sDoctrine and Covenants 135

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

sDoctrine and Covenants 135–136: Overview

“Doctrine and Covenants 135–136: Overview,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)

“Doctrine and Covenants 135–136,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual

Doctrine and Covenants 135–136

Overview

Doctrine and Covenants 135 announced the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and testified how the Lord blessed us through him. After Joseph’s death, Church members were unsure who would lead them but learned that the keys of the kingdom were held by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles under Brigham Young. The Saints gradually traveled west to Salt Lake City. Countless other pioneers worldwide have continued to show similar faith in the Lord.

Invite learners to share: Inviting students to share is easily done by prompting students and giving them an opportunity to share. Find moments in the lesson when you can prompt students to ponder their feelings about something, and then ask them to share what they feel or to write their feelings and then share. Verbalizing thoughts and feelings can help them have confidence in expressing testimony. 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 the lesson this week titled “Doctrine and Covenants 135.”

Prepare to teach

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

Doctrine and Covenants 135

Lesson purpose: To help students strengthen their testimony of Joseph Smith as God’s Prophet of the Restoration.

Student preparation: Invite students to reflect on their testimonies of Joseph Smith as the Prophet of the Restoration and how what he did has helped them come unto Jesus Christ (see Doctrine and Covenants 135:3).
Image to display: The Prophet Joseph Smith
Videos: “Joseph Smith—Prophet of the Restoration” (13:09; watch from time code 0:00 to 3:04) or “Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration” (1:02:04; watch from time code 55:50 to 59:51); “Shall We Not Go On in So Great a Cause?” (18:46; watch from time code 15:52 to 16:28)
Music: A recording of “Praise to the Man” (Hymns, no. 27)

Succession in the Presidency

Lesson purpose: To help students increase their confidence that the Lord continues to direct His work even when a prophet dies.

Student preparation: Consider inviting students to search for scriptures, statements from Church leaders, and other divinely appointed resources that help them know that the prophet of the Church is the Lord’s chosen servant.
Handout: “Who to Follow after Joseph Smith”

Doctrine and Covenants 136

Lesson purpose: To help students understand that Heavenly Father will bless them as they strive to keep their covenant to obey His commands.

Student preparation: Students may have had many opportunities to learn about covenants from their study of the Doctrine and Covenants. Invite them to reflect on the blessings they have received as they have tried to make and keep their covenant to obey the Lord’s commands.
Items to display: Picture of a covered wagon; map of the pioneer trail
Videos: “The Trek Continues!” (13:30; watch from time code 5:14 to 11:02); “Watched Over by God: Elizabeth Panting’s Journey to Zion” (16:20; watch from time code 07:50 to 11:16)
Items to prepare: Story selections from Saints: The Story of the Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days, vol. 2, No Unhallowed Hand, 1846–1893 (2020), 58–96 and from “Pioneers” or “The Trek West” at ChurchofJesusChrist.org

Pioneers in Every Land

Lesson purposes: To help students feel a desire to be pioneers by preparing the way for others to follow Jesus Christ.

Student preparation: Invite students to learn about an ancestor who joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and ponder how their ancestor’s decision has blessed them. If students are among the first in their families to join the Church, they could reflect on why they chose to follow Jesus Christ by being baptized and how it will influence future generations. You could invite students to share their stories with the class.
Image to display: A handcart
Video: “LDS Women Are Incredible!” (16:18; watch from time code 2:12 to 3:05)
Handout: “Pioneer around the World”