Lesson 24: “Be Not Deceived, but Continue in Steadfastness”

Purpose

To help class members understand how they can avoid deception and apostasy.

Preparation

• Prayerfully study Doctrine and Covenants 26; 28; 43:1–7; 50; 52:14–19; and the other scriptures in this lesson.
• Review the material for this lesson in the Class Member Study Guide.
• To gain a greater understanding of historical events related to the doctrine in this lesson, consider reviewing the following:
  • "The Faith and Fall of Thomas Marsh."
  • "Ezra Booth and Isaac Morley."
  • Additional historical material for this lesson.

Discussion and Application

Consider how the following material applies to daily life.

1. We should recognize the deceptions of Satan that can lead us into apostasy.

• During the early years of the Church, some members were deceived by Satan and led into apostasy, or rebellion against God. A few members who apostatized became enemies of the Church and contributed to the persecutions of the Saints in Ohio and Missouri. As members of the Church today, we must be faithful and watchful so we are not deceived.
• Read D&C 50:2–3 and 2 Nephi 2:18, 27. 
  • Why does Satan want to deceive us? 
  • What are some of the ways in which Satan tries to deceive us and lead us into apostasy?

Not recognizing the prophet as the source of revelation for the Church

• Some members are deceived by false prophets. 
• The following account shows how several early Saints were temporarily deceived by false revelations.
  • In 1830, Hiram Page, one of the Eight Witnesses to the Book of Mormon, possessed a stone through which he claimed to receive revelations about the building of Zion and the order of the Church. Oliver Cowdery, the Whitmers, and others believed these claims. However, the Prophet Joseph Smith said the claims "were entirely at variance with the order of God's house, as laid down in the New Testament, as well as in our late revelations" (History of the Church, 1:110).
• The Prophet prayed about the matter and received a revelation in which the Lord made clear that only the President of the Church has the right to receive revelations for the Church (D&C 28). The Lord instructed Oliver Cowdery to tell Hiram Page that the revelations that came through the stone were from Satan (D&C 28:11). After hearing the Lord's instructions, "Brother Page, as well as the whole Church who were present, renounced the said stone, and all things connected therewith" (History of the Church, 1:115).

Pride

• Some members are deceived because of their pride. 
• The following story illustrates how pride led Thomas B. Marsh, who was President of the Quorum of the Twelve, and his wife, Elizabeth, into apostasy.

While living in Far West, Missouri, Sister Marsh and Sister Harris decided to exchange milk so they could each make a larger cheese than they otherwise could. They agreed to send each other both the milk and the cream from their cows. But Sister Marsh saved a pint of cream from each cow and sent Sister Harris the milk without the cream.  

A quarrel arose, and the matter was referred to the bishop. When he determined that Sister Marsh had violated her agreement, she and her husband were upset and appealed the matter to the high council and then to the First Presidency. Each council approved the original decision that Sister Marsh had been in error.

Thomas B. Marsh declared that he would sustain the character of his wife. Soon afterward, he turned against the Church and went before a government official to declare that the Latter-day Saints were hostile toward the state of Missouri. (See George A. Smith, in Journal of Discourses, 3:283–84.)

President Gordon B. Hinckley said of this incident: "What a very small and trivial thing—a little cream over which two women quarreled. But it led to, or at least was a factor in, Governor Boggs' cruel exterminating order which drove the Saints from the state of Missouri, with all of the terrible suffering and consequent death that followed. The man who should have settled this little quarrel, but who, rather, pursued it, … lost his standing in the Church. He lost his testimony of the gospel" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1984, 111; or Ensign, May 1984, 83).

After 19 years of darkness and bitterness, Thomas B. Marsh painfully made his way to the Salt Lake Valley and asked Brigham Young to forgive him and permit his rebaptism into the Church. He wrote to Heber C. Kimball, First Counselor in the First Presidency: "I began to awake to a sense of my situation; … I know that I have sinned against Heaven and in thy sight." He then described the lesson he had learned: "The Lord could get along very well without me and He has lost nothing by my falling out of the ranks; But O what have I lost?! Riches, greater riches than all this world or many planets like this could afford" (quoted by James E. Faust, in Conference Report, Apr. 1996, 6; or Ensign, May 1996, 7).

• What can we learn from this story? 
• How have you seen pride lead people into deception and apostasy? 
• What does the Lord promise to those who humble themselves before Him? (See D&C 112:2–3, 10; Ether 12:27. Note that D&C 112 is a revelation given to Thomas B. Marsh through the Prophet Joseph Smith.)

Being critical of leaders' imperfections

• Some members are deceived because they become critical of Church leaders' imperfections. 
• The following story illustrates how Simonds Ryder was deceived in this way.

