Seminary Lesson: D&C 88:70-117

This week I've been asked to teach LDS Semiary lesson 93 which is Doctrine and Covenants 88: 70-117.  I have no idea how to begin, so I gathered gospel quotes, discussion questions, and an attention activity to teach the youth about sharing the gospel.

Warning Activity:

*Notice: all those who fold their arms for at least one minute during opening exercises today will receive a reward*

Watch and see which kids tell their friends and warn others.  See who completes activity and who doesn't.

Lesson:

Today we are discussing the third portion of Doctrine and Covenants 88.  We will be talking about verses 70 through 117.

As you may know, this revelation was given in Kirtland, Oh to a group of priesthood holders who were trying to figure out how to go about establishing Zion.

The Lord commanded them to organize and attend a school to help them to learn how to preach the gospel.

• this was the first Missionary Training Center
• called The School of the Prophets

Read 88:74

• what were these "first laborers" commanded to do to prepare for the School of the Prophets?
• assemble together
• organize themselves
• prepare
• sanctify (purify their hearts and hands)
• how does doing these things help them/us to share the gospel?

Read 88:77-78

• what were they commanded to do once they started the school?
• (77) teach the doctrine of the kingdom
• (78) teach diligently (show great care in one's duty)
• what were they promised if they did this?
• grace will attend them (Lord will help)
• instructed perfectly (never mess up in what we learn)
• be prepared in all things
• magnify callings/mission
• we often hear people say that they learned the most from preparing their talk/lesson.  Why is that?
• 10 pages of notes/ 5 pages of lesson/ 1 day (seminary teacher)
• how does teaching others help us to understand?
• (79) they learned more than just spiritual
• "A learned Latter Day Saint should seek to understand the important religious, physical, social, and political problems of the day. The more knowledge we have of Heavenly laws and earthly things, the greater influence we can exert for good on those around us and the safer we will be from scurrilous and evil influences that confuse and destroy us."  (Dallin H Oaks) (1)
• (80) be prepared in all things
• if they were prepared, they could share in any situation
• they would have the Spirit with them
• "You can not travel down what Lehi called "forbidden paths" and expect to guide others to the "straight and narrow" one--it can't be done" (Jeffrey R. Holland) (2)

Read 88:81-82

• when have you been thankful someone warned you about something?
• go back to attention activity?
• who was warned?
• who believed and obeyed?
• give them treats
• what about those who did not receive the warning?
• Will receive all blessings in the next life
• What is the Lord telling us to warn our neighbors about?  What have the prophets warned us about?
• the truths of the restored gospel
• if you see God, He will not forsake you
• prepare ourselves to escape the future judgments of the wicked
• you have been warned, so no excuses





• who is planning on going on a  mission?  what about the rest of us?  do we have to share?
• "The duty to warn our neighbors falls on all of us who have accepted the covenant of baptism. We are to talk with non member friends and relatives about the gospel. Our purpose is to invite them to be taught..."  (Henry B. Eyring) (3)
• We want our friends to be warned to avoid the trials and get the treat, don't we?
• it's not an accident that we were born now
• "Do you realize that the restored church was 98 years old before it had 100 stakes? But less than 30 years later, the church has organized it's second 100 stakes. And only 8 years after, the church has more than 300 stakes. Today we are thousand of stakes strong. Why is this growth taking place at an accelerated rate? The Lord indicated it would...we, as spirit children of our Heavenly Father, were sent to earth at this time that we might participate in hastening this great work."  (Thomas S. Monson)(4)
• And the work is hastening.  How?
• Younger missionaries
• more missionaries
• home study
• "Membership in the Lord's church is a gift and a blessing which the Lord has given us in mortality, and He expects us to share that blessing with those who do not have it."  (Ezra Taft Benson)  (5)

Read 88:88-89

• After we have shared our testimony, the Lord will send other testimonies for those who would not hear us.
• 1. missionaries
• 2. natural disasters
• 3. angels of heaven
• Why is it important that we gain our own testimony, share it, and listen to others' testimonies?
• men's hearts will fail
• if you are prepared, you will not fear
• The Lord will win the war in the end
• The Lord's work will triumph and the Saints will be preserved if they will first prepare and then courageously perform the work to which they have been called.
• What can we do today to share the gospel?

Resources:

1. Dallin H. Oaks, "Learning and Latter-day Saints" April 2009

2. Jeffrey R. Holland, "We Are All Enlisted", October 2011

3. Henry B. Eyring, "A Voice of Warning", October 1998

4. Thomas S. Monson, "Hastening the Work", June 2014

5. Ezra Taft Benson, "Our Responsibility to Share the Gospel", April 1985