GOSPEL TOPICS LDS CHURCH HISTORY. PRESIDENT BOYD K. PACKER When I was in the seventh grade, in a health class, the teacher read an article. A mother learned.

GOSPEL TOPICS LDS CHURCH HISTORY

PRESIDENT BOYD K. PACKER

When I was in the seventh grade, in a health class, the teacher read an article. A mother learned that the neighbor children had chicken pox. She faced the probability that her children would have it as well, perhaps one at a time. She determined to get it all over with at once.

So she sent her children to the neighbor’s to play with their children to let them be exposed, and then she would be done with it. Imagine her horror when the doctor finally came and announced that it was not chicken pox the children had; it was smallpox.

PRESIDENT BOYD K. PACKER

With the proper serum, the physical body is protected against disease. We can also protect our children from moral and spiritual diseases.

The word inoculate has two parts: in—“to be within”—and oculate means “eye to see.”

When children are baptized and confirmed, we place an eye within them—the gift of the Holy Ghost.

A knowledge of the restored gospel and a testimony of Jesus Christ can immunize spiritually.

GOSPEL TOPICS

From LDS Church History

Race and the Priesthood

Mountain Meadows Massacre

Church Organization & Programs

The Articles of Faith

The Pearl of Great Price

The Family Proclamation

OFFICIAL DECLARATION 2

Church History

1831-1849• "Black Pete" was among the first converts in

Ohio • Elijah Able was ordained an Elder March 3,

1836 and ordained a Seventy April 4, 1841. • Kwaku Walker Lewis–In 1847 Brigham Young

called him “one of the best elders.” (Minutes, 26 March 1847).

• Enoch Lewis – son of Walker Lewis, ordained sometime before 1844

• William McCary (1811-1854) was ordained in 1846.

1831-1849• Jane Manning James (1822-

1908)• Jane had been a housekeeper

for Joseph in the Mansion House in Nauvoo.

• She petitioned the Church leaders to allow her to receive the endowment

• She was counseled to be patient and wait a little longer; that the Lord has his eye on her and would be far better to her than ever she had dreamed Journal of Rudger Clawson, 13

Nov 1902).

Why the Ban?

“Some people put reasons to [the ban] and they turned out to be spectacularly wrong. Let's [not] make the mistake that's been made in the past, trying to put reasons to revelation. The reasons turn out to be man-made to a great extent. The revelations are what we sustain as the will of the Lord and that's where safety lies.” (Dallin H. Oaks, Interview with Associated Press, in Daily Herald, Provo, Utah, 5 June 1988)

“Today, the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects actions in a premortal life; that mixed-race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of any other race or ethnicity are inferior in any way to anyone else. Church leaders today unequivocally condemn all racism, past and present, in any form” (https://www.lds.org/topics/race-and-the-priesthood)

History

• 1953 – “I have prayed and I have prayed, but there has been no answer.” (President David O McKay)

• 1954 – Elder Adam S. Bennion reported that President McKay had prayed for change “without result and finally concluded the time was not yet right.”

• 1961 – LaMar Williams was sent to Nigeria to visit groups organizing with the Church’s name. He returned with the names of 15,000 people ready for baptism.

• 1962 – President N. Eldon Tanner visited a similar group in Nigeria.1968 –“I remember one day that President McKay came into the

office. We could see that he was very much distressed. He said, ‘I’ve had it! I’m not going to do it again!’ Somebody said, ‘What?’ He said, ‘Well, I’m badgered constantly about giving the priesthood to [all men]. I’ve inquired of the Lord repeatedly. The last time I did it was last night. I was told, with no discussion, not to bring the subject up with the Lord again; the time will come, but it will not be my time, and to leave the subject alone.’” (Church Architect Richard Jackson in Prince, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism, 104)

In 1976 President Kimball said that “he had been praying about it for fifteen years without an answer . . . ‘but I am going to keep praying about it’”

President Kimball began an exhaustive personal study of the scriptures and the teachings of the Prophets. He counseled with other General Authorities.

President Kimball in the Temple

“We held a meeting of the Council of the Twelve in the temple…I offered the final prayer and I told the Lord if it wasn't right, if He didn't want this change to come in the Church that I would be true to it all the rest of my life and I'd fight the world against it if that's what He wanted….

“There was a hallowed and sanctified atmosphere in the room. For me, it felt as if a conduit opened between the heavenly throne and the kneeling, pleading prophet of God who was joined by his Brethren. …“Every man knew the same thing. …

“… Not one of us who was present on that occasion was ever quite the same after that. Nor has the Church been quite the same. …

“Tremendous, eternal consequences for millions over the earth are flowing from that manifestation. …

President Kimball in the Temple

 “I knew that the time had come. I had a great deal to fight, of course because I had grown up with this thought that [they] should not have the priesthood. But this revelation and assurance came to me so clearly that there was no question about it” (Church News, January 6, 1979)

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THE UTAH WAR AND THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE

THE UTAH WAR

Fear and misunderstanding convinced President Buchanan that Utah territory was rebelling against the U.S.

