Doctrine and Covenants Section 29 Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, in the presence of six elders, at Fayette, New York, September 1830. This revelation was given some days prior to the conference, beginning September 26, 1830.

1–8, Christ gathers His elect; 9–11, His coming ushers in the Millennium; 12–13, The Twelve will judge all Israel; 14–21, Signs, plagues, and desolations will precede the Second Coming; 22–28, The last resurrection and final judgment follow the Millennium; 29–35, All things are spiritual unto the Lord; 36–39, The devil and his hosts were cast out of heaven to tempt man; 40–45, The Fall and Atonement bring salvation; 46–50, Little children are redeemed through the Atonement.

Jesus Christ is gathering His people before He comes again.

Doctrine and Covenants 29:1–2, 7–8

Video “Chicks and Hens”

Talk with each other about how a hen protects her chicks and how that’s similar to what the Savior can do for us.

What did the Lord say we must do to be gathered by Him? We are gathered by the Savior when we accept and follow His teachings.

Friend March 2024 “The Hen and the Baby Chicks” Clara helped her dad pick out a hen to care for some baby chicks they had bought. She watched as the hen lifted up her wing and the baby chicks disappeared under it. Her dad explained that that was the way the hen protects and keeps the baby chicks safe and warm. Her dad shared the scripture of Jesus gathering us and protecting us and caring for us just like a hen gathers her chickens under her wings.

After reading Doctrine and Covenants 29:1–, act out the analogy of Christ gathering His people “as a hen gathereth her chickens.” One child could pretend to be the hen and choose a corner of the room to stand in. When he or she “clucks,” have all the children gather around him or her. Children could take turns being the hen. Hold up a picture of the Savior and invite the children to gather to Him. Share with the children how Jesus helps us when we gather to Him. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 29: “Jesus Christ Will Gather His People”)

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “D&C 29” and Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “

What would inspire your children to want to help the Savior gather His people? Maybe they’d like to hear the experience of someone who “gathered” to Him by joining His Church. For example, who introduced your family to the Church? How have we been blessed by accepting the Savior’s call to gather to Him? How can we help others gather to Him? (See “A Message for Children from President Russell M. Nelson” , ChurchofJesusChrist.org.)

Ensign October 2020 “Family Study Fun” Paper Name Gathering Game

 

We “gather Israel” when we help other people learn about the gospel. Jesus taught about this gathering in 3 Nephi 20–22.

1. Give each person a piece of paper and ask them to write down any name that comes to mind.
2. Everyone should close their eyes while one person hides the papers.
3. Read 3 Nephi 20:18 and 39–40 out loud. How can you help other people learn about Jesus?
4. While listening to a song about Jesus, invite everyone to help find the names and put them by a picture of the Savior.

Discussion: How does it make you feel to know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know each person by name?

Invite the children to make a list of ways they can help people gather to the Savior. For example, they could invite friends or family members to a Primary activity or to a home evening with their families.

Friend February 1986 Ways to be a missionary

See Jesus: Second Coming and Resources by Topic: Second Coming for additional teaching ideas also see Missionary for ideas on how the children can help with the gathering.

Jesus Christ will come again

Doctrine and Covenants 29:11

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “D&C 29” and Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “

Show a picture of the Second Coming (see Gospel Art Book,no. 66), and help a child read Doctrine and Covenants 29:11. Help the children notice phrases in the scripture that describe what they see in the picture. Share with the children how you feel about Jesus Christ coming to earth again.

11 For I will reveal myself from heaven with power and great glory, with all the hosts thereof, and dwell in righteousness with men on earth a thousand years, and the wicked shall not stand.

Friend November 2021 “Jesus Will Come Again”

Sing a song about the Second Coming, such as “When He Comes Again” (Children’s Songbook, 82–83).

Heavenly Father has a plan for the salvation of His children.

