D&C Lesson 11- Student Choice Assignment



 64: 9–11 “Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin. I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. And ye ought to say in your hearts—let God judge between me and thee, and reward thee according to thy deeds.”

“Often we think of forgiveness as a form of charity. We forget that the benefits extend both ways. It is as beneficial to forgive as to be forgiven. This is not a formula but a spirit which can bring out the best in people and illuminate every moment of living. It is one of the happy paradoxes of human behavior that the readier we are to forgive the less we are called on to forgive. Forgiveness does not undo what has already been done. It enables us to accept what has been done and go on from there.” (Elder Eldred G. Smith, Conference Report, April 1961, pp. 68-69)

“Yes, forgiveness enlarges the soul, for "he that loveth his brother abideth in the light" ( 1 Jn. 2:10). To abide in light is to abide in the pathway that leads to the very presence of our Heavenly Father. In forgiveness there is a divine satisfaction that is also sublime. The fruit is sweet, the way is easy, and the time is so short. Slow forgiveness is almost no forgiveness.” (Robert L. Simpson, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 128-130)

• This helps me understand and apply the principles in verses 9-11 by reminding me that forgiveness blesses both sides of a situation- not just one. I also love the description Elder Simpson gives of the fruit of forgiveness being “sweet”.
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 64: 33–34 “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great. Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.”

“The Prophet Joseph Smith is the chief example. He was weak insofar the learning of men is concerned; but because he was humble, obedient, and possessed a willing mind, he became a mighty and strong leader and witness of the divinity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Franklin D. Richards, Conference Report, October 1966, pp. 69-72)

“As you strive to be an example of the believers, you may feel that you are standing alone. You may feel that you are the only one who is trying so hard to be righteous and pure. You may feel you are the only one striving to be modest in your actions, speech, and appearance. But you are not alone.” (Elaine S. Dalton, “Believe!,” Ensign, May 2004, 110)

• The first quote helps me understand and apply the principles in verses 34 by using the life of Joseph Smith as a familiar example of how the Lord brings great things out of the simple or small. The second quote is comforting for no other reason than to know that I am not the only one to ever have those thoughts before. I felt this a lot as a teenager in “the mission field” and there are many times now, as a mother, that I feel, “weary in well doing” because it is discouraging to not be able to do it all. “Hearing” the Lord tell us to NOT feel that way, but to remember that our efforts are laying a great foundation is extremely encouraging.
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• 64:22 “And after that day, I, the Lord, will not hold any guilty that shall go with an open heart up to the land of Zion; for I, the Lord, require the hearts of the children of men.”

“The Lord wants more from us than these moving expressions of conviction and covenant. He wants more than expressions of gratitude and testimony and commitment. He wants us to fear him, to love him, to keep all his commandments always. He wants our hearts… His promise to those who give him their hearts is certainly the same as it was to ancient Israel—that we may expect his blessings to be with us always, and with our children….What a marvelous promise! What a magnificent and moving covenant God has made with us—worth everything—worth our love, our obedience, our faith; worth our hearts.” (Marion D. Hanks, Conference Report October 1960, pp. 10-13)

“The newness of heart comes when we do and give all we can, then offer our heart and will to the Father. As we do this, our Father promises us that our lives now and in eternity will be abundant. We need not fear.” (Kathleen H. Hughes, “Out of Small Things,” Ensign, Nov 2004, 109)

• This helps me understand and apply the principles in verse 22 by reminding me that every commandment, every requirement God extends to His children are to bless us in some way, not because God wants to fence us in or tie us up. They always have been and always will be for our benefit.

D&C Lesson 10 Assignment

D&C Lesson 10 Student Choice Assignment
Amy Jensen

58:27- “Men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause” Zion will be found doing good works.
58:26- “For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things.” Zion possesses initiative.
58:43- “By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins- behold, he will confess them and forsake them.” Zion is repentant.
58:21- “Let no man break the laws of the land, for he that keepeth the laws of God hath no need to break the laws of the land.” Zion is law abiding.
58:64- “For verily, the sound must go forth from this place into all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth…” Zion is missionary minded.
59:4- “…that they are faithful and diligent before me.” Zion is faithful to the commandments of God.
59:7- “Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.” Zion is grateful.
59:10- “For behold this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High.” Zion observes the Lord’s appointed Sabbath day.
59:13-14- “…that thy fasting may be perfect…this is fasting and prayer…” Zion observes the practice of fasting.
58:20- “Let no man think he is a ruler; but let God rule him that judgeth.” Zion is humble.


Because I have been pregnant since the beginning of May, I have not been able to fast, but I still could and should be doing everything else that accompanies a true fast and honestly, I have slacked. I also feel I could be much more of a missionary. I let the fact that I am busy with children, home and school fake me out into a false thinking that I am already consumed and that there is no piece of me left to really focus my efforts on missionary work.

I know that the Lord has taught us via the scriptures that He can make weak things become strong unto us and I also know that the prayer is the vehicle to ask for such a blessing. So, praying and asking for help with these things is the way I can go in order to more fully embrace those gospel principles.

Spencer W. Kimball shared "In the earliest years of this dispensation the people faltered in attempting to live the full economic plan of Zion, the united order. Because of their transgressions, the Lord chastened them.”
"The length of time required 'to accomplish all things pertaining to Zion' is strictly up to us and how we live, for creating Zion 'commences in the heart of each person.' (Journal of Discourses, 9:283.)
“Zion is 'every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God.' (D&C 82:19.) As I understand these matters, Zion can be established only by those who are pure in heart, and who labor for Zion." (Spencer W. Kimball, "Becoming the Pure in Heart," Ensign, May 1978, 80–81)

It relates to the principles of Zion that I have discovered because it discusses the consequences of transgressing the Lord’s calls to His people. It also explains that Zion must first start in the hearts of the people which would include adhering to all of the principles I identified above.

