Doctrine and Covenants 46 Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to the Church, at Kirtland, Ohio, March 8, 1831. In this early time of the Church, a unified pattern for the conducting of Church services had not yet developed. However, a custom of admitting only members and earnest investigators to the sacrament meetings and other assemblies of the Church had become somewhat general. This revelation expresses the will of the Lord relative to governing and conducting meetings and His direction on seeking and discerning the gifts of the Spirit.
1–2, Elders are to conduct meetings as guided by the Holy Spirit; 3–6, Truth seekers should not be excluded from sacramental services; 7–12, Ask of God and seek the gifts of the Spirit; 13–26, An enumeration of some of these gifts is given; 27–33, Church leaders are given power to discern the gifts of the Spirit.
I Can Help Others Feel Welcome at Church.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 and Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 46–48”
I can help others feel welcome at church.
- After reading Doctrine and Covenants 46:5 with your children, talk about how the Savior wants people to feel when they come to His Church. Invite your children to imagine that they saw someone at church for the first time. Help them practice ways to help this person feel welcome.
- Show pictures of people from around the world. Ask the children which of these people Heavenly Father would want us to invite to our Church meetings. Help the children practice inviting you or each other to come to a Church meeting or activity.
- Ask the children to imagine that a friend is coming to church for the first time. Help them think of ways they could help their friend feel welcome. Let them practice what they would say or do if they saw a friend walk into the chapel or the classroom for the first time.
Friend February 2020 “A Kind Primary Class” Jayden was nervous to go to a different ward when he was out of town. But when he got to Primary he felt better because the other kids included him and were kind. They shared their scriptures with him, talked to him, and helped him. They became his friends. Activity: Aria is new at church. Fill in the speech bubbles with what you could say. How could you help a visitor feel welcome?
Heavenly Father gives me spiritual gifts to bless others.
Doctrine and Covenants 46:7–26
In Kirtland, many of the new members that Parley P. Pratt and the other missionaries had baptized had plenty of zeal but little experience or direction in how to live the gospel. They had been drawn to the restored gospel by the promise of marvelous manifestations of the Spirit. Soon, some unusual expressions of worship—including falling to the ground or writhing like a snake—were introduced into their Church meetings. Many found it hard to discern which manifestations were of the Spirit and which were not. Seeing the confusion, Joseph Smith prayed for help. The Lord revealed that spiritual manifestations are real and clarified what they are—gifts from a loving Heavenly Father, “given for the benefit of those who love [Him] and keep all [His] commandments” (Doctrine and Covenants 46:9).
The early Saints believed in spiritual gifts but needed some help recognizing them and understanding their purpose.
Doctrine and Covenants Stories “Chapter 20: Gifts of the Spirit” Images and video
(Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 46–48”) Younger children: If possible, show objects or pictures that represent each gift. Pause occasionally to ask the children how these gifts could bless someone.
Give a child something that can be shared, like a piece of bread or two toys. Ask the child to share what you have given him or her with another class member. Explain that Heavenly Father gives us gifts, and He wants us to use them to help others. Tell the children about a time when you were blessed because someone shared his or her spiritual gifts.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025
- Older Children: To help your children learn about the spiritual gifts described in Doctrine and Covenants 46:13–26, consider this idea. You could write the gifts on pieces of paper and hide them around the room. Invite each child to find one of the papers and search the verses to find where that gift is mentioned in the scriptures in section 46. For each gift, talk with them about how it is used to bless others (the descriptions in “Chapter 20: Gifts of the Spirit,” in Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 77–80, can help).
- According to Doctrine and Covenants 46:8–9, 26, why does Heavenly Father give us spiritual gifts? How can we use our gifts to help others?
Tell the children that they each have spiritual gifts. Tell your children about the gifts you feel Heavenly Father has given them, and let them talk about the gifts they notice in each other. Encourage them to ask Heavenly Father to help them recognize their gifts and how they can use them to help others.
Friend May 2021 “What Are Your Gifts?” Spiritual gifts are blessings or abilities that God has given to each of His children.
Friend March 2017 “What Are Your Spiritual Gifts?” This activity from the Friend can help family members learn about their own spiritual gifts.
Doctrine and Covenants Coloring Book “Gifts of the Spirit”
Ensign December 2020 “How Can I Seek Spiritual Gifts”
Friend May 2021 “Scripture Time Fun for Little Ones” Read Doctrine and Covenants 46:11. Then help your little ones fill in the blank: “I am good at …” Help them recognize their talents and spiritual gifts.
Friend May 2021 “Scripture Time Fun” Talent Time:
- Sing “I’m Trying to Be like Jesus” (Children’s Songbook, 78–79).
- Heavenly Father gave each of us spiritual gifts (see Doctrine and Covenants 46:11–26). That means He gave us special talents. Everyone is unique and important to Heavenly Father!
- Think about what gifts you have. Then put on a family talent show! Share the gifts Heavenly Father has given you with others.