Simonds Ryder was converted to the Church in 1831. Later he received a letter signed by the Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, informing him that it was the Lord's will, made manifest by the Spirit, that he preach the gospel. Both in the letter he received and in the official commission to preach, his name was spelled Rider instead of Ryder. Simonds Ryder "thought if the 'Spirit' through which he had been called to preach could err in the matter of spelling his name, it might have erred in calling him to the ministry as well; or, in other words, he was led to doubt if he were called at all by the Spirit of God, because of the error in spelling his name!" (History of the Church, 1:261). Simonds Ryder later apostatized from the Church.

• What can we learn from this story? 
• How does being critical of our Church leaders make us more susceptible to deception?

Being offended

• Some Church members become offended by the actions of other members and allow an offense to fester until they are led into apostasy. 
• An example of this is illustrated in the following incident.

When the Kirtland Temple was completed, many Saints gathered for the dedication. The seats in the temple filled quickly, and many people were allowed to stand, but still not everyone could be accommodated inside the building. Elder Frazier Eaton, who had given $700 for the building of the temple, arrived after it had been filled, so he was not allowed inside for the dedication. The dedication was repeated the next day for those who could not be accommodated the first day, but this did not satisfy Frazier Eaton, and he apostatized. (See George A. Smith, in Journal of Discourses, 11:9.)

• What can we learn from this story? 
• How do we today allow ourselves to be offended by others? 
• How can being offended lead to apostasy? 
• How can we overcome feelings of being offended?
• Read D&C 64:8–11 and D&C 82:1. Whom does the Lord require us to forgive? 
• Why is it sometimes difficult to be forgiving? 
• What are some of the consequences of not forgiving someone? 
• What can we do to help us forgive someone whom we have not yet forgiven?

Rationalizing disobedience

• Rationalizing is excusing or defending unacceptable behavior. It is looking for a way to ease our consciences for doing something we know is wrong.
• How is rationalization a form of deception? 
• How do we sometimes try to rationalize our behavior? 
• Why is this dangerous? 
• How can we recognize and overcome rationalization?

Accepting the false teachings of the world

• What are some of the false teachings of the world that can deceive members and lead them into apostasy? 
  • Examples could include the false ideas that the commandments of God are too restrictive, that immorality is acceptable, and that material possessions are more important than spiritual things. 
• Presiding Bishop H. David Burton taught: "One of [Satan's] insidious strategies is to progressively soften our senses regarding what is right and wrong. Satan would have us convinced that it is fashionable to lie and cheat. He encourages us to view pornography by suggesting that it prepares us for the real world. He would have us believe that immorality is an attractive way of life and that obedience to the commandments of our Father in Heaven is old-fashioned. Satan constantly bombards us with deceptive propaganda desirably packaged and carefully disguised" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1993, 60; or Ensign, May 1993, 46).

2. We can remain valiant in our testimonies and avoid deception.

• The Lord has given us many blessings and commandments to help us remain valiant in our testimonies and avoid being deceived.
• What can we do to keep ourselves from being deceived and led into apostasy?

We can know clearly whom the Lord has called to lead the Church

• During the early years of the Church, many people claimed to receive revelations to guide the Church or correct the Prophet Joseph Smith. 
  • What did the Lord reveal in response to these claims? (See D&C 28:2, 6–7; 43:1–3. Note that D&C 28 was revealed when Hiram Page claimed to receive revelations for the entire Church, and D&C 43 was revealed when others made similar claims.
• Who receives revelations and commandments for the entire Church today? 
• President Joseph F. Smith and his counselors in the First Presidency taught: 
  • "The Lord has … appointed one man at a time on the earth to hold the keys of revelation to the entire body of the Church in all its organizations, authorities, ordinances and doctrines. The spirit of revelation is bestowed upon all its members for the benefit and enlightenment of each individual receiving its inspiration, and according to the sphere in which he or she is called to labor. But for the entire Church, he who stands at the head is alone appointed to receive revelations by way of commandment and as the end of controversy" (in James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. [1965–75], 4:270).
• How can we avoid being deceived by those who claim falsely to have received revelation for the Church? (See D&C 43:4–7.)
• Read D&C 26:2 and D&C 28:13. 
  • What is the principle of common consent? (See D&C 20:65; 42:11. It is the practice of showing that we are willing to sustain those who are called to serve in the Church, usually by raising our right hands.) 
  • How can the principle of common consent protect us from being deceived? (It allows us to know who has been called to preside and administer in the Church, thus keeping us from being deceived by the claims of those who have not been properly called.)
  • Consider those called to serve as current General Authorities. Reflect upon the blessing we have of sustaining these leaders and following their counsel.

We should study the scriptures and the doctrines of the Church

• Read D&C 1:37 and D&C 33:16. Throughout the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord teaches the importance of studying the scriptures. 
  • How can studying the scriptures and the words of latter-day prophets help us avoid being deceived?

a. We can better discern the truthfulness of ideas by comparing them with the truths we learn from the scriptures and our current leaders. 

