Doctrine and Covenants 89–92

Doctrine and Covenants 89–92

Overview

As was common with many people in the 1830s, some members of the Church used tobacco and drank alcohol. In answer to the Prophet Joseph Smith’s prayers about the matter, the Lord revealed the Word of Wisdom, recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 89. Later that year, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick G. Williams were ordained as counselors to the Prophet. The Lord revealed instructions about the responsibilities of this presidency.

Use the words of prophets to emphasize doctrine and principles. Living prophets and apostles teach, explain, and expound the doctrine and principles taught in the scriptures. Using prophetic words can help students better understand and live the gospel of Jesus Christ. For more on how the Savior did this, see the section “The Savior Taught from the Scriptures” in Teaching in the Savior’s Way. You can also see an example of how to do this in this week’s lesson titled “Doctrine and Covenants 90.”

Prepare to teach

The following information provides you with ideas of what you may need to prepare in advance for each lesson:

Doctrine and Covenants 89:1–17

Lesson purpose: To help students feel gratitude for the Lord’s loving instruction known as the Word of Wisdom.

• Student preparation: Invite students to think of ways the world would be a better place if drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or other potentially harmful substances did not exist. They might also think of how their personal life would be different if no one ever abused these substances.

• Content to display: Fishing lures (or an image of fishing lures), owner’s manual for a product students are familiar with

• Images to display: Room in which the School of the Prophets was held

• Video: “You Will Be Freed” (2:55)

• Materials for students: Full sheet of paper for each student

Doctrine and Covenants 89:18–21

Lesson purpose: To help students receive the Savior’s promised blessings by choosing to live the Word of Wisdom.

• Student preparation: Invite students to read the doctrinal mastery passage Doctrine and Covenants 89:18–21, looking for what the Lord promises when they keep the Word of Wisdom. Encourage students to come to class prepared to share examples of how they have seen the Lord fulfill those promises.

• Content to display: Drawing of a bay with a man-made barrier that separates it from the open ocean

• Images to display: Daniel refusing to eat the king’s meat, Passover showing blood on the doorpost

Doctrine and Covenants 90

Lesson purpose: To help students feel the importance of the direction Jesus Christ gives to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through His First Presidency.

• Student preparation: Invite students to find a teaching or statement from a member of the First Presidency that has impacted their lives.

• Material to display: A key, a container that could be locked with a key

• Materials for students: Small piece of paper for each student, copies of recent talks by members of the First Presidency for students who can’t access talks in class on their devices

• Image to display: The First Presidency in 1833 consisting of Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams

• Video: “Where Are the Keys?” (2:51)