Doctrine and Covenants 49
Leman Copley had embraced the gospel but still held to some of the teachings of the Shakers (United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing), to which he had formerly belonged. Some of the beliefs of the Shakers were that Christ’s Second Coming had already occurred and that He had appeared in the form of a woman, Ann Lee. They did not consider baptism by water essential. They rejected marriage and believed in a life of total celibacy. Some Shakers also forbade the eating of meat. In prefacing this revelation, Joseph Smith’s history states, “In order to have [a] more perfect understanding on the subject, I inquired of the Lord, and received the following.” The revelation refutes some of the basic concepts of the Shaker group. The aforementioned brethren took a copy of the revelation to the Shaker community (near Cleveland, Ohio) and read it to them in its entirety, but it was rejected.
See full story of Leman Copley: “Leman Copley and the Shakers,” Revelations in Context, 117–21).
What does it mean to “desire to know the truth in part, but not all”? Maybe you could show a partially covered picture and let family members guess what it is. What happens when we accept only part of the truth? (see 2 Nephi 28:29). How is the fulness of the gospel a blessing to us?
I Can Follow Jesus Christ.
Doctrine and Covenants 49:12–14
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 49-50”
- Display four paper footprints and four pictures representing believing in Jesus Christ, repenting, being baptized, and receiving the Holy Ghost. Read Doctrine and Covenants 49:12–14, and ask the children to point to the correct picture when each is mentioned in the verses. Let the children help you place the footprints on the floor with the pictures beside them, and invite the children to take turns walking on the footprints. Bear your testimony that when we do the things in these pictures, we are following Jesus Christ.
- Use this week’s activity page to make finger puppets that can help the children learn how they can follow Jesus Christ by having faith, repenting, being baptized, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021
The Lord needs all of us to teach others that they can come unto Him by having faith, repenting, being baptized, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
- Invite the children to compare Doctrine and Covenants 49:12–14 with what Peter taught in Acts 2:38 and with the fourth article of faith. What similarities do they find? Why are these truths important?
- Invite the children to work in pairs and pretend that one of them wants to know how to follow Jesus Christ. The other child in the pair can teach him or her using Doctrine and Covenants 49:12–14.
Friend March 2021 “Matt and Mandy” Matt invites a friend to his baptism. His friend asks why he is getting baptized. Matt explains the fourth article of faith to him.
See additional ideas at 4th Article of Faith
Marriage Between Man and Woman is Essential to God’s Plan.
Doctrine and Covenants 49:15–17
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 49-50”
- Explain that the Shakers were a group that believed people should not get married (see the section heading to Doctrine and Covenants 49). Invite the children to find things the Lord taught about marriage in Doctrine and Covenants 49:15–17.
- Help the children understand what the phrase “marriage is ordained of God” means. Invite them to work in pairs to compare Doctrine and Covenants 49:15–17 with the first three paragraphs of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” Why is marriage so important to Heavenly Father?
What truths about marriage do you learn from Doctrine and Covenants 49:15–17? Why do you feel marriage between a man and a woman is essential to Heavenly Father’s plan? Elder David A. Bednar gave two reasons: “Reason 1: The natures of male and female spirits complete and perfect each other, and therefore men and women are intended to progress together toward exaltation. … Reason 2: By divine design, both a man and a woman are needed to bring children into mortality and to provide the best setting for the rearing and nurturing of children” (“Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan,” Ensign, June 2006, 83–84). See also 1 Corinthians 11:11
- Sing together the second verse of “Families Can Be Together Forever” (Children’s Songbook, 188) or another song about families. Help the children think of ways they can prepare to be married in the temple someday and have an eternal family.
Doctrine and Covenants 50
Satan did not like to see the Church growing, and he worked hard to stop the growth. One of his methods was to imitate the spiritual gifts given to members of the Church by the Lord. He did this so he could deceive people and lead them away from the Church.