• • President Harold B. Lee taught: "If [someone] writes something or speaks something that goes beyond anything that you can find in the standard Church works, unless that one be the prophet, seer, and revelator—please note that one exception—you may immediately say, 'Well, that is his own idea.' And if he says something that contradicts what is found in the standard Church works, you may know by that same token that it is false" (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, ed. Clyde J. Williams [1996], 540–41).

b. Scripture study strengthens our testimonies so we are less likely to become complacent in righteousness or to be influenced by false doctrine. 

• • President Lee taught, "If we're not reading the scriptures daily, our testimonies are growing thinner, our spirituality isn't increasing in depth" (The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, 152).
• How has studying the scriptures protected you from being deceived?

We should recognize that the things of God will always edify us

• The Prophet Joseph Smith explained that soon after the Saints were settled in Kirtland, "many false spirits were introduced, many strange visions were seen, and wild, enthusiastic notions were entertained; men ran out of doors under the influence of this spirit, and some of them got upon the stumps of trees and shouted, and all kinds of extravagances were entered into by them; … many ridiculous things were entered into, calculated to bring disgrace upon the Church of God, to cause the Spirit of God to be withdrawn" (History of the Church, 4:580). Concerned by these excessive spiritual displays, the Prophet inquired of the Lord. The revelation in D&C 50 is the Lord's response.
• Read D&C 50:17–24. What do these verses teach about how we can discern the things of God from the things of Satan? 
  • The things of God will edify us by enlightening our minds and helping us grow spiritually. They make us want to follow the Savior and improve our lives. The things of Satan will do the opposite. 
  • President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: "There is no saying of greater truth than 'that which doth not edify is not of God.' And that which is not of God is darkness, it matters not whether it comes in the guise of religion, ethics, philosophy or revelation. No revelation from God will fail to edify" (Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols. [1953], 1:201–2).

We should apply the Lord's pattern for protecting ourselves from being deceived

• The Lord revealed D&C 52 the day after a conference in Kirtland. In this revelation He provides a pattern by which we can avoid being deceived.
• Read D&C 52:14–19. According to these verses, what are the characteristics of teachers who are "of God"? 
  • How can the pattern that is given in this passage help us avoid being deceived?

Lesson 23: “Seek Learning, Even by Study and Also by Faith”

Purpose
To encourage class members to learn “by study and also by faith” throughout their lives.

Preparation

• D&C 88:118; 88:122–25; 88:77–80
• D&C 6:7, 11:21–22, 19:23, 88:76–80, 118, 90:15, 93:36–37, 53, 130:18–19, 131:6, 136:32–33, 90:15, 68:25–28, 78:17–18, 82:18
• Matthew 11:29; 2 Timothy 3:7; 2 Nephi 9:28–29; Matthew 25:14–30
• "A School and an Endowment": This article discusses the School of the Prophets.
• "Preparation of Brigham Young: A Seeker of Truth": This one-minute video deals with Brigham Young's desire to study things out and learn by faith.
• "Unto the Least of These": This 14-minute video tells the story of Olivas Aoy, an early Latter-day Saint and pioneer in education in El Paso, Texas.
• "Revelation, 27–28 December 1832 [D&C 88:1–126]" and "Revelation, 3 January 1833 [D&C 88:127–137]": These pages from the Joseph Smith Papers website introduce two revelations that were merged into Doctrine and Covenants 88. 

Questions to Ponder

1. The School of the Prophets provides a pattern for us to follow in our learning.

In this dispensation, the Lord has given great emphasis to the need for spiritual and temporal education.

The Lord instructed the Prophet Joseph Smith to begin a School of the Prophets in Kirtland, Ohio. The School of the Prophets began meeting in January 1833 in a small room above the Newel K. Whitney Store in Kirtland. In this school, the leaders of the Church were instructed in gospel doctrine, the affairs of the Church, and other matters. They were to prepare for Church leadership and missionary service (D&C 88:77–80).

These meetings provided the setting for spiritual experiences and in-depth discussions of gospel principles. Several revelations were received. The history of the Church records that "great joy and satisfaction continually beamed in the countenances of the School of the Prophets, and the Saints, on account of the things revealed, and … progress in the knowledge of God" (History of the Church, 1:334).

• What opportunities for learning do we have at church? What can we do to better prepare ourselves to learn in our Church meetings?
• Read D&C 88:122–25. What did the Lord command the brethren in the School of the Prophets to do? What did He command them not to do? What can we learn from these verses about how to teach one another? What do these verses say about how we should learn from one another?

Newel K. Whitney and Company Store. The School of the Prophets was held in a small room above this store in Kirtland, Ohio. The revelation that became known as the Word of Wisdom (D&C 89) was received here, along with other revelations.

