Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual

Contents
Title Page
Introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual
Doctrine and Covenants Lessons
- The Restoration Proclamation
- Doctrine and Covenants 1
- Joseph Smith—History 1:1–26
- Doctrine and Covenants 2; Joseph Smith—History 1:27–65
- Doctrine and Covenants 3–5
- Doctrine and Covenants 6–9
- Doctrine and Covenants 10–11
- Doctrine and Covenants 12–17; Joseph Smith—History 1:66–75
- Doctrine and Covenants 18
- Doctrine and Covenants 19
- Doctrine and Covenants 20–22
- Doctrine and Covenants 23–26
- Doctrine and Covenants 27–28
- Doctrine and Covenants 29
- Doctrine and Covenants 30–36
- Doctrine and Covenants 37–40
- Doctrine and Covenants 41–44
- Doctrine and Covenants 45
- Doctrine and Covenants 46–48
- Doctrine and Covenants 49–50
- Doctrine and Covenants 51–57
- Doctrine and Covenants 58–59
- Doctrine and Covenants 60–63
- Doctrine and Covenants 64–66
- Doctrine and Covenants 67–70
- Doctrine and Covenants 71–75
- Doctrine and Covenants 76
- Doctrine and Covenants 77–80
- Doctrine and Covenants 81–83
- Doctrine and Covenants 84
- Doctrine and Covenants 85–87
- Doctrine and Covenants 88
- Doctrine and Covenants 89–92
- Doctrine and Covenants 93
- Doctrine and Covenants 94–97
- Doctrine and Covenants 98–101
- Doctrine and Covenants 102–105
- Doctrine and Covenants 106–108
- Doctrine and Covenants 109–110
- Doctrine and Covenants 111–114
- Doctrine and Covenants 115–120
- Doctrine and Covenants 121–123
- Doctrine and Covenants 124
- Doctrine and Covenants 125–128
- Doctrine and Covenants 129–132
- Doctrine and Covenants 133–134
- Doctrine and Covenants 135–136
- Doctrine and Covenants 137–138
- The Articles of Faith and Official Declarations 1 and 2
- The Family: A Proclamation to the World
- The Living Christ
Life Preparation Lessons
- Doctrinal Mastery: Finding Answers to My Questions
- Scripture Study Skills
- For the Strength of Youth: Making Choices
- Building Self-Reliance
- Physical and Emotional Health
- Preparing for Future Education and Employment
- Succeeding in School
- Missionary Preparation
- Temple Preparation
- Teachings of Church Leaders
Appendix

Lesson 63—Doctrine and Covenants 46:7–33, Part 2: “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”

“Lesson 63—Doctrine and Covenants 46:7–33, Part 2: ‘Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts,’” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)

“Doctrine and Covenants 46:7–33, Part 2,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual

Lesson 63: Doctrine and Covenants 46–48

Doctrine and Covenants 46:7–33, Part 2

“Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”

As we strive to become like Jesus Christ, we may find ourselves discouraged by our weaknesses. Because of Jesus Christ, we can receive the Holy Ghost and spiritual gifts to help us become more like the Savior. This lesson can help students become more like Jesus Christ as they seek gifts of the Spirit.

Possible Learning Activities

Seeking to become like God

You could begin class by inviting students to think of weaknesses or imperfections that can cause frustration or hinder us from becoming like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Invite multiple students to write their answers on the board.

Imagine a person acknowledges he or she experiences some of the weaknesses on the board and thinks, “I cannot overcome these things. This is just the way I am.”

What do you know about Jesus Christ that would be helpful for this person to understand?

Gifts of the Spirit

One of the ways Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can help us overcome our weaknesses is by granting us spiritual gifts.

What do you know or remember about spiritual gifts?

Students might answer with truths they learned from the previous lesson (“Doctrine and Covenants 46:7–33, Part 1”). If you haven’t taught this lesson, you might become familiar with it so you can help students understand spiritual gifts as needed.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 46:8 and highlight the Savior’s invitation related to spiritual gifts.

What do you think it means to seek after spiritual gifts?

How might seeking spiritual gifts help us in our efforts to become like God?

