Doctrine and Covenants 60-63 Insights and Teaching Activities

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INSIGHTS

Doctrine and Covenants 60-62

ICEBREAKER

For an icebreaker then, I like to start with some bad travel advice. I consider myself fortunate in that I've been lucky enough to be able to travel a bit and I can tell you that there is good advice and bad advice out there. Well, here is some of the worst travel advice I could give you:

·      30 minutes is more than enough time between flights.

·      If you drink the tap water, your system will get used to it quicker.

·      Find accommodations as you go. It's more fun that way.

·      Don't worry about eating anything before you get on the plane. Airline food is delicious.

·      The best place to keep your money and your passport is in your back pocket.

·      The airport is a very comfortable place to sleep.

·      Why visit the real thing when you can see the Disney replica instead? It's safer.

Now please, by all means, don't believe any of this or you may never want to travel again.

TRANSITION

Now that we've gotten the bad advice out of the way, we're going to spend the rest of the lesson taking a look at some GOOD travel advice. Life is a journey, and the Lord has some great travel tips for us as we go. This is the kind of travel advice that you can trust, because he knows the way.  In fact, he is the way, the truth, and the life. The scriptures have a number of what I would call "journey narratives" in them.  Accounts of God's people taking some kind of epic journey, usually to a "promised land" of some sort or a better life.  Some examples: You've got the children of Israel leaving Egypt and traveling to the promised land. Lehi and his family as they journey to the Americas. The Jaredites, Noah, the early pioneers-all describe a journey a group of faithful people embarked on. Anytime you have a journey narrative in the scriptures, God invites us to draw a comparison between their physical journey and our spiritual one. Just as they traveled to their promised land, we learn how to travel to our own, to exaltation or celestial glory. Here, in Doctrine and Covenants 60-62 we have a mini journey narrative. These are revelations that Joseph Smith received on his travels from Jackson County back to Kirtland.   Now this is on a much smaller scale than our other journey narratives, but I think we can still apply the same technique.  As we study sections 60-62, we're going to look for Traveling Truths or Voyage Values--travel advice for the journey of life.  If you want some evidence of this, just look how many "travel terms" we have in these sections. Some form of the word journey shows up at least 19 times in these sections. Then you also have terms like travel, return, trip, moving, course, arrive, and on their way. Perhaps the best title for this lesson could come from 61:24. Behold, I, the Lord have appointed a way for the journeying of my saints.  Today we're going to study that appointed way by looking at six specific Traveling Truths. 

#1 PREACH MY GOSPEL AS YOU GO

Our first travel tip shouldn't really surprise us. It's a theme that has come up over and over and over again in the Doctrine and Covenants and this week is no exception. There is something that we must do as we travel. As we encounter other people along our way, we should Doctrine and Covenants 60:13? What is it? As you travel, preach my gospel.  Remember the phrase we looked at a few weeks ago in Section 52? That they were to preach the gospel by the way.  Now this week's sections seem to focus more on how not to share the gospel than on how to share the gospel. So to examine these ideas, you know me, every once in a while, I find a little crossword puzzle can be a good way to pick out ideas from the scriptures.  I entitle this one "How NOT to share the Gospel".  And since this is a bit of a smaller puzzle, and to make it more challenging, I'm only going to give you a list of the possible places you can find the answers, but not give you the exact reference where each phrase is found.  So here we go.

2 Across: Mouths

So the answer for 2 across comes from 60:2 and is MOUTHS. Don't close your mouths as you travel.  One of the biggest things that gets in the way of us sharing the gospel with others is that we're not quite sure what we're going to say. The Lord says, open your mouths, and they shall be filled. If we are willing to make the effort to know his word and have it be in our hearts, then when we open our mouths, he promises that words will come.

5 Across: Wrath

Don't teach with wrath. Christ always taught in a spirit of meekness and invitation. Don't share with a condemning or a prideful attitude.  Nobody actually wins a Bible Bash, it's always the Spirit that loses. Maybe you've noticed this if you've ever gotten into a religious disagreement with friends or family. Did you leave with a positive feeling from that interaction? I remember near the beginning of my mission running into someone who wanted to disprove our faith through the Bible. Well, I kind of got into it with him and back and forth we went, him sharing one verse, and me sharing another. In the end, neither of us had come any closer to convincing the other that we had the truth. The atmosphere as we left was contentious and cold. I remember walking away from that experience resolved to never get into that kind of a discussion again. From then on, if I sensed that anybody just wanted to argue with us, we would stop the discussion and invite them to come to church if they were ever interested in learning more about our beliefs. We will never succeed in missionary work when we allow ourselves to get caught up in strifes of words and tumults of opinions.

7 Across: Doubting

From 60:7 We should teach without wrath or doubting. How might a missionary share with doubting? There are three things they might doubt. The missionary might doubt themselves, the message, or the investigators. I think I struggled with all three at the beginning of my mission. I'm forever grateful to my first companion, Elder Billings, who taught me this very important lesson on my first day in the field. I know you've heard me talk a lot about my experiences as a missionary in Brazil, but I also served the first few months of my mission in Oregon, while I waited for my visa to be approved. So this was in Silverton, Oregon. We went tracting door to door, and my companion did the first few to kind of show me an example of how it worked. Then he turned to me and said, OK, Elder Wilcox, it's your turn. And oh, I was super nervous and timidly went up to the door and rang the doorbell. Well, this woman came to the door and was so upset. She started yelling, and telling us to leave her alone, and how she was sick and tired of people coming to the door to try and change her, and I kind of backed away and said,  "Oh, we're sorry. So sorry for bothering you, we didn't mean to upset you", and then she slammed the door. Now as we walked away, my companion turned to me and very sternly said "Elder Wilcox, don't ever do that again". And I said "What? What did I do wrong? She was the one who freaked out!".  And he said "Don't ever apologize for trying to share the gospel with someone. All you're doing is trying to share a message of joy and hope and truth. All you're doing is trying to bless their lives. There's no need to say sorry for that. We're always polite, but we never apologize."  And after that day, I never did again. So when we share, we should do it without doubt. Without doubt in the power of the message to do good for people, without doubt that people can change, and without doubt in ourselves, that we can be instruments in God's hands to share his gospel message with the world.

8 Across: Idle

From 60:13 Don't idle away your time. When it comes to sharing the gospel, don't be lazy about it. Look for opportunities and put forth the effort it demands.

1 Down: Brethren

This is a unique one and I like it. 61:32 says

32 And from thence let them journey for the congregations of their brethren, for their labors even now are wanted more abundantly among them than among the congregations of the wicked.  I think that's an interesting distinction drawn here. You've got the congregations of our brethren and the congregations of the wicked. Both need our labors. Though proselyting is a priority in the church, sometimes, the best use of our teaching time will be among our very own congregations. Sometimes our labors are more abundantly needed among believers rather than investigators. We need to preach the gospel AND perfect the Saints. Sometimes missionaries may only want to focus their time on new conversions rather than on retention of past ones. All souls are precious in the sight of God. and both congregations need our time and labor. 

3 Down: Hide

60:2 Open your mouth and don't hide your talent because of the fear of man. That's usually the reason a lot of us shy away from opportunities to share the gospel. We're afraid of how others might react. Since this is a topic that we've already covered extensively so far this year, instead of giving a lot of commentary, I'd actually like to recommend a book to you. Besides the scriptures and the Preach my Gospel manual, it's the best advice and counsel on doing member missionary work that I've been able to find. It's called "The Power of Everyday Missionaries" by Clayton M. Christensen. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. It can really help instruct you on how to open your mouth and not hide your talent because of the fear of man.  I'll put a link to where you could get it in the description below. https://amzn.to/2QtCO1n

4 Down: Loud

That's from 60:7. I don't think that means that we need to stand up on a box and shout repentance to the world, but it does suggest enthusiasm, boldness, and urgency. 

6 Down: Haste

This is from 60:14 Don't teach in haste. When we teach, we need to slow down. Jeffrey R. Holland said "An unrushed atmosphere is absolutely essential if you are to have the Spirit of the Lord present in your [teaching]. Please don’t ever forget that. Too many of us rush. We rush right past the Spirit of the Lord trying to beat the clock in some absolutely unnecessary footrace." Jeffrey R. Holland "Teaching and Learning in the Church" Ensign, June 2007.  Since this channel is geared towards teachers in the church, we would all do well to keep this in mind. I know I've made this error many times in trying to pack too much into a lesson at one time. Slowing down and feeling the Spirit is more important than speeding up and covering a lot of material.

TRAVELING TRUTH

So our first traveling truth here is to Preach the Gospel as you go.

LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES

·      Have you ever caught yourself falling into one of the preaching pitfalls we've just discussed? 

·      What could you do to overcome it?

#2 SPEED UP, SLOW DOWN

Our second traveling truth

I noticed some interesting phrases that kept coming up in these sections. I want you to compare and contrast the instructions in the first set of scriptures with those in the second set. Do you notice anything?