2. We should learn "by study and also by faith."

• Read D&C 88:118. Why are study and faith both necessary in our efforts to learn? (See the quotation below.) How does faith increase our ability to learn? What are the dangers of learning without having faith in God and obeying His commandments? (See 2 Timothy 3:7; 2 Nephi 9:28–29.)
  
  President Marion G. Romney of the First Presidency said: "I believe in study. I believe that men learn much through study. … I also believe, however, and know, that learning by study is greatly accelerated by faith" (Learning for the Eternities, comp. George J. Romney [1977], 72).
• In addition to studying the gospel, we should seek learning in other areas, such as history, science, and good literature. How has the study of such subjects enriched your life?
• What kind of knowledge is of most worth? What should be the relationship between gospel learning and other worthwhile study?
  
  President John Taylor, the third President of the Church, said: "We ought to foster education and intelligence of every kind; cultivate literary tastes, and men of literary and scientific talent should improve that talent; and all should magnify the gifts which God has given unto them. … If there is anything good and praiseworthy in morals, religion, science, or anything calculated to exalt and ennoble man, we are after it. But with all our getting, we want to get understanding, and that understanding which flows from God" (The Gospel Kingdom, sel. G. Homer Durham [1943], 277).
  
  While serving in the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley gave an address in which he quoted the Savior's injunction "Learn of me" (Matthew 11:29). Then he said: "I should like to suggest that you follow that injunction given by the Son of God. With all of your learning, learn of him. With all of your study, seek knowledge of the Master. That knowledge will complement in a wonderful way the secular training you receive and give a fulness to your life and character that can come in no other way" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1964, 118; or Improvement Era, Dec. 1964, 1092).
• How have you seen that knowledge of the things of God is the most important kind of knowledge?

3. We should continue to learn throughout our lives.

The Lord and His prophets have always emphasized the importance of learning. We should continue to learn throughout our lives.

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve said: "Because of our sacred regard for each human intellect, we consider the obtaining of an education to be a religious responsibility. … Our Creator expects His children everywhere to educate themselves" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 5; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 6).

• Why should we learn?
• What should we learn?
• How can we learn?

Read the following scripture passages to identify answers to the question above.

• D&C 6:7
• D&C 11:21–22
• D&C 19:23
• D&C 88:76–80, 118
• D&C 90:15
• D&C 93:36–37, 53
• D&C 130:18–19
• D&C 131:6
• D&C 136:32–33
   
• Why do you think we are commanded to learn about so many different things?
  
  President Gordon B. Hinckley taught young people the value of education: "It is so important that you young men and you young women get all of the education that you can. The Lord has said very plainly that His people are to gain knowledge of countries and kingdoms and of things of the world through the process of education, even by study and by faith. Education is the key which will unlock the door of opportunity for you. It is worth sacrificing for. It is worth working at, and if you educate your mind and your hands, you will be able to make a great contribution to the society of which you are a part, and you will be able to reflect honorably on the Church of which you are a member. My dear young brothers and sisters, take advantage of every educational opportunity that you can possibly afford, and you fathers and mothers, encourage your sons and daughters to gain an education which will bless their lives" ("Inspirational Thoughts," Ensign, June 1999, 4).
   
• What opportunities do we have for formal education? How does formal education benefit our lives? What can we do to make better use of our opportunities for formal education?
  
  President Brigham Young taught, "Our education should be such as to improve our minds and fit us for increased usefulness; to make us of greater service to the human family" (Discourses of Brigham Young,sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 255). How can education help us serve our families? How can education help us serve others? How can education help us in our efforts to help build the kingdom of God? Invite class members to share experiences in which their education has helped them in their efforts to serve.
• Read D&C 90:15. How has your life been enriched by the study of good books?
• What are parents' responsibilities with regard to teaching their children? (See D&C 68:25–28.)
• How can parents encourage children to develop a love of learning that will last throughout their lives?
  
  While serving in the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley emphasized the importance of encouraging children to read: "You know that your children will read. They will read books and they will read magazines and newspapers. Cultivate within them a taste for the best. While they are very young, read to them the great stories which have become immortal because of the virtues they teach. Expose them to good books. Let there be a corner somewhere in your house, be it ever so small, where they will see at least a few books of the kind upon which great minds have been nourished" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1975, 57; or Ensign, Nov. 1975, 39).
• What kinds of reading should we avoid?
  President Ezra Taft Benson of the Quorum of the Twelve taught: "Today, with the abundance of books available, it is the mark of a truly educated man to know what not to read. … Feed only on the best. As John Wesley's mother counseled him: 'Avoid whatever weakens your reason, impairs the tenderness of your conscience, obscures your sense of God, takes off your relish for spiritual things, … increases the authority of the body over the mind'" ("In His Steps," in 1979 Devotional Speeches of the Year [1980], 61).
• In addition to obtaining a formal education and reading good books, what can we do to continue learning throughout our lives?

