Lesson 28: “O God, Where Art Thou?”

Purpose

To help class members better endure adversity by turning to the Savior.

Preparation

Prayerfully study the following scriptures and other materials:

• Doctrine and Covenants 121:1–33; 122; and the other scriptures in this lesson.
• Our Heritage, pages 45–53.
• 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:

• "Within the Walls of Liberty Jail."
• "Peace and Violence among 19th-Century Latter-day Saints."
• "Waiting for the Word of the Lord."
• "Preparation of Joseph Smith: Strengthened by Trials."
• Additional historical material for this lesson.

Discussion and Application

 After the Saints were driven from Jackson County in late 1833, they found refuge in nearby Clay County until they were asked to leave in 1836. From Clay County, they moved about 60 miles north and established the community of Far West and other smaller settlements.  The Church prospered for a time in northern Missouri. The population grew rapidly, and temple sites were dedicated in Far West and Adam-ondi-Ahman. However, there continued to be conflicts among some of the Saints. Several leaders were excommunicated, including Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer.  In addition to dissension among some Church members, there continued to be conflicts with other residents in northern Missouri. In 1838, mobs and militia members began more attacks. On 25 October, three Church members were killed during a battle at Crooked River, including David W. Patten, an Apostle. Two days later, Governor Lilburn W. Boggs of Missouri issued an order that "the Mormons must be treated as enemies and must be exterminated or driven from the state" (History of the Church, 3:175).

On 30 October, a mob of approximately 200 men killed 17 men and boys at Haun's Mill. The next day, Joseph Smith and approximately 50 other Church leaders were arrested on false charges. Most of these leaders were released within three weeks. However, six of them, including Joseph and Hyrum Smith, were detained despite their innocence. In November they were marched first to Independence, then to Richmond, and then to Liberty, where they were incarcerated in Liberty Jail until April 1839.  Conditions in Liberty Jail were harsh. The prisoners were kept in the lower level, which was like a dungeon—dark, cold, and unsanitary. The food was inadequate and filthy. The Prophet and his companions had only a little straw on the stone floor for their beds, with meager blankets for cover. The ceiling was so low that some of the brethren, including Joseph and Hyrum, could not stand upright. They were also under constant threat of death.

While the Prophet was imprisoned, about 8,000 Saints in Missouri were forced out of their homes as a result of the governor's extermination order. Many of them were robbed, beaten, and killed by the mobs as they fled to the state of Illinois. The Prophet heard reports of the Saints' suffering and pleaded with the Lord for help. In response, the Lord gave some powerful revelations. The Prophet included them in a letter to Church leaders in Quincy, Illinois, who were directing the Saints' exodus from Missouri. Portions of these revelations are now sections 121, 122, and 123 of the Doctrine and Covenants.


1. Joseph Smith's prayer in Liberty Jail, and the Lord's response

• Read D&C 121:1–6. 
  • What do these verses indicate Joseph Smith was feeling and thinking about at this time? 
  • What did he request of the Lord? 
  • What are your thoughts and feelings as you read Joseph Smith's pleadings with the Lord in these verses?
• The Lord's reply to Joseph Smith's prayer is given in D&C 121:7–33 and D&C 122. 
• Read D&C 121:7–10. 
  • What did the Lord teach Joseph in these verses? 
  • How would you feel if these words were spoken to you? 
  • What can we learn about the Lord from this reply?

These revelations "made Liberty jail, for a time, a center of instruction. The eyes of the saints were turned to it as the place whence would come encouragement, counsel—the word of the Lord. It was more temple than prison, so long as the Prophet was there. It was a place of meditation and prayer. … Joseph Smith sought God in this rude prison, and found him" (B. H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church, 1:526).

• How have the revelations given in the Liberty Jail (D&C 121 and D&C 122) blessed your life?

2. The Savior's perfect understanding of our sufferings and adversity

• Think of your own trials as you read D&C 122:5–8. 
  • In what way has the Savior "descended below" all things? (See Alma 7:11–12; D&C 19:16–19.) 
    • Because the Savior descended below all things, He has a perfect understanding of all our trials. Speaking of the supreme suffering of the Savior, Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve said:
      • "As part of His infinite atonement, Jesus … has borne the sins, griefs, sorrows, and, declared Jacob, the pains of every man, woman, and child (see 2 Nephi 9:21). Having been perfected in His empathy, Jesus thus knows how to succor us. … Nothing is beyond His redeeming reach or His encircling empathy. Therefore, we should not complain about our own life's not being a rose garden when we remember who wore the crown of thorns!" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1987, 89; or Ensign, May 1987, 72).
• Do we experience any trials in which we cannot be comforted by the Savior? (See Hebrews 4:15.) 
  • How can a knowledge of the Savior's suffering help us be faithful in our own tribulations?
• What can we do to more fully partake of the comfort and strength that Jesus offers through His Atonement? (See Hebrews 4:16; 1 Peter 5:6–11.) 
  • How can prayer, humility, and faith in Jesus Christ help us receive strength during times of adversity?

