“Lesson 42—Doctrine and Covenants 27:15–18: ‘Take upon You My Whole Armor,’” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)
“Doctrine and Covenants 27:15–18,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual
Lesson 42: Doctrine and Covenants 27–28
Doctrine and Covenants 27:15–18
“Take upon You My Whole Armor”
As part of the message Joseph received from an angel of God, Joseph was taught about how the Saints could invite greater protection from Jesus Christ. This lesson is intended to help students understand how the Savior can protect us from the ways Satan tries to tempt and discourage us.
Possible Learning Activities
The attacks of the adversary
Give each student a small sheet of paper. Invite students to write down on the paper one way the adversary tempts or tries to discourage youth. Then invite them to crumple the paper into a ball. Invite a student to the front of the room and have him or her try to dodge or deflect as the other students throw the paper ball at him or her.
Invite students to come to the front of the room, uncrumple the papers, and share what was written on them. Ask the class to identify ways they see these temptations or attacks today.
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What might you do to protect yourself from these attacks?
Seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost as you ponder the temptations and discouragements you face. Ponder ways the Lord has helped you overcome them. In what ways are you still struggling and need the Savior’s help? As you study Doctrine and Covenants 27, look for truths and inspiration that can help you.
The whole armor of God
After His words to Joseph Smith about the sacrament (see Doctrine and Covenants 27:1–4), the Savior promised that He would return to earth and partake of the sacrament with His followers (see Doctrine and Covenants 27:5–14). The Savior then taught how the Saints could be protected spiritually from the powers of Satan “until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:18).
Read Doctrine and Covenants 27:15–18, looking for how you can receive the Savior’s protection against the adversary.
Invite students to share what they found. If needed, help them identify that if we take upon ourselves the Savior’s whole armor, we will be strengthened to withstand evil. Help students analyze this truth. You might do this by asking some of the following questions.
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Why do you think the Savior compares His help and protection to armor?
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What do you think it means to “stand”? (see verses 15–16)
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Why do you think the Lord emphasizes His “whole” armor?
Consider inviting students to mark the phrase “my whole armor” in verse 15. Students could imagine they had to go fight in a war but had no armor. Someone who had fought and succeeded in many wars then gave them armor to protect them and was willing to fight with them.
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How would you feel about this person?
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How might this situation be similar to what the Savior does for us?
The Savior’s protections and help
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 13:14). The various pieces of armor mentioned in Doctrine and Covenants 27 (see also Ephesians 6:11–18) can represent ways the Savior can protect us from the deception, wickedness, turmoil, and doubt that surround us. He offers us this protection as we come unto Him.
Give students the accompanying handout. They can complete it individually or in small groups. Each group member could choose a few pieces of armor to focus on. If students would like, they could draw something that represents armor or protection, like a helmet, breastplate, or shield, and label it “Jesus Christ’s protection and help.” They could then write their answers around it.
“Take upon You My Whole Armor” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:15)
For each of the pieces of armor below, read the scripture passages, looking for how the Savior is like the armor. Then answer the following questions:
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What insights do you gain about the Savior by making this comparison?
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Why might this make you want to come unto Him for protection right now in your life?
“Loins girt about with truth” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:16)
“Breastplate of righteousness” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:16)
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Isaiah 59:16–17 (intercessor refers to someone who does what others cannot do for themselves)
“Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:16)
“Shield of faith” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:17)
“Helmet of salvation” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:18)
“Sword of [the] Spirit,” which is the word of God (Doctrine and Covenants 27:18)
When students finish, have them share their thoughts about and experiences with the various ways the Savior can help and protect them. Consider sharing your own thoughts and experiences as well.
Putting on His whole armor
Consider reminding students that this revelation began with a heavenly messenger relating the Savior’s teachings on the sacrament and the Savior’s promise to return to the earth and partake of the sacrament with His followers (see Doctrine and Covenants 27:1–14). This suggests that remembering the Savior and making covenants with Him through the sacrament may be a powerful way the Lord has prepared for us to put on His whole armor and “be faithful until [He comes]” (Doctrine and Covenants 27:18).
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How can the sacrament be a powerful way to invite the Savior’s help and protection (His whole armor) in our lives?
Return to the papers that were crumpled and thrown at the beginning of class. Read a few of them and invite students to share, based on what they learned today, how the Savior could help someone facing that temptation or discouragement. They might also share how someone could turn to the Lord to invite His help in their lives.