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February, Week 1
Day 1
Primary
1. Today read D&C 3.
2. At times we may feel pressured by others to disobey God. Joseph Smith felt similar pressure when Martin Harris asked to take the translated pages of the Book of Mormon. Joseph learned, however, that these are moments when we should be faithful to God and not give in to the pressure of others.
3. Watch the video “Martin Harris Helps Joseph.”
Youth
1. Today read D&C 3.
2. At times we may feel pressured by others to disobey God. Joseph Smith felt similar pressure when Martin Harris asked to take the translated pages of the Book of Mormon. Joseph learned, however, that these are moments when we should be faithful to God and not give in to the pressure of others.
3.
Martin Harris was a respected citizen of Palmyra and successful farmer who was one of only a few people in the area who believed Joseph Smith. Though almost twice his age, Martin was Joseph’s friend and gave him money so he could move to Harmony, Pennsylvania, to translate the Book of Mormon undisturbed. Martin also sacrificed to travel there himself and serve as scribe.
Martin’s wife, Lucy, was not supportive of his involvement with the Book of Mormon translation. Martin asked Joseph if he could show the first 116 pages of the translation to Lucy as evidence of their work. Joseph prayed about it twice and each time was told not to allow Martin to take the pages.
Joseph prayed a third time, and the Lord gave permission with strict conditions. Martin took the pages to Palmyra to show them to his wife.
The day after Martin left, Emma Smith gave birth to her and Joseph’s first child, a son. Tragically, the infant lived only a few hours, and it seemed Emma might die too. Thankfully, Emma’s health started improving after a couple weeks. Though Joseph did not want to leave her side, Emma urged him to travel to Palmyra and inquire about the manuscript.
When Joseph arrived at his parents’ home, they invited Martin to join them for breakfast. Martin didn’t come for more than four hours. When he finally arrived and sat down, he mournfully exclaimed, “I have lost my soul!” He had not followed the strict guidelines and had lost the manuscript.
“Oh, my God, my God. All is lost!” Joseph said. “Must I return to my wife with such a tale? And how shall I appear before the Lord?”
After Joseph returned to Harmony, Moroni appeared and took the plates from him. (See Saints, 1:50–54.)
4. Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained what it means to fear God:
There are many places in the scriptures that counsel mankind to fear God. In our day we generally interpret the word fear as “respect” or “reverence” or “love”; that is, the fear of God means the love of God or respect for Him and His law. …
… We should so love and reverence Him that we fear doing anything wrong in His sight, whatever may be the opinions of or pressure from others. (D. Todd Christofferson, “A Sense of the Sacred” [Church Educational System fireside for young adults, Nov. 7, 2004], 6–7, broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
5. Why would the Lord allow Joseph to give Martin the pages after his third request? Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
Martin begged Joseph to ask a third time, and Joseph did so. This time God did not say no. Instead, it was as though God said, “Joseph, you know how I feel about this, but you have your agency to choose.” Feeling himself relieved of the constraint, Joseph decided to allow Martin to take 116 manuscript pages and show them to a few family members. The translated pages were lost and never recovered. The Lord severely rebuked Joseph.
Joseph learned, as the Book of Mormon prophet Jacob taught: “Seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For … he counseleth in wisdom” [Jacob 4:10]. Jacob cautioned that unfortunate things happen when we ask for things we should not. …
If we have received personal revelation for our situation and the circumstances have not changed, God has already answered our question. (Dale G. Renlund, “A Framework for Personal Revelation,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 18)
Day 2
Primary
1. Today read Doctrine and Covenants 4.
2. Joseph Smith Sr. wanted to know how he could serve God and others. In response to his father’s desire, the Prophet Joseph sought and received the first of several revelations given to individuals who desired to assist in the Lord’s work. 3. Though he had not yet associated himself with any organized religion, Joseph Smith Sr. believed what his son shared about his heavenly visions and supported him in his translation of the Book of Mormon. Joseph Sr. wanted to serve God but did not know what to do. In February 1829, he and his wife visited Joseph Jr. in Harmony, Pennsylvania. During that visit, the Prophet Joseph received Doctrine and Covenants 4 in answer to his father’s question.