3. Purposes of adversity
Adversity is part of God's plan for our testing and growth during mortality. We came to earth knowing we would experience pain, trials, and other difficulties.
The Prophet Joseph Smith experienced so many afflictions that he said they "have been my common lot all the days of my life; … and I feel, like Paul, to glory in tribulation" (D&C 127:2). In addition to the comfort and counsel the Lord gave the Prophet in Liberty Jail, there were many other occasions when the Lord taught him about adversity.

• What does the Lord reveal in the Doctrine and Covenants about the purposes of adversity?

a. D&C 98:12, 14–15; 101:4; 136:31. (The Lord allows adversity to come into our lives to try us and to prove us to see whether we will abide in His covenant.)

• Why does the Lord want His people to be "tried in all things"?

b. D&C 101:1–2.  (Some adversity is a result of our transgressions.)
c. D&C 122:7.  (The Lord allows adversity to give us experience and help us grow.)

• How can understanding these purposes of adversity help us "endure it well"? (D&C 121:8).
• Some people incorrectly believe that all afflictions are punishments from God. 
  • What are the dangers of such a belief? 
  • Why is adversity not withheld from the righteous? 
  • Emphasize that while transgression is one source of adversity, it is not the only source. Some adversity comes because even for the righteous "there is an opposition in all things" (2 Nephi 2:11). 
  • Some adversity comes as a natural consequence of the frailty and corruptibility of the mortal body. 
  • Some comes because of accidents, because of our own choices that aren't necessarily transgressions, and because of other people's choices—things that God can protect us from but sometimes does not because "the basic gospel law is free agency and eternal development" (Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle [1973], 96). 
  • Adversity can also come "to accomplish the Lord's own purposes in our life that we may receive the refinement that comes from testing" (Richard G. Scott, in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 18; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 16).
  • While serving in the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Harold B. Lee said that "living the gospel of Jesus Christ is no guarantee that adversity will not come into our lives; but living the gospel does give us the strength and faith and power to rise above that adversity and look beyond the present trouble to the brighter day" (quoted by A. Theodore Tuttle, in Conference Report, Oct. 1967, 15; or Improvement Era, Dec. 1967, 47).

For other scriptural teachings about the purposes of adversity, you may want to see 2 Nephi 2:11; Alma 32:5–6; 62:41; and Helaman 12:1–3.



4. The Lord's counsel to those who experience adversity

• What counsel does the Lord give in the Doctrine and Covenants to help us when we experience adversity?

a. D&C 24:8; 31:9; 54:10; 121:7. (Be patient in afflictions; they will "be but a small moment"; see also Alma 17:11.) 

• How can we increase our patience to endure trials? 
• In what sense did Joseph Smith's afflictions last for only "a small moment"? 
• How can we come to see adversity from the Lord's eternal perspective?

b. D&C 98:1. (Rejoice and give thanks.) 

• Why should we give thanks to God even when we are experiencing trials? 
• What are some blessings we continue to have even during the most severe adversity?

c. D&C 98:11. (We should remain obedient and "cleave unto all good.") 

• Why is it sometimes difficult to remain obedient when we experience adversity?

d. D&C 101:36–38. (Care for the soul, not for the body, and seek the Lord.) 

• How can we apply this counsel?

e. D&C 122:9. (We should not fear what man may do, for God will be with us forever; see also D&C 98:13.)

• Why are some people embittered by trials while others grow and are strengthened? 
  • What can we do to face our trials and adversities better? (See Alma 62:49–51.) 
  • What accounts in the scriptures have helped or inspired you during times of adversity?
• What have others done to help you through adversity? 
  • How can we help others during their trials? 
  • How can we use what our own trials have taught us in helping others? 
  • What benefits can come from serving others when we are in the midst of our own trials? (See Luke 9:24; Galatians 6:2.)
• What can we do if we feel ourselves become despairing and hopeless because of adversity? (See Alma 36:3.) 
  • How can we prepare now to be strong in future times when we may experience greater adversity?

5. The Lord's promises to those who are faithful in adversity

• What promises does the Lord give in the Doctrine and Covenants to those who are faithful in adversity?

a. D&C 3:8; 24:8; 112:13; 122:4. (The Lord will be with us, stand by us, and heal us in our afflictions; see also Jacob 3:1; Mosiah 24:13–14; Alma 36:27.) 

• Why is it important to know the Lord will be with us in afflictions? 
• What experiences have shown you that the Lord is with you during times of trial?

b. D&C 58:2–4; 101:35–36; 103:12; 121:29; 127:4; 136:31. (Those who are faithful in tribulation will receive glory, joy, and other blessings.)
c. D&C 98:3; 122:7. (All things will work together for our good and to the Lord's glory; see also D&C 90:24; 100:15; 2 Nephi 2:2; Romans 8:28.) 

