For Latter-Day Saints

History

Year 4—Insights for Latter-day Saints

Written by Heather Wiseman, Nyree Bevan, and Danielle Bruening

About This Document

The Good and the Beautiful history courses strive to emphasize examples of faith in God and the hand of God in the history of the world. The course book itself covers most of this, explaining the role that faith, religion, and God played in history. This document includes additional insights that are specific to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

How to Use This Document As you teach from the course book, check this Insights document to see if there is an additional Church insight for the lesson. If so, follow the instructions after completing the lesson in the course book. Links in the document are hyperlinks.

NOTE: If you have not already done so, you may access and print a timeline extension for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from https://www.goodandbeautiful.com/supplements/or from the History Year 2–Insights document. No additional timeline is included in this document.

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document of Christianity. Confusing and created by Lesson 7 men, it could not lead people to the truth. This is why in 1820, through a humble prayer, Heavenly Father Constantine and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith, and the Great revelation and authority were restored to the earth. No matter how well intentioned, no matter how o Read to the children. smart, no matter how well read, mortal men and women can never match the wisdom of God or His When Emperor Constantine gathered the most divine plan of happiness! notable religious minds of his day, the goal was to unify Christianity. These great men thought, o Discuss the following question. Optionally, invite philosophized, and argued to create a creed under the children to write in their journals about which all believers could be united. Because the prophets and share their insights with the family. apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ had been killed and no divinely appointed priesthood leader was on Why is revelation important? Discuss a time when you the earth, these men did not have direct access to felt the Holy Ghost testify to you that the prophet is revelation from the Lord. Without revelation their guided and appointed by God. ideas were incomplete. Though their intentions were o Optional for older children (grades 5+): Discuss good, the result was not true doctrine because they Latter-day Saint doctrine on the nature of the lacked guidance and direction from God. Godhead using the Gospel Topics online article Speaking of the Nicene Creed, President Gordon B. and/or the following video from a talk by Elder Hinckley, the 15th president of the Church, said: Jeffrey R. Holland.

Personally I cannot understand it. To me the creed Gospel Topics: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/ is confusing. study/manual/gospel-topics/godhead?lang=eng

How deeply grateful I am that we of this Church do Video: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/ not rely on any man-made statement concerning media-library/video/2013-10-1020-doctrine-of-the- the nature of Deity. Our knowledge comes directly godhead?lang=eng from the personal experience of Joseph Smith, who, while yet a boy, spoke with God the Eternal Father and His Beloved Son, the Risen Lord. He Lesson 10 knelt in Their presence; he heard Their voices; and he responded. Each was a distinct personality. … And so, one of the great over-arching doctrines of Muhammad this Church is our belief in God the Eternal Father. and Islam He is a being, real and individual. He is the great Governor of the universe, yet He is our Father, and o Read the following excerpts from we are His children. “Understanding Islam” by Daniel C. Peterson.

We pray to Him, and those prayers are a First of all, we should recognize Muslims’ right to conversation between God and man. I am “worship how, where, or what they may” (Articles confident that He hears our prayers and answers of Faith 1:11). In 1841, Latter-day Saints on the them. I could not deny that. I have had too many city council of Nauvoo passed an ordinance on experiences of answered prayers (Gordon B. religious freedom guaranteeing “free toleration, and Hinckley, “The Things of Which I Know,” Ensign, equal privileges” to “the Catholics, Presbyterians, May 2007). Methodists, Baptists, Latter-day Saints, Quakers, For 1,500 years the Nicene Creed was the unifying Episcopals, Universalists, Unitarians, Mohammedans

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[Muslims], and all other religious sects and prophets—we have many things in common. We denominations whatever.” both believe, for example, that we are morally accountable before God, that we should pursue both We should also recall that our Church leaders have personal righteousness and a good and just society, generally been strikingly positive in their appreciation and that we will be resurrected and brought before of the founder of Islam. In 1855, for example, in a God for judgment. time when many Christians condemned Muhammad as an antichrist, Elders George A. Smith (1817–75) Both Muslims and Latter-day Saints believe in the and Parley P. Pratt (1807–57) of the Quorum of the vital importance of strong families and in the divine Twelve Apostles delivered lengthy sermons not command to help the poor and needy and that we only manifesting an impressively informed and fair demonstrate our faith through acts of discipleship. understanding of Islamic history but also praising There seems no reason why Latter-day Saints and Muhammad himself. Elder Smith remarked that Muslims cannot do so alongside one another and Muhammad “was no doubt raised up by God on even, when opportunities present themselves, purpose” to preach against idolatry, and he expressed by cooperating together in communities where, sympathy for Muslims, who, like the Latter-day Saints, more and more, we find ourselves neighbors in find it hard “to get an honest history” written about an increasingly secular world. Together, we can them. Speaking immediately afterward, Elder Pratt demonstrate that religious faith can be a powerful expressed admiration for Muhammad’s teachings and force for good and not merely a source of strife and for the morality and institutions of Muslim society. even violence, as some critics argue.

A more recent official statement came in 1978 The Qur’an itself suggests a way of living peacefully from the First Presidency. It specifically mentions together despite our differences: “If God had willed, Muhammad among “the great religious leaders of he could have made you a single community. But the world,” saying that, like them, he “received a he desired to test you in what he has given you. So, portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to compete with one another in good deeds. You will [these leaders] by God,” wrote Presidents Spencer W. all return to God, and he will inform you regarding Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, and Marion G. Romney, “to the things wherein you used to disagree” (Daniel C. enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level Peterson, “Understanding Islam,” Liahona, Apr. 2018). of understanding to individuals” (Daniel C. Peterson, “Understanding Islam,” Liahona, Apr. 2018). o Discuss with the children: How can you be a good neighbor to someone of another faith? o Discuss with the children: How can you respect the religious beliefs of others? Lesson 13

Lesson 11 The Temple Mount and Pilgrimages to The Culture and the Holy Land Contributions

of Islam o Read the following excerpts from “Orson Hyde: A Life of Lessons Learned” by Roy B. Huff or, for o Read the following excerpts from younger children, briefly summarize the main “Understanding Islam” by Daniel C. Peterson. ideas using your own words.

While Latter-day Saints and Muslims obviously differ Orson Hyde, an early Apostle of the Church, was the on important matters—notably the divinity of Jesus first Latter-day Saint to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Christ, His role as Savior, and the calling of modern Land. He was called to travel there and dedicate the

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land for the return of the Jews. This is the story about on their journey. The trip lasted nineteen days. The how he and his family were blessed as he made the passengers nearly starved to death, as reported in long journey. his letter: “A number of days I ate snails gathered from the rocks, while our vessel was becalmed in the Mission to the Holy Land midst of several small and uninhabited islands, but [I]n early March 1840, Orson had [an] experience that the greatest difficulty was, I could not get enough of helped formulate his resolve. … He wrote that “the them. I was so weak and exhausted that I could not vision of the Lord, like clouds of light, burst into my go on shore after the slight exertion of drawing on my view. … The cities of London, Amsterdam, Constanti- boots. But that is past; I am now strong and well and nople, and Jerusalem, all appeared in succession be- have plenty to eat.” fore me.” The Spirit told Orson that these cities would Upon arriving in Palestine, Orson took up with a group be the field of his labors and that in these cities were of English gentlemen for the remaining thirty-five miles many of the children of Abraham whom the Lord to Jerusalem. This group was heavily armed, which was would gather to the land that He gave their fathers. necessary to combat the land pirates who lay in wait Within six weeks of this vision, Orson for travelers in the hill country near Jerusalem. They embarked upon the longest mis- welcomed Orson because he could sionary journey ever undertaken to handle another weapon in their de- that date by a missionary. … He was fense. Orson reached the top of the assigned a companion to accompany hill from Jaffa on 21 October 1841 him, the newly ordained Apostle and for the first time beheld the city John E. Page. They left Nauvoo on 15 that had preoccupied him for almost April 1840 [and traveled east]. The a decade and that he had traveled Apostles had calculated that they for nineteen months to reach. He would need a thousand dollars each remarked that Jerusalem was just as for their trip to the Holy Land and he had seen it in the vision. He burst back, so they tried to solicit funds forth with tears as he finally saw the from members on their trip. They object of his desire and considered thought it might take up to two years all the events that had happened to reach their monetary goal. They there throughout the history of the separated from time to time for this world. In the next couple of days, he purpose. met with other Christian missionaries, but they had little interest in Orson’s mission, so he Orson boarded a ship to England and arrived there in decided to fulfill his purpose for being there. March 1841. He was with his fellow Apostles at the April conference since nine of the Twelve were serv- Dedication of the Holy Land for the ing in England. Soon, seven of that number would Return of the Jews return to Nauvoo, and Orson would continue on In the letter Elder Hyde wrote to Elder Pratt, Orson said, his mission, leaving only Parley P. Pratt to remain in “I have only time to say that I have seen Jerusalem pre- England to oversee the work there and help with the cisely according to the vision which I had. I saw no one printing of Church materials. with me in the vision; and although Elder Page was Elder Hyde also wrote a letter to fellow Apostle appointed to accompany me there, yet I found myself Parley P. Pratt in England about the difficulties of there alone.” Orson then related what happened the the last part of his voyage to the Holy Land. The day he dedicated the land for the return of the Jews: trip from Smyrna, Turkey, to Beirut, Syria, normally “On Sunday morning, October 24, a good while before took four days by boat. The crew packed seven days’ day, I arose from sleep, and went out of the city as worth of supplies to be safe. What they had not soon as the gates were opened, crossed the brook counted on was lack of sufficient wind to carry them Kedron, and went upon the Mount of Olives, and

