Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 18.doc

Introduction

Draw a simple graph on the chalkboard showing a trend line that starts flat and then spikes dramatically.  What could this represent?  (National debt, swine flu cases, number of words a child knows, or the number of temples in the world.)  For today’s lesson, the chart represents temples.

The Lord commanded the Saints to build a temple

In December 1832, the Lord commanded the Saints to begin building a temple.  Read D&C 88:119.  Six months later, the Lord chastised the Saints because they hadn’t started yet; read D&C 95:3–4, 8.

 

Four days later, men began hauling stone and digging trenches in preparation for building the temple.  The Lord had some specific requirements of this temple.  Read D&C 95:14-17.  The extra names Jesus Christ uses to identify Himself at the end of verse 17 may be partly to point out to the Saints how much He still wanted to teach them!

 

Some of the workers suggested they build the temple with logs or boards. But Joseph Smith replied: “Shall we … build a house for our God, of logs? No. … I have a plan of the house of the Lord, given by himself; and you will soon see by this, the difference between our calculations and his idea of things” (quoted in Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith, ed. Preston Nibley [1958], 230).

 

The Lord revealed His plans for the Kirtland Temple in a vision to the First Presidency (Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Frederick G. Williams). President Frederick G. Williams said they knelt together in prayer, and a model of the building “appeared within viewing distance. … After we had taken a good look at the exterior, the building seemed to come right over us.” When the temple was completed, Frederick G. Williams said it looked exactly as it had in the vision. (In The Revelations of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. Lyndon W. Cook [1981], 198.)

 

Joseph Smith dedicated the Kirtland Temple

On 27 March 1836, the Prophet Joseph Smith dedicated the Kirtland Temple. The dedicatory prayer, which the Lord revealed, is recorded in D&C 109. The dedicatory service lasted seven hours and was accompanied by a great outpouring of the Spirit. It included the dedicatory prayer, hymn singing, testimony bearing, the passing of the sacrament, sermons, and a solemn assembly in which members sustained Joseph Smith and other Church leaders. The service ended with the Saints giving the Hosanna Shout—raising their hands above their heads and shouting three times, “Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb, amen, amen, and amen” (History of the Church, 2:427–28).

 

• Why do we dedicate temples?
• How are temples different after they are dedicated?
• Invite class members who attended the Draper temple open house to share their impressions.

 

Hand out slips of paper with the following scripture references from the dedicatory prayer on the Kirtland temple. Ask class members to whom these slips are given to briefly summarize the contents of the scripture, and to comment on the question that follows if they wish.  For those who do not receive a scripture assignment, invite them to consider the questions regarding the Oquirrh Mountain temple dedication later this summer.  Give class members 2 minutes to ponder quietly before continuing the discussion.

Our responsibilities

D&C 109:7, 14. (We should seek diligently to learn by study and by faith.) Why is this an important responsibility with regard to temples?

D&C 109:9, 17–19. (Our incomings, outgoings, and salutations should be in the name of the Lord.) How can we fulfill this responsibility?

D&C 109:20–21. (We must be clean to enter the temple.) Why is it necessary that we be worthy when we enter the temple? (See D&C 97:15–17.) How do we verify our worthiness to enter the Lord’s house? Reference verse 34, in which Joseph Smith acknowledges that “all men sin.”  Worthy temple service helps us repent of our weaknesses.

D&C 109:23. (We should leave the temple bearing the great tidings of the gospel to the ends of the earth.) How can temple attendance inspire us to do this?

The Prophet prayed for blessings on the Saints

D&C 109:15. (The Lord’s people would receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost.) How has (or can) temple attendance increased the influence of the Spirit in your life?

D&C 109:22. (The Lord’s people would go forth from the temple armed with power and watched over by angels.) Invite class members to share experiences when they have felt armed with power after attending the temple.

D&C 109:25–26. (No weapon or wickedness would prevail against the Lord’s people.) How does temple attendance protect us from evil?

