October 4–10

Doctrine and Covenants 111–114

“I Will Order All Things for Your Good”

Sister Cheryl A. Esplin, former counselor in the Primary General Presidency, taught that we should “[help] our children get the doctrine into their hearts in a way that it … is reflected in their attitudes and behavior throughout their lives” (“Teaching Our Children to Understand,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 10).

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

To encourage the children to share, bring several objects that are related to something from a previous lesson. Let them talk about what each object reminds them of.

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Doctrine and Covenants 111:2, 10–11

The things of God can be a treasure to me.

When children think of the word treasure, they may picture things that are different from the treasures implied in Doctrine and Covenants 111:2, 10. How can you help them learn to treasure the things of the Lord?

Possible Activities

• Invite the children to draw what comes to mind when they hear the word treasure. Contrast the things the world sees as treasure with the things the Lord treasures (see Doctrine and Covenants 111:2, 10–11), such as His people, wisdom and righteousness, and making good choices.

• Help the children complete this week’s activity page. What do we learn about Jesus from the things He treasures? How can we be more like Him?

Doctrine and Covenants 112:10

The Lord will lead me by the hand and answer my prayers.

Doctrine and Covenants 112:10 can help the children you teach build faith that Jesus Christ will lead and guide them throughout their lives.

Possible Activities

• Help the children to think of situations when it is important to hold the hand of a family member, like when crossing the street or giving comfort. They might enjoy acting out some of the examples they share. Read Doctrine and Covenants 112:10. Why do we want the Lord to “lead [us] by the hand”?

• Put a blindfold on one of the children, and ask him or her to walk across the room with another child leading him or her by the hand. Tell about an experience when you felt the Lord leading you by the hand.

  

  Arise and Walk, by Simon Dewey

Doctrine and Covenants 112:11

Jesus wants me to love everyone.

Help the children know that the Savior wants us to love everyone, even those who may not treat us kindly.

Possible Activities

• As you share “Chapter 41: Trouble in Kirtland” (Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 158–60), ask the children to form a heart shape with their hands when they hear about someone doing something right. Help them understand that the Lord wants us to love everyone, even those who might make wrong choices.

  Chapter 41: Trouble in Kirtland: 1837–1838

• Draw a sad face on the board, and ask the children how we can show love for others who are unhappy (see Doctrine and Covenants 112:11). As the children share ideas, redraw the sad face to become a happy face. Share your testimony of the power that comes from loving others. Sing together a song about love, such as “Jesus Said Love Everyone” (Children’s Songbook, 61).

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Doctrine and Covenants 112:10

I can be humble and seek God’s guidance.

Heavenly Father wants us to be humble so He can guide us. Help the children understand how they can show humility before God by doing things such as praying to Him and accepting His counsel.

Possible Activities

• Ask the children what it means to be humble. (They could read “Humility” in True to the Faith [pages 86–87] if needed.) Help them think of words or phrases related to “humble,” and invite them to read Doctrine and Covenants 112:10, substituting one of these words or phrases for “humble” in the verse. Why does Heavenly Father want us to be humble? To learn more, the children could read additional scriptures listed under “Humble, Humility” in Guide to the Scriptures (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

• Write the words of Doctrine and Covenants 112:10 on the board, and ask the children to read them aloud. Invite a child to underline blessings for those who are humble mentioned in this verse. Encourage the children to share times when they humbly sought the Lord’s help and were led by Him, such as when their prayers were answered.

Doctrine and Covenants 112:11

Jesus wants me to love everyone.

Jesus Christ was the perfect example of loving everyone, even those who mistreated Him. Joseph Smith also had to endure persecution by those who had been his friends. Help the children learn that we can love others just like the Savior and Joseph Smith did.

Possible Activities

• Invite the children to take turns reading from “Chapter 41: Trouble in Kirtland” (Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 158–60). Who in the story made the problems in Kirtland worse? Who was trying to make them better? Invite the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 112:11 and talk about why it is important to love everyone.

  Chapter 41: Trouble in Kirtland: 1837–1838

• Why is it important to love people who are different from us? Why might Heavenly Father have given us differences? How can we “let [our] love abound unto all,” even those who are different from us? Sing with the children a song about loving others, such as “I’ll Walk with You” (Children’s Songbook, 140–41).

• Help the children think of examples of when the Savior loved those who mistreated Him (for example, see Luke 23:34).

Doctrine and Covenants 112:12–15, 26

Those who are truly converted come to know Jesus Christ.

Becoming converted to Jesus Christ is a lifelong process, and it involves more than just “[professing] to know [His] name” (Doctrine and Covenants 112:26). Help the children better understand what it means to truly know the Savior.

Possible Activities

• Share with the children that in 1837, some of the Apostles had turned against the Prophet Joseph Smith. Why is it important to follow the prophet? (see verse 15). Help the children make a list of the things the Lord told Thomas B. Marsh, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, to do (see Doctrine and Covenants 112:12–15). Use the list to discuss how we can become more converted to Jesus Christ.

• Ask the children what they think it means to profess to know Jesus Christ but to not really know Him (see Doctrine and Covenants 112:26). What does verse 14 teach us we can do to know Him better? Help the children understand what it means to “take up [our] cross” (Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 16:25–26 [in the Bible appendix]) or to “feed [His] sheep.”

Encourage Learning at Home

Invite the children to summarize what they learned in class today. Help them make a note or draw a picture that will remind them of what they learned so they can share it with their families.

Improving Our Teaching

Children are curious and learn in many ways. Children enjoy learning through new and varied experiences. Use activities that help them move about, use all their senses, explore, and try new things. (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 25–26.)