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FAIR Resources for Come, Follow Me – Restoration Scripture
Week 42: October 13 - 19: "His Sacrifice Shall Be More Sacred unto Me Than His Increase'"

DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 115-120

Historic site of Far West, Missouri, where early Saints gathered and planned to build a temple.
Doctrinal Focus
Historical & Contextual
Apologetic Application
Practical Applications
Ideas for Teaching
Quick Reference

Doctrinal Focus

  • Key doctrines addressed in this week’s reading
  • This name reflects that Jesus Christ stands at the head of the Church. It also clarifies to the world that the Church’s teachings and authority are centered on the Savior and His restored gospel. (D&C 115:4)

Calling the Church by His name signifies both doctrinal alignment and spiritual authority. The Lord indicated that this naming would help His Church stand as a light in the darkness, gathering the humble followers of Christ in preparation for Zion. (D&C 115:4–6)

The Lord asked the Saints to give one-tenth of their increase annually. This law both supports the physical needs of the Church and sanctifies the Saints through sacrifice and consecration. (D&C 119:1–7)

At a time when Saints were experiencing great poverty and persecution, the Lord still required tithing. This principle teaches that trusting in the Lord brings spiritual and temporal blessings, even when it may be difficult to give. (D&C 119:4)

  • This shows that the Lord continues to guide His people in specific, real-world matters. His guidance includes not just spiritual doctrine but also where and how to gather, build, and serve. (D&C 115:7–12)

The Lord revealed a council—consisting of the First Presidency, the Presiding Bishopric, and the Quorum of the Twelve—to oversee the use of tithing funds. This reflects the Lord’s orderly pattern of stewardship and decision-making in His kingdom. (D&C 120)

Historical & Contextual Insights

  • Insights in this week’s study
  • In 1838, the Saints were experiencing persecution and displacement, and many had gathered in Far West, Missouri, which had become a center for Church activity.
  • Doctrine and Covenants 115–120 were revealed during a time of both hope and hardship. The Saints were building a new city in Far West, under the direction of the Lord, but they also faced rising opposition. This period included directives about the Church’s name, temple building, tithing, and Church governance.
  • These revelations show that even amidst severe external pressures, the Lord provided specific, forward-looking instruction to guide His people. He reasserted order, clarified the identity of the Church, and instituted lasting principles like the law of tithing.
  • The Lord’s hand is evident in the affairs of His Church, even during times of turmoil. When we are asked to make sacrifices or face adversity, we can trust that the Lord is guiding His people and preparing something greater.
  • In July 1838, the Saints in Missouri were impoverished, having lost property and stability from earlier persecution. Despite their limited means, the Lord asked them to live the law of tithing as a way to sanctify themselves and provide the financial foundation to build Zion. This was not a temporary requirement but a “standing law” that would remain until the Second Coming (D&C 119:4).

     

  • The Lord didn’t wait for the Saints to be financially secure before requiring tithing. Instead, He used this principle to test and build their faith, much like He does with us today.
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  • The implementation of tithing marked a shift from earlier, more complex consecration systems to a manageable, consistent practice that could be sustained by all Church members.
    • In a time when the Saints were widely misunderstood and often mislabeled by critics and newspapers, the Lord’s command to use the full name of the Church—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—helped clarify the Church’s divine origin and purpose. It reinforced Christ’s centrality to its mission, distinguishing it from other movements and sects.

       

    • This divine naming served both doctrinal and practical purposes: affirming that the Church belongs to Jesus Christ and helping the Saints stand out in a crowded and often hostile religious landscape.
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    • The emphasis on Christ’s name continues to be relevant today, as leaders like President Russell M. Nelson have reemphasized the importance of using the full name of the Church to reflect our identity and doctrine clearly.

If you have questions on this week’s reading, please email your questions to us here.

Apologetic Application

  1. Claim: “If the Church were divinely established, its name wouldn’t have changed—especially not decades after its founding.”
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  3. Response:
  4. Historical Evidence: The early Saints initially referred to themselves using various names, such as “The Church of Christ” or “The Church of the Latter-day Saints.” However, in 1838, the Lord formally revealed the full name—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (D&C 115:4).
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  6. Eyewitness Support: Church history records that Joseph Smith and other early leaders immediately adopted and used the revealed name in their writings and official documents following the revelation.
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  8. Spiritual Confirmation: The revealed name centers on Jesus Christ, emphasizing that He is the foundation and head of the Church. Latter-day Saints testify that the name aligns with revealed truth and inspires reverence for Christ.
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  10. Logical Analysis: Institutional names often evolve in the early years of any movement. Rather than undermining legitimacy, this change reflects a pattern of progressive revelation consistent with how God has worked with His covenant people throughout history.
  • Claim: “Joseph Smith instituted tithing to enrich himself and consolidate control.”
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  • Response:
  • Historical Evidence: The revelation on tithing (D&C 119) came during a time of extreme financial need and sacrifice. Far from enriching Joseph, it was directed toward supporting the Church and building temples.
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  • Eyewitness Support: Contemporary records show that Church leaders, including Joseph, lived modestly and often suffered financial hardship. Donations went toward communal and ecclesiastical efforts.
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  • Spiritual Confirmation: Latter-day Saints testify of the blessings they receive from paying tithing, seeing it not as an institutional demand but a personal covenant with God.
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  • Logical Analysis: If personal gain were the motive, instituting a system that demanded significant sacrifice from already struggling members would have likely caused backlash. Instead, the Saints embraced it as a divine principle.
  • Claim: “He created councils like the one in D&C 120 to centralize and maintain his authority.”
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  • Response:
  • Historical Evidence: D&C 120 doesn’t give Joseph unilateral control; it establishes a council (First Presidency, Presiding Bishopric, and Quorum of the Twelve) to oversee financial matters, showing a deliberate check-and-balance system.
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  • Eyewitness Support: Journals and meeting minutes reveal collaborative governance, with many leaders offering input and decision-making responsibility shared among presiding quorums.
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  • Spiritual Confirmation: The organization mirrors New Testament patterns, where multiple apostles and leaders counseled together under divine direction. Members recognize the Spirit in the order and wisdom of such systems.
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  • Logical Analysis: A leader seeking unchecked power wouldn’t delegate key decisions to councils. This structure reflects divine order, transparency, and long-term governance stability.

