Questions from today's lesson:
1. What is going on at this stage with the Prophet Joseph and Oliver Cowdery? What are they doing and where are they doing it and why?
2. What is significant in verse 2 about Oliver having "manifested [to him] by my Spirit in many instances? What is significant about many instances?
3. Why is something manifested by the Spirit more powerful than through other means?
4. Why is God a God of laws, covenants, and contracts?
5. What is a covenant or contract?
6. How do are covenants protect us similarly to the way a contract protects us?
7. Does God break his covenants with us, Why or why not?
8. What is the foundation on which the church is built?
9. What is the rock?
10. How is the world currently ripening in sin and how can being built on the "foundation" help us?
Monday, September 29, 2014
Monday, September 22, 2014
Agenda-Monday, September 22, 2014 D&C 9
How would seeking guidance from the Lord help you make important decisions?
What would the Lord ask Oliver to do?
According to president Smith,why was Oliver unable to continue as he had started?
What are some ways that fear, or a lack of faith, could prevent us from receiving or acting on revelation from the Lord.
According to D&C 9:7, what did Oliver suppose was the only thing he would need to do to receive revelation while he translated?
What did the Lord teach Oliver he could do before asking for guidance?
What do you think it means to study it out in your mind?
What does verse eight tell us about how the Lord answers our questions?
What is a stupor of thought? What should you do once you experience one?
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Agenda-September 19, 2014 doctrine and covenants eight
Opening song-called to serve
Opening prayer
Scripture by Ashley LaMatia
Doctrine
If we ask God, and we work, we can receive revelation.
Opening prayer
Scripture by Ashley LaMatia
Doctrine
If we ask God, and we work, we can receive revelation.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Agenda-September 18, 2014, doctrine and covenants 6 and 7
Opening song
Opening prayer
Scripture by Kelsie Barker
Doctrines:
1. As we seek answers from heavenly father, he will give us instruction.
2. The Lord will enlighten our minds through the Holy Ghost.
3. God knows our thoughts and the intensive our hearts.
4. When we receive revelation, we should treasure it up in our hearts.
Lightbulb and sunrise drawing
How is turning on a light ball different from watching the sunrise?
Elder David a Bednar of the Quorumn of the 12 apostles use this analogy to teach about personal revelation. He taught that sometimes revelation happens quickly, completely, and all at once like turning on a light in a dark room, but most frequently revelation comes in small increments over time.
Read Joseph Smith history one: 66-67 silently and identify how heavenly father help Joseph and his efforts to translate more quickly.
What did the Lord dealer response to Joseph's plea for someone to help them translate?
Oliver Cowdrey came from Palmyra, New York, more than 140 miles away, to meet Joseph in harmony, Pennsylvania.
Read doctrine and covenants 6:5-6, 8 silently, look for indications that the Lord knew all of her's desires.
Have you ever received an answer from God and then later experience concerns or confusion regarding the answer?
The Lord told Oliver Cowdrey that Oliver had a gift of Revelation, read doctrine and covenants 6:14-17, 20 silently looking for what the Lord taught all of her about receiving and recognizing revelation.
What truths did the Lord teach Oliver about receiving and recognizing revelation?
Why is it important for us to know that the Lord hears and answers our prayers?
What do you think it means that the Lord will enlighten our minds?
Why is it important to know that only God knows our thoughts and intents of our hearts?
What do you think it means to treasure of the Lords words?
Read doctrine and covenants 6:21-24, search for another way the Lord communicate with us.
What can we learn from the verse about another way the Lord speaks to us?
From your experience what does it feel like to have the Lord speak peace to our minds?
Elder Bednarek carry the analogy of the sunrise one step further to clarify how communication from the Lord often comes.
How might we sometimes overlooked or dismiss the Lords answers to our prayers?
What advice would you give to someone who wants to learn how to better recognize when the Lord is speaking to him or her?
It was not until after this revelation was received all of her told Joseph about "the night" that the Lord referred to in doctrine and covenants 6:22
After we had received this revelation, Oliver Cowdrey stated to me that after he had gone to my fathers to board, and after the family had communicated to him concerning my having obtained the plates, that one night after he had retired to bed he called upon the Lord to know if these things for so, and the Lord manifested to him that they were true, but he kept the circumstance entirely secret, and mentioned it to no one; so that after this revelation was given, he knew that the work was true, because no being living knew of the thing alluded to in the revelation, but God and himself.
