First Vision Vision

January 26

Why Was a Restoration Necessary?

1 Nephi 11–15

Council Together Act Icon

Counsel Together

Led by a member of the quorum or class presidency; approximately 10–20 minutes

At the beginning of the meeting, repeat together the Aaronic Priesthood Quorum Theme or the Young Women Theme. Then lead a discussion about items such as the following, and plan ways to act on what you discuss:

• Our quorum or class. Who needs our help and prayers? What can we do to help them? Who should we invite to an upcoming activity?

• Our duties or responsibilities. What assignments have we fulfilled? What assignments do we need to make? How have we invited others to come unto Christ, and how can we invite others now?

• Our lives. What recent experiences have strengthened our testimonies? What is happening in our lives, and how can we support each other?

As appropriate, conclude the meeting by doing the following:

• Testify of the principles taught.

• Remind quorum or class members about the plans and invitations made during the meeting.

Integrated Curriculum Illustration

Teach the Doctrine

Led by an adult leader or youth; approximately 25–35 minutes

Prepare Yourself Spiritually

During the week, the youth may have studied the vision recorded in 1 Nephi 11–14. The prophet Nephi saw how the Savior established His Church, how that Church fell into apostasy, and how the Lord restored His Church in the latter days. We live in the time that Nephi foresaw. This is a time when much of the world stumbles in the darkness of apostasy and we are participating in the ongoing Restoration of light and truth. Learning about the Restoration will strengthen our testimonies of the Lord’s restored Church and will help us discern between truth and error.

To prepare to teach, study 1 Nephi 11–15 and this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families, and think about how the Restoration of the gospel has blessed you. What do the members of your quorum or class need to know about the Apostasy and the Restoration? You can deepen your understanding of these principles by studying Doctrine and Covenants 1:17–30 and Preach My Gospel (2018), 31–38, 44.

Palmyra New York Temple

Through the Restoration of the gospel, we can make sacred covenants in the temple.

Learn Together

To introduce a discussion about the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, you could invite quorum or class members to quickly review 1 Nephi 11–14. Ask them to share any scriptures they find in these chapters about the Apostasy and the Restoration (for example, 1 Nephi 13:20–29, 32–42). The activities below can help quorum or class members deepen their understanding of why a Restoration was necessary.

• To help quorum or class members explain the doctrine of the Restoration, you could divide them into two groups. Ask one group to teach about how Jesus Christ established His Church anciently and how it was lost through the Apostasy. Ask the other group to teach about what God restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Give them time to prepare using Preach My Gospel (2018), 31–38, 44; True to the Faith (2004), 13–14, 135–39; and the scriptures suggested in “Supporting Resources.” As they teach each other, they could discuss questions like these: How is the Apostasy continuing to affect the world around us? How is the Restoration of the gospel still going on today? How can we participate in it?

• It’s common in our day for people—especially young people—to wonder why we need a church. In his message “Why the Church” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 108–11), Elder D. Todd Christofferson offered answers to this question. Quorum or class members could search his message for some of the answers he provided and discuss these together. They could also look for answers in 1 Nephi 14:12–14. What does it mean to quorum or class members to have the Church of Jesus Christ in their lives?

• It may be helpful for those you teach to learn more about how the early Latter-day Saints searched for the truths of the gospel. Perhaps the quorum or class could watch the video “A Search for Truth” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) and identify what Wilford Woodruff was looking for in the true Church. Why is it important for the true Church to have these truths and ordinances? Or they could study Joseph Smith—History 1:8–20 and list some specific things that Joseph Smith did to search for truth. How can we follow Joseph Smith’s example when we want to know if something is true?

Act in Faith

Encourage quorum or class members to ponder and record what they will do to act on the impressions they received today. How does today’s lesson relate to personal goals they have made? If they would like, quorum or class members could share their ideas.

Supporting Resources

• Ephesians 4:11–14; Articles of Faith 1:6 (The Church today has the same organization as the Church in the Savior’s day)

• Amos 8:11–12; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3; 1 Nephi 13:24–29; Joseph Smith—History 1:5–6 (The Church established by Jesus Christ was lost through apostasy)

• Isaiah 29:13–14; Acts 3:19–21; Ephesians 1:10 (The Apostasy and Restoration were foretold anciently)

• “The Message of the Restoration,” video, ChurchofJesusChrist.org

Teaching in the Savior’s Way

The Savior used scriptures to teach about His mission. How can you help the youth use the scriptures to understand how Jesus Christ restored His gospel? (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way [2016], 21.)