D&C 109:32–33. (The Lord would break off the yoke of affliction from His people.) How has temple attendance helped you overcome or bear affliction?

D&C 109:54–58. (The Lord would have mercy on the nations of the earth, softening the hearts of the people to prepare them for the gospel message.)

D&C 109:61–64, 67. (The scattered children of Israel would begin to be gathered and redeemed.) How does temple work help bring about this blessing?

D&C 109:72–74. (The Lord’s Church would fill the whole earth.) How does temple work help bring about this blessing?

The Oquirrh Mountain temple will be dedicated on August 7, and all other Church meetings in Utah have been cancelled for that day.  What does that tell you about how significant the Lord and His apostles feel this occasion is?  How will you prepare for that event?

The Lord accepted the Kirtland Temple

The week after the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, a sacrament service was held in the temple.  Following the sacrament, Joseph and Oliver prayed and received one of the most glorious visions recorded in scripture.  Read D&C 110:1-10 inviting class members to consider what Joseph and Oliver experienced.

In verses 11-16, Moses, Elias and Elijah appeared, restoring essential keys and authority so that the threefold mission of the church could proceed.

Conclusion

We live in a day of marvelous opportunity, with temples literally surrounding us.  Our Stake President has encouraged us to bless ourselves and our families by redoubling our efforts to attend the temple.  I know we will be blessed as we do so, and am striving to follow this counsel in my life.

Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 17

Introduction

Hold up a $20 bill.  What does this represent?  It could represent the fruits of my hard work, the desires I have to have fun, to care for my family, or to give to others.  It could also represent greed or thrift.  (There are no “wrong” answers to this question.)  How do you feel about what money represents?

Hold up a tithing slip.  What does it represent?  It represents an opportunity for us to follow the Lord’s commandments regarding our temporal responsibilities.  How do you feel about what a tithing slip represents?

Tithing

The Lord’s definition

Read D&C 119:3-4.  Prior to this revelation, “tithing” wasn’t clearly defined, and meant all free-will offerings given to the Church.

The First Presidency gave the following definition of tithing: “The simplest statement we know of is the statement of the Lord himself, namely, that the members of the Church should pay ‘one-tenth of all their interest annually,’ which is understood to mean income. No one is justified in making any other statement than this” (First Presidency letter, 19 Mar. 1970).

Failure to pay tithing

Read 3 Nephi 24:8–9.  What does it mean we “rob God”?  How can we steal what is already ours?  Ask class members to read the following verses (handed out previously.)

D&C 59:21

D&C 104:14

Mosiah 2:21-24 (summary only?)

What sins are we guilty of if we do not pay tithing?

• Failure to pay tithing (obviously)
• Ingratitude
• Disbelief of the Lord’s promises if we don’t pay because we “don’t have enough money.”
• Trusting in the arm of the flesh rather than the arm of God.

The Lord’s promises to tithe payers

Read 3 Nephi 24:10–12.   What does the Lord promise to those who pay their tithing?  Notice that in both these verses and verses 8-9, God speaks to us both as individuals, and as “whole nations.”  Our national deficit includes more than the money we owe to other countries; we have a debt to God that goes largely unrecognized and unpaid.  But as God’s “peculiar people,” we have been and are blessed for our dedication to this commandment.

Elder John A. Widtsoe of the Quorum of the Twelve spoke of spiritual blessings that come when we pay tithing:

“The tithe-payer establishes communion with the Lord. This is the happiest reward. Obedience to the law of tithing, as to any other law, brings a deep, inward joy, a satisfaction and understanding that can be won in no other way. Man becomes in a real sense a partner, albeit a humble one, with the Lord in the tremendous, eternal program laid out for human salvation. The principles of truth become clearer of comprehension; the living of them easier of accomplishment. A new nearness is established between man and his Maker. Prayer becomes easier. Doubt retreats; faith advances; certainty and courage buoy up the soul. The spiritual sense is sharpened; the eternal voice is heard more clearly. Man becomes more like his Father in Heaven” (in Deseret News, 16 May 1936, Church Section, 5).