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there, in solemn silence, with pen, ink, and paper, just for the restoration, the Lord needed the Holy Bible as I saw in the vision, offered up the following prayer translated into English so that the Gospels and the to Him who lives forever and ever.” Elder Hyde then words of James 1:5 would be there for Joseph Smith wrote the prayer he delivered on the Mount of Olives to read. Up to this time, the Bible was written in a as he looked to the Temple Mount where Solomon’s language only available to a few, and in handwritten and Herod’s temples stood. He included in his prayer a books only available to the wealthiest people. blessing on the land to remove the barrenness of the land and to bless the nations of the world to help the One of those key people inspired by the Lord was Jews return to their homeland. He also asked a blessing John Wycliffe. A vicar himself, he eventually decided on his family and on the Presidency of the Church. that the Bible should be translated into English. From 1380 to 1381, he commenced his work in translating It is interesting that Elder Hyde did not bless the land the Holy Bible into English not once, but twice! His for missionary work. He blessed it for the return of the church condemned his work. Elder Robert D. Hales Jewish nation. He blessed the nations that would help taught, “Some leaders were certain that if people the Jews return. His prayer was given in 1841 when could read and interpret the Bible for themselves, there were only seven thousand Jews in Jerusalem by its doctrine would be corrupted; others feared that his estimate. … After finishing the main purpose of his people with independent access to the scriptures trip, Elder Hyde left the Holy Land for Egypt, went to would not need the church and would cease to Italy, and then traveled back through Germany on his support it financially. Consequently, Wycliffe was way home. denounced as a heretic and treated accordingly. After he died and was buried, his bones were dug up and He arrived back in Nauvoo on 7 December 1842, having burned. But God’s work could not be stopped. been away from his family for 967 days and traveling over twenty thousand miles. To that point, this was the “I testify that the work of the Prophet Joseph Smith longest missionary journey of any Apostle ever recorded. is the Savior’s work. In the Lord’s service the path is He was grateful to be home, although he had no house. not always easy. It often requires sacrifices, and we He was thankful to find out that the Prophet Joseph will likely experience adversity. But in serving Him, received a revelation in behalf of Orson’s wife, Marinda, we discover that His hand is truly over us. So it was counseling the Ebenezer Robinson family to take care of for Wycliffe, Tyndale, and thousands of others who the Hydes in Orson’s absence. Orson saw the date of the prepared the way for the Restoration. So it was for revelation, which was only weeks after Orson prayed on the Prophet Joseph Smith and all who helped usher the Mount of Olives that his family would be taken care in the restored gospel. So it is and will be for us” of (Roy B. Huff, “Orson Hyde: A Life of Lessons Learned,” (Robert D. Hales, “Preparations for the Restoration Religious Educator 3, no. 2 (2002): 167–183). and the Second Coming: ‘My Hand Shall Be over Thee,’” Ensign, Nov. 2005). o Discuss with the children times when your family was blessed by serving in a calling. Wycliffe’s work inspired others, including William Tyndale. Their work and sacrifice made it possible for Joseph Smith to have a Bible in his home and Lesson 18 to ponder the words of James. Eventually all the combined efforts of these great reformers led Joseph into the woods to pray. There in Palmyra, in a small John Wycliffe grove of trees, Joseph’s prayer was answered by a visit from Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. o Read to the children. o Discuss with the children the following questions. As the Lord began to inspire people throughout the Optionally, have the children take time to write reformation, it paved the way for the restoration of the in their journals what the scriptures mean to fullness of His gospel. In order to prepare the world them and their testimony of them.

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What are some ways that having the scriptures in for the scale of Joseph Smith’s initial order for 5,000 your home has blessed you personally? How do you copies of the Book of Mormon, Brother Watkins said. remember to be grateful for those who sacrificed and The senior docent continued, explaining that an order even gave their lives so that we can have the Bible to of 500 books was considerable in 1829, even for major read every day? publishing firms. New York-based printer E. B. Grandin only agreed to the unprecedented printing contract when Martin Harris offered his own farm as collateral.

Lesson 19 Other inspired events led to the Saints’ ability to secure a printing firm capable of the scaled production Gutenberg and the required for the massive order. Printing Press Nine years prior, the Peter Smith Printing Press had just been invented, but it weighed nearly one ton and o Read to the children. ground shipping by horse and wagon was far too costly from New York City manufacturers to Palmyra, New The invention of the moveable-type printing press was York. With the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825, an essential step toward the restoration of the gospel however, the press could then be floated on the Hud- in the last days. Do you know what kind of printing son River and down the Erie Canal, which passed right press was used to print the first 5,000 copies of the by Palmyra, where Grandin’s printing shop was located. Book of Mormon in 1829? The 5,000-book order was filled within seven months Historian De Lamar Jensen wrote: “None of the tech- with the printing team working 11 hours each day, nological innovations [of the Renaissance] has had a six days each week and averaging nearly two sheet greater effect over a longer period of time and upon imprints per minute on the press. more people than the invention of printing in the mid- fifteenth century. Some scholars have pronounced it “The older presses couldn’t have done that kind of job the single most important development of the Renais- in that amount of time,” Brother Watkins said. sance and perhaps of the entire modern world” (Re- naissance Europe, 1981, p. 182). Elder McConkie con- During the Gutenberg era and through the ages, print- curred: “Few tools were more effective than printing ers used handmade paper with a hard, slick finish. The in paving the way for the great revival of learning, for oil-based ink used in printing at the time made better the religious reformation, and for the breaking away of imprints when the paper was slightly moistened, peoples and nations from religious domination. With- which added the timely step of drying before a sheet out the discovery of movable type in about A.D. 1440 could be flipped over to print on the reverse side. the barrier of gross darkness covering the apostate Printing paper used in the first editions of the Book world could scarce have been pierced” (Bruce R. Mc- of Mormon was a softer, machine-made paper that Conkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [1966], p. 716). did not need moistening. E. B. Grandin could then At the Crandall Historical Printing Museum in Provo, print on dry paper. “If they’d have had to moisten Utah, or the Grandin Building Press in Palmyra, New it, it would have taken four or five times as long,” York, visitors can see replicas of the Gutenberg Press Brother Watkins said. and other improvements made to the printing process Scriptural scholars estimate the Gutenberg press could over the centuries and watch the presses in action. print … about half as slow as the 1820 Peter Smith o Read excerpts from “Provo Museum Preserves press used in the production of the Book of Mormon. Printing History of the Book of Mormon.” Museum visitors witness the physical requirements Demonstrating these stories is a proud feature the operating a 19th century hand printing press de- museum offers, and it aids in framing an appreciation mands. Printers hand-casted metal type and then

