Dec 1-7, Come Follow Me, Youth lesson, Sunday School

Doctrine and Covenants 137; 138:30–37, 57–60

All of Heavenly Father’s children will have the opportunity to choose eternal life.

Alvin Smith, the Prophet Joseph’s beloved brother, passed away six years before God restored the authority to baptize. The common understanding among some Christians in 1836 was that if a person died without being baptized, that person could not go to heaven. Joseph wondered about Alvin’s eternal salvation for many years—until he received the revelation in Doctrine and Covenants 137.

If you have a younger class, you can pass this around, have them read until the font changes, and then pass it to the next person.

This is a free print:

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Many people today have similar questions. Why would God require ordinances and covenants when so many people never have the opportunity to receive them? What would you say to someone who wonders this? How would you build their faith in God and His requirements for salvation? Look for truths you could share in section 137 and in section 138:30–37, 57–60. You could also look for these truths expressed in the hymn “The Glorious Gospel Light Has Shone” (Hymns, no. 283) and in President Henry B. Eyring’s message “Gathering the Family of God” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 19–22).

As you study and ponder, you might record your impressions by completing sentences like these:

• Because of these revelations, I know that Heavenly Father _____________.

• Because of these revelations, I know that the Father’s plan of salvation_________.

• Because of these revelations, I want to__________ .

See also Saints, 1:232–35.

At the end of the lesson, have the students ponder and record these questions. Here is a record-keeping sheet.

This is a free print.

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The rest is available in my store, at the bottom of the page.

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I think it would be fun to play a Memory game. But instead of just matching pictures, they match Doctrine to the Principles taught.

I recommend printing all the Doctrine cards on one color of cardstock and the Principles on another.

It will look something like this:

There are 48 total cards. You can do two rounds or just put all the cards together.

I do have pictures to help them make their match, but THERE ARE DUPLICATED PICTURES. Tell the students to make sure they still look up the scriptures. They can't totally count on the pictures; it's just an extra hint or help.

I tried to keep the principles basic, and I hope that just giving the youth a little bit to think about will help them find more principles being taught. Thus helping their team earn an extra point. I would also allow an extra point if they can share a personal experience pertaining to that principle.

If you DON'T want to make this a competitive game, that can be easily done by just opening it to the entire class instead of teams, and asking questions after each match is completed, like: "Can you think of a personal experience in your life that has to do with this principle being taught? Or can you find another principal being taught in that scripture?

Here is a sample of some matching cards:

I will have a KEY included.

Further instructions:

1. Put all the cards on the board, separating them into doctrine and principles.

2. Get out a dark colored marker and write on the back of the cards the numbers 1-48. That way, the youth can say "7 and 35" to see if they match. It will make it faster.

3. For the sake of time, just let them try to match pictures. If they think they have a match, look up the scriptures and see whether they align with the principles. (There are duplicate pictures.) Look to the KEY and make sure they got it right.

4. If they got it right, they get one point for their team and one extra point if they either find another principle or share a personal experience they have had with that principle.

5. Remove the cards from the board when the match is completed and continue until all cards are removed or class time is over.

6. Before class: You can remove cards that you don't like or if you think 48 is just too many, just make sure you also remove the matching card.

This is already included in the lesson bundle, but you can purchase it separately by clicking on the image below.