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April, Week 1

Day 1

Primary
1. Today read Doctrine and Covenants 29:1-8.
2. Heavenly Father has great love for all His children. He and His Son want us to be happy in this life and to join Them in gathering all people back to Their presence.
3. Listen to the song “When He Comes Again.”

Youth
1. Today read Doctrine and Covenants 29:1-8.
2. Heavenly Father has great love for all His children. He and His Son want us to be happy in this life and to join Them in gathering all people back to Their presence. Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared the following:

Our Heavenly Father wants you to become His heir and receive all that He has. He cannot offer you more. He cannot promise you more. He loves you more than you know and wants you to be happy in this life and in the life to come. (Dale G. Renlund, “Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny,” Liahona, May 2022, 76)

3. Why should we unite with others in prayer? While visiting New Zealand, President Spencer W. Kimball and his wife, Camilla, planned on attending a cultural celebration prepared by many youth. That evening the Kimballs fell ill and could not attend. About the time the celebration was to begin, however, the Kimballs miraculously felt better and rushed to the event. As the meeting began, a youth was called upon to offer the opening prayer. President Russell M. Nelson shared the following details of what happened next:

He so prayed: “We are 3,000 New Zealand youth. We are assembled here, having prepared for six months to sing and dance for Thy prophet. Wilt Thou heal him and deliver him here!” After the “amen” was pronounced, the car carrying President and Sister Kimball entered the stadium. They were identified immediately, and instantly everyone shouted for joy! (Russell M. Nelson, “Jesus Christ—the Master Healer,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2005, 86)

4. Where is the “one place” the Lord wants us to be gathered? The Lord desires His Saints to be gathered to Zion. In the early days of the Church, the Saints sought to establish Zion in central locations where all members could gather. As membership has expanded throughout the world, Church members are now asked to gather within their local congregations. President Russell M. Nelson taught:

The choice to come unto Christ is not a matter of physical location; it is a matter of individual commitment. People can be “brought to the knowledge of the Lord” [3 Nephi 20:13] without leaving their homelands. True, in the early days of the Church, conversion often meant emigration as well. But now the gathering takes place in each nation. The Lord has decreed the establishment of Zion [see Doctrine and Covenants 6:6] in each realm where He has given His Saints their birth and nationality. Scripture foretells that the people “shall be gathered home to the lands of their inheritance, and shall be established in all their lands of promise” [2 Nephi 9:2]. “Every nation is the gathering place for its own people” [Bruce R. McConkie, in Conference Report, Mexico City Mexico Area Conference 1972, 45]. The place of gathering for Brazilian Saints is in Brazil; the place of gathering for Nigerian Saints is in Nigeria; the place of gathering for Korean Saints is in Korea; and so forth. Zion is “the pure in heart” [Doctrine and Covenants 97:21]. Zion is wherever righteous Saints are. Publications, communications, and congregations are now such that nearly all members have access to the doctrines, keys, ordinances, and blessings of the gospel, regardless of their location.

Spiritual security will always depend upon how one lives, not where one lives. Saints in every land have equal claim upon the blessings of the Lord. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Gathering of Scattered Israel,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 81)

Day 2

Primary
1. Today read Doctrine and Covenants 29:9-29.
2. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ will be a great and dreadful day. Those who reject Jesus Christ’s messengers and teachings will suffer the consequences of their choices. Those who are striving to follow Him will have the joy of seeing their Redeemer return to earth. He will save them from wickedness and sorrow and dwell with them for a thousand years.
3. It is true that many trials and great wickedness will exist in the last days and that “tribulation and desolation” will be sent upon the wicked (see Doctrine and Covenants 29:8). It is also important to realize that the Savior’s return does not cause the trials and wickedness. His return will deliver His disciples from them. The Second Coming will be more wonderful for His followers than we can imagine!