If you were all of her, what feelings might you have had as you heard the responsibility the Lord was placing upon you?
What truths or principles from this council can we apply in our lives?
What are some examples of how a person might look to Christ in every thought?
Nothing has been revealed about the specifics of John's ministry as a translated being.
Thanks Billy Bayne
Email William.bayne@gmail.com
Opening prayer
Scripture by Kelsie Barker
Doctrines:
1. As we seek answers from heavenly father, he will give us instruction.
2. The Lord will enlighten our minds through the Holy Ghost.
3. God knows our thoughts and the intensive our hearts.
4. When we receive revelation, we should treasure it up in our hearts.
Lightbulb and sunrise drawing
How is turning on a light ball different from watching the sunrise?
Elder David a Bednar of the Quorumn of the 12 apostles use this analogy to teach about personal revelation. He taught that sometimes revelation happens quickly, completely, and all at once like turning on a light in a dark room, but most frequently revelation comes in small increments over time.
Read Joseph Smith history one: 66-67 silently and identify how heavenly father help Joseph and his efforts to translate more quickly.
What did the Lord dealer response to Joseph's plea for someone to help them translate?
Oliver Cowdrey came from Palmyra, New York, more than 140 miles away, to meet Joseph in harmony, Pennsylvania.
Read doctrine and covenants 6:5-6, 8 silently, look for indications that the Lord knew all of her's desires.
Have you ever received an answer from God and then later experience concerns or confusion regarding the answer?
The Lord told Oliver Cowdrey that Oliver had a gift of Revelation, read doctrine and covenants 6:14-17, 20 silently looking for what the Lord taught all of her about receiving and recognizing revelation.
What truths did the Lord teach Oliver about receiving and recognizing revelation?
Why is it important for us to know that the Lord hears and answers our prayers?
What do you think it means that the Lord will enlighten our minds?
Why is it important to know that only God knows our thoughts and intents of our hearts?
What do you think it means to treasure of the Lords words?
Read doctrine and covenants 6:21-24, search for another way the Lord communicate with us.
What can we learn from the verse about another way the Lord speaks to us?
From your experience what does it feel like to have the Lord speak peace to our minds?
Elder Bednarek carry the analogy of the sunrise one step further to clarify how communication from the Lord often comes.
How might we sometimes overlooked or dismiss the Lords answers to our prayers?
What advice would you give to someone who wants to learn how to better recognize when the Lord is speaking to him or her?
It was not until after this revelation was received all of her told Joseph about "the night" that the Lord referred to in doctrine and covenants 6:22
After we had received this revelation, Oliver Cowdrey stated to me that after he had gone to my fathers to board, and after the family had communicated to him concerning my having obtained the plates, that one night after he had retired to bed he called upon the Lord to know if these things for so, and the Lord manifested to him that they were true, but he kept the circumstance entirely secret, and mentioned it to no one; so that after this revelation was given, he knew that the work was true, because no being living knew of the thing alluded to in the revelation, but God and himself.
If you were all of her, what feelings might you have had as you heard the responsibility the Lord was placing upon you?
What truths or principles from this council can we apply in our lives?
What are some examples of how a person might look to Christ in every thought?
Nothing has been revealed about the specifics of John's ministry as a translated being.
Thanks Billy Bayne
Email William.bayne@gmail.com
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Agenda-Wednesday, September 17, 2014 doctrine and covenants 5
Opening hymn
Opening prayer
Scripture-Peter
Update on Martin Harris
What is something you have only heard about but would like to see with your own eyes? Why would you like to see it?
Read doctrine and covenants 5:1 silently, looking for what Martin Harris wanted to see for himself.
Would you like to see the golden plates? Explain why.
Martin Harris history
Doctrine and covenants 5:2-3
Look for how the Lord told Joseph Smith to answer Martin Harris's request.
How did the Lord tell Joseph to answer Martin?
Why couldn't Joseph Smith show Martin Harris the plates?
Why has the Lord not allowed to golden plates to be displayed before the world?
According to Pres.