Brother Tad R. Callister, former Sunday School General President, explained how these spiritual gifts help us become more like God:

The Atonement of Jesus Christ
Brother Callister teaches us how the Atonement of Jesus Christ helps us overcome the obstacles to our progress.

Because of Christ’s Atonement, we are eligible to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and its accompanying spiritual gifts. These gifts are attributes of godliness; therefore, each time we acquire a gift of the Spirit, we become more like God. No doubt that is why the scriptures enjoin us on multiple occasions to seek these gifts.

President George Q. Cannon taught: “No man ought to say, ‘Oh, I cannot help this; it is my nature.’ He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to … give gifts that will eradicate [our weaknesses]. … If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect.” (Tad R. Callister, “The Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 87)

What do you learn from this statement about spiritual gifts?

Help students understand that Heavenly Father invites us to seek gifts of the Spirit so we can become more like Him.
What are some spiritual gifts a person could seek to overcome the weaknesses identified earlier in the lesson?

You could invite students to write spiritual gifts next to a corresponding weakness on the board. For example, if anger was written on the board, students might identify the gift of patience. If students wrote lack confidence, they could seek the gift of courage or faith.

To help students with this activity, you could invite them to review the spiritual gifts in Doctrine and Covenants 46:13–25. You could also use the statement by Brother Callister to remind students that Christlike attributes, such as those listed in Moroni 7:45 or Doctrine and Covenants 4:5–6, can also be considered spiritual gifts. Remind students that other spiritual gifts are not listed in the scriptures.

Reflect on your efforts to become like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Answer the following questions in your study journal:

What is a weakness or imperfection you would like to overcome?
What spiritual gifts could you seek to overcome that weakness?

How do we seek spiritual gifts?

Encourage students to use the following study activities to look for ways Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can help them as they seek the spiritual gifts they have listed in their journals.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 46:7–10, 30–33. Look for guidance that will help you seek spiritual gifts.

Why do you think the actions you identified can help you in your efforts to seek spiritual gifts?

It may be helpful to remind students that seeking spiritual gifts is a lifelong process, and the Lord gives them according to His will and timing (see Moroni 10:17).

Elder Mervyn B. Arnold, formerly of the Seventy, shared another way we can seek spiritual gifts from God:

When we seek to obtain a spiritual gift, we can study the examples and teachings of the Savior that pertain to that particular gift and then try to incorporate those teachings into our life. (Mervyn B. Arnold, “Messages from the Doctrine and Covenants: Seek Ye the Best Gifts,” Ensign, Mar. 2005, 66)

To help students prepare to apply the counsel from the previous statement, you might invite them to think of a spiritual gift and model Elder Arnold’s teachings with the class. For example, if students select the gift of courage you could ask:

How did Jesus Christ exemplify courage throughout His life? (See Matthew 26:47–56.)
What has the Savior taught us about courage in the scriptures? (See Joshua 1:9.)
What could somebody do to practice using courage in their life?
What actions could a person take to invite the Savior’s help as they seek the gift of courage?

After this discussion, display the following instructions and invite students to study a spiritual gift on their own.

Look in your journal at the gift you wrote that you would like to seek. Complete the following steps:

Search the scriptures for an example of the Savior demonstrating that gift.
Find scripture passages that contain additional teachings about that gift.
List two or three things you can do to practice using that gift in your life.
Write something you will do to invite the Savior’s help as you continue seeking that gift. If needed, refer to Doctrine and Covenants 46:7–10, 30–33.

You might conclude by inviting students to share the gift they are seeking and what they learned from the Savior’s example. Caution them not to share weaknesses they are trying to overcome that would be too personal to talk about. Encourage students to faithfully act on impressions they have received and to continue inviting help from Heavenly Father as they seek spiritual gifts.

Additional Resources

How can I act in faith as I seek to develop spiritual gifts?

Elder Juan Pablo Villar of the Seventy taught:

10:48

Exercising Our Spiritual Muscles

Elder Villar teaches that we must act on our faith in Jesus Christ and not just read and learn about faith.

