May 26–June 1: “A Faithful, a Just, and a Wise Steward”: Doctrine and Covenants 51–57
“May 26–June 1: ‘A Faithful, a Just, and a Wise Steward’: Doctrine and Covenants 51–57,” Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 (2025)
“Doctrine and Covenants 51–57,” Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: 2025
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man plowing a field
First Furrow, by James Taylor Harwood
May 26–June 1: “A Faithful, a Just, and a Wise Steward”
For Church members in the 1830s, gathering the Saints and building the city of Zion were spiritual as well as temporal labors, with many practical matters to address: Someone needed to buy land where the Saints could settle. Someone needed to print books and other publications. And someone needed to run a store to provide goods for people in Zion. In the revelations recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 51–57, the Lord appointed and instructed people to handle these tasks.
But while skills in such things are needed in Zion, these revelations also teach that the Lord desires His Saints to become spiritually worthy to be called a Zion people—His people. He calls each of us to be “a faithful, a just, and a wise steward,” having a contrite spirit, “stand[ing] fast” in our appointed responsibilities (see Doctrine and Covenants 51:19; 52:15; 54:2). If we can do that—regardless of our temporal skills—the Lord can use us to build Zion.
The Lord wants me to be a faithful, just, and wise steward.
If you were a Church member in 1831, you might have been invited to live the law of consecration by signing over your property to the Church through the bishop. He would then return to you, in most cases, what you donated, sometimes with a surplus. But it was no longer just your possession—it was your stewardship.
Today the procedures are different, but the principles are still vital to the Lord’s work. As you read section 51, think about what God has entrusted to you. What do the words “steward” (verse 19) and “consecrated” (verse 5) imply about God’s expectations of you?
President Spencer W. Kimball explained: “In the Church a stewardship is a sacred spiritual or temporal trust for which there is accountability. Because all things belong to the Lord, we are stewards over our bodies, minds, families, and properties. (See Doctrine and Covenants 104:11–15.) A faithful steward is one who exercises righteous dominion, cares for his own, and looks to the poor and needy” (“Welfare Services: The Gospel in Action,” Ensign, Nov. 1977, 78).
I can invite others to come unto Christ wherever I go.
When the Lord sent several Church leaders to Missouri, he told them to make use of the time spent traveling and “preach by the way” (verses 25–27). How can you share the gospel “by the way,” or during the normal events of your life?
With many people claiming spiritual manifestations, the early Saints were concerned about being deceived. What warning did the Lord give them in Doctrine and Covenants 52:14? What was His solution? (see verses 14–19).
A pattern is something that repeats in a regular, predictable way. Examples include counting by even numbers or the sun rising and setting each day. What other examples can you think of? As you search Doctrine and Covenants 52:14–19, identify the Lord’s pattern for avoiding deception. It might help to note that “contrite” implies a feeling of humility and repentance; “meek” suggests gentleness and self-control; and to “edify” means to instruct, improve, or build up. Why do you feel the Lord’s pattern includes these qualities, as well as obedience? How can you apply this pattern to avoid deception?
Define difficult words. In the Gospel Library app, you can tap and hold a word and then select “Define.” You will then be taken to a definition of that word. Try this when you come across unfamiliar words—or words that seem familiar that you’d like to understand better.
What are some examples of deceptions in our day? How can we know when we are being deceived?
For instance, you might consider evaluating your choices regarding movies, music, and social media based on the standards in “Walk in God’s light” in For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices, 16–21.
See also Gary E. Stevenson, “Deceive Me Not,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 93–96; “Guide Me to Thee,” Hymns, no. 101; Topics and Questions, “Seeking Truth and Avoiding Deception,” Gospel Library.
I can turn to the Lord when I am hurt by others’ choices.
Have you ever suffered disappointment when someone you depended on didn’t keep their commitments? This happened to the Saints from Colesville, New York, who expected to settle on Leman Copley’s land in Ohio. To learn from this experience, consider reviewing the heading to section 54 (see also Saints, 1:125–28; “A Bishop unto the Church,” in Revelations in Context, 78–79). If you had a friend among the Colesville Saints, what counsel could you find in section 54 to share with them?
In these verses, the Lord spoke both to the rich and to the poor; it might be interesting to compare His counsel to these two groups. What in these verses feels relevant to you personally?
For more ideas, see this month’s issues of the Liahona and For the Strength of Youth magazines.
To help your children learn what it means to be honest, you could read together Doctrine and Covenants 51:9 and share stories of children who face decisions about being honest. You could use pictures, sock puppets, or paper dolls to make the stories more interesting. How does the Lord bless us as we strive to be honest?
Consider playing a game with your children. Afterward, discuss how the game would have been different if someone had cheated. Why is it important to “deal honestly” with each other?
I receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.
Receiving the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands is mentioned several times in Doctrine and Covenants 51–57. This might be a good opportunity to teach your children about this ordinance. For example, they could look at a picture of a child being confirmed and describe what is happening in the picture. Ask them to clap their hands when they hear “laying on of the hands” or “laying on of hands” while you read Doctrine and Covenants 52:10; 53:3; 55:1.
You could also sing “The Holy Ghost” (Children’s Songbook, 105) or a similar song. Help your children find words and phrases in the song that teach about the gift of the Holy Ghost.
To teach about the Lord’s pattern for avoiding deception, you might start by helping children find examples of patterns—in nature, in colorful blankets or clothing, or in daily life. Help them find the pattern the Lord gave in Doctrine and Covenants 52:14–15. Make sure they understand any unfamiliar words in these verses. How can we use this pattern to recognize truth?
In your own words, share with your children what happened to the Saints who came to live on Leman Copley’s land (see the heading to section 54). Your children could pretend to be a member of the Church who has arrived in Ohio. How would they have felt after Leman broke his covenant? What does this teach us about keeping our covenants or promises? Read together Doctrine and Covenants 54:6 to discover blessings for people who keep their covenants.
I can use the blessings God has given me to bless others.
To introduce section 55, you may want to explain that William W. Phelps was a newspaper publisher who learned about the gospel and joined the Church. Read with your children Doctrine and Covenants 55:1–4, and help them discover what God wanted William to do. How did He plan to use William’s talents? This could lead to a discussion about how God might invite us to use our talents to bless His children.
For more ideas, see this month’s issue of the Friend magazine.
