November 15-21
Doctrine and Covenants 133-34
"Prepare ye for the coming of the Lord"
Materials: posterboard, 26 plastic cups, scissors, tape, printout strips, tissue paper (in country colors), tape
Opening Song: "The Eleventh Article of Faith" (Children's Songbook, 130)
Opening Prayer:
Attention Activity: Have your family recite the 12th article of faith.
Lesson:
As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in being good citizens. We believe in being obedient to laws including God's eternal laws and the laws of our government. Why is it important to be a good citizen?
Historically, the early saints had a tricky relationship with government. Joseph Smith and other leaders had been arrested numerous times on false charges. The saints had been illegally driven from their homes and suffered unimaginable violence with no help from the government. After all this hardship, church leaders were inspired to make a declaration clarifying the Church's beliefs on government. D&C 134 was not revelation received by Joseph Smith but was written by Oliver Cowdery.
D&C 134 can be broken down into 3 categories: the government's rights responisibilities, mankind's rights and responsibilities, and religions rights and responsibilities. To learn more about what D&C 134 teaches, we're going to play a game.
Activity: D&C 134 Punchboard
Directions: Before FHE prepare a punch poster board with 26 cups. Print and cut out the strips below and place into the cups. For a good tutorial on how to make a punch poster board click here.
Have family members take turns punching the cups and reading the passage inside to learn about the truths taught in D&C 134.
· Governments were made for the for the benefit of mankind.
· Government requires people like police officers and judges to enforce and administer laws.
· Laws should be administered in equity and with justice.
· Government has no right to interfere in how people worship God, as long as that worship is not infringing on the rights of others.
· Officers of the law should restrain crime, not control freethinking. They should punish the guilty, not suppress freedom.
· Government should protect the inherent and inalienable rights of the people.
· Government has the right to punish acts of sedition and rebellion.
· Government should enact laws that protect the public while respecting personal freedom.
· Government should protect the innocent and punish the guilty.
· Government should protect religious freedoms and beliefs, as long as religious opinions aren’t supporting sedition or conspiracy.
· Punishments should fit the nature of the crime committed.
· Government should not mingle with religious influence or show favoritism to religious sects.
· Mankind should be held accountable for the actions in relation to the law.
· Mankind has individual rights of conscience (freethinking), property, and protection of life.
· Mankind should sustain and uphold their government and respect the law.
· Mankind should show respect to rulers and magistrates in government.
· Mankind should step forward and bring offenders against good laws to punishment.
· Mankind should make appeals to the law for civil disputes.
· Mankind has the right to defend themselves, their friends, their property, and their government from unlawful actions when immediate appeal to the law cannot be made.
· Religion is instituted by God.
· Divine laws are given of heaven for spiritual concerns and are administered by God.
· Religious opinions cannot infringe on the rights and liberties of others, nor promote sedition or conspiracy.
· Religious influence should not interfere with civil government.
· Religious societies have the right discipline their members for religious matters through disfellowship or excommunication. They do not have the right to punish members by taking away property, taking their life, endangering them, or physically harming them.
· Religions have the right to preach the gospel to all the nations of the earth.
· Religions do not have the right to promote unlawful or unjust actions.
Laws are an innate part of Heavenly Father's Plan. Jesus Christ sacrificed himself to satisfy the divine law of justice. Laws and government here on earth are also necessary to live in a peaceful society. People have the responsibility to keep laws. However, governments have the responsibility to make and enforce good laws that protect people's inherent rights. One of those inherent rights is the right of religion.
The United Nations, which is a collective body of different countries has agreed, “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance” (Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18).
Why is Freedom of Religion important to you? Share you're testimony on religious freedom.
Closing Song: "My Country Tis of Thee" (Hymns, 339) or a patriotic song from your nation.Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Patriotic Fruit Skewers recipe here
