Doctrine & Covenants Section 18 Revelation to Joseph Smith the Prophet, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer, given at Fayette, New York, June 1829. According to the Prophet, this revelation made known “the calling of twelve apostles in these last days, and also instructions relative to building up the Church.”
I Know the Scriptures are True
Perhaps family members could share some of the “many instances” (verse 2) in which the Spirit has manifested to them that the scriptures are true, just as He did for Oliver Cowdery. How can your family “rely upon the things which are written” (verse 3) in the scriptures? How can you build your family’s foundation on the “rock” (verse 4) of the gospel?
Friend September 2015 “A New Feeling” – Child feels Holy Ghost while reading the scriptures
Each of Us is of Great Worth to God.
Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–13
- 10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;
- 11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.
- 12 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance.
- 13 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!
Many people struggle with feelings of low self-worth; others are unkind toward people who are different from them. The powerful message of Doctrine and Covenants 18:10 can change how we view ourselves and people around us.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “D&C 18”
- As you and your children read Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–13, consider substituting each other’s names in place of the words “soul,” “souls,” and “all men.” You could then talk about how these verses help us understand how Heavenly Father [and Jesus] feels about each of us.
- You could also ask your children about things that people consider valuable. Or you might show them something that is valuable to you. How do we treat things that are valuable to us? Then let them take turns looking in a mirror. As they do, tell each child that they are a child of God and they are of great worth.
Help the children think of things that people consider valuable. Then let the children take turns looking in a mirror, and as they do, tell each child that he or she is a child of God and of great worth. Testify that to Heavenly Father, they are more valuable than all the things they thought of earlier.
Find the things in the picture that show Heavenly Father and Jesus’s love for us.
Friend February 2020 “Funstuff: Blessing from Jesus” Match the cards to finish each sentence. Examples: Because Jesus died for us… … everyone who dies will live again. Because Jesus paid for our sins… …we can repent and be forgiven.
Ensign July 2010 “Jesus Christ, Our Perfect Friend”
- How can we show others that “the worth of [their] souls is great” in our sight?
Friend May 2021 “A Birthday Crown” Wyatt wonders if he is special because he gets to wear a birthday crown on his birthday. His father tells him he is special because he is a child of God and that everyone else is too. When a girl was afraid to go down the slide, Wyatt remembered that everyone is special to Heavenly Father and he encouraged her and praised her.
- To emphasize that all people are of great worth to Heavenly Father, your children could look at the picture at the end of this outline while you read Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–13. Singing together a song like “Every Star Is Different” (Children’s Songbook,142–43) could help reinforce this point.
Liahona February 2021 “Your Worth is Great” Family Study Fun: Circle of Worth
Circle of Worth: Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were counseled to remember that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:10). As we help others to see their own worth, we bring them nearer to Christ while becoming closer to Him ourselves.
- Invite family members to sit in a circle.
- Each person will take a turn standing in the middle of the circle.
- Everyone sitting in the circle will tell the middle person, “You matter to me because ___________,” and share specific details of why that person is of worth to them.
- The middle person will then choose their own statement of personal worth: “I matter to God and myself because __________.”
Discussion: Why is it important to remember our own worth as well as the worth of those around us? If Christ were in the circle, what would He say about us? Read Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–13 and discuss what Christ went through because of how much He loves and values us.
Friend February 2021 “Scripture Time Fun”
Friend February 2021 “Scripture Time for Little Ones” For Doctrine and Covenants 18–19: Help your little ones say, “I am important to Heavenly Father.” Then sing “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2) and have your children give themselves a hug when they sing the words, “I am a child of God.”
Friend November 2020 “We are Moving Forward”
For additional teaching ideas see “Child of God“
Sharing the gospel brings great joy.
Doctrine and Covenants 18:13–16
Have you noticed that when you share something like a treat or a toy, you feel good? Of course you have. You can share things other than treats or toys, like knowledge. Sharing knowledge can bring great joy—not just to the receiver but also to the giver. The best kind of knowledge to share is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Lord called Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer to preach the gospel. He explained the happiness they would receive:
- 13 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!
- 14 Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people.
- 15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
- 16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “D&C 18”
- To inspire your children to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, you could talk with each other about experiences when you found something that you wanted to share with your friends or family. Why did you want to share it, and how did sharing it make you feel?
Friend December 2017 “Warm Hands, Warm Heart” Monroe notices some of her friends don’t have gloves to keep their hands warm at recess, so she brings some gloves to share.
- Then you could read Doctrine and Covenants 18:13, 16. What brings the Lord joy?
Most of Heavenly Father’s children don’t know about His plan. They don’t know about Jesus Christ. They don’t know they can be baptized or sealed to their families. Heavenly Father wants us to help gather His children so they can come home to Him.
- What does He say will bring us joy? You and your children could talk about any experiences you’ve had sharing the joy of the Savior’s gospel.
Friend July 2024 “Sharing the Friend“ A girl gave her Friend magazine to another girl that looked sad. She wanted the girl to feel the happiness she feels when she learns about Jesus.
- A song about sharing the gospel, such as “I Want to Be a Missionary Now” (Children’s Songbook, 168), can help your children think of ways they can share the gospel.
Doctrine and Covenants 18:13–16
Tell the children about something that brings you joy. Let each child tell you about something that brings him or her joy. Read Doctrine and Covenants 18:13, 16. What brings the Lord joy? What does He say will bring us joy?
I can hear the Lord’s voice in the scriptures.
Doctrine and Covenants 18:34–36
- 34 These words are not of men nor of man, but of me; wherefore, you shall testify they are of me and not of man;
- 35 For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power you could not have them;
- 36 Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “D&C 18”
- Your children might enjoy a game where they try to identify voices of different people, such as family members, friends, or Church leaders. How do we recognize each other’s voices? How do we recognize the Lord’s voice? You could read together Doctrine and Covenants 18:34–36 to discuss this question. You could also share with each other how you have heard the Lord’s voice in the scriptures.
If I had been a little child when Jesus lived on earth,
I would have liked to walk with Him and listen to His words,
But as I search the scriptures I can hear His words of peace,
And if I listen with my heart I hear the Savior’s voice.
Taking on the Name of Christ
Do your family members’ names have special meaning? Maybe you could talk about why names are important and what it means to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ (see Mosiah 5:7). This could be a good opportunity to help family members prepare to take Christ’s name upon themselves when they are baptized.
Friend April 1988 “A Name to Live up to” Jenny is sad that she isn’t named after someone whom she could try to be like–someone who did great deeds–but she is reminded that she took on the name of Jesus when she was baptized.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Mosiah 4-6”
Talk to the children about why people put their names on things, such as school assignments, sports jerseys, and so on (see Mosiah 5:14–15). How can we show that we have Christ’s name “written always in [our] hearts”? (Mosiah 5:12).
Friend February 2021 “Your Baptism Covenant”
Additional Resources
Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources “Doctrine and Covenants 18-19”
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