In this passage, Elder Widtsoe lists the following blessings from paying tithing:

1. It becomes easier to understand the principles of truth
2. It becomes easier to live the principles of truth
3. We draw nearer to God
4. Prayer becomes easier
5. Faith replaces doubt
6. The certainty and courage we feel lift our souls
7. We become more spiritually “in tune” and can hear the whisperings of the Holy Ghost more easily.
8. We become more like our Heavenly Father.

Wow!  That window of blessings has a whole lot more in it than I thought!

The following story, related by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve, illustrates how we can receive temporal blessings as we pay tithing:

“During World War II, my widowed mother supported her three young children on a schoolteacher’s salary that was meager. When I became conscious that we went without some desirable things because we didn’t have enough money, I asked my mother why she paid so much of her salary as tithing. I have never forgotten her explanation: ‘Dallin, there might be some people who can get along without paying tithing, but we can’t. The Lord has chosen to take your father and leave me to raise you children. I cannot do that without the blessings of the Lord, and I obtain those blessings by paying an honest tithing. When I pay my tithing, I have the Lord’s promise that he will bless us, and we must have those blessings if we are to get along’ ” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1994, 43–44; or Ensign, May 1994, 33).

President Joseph Fielding Smith of the Quorum of the Twelve explained: “It is remarkable how many excuses can be made and interpretations given as to what constitutes the tenth. … It is written, however, that as we measure it shall be measured to us again. If we are stingy with the Lord, he may be stingy with us, or in other words, withhold his blessings” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols. [1953], 2:92).

Invite class members, as appropriate, to share how they or people they love have been blessed by the payment of tithing.

Practical considerations of paying tithing

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Quorum of the Twelve said that “the payment of tithing has less to do with money, but more to do with faith” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1990, 41; or Ensign, May 1990, 32).

So how do we do it?  How do we pay our tithing with money, but make it more about our faith?  And how can we overcome challenges to our faith that make it difficult to pay?

• Pay tithing first.  Elder Marvin J. Ashton said this will reduce the likelihood of financial mismanagement within a family.  He also pointed out that this reinforces the principle of honesty, because God does not have a “collection department.”
• I love automatic payment for all my bills.  Have you ever wondered why the Church doesn’t offer “payroll deduction”?  It’s because God wants us to consciously choose to pay tithing.  We are strengthened every time we pay tithing.

The Lord has commanded us to fast and to pay generous fast offerings

In addition to the law of tithing, the Lord has restored the law of the fast. In obedience to this law, we fast as a Church once each month, usually on the first Sunday of the month. We are instructed that a proper fast day observance includes abstaining from food and drink for two consecutive meals and attending fast and testimony meeting.

Fasting is more than simply going without food. Fasting can be a joyful experience when we fast with a purpose, prepare for the fast, and pray.

• What are some purposes for fasting? (Answers could include that we can fast to draw nearer to the Lord, receive guidance, increase our spiritual strength, humble ourselves, subject our bodily appetites to our spirits, overcome temptation or weakness, strengthen our testimonies, and ask the Lord to bless others.) In what ways has fasting with a purpose added meaning to your fasts?
• What are some things we can do to prepare to fast? In what ways is our fasting more meaningful when we prepare for it?
• We should pray at the beginning of a fast, during the fast, and the end of the fast. Why is it important to pray when we fast?

How does the Lord want us to act while we’re fasting?  Read D&C 59:13–14 and Matthew 6:16–18.  God views fasting as a time of rejoicing, and blesses us for not moping around on Fast Sunday.

A proper fast includes giving a generous fast offering to help care for those in need. Fast offerings are first used to help those in the ward and stake where the members reside. Bishops may use these funds to provide food, shelter, clothing, and other life-sustaining aid to those in need.

President Spencer W. Kimball said: “Sometimes we have been a bit penurious [unwilling to share] and figured that we had for breakfast one egg and that cost so many cents and then we give that to the Lord. I think that when we are affluent, as many of us are, that we ought to be very, very generous … and give, instead of the amount we saved by our two meals of fasting, perhaps much, much more—ten times more where we are in a position to do it” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1974, 184).