Youth
1. Today read Doctrine and Covenants 29:9-29.
2. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ will be a great and dreadful day. Those who reject Jesus Christ’s messengers and teachings will suffer the consequences of their choices. Those who are striving to follow Him will have the joy of seeing their Redeemer return to earth. He will save them from wickedness and sorrow and dwell with them for a thousand years.
3. It is true that many trials and great wickedness will exist in the last days and that “tribulation and desolation” will be sent upon the wicked (see Doctrine and Covenants 29:8). It is also important to realize that the Savior’s return does not cause the trials and wickedness. His return will deliver His disciples from them. The Second Coming will be more wonderful for His followers than we can imagine!
4. Why should we rejoice in the return of Jesus Christ? Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said:

When He comes, oppression and injustice will not only diminish; they will cease. …

Poverty and suffering will not only decline; they will vanish. …

Even the pain and sorrow of death will be done away. …

… Let us devote ourselves more diligently to the preparations needed for the day when pain and evil are ended altogether. (D. Todd Christofferson, “Preparing for the Lord’s Return,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 81)

5. Will the righteous be protected from trials that precede the Second Coming? There is not one simple answer to this question. The Lord will protect the faithful from some of the coming judgments, but other conditions will affect both the righteous and the wicked. It is important to remember that despite any trials we may face, God will save the righteous in His kingdom. Elder Spencer V. Jones of the Seventy taught:

Many of us are apprehensive about the Second Coming. In contemplating “the great and dreadful day of the Lord” (D&C 2:1), we may have a tendency to overlook the “great” and accentuate the “dreadful.”

Some of the prophecies can seem overwhelming. …

Some prophecies are even quite grotesque, such as [the one in Doctrine and Covenants 29:18–20]. …

As dreadful as these prophecies sound, let’s keep them in perspective. These fearful conditions contain a qualifying phrase indicating they are intended not for the righteous but for the wicked and unrepentant. (Spencer V. Jones, “Messages from the Doctrine and Covenants: Finding Hope in the Second Coming,” Ensign, June 2005, 58–59)

Day 3

Primary
1. Today read Doctrine and Covenants 29:36-50.
2. The Lord had been teaching Joseph Smith about the Fall of Adam and Eve and agency during his work on the inspired translation of the Bible. In Doctrine and Covenants 29, the Lord taught about redemption from the Fall of Adam and Eve through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
3. Read the following statement from President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018).

Scarcely an hour of the day goes by but what we are called upon to make choices of one sort or another. Some are trivial, some more far-reaching. Some will make no difference in the eternal scheme of things, and others will make all the difference. (Thomas S. Monson, “The Three Rs of Choice,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 67)

4. Listen to the song “Did Jesus Really Live Again?”

Youth
1. Today read Doctrine and Covenants 29:36-50.
2. The Lord had been teaching Joseph Smith about the Fall of Adam and Eve and agency during his work on the inspired translation of the Bible. In Doctrine and Covenants 29, the Lord taught about redemption from the Fall of Adam and Eve through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
3. Read the following statement from President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018).

Scarcely an hour of the day goes by but what we are called upon to make choices of one sort or another. Some are trivial, some more far-reaching. Some will make no difference in the eternal scheme of things, and others will make all the difference. (Thomas S. Monson, “The Three Rs of Choice,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 67)

4. Elder Robert D. Hales (1932–2017) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained the far-reaching consequences of the premortal choice we made.

Because of Lucifer’s rebellion, a great spiritual conflict ensued. Each of Heavenly Father’s children had the opportunity to exercise the agency Heavenly Father had given him or her. We chose to have faith in the Savior Jesus Christ—to come unto Him, follow Him, and accept the plan Heavenly Father presented for our sakes. But a third of Heavenly Father’s children did not have faith to follow the Savior and chose to follow Lucifer, or Satan, instead.

And God said, “Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, … I caused that he should be cast down” [Moses 4:3]. (Robert D. Hales, “Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 24)

5. What are we free to choose? Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

At the heart of God’s plan for your happiness is your power to choose. Of course, your Heavenly Father wants you to choose eternal joy with Him, and He will help you to achieve it, but He would never force it upon you. …

When you have important choices to make, Jesus Christ and His restored gospel are the best choice. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Jesus Christ Is the Strength of Youth,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 10)

Day 4

Primary
1. Today let’s look at the 5th Article of Faith.

We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

2. Listen to the 5th Article of Faith Song.
3. See if you can memorize it!

Youth
1. Today let’s look at the 5th Article of Faith.

We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

2. Listen to the 5th Article of Faith Song.
3. See if you can memorize it!

Week 2

Day 1

Primary
1. Read Doctrine and Covenants 30.
2. Just a few months after the Church was officially organized, the Savior instructed several new members to serve missions. Despite their recent acceptance and limited understanding of the restored gospel, the Lord called these men to proclaim His gospel with the “voice of a trump” or “trumpet” (Doctrine and Covenants 30:9).
3. Watch the video “Samuel Smith Shares the Book of Mormon.”

