Christmas Day is usually a time to ponder messages like “peace on earth” (see Luke 2:14). But on December 25, 1832, Joseph Smith’s mind was occupied with the threat of war. The state of South Carolina in the United States had just defied the government and was preparing for battle. And the Lord revealed that this was only the beginning: “War,” He declared, “will be poured out upon all nations” (Doctrine and Covenants 87:2). It seemed like this prophecy would be fulfilled very soon.
But then it wasn’t. Within a few weeks, South Carolina and the United States government reached a compromise, and war was averted. Prophecy, however, is not always fulfilled at the time or in the way we expect. Nearly 30 years later, long after Joseph Smith was martyred, South Carolina rebelled and civil war followed. Today, war throughout the world continues to cause “the earth [to] mourn” (Doctrine and Covenants 87:6). The value of this revelation is less in predicting when calamity will come and more in teaching what to do when it comes. The counsel is the same in 1831, 1861, and 2025: “Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved” (verse 8).
Notice what the Lord wanted to be included in the “history” described in Doctrine and Covenants 85:1–2. Why do you think He wants His Saints to keep a history? What could you record about your “manner of life, [your] faith, and works” that might be a blessing to you and future generations? How might keeping a personal history help you come unto Christ?
Use object lessons. People remember a gospel lesson better when they see or participate in an object lesson related to what they are learning. For example, when teaching about the still, small voice of the Spirit, maybe you could play a recording of soft, sacred music, and learners could talk about how the music makes them feel and how much harder it would be to hear if there were distracting noises. This could lead to a discussion about distractions in our lives that keep us from hearing the still, small voice.
The righteous are gathered to Christ in the last days.
Doctrine and Covenants 86 contains an interpretation of the parable of the wheat and the tares, found in Matthew 13:24–30, 37–43. As you learn about the meaning of this parable, consider filling out a table like this one:
Symbols
Possible meanings
Questions to ponder
Symbols
Sowers of the seed
Possible meanings
Prophets and apostles
Questions to ponder
What kinds of “seeds” do prophets and apostles plant?
Symbols
The enemy
Possible meanings
Satan
Questions to ponder
How does the adversary try to stop the Lord’s work?
Symbols
Possible meanings
Questions to ponder
Symbols
Possible meanings
Questions to ponder
Here are a few additional questions to consider:
After interpreting the parable, the Lord spoke of priesthood, restoration, and the salvation of His people (see verses 8–11). What connections do you see between these themes and the parable of the wheat and the tares?
What is your role in being a “light unto the Gentiles” and “a savior unto [the Lord’s] people”? (verse 11).
The prophecy in section 87 warns about physical dangers related to war in the last days. But the counsel in this revelation also applies to spiritual dangers. Ponder questions such as the following:
What are the blessings of accepting the prophecies of God’s prophets?
With those thoughts in mind, read section 87. (For some historical context, you might also want to read the introduction to this outline.) What do you learn about prophecy from this revelation and the way it was fulfilled? What would you say to someone who doubts a prophecy because it is not fulfilled right away?
What counsel does the Lord give in verse 8? What are your “holy places” where you find peace and safety? What makes a place holy? In addition to physical locations, perhaps there are holy times, holy practices, or holy thoughts that can provide peace. For example, how can the words of God’s prophets be a holy place for you? What does it mean to “stand” and “be not moved” from these places?
What would your children say if someone asked them how they know when the Holy Ghost speaks to them? Invite them to read about one way Joseph Smith described the Spirit’s voice in Doctrine and Covenants 85:6. They could then practice listening to and speaking in a small voice. You might also share experiences when the Spirit spoke to you in a still, small voice.
To help your children understand the phrase “still small voice,” you could play a children’s song quietly, such as “The Holy Ghost” (Children’s Songbook, 105). Ask one of the children to guess what song it is while other children make distracting noises. Then you could repeat the song with no distractions. What distractions can we remove from our lives to feel the Spirit more often?
To help your children understand the parable described in section 86, you could prepare several small pictures or drawings of wheat and hide them around the room. Explain to your children the parable of the wheat and the tares (see Matthew 13:24–30), and read together the Lord’s commentary in Doctrine and Covenants 86:1–7. Your children could then gather the hidden pictures of wheat and write on them the name of someone they can “gather” to Jesus Christ. What does it mean to gather people to Jesus Christ? What are some ways we can do this?
Here are some questions you can ask your children as you discuss Doctrine and Covenants 86:11: How does light bless us? What is it like when we have no light? How can we be a light to other people? Help your children think of ways we can “continue in [Jesus’s] goodness” and share it with others.
Read together Doctrine and Covenants 87:6 to learn about things the Lord said would happen in the latter days. Then you could talk about some of the challenges you and your children face. In verse 8, what did the Lord say we can do during hard times?
Help your children make a list of holy places, holy thoughts, and holy actions that can help them face spiritual danger. For ideas, see the videos “Standing in Holy Places” and “Stand Ye in Holy Places—Bloom Where You’re Planted” (Gospel Library).
