COME FOLLOW ME Doctrine and Covenants – JANUARY Lesson 1 “Hearken, O Ye People” D&C 1 – Activities and Song Visuals for Primary and Home, family home evening (individual families), Sunday School, Seminary

• Let the children hold pictures of warning signs—such as traffic hazards, bad weather, or poison—and talk about how they warn us of danger. Or tell a story about a time when you obeyed a warning. Compare these warnings to the warnings the Lord gives us through His prophets. Testify that He warns us because He loves us and wants us to be safe (see also this week’s activity page).

• Read to the children from Doctrine and Covenants 1:4: “And the voice of warning shall be unto all people.” Share something that the prophet has recently taught that can keep us safe. Show related pictures, if possible. Talk about how you are following the prophet’s counsel.

• Show a picture of the Prophet Joseph Smith (see Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families; see also Gospel Art Book, no. 87). Ask the children to stand next to the picture and share what they know about Joseph Smith.

• Let the children hold a picture of the Savior and a picture of Joseph Smith. Talk to them about what the Savior gave us through Joseph Smith, such as commandments (see verse 17) and the Book of Mormon (see verse 29). Tell the children that in the Doctrine and Covenants they will learn about the commandments the Lord gave to the Church through Joseph Smith.

• Share your feelings about Joseph Smith, and testify that God “called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven” (verse 17).

• Help the children think of some of the problems in the world today. Review Doctrine and Covenants 1:15–16 with them, and help them identify some of the problems that the Lord prophesied would occur. Invite them to discover in verses 17 and 29–30 what the Lord has done to help us face the challenges of our time.

• Ask the children to imagine they are preparing for a trip. What would they pack? 
  DOWNLOAD Second Coming Suitcase preparedness packing (HERE) to of things to get ready to meet Jesus.

• How would it help them to know that it would rain during their trip or that their car would get a flat tire?
  • DOWNLOAD car (with a flat tire) in this Trip to the Temple activity (HERE)
  • DOWNLOAD car (with a flat tire) in this Moving Toward the Temple puzzle (HERE)
  Read together verse 17, and discuss what the Lord knew would happen to us and how He prepared for it. (If necessary, explain that a “calamity” is a disaster or terrible thing.) How do God’s commandments help us deal with the challenges of our time?

• Doctrine and Covenants 1:30

  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s “true and living church.”

  How can you help the children appreciate the great blessings of belonging to “the only true and living church”?

  • Invite the children to list some things that are living and some things that are not (if possible, bring pictures or examples). What is the difference between a living thing and a nonliving thing? Read together verse 30. What does it mean that the Church is “true”? that it is “living”?

  • Display a picture, such as a painting of the Savior, and ask the children to describe it with the lights in the room turned off. Use this activity to help the children see that for many people, the Savior’s true Church is in “obscurity” and “darkness.” How can we help others learn about the Church?

A preface introduces a book. It identifies the book’s themes and purposes and helps readers prepare to read.
DOWNLOAD Which Standard Work? (HERE or below) to learn why the Doctrine and Covenants is different than the other books of scripture

As you read section 1—the Lord’s “preface” to the Doctrine and Covenants (verse 6)—look for the themes and purposes the Lord gave for His revelations. What do you learn from section 1 that will help you get the most benefit from your study of the Doctrine and Covenants? For example, you might ponder what it means to “hear the voice of the Lord” in these revelations (verse 14) or to “search these commandments” (verse 37).
DOWNLOAD Search, Ponder, and Pray song visuals (HERE or below)

See also the introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants.

Section 1 begins and ends with God’s declaration that He speaks through His chosen servants (see verses 4–6, 23–24, 38). Write down what you learn from this revelation about the Lord and His voice. What do you learn about the Lord’s servants? When have you heard the Lord’s voice in the voice of His servants? (see verse 38).

The children you teach may have heard the President of the Church speak, but they may not realize that his words come from God. Help them learn to recognize the words of the prophet as God’s words.