“Lesson 28: Hastening the Work of Salvation,” Foundations of the Restoration Teacher Manual (2015)
“Lesson 28,” Teacher Manual
Lesson 28
Hastening the Work of Salvation
Introduction
In recent years, Church leaders have emphasized the Lord’s prophecy that He will “hasten [His] work” (D&C 88:73). The work of salvation includes member missionary work, convert retention, activation of less-active members, temple and family history work, and teaching the gospel. This lesson will help students better understand their responsibility as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to participate in this work.
Tell students that shortly before his death, President Joseph F. Smith had a vision of the spirit world, which is now recorded as Doctrine and Covenants 138. He learned that the leaders of the final dispensation and “many others” were prepared in the premortal world for their earthly responsibilities. Invite a student to read Doctrine and Covenants 138:53–56 aloud as the class follows along looking for the responsibilities that these leaders were given in the premortal world.
What responsibilities were given to these leaders in the premortal world? What preparation did they receive there?
What responsibilities might have been given to you in the premortal world? What preparation might you have received? (As students share their ideas, help them identify this principle: We were prepared in the premortal life to come to earth in the fulness of times to labor for the salvation of the souls of men.)
Display the following statement from President Thomas S. Monson, and ask a student to read it aloud:
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President Thomas S. Monson
“Do you realize that the restored Church was 98 years old before it had 100 stakes? But less than 30 years later, the Church had organized its second 100 stakes. And only eight years after that the Church had more than 300 stakes. Today [2014] we are more than 3,000 stakes strong.
“Why is this growth taking place at an accelerated rate? Is it because we are better known? Is it because we have lovely chapels?
“These things are important, but the reason the Church is growing today is that the Lord indicated it would. In the Doctrine and Covenants, He said, ‘Behold, I will hasten my work in its time’ [D&C 88:73].
“We, as spirit children of our Heavenly Father, were sent to earth at this time that we might participate in hastening this great work” (“Hastening the Work,” Ensign, June 2014, 4).
According to President Monson, why were we sent to the earth at this time? (As students share their answers, help them to understand this principle: We have a responsibility to participate in hastening Heavenly Father’s work.)
What are some of the ways you have witnessed a “hastening” of God’s work? (There are many answers to this question, including the change in the ages for missionary service, the increasing number of missionaries, the increasing number of temples, and the increase in tools that make family history work easier.)
Point out that these answers provide evidence that the Lord is hastening His work on both sides of the veil. Explain that Church leaders today have given emphasis to five areas within the work of salvation and asked that each of us participate in these areas in order to hasten God’s work in these latter days. Display the following statement from Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy, and ask a student to read it aloud. Have the class identify the five areas that are part of the work of salvation:
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Elder L. Whitney Clayton
“Living prophets and apostles teach us that ‘members of the Church of Jesus Christ are sent forth “to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men” (D&C 138:56). This work of salvation includes member missionary work, convert retention, activation of less-active members, temple and family history work, and teaching the gospel’ [Handbook 2: Administering the Church (2010), 5.0]” (“The Work of Salvation: Then and Now,” Ensign, Sept. 2014, 63).
As students identify the five areas, write the following on the board:
We can each contribute to the hastening of the Lord’s work
Ask a student to read Doctrine and Covenants 88:73 while the other students follow along. Then explain to students that each of us should strive to increase our contribution to the hastening of the Lord’s work. Distribute the handout at the end of the lesson to students, and explain that this handout will help them think about how they can increase their contribution. Invite students to select and silently read one or more of the statements on the handout and prepare to answer the questions found on the handout.
After students have had sufficient time to read and prepare, consider inviting a student to read aloud the first quotation. Then ask several students to provide their responses to the three questions on the handout, focusing on member missionary work. Repeat this process for each of the five quotations.
Help students to feel the truth and importance of participating in the work of salvation by asking the following questions:
What blessings have you received as you have participated in one or more of these areas of the work of salvation? What experience have you had while participating in one of these areas that has been especially meaningful to you?
