Lesson 65: Doctrine and Covenants 49–50

Doctrine and Covenants 50, Part 1

Avoiding Deception

In their eagerness to experience spiritual gifts, some early converts in Kirtland, Ohio, had been deceived into thinking that some unusual manifestations were from the Holy Ghost even when they were not. The Lord offered guidance to help them discern what was from Him and what was not. This lesson is intended to help students understand how the Lord can help them recognize truth and avoid deception.

Possible Learning Activities

The striped kitty cat

Consider sharing the following story. You might display a picture of a skunk as you do.

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared the following story:

Great-Uncle Grover … lived in a house out in the country, far from the city. Uncle Grover was getting very old. We thought our sons should meet him before he died. So, one afternoon, we took a long drive to his humble house. We sat together to visit and introduce him to our sons. Not long into the conversation, our two young boys, maybe five and six years old, wanted to go outside and play.

Uncle Grover, hearing their request, bent over with his face in theirs. … He said to them, in his gravelly voice, “Be careful—there are a lot of skunks out there.” Hearing this, Lesa and I were more than startled; we were worried that they might get sprayed by a skunk! The boys soon went outside to play as we continued to visit.

Later, when we got in the car to go home, I inquired of the boys, “Did you see a skunk?” One of them replied, “No, we didn’t see any skunks, but we did see a black kitty cat with a white stripe on its back!” (Gary E. Stevenson, “Deceive Me Not,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 93)

• Why do you think the children didn’t recognize the skunk?

• What is the danger of not recognizing the true nature of something?

• How does this story relate to what Satan wants us to believe about him?

  Consider inviting students to work with a partner to write a definition for the word deception. After they have had sufficient time, you could ask a few of them to share their definitions with the class. If helpful, consider sharing the definition found in the Guide to the Scriptures: “In the scriptures, to deceive is to cause someone to believe something that is not true” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Deceit, Deceive, Deception,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

  Consider listing students’ responses to the following questions on the board.

• What are some ways Satan tries to deceive teenagers today?

• Why do you think Satan’s deceptions work so well sometimes?

Invite students to seek inspiration from the Holy Ghost to help them recognize and avoid deception.

Deception among the early Saints

When Joseph Smith arrived in Kirtland, Ohio, in early February 1831, he observed that “some strange notions and false spirits had crept in among” the Saints (in History, 1838–1856 [Manuscript History of the Church], vol. A-1, 93, josephsmithpapers.org).

John Whitmer recorded the following about this time period.

Some had visions and could not tell what they saw, some would fancy to themselves that they had the sword of Laban, and would wield it [like a soldier on horseback], some would act like an Indian in the act of scalping, some would slide or scoot … [on] the floor, with the rapidity of a serpent. … Thus the devil blinded the eyes of some good and honest disciples. (John Whitmer, History, 1831–circa 1847, 26, josephsmithpapers.org)

Concerns about these actions led Joseph Smith to inquire of the Lord and receive Doctrine and Covenants 50. In verses 1–9, the Lord warned the elders of the Church about false spirits and even members who were deceiving others.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 50:1–3, looking for one of the Lord’s warnings.

• Why do you think Satan uses deception to lead us away from Jesus Christ?

Help students understand that even though Satan is very clever at deception, Jesus Christ lovingly offered counsel in verses 10–35 to help His followers recognize truth and avoid deception.

Consider displaying or writing on the board the following incomplete bolded statement. You could organize students into small groups and assign each group one of the following scripture blocks. Students could then prepare to share what they learn from the following activity.

Read the following verses, looking for how you would complete the following truth: The Lord will help us avoid deception as we …

• Doctrine and Covenants 50:17–22

• Doctrine and Covenants 50:23–25

• Doctrine and Covenants 50:31, 34–35

After sufficient time, invite students to list their findings under the incomplete phrase on the board. Answers could include the following: … seek to teach and learn by the Spirit of Truth, … seek to receive His light, … pray to know when a spirit is or is not from God. Before discussing the following questions as a class, it may be helpful for students to answer them in their study journals. Writing their thoughts down first can help students feel more confident and willing to share. Students may have additional questions about these truths. Take time to explore their questions. Their classmates may be able to provide valuable insights in addition to what you can share.

To help students take responsibility for their learning, see the training titled “Resist the tendency to respond to every comment and question and invite the class to respond.” This is found in Teacher Development Skills: Invite Diligent Learning.

• What does this teaching mean?

• How can this teaching help you receive the Lord’s help to avoid Satan’s deceptions?

As you discuss the previous question, it may help to refer students to the list on the board of ways Satan tries to deceive teenagers. Students could note how the Savior’s teaching they chose could help them respond to one or more of the deceptions listed.

A clear way to avoid deception

The Lord concluded with a loving assurance that because of Him, we do not need to fear. Read Doctrine and Covenants 50:40–44, looking for what you learn about the Savior.

• What stands out to you from these verses about the Savior?

• How can knowing this about Him help us in a world that is so full of deception?

• How have you come to know or believe these truths about Jesus Christ?

President Russell M. Nelson taught the following about how we can invite the Lord’s help to avoid deception:

The voices and pressures of the world are engaging and numerous. But too many voices are deceptive, seductive, and can pull us off the covenant path. To avoid the inevitable heartbreak that follows, I plead with you today to counter the lure of the world by making time for the Lord in your life—each and every day.

