20 questions with your family with the item being The Book of Mormon. 

Lesson: 

Joseph Smith started translating the Book of Mormon in 1828. He read from the gold plates using the Urim and Thummim to translate the writing in  Reformed Egyptian to English. As he said the words, Joseph would have a scribe write them down. Joseph used three different scribes while translating The Book of Mormon: Emma Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and Martin Harris. These three people did not get to see the plates while Joseph read them. They had to believe what Joseph said about the plates was true--they had to rely on faith. 

Martin Harris's wife did not have faith. She thought Joseph Smith was lying about the gold plates and her husband was wasting his time in helping him to translate. Martin asked if he could borrow the manuscript of what had been translated so far to show his wife what good work they were doing. 

Watch the video: "The work of God" from the churchofjesuschrist.org. Ask a family member to briefly recap what happened in the video. 

Activity: What can we learn?

On a whiteboard or piece of paper have a family member list things we can learn from Martin Harris and Joseph Smith's trial with the loss of the 116 pages of "The Book of Lehi." Some ideas are listed below.

• We need to accept the Lord's answers, even if we don't agree.
• We need to stand up for our faith and beliefs, especially with people we are closest to.
• We need to ask forgiveness when we do something contrary to the will of the Lord.
• God has a plan for everything--even the folly of man. 
• When the Lord inspires us to do something we cannot understand we do it anyway. 
• Satan can not interfere in God's plans.

How do each of these truths influence you and your family? Just like a young child should accept "no" as an answer after asking for a candy from her parent, we need to accept answers we don't like when the Lord gives them. We need to remember that He is in control and ultimately knows whats best for us and best for the kingdom of God. 

Satan tried to interfere with the translation of The Book of Mormon on more than one occasion. Mobs tried to hurt Joseph and steal the plates. The devil influenced the hearts of those close to Joseph like his father-in-law, Isaac Hale, who said, "I consider the whole of it a delusion" (Saints 1, "The Gift and Power of God"). Satan orchestrated the theft of the 116  pages in order to discredit Joseph Smith's translation. 

Even through all this tribulation, Heavenly Father's work in the restoration of the gospel pressed on the translation was completed. Read 1 9:5-6. Remind your family that the Lord had prepared for the loss of the manuscript 2,400 years previously by asking Nephi to include the small plates and again by instructing Mormon to include them in the compilation of the gold plates. 

Bear your testimony of The Book of Mormon. Remind your family that we can learn a lot of different lessons by learning about the struggles of the early saints like Martin Harris. 

Closing Song: "Sweet is the work" (Children's Songbook, 147)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Easy homemade oatmeal cream pie recipe here

Lesson 5: D&C 6-9

 January 25-31
D&C 6-9
"This is the spirit of revelation"

Materials: Slips of letter papers printed and cut with letters written on the back; 1 flashlight and 3 other objects that give off light; scripture slips printed, cut out and taped to objects. 
Opening Song: "Lead Kindly Light" (Hymnal, 72)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity:

Hold up a flashlight. What is this? Why do we need it? What enables it to work? Light has many meanings in the church like the light of Christ. Today we are going to talk about light in reference to knowledge from the Lord. What is it called when you receive knowledge from the Lord? It's called personal revelation. 

Lesson:

Read the following excerpt from the Come Follow Me for Individuals and Families 2021 Manual: "In spring 1829 Oliver Cowdery traveled to Harmony and volunteered to be Joseph Smith’s scribe as he translated the Book of Mormon. Oliver now had a close view of the revelatory process of translation. The experience thrilled him, and he wondered if he could also be blessed with a gift to translate. The Lord allowed him to attempt to translate, but receiving revelation was new for Oliver, and his attempt did not go well. He still had a lot to learn, and Doctrine and Covenants 6, 8, and 9 show that the Lord was willing to teach him" (page 19).

While on earth it is necessary for us to receive personal revelation just like Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. We need personal revelation to receive a witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, gain our own testimonies of the gospel, and to receive guidance in our callings and personal decisions. 

Share a time when you received a personal revelation. What did you do before receiving it to prepare you? How did know you had received a personal revelation? 

Before you can receive any revelation from God you have to be ready. This means you have to be prepared and be worthy. Before Joseph Smith received the first vision, he had already searched the scriptures and designed a place and time to pray. He humbled himself and asked God his question with an earnest heart. Heavenly Father gave Oliver Cowdery counsel to do something similar. 