Youth
1. Read Doctrine and Covenants 30.
2. Just a few months after the Church was officially organized, the Savior instructed several new members to serve missions. Despite their recent acceptance and limited understanding of the restored gospel, the Lord called these men to proclaim His gospel with the “voice of a trump” or “trumpet” (Doctrine and Covenants 30:9).
3. President Russell M. Nelson shared the following counsel related to full-time missionary service:

Today I reaffirm strongly that the Lord has asked every worthy, able young man to prepare for and serve a mission. For Latter-day Saint young men, missionary service is a priesthood responsibility. …

For you young and able sisters, a mission is also a powerful, but optional, opportunity. We love sister missionaries and welcome them wholeheartedly. What you contribute to this work is magnificent! Pray to know if the Lord would have you serve a mission, and the Holy Ghost will respond to your heart and mind.

Dear young friends, you are each vital to the Lord. He has held you in reserve until now to help gather Israel. Your decision to serve a mission, whether a proselyting or a service mission, will bless you and many others. …

All missionaries teach and testify of the Savior. The spiritual darkness in the world makes the light of Jesus Christ needed more than ever. Everyone deserves the chance to know about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Every person deserves to know where they can find the hope and peace that “[pass] all understanding” [Philippians 4:7]. (Russell M. Nelson, “Preaching the Gospel of Peace,” Liahona, May 2022, 6–7)

4. Why should I share the gospel? President Russell M. Nelson declared:

Our calling as covenant Israel is to make sure every member of the Church realizes the joy and privileges associated with making covenants with God. It is a call to encourage every covenant-keeping man and woman, boy and girl, to share the gospel with those who come within their sphere of influence. It is also a call to support and encourage our missionaries, who are sent forth with instructions to baptize and help to gather Israel, so that together we may be God’s people and He will be our God (see Doctrine and Covenants 42:9). (Russell M. Nelson, “The Everlasting Covenant,” Liahona, Oct. 2022, 10)

5. President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency taught:

I like to refer to missionary efforts as sharing the gospel. The word sharing affirms that we have something extraordinarily valuable and desire to give it to others for their benefit and blessing. …

The Lord loves all of His children. He desires that all have the fulness of His truth and the abundance of His blessings. (Dallin H. Oaks, “Sharing the Gospel,” Ensign, Nov. 2001, 8–9)

Day 2

Primary
1. Today read Doctrine and Covenants 31 and 32.
2. When the Lord called missionaries to preach His gospel shortly after the organization of His Church, He provided counsel to strengthen and guide them in their missionary labors. Why do you think the Lord is so eager to help us share the gospel?
3. Watch the video “Parley and Thankful Pratt.”
4. Then watch “A Mission to Native Americans.”

Youth
1. Today read Doctrine and Covenants 31 and 32.
2. When the Lord called missionaries to preach His gospel shortly after the organization of His Church, He provided counsel to strengthen and guide them in their missionary labors. Why do you think the Lord is so eager to help us share the gospel?
3. How can I naturally share the gospel with others? Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

You bear your testimony when you share spiritual feelings with others. As a member of the Church, you have opportunities to bear your spoken testimony in formal Church meetings or in less formal, one-on-one conversations with family, friends, and others.

Another way you share your testimony is through righteous behavior. Your testimony in Jesus Christ isn’t just what you say—it’s who you are.

Each time you bear vocal witness or demonstrate through your actions your commitment to follow Jesus Christ, you invite others to “come unto Christ” [Moroni 10:32].

Members of the Church stand as witnesses of God at all times, in all things, and in all places. Opportunities to do this in the digital universe using inspiring content of our own or sharing uplifting content prepared by others are endless. We testify when we love, share, and invite, even online. Your tweets, direct messages, and posts will take on a higher, holier purpose when you also use social media to show how the gospel of Jesus Christ shapes your life. (Gary E. Stevenson, “Nourishing and Bearing Your Testimony,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 112)

4. What if people don’t accept what I share with them? Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Understand that it’s not your job to convert people. That is the role of the Holy Ghost. Your role is to share what is in your heart and live consistent with your beliefs.

So, don’t be discouraged if someone does not accept the gospel message immediately. It is not a personal failure.

That is between the individual and Heavenly Father.

Yours is to love God and love your neighbors, His children.