In Isaiah 58 the Lord chastises the people for fasting improperly, as if it were a time of great mourning.  He explains the better way to fast, and promises to hear and bless us as we fast properly.  See Isaiah 58:10-11.

Conclusion

As with every other commandment given by the Lord, the commandments to pay tithing and other offerings are given to bless us.  I have a testimony that the Lord really does bless us without measure as we generously and cheerfully obey these commandments.

 

 

Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 16

Introduction

How do you feel when you enter a temple? (During this discussion, contrast the atmosphere in the temple with the atmosphere in the world.)

Read D&C 109:13 with class members. What makes a temple different from other places? (The Lord has sanctified it. It is His house.)

Read Genesis 2:1–3 with class members. Explain that this is the account of the Lord instituting the Sabbath. According to this account, what makes the Sabbath different from other days? (The Lord has sanctified it. The Sabbath is His day.)

This lesson is about the Sabbath day. In many ways, we can “enter” each Sabbath day with the same reverence we feel when we enter the temple. We can remember that the Lord has sanctified the Sabbath and that it is our privilege to worship and serve Him on His day.

(Sanctify: To make holy; to consecrate. Set aside for sacred or ceremonial use.  To free from sin; to purify.)

The Lord established the Sabbath

Read Exodus 31:13, 16–17.  What reason does the Lord give in these verses for instituting the Sabbath?  How does this “sign” help us keep our covenants?  Notice that just as God sanctified the Kirtland Temple and the Sabbath day, he does the same for us as His children.

Read D&C 59:9–13 for the Lord’s counsel to the Saints in our dispensation.

Pay devotions to God by worshiping Him in Sunday Church meetings

The Lord has said, “Thou shalt go to the house of prayer … upon my holy day” (D&C 59:9). Why do you think it is important to meet together to worship God on the Sabbath? How is attending Church meetings on Sunday a blessing to you?

President Spencer W. Kimball, the 12th President of the Church, said: “We do not go to Sabbath meetings to be entertained or even solely to be instructed. We go to worship the Lord. It is an individual responsibility, and regardless of what is said from the pulpit, if one wishes to worship the Lord in spirit and truth, he may do so by attending his meetings, partaking of the sacrament, and contemplating the beauties of the gospel. If the service is a failure to you, you have failed. No one can worship for you” (“The Sabbath—A Delight,” Ensign, Jan. 1978, 4–5; italics added).

Pay devotions to God by partaking of the sacrament

The Lord has commanded us to partake of the sacrament on the Sabbath (D&C 59:9, 12). Why is it important to partake of the sacrament each week? 

• In verse 12, we are commanded to confess our sins unto thy brethren and before the Lord.  In a certain sense, if we fail to partake of the sacrament, we are suggesting to the Lord or others that we don’t really need Jesus’ Atonement.
• In a related idea, our ability to keep this commandment is an additional reason to avoid committing sin.  If we violate God’s commandments and not permitted to partake of the sacrament for a time as part of the repentance process, we are not allowed to keep this commandment.
• How has partaking of the sacrament been a blessing in your life?  How can we make the ordinance of the sacrament more meaningful in our lives?

On the Sabbath we not only partake of the sacrament, but we also should offer our own sacraments and oblations to the Lord (D&C 59:9, 12). This means we should make offerings or sacrifices that show our devotion to Him. What sacrifices should we offer?

Read D&C 59:12, focusing on footnote b.  Also read D&C 64:34.  We should willingly offer our time, talents, and means to serve God and our fellow man.

