Lesson 90: Doctrine and Covenants 77–80

Doctrine and Covenants 79–80

Proclaiming Glad Tidings of Great Joy

As early Saints embraced the message of the Restoration, they had a great desire to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. Some shared their beliefs with family members and friends. Others responded to a call from the Savior to serve a mission. This lesson can help students share the Savior’s gospel throughout their lives.

Possible Learning Activities

Opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ

Help students identify opportunities to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Consider inviting students to read this statement and discuss the following questions in pairs or small groups.

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

Wherever you are on this earth, there are plenty of opportunities to share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ with people you meet, study with, and live with or work and socialize with. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 15)

• What experiences have you had sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ?

• What opportunities to share the gospel do you think you will have throughout your life?

• How confident are you in your ability to share the gospel of Jesus Christ? What can make it hard to share the gospel?

Invite students to prayerfully identify someone they could share the gospel of Jesus Christ with. If students were invited to complete the preparation activity, they may already have someone in mind. Invite students to write the names of these people in their study journal. Or, if no one came to mind, invite them to continue pondering opportunities they might have to share the gospel with others. Encourage students to seek inspiration from the Holy Ghost throughout this learning experience.

Glad tidings of great joy

In the revelations recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 79–80, the Savior called three individuals to serve missions: Jared Carter, Stephen Burnett, and Eden Smith.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 79:1. Look for how the Lord described the message He asked Jared Carter to share with others.

• What words impressed you from this verse? What does the Savior invite us to do?

Help students identify that Jesus Christ invites us to share the joy of His gospel with everyone. Consider writing Glad tidings of great joy on the board. Invite students to list what they know about Jesus Christ and His everlasting gospel that brings them great joy.

Think of the lives of the people whose names you wrote down at the beginning of the lesson. Record next to their names how you think the “glad tidings” of the gospel could bring them joy.

Doctrine and Covenants 79–80 contains teachings from the Savior that can help students in their efforts to share the gospel. Consider ways you can help them discover these teachings. The following activity is one way you could do this. It can be modified to meet the needs of your students.

Provide each student with the handout titled “Preach My Gospel.” Or invite students to create a similar chart on a blank sheet of paper and provide them with the instructions for each box.

Preach my gospel

Preach My Gospel

As you do this activity, look for teachings from Jesus Christ that can help you in your efforts to share the joy of His gospel.

Read the scripture passage and complete the instructions in each square. If you need more space, you can use the reverse side of the handout.

Doctrine and Covenants 79:2 Rewrite this verse in your own words.	Doctrine and Covenants 79:3 Draw a representation of this verse. (Sheaves are bundles of grain and are symbolic of people who accept the gospel.)
Doctrine and Covenants 79:4 Write what you believe is the most important word or phrase in this verse and a brief explanation of why you feel it is important in sharing the gospel.	Doctrine and Covenants 80:1 Find a doctrinal mastery passage or another scripture that relates to this verse. Write the reference in this square.
Doctrine and Covenants 80:2 Write one reason you think the Lord gives missionaries companions.	Doctrine and Covenants 80:3 Write how you feel this verse can relate to our own efforts to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Doctrine and Covenants 80:4 Write something you have heard, believe, or know to be true about Jesus Christ or His gospel. Include why that truth can be valuable for others to hear.	Doctrine and Covenants 80:5 Read this verse as though it were being spoken directly to you. Write how knowing the Savior has called you to share the gospel can give you confidence to do so.

A possible way to use this handout is to determine beforehand how much time students might need to complete each activity. Inform students of their allotted time to complete the activity in each box and set a timer. Each time the timer sounds, instruct them to pass their paper to another student, read what their classmates have written, and do the activity in the next box.

After this activity, instruct students to return the papers to the original owners. Invite students to read to themselves everything written on their paper. Students could share insights from their classmates or their own study that they feel will help in their efforts to share the joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sharing what we have heard, believe, and know to be true

Consider reviewing Doctrine and Covenants 80:4. In this verse, the Lord asks us to share what we have heard, believe, and know to be true. Invite a few students to share what they or a classmate wrote in that square.

To help students visualize how they can use what they have learned to share the gospel, consider sharing an example with a story or video. One such video is “Good Things to Share” (2:21), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Good Things to Share

Sharing what matters most is not unusual at all. What good things will you share?

• What have you felt today that has increased your desire to share the joy of the Savior’s gospel?

• What are some ways you can apply the truths you have learned today throughout your lives?

Invite students to record the impressions they received that can help them share the joy of the Savior’s gospel with the individuals they identified at the beginning of class. Encourage students to follow their impressions and share their beliefs with others in meaningful ways such as through personal conversations, text messages, or on social media.

Additional Resources

Doctrine and Covenants 79:1. What is the “power of the ordination” that was given to Jared Carter?

Sister Julie B. Beck, former Relief Society General President, taught:

Every elder and sister who receives a mission call is set apart to do the Lord’s work, and each is given authority to preach the gospel of Christ. (Julie B. Beck, “An Outpouring of Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2006, 12)

Doctrine and Covenants 80:4. How can my own conversion help me share my testimony with others?

President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

When we are truly converted, we cannot be restrained from testifying. And as it was with Apostles and faithful members of old, so is it also our privilege, our duty, and our solemn obligation to “declare the things which [we] know to be true (D&C 80:4).” (M. Russell Ballard, “Pure Testimony,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2004, 41)

How can I prepare to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others?

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles gave the following five suggestions:

First, draw close to God. …

Second, fill your heart with love for others. …

Third, strive to walk the path of discipleship. …

Fourth, share what is in your heart. …

Fifth, trust the Lord to work His miracles. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 16–17)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Treasures in Heaven: The John Tanner Story

Students might be interested in some of the results of Jared Carter’s missionary efforts. You could share the following information or watch “Treasures in Heaven: The John Tanner Story” (20:31), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Note that this video is also recommended in the next lesson. If you choose to watch it, determine in which lesson it would be best.

As Jared Carter faithfully responded to the Savior’s call to preach the gospel, the promises of being led by the Spirit and having success were fulfilled (see Doctrine and Covenants 79:2–3). Among those whom he shared the gospel of Jesus Christ with was a man named John Tanner. John Tanner accepted the gospel, moved to Ohio, and donated thousands of dollars to pay the debt on the Kirtland Temple site and to finance its construction. This was an answer to the prayers of the Prophet Joseph Smith and other Church leaders.

Called to the work

Explain that Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that full-time missionaries are called to serve the Lord and assigned to labor in a specific location. Sometimes, circumstances necessitate that missionaries are reassigned to a new location. Share the following statement from Elder Bednar:

Section 80 of the Doctrine and Covenants is a record of a mission call to Stephen Burnett extended by the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1832. Studying this call to Brother Burnett can help us to (1) understand more clearly the distinction between being “called to the work” as a missionary and “assigned to labor” in a particular place and (2) appreciate more completely our individual and divinely appointed responsibility to proclaim the gospel. (David A. Bednar, “Called to the Work,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 68)

Invite students to study Doctrine and Covenants 80 looking for evidence of the two lessons Elder Bednar outlined. When students have finished, invite them to share what they found. You could then invite students to read the remainder of Elder Bednar’s explanation of section 80 from his address in the Gospel Library, or you could watch “Called to the Work” from time codes 2:56 to 5:48. Invite students to look for additional insights.

Called to the Work

Elder Bednar teaches that a missionary's assignment to labor in a specific place is secondary to the call to serve. He also discusses mission preparation.