Believe, love, do.

Follow this path, and God will work miracles through you to bless His precious children. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 17)

Day 3

Primary
1. Read Doctrine and Covenants 35.
2. In the summer of 1830, the Prophet Joseph Smith began working on an inspired revision, or translation, of the King James Bible. He considered this project an important part of his calling as a prophet of God.
3. Watch the video “Sidney and Phebe Rigdon.”
4. Listen to the song “When He Comes Again.”

Youth
1. Read Doctrine and Covenants 35.
2. In the summer of 1830, the Prophet Joseph Smith began working on an inspired revision, or translation, of the King James Bible. He considered this project an important part of his calling as a prophet of God.
3. After being baptized by Oliver Cowdery in Kirtland, Ohio, a former preacher named Sidney Rigdon traveled to Fayette, New York, to meet the Prophet Joseph Smith. Doctrine and Covenants 35 is a revelation from the Lord to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. In obedience to this revelation, Sidney Rigdon began to serve as scribe as the Lord revealed inspired corrections and additions to the Bible through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The work was not a literal translation from one language to another. Joseph used a copy of the King James Bible as a starting point as he sought revelation and dictated inspired corrections and additions.
4. How did the Joseph Smith Translation influence the early Saints’ understanding of Zion? Robert J. Matthews, a Latter-day Saint scholar, shared the following:

The Church in 1830 was entirely dependent on a new revelation in order to know anything substantial about Enoch, his ministry, the people of his city (Zion), or their laws. However, the Lord was about to reveal to the Church much about Enoch and the laws pertaining to both the ancient and the future Zion. The first introduction to these things was in November and December 1830 while the Prophet was translating from Genesis. In the next few months came the revelations in Doctrine and Covenants 42–43, 45–51, and 57–59 (February–August 1831). Can you see what a marvelous prelude the prophecy of Enoch in JST Genesis chapter 7 (Moses 7) was in laying the foundation for these later revelations? In length alone it is impressive. The information about Enoch and Zion, as revealed to Joseph Smith in November and December 1830 while he was translating the Bible, is eighteen times as long as all of the Enoch material that is contained in the King James Version. (Robert J. Matthews, “The Joseph Smith Translation: A Primary Source for the Doctrine and Covenants,” in Sperry Symposium Classics: The Doctrine and Covenants, ed. Craig K. Manscill [2004], 142–54)

Day 4

Primary
1. Today read Doctrine and Covenants 36.
2. Parley P. Pratt had been a member of the Church for about a month when he was called “into the wilderness” to preach the gospel. Thomas B. Marsh had been a member for even less time than that when he was told, “The hour of your mission is come.” Orson Pratt, Edward Partridge, and many others had likewise barely been baptized when their mission calls came. Perhaps there’s a lesson in this pattern for us today: if you know enough to accept the restored gospel by baptism, you know enough to share it with others.
3. Watch the video “Lucy Morley and her Family.”
4. Listen to the song “Did Jesus Really Live Again?”

Youth
1. Today read Doctrine and Covenants 36.
2. Parley P. Pratt had been a member of the Church for about a month when he was called “into the wilderness” to preach the gospel. Thomas B. Marsh had been a member for even less time than that when he was told, “The hour of your mission is come.” Orson Pratt, Edward Partridge, and many others had likewise barely been baptized when their mission calls came. Perhaps there’s a lesson in this pattern for us today: if you know enough to accept the restored gospel by baptism, you know enough to share it with others.
3. Watch the video “Inviting Others to Come and See.”

Week 3

Day 1

Primary
1. This week we are taking a break from the Doctrine and Covenants to study the Easter story. We will resume studying the Doctrine and Covenants next week!
2. Just before Jesus was killed, it was time to celebrate Passover. Some symbols of the Passover represent Jesus Christ? Read “The Passover Symbols that Might Change How You Look at Easter.”
3. At the Last Supper, Jesus ate with his disciples and taught them to take the sacrament. The sacrament, in which we remember the sacrifice Jesus made, was meant to replace the animal sacrifice of the Passover.
4. Watch the video, “The First Sacrament.”
5. Listen to the song “When He Comes Again.”

