Peter Whitmer Home, by Al Rounds

March 1–7

Doctrine and Covenants 20–22

“The Rise of the Church of Christ”

As you study Doctrine and Covenants 20–22 this week, teaching ideas may come to your mind. You can find additional teaching ideas in this outline.

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

Show the picture in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families, and ask the children to share what they know about the organization of the Church. For help, see “Chapter 9: Organization of the Church of Jesus Christ” (Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 40–42).

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Doctrine and Covenants 20–21

The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored.

On April 6, 1830, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery gathered with others to organize the restored Church of Jesus Christ. How can you help the children you teach understand the importance of this event?

Possible Activities

• Use the section heading for Doctrine and Covenants 21 or chapter 9 of Doctrine and Covenants Stories to briefly tell the children what happened on the day the Church was organized. To help them understand this event, show the video “Organization of the Church” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

• Tell the children why you are thankful that we have The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Explain that being a member of the Church prepares us to live with God again. Help them repeat the phrase “I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” several times or sing “The Church of Jesus Christ” (Children’s Songbook, 77).

Doctrine and Covenants 20:37, 71–74

I am preparing to be baptized.

The children you teach are preparing to be baptized. Help them understand what it means to be baptized and what they can do to be ready.

Possible Activities

• Show a picture of a child being baptized (see Gospel Art Book, no. 104), and ask the children to point out things they notice. Read or summarize Doctrine and Covenants 20:71–74, and help the children see how the picture matches the instructions in these verses. Testify that we should follow the Savior’s example and be baptized in the way He has commanded.

• Summarize Doctrine and Covenants 20:37. What do we learn from this verse about people who want to be baptized? Show pictures of ways the children can prepare for baptism, such as serving others and praying.

• Sing a song about baptism, such as “When I Am Baptized” (Children’s Songbook, 103), or watch “The Baptism of Jesus” (biblevideos.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Invite the children to share their feelings about being baptized.

Doctrine and Covenants 20:75–79

The sacrament helps me remember Jesus Christ.

How can you help the children better understand why we partake of the sacrament each week?

Possible Activities

• Read Doctrine and Covenants 20:77 to the children. Ask them to stand when they hear what we should remember when we eat the sacrament bread. Do the same with verse 79. (You may want to point out that we drink water instead of wine.) How can we show that we remember Jesus?

• Tell the children about a time when you made a promise and kept it. Invite them to tell similar stories of their own. Explain that when we take the sacrament, we make promises. Read Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, emphasizing the promises we make to “always remember him” and “keep his commandments.” Invite the children to share a time when they remembered the Savior or obeyed a commandment.

  

  The sacrament reminds me to think of Jesus Christ.

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Doctrine and Covenants 20–21

The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored.

In obedience to the Lord’s command, Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and others organized the restored Church of Jesus Christ on April 6, 1830. Consider ways to help the children see how this event has blessed their lives.

Possible Activities

• Remind the children of some of the important events they have been learning about—such as the restoration of the priesthood and the translation of the Book of Mormon. Why did these things need to happen before the Church could be organized?

• Display pictures of things we do in the Church that are described in section 20, such as learning about God and Jesus Christ, ministering, baptizing, and partaking of the sacrament. Help the children match these pictures with scriptures that describe them, such as Doctrine and Covenants 20:17–21, 47, 70, 72–74, 75–79, and the heading for section 21. What blessings do we have because we are members of the Church?

• Sing together “The Church of Jesus Christ” (Children’s Songbook, 77).

Doctrine and Covenants 20:37, 77, 79

When I was baptized, I promised to follow Jesus Christ.

Many of the children in your class have been baptized. Remind them of the covenant they made “to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:37).

Possible Activities

• Invite a few children to come prepared to share what they felt or experienced when they were baptized. Perhaps they could bring a picture from their baptismal day to show the class. Why did they choose to be baptized? How has being baptized and receiving the Holy Ghost blessed them?

• Read together Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, and ask the children to identify the promises we make during the sacrament. To help the children understand that there are things they can do every day to “always remember” Jesus Christ, invite one child to act out something he or she can do to remember the Savior. Ask the others to guess what the action is. According to verse 77, how are we blessed when we always remember the Savior?

• Help the children compare Doctrine and Covenants 20:37 with verse 77 to find a phrase that is repeated in both. Show the children something that has a name on it (such as a brand name or a personal name). What does the name tell us about the item? Read together Doctrine and Covenants 20:37 to discover whose name we take upon ourselves when we are baptized. What does it mean to take Jesus Christ’s name upon us? How should we think and act because we have this name?

Doctrine and Covenants 21:4–6

I am blessed when I follow the prophet.

How will you help the children receive the blessings promised in these verses to those who follow the prophet?

Possible Activities

• Write on the board Commandments and Blessings. Invite the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 21:4–6, looking for the commandments the Lord gave and the blessings He promised. Invite them to write on the board what they find.

• Show a picture of the current prophet, and invite the children to share something they learned or heard from him recently. Read together Doctrine and Covenants 21:5. Invite the children to write or draw something they can do to follow the prophet. Share your testimony that when we follow the prophet, we are following the Savior.

Encourage Learning at Home

Invite the children to make a list of reasons they are thankful for the restored Church of Jesus Christ. Encourage them to share their list with a family member or friend.

Improving Our Teaching

Use stories to teach the doctrine. “Stories help children see how the gospel applies to everyday life. … When teaching young children, plan ways to involve them in the story; for example, they could hold pictures, repeat phrases, or act out parts” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 25).