Preface

Introduction – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has adopted Come, Follow Me – For Individuals and Families as a resource designed to help increase testimonies of the Gospel.  Our study for 2021 is the Doctrine and Covenants.  These Lessons will generally follow Come, Follow Me.

I hope these Lessons will provide useful and supplementary information as an incentive for our study of the Doctrine and Covenants. 

Some of the material in these Lessons is from other students of the Doctrine and Covenants.  To those whose thoughts I may use or paraphrase I express my appreciation for the many ways they have enriched my knowledge of the Doctrine and Covenants. 

As spiritual truth can only be found and understood through the power of the Holy Ghost no person can really take credit for thoughts and ideas that come from studying any of the scriptures.  Therefore, anyone who is so inclined may freely use material from these Lessons.

The Doctrine and Covenants brings us to the kingdom of God on the earth – President Ezra Taft Benson testified of the Doctrine and Covenants in these words:  “The Book of Mormon brings men to Christ.  The Doctrine and Covenants brings men to Christ’s kingdom, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ‘the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.’ (D&C 1:30.)

“The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion, and the Doctrine and Covenants is the capstone, with continuing latter day revelation” (A Witness and a Warning, pp. 30-31).

“The Author of the Doctrine and Covenants is the Lord Jesus Christ through the instrumentality of the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Doctrine and Covenants is unique among the standard works of the Church not only in its authorship but in that it is a modern book of scripture” (Ezra Taft Benson, A Voice of Warning, Ensign, January 1993, p. 2).

The Lord revealed that He called Joseph Smith to restore the gospel so all mankind could be blessed:  “Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments…That faith also might increase in the earth; That mine everlasting covenant might be established; That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers” (D&C 1:17, 20-23).

The Lord has sent revelation from heaven and truth from the earth to gather Israel in the latter days –

Our living Prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, has focused on the importance of the gathering of Israel.  Prophets throughout history have seen the gathering Israel in the latter days.  The Lord revealed to Enoch, who lived in the days of Adam, that in the latter days He will send “righteousness down out of heaven” (Moses 7:62).  This righteousness is revelation, and the revelations contained in the Doctrine and Covenants are prototype of the of the righteousness coming from heaven in the last days.

The Lord continued, “and truth will I send forth out of the earth” (Ibid).  The truth that has come forth out of the earth is the Book of Mormon.  “And righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood to gather mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which…shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem” (Ibid).  This prophecy is being fulfilled in our very day.

The heavens are open and revelation continues – Revelation did not cease when Joseph Smith was martyred, but the mantle was passed from prophet to prophet, and is still borne today by a living prophet.  “But again we testify to the world that revelation continues and that the vaults and files of the Church contain these revelations which come month to month and day to day” (Spencer W. Kimball, Revelation: The Word of the Lord to His Prophets, Ensign, May 1977).

The Lord commissions “weak and simple” members of His Church, people like you and me, to take His gospel to the world (See D&C 1:19, 23) –  “And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days.  And they shall go forth and none shall stay them, for I the Lord have commanded them” (D&C 1:4-5).

Members of “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth” (D&C 1:30) have a great responsibility and commission to share the gospel and the blessings we have been given.  But if it seems dauting to take the gospel to all the world, we can take courage because for most of us our individual charge and responsibility is to begin with our neighbors, our family and friends.

Lesson Index

1. The Lord’s Voice of Warning Unto All People (Particularly Members of His Church)
2. The First Vision, A Marvelous Flood of Light
3. The Promises Planted in the Hearts of Our Children
4. You Can Face the Future with Either Confidence or Fear
5. Personalizing the Lord’s Counsel to Oliver Cowdery
6. Personalizing the Lord’s Counsel to Joseph and Hyrum Smith
7. Pondering and Praying About the Scriptures Brings Personal Revelation
8. The Law of Witnesses Blesses Those Who Give and Those Who Receive
9. Repentance In the Pre-Mortal Spirit World
10. The Two Booster Shots that Will Immunize Us Against the Evils of Our Day
11. The Song of the Righteous is a Prayer Unto Me
12. Taking the Name of Jesus Christ with the Sacrament and In the Temple
13. Believing True Doctrine is Essential
14. An Ordinance in Preparation for Easter (Current Lesson 25)
15. The Doctrine of Election and the Gathering of Israel
16. A Clear and Present Danger
17. The Law of Consecration Today
18. A Temple Recommend and the Parable of the Ten Virgins
19. The Gifts of God Are Infinite and Eternal
20. The Proclamation on the Family – A Test For Our Generation of Latter-day Saints
21. The “As For Years” Principle
22. Temple Worship Brings Blessings From Above, Commandments Not A Few, and Revelations In Their Time
23. A Careful Balance Between Agency and Revelation
24. The Lord Uses Both the Carrot and the Stick to Motivate Obedience
25. Out of Small Things Proceedeth that Which is Great
26. Parents, Teach Your Children the Plan of Salvation
27. Scripture Study is the Way We Often Receive Personal Revelation
28. The Vision of Christ and the Resurrection
29. The Prophet Joseph Smith and the Sanctification of the Earth
30. The First Presidency Will Lead Us in the Way of Life and Salvation
31. The Plan of Ordinances and the Power of God
32. Stand Ye In Holy Places, and Be Not Moved
33. A Principle With a Warning and a Promise
34. Make It Your Family Tradition to Bring Up Your Children in Light and Truth
35. Restoration of Temple Worship Began with the Kirtland Temple
36. The Constitution of the United States is the Work of the Lord and Will Not Fail
37. The Lord’s Own Way
38. The Ecclesiastical and Patriarchal Orders of the Priesthood
39. Temple Worship Restored
40. The Dispensation of the Fullness of Times
41. Paying Tithing Loosens Our Grip on the Things of this World and Tightens It on the Things of Eternity
42. Adversity and Affliction Require Patience and Faith Which Results in Sanctification
43. The Importance of the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times
44. A Voice of Gladness for the Living and the Dead
45. Celestial Marriage Makes It Possible For Families To Be Together Forever
46. Winning the Battle for Religious Freedom
47. Joseph Smith Has Done More Save Jesus Only
48. The Wonderful and Unique Doctrine of Redeeming the Dead
49. Official Declarations 1 and 2
50. The Proclamation On The Family Is A Test And A Sieve
51. The Spirit Of Christmas Is Love Manifested By Giving