The Church grew rapidly in 1830 and 1831, particularly with a rush of new members in Kirtland, Ohio. This growth was exciting and encouraging to the Saints, but it also presented some challenges. How do you unify a quickly expanding group of believers? Specifically, what do you do when they bring doctrine and practices from their previous faiths? For example, when Joseph Smith arrived in Kirtland in early February 1831, he found new members sharing common property in a genuine attempt to imitate the New Testament Christians (see Acts 4:32–37). The Lord made some important corrections and clarifications on this and other topics. He did this largely through a revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 42 that He called “my law to govern my church” (verse 59). In this revelation, we learn truths that are fundamental in establishing the Lord’s Church in the latter days. And we learn that we have a lot more to learn: “If thou shalt ask,” the Lord promised, “thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:61).
“He that receiveth my law and doeth it, the same is my disciple.”
By early 1831, the Saints were starting to gather in Ohio. They were eager to receive the law that God had promised to reveal there (see Doctrine and Covenants 38:32). But first, He taught how His disciples should prepare to receive His law. What principles do you find in Doctrine and Covenants 41:1–6 that would have helped the Saints receive God’s law? How might these principles help you receive instruction from Him?
The Lord gives me commandments because He loves me.
The Saints considered the revelation found in Doctrine and Covenants 42:1–72 to be one of the most important the Prophet had received. It was one of the first revelations to be published. For many years, the Saints called it simply “the law.” While the section does not include all the Lord’s commandments or laws, it is worth pondering why these principles were important for the newly restored Church. Why are they important for us today?
Because section 42 is relatively long, you might consider studying it in smaller portions, like the following. Identify the principles taught in each, and consider how these laws are a sign of the Lord’s love for His people.
As part of the law revealed in section 42, the Lord taught His Saints how they could, like the followers of Christ anciently, have “all things common” (Acts 2:44; 4 Nephi 1:3), with “no poor among them” (Moses 7:18). What do you learn from Doctrine and Covenants 42:30–42 about how the Saints lived the law of consecration? (To consecrate means to set something aside for a sacred purpose.)
Although we don’t have “all things common” today, in temples Latter-day Saints covenant to live the law of consecration. How can you consecrate what God has given you to bless people in need? Perhaps singing a song like “Because I Have Been Given Much” (Hymns, no. 219) can give you ideas.
See also Sharon Eubank, “I Pray He’ll Use Us,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 53–56; “The Law,” in Revelations in Context, 93–95.
God gives revelation to guide His Church—and to guide me.
Imagine that you are having a conversation with a new member of the Church who is excited to know that the Church is guided by revelation. How could you use Doctrine and Covenants 43:1–16 to help him or her learn about the Lord’s pattern for guiding His Church through His prophet? How could you use Doctrine and Covenants 42:61, 65–68 to teach about receiving personal revelation?
What are some of the “peaceable things” and joyful things you have received from the Lord through His Spirit?
To learn about how leaders of the Church have heard the Lord’s voice, you could watch one of the videos in the “Hear Him” collection in the Gospel Library. Consider creating your own video, explaining how the Lord communicates with you.
Use object lessons. Object lessons or visual aids can help the people you teach understand gospel truths better and remember them longer. For example, you might use a puzzle, assembled piece by piece, to teach about receiving “revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:61).
A disciple is someone who receives God’s law and obeys it.
To help your children know what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, you can write Doctrine and Covenants 41:5 on a piece of paper, leaving blanks where the word disciple should be. They could then look in verse 5 for the missing word. According to this verse, what does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? How are we trying to be better disciples of Christ?
Your children might enjoy playing a game that requires them to listen carefully and follow instructions. You could use this game to talk about what it means to “hearken and hear and obey” the Lord (Doctrine and Covenants 42:2). What instructions has He given us? How are we blessed by obeying His laws and commandments?
You might complete this week’s activity page with your children. You could also sing a song about obeying God’s laws, such as “I Want to Live the Gospel” (Children’s Songbook, 148). Consider sharing with each other how obeying God’s laws has brought you happiness.
After reading together Doctrine and Covenants 42:38, help your children think of ways they can serve Jesus by serving others. They can find some ideas from the video “Pass It On” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). They could also look at pictures of the Savior helping others, healing the sick, or being kind to children (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 42, 47).
You might show your children a Tithing and Other Offerings slip and talk about how to use it to give what we have to bless others (see also “Tithing and Donations Online”).
Only the prophet can receive revelation for the whole Church.
Invite your children to imagine that someone stands up in testimony meeting and tells the ward that he has received a revelation for the whole Church (for example, a revelation that we should no longer eat carrots or that we should wash our hands with milk instead of water.) He says that we should listen to what he says instead of the prophet. What would be wrong with that? You could then study Doctrine and Covenants 43:1–7 together to find out how the Lord gives commandments to His Church.
You could also show a picture of the living prophet and invite your children to share something he taught recently. If they need help, share a video clip or passage from a recent general conference message. Why is it a blessing to have a living prophet today?
For more ideas, see this month’s issue of the Friend magazine.