Thanks to the Restoration of the gospel, we can come to understand how our Heavenly Father helps us develop spiritual gifts. It is more likely that He will give us opportunities to develop those gifts rather than just granting them to us without spiritual and physical effort. If we are in tune with His Spirit, we will learn to identify those opportunities and then act upon them.

If we seek more patience, we may find ourselves needing to practice it while waiting for a response. If we want to have more love for our neighbor, we can foster it by sitting next to a new face at church. (Juan Pablo Villar, “Exercising Our Spiritual Muscles,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 96)

How can spiritual gifts help me with trials in my life?

President Dallin H. Oaks shared:

We should seek after spiritual gifts. They can lead us to God. They can shield us from the power of the adversary. They can compensate for our inadequacies and repair our imperfections. …

I saw that principle in action in the home in which I was raised. Having lost her husband, my widowed mother was incomplete. How she prayed for what she needed to fulfill her responsibility to raise her three small children! She was seeking, she was worthy, and she was blessed! Her prayers were answered in many ways, including the receipt of spiritual gifts. She had many, but the ones that stand out in my memory are the gifts of faith, testimony, and wisdom. She was a mighty woman in Zion, a great example of a scripture she loved to quote—Lehi’s promise to his son Jacob that God “shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain” (2 Ne. 2:2). (Dallin H. Oaks, “Spiritual Gifts,” Ensign, Sept. 1986, 72)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Doctrine and Covenants 46:7, 32. Giving thanks

Students might benefit from a discussion about gratitude as they study Doctrine and Covenants 46. One way to do this could be to invite students to read Doctrine and Covenants 46:7, 32, looking for the repeated commandment.

Discuss the importance of gratitude with students. As part of the discussion, you might watch “President Russell M. Nelson on the Healing Power of Gratitude” (11:47) or invite students to search for a statement from Church leaders or sing a hymn about the power of gratitude.

11:38

President Russell M. Nelson on the Healing Power of Gratitude - subtitled

In his 96 years, President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has seen many trials. But he says there's a simple remedy to help us find joy in hard times—gratitude.

Doctrine and Covenants 46:33. Practice virtue and holiness

Consider watching “No Cussing Club” (4:56). Invite students to look for how this youth practiced the gifts of virtue and holiness. Alternatively, you could invite students to identify different spiritual gifts the young man may have needed to overcome obstacles and accomplish what he did.

4:56

No Cussing Club

One boy’s crusade to encourage clean language has far-reaching effects.

Doctrine and Covenants 47. Keeping a regular history

Invite students to think of a favorite event from Church history or an account from their family history. Allow them to share with the class or in small groups.

What value is there in remembering these events?

Read Doctrine and Covenants 47:1–4, looking for the calling John Whitmer received.

How would The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints be different if there was no record of Church history?

Students might be interested to learn more about the history of the Church in your country by searching “Global Histories” in the “Church History” section of the Gospel Library. Encourage students to use the many resources available to help them become familiar with Church history such as the “Church History” section of the Gospel Library, history.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, or the Saints book series. You could also invite students to set a goal to keep a journal or other method of recording personal history.

Doctrine and Covenants 47. The will of the Lord be done

Invite students to read the section heading of Doctrine and Covenants 47 and look for John Whitmer’s feelings about his calling as Church historian. Discuss with students the possibility that they may be asked to fulfill an assignment or Church calling that they would rather not do. You could share your testimony that as we seek to do the will of the Lord, He will help us in these assignments.

When Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was called as a Seventy, he taught:

2:3

Whom the Lord Calls, the Lord Qualifies

Elder Neil L. Andersen delivers a message titled "Whom the Lord Calls, the Lord Qualifies."

I have heard President Monson say, “Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.” I know this is true, and it gives me hope looking beyond my own inadequacies. I know that when we are on the Lord’s errand, he will be with us, he will strengthen us, he will build our capacities. I have experienced it. I have felt his lifting Spirit. In the months and years ahead, I will need him so very much. (Neil L. Andersen, “Whom the Lord Calls, the Lord Qualifies,” Ensign, May 1993, 82)

You could also remind students that when they are given what seems like a difficult Church calling, they can seek the gifts of the Spirit that will help them fulfill their assignments.