Youth
1. This week we are taking a break from the Doctrine and Covenants to study the Easter story. We will resume studying the Doctrine and Covenants next week!
2. The week before he died, the Savior came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Read Mark 14:12-16. Why do you think it is significant that the Passover occurred just before Jesus was to suffer and die for us? What symbols from the Passover represent Christ?
3. Read “The Passover Symbols that Might Change How You Look at Easter.”
4. Read Matthew 26:26-29. What ordinance was Jesus instituting here?
5. President Howard W. Hunter said,

The sacrament of the Lord’s Supper [was] introduced to replace [animal] sacrifice and be a reminder to all those who partake that He truly made a sacrifice for them; and to be an additional reminder of the covenants they have made to follow Him, keep His commandments, and be faithful to the end.

Day 2

Primary
1. Read Matthew 26:36-46 and Luke 22:39-46.
2. Shortly before Jesus Christ died on the cross, he and his Apostles went to a garden called Gethsemane. Three of the Apostles — Peter, James, and John — went into the garden with him. They waited a short distance away while Jesus went farther into the garden and prayed to Heavenly Father. Jesus knew that he would have to suffer for us so that we could repent and be forgiven of our sins. In the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross, Jesus suffered great pain for us. He suffered for our sins. The Atonement means that Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins so that we could repent and be forgiven. He did this because he loves us and because he wanted to make it possible for us to repent and be clean.
3. Watch the video, “Jesus Suffers in the Garden of Gethsemane.”
4. Listen to the song “Did Jesus Really Live Again?”

Youth
1. Read Matthew 26:36-46 and Luke 22:39-46.
2. Jesus Christ was foreordained in the premortal council to be our Savior and Redeemer. He came to earth and willingly suffered and died to redeem all mankind from the negative effects of the Fall and to pay the penalty for our sins. Jesus Christ’s triumph over spiritual and physical death by His suffering, death, and Resurrection is called the Atonement. His sacrifice benefits each of us and demonstrates the infinite worth of each and every one of Heavenly Father’s children.
3. He alone could redeem us from our sins. Because He lived a perfect, sinless life, He was free from the demands of justice and could pay the debt for those who repent. As part of His Atonement, Jesus Christ not only suffered for our sins, but He also took upon Himself the pains, temptations, sicknesses, and infirmities of all mankind. He understands our suffering because He has experienced it. As we come to Him in faith, the Savior will strengthen us to bear our burdens and accomplish tasks that we could not do on our own.
4. In paying the penalty for our sins, Jesus Christ did not eliminate our personal responsibility. In order to accept His sacrifice, be cleansed from our sins, and inherit eternal life, we must exercise faith in Him, repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure faithfully to the end of our lives.
5. Elder M. Russell Ballard stated,

Even though His life was pure and free of sin, [Jesus Christ] paid the ultimate penalty for sin—yours, mine, and everyone who has ever lived. His mental, emotional, and spiritual anguish were so great they caused Him to bleed from every pore. And yet Jesus suffered willingly so that we might all have the opportunity to be washed clean — through having faith in Him, repenting of our sins, being baptized by proper priesthood authority, receiving the purifying gift of the Holy Ghost by confirmation, and accepting all other essential ordinances. Without the Atonement of the Lord, none of these blessings would be available to us, and we could not become worthy and prepared to return to dwell in the presence of God.

Day 3

Primary
1. Read Matthew 27.
2. Jesus suffered more than just death during his crucifixion. He suffered physical and spiritual trials. He was mocked and hurt. In the end, Jesus died, and darkness covered the land.
3. Watch “The Trials of Jesus.”
4. Watch the video, “Jesus is Crucified.”

Youth
1. Read Matthew 27.
2. As part of the conspiracy to kill Jesus Christ, the Jewish leaders brought Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Jewish leaders accused Jesus of treason, or trying to overthrow the Roman government, and claimed that Jesus declared Himself a king and sought to establish His own kingdom.
3. Pilate, recognizing that Jesus was an innocent man, did not want to have him killed. Each year during the Feast of the Passover, it was the custom of the Roman governor to pardon a convicted criminal. The people were permitted to select one prisoner to be released. Pilate offered the people a choice between Jesus and a man named Barabbas, who had been convicted as a thief, a rebel against Roman authority, and a murderer. The people chose to release Barabbas, and Jesus was left suffer greatly and to die.
4. When Jesus died, darkness covered the land and the veil in the temple ripped in half. During the time of Jesus, the temple had two rooms: the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies represented the presence of God. These two rooms were separated by a veil, or curtain. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest passed from the Holy Place through the veil of the temple and entered into the Holy of Holies, where he sprinkled the blood of a sin offering to atone for the sins of all the congregation of Israel. When the veil of the temple was torn in two at the death of Jesus Christ, it was a dramatic symbol that Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest, had passed through the veil of death and would shortly enter into the presence of God the Father.
5. Elder Bruce R. McConkie said,

