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 80—Doctrine and Covenants 67: A Testimony of the Truth

“Lesson 80—Doctrine and Covenants 67: A Testimony of the Truth,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)

“Doctrine and Covenants 67,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual

Lesson 80: Doctrine and Covenants 67–70

Doctrine and Covenants 67

A Testimony of the Truth

Many Church leaders supported publishing the revelations that the Prophet Joseph Smith had received and understood that they came from God. Others focused on the imperfections they perceived in the revelations and, as a result, were unsure that they came from the Lord. This lesson can help increase students’ confidence that the Lord speaks to us through prophets and that the Doctrine and Covenants is His word.

Possible Learning Activities

A testimony

Determine a way to help students think about their testimony of gospel truths related to Heavenly Father’s plan. They could do the following activity on the board or in their study journal.

Draw a stick figure on one side of the board. On the other, list different aspects of Heavenly Father’s plan that someone might need to gain a testimony of. You could also display pictures that represent aspects of Heavenly Father’s plan, like a picture of Jesus Christ, the current prophet, or the scriptures. Select a few of these aspects and invite students to discuss the following.

Why might it be helpful to have a testimony of these aspects of Heavenly Father’s plan?
What are some obstacles that might get in the way of strengthening this testimony?

As students share, you could list the obstacles between the stick figure and the list of things we should seek a testimony of in our lives.

After the discussion, you might invite students to think about their own testimony of different parts of Heavenly Father’s plan. Invite them to look for truths during the lesson that can help them obtain or strengthen their testimony.

How to receive and strengthen a testimony

To help students understand the context of section 67, you might share some details from the following paragraph.

Toward the end of 1831, Joseph Smith had a collection of revelations from the Lord, but very few people had access to copies of them. The Lord revealed that they needed to publish them in a book. Like the Book of Mormon, the Book of Commandments (later published as the Doctrine and Covenants) was supposed to include testimonies from witnesses. However, some Church leaders were reluctant to testify; they had concerns with some of the language and wanted to improve it.

Consider adding “language” to the list of obstacles. Ask if there are any ways these could be relatable to youth today.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 67:1–5, looking for what the Lord shared with these men.

Why do you think they needed to hear this?
What gospel truth can you identify from these verses?

As students share, help them identify a truth like this: The Lord hears our prayers, knows our hearts, and can give us a testimony of the truth we seek.
How do you think this can help us when we are seeking or struggling with a testimony?
Why do you think the “fears in [our] hearts” (Doctrine and Covenants 67:3) might prevent us from receiving blessings?
In verse 5, what did the Lord acknowledge about Joseph Smith? Though the Prophet was not perfect or eloquent, why might it not be wise to try to “express beyond his language”? (Doctrine and Covenants 67:5).

Overcoming obstacles with the Lord’s help

The Lord knows our hearts and can help us overcome the obstacles to our testimonies. In this instance, the Lord gave a challenge for the elders of His Church to help them receive “a testimony of the truth” (verse 4) of the revelations received by Joseph Smith.

If your students would enjoy a challenge, the following activity could be presented as a quiz. Invite them to read the verses carefully and then close their scriptures and try to answer the following questions.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 67:6–9, looking for the details of the Lord’s challenge.

What kind of revelation were they supposed to choose? (See verse 6.)
What kind of person were they supposed to select? (See verse 6.)
What was this person invited to write? (See verse 7.)
What would happen if they succeeded? (See verse 7.)
What would happen if they failed? (See verses 8–9.)

To discover what happened next, you could print or display the drawn depiction “The Prophet’s Words Are True” from the June 2021 For the Strength of Youth magazine and invite students to read it. Alternatively, you could explain that William McLellin, a 25-year-old schoolteacher and recent convert to the Church, was appointed as “the most wise” (verse 6) of the group and took the Lord’s challenge. When he finished, everybody recognized what he wrote was not from the Lord.
What do you think are some of the lessons these men learned from this experience?

As students answer, you might invite them to review verse 9. You might also explain that many of the elders signed a document giving their formal testimony of the truthfulness of the revelations in the Book of Commandments.
How does this experience show that the Lord knew them and could help with their testimonies?

The Lord went on to promise even greater spiritual experiences to these men if they would “strip [them]selves from jealousies and fears, and humble [them]selves before me” (Doctrine and Covenants 67:10).

How this truth applies today

Imagine that someone you know is struggling to believe that the Lord speaks to us through prophets and that the Doctrine and Covenants is the word of the Lord.