• How can adversity be for our good?
  • While serving in the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder James E. Faust said: "In the pain, the agony, and the heroic endeavors of life, we pass through a refiner's fire, and the insignificant and the unimportant in our lives can melt away like dross and make our faith bright, intact, and strong. … It is part of the purging toll exacted of some to become acquainted with God. In the agonies of life, we seem to listen better to the faint, godly whisperings of the Divine Shepherd" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1979, 77; or Ensign, May 1979, 53).
  • Elder Marion G. Romney of the Quorum of the Twelve said: "I have seen the remorse and despair in the lives of men who, in the hour of trial, have cursed God and died spiritually. And I have seen people rise to great heights from what seemed to be unbearable burdens.
    "Finally, I have sought the Lord in my own extremities and learned for myself that my soul has made its greatest growth as I have been driven to my knees by adversity and affliction" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1969, 60; or Improvement Era, Dec. 1969, 69).

d. D&C 121:8; 127:2. (Those who are faithful in affliction will be exalted.)

• What can we do during our periods of trial to feel more fully the peace the Lord speaks of in D&C 121:7? (See also D&C 19:23.)

Lesson 27: “They Must Needs Be Chastened and Tried, Even as Abraham”

Purpose

To learn about the early Saints’ efforts to establish the city of Zion in Missouri and to encourage class members to help build Zion today.

Preparation

Prayerfully study the following scriptures and other materials:

• Doctrine and Covenants 101; 103; 105.
• Our Heritage, pages 27–29, 37–45.

To gain a greater understanding of historical events related to the doctrine in this lesson, consider reviewing the following:

• "Waiting for the Word of the Lord": This article discusses the crisis created by early persecution of the Saints in Jackson County, Missouri, and the role that revelation played in the Saints' response.
• "The Acceptable Offering of Zion's Camp": This article uses the perspective of Nathan Baldwin to help tell the story of Zion's Camp.
• "Revelation, 16–17 December 1833 [D&C 101]": This page from the Joseph Smith Papers website gives in-depth historical background for Doctrine and Covenants 101. 

Discussion and Application

1. The Saints settle in Jackson County, Missouri, and are later driven out.

From 1831 to 1838, the Church had two centers of population—one in Kirtland, Ohio, and the other in western Missouri. Important events were happening in both places. Lessons 27 and 28 focus on doctrines and events associated with the Church in Missouri.

In July 1831, Joseph Smith made his first journey to Missouri. There he received a revelation designating Missouri as the place for the city of Zion, with Independence as the center place (D&C 57:1–3). On 2 August, Sidney Rigdon dedicated the land for the gathering of the Saints. The next day the Prophet Joseph Smith dedicated the temple site in Independence.

Members from the Colesville Branch in New York were the first Saints to settle Missouri, and others soon gathered there, eager to help build the city of Zion (D&C 63:24, 36). By 1832 there were more than 800 Saints gathered into five branches in Independence and the surrounding areas of Jackson County.

The Saints in Jackson County enjoyed a time of peace and optimism. However, problems arose in late 1832. Some members would not accept the authority of their local Church leaders. Others criticized the Prophet Joseph, who had returned to Kirtland. Some members were contentious, covetous, selfish, and unbelieving.

In addition, tensions with other settlers in the area were increasing. On 20 July 1833, these tensions escalated into violence. Read sections "Persecution in Jackson County" and "Tarring and Feathering of Bishop Partridge" from Our Heritage, pages 39–40 and 41–42.

Between July and November 1833, persecutions against the Saints intensified. Mobs burned their crops, destroyed their homes, whipped and beat the men, and terrorized the women and children.

Persecution in Missouri. The Saints were driven from their homes in Jackson County, Missouri.

On 4 November, near the Big Blue River, members of the mob began a battle against a small group of Latter-day Saint men and boys (Our Heritage, pages 42–43). During the next two days more than 1,000 Saints were driven from Jackson County in the bitter cold. Destitute, most of them crossed the Missouri River and found temporary refuge in Clay County. Read section "Refuge in Clay County" from Our Heritage, pages 43–44.

2. The Lord instructs the Saints who were driven from Jackson County.

Explain that as word of the troubles in Missouri reached Joseph Smith in Kirtland, he was deeply distressed. He prayed concerning the redemption of Zion and received the revelation that is now D&C 101.