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carefully placed each letter, space and individual The Lord agrees with Martin Luther that hymns are punctuation mark in line for printing. Next, two large something amazing. In the Doctrine and Covenants, leather ink balls were used to dab the type, a single He says, “For my soul delighteth in the song of the sheet of paper was placed overtop the type and it was heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto all rolled into position under the press to get imprint- me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon ed. Each side of an imprint contained 16 pages of the their heads” (Doctrine and Covenants 25:12). 592-page Book of Mormon first edition (Casey Adams, “Provo Museum Preserves Printing History of the Book Just as Martin Luther discovered that good music is a of Mormon,” Church News, [March 1, 2017]). blessing to all people, Latter-day Saints are encouraged to listen to music that can draw them closer to the o Optional: Watch a demonstration of a working Lord. In times of need, a hymn can lift you up. In times model of the Gutenberg Printing Press housed of joy, a hymn or other good music can be a prayer of in the Crandall Historical Printing Museum by thanksgiving. Choose your music wisely and realize searching for “How a Gutenberg Printing Press that God can change your life in amazing ways, just as Works” at www.YouTube.com. he once did for Martin Luther.

o Read the following story about Latter-day Lesson 21 Saints who shared their testimonies of Christ with millions when they sang on the streets of New York City during a blackout. Martin Luther http://www.ldsliving.com/Choir-Goes-Viral-for-Sing- ing-I-Believe-in-Christ-During-NY-Black-Out/s/91202 o Read to the children. o Optional: Listen to “A Mighty Fortress Is Our Joseph F. Smith said that “Calvin, Luther, Melanchthon, God” or another hymn that you love. Discuss and all reformers, were inspired in thoughts, words, how uplifting music has influenced your life. and actions to accomplish what they did for the liberty … and advancement of the human race. They paved the way for the more perfect gospel of truth to come” (Joseph F. Smith, “Editor’s Table: Fountain of Truth,” Lesson 24 Improvement Era, June 1907). William Tyndale Lawrence Cummins explained in the Friend, “Martin Luther was caught in a violent thunderstorm. A blinding lightning bolt sent him sprawling onto the ground, and o Read the excerpts from “The Blessing of Scripture” terror-stricken, he turned his face toward the heavens by D. Todd Christofferson to the children. and pleaded for his safekeeping. He promised that if On October 6, in the year 1536, a pitiful figure was his life was spared, he would join a religious order and led from a dungeon in Vilvoorde Castle near Brussels, become a monk. Belgium. For nearly a year and a half, the man had “Music played an important part of Martin Luther’s suffered isolation in a dark, damp cell. Now outside life. He had taught himself to play the lute (similar to the castle wall, the prisoner was fastened to a post. He a mandolin) and believed that ‘music is the greatest had time to utter aloud his final prayer, “Lord! open gift, indeed it is divine. It puts to flight all sad thoughts.’ the king of England’s eyes,” and then he was strangled. He wrote at least two dozen hymns, the most popular Immediately, his body was burned at the stake. Who being ‘A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.’ He also wrote a was this man, and what was the offense for which both delightful Christmas carol for two of his children, Hans political and ecclesiastical authorities had condemned and Lenchen” (“Heroes and Heroines: Martin Luther— him? His name was William Tyndale, and his crime was Defender of Justice and Seeker of Truth,” Vol. 14, No. 9). to have translated and published the Bible in English.

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Tyndale, born in England about the time Columbus https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media-library/ sailed to the new world, was educated at Oxford and video/2011-08-015-the-blessings-of-scripture?lang=eng Cambridge and then became a member of the Catholic clergy. He was fluent in eight languages, including Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. Tyndale was a devoted student of the Lesson 29 Bible, and the pervasive ignorance of the scriptures that he observed in both priests and lay people troubled him deeply. In a heated exchange with a cleric who argued Abolition of the against putting scripture in the hands of the common European Slave man, Tyndale vowed, “If God spare my life, ere many Trade: John Newton years I will cause a boy that driveth the plough, shall know more of the Scripture than thou dost!” o Read the excerpts from the article titled He sought the approval of church authorities to “Amazing Grace” by Kristen Nicole Cardon. prepare a translation of the Bible in English so that all could read and apply the word of God. It was “In our Church meetings, we don’t often talk about denied—the prevailing view being that direct access grace,” said my Brigham Young University religion to the scriptures by any but the clergy threatened the teacher, “but we, as members of The Church of Jesus authority of the church and was tantamount to casting Christ of Latter-day Saints, do believe in grace.” “pearls before swine” (Matthew 7:6). Indeed, I couldn’t recall any Young Women or Sunday Tyndale nevertheless undertook the challenging School lessons on grace, but my thoughts drifted back work of translation. In 1524, he traveled to Germany, to my high school choir and singing “Amazing Grace.” under an assumed name, where he lived much of the Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound!) time in hiding, under constant threat of arrest. With That sav’d a wretch like me! the help of committed friends, Tyndale was able to I once was lost, but now am found; publish English translations of the New Testament and Was blind, but now I see. later the Old Testament. The Bibles were smuggled into England, where they were in great demand and “Grace is the power of God from the Atonement of much prized by those who could get them. They were Jesus Christ,” my teacher explained. “I divide grace into shared widely but in secret. The authorities burned all four powers: resurrection, redemption, healing, and the copies they could find. Nevertheless, within three strengthening.” He proceeded to explain each power, years of Tyndale’s death, God did indeed open King but my mind had again returned to my memories. Henry VIII’s eyes, and with the publication of what was called the “Great Bible,” the scriptures in English began That same high school choir once traveled to California, to be publicly available. Tyndale’s work became the USA, to compete in a music festival. I became ill just foundation for almost all future English translations of before departure, and my sore throat meant that I the Bible, most notably the King James Version. wouldn’t be able to sing with my choir in the festival— or if I did, I would sing poorly, accompanied by pain. I William Tyndale was not the first, nor the last, of those asked my father for a priesthood blessing and spent the who in many countries and languages have sacrificed, next day praying for recovery. even to the point of death, to bring the word of God out of obscurity. We owe them all a great debt of Perhaps I didn’t fully understand then, as I sang gratitude (D. Todd Christofferson, “The Blessing of “Amazing Grace” with a fully mended throat at the Scripture,” Ensign, May 2010). festival, that I was singing about the very power that had healed me just the day before. The Savior’s o Optional: Watch the video of excerpts from Elder Atonement had blessed me that day; His grace was the Christofferson’s General Conference talk. source of my healing (Kristen Nicole Cardon, “Amazing Grace,” Ensign, Apr. 2012).

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o Discuss the following scripture and question: those subjected to cruel circumstances because their members believe that all men are made in the image “[I]t is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” and likeness of God. William Wilberforce, the great (2 Nephi 25:23). British statesman who was instrumental in outlawing the slave trade in Great Britain, is an excellent example. When have you seen Christ’s grace in your life? “His … vision of moral and spiritual enrichment was o Optional for older children (grades 7+): Watch or what he lived for, whether in defending the institution read the BYU Devotional address by Brad Wilcox of marriage, attacking the practices of the slave trade or titled “His Grace Is Sufficient” and discuss the emphatically defending the Sabbath day. With great en- doctrine of grace. ergy he helped mobilize the country’s moral and social https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/brad-wilcox_his-grace- leaders in a nationwide struggle against vice” (Quentin is-sufficient/ L. Cook, “Let There Be Light,” Ensign, Nov. 2010).

Legalized slavery is not something we see today in most countries, but it still exists in some places. However, there Lesson 30 are illegally enslaved people living in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and all over the world. Abolition of the o Discuss the following question with the children: European Slave How can we be like William Wilberforce, live our faith, Trade: William and respect the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of Wilberforce happiness” for all of God’s children?

o Read to the children. Lesson 31 In the 101st section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord revealed, “Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.” Slavery is and Slavery in America was wrong. No person or race is lesser to any other. As Peter the Apostle taught in Acts 10:34, “Of a truth I o Read the excerpts from the Church History Topics perceive that God is no respecter of persons.” God loves article titled “Slavery and Abolition.” all of His children, and we are all created in His image. Though most early Latter-day Saint converts were from William Wilberforce and countless others sacrificed to the Northern States and were opposed to slavery, end the vicious and wicked practice of slavery and to slavery affected Church history in a number of ways. bring this truth, expressed so well in the Declaration In 1832, Latter-day Saints who had settled in Missouri of Independence, to light: “All Men are created equal, were attacked by their neighbors, who accused them that they are endowed by their Creator with certain of “tampering with our slaves, and endeavoring to unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, sow dissentions and raise seditions amongst them.” and the Pursuit of Happiness.” That winter, Joseph Smith received a revelation that Elder Quentin L. Cook taught, “[M]oral values with re- a war would begin over the slave question and that spect to honesty can play a significant role in establish- slaves would “rise up against their masters.” The next ing light and truth and improving society and should year, concerns that free black Saints would gather to be valued by those who do not have faith. … Many Missouri was the spark that ignited further violence faith-based institutions in the last two centuries have against the Saints and led to their expulsion from been at the forefront in reaching out and rescuing Jackson County.

