Hosea 1–6; 10–14; Joel: Lesson 147

Joel

“I Will Pour Out My Spirit”

This is an exciting time to live on the earth! Many prophecies and promises from the Lord are being fulfilled. Among these is the Lord’s promise “I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh” (Joel 2:28; see also Joseph Smith—History 1:41). Think of it—the Creator of the world wants to bless you with His Spirit! This lesson can help students increase their capacity to receive personal revelation from the Lord through the Holy Ghost.

Student preparation: Provide students with the question “What can I do to receive more personal revelation in my life?” Invite them to reflect on different ways they could answer. They could also look to the scriptures or teachings of Church leaders or ask people they trust for answers to the question.

Possible Learning Activities

Our capacity for personal revelation

Consider bringing containers of various sizes to class or drawing some on the board. For example, you could bring (or draw on the board) a small cup and pitcher and a large bucket. You could ask students to share which container they would choose for collecting water, money, or other items and explain why they would choose that container.

Display the following statement and invite students to discuss the accompanying question with a partner or small group. If needed, explain that capacity can mean the maximum amount something can contain.

President Russell M. Nelson gave the following invitation:

My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. … Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.“ Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 96)

• How could you use the different containers to explain to someone what it means to “increase [our] spiritual capacity to receive revelation?”

  After discussing President Nelson’s invitation, you could point to the containers and invite students to quietly reflect on their personal spiritual capacity to receive revelation. They could record their responses to the following questions in their study journal.

• Which container do you feel best represents your current capacity to receive personal revelation? Why?

• What are you experiencing in your life that could benefit from receiving more personal revelation from God?

You might explain that seminary provides opportunities to “do the spiritual work required” to receive personal revelation. Encourage students to put forth effort such as offering a silent prayer, making comments, marking scriptures, or recording thoughts in their study journals. As they engage and participate in these ways, the Holy Ghost can teach them how they might increase their capacity to receive personal revelation.

God will pour out His spirit

Joel prophesied of terrible events that would precede the second coming of Jesus Christ (see Joel 2:1–11). Joel also prophesied of great promises the Lord would fulfill to help His people in the last days.

Read Joel 2:21 and the first line in verses 22 and 23. Mark the counsel the Lord gave to His creations in the last days.

• What are some “great things” Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have done that can help you “fear not” and “be glad”?

Read Joel 2:27–29, looking for the great things the Lord promised to do in the latter days.

• What did you see in these verses that could be considered “great”?

  Students might express many truths, including that the Lord will pour out His Spirit upon all people in the latter days. Consider sharing that the angel Moroni repeated this prophecy when he visited Joseph Smith (see Joseph Smith—History 1:41).

• What are some different ways the Lord might pour out His Spirit?

  This prophecy can have multiple meanings and fulfillments. One way the Lord pours His spirit upon us is by giving us personal revelation.

  If you brought containers to class, you could demonstrate the differences between pouring, dripping, and spraying water into a container. Discuss the significance of the Lord’s promise to pour out His spirit upon us.

• How can we recognize the revelation the Lord is pouring out upon us?

  If students need help answering the previous question, you could invite half the class to read Galatians 5:22–23 and the other half to read Doctrine and Covenants 11:12–13 then share what they found. Students might also benefit from discussing the significance of the phrase all flesh in Joel 2:28 and further explained in verse 29. Help them understand that this promise is for all Heavenly Father’s children both women and men.

• What does this teach you about Heavenly Father’s desires for you?

Increasing our capacity

To help students learn how to “do the spiritual work” necessary to receive personal revelation, you could give them each a copy of the handout “Increasing Your Capacity to Receive Revelation.”

Consider placing students in groups of three and assigning every student a separate statement to study from the first part of the handout. Students could then share with their group what they learned. They could complete the second step on the handout as a group or individually.

