Doctrine and Covenants 1 Lesson Help for LDS Young Women and Young Men Teachers + Free Canva Template

In this article, weʻll be exploring Doctrine and Covenants chapter 1. To download our free lesson help + customizable Canva Template, click here: https://otherthanamom.myflodesk.com/dandc1

“Hearken, O ye people”

Engaging Questions:

1. What stands out to you in the Lord’s “preface” to the Doctrine and Covenants (Doctrine and Covenants 1)? Why?
2. What does it mean to you to “hearken” to the voice of the Lord as described in verse 14? How do you do this in your daily life?
3. Why do you think the Lord began the Doctrine and Covenants with a call to “hearken”?
4. What themes or purposes of the Lord’s revelations are most meaningful to you, and how do they apply to your life today?
5. What does it mean to you to “search these commandments” (verse 37), and how can it help you strengthen your testimony?
6. How have you experienced blessings from hearing or obeying the Lord’s voice through His prophets or personal revelation?
7. How can understanding the Lord’s purposes for His revelations help you study the Doctrine and Covenants more meaningfully this year?
8. Why do you think the Lord emphasizes that His revelations are for “all people”? How does this influence your view of the gospel?
9. What role does humility play in hearkening to the Lord’s voice and applying His commandments in your life?
10. How can you use what you learn from the Lord’s “preface” to help others understand and embrace His gospel?

Object Lessons:

1. The Tuning Fork (Listening to the Right Frequency)
   Materials Needed: A tuning fork or an audio device to demonstrate sound frequencies.
   Strike the tuning fork or play a specific frequency on an audio device and ask the group to listen closely. Explain that, like a tuning fork produces a pure tone, the Lord’s revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants are clear and true. Discuss how “hearkening” involves tuning our hearts to the Lord’s voice through prayer, scripture study, and obedience.
   Lesson: To hear the Lord’s voice, we must tune out distractions and align ourselves with His frequency through faith and diligence.
2. The Compass (Following True Guidance)
   Materials Needed: A compass.
   Demonstrate how a compass always points north, even if turned in different directions. Compare this to the Lord’s revelations, which always guide us toward truth and righteousness. Discuss how “hearkening” to the Lord’s voice involves trusting His guidance, even when the world’s directions seem conflicting.
   Lesson: Just as a compass helps us navigate, the Lord’s revelations provide the direction we need to stay on the covenant path.
3. The Mirror (Reflecting the Lord’s Commandments)
   Materials Needed: A clean mirror and a smudged or dirty mirror.
   Show the clean mirror and explain how it reflects light clearly, symbolizing our ability to receive and act on God’s revelations when we “hearken.” Show the smudged mirror and explain how distractions, sin, or neglect can cloud our ability to receive and reflect His guidance. Discuss how studying and living the Doctrine and Covenants can help us keep our spiritual mirrors clean.
   Lesson: When we hearken to the Lord’s voice and commandments, we reflect His light more clearly in our lives.
4. The Megaphone (Amplifying the Lord’s Voice)
   Materials Needed: A megaphone or cone-shaped paper.
   Speak through the megaphone or cone to demonstrate how it amplifies a voice. Explain that the Lord’s revelations amplify His message to the world, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to hear His voice. Discuss how we can act as messengers by sharing His word and living His commandments.
   Lesson: The Lord’s revelations are given so all may hear His voice, and we have a role in amplifying that message through our actions and testimony.
5. The Lamp and the Map (Searching the Commandments)
   Materials Needed: A flashlight or lamp and a map.
   Use the flashlight to illuminate the map and demonstrate how the light makes the path clear. Compare the Doctrine and Covenants to the light, guiding us through the challenges of life. Discuss how “searching the commandments” (D&C 1:37) is like carefully studying a map to find the safest and best route.
   Lesson: The Lord’s commandments and revelations are a light and a guide, helping us navigate life’s challenges and find our way back to Him.

Personal Sharing Prompts:

1. Think of a time when you felt the Lord speaking directly to your heart through scripture or revelation. How did that experience help you “hear His voice” more clearly?
2. Think of a time when you felt prompted to study or search the commandments more deeply. How did that effort impact your understanding and testimony?
3. Think of a time when you felt guided by a specific revelation or teaching from the Doctrine and Covenants. How did it help you navigate a challenge or answer a question?
4. Think of a time when you recognized the Lord’s hand in your life after acting on His commandments. How did that strengthen your faith in His promises?
5. Think of a time when you shared a teaching or principle from the Doctrine and Covenants with someone else. How did sharing that truth help you and the other person feel closer to the Savior?
6. Think of a time when you struggled to understand a principle of the gospel. How did studying the Lord’s revelations help you find clarity or peace?
7. Think of a time when you felt personally invited by the Lord to change or improve something in your life. How did that invitation come, and what was the result of acting on it?
8. Think of a time when you felt inspired by the unity and purpose of the Lord’s work as described in the Doctrine and Covenants. How did that perspective change the way you approach your role in His Church?
9. Think of a time when you experienced the power of repentance and forgiveness as taught in the Lord’s revelations. How did that experience deepen your love for Him?
10. Think of a time when you received personal guidance through prayer or study that echoed the principles found in the Doctrine and Covenants. How did that experience confirm the importance of “hearkening” to His voice?

