Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 3

Introduction

Every summer our family takes a trip to Missouri to visit Julie’s family.  What does it take for us to go successfully?  (Briefly list things like stopping the mail at home, arranging for the chickens, packing clothes, planning where to spend the night, etc.)

Now imagine you want to launch a new satellite TV service.  What would that require?  Significantly more planning and energy to put everything in place, and the technology to do it.

Just as my family vacation needs planning and certain conditions to be met, the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ needed to have the right time, right environment, and right person to succeed.

Apostasy

After Jesus Christ was crucified, His Apostles presided over the Church. But soon persecution, divisions, and apostasy increased. Within a few decades, there was a falling away from the Church, as the Apostles had prophesied (Acts 20:28–30; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3; 2 Timothy 4:3–4). This falling away is known as the Great Apostasy.

What was a result of this Apostasy?  Read D&C 1:15-16.

a. There was no priesthood authority on the earth.

b. There were no apostles or prophets on the earth.

c. Essential knowledge about the nature of God was lost.

d. The doctrines of the gospel were corrupted.

e. Sacred ordinances, such as baptism, were changed.

f. The original Church became divided into discordant groups.

God prepared Joseph Smith

Joseph’s family

Joseph Smith came from a rich spiritual heritage. His parents and grandparents were religious, patriotic, educationally minded, and of strong moral convictions. His paternal grandfather, Asael Smith, stated years before Joseph was born, “It has been borne in upon my soul that one of my descendants will promulgate a work to revolutionize the world of religious faith” (in Joseph Fielding Smith, Essentials in Church History, 27th ed. [1974], 25).

Both of Joseph’s parents had profound religious experiences. Joseph Sr. had several dreams that gave him assurances that he would enjoy the blessings of the true gospel of Jesus Christ (see Lucy Mack Smith, History of Joseph Smith, ed. Preston Nibley [1958], 47–50, 64–66). Once while Lucy was critically ill as a young mother, she made a covenant with God that she would serve Him completely if He would let her live to care for her family. Soon afterward she heard a voice comfort her, and she made a remarkable recovery. (See History of Joseph Smith, 33–35.)

Adversity

Joseph was no stranger to adversity, suffering from a painful bone infection that nearly caused Joseph to lose his leg.  Discuss this story from Joseph’s life. 

• What do we learn about Joseph from this experience?
• How could these types of trials prepare him for his future responsibilities?
• How have trials prepared you for your responsibilities?

Religious atmosphere

Joseph Smith described the religious atmosphere in New York where he lived in his history.  Read Joseph Smith – History 1:5-6.

How did Joseph react to this?  Read Joseph Smith – History 1:8-10, 11-12.

• How can we follow Joseph’s example when we need answers?

The First Vision

Read Joseph Smith – History 1:13-19.  As members of this Church, many of us have heard this story since Primary and can nearly recite it.  Listen to this as if you were hearing it for the first time.

• 13 – The situation was not going to change by itself.  Joseph had to do something if he ever wanted to change. 
• 13 – Joseph trusted God to keep his promise.
• 15 – Joseph did not act on a whim.  He had thought about this and figured out where he would go to pray.
• 15 & 16 – Satan had “astonishing influence” and “marvelous power.”  We would be wise to not trifle with Satan.
• 17 – God’s glory “defies all description.”

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “I submit that in the few minutes that Joseph Smith was with the Father and the Son, he learned more of the nature of God the Eternal Father and the risen Lord than all the learned minds in all their discussions through all centuries of time” (Church News, 24 Oct. 1998, 6).

• What are some of the truths we can learn from the First Vision?

• God the Father and Jesus Christ live.
• The Father and the Son are real, separate beings with glorified bodies of flesh and bones.
• We are created in the image of God.
• Satan and his power are real, but God’s power is infinitely greater.
• God hears and answers prayers and cares for us.
• None of the churches on earth had the fulness of Christ’s gospel.
• Revelation has not ceased.

• While serving in the Quorum of the Twelve, Elder Ezra Taft Benson said, “The appearance of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ to the boy prophet is the greatest event that has occurred in this world since the resurrection of the Master” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1971, 20; or Ensign, June 1971, 34).
• Why is it important for each of us to have a testimony of the First Vision? How has a testimony of the First Vision blessed your life?