·      60:1 return speedily

·      60:14 speedily return,

·      61:7 be in haste

·      61:21 take their journey in haste, take journey in haste

·      60:8 not in haste

·      60:14 not in haste

·      61:3 Not needful that this whole company of mine elders to be moving swiftly upon the waters

Perhaps you saw that in each of the first set of scriptures you have the Lord encouraging the travelers to hurry up. To go speedily.  To be in haste. But then the verses in the second section all seem to say, "slow down". Don't go in haste. It is not needful that the whole company be moving swiftly.

That begs the question then. Which is it? What should we do in life, slow down or speed up?  The answer is: It depends! Depending on our situation we may need more of one than the other. For some people, God needs to tell them to speed up a bit--to take their journey in haste. Get moving! Stop idling away your time! Remember section 58? Don't be a slothful servant. Be anxiously engaged in a good cause.  Maybe we're too distracted by our phones or Netflix, video games or social media and we're letting things that matter most be monopolized by things that matter least. Maybe we've let a little laziness creep in when it comes to our church calling, or taking care of our homes, our health, or our relationships. A good example of this principle comes from the journey of the Jaredites. Remember when they get to shore of the ocean. It says that they remained there for four years, and then the Lord chastises the Brother of Jared for not praying to him. I don't think it's very likely that the Brother of Jared stopped praying altogether during those four years, but I think it was he may have stopped looking for instruction on how to proceed from there. Life was probably pretty good there on the beach.  The ocean was scary, the way not clear, but the beach was comfortable and familiar. Sometimes we may get to those kind of points in our lives--where everything seems to be ok--where we kind of begin to plateau spiritually. But God may need to remind us at times that we haven't come this far, to just come this far. We're not to the promised land yet. So speed up a bit. Don't idle away your time on the beach of life. Get building barges, shove off from shore. Your promised land still lies on the other side of the ocean.

On the other hand, sometimes God may need to tell us to slow down a little. Perhaps we're running faster than we have strength.  Perhaps our priorities need to be adjusted.  Look at 61:3

it is not needful for this whole company of mine elders to be moving swiftly upon the waters, whilst the inhabitants on either side are perishing in unbelief. 

So, here it's, "You're moving too quickly. There are people that need you. They need your time and attention. They're perishing."  I know that I've gotten that impression before from my Father in Heaven. Sometimes I get a little too caught up in a project or a goal when there are important people in my life that need my time and attention. So the Lord has had to gently remind me: slow down a little. You don't need to be so busy all the time. You're overextending yourself. It's not needful for you to be moving so swiftly. Your family needs you right now. Your ward members need you right now. Your students need you right now. People are more important than projects. Or sometimes it's you need some time to rest and relax. It would be good for you to take a nap right now, to go on a walk in nature, to watch a silly TV show, to go and spend some time at the temple. Perhaps you've overcommitted yourself to too many things and you need to say no a little more often or remove some things from your schedule.

This is another one of those balancing truths that I'm always talking about. An area where we need to seek the middle way. In life, sometimes we need to pick up our pace, and at other times, we need to slow down.  And sometimes that can even be different for different areas of your life. Maybe you need to speed up a bit when it comes to your spirituality, but slow down when it comes to work. Maybe you're very balanced when it comes to taking care of your home and health, but you need to speed up when it comes to giving time and attention to your spouse. Whatever role or area of life we find ourselves in at any time, look for that balance.

TRAVELING TRUTH

Sometimes we need to speed up, and sometimes we need to slow down. Be attuned to the Spirit in order to know which.

LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES

·      Which of the two messages do you need most at this time? Do you need to speed up or slow down? 

·      What specifically could you do today to make that up or downshift?

#3 BEWARE OF DANGEROUS WATERS

ICEBREAKER

I want to spend a little more time on this next principle. It's an important one and is the major focus of section 61. In fact, I'd like to even give it its own icebreaker. I would begin a discussion of this section by showing part of the following Church video. It's entitled "Blessed and Happy are Those who Keep the Commandments of God". It depicts a story told in General Conference one year from a talk given by Elder Von G. Keetch of the Seventy. He talks about running into a group of surfers on the beach who are complaining about a large barrier stretching across the mouth of a bay and keeping them from enjoying the large waves just beyond. As they complain, an older gentleman with a pair of binoculars approaches them and invites them to examine the barrier a little closer. Well to their astonishment, with the binoculars, they can see the large dorsal fins of numerous sharks feeding just beyond the barrier. It hadn't been placed there to keep them from enjoying themselves, but to protect them. They were dangerous waters, and it would be foolish to venture into them. I would just show the video up to time stamp 2:34 seconds and then pause it. It may be a good idea to show the rest of the video at the end of the lesson.

TRANSITION

Section 61 of the Doctrine and Covenants also talks about some dangerous waters. Back in the early American frontier, the nation’s waterways were its highways. They were the quickest and most practical means of travel. However, river travel did have its dangers. Natural and man-made. As Joseph and his companions are traveling back to Kirtland, they find themselves canoeing the Missouri river. The Missouri river was considered a bit more of a dangerous river to travel than say, the Mississippi. It wasn't as wide, it was swifter moving, and it had lots of snags and submerged obstacles. There were also many man made dangers on the rivers: con men, foul language, river pirates, alcoholism, gambling, prostitution, thieves.  If you've ever read Huckleberry Finn, you get a sense of these dangerous conditions. At one point in the journey, the canoe Joseph and the others are paddling hits a submerged tree and almost capsizes. The men were terrified, and Joseph ordered them off the river.  The section heading also tells us that William W. Phelps had had some kind of vision on the river. It says that he saw the destroyer riding in power upon the face of the waters.  Now exactly what that means or what exactly he saw, I'm not sure. And I'm not sure that "the destroyer" necessarily means Satan either.

There is a bit of a church urban legend that has grown up around this section. It goes something like this.  Satan has control over the water in the last days making them inherently dangerous. That's the reason why missionaries aren't supposed to go swimming, because if they do, Satan could get control of them and drag them down to a watery grave. Now, I don't believe that, and I've never seen any official church statement warning us of the danger of water. We don't have to have special filters on our faucets to keep the evil spirts out. I imagine the reason missionaries aren't allowed to go swimming is because of safety concerns. Swimming and water sports can often be risky, and mission rules usually prohibit higher risk activities. Missionaries aren't allowed to go rock climbing, skydiving, or skiing either. It also just doesn't make much sense to me that God would turn over such a large portion of the surface of this earth to the power of the adversary.  The earth is his creation and his dominion. So yes, you can go swimming and boating, and scuba diving without any concerns for your soul. In fact, there are a number of verses within this section itself that suggest that water is not a problem for members of Christ's church.

·      :6 If you are faithful, you don’t have to worry about the water.

·      :16 Those that are upright in heart will be safe upon the water.

·      :22 Doesn’t matter if you go by water or by land.   (So, if water in and of itself was dangerous, why would the Lord say here that it didn't matter to him if they went by water or by land on a future journey)

·      :28 Follow the commandments whether you are on the water or the land.

So no, this section does not suggest a ban on water travel or activities. Rather, it probably suggests that those particular areas of the Missouri river weren't as safe for Saints traveling to Zion to be on. Ok, well then, what do we do with this section? Is it kind of an anomaly with a message that's only applicable to the men that were there at that time? Or is there possibly a broader message that can be more widely applied? I believe the latter.

The dangerous waters can be symbolic here as well. There's a big hint at this in verses 14. He says:

14 Behold, I, the Lord, in the beginning blessed the waters; but in the last days, by the mouth of my servant John, I cursed the waters.

What's he talking about there. He's referring to a prophecy made by John in the Book of Revelation. The Book of Revelation is a very symbolic book. And the waters in the Book of Revelation are a symbol for the people of the world. Seas and waves of people. And Satan comes up out of the waters in the Book of Revelation, showing that he would have great control over many people and nations in the last days. Now that makes sense doesn't it. Satan may not have dominion over the actual water of the earth, but he definitely has dominion over many people, over much of mankind. Only those that are upright in heart can ever hope to navigate those dangerous waters safely.

That begs a great discussion question. Why is turbulent water a good symbol for Satan and his kingdom?

