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 86—Doctrine and Covenants 76:19–24: “This Is the Testimony … Which We Give of Him”

“Lesson 86—Doctrine and Covenants 76:19–24: ‘This Is the Testimony … Which We Give of Him,’” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)

“Doctrine and Covenants 76:19–24,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual

Lesson 86: Doctrine and Covenants 76

Doctrine and Covenants 76:19–24

“This Is the Testimony … Which We Give of Him”

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Jesus smiling

Among the visions recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 76, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon saw Jesus Christ Himself. They learned how the Savior is central to our salvation and then bore testimony of Him. This lesson can help students feel increased love for Jesus Christ and His role in Heavenly Father’s plan.

Possible Learning Activities

Jesus Christ is important to me

Provide an opportunity for students to discuss why Jesus Christ is important to them. You might consider using the following scenario, or you can invite students to create a different one.

Abbey and Sarika have several classes together at school. One day at lunch, Sarika looks at Abbey and says, “I’ve heard people talk about Jesus all my life. I’ve even heard you say you believe in Him. I’ve never really learned about Jesus, and I’m curious. What can you tell me about Him, or why He is significant to you?”

If you were Abbey, what would you say to Sarika?

Before asking a few students to respond, consider giving them time to reflect on what they might say. It may be helpful for students to create a list in their study journals of what they think all people should know about Jesus.

Think about how you feel about Jesus Christ and how comfortable you feel about talking to others about Him. As you study today, look for teachings that help you feel more love for Jesus Christ.

A vision of the Son of God

It may be helpful to invite students to share what they remember about the circumstances that led to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon seeing the vision recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 76. If needed, remind them that as Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon pondered the scriptures, the Lord “touched the eyes of [their] understanding” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:19), and they experienced a great vision.

Doctrine and Covenants 76:22–24 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider inviting students to mark doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so they can locate them easily.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 76:1–6, 19–24, looking for what Joseph and Sidney declared about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Encourage students to keep track of what they discover in their scriptures. For example, they could create a list of their findings in their study journals.

Alternatively, consider providing several large sheets of paper where students could record what they learn. When students finish, you could display the papers on classroom walls. Students could move around the room to read what others discovered and then draw a heart next to something they like or want to know more about. Give students time to discuss what they found.

What truths from these verses stood out to you? Why?

You may have found many truths in these verses. Among them, you might have noticed:

Jesus Christ is merciful and delights to bless us when we honor and serve Him (verse 5).
Jesus Christ is a living, glorified being (verse 22).
Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten of the Father (verse 23).
Under the direction of Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ is the Creator of all things (verse 24).
What do these truths help you understand about how Jesus Christ can help you and others?

The following activities can help students deepen their understanding and feel the importance of two of the truths these verses teach. You could select one or both activities to study together as a class. Or you could display the activity instructions and assign small groups or partnerships to complete one or both of the activities together.

Activity A: Jesus Christ lives!

If needed, provide a printed copy of the lyrics of the hymn “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” (Hymns, no. 136) for students to use. If you are doing this activity together as a class, you could sing the hymn during this portion of the lesson.

In addition to having students study the hymn in step 3, you could also invite them to find scriptures or statements from Church leaders that describe what the Savior can do for us because He lives. Examples of scriptures you could suggest include John 6:40; Philippians 4:13; Doctrine and Covenants 58:42; 84:88.

Consider also using one of the videos under the heading “Additional videos: He lives!” in “Supplemental Learning Activities.”

Consider marking the words “he lives!” in verse 22 in a way that makes them stand out in your scriptures.
Write the phrase Because Jesus Christ lives … in your study journal.
Read the lyrics of the hymn “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” (Hymns, no. 136), looking for examples of how Jesus Christ can help you because He lives.
Write down at least five ways you could complete that phrase that are most important to you.

Activity B: Jesus Christ is the Creator of all things

To help students better prepare to respond to step 4, consider sharing the statement by President Boyd K. Packer in “Additional Resources.”

Consider marking the phrase “by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created” (verse 24) in a way that makes this phrase stand out in your scriptures.
Find scriptures or statements from Church leaders that deepen your understanding of Jesus Christ’s role as the Creator. Examples of scriptures you could study include John 1:1–3; 3 Nephi 9:15; Doctrine and Covenants 93:9–10; Moses 1:33; 7:30.
Discuss some of the Savior’s creations that help you feel the love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Explain why.
Write down at least three ways you feel Jesus Christ can help you because He is the Creator of all things.