The Holy of Holies is now open to all, and all, through the atoning blood of the Lamb, can now enter into the highest and holiest of all places, that kingdom where eternal life is found. … The ordinances performed through the veil of the ancient temple were in similitude of what Christ was to do, which he now having done, all men become eligible to pass through the veil into the presence of the Lord to inherit full exaltation.

Day 4

Primary
1. Read Luke 24.
2. The reality of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection can bring us great hope and joy. It is truly a beautiful message — there will be life after death; we can return to live with our Father in Heaven once again, because of the sacrifice the Savior has made for us, and because of our own repentance and obedience to the commandments.
3. Watch the video “Jesus is Risen.”

Youth
1. Read Luke 24.
2. A crushing sense of defeat and despair enveloped His disciples as Jesus suffered and died on the cross and His body was placed lifeless in the tomb. Despite what the Savior had repeatedly said of His death and subsequent rising again, they had not understood. The dark afternoon of His Crucifixion, however, was soon followed by the joyous morning of His Resurrection. But that joy came only as the disciples became eyewitnesses of the Resurrection, for even the declaration of angels that He had risen was at first incomprehensible — it was something so totally unprecedented.
3. Mary Magdalene and a few other faithful women came early to the Savior’s tomb that Sunday morning, bringing spices and ointments to complete the anointing begun when the Lord’s body was hastily laid in the sepulchre before the approaching Sabbath. On this morning of mornings, they were greeted by an open sepulchre, the covering stone having been rolled away, and two angels who declared: “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.”
4. By His Atonement and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has overcome all aspects of the Fall. Physical death will be temporary, and even spiritual death has an end, in that all come back into the presence of God, at least temporarily, to be judged. We can have ultimate trust and confidence in His power to overcome all else and grant us everlasting life. “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22)

Week 4

Day 1

Primary
1. Read Doctrine and Covenants 37.
2. To the early Saints, the Church was more than a place to hear some preaching on Sunday. The revelations used words like cause, kingdom, Zion, and, quite often, work. That may have been part of what attracted people to the restored Church. As much as they loved the doctrine, many also wanted something holy they could dedicate their lives to. Even so, obeying the Lord’s 1830 command to gather in Ohio was not easy. For many, it meant leaving comfortable homes for an unfamiliar frontier (see “Voices of the Restoration: Gathering to Ohio”). Today we can see clearly what those Saints could see only with the eye of faith: the Lord had great blessings waiting for them in Ohio.
3. Watch the video “Gathering to Ohio.”

Youth
1. Read Doctrine and Covenants 37.
2. To the early Saints, the Church was more than a place to hear some preaching on Sunday. The revelations used words like cause, kingdom, Zion, and, quite often, work. That may have been part of what attracted people to the restored Church. As much as they loved the doctrine, many also wanted something holy they could dedicate their lives to. Even so, obeying the Lord’s 1830 command to gather in Ohio was not easy. For many, it meant leaving comfortable homes for an unfamiliar frontier (see “Voices of the Restoration: Gathering to Ohio”). Today we can see clearly what those Saints could see only with the eye of faith: the Lord had great blessings waiting for them in Ohio.
3. What did the Saints sacrifice to gather to Ohio? Newel Knight recorded:

In obedience to the commandment which had been given, I, together with the Colesville Branch, began to make preparations to go to Ohio. …

As might be expected, we were obliged to make great sacrifices of our property. …

Having made the best arrangements we could for the journey, we bade adieu to all we had held dear on this earth … [and] we started [in April 1831] for Ohio. (Newel Knight autobiography and journal, circa 1846–1847, 28–29, Church History Library, Salt Lake City; spelling, capitalization, and punctuation modernized)

4. Why does the Lord command His people to gather? President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency taught:

We know from experience that joy comes when we are blessed with unity. … [Our Heavenly Father’s] desire is to grant us that sacred wish for unity out of His love for us.