Rough and turbulent waters are powerful and can drag you away in its control, much like sin. Call me morbid, but I make it a point to read all the Search and Rescue reports in my area. I like to be aware of the dangers that people encounter in areas that I like to recreate in hopes that I will be able to avoid similar occurrences.  Every spring in Big and Little Cottonwood canyons, people drown in the rushing streams that form from the spring snowmelt. Though the rivers really aren't that wide, they are deceptively swift and powerful. Unfortunately, every year, people underestimate the power of those waters, and they are sucked in, pinned against rocks and logs, and drown. Do you remember the symbol the Lord used in Lehi's dream to show him the consequences of sin or the depths of hell? He saw a raging filthy river which caught up many and swept them away to destruction. Once we are pulled into the waters of worldliness, our spirits and faith are deprived of spiritual air and we suffocate. Oftentimes, addictions work this way. The water seems ok, it looks refreshing, how dangerous can it be. People dip their toes in, walk a little further from shore, and before they know it, they are being pulled down river in a current that seems impossible to resist. Another reason, water is unstable. Have you ever tried to stand up in a canoe or a kayak? It's easy to get flipped in. Satan's kingdom is unstable, the ways of men are unstable, the standards and values of the world are constantly shifting and moving. Another reason, water can often hide the dangers beneath its surface. Like in the video at the beginning, sharks may lurk there. Or with Joseph and the Missouri river, submerged logs or snags that threaten to tip our canoes.  I did a kayaking trip with my family down the San Rafael river a few years ago. At one point in the trip, my sons were paddling ahead of me and on the surface of the water we could see only a small branch sticking out of the middle of the river. But what was hidden from our view was a much larger tree trunk just below the surface of the water. When my older son came to that spot, his kayak got stuck on the edge of the log and flipped it completely over. Well, my other son, who was following close behind, came to the exact same spot, and sure enough his kayak flipped over. So now I had two boys in the water and two kayaks to try and retrieve all at the same time. I obviously prioritized making sure that both boys were OK, and then watched our kayaks swiftly float away from us on the river. Luckily, about a mile downstream somebody was able to stop them and pull them onto the shore. But we were very worried for a long time that we had lost all our supplies and kayaks. 

Well, what's the Lord's advice for the dangerous waters of the world then? What message do you pull out of the following verses?

:4-5

4 Nevertheless, I suffered it that ye might bear record; behold, there are many dangers upon the waters, and more especially hereafter;

5 For I, the Lord, have decreed in mine anger many destructions upon the waters; yea, and especially upon these waters.

:15

15 Wherefore, the days will come that no flesh shall be safe upon the waters.

:18-19

18 And now I give unto you a commandment that what I say unto one I say unto all, that you shall forewarn your brethren concerning these waters, that they come not in journeying upon them, lest their faith fail and they are caught in snares;

19 I, the Lord, have decreed, and the destroyer rideth upon the face thereof, and I revoke not the decree.

What would you say is the Lord's message about dangerous places then?

Stay away from them at all costs. Travel with great caution. There are many snares upon the waters of the world. Don't travel in dangerous waters.  Stay away from places where temptations lurk, and Satan's power is strong. You may not need to worry about going swimming at the lake because you're worried that Satan has dominion there, but you do need to worry about going to other places where Satan really does have dominion.  Can you think of any examples of dangerous waters? Environments or places where temptations abound, and Satan's power is evident? What are some of the dangerous waters of today? Can you give me any examples?

Sitting alone with unfiltered access to the Internet can be dangerous waters.

Certain parties can be dangerous waters.

Spending time alone or flirting with a person that is not your spouse can be dangerous waters.

Bars, casinos, certain dance clubs or shows can be dangerous waters.

Spending a lot of time with a group of people that swear, drink, smoke, do drugs, or talk about inappropriate things can be dangerous waters.

A good example of this principle comes from the life of Peter. Perhaps you remember the savior’s prophecy that he would deny him three times before that night was over. The smartest thing Peter could've done would be to go home and lock himself in the closet until the rooster crowed. Instead, he Went to the absolute worst place he could've gone if he wished to avoid being caught in a situation where he would be tempted to deny the Savior. He went to Caiaphas palace. A place that was swarming with the enemies of Christ. He went into dangerous waters.

There are a lot of snares that surround us, and we would do well to stay away from them.   I like this short quote from one of my favorite movies "A Man for All Seasons":  A man should go where he won't be tempted".  Not only should we not go to these places, but we should forewarn each other about the as he said in verse 18.  Now, what do you think we should do if we ever find ourselves traveling in dangerous waters?  We should get out! Head to shore. Seek to travel on the of bedrock of terra firma and avoid the instability of the turbulent torrents of temptation.  Joseph of Egypt is a good example of this. When he knew that Potiphar's wife was after him, he tried very hard not to be around her. He sought to avoid the dangerous waters. But when she corners him, what does he do? The scriptures say that "he fled and got him out".  We can do the same.

So a final activity. Number off your students from one to four and assign them a verse. Look in your verse for advice on how to avoid dangerous waters.

Suggestions for staying out of the water

·      :10  Be faithful, and you will be preserved. Make sure you have a strong foundation of faith on your journey.  Pray, study, worship. These things will keep your faith strong and your resistance to temptation secure.

·      :37 humble yourselves. Pride cometh before the fall.  I recently read a story in the news where a social media star was trying to get an impressive selfie near a large waterfall. Sadly, they slipped and lost their life. We've got to be humble and recognize the power and danger of Satan's waters and stay far away from them.

·      :39 This is a verse that seems to solidify in my mind the idea that this chapter is much more about spiritual dangers than physical ones. This is the final verse of the section, and it doesn't contain a warning about water, or rapids, or submerged logs. It says, pray always that you enter not into temptation, that you may abide the day of his coming.  So prayer will help us to avoid temptation. If we ever find ourselves being tempted to enter the waters of the world, we should pray for strength that we enter it not.

·      And that leads up perfectly into 62:1, What does the Lord teach us about temptation here?

It says that he knows our weaknesses and he knows how to succor those that are tempted.  Succor means to rescue. Or if you break the word down into its Latin roots, it means to run to help you. The other place I've seen that word in scripture comes from Alma's description of the atonement back in Alma 7:11-12. Those verses describe all the things the Savior felt or experienced during his sufferings in the Garden of Gethsemane and the cross. They tell us all the things that filled his bitter cup. One of them, you'll notice, is temptations. Christ felt our temptations.  So he knows what it feels like to be tempted. And therefore, he knows how to help us through it! That is part of the enabling power of the Atonement. We can receive and be rescued by that power, if we pray and turn to Christ in those moments that we are tempted. 1 Corinthians 10:13 to mind:

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The atonement is Christ's means of helping us to escape our temptations. He comes to rescue us and give us the strength we need to overcome. Have you ever experienced that enabling power in your own life? There may be times when we look heavenward and say, "I'm just not strong enough, Lord".  And he says "I know, you're not. But I am, and I can give you power to escape. Turn to me, rely on me, and I will rescue you from your temptations and weaknesses".  And he can. And he does.  I really believe it's that straightforward. When you're tempted, pray. Ask for help. Be humble enough to recognize that you can 't do it on your own. Draw strength from Christ and his succor will come. 

TRAVELING TRUTH #3

Stay away from dangerous waters. Avoid places where you might be tempted.

LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES

·      Are there any dangerous waters you've been wading into lately? 

·      What are you going to do to avoid them in the future?

A great way to conclude this portion of the lesson would be to show the remaining minutes of the video we started with. Elder Keetch does a great job of driving this message home.

#4 DON'T TRAVEL ALONE

Traveling Truth #4.  A shorter one here.  Look at the following verse and see if you can find a traveling truth in it. How should we travel?  61:35

61:35 The Lord tells them journey together, two by two.  The truth: It's not good to travel alone. Sometimes you need a Samuel Smith to travel with. Companionship and friendship are eternal principles of travel through life. Therefore, God has provided us with many possible traveling companions. Ideally, we travel as families, or we travel as husbands and wives, or we travel as fellow ward members, or in companionships and friendships.  But completely alone is not good. Like the Lord said to Adam "It is not good that man should be alone".  Now I'm not talking about being single here. I'm talking about isolating ourselves from others and the outside world. In order to find happiness and safety in life, it is wise to travel with good companions.

These sections suggest some other travel companions we can travel with as well. Who do we have in 61:10, 36?

61:10,36 We can travel with the Savior. Christ promises us that he is with us and in our midst. Don't forget to make sure that Christ is traveling with you. Like the apostles on the Sea of Galilee, the only way Jesus was able to still their storm was because he was there with them, in their boat. Well, make sure that Jesus is in your boat! Don't shove off the shore without a place for him.  Reserve a nice bench for him. Remember there may be times when it seems like he's sleeping in the middle of your storms, but it's OK, he won't let you sink. We may not always see him, but he's there.

And then another great companion to take with you. Who in 62:8?

8 These things remain with you to do according to judgment and the directions of the Spirit.

Make sure you have the Spirit with you. The Spirit will provide you with relevant and timely inspiration for your journey.  Like a GPS recalculating your route.  Sometimes the situation at hand requires new input and factors to consider and the Spirit can be there to help navigate those difficult situations. He can also warn you of danger, help you to recognize truth, and comfort you in troubling times.

One more thought. When it comes to making friendships or creating relationships it's always good to ask yourself two questions. Both are important, but it's absolutely critical that you ask them in the right order. The first question is, "Where am I going?" The second one should be, "Who am I going with?"  Be sure to determine where YOU are going first, then use that information to help determine the answer to the second question and the kinds of people that you decide you'll travel with. Some people ask, "Who am I going with?"  first. And that can be an unfortunate decision at times. Because what if that individual has an entirely different destination in mind? Either you will be taken somewhere you never intended to be, or there may be a painful parting later.

TRAVELING TRUTH #4

Don't travel alone. Be sure to fill your boat with the right companions.

LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES

·      What travel companions are you grateful for? 

·      What could you do to show them your appreciation?

#5 BE OF GOOD CHEER

Another short one.  How should we travel according to this verse?

