Lesson 139: Doctrine and Covenants 129–132

Doctrine and Covenants 130

Teaching the Savior’s Gospel

The gospel can be effectively taught in large meetings or in small, intimate gatherings. The Savior used both methods during His ministry, as did the Prophet Joseph Smith. The text of Doctrine and Covenants 130 contains some of the Prophet’s teachings to a small gathering of Saints living in Ramus, Illinois. This lesson is intended to help students practice teaching elements of Jesus Christ’s doctrine.

Possible Learning Activities

The following learning activities are designed to help students teach different portions of the lesson. If you would rather not have students teach, refer to the “Supplemental Learning Activities” for teaching ideas you could use.

Jesus Christ, the Master Teacher

To begin class, consider displaying an image of Jesus Christ teaching people and invite students to visualize what it might have been like to be there. Consider asking the following questions:

• What might you have been thinking or feeling if you were present while Jesus taught?

• What do you think makes the Savior such an effective teacher?

Explain that as members of the Savior’s Church, we have many opportunities to teach His gospel. You might also display the following message from the First Presidency about teaching:

Beloved brothers and sisters,

What a glorious opportunity you have to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ! Whether or not you have a specific calling to teach, you are a teacher. As a disciple of the Master Teacher, Jesus Christ, you have opportunities to share His light wherever you go—in the home, at church, as you minister to others, and among your friends. To teach the gospel is a sacred trust. It is an essential part of the Lord’s work, and it works best when we do it in His way. (Teaching in the Savior’s Way: For All Who Teach in the Home and in the Church [2022], 1)

• What are some opportunities teenagers have to teach and testify of Jesus Christ and His gospel?

Explain to students that they will have the opportunity to prepare a brief lesson from some of the teachings in Doctrine and Covenants 130 and to practice teaching their lesson to others. If you plan on having a few students teach the whole class, this would be a good time to assure them that you will not ask anyone unwilling to do so.

Before students begin preparing lessons, consider sharing the following background information.

On April 2, 1843, the Prophet Joseph Smith met with Saints in Ramus, Illinois, about 20 miles outside of Nauvoo. Joseph taught various gospel truths, including details about the Godhead, the importance of gaining knowledge in this life, and how we can receive God’s blessings. The Prophet’s teachings are recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 130.

Prepare to teach

To help students prepare to teach, distribute the handout titled “Teaching Truths from Doctrine and Covenants 130.” Invite class members to follow the lesson preparation steps for guidance. Since Doctrine and Covenants 130:22–23 is a doctrinal mastery passage, it may be necessary to ask a few students to work on that topic to ensure that those verses will be taught during the lesson.

As students prepare, move throughout the room and provide help as needed. You might offer some suggestions of what they could use to help others actively participate. These may include discussion questions, visuals, objects, sharing of personal experiences, or writing exercises.

Teaching Truths from Doctrine and Covenants 130

Lesson preparation:

Step 1: Choose one of the study topics below and study the resources provided. Pay attention to thoughts, ideas, and impressions from the Holy Ghost about what you are reading. You could also find other resources to deepen your understanding of your chosen topic.

Step 2: Create a five- to seven-minute lesson outline for your chosen topic. Consider using some of the following questions to help you prepare:

• How can or should these truths impact our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

• How can I use the scriptures and words of the prophets to help others better understand this topic?

• What can I do to help others engage in the lesson and be active participants?

• What experiences can I share or what can I testify of?

• What can I do to help others apply this topic to their lives?

Study topics and resources:

Option 1: Knowledge and intelligence rise with us in the Resurrection.

Resources to study:

Doctrine and Covenants 130:18–19; see also Doctrine and Covenants 88:118; 93:36

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

If we ponder just what it is that will rise with us in the resurrection, it seems clear that our intelligence will rise with us, meaning not simply our IQ, but also our capacity to receive and apply truth. Our talents, attributes, and skills will rise with us; certainly also our capacity to learn, our degree of self-discipline, and our capacity to work. (Neal A. Maxwell, We Will Prove Them Herewith [1982], 12)

Option 2: We obtain blessings from God by obeying His laws.

Resources to study:

Doctrine and Covenants 130:20–21; see also John 7:17; Doctrine and Covenants 82:10

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

If you really want a certain blessing, you’d better find out what the laws are that govern that blessing and then work on becoming obedient to those laws. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Mission and Ministry of the Savior: A Discussion with Elder Russell M. Nelson,” Ensign, June 2005, 19)

Option 3: Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have bodies of flesh and bones. The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit.

Resources to study:

Doctrine and Covenants 130:22–23; see also Matthew 3:13–17; Acts 7:55–56

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

We believe these three divine persons constituting a single Godhead are united in purpose, in manner, in testimony, in mission. We believe Them to be filled with the same godly sense of mercy and love, justice and grace, patience, forgiveness, and redemption. I think it is accurate to say we believe They are one in every significant and eternal aspect imaginable except believing Them to be three persons combined in one substance. … We declare it is self-evident from the scriptures that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are separate persons, three divine beings. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 40–41)

Teaching experience

Convey to learners that their contributions are valued: As students share the lessons they prepared, help them know that their contributions to the lesson are valued and appreciated. For more practice with this, see the training titled “Communicate that you value students before they comment or as they raise their hand” found in Teacher Development Skills: Love Those You Teach.

After you have given students time to prepare a lesson outline, consider inviting a few to teach their lessons in front of the class. You could also organize students into small groups, and they could alternate teaching each other. During student presentations, encourage class members to show respect and fully engage in the learning process. If any students are uncomfortable teaching in seminary or if time runs out before all get an opportunity, encourage them to try teaching their lesson at home, in a church setting, or to a friend. To conclude, consider asking questions such as the following:

• What did you learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that can help you in your current circumstances?