Practical Applications

Practical solutions for someone in faith crisis:

Action Step: Begin or recommit to paying a full tithe as a consistent spiritual practice.

Tithing is an act of faith that brings both spiritual and temporal blessings. It helps you develop trust in the Lord’s provision and align your priorities with eternal values.

    1. – Calculate 10% of your increase (income).
    2. – Pay your tithing promptly through the Church’s donation system (online or with a slip).
    3. – Pray over your tithing to express gratitude and faith.
    – Record spiritual or temporal blessings you notice over time.

Encouraging Thought:

“Prove me now herewith… if I will not open you the windows of heaven” (Malachi 3:10). Obedience to this commandment invites miracles in both ordinary and unexpected ways.

Action Step: Intentionally use the full name of the Church and speak more of Jesus Christ in conversations and worship.

Centering your life and speech on the Savior strengthens your discipleship and clarifies your witness to others. It reinforces that you follow Christ—not a movement or a person.

  1. – Refer to the Church as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
  2. – In talks, prayers, or testimonies, emphasize the Savior’s role more directly.
  3. – Study Christ-centered scriptures daily.
  4. – Reflect on how your actions and speech can better represent Him.

Encouraging Thought:

  • Action Step: Look for ways to support and follow living prophets through study and obedience.

Following prophetic counsel brings safety and spiritual clarity in a confusing world. Trusting the Lord’s governance through His leaders deepens your faith and unites the Church.

  1. – Review recent General Conference messages from the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve.
  2. – Choose one principle to act on this week.
  3. – Pray to sustain them not only in word but also in deed.
  4. – Share with someone what you’ve learned or how you’ve acted on prophetic direction.

Encouraging Thought:

“Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38). The Lord speaks through those He calls—and He leads His Church today just as He did in 1838.

Ideas for Teaching

Objective: Help learners understand the doctrinal significance of the Church’s revealed name.

Paper or whiteboard, markers, copies of D&C 115:4, name tags.

Activity Steps:

  1. Introduction (5 min): Ask students to write down or share what their name means or how they got it. Discuss why names matter.
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  3. Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read D&C 115:4. Discuss why the Lord gave this specific name to the Church and what each part of the name signifies.
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  5. Application (5 min): Have learners create a symbolic “name tag” for the Church using art or words that reflect the Savior’s role. Invite them to consider how they can better represent His name.

Follow-Up Question: What does it mean to you personally to be a member of the Church that bears Jesus Christ’s name?

Objective: Teach the spiritual purpose of tithing and build faith in its blessings.

Small envelopes, slips of paper with “income” scenarios, D&C 119:3–4, testimonies or stories of tithing.

Activity Steps:

Introduction (5 min): Hand out scenarios with pretend weekly earnings. Invite students to guess how much tithing they’d pay. Discuss how it might feel in tight circumstances.

Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read D&C 119:3–4. Discuss how tithing was revealed in a time of financial difficulty and why the Lord still required it.

Application (5 min): Share a brief testimony or story about tithing blessings. Invite learners to write down one step they can take to act in faith, even if it’s not financial (e.g., giving time, energy, or trust to God).

Follow-Up Question: What spiritual blessings have you seen—or do you hope to see—by showing faith through sacrifice?

Objective: Explore how the Lord’s instructions for Zion apply to our efforts to build Zion today.

Poster board or large paper, markers, scripture references (D&C 115:5–6, 119:1–7), images of temples or Zion-related artwork.

Activity Steps: 

Introduction (5 min): Ask learners to brainstorm words or images that come to mind when they hear “Zion.” Write these on the board.

Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read D&C 115:5–6. Discuss what it means to be a “light unto the world” and how Zion is both a place and a people.

Application (5 min): As a group, create a “Blueprint for Zion” poster, listing or illustrating principles like unity, purity, sacrifice, and Christ-centered living.

Follow-Up Question: What can you do this week to help build Zion in your home, ward, or community?

QUICK REFERENCE

  • The Lord revealed the full name of His Church: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (D&C 115:4).

     

  • Tithing is a standing law given to sanctify the Saints and prepare them for Zion (D&C 119:3–4).

     

  • Church governance—including use of tithing funds—is directed by revelation through divinely appointed councils (D&C 120).

     

  • Zion is both a literal gathering and a spiritual standard—Saints are called to be a “light unto the world” (D&C 115:5).

     

  • God gives specific instructions even in times of adversity, showing His ongoing care and preparation for His people.
  • Why trust modern prophets?
    • God’s pattern has always been to guide His people through prophets (Amos 3:7). Prophets are not self-appointed—they are called by divine revelation and sustained by the body of the Church. The consistency of doctrine, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the fruits of their leadership testify of their divine calling.
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    • Why does God allow mistakes?
    • God honors agency and allows His people, including leaders, to learn through experience. This principle is reflected in scripture—from Moses to Peter. Mistakes do not invalidate divine guidance; they reflect growth and dependence on Christ’s grace. The Lord still directs His Church through revelation, even amid human imperfection.

The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles – Testifies of Jesus Christ and prophetic witness today.