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In the mid-1830s, the Saints tried to distance amendment prohibited slavery throughout the United themselves from the controversy over slavery. States (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ Missionaries were instructed not to teach enslaved history/topics/slavery-and-abolition?lang=eng). men and women without the permission of their o masters. The Church’s newspaper published several Read the excerpts from The Salt Lake Tribune articles critical of the growing abolitionist movement. report by Pat Bagley “Living History: Slaves arrived in After the Saints had been driven from Missouri and Utah with Brigham Young” from February 19, 2010. had settled in Illinois, however, Joseph Smith gradually Listed on the Brigham Young Monument on Temple became more outspoken in his opposition to slavery. Square are the members of the first pioneer company He asked how the United States could claim that “all to enter the Salt Lake Valley in July 1847. men are created equal” while “two or three millions of people are held as slaves for life, because the spirit Three of the names are set just a little apart from the in them is covered with a darker skin than ours.” As a others under the subhead: Colored Servants. These U.S. presidential candidate in 1844, Joseph called for are Green Flake, Oscar Crosby and Hark Lay. Green the federal government to end slavery within six years Flake … was baptized in April 1844, by John Brown. … by raising money to compensate former slaveholders. Loaned to Young by his Southern master, along with a mountain carriage and team, Green was to go ahead By the time the Saints migrated to Utah, there were with the first company. It was in that wagon, with both free and enslaved black members of the Church. Green Flake at the reins, that Young entered the valley. Green Flake, Hark Lay, and Oscar Crosby, members of the vanguard 1847 pioneer company, were enslaved to A trickle of blacks entered the state over the following [Latter-day Saint] families at the time of their pioneer years, both as freemen and in company with their journey. In 1852, Church leaders serving in Utah’s masters (https://archive.sltrib.com/story.php?ref=/ legislature debated what to do about black slavery news/ci_14437472). (Note: this link must be typed in.) in Utah Territory. Brigham Young and Orson Spencer spoke in favor of legalizing and regulating slavery, allowing enslaved men and women to be brought to Lesson 33 the territory but prohibiting the enslavement of their descendants and requiring their consent before any move. This approach would guarantee the eventual The Underground end of slavery in the territory. Apostle Orson Pratt Railroad gave an impassioned speech against any compromise with the practice of slavery: “[To] bind the African o Read to the children. because he is different from us in color,” he said, “[is] enough to cause the angels in heaven to blush.” Young There were very few members of The Church of Jesus and Spencer’s position prevailed, and the legislature Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Eastern States during authorized a form of black slavery that demanded the time of the Underground Railroad, so there are humane treatment and required access to education. almost no records of any members being involved in such efforts. However, some immigrant Saints and During the 1850s, there were about 100 black slaves fugitive slaves once shared the same train. in Utah. In 1861, the Civil War broke out in the United States over the question of slavery, as Joseph Smith o Read the story as reported in the Juvenile had prophesied. On June 19, 1862, the United States Instructor on December 7, 2017. Then discuss Congress ended slavery in U.S. territories, including what you would have done if you had been in Utah. The next year, U.S. president Abraham Lincoln that situation. signed the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that https://juvenileinstructor.org/mormon-immigrants- the U.S. government no longer recognized slavery in the and-fugitive-slaves-on-the-underground-railroad/ rebelling Southern States. After the war, a constitutional

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for a White House Christmas dinner. Tad quickly Lesson 37 made friends with the handsome bird and named him Jack. The two of them spent many hours racing Abraham Lincoln: around the White House grounds. Finally, when Childhood it came time for the turkey to be readied for the holiday feast, Tad would not hear of such a thing.

o Read the following excerpts from the article “Father, you can’t let anyone kill Jack,” the boy “Abraham Lincoln, Pets and Children” from the pleaded. “He’s my friend!” Lehrman Institute. “But if we do not serve him for Christmas dinner, I Abraham Lincoln was a compassionate young man might offend the man who gave us the turkey.” who respected life. You may know that he was very vocal about the evils of slavery and believed that all “Then I’ll talk to him. I’ll tell him Jack is my friend human life was sacred. You may not know that he also and that I want him to live.” had a great respect for animals. President Lincoln nodded, gently resting a hand on Mr. Lincoln’s stepmother testified that “He loved his son’s shoulder. “Then Jack will be spared,” his animals” and “he loved children … very well.” Even father agreed. “A good friend is worth far more than insects elicited his compassion. While his parents went a good dinner” (David Collins, “Presidents and Their to church, young Lincoln preached his own sermons Pets,” Friend, June 1976). to his stepfamily: “Abe preached against Cruelty to o animals, Contending that an ant’s life was to it, as Read to the children. sweet as ours,” recalled his stepsister. Joseph Smith and other prophets also preached about the sanctity of animal life. Illinois politician William Pitt Kellogg recalled: “Next to his political sagacity, his broad humanitarianism During the Zion’s Camp expedition in the summer of was one of his most striking characteristics. He fairly 1834, an incident occurred that allowed a practical overflowed with human kindness.” Historian Charles application of concern for animal life. The prophet B. Strozier noted that “Lincoln’s lifelong sympathy Joseph Smith related the event in his history. for animals … was hardly the norm for the frontier.” Historian Douglas L. Wilson noted that Mr. Lincoln “In pitching my tent we found three massasaugas or “was unusually tenderhearted. We see this in several prairie rattlesnakes, which the brethren were about to reports of his childhood that depict him as concerned kill, but I said, ‘Let them alone—don’t hurt them! How about cruelty to animals. When his playmates would will the serpent ever lose his venom, while the servants turn helpless terrapins on their backs and torture of God possess the same disposition, and continue to them, which was apparently a favorite pastime, the make war upon it? Men must become harmless, before young future president would protest against it. He the brute creation; and when men lose their vicious wrote an essay on the subject as a school exercise that dispositions and cease to destroy the animal race, the was remembered years afterward” (http://www.abra- lion and the lamb can dwell together, and the sucking hamlincolnsclassroom.org/abraham-lincoln-in-depth/ child can play with the serpent in safety.’ The brethren abraham-lincoln-pets-and-children/). took the serpents carefully on sticks and carried them across the creek. I exhorted the brethren not President Lincoln passed his love and concern for to kill a serpent, bird, or an animal of any kind during animal life down to his son Tad. David Collins related our journey unless it became necessary in order to the following story: preserve ourselves from hunger” (Documentary History of the Church, vol. 2, pp. 71–72). A friend of President Lincoln’s, a successful turkey grower, sent one of his best gobblers to be served

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President Joseph F. Smith, … as editor of the Juvenile Instructor, expanded the emphasis on Humane Day. Lesson 38 In February 1912 in a two-page editorial entitled “Kindness to Animals,” he wrote: Abraham Lincoln:

“Kindness to the whole animal creation and especially From Teenager to to all domestic animals is not only a virtue that should President be developed, but is the absolute duty of mankind. … It is an unrighteous thing to treat any creature cruelly. … o Listen to some or all of the podcast from the It will be a blessed day when mankind shall accept and Mormon Channel titled “Lincoln and the abide by the Christ-like sentiment expressed by one of Mormons” that discusses different ways that the poets in the following words: ‘Take not away the Lincoln interacted with Latter-day Saints. life you cannot give, For all things have an equal right to live.’” https://www.mormonchannel.org/listen/series/ legacy-audio/lincoln-and-the-mormons-episode-93 An editorial published in the Juvenile Instructor in April 1918 was considered of such significance that it was o For younger children, read this summary instead. repeated in April 1927. It stated the following: Lincoln served in the Illinois legislature during the time “What is it to be humane to the beasts of the fields of the Saints’ persecution in Nauvoo and would have and birds of the air? It is more than to be considerate known about the opposition against the Church in of the animal life entrusted to our care. It is a grateful those days. He read many newspaper articles about appreciation of God’s creations. It is the lesson of di- the “Mormons” during his early adult years. While vine love. To Him all life is a sacred creation for the use no records exist of him speaking directly about the of His children. Do we stand beside Him in our tender Church, we can surmise that he was at least neutral regard for life? … towards it. Being neutral toward the Latter-day Saints during a time when others were openly critical and “Nature helps us to see and understand God. To all His hostile was uncommon in those days. creations we owe an allegiance of service and a pro- found admiration. Man should be kind to the animals Abraham Lincoln did not belong to any specific church, which serve him both directly and indirectly. An angry though he was deeply religious. During one election word or a brutal blow wounds the heart from which it campaign, Lincoln had to defend himself against false comes. Love of nature is akin to the love of God; the accusations of not being a Christian. He stated, “That two are inseparable.” I am not a member of any Christian church, is true. But I have never denied the truth of the scriptures, As president of the Church, David O. McKay spoke and I have never spoken with intentional disrespect of several times in general conferences of kindness to animals. In October 1951, he commented that “a … religion in general or of any denominations of Christians Latter-day Saint is kind to animals, is kind to every cre- in particular” (Abraham Lincoln, 1843). ated thing, for God created all” (Gerald E. Jones, “The During his tenure as president of the United States, Gospel and Animals,” Ensign, Aug. 1972). Lincoln checked out several books from the Library of o Discuss how you can show kindness to animals Congress related to the Church, including the Book and have respect for the sanctity of animal life. of Mormon. Some of the other books portrayed the members of the Church in a very negative light. He kept those books for only four days. However, Lincoln kept the Book of Mormon for a full eight months. It is possible that he read the book during that time, but no known records exist indicating whether he actually did.

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a prophet among us?” (Scott C. Esplin, “‘Have We Not Lesson 39 Had a Prophet Among Us?’: Joseph Smith’s Civil War Prophecy,” Civil War Saints, ed. Kenneth L. Alford, Civil War: Overview Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center; Salt Lake City: & Geography Deseret Book, 2012, pp. 41–59). o Discuss the blessings of receiving divine o Read the following excerpts that discuss Joseph revelation from a prophet of the Lord today. Smith’s prophecy concerning the Civil War. Optionally, watch the following talk on revelation from President Russell M. Nelson. One of Joseph Smith’s most well-known millennial prophecies related to the American Civil War. On https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media-library/ December 25, 1832, Joseph Smith received a revelation video/2018-04-4070-russell-m-nelson?lang=eng&_ prophesying that a war between the northern and r=1&category=sunday-morning-session-april-2018 southern U.S. states would begin in South Carolina and that wars and uprisings throughout the earth would finally result in the “end of all Nations” at the time of Lesson 41 the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. At the time the revelation was received, South Carolina and the federal government of the United States were involved in a Ulysses S. Grant dispute, but it was peacefully resolved the next March. Years later, Joseph reiterated his prophecy that war o Read to the children. would break out in South Carolina over slavery debates, After the Civil War ended, Ulysses S. Grant was elected as it did nearly 20 years after Joseph Smith’s death as the 18th president of the United States and served (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/ from 1869 to 1877. His visit to Salt Lake City during the topics/prophecies-of-joseph-smith?lang=eng). time of the dedication of the Tabernacle was recount- A month following the artillery rounds fired at Fort ed in the Salt Lake Herald. Sumter, South Carolina, signaling the start to the Civil Howard W. Hunter told about the visit in his October War, the Philadelphia Sunday Mercury remarked, 1975 General Conference address: “We have in our possession a pamphlet, published at Liverpool, in 1851, containing a selection from the By this time [October 1875] the railroad had been ‘revelations, translations and narrations’ of Joseph constructed and on Sunday of that week President Smith, the founder of Mormonism.” Citing what is Ulysses S. Grant, the first president of the United now Doctrine and Covenants 87, the paper continued, States to visit the Territory of Utah, arrived on a “The following prophecy is here said to have been special train decorated with flags and bunting. The made by Smith, on the 25th of December, 1832. In streets were lined from the depot to the Walker view of our present troubles, this prediction seems House with Sabbath School children, backed by to be in progress of fulfilment, whether Joe Smith hundreds of spectators to see the president and was a humbug or not.” Though early in the war’s the long line of carriages that escorted him. The advancement, the paper nevertheless speculated newspaper referred to Salt Lake City as having a about the prophecy, concluding, “The war began in population of about 25,000, and “more houses South Carolina. Insurrections of slaves are already devoted to public religious uses in proportion dreaded. Famine will certainly afflict some Southern to its population than any other city or town in communities. The interference of Great Britain, on the United States, and probably churches and account of the want of cotton, is not improbable, if meeting houses of aggregate seating capacity the war is protracted. In the meantime, a general war sufficient to accommodate every man, woman in Europe appears to be imminent. Have we not had and child in the community” (Salt Lake Herald,

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Oct. 3, 1875, 6:102). The next morning President family slaves, attended common school during the Grant, accompanied by Governor Emery, drove to winter months, and later enrolled at Emory and Henry the Temple Block and visited the new tabernacle College. In 1846, when he was only twenty-two years (Howard W. Hunter, “The Tabernacle,” Ensign, old, Peery began a merchandising business with his Nov. 1975). brother, John. He later purchased his brother’s share of the business. o Optional for older students (grades 5+): Read about other interactions between presidents of Peery was one of the county’s most eligible bachelors, the United States and Latter-day Saint prophets. but it was not until Nancy Campbell Higginbotham (1835–1862) walked into his life that he fell in love. https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865622644/ Following a brief courtship, David and Nancy were Prophets-and-presidents-11-noteworthy-connections- married. The young couple was in love but disagreed between-the-LDS-Church-and-the-White-House.html over religion. David was an agnostic, but Nancy was a devout Latter-day Saint. In an effort to turn her against Mormonism, David enlisted two notable ministers to Lesson 42 persuade Nancy against the gospel that she so fully believed. Both ministers were bested by his young bride.

Civil War: Life at The secession of Virginia from the Union took place Home & Life as a in April 1861. This marked the beginning of a long sequence of sad events that would ultimately compel Soldier Peery to turn toward his wife’s religion. On May 1, 1861, the couple’s two-year-old son, Thomas Carnahan, died o Read the excerpts from “Latter-day Saints in the from typhoid fever. In early 1862, David enlisted in the Civil War” by Robert C. Freeman. Confederate Army and served as an assistant commis- sary officer for General Humphrey Marshall’s forces in The [Civil] war occurred fourteen years after the ar- Kentucky. While serving in the Army, he was likewise rival of the Saints in the Great Basin. It may be argued struck with typhoid fever and returned home to recover. that the colonization of the Church in the West was ac- He recovered, but soon several others in his family were tually aided by the war as the full attention and energy ravaged by the deadly disease. David’s mother died on of national leadership was consumed by the events of May 17, 1863. His father died soon after on July 8. Next the war, thus allowing for the continued establishment his father-in-law succumbed to the disease. Eventually, of the Church in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains. Nancy and their son, William, died in the fall of that For many Latter-day Saints, the outbreak of the Civil year. All were victims of disease, not of the war. War was seen as a fulfillment of a prophecy made by Heartbroken, Peery began an earnest search for com- the Prophet Joseph Smith nearly thirty years before fort and spiritual answers. How could God allow such (D&C 87). Of course, most of the fighting occurred a tragedy to strike so many of those he loved? Ironi- over a thousand miles away. Still, for many Church cally, it was within his wife’s religion that he found the members whose roots were from the northeastern answers. Apostle Parley P. Pratt’s pamphlet Voice of region of the nation, there was great interest in the Warning and some writings by Orson Pratt about eter- conflict and often concern for the safety of loved ones nal family relationships were among the gospel trea- who were living in the midst of the violence. sures left behind by his wife. The concept of eternal David Harold Peery families was especially attractive to him. In November 1862, Peery asked his mother-in-law, Louisa, where David Harold Peery’s story is unique because he joined he could find the nearest Mormon elder, and she the Church during his wartime service. Born May 6, directed him to Absalom Young, who lived twenty-five 1824, he was raised in Tazewell County, Virginia. As miles away. The two men cut a hole through six-inch- a boy, he worked on his father’s farm alongside the