• What reasons did the Lord give for allowing afflictions to come upon the Saints in Missouri?
  • D&C 101:2, 6; see also D&C 103:4.
  • D&C 101:4.
• For what purposes does the Lord chasten His people? (See D&C 95:1; 105:6; Helaman 12:3; Hebrews 12:11.) How is the Lord's chastening a demonstration of His love for us? How does the Lord's chastening help us learn obedience and remember Him? (See D&C 101:7–8.)
• Why do people sometimes forget God and disregard His counsel "in the day of their peace"?
• What can we do to help us be eager to follow God's counsel?
• How did the Lord show compassion for the Saints after chastening them?
• What experiences have you had in which you have felt the Lord's love and mercy in times of special need?
  • D&C 101:9
  • D&C 101:10
  • D&C 101:11–15
  • D&C 101:16–19
• Read D&C 101:35–38. What can we learn from these verses to help us keep our mortal life in proper perspective? How has a knowledge of the Lord's eternal promises helped you in times of trial?

3. Zion's Camp is organized and marches to Missouri.

After the Saints were driven from Jackson County, they petitioned Governor Daniel Dunklin of Missouri for assistance in restoring their homes and for protection. The governor expressed a willingness to help if the Saints would organize a group of men for their own protection.

In February 1834, Joseph Smith received word of this offer in Kirtland, Ohio. He responded by organizing a group of men to march nearly 1,000 miles to carry relief to the Saints in Missouri, help them return to their lands, and protect them afterward. The revelation giving directions for this expedition, which came to be known as Zion's Camp, is recorded in D&C 103.

Read the story of Zion's Camp from Our Heritage, pages 27–29 and 44–45. To see the distance between Kirtland and Missouri, refer to page 31 in the Class Member Study Guide.

• As directed by the Lord in D&C 103, Joseph Smith organized Zion's Camp to help the Saints in Jackson County regain their homes and lands. What was the outcome of Zion's Camp with regard to this purpose?
  
• When Brigham Young returned to Kirtland after Zion's Camp, he was asked, "What have you gained by this journey?" He replied, "Just what we went for; … I would not exchange the knowledge I have received this season for the whole of [this] County" (in Journal of Discourses, 2:10). What important purposes did Zion's Camp accomplish?
  
  While some people thought Zion's Camp was a failure, the accomplishment of these purposes was of great importance to the Church. Zion's Camp is an example of how God's purposes can be accomplished in ways that we may not understand at the time.

• How did the experience of Zion's Camp prepare future leaders of the Church?
  
  In February 1835, five months after the camp was disbanded, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Quorum of the Seventy were organized. Nine of the Twelve Apostles and all 70 members of the Quorum of the Seventy had served in Zion's Camp. Speaking of how the camp helped prepare these leaders, Joseph Smith said:
  
  "Brethren, some of you are angry with me, because you did not fight in Missouri; but let me tell you, God did not want you to fight. He could not organize His kingdom with twelve men to open the Gospel door to the nations of the earth, and with seventy men under their direction to follow in their tracks, unless He took them from a body of men who had offered their lives, and who had made as great a sacrifice as did Abraham" (History of the Church, 2:182).
  
  The experience of George A. Smith demonstrates how Zion's Camp prepared men for future leadership in the Church. At age 16, he was the youngest man in the camp, inexperienced and lacking confidence. Despite personal discomfort and the complaints of many men about the poor conditions, George willingly followed all of Joseph Smith's instructions. George slept in the Prophet's tent and was able to hear much of his counsel and instructions. By closely associating with the Prophet, George learned leadership skills and developed strength that prepared him for a lifetime of leadership. Less than five years after Zion's Camp, George A. Smith was ordained an Apostle. He later served with Brigham Young as a member of the First Presidency.
  
• What can we learn from the experiences of Zion's Camp that we can apply in our lives?
  
•  What were some of the trials associated with Zion's Camp? What can the experiences of Zion's Camp teach us about the purposes of trials in our lives? (See D&C 103:12.)
  
• What can we learn from Zion's Camp about obedience? (See D&C 103:7–10, 36.)
  
• What can we learn from Zion's Camp about sacrifice? (See D&C 103:27–28.) Why does the Lord require us to be willing to sacrifice all things for Him? How can we develop such a willingness? How can we show this willingness now?

4. The Lord reveals that His people must "wait for a little season for the redemption of Zion."

The Lord promised to redeem Zion and restore His people to their lands in Jackson County, Missouri. However, this promise was conditioned on the Saints' obedience (D&C 103:5–8, 11–14). Just as ancient Israel was not able to enter the promised land for 40 years because of their disobedience, the Lord revealed that modern Israel would have to "wait for a little season" for the redemption of Zion because of the disobedience and dissension of some Saints (D&C 105:9, 13).

• Read D&C 105:1–13. What are some of the requirements the Lord gave for the eventual establishment of Zion?
  1. The Saints must learn obedience (D&C 105:3, 6; see also verse D&C 105:37).
  2. They must care for the poor and needy (D&C 105:3).
  3. They must be "united according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom" (D&C 105:4; see also verse D&C 105:5).
  4. They must be taught more perfectly, gain more experience, and know their duties more perfectly (D&C 105:10).
  5. They must be endowed with power from on high (D&C 105:11–12; see also verse D&C 105:33).
     
