Becoming more Christlike takes continual effort and is a lifelong process. Periodically assessing our spiritual growth can help us see the progress we are making and draw closer to the Savior. This lesson can help students evaluate how studying the Doctrine and Covenants has helped them grow spiritually.
Possible Learning Activities
Slow and steady progress
Consider showing students images of different stages of construction of the Salt Lake Temple. Ask students if they know how long it took to complete this temple (40 years). You might ask students to share if they feel the time and effort it took to complete the temple was worth it and why.
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Salt Lake City temple construction 1
Used by permission, Utah State Historical Society
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Salt Lake City construction 2
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Salt Lake City construction 3
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Salt Lake City construction 4
Help students compare their spiritual growth with the building of the temple. One way to do this is to invite them to think about what it might have been like for the builders as they worked on this long project. You could ask the following questions:
How might you have felt after working for 10 or 20 years on the temple while seeing all the work that still needed to be done?
If you were one of the workers, what could have motivated you to keep working?
How do you think the workers’ experience could apply to our efforts to grow spiritually and become more like the Savior?
Take a moment to ponder your life and what you have done to try to be more like Jesus Christ. Think about how you are progressing, even in small ways, to become more Christlike.
Although the process is long, what are you learning about the value of striving to become more like Jesus Christ each day?
Ask students to share what they have learned and how they feel they have progressed over the past few weeks. To help students share, you could invite them to review what they have recently learned from their study of the Doctrine and Covenants. You could encourage them to look through their journals or see what they have marked in their scriptures recently.
The following activities can provide students the opportunity to explain what they are learning, evaluate and share their feelings, and report on their progress in living gospel principles. If your class’s study of Doctrine and Covenants 115–134 focused on different truths than those in the following activities, you could adapt the activities to include those truths.
Explain the importance of baptisms for the dead
To give students a chance to explain the doctrine of baptisms for the dead, consider displaying the following image of a temple baptismal font and introducing a scenario like the one below.
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temple baptismal font
Aubrie and her friends are excited about going to the temple. A friend who is not familiar with temples notices their excitement and later asks Aubrie what they do in temples. Aubrie looks up a picture of a temple baptismal font on her phone and begins to explain about baptisms for the dead.
Give students an opportunity to share what they would say if they were asked to explain baptisms for the dead to a friend. You might invite students to role-play in pairs or small groups.
After students have had a chance to role-play, invite them to review what they learned in Doctrine and Covenants 124, 127, and 128 to see if there is anything they would add to their explanation. You could ask students to review together in groups with the following questions in mind.
What are some things Aubrie could share to help her friend understand this sacred ordinance as part of God’s plan?
What could Aubrie help her friend understand about Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ?
Once students have reviewed and discussed the doctrine of baptisms for the dead, you might give them another chance to role-play the scenario and include what they learned.
Participate in temple and family history work
This activity is meant to help students share how they have participated in temple and family history work. You might first help students remember some of the great blessings associated with doing the Lord’s work by sharing the following statement.
President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency taught:
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President Henry B. Eyring
Many youth have discovered that giving of their time to do family history research and temple work has deepened their testimony of the plan of salvation. It has increased the influence of the Spirit in their lives and decreased the influence of the adversary. It has helped them feel closer to their families and closer to the Lord Jesus Christ. They have learned that this work saves not just the dead; it saves all of us (see D&C 128:18). (Henry B. Eyring, “Gathering the Family of God,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 22)
What blessings have you discovered as you’ve been involved in temple and family history work?
In lessons on Doctrine and Covenants 127–128, students may have been invited to make a plan to participate in this work in some way. Give students time to reflect on their plan and encourage them to share what they have done.
If needed, you could remind students of some of the ways they could choose to participate. These could include different activities on FamilySearch.org or the Family Tree app. Consider inviting students to describe or, if possible, to demonstrate to the class what they have done or learned. Students may have attended the temple to participate in sacred ordinances for deceased family members. Consider inviting them to share their feelings about this experience.
Feel increased trust in God during trials
You might have used rough and smooth stones as an object lesson when teaching Doctrine and Covenants 122; if so, consider displaying them again. These rocks can remind students of what they’ve learned and allow students to discuss their feelings about the purpose of trials and trusting God as we experience them. If you think it would be helpful, consider reminding students of some of the lessons about this topic. Students might have learned about trials in Doctrine and Covenants 98, 101, 105, 111, 121–123, and other sections. Students may also remember valuable lessons about trusting God from the lesson about the Saints’ expulsion from Missouri.
You could invite students to review any helpful scripture verses and discuss what they learned.
How have the things you learned helped you feel differently about your trials?
What have you learned about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as you have experienced difficult times?
Invite students to write in their journals their feelings about how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have supported them in their trials. Ask them to consider how their faith in Jesus Christ has been impacted because of what they have learned and experienced. You may ask students who feel comfortable to share what they wrote. Provide opportunities for them to bear testimony of the divine help they have received.