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thick ice, and Peery was baptized as a member of The Women’s suffrage in Utah was first granted in 1870, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. in the pre-federal period, decades before statehood. Among all U.S. states, only Wyoming granted suffrage The following month (December 1862), Peery re- to women earlier than Utah. Because Utah held two turned to the army to serve under General Williams elections before Wyoming, Utah women were the in Kentucky; he left his daughter, Louisa Letitia, in the first women to cast ballots in the United States after care of his mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Once again the start of the suffrage movement. However, in 1887 he caught typhoid fever, and for weeks he lay on the the Edmunds–Tucker Act was passed by Congress in verge of death. During his absence from home, the an effort to curtail Mormon influence in the territorial Union army swept through his homestead and de- government, disallowing the enfranchisement of the stroyed his home, store, outer buildings, and all the women residents within Utah Territory. provisions and property therein. What a blow it must have been to these women who By 1864, the war was going poorly for the South. had been politically involved for at least 17 years! Discouraged and disheartened, Peery and his brother- And Latter-day Saint women had been active in in-law, Simon, who had also been serving in the Con- policy making well before 1870. When Joseph Smith federate Army, returned home to Virginia, gathered organized the Relief Society in Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1842, remaining family members, and prepared to join the Latter-day Saint women were recognized as having an Saints in the West. They arrived there safely on August important voice in the Church and the community. This 31, 1864. Once in Utah, Peery began to farm and teach is expressed in the Woman’s Exponent. In 1878, Sarah school. That winter, romance grew again in Peery’s M. Kimball wrote: heart, this time for Elizabeth Letitia Higginbotham (1846–1938), his late wife’s sister. Elizabeth had cared I feel a degree of diffidence and pleasure standing for his daughter since Nancy’s death. The two became before you to-day. The 19th of next month will be engaged and were married the following spring on the Thirtieth anniversary of the first organization April 10, 1865. Seven months later, they were sealed of women in the States—you will pardon me for in the Salt Lake Endowment House by President Heber referring to this, but it is to compare it with the C. Kimball. That same day, Elizabeth served as a proxy date of the organization of women in the Church, for Nancy, so Nancy too was sealed to Peery for time which goes farther back. … [Joseph Smith] said and all eternity (Robert C. Freeman, “Latter-day Saints he was glad to have the opportunity of organizing in the Civil War,” Civil War Saints, ed. Kenneth L. Alford the women, as a part of the priesthood belonging [Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center; Salt Lake City: De- to them. … Our sisters in the States are seeking seret Book, 2012], 285–93), and (https://rsc.byu.edu/ to improve their condition. Miss Anthony, one archived/civil-war-saints/latter-day-saints-civil-war). of the leading women among them, well known everywhere, has written to Mrs. [Emmeline B.] o Optional: Read additional stories about other Wells, Editor of the Exponent, saying the women Saints in the Civil War in the article linked above. of Utah as a body MUST fight for the maintenance of the right to vote, and also to get national guarantee for all women in the nation. President Lesson 48 Smith the Prophet said women should ask us for advice, and the time should come when the Women’s Suffrage women of this Church should lead in such matters. Even though women in Utah had the right to vote o Read the excerpts from “Woman’s Exponent— when the Woman’s Exponent was created in 1872, Women’s Rights and Suffrage” by Jen Barkdull, they did not allow this fact to prevent them from a Church history specialist, or, for younger being heavily involved in women’s rights and the children, briefly summarize the excerpts in your suffrage movement around the country. The Woman’s own words. Exponent contains news from local, national, and

international women’s groups. There are editorials not only our own religious freedoms but the freedoms from many Latter-day Saint women. Women also of all people, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, in a speech given at wrote poetry and prose to express their feelings, Chapman University School of Law said, “I will quote such as “A Woman” and “Simple Justice—Woman’s the words of Catholic, Evangelical Christian, and Jewish Right,” by Emily Hill Woodmansee (https://history. leaders, among others. I am convinced that on this churchofjesuschrist.org/blog/womans-exponent- issue what all believers have in common is far more womens-rights-and-suffrage?lang=eng). (Note: this important than their differences. We must unite to link must be typed in). strengthen our freedom to teach and exercise what we have in common, as well as our very real differences in o Discuss your experiences relating to the right to religious doctrine” (Newsroom, February 4, 2011). vote and participate in the political process. We not only believe that others should have the right to religious freedoms, but we also stand ready Lesson 49 to defend the rights of all people who believe in a supreme being. The Constitution of the United States of America was written for a society that stood by Mahatma Gandhi religious morals and principles. President John Adams, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, o Read to the children. said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the Similar to Mahatma Gandhi and his followers, early government of any other” (Charles Francis Adams, The Latter-day Saints faced persecutions, extermination Works of John Adams, Second President of the United orders, and the loss of property and life. Yet they are States, 228–29, Books for Libraries Press, 1969). not alone in their suffering. Think of the reformers like Wycliffe and Tyndale, who were killed for their As we ponder how to fulfill our duty to stand for the beliefs. Remember the millions of Jewish people killed religious freedoms of all people, we are wise to look during the Holocaust. Consider the countless Hindus, to the example of Mahatma Gandhi. His insistence Muslims, and other religious people killed in various on non-violent protests is a model of love we can all crusades and genocides. People throughout all time emulate. As he himself wrote, “Love is the strongest have been persecuted and executed for their beliefs. force the world possesses and yet it is the humblest Their rights and freedoms have been taken because imaginable” (Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, Young they held different beliefs than the majority. India, August 6, 1925). This matches what we know from the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of There is truth in every religion. People of every religion Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible, “Charity [or love] are striving to do good and be good people. Yet, sadly, never faileth.” (1 Corinthians 13:8) there are times when people go to extremes and persecute others because their beliefs are different. If we wish for the right to maintain our religious Even worse, there are those who determine that those freedom, we must pursue it in love and kindness, who don’t believe as they do should die. without violence. Additionally, we need to stand in solidarity with all others in pursuit of the same The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the God-given right. fullness of truth on the earth today. That said, we also believe that others have the God-given right to worship o Discuss the following questions: “how, where, or what they may” (Articles of Faith 1:11). What freedoms of religion do we enjoy? What can we Many leaders in the Church today are involved in do to preserve those freedoms? How can we show efforts to retain or regain religious freedoms. They, like gratitude for these freedoms to worship God? How Mahatma Gandhi, use non-violent methods to achieve can we help stand up for others’ religious beliefs right their goals. In speaking of the urgency of protecting now, no matter where we live or how old we are?

revelation, President Kimball asked each of the Lesson 53 brethren to express their feelings and views on this important issue. For more than two hours they The African talked freely and openly. Elder David B. Haight, the American Civil newest member of the Twelve, observed: “As each responded, we witnessed an outpouring of the Rights Movement: Spirit which bonded our souls together in perfect Part 3 unity—a glorious experience. In that bond of unity we felt our total dependence upon heavenly o Read to the children. direction if we were to more effectively accomplish the Lord’s charge to carry the message of hope and On June 8, 1978, the First Presidency and Quorum of salvation to all the world. the Twelve Apostles issued a statement, now known as Official Declaration 2, to all priesthood officers of the “President Kimball then suggested that we have Church declaring that all worthy males could receive our prayer at the altar. … the priesthood. Prior to this declaration, members of “The prophet of God pour[ed] out his heart, African descent had not been granted that privilege. pleading eloquently for the Lord to make his This change came about because of a revelation. mind and will known to his servant, Spencer W. o Read or summarize the main ideas from the Kimball. The prophet pleaded that he would be excerpts from “‘That Every Man Might Speak in given the necessary direction which could expand the Name of God the Lord’: A Study of Official the Church throughout the world by offering the Declaration 2” by Richard E. Bennett. fullness of the everlasting gospel to all men, based solely upon their personal worthiness without Dale LaBaron … gives us the following: reference to race or color.”