The Lord speaks through His servants, including latter-day prophets.

Engaging Questions:

1. What do you learn about the Lord and His voice in Doctrine and Covenants 1:4–6, 23–24, and 38? How does this influence your understanding of revelation?
2. Why do you think prophets are essential in our day? How do they help us navigate modern challenges?
3. What stands out to you in verse 38 about how the Lord speaks through His servants? How have you experienced this in your life?
4. If you were explaining the need for living prophets to a friend, what verses from section 1 would you share, and why?
5. What might you say to someone who struggles to trust the voice of prophets? How can section 1 guide your response?
6. How does the hymn “Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice” deepen your understanding of the principles taught in section 1?
7. If you had been part of the 1831 council discussing the publication of Joseph Smith’s revelations, how would you have addressed concerns about Joseph’s weaknesses?
8. What do verses 6, 24, and 38 teach about the Lord’s ability to work through imperfect people, including prophets?
9. How does listening to living prophets help you feel closer to the Lord and His plan for you?
10. What do you feel inspired to do differently after studying these verses about the Lord’s voice and His servants?

Object Lessons:

1. The Conduit (Prophets as Channels for God’s Word)
Materials Needed: A clear tube or garden hose.
Show the tube or hose and explain that just as water flows through a hose to nourish plants, the Lord’s word flows through His prophets to nourish His children. Emphasize that the hose is not the source of the water but the means through which it is delivered.
Lesson: Prophets are instruments through whom the Lord communicates His guidance, love, and commandments.

2. The Megaphone (Amplifying God’s Message)
Materials Needed: A megaphone or cone-shaped paper.
Demonstrate how a megaphone amplifies a voice so it can be heard clearly. Compare this to how the Lord uses prophets to amplify His message to the world. Share examples of how prophetic counsel can cut through worldly noise.
Lesson: Prophets make the Lord’s voice clear and accessible, ensuring that His message reaches His children.

3. The Mirror (Reflecting God’s Will)
Materials Needed: A clean mirror and a smudged or dirty mirror.
Show the clean mirror and explain that prophets reflect God’s will clearly when they speak by His authority. Show the smudged mirror and explain how personal biases or misunderstandings can cloud God’s message if we don’t hearken to it.
Lesson: Prophets reflect the Lord’s will, and it is our responsibility to listen and act with faith and obedience.

4. The Compass (Guidance from Prophets)
Materials Needed: A compass.
Show the compass and explain how it always points to true north, providing direction even in challenging or confusing circumstances. Compare this to how prophets give clear guidance amidst the moral and spiritual confusion of the world.
Lesson: Prophets guide us toward the Lord and help us stay on the covenant path.

5. The Lighthouse (Safety Through Prophetic Counsel)
Materials Needed: A model lighthouse or picture of one.
Explain how a lighthouse provides light and safety to ships navigating dangerous waters. Discuss how prophets, like lighthouses, warn us of danger and guide us safely home to God. Share examples of prophetic counsel that has provided spiritual safety.
Lesson: Prophets act as spiritual lighthouses, guiding us safely through life’s storms toward eternal goals.

Personal Sharing Prompts:

1. Think of a time when you heard the words of a prophet that felt like they were meant just for you. How did following their counsel bring blessings or clarity into your life?
2. Think of a time when you struggled with a question or challenge and found answers in the teachings of a latter-day prophet. How did that experience strengthen your testimony of prophetic guidance?
3. Think of a time when you felt the Lord’s voice through the words of His servants, past or present. How did that experience deepen your faith in God’s love and His awareness of you?
4. Think of a time when you followed prophetic counsel, even when it was difficult. How did acting on that guidance impact your life or the lives of those around you?
5. Think of a time when you shared a prophet’s teachings with someone else. How did discussing those truths help you appreciate the role of prophets in our day?
6. Think of a time when you read or listened to a conference talk that spoke to your heart. What specific words or principles stood out to you, and how did they influence your actions?
7. Think of a time when you felt prompted to defend or explain the role of prophets to someone unfamiliar with the gospel. How did that conversation help you solidify your own testimony of prophetic leadership?
8. Think of a time when you participated in singing or hearing the hymn “Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice” or another hymn about prophets. How did the message of the hymn help you feel closer to the Savior and His servants?
9. Think of a time when you felt unsure or hesitant about a prophet’s counsel but chose to follow it anyway. How did the outcome of that decision increase your trust in the Lord’s servants?
10. Think of a time when the Lord’s servants gave guidance during a difficult time in the world. How did their words bring you peace, direction, or hope during uncertainty?

