September 2–8

1 Corinthians 14–16

“God Is Not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace”

Before reviewing this outline, read 1 Corinthians 14–16. Record your initial impressions about what truths will help your class members, and continually seek additional guidance from the Spirit during the week.

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

Provide a few minutes for class members to review 1 Corinthians 14–16 and find a verse they feel is especially meaningful. Invite them to find someone in the class with whom they can share their verse and explain why they chose it.

Teach the Doctrine

1 Corinthians 14

When Saints gather together, they should seek to edify one another.

• Consider using Paul’s teachings in 1 Corinthians 14 to remind class members that we can all edify—or support and uplift—each other at church. A simple way to review this chapter might be to write a question on the board, such as What should be our goal when we gather together? Invite class members to search for possible answers in 1 Corinthians 14. Other ideas could be found in Moroni 6:4–5 and Doctrine and Covenants 50:17–23. As class members share what they find, consider asking them how they feel your class is doing at accomplishing these goals. They could also share experiences in which they felt edified by something a class member shared.

• To help class members understand Paul’s counsel that members should seek to prophesy, consider asking them to suggest definitions for the word prophesy. You or the class members could write each definition on the board and review together the definition of prophesy in Guide to the Scriptures and Paul’s counsel in 1 Corinthians 14:3, 31, 39–40. What can we add to our definitions from these resources? (See also Revelation 19:10.) What are we inspired to do at church and at home as a result of Paul’s teachings?

1 Corinthians 15

Because Jesus Christ was resurrected, we will all be resurrected.

• How can you use Paul’s testimony in 1 Corinthians 15 to strengthen your class members’ testimonies of the Resurrection? One way could be to divide the class into two groups and ask one group to look in 1 Corinthians 15 for the consequences we would face if Jesus Christ had not been resurrected. The other group could look for the blessings we receive because of His Resurrection. Each group could then write on the board what they learned. What could they add to their lists after reading the statement by Elder D. Todd Christofferson in “Additional Resources”? To help class members feel the Spirit during this discussion, consider displaying a picture of the resurrected Savior (see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families).

• Because Paul was responding to people who did not believe in resurrection, your class might benefit from role-playing a similar situation. For example, how might they strengthen a loved one’s faith in the Resurrection? What do class members find in 1 Corinthians 15 that would help them explain the need for and the evidence of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ? What other scriptures could they use? (See, for example, Luke 24:1–12, 36–46; Alma 11:42–45.)

• Paul refers to three degrees of resurrected glory several times in his epistles (see 1 Corinthians 15:40–42 and 2 Corinthians 12:1–2). To help your class discover how modern revelation expounds on Paul’s teachings, you could divide the class into three groups and give each group a piece of paper shaped like a sun (D&C 76:50–70), a moon (D&C 76:71–80), or a star (D&C 76:81–89). Invite them to read the associated scriptures from Doctrine and Covenants 76 and share what we need to do to receive the different glories Paul describes. See also Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4; 137:7–10.

  

  “There is one glory of the sun” (1 Corinthians 15:41).

• 1 Corinthians 15 is one of the few places in the scriptures where baptisms for the dead are mentioned (see verse 29; see also D&C 128:18). Perhaps class members could share experiences they’ve had performing baptisms or other ordinances for their ancestors. Consider sharing Wilford Woodruff’s experience in “Additional Resources” as part of the discussion. Why might Paul refer to baptisms for the dead as evidence of the Resurrection? If it would help to discuss why baptisms for the dead are necessary, see “Baptisms for the Dead,” Gospel Topics, topics.lds.org. The video “Glad Tidings: The History of Baptisms for the Dead” (LDS.org) explains how this principle was restored in our day.

Encourage Learning at Home

Ask class members to think about trials they are facing or weaknesses they have. Tell them that as they read 2 Corinthians, they will learn what helped Paul endure trials and how he viewed his weaknesses.

Additional Resources

1 Corinthians 14–16

Significance of the Resurrection.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught:

“Consider for a moment the significance of the Resurrection in resolving once and for all the true identity of Jesus of Nazareth and the great philosophical contests and questions of life. If Jesus was in fact literally resurrected, it necessarily follows that He is a divine being. No mere mortal has the power in himself to come to life again after dying. Because He was resurrected, Jesus cannot have been only a carpenter, a teacher, a rabbi, or a prophet. Because He was resurrected, Jesus had to have been a God, even the Only Begotten Son of the Father.

“Therefore, what He taught is true; God cannot lie.

“Therefore, He was the Creator of the earth, as He said.

“Therefore, heaven and hell are real, as He taught.

“Therefore, there is a world of spirits, which He visited after His death.

“Therefore, He will come again, as the angels said, and ‘reign personally upon the earth.’

“Therefore, there is a resurrection and a final judgment for all” (“The Resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 113).

Ordinances for the dead: “A shaft of light from the throne of God.”

Elder Wilford Woodruff said that when he learned that living members of the Church could receive saving ordinances in behalf of their ancestors who had passed away, “It was like a shaft of light from the throne of God to our hearts. It opened a field wide as eternity to our minds.” He also commented: “It appeared to me that the God who revealed that principle unto man was wise, just and true, possessed both the best of attributes and good sense and knowledge. I felt he was consistent with both love, mercy, justice and judgment, and I felt to love the Lord more than ever before in my life. … I felt to say hallelujah when the revelation came forth revealing to us baptism for the dead. …”

“The first thing that entered into my mind,” he said, “was that I had a mother in the spirit world. She died when I was 14 months old. …” Later on, he spoke of the time when he had the opportunity to have his mother sealed to his father: “She will have a part in the first resurrection; and this alone would pay me for all the labors of my life” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, [2011], 185–86).

Improving Our Teaching

Get to know those you teach. No two people are exactly alike; each person you teach has a unique background, perspective, and set of talents. Pray to know how you can use these to engage your learners. As you better understand those you teach, you can create meaningful and memorable teaching moments for them (see Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 7).