Responding to Those Who Criticize the Savior’s Church
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Joseph Smith preaching
In the winter of 1831, letters containing false information about Joseph Smith and the Church were being distributed in the Kirtland area. In Doctrine and Covenants 71, the Savior instructed Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon to travel throughout the region, correcting the falsehoods (see verses 1–2). This lesson can help students understand how the Savior would have us respond when people criticize our beliefs.
Possible Learning Activities
Answering critics of the Savior’s Church
To help students understand the historical context of Doctrine and Covenants 71, share the following paragraph or summarize it in your own words.
Persecution increased dramatically for Joseph Smith and the Saints in Kirtland in the winter of 1831. Some Saints began leaving the Church, including Ezra Booth and Symonds Ryder. Booth began publishing letters attacking Joseph and trying to overthrow the work of the Lord (see History, 1838–1856 [Manuscript History of the Church], volume A-1, 153–54, josephsmithpapers.org). Joseph petitioned the Lord for counsel, and Doctrine and Covenants 71 was received.
How might you have wanted to respond to attacks on the Savior’s Church and Joseph Smith?
Invite students to share examples of when they have witnessed criticism of the Church or the gospel. Ask students to ponder how they think the Savior wants them to respond when people are unkind about their beliefs. Invite a brief discussion as students answer the following questions.
How can we know the best way to handle situations when others criticize our beliefs or share false information about the Savior’s Church?
When do you think it is better to ignore the criticism?
Ponder how confident you feel in knowing how Jesus would have you respond. As you study, look for the different ways the Savior teaches us to respond.
The Savior teaches us to speak up and share His gospel
Read Doctrine and Covenants 71:1–3, and look for how the Savior wanted Joseph and Sidney to respond to the falsehoods being spread about the Church at that time.
What stood out to you?
According to verse 1, what had the Savior provided to help Joseph and Sidney know how to respond?
How could the Savior’s counsel help us in our day?
Help students identify the truth that the Savior will teach us through the scriptures and the Spirit how to respond to those who criticize His Church.
Why do you think using the scriptures and following promptings of the Spirit are the best ways to respond to criticism?
In what ways could the Spirit’s influence affect how we respond to criticism?
Consider inviting a student to write “Responding in the Savior’s way” across the top of the board. You could also have the class write this heading on a page of their study journals. Students could start a list by writing “using the scriptures” and “following the Spirit” under this heading. Using the list they created, students will have an opportunity to practice responding to situations in the Savior’s way.
Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles used the scriptural symbol of fiery darts to describe the criticism of our beliefs by others. As you study this statement, think about what you can add to the “Responding in the Savior’s way” list.
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Elder Neil L. Andersen
By the shield of our faith in Jesus Christ, we become peacemakers, quenching … all the fiery darts of the adversary [see Ephesians 6:16; Doctrine and Covenants 3:8]. …
How does a peacemaker calm and cool the fiery darts? Certainly not by shrinking before those who disparage us. Rather, we remain confident in our faith, sharing our beliefs with conviction but always void of anger or malice. …
Peacemakers are not passive; they are persuasive in the Savior’s way.
What gives us the inner strength to cool, calm, and quench the fiery darts aimed toward the truths we love? The strength comes from our faith in Jesus Christ and our faith in His words. (Neil L. Andersen, “Following Jesus: Being a Peacemaker,” Liahona, May 2022, 17–18)
Invite students to discuss what they would add to the list after reviewing Elder Andersen’s statement. You might ask a question like:
How could you be a peacemaker when responding to others?
Read Doctrine and Covenants 71:4–7, and look for what the Lord taught Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in this specific situation to address the false information being published.
What did you discover?
What connection do you see with the Savior’s counsel in these verses and Elder Andersen’s teachings?
Emphasize the example of Jesus Christ: The following activity is an opportunity to emphasize the example of Jesus Christ. For more practice with this, see the training titled “Emphasize the Example of Jesus Christ” in Teacher Development Skills: Focus on Jesus Christ. Consider practicing the skill “Help students connect what they are learning with how Christ exemplifies the principle.”
To help students identify multiple Christlike responses that could help them defend their beliefs, consider organizing the class into groups for the following activity.
Encourage students to use the scriptures to find examples or teachings that show different ways the Savior and His disciples responded to criticism. If students need additional guidance, you could display some of the following passages that describe the Savior’s experiences and teachings for them to study.
Invite students to discuss what they discover with their group and then to select a discussion leader to share the information with the class.
Matthew 4:3–11 (Jesus responds to Satan’s temptations with scriptures.)
Luke 23:8–10 (Jesus stands before Herod, remaining silent.)
John 8:2–11 (Jesus, confronted by Jewish leaders, saves a woman’s life.)
Consider inviting group leaders to share with the class what they discussed and add to the list of appropriate responses on the board. Remind students there are times the Spirit may prompt us to remain silent rather than openly correcting what is said.
Practice responding in the Savior’s way
To help students demonstrate their understanding of the principle studied today, you could provide or display the following scenarios. As students discuss different ways we might respond, encourage them to search the list they created earlier for ideas. Help them understand that there may be many correct ways of responding to each situation. The Spirit can help us know what Heavenly Father wants us to do or say when situations arise.
You might design different situations that better address the needs of your class or add details to the scenarios below to increase students’ interest. You could also have the class create their own scenarios from their personal experiences. It might be appropriate to invite students to share experiences they have had in the past.
Share a few different ways you might respond to each of the following situations in a Christlike way:
You post a picture of the temple on social media, and someone responds by criticizing the Church for having high standards for entering the temple.
At a family gathering, an uncle says unkind things about the Prophet Joseph Smith.
A friend claims it is foolish to believe in a God you cannot prove exists.
Someone at your work tells your coworkers that Latter-day Saints are not Christians.
In the Savior’s own due time
Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were obedient to the revelation they received. They traveled throughout the area, preaching the Savior’s gospel and correcting the falsehoods that had been spread.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 71:8–11, and look for the reassurance the Savior gives to all who defend His Church and His gospel.
What do these verses teach you about Jesus Christ and His work?
What do you think it means that no voices or weapons will prosper against us (see verses 9–10)?
Help students understand that even if they do not have the perfect response to someone, the Savior will not allow enemies of His Church to prosper forever. The Savior promises that critics will be “confounded in [His] own due time” (verse 10).
What did you learn today that could help you handle situations when someone you know criticizes the Church or the Savior’s teachings?
You might conclude class by encouraging students to follow the Savior’s counsel when they face situations in which others are critical of the Church and gospel. You could share your witness of the power given to those who will defend their beliefs as the Savior would.