Doctrine and Covenants 29

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “D&C 29” and Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021

• To start a conversation about Heavenly Father’s plan for us, you and your children could talk about a time when you made a plan, such as for a trip or for accomplishing a task. You could also share examples of plans, such as a calendar with activities written on it or instructions to make something. Why are plans useful? (Share with the children that Heavenly Father has a plan that will allow us to become like Him.)You could then talk about what Heavenly Father wants to accomplish and how His plan helps us accomplish it.
• You could use the images at the end of this outline to help your children find verses in Doctrine and Covenants 29 that teach about different parts of Heavenly Father’s plan.(You could cut off the scripture and have the children look up the scriptures and place each scripture with it’s matching picture.) You could also cut out the images and ask your children to put them in the correct order. Why are we thankful to know that Heavenly Father has a plan for us? How does knowing about it influence our everyday lives?

• To help the children understand God’s plan, make signs with these terms:
  • Premortal life (see verses 36–37)
  • Creation (see verses 31–33)
  • The Fall of Adam and Eve (see verses 40–41)
  • Mortal life (see verses 39, 42–45)
  • The Atonement of Jesus Christ (see verses 1, 42–43, 46–50)
  • The Resurrection (see verses 13, 26)
  • The Final Judgment (see verses 12–13, 27–30)

The Red Crystal

After explaining each term (see Doctrine and Covenants 29:9–45), give each sign to a different child, and ask them to stand in a line in the correct order to show when each event occurs in Heavenly Father’s plan. Each child could share what he or she knows about what is on his or her sign. Help the children see how knowing about Heavenly Father’s plan helps us become more like Him and the Savior.

Friend July 2024 “Plan of Happiness Craft”

Latter Day Kids “The Plan of Salvation” Lesson ideas

See also Resources by Topic: Plan of Salvation

See also Plan of Salvation for additional teaching resources

Use one or more of the activities below to teach truths about the plan and how they apply to us. Consider asking a few of the children to come prepared to help you teach.

Agency

• Agency. Help the children understand that Heavenly Father has given us the gift of agency—the freedom to choose—and holds us accountable for our choices (see Doctrine and Covenants 29:39–40). Create two signs for each child: one that represents making a good choice (for example, a smiling face) and one that represents making a bad choice (for example, a frowning face). Share examples of good choices and bad choices, and ask the children to raise the correct sign. Ask the children to share blessings that come when we follow Jesus Christ. Why does Heavenly Father let us make our own choices?Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 29: “Jesus Christ Will Gather His People”

• 2017 Sharing Time Outline Show the children a container of many different colors of crayons. Show them a second container with only one color. Ask the children: “If you were going to color a picture, which of these containers of crayons would you want to use? Why?” Explain that having a variety of choices is a blessing. Testify that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us and They want us to make correct choices.

• For additional ideas see Choices and Agency

The Atonement of Jesus Christ

• The Atonement of Jesus Christ. Help the children see that Heavenly Father prepared a way for us to be forgiven when we make wrong choices. Ask each child to read one of the verses in Doctrine and Covenants 29:1, 42–43 and share what it teaches about the Savior’s Atonement. Find a creative way to invite the children to share what they found, like in order of their birthdays, or shortest to tallest, and so on.Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 29: “Jesus Christ Will Gather His People”

• See also Jesus Christ: Atonement and Resources by Topic: Atonement

What new insights did you gain? How would your life be different if you didn’t know about these truths?

Sing “I Will Follow God’s Plan” See here for resources on how to teach the song.

Additional Resources

All commandments are spiritual?!

For the Strength of Youth April 2025 “Hidden Treasures”

The Savior told the Prophet Joseph Smith: “All things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal” (Doctrine and Covenants 29:34).

Temporal means relating to this physical world. Isn’t the Word of Wisdom a “temporal” law?

Even those “temporal” laws are spiritual too, for at least two reasons:

When you obey any commandment, you come closer to the Holy Ghost. You feel God’s presence and His love more. Obviously, those are spiritual blessings! (See more at link)

What is spiritual death?

Doctrine and Covenants 29:41.

Spiritual death is separation from God. The scriptures teach of two sources of spiritual death. The first source is the Fall, and the second is our own disobedience. Spiritual death can be overcome through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and by obedience to His gospel. (Topics and Questions, “Death, Spiritual,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

• Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual
• Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources “Doctrine and Covenants 29”
• Come Follow Me Kid “Jesus Will Gather His People” Lesson ideas