     
• In D&C 105:38–40, the Lord counseled the Saints to seek peace, even with those who had persecuted them. He promised that in return, "all things shall work together for your good" (D&C 105:40). How have you been blessed as you have applied the counsel to seek peace?

Lesson 26: “Go Ye into All the World, and Preach My Gospel”

Purpose

To inspire class members to follow the example of the Kirtland Saints who made great sacrifices to share the gospel and remained steadfast during times of adversity.

Preparation

Prayerfully study the scriptures in this lesson and Our Heritage, pages 29–33, 36.

• 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:

• "'I Quit Other Business': Early Missionaries."
• "A Mission to the Lamanites."
• Additional historical material for this lesson.

Additional Resources:

• Gospel Topics
  • Gospel
  • Missionary Work
• Be an Example of the Believers - by Elder Von G. Keetch
• "Proclaiming the Gospel" - Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, chapter 9

Discussion and Application

1. The Lord poured out great blessings during the Kirtland period. Most of the last 13 lessons have focused on the doctrines that were revealed and the events that occurred while the Saints were in Kirtland, Ohio. During this time the Lord blessed His people greatly.

• What are some of the important doctrines the Lord revealed during the Kirtland period? 
  • Law of consecration, 
  • Law of tithing, 
  • Kingdoms of glory, 
  • Word of Wisdom, 
  • Second Coming, and
  • Priesthood.
• What were some of the important events and accomplishments during the Kirtland period?

2. The Saints in Kirtland made great sacrifices to share the gospel.
Another important aspect of the Kirtland period was the calling of missionaries to preach the gospel in the United States, Canada, and England. Most of them served at great personal sacrifice.

• Read D&C 42:6 and D&C 88:81. 
  • What message does the Lord give in these verses?
• Read the sections "Missions of Early Ohio Converts" and "Mission of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles" from Our Heritage, pages 30–32.
  • What sacrifices did these Saints make in order to share the gospel?
• In 1836 Elder Parley P. Pratt, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, was called to serve a mission to Canada. On his way to Toronto, Canada, "a stranger gave him a letter of introduction to John Taylor, a Methodist lay preacher in Toronto. Taylor was affiliated with a group who believed existing churches did not correspond with New Testament Christianity. For two years this group had met several times a week for the 'purpose of seeking truth, independent of any sectarian organization.' In Toronto, Elder Pratt was courteously received by the Taylors, but they were not at first enthusiastic about his message. "Discouraged at being unable to secure a place to preach, Parley decided to leave Toronto. Before going he stopped at the Taylors to get some of his luggage and to say goodbye. While he was there, Leonora Taylor told her friend Mrs. Isabella Walton about Parley's problem and said she was sorry he was leaving. 'He may be a man of God,' she said. Mrs. Walton replied that she had been inspired by the Spirit to visit the Taylors that morning because she was willing to let Elder Pratt stay at her home and preach. He did so and was eventually invited to attend a meeting of John Taylor's group, in which John read the New Testament account of Philip's preaching in Samaria. 'Now,' said he, 'where is our Philip? Where is our receiving the Word with joy, and being baptized when we believed? Where is our Peter and John? Our apostles? Where is our Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands? …' When Parley was invited to speak, he declared that he had answers to John Taylor's questions.  "For three weeks John Taylor attended Elder Pratt's meetings, making detailed notes of his sermons and carefully comparing them with the scriptures. Gradually he became convinced that the true gospel of Jesus Christ was restored. He and his wife, Leonora, were baptized on 9 May 1836" (Church History in the Fulness of Times [Church Educational System manual, 1993], 157; see also Parley P. Pratt, Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt [1975], 134–40, 151).
• John Taylor was ordained an elder and served faithfully as a missionary. Later he became the third President of the Church.
• How did the Lord bless Elder Pratt as he sought to preach the gospel?
• Levi Hancock was baptized in November 1830, and soon afterward he was called to leave Kirtland and serve a mission in Missouri. The journey involved walking hundreds of miles, and he and his companion, Zebedee Coltrin, had success in preaching the gospel as they traveled. "But they also suffered hardships on their journey. Levi fell ill because of an infection in his feet and had to spend time recuperating with a family who took him in while Zebedee went on without him. Later, in Missouri, he continued to struggle with illness and chafed at times because of his inability to do all he wanted. But grateful to serve, he wrote: 'I have to be honest before God and do all the good I can for his kingdom or woe is me. I care not for the world nor what they say. They have to meet my Testimony at the Judgement seat. I mean that my conduct shall be such that my words will be believed, the Lord being my helper.'"
• Later, Levi served valiantly as part of Zion's Camp. In February 1835 he was chosen as one of the Presidents of the Seventy. (See Don L. Searle, "It Is the Truth, I Can Feel It," Ensign, July 1999, 48–50.)
• What can we learn about missionary work from these stories? 
• What can we learn about overcoming adversity in missionary work?
• What sacrifices may we need to make to serve as full-time missionaries? 
• What sacrifices may we need to make to share the gospel with our friends and neighbors?