Joseph Fielding Smith:
frequently when people hear the story of the coming forth of the book of Mormon they ask if the plates are in some museum where they may see them. Some of them with some scientific training, suggest that if the scholars could see and examine the plates and learn to read them, they would then bear witness to the truth of the book of Mormon and the veracity of Joseph Smith, and the whole world would then be converted.
Doctrine and covenants 5:5-10, looking for why the Lord told Joseph Smith not to display the plates before the world
What reasons did the Lord give for why Joseph Smith should not display the plates before the world?
What do we learn from doctrine and covenants 5:10 about Joseph Smith's unique calling?
Why do you think it is important for us to have a testimony of this truth?
Doctrine and covenants 5:11
Looking for what the Lord said he would do to support Joseph Smith's testimony of the book of Mormon.
How is it helpful to know that in addition to Joseph Smith, the Lord called three witnesses who saw the plates and heard the Lord to clear their truthfulness?
In addition to directing Joseph Smith and the three witnesses to bear testimony, the Lord provided another means by which we can know of the truthfulness of the book of Mormon.
Doctrine and covenants 5:16-18, looking for what the Lord promised those who believe in the book of Mormon.
What did the Lord say he would send upon those who believe his words?
Statement by Ezra Taft Benson:
We each need to get our own testimony of the book of Mormon to the Holy Ghost. Then her testimony, coupled with the book of Mormon, should be shared with others so that they, too, can know through the Holy Ghost of its truthfulness.
Write in your journals your testimony of the book of Mormon, or what you can do to gain a testimony and strengthen their witness of the book of Mormon.
Doctrine and covenants 5:21-22, replace the name Joseph with your own name. What is the Lord teaching in these verses?
How can someone avoid yielding, "to the persuasions of men"?
What did the Lord promised the Joseph Smith would receive if he would be faithful even if he was slain?
Draw a lightbulb, what do we have to do to make the lightbulb work?
Just like there are several steps to turning on a light bulb, Martin Harris learned that there would be several steps to receiving the witness of the plates he desired from the Lord.
Doctrine and covenants 5:23-24, looking for the conditional promise the Lord gave to Martin Harris using the words if and then.
What do you think it means to pray and humility, faith, and sincerity?
How do you think praying with humility faith and sincerity might prepare us to receive answers from the Lord?
Doctrine and covenants 5:25-26, look for what the Lord expected Martin Harris to do after becoming a witness to the book of Mormon.
Doctrine and covenants 5:27-28, 32, look for additional counsel and warnings that the Lord gave to Martin Harris.
What did Laura Council award Martin Harris to do?
What does the Lord say will happen tomorrow and hear us if he does not humble himself and receive a witness from the Lord?
How might we relate the counseling doctrine and covenants 5:32 to ourselves?
Opening prayer
Scripture-Peter
Update on Martin Harris
What is something you have only heard about but would like to see with your own eyes? Why would you like to see it?
Read doctrine and covenants 5:1 silently, looking for what Martin Harris wanted to see for himself.
Would you like to see the golden plates? Explain why.
Martin Harris history
Doctrine and covenants 5:2-3
Look for how the Lord told Joseph Smith to answer Martin Harris's request.
How did the Lord tell Joseph to answer Martin?
Why couldn't Joseph Smith show Martin Harris the plates?
Why has the Lord not allowed to golden plates to be displayed before the world?
According to Pres.
Joseph Fielding Smith:
frequently when people hear the story of the coming forth of the book of Mormon they ask if the plates are in some museum where they may see them. Some of them with some scientific training, suggest that if the scholars could see and examine the plates and learn to read them, they would then bear witness to the truth of the book of Mormon and the veracity of Joseph Smith, and the whole world would then be converted.
Doctrine and covenants 5:5-10, looking for why the Lord told Joseph Smith not to display the plates before the world
What reasons did the Lord give for why Joseph Smith should not display the plates before the world?
What do we learn from doctrine and covenants 5:10 about Joseph Smith's unique calling?
Why do you think it is important for us to have a testimony of this truth?
Doctrine and covenants 5:11
Looking for what the Lord said he would do to support Joseph Smith's testimony of the book of Mormon.
How is it helpful to know that in addition to Joseph Smith, the Lord called three witnesses who saw the plates and heard the Lord to clear their truthfulness?
