Doctrine and Covenants 45 Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to the Church, at Kirtland, Ohio, March 7, 1831. Prefacing the record of this revelation, Joseph Smith’s history states that “at this age of the Church … many false reports … and foolish stories, were published … and circulated, … to prevent people from investigating the work, or embracing the faith. … But to the joy of the Saints, … I received the following.”
1–5, Christ is our advocate with the Father; 6–10, The gospel is a messenger to prepare the way before the Lord; 11–15, Enoch and his brethren were received by the Lord unto Himself; 16–23, Christ revealed signs of His coming as given on the Mount of Olives; 24–38, The gospel will be restored, the times of the Gentiles will be fulfilled, and a desolating sickness will cover the land; 39–47, Signs, wonders, and the Resurrection are to attend the Second Coming; 48–53, Christ will stand on the Mount of Olives, and the Jews will see the wounds in His hands and feet; 54–59, The Lord will reign during the Millennium; 60–62, The Prophet is instructed to begin the translation of the New Testament, through which important information will be made known; 63–75, The Saints are commanded to gather and build the New Jerusalem, to which people from all nations will come.
Jesus Christ is my Advocate with the Father.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “D&C 45”
- You might want to help your children understand that an advocate is someone who supports another person. Then you could talk about examples of being an advocate that they may be familiar with (like standing up for a friend). As you read Doctrine and Covenants 45:3–5 together, help your children discover who our Advocate is and how He helps us.
3 Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—
4 Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;
5 Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 45”
- Write several words and phrases found in Doctrine and Covenants 45:3–5 on separate pieces of paper. Give the children a minute to study these verses in their scriptures, and then invite them to close their scriptures and put the words on the papers in the order they appear in the verse. What did the Savior do that made it possible for Him to be our Advocate? Share your feelings about what Jesus Christ has done for us, and let the children share their feelings.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a standard to the world.
9 And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me.
The new and everlasting covenant is the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “D&C 45”
- You might explain to your children that anciently, a standard was a banner or flag carried into battle. It helped soldiers know where to gather and what to do. Read together Doctrine and Covenants 45:9, and discuss ways the gospel is like a standard. Your children may enjoy making their own standard or flag, including images or words that express their feelings about the Savior.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “D&C 45” Anciently, a standard was a banner carried into battle used to rally and unify troops. A standard is also an example or rule that other things can be measured against. As you read Doctrine and Covenants 45:9–10, ponder how your covenants with the Lord have been a standard for you.
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 45” If your family had a “standard,” or flag, to represent your commitment to the gospel, what would it look like? It might be fun to make a family flag together and discuss how you can help others follow the gospel standards.
I can “stand in holy places.”
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “D&C 45” & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 45”
32 But my disciples shall astand in holy places, and shall not be moved;
- It might be fun to place pictures of a home, a Church building, and a temple around the room. Then you could give your children clues describing these places and invite them to stand near the picture you are describing. Ask them to stand still while you read the first line from Doctrine and Covenants 45:32. What are some holy places God gives us? Help your children understand that to “stand in holy places, and … not be moved” means to choose the right at all times, no matter what is happening. Invite them to “not be moved” away from righteous thoughts and actions.
Show a picture of a temple and a church building, and ask the children to explain why they are holy places. Show a picture of a home, and help the children think of ways they can make their homes holy like the temple (see this week’s activity page). Why do we want to be in holy places?
Invite the children to complete this week’s activity page. Help them write “I can help my home become a holy place” and “Doctrine and Covenants 45:32” on their drawing. What can they do to help their home become a holy place?
Friend August 2021 “Bright Idea”
Friend November 2009 “Making Your Home a Holy Place” Our home can be one of the holiest places on earth. We can do things to make it easier to feel the Holy Ghost in our homes. Look at each room in this house and decide if what the children are doing will or will not make the house a holier place. If something is happening that will make it easier to feel the Holy Ghost, choose the blue letter. If not, choose the red letter. To find out what your home can be like, fill in the blanks with the correct letters from each room.
Our home can be like a __ __ __ __ __ __.
In Doctrine and Covenants 45:32, the Lord taught that His disciples will find safety in the last days by standing in holy places—places that are special to the Lord.
Friend May 2021 “Scripture Time Fun”
- Sing “Choose the Right Way” (Children’s Songbook, 160).
- Jesus Christ taught that we should “stand in holy places” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:32). A holy place can be anywhere we have the Holy Ghost with us.
- With your family, list some things that help you stand in holy places, like being kind or praying. How do those things prepare us for Jesus Christ’s coming? Stick the list somewhere you’ll see it often.
Friend May 2021 “Scripture Time Fun for Little Ones”
For Doctrine and Covenants 45: Read Doctrine and Covenants 45:32 and help your little ones say, “I can stand in holy places.” Play a game to see who can stand up first and say one good thing they did that day.
Jesus Christ will come again.
Doctrine and Covenants 45:44–45
When the Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, heard the revelation found in Doctrine and Covenants 45, which speaks of the last days and the Savior’s Second Coming, they received it with joy. Consider how you will help the children prepare joyfully for the Second Coming.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “D&C 45” & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 45”
- It can be frightening for children to read about the wars, wickedness, and destruction that are prophesied to occur before the Savior’s Second Coming. How can you help them look forward with joy to this promised day? Pointing them to Jesus Christ can help them look forward with faith! Consider inviting them to think about how they feel when someone special is coming to visit, like a grandparent or friend. How do they prepare for the visit? Then you could show a picture of the Savior and read Doctrine and Covenants 45:44–45. Share with each other how you feel about the Savior’s coming.
- To help your children feel excited about the Savior’s Second Coming, you could write on slips of paper some of the hopeful promises from section 45 (see, for example, verses 44–45, 51–52, 55, 58–59, 66–71). List on the board the verses where the promises are found. Give the children the papers, and ask them to use their scriptures to match the verses on the board to the promises. Discuss what these promises mean, and invite the children to share which promises help them feel excited about the Savior’s Second Coming.
Zion is a place of safety for the Saints of God.
Doctrine and Covenants 45:11–15, 66–71
The Saints in Joseph Smith’s time were eager to build Zion, the New Jerusalem, as described in the Book of Mormon (see Ether 13:2–9) and in Joseph Smith’s inspired revision of the Bible (see Moses 7:62–64). What do you learn about Zion—both the ancient city of Enoch’s day and the latter-day city—from Doctrine and Covenants 45:11–15, 66–71?
Today the command to establish Zion refers to establishing God’s kingdom wherever we live—wherever the children of God gather to the safety of His “everlasting covenant” (verse 9). What can you do to help build Zion where you are?
See also Gospel Topics, “Zion,” topics. ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Reading 1 Nephi 22:26 and Revelation 20:1–3 can help your family understand how Satan “shall be bound” during the Millennium. How can we bind Satan in our lives?
Additional Resources
Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources “Doctrine and Covenants 45“
Teaching Children the Gospel “Jesus: Second Coming”
Resources by Topic “Second Coming”
Come Follow Me Kid Lesson ideas