3. Members of the Quorum of the Twelve taught thousands in England.
As the Church grew, the forces working against it became more vigorous. Some of the Saints faltered in their faith. During this difficult time, the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that "something new must be done for the salvation of His Church" (History of the Church, 2:489).

• Read the section "Mission to England" from Our Heritage, pages 32–33.
  • How did the Lord bless the Church during this time of persecution and trial? 
  • What can we learn from the example of Elder Heber C. Kimball?
• The Lord's commandment for these brethren to leave Kirtland at such a difficult time may have seemed hard to understand. But the sacrifices made by these faithful brethren resulted in a great strengthening of the Church.
• On 23 July 1837, the day the missionaries first preached the gospel in England, the Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation directed to Thomas B. Marsh, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve. This revelation is now D&C 112. Verses D&C 112:12–34 contain instructions that Thomas B. Marsh was to give to the Twelve.
• Read D&C 112:19–22. 
  • What promises did the Lord make to the Twelve Apostles in these verses?
• The promise given in D&C 112:19 was fulfilled quickly. Within eight months, 2,000 people had joined the Church through the efforts of these missionaries, and 26 branches had been organized.
• The Lord promised the Twelve that He would give them power to open nations to the preaching of the gospel if they would "humble themselves before [Him], … abide in [His] word, and hearken to the voice of [His] Spirit" (D&C 112:21–22). 
• The following story is an example of how the Lord continues to fulfill this promise, related by President Thomas S. Monson:

"In 1968 when I made my first visit to the German Democratic Republic, tensions were high. Trust and understanding did not exist. No diplomatic relations had been established. On a cloudy and rain-filled day I journeyed to the city of Görlitz, situated deep in the German Democratic Republic. … I attended my first meeting with the Saints. We assembled in a small and ancient building. As the members sang the hymns of Zion, they literally filled the hall with their faith and devotion.

"My heart was filled with sorrow when I realized the members had no patriarch, no wards or stakes—just branches. They could not receive temple blessings—either endowment or sealing. No official visitor had come from Church headquarters in a long time. The members could not leave their country. Yet they trusted in the Lord with all their hearts.

"I stood at the pulpit, and with tear-filled eyes and a voice choked with emotion, I made a promise to the people: 'If you will remain true and faithful to the commandments of God, every blessing any member of the Church enjoys in any other country will be yours.' Then I realized what I had said. That night, I dropped to my knees and pleaded with my Heavenly Father, 'Father, I'm on Thy errand; this is Thy Church. I have spoken words that came not from me but from Thee and Thy Son. Wilt Thou fulfill the promise in the lives of this noble people.' Thus concluded my first visit to the German Democratic Republic."

Eight years later, Elder Monson offered a dedicatory prayer on the land:

"On a Sunday morning, April 27, 1975, I stood on an outcropping of rock situated between the cities of Dresden and Meissen, high above the Elbe River, and offered a prayer on the land and its people. That prayer noted the faith of the members. It emphasized the tender feelings of many hearts filled with an overwhelming desire to obtain temple blessings. A plea for peace was expressed. Divine help was requested. I spoke the words: 'Dear Father, let this be the beginning of a new day for the members of Thy Church in this land.'

"Suddenly, from far below in the valley, a bell in a church steeple began to chime and the shrill crow of a rooster broke the morning silence, each heralding the commencement of a new day. Though my eyes were closed, I felt a warmth from the sun's rays reaching my face, my hands, my arms. How could this be? An incessant rain had been falling all morning.

"At the conclusion of the prayer, I gazed heavenward. I noted a ray of sunshine which streamed from an opening in the heavy clouds, a ray which engulfed the spot where our small group stood. From that moment I knew divine help was at hand."

Following this inspired prayer, the Church grew rapidly in the land. District councils were organized, followed by the creation of stakes. Priesthood leaders and patriarchs were called. The Freiberg Germany temple was dedicated in 1985. And in 1989 the government permitted the Church to send full-time missionaries to the country. (In Conference Report, Apr. 1989, 66–69; or Ensign, May 1989, 50–53.)

4. Many Saints in Kirtland remained valiant despite persecution.
By 1838, the Saints' time in Kirtland was drawing to a close. Persecution intensified, and it became unsafe to remain there. 