4. In the temple we gain an education for eternity.

In late June 1833, the Prophet Joseph Smith sent a plat for the construction of the city of Zion to the Saints in Independence, Missouri.

In the center of the city the Saints were to build a temple. Although they were not able to build the city of Zion, they followed this concept when building Salt Lake City.

Plat for the City of Zion. The site for the temple is in the center.

• What can we learn from the plan to build a temple at the center of the city of Zion?
• Read D&C 88:119. The temple is "a house of learning." In what ways does the Lord teach us when we attend the temple? What can we do to receive the knowledge that is available in the temple?
  
  Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Quorum of the Twelve taught: "The temple is a place of instruction. Here the principles of the gospel are reviewed and profound truths of the kingdom of God are unfolded. If we enter the temple in the right spirit and are attentive, we go out enriched in gospel knowledge and wisdom" ("Looking toward the Temple," Ensign, Jan. 1972, 56–57).
  
  Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve said:
  
  "The temple is a great school. It is a house of learning. In the temples the atmosphere is maintained so that it is ideal for instruction in matters that are deeply spiritual. …
  
  "The temple ceremony will not be fully understood at first experience. It will only be partly understood. Return again and again and again. Return to learn. Things that have troubled you or things that have been puzzling or things that have been mysterious will become known to you. Many of them will be the quiet, personal things that you really cannot explain to anyone else. But to you they are things known. …
  
  "So look toward the temple. Point your children toward the temple. From the days of their infancy, direct their attention to it, and begin their preparation for the day when they may enter the holy temple.
  
  "In the meantime, be teachable yourself, be reverent. Drink deeply from the teachings—the symbolic, deeply spiritual teachings—available only in the temple" (The Holy Temple [pamphlet, 1982], 6–8).
   
• What are some truths you have learned through attending the temple?
  
  President Ezra Taft Benson asked: "Do we return to the temple often to receive the personal blessings that come from regular temple worship? Prayers are answered, revelation occurs, and instruction by the Spirit takes place in the holy temples of the Lord" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1988, 98; or Ensign, May 1988, 85).

Lesson 22: The Word of Wisdom: “A Principle with Promise”

Purpose

To encourage class members to obey the counsel in the Word of Wisdom, as well as the Lord’s other counsel about physical health.

Preparation

• Prayerfully study the following scriptures and other materials:
  • Doctrine and Covenants 89 (the Word of Wisdom).
  • Doctrine and Covenants 49:19–21; 59:15–21; 88:124 (supplemental scriptures).
  • Our Heritage, pages 25–26.
    • Review the material for this lesson in the Class Member Study Guide.
• To gain a greater understanding of historical events related to the doctrine in this lesson, consider reviewing the following:
  • "The Word of Wisdom."
  • Additional historical material for this lesson.
  • Gospel Topics Word of Wisdom
  • You may want to bring pictures of wholesome foods to use in the third section of the lesson.

Questions to Ponder

1. Why was the Word of Wisdom revealed?

• Heavenly Father has provided our bodies for a divine purpose. They are a necessary part of His plan for our eternal progression. Because of their importance, Heavenly Father has given us a stewardship to care for them. In our dispensation, as in ancient times, He has revealed principles of good health to help us keep our bodies clean and pure. Our obedience to these principles is an indication of our love for Him and an expression of our gratitude.
• Read 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 and 1 Corinthians 6:19–20. 
  • Why is it important that we care for our bodies? 
    • Our bodies are temples and are holy to the Lord. We should keep them pure because they are the dwelling places for our spirits, which are the offspring of God. Respecting our bodies as temples of God manifests our testimony that we are children of God. It also keeps our bodies pure so they can be dwelling places for the Holy Ghost.  How we care for our physical bodies affects us spiritually.
• Read D&C 89:4. 
  • What does this verse teach about the Lord's reasons for giving the Word of Wisdom? 
  • What are some examples of "evils and designs … in the hearts of conspiring men" with regard to the harmful substances mentioned in the Word of Wisdom? 
    • Examples include misrepresentations made in advertising and entertainment that using these substances is associated with happiness and success.
• How is the Word of Wisdom a manifestation of God's love for us? 
• How is it a manifestation of Joseph Smith's calling as a prophet and seer? 
  • Explain that the Lord revealed the Word of Wisdom to the Prophet Joseph Smith long before the accuracy of its principles was fully documented in scientific studies. This revelation anticipated the current epidemic of substance abuse. It forewarns and protects us against specific problems of our day.

