Ideas for Learning at Home and at Church
I can trust God.
Early in Joseph Smith’s ministry, good friends were hard to find—especially friends like Martin Harris, a respected, prosperous man who made great sacrifices to support Joseph’s work. So when Martin asked for permission to show the first 116 manuscript pages of the Book of Mormon translation to his wife, Joseph naturally wanted to honor his request, even though the Lord had warned against it. Tragically, the pages were lost while in Martin’s possession, and Joseph and Martin were sharply chastised by the Lord (see Saints, 1:51–53).
As you read Doctrine and Covenants 3:1–15, ponder what the Lord wants you to learn from their experience. For example, what do you learn about:
God’s work? (see verses 1–3, 16).
The consequences of fearing man rather than trusting God? (see verses 4–8).
The blessings that come from remaining faithful? (see verse 8).
The way the Lord both corrected and encouraged Joseph? (see verses 9–16).
You can ask this question in the beginning and see if anyone will volunteer, or you can ask one capable youth ahead of time to answer this at the beginning of class. This is a free Print.
Give a background or ask if one of the youth would explain the story of Joseph Smith and the lost 116 pages.
First start out with someone reading D&C 3:1-3,16
What did this (Crooked path) look like for JS? What might it look like for you (or Me)?
Your board will look something like this:
After youth answer (or take time to think) you can read the quotes.
Notice how I made room for taking notes. You can make two copies of these pages, one on card stock and one on paper. The card stock one can be cut out into cards for the youth to read in class. The paper one will be what you can underline and record your thoughts. I always like to listen to the Follow Him podcast, and write down the questions I want to ask the youth.
Next you will draw a simple fence like this:
Ask the youth if they have ever climbed a fence like this. Or have the ever straddled a fence (like riding a horse). If not a fence a stairway railing.
Then you will read this scripture together and write down what the youth tell you about God verses Man.
Looking at it this way, why would we not trust God?
Then have the youth read the quotes :
This is already included in the Lesson bundle, but you can purchase it separately.
In his message “Which Way Do You Face?,” Elder Lynn G. Robbins gives many scriptural examples of people who feared God and people who gave in to pressure from others (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 9–11). Consider reading these examples in the scriptures he refers to. What do you learn from these accounts? What experiences have you had where you trusted the Lord when faced with pressure to do something different? What were the results of your actions?
Ok, this is my favorite part! I love sunflowers. There is so much symbolism in how their face always turns to the Sun. What a faithful flower(: I think there are many symbols in nature. I hope that as I follow Christ others will see Him through me just like so many see in a sun in the sunflower. May we all be like the sunflower! So of course, that is where my thoughts went when I read the conference talk "Which Way do You Face?" by Elder Lynn Robbins.
Your board will look like this.
You will pass out cards like this:
These cards are free.
After sorting your board will look like this. If youth are interested in a certain character, then get into the scriptures and read more about them.
Lastly
The Correcting and Encouragement that Joseph Smith received. I gave you lots of material, I'd rather have too much prepared than not enough. If you make it this far, there is a lot of good stuff in these verses. First Joseph was chosen. Are the youth of this church a chosen generation? HERE is an article that talks more about that.
When the lord says "..If thou art not aware thou wilt fall." How important is it to be aware of Satan and avoiding deception?
After this experience, Joseph never fell for the pleasing man over God. He learned how to trust God. Who do you trust? What makes you trust them? How can you trust God more fully?
Pray and go by the needs of your students.
See also Dale G. Renlund, “A Framework for Personal Revelation,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 16–19; “The Contributions of Martin Harris,” in Revelations in Context (2016), 1–9; Topics and Questions, “Seeking Truth and Avoiding Deception,” Gospel Library; “How Gentle God’s Commands,” Hymns, no. 125.
I can serve God with all my heart, might, mind, and strength.
Section 4 is often applied to full-time missionaries. However, it’s interesting to note that this revelation was given to Joseph Smith Sr., who wasn’t being called on a mission but still had “desires to serve God” (verse 3).
One way to read this section is to imagine it as a job description for someone who wants to help with the Lord’s work. What is the Lord looking for? What benefits does He offer?
What do you learn about serving the Lord from this revelation?
President Russell M. Nelson called the gathering of Israel “the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth” (“Hope of Israel” [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], Gospel Library). What do you find in his address that inspires you to participate in this work?
"One thing I was thinking as I looked at the “heart might mind and strength” picture, is that it kind of goes along with the children and youth program. Heart could be social, might spiritual, mind intellectual, and strength physical. How can your goals in each area help you serve God in that way? How can your intellectual goals help you serve God with your mind, etc. "- Rebecca Murry
Great idea, if you think you would like this printable for the youth you can click on the image.
