February 15–21

Doctrine and Covenants 14–17

“Stand as a Witness”

How can you help the children stand as witnesses of the gospel? The activities in this outline may give you ideas.

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

Consider inviting a few children to share something they learned this week, at home or in Primary, that they believe is true.

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Doctrine and Covenants 14:1–7

I can help the Lord do His work.

Consider how the Lord’s words to David Whitmer can help the children understand how they can participate in God’s work.

Possible Activities

• Briefly share a few details about the Whitmer family (see Saints, 1:68–71 or this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). For example, share who David Whitmer was and how he and his family helped Joseph Smith as he was translating the Book of Mormon.

• Help the children understand the comparisons between working in a field and participating in God’s “great and marvelous work” (verse 1). For example, reaping a harvest can symbolize bringing souls to Christ. You could show a picture of a farmer, bring farmers’ clothes for the children to try on, or discuss everyday tasks that farmers perform. Explain that David Whitmer was a farmer who wanted to know how he could help the Lord. Read Doctrine and Covenants 14:3–4 to the children, and help them discover what the Lord told David Whitmer to do. How can we help in the Lord’s work?

• Use a present to teach the children about God’s gift of eternal life. For example, show the children a present with a paper inside that reads, “Eternal Life” (Doctrine and Covenants 14:7). Let a child unwrap the gift, and read Doctrine and Covenants 14:7 aloud. Share that eternal life means to live forever with God and to be like Him. Share your testimony of the blessings of keeping the commandments and receiving eternal life.

  

  Missionary work is one way we can help the Lord do His work.

Doctrine and Covenants 15:6; 16:6

I can help others come closer to Jesus Christ.

John Whitmer and Peter Whitmer Jr. were David Whitmer’s brothers. Like David, they wanted to know how they could help the Lord. He asked them to help “bring souls unto” Him.

Possible Activities

• Ask the children to describe something that is important or valuable to them (such as a toy, book, or game). Read Doctrine and Covenants 15:6 or 16:6, and ask the children to raise their hands when they hear what the Lord said is of “most worth.”

• With the children, make a list of ways they can help someone follow Jesus Christ, such as being friends to others, sharing the scriptures with a friend, or praying for someone in need. To give the children ideas, you could display some relevant pictures from Church magazines or the Gospel Art Book. Or the children could draw their own pictures. Invite them to try something on their list during the week.

Doctrine and Covenants 17

I can be a witness of the things God has done for me.

David Whitmer became one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, and four of his brothers were among the Eight Witnesses. Like David and his brothers, each of us can “stand as a witness” of the truth (Doctrine and Covenants 14:8).

Possible Activities

• Tell the children about the Three and Eight Witnesses (see “Chapter 7: Witnesses See the Gold Plates” [Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 31–33], or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Invite the children to draw a picture of the witnesses seeing the plates.

• Invite the children to color this week’s activity page, and use it to tell the account of the Three Witnesses.

• Hold up a copy of the Book of Mormon, and read to the children the last line of Doctrine and Covenants 17:6: “As your Lord and your God liveth it is true.” Tell the children how you know the Book of Mormon is true. Invite the children to become witnesses of the Book of Mormon by reading it and praying to know if it is true and then sharing their testimony with others.

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Doctrine and Covenants 14–16

I can help the Lord do His work.

As you discuss the revelations to the Whitmer brothers, you can share some of the ways the Lord invites each of us to help Him in His work.

Possible Activities

• Share stories about David Whitmer and his family that you feel will be inspiring to the children (see Saints, 1:68–71). How did the Lord use the Whitmers to help build His kingdom?

• On slips of paper, write simple questions and related scripture references from Doctrine and Covenants 14–16. For example: What is the word of God like? (14:2). What is God’s greatest gift? (14:7). What did the Lord say is of great worth? (15:6; 16:6). Invite each child to select a question and find answers in the verses.

• Write two headings on the board: Farm Work and The Work of the Lord. Help the children search Doctrine and Covenants 14:3–4 for phrases that relate to farm work, and write them under the first heading. What do these phrases teach us about the work of God? Write the children’s answers under the second heading. How can we help with the work of the Lord?

Doctrine and Covenants 17

I can be a witness of the things God has done for me.

In Doctrine and Covenants 17, the Lord told Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris that they would be the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon. Help the children learn how they can be a witness of the truth too.

• Invite a child to come prepared to share the account of the Three Witnesses (see “Chapter 7: Witnesses See the Gold Plates” [Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 31–33], or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What can we learn from this account about how to be brave witnesses? You might also show selections from the video “A Day for the Eternities” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org; the portion about the Three Witnesses begins at about 15:00).

• Read together the Lord’s promise in Doctrine and Covenants 17:1–3, and help the children find its fulfillment in “The Testimony of Three Witnesses” in the Book of Mormon.

• Read together Doctrine and Covenants 17:3–5 to find out what Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris, and David Whitmer were asked to do after seeing the gold plates. What are some truths we can testify of? Tell about how you have shared your testimony with others, and invite the children to share any experiences they have had.

Encourage Learning at Home

Invite the children to stand as a witness of something they learned in class today. Ask them to share how they did this in next week’s class.

Improving Our Teaching

Let the children be active. You can build on children’s active natures by inviting them to act out a story or perform actions that correspond to a song or scripture passage. (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 25–26.)