3. Listen to the song “Dare to Do Right.”
Youth
1. Today read Doctrine and Covenants 4.
2. Joseph Smith Sr. wanted to know how he could serve God and others. In response to his father’s desire, the Prophet Joseph sought and received the first of several revelations given to individuals who desired to assist in the Lord’s work. 3. Though he had not yet associated himself with any organized religion, Joseph Smith Sr. believed what his son shared about his heavenly visions and supported him in his translation of the Book of Mormon. Joseph Sr. wanted to serve God but did not know what to do. In February 1829, he and his wife visited Joseph Jr. in Harmony, Pennsylvania. During that visit, the Prophet Joseph received Doctrine and Covenants 4 in answer to his father’s question.
4. Joseph Smith Sr. went on to serve in Christlike ways throughout his life. Shortly after this revelation, he shared the gospel with Oliver Cowdery. Joseph Sr. continued to support his son and was baptized into the Church soon after it was organized. He also became one of the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon. Joseph Sr. worked on the Kirtland Temple and served in various callings, including Patriarch and assistant counselor to the First Presidency. At age 63, he served a mission to the Eastern United States.
5. Why should I serve God? Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
Serving Him requires all of our heart, might, mind, and strength. Consequently, selflessly serving others counteracts the self-centered and selfish tendencies of the natural man. We grow to love those whom we serve. And because serving others is serving God, we grow to love Him and our brothers and sisters more deeply. Such love is a manifestation of the spiritual gift of charity, even the pure love of Christ. (David A. Bednar, “If Ye Had Known Me,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 104)
Day 3
Primary
1. Today read Doctrine and Covenants 5:1-15.
2. Lucy Harris, the wife of Martin Harris, was upset about the time and money her husband was dedicating to the publication of the Book of Mormon. She filed a legal complaint against Joseph Smith and gathered several people who were willing to testify that he had lied about the existence of the plates. Martin was warned that if he did not join them in testifying against Joseph, Martin could also be sent to prison. Though Martin had previously been a scribe for Joseph, had shown characters from the plates to scholars to verify their antiquity, and had lost 116 pages of the original manuscript, Martin still sought a further witness of the reality of the gold plates. He traveled to Joseph Smith’s home, where Joseph inquired of the Lord and received the revelation in Doctrine and Covenants 5.
3. Listen to the song “A Child’s Prayer.”
Youth
1. Today read Doctrine and Covenants 5:1-15.
2. Lucy Harris, the wife of Martin Harris, was upset about the time and money her husband was dedicating to the publication of the Book of Mormon. She filed a legal complaint against Joseph Smith and gathered several people who were willing to testify that he had lied about the existence of the plates. Martin was warned that if he did not join them in testifying against Joseph, Martin could also be sent to prison. Though Martin had previously been a scribe for Joseph, had shown characters from the plates to scholars to verify their antiquity, and had lost 116 pages of the original manuscript, Martin still sought a further witness of the reality of the gold plates. He traveled to Joseph Smith’s home, where Joseph inquired of the Lord and received the revelation in Doctrine and Covenants 5.
3. Although Martin was not allowed to see the gold plates at that time, this revelation strengthened him in a way that enabled him to bear powerful testimony of the Prophet. The Lord has provided witnesses to help each of us gain our own testimony of Joseph Smith as a prophet of God and the Book of Mormon as another testament of Jesus Christ.