When students have completed the activity or activities, let them share what they have learned and felt. Be sure to invite them to share what they learned about how Jesus Christ can help them because He lives and because He is the Creator. Students could share their insights from their seats, or you could invite willing students to come to the front of the room to share their testimonies of Jesus Christ.

Memorize

You may want to help students memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase during this lesson and review them in future lessons. The key scripture phrase is “By [Jesus Christ] the worlds are and were created.” Ideas for memorization activities are in the appendix materials under “Doctrinal Mastery Review Activities.”

Additional Resources

Doctrine and Covenants 76:23. Why is Jesus called “the Only Begotten of the Father”?

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is called the Only Begotten Son because He is the only person on earth to be born of a mortal mother and an immortal Father. He inherited divine powers from God, His Father (see John 10:17–18). From His mother, Mary, He inherited mortality and was subject to hunger, thirst, fatigue, pain, and death. (“The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: The Only Begotten Son,” Ensign, Dec. 2013, 7)

Doctrine and Covenants 76:24. What do we know about Jesus Christ creating other worlds?

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2014) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

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Elder Neal A. Maxwell

Under the direction of the Father, Christ was the Lord of the universe, who created worlds without number—of which ours is only one (see Ephesians 3:9; Hebrews 1:2).

How many planets are there in the universe with people on them? We don’t know, but we are not alone in the universe! God is not the God of only one planet! (Neal A. Maxwell, “Special Witnesses of Christ,” Ensign, Apr. 2001, 6)

How can understanding that Jesus Christ is the Creator help me?

President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (1924–2015) was an accomplished artist who enjoyed carving wooden birds. One day he was a passenger in a car driven by Elder A. Theodore Tuttle, and a beautiful carving had been placed on the back seat. President Packer related what happened next:

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President Boyd K. Packer

At an intersection, [Elder Tuttle] slammed on the brakes, and the carving tipped upside down on the floor and broke to pieces. He pulled over to the side and looked at it. He was devastated. I was not.

Without thinking, I said, “Forget it. I made it. I can fix it.” And I did. I made it stronger than it was. I improved it a bit.

Now, who made you? Who is your Creator? There is not anything about your life that gets bent or broken that He cannot fix and will fix. (Boyd K. Packer, “The Instrument of Your Mind and the Foundation of Your Character” [Brigham Young University devotional, Feb. 2, 2003], 9, speeches.byu.edu)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Define and understand scripture words

Students may have questions about the words used in Doctrine and Covenants 76:24 that relate to the Savior’s acts of creation. Consider inviting students to use their mobile devices to find definitions for the following words (suggested definitions found at merriam-webster.com):

by (specific instrument of creation)
through (because of)
of (origin or cause)
begotten (brought into existence by)
unto (connecting or attaching to)

After students have defined the words, help them understand how they can relate to being created by the Savior.

Appreciating the Lord’s creations

After students study the scriptures about the Savior as the Creator, consider sharing the following statement. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified:

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Elder Neil L. Andersen

I love to speak about the Savior. It was He, under the direction of the Father, who created this world for us. He separated the light from the darkness, the water from the land.

It was He who brought order and beauty, the plants and the animals.

It was this Creator who answered the call of our Father with words full of love and humility: “Here am I, send me” [Abraham 3:27]. “Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever” [Moses 4:2].

What gratitude we must have felt in realizing that He, who was the Only Begotten of the Father, who was the beloved and chosen from the beginning, was willing to fulfill our Heavenly Father’s eternal plan of salvation for us. (Neil L. Andersen, “Time for the Savior at Christmas” [Brigham Young University devotional, Dec. 7, 2021], 6, speeches.byu.edu)

Consider showing one of the following videos:

“We Lived with God” (4:00)
“God’s Greatest Creation” (2:51)

Additional videos: He lives!

The following videos highlight how we are blessed by a living Savior, both in this life and eternally.

I can bear testimony of Jesus Christ

Point out the phrase “after the many testimonies” in verse 22. Invite students to consider the many testimonies that have been given of Jesus Christ in the scriptures. You might suggest that they find and study some of these.

Invite students to reflect on their testimony of Jesus Christ. Consider providing them with time to write their testimony and encouraging them to share it with others, such as with their family, in church, or on social media. You could also give students time to share their testimony during class.