Activity: Before revelation letters- Print and cut out each of the strips below and write the first letter on the back. Have each family member take turns choosing and reading each slip. 

K- Keep the Commandments. We have to be worthy to receive personal revelation by keeping the commandments. If you feel like you're having a hard time receiving answers, ask yourself if their is anything you need to repent for? (D&C 6:6)

Z- Seek for the cause of Zion. We should be seeking for revelation to help aid in God's kingdom. (D&C 6:6)

W- Seek for Wisdom. We should ask for revelation out of a need for added knowledge and not for material gain or riches. (D&C 6:6)

F- Faith. We need to have faith in Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ in order to receive personal revelation. (D&C 8:1)

H-Honest Heart. We need to be sincere when we ask God for answers. (D&C 8:1)

B- Believing. We have to truly believe that revelation will come--that you will receive guidance.  (D&C 8:1)

P- Ponder. We have to ponder everything we have studied, felt, and heard. When the Lord does reveal things to us we have to study it out in our minds. (D&C 9:7-8)

Now that we know what we have to have before we receive revelation the next thing to do would be to ask of God. How do we ask God something? We can pray. We can also study out the topic using the scriptures and other gospel resources. Once we have done those things, the Lord will give us personal revelation through the Holy Ghost. But how can we recognize that revelation?

Activity: The Light of Revelation- Before FHE, have prepared 4 objects that give light like flashlights, candles, lightbulbs, lamps, etc. Print and cut the 4 strips below and tape each to one of the items you've gathered. Have each family member take turns picking an item and reading about how one might receive revelation. 

6:15 Behold, thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy ^amind; and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been ^benlightened by the ^cSpirit of truth;

6:23 Did I not speak ^apeace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater ^bwitness can you have than from God?

8:2 Yea, behold, I will ^atell you in your mind and in your ^bheart, by the ^cHoly Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

8:8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must ^astudy it out in your ^bmind; then you must ^cask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your ^dbosom shall ^eburn within you; therefore, you shall ^ffeel that it is right.
9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a ^astupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is ^bsacred save it be given you from me.

Heavenly Father will give you personal revelation through the power of the Holy Ghost by enlightening your mind, bringing peace to your mind, dwelling in your heart, and by giving you a warm feeling in your heart when you ask if you are right. Often, knowing how to identify the Spirit speaking to you is half the battle. Have you ever had any of these happen to you? Ask you family member to share experiences how they received revelation. 

Russel M. Nelson chose personal revelation as one of his topics during his first General Conference as president of the church. He said, "I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that “if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal...My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. Let this Easter Sunday be a defining moment in your life. Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly." ("Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives," April 2018). 

Bear your testimony of the truth of President Nelson's words and of personal revelation. 

Closing Song: "The Lord is My Light" (Hymnal, 89)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Andes Mint Fudge recipe here 

Lesson 4: D&C 3-5

 January 18-24 
Doctrine and Covenants 3-5
"My Work Shall Go Forth" 

Materials: coloring page, cards below printed, cut, and pasted together.
Opening Song: "Called to serve" (Hymnal, 249)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity:

Have your family color a picture featuring gardening like the one below. What are the children in this picture doing? They are working hard on a garden, helping good things to grow. 

 

Lesson:

The Lord values hard work--he values effort and service. He wants us all serve him and aide him in his work. What is Heavenly Father's work? Read Moses 1:39. He wants all of his children to receive eternal life or exaltation. How can we help him do this?

Joseph Smith's father Joseph Smith Sr. desired to serve God. He wanted to help Heavenly Father in his work any way he could so, a revelation was given to him in February of 1829--Section 4 of the D&C.

Activity: Harvest Cards

Directions print and cut out the cards below. Glue each card with a scripture to the back of one of the picture cards. Place the around the room or on the floor. Have each family member take turns picking a card and leading the discussion questions on the back. 

Our download from Google Docs here. 

D&C 4 is often applied to full time missionaries--it's sort of their credo. However, it really applies to every member of the church. As a member you have been called to take Christ's name upon you and be an example to others. We must use our heart, might, mind, and strength to help us and try to embody the qualities listed in Section 4. 

Ponder which of the Christlike qualities you should work on in order to better qualify you to do His work. Tonight, say a prayer for guidance to work on that attribute and for missionary/teaching opportunities to be presented to you. 

Closing Song: "We'll Bring the World His Truth" (Children's Songbook, 172)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: "Every Minion a Missionary" Twinkies link here