61:36 He says, "Be of good cheer, little children, for I am in your midst".   As we make our way through life, hopefully we can be of good cheer. It's important that we find joy in the journey--even with tribulation, even with dangers, even with persecution, joy is still possible. One of my favorite talks ever on this topic comes from Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin from general conference of October 2008 entitled "Come what May, and Love it".  He offers us some great and inspiring counsel on finding joy in the journey--in the ups AND downs of life.  And by the way, he tells some hilarious stories in this talk. But here's just a snippet from that talk:

"How can we love days that are filled with sorrow? We can’t—at least not in the moment. I don’t think my mother was suggesting that we suppress discouragement or deny the reality of pain. I don’t think she was suggesting that we smother unpleasant truths beneath a cloak of pretended happiness. But I do believe that the way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life.

If we approach adversities wisely, our hardest times can be times of greatest growth, which in turn can lead toward times of greatest happiness."

Joseph B. Wirthlin

(Conference Report, October 2008)

Hopefully, we can find joy in life despite the hardships and trials that we may face. There's a lot to enjoy in this life. The taste of good food, the comfort of loving relationships, the beauties of creation, the fulfillment of hard work, accomplishment, or creativity, and so much more. Be of good cheer! Remember that men are that they might have joy!

TRAVELING TRUTH #5

Find joy in the journey! Be of good cheer.  Despite the difficulties.

LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES

What things in life bring you the most joy?

#6 REMEMBER GOD'S MERCY

Final traveling truth

Just like preaching the gospel, there is another major theme that comes up over and over in the Doctrine and Covenants. And that's the theme of forgiveness. In fact, it's almost like a Where's Waldo in each section. You're gonna find it in almost every section of the Doctrine and Covenants.  So we're going to play the "Find Forgiveness" game right now. Be the first person to find it, and if you're teaching youth, you could throw out a treat to whoever finds it first.

60:7

7 And in this place let them lift up their voice and declare my word with loud voices, without wrath or doubting, lifting up holy hands upon them. For I am able to make you holy, and your sins are forgiven you.

In 61, you'll find it twice.

61:2

2 Behold, verily thus saith the Lord unto you, O ye elders of my church, who are assembled upon this spot, whose sins are now forgiven you, for I, the Lord, forgive sins, and am merciful unto those who confess their sins with humble hearts;

61:20

20 I, the Lord, was angry with you yesterday, but today mine anger is turned away.

62:3

3 Nevertheless, ye are blessed, for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon; and they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgiven you.

Once again, the principle of God's willingness and enthusiasm to forgive is highlighted. If you wanted to approach this section as a brief handout, you could place each of these verses next to each other in one and have them circle their favorite phrase and write a brief explanation of why. Probably my favorite of those verses is in 61:20. I was angry with you yesterday, but today mine anger is turned away. I love how quickly God is able to forgive. He gets over things really fast. People aren't usually like that; we hold grudges that can last days or even years. It kind of reminds me of how Nephi forgives Laman and Lemuel right after they've tried to kill him. The scriptures tell us that he frankly forgave them. It's almost like he says, "Ah no worries. Guys. Forget about it. You just tried to kill me, you know, no big deal. I forgive you. “ That’s seems to be how Christ forgives too. Frankly. Quickly. Easily. Willingly. 

TRUTH

As you travel: Remember God's grace. God forgives, and he forgives quickly

LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES

How has the promise of God's grace helped you on your journey?

CONCLUSION

One final concluding activity here. A question for your students to ponder: Which of the 6 TRAVELING TRUTHS meant the most to you today and why? Perhaps you could have some of them share or you could just give them some quiet pondering time.

Well, I hope that your travels through life will be exciting, joyful, and both physically and spiritually safe.  Even though the journey of life may be fraught with danger, God has given us the guidance and knowledge that will make it possible for us to safely return to our heavenly home. As someone who likes to travel, the metaphor works really well with me. Life is like a tour. There are amazing things to see and experience. Yet, at the same time you sometimes have long, tedious plane flights, sometimes you get lost, sometimes the food and accommodations are bad, and sometimes you just get exhausted.  Overall, though, in the long run, the good stuff far outweighs the bad. I strive to enjoy life in the same way. Still, as exciting and joyful as traveling can be, really, there's no place like home. So until we arrive at our heavenly home, remember these traveling truths, remember that God has "appointed a way for the journeying of his Saints”, and endure to the end.

Doctrine and Covenants 63

BACKGROUND

There is only one section to cover this week and I want to begin by saying that every section of the Doctrine and Covenants has great value and something to offer us. That said, section 63 doesn't seem to stand out as being as remarkable or unique as say, a section 58, or 76, or even 64 that we'll take a look at next week, so I'm a little surprised that the manual dedicates an entire week to it, but that said, there are some great and valuable truths that we can learn from section 63. I will begin by saying, though, that sometimes people find the tone of section 63 a bit troubling. It's a little, what word should I use, um, harsher than most. I don't want to say angry, but stronger or more critical than many of the other sections we've seen so far this year. A few examples of this:

Verses 2-6

2 Yea, verily, I say, hear the word of him whose anger is kindled against the wicked and rebellious;

3 Who willeth to take even them whom he will take, and preserveth in life them whom he will preserve;

4 Who buildeth up at his own will and pleasure; and destroyeth when he pleases and is able to cast the soul down to hell.

5 Behold, I, the Lord, utter my voice, and it shall be obeyed.

6 Wherefore, verily I say, let the wicked take heed, and let the rebellious fear and tremble; and let the unbelieving hold their lips, for the day of wrath shall come upon them as a whirlwind, and all flesh shall know that I am God.

Verse 17

Certain people "shall have their part in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

Verse 54

"And in that day will I send mine angels to pluck out the wicked and cast them into unquenchable fire."

Verse 58

58 For this is a day of warning, and not a day of many words. For I, the Lord, am not to be mocked in the last days.

And then the final word in the section besides Amen, is condemnation in Verse 66

And those are just a few examples from the section, there are more. We're not as used to this kind of language coming from the prophet's nowadays, are we? It doesn't settle as well on modern ears. We prefer the calm, reassuring voices of an Elder Uchtdorf, or a President Nelson. But, the Lord knows his audience and what they most need to hear. The people of that time were a little more used to that kind of preaching. That Puritan, hellfire and brimstone, kind of approach so perhaps the Lord knew that they would respond better to that. The background to the section can also shed some light on the reason for the tone here. When Joseph returns to Kirtland from Missouri, things have deteriorated a bit in his absence. There has been some apostasy, some criticism of Joseph's leadership, some reports of adultery and other sins among the members. And not only that, but if you dig a little into the current events of this time and some of the things going on in the world it might help shed some light on the seeming exasperation here. The African slave trade is going full tilt at this point, the British are on an Imperial quest for world domination, there's opium addiction in China, the serfdom system in Russia, the industrial revolution creating terrible conditions for the poor, native populations are being wiped out in places like Australia and others--the world is kind of a mess and perhaps the Lord is expecting a bit more out of his Saints. Like "I was hoping my Saints could be doing a little bit better".  I don't claim to know the mind of God, but it's hard to miss the tone of the section. And granted, sometimes that's exactly the kind of message we need to hear. Correction and rebuke are necessary at times.  Revelation 3:19

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 

Regardless of that overall tone, there is still hope, instruction, promise, and inspiration in this section as well. So, let's see what we can find.

ICEBREAKER

I'm going to approach this week a bit differently than usual and I hope that's OK.  I'd like to use this section to illustrate the importance of variety when it comes to teaching. It's not always good to approach every lesson in the exact same way, especially if you're teaching the youth. So on occasion, to change up the pace a little bit, I might do an activity lesson. Section 63 is a good place to do this because there are a lot of varied principles and messages found in it.  It's a little more difficult to pull together an overall unifying message here. This activity will allow you to cover a lot of different principles in a short amount of time. And have some fun doing it.  So this week I'd like to introduce you to a learning activity that has worked really well for me over the years. Truly, it's one of my students’ favorite things to do and it's very simple to play. It's called The Grid. And I can't take credit for this activity, I have to give that to my good friend Kevin Woodbrey who introduced it to me years ago. But here's how it works.

I have a number of different principles from section 63 that I've discovered in my personal study. I've listed and mixed up all these principles onto one sheet of paper, including some that don't come from section 63, to make it a bit more challenging. I then divide my class up into teams (and teams of four seem to work best) and I give them the principle sheet. I also give each of my teams a small whiteboard and an erasable marker as well. For whiteboards you can either buy a set from Amazon which I'll put a link to in the description below for you (https://amzn.to/34xK5AV) or you can do what I did years ago, and I went to Home Depot where they have large sheets of whiteboard and I had them cut it into 12 in by 12 in squares. And those have come in handy over the years as I've used them in numerous activities.

Well, then you are going to give them a verse or verses of scripture from section 63.  As teams, they'll race to those verses and determine which letter has the principle with the best match.  They write down that letter and raise it up for the teacher to see. Whichever team raises the correct letter first, wins the round and gets a chance to select a number from the grid and follow the instructions beneath it. If you want to discourage guessing, you can tell them that once they've raised a letter, they can't put up another one until all the other teams have had a chance to raise one first.  Now when they select a number, you click on it and underneath each is either an instruction or a point value.

