4 The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn to Their Fathers
The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn to Their Fathers
The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn to Their Fathers
hen Joseph was seventeen, he wanted to know his standing before God. Soon he was called upon to bring forth The Book of Mormon; and we are called upon to share it. Joseph received Priesthood Keys to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers; and we are called upon to do family history work and temple work for all those who have passed on. Joseph received many revelations and prophecies, and we are called upon to help fulfill those prophecies. All the faithful, will face opposition. The Lord wants us to be instruments in His hands to get His work done.
See also Saints, 1:20–48. I’m listening to Saints when I ride the exercise bike. I’ve listened to chapters 1-9 so far.
God has a work for me to do.
Joseph Smith—History 1:27–33
God has a work for each of us to do.
As you read Joseph Smith—History 1:27–33, think about what that work might be. How does it contribute to the ongoing Restoration of the Savior’s gospel? (Seen notes below.)
Elder Gary E. Stevenson taught: “As we come unto Christ and help others do the same, we participate in God’s work of salvation and exaltation, which focuses on divinely appointed responsibilities. … These responsibilities are simple, inspirational, motivating, and doable. Here they are:
- Living the gospel of Jesus Christ
- Caring for those in need
- Inviting all to receive the gospel
- Uniting families for eternity” (“Simply Beautiful—Beautifully Simple
What would the Savior have you do next? Go to school, maybe.
The Work of Salvation and Exaltation,” General Handbook, 1.2.
1.2
God’s Work of Salvation and Exaltation
As we come unto Christ and help others do the same, we participate in God’s work of salvation and exaltation. This work is guided by the two great commandments to love God and to love our neighbors (see Matthew 22:37–39).
God’s work of salvation and exaltation focuses on four divinely appointed responsibilities. These are outlined below.
God’s Work of Salvation and Exaltation
We come unto Christ and assist in God’s work by:
- Living the gospel of Jesus Christ.
- Caring for those in need.
- Inviting all to receive the gospel.
- Uniting families for eternity.
This handbook will help you understand these four aspects of God’s work.
1.2.1
Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ
Living the gospel of Jesus Christ includes:
- Exercising faith in Christ, repenting daily, making covenants with God as we receive the ordinances of salvation and exaltation, and enduring to the end by keeping those covenants (see 3.5.1).
- Learning and teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ at home and at church.
- Becoming self-reliant in providing for ourselves and our families, both spiritually and temporally.
1.2.2
Caring for Those in Need
Caring for those in need includes:
- Serving and ministering to individuals, families, and communities.
- Sharing resources, including Church assistance, with those in need.
- Helping others become self-reliant.
1.2.3
Inviting All to Receive the Gospel
Inviting all to receive the gospel includes:
- Participating in missionary work and serving as missionaries.
- Helping new and returning Church members progress along the covenant path.
1.2.4
Uniting Families for Eternity
Uniting families for eternity includes:
- Making covenants as we receive our own temple ordinances.
- Discovering our deceased ancestors and performing ordinances for them in the temple so they can make covenants with God.
- Going to the temple regularly, where possible, to worship God and perform ordinances for His children.
(see “Our Role in God’s Work of Salvation and Exaltation,” Gospel Library).
Joseph Smith—History 1:28–29 We can always go to our Heavenly Father in His Son’s name to see forgiveness, reconciliation, and a witness that we have been forgiven. He wants to help us overcome our weaknesses and to progress. He wants our happiness.
Ask questions that encourage meaningful discussion. Questions that have more than one right answer invite learners to respond based on their personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences. The questions in this outline are examples of this.
Video: Youth Responsibility in the Work of Salvation
For Kids:
I can repent and be forgiven.
Joseph Smith—History 1:28–29
There are times that I feel anxious and/or guilty over my mistakes, weaknesses, or imperfections. I think Satan wants me to feel like that to immobilize me. But Heavenly Father wanted to bless me with His love and understanding, and He is eager to forgive me through the atonement of His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost will offer me escape, comfort, and peace.
Read Joseph Smith—History 1:29: Joseph prayed to be forgiven of his sins and follies (silliness); he asked asked for a spiritual manifestation to know he was okay with God still. He expected to receive an answer to what he was asking, because the Lord did answer him before.
It is okay for us to ask the Lord to send us confirmations to know what is right, to know we are forgiven, and to seek for direction. In fact, He asks us to . He wants us to counsel with Him in everything.
Do we understand how much the Lord loves us? He sent His Son so that we can be forgiven of our mistakes, and through His grace, we can improve and do better. None of us is perfect, but Heavenly Father calls us to do His work even so.
By restoring His gospel, the Savior fulfilled ancient prophecies.
