Tag Archives: Missouri

May 27 2021

Doctrine and Covenants 58-59

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Settling in Jackson County Missouri

Section 58

Section 58 Earlier, on the first Sabbath after the arrival of the Prophet and his party in Jackson County, Missouri, a religious service had been held, and two members had been received by baptism. During that week, some of the Colesville Saints from the Thompson Branch and others arrived (see section 54). Many were eager to learn the will of the Lord concerning them in the new place of gathering.

Doctrine and Covenants Scripture Stories “Chapter 22: Saints Begin to Settle in Missouri” Video and Images

Faith in Tribulation

When the elders of the Church first saw the site of the city of Zion—Independence, Missouri—it was not what they expected. Some thought they would find a thriving, industrious community with a strong group of Saints. Instead, they found a sparsely populated outpost, lacking the civilization they were used to and inhabited by rough frontier settlers rather than Saints. It turned out that the Lord wasn’t asking them just to come to Zion—He wanted them to build Zion. Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025

When our expectations do not match reality, we can remember what the Lord told the Saints in 1831: “Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God … and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:3). Yes, life is full of tribulation, even wickedness, but we can “bring to pass much righteousness; for the power is in [us]” (verses 27–28).

See also Saints, 1:127–33.

Doctrine and Covenants 58:1–5; 59:23. What messages in these verses strengthen your ability to bear tribulation more patiently? What blessings have you received after tribulation? Why do you think some blessings come only after tribulation?

Friend May 2021 “The Saints Build a New Home”

Heavenly Father has Given Me Power to Choose.

Doctrine and Covenants 58:26–28

26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025

  • Reading together Doctrine and Covenants 58:26–28 can give you and your children an opportunity to talk about the power Heavenly Father has given us to choose to do good. Tell the children about a time when you made a good choice, and describe how you felt afterward. Invite the children [to share good choices they made and what happened as a result] Maybe your children would like to draw a picture of their experience.

God has given us the power to choose, and with that power we can “bring to pass much righteousness” (verse 27). How can you help the children you teach see that even though there is wickedness in the world, “the power is in them” to “do good”? (verse 28)

Friend January 2012 “A boy in my class bullied me. One day he hit me. I was sad, but I forgave him. When I was chosen to be a class helper, I could choose a friend to work with me. I picked this boy because he never gets chosen by others. I wanted to make him feel good. He thanked me for choosing him and was nice to me. It made me feel good to be an example like Jesus.” Canyon H., age 6, Washington

August Friend 2016

Friend August 2016

Heavenly Father blesses us as we strive to do good.

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 and Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 58–59”

  • You could write choice on one side of a piece of paper and consequence on the other and use this paper to illustrate that our choices and their consequences are inseparable. Invite a child to pick up the paper to show that when you pick up the paper, you get both the choice and the consequence of that choice. Perhaps your children could list a few choices and talk about the consequences that come from them. Then you could read together Doctrine and Covenants 58:27–28 and talk about choices that “bring to pass much righteousness” or good consequences. How does Heavenly Father “reward” or bless us as we strive to do good? (verse 28).

The Red Crystal Click link for the activity printouts

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 58–59”

Help the children know that Heavenly Father wants us to make good choices that bring happiness to our lives and to others.

  • Read phrases from Doctrine and Covenants 58:27–28 to help children understand that they can choose to do good. Put a happy face on one side of the room and a sad face on the other side. How do we feel when we choose to do good? Describe several situations along with a good or bad choice for each one. After describing each situation and choice, ask the children to stand by the happy face if the choice is good and by the sad face if it is bad.

The Red Crystal

  • Sing a song about choices, such as “Choose the Right” (Hymns, no. 239). Ask questions to help the children ponder the words of the song—for example, Who helps guide you to make the right choice? Who tries to get you to make the wrong choice? How does choosing the right make you feel?

Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause

Latter Day Kids “Anxiously Engaged in a Good Cause” Video, activities, and lesson ideas

Perhaps family members could make a list of some of the things they are “anxiously engaged” in. Are all of them “good cause[s]”? Why does the Lord want us to do “many things of [our] own free will”? Ask each family member to think of what they can do this week to “bring to pass much righteousness.” Later they can report on what they did. (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 58-59”)

Section 59

Jackson County, Missouri, August 7, 1831. Preceding this revelation, the land was consecrated, as the Lord had directed, and the site for the future temple was dedicated. On the day this revelation was received, Polly Knight, the wife of Joseph Knight Sr., died, the first Church member to die in Zion. Early members characterized this revelation as “instructing the Saints how to keep the sabbath and how to fast and pray.”

Doctrine and Covenants 59, section heading Who was Polly Knight? Polly Knight and her husband, Joseph Knight Sr., were some of the first believers in Joseph Smith’s prophetic calling. Polly and Joseph gave vital support to the Prophet in the work of translating the Book of Mormon. The Knight family left Colesville, New York, to gather with the Saints in Ohio and were later commanded to move to Jackson County, Missouri. As they traveled, Polly’s health began to fade, but she was determined to see Zion before she died. She had been in Missouri only a few days when she passed away (see Saints,1:127–28, 132–33). Doctrine and Covenants 59 was received on the day of her passing, and verses 1 and 2 seem to refer specifically to her.

“Thank the Lord thy God in all things.”

Doctrine and Covenants 59:7, 18–21

Doctrine and Covenants 59:7 7 Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025

  • Consider reading these verses while you and your children go for a walk or look at pictures of nature, noticing things that “please the eye and … gladden the heart” (verse 18).
  • You could also notice similar things in a song like “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228–29).
  • Or you might invite your children to draw pictures of things they are thankful for and let them tell you about their pictures. How can we show our gratitude for these things?

Friend February 2017 Find the things in the picture that show Heavenly Father and Jesus’s love for us.

Friend May 2021 “Scripture Time Fun” Thankful Journals

  • Sing “I Thank Thee, Dear Father” (Children’s Songbook, 7).
  • Jesus taught, “Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:7).
  • Make thankful journals with your family! Fold pieces of paper together like a book and decorate the cover. Every night before you go to sleep, write or draw three things you are grateful for.

See also Gratitude and Resources for Teaching Children “Gratitude” for additional stories, activities, and song teaching aids.

The Sabbath is the Lord’s Day

Doctrine and Covenants 59:9–12

“For Little Friends: Doing Good on the Sabbath Day”(September 2007 Liahona and Friend)
A list of things children can do on the Sabbath day.

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025

  • What can we do on Sunday to worship the Lord and find joy? Help your children find ideas in Doctrine and Covenants 59:9–12 and this week’s activity page. Maybe they could also find pictures or objects to represent things we do on the Sabbath (such as the pictures of the sacrament in this outline). How do these things help us feel closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
  • Hide several pictures of people doing things that show love for Heavenly Father on the Sabbath day. Ask the children to find the pictures and share how doing the things in the pictures shows our love for God.

(Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 58-59”)

What might it mean to be “crowned … with commandments”? (verse 4). As you read the commandments in verses 5–19, discuss the blessings you have received by obeying each of these commandments.

You could also notice how words like “joy,” “rejoicing,” “cheerful,” and “glad” are used to describe the commandment to honor the Sabbath day. How can you make your Sabbath more joyful? Maybe your family could make a matching game with cards that depict things you can do to keep the Sabbath day holy.

See Sabbath Day and Resources for Teaching Children “Sabbath Day” for additional teaching ideas.

Additional Resources:

Come Follow Me Kid Lesson ideas

The Red Crystal Lesson ideas