Latter Day Kids “Spiritual Gifts” Videos and lesson ideas
Ponder why it is important that you “always [remember] for what they are given” (verse 8). How can these truths help you “not be deceived”? (verse 8).
See also Gospel Topics, “Spiritual Gifts,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
I Can Record My History.
Doctrine and Covenants 47 Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, March 8, 1831. John Whitmer, who had already served as a clerk to the Prophet, initially hesitated when he was asked to serve as the Church historian and recorder, replacing Oliver Cowdery. He wrote, “I would rather not do it but observed that the will of the Lord be done, and if he desires it, I desire that he would manifest it through Joseph the Seer.” After Joseph Smith received this revelation, John Whitmer accepted and served in his appointed office.
1–4, John Whitmer is designated to keep the history of the Church and to write for the Prophet.
Doctrine and Covenants 47:1, 3
The Lord called John Whitmer to keep a history of the Church. Today we are richly blessed because of Church histories that have been kept over the years.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025
- Let your children discover what the Lord wanted John Whitmer to do in Doctrine and Covenants 47:1, 3. You might also share with each other favorite stories from the scriptures. Point out that we know about these stories because someone recorded them.
- Consider how you might inspire your children to record their personal histories. You could share some entries from your personal journal or a story about an ancestor (see FamilySearch.org or the Memories app). You might provide some journal prompts, like “What happened this week that you would like your grandchildren to know about?” or “How did you see the Lord’s hand in your life this week?” Young children could draw pictures of their experiences, or you could record them telling their stories. What blessings come from keeping a “regular history”? (Doctrine and Covenants 47:1).
(Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 46–48”)
- Read together Doctrine and Covenants 47:1, 3, and ask the children to discover what the Lord wanted John Whitmer to do. What does the word “continually” mean in verse 3? How are we blessed by knowing about the history of the Church?
- If the children you teach keep a journal, ask them to talk about the kinds of things they write about in their journal. The children might enjoy hearing a story from your childhood journal or the journal of an ancestor.
- Show the children examples of ways they could keep a regular history of their lives. For example, they can write in a book, collect pictures in a scrapbook, type on a computer, or make audio or video recordings. Help the children make a list of things that would be good to include in their personal histories, such as their testimony of Jesus Christ. Invite the children to make a sign or poster to take home with some of these ideas to remind them to record their personal histories.
How can you encourage your family to record their personal histories throughout the week? You could share some entries from your personal journal or share a story about an ancestor (see FamilySearch.org). Some families set aside a few minutes each week for everyone to write in their journals. You might provide some journal prompts, like “What happened this week that you would like your grandchildren to know about?” or “How did you see the Lord’s hand in your life this week?” Young children could draw pictures of their experiences, or you could record them telling their stories. What blessings come from keeping a “regular history”? (verse 1).
“We keep records to help us remember. … We desire to help Church members remember the great things God has done for His children. … Lessons from the past help us cope with our present and give us hope for our future” (“There Shall Be a Record Kept among You,” Ensign, Dec. 2007, 28, 33).
Friend January 1987 Link includes lesson ideas
See also Family History: Journals and Resources for Teaching Children “Journals“
I Can Help Others by Sharing What I Have Been Given.
Doctrine and Covenants 48 Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, March 10, 1831. The Prophet had inquired of the Lord as to the mode of procedure in procuring lands for the settlement of the Saints. This was an important matter in view of the migration of members of the Church from the eastern United States, in obedience to the Lord’s command that they should assemble in Ohio (see sections 37:1–3; 45:64).
1–3, The Saints in Ohio are to share their lands with their brethren; 4–6, The Saints are to purchase lands, build a city, and follow the counsel of their presiding officers.
The Lord encouraged the Saints in Ohio to help other Saints by sharing their land and their money.
Explain that the Lord commanded the Saints in New York and other areas to gather to Ohio, but many of them didn’t have enough money to build a house when they arrived. Help the children find in Doctrine and Covenants 48:2 what the Lord asked the Saints in Ohio to do to help. Ask the children what they would want to do to help if they were living in Ohio at this time. What have we been given today that we could use to help others?
As you read Doctrine and Covenants 48:2–3 with your children, you might need to explain that people were coming to Ohio from the East, and they didn’t have a place to live. What did the Lord ask the Saints to do to help? Help your children think of things God has given them that they can share with others. You could also sing with them a song like “‘Give,’ Said the Little Stream” (Children’s Songbook, 236). Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025
Read Doctrine and Covenants 48:4 together, and invite the children to look for something the Lord asked the Saints to do to help His work. Explain that saving money would allow them to buy land and build a temple someday. What can we save money for so we can help do the work of the Lord? Show the video “First Things First” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), and discuss how the children in the video fulfilled the Lord’s command to save money.
Additional Resources
“Religious Enthusiasm among Early Ohio Converts,” Revelations in Context, 105–11.
Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources “Doctrine and Covenants 46-48”