Joseph Smith preaching

October 4–10

Doctrine and Covenants 111–114

“I Will Order All Things for Your Good”

As you read Doctrine and Covenants 111–14, consider the spiritual truths that the Lord wants your class members to understand. The Holy Ghost will help guide you to know what principles to focus on.

Record Your Impressions

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Invite Sharing

Consider drawing a treasure chest on the board. Class members could write on the board verses from sections 111–14 where they found something they consider “much treasure” (Doctrine and Covenants 111:2). Ask several members to share what they found valuable in those verses.

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Teach the Doctrine

Doctrine and Covenants 111

The Lord can “order all things for [our] good.”

• The Lord’s counsel in Doctrine and Covenants 111 can help members of your class when they worry about temporal or spiritual concerns, just as it helped Joseph Smith with his concerns about Zion. You could begin a discussion of this section by inviting class members to list on the board things that they or people they know are worried about. Then, with those concerns in mind, they could search section 111 for counsel and comfort the Lord gives to help us. Class members could share how the Savior has helped them when they put their faith in Him.

• Members of your class may have had experiences like Joseph’s—when they felt the Lord accepted them despite their “follies” (Doctrine and Covenants 111:1). How do their experiences exemplify the truths taught in Doctrine and Covenants 111? For instance, when have they felt the Lord “order[ed] all things for [their] good”? (verse 11). What do these experiences teach them about the Savior and about themselves?

Doctrine and Covenants 112:3–15, 22

The Lord will lead those who humbly seek His will.

• To help class members discuss what section 112 teaches about humility, consider dividing the class into three groups. Give each group one of the following questions to ponder as they review verses 3–15 and 22: What is humility? How can we become more humble? What blessings are promised to the humble? Give the class time to share their answers. The groups could gain additional insights by reading Elder Quentin L. Cook’s statement in “Additional Resources” or the section titled “Humility” in Preach My Gospel (pages 126–27). Why is humility essential for doing the Lord’s work?

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  If we are humble, the Lord will guide us and answer our prayers.

Doctrine and Covenants 112:12–26

Those who are truly converted come to know Jesus Christ.

• The fact that some Apostles in 1837 turned against the Prophet is a good reminder that regardless of the calling we have or how much we know about the gospel, we must individually make sure we are truly converted. Reading the counsel the Lord gave Thomas B. Marsh to help him unify the Quorum of the Twelve can give your class insights into what conversion means. Perhaps class members could read Doctrine and Covenants 112:12–26 with a family member or friend in mind—someone who might be struggling with their faith. What truths in these verses would class members emphasize to help that person become more fully converted? Give class members time to ponder what they can do to strengthen their own conversion to the Lord.

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Additional Resources

The Christlike attribute of humility.

Elder Quentin L. Cook taught:

“Unfortunately, in our day in almost every segment of society, we see self-importance and arrogance flaunted while humility and accountability to God are denigrated. Much of society has lost its moorings and does not understand why we are on this earth. True humility, which is essential to achieve the Lord’s purpose for us, is seldom evident.

“It is important to understand the magnitude of Christ’s humility, righteousness, character, and intelligence, as exemplified in the scriptures. It is foolish to underestimate the necessity of continuously striving for these Christlike qualities and attributes on a day-by-day basis, particularly humility. …

“On July 23, 1837, the Prophet Joseph met with Elder Thomas B. Marsh, President of the Quorum of the Twelve. Elder Marsh was apparently frustrated that the Prophet had called two members of his quorum to go to England without consulting him. As Joseph met with Elder Marsh, any hurt feelings were put aside, and the Prophet received a remarkable revelation. It is now the 112th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. It gives incredible direction from heaven with respect to humility and missionary work. Verse 10 reads, ‘Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers’ [Doctrine and Covenants 112:10; emphasis added]” (“The Eternal Everyday,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 51–52).

Improving Our Teaching

Focus on people. “The way you treat people is just as important as what you teach them. Sometimes our preoccupation with presenting a lesson can prevent us from expressing our love for those we teach. … Consider how you could focus on what matters most” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 6).