Lesson 44

The Church Lengthens Its Stride

Themes

1. President Spencer W. Kimball stressed the importance of missionary work and urged Church members to “lengthen their stride.”

2. In June 1978 President Kimball received a revelation granting all worthy males the right to receive the priesthood.

3. The Church added two revelations and an Official Declaration announcing the 1978 revelation on the priesthood to the standard works. The Church then published new editions of the scriptures.

Student Manual and Scripture Sources

• Student manual, chapter 44, pp. 579–90.

• Doctrine and Covenants 137–38.

• Official Declaration 2.

Suggested Approaches

• Have students review President Kimball’s first address to the Regional Representatives of the Church, “When the World Will Be Converted” (Ensign, Oct. 1974, pp. 2–14).

  How did the revelation on priesthood, the new revelations added to the scriptures, and the new Latter-day Saint edition of the scriptures all help to fulfill President Kimball’s vision of “when the world will be converted”?

• Have students read Official Declaration 2 in the back of the Doctrine and Covenants. What events led to President Kimball’s receiving of this revelation? Tell students that the Church News named the revelation on the priesthood the most significant event of the twentieth century (see 18 Dec. 1999, pp. 4–5). Ask: What impact has this revelation had on the Church since it was received?

• Discuss the new additions made to the scriptures in 1976. How is scripture canonized? What contributions do these new additions make to the standard works of the Church?

• Elder Boyd K. Packer has said that the “crowning achievement” of President Kimball’s ministry was the new edition of the scriptures (in Conference Report, Oct. 1982, p. 75; or Ensign, Nov. 1982, p. 53). Discuss why this is so. What impact have the new scriptures had in helping the Saints better understand the word of God and prepare for the coming of the Lord?

Theme Sources

• W. Grant Bangerter, in Conference Report, Oct. 1977, pp. 38–39; or Ensign, Nov. 1977, p. 26.

  Elder Bangerter describes President Spencer W. Kimball’s first sermon to the Regional Representatives of the Twelve after he became the President of the Church.

• “President Spencer W. Kimball on the Occasion of His 80th Birthday,” Ensign, Mar. 1975, pp. 6–12.

  The life and contributions of President Spencer W. Kimball.

• Bruce T. Harper, “The Church Publishes a New Triple Combination,” Ensign, Oct. 1981, pp. 8–19.

  The background and history of the Latter-day Saint edition of the scriptures.

• “The Ends of the Earth: A Conversation about the New International Mission,” Ensign, Apr. 1974, pp. 6–9.

  A series of questions and answers directed to Elder Howard W. Hunter and Elder Bernard P. Brockbank concerning the international mission.

• William James Mortimer, “The Coming Forth of the LDS Editions of Scripture,” Ensign, Aug. 1983, pp. 35–41.

  The historical background for the coming forth of the Latter-day Saint edition of the scriptures.

• Hoyt W. Brewster, Jr., “Discovering the LDS Editions of Scripture,” Ensign, Oct. 1983, pp. 54–58.

  The value of the Latter-day Saint editions of the scriptures and why we should use them.

• Boyd K. Packer, “Using the New Scriptures,” Ensign, Dec. 1985, pp. 49–53.

  An Apostle gives perspective on the new scriptures and why Latter-day Saints should use them.

• “Central America: Saints in Six Nations Grow in the Gospel,” Ensign, Feb. 1977, pp. 25–47.

  The spirit and growth of the Church in Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile during the 1970s.

• Ensign, Aug. 1975, pp. 34–61.

  A series of articles recounting the growth and the history of the Church in Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Philippines.

• Boyd K. Packer, in Conference Report, Oct. 1982, pp. 73–77; or Ensign, Nov. 1982, pp. 51–53.

  An Apostle’s perspective on the historical and spiritual importance of the new editions of the standard works.

• Bruce R. McConkie, “A New Commandment: Save Thyself and Thy Kindred!” Ensign, Aug. 1976, pp. 7–11.

  The importance of the newly canonized revelations.

• Boyd K. Packer, “President Spencer W. Kimball: No Ordinary Man,” Ensign, Mar. 1974, pp. 2–13.

  A biographical sketch of Spencer W. Kimball.

• Ezra Taft Benson, “President Kimball’s Vision of Missionary Work,” Ensign, July 1985, pp. 6–11.

  President Benson traces the impact President Kimball had on missionary work in the 1980s.

Additional Sources

• “Area Conferences from Monterrey to Santiago,” Ensign, Feb. 1977, pp. 14–16.

  Includes a map and chart of the countries involved in the area conferences.

• Orson Scott Card, “It’s a Young Church in Mexico,” Ensign, Feb. 1977, pp. 17–23.

  The spiritual and emotional experiences of the Saints in Mexico.

• Dean L. Larsen, “The Challenges of Administering a Worldwide Church,” Ensign, July 1974, pp. 18–22.

  Some of the problems the Church faces as it continues to grow worldwide.

• George Horton, “Understanding Textual Changes in the Book of Mormon,” Ensign, Dec. 1983, pp. 24–28.

  An article on understanding the changes that have been made in various editions of the Book of Mormon.

• Edward L. Kimball and Andrew E. Kimball, Jr., Spencer W. Kimball: Twelfth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1977).

  The story of President Kimball’s life up to the time he became Church President.

• Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982).

  Many of President Kimball’s teachings arranged by topic.

• Bruce R. McConkie, “All Are Alike unto God,” in A Symposium on the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979).

  Elder McConkie’s article deals with the revelation giving the priesthood to all worthy males.

• Gordon B. Hinckley, “Priesthood Restoration,” Ensign, Oct. 1988, pp. 69–72.

  President Hinckley discusses his own experiences associated with the Lord giving the priesthood to all worthy male members.