If most of the information you get comes from social or other media, your ability to hear the whisperings of the Spirit will be diminished. If you are not also seeking the Lord through daily prayer and gospel study, you leave yourself vulnerable to philosophies that may be intriguing but are not true. Even Saints who are otherwise faithful can be derailed by the steady beat of Babylon’s band.

My brothers and sisters, I plead with you to make time for the Lord! Make your own spiritual foundation firm and able to stand the test of time by doing those things that allow the Holy Ghost to be with you always. (Russell M. Nelson, “Make Time for the Lord,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 120)

• What additional insights did you find that can help you avoid deception?

Consider giving students time to share something they learned or feel inspired to do to avoid deception. Invite them to continue to find ways to recognize divine truth and avoid deception. You might share your confidence in the Lord’s desire and ability to help students do this.

Additional Resources

Why do we need to be cautious of Satan’s deception?

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Satan, the father of lies and the great deceiver, would have us question things as they really are and either ignore eternal truths or replace them with something that appears more pleasing. “He maketh war with the saints of God” [Doctrine and Covenants 76:29] and has spent millennia calculating and practicing the ability to persuade God’s children to believe that good is evil and evil is good. (Gary E. Stevenson, “Deceive Me Not,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 94)

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:

Spiritually dangerous ideas and actions frequently can appear to be attractive, desirable, or pleasurable. Thus, in our contemporary world, each of us needs to be aware of beguiling bad that pretends to be good. …

Satan “is the enemy of righteousness and of those who seek to do the will of God” [Guide to the Scriptures, “Devil,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org]. All day, every day, his only intent and sole purpose are to make the sons and daughters of God miserable like unto himself.

The Father’s plan of happiness is designed to provide direction for His children, to help them experience enduring joy, and to bring them safely home to Him with resurrected, exalted bodies. The devil labors to make the sons and daughters of God confused and unhappy and to hinder their eternal progression. The adversary works relentlessly to attack the elements of the Father’s plan he hates the most. (David A. Bednar, “Watchful unto Prayer Continually,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 33–34)

What can we do to protect ourselves from deception?

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Obedience to commandments given to our prophet is a key not only in avoiding the influence of the deceiver but also in experiencing lasting joy and happiness. This divine formula is rather simple: righteousness, or obedience to commandments, brings blessings, and blessings bring happiness, or joy, into our lives. (Gary E. Stevenson, “Deceive Me Not,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 95)

President Russell M. Nelson stated:

I renew my plea for you to do whatever it takes to increase your spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation.

Doing so will help you know how to move ahead with your life, what to do during times of crisis, and how to discern and avoid the temptations and the deceptions of the adversary. (Russell M. Nelson, “Hear Him,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 90)

President Henry B. Eyring taught:

The companionship of the Holy Ghost makes what is good more attractive and temptation less compelling. That alone should be enough to make us determined to qualify for the Spirit to be with us always.

Just as the Holy Ghost strengthens us against evil, He also gives us the power to discern truth from falsehood. The truth that matters most is verified only by revelation from God. Our human reason and the use of our physical senses will not be enough. We live in a time when even the wisest will be hard-pressed to distinguish truth from clever deception. (Henry B. Eyring, “The Holy Ghost as Your Companion,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 104)

Why were some of the Saints in Kirtland at this time so easily deceived?

As new Saints joined the Church in Kirtland, they were anxious to experience the gifts of the Spirit as described in the New Testament. Some had introduced strange, loud, and confusing activities into their worship services. These activities stirred people’s emotions, but they were not edifying. The Saints were young in their understanding of the manifestations of the Spirit. Speaking of the false spirits, the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “With a little caution, and some wisdom, I soon assisted the brethren and sisters to overcome them. … The false spirits were easily discerned and rejected by the light of revelation” (in History, 1838–1856 [Manuscript History of the Church], vol. A-1, 93, josephsmithpapers.org).

Supplemental Learning Activities

Alternate way to begin the lesson

You could bring two eggs to class, one uncooked and one hard-boiled. Explain to students that the uncooked egg represents truth and the hard-boiled egg represents deception. Ask students if they know which is which just by looking at them. This represents how sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference between truth and error. Show students that there is a way to detect which egg is uncooked and which one is cooked. If you spin the eggs on their sides, the uncooked egg will spin for only one or two seconds. The hard-boiled egg, on the other hand, will spin for several seconds. Similarly, we have been blessed with understanding of how to determine what is true and what is false. (See David Dickson, “Hard-Boiled Deception,” For the Strength of Youth, Oct. 2022, 24–25.)

Doctrine and Covenants 50:22–23. “That which doth not edify is not of God”

To help students understand what it means to be edified, consider having them think about the root word, edifice, or building. Help students understand that to be edified means to be uplifted or built up. It can also help to understand a word by knowing what it does not mean. For example, you might list on the board the words uplift, build up, and improve intermixed with other ways people try to influence, like impress, shock, and manipulate. You could then have students pick out the words they think refer to being edified. Help students understand that the Savior’s teachings edify, while Satan’s communications do not.

Doctrine and Covenants 50:24. “That which is of God is light”

To help students better understand light as used in Doctrine and Covenants 50:24, you may refer them to Moroni 7:12–15 or 1 John 1:5. Consider inviting students to draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper. Have them title one side “That which brings light” and the other side “That which takes light away.” Students could then take some time adding several items to each list.