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FAIR Resources for Come, Follow Me – Restoration Scripture
Week 26: June 23 - 29: "Worth...the Riches of the Whole Earth"

DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 67 – 70

Doctrinal Focus
Historical & Contextual
Apologetic Application
Practical Applications
Ideas for Teaching
Quick Reference

Doctrinal Focus

  • Key doctrines addressed in this week’s reading
  • Christ’s power allows parents to receive inspiration and strength when they face challenges in raising their children. Relying on Him enables them to access divine guidance and patience in teaching and nurturing their children. Doctrine and Covenants 68:25–28 – Parents are commanded to teach their children gospel principles, and Christ empowers them to do so.

No parent is perfect, but Christ’s atonement provides the opportunity for repentance and growth. Parents can feel comfort and renewal as they turn to Him for help in fulfilling their sacred responsibilities. Doctrine and Covenants 64:10 – The Lord invites us to forgive ourselves and others, relying on Him for healing.

Mountains represent the trials and difficulties we face in life. Through faith in Christ, we gain the strength and courage to overcome these obstacles, knowing that He will help us bear them. Matthew 17:20 – Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.

When we place our trust in the Savior, He can open doors and provide solutions we never thought possible. Faith allows God’s hand to work in our lives in both subtle and profound ways. Ether 12:12 – “For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them.”

  • While the world often measures success in terms of possessions and status, true riches are found in the peace, knowledge, and eternal blessings that come from following Christ. Doctrine and Covenants 68:31 – The Lord rebukes seeking the things of the world instead of the things of God.

The Lord entrusts His servants with the riches of His gospel, which include knowledge and covenants. Being faithful to these responsibilities brings eternal rewards that surpass any worldly gain. Doctrine and Covenants 70:14 – “He who is appointed to administer spiritual things, the same is worthy of his hire, even as those who are appointed to a stewardship to administer in temporal things.”

Historical & Contextual Insights

  • Insights in this week’s study
  • Doctrine and Covenants 67–70 were received during a pivotal time in Church history (November 1831) when the early Saints were preparing to publish the revelations they had received.
  • Church leaders gathered for a conference in Hiram, Ohio, where they sought to unify their understanding of the revelations and organize them into a book. The Lord directed them to compile and publish these revelations as the Book of Commandments (later the Doctrine and Covenants).
  • This marked a major step in the establishment of Church doctrine and reinforced the importance of revelation through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The Lord’s promise that the revelations were true and would stand as a testimony of His word gave the Saints confidence.
  • Just as the early Saints were guided by revelation, we can trust that God continues to speak through prophets and personal revelation today.
  • The Savior taught that faith, even the size of a mustard seed, can move mountains. This principle applies not only to physical miracles but also to the personal and spiritual challenges we face. Faith gives us strength, clarity, and the courage to persevere.
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  • Faith does not mean that trials will disappear instantly, but it gives us the power to endure and the perspective to see God’s hand in our lives.
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    • As we exercise faith, we become more sensitive to spiritual promptings and experience personal growth and divine assistance.
  • The revelations in Doctrine and Covenants 67–70 emphasize the importance of spiritual knowledge and the responsibility to share it. The early Saints were instructed to publish the revelations so others could benefit from the truths they contained.
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    • The riches of the gospel include peace, understanding, and eternal covenants, which far exceed the value of any worldly possession.
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    • Faithfulness in living and sharing gospel truths brings eternal rewards, reinforcing the idea that spiritual growth matters more than material gain.

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

Apologetic Application

  1. Claim: “Joseph invented the revelations to justify his leadership and control over the Church.”
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  3. Response:
  4. Historical Evidence: The revelations in Doctrine and Covenants 67–70 were recorded at a time when the Church was still small and under significant persecution. Joseph had little to gain in terms of worldly power or wealth.
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  6. Eyewitness Support: Early Church leaders, including Oliver Cowdery and Sidney Rigdon, testified of the divine nature of these revelations and the powerful spiritual experiences that accompanied them.
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  8. Spiritual Confirmation: The revelations contain teachings and insights beyond Joseph’s personal education and experience, consistent with divine inspiration.
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  10. Logical Analysis: If Joseph had fabricated the revelations, it would be unlikely that they would withstand scrutiny and continue to inspire millions over nearly two centuries.
  • Claim: “The Book of Commandments was a human creation, not a product of revelation.”
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  • Response:
  • Historical Evidence: The revelations were compiled after Joseph and other Church leaders received divine instruction to publish them, indicating that they were not Joseph’s personal writings.
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  • Eyewitness Support: Those present at the conference where the decision to publish was made testified of the spiritual confirmation they received.
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  • Spiritual Confirmation: Many who have studied the Doctrine and Covenants have felt a confirming witness from the Holy Ghost regarding its truthfulness.
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  • Logical Analysis:  The complexity, consistency, and doctrinal depth of the revelations make it unlikely they were produced without divine guidance.
  • Claim: “Faith in Jesus Christ is just wishful thinking without a rational basis.”
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  • Response:
  • Historical Evidence: Accounts of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection are supported by historical records and eyewitness testimony from both believers and non-believers.
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  • Eyewitness Support: The apostles and early Saints bore witness of Christ’s resurrection, even under threat of persecution and death.
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  • Spiritual Confirmation: Millions of believers testify of the personal peace and strength they have found through faith in Christ.
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  • Logical Analysis: The teachings of Christ have led to profound personal and societal transformation, indicating that faith in Him produces measurable positive outcomes.