• Read the section "Exodus from Kirtland" from Our Heritage, page 36.
  • While some Church members fell into apostasy in Kirtland, most of them remained faithful and were a great strength to the Church. 
  • The following is an experience from the life of Brigham Young:

While living in Kirtland, Brigham Young was in a meeting where a group of apostates, including some prominent Church leaders, were plotting to depose the Prophet Joseph Smith and put someone else in his place. Brigham Young said of this experience:

"I rose up, and in a plain and forcible manner told them that Joseph was a Prophet, and I knew it, and that they might rail and slander him as much as they pleased; they could not destroy the appointment of the Prophet of God, they could only destroy their own authority, cut the thread that bound them to the Prophet and to God, and sink themselves to hell. Many were highly enraged at my decided opposition to their measures. … This meeting was broken up without the apostates being able to unite on any decided measures of opposition" ("History of Brigham Young," Deseret News, 10 Feb. 1858, 386).

• What qualities did Brigham Young demonstrate in this situation? 
• How does sustaining our Church leaders strengthen us? 
• How does it strengthen the entire Church?

Lesson 25: Priesthood: “The Power of Godliness”

Purpose

To help class members gain a greater understanding of the priesthood and seek the blessings that come from using it righteously.

Preparation

Prayerfully study the following scriptures and other materials:

• Doctrine and Covenants 84:33–44; 121:34–46.
• Doctrine and Covenants 107
• Our Heritage, pages 26–27.
• "Restoring the Ancient Order": This article describes the origins of priesthood councils and quorums.
• "Within the Walls of Liberty Jail": This article gives context for the revelation contained in Doctrine and Covenants 121, 122, and 123.
• "Joseph Smith's Teachings about Priesthood, Temple, and Women": This Gospel Topics essay gives an overview of Joseph Smith's teachings involving the priesthood and women.
• "Revelation, 22–23 September 1832 [D&C 84]": This page from the Joseph Smith Papers website gives an in-depth historical introduction for Doctrine and Covenants 84. 
• "Priesthood Offices Restored": This infographic illustrates the restoration and organization of priesthood offices leading up to the Kirtland Temple dedication and the subsequent restoration of additional priesthood keys.

Discussion and Application

1. Order in the restoration of the priesthood and its offices

The Aaronic Priesthood and the Melchizedek Priesthood were restored to the earth in 1829. Following the organization of the Church in 1830, the Lord gradually revealed priesthood offices, quorums, and councils as needed to provide leadership for the growth of the Church. The following time line summarizes this restoration.

• Aaronic Priesthood: 15 May 1829 (D&C 13)
• Melchizedek Priesthood: May or June 1829 (D&C 128:20)
• Apostles, elders, priests, teachers, and deacons: April 1830 (D&C 20:38–60)
• Bishop: 4 February 1831 (D&C 41:9–10)
• High priests: June 1831 (heading to D&C 52)
• First Presidency: 1832–33 (D&C 81; 90)
• Patriarch: 18 December 1833 (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith [1976], 38–39)
• High council: 17 February 1834 (D&C 102)
• Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: 1835 (D&C 107:23–24)
• Seventies: 1835 (D&C 107:25)
• First Quorum of the Seventy: 1835 (D&C 107:26, 93–97)

In our day the Lord continues to give revelations about the organization and responsibilities of the priesthood to guide the growth of the Church. One example of this is the calling of Area Authority Seventies and the accompanying organization of the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Quorums of the Seventy in 1997.
 

2. The oath and covenant of the priesthood

In addition to revelations about priesthood offices and government, the Lord revealed principles about receiving and exercising the priesthood. For example, He revealed the oath and covenant of the priesthood, which is found in D&C 84:33–44. These verses outline (1) the covenants a man makes with the Lord when he receives the Melchizedek Priesthood and (2) the covenants the Lord makes with faithful Melchizedek Priesthood holders.

Elder Carlos E. Asay of the Seventy said: "Of all the holy agreements pertaining to the gospel of Jesus Christ, few, if any, would transcend in importance the oath and covenant of the priesthood. It is certainly one of the most sacred agreements, for it involves the sharing of heavenly powers and man's upward reaching toward eternal goals" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1985, 56; or Ensign, Nov. 1985, 43).

"The blessings of the priesthood are not confined to men alone. These blessings are also poured out … upon all the faithful women of the Church. … The Lord offers to his daughters every spiritual gift and blessing that can be obtained by his sons, for neither is the man without the woman, nor the woman without the man in the Lord" (Joseph Fielding Smith, in Conference Report, Apr. 1970, 59; or Improvement Era,June 1970, 66; see also Alma 32:23).

• What do priesthood holders promise as part of the oath and covenant of the priesthood? (See D&C 84:33, 36, 39–44.)
  Priesthood holders covenant to:
  1. Be faithful in obtaining the Aaronic Priesthood and the Melchizedek Priesthood (verse 33).
  2. Magnify their callings (verse 33).
  3. Receive the Lord's servants (verse 36).
  4. Give diligent heed to the words of eternal life (verses 43–44).
• What does it mean to magnify a calling? (See D&C 107:99; Jacob 1:17–19.)
  