Some of the possible point values are

·      5 points

·      10 points

·      25 points

·      50 points

·      and

·      100 points

There are also a few negative point values, like

·      -5 points

·      -10 points and

·      -25 points

Whatever point value that appears, that will be added or deducted from their total score.

·      They might also find an instruction underneath.

·      Some of the possible instructions you might find are:

·      Pick two more. Which allows them to pick two more numbers.

·      Bring them to your level. Which means they select another team to have the same score as they do.

·      Match. Which means they can pick any of the other teams scores to match and make as their own.

·      Double. Which means they double their score

·      Triple. Which means they triple their score

·      A bomb, I always put one bomb on the board which causes a team to lose all their points.

·      And then Swap. Which means they have to switch their score with another team, which can either be good or bad thing depending on whether your team is ahead or behind.

Well, you just go through the game like that until you run out of time, or you finish all the principles.  Whichever team has the highest score at the end, wins!

What works really well with this activity is the fact that it is so unpredictable, with swaps and bombs and matches, that really any team can win by the end. Sometimes you might get a team that seems to dominate with the most correct answers, but that doesn't necessarily mean they will win. They could get a SWAP right at the very end.  This keeps the other teams motivated to keep trying their best, because anything can happen.

I'm going to make both the principle sheet and the game template available for download at my Etsy site if you're interested. Just be sure to select "Enable Macros" when you open the game slide, or it won't work.

So what we'll do for the rest of the video is I'll give you the verses of scripture that I found principles in and I'll tell you the correct match. And since I know that a lot of you join me not only for the teaching ideas, but for insight into the scriptures, I'll provide you with a little bit of commentary on each principle as we go. As you do the activity with your students, you may also want to provide a little commentary so that it's more than just a game, but a learning experience as well. We'll go through these verses in order to keep it easy to follow here on the video, but I wouldn't necessarily do that if I were actually doing the activity with my students.

Now if you're teaching adults, this may not be the greatest approach, but who knows, maybe it would? Another idea though, I might pass out some pieces of paper with some of the blocks of verses I have here and have them identify their own truths from those parts and then encourage a class discussion based on what's shared.

Anyway that you do it, here are some possible thoughts as to what might be discussed.

The Section Heading.

The Match: J

We should seek Godly wisdom on all things related to our salvation.

I love that description of the Saints desires here in the Section heading. "there was a great anxiety to obtain the word of the Lord upon every subject that in any way concerned our salvation". What a wonderful attitude.  They had great anxiety to obtain the word of the Lord. Do we feel that same anxiety? Do we seek the word of the Lord on every subject that in any way concerns our salvation? Joseph Smith and the early Saints had a deep thirst and hunger for more of God's wisdom. And therefore, they got it.  He that asks shall receive, and he that seeks, shall find. Do you remember that scene from the musical Oliver, when he asks for more food? And then the headmaster screams and punishes him. More! That's not how our Heavenly Father reacts. He likes to give more. It's OK to ask for more. Now we don't want to take that too far and become slothful servants either,  BUT we can always be reaching for more light and truth. We believe in a God that likes to give more to those who seek it. 2 Nephi 28:30. "for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have."

:2, 6

Match: P

The Lord is displeased with the wicked, the rebellious, and the unbelieving.

Those three terms are interesting to me. I think we often lump those all together into the same group, thinking they mean the same thing, but perhaps there’s some nuance there. Is there a difference between wickedness, rebelliousness and unbelief? I think we can parse that out a bit. The wicked are those who neither really know or do the will of the Lord and perhaps they don't even care.  Maybe there's even an element of ignorance attached to their wickedness. The rebellious, on the other hand, are those who know the truth but won't do it. They have received a knowledge and an understanding of the will of God and yet choose to rebel against it. This is the cry of anti-authority. Some people just don't want to be told what to do, no matter what it is. Unfortunately, that seems to be a part of the American spirit doesn't it. Don't tell me what to do. You're not the boss of me. I'm free to do whatever I want. That sometimes becomes the ultimate value, even above right and wrong, or wisdom and foolishness. The truth is rejected for the sole reason that it's coming from someone in a position of authority and nobody's going to tell me what to do. I did it my way. How sad is that? And the unbelieving are those who refuse to know. They may not even be acting against the will of God, but there's no faith behind their actions. They don't believe in a higher power, a higher law, or a higher knowledge. Can atheists be good people? Sure. I don't think they need to be classified as wicked. But they're unbelieving. They completely reject the idea and necessity of faith. Hopefully we don't find ourselves in any of those groups or we may eventually find ourselves facing a "day of wrath".

:9-12

Match:  A

Signs typically follow faith and confirm it, but they do a terrible job of creating it.

Sign seekers are those who refuse to believe with their spiritual eyes, until they've witnessed something miraculous with their natural eyes. Unfortunately for them, signs are designed to build on faith that already exists. Miracles are an excellent framing material for testimony, but are a terrible foundation. In building, you use concrete for the foundation and wood for the frame. Both are great building materials but need to be used in the proper place and time. Imagine building a building with a wood foundation on the ground and a concrete frame. I'm no architect, but I can imagine that building is not going to stand for long. Signs follow faith but don't do a good job of creating it.  Laman and Lemuel saw an angel and yet continued to rebel against God. The children of Israel saw the Red Sea part, and yet they're building a golden calf a short time later.  At this time in Church History, there's a man named Ezra Booth that had joined the early after witnessing a miraculous healing performed by Joseph Smith. A woman named Alice Johnson had a debilitated arm and Joseph walks up and commands her to be healed, and she is. And yet, a short time later, Ezra apostatizes from the church and becomes a bitter enemy to it. His foundation was backwards.  Signs follow faith.  Faith precedes the miracle. However, you'll notice that I had to add the word typically in that principle, and that's because there have been occasions where signs were given to those that did not have initial faith. In verse 11, the Lord says that for those that are without faith, "unto such he showeth no signs, only in wrath unto their condemnation". So sometimes he will show the wicked signs, but they're never good ones. Korihor from the Book of Mormon is a good example of this. He demanded a sign. And the Lord's sign to him was that he would be struck dumb, which eventually leads to his downfall and death. So be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it.   Signs don't come by the will of man, but by the will of God. They are generous and I would argue usually infrequent examples of God's miraculous power.

12 Wherefore, I, the Lord, am not pleased with those among you who have sought after signs and wonders for faith, and not for the good of men unto my glory.

Usually that's the reason we want a sign. We want our curiosity satisfied, or undeniable confirmation of what is being taught by the scriptures or prophets. We forget that "The just shall live by faith" (Hebrew 10:38) If we seek a sign for the good of men unto God's glory, though, that's different. Because it's not focused on us. But others and God. Selfish sign seeking doesn't usually work.  But unselfish seeking of God's hand in the affairs of mankind can and does often produce miracles.  Now I'm not as concerned that there are many members out there that are demanding a lot of miraculous signs like this or they won't believe. They're not asking for the "Red Sea Parting" kind of miracles.  But perhaps we seek for signs in a different way.  Maybe we get too wrapped up in the world confirming church doctrine. I'll believe it when there's scientific proof backing it up. I want DNA confirmation for the Book of Mormon, I want nutritionists to confirm the Word of Wisdom, I want social scientists to tell me why I should avoid pornography.  Or, I can trust my Heavenly Father and his prophets. They don't need to be propped up by the experts and the philosophies of men. Now it's nice when they do and it's ok to be comforted by that, but it's not needed. We don't need a sign. We live by faith.

:13-18

Match: O

Lust, adultery, and sexual sin are snares that bring a loss of the Spirit, a denial of faith, and fear.

Apparently, adultery and lust had crept in among the early congregations of the church at this time. Sadly, this still continues to be an issue today. And the world certainly doesn't help, does it? We're surrounded by messages and images of immorality. An effort by the adversary to portray sex as casual has largely been successful in the world. It's in advertising, it's on magazine covers, it's in movies, on television, in books. The world revels in sensuality and indulgence.  I'm always a bit annoyed by the hypocrisy of Hollywood that bills itself as progressive and empowering of women while at the same time they fill their screens with sex and nudity and sensuality and immodesty. The world inspires and fuels lust.  Now lust is one of Satan's counterfeits. It's a counterfeit for love and affection. Lust is completely focused on self.  The other person is seen as an object of selfish sexual gratification and not as a precious son or daughter of God with infinite worth and potential. There is no partnership or commitment in lust. That's why it's so fleeting and prone to change and we have individuals who jump from partner to partner, relationship to relationship without ever experiencing love. They say, this other person no longer makes ME feel a certain way. So I need to go find another person that inspires that excitement and attraction and intensity that I once felt for this other person. It's not love, it's lust, and that intensity of passion, doesn't last. It can't. It's not natural to. But love is committed, it works through difficulties, it understands, and forgives and compromises. It's realistic. The words are so interesting here. Snare and folly. A snare is a trap that lures the victim in with a promise of reward. With bait. Like it says in Proverbs 7:23:

"Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life."

