Lesson 49: 137-138

November 29 - December 5
Doctrine and Covenants 137-138
"The vision of the redemption of the dead"

Materials: Joseph F. Smith Photo, plan of salvation print out, missionary name tags printed and cut out, art supplies, scriptures
Opening Song: "I love to see the temple" (Children's Songbook, 95)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity:

Print out the plan of salvation picture below and have your family label the different parts of the Plan of Salvation. Point out the Spirit World circle. Today, we going to talk about the spirit world. The spirit world is where everyone goes after they die. 

Lesson:

Show a picture of Joseph F. Smith like the one above. Joseph F. Smith was the prophet in 1918. He was son of Hyrum Smith and Joseph Smith Jr.'s nephew. At General Conference in 1918 Pres. Smith announced that he had seen several visions over the past few months. He wrote an account of his visions. It was reviewed by the first presidency and quorum of the twelve apostles, and added as Section 138 of the Doctrine and Covenants. 

President Smith's vision was about the Spirit World. The first part of his vision (verses 11-28),

President Smith describes a vision of the Savior visiting the spirit world. After Jesus died on the cross and before he was resurrected, His spirit went to the spirit world. The spirit world was full of people who had already died. Have a family member read D&C 138: 15-17. The righteous people who had lived were excited for Jesus to come to the spirit world. Jesus came to them in the spirit world and "there he preached to them the everlasting gospel, the doctrine of the resurrection and the redemption of mankind form the fall, and from individual sins on conditions of repentance" (verse 19). 

While Jesus was in the spirit world, He did not visit the wicked, unrepentant, or rebellious. But the Lord did not forget about them. In the second part of D&C 138 (verses             29-60), President Smith describes the missionary work going forth in the spirit world "among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them" (verse 29). Have a family member read D&C 138:30-31. Who teaches the wicked in heaven? (photo credit: Robert T. Barrett, Jesus Teaching in the Spirit World)

All of the righteous people that Christ taught while He was in the spirit world were essentially called as missionaries to proclaim the gospel to those "who had died in their sins." Through this revelation we learn that missionary work is happening on both sides of the veil or before and after we die. When those who are being taught in heaven accept the gospel and are repentant of the sins, they are ready for the baptismal ordinance to be performed, but they no longer have a body. In the temple, we perform priesthood ordinances in their behalf so that they can receive those ordinances and blessings. 

Activity: Missionary Name Tags

Directions: Print and cut out  the name tags below and have family members decorate a missionary name tag. Have everyone pin them on their shirts when they are finished.

Whether in this life or the next, everyone of you will get to be a missionary. We have been asked by our prophet to join the Lord's battalion and help gather Israel. This is what we talked about today, the work that we do as missionaries and as temple patrons enables us to help those to accept Christ as their savior and receive the ordinances necessary to return to Heavenly Father. President Joseph F. Smith's vision tells us that all of Heavenly Father's children will have the chance to accept the gospel. Bear your testimony. 

Closing Song: "Teach me to walk in the light" verse 2 (Children's Songbook, 177)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Holliday sugar cookie bars recipe here

Lesson 48: D&C 135-136

November 22-28
Doctrine and Covenants 135-136
He "has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood"

Materials: pencils and paper, video clip 
Opening Song: "We thank thee oh God for a prophet" (Hymns, 19)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity:

Use this link from The Friend to do a tutorial on how to "Draw Joseph Smith." Have family members create their own drawing with pencils and paper. 

Lesson:

In June of 1844, Joseph was once again locked up in a jail for crimes he did not commit. He was in a Carthage Jail with his brother Hyrum as well as John Taylor and Willard Richards. Joseph had encountered hard times in the past, but he knew somehow that this time was different. He had a feeling he would not return alive saying that he was like a lamb going to the slaughter. 

The mob came in the afternoon on June 27th and gunshots were heard by the men from the upper floor of the jailhouse. To learn more about that fateful day, we will watch a video. 

Show "Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration" from time stamp 00:55:25-1:00:00 (length 5 min 35 seconds)

or

"Carthage Jail: The Martyrdom of Joseph Smith, Carthage, Illinois" from BYU journey publications (This is a more detailed description; length 15 min. 35 seconds)

After the deaths of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the saints were in mourning for many weeks. William W. Phelps wrote a poem published in the Nauvoo newspaper entitled, ''Joseph Smith" which we now know as "Praise to the Man." You can see the original poem here. 

John Taylor had been in Carthage Jail with Joseph that day and witnessed the death of the prophet. He wrote his account of events now included as D&C 135. Read D&C 135: 3. President Taylor remarked, that Joseph Smith is second only to Jesus Christ in the work of salvation for this world. 

This year we have talked a lot about Joseph Smith. We have heard stories, watched videos, and read revelations given to him. What have you learned about Joseph Smith? What have you learned from his teachings?

Activity: Using the back of the paper you drew on earlier, take a few minutes to write your testimony of the prophet, Joseph Smith. Keep this written testimony in your scriptures or another special place. 

Bear your testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith and the restoration of the gospel. 

Closing Song: "Praise to the man" (Hymns, 27) 
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Pumpkin spice cupcakes recipe here