Doctrine and Covenants 115–120

Doctrine and Covenants 115–120

Overview

In January 1838, the Prophet Joseph Smith and his family relocated from Kirtland, Ohio, to Far West, Missouri, after increased persecution from enemies of the Church. In the months that followed, the Prophet received revelations in which the Lord declared important truths, including the name of His Church and the law of tithing. Later that year, the Saints in Missouri faced intense persecution, including an order from the Missouri governor to drive the Saints from the state.

Ask questions that invite discovery: Asking relevant and open-ended questions can provide meaningful and powerful opportunities for students to discover and share doctrine and principles. For more on how the Savior did this, see the section “The Savior Provided Opportunities for People to Be Taught by the Holy Ghost” 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 115.”

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 115

Lesson purpose: To help students feel the importance of using the correct name of the Savior’s Church.

• Student preparation: Invite students to spend time thinking about the name of the Savior’s Church: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ask them to ponder what this name may help people understand about the Church.

• Materials for students: Copies of the talk “The Correct Name of the Church” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 87-90) for students who do not have digital access.

• Video: “The Name of the Church Is Not Negotiable” (13:36; watch from time code 10:45 to 12:10)

Doctrine and Covenants 119-120

Lesson purpose: To help students feel an increased desire to live the Savior’s law of tithing.

• Student preparation: Invite students who have paid tithing to reflect on the experience and consider how they feel about living this law. Invite those who have not yet earned income to ask a parent or trusted adult to share the blessings they have seen from paying tithing.

• Handout: “Teachings about the Savior’s Law of Tithing”

• Videos: “Tithing: I Will Make a Leap of Faith” (4:47); “The Language of the Gospel” (12:27; watch from time code 5:27 to 7:40)

Expulsion from Missouri

Lesson purpose: To help students feel a greater desire to turn to God when they face difficult situations.

• Student preparation: Invite students to ask a loved one to share experiences they or others have had with turning to or relying on God when facing difficult circumstances.

• Content to display: Summaries of the circumstances leading to the expulsion of the Saints from Missouri

• Video: “1838: The Year the Saints Were Driven Out of Missouri” (5:15)

• Handout: “The Account of Amanda Smith at Hawn’s Mill”