• What did you learn today about teaching the Savior’s gospel?

• How can taking opportunities to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ benefit you now and in the future?

Doctrine and Covenants 130:22–23 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider inviting students to mark doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so they can locate them easily.

Memorize

You may want to help students memorize the reference and key scripture phrase of Doctrine and Covenants 130:22–23 and review them in future lessons. The key scripture phrase for this passage is “The Father has a body of flesh and bones … ; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost … is a personage of Spirit.” Ideas for memorization activities are in the appendix materials under “Doctrinal Mastery Review Activities.”

Additional Resources

Where can I learn more about the teachings in Doctrine and Covenants 130:1–17?

In addition to the topics addressed in this lesson, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught about additional topics that were recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 130. Some of these include the eternal nature of our interactions with others, the omniscience and foreknowledge of God, the destiny of the earth, and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. For more information on these topics, refer to the institute Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual (2018), 751–58.

Doctrine and Covenants 130:18–19. Why should I continue to educate my mind and spirit?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

Education is yours to obtain. No one else can gain it for you. Wherever you are, develop a deep desire to learn. For us as Latter-day Saints, gaining an education is not just a privilege, it is a religious responsibility. The glory of God is intelligence (see Doctrine and Covenants 93:36). Indeed, our education is for the eternities. … Education is the difference between wishing you could help other people and being able to help them. (Russell M. Nelson, “Will You Choose to Increase in Learning?,” New Era, Sept. 2014, 2–3)

Doctrine and Covenants 130:20–21. What is the ultimate blessing for obeying God’s laws?

President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency explained:

Joseph Smith taught that God “institute[d] laws whereby [the spirits that He would send into the world] could have a privilege to advance like himself.” [Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 210.] God’s love is so perfect that He lovingly requires us to obey His commandments because He knows that only through obedience to His laws can we become perfect, as He is. (Dallin H. Oaks, “Love and Law,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 27)

Doctrine and Covenants 130:22–23. Where can I learn more about the Godhead?

Watch the video “What Is the Godhead?” (7:03) to learn more about each member of the Godhead and Their united efforts to bless our lives.

Supplemental Learning Activities

Doctrine and Covenants 130:18–19. Knowledge and intelligence

Invite students to imagine they are leaving home for a few weeks. They are allowed to take only what will fit in one suitcase or bag. Ask them what they would pack.

Then ask students to imagine that their destination is the spirit world, which we will enter when we die. Invite them to share which of the items they previously thought of that they would be able to take with them when they die.

Invite the students to read Doctrine and Covenants 130:18–19, looking for what we can take with us from this life when we die. After asking students to report their findings, help them identify a truth such as this: The knowledge and intelligence we gain in this life will rise with us in the Resurrection.

Discuss questions like the following:

• How can knowing this truth impact your decisions and priorities?

• What do you learn from these verses about how you can increase in knowledge and intelligence?

Doctrine and Covenants 130:20–21. Obtaining blessings from God

Invite students to imagine they wanted to improve their handwriting. Ask them to share some things they could do to accomplish this goal.

Then have them imagine that they decided they could improve their penmanship by running three miles, five days a week, for one month.

• What will the result be? Why?

Students could then read Doctrine and Covenants 130:20–21, looking for a truth that can relate to the spiritual blessings we desire to receive. (You may want to explain that “predicated” means “based on” and that a law that is “irrevocably decreed” is permanent and unchangeable.)

• According to Doctrine and Covenants 130:20–21, how do we obtain a blessing from God?

If needed, help students identify the following truth: If we want to obtain a blessing from God, then we must obey the law upon which it is predicated.

It may be helpful for students to find examples in the scriptures that illustrate blessings we can receive by following certain laws of God. For example, you could suggest that they study John 7:17; 2 Nephi 32:3; Doctrine and Covenants 10:5; 88:124.

Invite students to write down blessings they want to obtain. Then invite them to write what law or laws they need to obey to receive those blessings. Point out that some laws and blessings are very specific, while others are more general. Remind students that some promised blessings may come in the next life. You could also share the following statement from Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

We ought not to think of God’s plan as a cosmic vending machine where we (1) select a desired blessing, (2) insert the required sum of good works, and (3) the order is promptly delivered.

God will indeed honor His covenants and promises to each of us. … But not every blessing predicated on obedience to law [Doctrine and Covenants 130:20–21] is shaped, designed, and timed according to our expectations. We do our best but must leave to Him the management of blessings, both temporal and spiritual. (D. Todd Christofferson, “Our Relationship with God,” Liahona, May 2022, 78)

Doctrine and Covenants 130:22–23. The nature of the Godhead

Invite students to imagine the following situation:

While you are talking with a friend, the subject of belief in God comes up. Your friend has been taught that God isn’t a person but is more of a presence or power that exists and is found everywhere at once.

Ask students to study Doctrine and Covenants 130:22–23, looking for truths about the Godhead that the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that could help with concerns such as the one shared in the scenario.

You could also invite them to search the entries “God, Godhead” in the Guide to the Scriptures or “Godhead” in the Topical Guide to find additional scriptures they could share with their friend.

After students finish studying, discuss what they learned by asking questions such as:

• What truths did you find from the scriptures that you could share? (Students might identify truths such as the following: There are three separate personages in the Godhead. The Father and the Son have tangible, glorified bodies of flesh and bone. The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit.)

• How can knowing and believing these truths impact your life or your relationship with God?