If students would like, they can add details to the scenario by selecting one of the obstacles listed on the board and suggesting that the person needs to overcome it to receive a testimony. You could then share or display the following instructions.

Think of how you could help this person by doing the following:

Write down what you would say to help them know that the Lord hears our prayers, knows our hearts, and can give us a testimony of prophets and the Doctrine and Covenants. If possible, you may want to include any personal experiences, or experiences of those close to you, that testify of these truths.
Use scriptures, scripture stories, or your own experiences to share some things we can do to increase our testimonies of prophets and the Doctrine and Covenants (some examples include Doctrine and Covenants 1:37–38; 21:4–6; Moroni 10:4–5). Share how the Lord can bless us for these actions.

Invite a variety of students to share what they prepared. Thank students for their insights and experiences.

Conclude by inviting students to ponder their own testimonies that the Lord speaks through prophets and that the Doctrine and Covenants is true. Testify that the Lord hears their prayers, knows their hearts, and can help them gain testimonies. Invite them to write down any inspiration they received throughout this lesson.

Additional Resources

What did Joseph Smith record about this event?

The Prophet recorded:

William E. McLellin, as the wisest man, in his own estimation, having more learning than sense, endeavored to write a commandment like unto one of the least of the Lord’s, but failed; it is an awful responsibility to write in the name of the Lord. The Elders and all present that witnessed this vain attempt of a man to imitate the language of Jesus Christ, renewed their faith in the fulness of the Gospel, and in the truth of the commandments and revelations which the Lord had given to the Church through my instrumentality; and the Elders signified a willingness to bear testimony of their truth to all the world. (Joseph Smith, in History of the Church, 1:226)

Doctrine and Covenants 67:3. How can our fears affect us?

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Part of our challenge is, I think, that we imagine that God has all of His blessings locked in a huge cloud up in heaven, refusing to give them to us unless we comply with some strict, paternalistic requirements He has set up. … In reality, Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Living the Gospel Joyful,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 121–22)

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught how we can overcome our fears:

We can be blessed to conquer our fears and strengthen our faith as we follow the Lord’s instruction: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (D&C 6:36). (David A. Bednar, “Therefore They Hushed Their Fears,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 48)

What should I do when I notice the imperfections of others?

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

16:49

Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually

My brothers and sisters, except for Jesus, there have been no flawless performances on this earthly journey we are pursuing, so while in mortality let’s strive for steady improvement without obsessing over what behavioral scientists call “toxic perfectionism.” We should avoid that latter excessive expectation of ourselves and of others and, I might add, of those who are called to serve in the Church—which for Latter-day Saints means everyone, for we are all called to serve somewhere. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 42)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Perceptions of God’s prophets

If it would be helpful to further discuss the elders’ concerns with the language of the revelations, consider using the following object lesson: Display something beautiful, like a painting, but ask students to express anything they don’t like about it.

What tends to happen when we focus on the flaws of something?

Encourage students to discuss the possible dangers of judging the prophet by his language and imperfections. What is dangerous about thinking that we can “express beyond his language”? (Doctrine and Covenants 67:5).

It might be good for students to quietly assess their feelings about the prophet.

The importance of humility

After students have studied about William McLellin trying to write a revelation, it could be useful to ask students how the experience may have humbled the elders.

Invite students to read Doctrine and Covenants 67:10, 14 to see what blessings the Lord promised if they would increase their humility.

Students could study humility in the Guide to the Scriptures or Topical Guide and share why they think being humble is essential when seeking a testimony.

Doctrine and Covenants 68:1–5

Invite students to share how we can know the Lord’s will for us.

Explain that during a conference held on November 1, 1831, four elders, who would soon be missionaries, approached Joseph Smith and asked to know the Lord’s will concerning them. In response, the Lord revealed a pattern for preaching the gospel. Invite students to read Doctrine and Covenants 68:1–5, looking for elements of that pattern. It may be helpful to know that the word ensample is a pattern or model.

In verses 3–5, what promise does the Lord give to His servants?
What will the inspired words of missionaries do for those who receive them?

Students may use different words, but they should identify the following principle: When the Lord’s servants are moved upon by the Holy Ghost, their words will lead people to salvation.

Explain that while those who are ordained to preach the gospel can help people gain a testimony of the truth, only the President of the Church has the right to receive and declare the will of the Lord for the entire Church. Under his direction, the other members of the First Presidency and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles also have the authority to declare God’s will for us.

Discuss how this principle can apply to us today.