Practical Applications

Practical solutions for someone in faith crisis:

Action Step: Pray daily for Christ’s help and strength in raising your children and managing life’s difficulties.

Christ’s power allows you to receive divine guidance and strength beyond your own capacity. Turning to Him builds trust and resilience in difficult times.

  1. – Begin each day with a prayer specifically asking for strength and guidance.
  2. – Pause during the day to reflect and seek help through quiet moments of prayer.
  3. – Acknowledge Christ’s help by expressing gratitude each night in prayer.

Encouraging Thought:

  • Jesus Christ strengthens those who turn to Him for help in their divine roles as parents and disciples.

Action Step: Identify one challenge and take it to the Lord in prayer, trusting Him to provide help.

Faith opens the door for God’s power to work in your life. When you trust in Him, you gain peace and clarity even when the solution isn’t immediately visible.

  1. – Write down a specific challenge you are facing.
  2. – Take it to God in prayer, asking for strength and wisdom.
  3. – Act in faith, even if the solution isn’t immediately clear.
  4. – Look for small signs of God’s hand in your life as you exercise faith.

Encouraging Thought:

  • Faith in Christ, even as small as a mustard seed, can move mountains.
  • Action Step: Spend 10 minutes each day studying the scriptures and recording insights about eternal truths.

Focusing on spiritual riches aligns your priorities with God’s plan and helps you find deeper satisfaction and peace.

  1. – Set a daily reminder for scripture study.
  2. – Choose a passage that focuses on eternal truths.
  3. – Record personal impressions in a journal or notebook.
  4. – Reflect on how these truths guide your decisions and priorities.

Encouraging Thought:

The riches of eternity far exceed the temporary satisfaction of worldly success.

Ideas for Teaching

Objective: Help learners understand how Christ strengthens parents in raising their children.

  1. Whiteboard or poster
  2. Markers
  3. Scriptures

Activity Steps:

  1. Introduction (5 min): Ask learners, “What are some of the biggest challenges parents face today?” Write responses on the board.
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  3. Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read Doctrine and Covenants 68:25–28, where parents are instructed to teach their children faith, repentance, and baptism. Discuss how Christ’s strength helps parents fulfill this responsibility.
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  5. Application (5 min): Ask learners to share ways they’ve seen Christ’s help in parenting or teaching others. Have them write down one way they can rely more on Christ in this role.

Follow-Up Question: How can relying on Christ make a difference in the way you teach or influence others?

Objective: Teach how faith in Jesus Christ helps overcome challenges.

  1. Small object (like a rock)
  2. Scriptures
  3. Paper and pens

Activity Steps:

    1. Introduction (5 min): Hold up the small object and say, “If this represented a personal challenge, how could faith help you move it?”
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    3. Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read Matthew 17:20 and discuss how faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. Ask learners to share an experience where faith helped them overcome a challenge.
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    5. Application (5 min): Have learners write down a challenge they’re currently facing and one way they can exercise faith to address it.

Follow-Up Question: What small act of faith can you take this week to show trust in Christ’s power?

Objective: Help learners understand the value of spiritual riches over material wealth.

  1. Two jars (one labeled “Worldly Riches,” the other “Spiritual Riches”)
  2. Slips of paper
  3. Scriptures

Activity Steps: 

    1. Introduction (5 min): Ask learners to list examples of worldly riches and spiritual riches. Write them on slips of paper and place them in the respective jars.
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    3. Scripture Discussion (5 min): Read Doctrine and Covenants 70:14 and discuss how the Lord promises eternal rewards for faithfulness. Compare the value of temporary vs. eternal riches.
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    5. Application (5 min): Ask learners to take a slip from each jar and discuss which type of riches has greater long-term value and why.

Follow-Up Question: How can you adjust your priorities to seek more spiritual wealth?

QUICK REFERENCE

  • – Jesus Christ strengthens parents and individuals as they fulfill their divine roles.
  • – Faith in Jesus Christ empowers us to overcome life’s challenges.
  • – Spiritual wealth surpasses material riches and brings lasting peace.
  • – The revelations in Doctrine and Covenants were compiled under divine instruction, reinforcing the importance of modern prophets.
  • – Faith requires action—small steps of trust in Christ invite His power into our lives.
  • Why trust modern prophets?
  • – Modern prophets teach principles consistent with scripture and confirmed by the Holy Ghost.
  • – Their teachings have produced lasting spiritual fruits in the lives of millions of believers.
  • – Fulfilled prophecies and consistent guidance reflect divine influence rather than human invention.
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  • Why does God allow mistakes?
  • – God honors agency, allowing individuals (including prophets) to learn and grow.
  • – Mistakes often become teaching moments that strengthen faith and understanding.
  • – The atonement of Jesus Christ compensates for human error and allows us to grow through correction.