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 98—Doctrine and Covenants 86: The Savior Is Gathering Israel

“Lesson 98—Doctrine and Covenants 86: The Savior Is Gathering Israel,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)

“Doctrine and Covenants 86,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual

Lesson 98: Doctrine and Covenants 85–87

Doctrine and Covenants 86

The Savior Is Gathering Israel

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a wheat harvest

In the revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 86, the Savior revealed additional meaning to His original interpretation of the parable of the wheat and tares (Matthew 13:36–43). He taught about His efforts to gather the righteous in preparation for His Second Coming. This lesson can help students in their efforts to participate with the Savior in gathering Israel.

Possible Learning Activities

The Savior gathers His people

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Jesus in a gathering-like setting

Consider inviting students to think of examples of people they like to be around and why.

Then you could invite students to think of people who wanted to be around Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry. If needed, you could share a few examples, such as Matthew 9:10; 19:1–2, 13–15; John 6:1–14; 3 Nephi 17:1–5.

Why do you think people wanted to be around the Savior?
Why do you think the Savior wants people to be gathered to Him?

Consider inviting students to study some scriptures that teach us why the Savior wants us to be gathered to Him. Examples could include Matthew 11:28–30; 3 Nephi 9:13–14; 10:4–6.

Think about your own desires to follow or be gathered to the Savior. Also think about your desires to help gather others to Him. As you study, look for truths that can help you recognize the importance of gathering yourself and others to Jesus Christ.

The parable of the wheat and tares

Read or summarize the following paragraph to help students understand the historical context for the revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 86.

As Joseph Smith and Frederick G. Williams worked on the inspired translation of the Bible, the Savior revealed an interpretation of the parable of the wheat and tares. This interpretation is recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 86.

Before students study Doctrine and Covenants 86, help them understand the parable of the wheat and tares. They could read Matthew 13:24–30, a student could share a summary of the parable, or you could show the video “Jesus Declares the Parables of the Wheat and Tares, Mustard Seed, and Leaven” from time code 0:00 to 1:30. This video is available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

It may be helpful to explain that tares are a type of poisonous weed. Wheat and tares are almost identical when they sprout, but they can be distinguished once they mature. If a person tried to pull out the tares before the wheat and tares matured, he or she would likely destroy much of the wheat as well.

What stands out to you from this parable?
What do the wheat and tares symbolize? (See Matthew 13:38.)

The Savior provides an interpretation of the parable

Read Doctrine and Covenants 86:1–7, looking for which symbols from the parable the Savior helped us understand.

What did you learn from this parable about preparations the Lord is making for His Second Coming?

After a few students have shared what they discovered, point out the following truth: The Lord is gathering Israel prior to His Second Coming.
How can knowing this truth help you feel hope and peace when you think about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?
How can this truth guide the decisions you make today?

President Russell M. Nelson shared how we can participate with the Lord in gathering Israel today.

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President Russell M. Nelson

The Lord is gathering those who will choose to let God be the most important influence in their lives.

For centuries, prophets have foretold this gathering [see Isaiah 11:11–12; 2 Nephi 21:11–12; Mosiah 15:11], and it is happening right now! As an essential prelude to the Second Coming of the Lord, it is the most important work in the world! …

When we speak of gathering Israel on both sides of the veil, we are referring, of course, to missionary, temple, and family history work. We are also referring to building faith and testimony in the hearts of those with whom we live, work, and serve. Anytime we do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—to make and keep their covenants with God, we are helping to gather Israel. (Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 92–93)

What did you learn from this statement about how you can help the Lord gather Israel?

“A light unto the Gentiles”

Read Doctrine and Covenants 86:11, looking for what the Savior taught about how we can help gather people to Him.

It may be helpful to explain that the word Gentiles in verse 11 can refer to those who are not members of the Church.

As part of your discussion of the next question, consider inviting students to read Matthew 5:14–16 and 3 Nephi 18:24. They could share what these verses add to their understanding.

What do you think it means to be a “light unto the Gentiles”?
What are some ways you can help gather Israel by sharing the Savior’s light with others?

Consider listing students’ ideas on the board. As part of this discussion, you could invite students to share experiences they have had. To see more examples, show the video “LightTheWorld—Follow the Example of Jesus Christ. Share His Light—Serve as He Served” (2:17) from time code 0:29 to 2:17, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Make a plan to gather Israel with the Savior

Help students apply the truths they have studied by inviting them to answer one or both of the following questions in their study journals.