The Restoration helps me face the challenges of the latter days.

Engaging Questions:

1. What reasons for the Restoration do you find in Doctrine and Covenants 1:12–23? Which of these reasons feels most significant to you?
2. How do you see the Lord’s purposes for the Restoration being fulfilled in your life or in the world today?
3. In verse 17, the Lord acknowledges the challenges of our day. How does this help you feel that He understands your struggles?
4. What truths in verses 17–30, 34–36 give you peace and confidence as you face the challenges of the latter days?
5. What specific teachings or blessings of the restored gospel have helped you overcome personal challenges?
6. How can understanding the reasons for the Restoration inspire you to live with more faith and hope?
7. If you could share one message from section 1 with someone struggling in today’s world, what would it be and why?
8. The Restoration was meant to “prepare the way” for the Second Coming (verse 23). How can you participate in this preparation?
9. How does the knowledge of priesthood authority, ordinances, and living prophets (verses 29–30) help you face uncertainties in the world?
10. What do you feel prompted to do differently after studying how the Restoration addresses the challenges of the latter days?

Object Lessons:

1. The Anchor (Stability in Stormy Seas)
Materials Needed: A small anchor or picture of one.
Show the anchor and explain how it keeps a ship steady during storms. Compare this to the Restoration, which provides stability through revealed truths, priesthood authority, and divine guidance. Discuss how these elements anchor us during the storms of the latter days.
Lesson: The Restoration anchors us in the gospel, giving peace and confidence amid life’s challenges.

2. The Shield (Protection Through the Gospel)
Materials Needed: A small shield or an image of one.
Hold up the shield and explain how it protects against attacks, just as the truths and ordinances restored through the gospel protect us from spiritual harm. Discuss how living gospel principles, following prophets, and attending the temple strengthen our spiritual defenses.
Lesson: The Restoration provides spiritual protection, enabling us to withstand the challenges of the latter days.

3. The Light in Darkness (Guidance Through Revelation)
Materials Needed: A flashlight or candle.
Turn on the light in a dark room or dimly lit space and explain how it illuminates the path ahead. Compare this to the Restoration, which provides the light of revelation, scripture, and prophetic guidance to help us navigate the spiritual darkness of the world.
Lesson: The Restoration is a light that guides us through confusion and uncertainty, offering clarity and hope.

4. The Bridge (Connection to God)
Materials Needed: A picture or model of a bridge.
Show the bridge and explain how it connects two separate areas, symbolizing how the Restoration reestablished the connection between God and His children through priesthood authority, temples, and ordinances. Discuss how this connection helps us face challenges with divine support.
Lesson: The Restoration bridges the gap between heaven and earth, providing access to God’s power and guidance in our lives.

5. The Compass (Direction Amid Confusion)
Materials Needed: A compass.
Demonstrate how the compass always points north, no matter the circumstances. Compare this to the Restoration, which offers clear direction through restored truths, modern prophets, and personal revelation. Discuss how this guidance helps us face the confusion and challenges of the latter days.
Lesson: The Restoration provides a spiritual compass, guiding us safely through the challenges of our time.

Personal Sharing Prompts:

1. Think of a time when a gospel truth restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith gave you peace during a challenging time. How did that truth strengthen your ability to face the trial?
2. Think of a time when you turned to the scriptures, including the Doctrine and Covenants, for guidance during a difficult decision. How did the Restoration’s teachings provide clarity or hope?
3. Think of a time when you felt the strength of being part of a covenant people. How has the Restoration helped you feel more connected to the Lord and His Church during uncertain times?
4. Think of a time when you saw someone face a serious challenge with faith in restored gospel principles. How did their example influence your own confidence in the Lord’s plan?
5. Think of a time when you felt worried about the state of the world but found peace in prophetic guidance. How has the Restoration helped you see the Lord’s hand in preparing His children for the latter days?
6. Think of a time when you relied on priesthood blessings or ordinances to help you through a difficult moment. How did the Restoration of the priesthood give you strength and reassurance?
7. Think of a time when you were comforted by the knowledge of the plan of salvation during a loss or hardship. How did this restored truth help you face the challenge with faith?
8. Think of a time when you felt inspired to share the gospel with someone during a time of global or personal difficulty. How did the Restoration’s message of hope help you and them find peace?
9. Think of a time when you faced opposition or doubt but found courage through studying or living restored gospel principles. How did that experience help you feel the Lord’s power in your life?
10. Think of a time when participating in the Lord’s work helped you rise above your own challenges. How did engaging in temple work, family history, or missionary work strengthen your confidence in the Restoration’s purpose?

