Lesson 52: Doctrine and Covenants 37–40

Doctrine and Covenants 38:15–27, 34–42

Be One

The Lord gave His Saints instructions as they prepared to make great sacrifices to gather to Ohio. In His revelation to the Saints, the Savior revealed His character and invited His people to live like Him. This lesson can help students become more like the Savior by valuing others and seeking unity.

Possible Learning Activities

The Lord wants us to become as He is

You could begin the lesson by inviting each student to write down five of their interests. Then divide the class into small groups. Invite them to share their interests and list any they have in common. Afterward, ask them to discuss why it is sometimes challenging for people with different interests to be unified and why unity is important for disciples of Christ.

Invite students to reflect on the following questions:

• How do I think about and act toward those who may be different from me?

• How might my thoughts and actions cause division or bring unity?

Encourage students to seek inspiration through the Holy Ghost to help identify ways they can follow the examples of Jesus Christ in the way they treat others.

In December of 1830, Joseph Smith was working on the inspired revision of the Bible and had received what is now Moses 6–7 in the Pearl of Great Price. These chapters give an account of a prophet named Enoch and his people. Because of their righteousness and unity, the Lord called these people Zion.

In Doctrine and Covenants 38, the Savior instructed the Saints on gathering to Ohio. He taught them about His character and emphasized principles of building Zion. Obedience to these principles would help the Saints prepare themselves to receive the Savior’s law and be endowed with His power (see Doctrine and Covenants 38:32).

Read Doctrine and Covenants 38:24–27, looking for attributes Jesus Christ wants us to develop.

As students read Doctrine and Covenants 38:24–27, you could point out the repeated phrase in verses 24–25. You might also invite a few students to act out the parable in verses 26–27.

• What do you think it means to esteem your brother as yourself? (See Matthew 22:36–39; John 13:34–35; Jacob 2:17–19.)

• What can we learn about the Savior from the parable in verses 26–27?

• What do verses 24–27 teach us about how we can become like Jesus Christ?

  Help students identify a principle similar to this: We can become like Jesus Christ as we value others and seek unity as His disciples.

• How is Jesus Christ an example of valuing others? Of encouraging unity?

President Russell M. Nelson taught about how we can value others and be one.

Ultimately, we realize that only the comprehension of the true Fatherhood of God can bring full appreciation of the true brotherhood of men and the true sisterhood of women. That understanding inspires us with passionate desire to build bridges of cooperation instead of walls of segregation.

(Russel M. Nelson, “Remarks at Worldwide Priesthood Celebration,” [address given at the “Be One” celebration June 1, 2018], newsroom.Churchofjesuschrist.org)

• What similarities do you find between the Lord’s teachings in Doctrine and Covenants 38:24-27 and President Nelson’s?

Consider showing the video “One in Christ” (4:48), available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, to help students understand how the Savior helps us to become unified.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 38:34–36, 39–42, looking for what the Savior invited the Saints preparing to gather in Ohio were invited to become unified.

• What did you find that would help those moving to Ohio value one another and be unified?

Abandoning attitudes and actions of prejudice

Use the words of prophets to emphasize doctrine and principles: For practice with this, see the training titled, “Teach from the scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets” in Teacher Development Skills: Teach the Doctrine. Consider practicing the skill, “prepare invitations that help students connect truths found in the scriptures to what living prophets are saying” as illustrated in the following statement from President Nelson.

President Russell M. Nelson taught about the importance of the way we treat others. Read the statement or watch the video “Let God Prevail” (18:51; watch from time code 10:40 to 13:01) at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Each of us has a divine potential because each is a child of God. Each is equal in His eyes. The implications of this truth are profound. Brothers and sisters, please listen carefully to what I am about to say. God does not love one race more than another. His doctrine on this matter is clear He invites all to come unto Him, “black and white, bond and free, male and female [2 Nephi 26:33].”

I assure you that your standing before God is not determined by the color of your skin. Favor or disfavor with God is dependant upon your devotion to God and His commandments and not the color of your skin.

I grieve that our Black brothers and sisters the world over are enduring the pains of racism and prejudice. Today I call upon our members everywhere to lead out in abandoning attitudes and actions of prejudice. I plead with you to promote respect for all of God’s children.

The question for each of us, regardless of race, is the same. Are you willing to let God be the most important influence in your life? Will you allow His words, His commandments, and His covenants to influence what you do each day? Will you allow His voice to take priority over any other? Are you willing to let whatever He needs you to do take precedence over every other ambition? Are you willing to have your will swallowed up in His? (Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 84)

• What stands out to you from President Nelson’s teachings?

• What are some ways we can lead to prevent or abandon attitudes and actions of prejudice?

As students discuss what they learned from the quote, be sensitive to any of your students that may be experiencing prejudice or racism of any kind. Ask students to share how they have been blessed by striving to value others and be united as disciples of Christ.

Invite students to prayerfully assess how well they feel they are doing at valuing others and seeking unity.

Students may want to answer the following questions in their study journal.

Prayerfully think about the following questions and answer one or more in your study journal:

• What can you do to value all of God’s children and show love to them?

• How can you lead to prevent or abandon attitudes and actions of prejudice?

• How will doing this help you become more like the Savior?

Consider sharing your feelings about the importance of how we treat others and the blessings of becoming one in Christ.

Additional Resources

How can we strive for greater unity?