Joseph Smith—History 1:34–47
When Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith, he quoted several Old and New Testament prophecies:
Isaiah 11 The prophesied Gathering of Israel and the preparation for the Second Coming:
10 ¶ And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
12 And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.
Vs 17-21 We have all sinned ignorantly at some period of time. But when we know the truth, we can repent. In our day we are witnessing the restitution of all things; and hopefully, we will also live to see the times of refreshing, when Jesus comes again and reigns here on earth 1,000 years. Heavenly Father and Jesus again visited the earth and restored the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Vs 22-23 We are all be given again the opportunity to hear Jesus Christ and enter into covenants with God.
Vs 28-29 We will be blessed with the gift of prophesy in the days before the Lord comes again.
Vs 30-31 These signs in the skies will be frightening, especially to those who do not know and trust in God.
Vs 32 All those who acknowledge the Lord and call on Him will be delivered. Call on Him, for He is mighty to save, and His mercy endureth forever!
Joseph Smith—History 1:34–47 Why were these prophecies important for Joseph to know? (see notes below,)
Video: With the Power of God in Great Glory
For Kids:
Heavenly Father called Joseph Smith to help Him do His work.
Joseph Smith—History 1:27–54
Allow children to role-play the events in Joseph Smith—History 1:27–54.
Video: Chapter 3: The Angel Moroni and the Gold Plates
Video: Joseph and Emma: Working together to bring the world the Book of Mormon: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media/video/5ed4ba76776b11ef82b6063a8fac2bb37b3497e3?lang=eng
God will prepare me to work in His kingdom.
Joseph Smith—History 1:48–60
Joseph first saw the gold plates when he was seventeen; but, he had to wait four more years, so that he could learn more, and so that he could be trusted to take them.
Joseph Smith—History 1:48–60 How did the events going on around Joseph at the time, help him to prepare for his calling to do God’s work? (See notes below.)
What experiences have you had that have prepared you to serve God and others?
I had children. My first child was born with diastrophic dysplasia. My fifth child passed away after birth.
I have been a stake or ward missionary six times. I have held multiple teaching callings, including teaching Seminary three years, Gospel Principles, and Temple Prep. I’ve served in a few presidencies. I served for the Save the Babies project. I have volunteered in schools. I have done a lot of free tutoring. I home schooled my youngest daughter. I have served in the mission for nearly nine years.
What are you currently experiencing that can help you prepare for future service? I’m reading The Book of Mormon multiple times a year, in English and in German; plus, learning the German vocabulary with side-by side reading and copying and reviewing vocabulary; studying the Come Follow Me lessons; I’m trying to minister; I am serving in the mission. I am helping to schedule service opportunities for the nearby zones. I am serving at the Salvation Army every month now (it was weekly in past years, but they no longer have a warehouse); and I am scheduling members to help there on the Wednesday and missionaries on the Thursday.
The Lord sent Elijah to turn my heart to my ancestors.
Doctrine and Covenants 2
When you read this section, pay particular attention to what the words “plant,” “hearts,” and “turn” mean. What was Elijah’s mission and what Priesthood keys and blessings were restored? (See notes below.)
What can you do better at to have your heart turn more to your ancestors? How about your family: husband, children, children-in-law, and grandchildren? How about your closer extended family? How about the entire human family?
Ministering is important. Mindfulness of how we think of and react to others is important. Striving to love the Lord with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves is important. Being unselfish with the gifts and talents God has given us is important. Giving time to ministering, to record keeping, to doing our family history research, and to engaging in temple work is important.
Turning our hearts has everything to do with prayer and pledging to and seeking to do the Lord’s will.
Doctrine and Covenants 110:13–16
For Kids:
Heavenly Father wants families to be sealed in the temple.
Doctrine and Covenants 2
Look at family pictures together, and look at pictures of temples. no. 120
Why is it important that we have temples on the earth today? Why do you think that Heavenly Father wants families to be together forever? What can we do so that our family can be together forever?
Families Can Be Together Forever
For Kids:
Learning about my ancestors can bring me joy.
Help children to understand family history. Tell them stories about themselves, about you and your husband, about grandparents, and great-grandparents. Help them to feel the love and joy of being a big extended family (sons of Adam and daughters of Eve). Share pictures with them too. Let them draw pictures of your family or make their own family tree. Help them to write thank you letters for gifts and service family members do for them.
Help children to understand that even though daily life was different for their parents and grandparents, some thins are always the same. Heavenly Father and Jesus love us all and they want our families to choose and be able to be together forever.
Look for family history activities here: FamilySearch.org/discovery.
Plan your own family fun days, stay-cations and vacations. Teach children to keep a journal of what they do and how they feel.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/2?lang=eng
1, Elijah is to reveal the priesthood; 2–3, The promises of the fathers are planted in the hearts of the children.
1 Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
2 And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.
3 If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.
Doctrine and Covenants 2 When you read this section, pay particular attention to what the words “plant,” “hearts,” and “turn” mean. What was Elijah’s mission and what Priesthood keys and blessings were restored?
