COME FOLLOW ME Doctrine and Covenants – NOVEMBER (week 1) Lesson 45 “A Voice of Gladness for the Living and the Dead” D&C 125-128 (November 1-7, 2021) – Activities and Song Visuals for Primary and Home, family home evening (individual families), Sunday School, Seminary

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. . . HELPING & LOVING MY FAMILY . . .

Doctrine and Covenants 126:3

I love my family.

After Brigham Young returned home from preaching the gospel, the Lord told him to focus on caring for his family.

• Share with the children the information about Brigham Young in “Chapter 50: The Saints in Nauvoo” (Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 184), or summarize Doctrine and Covenants 126 in your own words. Then read Doctrine and Covenants 126:3 to the children, emphasizing the phrase “take especial care of your family.” What does it mean to take care of our families? Help the children think of ways they can show love to their family members.
  DOWNLOAD “I Love My Whole Family” family ties necklace or belt (HERE or below) Ages 1-5

• Before class, invite the children to bring a picture of their family (or ask them to draw pictures). Then ask them to share something they love about their family. Share a picture of your family, and do the same. Explain why Heavenly Father wants us to care for our family members. Sing a song that teaches this truth, such as “When We’re Helping” (Children’s Songbook, 198).
  DOWNLOAD When We’re Helping song visuals (HERE or below)

• Doctrine and Covenants 126

  I can help care for my family.

  How can you help the children you teach serve their family members in meaningful ways?

  • Read together Doctrine and Covenants 126:3. Why might Heavenly Father have asked Brigham Young to “take especial care of [his] family”? How can we do the same for our families? Make a list of the things we can do now to serve our families. How will doing these things help us become more like Heavenly Father?

  • Share with the children Sister Carole M. Stephens’s story about her grandson Porter (see “We Have Great Reason to Rejoice,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 115). What did Porter do to take care of his family? How can we follow his example?

See suggested activities and song visuals below on FAMILY

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REBUS Scripture poster/card set (above) “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” Paragraph 7): “Happiness in family life is mostly likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

. . . BAPTISM FOR DECEASED LOVED ONES . . .

Doctrine and Covenants 128:5, 12

All of God’s children need the chance to be baptized.

In addition to helping the children prepare to make their own baptismal covenants, teach them that we can help those who have died without baptism receive the same blessings.

• Show a picture of Jesus Christ being baptized (see Gospel Art Book, no. 35), or show the video “The Baptism of Jesus” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Ask the children if they have ever seen someone get baptized. What do they remember about it? Use the picture or video to show the children that when we are baptized, we go all the way under the water and then back up, just like Jesus did. Open to Doctrine and Covenants 128:12, and explain that Joseph Smith taught that being baptized reminds us of the Resurrection.

• Tell the children about someone you know (such as an ancestor) who died without being baptized. Read Doctrine and Covenants 128:5, and let them take turns holding a picture of a temple baptismal font (see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). Testify that Heavenly Father allows us to be baptized on earth for people who are dead. This way all of God’s children can be baptized and make covenants with Him.

Doctrine and Covenants 127:5–8; 128:1–8

“Whatsoever you record on earth shall be recorded in heaven.”

As you read Doctrine and Covenants 127:5–8; 128:1–8, look for the reasons why the Lord gave Joseph Smith such specific instructions about recording baptisms for the dead. What does this teach you about the Lord and His work?

Doctrine and Covenants 128:1, 15–18

Baptism for the dead creates “a welding link” between me and my ancestors.

Joseph Smith taught that baptism for the dead binds us to our ancestors like links in a chain. How can you help the children feel the joy that comes from learning about our ancestors and making sure that temple work is done for them?

• Divide the class in two groups, and ask the first group to read Doctrine and Covenants 128:1 to find out what subject occupied Joseph Smith’s mind. Ask the other group to read verse 17 and find out what subject he considered “the most glorious.” Let them share what they find, and talk about why this subject is so glorious. If possible, invite a youth who has done baptisms for the dead to share his or her experience and explain why we do this work.

• Consider using an object lesson to show that we need to help our ancestors who were not baptized. For example, display a gift or a treat, but place it out of reach of one of the children. Tell that child that he or she can have the object but can’t move from his or her seat. Ask the other children what they can do to help the child receive it. Read together Doctrine and Covenants 128:15, and talk about how it relates to the object lesson.

• Invite the children to make a paper chain with names of their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and so on (see the activity page for this lesson). If the children don’t know their ancestors’ names, encourage them to find out the names and write them on the chain at home. Read together Doctrine and Covenants 128:18 to find out what the “welding link” is that makes our family history “whole and complete.” Tell a story about an ancestor that helps you feel connected to him or her. Or show the video “Courage: I Think I Get It from Him” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

• Show the children a temple recommend, and tell them how you obtain one. Help them look forward to getting their own temple recommends so they can go to the temple and be baptized for their own ancestors. See Lesson Ideas (below*) that tell why it is important to be baptized for our deceased loved ones.

*WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO BE BAPTIZED (and do temple work) FOR DECEASED LOVED ONES:

Doctrine and Covenants 128:5–25

The salvation of my ancestors is essential to my salvation.

It’s clear from what God revealed through Joseph Smith why our ancestors who weren’t baptized in this life need our help for their salvation. But why do you think our ancestors’ salvation is “necessary and essential to our salvation”? (see Doctrine and Covenants 128:15–18; italics added).

Verse 5 teaches that the ordinance of baptisms for the dead was “prepared before the foundation of the world.” What does this truth teach you about God and His plan? What does President Henry B. Eyring’s message “Gathering the Family of God” add to your understanding? (Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 19–22).

Joseph Smith used phrases like “binding power,” “welding link,” and “perfect union” when teaching about priesthood ordinances and baptism for the dead. Look for these and similar phrases as you read Doctrine and Covenants 128:5–25. What are some of the things that, through Jesus Christ, can be bound together because of priesthood ordinances for the dead? Why is “bold” a good word to describe the doctrine of salvation for the dead? (see verses 9–11).

What impresses you about Joseph Smith’s words in verses 19–25? How do these verses affect the way you feel about temple service for your ancestors? about Jesus Christ? What do you feel inspired to do? (see FamilySearch.org/discovery for ideas).

See also 1 Corinthians 15:29; Dale G. Renlund, “Family History and Temple Work: Sealing and Healing,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 46–49; “A Sacrifice of Time” and “Their Hearts Are Bound to You,” videos, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

⇐ GO BACK TO Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 44 “A House unto My Name” Doctrine and Covenants 124

GO NEXT TO Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 46 “When We Obtain Any Blessing from God, It is by Obedience” Doctrine & Covenants 129-132 ⇒

SUMMARY OF SUBJECTS FOR:

Doctrine & Covenants 125-128
NOVEMBER (week 1)
Lesson 45: November 1-7, 2021
“A Voice of Gladness for the Living and the Dead”