Priesthood lesson question

[Anonymous]

Ok. Just another update.. It would be great if we all shared ways we have talked about “troubling stuff” in classes so we can learn from each other, but here goes:

Taught the Joseph/Hyrum Smith lesson. It was supposed to be elders quorum only, but due to sickness, i had to give the lesson to the HP as well… gulp.

Started out with Hyrum smith and shared some facts about him. Age, his general human nature and etc.. nobody really knew anything about him (neither did I before i prepared the lesson). Then afterwards i started with the end of the lesson: The death of joseph and hyrum. ( I disliked a lot of what was in the manual/how it was phrased, so i edited it heavily/made my own version).

Talked about how they had a gun smuggled in and fired 3 shots and wounded or killed people from the mob, and talked about how Joseph was betrayed by his freemason fellows in the crowd as he made the “grand hailing sign of distress”-masonry thing but was answered with bullets instead. I could have gone into the background as to why they ended up in prison (because of the press being destroyed) but chose not to.. I figured it would be too much.

Then after that we talked about what they JS/HS actually gave us doctrine wise when they lived (what did they actually seal with their blood) and had a good conversation about all the things that makes our church different from other churches and talked about what it meant in our lives/why it was important for us). People talked about the gospel was a “package” and we knew how to believe because of it, and i agreed but still emphasized that we still all believe differently in the church and there should be room for that. In the end i focused on that Their death was horrible and bad but ultimately we should focus on what the Saviour did for us, since both Joseph and Hyrum pointed to him.

The lesson went fine and a, what i consider at least without fully knowing him, TBM came up to me and imidiatly asked for sources for the masonry stuff. I gave him source from fair mormon and we talked a little bit. It made me a little nervous and i can see how friction can very easily come up in the church but we ended off on a pretty good note.

We’ll have to see in the future 😆

Thats it for now.

[Anonymous]

Excellent.

In our lesson, some people mentioned the following about Hyrum:

1) He was called as co-president of the Church.

2) He was kind of the Aaron to Joseph’s Moses – the man who “ran the practical aspects of the Church” in many ways, so Joseph could be the visionary leader.

3) It is his descendants who led the Church later (the Smith Presidents and other descendants), so, in a real way, we belong to Hyrum’s church, not Joseph’s.

4) He was the calming influence on Joseph’s mercurial nature. (“Mercurial” was the word that the man used who said this.)

I like being in a ward where multiple people have studied our history quite deeply.

[Anonymous]

Old-Timer wrote:

4) He was the calming influence on Joseph’s mercurial nature. (“Mercurial” was the word that the man used who said this.)

I like being in a ward where multiple people have studied our history quite deeply.

And being in a ward where somebody not only knows what the word “Mercurial” means, but knows how to use it in a sentence!

[Anonymous]

Well my ward is in Denmark so I have absolutely no clue;) I’ll have to look it up and promise to use it in every post from now on!

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[Anonymous]

Ok. Here we go again. This time chapter 15: eternal marriage. The jfs book.

What are some good topics I can bring up in a faithful setting to rock the boat a little…. Yeah, it pretty much scream polygamy, I know;)

Please give me your suggestions, polygamy or not. Thanks:)

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[Anonymous]

I probably would craft a lesson about how to make a marriage celestial and basically skip the scriptural foundation of the lesson.

My “rock the boat” aspect probably would be to read the section of the Proclamation and emphasize that it says each couple has the right and responsibility to help each other perform the primary responsibilities (that they aren’t limited to each spouse like they used to be) and to adapt to their own circumstances (meaning, for example, that the Proclamation does NOT condemn or even discourage a stay-at-home dad and a working mom, if that is the adaptation a couple feels inspired to make).

[Anonymous]

So – once again:

https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-joseph-fielding-smith/chapter-18-living-by-every-word-that-proceeds-from-the-mouth-of-god?lang=eng” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-joseph-fielding-smith/chapter-18-living-by-every-word-that-proceeds-from-the-mouth-of-god?lang=eng

Im giving this lesson the upcoming sunday. “Living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”.

My first thought would be to talk about fallibility of church leaders and that *we* have to find out for ourselves what “the word of God” actually is.

Thinking about backing it up with the quote by BY “…i am scared that you trust too much in church leaders and never find out truth for yourselves” – loose translation;)

Any other faithful but “rocking the boat” approaches?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

You might want to use Elder Oaks’ talk “Two Lines of Communication” to emphasize that there is a difference between group revelation and personal revelation – and that we can’t outsource our responsibility for the revelation relative to our own lives to the Church and our church leaders.

If you want to review my Sunday School lesson from June 2013 on that talk, the link is: (http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3481&p=59231&hilit=+two+lines+#p59231)

You also might want to read the following thread: “Personal Revelation – SM Today” (http://forum.staylds.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=4412&hilit=two+lines)

[Anonymous]

Wuhuuu! Thanks:)

[Anonymous]

Ray – your sunday School link is nothing short of amazing. A great balance of deep thinking and nuanced non judgemental faith in God and your fellow man. Brilliant. I am definently going to use some of your points. Thanks

[Anonymous]

https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-joseph-fielding-smith/chapter-22-prayer-a-commandment-and-a-blessing?lang=eng” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-joseph-fielding-smith/chapter-22-prayer-a-commandment-and-a-blessing?lang=eng

Sp here is another one. The topic: Chapter 22: Prayer—A Commandment and a Blessing.

Any suggestions that would rock the boat, but still be within a faithful frame?

Thanks:)

[Anonymous]

Bear wrote:

https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-joseph-fielding-smith/chapter-22-prayer-a-commandment-and-a-blessing?lang=eng” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-joseph-fielding-smith/chapter-22-prayer-a-commandment-and-a-blessing?lang=eng

Sp here is another one. The topic: Chapter 22: Prayer—A Commandment and a Blessing.

Any suggestions that would rock the boat, but still be within a faithful frame?

Thanks:)

Since my return to church activity I have taken to studying the scriptures by subject. I am currently studying prayer. There is no scriptural commandment to pray – none whatsoever. The Bible Dictionary actually points that out. Just a thought.

[Anonymous]

I probably would just say that people pray for many different things and different reasons, open a discussion about why we pray and ask for personal reasons and experiences.

[Anonymous]

Giving a new lesson.

The subject is:

Chapter 7: Joseph Smith, an Instrument in the Hands of the Lord

https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-ezra-taft-benson/chapter-7-joseph-smith-an-instrument-in-the-hands-of-the-lord?lang=eng” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-ezra-taft-benson/chapter-7-joseph-smith-an-instrument-in-the-hands-of-the-lord?lang=eng

Uplifting but still rocking the boat is the goal:)

I personally plan on talking a little bit about different versions of the first vision. The rest im planning looking at later today.

The lesson in manual is VERY straight forward.

Any thoughts?

Thanks:)

And remember, this thread is not only for me, everyone could write here if they need help with any given lesson/talk.

🙂

[Anonymous]

I think the approach I would take is: everyone is

Quote:

an Instrument in the Hands of the Lord

Not just Joseph Smith.

[Author]

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