Lust works this way. It draws you in without many even realizing that their life is on the line. Their spiritual life. Their peace. Their current or future relationships.

Verse 16 reminds us that "he that looketh on a woman to lust after her, or if any shall commit adultery in their hearts, they shall not have the Spirit, but shall deny the faith and shall fear."

I think that sheds some light on another major problem in today's world, pornography. Some say pornography isn't that bad because it doesn't hurt anybody. I beg to differ. It hurts plenty. It hurts spouses, it hurts children, it hurts communities, it hurts the individual involved in it. Pornography kills love. Others in the world argue that pornography is only natural for people (particularly men) to want to look at it. And I argue, what's natural about it? When has it ever, in the history of the world, been possible for a person to have access to so many different partners, albeit virtual. It isn't natural and it isn't healthy. Spiritually or psychologically.

What are the consequences of lust? Adultery? or Pornography? One. They shall not have the Spirit.  We lose the Spirit when we indulge in lust. We lose its guidance, its comfort, its peace.  Lust causes us to deny the faith. Lust is corrosive to the foundation of faith. I know of a number of individuals that have been turned from the truth and the gospel and the church because of, at least in part, their lustful addictions.  And finally, lust leads to fear. How does lust breed fear? Fear of being found out.  Fear of God's judgment.  And generally speaking, lust destroys our peace of mind and sucks us deeper and deeper away from the things that bring us true joy and fulfillment.

:20, 23

Match: H

Obedience to God's commandments leads to strength against sin, blessings at Christ's coming, greater knowledge, and everlasting life.

This is a great list of some of the blessings of obedience. First, we will overcome. We'll overcome temptation, we'll overcome evil, we'll overcome the world. There is the promise of an inheritance upon the earth when the day of transfiguration will come. At the second coming, it's the obedient that will be preserved and saved. The meek truly will inherit the earth.  And to the obedient, God will give the "mysteries of my kingdom" which will be like a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life. We've seen a few symbols for truth so far in the Doctrine and Covenants. It's light, it's food, and here, it's water. Like the woman at the well who desired that kind of water so that she wouldn't have to go to the well every day to draw from it. This makes sense to me as someone who backpacks in the dessert quite frequently. Water is a huge concern. I always want to know where the water sources are. I always bring a water purifier. I always carry more than I think I will need. Which isn't always easy because water is so heavy to carry. But wouldn't it be great if I didn't have to worry about gathering water? That it was just always available within me? The freedom that would give me to travel as far as I wanted. The peace of mind that would give me. The comfort. The confidence. Obedience does the same for us on a spiritual level. You can walk with confidence through life with obedience.

:25-26

Match: G

God himself honors and respects the righteous laws of governments and so should we. 

I think we can all agree that God's laws are higher than man's laws, but the Lord is going to give some very practical advice to the Saints. He assures them that Zion is in his hands. It belongs to Him. However, he renders unto Caesar the things which are Caesars. So, he recognizes that his Saints have to live in Caesar's world and play by his rules. So in verse 27 he says, purchase the land. Do this according to the laws of the land. Do it the right way. Legally. Don't run into Jackson County telling all the original settlers that this is Zion and that eventually it's going to all belong to the Church, and the wicked will be destroyed, which was a mistake that many of the early members made. They are, at least in part, to blame for some of the animosity that would later be directed at them. The Lord here is cautioning them to do things in a measured way, according to law, so that they would have advantage of the world and claim on the land, so that the other settlers would not be stirred up to anger. We should remember the same principle. We need to be sensitive and wise when it comes to our dealings with those of the world. A little more sensitivity here to Caesar's world might have gone a long way to preventing some of the things that we're going to see happening to the Saints later on this year.  Remember section 58 which said:

21 Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land.

22 Wherefore, be subject to the powers that be.

If only the Saints had been a bit more sensitive to this direction, perhaps things could have gone differently.

:33

Match:  N

In the last days, God won’t have to destroy the wicked. The wicked will destroy themselves. 

This is a theme you see in many places in the scriptures. Particularly in the Book of Revelation. The battle of Armageddon in the last days is not a battle between good and evil. But a battle between evil and evil.  Zion basically sits back and watches Satan's kingdom self-implode. The wicked destroy themselves rather than the righteous or even God having to do it.  We'll look more closely at that idea when we get to Sections 87 and 88 but the principle stands true. Even on a personal level that seems to be the case. I don't think God usually has to punish the wicked or destroy them. The natural consequences of sin do that. The wicked are punished more often by their sins than for them.

:34

Match: C

The Lord will protect the righteous from the spiritual dangers of the last days.

As long as we're righteous and committed to Christ, we need not fear any spiritual danger or consequence in our lives. But physical calamities, there's not a guarantee. Joseph Smith said:

“It is a false idea that the Saints will escape all the judgments, whilst the wicked suffer; for all flesh is subject to suffer, and ‘the righteous shall hardly escape;’ … many of the righteous shall fall a prey to disease, to pestilence, etc., by reason of the weakness of the flesh, and yet be saved in the Kingdom of God” (in History of the Church, 4:11; see also Journals, Volume 1: 1832–1839, vol. 1 of the Journals series of The Joseph Smith Papers [2008], 352–53).

So yes, even Saints will perish, BUT they will be saved in the Kingdom of God, they will escape the dangers that really matter most. Personally, I'm not as afraid of the physical calamities of the last days as I am the spiritual ones. I'd much rather die in an actual earthquake than have my testimony crumble in a spiritual one. I'd much rather die from an actual disease, than catch the disease of hatred or unbelief. I'd much rather die in an actual war, than lose my spiritual war with the adversary. We may hardly escape the physical calamities, but we will most assuredly escape the spiritual ones.

The end of this verse says the wicked will be destroyed by unquenchable fire. I'm intrigued by the promise of Nephi in 1 Nephi 22:17:

17 Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.

Interesting. The wicked destroyed by fire while the righteous are preserved by it. Perhaps fire here is symbolic of God's laws or justice. The same power that condemns the wicked, will justify and protect the righteous.

:37

Match:  I

We can warn the world not only by our words, but also by the things we avoid.

I like this one. I pull it from the phrase there near the end that says, "and declare both by word and by flight that desolation shall come upon the wicked."  So yes, we lift up our voices, we open our mouths and declare the gospel with a voice of warning in the last days. We preach his word. But there's another way we can testify. We testify by flight. By the things we flee from. What does that say to others? Imagine you're walking towards the beach when all of a sudden, a huge crowd of people are screaming and running in the other direction towards you? What would you do? You'd turn around and run as well, wouldn't you? You probably wouldn't stop to ask questions. Their flight is a testimony to you that danger is coming. The Tsunami of sin is heading in your direction, and you don't want to get swept up in it. So you run. What things do we flee from? From immorality, pornography, alcohol and drug use, dishonesty, and hatred. The things we run from will hopefully give our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends reason to pause and ask what the danger is. They too may be convinced to run as well. I know of a man whose initial interest in the church came when he discovered that his coworker refused to drink alcohol as part of his religion. It made him curious enough to want to learn more about a faith that would counsel and inspire its members to do so.

:40

Match:  K

As long as we are giving with the right attitude, it doesn't matter if it's a lot or a little.

In the past couple of lessons, we've seen a bit of the "it mattereth not" principle. Here we've got it again, and this time, it's in terms of amount. Joseph is gathering up all the donations that he can for the building up of Zion. Some of the members in Kirtland could probably afford to give much in support of that cause, while others, I'm sure, could only give a little. Well God says that the amount doesn't matter, but just give to give what they could. They who give much are no better than they who give little. It's a matter of the heart. That's what God is after anyway. The smallest tithing donation paid by the primary child is no greater in the eyes of God than the tithing payment made by the millionaire. Both are accepted and appreciated by God. It's the attitude in which they're given that God is most concerned. Are they giving with "the heart and a willing mind”? This applies in other areas as well. Time, talents, service. Give what you can with the proper attitude, and your offering will be accepted by the Lord. Remember the widow's mites. Her sacrifice was little as far as the amount, but her attitude of giving and a willingness to sacrifice is was Christ saw and pointed out to his disciples. The how is far more critical than the what. 

:48

Match:  B

Those that sacrifice for Zion will be blessed both now and later. 

That's a comforting principle. Sacrifice provides a gift that just keeps giving. It produces now and in the future. Like a fruit tree. It's an investment that produces year after year. I love that we call the process by which we make certain covenants in the temple the "endowment". An endowment is a special kind of gift. It's when you give a person or an organization a certain amount of money. But they can't actually spend that initial donation. It's invested and the interest that it produces can be used. In that way, an endowment becomes a gift that gives year after year. God's blessings are like that. There are immediate rewards for obedience and sacrifice, but there are even greater ones awaiting us in the future as well.

:61-64

Match:  F

The name of Christ is sacred and should be spoken with respect and reverence.

The classic example of this principle comes from the life of Spencer W. Kimball.  

