April 26–May 2

Doctrine and Covenants 45

“The Promises … Shall Be Fulfilled”

As a teacher, your most important preparation is spiritual. Begin by studying Doctrine and Covenants 45 and praying for the guidance of the Holy Ghost. This outline provides ideas that may be helpful to you. You might also find ideas in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families or in the Liahona or Friend.

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

Ask the children if they would like to share something they learned from the scriptures this week. Choose someone to share, and ask the other children to raise their hands if they learned about something similar.

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Doctrine and Covenants 45:32

I can “stand in holy places.”

In Doctrine and Covenants 45:32, the Lord taught that His disciples will find safety in the last days by standing in holy places—places that are special to the Lord. How can you help the children recognize the holy places in their lives?

Possible Activities

• Place pictures of a home, a church building, and a temple in different places throughout the room. Give clues describing these places, and invite the children to stand near the picture you are describing. Read the first line from Doctrine and Covenants 45:32. Testify that we are blessed when we spend time in holy places like our homes, our church buildings, and the temple. Ask the children to talk about how they feel when they are in holy places like these.

• Invite the children to complete this week’s activity page. Help them write “I can help my home become a holy place” and “Doctrine and Covenants 45:32” on their drawing. What can they do to help their home become a holy place?

• To help the children think about what it means to “not be moved,” ask them to stand still without moving for one minute. Read the first line from Doctrine and Covenants 45:32. Help the children understand that to “stand in holy places, and … not be moved” means to choose the right at all times, no matter what is happening. Invite them to “not be moved” away from righteous thoughts and actions.

Doctrine and Covenants 45:44–45

Jesus Christ will come again.

When the Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, heard the revelation found in Doctrine and Covenants 45, which speaks of the last days and the Savior’s Second Coming, they received it with joy. Consider how you will help the children prepare joyfully for the Second Coming.

Possible Activities

• Help the children think about how they feel when they know that someone special is coming to visit them, like a grandparent or a friend. How do they prepare for the visit? Show a picture of the Savior, and read part or all of Doctrine and Covenants 45:44–45. Tell the children how you feel about the Savior coming again, and let them share their feelings.

• Show a picture of the Savior’s Second Coming (see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families), and ask the children to share what they feel when they see the picture. Share your testimony that Jesus Christ will come again.

• Sing a song about the Savior’s Second Coming, such as “When He Comes Again” (Children’s Songbook, 82–83). Use the song to discuss ways we can prepare for Jesus to come again, such as by doing God’s will and letting our light shine for others.

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Doctrine and Covenants 45:3–5

Jesus Christ is our Advocate with the Father.

How will you help the children strengthen their faith that Jesus Christ is their Advocate? How have you learned this for yourself?

Possible Activities

• Write several words and phrases found in Doctrine and Covenants 45:3–5 on separate pieces of paper. Give the children a minute to study these verses in their scriptures, and then invite them to close their scriptures and put the words on the papers in the order they appear in the verse. According to these verses, what does the Savior say to plead our cause before Heavenly Father?

• Help the children define the word advocate, perhaps by looking it up in a dictionary. What did the Savior do that made it possible for Him to be our Advocate? Share your feelings about what Jesus Christ has done for us, and let the children share their feelings.

Doctrine and Covenants 45:9

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a light to the world.

Help the children you teach think of ways the gospel prepares the world for the Savior’s Second Coming.

Possible Activities

• Show pictures of a light and a flag, or draw these things on the board. Invite the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 45:9 and think of ways the gospel is like a light, a standard (or flag), and a messenger. You might explain that anciently, a standard was a banner or flag carried into battle. It helped soldiers know where to gather and what to do.

  

  Title of Liberty, by Larry Conrad Winborg

• Help the children memorize all or part of verse 9 by writing it on the board and erasing a few words at a time.

Doctrine and Covenants 45:37–38

Jesus Christ will come again.

It can be frightening for children to read about the wars, wickedness, and destruction that are prophesied to occur before the Savior’s Second Coming. How can you help them look forward with joy to this promised day?

Possible Activities

• Ask the children how they know when a new season is near. What signs do they look for? Explain that just as there are signs of a new season, there are signs of the Second Coming. Read together Doctrine and Covenants 45:37–38. What did Jesus say that the signs of His Second Coming would be like? To help the children discover the signs we should be looking for, assign each child (or group of children) to read a few verses from Doctrine and Covenants 45 that describe these signs. Verses 26–27, 31–33, 40–42 could be used, for example. Let the children share what they found. Which of these signs are being fulfilled today?

• On separate pieces of paper, write some of the promises regarding future events that you found in your study of section 45. Some examples of these promises can be found in verses 44–45, 51–52, 55, 58–59, 66–71. List on the board the verses where the promises are found. Give the children the papers, and ask them to use their scriptures to match the verses on the board to the promises. Discuss what these promises mean, and invite the children to share which promises help them feel excited about the Savior’s Second Coming.

Encourage Learning at Home

Invite the children to think of one thing they learned during class that they can share with their families. Ask a few of them to share with the class what they want to share at home.

Improving Our Teaching

Help the children recognize the Spirit. As you teach the children, tell them when you feel the Holy Ghost. Talk about how you recognize His presence. For example, you might feel peaceful or joyful while singing a song about the Savior. Identifying these feelings will help the children notice when they are feeling the Spirit.