The Lord uses “the weak and the simple” to accomplish His work.

Engaging Questions:

1. What does it mean to you to be “weak and simple” in the Lord’s eyes, and how can that be a strength?
2. What characteristics does the Lord describe in Doctrine and Covenants 1:19–28 that He wants His servants to have? Which of these do you relate to or aspire to develop?
3. How have you seen the Lord accomplish great things through “weak and simple” people in your own life or in the world?
4. What do verses 19–28 teach about the power of humility in serving the Lord? How does this inspire you?
5. How have you experienced the fulfillment of the Lord’s prophecies in these verses in your life or your community?
6. What do you think the Lord is inviting you to do as His servant, regardless of your weaknesses?
7. Why do you think the Lord often chooses ordinary people to do extraordinary work? How does this principle encourage you?
8. What examples from the scriptures, Church history, or modern-day life show the Lord using “the weak and the simple” to accomplish His work?
9. What can you do this week to better align yourself with the characteristics the Lord describes in these verses?
10. How does knowing the Lord works through imperfect people help you trust Him more in your own life?

Object Lessons:

1. The Cracked Vessel (God’s Power in Imperfection)
Materials Needed: A cracked clay pot or jar.
Show the cracked vessel and explain how, even with imperfections, it can hold and pour water. Discuss how God uses imperfect people to share His gospel and accomplish His work. He fills their weaknesses with His strength.
Lesson: The Lord works through our weaknesses to accomplish His purposes, showing His power and grace.

2. The Small Seed (Growth from Humble Beginnings)
Materials Needed: A small seed and a potted plant or tree.
Display the seed and explain that it seems insignificant, but with care and effort, it grows into something much greater. Compare this to how the Lord uses seemingly simple people to bring about His great purposes.
Lesson: Even small and simple efforts, when nurtured by the Lord, can lead to incredible results.

3. The Puzzle Piece (Every Role is Essential)
Materials Needed: A puzzle with one piece missing.
Show the incomplete puzzle and discuss how each piece, no matter how small, is essential to completing the picture. Explain that the Lord uses individuals, each with their unique contributions, to build His kingdom.
Lesson: Every person, regardless of their perceived weakness, has a vital role in God’s work.

4. The Weak String (Strength in Unity)
Materials Needed: A single piece of string and a braided rope.
Demonstrate how a single string can easily break but becomes strong when braided with others. Compare this to how the Lord gathers His servants to work together, strengthening each other despite individual weaknesses.
Lesson: The Lord uses the weak and simple, but together they become strong in unity and purpose.

5. The Pencil and the Sharpener (Prepared by the Lord)
Materials Needed: A pencil and a sharpener.
Show the pencil and explain how it becomes useful only after being sharpened. Compare this to how the Lord prepares His servants, refining them through challenges, learning, and reliance on Him.
Lesson: The Lord shapes and refines us, enabling us to serve Him effectively despite our initial limitations.

Personal Sharing Prompts:

1. Think of a time when you felt inadequate or unprepared to fulfill a calling or responsibility. How did the Lord help you succeed despite your feelings of weakness?
2. Think of a time when you saw someone else accomplish great things in the Lord’s work despite their humble circumstances or abilities. How did their example inspire you?
3. Think of a time when you felt the Lord magnify your efforts in unexpected ways. How did that experience help you trust that He can work through “the weak and the simple”?
4. Think of a time when you witnessed someone accept a calling or challenge with faith, even when it seemed beyond their ability. How did their faith and efforts bless others?
5. Think of a time when you learned that humility and willingness were more important than talent or expertise in serving the Lord. How did that realization affect the way you approach service?
6. Think of a time when you felt prompted to do something outside your comfort zone for the Lord’s work. How did following that prompting teach you about the Lord’s ability to use His servants?
7. Think of a time when you felt the Lord guide you in teaching or sharing the gospel. How did that experience reassure you that He can use anyone to further His work?
8. Think of a time when you faced personal challenges but still found ways to serve others. How did serving during a difficult time help you feel closer to the Savior?
9. Think of a time when someone told you that your efforts or example made a difference in their life. How did that feedback help you see the Lord’s hand in using “the weak and the simple”?
10. Think of a time when you relied on prayer or scripture study to prepare for a responsibility in the Lord’s work. How did the Lord help you accomplish more than you thought you could?

Posted By: Lia · In: Young Women