“Lesson 74—Doctrine and Covenants 60–62: ‘Hearken unto the Voice of Him Who Has All Power,’” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)
“Doctrine and Covenants 60–62,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual
Lesson 74: Doctrine and Covenants 60–62
Doctrine and Covenants 60–62
“Hearken unto the Voice of Him Who Has All Power”
In August 1831, the Savior lovingly instructed a group of elders during their difficult journey from Missouri to Ohio. His counsel helped the elders understand His expectations and desires for them as they journeyed home. This lesson is intended to help students understand more about the Savior’s expectations and desires for them.
Possible Learning Activities
Decisions
To begin class, consider displaying the following situations:
Imagine that two of your close friends are struggling in different ways with making decisions. One friend rarely seeks help or guidance from God and tries to make most decisions on her own. Another friend prays for guidance and is hesitant to move forward with any decision until she feels certain the Lord has answered her.
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What could be some reasons each friend might feel the way she does?
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What are some misunderstandings you see in both situations?
Invite the students to think about decisions they need to make in their lives and to consider whether they can relate to either of these situations. Encourage them to look for truths in today’s lesson that can help them with their decisions.
“I will speak unto you concerning your journey” (Doctrine and Covenants 60:5)
To help students understand the context for the teachings they will study today, read or summarize the information in the following paragraph.
In August 1831, Joseph Smith and several elders began a journey of more than 800 miles (1,287 km) to their homes in Kirtland, Ohio. They had spent the previous few weeks in Missouri, where the Lord had instructed them to work toward building a city of Zion. While traveling home, the group had questions about their method and direction of travel. For some decisions, the Lord encouraged them to use their best judgment and choose for themselves. For other decisions, He provided specific instructions and commandments to guide them.
Students could use the following chart to study the verses listed. Invite students to copy the chart into their study journals. Consider also copying it on the board and inviting various students to write in the answers after they have studied the verses. You could place students in groups and assign them to study one or all of the passages together.
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What mattered to the Lord |
What did not matter to the Lord | |
|---|---|---|
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What differences did you notice in these verses between what mattered to the Lord and what did not?
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What are some ways you could apply the Lord’s teachings in these verses to situations you face in your life?
Read Doctrine and Covenants 62:8, looking for the Lord’s counsel that can help us when we must make decisions without specific direction.
Invite students to share a truth they learned from the Lord’s counsel in this verse. They might express a principle similar to the following: The Lord expects us to make many decisions based on the directions of the Spirit and our own judgment.
You may want to invite students to read Doctrine and Covenants 58:26–29, looking for teachings that can help them better understand how the Lord expects us to make decisions. Students could be invited to cross-reference or link these verses with Doctrine and Covenants 62:8.
Focus on converting principles: For more practice on how to do this, see the training titled “Focus on truths that lead to conversion and build faith in Jesus Christ” in Teacher Development Skills: Teach the Doctrine. Consider practicing the skill and asking questions that help students identify and state converting principles.
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Why do you think it is important to rely on our judgment as well as the directions of the Spirit when we make decisions?
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How can this truth help us in decisions related to our standards or values?
Consider inviting the students to share experiences where they have made decisions based on their own judgment and the directions of the Spirit. Invite them to share how the Lord blessed them in these situations. You might also consider sharing your own experiences.
The Savior teaches about Himself
During the journey to Ohio, the elders experienced uncertainty, fatigue, and some frightening situations. They also had disagreements and quarrels. To help them, the Savior shared many important teachings about Himself. These teachings can help us better understand who He is and what He can do for us.
To help students prepare to study the following verses, consider having them write Jesus Christ in the middle of a page in their study journals. You could also write this on the board. As students study the following scripture passages, they could write words or phrases describing the Savior around His name.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 60:1–4; 61:1–2, 36–39; 62:1–3, 9. Pay attention to what you learn about Jesus Christ from these verses. Record your findings in your study journal.
Give students an opportunity to share what they learned and felt about Jesus Christ from this study activity. They could discuss questions like the following together as a class, in partnerships, or in small groups.
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What did you find that might have been helpful to these elders on their journey?
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What did you learn about the Savior that could help you or others in life?
Conclude the lesson by inviting students to think about any promptings they may have received from the Holy Ghost based on what they have studied and discussed today. Encourage them to record their thoughts and impressions in their study journals.