2. The Lord's counsel about what is not good for the body

• The Lord has not specified everything that we should and should not partake of. "Such revelation is unnecessary," 
  • President Joseph Fielding Smith said. "The Word of Wisdom is a basic law. It points the way and gives us ample instruction in regard to both food and drink. … If we sincerely follow what is written with the aid of the Spirit of the Lord, … we will know what is good and what is bad for the body" ("Your Question: The Word of Wisdom," Improvement Era, Feb. 1956, 78–79).
• Not for the Body.

a. D&C 89:5–7. (Wine or strong drink.)
b. D&C 89:8. (Tobacco.)
c. D&C 89:9. (Hot drinks, defined as tea and coffee.)

• In addition to these substances, we should not:

a. Use any substance that contains illegal drugs.
b. Use any other habit-forming substances except under the care of a competent physician.
c. Misuse prescription and other drugs.

• What are some of the consequences of using these harmful substances? 
  • The First Presidency declared: "Drunken with strong drink, men have lost their reason; their counsel has been destroyed; their judgment and vision are fled. … Drink has brought more woe and misery, broken more hearts, wrecked more homes, committed more crimes, filled more coffins, than all the wars the world has suffered" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1942, 8).
  • Each year tobacco use causes nearly 2.5 million premature deaths worldwide. Tobacco use also harms millions of innocent victims. For example, smoking by pregnant mothers passes on toxic chemicals that interfere with fetal development, afflicting approximately 3 million babies each year. These babies have lower birth weight and increased risk for neurological and intellectual delays and for premature death. Other innocent victims include nonsmokers who regularly inhale secondhand smoke. These people have much higher rates of respiratory illness and are three times more likely to die of lung cancer than those who do not inhale secondhand smoke. Smokeless tobacco is just as addictive as cigarettes, and users of smokeless tobacco have cancer rates up to fifty times higher than those who do not use tobacco. (See James O. Mason, "I Have a Question," Ensign, Sept. 1986, 59–61.)
• The use of substances that are forbidden in the Word of Wisdom is increasing in many parts of the world, especially among youth. 
  • How does advertising entice people to use these substances? 
    • What false messages are included in such advertisements.
  • How do peers and other people entice people to use these substances? 
    • How can we resist appeals such as "Just a little won't hurt," "Just once won't hurt," "Everyone else does this," and "No one else will know."
    • What are some other ways people are tempted to use these substances?
• How can seemingly small violations of the Word of Wisdom be damaging?
• How can we strengthen ourselves against temptations to use harmful substances? 
• How can youth help each other obey the Word of Wisdom?
• How can parents effectively teach their children about the Word of Wisdom and help them obey it? (See the Family Home Evening Resource Book [31106], pages 228–31.)
• The harmful substances that are prohibited in the Word of Wisdom cause addiction. 
  • Why are addictions to these substances dangerous? 
  • How can people overcome addiction to drugs and other harmful substances? 
    • There is hope for people who struggle with addiction. Overcoming addiction usually requires great personal desire and discipline, together with repentance and help from the Lord. Family, friends, and Church leaders may also provide help, and in some cases professional help may be necessary.

3. The Lord's counsel about what is good for the body

• Good for the Body.

a. D&C 89:10. (Wholesome herbs—nourishing vegetables and plants.)
b. D&C 89:11. (Fruit.)
c. D&C 89:12; see also D&C 49:19. (Flesh of beasts and fowls.)
d. D&C 89:14–17. (Grains.)
e. D&C 88:124. (Retiring to bed early and rising early—getting adequate sleep.)

• What does it mean to use food "with prudence"? (D&C 89:11; see also D&C 59:18–20)
  • Answers could include that we should eat food that nourishes our bodies and use moderation in the kind and amount of food we eat. 
  • What does it mean to use food "with … thanksgiving"? (D&C 89:11). 
  • How can we show the Lord our gratitude for the food He provides us?
• What guidelines has the Lord given for using meat? (See D&C 89:12; see also D&C 49:19, 21.) 
• What guidelines has the Lord given for using grains? (See D&C 89:14, 16.)
• What counsel has the Lord given regarding sleep? (See D&C 88:124.) 
  • How does getting adequate sleep affect us physically and spiritually? 
    • President Brigham Young said: "Instead of doing two days' work in one day, wisdom would dictate to [the Saints] that if they desire long life and good health, they must, after sufficient exertion, allow the body to rest before it is entirely exhausted. When exhausted, some argue that they need stimulants. … But instead of these kind of stimulants they should recruit by rest" (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 187).

4. Promised blessings for obedience to the Word of Wisdom

• The Lord revealed the Word of Wisdom as "a principle with promise" (D&C 89:3). 
• Promised Blessings.

a. D&C 89:18. (Physical health.)
b. D&C 89:19. (Wisdom and great treasures of knowledge.)
c. D&C 89:20. (The ability to run and not be weary and walk and not faint.)
d. D&C 89:21. (Protection from the destroying angel.)

