Table of Contents
Section 51
Section 51: At this time the Saints migrating from the eastern states began to arrive in Ohio, and it became necessary to make definite arrangements for their settlement. As this undertaking belonged particularly to the bishop’s office, Bishop Edward Partridge sought instruction on the matter, and the Prophet inquired of the Lord.
1–8, Edward Partridge is appointed to regulate stewardships and properties; 9–12, The Saints are to deal honestly and receive alike; 13–15, They are to have a bishop’s storehouse and to organize properties according to the Lord’s law; 16–20, Ohio is to be a temporary gathering place.
I Can Be Honest.
9 And let every man deal honestly, and be alike among this people, and receive alike, that ye may be one, even as I have commanded you.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025
- To help your children learn what it means to be honest, you could read together Doctrine and Covenants 51:9 and share stories of children who face decisions about being honest. You could use pictures, sock puppets, or paper dolls to make the stories more interesting. How does the Lord bless us as we strive to be honest?
Friend August 2020 “How Do You Spell Honesty” When Elder Timothy J. Dyches was in six grade he hadn’t missed a spelling word all year long. If he kept getting perfect scores, I would receive an award for spelling at the end of the year. Then he noticed that he had missed a word on a spelling test that was incorrectly graded. He was honest and told his teacher about it.
Friend April 2019 “Sweet Honesty” Trying to get a taste of sugar, Arlen accidentally knocks the sugar jar off a high shelf when she is left in charge of the house. She considers not telling her mom that she spilled all the sugar, but decides to be honest.
- Consider playing a game with your children. Afterward, discuss how the game would have been different if someone had cheated. Why is it important to “deal honestly” with each other?
Pitching Pennies Find a wall with some space around it and draw a line (real or imaginary) about six feet away from it. Each player takes a penny and stands behind the line. One at a time, each player throws their penny, trying to get it as close to the wall as possible. You must throw the penny; you cannot roll or slide it. The winner is the one who gets there penny closest to the wall.
Ask what would have happened if someone hadn’t followed the rule to stay behind the line during their toss. Would that have made the game unfair?
Friend September 2024 “I Can Follow Jesus by Being Honest”
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 51–57”
- Sing a song about honesty, such as “Stand for the Right” (Children’s Songbook, 159). Bear your testimony about why it is important to be honest.
Stories of honesty can be found here. Additional resources can be found Resources for Teaching Children “Honesty”
Take this quiz to think about how you can be honest with yourself and others.
“Honesty Quiz” (April 2011 Friend) A quiz to help children evaluate how honest they are.
Friend May 2021 “Scripture Time Fun: Be Honest!”
- Sing “Do What Is Right” (Hymns, no. 237).
- Jesus taught that we should “deal honestly” with each other (Doctrine and Covenants 51:9). That means telling the truth and being fair with others.
- Come up with situations you might face in everyday life—like finding money that someone lost or losing something you borrowed. Act out what you would do to “deal honestly.”
Latter Day Kids “Honesty” Lesson ideas, videos, music, etc.
All things on earth belong to the Lord; we are His stewards.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 51–57”
- Hide the words “faithful,” “just,” and “wise” around the room. Invite the children to find the words in the room and then find them in Doctrine and Covenants 51:19. Read the verse together, and talk about what it means to be a steward. “A person who takes care of the affairs or property of another. That which a steward cares for is called a stewardship. All things on earth belong to the Lord; we are His stewards. We are accountable to the Lord.” (“Steward, Stewardship” in the Guide to the Scriptures).
Section 52 & 53
Section 52 A conference had been held at Kirtland, beginning on the 3rd and closing on the 6th of June. At this conference the first distinctive ordinations to the office of high priest were made, and certain manifestations of false and deceiving spirits were discerned and rebuked. (1–2, The next conference is designated to be held in Missouri; 3–8, Appointments of certain elders to travel together are made; 9–11, The elders are to teach what the apostles and prophets have written; 12–21, Those enlightened by the Spirit bring forth fruits of praise and wisdom; 22–44, Various elders are appointed to go forth preaching the gospel while traveling to Missouri for the conference.)