“At St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City [President Spencer W. Kimball] was put under total anesthesia and operated on, then wheeled on a table back toward his room. Still drugged, Spencer sensed his table stop by an elevator and heard the orderly, angry at something, profaning the Lord’s name. Half-conscious, he pleaded with labored sounds: ‘Please don’t say that. I love Him more than anything in this world. Please.’ An absolute silence. Then the orderly answered softly: ‘I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry’” (Edward L. Kimball and Andrew E. Kimball Jr., Spencer W. Kimball: Twelfth President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [1977], 264).

This is a disturbing trend in the last days isn't it. How diabolical is it that the names of deity have become curse words in a sense? Who else could be behind that but Satan right? He has no love or respect for God or Christ, and so he tempts us to throw their names around in a common or derogatory way.  I think this truth can apply to all offensive language. I've heard some argue that foul language really isn't that big a deal. I mean they're just words. But that's a terrible argument. Yes, the actual letters and sounds that come out of our mouths are arbitrary. But what is language? It's an agreement between members of a society that certain sounds carry a meaning. So we've agreed that certain words are offensive. That we mean to communicate offense or disrespect. Words carry meanings. And when we use the Lord's name in vain, or use foul language, we communicate that feeling to those around us. So we might ask ourselves: "Is there consistency in the way I use my tongue? Does the same tongue that gives a priesthood blessing, later make violent threats to his fellowman? Does the same tongue that sings a lullaby to a baby, later spread gossip and rumor about a neighbor? Does the same tongue that blesses the sacrament, later tell a dirty joke? Does the same tongue that utters a prayer to God, utter foul and offensive language to others? Hopefully not.

:66

Match:  L

Patience in opposition will bring far greater blessings in the future.

One of my favorite phrases comes from this verse. It's something that Paul also says. That such may receive a more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. What a beautiful expression. The weight of glory. Weight suggests responsibility or obligation. But it's a glorious responsibility and obligation. Something to be admired, desired, and yearned for. It's a privilege to have burden or weight. Being a member of Christ's church carries a weight doesn't it. It's not always easy. He demands sacrifice, and change, and work. But it's glorious. It's worth it.  So what quality are we going to need in order to fulfill that responsibility and obligation. Patience. Patience with ourselves, patience with our spouses, and families, and ward members, patience with life, and patience with our Heavenly Father and trusting in his wisdom timing. But the glory is there. It's with us now, and it will be even more exceedingly great in the future. We just need to be patient until then.

CONCLUSION

Well, I hope that the way I covered those principles this time was beneficial to you. Like I said, a little bit of a different method this week. Remember, that variety can go a long way when you are consistently teaching a group of people over a period of time. The principles this week were many and varied, but certainly valuable and enlightening. I testify that what we've talked about today is true and that if we live by these principles, the promised blessings that accompany them will undoubtedly come to pass. 

Teaching Activities 

Doctrine and Covenants 60-63

NOTE: So, this week presents us with an interesting challenge. Four years ago, this lesson was divided up into two different lessons—sections 60-62 and then section 63 by itself. This time around, they’ve decided to combine those two lessons to provide more time and study elsewhere in the Doctrine and Covenants. And, you know what, I agree with that decision. This was probably a good place to make that change, as I never thought that section 63 really needed an entire week all to itself. It’s a great section with lots of excellent truths to discover within it, but, I don’t think it’s significant or unique enough to merit its own week of study. But that’s just my opinion. What that leaves us with, then, is a challenge of deciding what material we’re going to want to cover here this time around, and what we’re going to leave out. So, for this supplemental teaching activities video, I’ve decided to narrow it down to three specific lessons you could share. Two from sections 60-62, and one from section 63.

LESSON #1 Traveling Truths (Doctrine and covenants 60-62)

TRUTH:  

As disciples of Christ, we are to consistently and courageously share the gospel as we travel through life—avoiding fear, contention, doubt, haste, and idleness.

FIRE IN THE BONES:

This lesson offers an opportunity to shift our students’ perspective on what it means to be a missionary. Too often, sharing the gospel may feel like something that’s reserved for full-time missionaries alone or for some moment far off in the future. But the Doctrine and Covenants makes it clear that preaching the gospel is something we do as we go, wherever we are, and whoever we are. Hopefully, this lesson can help to awaken our students’ understanding of that charge. Another thing that makes this lesson fresh and exciting is that typically lessons on sharing the gospel focus on what we SHOULD do as we seek to share, while this lesson focuses more on what NOT to do, which can be a fun perspective to take on that topic.

OBJECT:

For an object, bring in a suitcase to display. Since the theme is travel, a suitcase becomes the perfect symbol for the journey that we're discussing here.

ICEBREAKER:

For the icebreaker, then, display the suitcase and tell them that today you’d like to start with some travel advice. But instead of starting with good advice, inform them that you’d actually like to begin with some bad advice. Here, then is the worst possible travel advice you could give them. And then you can lead them through the list. And they’re funny. They should get a kick out of it.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

But that icebreaker leads nicely into the historical background for this week. Tell them that sections 60-62 represent a mini-travel narrative of sorts. These are revelations that Joseph Smith received on his travels from Jackson County back to Kirtland.  And life is like a journey. Anytime we find a journey narrative in the scriptures, God invites us to draw a comparison between their physical journey and our spiritual one. So that turns out to be an effective way of studying these sections. As you study sections 60-62, look for Traveling Truths or Voyage Values—travel advice for the journey of life.  Then I like to briefly show them all of the travel words in these sections. Some form of the word journey shows up at least 19 times in these sections. Then you also have terms like travel, return, trip, moving, course, arrive, and on their way. Perhaps the best title for this lesson could come from 61:24. Behold, I, the Lord have appointed a way for the journeying of my saints.  When you study these sections, look for that “Appointed Way”.

Now with that as an introduction, you really could take this lesson in several different directions. I gave you a number of different principles, or Traveling Truths in the insight video, and you could watch that and choose the one or ones that you think your students most need. But for here, I’m going to focus on the two that I would probably pick, as they are the most unique to these sections.

And the first Traveling Truth we will cover here, they can find in section 60:13.  What is it? IT’s Preach My Gospel. As we travel, we should preach. We should seek to share the gospel with as many as we can.

SEARCH ACTIVITY/HANDOUT:

The way that I approach that principle is with the following Crossword Puzzle handout. Invite your students to go in and fill in the blanks with the words that would complete the “How Not To Share the Gospel” advice found in these sections, using the suggested verses where the answers can be found.  Then, as you correct the puzzle, encourage a discussion regarding those principles.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

The discussion question I would ask for each answer would be this: Why do you think that’s important? Why is that an important thing for us to consider as we seek to share the gospel with others?  The insight video can provide you with some thoughts on that question.

VIDEO:

A video you might show in conjunction with this lesson is this one called “Inviting Others to Come and See”. It’s short, but it has a number of different examples of “preaching along the way”—ways that people can invite others in natural and simple ways. As they watch, invite them to look for different ways to preach along the way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhMshDkJnsk 

QUOTE:

“An unrushed atmosphere is absolutely essential if you are to have the Spirit of the Lord present in your [teaching]. Please don’t ever forget that. Too many of us rush. We rush right past the Spirit of the Lord trying to beat the clock in some absolutely unnecessary footrace." Jeffrey R. Holland, "Teaching and Learning in the Church" Ensign, June 2007.

TAKE IT TO HEART QUESTION:

Which of the preaching pitfalls (fear, wrath, doubt, haste, idleness, etc.) do you find that you personally struggle with most?

I WILL GO AND DO QUESTION:

What could you do to overcome it?

TAKEAWAY:

Our takeaway slide encourages our class members to seek to preach the gospel as they go. Testify to them that the Lord cares deeply about how we share His gospel, not just that we do it. Each of those words in the crossword puzzle can help us to see what to avoid and what to embrace as we open our mouths on our journey of life. As we choose to speak with love instead of wrath, with confidence instead of fear and doubt, with commitment instead of complacency, and with purpose instead of idleness, the Lord will fill our hearts and our mouths. Encourage them to look for opportunities as they travel to speak up and bless others with the truth.

NOTE: A final note before we move on from this lesson. Remember that there are other “Traveling Truths” that you could share from these sections. If you had more time in a lesson, you could very easily share one of those as well. For example, you could share the “Speed Up, Slow Down” principle, “Don’t Travel Alone”, “Be of Good Cheer”, or the “Remember God’s Mercy” principles.  There are ideas, insights, and questions related to each of those concepts in the insight video.

But, if there was just one other principle that I had time to teach this week from sections 60-62, it would probably be the following:

LESSON #2  DAngerous waters (DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 61)

TRUTH: Beware of dangerous waters—avoid places where you might be tempted.

FIRE IN THE BONES:

A fire in the bones for this lesson is kindled as we realize the dangerous and perilous times that we live in. There are very real spiritual dangers that surround us, even though the waters of temptation can sometimes look deceptively calm and inviting. We get a chance here in this lesson to act as spiritual lifeguards, pointing out the hazards and encouraging caution and restraint. We want them to understand that the gospel doesn’t restrict joy, but protects it.