D&C Lesson 9: Student Choice Activity

Lesson 9: Student Choice Assignment
Choice #2

Here are some methods I found while studying the Doctrine and Covenants that the Lord uses as teaching and learning tools:

1) 45:57 (With the Holy Spirit as our guide we will not be deceived to accept false truths)
2) 43: 2-3 (The Lord will reveal His will through His servant, the prophet)
3) 43:16 (When efforts are exerted toward a personal purification, one receives power to teach His words)
4) 44:2-3 (must have faith to be endowed with the Spirit who enables one to teach)
5) 46:7 (in all things, ask of God and it will be made known)
6) 50:24-25 (whatever we receive from God is something we are learning or being taught and is light and whatever is not from God is darkness)
7) 50:22 (whenever teaching or learning comes from God there is a mutual edification)
8) 51:2 (we have to be governed by law and if we are not governed by law, we are cut off from God)
9) 49:27 (the Lord will go with us and because He goes with us, He will aid us to be able to figure things out)
10) 50:11 (the Lord teaches by reasoning face to face; assisting to sort it out in our own minds)

Some similarities and differences between the Lord’s manner of teaching/learning and my own are that we both rely on the prophet. The Lord relies on him as a mouthpiece and I rely on him for spiritual guidance and direction. The Lord teaches using reasoning and I, too, have used this method to teach. It is very effective because it turns the questions back to the person looking for answers and requires them to think and come up with the answers. We are different in that all of my teaching and learning experiences haven’t qualified as mutually edifying, where God’s are always mutually edifying. Another way our methods differ is that sometimes my faith is less than unshakable and when this happens, the Spirit is unable to bless my efforts of teaching and of learning with power.

The three techniques that I have picked to incorporate into my learning and teaching for the remainder of this course are: 1) to begin each “teaching/learning” session with prayer in which I will ask, in faith, for the influence of the Spirit to be felt. 2) to maintain the Spirit through the duration of these experiences so that all might be mutually edified and 3) to have a greater appreciation for the laws which govern.

"The Same is My Disciple"





Choice #2 (Section 41–42):

Step 01:

What is the Lord’s definition of a disciple?
“He that receiveth my law and doeth it, the same is my disciple” Doctrine and Covenants 41: 5

Based upon the standards that the Lord gives to the Church in the “law” Section (42), create twenty “Disciple Recommend Questions” which could be asked of someone claiming to be a disciple of Christ. Use the specified verses to make your questions as clear as you can.


“Disciple Recommend Questions”

* (v. 11–14) Do you teach with the Spirit of the Lord?
* (v. 18–19) Have you committed murder?
* (v. 20) Do you steal?
* (v. 21) Do you lie?
* (v. 22–24) Do you love your spouse with all your heart?
* (v. 27) Do you gossip?
* (v. 29) Do you serve the Lord? Do you keep His commandments?
* (v. 30–34, 37–39) Do you care for the poor and the needy?
* (v. 40) Do you have a prideful heart?
* (v. 41) Are your offerings to the Lord done in purity and cleanliness?
* (v. 42) Are you a hard worker?
* (v. 43–44) Do you possess faith sufficient for healing?
* (v. 45) Do you love your fellow men?
* (v. 52) Do you believe that these are the Laws of God?
* (v. 53) Can you be counted on?
* (v. 54–55) Are you trustworthy and honest?
* (v. 56–60) Do you share the gospel?
* (v. 61) Do you pray for your guidance?
* (v. 75–87) Do you uphold the laws of the land?
* (v. 88–92) Do you make reconciliation for your wrongs?

Step 03:

When you have a question for each reference, conduct a personal interview asking yourself each of the questions. How well did you do? Which questions could you personally improve on? In a short paragraph, reflect on which of the “laws” in Section 42 are easiest for you to obey and which require more of an effort on your part. Why do you think those you chose are easier/harder for you?

I did pretty well, but not perfect by any stretch and while some questions I could answer confidently with a clear conscious, others were quite lacking. For example, I do all I can when necessary to make reconciliation for my wrongs and to seek forgiveness. I have a testimony of the peace that our souls receive when we do this and I value that peace very highly. I pray often. I don’t feel my heart is very prideful. I have not, nor ever plan to kill another person and teaching with the Spirit is something that I actively seek to do as I serve in God’s kingdom on earth as well as when I teach my own children at home, so that we all might be strengthened in testimony. I think I possess love for my fellowmen with an empathy that has, at times, has brought me to tears. Again, NOT perfect, but I feel that those are some of my strengths. I know that some of my weaknesses include sharing the gospel, (not that I shy away when there are opportunities, just that I don’t actively seek them), speeding, (laws of the land- not excessive speeding, usually, just the five-ish mile over kind, but still…). I know I could do more to serve and bless the lives of those in need and I know I could offer more of Christ’s pure love to my spouse. Some of the reasons these things are harder for me is because I let myself get consumed with my children, home and schooling and neglect to reach out of my little circle, because I have been hurt and so I withdraw or because I have made myself feel that somehow 5 miles over is the real speed limit. (Ah, me and my lovely delusions!) Essentially, because I make excuses. This has been a humble reminder of the glorious gift that the Atonement of Jesus Christ is for me. I am so, SO grateful that He is perfect and that He loves me enough to permit His perfectness to cover my imperfectness. I know that it is only through Him, in this way that I can become acceptable to God.