Daviess County, Missouri

June 14–20

Doctrine and Covenants 64–66

“The Lord Requireth the Heart and a Willing Mind”

As you prepare to teach, consider how you could adapt your approach to fit the needs of the children. Remember that you can use any of the activities in this outline for younger or older children.

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

Give each child a chance to hold a picture of the Savior and share something they are learning about Him and His gospel.

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Doctrine and Covenants 64:9–10

Jesus Christ asks me to forgive others.

What object lessons or activities can you think of that would help the children understand what it means to forgive? As you discuss forgiveness, remind the children that forgiving does not mean allowing others to hurt us.

Possible Activities

• Read the phrase “ye ought to forgive one another” (Doctrine and Covenants 64:9), and ask the children what it means to forgive someone. To help them understand, share a few simple examples. Help them role-play these examples to practice forgiving.

• Read Doctrine and Covenants 64:10 slowly to the children, and have them shake hands with another child when they hear the word “forgive.” Share your testimony of the peace and happiness that come when we forgive others.

• Sing a song about forgiveness, such as “Help Me, Dear Father” (Children’s Songbook, 99). What does this song teach us about forgiving others?

Doctrine and Covenants 64:34

I can obey Jesus with my heart and mind.

The Lord taught the Saints that to build Zion, they needed to give Him their hearts and willing minds. Consider how you will help the children begin to think about what this means for them.

Possible Activities

• Read to the children from Doctrine and Covenants 64:34: “Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind.” Repeat this phrase a few times, pointing to your heart and head as you read those words, and invite the children to do the same. How can we give our hearts and minds to the Savior? (It might help to explain that our heart refers to our feelings and love and our mind refers to our thoughts.)

• Sing a song about loving and following the Savior, such as “I Feel My Savior’s Love” (Children’s Songbook, 74–75; especially verse 3). How do we show the Savior that we love Him? Share your feelings for Jesus Christ.

Doctrine and Covenants 66

The Lord knows who I am and loves me.

William E. McLellin had five specific questions for the Lord. Joseph Smith received answers to them in a revelation even though he did not know what William’s questions were. This experience could help you teach the children that God is aware of them and can answer their questions.

Possible Activities

• Tell about how the Lord answered William E. McLellin’s questions through a revelation from the Prophet Joseph Smith (see Doctrine and Covenants 66, section heading). Testify that Heavenly Father knows us and wants to help us. Ask the children to share how they know that God loves them.

• Read to the children Doctrine and Covenants 66:4. Tell the children about a time when the Lord showed you what He wanted you to do. Read the verse again, this time inserting the name of one of the children. Repeat for each of the children.

  

  Jesus Christ loves each of us.

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Doctrine and Covenants 64:7–10

The Lord wants me to forgive everyone.

As these verses show, even disciples of Jesus Christ sometimes have trouble forgiving one another. Consider how you will help the children understand the Lord’s command “to forgive all.” (Clarify that forgiving does not mean allowing people to hurt us; they should always tell a trusted adult if someone hurts them.)

Possible Activities

• Invite the children to imagine that they were asked to teach a younger sibling about forgiving others. How would they do it? Invite them to read Doctrine and Covenants 64:7–10 in pairs and to find phrases they would use in their teaching. They could also practice teaching one another.

• Sing together “Help Me, Dear Father” (Children’s Songbook, 99). How does Heavenly Father help us forgive others?

• Think of an analogy that might help the children understand how we are “afflicted” when we don’t forgive (verse 8). For example, show the children a bag of mud or dirt; ask them to imagine that someone threw mud on them. How might failing to forgive be like saving the mud and always carrying it with us? Why would it be better to throw the mud away? Help the children think of other analogies that teach why it is important to forgive.

Doctrine and Covenants 64:33–34

The Lord requires my “heart and a willing mind.”

Building Zion—or helping the Church grow—is “a great work.” To accomplish it, the Lord requires us to offer Him our hearts and willing minds. Those who live in Zion are “of one heart and one mind” (Moses 7:18).

Possible Activities

• Show the children some things that are made up of many small parts, like a puzzle or a rug. Help them think of other examples. Invite the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 64:33. What does God want us to do to help Him accomplish His “great work”? What are the “small things” we can do that will help accomplish this work?

• Ask the children to complete an action that requires two objects, but give them only one (for example, writing on the chalkboard without chalk or cutting a piece of paper with no scissors). Invite the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 64:34 to find out what two things the Lord asks of us. Why do we need to give both our heart and mind to the Lord? How do we do this?

Doctrine and Covenants 65

I can help prepare the world to receive Jesus Christ.

The mission of the Church—God’s kingdom on earth—is to prepare the world for the return of the Savior. The children you teach are an important part of this mission. What can you do to help them participate?

Possible Activities

• As a class or in pairs, read Doctrine and Covenants 65, and count how many times the word “prepare” is written. What is the Lord asking us to prepare for? What can we do to prepare ourselves and the earth?

• Show a picture of the Savior’s Second Coming (see Gospel Art Book, no. 66), and ask the children to describe what they see or what they know about this event. Give the children key words and phrases to find in Doctrine and Covenants 65 (such as “filled the whole earth” and “wonderful works”). What do these words and phrases teach us about the Second Coming and our role in preparing for it?

Encourage Learning at Home

Help the children find a verse in Doctrine and Covenants 64–66 that they like and would want to share with a family member or friend.

Improving Our Teaching

Learn to recognize revelation. As you pray and ponder about the scriptures, you will find that ideas and impressions can come anytime and anywhere—“as you travel to work, do household chores, or interact with family and friends” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 12).