In addition to directing Joseph Smith and the three witnesses to bear testimony, the Lord provided another means by which we can know of the truthfulness of the book of Mormon.
Doctrine and covenants 5:16-18, looking for what the Lord promised those who believe in the book of Mormon.
What did the Lord say he would send upon those who believe his words?
Statement by Ezra Taft Benson:
We each need to get our own testimony of the book of Mormon to the Holy Ghost. Then her testimony, coupled with the book of Mormon, should be shared with others so that they, too, can know through the Holy Ghost of its truthfulness.
Write in your journals your testimony of the book of Mormon, or what you can do to gain a testimony and strengthen their witness of the book of Mormon.
Doctrine and covenants 5:21-22, replace the name Joseph with your own name. What is the Lord teaching in these verses?
How can someone avoid yielding, "to the persuasions of men"?
What did the Lord promised the Joseph Smith would receive if he would be faithful even if he was slain?
Draw a lightbulb, what do we have to do to make the lightbulb work?
Just like there are several steps to turning on a light bulb, Martin Harris learned that there would be several steps to receiving the witness of the plates he desired from the Lord.
Doctrine and covenants 5:23-24, looking for the conditional promise the Lord gave to Martin Harris using the words if and then.
What do you think it means to pray and humility, faith, and sincerity?
How do you think praying with humility faith and sincerity might prepare us to receive answers from the Lord?
Doctrine and covenants 5:25-26, look for what the Lord expected Martin Harris to do after becoming a witness to the book of Mormon.
Doctrine and covenants 5:27-28, 32, look for additional counsel and warnings that the Lord gave to Martin Harris.
What did Laura Council award Martin Harris to do?
What does the Lord say will happen tomorrow and hear us if he does not humble himself and receive a witness from the Lord?
How might we relate the counseling doctrine and covenants 5:32 to ourselves?
Monday, September 15, 2014
Agenda Tuesday, September 16, 2014 - doctrine and covenants 4
Opening song
Opening prayer
Scripture-Noah Prusse
Doctrines:
1. If we serve God with all of our heart might mind and strength we may stay in blameless before him at the last day.
2. As we labor diligently to bring others into Jesus Christ, we can also receive salvation for ourselves.
3. Our efforts to develop divine attributes will help us qualify to assist in the work of the Lord.
Have you ever felt the desire to serve God and wanted to know his will regarding how you could best assistant doing his work?
Explain about Joseph Smith's father's desire to help in the work.
What word the Lord used to describe the restoration of the Gospel in the latter days?
In what ways was the restoration of the Gospel "marvelous"?
Read doctrine and covenants 4:2, looking for what the Lord asks of those who embark in his service?
What does the word embark mean?
According to this verse, what does the Lord expect of those who serve him?
What does it mean to do something with all your heart, might, mind and strength?
What actions are attributes might you expect to seeing a person who is striving to serve God with all of his heart, might, mind, and strength?
According to Doctrine and covenants 4:2 what blessing comes from serving God with all of your heart might mind and strength?
What might it feel like to stand in God's presence and be blameless?
Doctrine and covenants 4:3, look for attribute the individuals need in order to assist the Lord and his work.
What attribute does a person need to have in order to assist the Lord and his work?
What calling was Joseph Smith Senior being called to?
In addition to full-time missionary service what are some ways in which we can assist the Lord and his work?
Grain object lesson
Read doctrine and covenants 4:4 in this verse the Lord compares the people of the world to a field of grain, look for how the Lord describes the field.
What does the Lord say about his field (or the people of the world)?
What do you think is the meaning of the phrase "the field is white already to harvest"?
Sickle drawing
What do you think it means to thrust in your sickle with all your might?
According to doctrine and covenants 4:4 what blessing comes to those who labor diligently to bring others to Jesus Christ?
How does helping others, to Jesus Christ help us, to him as well?
Name a few occupations and qualifications for those occupations.
Doctrine and covenants 4:5 look for the attributes to qualify a person to assist in the Lords work.
Doctrine and covenants 4:6 note any additional attributes.
How my developing each of the attributes inverses 5-6 help us be more effective in assisting in the Lords work?
Which of the attributes listed in these verses would you like to develop more fully? Why?
Doctrine and covenants 4:7
What does it mean to ask and knock?
How do you think prayer can help us develop divine attributes?