When students have completed the handout, consider inviting them to choose one or two suggestions they feel would be most helpful for teenagers to receive personal revelation. Invite them to write these suggestions on separate pieces of paper and place them in the largest container you brought to class. You could express that the largest container can symbolize our need to increase our capacity to receive revelation.

Consider writing the following instructions on the board.

Share one of the following related to the suggestion:

1. A personal experience

2. Some advice

3. A scripture or statement

4. A question

You could invite a few students, one at a time, to draw a paper from the container. They could read to the class the suggestion they drew and then choose one thing from the board they would like to share or ask the class to share.

Consider the time you have available in class and the engagement level of your students as you determine how many suggestions to discuss. Be sure to leave enough time for students to apply what they have learned.

Apply what you have learned

To help students see the confidence Church leaders have in youth to receive revelation, consider watching “2020 Temple and Family History Leadership Instruction” from timecode 56:06 to 58:29, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles speaks to youth presidencies about adjustments made to involve them more in the work of salvation.

Consider bearing your witness that the Lord wants to pour out His Spirit and speak to all people, including your students. Invite students to reflect on ways they can increase their capacity to receive revelation in their lives. You could do this by providing the following instructions:

1. Reflect again on what you are experiencing in life that could benefit from more personal revelation from God.

2. In your study journal, draw a container with something being poured into it.

3. Label your container with one or two things you will do to increase your capacity to receive the revelation the Lord is pouring out upon you. You might add specific details of how you will try to do these things effectively.

You could invite willing students to share what they wrote.

Additional Resources

What are some other ways the prophecy of Joel has been fulfilled?

In Topics and Questions in Gospel Library we read:

Remember that all good comes from God. When the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith, he recited Joel’s prophecy that the Lord would pour out His Spirit on all flesh in the last days [see Joel 2:28–32]. While there is much evil in the world, it’s also filled with goodness and truth. This includes advances in science and medicine and efforts to increase respect for all people. Church leaders have taught that God speaks to individuals in every culture. (“Recognize That Revelation Is a Process,” Topics and Questions, Gospel Library)

How can I recognize revelation from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

President Russell M. Nelson explained:

We … hear Him more clearly as we refine our ability to recognize the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. It has never been more imperative to know how the Spirit speaks to you than right now. In the Godhead, the Holy Ghost is the messenger. He will bring thoughts to your mind which the Father and Son want you to receive. He is the Comforter. He will bring a feeling of peace to your heart. He testifies of truth and will confirm what is true as you hear and read the word of the Lord. (“Hear Him,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 90)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Moroni teaches Joseph Smith

After students have discussed Joel 2:21–23, display an image of the angel Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith. Explain that Moroni shared great things the Lord had done and would do. Invite students to share with a partner what they know about the details of the account.

Read Joseph Smith—History 1:41, looking for one of the scripture passages Moroni quoted to Joseph Smith.

• What did you find?

As you learn more about Joel’s prophecy throughout this lesson, look for reasons this prophecy may have been significant to Joseph Smith and why it can be significant to you.

Who can abide it?

Instead of summarizing the first part of Joel 2, invite students to read Joel 2:1–10, looking for some of the events that Joel prophesied would occur prior to the Savior’s Second Coming.

• Which of these things have you seen occurring in our day?

Read Joel 2:11, looking for the question Joel asked after describing the events of the last days.

• How would you rephrase the question in your own words? How might you answer it?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost. (“Revelation For the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 96)

• How do you think the Holy Ghost can help us survive the events prophesied by Joel?

Memorize scripture

After students read Joel 2:21–23, provide time for them to memorize verse 21. They could replace “O land” with their own name to increase the relevancy of the passage. You could also invite students to cross-reference or link Joel 2:21 to the doctrinal mastery passage Doctrine and Covenants 6:36.

A modern example

Students might be interested to see some examples of Joel’s prophecies. You could watch “The Joy of the Saints” from timecode 4:24 to 5:19. In this account, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shares how God guided a young woman to find His restored gospel through a dream.