Offering a broken heart

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve said:

“After His mortal ministry, … Jesus told his Nephite Apostles that He would no longer accept burnt offerings but that His disciples should offer ‘a broken heart and a contrite spirit’ (3 Ne. 9:19–20; see also D&C 59:8, 12). Instead of the Lord requiring our animals or grain, now He wants us to give up all that is ungodly. This higher practice of the law of sacrifice reaches into the inner soul of a person. …

“… When we overcome our own selfish desires and put God first in our lives and covenant to serve Him regardless of the cost, we are then living the law of sacrifice” (“The Law of Sacrifice,” Ensign, Oct. 1998, 10–11; italics added).

This week Abbie asked Julie what it means to “break a horse.”  She was picturing her toy horse with a broken leg, and couldn’t understand why anyone would want to do that!  Julie explained that that’s not what is meant.  What does it mean to break a horse?

• You break the horse of its bad habits.
• You get the horse to trust and love you.
• When properly broken, the horse serves you because it wants to.

To me, this suddenly gives new meaning to offering a broken heart to God.  I do the best I can to break my heart of its bad habits; I love and trust God; and I serve Him because I really want to, even if he rides me hard or asks me to do things that are difficult.

Honor the Sabbath by “not doing [our] own ways”

Read Isaiah 58:13-14.  What do these verses require?

Presiding Bishop H. David Burton taught: “I … know that remembering to keep the Sabbath day holy is one of the most important commandments we can observe in preparing us to be the recipients of the whisperings of the Spirit” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1998, 9; or Ensign, Nov. 1998, 9; italics added).

Resting from our labors does not mean we should be idle. Rather, we should follow the Savior’s example and “do well on the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:12; see also Luke 13:10–17; John 5:1–19).  As a family we read John 5 last week, and my children could not understand the reaction of those who accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath when he healed the cripple.

President Spencer W. Kimball taught: “The Sabbath is a holy day in which to do worthy and holy things. Abstinence from work and recreation is important, but insufficient. The Sabbath calls for constructive thoughts and acts, and if one merely lounges about doing nothing on the Sabbath, he is breaking it. To observe it, one will be on his knees in prayer, preparing lessons, studying the gospel, meditating, visiting the ill and distressed, writing letters to missionaries, taking a nap, reading wholesome material, and attending all the meetings of that day at which he is expected” (Ensign, Jan. 1978, 4).

We have a responsibility to strengthen our families by keeping the Sabbath day holy

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “Let the Latter-day Saints be in their homes, teaching their families, reading the scriptures, doing things that are wholesome and beautiful and communing with the Lord on the Sabbath day” (“Excerpts from Recent Addresses of President Gordon B. Hinckley,” Ensign, July 1996, 73).

President Hinckley also counseled: “Now I do not want to be prudish. I do not want you to lock your children in the house and read the Bible all afternoon to them. Be wise. Be careful. But make that day a day when you can sit down with your families and talk about sacred and good things” (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 559–60).

The First Presidency gave the following counsel when announcing the consolidated Sunday meeting schedule in 1980:

“A greater responsibility will be placed upon the individual members and families for properly observing the Sabbath day. More time will be available for personal study of the scriptures and family-centered gospel study. …

“It is expected that this new schedule of meetings and activities will result in greater spiritual growth for members of the Church” (Church News, 2 Feb. 1980, 3).

Conclusion

The Lord has promised that those who observe the Sabbath will receive “the fulness of the earth” and “the good things … of the earth” (D&C 59:16–17; see also Isaiah 58:14).  As we work to truly call the Sabbath a delight, the Lord will joyfully bless us, our families, and our communities.

Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 15

Introduction

The spring weather has become beautiful!  How many of us have either begun planting flowers or vegetables, or are soon going to do so?  What will you plant?  There are likely to be many different items being planted, all of which may be useful and beautiful.

Once the planting is done, there is still lots of work to do, right?  (We continually have to cultivate our gardens.)  Likewise, the gifts of the Spirit are varied and we must cultivate them in our lives.

Gifts of the Spirit

Read D&C 46:13-25.  Then discuss the accounts of Newel Knight administering to Philo Dibble, Amanda Smith receiving revelation on how to treat her injured son, and the Prophet Joseph Smith prophesying of Dan Jones’s missionary service from Our Heritage.  What spiritual gifts were manifested in these accounts?