• How have you been blessed as you have obeyed the Word of Wisdom? 
  • Those who obey the Word of Wisdom will generally live longer and have a better quality of life than if they did not obey it. However, some people have severe illnesses or disabilities despite obeying the Word of Wisdom. These people can receive the spiritual blessings of obeying the Word of Wisdom even if their physical difficulties continue. Moreover, the Lord's promises are for eternity, and those who do not receive all the promised blessings in this life will receive them hereafter.
• What are some examples of how obeying the Word of Wisdom helps us "find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures"? (D&C 89:19). 
  • How does obeying the Word of Wisdom help a person's mental capacities. 
  • How does it help a person receive spiritual treasures of knowledge, such as testimony, knowledge of divine truths, personal revelation, patriarchal blessings, and temple ordinances and covenants. 
    • Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve said: "I have come to know … that a fundamental purpose of the Word of Wisdom has to do with revelation. … If someone 'under the influence' [of harmful substances] can hardly listen to plain talk, how can they respond to spiritual promptings that touch their most delicate feelings? As valuable as the Word of Wisdom is as a law of health, it may be much more valuable to you spiritually than it is physically" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1979, 28–29; or Ensign, Nov. 1979, 20).
• How might the Lord's promise in D&C 89:20 apply to us physically? 
• How might it apply to us mentally and emotionally? 
  • Answers could include that we will have increased mental and emotional strength, self-mastery, and self-sufficiency.
  • How might this promise apply to us spiritually? See Hebrews 12:1–3. 
    • Answers could include that we will have increased strength to resist temptation and to "run with patience the race" toward eternal life.
• How might the Lord's promise in D&C 89:21 apply to us? 
  • Anciently, just before the Exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt, the destroying angel passed over the Israelites' firstborn sons because the people obeyed the prophet Moses and marked their doors with lamb's blood (Exodus 12). Similarly, as we "[walk] in obedience to the commandments," including the Word of Wisdom, the destroying angel will pass by us, meaning we will be saved from spiritual death and blessed with eternal life through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. (See Boyd K. Packer, in Conference Report, Apr. 1996, 24; or Ensign, May 1996, 19.)

Lesson 21: “Looking Forth for the Great Day of the Lord to Come”

Purpose
To help class members understand and recognize the signs of the Second Coming and prepare for "the great day of the Lord to come" (D&C 45:39).

Preparation

• Prayerfully study Doctrine and Covenants 29:9–29;34:5–12; 45:16–75; 88:86–99; 101:22–34; 133;
• "Waiting for the Word of the Lord"
• "Peace and War": This article gives context to the revelation now found in Doctrine and Covenants 87 and discusses how the early Saints responded to prophecies about destruction before the Second Coming.
• "Likening the Scriptures": This quote from Joseph Fielding Smith in a letter to his son during World War II emphasizes the promise of peace in the Millennium.

Questions to Ponder

1. The Savior will return to the earth in power and great glory.

We are privileged to live in the dispensation of the fulness of times, when latter-day revelation teaches us great truths about the Second Coming, the events that will precede it, and the thousand years of peace that will begin when the Savior comes again. The Doctrine and Covenants provides a wealth of information on these important subjects.

Just as every prophecy relating to the Savior's birth was fulfilled, so too will every prophecy relating to His Second Coming be fulfilled. What do the following passages teach us about the second coming?

1. D&C 29:9–11; 45:44. (Christ will come to earth in power and glory. The proud and the wicked will be burned, and there will not be wickedness on earth.)
2. D&C 34:7, 12; 43:17; 110:16. (The Second Coming is near.)
3. D&C 34:8, 11; 63:34. (All nations will tremble when the Savior comes. If we are faithful, His power and influence will be with us until He comes.)
4. D&C 45:45–54; 88:96–99. (The Saints who have died will be resurrected and come forth to meet the Savior. The Saints who are alive on the earth will be gathered to meet Him. He will come to the Mount of Olives, and it will divide. The Jews will recognize their Savior and weep because they persecuted Him. Then those who received the gospel in spirit prison will be resurrected.)
5. D&C 49:6. (The Savior will put all enemies under His feet.)
6. fD&C 49:7. (No one, not even the angels, knows the hour or the day when the Savior will come.)
7. D&C 133:46–53. (The Savior will come in red apparel. His coming will be a time of vengeance upon the wicked and redemption for the righteous.)

2. The Millennium will be a time of joy and peace.

The Savior's Second Coming will usher in the thousand-year period called the Millennium. The tenth article of faith declares that during this time, "Christ will reign personally upon the earth," and "the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory." Doctrine and Covenants 101 provides a description of the beauty and joy we can look forward to during the Millennium.

