March 1–7
Doctrine and Covenants 20–22
“The Rise of the Church of Christ”
Ideas for Family Scripture Study and Home Evening
Song:
“The Church of Jesus Christ,” Children’s Songbook, 77
Prayer:
Thought/Scripture:
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Doctrine and Covenants 20:69.
What does it mean to “[walk] in holiness before the Lord”? It might be fun for family members to draw or write on pieces of paper some things that could help them walk in holiness or things that could distract them from doing so. Then they could create a path using the papers and try to walk on the path, stepping only on the drawings that will bring them to Christ.
Lesson:
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Doctrine and Covenants 20:75–79.
How could your family use these verses to prepare for meaningful, reverent experiences with the sacrament?
Read the descriptions of the people who help make sacrament time reverent. Have the children place the people where they go in the chapel. Do you know the names of the people in our ward or branch who do these things?
I am the music director. I lead us as we sing the sacrament hymn. The sacred music helps everyone in the chapel think about Jesus. I am a priest in the Aaronic Priesthood. I break the bread into pieces, and I kneel and say the sacrament prayer. I am a deacon in the Aaronic Priesthood. After the sacrament prayer, I reverently take a sacrament tray to pass to Church members in the congregation. I am the bishop. When the priest offers the sacrament prayers, I listen carefully to make sure that the prayers are said correctly. One other person makes sacrament time special. Can you guess? That’s right—it’s you! You can sit reverently with quiet feet and folded arms. You can think about Jesus and the covenants you have made, or will make, at baptism. 
Sacrament
Have the children read Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79. What are these two scriptures? Jesus revealed the wording for the sacrament prayers and that the priests are instructed to repeat them as written in the Doctrine and Covenants.
Before the sacrament is passed, special prayers are said. The prayers tell Heavenly Father some things we promise to do. Ask the children to listen carefully while you re-read the prayer that is said over the bread, so they can discover two promises we make to Heavenly Father when we take the sacrament.
Emphasizing the phrases “that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee” and “always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them.”
Tell the children that “witness unto thee” means we are making a promise
to Heavenly Father.What two things do we promise to do?
Everyone who takes the sacrament and
always remember Him will have His spirit.They would be blessed if they kept
His commandments.Each time we take the sacrament we are promising to remember Jesus and keep his commandments.
When we partake of the sacrament bread, what do we promise to do? 
(D&C 20:77.)
When we partake of the sacrament water, what do we promise to do?
(D&C 20:79.)We Make a Covenant at Baptism
When you are 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.)
Activity
Remove the text boxes. Turn the text boxes face down on the table. Have a child choose a text box and put it either “I promise” or “Heavenly Father promises”. Have the child say “I promise” or “Heavenly Father promises” as they put it in the correct place. Repeat the activity until everyone has had at least one turn. Explain that the commandments we promise to obey include the teachings of Jesus Christ we have learned in Primary and at home.
For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Teaching Stripling Warriors Come, Follow Me—For Primary.
Prayer:
Treat:
Peanut Butter Crunch Lasagna
- 1 family size package Nutter Butter cookies
- 1 8 ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- 3 cups frozen whipped topping thawed
- 1 5.9 ounce box chocolate pudding mix
- 3 cups milk
- ½ cup peanut butter
Instructions:
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In a 9×13 casserole dish, place a layer of cookies.
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In a large mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and powdered sugar until completely blended. Fold in 1 ½ cups whipped topping.
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Spoon the cream cheese mixture in dollops over the cookies and press into an even layer.
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In another mixing bowl, beat together the pudding mix and milk for 5 minutes or until the pudding has thickened. (Check the package instructions.)
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Spread the pudding over the cream cheese layer. Top with a layer of the remaining whipped topping.
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Place the remaining cookies in a zip top bag and crush. Sprinkle over the whipped topping layer.
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In a small microwave safe dish, heat the peanut butter in the microwave for 30 seconds or until melted. Cool slightly. Transfer to a piping bag with the corner snipped. Drizzle over the crushed cookies.
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Refrigerate until the peanut butter has solidified. Cover and return the dish to the refrigerator to store overnight to allow the cookies to soften.
- Doctrine and Covenants 20.
What would we say if someone asked us why we need the Church? What answers do we find in Doctrine and Covenants 20? See also D. Todd Christofferson, “Why the Church,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 108–11.
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- Doctrine and Covenants 20:37, 71–74.
If someone in your family is not yet baptized, these verses could lead to a discussion about how to prepare for baptism (see verse 37) and how baptisms are performed (see verses 71–74). Family members could share pictures or memories from their baptismal day.
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- Doctrine and Covenants 21:4–7.
Consider inviting family members to look for words and phrases in verses 4–5 that teach us about following the Lord’s prophet. What does it mean to receive the prophet’s words in patience? in faith? When have we received the blessings promised in verse 6?
For more ideas for teaching children, see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Primary.
Suggested song: .
Improving Our Teaching
Emulate the Savior’s life. “The Savior’s power to teach and lift others came from the way He lived and the kind of person He was. The more diligently you strive to live like Jesus Christ, the more you will be able to teach like Him” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 13).
Oliver Cowdery Ordains Joseph Smith, by Walter Rane