Everyone who receives the Gift of the Holy Ghost receives at least one gift of the Spirit.  Read D&C 46:11. 

These lists in the Doctrine and Covenants and 1 Corinthians are not exhaustive lists of the Gifts of the Spirit.  Elder McConkie taught “Spiritual gifts are endless in number and infinite in variety. Those listed in the revealed word are simply illustrations” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, 371).

Elder Marvin J. Ashton of the Quorum of the Twelve said some “less-conspicuous gifts” include “the gift of asking; the gift of listening; the gift of hearing and using a still, small voice; … the gift of avoiding contention; the gift of being agreeable; … the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; the gift of being a disciple; the gift of caring for others; the gift of being able to ponder; the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony; and the gift of receiving the Holy Ghost” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1987, 23; or Ensign, Nov. 1987, 20).

As I consider the gifts of the Spirit as described in the scriptures, they seem mighty and powerful, and I fear I might be presumptuous to identify one and tell the Lord I want it.  But I feel very comfortable with this list offered by Elder Ashton.  To borrow Paul’s phrase, I covet these gifts!

God gives gifts of the Spirit to benefit His children

To strengthen and bless us individually

Read D&C 46:9 with class members. In what ways can the gifts of the Spirit help us individually? What gifts have been of special value to you?

I am encouraged by the phrase in this verse that these gifts are not just given to those who “keep all my commandments,” but also to those who “seek so to do.”

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve taught that gifts of the Spirit “can lead us to God. They can shield us from the power of the adversary. They can compensate for our inadequacies and repair our imperfections” (“Spiritual Gifts,” Ensign, Sept. 1986, 72).

To help us serve others

Read D&C 46:11–12, 26, then the following quote:

Elder Orson Pratt of the Quorum of the Twelve said, “Spiritual gifts are distributed among the members of the Church, according to their faithfulness, circumstances, natural abilities, duties, and callings; that the whole may be properly instructed, confirmed, perfected, and saved” (Masterful Discourses and Writings of Orson Pratt, comp. N. B. Lundwall [1953], 571).

How has a particular spiritual gift helped you bless others?  How have you been blessed by the spiritual gifts of others?

To help us avoid being deceived

Read D&C 46:8.  Satan tries to deceive God’s children by offering counterfeit gifts.  How can the gifts of the Spirit help us avoid evil influences or deception?

We should seek and cultivate the gifts of the Spirit

How do we know what gifts we have been given?  What if we feel like we don’t have a gift that we need?  Read D&C 46:8; compare 1 Corinthians 12:31 and 1 Corinthians 14:1.

Read D&C 46:31-33.  Each verse contains a key to discovering and cultivating these gifts:

31 – Exercise these gifts in the name of Jesus, never for our own aggrandizement.

32 – Give thanks for the gifts God has given us.

33 – Practice virtue and holiness at all times.  And in today’s world, that takes a lot of practice!

President George Q. Cannon taught: “If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect. Have I imperfections? I am full of them. What is my duty? To pray to God to give me the gifts that will correct these imperfections. If I am an angry man, it is my duty to pray for charity, which suffereth long and is kind. Am I an envious man? It is my duty to seek for charity, which envieth not. So with all the gifts of the Gospel. They are intended for this purpose. No man ought to say, ‘Oh, I cannot help this; it is my nature.’ He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised to give strength to correct these things, and to give gifts that will eradicate them” (Millennial Star, 23 Apr. 1894, 260).

Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained how his mother applied the principle of seeking gifts of the Spirit: “Having lost her husband, my widowed mother was incomplete. How she prayed for what she needed to fulfill her responsibility to raise her three small children! She was seeking, she was worthy, and she was blessed! Her prayers were answered in many ways, including the receipt of spiritual gifts. She had many, but the ones that stand out in my memory are the gifts of faith, testimony, and wisdom. She was a mighty woman in Zion” (Ensign, Sept. 1986, 72).