Opening prayer
Scripture-Noah Prusse
Doctrines:
1. If we serve God with all of our heart might mind and strength we may stay in blameless before him at the last day.
2. As we labor diligently to bring others into Jesus Christ, we can also receive salvation for ourselves.
3. Our efforts to develop divine attributes will help us qualify to assist in the work of the Lord.
Have you ever felt the desire to serve God and wanted to know his will regarding how you could best assistant doing his work?
Explain about Joseph Smith's father's desire to help in the work.
What word the Lord used to describe the restoration of the Gospel in the latter days?
In what ways was the restoration of the Gospel "marvelous"?
Read doctrine and covenants 4:2, looking for what the Lord asks of those who embark in his service?
What does the word embark mean?
According to this verse, what does the Lord expect of those who serve him?
What does it mean to do something with all your heart, might, mind and strength?
What actions are attributes might you expect to seeing a person who is striving to serve God with all of his heart, might, mind, and strength?
According to Doctrine and covenants 4:2 what blessing comes from serving God with all of your heart might mind and strength?
What might it feel like to stand in God's presence and be blameless?
Doctrine and covenants 4:3, look for attribute the individuals need in order to assist the Lord and his work.
What attribute does a person need to have in order to assist the Lord and his work?
What calling was Joseph Smith Senior being called to?
In addition to full-time missionary service what are some ways in which we can assist the Lord and his work?
Grain object lesson
Read doctrine and covenants 4:4 in this verse the Lord compares the people of the world to a field of grain, look for how the Lord describes the field.
What does the Lord say about his field (or the people of the world)?
What do you think is the meaning of the phrase "the field is white already to harvest"?
Sickle drawing
What do you think it means to thrust in your sickle with all your might?
According to doctrine and covenants 4:4 what blessing comes to those who labor diligently to bring others to Jesus Christ?
How does helping others, to Jesus Christ help us, to him as well?
Name a few occupations and qualifications for those occupations.
Doctrine and covenants 4:5 look for the attributes to qualify a person to assist in the Lords work.
Doctrine and covenants 4:6 note any additional attributes.
How my developing each of the attributes inverses 5-6 help us be more effective in assisting in the Lords work?
Which of the attributes listed in these verses would you like to develop more fully? Why?
Doctrine and covenants 4:7
What does it mean to ask and knock?
How do you think prayer can help us develop divine attributes?
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Agenda September 15, 2014 D&C 10
Opening song
Opening prayer
Scripture
Doctrine:
1. As we pray always, we will have power to overcome Satan and those who serve him.
2. Satan desires to destroy the work of the Lord and our souls.
3. The wisdom of God is greater than the cunning of the devil.
Reminder to text in readings
Review D&C three the loss of the 116 pages including D&C 10:1-2
D&C 10:3-4
Look for Council of the Lord gave as Joseph Smith began to translate again.
Why do you think Joseph Smith needed to be counseled not to labor or to translate more than he had strength?
How can the counseling doctrine and covenants 10 four guide us as we serve the Lord?
Draw a mouse trap
How can a device like this represent Satan's intentions toward us?
Doctrine and covenants 10:5
Look for what the Lord commanded the Prophet Joseph Smith to do in order to escape Satan.
What can we learn from this verse?
Doctrine 1. As we pray always, we will have power to overcome Satan and those who serve him.
How can prayer help us to conquer Satan and escape those who uphold his work?
Students to share examples of how prayer at help them resist Satan's temptations.
Read doctrine and covenants 10:8-19
Identify the plan of the wicked individuals who were then in possession of the manuscript.
What was their plan?
Doctrine and covenants 10:20-29
Look for what these verses teach us about Satan's aims, and look for strategies Satan uses to accomplish his aims.
What did we learn from these verses about Satan's purposes?
Doctrine 2. Satan desires to destroy the work of the Lord and our souls.
How does Satan do this?
What evidence have you seen that Satan uses deception, anger, flattery, and lying to destroy the work of the Lord and our souls?
How can being aware of Satan's intentions and methods help us avoid an escape his traps?
What can you do to avoid and escape Satan's traps?
Doctrine and covenants 10:30-37
Because of wicked people's plans to destroy the work of God and Joseph Smith's reputation, the Lord commanded Joseph not to re-translate the portion of the plates from which the lost hundred and 16 pages had been translated.
