Opening song
Opening prayer
Scripture
Follow up from yesterday, the rainbow promise, see Institute manual.
Doctrines:
1. The prophecies of the Lords servants will come to pass.
2. As we take responsibility for and preserve that which the Lord has given us, He will extend His protection and help.
3.
What significant event has happened in your life in the last few years that will affect your life going forward?
How has this event influenced your character or changed your future?
In today's lesson we are going to learn about a five year span in the life of Joseph Smith and significant events that would change his future and character as he went forward as the prophet.
Read silently Joseph Smith history 1:55-58
Identify significant events that occurred to Joseph Smith during this time period.
Significant object from home (object lesson)
Have you ever seen someone who neglects or fails to take care of something that they've been given? Why do you feel some people do this?
Joseph Smith history 1:59
What significant items was Joseph Smith given?
What charge did Moroni give Joseph Smith concerning the plates?
What does it mean to, "use all endeavors to preserve them"?
Fill in the blank, as we take responsibility and preserve that which the Lord has given us, he will ________________________.
What are some examples of sacred trusts the Lord has given you?
And Joseph Smith history 1:60, identify a sentence that illustrates the Lord fulfilled his promise to Joseph Smith.
Read the story from Lucy Mack Smith's journal about how Joseph endeavored to care for the plates and how the Lord helped him. Note that when Joseph Smith got the plates from Moroni he initially hid them in a birch log approximately 3 miles from the family farm.
"Joseph, on coming to them, took them from their secret place, and, wrapping them in his linen frock, placed them under his arm and started for home.
"After proceeding a short distance, he thought it would be more safe to leave the road and go through the woods. Traveling some distance after he left the road, he came to a large windfall, and as he was jumping over a log, a man sprang up from behind it and gave him a heavy blow with a gun. Joseph turned around and knocked him down, then ran at the top of his speed. About half a mile farther he was attacked again in the same manner as before; he knocked this man down in like manner as the former and ran on again; and before he reached home he was assaulted the third time. In striking the last one, he dislocated his thumb, which, however, he did not notice until he came within sight of the house, when he threw himself down in the corner of the fence in order to recover his breath. As soon as he was able, he arose and came to the house. He was still altogether speechless from fright and the fatigue of running" (in Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, ed. Preston Nibley [1958], 108).
When of you received help for being true to the sacred trust the Lord has given you?
The following statement is from Elder D Todd Christofferson
"Be wise with what the Lord gives you. It is a trust. …"Rather than drifting into carelessness, may your life be one of increasing exactness in obedience. I hope you will think and feel and dress and act in ways that show reverence and respect for sacred things, sacred places, sacred occasions" ("A Sense of the Sacred" [Church Educational System fireside for young adults, Nov. 7, 2004], 9, 10;speeches.byu.edu).
Read Joseph Smith 1:61-62 follow along and look for ways the Lord blessed Emma and Joseph Smith for being responsible in keeping sacred things.
How did the Lord bless Joseph and his wife at this time?
Discuss Martin Harris taking a copy of the book of Mormon characters to New York.
Joseph Smith history 1:63-65 compare to Isaiah 29:10-12
Read the Joseph Smith history passage first, then read the heading to Isaiah 29, and then the reference to Isaiah 29:10-12.
What truth do these passages teach us about the Lords foreknowledge and the prophecies of his servants?
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