• What will life on earth be like during the Millennium?
  1. D&C 101:23. (Everyone will be able to see the Savior.)
  2. D&C 101:24. (All the wicked will be destroyed.)
  3. D&C 101:25. (The earth will become new.)
  4. D&C 101:26. (People and animals will live in peace.)
  5. D&C 101:27. (People will be granted what they righteously desire.)
  6. D&C 101:28; see also D&C 45:55; 88:110. (Satan will be bound and will not have power to tempt anyone.)
  7. D&C 101:29. (There will be no sorrow or death.)
  8. D&C 101:30–31. (A person will grow old, then be changed suddenly from mortal to immortal life.)
  9. D&C 101:32–34. (The Lord will reveal all things about the earth and heaven, including how the earth was created and what will become of it.)
  10. D&C 45:58. (Children will grow up without sin.)
  11. D&C 45:59; 133:25. (The Lord will be the king and lawgiver for the whole earth.)

• How can this knowledge about the Millennium be a blessing in our lives now? How does it help you to know that righteousness will eventually triumph over wickedness?

3. We must prepare for the Second Coming.

The Lord has repeatedly emphasized that we must prepare for His coming (D&C 133:4, 10–11). Some people may feel that they can never do enough or be good enough to prepare adequately. They may become discouraged and feel that such preparation is impossible. However, the Lord has given counsel in the Doctrine and Covenants to teach us that we can prepare for this important event as part of our daily lives.

• What can we do in our lives now to prepare for the Second Coming?

Watch for the signs of the Savior's coming

Explain that in the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord reveals many of the signs that will precede His Second Coming and encourages us to "be watchful" (D&C 61:38).

• Why is it important for us to know about the signs that will precede the Savior's Second Coming? Read D&C 45:36–39. What can we learn from this parable about why these signs have been given to us?
• What are some of the signs that have been prophesied to precede the Savior's Second Coming?
  Positive signs
  1. D&C 45:9; 133:57–58. (The fulness of the gospel will be restored.)
  2. D&C 45:66–71. (The New Jerusalem will be built. It will be a place of peace and safety for the righteous in the last days.)
  3. D&C 65:2–6. (God's kingdom will be established on the earth.)
  4. D&C 110:11–16. (Priesthood keys will be restored.)
  5. D&C 133:8–9, 36–39. (The gospel will be preached throughout the world.)
  Negative signs
  1. D&C 29:15; 88:91. (There will be great weeping, despair, and fear. Men's hearts will fail them.)
  2. D&C 29:16; 45:31; 112:24. (There will be famines, scourges, sickness, and desolation.)
  3. D&C 34:9; 45:40–42; 88:87. (There will be signs and wonders in the heavens and in the earth.)
  4. D&C 45:26; 63:33. (There will be wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth will be in commotion.)
  5. D&C 45:27. (The love of men will become cold, and iniquity will abound.)
  6. D&C 45:33; 88:89–90. (There will be earthquakes, tempests, and great waves of the sea. Men will harden their hearts against God and fight each other.)

• The Lord counseled us to "be not troubled" during the turmoil of the last days (D&C 45:35). How can we maintain hope and avoid feeling distressed when we are surrounded by the wickedness and turmoil of the last days? (See D&C 38:30.)

Stand in holy places

In addition to counseling us to watch for the signs of the Second Coming, the Lord also counsels us to prepare by being righteous. What do each of the following passages teach about preparing for the Savior's Second Coming. 

1. D&C 27:15; 33:17. (Be steadfast in righteousness.)
2. D&C 34:6; 39:19–20; 43:20–23. (Cry repentance and be repentant.) Why is repentance important in preparing for the Second Coming?
3. D&C 45:32; 87:8; 101:22–23. (Stand in holy places.) What does it mean to "stand in holy places"? What are some of these holy places? What can we do to keep ourselves worthy and holy even when we are in worldly environments?
4. D&C 45:56–57. (Have the Holy Spirit as our guide.)

President Gordon B. Hinckley taught: 
"How do you prepare for the Second Coming? Well, you just do not worry about it. You just live the kind of life that if the Second Coming were to be tomorrow you would be ready. Nobody knows when it is going to happen. … Our responsibility is to prepare ourselves, to live worthy of the association of the Savior, to deport ourselves in such a way that we would not be embarrassed if He were to come among us. That is a challenge in this day and age" (Church News, 2 Jan. 1999, 2).

Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve gave the following counsel:

"Teenagers also sometimes think, 'What's the use? The world will soon be blown all apart and come to an end.' That feeling comes from fear, not from faith. No one knows the hour or the day (see D&C 49:7), but the end cannot come until all of the purposes of the Lord are fulfilled. Everything that I have learned from the revelations and from life convinces me that there is time and to spare for you to carefully prepare for a long life.

"One day you will cope with teenage children of your own. That will serve you right. Later, you will spoil your grandchildren, and they in turn spoil theirs. If an earlier end should happen to come to one, that is more reason to do things right" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1989, 72; or Ensign, May 1989, 59).