Section 53 At Sidney Gilbert’s request, the Prophet inquired of the Lord as to Brother Gilbert’s work and appointment in the Church. (1–3, Sidney Gilbert’s calling and election in the Church is to be ordained an elder; 4–7, He is also to serve as a bishop’s agent.)
I receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.
Doctrine and Covenants 52:10; 53:3; 55:1
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 51–57”
- Receiving the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands is mentioned several times in Doctrine and Covenants 51–57. This might be a good opportunity to teach your children about this ordinance. For example, they could look at a picture of a child being confirmed and describe what is happening in the picture. Ask them to clap their hands when they hear “laying on of the hands” or “laying on of hands” while you read Doctrine and Covenants 52:10; 53:3; 55:1.
Idea for older kids: Copy and paste each scripture to a word document or slide show. Leave the space empty where it says laying on of hands in each scripture. Have the children read the scriptures and find what is missing in each scripture.
Following a person’s baptism, men who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood place their hands upon the person’s head, as shown in the picture. One of the men (usually the father, the bishop, a missionary, or a friend of the person being confirmed) says the prayer. During the prayer, the person is confirmed a member of the Church and receives the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Primary 3 “Lesson 12: The Gift of the Holy Ghost,”)
Tell the children about when you received the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands after you were baptized.
Behold Your Little Ones: Nursery Manual “I Will Be Baptized and Confirmed”
Explain that after we are baptized, we are confirmed. Invite the children to say “confirmed.” Tell them this means that men who hold the priesthood put their hands on our head to give us the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Review the fourth article of faith.
You could also sing “The Holy Ghost” (Children’s Songbook, 105) or a similar song. Help your children find words and phrases in the song that teach about the gift of the Holy Ghost.
God has a Pattern to Help Me not be Deceived.
Doctrine and Covenants 52:14–19
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 51–57”
With many people claiming spiritual manifestations, the early Saints were concerned about being deceived. How could they tell who was “accepted of [God]”? (verse 15) In these verses, the Lord gave a pattern so “that [we] may not be deceived” by false teachers and messages.
To teach about the Lord’s pattern for avoiding deception, you might start by helping children find examples of patterns—in nature, in colorful blankets or clothing, or in daily life. Help them find the pattern the Lord gave in Doctrine and Covenants 52:14–15. Make sure they understand any unfamiliar words in these verses. How can we use this pattern to recognize truth?
You might also use this pattern to evaluate yourself: consider using phrases from these verses to write questions such as “When I speak, is my spirit contrite?” Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 51–57”
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 51–57”
- Draw something simple, and invite the children to follow your pattern to make the same drawing. Then explore with them the Lord’s pattern recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 52:14–19.
As you discuss the pattern described in these verses, your family might enjoy looking at other patterns you use—such as patterns for sewing clothing or making a craft. You could work together to make something from a pattern while talking about the pattern the Lord gave for avoiding deception.Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 51–57”
Section 54
Section 54 Members of the Church living in Thompson, Ohio, were divided on questions having to do with the consecration of properties. Selfishness and greed were manifest. Following his mission to the Shakers (see the heading to section 49), Leman Copley had broken his covenant to consecrate his large farm as a place of inheritance for the Saints arriving from Colesville, New York. As a consequence, Newel Knight (leader of the members living in Thompson) and other elders had come to the Prophet asking how to proceed. The Prophet inquired of the Lord and received this revelation, which commands the members in Thompson to leave Leman Copley’s farm and journey to Missouri.
I Should Always Keep My Promises & Covenants
As part of the gathering to Ohio, a group of Saints led by Newel Knight arrived from Colesville, New York, and needed a place to live. Leman Copley had a large farm near Kirtland, and he covenanted to allow the Saints to settle on his land. However, soon after they started settling there, Copley wavered in his faith, broke his covenant, and evicted the Saints from his property. Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 51–57”
(See Saints, 1:125–28 for full story)
Jesus told Joseph that the Saints in Ohio should share their land with the Saints from New York. Leman Copley had a lot of land, and he promised to share it. Some of the Saints from New York moved onto the land.
