The Doctrine and Covenants contains revelations from God.
In November 1831, Church leaders decided to put Joseph Smith’s revelations in a book for everyone to read. Today those revelations are printed in the Doctrine and Covenants.
Possible Activities
Tell the children about how Joseph Smith’s revelations came to be printed in a book (see “Chapter 23: The Doctrine and Covenants,” Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 90–92, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Share your testimony that the Doctrine and Covenants contains revelations that can help us today. Share one of your favorite verses from the Doctrine and Covenants.
Show the children each of the standard works one at a time, and as you hold each one up share a little about how we got it (see each book’s entry in Guide to the Scriptures).
When you hold up the Doctrine and Covenants, share with the children what makes this book of scripture unique (for example, it contains revelations given in our day).
When it comes to the part of the lesson where you focus on the Doctrine Covenants, you can pass out these mini books for everyone to read and follow along together. You can print in black and white for the children to color if you don't have time, they can take home a mini coloring book.
You can watch this video if it will help you figure out how to fold this mini book.
I can be baptized when I am eight years old.
In Doctrine and Covenants 68:25–28, the Lord told Joseph Smith that children should learn to have faith in Jesus Christ, repent, and be baptized when they are eight years old. He also said that they should learn to pray and keep God’s commandments.
Here is an under sheet, it would be fun to attach velcro for those little hands.
Possible Activities
Invite the children to count to eight using their fingers. What is special about being eight years old? Help the children recognize that when they are eight years old, they can be baptized. Using words and phrases found in Doctrine and Covenants 68:25–28, share with them some of the things the Lord wants them to learn about before they are eight (see also Articles of Faith 1:4). Help them understand concepts that might not be familiar to them.
Have the child/ren count the candles and put them on the cake. Sing “Happy Birthday” blow the candles off the and let the other child/ren count the eight candles and put them on the cake.
Sing with the children a song about baptism, such as “Baptism” or “When I Am Baptized” (Children’s Songbook, 100–101, 103). Ask the children to share how they feel about being baptized and what they can do to prepare.
Teach the Doctrine: Older Children
As you prepare to teach, you might review Saints, 1:140–43 or “Chapter 23: The Doctrine and Covenants” (Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 90–92).
Possible Activities
Show the children the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Help the children make a list on the board of what makes each book of scripture different and what makes them similar. If they need help, share with them the descriptions of these books in Guide to the Scriptures. Ask the children how we can know that the scriptures are true. What do we learn from Doctrine and Covenants 67:4, 9 about the revelations the Lord gave to Joseph Smith?
You don’t need to print this page if you have all the books available. You can just lay the books on the ground and sort under them in rows.
Put the stripes of paper from the other page, in a bag or bowl and have the children pull them out. If they aren’t sure which book they go under, have them read the opening page or Guide to the scriptures. You can also look at the grid I provided, to see if you got it right.
Share a verse from the Doctrine and Covenants that strengthens your “testimony of the truth of these commandments” (verse 4). Give the children opportunities to share a favorite verse of their own. Explain to the children that the Church leaders at this time decided to publish their testimony of the revelations Joseph Smith had received. When they did, one of the leaders, Levi Hancock, wrote next to his name, “Never to be erased” (see “Testimony, circa 2 November 1831,” Revelation Book 1, 121, josephsmithpapers.org). Why might Levi Hancock have wanted his name “never to be erased” from the published testimony? Give the children an opportunity to write their testimonies of what they’ve learned so far in the Doctrine and Covenants.
Enjoy!
See you next week.
Crystal