Display the following statement by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the First Presidency, and invite a student to read it aloud:
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President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“When our time in mortality is complete, what experiences will we be able to share about our own contribution to this significant period of our lives and to the furthering of the Lord’s work? Will we be able to say that we rolled up our sleeves and labored with all our heart, might, mind, and strength? Or will we have to admit that our role was mostly that of an observer?” (“Are You Sleeping through the Restoration?” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 59).
Invite students to plan what they will do to more fully participate in the work of salvation by asking:
What are some ways you have seen others help to hasten the Lord’s work?
What are some ways in which you plan to contribute to the hastening of the Lord’s work?
How does our knowledge and testimony of the Restoration motivate us to more fully participate in the work of salvation?
Invite a few students to share and testify of something they have learned about the Restoration of the gospel through their study in this course. Conclude by testifying of the truthfulness of the Restoration of the gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Ponder the following questions in connection with each of the five areas that are part of the work of salvation:
How can your efforts in this area of God’s work bring others closer to the blessings of salvation?
What experiences have you had and what blessings have you received as you have participated in this area of the Lord’s work of salvation?
What can you do, regardless of your current Church calling, to contribute in this area of the work of salvation?
Member Missionary Work
Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
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Elder Neil L. Andersen
“Brothers and sisters, as surely as the Lord has inspired more missionaries to serve, He is also awakening the minds and opening the hearts of more good and honest people to receive His missionaries. You already know them or will know them. They are in your family and live in your neighborhood. They walk past you on the street, sit by you in school, and connect with you online. You too are an important part of this unfolding miracle.
“If you’re not a full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your heart—painted, as Paul said, ‘not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God’ [2 Corinthians 3:3]. … All of us have a contribution to make to this miracle” (“It’s a Miracle,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 78).
Convert Retention
Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorom of the Twelve Apostles declared:
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Elder M. Russell Ballard
“You and I must do everything we can to see that every member of the Church is completely fellowshipped and enjoying all the blessings the gospel has to offer.
“President Gordon B. Hinckley has reminded you and me of our responsibility to be coworkers with the Lord in bringing about His plans for the Church. In a satellite broadcast President Hinckley said:
“‘The Lord has laid upon us a mandate to teach the gospel to every creature. This will take the very best efforts of every missionary—full-time and stake. It will take the very best efforts of every bishop, of every bishop’s counselor, of every member of the ward council …’ (‘Find the Lambs, Feed the Sheep,’ Ensign, May 1999, 107). It will take the best efforts of every member” (“Members Are the Key,” Ensign, Sept. 2000, 10).
Activation of Less-Active Members
“Our role [as members] is to immerse ourselves in loving and serving those around us—comforting a coworker in need, inviting our friends to a baptism, helping an elderly neighbor with his yard work, inviting a less-active member over for a meal, or helping a neighbor with her family history. These are all natural, joyful ways to invite less-active members and those not of our faith into our lives and consequently into the light of the gospel. Sharing with them the fun times and the sacred times of our lives may actually be the most effective way any of us can ‘labor in [Jesus Christ’s] vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men [and women]’ (D&C 138:56)” (“Hastening the Work of Salvation,” Ensign, Oct. 2013, 36).
Temple and Family History Work
Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
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Elder Quentin L. Cook
“The leadership of the Church has issued a clarion call to the rising generation to lead the way in the use of technology to experience the spirit of Elijah, to search out their ancestors, and to perform temple ordinances for them. Much of the heavy lifting in hastening the work of salvation for both the living and the dead will be done by you young people” (“Roots and Branches,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 46).
Teaching the Gospel
“The responsibility to teach the gospel is not limited to those who have formal callings as teachers. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you have the responsibility to teach the gospel. As a parent, son, daughter, husband, wife, brother, sister, Church leader, classroom teacher, home teacher, visiting teacher, coworker, neighbor, or friend, you have opportunities to teach. Sometimes you can teach openly and directly by the things you say and the testimony you bear. And you always teach by example” (Teaching, No Greater Call: A Resource Guide for Gospel Teaching [1999], 3–4).