Lesson 36: D&C 94-97

 August 30- September 5
Doctrine and Covenants 94-97
"For the Salvation of Zion"

Materials: scriptures
Opening Song: "Do as I'm doing" (Children's Songbook, 276)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Play a few rounds of "mother may I" with your family. 

Lesson:

In January 1833, the Lord commanded the saint to build a temple in Kirtland; but after almost half year, the saints had not started building the temple. In June, the Lord revealed D&C 95 and told the saints he was disappointed they had not yet obeyed. Read D&C95:3.

Story: Imagine that want to do something fun like play a video game. You ask your  Mom or Dad and they tell you to clean your room. Your room is rather messy: toys, clothes, trash, etc. You really don't want to clean it. You put a few easy toys on your shelf but then you look around the room at the clothes. They aren't all dirty but you throw them in your hamper because you hate folding them. There is some other stuff out too, but by that point, you just want to be done so you kick some of it under your bed and hide the rest under your dresser. The floor looks clean enough now so you tell your Mom its done. Later, Mom finds the mess. She's upset and scolds you for not being obedient and for lying. You get a punishment for your actions.

Why is your mom upset? Did you deserve to have a negative consequence? Does this mean she doesn't love you? 

When your parents or teachers or even your boss scolds you for doing something wrong this is called being "chastened." The Lord also did this to the saints when they failed to show initiatve and start building the Kirtland temple. He also chastens us when we sin and don't repent. Obviously Heavenly Father loves us very much. He want what's best for us. 

Light and Truth by Simon Dewey

Read D&C 95: 1-2. Christ says that by rebuking us when we are bad, he is preparing a way for us to be delivered from temptation and to be forgiven. 

Have a family member read the following quote: "Divine chastening has at least three purposes: (1) to persuade us to repent, (2) to refine and sanctify us, and (3) at times to redirect our course in life to what God knows is a better path" (D. Todd Christofferson, "As Many As I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten" General Conference, April 2011).

Obedience to our Heavenly Father's commandments is like divine fire insurance. We are protected from the Lord's wrath when we listen. "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise" (D&C 82:10) What can you do to be more obedient?

Elder Christofferson also said, "I would like to speak of one particular attitude and practice we need to adopt if we are to meet our Heavenly Father’s high expectations. It is this: willingly to accept and even seek correction. Correction is vital if we would conform our lives “unto a perfect man, [that is,] unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). Paul said of divine correction or chastening, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” (Hebrews 12:6). Though it is often difficult to endure, truly we ought to rejoice that God considers us worth the time and trouble to correct."

Discussion Questions:

1. How can we do as Elder Christofferson suggests and seek correction?

2. What can we do to willingly accept correction from Heavenly Father? 

3. How do we know we are being chastened from the Lord?

Video: Obedience Brings Blessings. 

Blessings come by being obedient. Being chastening also brings blessings because it reminds us  to be obedient. Our Heavenly Father is a parent who wants what is best for his children. Sometimes we must be disciplined in order to learn and grow. He does because He loves us and wants us to become like He is. 

Bear your testimony. 

Closing Song: "I feel my Savior's love" (Children's Songbook, 74) 
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Pineapple upside down cake

Lesson 35: D&C 93

 August 23-29
Doctrine and Covenants 93
"Receive of His fulness"

Materials: card stock picture of christ, flashlight, letter cards, tape, scriptures, glue, activity list printed
Opening Song: "Teach me to walk in the light" (Children's Songbook, 177)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Before FHE print out the picture below on thick paper or card stock. Place the paper face down on the floor and ask your family if they can see the picture on the other side without flipping it over. Using a flashlight, hold the paper off the ground slightly and shine the light through. Can they see the image now? What is it?

Jesus is the light of the world. What does light do? Light dispels the darkness, it also brings truth and knowledge. Just like it's easier to see the picture when we shine the light, we find Truth through the light of Christ.

Lesson:

In 1833, the saints were preparing to build the Kirtland temple. As they were making preparations Joseph Smith received a revelation about the nature of God, his glory, light and truth. This is section 93 of the Doctrine and Covenants. In D&C 93, The Lord teaches how we can come to know Him and obtain a fulness of glory, as well as how to receive truth and light and to bring up their children in truth and light. 

We know what light is and we know what truth is, but what is glory? Glory is defined as magnificence, beauty, and high renown and honor won by achievements (google search). God has glory and he has offered us glory in the worlds to come. 

Activity: Glory Light and Truth 

Directions: Before FHE print out the cards below. Print out the list below and glue each corresponding activity on the back.  Tape the letters up where your family can see them. Have your family members take turns choosing a letter and doing the activity on the back.

G- Read D&C 93:21-22. Those who receive celestial glory are joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father will bless them with the same blessings as Jesus.

L- Read D&C 6-7; 16 The John in these verses is John the Baptist. He testified of Jesus's glory meaning he is a witness of the honor and renown of Christ's achievements and majesty. 

O- Read D&C 8-10

R- Read D&C 93: 36

Y- “Search out the truth of the written word; listen for and receive the truth declared by living prophets and teachers; enrich your minds with the best of knowledge and facts. Of those who speak in his name, the Lord requires humility, not ignorance. Intelligence is the glory of God; and no man can be saved in ignorance [see D&C 93:36; 131:6]” (Teachings: Joseph F. Smith, 314, 318–19).

L- Sing "The Lord is my light" (Hymns, 89)

I- Read D&C 1-2. All children are born with the light of Christ. If we learn to use the light of Christ, we will be able to see His face and know who He is.

G- Read D&C 93:37 

H- “Light dispels darkness. When light is present, darkness is vanquished and must depart. More importantly, darkness cannot conquer light unless the light is diminished or departs. When the spiritual light of the Holy Ghost is present, the darkness of Satan departs" (Robert D. Hales, “Out of Darkness into His Marvelous Light,” Ensign, May 2002, 70–71).

T- Read D&C 93:40 

T- “I have heard a few parents state that they don’t want to impose the gospel on their children but want them to make up their own minds about what they will believe and follow. They think that in this way they are allowing children to exercise their agency. What they forget is that the intelligent use of agency requires knowledge of the truth, of things as they really are (see D&C 93:24). Without that, young people can hardly be expected to understand and evaluate the alternatives that come before them" (Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “Moral Discipline,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 107).

R- Read 93: 26

U- The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: “God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker, and is caught up to dwell with Him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 210–11).

T- Read D&C 93:30-32. We all have been given our agency to act for ourselves. We need to use our agency to seek out and receive light and truth in order to receive a fulness of glory. 

H- Tell of a time when you were blessed for telling the truth? How do you think that experience helped you become more Christlike?

So why do you think we need to know about God's glory, intelligence, light, truth and all of the other "stuff" we talk about in the church? Christ tells us, "I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and knowwhat you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness. For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace" (D&C 93:19-20). 

Learning about Christ brings light and truth to our lives. As we strive to become like Christ and use our agency to receive his light, we will be on the path to receive His glory--to have eternal life. Bear your testimony. 

Closing Song: "Oh say what is truth?" (Hymns, 272)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Carrot Cake bars recipe here