This FHE lesson on Joseph Smith focuses on the different accounts of the First Vision and how the First Vision personally impacts our lives today. Scripture James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Hymn Joseph Smith’s First Prayer | Hymn #26 […]
Heavenly Father has blessed me tremendously throughout my life. While I will always be an unprofitable servant, my wish is to show my gratitude to Him and His Son through the way in which I conduct my life. I love God and Jesus Christ. I try to keep my life centered on them at all times. I attend the temple weekly and....
These depicitions of the Savior and gospel living are soul-stirring and can offer comfort and peace to those who may be struggling with depression.
"Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man . . . h e was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going ...
Jesus was a fisher of men. A quarter of Jesus' disciples were fishermen. They were Peter, Andrew, James and John. Fish is a major theme throughout the New Testament of the Bible. This was one of many large 6 x 6-foot paintings that lined the inner wall of the North Visitors' Center.
The world's perception of Brigham Young as a brash and unkind man is far from the truth — in reality, he was a man of God who did amazing things.
No matter how many years (or seasons) Joseph attended school, or how helpful his supplemental educational opportunities may have been, or how quick he was as a learner, or how sharp his memory, or how creative his imagination—it doesn’t change the fact that he and those around him, both friend and foe, described him as relatively unlearned. So, why would the Lord choose him as a translator?
how to teach the primary song He Sent His Son in singing time, He Sent His Son singing time lesson plan ideas
Scripture Mosiah 16:8-9 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ. He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there […]
2016 Sharing Time Outline Theme: "I Know the Scriptures Are True" July 2016 Sharing Time Topic: The Temple Is a House of God July 2016 Scripture: “Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” paragraph 3). July 2016 Song: “I Love to See the Temple” (CS 95) July Week 1 Topic: God has commanded His people to build temples. Preparation: Prayerfully study and think about what the specific needs of your primary are and how you can teach them this doctrine. Sharing Time Instruction: Begin sharing time by showing the primary children a picture of a temple. Here is a link to temple pictures. Write the following words on the board, "The temple is ______." Invite the primary children to share with you what they would fill in the blank with. Possible answers the primary children might say are, "The house of the Lord"; "A sacred place", "A holy place", etc. Write some of the primary children's answers on the board. Invite the children to listen carefully as you read the following quote, "A temple is literally a house of the Lord, a holy sanctuary in which sacred ceremonies and ordinances of the gospel are performed by and for the living and also in behalf of the dead. A place where the Lord may come, it is the most holy of any place of worship on the earth. Only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness." (Temple, lds.org) Invite them to tell you what that quote says that the temple is. Fill in the blank with, "A house of the Lord". Discuss with the children that, that is why the temple is so sacred and why we are to be so reverent and respectful at the temple. Explain to the primary children that since Adam, whenever there have been people on the earth that obey Heavenly Father's words, he has COMMANDED them to build temples. Show the primary children the week's theme poster and invite them to repeat, "God has commanded His people to build temples." Ask the primary children why they think Heavenly Father wants us to build temples? Using the temple printable, explain that "the Lord has commanded His people to build temples-sacred structures where He could teach, guide, and bless them." (Why Latter-day Saints Build Temples) Place the three pieces of the temple onto the board. Explain that Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to return to live with him. Temples make this possible. We attend the temple to be taught, guided, and receive sacred covenants, all these things bless our lives. Place the following pictures on the board, Adam and Eve Kneeling at an Alter Solomon's Temple Moses' Tabernacle in the Wilderness Kirtland Temple Salt Lake City, Utah Temple Here are the following clues with their coordinating temple (see printable for Tool Clues) - Hammer: "We built an alter to our Heavenly Father, where we could pray to him, make sacrifices unto him and make covenants with him. The sacrifices we made were "a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten” (Moses 5:6–7)." = Adam and Eve - Screwdriver: "I built this temple unto the Lord out of the finest materials and dedicated it unto the Lord. The Lord accepted the temple as a place He could dwell among our people as long as they remained faithful" (Kings 1-10) = King Solomon's Temple - Hand Saw: “Our temple was called a tabernacle, and we moved it as we traveled” (2016 Sharing Time Outline) = Moses' Tabernacle in the Wilderness -Measuring Tape: "The Lord commanded us that we were to build this temple. In so doing we would receive, “endowment from on high” (D&C 105:33). The first temple to be built in the Latter-days." = Kirtland Temple -Pliers: "We built the magnificent temple over a time period of 40 years. It is a temple of God and one that is recognized throughout the world." (The Salt Lake Temple) = The Salt Lake Temple Show the children your tool box (This could be a tool box or a shoe box, what ever you have handy), explain that inside of the tool box are some tools that give clues to the temples. There job is going to read the clue and then place that clue next to the temple it would go to. If you have a construction hat it might be fun to have them wear one. Invite a new primary child to come up each time and choose a tool out of the tool box and match that tool clue with the correct picture. If you need to give them further clues, they can also receive help from their friends aka co-builders. Close by singing "I love to see the Temple" and if time allows invite the primary children to share how they can prepare to enter the temple and make the temple a part of their life now. Want more ideas: LDS Sharing Time June 2014 Week 2: Temples make it possible for families to be together forever. Why Latter-day Saints Build Temples Sharing Time: The Lord Commands His People to Build Temples Why Mormons Build Temples (Video) Click this link for past Sharing Time post: LDS Primary Sharing Time Ideas ***Basic ideas for this sharing time came from the 2016 Outline for Sharing Time, you can find a link here: 2016 Outline for Sharing Time
I was reading the scriptures this morning and in it, I found something that struck me differently than ever before. I found it while comparing 1 Ne 2:12 and 1 Ne 2:16. These scriptures follow right after their father, Lehi, who also was a prophet, told them that they had to leave Jerusalem because it was going to be destroyed. Laman, lamuel, and Nephi are all sons of Lehi. Notice the contrast in Laman and Lemuel's attitude, and Nephi's attitude. 12) "And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them." 16) "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers." That is a HUGE difference! It all goes back to their attitudes. Something that always strikes me is that not only Laman and Lemuel, but Nephi also, didn't want to leave, as shown when he says that God softened His heart. Why would he need his heart softened, unless he was having a hard time leaving? So, it wasn't so much in the fact that they didn't want to leave, but it was in their desires, and then subsequent actions that truly showed their attitudes. Laman and Lemuel murmured because they knew not the dealings of God, and may I add, neither would they seek to understand them. Compare their attitudes to that of Nephi's, who first desired the things of God, and then sought after them. When he did, the Lord softened his heart, and he was given the strength and comfort to follow the commandments of God. In any given situation, we can either choose to be like Laman and Lemuel who murmured and complained when trials they did not understand came their way. Or we can choose to be like Nephi, who, when faced with tribulation, knelt down and prayed to understand, resulting in a softened heart and a desire to more closely follow the commandments of God. I suggest that following the example of Nephi will always bring us much greater results and happiness, and bring us far closer to God, than will following the examples of Laman and Lemuel. Let us all strive to be like Nephi, and rely on the Lord in all our weaknesses and trials. I know that if we do this, He will give us the strength, understanding, and comfort for us to continue on, no matter what we are faced with.