Conclusion

The gifts of the Spirit are given to bless us, and allow us to bless others.  I suggest that the most important gift we should seek after is the gift of a solid, motivating testimony of Jesus Christ.  As we gain this gift, then every aspect of our lives is shaped by our faith in Him and desire to follow his commandments.  Then every other gift becomes a way for us to become more perfect and to help our brothers and sisters build their faith in the Savior too.

Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 14

Introduction

One of the most memorable seminary classes I ever had occurred early in my sophomore year.  I had seminary first period from Brother Carpenter.  As we began class one morning, another teacher poked his head in the door and asked to talk with him outside.  A few moments later, Brother Carpenter came back in and announced that he had just received word that the Church was re-instituting the Law of Consecration on a trial basis, and that one of the stakes from the Spanish Fork area would participate in the experiment.

How would you react to this news?  What motivates that reaction?  What can you learn about yourself as you examine your feelings and attitudes toward the Law of Consecration?

The Law of Consecration revealed to the Saints

To consecrate means to set apart or dedicate something to the service of the Lord.

Why did the Lord reveal the Law of Consecration?

1. D&C 42:30. (To care for the poor and needy.) How is caring for the poor and needy accomplished through the law of consecration? (See D&C 42:31–34.)
2. D&C 42:35. (To purchase lands, build houses of worship, and build the New Jerusalem.)
3. D&C 42:40. (To help the Lord’s people overcome pride.) How can living the law of consecration help members overcome personal pride or greed?
4. D&C 42:42. (To help the Lord’s people be industrious and avoid idleness.)
5. D&C 51:9. (To help the Lord’s people be one.) In what ways does the Lord expect us to be one? How can the law of consecration help the Saints be one?
6. D&C 78:3–7. (To make the Lord’s people equal in earthly things and help them receive a place in the celestial kingdom.) How does being equal in “earthly things” help us obtain “heavenly things”? (D&C 78:5).
7. D&C 78:14. (To help the Church “stand independent above all other creatures.”)
8. D&C 82:17–19. (To help the Lord’s people improve their talents for the good of all, seek the interest of their neighbor, and do all things with an eye single to God’s glory.) How can living the law of consecration help the Lord’s people develop greater charity?

Note in D&C 82:17–19 that we receive according to our wants if our wants are just.  What might be some unjust wants?  (I want a fancier house than the Joneses.)  In verse 18 God wants to help us earn a 100-fold return on our talents.  The Law of Consecration is not a law of scarcity, it is a law of abundance!  The key is in verse 19 – we all seek the interest of our neighbor.  This isn’t meddling in your neighbor’s business; it’s sincerely wanting to do things that will help each other.  The Law of Consecration is not about “What can I get?”  Rather it focuses on “What can I give?”

Consecrating possessions

Under the law of consecration, Church members voluntarily consecrated their possessions to the Church by legal deed (D&C 42:30).

Receiving a stewardship

After Church members consecrated their possessions, the bishop granted them stewardships, or portions, from all the properties received. The size of the stewardship depended on the circumstances and needs of the family, as determined by the bishop in consultation with the member who received it (D&C 42:32; 51:3). The stewardship was given with a deed of ownership so each member would be fully responsible and accountable for managing it (D&C 51:4; 72:3–4; 104:11–13). The stewardship, then, was treated as private property, not common or communal property, even though all property ultimately belongs to God.

Surpluses

If members produced a surplus from their stewardships beyond what was necessary for their families, at the end of the year they gave it to the bishop to put in the bishop’s storehouse (D&C 42:33; 51:13). The bishop used the surplus to care for the poor, to build houses of worship, and for other worthy purposes (D&C 42:34–35).

The Law of Consecration brings peace and prosperity

The people in the City of Enoch lived this law, “and there were no poor among them” (see Moses 7:18).  Following the Savior’s resurrection, the Saints in Jerusalem followed this practice too and none among them lacked (see Acts 4:32, 34–35).

