Class members may benefit from studying the similarities between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Church that Christ established anciently. Display the labels

Doctrine, Ordinances, Priesthood Authority, and Prophets. You could provide the following references about Christ’s Church in ancient times:

 Matthew 16:15–19; John 7:16–17; Ephesians 2:19–22; 3 Nephi 11:23–26; Moroni 4–5. Class members could identify what each passage teaches about Christ’s Church and place the scripture the reference in the appropriate column on the board. (Some references could apply to more than one column.) They could do the same for the following references about Christ’s restored Church:

 Doctrine and Covenants 20:17–25, 60, 72–79; 21:1–2.

What do you learn about the Restoration of Christ’s Church from this comparison?

Give class members time to study the qualifications for baptism described in Doctrine and Covenants 20:37, and ask them to ponder questions like these: How do these qualifications help us prepare to be baptized into the Lord’s Church? What does it mean to take Christ’s name upon ourselves? (see Mosiah 5:5–12). What helps you maintain your “determination to serve [Jesus Christ] to the end”?

Back to Primary….

When you are 8 years old, you will make a very important covenant.  Listen to the following scripture so you can tell with whom the covenant is made and how it is made. Read Alma 7:15.

According to this scripture, with whom do you make a covenant? (Heavenly Father.)

What must you do to show that you make the covenant with Heavenly Father? (Be baptized.)

The covenant we are talking about is called the baptismal covenant. When we are baptized, we show Heavenly Father that we are making a covenant with him. We promise to do something, and Heavenly Father promises to do something.

When we are baptized, we promise Heavenly Father that we will obey his commandments. Put the text box above the child getting baptized.

What are some of Heavenly Father’s commandments?

What do we promise Heavenly Father when we are baptized? (To obey the commandments.)

This is our part of the covenant. If we keep our promise, Heavenly Father promises to forgive us when we repent (put the text box above Heavenly Father) and to give us the gift of the Holy Ghost (put the text box above Heavenly Father). He promises that we will live with him forever (put the text box above Heavenly Father).

What is Heavenly Father’s part of the covenant? (He will forgive us when we repent. He will give us the gift of the Holy Ghost. He will let us live with him forever.)

Divide the class into three groups, and assign each group to read one of the three subsections of “Your Baptismal Covenant” in True to the Faith

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Read Doctrine and Covenants 20:75–79 together, and invite class members to consider what these verses teach about the Savior and His power in our lives.

What words or phrases stand out when we read the sacrament prayers this way?

Why is it important to partake of the sacrament each week?

The description of priesthood duties in Doctrine and Covenants 20:38–60 could help members of your class expand their understanding of priesthood service. Maybe you could invite them to imagine that a recently baptized friend or family member is about to be ordained to a priesthood office.

How would they use these verses to help him understand his duties?

What examples would they share to help him understand how fulfilling those duties can help him become more like Jesus Christ? 

In addition, how might they use these verses to help a newly baptized sister see how she can participate in the work described here?

“Men are ordained to priesthood offices, while both women and men are invited to experience the power and blessings of the priesthood in their lives. …

“… [Women] preach and pray in congregations, fill numerous positions of leadership and service, participate in priesthood councils at the local and general levels, and serve formal proselytizing missions across the globe. In these and other ways, women exercise priesthood authority even though they are not ordained to priesthood office. …

“… In ecclesiastical callings, temple ordinances, family relationships, and quiet, individual ministry, Latter-day Saint women and men go forward with priesthood power and authority. This interdependence of men and women in accomplishing God’s work through His power is central to the gospel of Jesus Christ” (Gospel Topics, “Joseph Smith’s Teachings about Priesthood, Temple, Women,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Doctrine and Covenants 21 contains powerful statements about following the Lord’s prophet. To help class members ponder and discuss these statements, ask them to search verses 4–7 for a phrase they would like to understand better. Choose a few of the phrases, and discuss as a class what they might mean. What do these phrases teach us about following the Lord’s prophet?