James Buchanan

A WAGON TRAIN

Wagon trains regularly stopped in Salt Lake City to restock on their way to California and other destinations.

The Fancher Party was just such a group traveling through Utah at this time.

Route of the Fancher Wagon Train

THE UTAH WAR AND THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE

Some of the Francer oxen were named Brigham Young.

They boasted of participation in the execution of Joseph Smith and the wounding of Apostle John Taylor.

Threats were made to lead an army back from California.

They poisoned a spring causing the death of many cattle.

Timeline of events surrounding the Mountain Meadows Massacre

• Thursday, September 3, 1857: A wagon train of approximately 140 people passes through Cedar City, Utah and become embroiled in conflict.

• Friday, September 4, 1857: Leaders in Cedar City were instructed not to take action against the emigrants. Isaac C. Haight and other leaders in Cedar City formulate a plan to persuade local Indians to attack the emigrant wagon train. Haight recruits John D. Lee to lead the attack.

• Sunday, September 6, 1857: Isaac C. Haight presides over a council meeting in Cedar City and informs additional local leaders of the plan to attack the emigrants. Some leaders object to this plan and persuade Haight to send a messenger, James Haslam, to seek President Brigham Young’s counsel on the matter.

• Monday, September 7, 1857: John D. Lee and Indians attack the emigrant wagon train at the Mountain Meadows.

• Tuesday, September 8, 1857: Some Latter-day Saints and Indians participate in two more attacks against the wagon train.

• Thursday, September 10, 1857: Isaac C. Haight sends orders to kill all of the emigrants except for the young children.

Timeline of events surrounding the Mountain Meadows Massacre

• Friday, September 11, 1857: The militia and Indians attack and kill the emigrants, except for 17 children.

• Sunday, September 13, 1857: James Haslam returns from Salt Lake City with Brigham Young’s written instruction to let the emigrants go in peace.

• 1859: Federal officials retrieve the surviving children and return them to Arkansas to live with relatives.

• 1870: President Brigham Young learns additional details about the massacre and excommunicates Isaac C. Haight and John D. Lee.

• 1874: Nine men are indicted by a territorial grand jury for their roles in the massacre.

• 1875: John D. Lee is the only perpetrator tried, but the case results in a hung jury.

• 1876: John D. Lee is retried and convicted of murder for his role in the massacre.

• Friday, March 23, 1877: John D. Lee is executed by firing squad at the Mountain Meadows.

• How would you summarize the choices that led to the Mountain Meadows Massacre?

• What principles can we learn from this tragedy? 

• What scriptures (read and applied) could have prevented this from happening?

John D. Lee

“What was done [at the Mountain Meadows] long ago by members of our Church represents a terrible and inexcusable departure from Christian teaching and conduct.

“The responsibility for the massacre lies with local leaders of The Church…No doubt Divine Justice will impose appropriate punishment upon those responsible for the massacre” (“150th Anniversary of Mountain Meadows Massacre,” Sept. 11, 2007, mormonnewsroom.org/article/150th-anniversary-of-mountain-meadows-massacre). (“150th Anniversary of Mountain Meadows Massacre,” Sept. 11, 2007,mormonnewsroom.org/article/150th-anniversary-of-mountain-meadows-massacre).

“James Sanders is the great-grandson of one of the children who survived the massacre [and is also a member of the Church]. … Brother Sanders said that learning his ancestor had been killed in the massacre ‘didn’t affect my faith because it’s based on Jesus Christ, not on any person in the Church’” (Richard E. Turley Jr., “The Mountain Meadows Massacre,” 21).

THE UTAH WAR AND THE MOUNTAIN MEADOWS MASSACRE

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The Organization of the Church

Jesus Christ

Prophet

Frist Presidency

Presidency of Seventy

12 Apostles

Organization of the Church

Presiding Bishop

Seventy

General AuxiliariesTemple Presidents

Stakes MissionsDistricts and Branch Presidents

Stake Auxiliaries

Bishops

Patriarchs

Elders Quorum

Ward Auxiliaries

C.E.S.YM, YW, Sunday School, Relief Society, Primary

YM, YW, Sunday School, Relief Society, Primary, High

Priests. Elders

Deacons, Teachers, Priests Quorum and Presidencies

High Priest Group

Leaders

Elder’s Quorum

PresidentsHigh CouncilYM, YW, Sunday School,

Relief Society, Primary

High Priest Group

• How has Duty to God or Personal Progress blessed your life?

• How has Young Men or Young Women blessed your life?

• How has Sunday School blessed your life? • How has family home evening blessed your life?• How has seminary blessed your life?