But Leman Copley didn’t keep his promise. He decided he didn’t want the Saints from New York to have his land. He made them move, and they had nowhere else to live.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 51–57”
Your children could pretend to be a member of the Church who has arrived in Ohio. How would they have felt after Leman broke his covenant? What does this teach us about keeping our covenants or promises? Even though our covenants are personal, our faithfulness in keeping them can affect the lives of others. Read together Doctrine and Covenants 54:6 to discover blessings for people who keep their covenants.
- Cut a paper heart in half, and give each half to two different children. Ask them to hold up their halves together to make a whole heart. Let other children take turns holding up part of the heart. Help the children compare this to the promises or covenants we make with God. God will always hold up His side of the covenant if we hold up ours.
Come Follow Me Kid See more lesson ideas at link
Remind the children of the covenants they made (or will make) when they were baptized (see Mosiah 18:8–10). Help them think of ways they are keeping (or will keep) these covenants, and help them see how this will prepare them to make additional covenants in the future.
Friend February 2019 “The Baptism Covenant” Cut out and mix up these cards. Then take turns matching cards that go together. With each match, talk about that part of the baptism covenant.
Tell the following story about how Darren and Bryon were covenant keepers and then tell ways you have seen each child keep or prepare to keep baptismal covenants. Print the “Covenant Keeper” badges and give one to each child.
Friend May 2017 “Cracking the Code” Darren and Byron crack the code to notes left in their beds that represent the words “Covenant Keepers.” At FHE they learn ways they have been covenant keepers.
Doctrine and Covenants Scripture Stories “Chapter 21: A Revelation to Settle in Missouri” Images and Video
I can turn to the Lord when I am hurt by others’ choices.
As recorded in section 54, the Lord told Newel Knight what the Saints should do about their situation. What do you find in this revelation that can help you when another person’s broken commitments or other poor choices affect you?
Section 55
Section 55 Ohio, June 14, 1831. William W. Phelps, a printer, and his family had just arrived at Kirtland, and the Prophet sought the Lord for information concerning him.
I Can Use the Blessings God has Given Me to Bless Others.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 51–57”
- To introduce section 55, you may want to explain that William W. Phelps was a newspaper publisher who learned about the gospel and joined the Church. Ask the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 55:1–4 and list what God wanted William to do. How did He plan to use William’s talents? (for example, see the author index in the hymnbook for a list of hymns he wrote).Ask the children to identify talents they see in each other, and discuss how they can use those talents to serve God and His children.
Friend December 2022 “Talent Match”
Friend May 2021 “What Are Your Gifts?”
- Make a list of your talents! You could ask your friends and family for ideas too. How can you use the talents Heavenly Father gave you to help bless others?
Friend November 2018 “What’s on Your Mind” Someone who feels talentless asks the Friend magazine how they can find something they are good at.
The Friend responds by saying that God has given everyone talents. “Here are just a few of the gifts Heavenly Father might have given you. Circle the ones you have already. Underline ones you might want to practice. What others can you think of?”
You may wish to read some of the below stories to see how others used their talents to help others.
Friend October 2018 “The Talents Team” Short story about Kennedy, age 11, who won a tv cooking competition and since then, she has taught cooking classes to help other children. (Photos included. )
Friend October 2018 “Show and Tell” “Before I started kindergarten, I made a goal to learn how to tie my shoes. I practiced every day. Whenever I notice a classmate with untied laces, I offer to help them. I am thankful that I can use my talents to help my friends, like Jesus did. Creighton D., age 5, Indiana, USA”( Includes photo of Creighton)
Friend September 2015 “When I Grow Up…” Artist, Rose Datoc Dall, uses her art talent to share her testimony and inspire others.
Friend November 2015– “When I Grow Up…” Man uses science talents to help others
Friend March 2016 “A True pearl” Jetta must go away from home to learn the piano, but when she returns she uses her talent to serve.
Additional Resources
Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources “Doctrine and Covenants 51–57”
Pingback: Doctrine & Covenants Table of Contents - Teaching Children the Gospel