“Lesson 13—Doctrine and Covenants 3: ‘You Should Not Have Feared Man More Than God,’” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)
“Doctrine and Covenants 3,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual
Lesson 13: Doctrine and Covenants 3-5
Doctrine and Covenants 3
“You Should Not Have Feared Man More Than God”
At times we may feel pressured by others to disobey God. Joseph Smith felt similar pressure when Martin Harris asked to take the translated pages of the Book of Mormon. Joseph learned, however, that these are moments when we should be faithful to God and not give in to the pressure of others. This lesson can help students feel an increased desire to trust in God more than in other people.
Possible Learning Activities
The pressures of life
Begin class by showing students a soft object such as a plush toy or pillow. Tell students that this item could represent them. For each answer they give to the following questions, invite a student to place a book or heavy item on top of the soft object. As the object flattens, invite students to ponder if they ever feel weighed down like this.
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What pressures do teenagers feel in their lives?
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How many of these pressures come from trying to please others?
Take a minute to reflect on how much pressure you feel to please others and why.
In this lesson, you will study how the Prophet Joseph Smith felt pressure to please Martin Harris and what the Savior taught him in that situation. As you study, seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost to find truths that can help you when you feel this pressure.
“All is lost”
The following are ideas for helping students understand the important historical context below:
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Give the text to a student before class, and invite him or her to summarize it for everyone.
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Invite students to share what they know about the lost 116 pages from the original Book of Mormon translation. Explain information students do not share.
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Display some of the following text with key words missing, and see if students can complete the information. Fill in what students do not know.
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Show the video “The Work of God” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) from time code 2:25 to 8:45. Or you might choose to show this video when you study Doctrine and Covenants 10.
13:34
Martin Harris was a respected citizen of Palmyra and successful farmer who was one of only a few people in the area who believed Joseph Smith. Though almost twice his age, Martin was Joseph’s friend and gave him money so he could move to Harmony, Pennsylvania, to translate the Book of Mormon undisturbed. Martin also sacrificed to travel there himself and serve as scribe.
Martin’s wife, Lucy, was not supportive of his involvement with the Book of Mormon translation. Martin asked Joseph if he could show the first 116 pages of the translation to Lucy as evidence of their work. Joseph prayed about it twice and each time was told not to allow Martin to take the pages.
Joseph prayed a third time, and the Lord gave permission with strict conditions. Martin took the pages to Palmyra to show them to his wife.
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Why do you think Joseph did not follow through with the first two responses he received from the Lord?
You might reenact the activity from the beginning of the lesson to show the pressure Joseph was under.
The day after Martin left, Emma Smith gave birth to her and Joseph’s first child, a son. Tragically, the infant lived only a few hours, and it seemed Emma might die too. Thankfully, Emma’s health started improving after a couple weeks. Though Joseph did not want to leave her side, Emma urged him to travel to Palmyra and inquire about the manuscript.
When Joseph arrived at his parents’ home, they invited Martin to join them for breakfast. Martin didn’t come for more than four hours. When he finally arrived and sat down, he mournfully exclaimed, “I have lost my soul!” He had not followed the strict guidelines and had lost the manuscript.
“Oh, my God, my God. All is lost!” Joseph said. “Must I return to my wife with such a tale? And how shall I appear before the Lord?”
After Joseph returned to Harmony, Moroni appeared and took the plates from him. (See Saints, 1:50–54.)
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Why do you think Joseph felt that all was lost?
Shortly after this experience, the Lord spoke to Joseph Smith, chastising him and giving him words of comfort.
Fear God more than man
Read Doctrine and Covenants 3:1–10. Identify what the Lord wanted Joseph to learn from this experience.
Encourage students to study slowly and carefully, looking for several lessons.
Invite learners to discover truths for themselves: The following question is intended to help students identify truth for themselves. For additional training on questions that help learners discover doctrine and principles for themselves, see the training titled “Learn the doctrine of Jesus Christ for yourself,” found in Teacher Development Skills: Teach the Doctrine.
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What are some lessons you found?
The following are examples of principles students may find:
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The works of God cannot be frustrated (see Doctrine and Covenants 3:1). If students identify this truth, consider asking them to share why this is important to understand and how it may have comforted Joseph Smith.
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God is merciful (see Doctrine and Covenants 3:10). This includes when we have given in to pressure from others to disobey Him. If students identify this truth, consider asking questions like the following: How could remembering the Savior’s mercy have helped the Prophet Joseph Smith at this time? How could understanding His mercy help us when we need to change?
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When we fear God more than man, He will support us during times of trouble (see Doctrine and Covenants 3:7–8). The remainder of the lesson will focus on this principle.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained what it means to fear God:
There are many places in the scriptures that counsel mankind to fear God. In our day we generally interpret the word fear as “respect” or “reverence” or “love”; that is, the fear of God means the love of God or respect for Him and His law. …
… We should so love and reverence Him that we fear doing anything wrong in His sight, whatever may be the opinions of or pressure from others. (D. Todd Christofferson, “A Sense of the Sacred” [Church Educational System fireside for young adults, Nov. 7, 2004], 6–7, broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
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In your own words, how would you summarize what Elder Christofferson taught about fearing God?
When we are faithful, God will support us in every time of trouble
You may want to write The Lord can support me in times of trouble because He … on the board.
Write the phrase The Lord can support me in times of trouble because He … in your study journal. Complete this statement by doing one or more of the following:
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Make a list of the help and support Jesus Christ can give you that other people cannot.
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Make a list of times in your life when you chose to be faithful to the Lord, even when others were pressuring you to disobey Him, and He provided support. You could also use examples from the scriptures.
Students could also list some of their responses on the board. Students may need help identifying scripture accounts of God supporting individuals who faced opposition but remained faithful to Him. You could provide them with the following examples: Abinadi receiving power from God to deliver His message despite the threats from King Noah and his priests (see Mosiah 13:1–3); the Lord saving Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego from the fiery furnace (see Daniel 3:23–25).
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What have you written about the Savior that you feel would be most helpful to remember when you are tempted to please others more than God?
As a result of this chastening, Joseph learned that God would support him as he chose to be faithful. Joseph moved forward in life, trusting in God’s commandments and guidance, even though he experienced pain, persecution, imprisonment, and even death (see Doctrine and Covenants 122; 135).
Ponder and write in your study journal how what you learned in this lesson is relevant to you. You may include what you would like to remember or do when faced with the pressure to fear others more than God.
Consider testifying that the lessons Joseph Smith learned from this difficult experience helped him become more obedient to God throughout his life. You could testify about support you’ve received from God as you’ve followed His counsel even when it was difficult to do so.