Doctrine and Covenants Section 19 Revelation given through Joseph Smith, at Manchester, New York, likely in the summer of 1829. In his history, the Prophet introduces it as “a commandment of God and not of man, to Martin Harris, given by him who is Eternal.”
Desiring to support the Prophet Joseph Smith and the publication of the Book of Mormon, Martin Harris promised to help pay for the printing. When he later realized that this may require him to sell his farm, he asked Joseph for a revelation of guidance from the Lord. In Doctrine and Covenants 19, the Savior recounted how He chose to submit to Heavenly Father’s will and gained the power to overcome all things. The Lord counseled Martin to repent and make the sacrifice required to pay the debt he owed to the printer. Martin was promised peace if he would repent and submit to what the Lord had asked him to do.(Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual)
Jesus Christ suffered for me.
Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “D&C 19”
- You can help your children feel reverence and gratitude for the Savior by reading together Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19 or “Chapter 51: Jesus Suffers in the Garden of Gethsemane,” in New Testament Stories, 129–32, or the corresponding video in Gospel Library. Consider pausing to make sure your children understand and to let them express their feelings.
- In verse 16, what are “these things” Jesus suffered for us? (see Mosiah 3:7; Alma 7:11–12). What do we learn from His description of His suffering?
Separate into 2 groups, if you have a small class work together. Have them draw and write the things that Christ suffered on this puzzle piece (Mosiah 3:7) and the next puzzle piece (Alma 7:11–12). Then complete the floor puzzle, while they tell you about their drawings.
- How can we show our gratitude for what He did for us?
- Help the children look in Hymns or the Children’s Songbook for songs that help them express their feelings about Jesus Christ (see the topic indexes in these books). Invite the children to sing the songs they chose and bear their testimonies.
Suggested song: “I Stand All Amazed,” Hymns, no. 193.
Jesus Christ obeyed Heavenly Father, even when it was hard.
Doctrine and Covenants 19:18–19, 23–24
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “D&C 19” and Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 18–19:
Show a picture of Jesus Christ suffering in Gethsemane (see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). Ask the children to tell you what they know about what is happening in this picture. Summarize in your own words what the Savior said in Doctrine and Covenants 19:18–19 about His suffering. Emphasize that suffering for our sins was the hardest thing anyone has ever done, but because Jesus loved His Father and us, He obeyed God’s will. What difficult things does God ask us to do? How can we find courage to obey Him?
What does it mean that Jesus Christ submitted His will to the Father?
How do you think what Jesus Christ taught about Himself could have helped Martin in his situation? How could it help us?
Forgive, serve others
“Learn of me, and listen to my words.”
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “D&C 19”
- You might help your children think of simple actions that go along with phrases in Doctrine and Covenants 19:23. Read the verse several times while they do the actions. What are some ways we can learn of Christ and listen to His words?
23 Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me. Read the verse several times while the children do the actions. Help them think of ways we can learn of Christ and listen to His words.
Printing the Book of Mormon
Doctrine and Covenants Stories
The Book of Mormon translation was now finished. Joseph gave the gold plates back to the angel Moroni. Now it was time to print copies of the book so everyone could read it and learn more about Jesus Christ. (Saints, 1:75–76)
It cost a lot of money to print the Book of Mormon. Martin Harris gave up part of his farm to pay for it. He did this because he knew the Book of Mormon is true. Every copy of the book has the testimony of Martin and the other witnesses for all to read. The witnesses never denied their testimony. (Saints, 1:76–78)
God’s blessings are greater than the treasures of the earth.
Doctrine and Covenants 19:26, 34–35, 38
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “D&C 19”
- You and your children could take turns holding a copy of the Book of Mormon and sharing what you love about it. Briefly talk about Martin Harris’s sacrifice so the Book of Mormon could be printed (see Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 33). What did the Lord say to Martin in Doctrine and Covenants 19:38 that might have helped him be faithful and obedient? Help your children think of something they can sacrifice to obey God or help in His work.
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.
Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants and Church History “Lesson 10: The Book of Mormon Is Published”
When the translation of the gold plates was almost finished, Joseph Smith began looking for someone to publish the translation as a book. He talked to a printer in Palmyra, Egbert B. Grandin, and asked him to give an estimate of the cost of printing the book. Grandin did not want to print the “golden Bible,” as he called it, because he knew that people were against the book, and he was afraid he would not be paid. Joseph went to Rochester, New York, to see if he could find someone else to do it. One printer refused to print the book because he did not believe Joseph’s account of where he got it; another agreed to print it, but his price was very high. Finally Joseph returned to Palmyra and convinced Grandin to print the book. Grandin agreed only after Martin Harris pledged his farm to guarantee the printing costs.
People in Palmyra who opposed the Book of Mormon held a meeting and resolved not to buy the book when it was published. Grandin again became worried that he would not be paid. Martin Harris was afraid he would lose his farm, and he wondered what he should do. Joseph Smith inquired of the Lord, and the Lord told Martin not to “covet” his own property but to “impart it freely” to cover the costs of printing the Book of Mormon (see D&C 19:26). Martin Harris eventually sold 151 acres of his farm to pay Grandin for publishing the Book of Mormon.
Martin and Lucy Harris had one of the finest farms in Palmyra, New York. It had taken them years to acquire, had enabled them to raise a family, and had given them good standing in the community. But in 1829 it became clear that the Book of Mormon could be published only if Martin mortgaged his farm to pay the printer. Martin had a testimony of the Book of Mormon, but Lucy did not. If Martin went forward with the mortgage and the Book of Mormon did not sell well, he would lose his farm and jeopardize his marriage. At some time or another, we all face questions similar to those that Martin may have been facing: What is the gospel of Jesus Christ worth to me? What am I willing to sacrifice to help build God’s kingdom? It may help us to remember that no one has ever paid a higher price to bless God’s children than Jesus Christ, “the greatest of all” (Doctrine and Covenants 19:18).
Martin made the decision to mortgage his farm. His sacrifice paid for the printing of the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon. And now, more than 190 million copies later, millions of souls around the world have been blessed.
For more information about the publication of the Book of Mormon, see Saints, 1:76–84.
Doctrine and Covenants Stories “Witnesses See the Gold Plates”
Additional Resources
Printing the Book of Mormon Additional teaching resources for children
For more information about the publication of the Book of Mormon, see Saints, 1:76–84.
Church History Topics “Printing and Publishing the Book of Mormon”
- Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources: Martin Harris
- Martin Harris Farm
- Grandin Building: Book of Mormon Publication Site