  President Gordon B. Hinckley said: "We magnify our priesthood and enlarge our calling when we serve with diligence and enthusiasm in those responsibilities to which we are called by proper authority. … We magnify our calling, we enlarge the potential of our priesthood when we reach out to those in distress and give strength to those who falter. … We magnify our calling when we walk with honesty and integrity" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1989, 63; or Ensign, May 1989, 48–49).
• How have you been blessed by someone who magnified his or her calling?

As we magnify our callings, it is important that we find the correct balance so we do not neglect our families. Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve said:

"Sometimes, unintentionally, even certain extracurricular Church activities, insensitively administered, can hamper family life. Instructively, after the resurrected Jesus taught the Nephites, He said, 'Go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said,' and pray and prepare 'for the morrow' (3 Nephi 17:3). Jesus did not say go to your civic clubs, town meetings, or even stake centers!" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1994, 120; or Ensign, May 1994, 89).

• What does it mean to receive the Lord's servants? (D&C 84:36). 
• What blessings does the Lord promise as part of the oath and covenant of the priesthood? (See D&C 84:33–34, 38, 42.)

The Lord covenants to:

1. Sanctify us by the Spirit (verse 33).
2. Renew our bodies (verse 33).
3. Give us the blessings promised to Abraham and his posterity (verse 34).
4. Make us His elect, or chosen (verse 34).
5. Give us all that the Father has (verse 38).
6. Give His angels charge over us (verse 42).

• The Lord promises that if we are faithful, we will become "the seed of Abraham … and the elect of God" (D&C 84:33–34). What are the blessings and responsibilities of the seed of Abraham? (See Abraham 2:9–11.) Abraham 2:11 indicates that "all the families of the earth [will] be blessed" through the priesthood. How can this be accomplished?
• The crowning promise in the oath and covenant of the priesthood is that we can receive "all that [the] Father hath" (D&C 84:38). How can knowledge of this promise help us in times of adversity? How can it help us in times of plenty?

3. Principles for using the priesthood

Read D&C 121:34–46. In these verses the Lord reveals principles for using the priesthood. He also reveals promises to those who use it righteously. In addition to their application to priesthood holders, these principles apply generally to all human relationships. Therefore, they are also important for those who do not hold the priesthood.

• In D&C 121:34–40, the Lord reveals why some priesthood holders are not able to exercise the priesthood with power. According to these verses, what prevents them from doing this?
• What are some examples of caring too much for "the things of this world"? (D&C 121:35). How can seeking what the world offers keep us from receiving what the Lord offers? How can a person overcome this problem?
• What are some ways that people "exercise unrighteous dominion"? (D&C 121:39; see also verse D&C 121:37). What are the consequences of doing this? How can a person overcome a tendency to exercise unrighteous dominion?

Emphasize that the priesthood may be used only in righteousness and a spirit of love as a means of serving and blessing others. Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve said:

"Those who hold the priesthood must never forget that they have no right to wield priesthood authority like a club over the heads of others in the family or in Church callings. … Any man who … seeks to use the priesthood in any degree of unrighteousness in the Church or in the home simply does not understand the nature of his authority. Priesthood is for service, not servitude; compassion, not compulsion; caring, not control" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1993, 105; or Ensign, Nov. 1993, 78).

• In D&C 121:41–42, the Lord reveals principles that will help priesthood holders exercise the priesthood with power. What are these principles? How can we apply these principles as we interact with family members, neighbors, associates at work, and others?
• What principles for giving correction or discipline are revealed in D&C 121:43–44? What experiences in your life have confirmed the importance of these principles? How do the consequences of disciplining with love differ from the consequences of disciplining with anger?
• What does it mean to "let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly"? (D&C 121:45). How can we keep evil or unvirtuous thoughts out of our minds? (See D&C 27:15–18.) How can we more actively fill our minds with virtuous thoughts?
• What does the Lord promise if we are "full of charity" and "let virtue garnish [our] thoughts unceasingly"? (See D&C 121:45–46.) What does it mean to be confident in the presence of God? (See the following quotation.) What blessings do we receive when the Holy Ghost is our constant companion?
  
  While serving in the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley said: "It has been my privilege on various occasions to converse with Presidents of the United States and important men in other governments. At the close of each such occasion I have reflected on the rewarding experience of standing with confidence in the presence of an acknowledged leader. And then I have thought, what a wonderful thing, what a marvelous thing it would be to stand with confidence—unafraid and unashamed and unembarrassed—in the presence of God. This is the promise held out to every virtuous man and woman" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 66; or Improvement Era, Dec. 1970, 73).