Joseph Smith

March 15–21

Doctrine and Covenants 27–28

“All Things Must Be Done in Order”

The truths taught in Doctrine and Covenants 27–28 can strengthen the testimonies of the children you teach. As you consider the children’s needs, which truths are you impressed to focus on in class?

Record Your Impressions

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Invite Sharing

Show a picture of the Prophet Joseph Smith and a picture of the current prophet. Invite the children to name the people in the pictures and share things that prophets do.

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Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Doctrine and Covenants 27:1–2

The sacrament helps me remember Jesus Christ.

Young children can learn the importance of the sacrament and find ways to remember the Savior during this sacred ordinance.

Possible Activities

• Show the children a picture of Jesus giving the sacrament to His Apostles (see Gospel Art Book, no. 54). What might it be like to take the sacrament with the Savior? (see Doctrine and Covenants 27:5). Read Doctrine and Covenants 27:2, beginning with “remembering unto the Father,” and ask the children to listen for what the Savior wants us to remember when we take the sacrament.

• Show the children some bread and water and a picture of the Savior. Let the children hold the picture while you teach them that the sacrament helps us remember Jesus Christ.

• Help the children think of things they can do to remember Jesus during the sacrament. What do their families do to help each other be reverent? Invite the children to draw a picture they can look at during the sacrament to help them remember the Savior.

Doctrine and Covenants 27:15–18

The armor of God protects me.

Think of ways you can help the children you teach see how keeping the commandments is like putting on the armor of God.

Possible Activities

• Show the children a picture of armor (see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). As you read Doctrine and Covenants 27:15–18, help the children find the pieces of armor on the picture. Tell the children how the armor of God has helped you “withstand the evil day” (verse 15).

• The outline for Ephesians in Come Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2019 has an activity page about the armor of God. Cut out the pieces of armor, and let the children put them on one of the figures as you read Doctrine and Covenants 27:15–18. Help the children understand things they can do to put on the armor of God, like praying, choosing the right, serving others, and so on.

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  I can put on the armor of God.

Doctrine and Covenants 28:2, 6–7

The prophet leads the Church.

Do the children you teach know why we have prophets? Use Doctrine and Covenants 28 to help them know that the prophet is the only one who can lead the Church.

Possible Activities

• Read or tell in your own words the account of Hiram Page (see “Chapter 14: The Prophet and Revelations for the Church,” Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 56–57). Share your testimony that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ chose Joseph Smith to lead the Church in his day (see Doctrine and Covenants 28:2). Share your testimony that the current prophet is called to help the Lord lead His Church in our day.

• Ask the children to play “follow the leader”—one child could stand at the front of the room, and the rest of the children could imitate whatever he or she does. This could lead into a discussion about why we follow the prophet. You could show a picture of Jesus Christ and emphasize that we follow the prophet because he follows the Savior and speaks the Savior’s words.

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Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Doctrine and Covenants 27:1–2

The sacrament helps me remember Jesus Christ.

How can learning about the principles in Doctrine and Covenants 27:1–2 help the children you teach have a more meaningful experience taking the sacrament?

Possible Activities

• Invite the children to write down things they think the Savior would want them to know about the sacrament. If needed, they could read “Sacrament” in Guide to the Scriptures (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Let them share some of the things they wrote, and ask them to add to their lists after reading Doctrine and Covenants 27:1–2. How will the things on their lists affect how they take the sacrament each Sunday?

• Help the children think about what it means to take the sacrament “with an eye single to [God’s] glory” (verse 2). Discuss questions like the following: What are some distractions our eyes or minds might be focused on during the sacrament? What can we do to focus our attention on the Savior while we partake of the sacrament? How will this help us follow Him every day?

Doctrine and Covenants 27:15–18

The armor of God helps me withstand evil.

The children you teach will face many evil influences throughout their lives. Heavenly Father wants to help them withstand evil. How can you inspire them to put on the armor of God?

Possible Activities

• Invite the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 27:15–18 and draw the pieces of armor mentioned (if needed, they can refer to the image in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). What do the words describing each piece of armor teach us about what we need to fight the evil around us (for example, righteousness, faith, salvation, and so on)?

• Invite the children to think of things they can do to withstand temptations around them. Ask them to finish the sentence “We put on God’s armor every day by …” with their ideas. Help them see how their efforts to come unto Christ are helping them put on the armor of God.

Doctrine and Covenants 28:1–7, 15

Heavenly Father guides me through the Holy Ghost.

Doctrine and Covenants 28:1–7, 15 can help the children you teach understand that everyone can be guided by the Holy Ghost, but revelation for the Church will always be given through the prophet.

Possible Activities

• Relate the story of Hiram Page claiming to receive revelations for the Church (see “Chapter 14: The Prophet and Revelations for the Church,” Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 56–57). How would we respond to Hiram Page’s claims? Read together Doctrine and Covenants 28:1–7, 15 for some ideas.

• Help the children search the following scriptures to make a list of ways the Holy Ghost can guide them: Doctrine and Covenants 28:1, 4, 15; John 14:26; Moroni 8:26; 10:4–5. Let them work together in pairs if that is helpful. Why is the gift of the Holy Ghost so important? Share how the Holy Ghost has guided you.

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Encourage Learning at Home

Invite the children to ask their parents if they can teach a home evening lesson on something they learned in class.

Improving Our Teaching

Use music. Primary songs and hymns can help children of all ages understand and internalize gospel truths in a memorable way. They can also keep children actively engaged in learning.

activity page: God leads his Church