Doctrine and covenants 10:38-42
Look for what the Lord commanded Joseph to translate instead of having him read translate the portion of the place from which the lost hundred and 16 pages had been translated.
What the Lord commands Joseph to translate and why?
Read Words of Mormon 1:3-7
Doctrine and covenants 10:43
Look for an important truth the Lord wanted Joseph Smith understand.
What is the truth?
Doctrine 3. The wisdom of God is greater than the cunning of the devil.
What does the word cunning mean?
How does the Lords plan to replace the lost manuscript illustrate this truth?
Doctrine and covenants 10:44-45
Why are the small plates of Nephi of greater worth than what was lost with the hundred and 16 manuscript pages?
How does knowing that God prepared a way to compensate for the hundred and 16 lost manuscript pages help you more fully trust him?
Read doctrine and covenants 10:62-63
Look for what the Lord said that the book of Mormon would bring it to light.
What will the book of Mormon bring to light?
According to verse 63 how will the Lord use the true points of his doctrine to overcome the work of Satan?
Doctrine and covenants 10:67, 69-70
Note phrases that are meaningful to you in light of what you have learned today.
Opening prayer
Scripture
Doctrine:
1. As we pray always, we will have power to overcome Satan and those who serve him.
2. Satan desires to destroy the work of the Lord and our souls.
3. The wisdom of God is greater than the cunning of the devil.
Reminder to text in readings
Review D&C three the loss of the 116 pages including D&C 10:1-2
D&C 10:3-4
Look for Council of the Lord gave as Joseph Smith began to translate again.
Why do you think Joseph Smith needed to be counseled not to labor or to translate more than he had strength?
How can the counseling doctrine and covenants 10 four guide us as we serve the Lord?
Draw a mouse trap
How can a device like this represent Satan's intentions toward us?
Doctrine and covenants 10:5
Look for what the Lord commanded the Prophet Joseph Smith to do in order to escape Satan.
What can we learn from this verse?
Doctrine 1. As we pray always, we will have power to overcome Satan and those who serve him.
How can prayer help us to conquer Satan and escape those who uphold his work?
Students to share examples of how prayer at help them resist Satan's temptations.
Read doctrine and covenants 10:8-19
Identify the plan of the wicked individuals who were then in possession of the manuscript.
What was their plan?
Doctrine and covenants 10:20-29
Look for what these verses teach us about Satan's aims, and look for strategies Satan uses to accomplish his aims.
What did we learn from these verses about Satan's purposes?
Doctrine 2. Satan desires to destroy the work of the Lord and our souls.
How does Satan do this?
What evidence have you seen that Satan uses deception, anger, flattery, and lying to destroy the work of the Lord and our souls?
How can being aware of Satan's intentions and methods help us avoid an escape his traps?
What can you do to avoid and escape Satan's traps?
Doctrine and covenants 10:30-37
Because of wicked people's plans to destroy the work of God and Joseph Smith's reputation, the Lord commanded Joseph not to re-translate the portion of the plates from which the lost hundred and 16 pages had been translated.
Doctrine and covenants 10:38-42
Look for what the Lord commanded Joseph to translate instead of having him read translate the portion of the place from which the lost hundred and 16 pages had been translated.
What the Lord commands Joseph to translate and why?
Read Words of Mormon 1:3-7
Doctrine and covenants 10:43
Look for an important truth the Lord wanted Joseph Smith understand.
What is the truth?
Doctrine 3. The wisdom of God is greater than the cunning of the devil.
What does the word cunning mean?
How does the Lords plan to replace the lost manuscript illustrate this truth?
Doctrine and covenants 10:44-45
Why are the small plates of Nephi of greater worth than what was lost with the hundred and 16 manuscript pages?
How does knowing that God prepared a way to compensate for the hundred and 16 lost manuscript pages help you more fully trust him?
Read doctrine and covenants 10:62-63
Look for what the Lord said that the book of Mormon would bring it to light.
What will the book of Mormon bring to light?
According to verse 63 how will the Lord use the true points of his doctrine to overcome the work of Satan?
Doctrine and covenants 10:67, 69-70
Note phrases that are meaningful to you in light of what you have learned today.
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