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

We will become of one heart and one mind as we individually place the Savior at the center of our lives and follow those He has commissioned to lead us. (D. Todd Christofferson, “Come to Zion,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 38)

We cannot permit any racism, tribal prejudice, or other divisions to exist in the latter-day Church of Christ. The Lord commands us, “Be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine” [Doctrine and Covenants 38:27]. We should be diligent in rooting prejudice and discrimination out of the Church, out of our homes, and, most of all, out of our hearts. As our Church population grows ever more diverse, our welcome must grow ever more spontaneous and warm. We need one another. (D. Todd Christofferson, “The Doctrine of Belonging,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 53)

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Even with diversity of languages and beautiful, uplifting cultural traditions, we must have hearts knit in unity and love. The Lord has stated emphatically: “Let every man esteem his brother as himself. … Be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine” [Doctrine and Covenants 38:25, 27]. While we treasure appropriate cultural diversities, our goal is to be united in the culture, customs, and traditions of the gospel of Jesus Christ in every respect. (Quentin L. Cook, “The Lord Is My Light,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 65)

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught ways we can be unified as disciples of Christ. Read the statement or watch the video “The Peace of Christ Abolishes Enmity” (12:39; watch from time code 4:49 to 6:32) at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Unity requires effort. It develops when we cultivate the love of God in our hearts and we focus on our eternal destiny. We are united by our common, primary identity as children of God and our commitment to the truths of the restored gospel. In turn, our love of God and our discipleship of Jesus Christ generate genuine concern for others. We value the kaleidoscope of others’ characteristics, perspectives, and talents. If we are unable to place our discipleship to Jesus Christ above personal interests and viewpoints, we should reexamine our priorities and change.

We might be inclined to say, “Of course we can have unity—if only you would agree with me!” A better approach is to ask, “What can I do to foster unity? How can I respond to help this person draw closer to Christ? What can I do to lessen contention and to build a compassionate and caring Church community?”

When love of Christ envelops our lives, we approach disagreements with meekness, patience, and kindness. We worry less about our own sensitivities and more about our neighbor’s. We “seek to moderate and unify” [Dallin H. Oaks, “Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution,” Liahona, May 2021, 107]. We do not engage in “doubtful disputations,” judge those with whom we disagree, or try to cause them to stumble [see Romans 14:1–3, 13, 21]. Instead, we assume that those with whom we disagree are doing the best they can with the life experiences they have. (Dale G. Renlund, “The Peace of Christ Abolishes Enmity,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 84)

How can we esteem and value others?

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared:

Often we can, usually unwittingly, be quite insensitive to the circumstances and difficulties of those around us. We all have problems, and ultimately each individual has to take responsibility for his or her own happiness. None of us is so free of difficulty ourselves or so endowed with time and money that we can do nothing but tend “the wounded and the weary” (“Lord, I Would Follow Thee,” Hymns, no. 220). Nevertheless, in looking to the Savior’s life for an example, I suspect we can probably find a way to do more of that than we do. …

… I wish I could go back to my youth and there have another chance to reach out to those who, at the time, didn’t fall very solidly onto my radar scope. Youth want to feel included and important, to have the feeling they matter to others. … It is the associations I didn’t have, the friends I didn’t reach, that cause me some pain now all these years later. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Come unto Me,” Ensign, Apr. 1998, 21)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Videos

The following videos, available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, could help students feel the importance of unity in the Church of Jesus Christ. Consider showing one of the videos before students share experiences and self-assess at the end of this lesson. Invite them to look for what they can learn about unity.

“Be One”

“We Don’t Need to Be the Same to Be One”

Doctrine and Covenants 38:15–22. The Savior’s attributes and desire for His people

Consider writing two headings on the board: “Titles or attributes of the Savior” and “The Savior’s desire for His people.” You could divide the class in half and assign a heading to each half. Invite students to read and to write what they discover under their assigned headings.

Discuss what students find and how this knowledge might have helped the early Saints as they prepared to gather in Ohio. You could also discuss how we can respond when the Savior asks us to do something difficult.

Doctrine and Covenants 38:35. Caring for the poor and needy

To help students discover and understand the emphasis the Church places on caring for the poor and the needy, you could use General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Students could search sections 1.2 ,1.2.2, and 22.0–22.3, looking for ways we can care for those in need.

Students could find examples in President Dallin H. Oaks’s message “Helping the Poor and Distressed,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 6–8.

Students could find opportunities to serve others on JustServe.org if available.

You could also show the video “A Good Samaritan” (5:44), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org, and discuss what students learned or felt about helping those in need.

Doctrine and Covenants 38:24–25. “Let every man esteem his brother as himself”

The following self-evaluation can help students see how they can esteem others as themselves. Invite students to prayerfully ponder their responses. Afterward, they could select one item on which to focus to help them improve their attitudes toward others.

My Attitude toward Others

Response Key: 1 = never; 2 = sometimes; 3 = often; 4 = almost always; 5 = always

• I feel a sincere desire for the eternal welfare and happiness of other people. (Mosiah 28:3)

• I try to understand others’ feelings and see their point of view. (Jude 1:22)

• I forgive others who have offended or wronged me. (Ephesians 4:32)

• I try to help others when they are struggling or discouraged. (Mosiah 18:9)

• When appropriate, I tell others that I love them and care about them. (John 13:34–35)

• I look for opportunities to serve other people. (Mosiah 2:17)

• I say positive things about others. (Doctrine and Covenants 42:27)

• I am kind and patient with others, even when they are hard to get along with. (Moroni 7:45)

• I find joy in others’ achievements. (Alma 17:2–4)