During the first year after the Church was organized, some people claimed to have received revelations for the Church, just as the Prophet did. Other people claimed to have seen visions or had other strange things happen to them. Parley P. Pratt observed that some people would get terrible expressions on their faces and seem to faint. Others would twist their bodies or have cramps and convulsions. Others claimed to have visions and revelations that did not agree with the teachings and spirit of the gospel.
Although some people had received revelations and visions from the Lord, Parley P. Pratt and other Church leaders felt that the strange happenings they observed were not from the Lord. They asked Joseph Smith to inquire of the Lord concerning these events. The answer Joseph received from the Lord in May 1831 is found in Doctrine and Covenants 50.
How can we know if what we are seeing or hearing is from God? (Moroni 7:15–17; D&C 50:23–24.) Have a child read aloud Doctrine and Covenants 50:23. What does it mean to edify? Explain that something that edifies makes us feel uplifted and makes us want to improve. Things that are from God make us want to follow Christ and be better people. Things that are from Satan have a bad influence and try to lead us to disobey the commandments.
Doctrine and Covenants 50:23–25
23 And that which doth not edifyis not of God, and is darkness.
24 That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
25 And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you;
My Spiritual Light Can Grow Brighter and Brighter.
Friend May 2021 “Scripture Time Fun” Follow the Light
- Sing “Teach Me to Walk in the Light” (Children’s Songbook,177).
- Jesus Christ taught, “That which is of God is light” (Doctrine and Covenants 50:24). The gospel is like a light that leads us out of darkness and confusion.
- Hide an item in a dark room and try to find it. Then look again with a flashlight or small lamp. How does the gospel help you find your way?
Gaining more knowledge of the gospel and obeying its principles allows our spiritual light to grow brighter.
You might gather in a dark room to read Doctrine and Covenants 50:23–25 and gradually add more light by lighting candles or turning on lights one by one. You could also read these verses while watching the sun rise in the morning. What can we do to make our gospel light continue to grow? When family members learn something new about the gospel during the week, encourage them to share it with the family by writing a note and attaching it to a lamp or other light in the house.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 49-50”
Abstract concepts like truth and spirit can be hard for young children to understand, but comparing them to light, as the Lord does in Doctrine and Covenants 50:23–25, can help.
- Use an activity that illustrates how our spiritual light can grow brighter and brighter. You could show pictures of things that give light (such as a candle, a light bulb, and the sun) and let the children arrange them in increasing order of brightness. Or invite the children to pretend to be lights getting brighter by bending down and slowly standing and stretching up their arms. Help them think of good things they can do to make their spiritual light brighter.
- Sing with the children a song about their spiritual light, such as “Shine On” (Children’s Songbook, 144). Testify about how Heavenly Father has helped your light grow brighter. Tell the children about the light you see in them.
Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd and He Loves Me
Doctrine and Covenants 50:41–44
Friend June 2018 “Apostles Testify of Jesus” “Shepherds lead their sheep to food, water, and shelter and protect their sheep from harm. Jesus taught that He is the Good Shepherd. When we choose to follow Him, He can lead us to safety and peace. Lead the sheep safely home through the maze!”
Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. We are His sheep, and He loves each of us. Ask the children how they know Jesus loves children.
Make paper sheep, write on them the names of the children in the class, and hide them around the room. Display a picture of the Savior, and read Doctrine and Covenants 50:41–42. Help the children understand what these verses teach about how Jesus Christ feels about them. Let them find the sheep around the room and put them on the board near the picture of Jesus so “none of them … shall be lost” (verse 42).
- Make a matching game using phrases from Doctrine and Covenants 50:40–46. For instance, you could write “Fear not, little children” on one card that would match with another card that says “for you are mine” (verse 41). Read Doctrine and Covenants 50:40–46 together. Then mix up the cards on the floor, a table, or the board, and ask the children to match the phrases. What do these phrases teach us about Jesus Christ?
- To help the children understand how the Savior is like a good shepherd show the video “Jesus Declares the Parable of the Lost Sheep” and ask them to find something in the video that reminds them of what they read. How does Jesus rescue us? How can we be good shepherds to others?
Additional Resources:
Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources “Doctrine and Covenants 49–50”