Family has always been the most important thing to our Heavenly Father, and He wants to preserve His children in their families and receive as many back to Him as choose to come. Through the gospel of Jesus Christ we learn that the first two great commandments are the most important. So we need to have planted within our souls the message of His Plan of Happiness; and we need to turn our hearts to Him and to each other, so that love increases, and so that we choose to follow His plan. The Priesthood sealing keys were restored through the prophet Elijah, so that all families on earth and be linked and welded to each other forever.
Malachi 4:5–6 This chapter has a warning that if your hearts don’t turn to each other before the Lord’s Second Coming, the earth will be smitten with a curse. (We are experiencing that to some degree now, and the answer is to return to God, to love Him and His Son, and to love each other; and to go to temples for ourselves and our families and over the blessings of the endowment and sealing to everyone.
Section 2, states the warning that if our hearts to turn to our families in love, the whole world will be utterly wasted at His Coming. We have a great work ahead of us.
sections 27:9 9 And also Elijah, unto whom I have committed the keys of the power of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, that the whole earth may not be smitten with a curse;
110:13–16 13 After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:
14 Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—
15 To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—
16 Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.
128:18 18 I might have rendered a plainer translation to this, but it is sufficiently plain to suit my purpose as it stands. It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a curse unless there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and the children, upon some subject or other—and behold what is that subject? It is the baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect. Neither can they nor we be made perfect without those who have died in the gospel also; for it is necessary in the ushering in of the dispensation of the fulness of times, which dispensation is now beginning to usher in, that a whole and complete and perfect union, and welding together of dispensations, and keys, and powers, and glories should take place, and be revealed from the days of Adam even to the present time. And not only this, but those things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world, but have been kept hid from the wise and prudent, shall be revealed unto babes and sucklings in this, the dispensation of the fulness of times.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/js-h/1?lang=eng
As you read Joseph Smith—History 1:27–33, think about what that work might be. How does it contribute to the ongoing Restoration of the Savior’s gospel?
Vs 28 Joseph felt the weight of being called to a solemn role and wanted to be forgiven of anything he may have done which had offended the Spirit. I have felt that same pull at times. I think the closer we try to follow Jesus, the more fine-tuned our spirits become to any offense we may have given.
Vs 29 Joseph still had the faith of a child. Because God had manifested Himself to Joseph previously, he knew that God would again answer his prayers.
Vs 30-33 Heavenly Father sent Moroni to speak to Joseph and tell him about his mission. He called Joseph by name, and told him that God had a work for him to do.
Joseph Smith—History 1:34–47 Why were these prophecies important for Joseph to know?
Vs 34-35 Moroni told Joseph about the plates, and that the contained the fulness of the everlasting Gospel. He also told Joseph about the Urim and Thummim, or the seer stones, which had been prepared for translating the book.
Vs 37-39 Moroni quoted important verses that spoke of the importance of families being linked together through the Priesthood and the sealing powers. Elijah would come to restore this sealing power.
third chapter of Acts, twenty-second and twenty-third verses,
second chapter of Joel, from the twenty-eighth verse to the last
Vs 42 Moroni told Joseph that he must be careful with the plates and the Urim and THummim, and not show them to anyone, except to those he was commanded to show them.
Vs 45 On Moroni's second visit, he repeated the instructions from the first, with warnings about what judgments lay ahead for the people of the last days.
Vs 46 On Moroni's third visit, the same knowledge and instruction was given, with an added caution that they plates must not be used for money; but that Joseph's purpose in having the plates must be to glorify God.
Joseph Smith—History 1:48–60 How did the events going on around Joseph at the time, help him to prepare for his calling to do God’s work?
Vs 48 Joseph was exhausted from his night of heavenly instruction, and his father sent him home. He fell unconscious for a while.
Vs 49 Moroni visited Joseph for the fourth time and repeated the same messages and then told him to go and tell his father about the experiences.
Vs 50-52 Joseph's father said that the visions were of God and to go and do as Moroni asked him. He went and found the plates and the Urim and Thummim.
Vs 53-54 Joseph was not to take the plates at that time, but to meet Moroni there each year for four years; he received instruction and intelligence from Moroni at each of their meetings, concerning the work of the Lord and the administration of His kingdom in these last days.
Vs 59 At the end of four years, Mormoni delivered the plates and the Urim and Thummim to Joseph. He needed to guard them with great care and responsability until Mormoni called for them back.
Vs 61 Martin helped Joseph and Emma be able to move when the persecution was intolerable.
Vs 63-65 Martin took some of the copied characters and their translation to Professor Anthon who gave him a certificate of authenticity. But when Martin told the professor that an angel gave Joseph the plates, the professor tore up the certificate. Dr. Mitchell also determined that the characters and translation were correct; but, he gave no written certification.
Comments
Post a Comment