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THE ARTICLES OF FAITH

1ST ARTICLE OF FAITH THREE DISTINCTIVE BEINGS

We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the

Holy Ghost.

2ND ARTICLE OF FAITH AGENCY IS AFFIRMED AND NO HUMAN DEPRAVITY AND NO ORIGINAL SIN

We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s

transgression.

3RD ARTICLE OF FAITH CENTRALITY OF THE ATONEMENT, NECESSITY OF OBEDIENCE AND FAITH

We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved,

by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

4TH ARTICLE OF FAITH FIRST PRINCIPLES AND FIRST ORDINANCES

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance;

third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

5TH ARTICLE OF FAITH NECESSITY OF ORDINATION AND DIVINE AUTHORITY

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.

6TH ARTICLE OF FAITH ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH

We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

7TH ARTICLE OF FAITH MIRACLES OR NOT, GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT OR NOT, WAYS THAT A PERSON CAN IDENTIFY THE LORD’S CHURCH

We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

8TH ARTICLE OF FAITH TAKES A STAND ON THE BIBLE

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also

believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

9TH ARTICLE OF FAITH CONTINUING REVELATION

We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many

great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

10TH ARTICLE OF FAITH GATHERING OF ISRAEL, LITERAL NATURE OF THE COMING OF CHRIST, NEW JERUSALEM, MILLENNIAL EARTH

We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem)

will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign

personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive

its paradisiacal glory.

11TH ARTICLE OF FAITH FREEDOM OF WORSHIP

We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates

of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them

worship how, where, or what they may.

12TH ARTICLE OF FAITH WHERE WE STAND ON GOVERNMENT

We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the

law.

13TH ARTICLE OF FAITH PETER/PAUL, ALL VIRTUES THAT MAKE-UP A CHRIST-LIKE BEING

We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in

doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope

all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous,

lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these

things.

THE ARTICLES OF FAITH

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THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

The Coming Forth

THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

What is in the Pearl of Great Price?HINT: there are 5 things

The Book of MosesThe Book of AbrahamJoseph Smith-MatthewJoseph Smith-HistoryThe Articles of Faith

What’s inside?

THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

“After the death of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the four mummies and the papyri became the property of Joseph’s widowed mother, Lucy Mack Smith” (The Pearl of

Great Price Student Manual, 29). After Lucy Mack Smith died, the collection was sold to a man named Abel Combs. Mr. Combs sold some of the collection to a museum in St. Louis, Missouri. He retained other portions and later gave some of them away. (See The Pearl of Great Price Student Manual, 29; H. Donl Peterson, The Story of the Book of Abraham: Mummies, Manuscripts, and Mormonism [1995], 204–9, 257.)

“Several theories have been offered regarding what happened to the mummies and the papyri. It appears that at least two of the mummies were burned in the great Chicago fire of 1871” (see B. H. Roberts, New Witnesses for God, 3 vols. [1909–11], 2:380–382).

THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

 What does the Pearl of Great Price teach us about Joseph Smith?

The Book of MosesThe Book of AbrahamJoseph Smith-MatthewJoseph Smith-HistoryThe Articles of Faith

Joseph Smith

THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

The Coming Forth

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THE FAMILY PROCLAMATION

THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATIONThe first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife.

We declare that God’s commandment for his children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force.

We further declare that God has commanded the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed.

We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

SCRIPTURES Find one principle in these passages about the Law of Chastity.

Ex. 20:14 Matt. 5:27-28 Matt. 15:19-20 Romans 1:28-29 D&C 59:6 D&C 63:16 Alma 39:5

HOW FAR CAN YOU GOAND STILL NOT SIN?

WHERE IS THE LINE?

Just Friends

“The Line of Sin”

Hi-5

Handshake

Hold hands

Side hug

Quick hug

Sigh hug

Kiss on the cheek

Quick kiss on the lips

Long kiss

Making out

Touching private parts

Everyone stand up.

Sit down then you feel that ‘the line’ has been crossedJu

st

Fri

en

ds

Just Friends

“The Line of Sin”

“A line you set for yourself to keep from ever getting close to

the line.”

ELDER HOLLAND:

“In matters of human intimacy, you must wait! You must wait until you can give everything, and you cannot give everything until you are legally and lawfully married. To give illicitly that which is not yours to give (remember, “you are not your own”) and to give only part of that which cannot be followed with the gift of your whole self is emotional Russian roulette…

ELDER HOLLAND:

“. . .physical intimacy. . .is also symbolic of a shared relationship between [us] and [our] Father in Heaven. . . .These are moments when we quite literally unite our will with God’s will, our spirit with His spirit. . .we quite literally take something of that divinity to ourselves.”

THE FAMILY PROCLAMATION

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