Unknown to anyone except the First Presidency In response to a prophet’s humble prayer of faith, and the Twelve, President Kimball had asked united with those of twelve other prophets, seers, each of them to carefully research the scriptures and revelators, the Lord poured out his Spirit— and statements of the earlier brethren, to make and his answer—in a most powerful way. an exhaustive study of all that had been recorded concerning this issue. For months before the Elder LeGrand Richards elaborates further on this revelation, the First Presidency and Quorum of matter: the Twelve discussed these sacred matters at The question of extending the blessings of the length in their temple meetings. He also met priesthood to blacks had been on the minds of privately with each of the brethren to learn their many of the Brethren over a period of years. It feelings on the matter. had repeatedly been brought up by Presidents of On Thursday, 1 June 1978, the general authorities the Church. It had become a matter of particular held their regular monthly fast and testimony concern to President Spencer W. Kimball. ... meeting. The members of the Seventy and the President Kimball himself was voice in that prayer. Presiding Bishopric were then excused, and I do not recall the exact words that he spoke. But President Kimball, his two counselors, and ten of I do recall my own feelings and the nature of the the apostles remained. (Elder Mark E. Peterson expressions of my Brethren. There was a hallowed was in South America, and Elder Delbert L. Stapley and sanctified atmosphere in the room. For me, it was in the hospital.) felt as if a conduit opened between the heavenly Before offering the prayer that brought the throne and the kneeling, pleading prophet of God

who was joined by his Brethren. The Spirit of God spending many hours in the Upper Room of the was there. And by the power of the Holy Ghost Temple supplicating the Lord for divine guidance. there came to that prophet an assurance that the thing for which he prayed was right, that the time He has heard our prayers, and by revelation has had come, and that now the wondrous blessings confirmed that the long-promised day has come when of the priesthood should be extended to worthy every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive men everywhere regardless of lineage. the holy priesthood, with power to exercise its divine authority, and enjoy with his loved ones every blessing Every man in that circle, by the power of the Holy that flows therefrom, including the blessings of the Ghost, knew the same thing. It was a quiet and temple. Accordingly, all worthy male members of the sublime occasion. ... Church may be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color. Priesthood leaders are No voice audible to our physical ears was heard. instructed to follow the policy of carefully interviewing But the voice of the Spirit whispered with all candidates for ordination to either the Aaronic or certainty into our minds and our very souls. … the Melchizedek Priesthood to insure that they meet So it was on that memorable June 1, 1978. We left the established standards for worthiness. that meeting subdued and reverent and joyful. We declare with soberness that the Lord has now Not one of us who was present on that occasion made known his will for the blessing of all his children was ever quite the same after that. Nor has the throughout the earth who will hearken to the voice Church been quite the same (Richard E. Bennett, of his authorized servants, and prepare themselves to “‘That Every Man Might Speak in the Name of receive every blessing of the gospel. God the Lord’: A Study of Official Declaration 2,” Religious Educator 4, no. 2 (2003): 41–56). o Optional: Read the followingChurch News article on how Official Declaration 2 changed individual o Read or summarize the main points of Official lives around the world both in 1978 and years Declaration 2, printed here or also found at the later. end of the Doctrine and Covenants or at https:// www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/ https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/ dc-testament/od/2?lang=eng. baptism-beach-an-african-symbol-of-how-1978-revelation- changed-the-church?lang=eng Dear Brethren: o Optional for older children (grades 7+): Read As we have witnessed the expansion of the work the Gospel Topics Essay on “Race and the of the Lord over the earth, we have been grateful Priesthood” and have the children discuss it that people of many nations have responded to the with a parent or teacher. message of the restored gospel, and have joined the Church in ever-increasing numbers. This, in turn, has https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ inspired us with a desire to extend to every worthy manual/gospel-topics-essays/race-and-the- member of the Church all of the privileges and priesthood?lang=eng&_r=1 blessings which the gospel affords.

Aware of the promises made by the prophets and presidents of the Church who have preceded us that at some time, in God’s eternal plan, all of our brethren who are worthy may receive the priesthood, and witnessing the faithfulness of those from whom the priesthood has been withheld, we have pleaded long and earnestly in behalf of these, our faithful brethren,

feel better about their day,” he says. “When you make Lesson 55 someone feel good, then you feel good.” The War on Terror In the days that followed the horrific events of Sep- tember 11, David Buckner, who was serving as bishop Part 1: September 11 of the Manhattan 8th Ward and later served as stake Attacks and Response president of the New York New York Stake, describes the outpouring of love as “palpable.” o Read to the children. “I saw the change in people. Strangers looked each Living through hard times or traumatic events often other in the eye. They asked each other if they were leads a person to reevaluate his or her life choices and, okay.” He continues, “I remember riding the bus to hopefully, make positive changes. In the midst of a work. There was an elderly woman who sat down crisis, you can choose how to respond and react. Dur- next to me and asked, ‘How is your family?’ Now, in ing the initial attacks on September 11, and in the days New York, no one talks on buses. I told her we were following, many people, including Latter-day Saints, fine. After telling me her family was also safe, she got responded in heroic ways. emotional and said, ‘Things will never be the same.’ I responded, ‘I hope not.’” o Read the following excerpts from “Mormons and “I hope that people recognize that life is sacred, that we 9/11: Survivors, Rescuers, and Victims’ Families live in a very delicate world in a very tumultuous time Share Their Stories” by Jamie Armstrong. that has been prophesied of—and that’s okay,” says Da- Victor Guzman, an attorney who was working on the vid Buckner. “We don’t need to be afraid. Be committed. 85th floor, caught himself as the plane’s impact rocked Be confident. Be ready” (Jamie Armstrong, “Mormons the building forward. “There was a lot of smoke, and and 9/11: Survivors, Rescuers, and Victims’ Families there was debris falling from the ceiling,” he recalls. Share Their Stories,” LDS Living, [September 11, 2016]). “We didn’t know what was happening.” o Optional:For more details about Latter-day Saints Guzman and another attorney jumped into action, involved in the events of September 11, including evacuating everyone from their floor and down the the five members of the Church who lost their stairwells in a single-file line. “I remember saying a si- lives, consider reading the full article here: lent prayer,” Guzman recalls. “The first few levels were pretty dark. There was smoke and a strange smell, http://www.ldsliving.com/Mormons-and-9-11- which I later realized was fuel.” Seventeen minutes af- Survivors-Rescuers-Victims-Families-Share-Their- ter the North Tower was struck, United Airlines Flight Stories/s/65693?page=1#story-content 175 collided with the South Tower. o Read the following quote by Mr. Fred Rogers According to Guzman, it took nearly an hour to de- and help the children identify who some of the scend the stairs and evacuate the building. helpers from September 11 were. Optionally, discuss who the helpers are in your community “For me, priorities changed almost overnight,” Victor that you can count on in times of disaster. Guzman says. “I took the job at the World Trade Cen- ter for more money, but I was commuting nearly four “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in hours a day. Now my family is my priority. Money is the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the tight, and I have a wife and five children at home, but helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ the sacrifices have been worth it.” To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by Guzman also goes out of his way to pay compliments realizing that there are still so many helpers—so many to people rather than complain. “People deserve to caring people in this world.”

every command with exactness, we, like the Lesson 56 stripling warriors, may suffer wounds, but would all return home alive.” The War on Terror It was three days later when the promise was tested. Part 2: Iraq and Their camp was attacked, and all of the soldiers who Afghanistan followed Brother Hatch’s guidance survived (Sarah Jane Weaver, “Saints at war: Preserving stories,” Church News o Read the following story to the children which , Jan. 31, 2009). includes excerpts from the article “Saints at war: Brother Hatch had instructed his men to always wear Preserving stories” by Sarah Jane Weaver. their Kevlar vests, and when they slept, they were to put their vests next to their cot and immediately put Richard O. Hatch them back on when they arose. The attack on their In March 2003, Richard O. Hatch, an attorney and camp happened in the middle of the night. All the men colonel in the U.S. Army, was preparing his unit who had followed Brother Hatch’s instructions knew camped on the Kuwaiti border for war in Iraq. exactly where his vest was, and each was able to put his vest on immediately. Several men were seriously “I felt impressed to gather all the soldiers and wounded, but their Kevlar vests protected their vital officers in my charge and talk to them about what organs. All the men who followed “with exactness” they were about to undertake, since most of them recovered from their wounds. were serving their initial Army tours and had never experienced combat,” he recalled. o Discuss the following scripture and question:

On March 18, 2003, the group gathered in a large “Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every mess tent. “I had been praying for days asking word of command with exactness; yea, and even the Lord to guide me as to what I should say to according to their faith it was done unto them; and I the 75 young soldiers and officers for whom I did remember the words which they said unto me that was responsible. As the appointed day and hour their mothers had taught them.” (Alma 57:21) came, I still didn’t have an answer. Not until the How can following God’s commandments “with 20-minute Humvee ride across the open desert exactness” protect you spiritually and physically? from my camp to the camp where we were meeting did I get an answer. But then it came o Read about the experiences of a Latter-day Saint to me, as clearly as if my remarks were being nurse who served during the Iraq war. dictated: ‘Helaman’s Stripling Warriors.’” Charlotta Leader He initially resisted the prompting, not wanting to “push my religious convictions on my I was part of the 320th Expeditionary Medical Support subordinates.” Group in a classified location in the desert. We received and treated military troops and contract civilians at an Ultimately, however, he told the familiar Book air evac hub. Most of our patients arrived at night via of Mormon story, highlighting three things. First C-130s. Those who needed more definitive care were was that Helaman’s warriors had a conviction in stabilized and sent on to Landstuhl, Germany. the justness of their cause. Second, they were confident in their abilities as a result of their Two things really impressed me about this experience. upbringing and training. And third, they obeyed all First, most of our American soldiers did not complain commands with exactness. when they arrived from Afghanistan or Pakistan. They were extremely grateful for everything that we did for “As I concluded my remarks, I felt prompted to them or gave them: cold water, hot meals, showers, promise these young soldiers that if they obeyed

clean clothes, and air conditioning. As I settled one young man on a narrow medical cot one night, he Lesson 59 remarked how good his bed felt. I never thought of our cots as feeling very comfortable. Curious, I asked Technology Boom him where he had been sleeping. He replied that Part 2: The Digital he and his unit had been sleeping on rocks for two months. He was so very tired, as were many of the Boom troops that came to us. o Read the excerpts from “The Hearts of the The second thing that impressed me was the Children Shall Turn,” by Elder David A. Bednar or outpouring of supportive letters, cards, and food watch the short video clip here: items that we received from the citizens of the United States. Many grade school children wrote to us, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/youth/video/ thanking us for what we were doing. I am grateful to family-history-an-invitation?lang=eng the teachers who are trying to instill patriotism in the next generation of Americans. Living in Germany at I now invite the attention of the young women, young the time of September 11, I did not fully comprehend men, and children of the rising generation as I empha- the spark of liberty and freedom that was ignited that size the importance of the Spirit of Elijah in your lives day. What a legacy to live up to! (Patricia Rushton, today. My message is intended for the entire Church in Lynn Clark Callister, Maile K. Wilson, comps., Latter-day general—but for you in particular. Saint Nurses at War: A Story of Caring and Sacrifice, Many of you may think family history work is to be Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young performed primarily by older people. But I know of no University, 2005, 279–283). age limit described in the scriptures or guidelines an- o Read more from the article “Saints at war: Pre- nounced by Church leaders restricting this important serving stories” by Sarah Jane Weaver. service to mature adults. You are sons and daughters of God, children of the covenant, and builders of the Ted Leblow kingdom. You need not wait until you reach an arbi- trary age to fulfill your responsibility to assist in the Ted Leblow, an active duty Army officer since June 1991, work of salvation for the human family. was deployed to Iraq for his second tour of duty in December of 2004: “I prayed that the Lord would help The Lord has made available in our day remarkable me deal with the situation I was in and give me a way resources that enable you to learn about and love this to overcome the feelings of frustration and anger that work that is sparked by the Spirit of Elijah. For exam- were becoming a daily part of my life. When I prayed ple, FamilySearch is a collection of records, resources, for this help I received a quick and very clear answer. and services easily accessible with personal computers I was not prepared for this answer and at first did not and a variety of handheld devices, designed to help want to accept this answer but it was very clear and people discover and document their family history. distinct. The answer I received was that I should pray for These resources also are available in the family his- my enemies and for those around me that were causing tory centers located in many of our Church buildings these feelings of anger and frustration” (Sarah Jane throughout the world. Weaver, “Saints at war: Preserving stories,” Church News, Jan. 31, 2009). It is no coincidence that FamilySearch and other tools have come forth at a time when young people are so o Discuss how you can follow the Savior’s example familiar with a wide range of information and commu- and “love your enemies, bless them that curse nication technologies. Your fingers have been trained you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for to text and tweet to accelerate and advance the work them which despitefully use you, and persecute of the Lord—not just to communicate quickly with you;” as He taught in Matthew 5:44. your friends. The skills and aptitude evident among

many young people today are a preparation to con- The missionaries are now authorized to use the Internet tribute to the work of salvation. in their proselyting efforts.

I invite the young people of the Church to learn about During less-productive times of the day—chiefly and experience the Spirit of Elijah. I encourage you to in the mornings—missionaries will use computers study, to search out your ancestors, and to prepare in meetinghouses and other Church facilities to yourselves to perform proxy baptisms in the house of contact investigators and members, work with local the Lord for your kindred dead (see D&C 124:28–36). priesthood leaders and mission leaders, receive and And I urge you to help other people identify their family contact referrals, follow up on commitments, confirm histories. appointments, and teach principles from Preach My Gospel using [comeuntochrist.org], Facebook, blogs, As you respond in faith to this invitation, your hearts email, and text messages. shall turn to the fathers. The promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will be implanted in your As missionaries enter this new age where they will use hearts. Your patriarchal blessing, with its declaration computers in the work of the Lord, we invite the young of lineage, will link you to these fathers and be more and the old, the adults, the young adults, the youth, meaningful to you. Your love and gratitude for your and the children everywhere to join with us in this ancestors will increase. Your testimony of and conver- exciting new work by becoming Facebook friends with sion to the Savior will become deep and abiding. And I the missionaries in your area on your own computers promise you will be protected against the intensifying and sharing their gospel messages online and by influence of the adversary. As you participate in and becoming involved in missionary work yourselves love this holy work, you will be safeguarded in your (L. Tom Perry, “Missionary Work in the Digital Age,” youth and throughout your lives (David A. Bednar, Worldwide Leadership Training, June 2013). “The Hearts of the Children Shall Turn,” Ensign, Nov. o 2011). Optional: Discuss how you can use technology and social media to share the gospel. o Optional for older children (grades 6+): Watch the video about youth who learn to use technology to participate in family history work. Lesson 60 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/media-library/ video/2012-11-31-let-youth-lead-their-family-history- Technology Boom experience?lang=eng Part 3: Medical o Read the excerpts from “Missionary Work in the Advances Digital Age” by Elder L. Tom Perry. o Read to the children. When I was a young missionary, we were able to speak with contacts on the street and knock on doors to share President Russell M. Nelson, the 17th president the gospel. The world has changed since that time. of the Church, is a world-renowned heart surgeon Now, many people are involved in the busyness of their who helped develop a machine in the late 1940s that lives. They hurry here and there, and they are often made open-heart surgery possible. “I didn’t realize less willing to allow complete strangers to enter their that the task which lay before us was ‘impossible,’ homes, uninvited, to share a message of the restored and so I started out with the very naive assumption gospel. Their main point of contact with others, even that it wouldn’t be very hard to build a heart-lung with close friends, is often via the Internet. The very machine,” President Nelson said in his biography. The nature of missionary work, therefore, must change if first successful open-heart surgery was performed on the Lord is to accomplish His work of gathering Israel September 2, 1952, by two doctors in Minneapolis, using “from the four corners of the earth” (2 Nephi 21:12). the heart-lung machine that Nelson helped invent.

President Nelson performed the first successful open-heart surgery in the state of Utah in 1955 at a time when only two other states had doctors performing heart surgery. Over the years President Nelson performed many successful surgeries, including one on Spencer W. Kimball, who later became the 12th president of the Church. He also trained other surgeons who have practiced around the world. He retired as a surgeon after his call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in April 1984.

o Optional: Watch the video or read the full article about President Russell M. Nelson’s contributions to the field of cardiology.

https://www.ksl.com/article/46236070/a-new-world- of-surgery-president-nelson-helped-revolutionize- open-heart-operations