He cannot grant it to us as individuals. The joy of unity He wants so much to give us is not solitary. We must seek it and qualify for it with others. It is not surprising then that God urges us to gather so that He can bless us. He wants us to gather into families. He has established classes, wards, and branches and commanded us to meet together often. In those gatherings, which God has designed for us, lies our great opportunity. We can pray and work for the unity that will bring us joy and multiply our power to serve. (Henry B. Eyring, “Our Hearts Knit as One,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 69)

5. Sister Reyna I. Aburto, former counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency, said:

From the beginning, God has sought to gather and organize His children “to bring to pass [our] immortality and eternal life” [Moses 1:39]. With that purpose in mind, He has instructed us to build places of worship where we receive knowledge and the ordinances of salvation and exaltation; make and keep covenants that bind us to Jesus Christ; are endowed with “the power of godliness” [Doctrine and Covenants 84:20]; and gather together often to remember Jesus and strengthen each other in Him. The Church organization and its buildings exist for our spiritual benefit. “The Church … is the scaffolding with which we build eternal families” [L. Tom Perry, “The Tradition of Light and Testimony,” Ensign, Dec. 2012, 30]. (Reyna I. Aburto, “We Are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Liahona, May 2022, 11)

Day 2

Primary
1. Read Doctrine and Covenants 38.
2. The Lord gave His Saints instructions as they prepared to make great sacrifices to gather to Ohio. In His revelation to the Saints, the Savior revealed His character and invited His people to live like Him. We can become more like the Savior by valuing others and seeking unity.
3. Watch the video “Newel and Ann Whitney Meet the Prophet Joseph.”

Youth
1. Read Doctrine and Covenants 38.
2. President Russell M. Nelson taught about the importance of the way we treat others.

Each of us has a divine potential because each is a child of God. Each is equal in His eyes. The implications of this truth are profound. Brothers and sisters, please listen carefully to what I am about to say. God does not love one race more than another. His doctrine on this matter is clear He invites all to come unto Him, “black and white, bond and free, male and female [2 Nephi 26:33].”

I assure you that your standing before God is not determined by the color of your skin. Favor or disfavor with God is dependant upon your devotion to God and His commandments and not the color of your skin.

I grieve that our Black brothers and sisters the world over are enduring the pains of racism and prejudice. Today I call upon our members everywhere to lead out in abandoning attitudes and actions of prejudice. I plead with you to promote respect for all of God’s children.

The question for each of us, regardless of race, is the same. Are you willing to let God be the most important influence in your life? Will you allow His words, His commandments, and His covenants to influence what you do each day? Will you allow His voice to take priority over any other? Are you willing to let whatever He needs you to do take precedence over every other ambition? Are you willing to have your will swallowed up in His? (Russell M. Nelson, “Let God Prevail,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 84)

3. How can we strive for greater unity? Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

We cannot permit any racism, tribal prejudice, or other divisions to exist in the latter-day Church of Christ. The Lord commands us, “Be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine” [Doctrine and Covenants 38:27]. We should be diligent in rooting prejudice and discrimination out of the Church, out of our homes, and, most of all, out of our hearts. As our Church population grows ever more diverse, our welcome must grow ever more spontaneous and warm. We need one another. (D. Todd Christofferson, “The Doctrine of Belonging,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 53)

4. Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught ways we can be unified as disciples of Christ.

Unity requires effort. It develops when we cultivate the love of God in our hearts and we focus on our eternal destiny. We are united by our common, primary identity as children of God and our commitment to the truths of the restored gospel. In turn, our love of God and our discipleship of Jesus Christ generate genuine concern for others. We value the kaleidoscope of others’ characteristics, perspectives, and talents. If we are unable to place our discipleship to Jesus Christ above personal interests and viewpoints, we should reexamine our priorities and change.

We might be inclined to say, “Of course we can have unity—if only you would agree with me!” A better approach is to ask, “What can I do to foster unity? How can I respond to help this person draw closer to Christ? What can I do to lessen contention and to build a compassionate and caring Church community?”

