Table of Contents
Building Zion
Section 64
Section 64 Kirtland, Ohio, September 11, 1831. The Prophet was preparing to move to Hiram, Ohio, to renew his work on the translation of the Bible, which had been laid aside while he had been in Missouri. A company of brethren who had been commanded to journey to Zion (Missouri) was earnestly engaged in making preparations to leave in October. At this busy time, the revelation was received.
Jesus Christ wants me to forgive everyone.
Doctrine and Covenants 64:7–10
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025
In the miserable heat of August 1831, several elders were traveling back to Kirtland from the land of Zion in Missouri. The travelers were hot and weary, and tensions soon turned into quarrels. It may have seemed like building Zion, a city of love, unity, and peace, was going to take a long time.
Fortunately, building Zion—in Missouri in 1831 or in our hearts, families, and wards today—doesn’t require us to be perfect. Instead, “of you it is required to forgive,” the Lord said (Doctrine and Covenants 64:10). He requires “the heart and a willing mind” (verse 34). And He requires patience and diligence, for Zion is built on the foundation of “small things,” accomplished by those who do not become “weary in well-doing” (verse 33).
See also Saints , 1:133–34, 136–37.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025
Note: As you teach your children about the Lord’s command “to forgive all,” you may want to clarify that forgiving does not mean allowing people to hurt us. Encourage them to tell a trusted adult if someone hurts them or touches them inappropriately.
- After reading Doctrine and Covenants 64:10 with your children, talk with them about what it means to forgive someone. You might share a few simple examples.(include some family examples) Help them role-play these examples to practice saying sorry and forgiving each other by acting it out. Share your testimony of the peace and happiness that come when we forgive others (Forgiveness involves an intentional decision to let go of resentment and anger.)(As people forgive each other, they treat one another with Christlike love and have no bad feelings toward those who have offended them. (Guide to the Scriptures, “Forgive,”))
Friend August 2021 “Not Invited” Becky isn’t invited to her friend’s birthday party. She feels really left out and sad. She prays to be able to forgive her friend and is able to play together the next day. When Becky has her birthday party she invites her.
Friend March 2024 “Pencil Peacemaker” A child forgives after another child takes the colored pencil she was using out of her hand. Even though she was angry, she wanted to follow what Jesus asks us to do. Her decision helped both of them reconcile.
Friend April 2019 “A New Block Tower” Mason accidentally knocks down Bo’s block tower. Mason says sorry and offers to help build another one. Bo forgives him, and they both are happy.
- You might ask your children to plan how they would teach someone—such as a younger sibling—about forgiving others. Help them find phrases in Doctrine and Covenants 64:7–10 that they could use as they teach.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 64–66”
- .Read Doctrine and Covenants 64:10 slowly to the children, and have them shake hands with another child when they hear the word “forgive.”
- Why do you think the Lord commands us “to forgive all”? (verse 10). Think of an analogy that might help the children understand how we are “afflicted” when we don’t forgive (verse 8). For example, show the children a bag of mud or dirt; ask them to imagine that someone threw mud on them. How might failing to forgive be like saving the mud and always carrying it with us? Why would it be better to throw the mud away? Help the children think of other analogies that teach why it is important to forgive.
“Pockets Full of Rocks” (February 2014 Friend)
A humorous poem about a man who carries rocks around to remind him of all things people have done to him.
Friend March 2015 “Family Fun Time”
Friend August 2015 “You Can Repent and Forgive”
Sing a song about forgiveness, such as “Help Me, Dear Father” (Children’s Songbook, 99). What does this song teach us about forgiving others? How does Heavenly Father help us forgive others?
For additional story and activity ideas see Forgiveness and Resources for Teaching Children “Forgiveness”
God’s “great work” is built on “small things.”
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025
- You could show your children some things that are made up of small parts, like a puzzle or a rug. Then you could read together Doctrine and Covenants 64:33. What is God’s “great work”? What are the “small things” we can do that will help?
Friend June 2021 “Origami Hearts” Each fold could represent a small thing that brings about something great. If each fold isn’t done what happens? Write on the heart something your family or each individual could do to bring about Heavenly Father’s work?
What does Heavenly Father want your family to do to bring about His “great work”? Maybe it’s going to the temple, sharing the gospel with a neighbor, or overcoming contention. Perhaps each family member could collect small objects, like rocks or buttons or puzzle pieces, and use them to represent “small things” we can do every day to “[lay] the foundation” for God’s great work. As a family, pick one of these small things to work on this week. Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 64–66”
Friend July 2025 “Little Things”
I can follow Jesus with my heart and mind.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 64–66”
The Lord taught the Saints that to build Zion, they needed to give Him their hearts and willing minds.
As you read to your children from Doctrine and Covenants 64:34, you could point to your heart and head as you read “heart” and “mind,” and invite the children to do it with you. How can we give our hearts (desires) and minds (thoughts) to the Savior?
Friend June 2021 “One Peach at a Time” When Sister Eubanks was a child she went to a church farm to help pick peaches. Pretty soon she and her sister didn’t want to do it anymore because the peach fuzz was making their arms itch. Their mother explained that the peaches would be going to feed families who needed food. After that they stopped worrying about their itchy arms because they were helping to feed families who needed food! (They had a willing heart and mind.)