After Jesus visited the Nephites, they lived this law successfully for nearly 200 years.  Read 4 Nephi 1:1–3, 12–13, 15, 23.  What recurring themes do you find in these verses?  I love the truth that because the Nephites followed this principle, they became exceedingly rich!  I believe that building our society and economy on eternal principles will bring prosperity like we have never known, both in its abundance and in its distribution.

We can consecrate our lives to the Lord now

In what ways can we live the law of consecration today?

Realize that everything we have belongs to the Lord

Read Psalm 24:1.  Why is it important to remember that the world, everything in it, and even we belong to the Lord?  How do our behaviors change when we remember this?

Bishop Victor L. Brown, former Presiding Bishop of the Church, said that until we “feel in total harmony” with the principle that everything we have belongs to the Lord, “it will be difficult, if not impossible, for us to accept the law of consecration. As we prepare to live this law, we will look forward with great anticipation to the day when the call will come. If, on the other hand, we hope it can be delayed so we can have the pleasure of accumulating material things, we are on the wrong path” (“The Law of Consecration,” 1976 Devotional Speeches of the Year [1977], 439).

Read D&C 19:26.  How can we overcome covetous feelings?  Remember, Martin was a wealthy landowner and he ended up selling his farm to pay for the first printing of the Book of Mormon!

President Brigham Young said: “I am more afraid of covetousness in our Elders than I am of the hordes of hell. … All our enemies … in the world, and all hell with them marshalled against us, could not do us the injury that covetousness in the hearts of this people could do us; for it is idolatry” (in Journal of Discourses, 5:353).

Make the sacrifices the Lord requires now

We don’t need to be like Naaman and hope for “some great thing” before we are willing to consecrate our lives.  Here are some suggestions on what we can do right now, without waiting for any special invitation:

a.       Pay tithing and fast offerings and give generously in other ways to those in need. By doing these things, we can help the Church care for the poor and carry on the important activities necessary to build the kingdom of God on earth. Elder Marion G. Romney asked: “What prohibits us from giving as much in fast offerings as we would have given in surpluses under the United Order? Nothing but our own limitations” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1966, 100; or Improvement Era, June 1966, 537).

b.      Serve willingly in the Church. The Lord has admonished each person to “learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence” (D&C 107:99). We should fulfill the callings we receive to the best of our ability. In addition to specific Church callings, we can share the gospel with others, do temple work, and seek to strengthen the testimonies of those who are new or weak in the faith.

c.       Serve as a full-time missionary. Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve taught: “Going on a mission teaches you to live the law of consecration. It may be the only time in your life when you can give to the Lord all your time, talents, and resources. In return, the Lord will bless you with His Spirit to be with you. He will be close to you and strengthen you” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1996, 50; or Ensign, May 1996, 36).

Develop Christlike love for others

The ability to have Christlike love for others is the foundation of the law of consecration. As we grow in love, our ability to live this law will also grow.

Strive to consecrate all aspects of our lives to the Lord

Elder Neal A. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve said: “We tend to think of consecration only in terms of property and money. But there are so many ways of keeping back part” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 90; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 66).

a.       An unwillingness to be completely submissive to the Lord’s will. “The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar,” Elder Maxwell said. “The many other things we ‘give’ … are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us. However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him! It is the only possession which is truly ours to give!” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 30; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 24).

b.      An unwillingness to give up selfish things, such as “our roles, our time, our preeminence, and our possessions” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 28).

c.       Letting hobbies and preoccupations with less important things become too consuming.

d.      Giving commendable civic service but remaining “a comparative stranger to Jesus’ holy temples and His holy scriptures” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 27).

e.       Being dutiful in family responsibilities but not emulating Jesus’ example of gentleness with some family members.

f.       Building up ourselves first rather than the kingdom of God.

g.      Sharing talents publicly while privately retaining a particular pride.

h.      Accepting a Church calling while having a heart more set on maintaining a certain role in the world.

(See Conference Report, Oct. 1992, 88–92; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 65–67; and Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 27–30; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 22–24.)