When love of Christ envelops our lives, we approach disagreements with meekness, patience, and kindness. We worry less about our own sensitivities and more about our neighbor’s. We “seek to moderate and unify” [Dallin H. Oaks, “Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution,” Liahona, May 2021, 107]. We do not engage in “doubtful disputations,” judge those with whom we disagree, or try to cause them to stumble [see Romans 14:1–3, 13, 21]. Instead, we assume that those with whom we disagree are doing the best they can with the life experiences they have. (Dale G. Renlund, “The Peace of Christ Abolishes Enmity,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 84)

5. How can we esteem and value others? Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared:

Often we can, usually unwittingly, be quite insensitive to the circumstances and difficulties of those around us. We all have problems, and ultimately each individual has to take responsibility for his or her own happiness. None of us is so free of difficulty ourselves or so endowed with time and money that we can do nothing but tend “the wounded and the weary” (“Lord, I Would Follow Thee,” Hymns, no. 220). Nevertheless, in looking to the Savior’s life for an example, I suspect we can probably find a way to do more of that than we do. …

… I wish I could go back to my youth and there have another chance to reach out to those who, at the time, didn’t fall very solidly onto my radar scope. Youth want to feel included and important, to have the feeling they matter to others. … It is the associations I didn’t have, the friends I didn’t reach, that cause me some pain now all these years later. (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Come unto Me,” Ensign, Apr. 1998, 21)

Day 3

Primary
1. Read Doctrine and Covenants 39.
2. James Covel had worked as a Methodist minister in the New York area for 40 years. When he heard the message of the Restoration, he promised to obey any commandment he was given through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Savior commanded James to be baptized and gather with the Saints in Ohio and promised him great power if he would make and keep sacred covenants.
3. Read the following statement from President Russell M. Nelson.

A covenant is … a sacred promise with God. He fixes the terms. Each person may choose to accept those terms. If one accepts the terms of the covenant and obeys God’s law, he or she receives the blessings associated with the covenant. (Russell M. Nelson, “Covenants,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 86)

4. Listen to the song “Did Jesus Really Live Again?”

Youth
1. Read Doctrine and Covenants 39.
2. James Covel had worked as a Methodist minister in the New York area for 40 years. When he heard the message of the Restoration, he promised to obey any commandment he was given through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Savior commanded James to be baptized and gather with the Saints in Ohio and promised him great power if he would make and keep sacred covenants.
3. Read the following statement from President Russell M. Nelson.

A covenant is … a sacred promise with God. He fixes the terms. Each person may choose to accept those terms. If one accepts the terms of the covenant and obeys God’s law, he or she receives the blessings associated with the covenant. (Russell M. Nelson, “Covenants,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2011, 86)

4. Read the following statement from President Russell M. Nelson and look for the power promised to those who make and keep covenants with God:

Making and keeping covenants actually makes life easier! Each person who makes covenants in baptismal fonts and in temples—and keeps them—has increased access to the power of Jesus Christ. Please ponder that stunning truth!

The reward for keeping covenants with God is heavenly power—power that strengthens us to withstand our trials, temptations, and heartaches better. This power eases our way. Those who live the higher laws of Jesus Christ have access to His higher power. Thus, covenant keepers are entitled to a special kind of rest that comes to them through their covenantal relationship with God. (Russell M. Nelson, “Overcome the World and Find Rest,” Liahona, Nov. 2022, 96)

5. Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:

Covenant promises and blessings would not be possible without our Savior, Jesus Christ. He invites us to look to Him [see Doctrine and Covenants 6:36], come unto Him [see 3 Nephi 12:20; Moroni 10:32–33], learn of Him [see Matthew 11:29; Doctrine and Covenants 19:23], and bind ourselves to Him [see Doctrine and Covenants 43:9] through the covenants and ordinances of His restored gospel.

Covenants and ordinances are the building blocks that enable us to build our lives upon the “rock of our Redeemer” [Helaman 5:12] and His Atonement. Precisely because faithfully honoring sacred covenants binds us securely to the Savior, He becomes the ultimate source of spiritual direction and strength in our lives. (David A. Bednar, “Bound to the Savior through Covenants,” For the Strength of Youth, Feb. 2022, 5)

Day 4

Primary
1. Read Doctrine and Covenants 40.
2. Have you ever started something that you wish you had finished, but didn’t? Consider why some people might start on the covenant path but choose not to continue. Doctrine and Covenants 39–40 tell the story of a man who did not continue as he started.
3. Listen to the song “When He Comes Again.”

Youth
1. Read Doctrine and Covenants 40.
2. Have you ever started something that you wish you had finished, but didn’t? Consider why some people might start on the covenant path but choose not to continue. Doctrine and Covenants 39–40 tell the story of a man who did not continue as he started.
3. Watch the video “Elder Nelson Talks About Covenants.”