- Ask the children to complete an action that requires two objects, but give them only one (for example, writing on the chalkboard without chalk or cutting a piece of paper with no scissors). Invite the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 64:34 to find out what two things the Lord asks of us. Why do we need to give both our heart and mind to the Lord? How do we do this? Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 64–66”
Latter Day Kids “Obedience” Lesson ideas
Friend February 2021 “For Older Kids” I know that obeying Heavenly Father is worth it because He always has a plan with good consequences in the end. I am grateful that Heavenly Father helps me do hard things. No matter how hard things get, I know I can always rely on Heavenly Father. Jayden T., age 10, New Mexico, USA (see photo)
Friend June 2025 “Come, Follow Me Activities”
The Lord wants us to have a willing heart and mind (see Doctrine and Covenants 64:34). We can spend time thinking about Jesus Christ to come closer to Him! Get a bag or basket to represent your mind. Put things inside the bag that will help you think about the Savior.
For younger children: Help your little ones point to their mind and their heart. Talk about how we can fill our minds and hearts with happy things that help us be close to Jesus Christ.
Zion Shall Be “An Ensign Unto the People.”
Doctrine and Covenants 64:41–42
An ensign is “a flag or standard around which people gather in a unity of purpose or identity”(Guide to the Scriptures, “Ensign,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). How has Zion—or the Lord’s Church—been like an ensign to you? What do these verses teach you about how you can help the Church be an ensign where you live? Doctrine and Covenants 64:41–43. (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 64–66”)
A standard is something established by authority… as a model or example
41 For, behold, I say unto you that Zion shall flourish, and the glory of the Lord shall be upon her; 42 And she shall be an ensign unto the people, and there shall come unto her out of every nation under heaven.
New Era January 2019 “An Ensign for the Nations”
Section 65
I Can Help Prepare the World to Receive Jesus Christ.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025
As your children look at a picture of the Savior’s Second Coming, ask them to describe what they see or what they know about this event. You could also give your children words and phrases about the Second Coming to find in Doctrine and Covenants 65. What do these words and phrases teach us? How can we prepare for the Savior’s return?
5 Call upon the Lord, that his kingdom may go forth upon the earth, that the inhabitants thereof may receive it, and be prepared for the days to come, in the which the Son of Man shall come down in heaven, clothed in the brightness of his glory, to meet the kingdom of God which is set up on the earth.
What do these words and phrases teach us about the Second Coming and our role in preparing for it? Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 64–66”
The mission of the Church—God’s kingdom on earth—is to prepare the world for the return of the Savior. The children you teach are an important part of this mission. What can you do to help them participate?
Ponder ways you can “make known [God’s] wonderful works among the people” (verse 4).
Additional teaching resources can be found at Jesus: Second Coming and Resources for Teaching Children: Second Coming
Section 66
The Lord knows who I am and loves me.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 64–66”
- Help your children understand that William E. McLellin had five questions for the Lord. Joseph Smith received answers to these questions even though he did not know what William’s questions were. Tell your children about a time when the Lord showed you what He wanted you to do, and talk about the blessings that came from following His direction. You could then read Doctrine and Covenants 66:4 together and invite your children to seek opportunities to understand what the Lord wants them to do. This experience could help you teach the children that God is aware of them and can answer their questions. Read the verse again, this time inserting the name of one of the children. Repeat for each of the children.
4 And now, verily, I, the Lord, will show unto you what I will concerning you, or what is my will concerning you.
Friend March 2018 “Heavenly Father Listens” Elder Clayton felt the love of God as a teen when he prayed about some worries. Heavenly Father loves us and is interested in our lives just like a parent would be. (Activity page included: Find the hearts in the room of the girl who is praying.)
Avoid Being Cumbered by Things that Aren’t of Eternal Value.
How can your family follow the Lord’s counsel to “seek not to be cumbered,” or burdened with many things to do? You could talk about the story of Mary and Martha (see Luke 10:38–42), and discuss how your family can keep from being cumbered by things that aren’t of eternal value. (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 64–66”)
Ask the children to try to do two tasks at once, such as reciting an article of faith while writing down the names of all of the children in the class. Ask them why it was hard to focus on the first task. Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 30–36”
Friend January 2017 “The Next Level” Max takes a week off from playing games and he learns new things, spends time with his family, serves, and feels the Spirit.
For the Strength of Youth July 2023 “When There’s Too Much to Do”
How do we decide what our priorities are? (Ideas might include remembering what the purpose of earth life is, asking ourselves how our choice helps us toward gaining eternal life, and praying to have guidance in making our choices.)
Friend August 2018 “Soccer and Sundays” When we try to live the gospel and put the most important things first, we are blessed! Follow the path of scriptures to help the boy get to church.
New Era July 2020 “Making Good Use of Your Time” Object Lesson: When you put the Lord first, there’s room for the rest.
Additional Resources
- Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources “Doctrine and Covenants 64–66“
- See also Saints, 1:133–34, 136–37.
- Come Follow Me Kid Lesson ideas
- The Red Crystal Lesson ideas
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