What is something you will strive to do to be gathered to the Savior?
What is something specific you will do to assist the Savior in the gathering of Israel?

Include details about how and when you will accomplish your goal.

A few students could share what they have written. Testify of the truths you have discussed, and encourage students to act on the goals they have set for themselves.

Additional Resources

Why does the Savior gather His people?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

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Elder David A. Bednar

The Lord gathers His people when they accept Him and keep His commandments. …

… The Lord gathers His people to worship, to build up the Church, for a defense, and to receive counsel and instruction. …

The Prophet Joseph Smith declared that in all ages the divine purpose of gathering is to build temples so that the Lord’s children can receive the highest ordinances and thereby gain eternal life. (David A. Bednar, “The Spirit and Purposes of Gathering” [Brigham Young University–Idaho devotional, Oct. 31, 2006], byui.edu)

How can I be among the wheat the Savior is gathering?

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

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Elder Neil L. Andersen

The Lord explained that in this final time prior to His return, the “wheat,” whom He describes as “the children of the kingdom” [Matthew 13:38], would grow side by side with the “tares,” or those who do not love God and do not keep His commandments. They would “both grow together” [Matthew 13:30] side by side.

This will be our world until the Savior returns, with much that is good and much that is evil on every side.

You may at times not feel like a strong, mature strand of wheat. Be patient with yourself! The Lord said that the wheat would include tender blades springing up [Doctrine and Covenants 86:4, 6]. We are all His Latter-day Saints, and although not yet all we want to be, we are serious in our desire to be His true disciples. (Neil L. Andersen, “Drawing Closer to the Savior,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 73)

Doctrine and Covenants 86:11. What does it mean to be “a savior unto my people Israel”?

Speaking about work for our deceased ancestors, President Wilford Woodruff (1807–98) explained:

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President Wilford Woodruff

We have fathers and mothers and kindred in the spirit world, and we have a work to perform in their behalf. As an individual I have had great interest in this work of redeeming the dead, and so have my brethren and sisters. This is a labor we must continue as far as we have opportunity. … This is a work that rests upon the Latter-day Saints. Do what you can in this respect, so that when you pass to the other side of the veil your fathers, mothers, relatives and friends will bless you for what you have done, and inasmuch as you have been instruments in the hands of God in procuring their redemption, you will be recognized as Saviors upon Mount Zion in fulfillment of prophecy. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff [2004], 189)

Supplemental Learning Activities

President Nelson’s invitation to gather Israel

Explain that in 2018, President Russell M. Nelson extended the following invitations to help the youth gather Israel.

Give up social media for seven consecutive days.
Make a weekly sacrifice of time to the Lord, giving up something you like to do and using that time to help gather Israel.
Stay on or return to the covenant path.
Pray daily for all of Heavenly Father’s children to receive the blessings of Jesus Christ’s gospel.
Stand out; be different from the world. (See Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel” [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], ChurchofJesusChrist.org.)

You might discuss how these invitations could help students participate with the Lord in the gathering of Israel. You could invite students to choose one item from the list to work on for the next week. At a future lesson, you might invite students to share what they selected and how it has helped them feel closer to the Savior.

See others as God sees them

As students study Doctrine and Covenants 86:5–6, you might invite them to consider what could result when we are too quick to judge others.

What can the Savior’s desire to delay judgment in these verses teach us about Him?

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wheat and tares

You might show a picture of tares growing in a wheat field. You could help students understand that the Savior sees us as tender blades who are still developing. He is patient and kind when it comes to our growth. We can follow His example and have compassion for ourselves and those around us. With the Savior, we should see everyone as “wheat” and invite all to gather with Him. You might invite a discussion with questions like these:

What can help you see others as Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ see them?
What experiences have you had seeing the benefits of trying to see others as Heavenly Father and Jesus do?
How could that attitude help you assist the Savior in the gathering of Israel?

With the Savior, we can gather Israel

To help students think of ideas for how they can gather Israel, you could show the video “Gatherers in the Kingdom” (1:51) or “Gathering and Growing: Eldon’s Story (2:10). Invite students to look for practical ways they can participate in the gathering today.