4. Why do you think the Lord is more concerned about us believing in and hearkening to His words in the Book of Mormon than He is about us knowing that the plates existed? Referring to the Book of Mormon, President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) taught:
The evidence for its truth, for its validity in a world that is prone to demand evidence, lies not in archaeology or anthropology, though these may be helpful to some. It lies not in word research or historical analysis, though these may be confirmatory. … The test of its truth lies in reading it. It is a book of God. (Gordon B. Hinckley, “Four Cornerstones of Faith,” Ensign, Feb. 2004, 6)
5. Later, Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, and David Whitmer would see the gold plates and testify of their reality. You will learn more about this event when you study Doctrine and Covenants 17. Referring to the Three Witnesses, President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency taught:
Their testimony stands uncontradicted by any other witnesses. Reject it one may, but how does one explain three men of good character uniting and persisting in this published testimony to the end of their lives in the face of great ridicule and other personal disadvantage? Like the Book of Mormon itself, there is no better explanation than is given in the testimony itself, the solemn statement of good and honest men who told what they saw. (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Witness: Martin Harris,” Ensign or Liahona, May 1999, 36)
Week 2
Day 1
Primary
1. Today read Doctrine and Covenants 6.
2. There is a Doctrinal Mastery Scripture in this chapter! Doctrine and Covenants 6:36.
36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.
3. On April 5, 1829, Oliver Cowdery met Joseph Smith for the first time. Two days later, he became Joseph’s scribe for the Book of Mormon translation. Doctrine and Covenants 6 includes counsel from the Lord that addresses many of the questions and concerns Oliver had about participating in the Lord’s work.
4. Watch the video “The Lord Sends Oliver Cowdrey.”
Youth
1. Today read Doctrine and Covenants 6.
2. There is a Doctrinal Mastery Scripture in this chapter! Doctrine and Covenants 6:36.
36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.
3. Oliver Cowdery was a schoolteacher who began boarding with Joseph Smith’s parents in the fall of 1828. While staying with the Smith family, Oliver learned about Joseph’s divine calling and the ongoing translation of the Book of Mormon. Oliver felt prompted to ask if he could help Joseph with the translation. In the spring of 1829, Oliver accompanied Joseph’s brother Samuel to Harmony, Pennsylvania, to meet the Prophet for the first time. Soon after arriving in Harmony, Oliver became Joseph Smith’s scribe. Although Oliver had previously received a divine confirmation of Joseph’s prophetic gift to translate, he still had questions about his own participation in the Lord’s work. Joseph Smith received the revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 6 during this time.
4. How does the Savior feel about me despite my concerns? Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:
My dear young friends, if the Savior were here right now, what would He say to you?
I believe He would start by expressing His deep love for you. He might say it with words, but it would also flow so strongly—just from His presence—that it would be unmistakable, reaching deep into your heart, filling your whole soul!
And yet, because we’re all weak and imperfect, some concerns might creep into your mind. You might remember mistakes you’ve made, times you gave in to temptation, things you wish you hadn’t done—or wish you had done better.
The Savior would sense that, and I believe He would assure you with words He has spoken in the scriptures:
“Fear not” [Luke 5:10; 8:50; 12:7; Doctrine and Covenants 38:15; 50:41; 98:1].
“Doubt not” [Doctrine and Covenants 6:36].
“Be of good cheer” [Matthew 14:27; John 16:33; Doctrine and Covenants 61:36; 68:6; 78:18].
“Let not your heart be troubled” [John 14:1, 27].
(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Jesus Christ Is the Strength of Youth,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 9)
5. How can I look unto Christ in every thought? President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency taught:
The way to optimism as we go forward was given by the Lord: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not” (D&C 6:36). President Monson told us how to do that. We are to ponder and apply the Book of Mormon and the words of prophets. Pray always. Be believing. Serve the Lord with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. We are to pray with all the energy of our hearts for the gift of charity, the pure love of Christ (see Moroni 7:47–48). And above all, we are to be consistent and persistent in following prophetic counsel. (Henry B. Eyring, “Fear Not to Do Good,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 103)
6. What can happen to me when I look unto Christ in every thought? President Russell M. Nelson taught:
Our focus must be riveted on the Savior and His gospel. It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought. But when we do, our doubts and fears flee. (Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 41)