OBJECT: 

The object I would bring in is a life jacket or flotation device of some sort. This can serve as a reminder that we need to be careful around dangerous waters and that God provides us with ways that we can keep ourselves safe from the risks that lie beneath the surface. 

ICEBREAKER:

For an icebreaker, I might tell a story that illustrates the dangers of rushing water. And this is new this time around, as a different way of introducing this lesson. In the past 10 years or so, I’ve discovered an interest in and passion for technical canyoneering. And that’s the practice of exploring canyons with the use of ropes, harnesses, and rappelling devices. And anyone who has ever done any canyoneering in Utah has probably heard of the Kolob Creek tragedy. In 1993, a small group of Latter-day Saint youth and leaders set out on what was supposed to be an adventurous canyoneering trip in Kolob Creek Canyon, which is a beautiful but remote and narrow slot canyon in Zion National Park. I actually descended this canyon with my brother just last year, and it was absolutely amazing. But we went when the water was very low, just a trickle really. But in July of 1993, the conditions were much different. The flow is controlled by the release of water from the Kolob reservoir just a few miles above the canyon. And at that time, communication between the National Park and the Reservoir authorities was minimal at best. The group was given permits by park rangers who didn’t realize that the reservoir was releasing a high volume of water from the dam at that time, making the canyon far more treacherous than usual, ridiculously treacherous. I mean, when I did it, the CFS, if you know what that means, was at 2. When this group attempted to descend the canyon, it was at 30. Now, regardless of the National Park’s issuing of the permit, having done it myself, it would have been very obvious from the top of the canyon that conditions were not good or safe for descending. The roar of the water would have been apparent. But, despite warnings and the clear evidence of high-water levels, one of the adult leaders—experienced and well-meaning—decided to continue the descent, believing that they could manage the risks. As they entered the canyon, though, the force of the churning water proved overwhelming. One of the adult leaders was swept away trying to descend a portion of the canyon and drowned in the powerful current. But after you’ve rappelled down into the canyon, there really is no way out except to continue down canyon OR wait to be rescued. So, the leader of the group decided to try and continue down. At a subsequent rappel, he descended into a pool below a surging waterfall and was dragged by powerful currents under the water and never resurfaced. After that, the one remaining adult leader who was left, decided that they just needed to stop and wait to be rescued. And so there they stayed, stranded, huddling together on a small ledge for five days, before rescuers were finally able to locate and lift them out of the canyon. This heartbreaking story stands as a sobering metaphor for spiritual danger. Sometimes, the path ahead may look exciting or even normal on the surface, but unseen forces are at play—currents of temptation and spiritual risk that can quickly take us farther than we ever intended. Like those leaders at Kolob Creek, we may feel confident, capable, or immune—but dangerous spiritual waters are no respecter of persons. The wise traveler will heed the warnings, humbly turn around, and stay safely on higher ground.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND:

I would then take the opportunity here to explain the historical background behind section 61 of the Doctrine and Covenants. Explain that in these chapters, Joseph and a number of other brethren were making their way back to Kirtland after visiting Jackson County, Missouri. That journey required them to travel down the Missouri River, which had numerous physical and spiritual dangers associated with it. I talk a bit about that in the insight video. At one point in the journey, one of the canoes the men are traveling in capsizes. And at another point, one of the brethren had a terrifying vision on the river. Joseph orders the men off the river, and he receives this revelation in response to their circumstance.

Now, before I moved on, I would probably take this opportunity to dispel the “Satan controls the water” myth that seems to still be floating around out there in church circles as a result of this section. But you can point out the numerous verses in this section that seem to contradict that notion.  And then, verse 14 suggests that we are to view the warnings in this section in a much more figurative than literal light.

DISCUSSION QUESTION

A fun discussion question to ask here would be: Why is turbulent water a good symbol for Satan and his kingdom?

Check out the insight video for my thoughts on that.

SEARCH ACTIVITY:

Then show them the following verses to highlight the Lord’s advice for what we should do when we encounter dangerous waters. OR spiritually dangerous places or circumstances?

61:4-5

61:15

61:18-19

Answer: Stay away from them. Steer clear of places where Satan really does have power.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

Another discussion question then: Can you think of any examples of dangerous waters? Environments or places where temptations abound, and Satan's power is evident?

Some of the examples that I gave were sitting alone with unfiltered access to the Internet, certain parties, bars, casinos, certain dance clubs, or spending a lot of time with the wrong group of friends, can all be examples of dangerous waters.

You could use the illustrations of Peter going to Caiaphas’ palace or Joseph of Egypt fleeing Potiphar’s wife to highlight the importance of following this advice.

SEARCH ACTIVITY:

Then, for a final search activity, number off your students from one to four and assign them a verse. They are to look in their verse for advice on how to avoid dangerous waters. The four assignments are:

61:10

61:37

61:39

And 62:1

VIDEO:

A video you might show in conjunction with this lesson is entitled "Blessed and Happy are Those who Keep the Commandments of God". It depicts a story told by Elder Von G. Keetch of the Seventy, who talks about running into a group of surfers on the beach who are complaining about a large barrier stretching across the mouth of a bay and keeping them from enjoying the large waves just beyond. As they complain, an older gentleman with a pair of binoculars approaches and invites them to examine the barrier a little closer. To their astonishment, with the binoculars, they can see the large dorsal fins of numerous sharks feeding just beyond the barrier. The barrier had not been placed there to keep them from enjoying themselves, but to protect them. They were dangerous waters, and it would be foolish to venture into them. As they watch, have them consider this question: How does this video help give us a better perspective on the Lord’s commandments and warnings?

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/2016-09-0009-blessed-and-happy-are-those-who-keep-the-commandments-of-god?lang=eng 

QUOTE:

I like this short one from one of my favorite movies, “A Man For All Seasons”. 

“A man should go where he won't be tempted."

HANDOUT:

A handout idea for this lesson could come in the form of inviting your students to fill in the following “Sink or Float” paper. On one side of this card, which they fold in half, they are to write down a list of “Spiritual Life Preservers” or choices and environments that help keep them safe and protected from dangerous waters, things like prayer, clean media, and good friends. And on the other side, under the label, “Currents that Pull Me Under,” have them list choices and environments that are spiritually risky and can lead to spiritual danger. Invite them to place that card in their room or some place that they will frequently see it in the next week as a reminder to stay away from tempting circumstances and places.  

TAKE IT TO HEART QUESTION

Have you ever ignored a warning—spiritually or physically—and regretted it? What did you learn?

And then have them ponder: Are there any dangerous waters you've been wading into lately? 

I WILL GO AND DO QUESTION:

What is your plan to avoid them in the future?

TAKEAWAY:

The takeaway slide can help our students to remember that spiritually dangerous waters are real, and at times, just like the waters in Kolob Creek on that tragic day, may seem manageable at first glance. But if we ignore the warnings, if we underestimate the current, we can quickly find ourselves in over our heads. That tragedy wasn’t just about a canyon—it’s a reflection of what can happen when we walk into temptation thinking we’ll be the exception. Invite your students to be humble enough to turn back when the Spirit prompts them to—to be wise enough to stay on solid ground, far from the edge. Then, you can promise them that they’ll find peace, protection, and strength through Christ. Our lives will be preserved.

LESSON #3  Principle Hunt (DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 63)

GAME:

For section 63, I like to do something a little different. I like to approach it as a game. Remember that variety is an important concept to consider when it comes to teaching. The principles taught by this section are many and varied, and so it lends itself well to this kind of activity. I’m not going to go into great detail on the instructions and the gameplay here, but I invite you to review that in the insight video.

But in short, the game is called “The Grid”. The class is divided up into teams, and each team is given this piece of paper with all the possible principles listed on it. They’re also given a small whiteboard and a marker to write their answers on. You, as the teacher, present them with a verse or verses from the section. Their challenge is to pick the principle on the “Principle Sheet” that they feel is the best match. Whichever team can raise the correct answer first gets a chance to choose a square from the Grid. Behind those squares, they’ll find either point values or instructions that can be either positive or negative for their team. And whichever team has the most points by the end of the game wins. That’s the game in a nutshell. And it’s really fun. It’s been a class favorite of mine for years.

And since the game would be taking center stage for this lesson, it doesn’t make much sense to provide you here with video, quote, or question ideas to accompany it. However, I do think you should be prepared as a teacher to discuss some of the principles that are highlighted throughout the game. You probably wouldn’t have time to have a deep discussion about each one, but I would preselect a few that you would like to emphasize. Instruct your class that you are going to put the game on pause for a minute and talk about the principle they just identified. The insight video goes over a lot of discussion ideas and cross references for each principle that you might want to use as you play the game with your students.

ALTERNATE TEACHING SUGGESTION

There is another way of approaching this, though, that you may want to consider if the Grid game idea seems a little too juvenile for the age group that you’re teaching. In that case, I would probably still display the list of principles and ask them which they think is the best match. Then, prepare to have a short discussion about that principle with the class. The nice thing about that is that you can choose which principles you wish to focus on by directing them to those particular scripture verses.