D&C 25A REVELATION FOR EMMA SMITH

"Joseph held the saints together, but Emma held Joseph together."

Emma Smith’s mother-in-law, Lucy Mack Smith, wrote:

“I have never seen a woman in my life, who would endure every species of fatigue and hardship, from month to month, and from year to year, with that unflinching courage, zeal, and patience, which she has ever done; for I know that which she has had to endure—she has been tossed upon the ocean of uncertainty—she has breasted the storms of persecution, and buffeted the rage of men and devils, which would have borne down almost any other woman. It may be, that many may yet have to encounter the same—I pray God, that this may not be the case; but, should it be, may they have grace given them according to their day, even as has been the case with her” (History of Joseph Smith by His Mother, ed.

Preston Nibley [1958], 190–91).

• She was born on July 10, 1804, in Harmony, Pennsylvania

• Her father Isaac withheld consent for her to marry Joseph, so they eloped in January 1827

• She assisted as a scribe in the translation of the Book of Mormon.

• She was baptized on June 28, 1830 by Oliver Cowdery

EMMA SMITH

• She was the first President of the Relief Society in 1879

• She had 9 children and only 4 lived to maturity

• After Joseph was martyred, she declined to go west with the Saints

• She married Major Lewis Bidamon on December 23 1849 and passed away on April 30, 1879 in Nauvoo, Illinois at the age of 74 and was buried next to the plot where the Prophet Joseph was buried.

EMMA SMITH

Insofar as I know, [Doctrine and Covenants 25] is the only revelation given specifically to a woman, and in concluding it the Lord said, ‘This is my voice unto all.’ Therefore, the counsel given by the Lord on this occasion is applicable to each of you.Gordon B. Hinckley, Oct. 1984 Gen. Women’s

Mtg.

D&C 25:1-3

Look at Doctrine and Covenants 25:1–3 and find and mark reasons the Lord calls Emma "an elect lady."

D&C 25:4-15

Read Doctrine and Covenants 25:4–15 looking for and marking ways an elect people lives their lives.

INTERPRETATION OF PHYSICALITY

Physicality

One Acquaintance

Two Friendship

Three Casual Dating

Four Serious Dating

Five Engagement

Six Marriage

INTERPRETATION OF PHYSICALITY

Physicality

One Acquaintance Handshake

Two Friendship

Three Casual Dating

Four Serious Dating

Five Engagement

Six Marriage

INTERPRETATION OF PHYSICALITY

Physicality

One Acquaintance Handshake

Two Friendship High Five

Three Casual Dating

Four Serious Dating

Five Engagement

Six Marriage

INTERPRETATION OF PHYSICALITY

Physicality

One Acquaintance Handshake

Two Friendship High Five

Three Casual Dating Brief hugs and flirtations

Four Serious Dating

Five Engagement

Six Marriage

INTERPRETATION OF PHYSICALITY

Physicality

One Acquaintance Handshake

Two Friendship High Five

Three Casual Dating Brief hugs and flirtations

Four Serious Dating Holding hands, kissing

Five Engagement

Six Marriage

INTERPRETATION OF PHYSICALITY

Physicality

One Acquaintance Handshake

Two Friendship High Five

Three Casual Dating Brief hugs and flirtations

Four Serious Dating Holding hands, kissing

Five Engagement Lingering kisses

Six Marriage Intimacy

KEEP IT HORIZONTALOne Acquaintance Handshake

Two Friendship High Five

Three Casual Dating Brief hugs and flirtations

Four Serious Dating Holding hands, kissing

Five Engagement Lingering kisses

Six Marriage Intimacy

WHAT DOES A KISS MEAN?

“Kissing has … degenerated to develop and express lust instead of affection, honor, and admiration. To kiss in casual dating is asking for trouble. What do kisses mean when handed out like pretzels and robbed of sacredness?” (The Teachings of Spencer W.

Kimball, 281).

WHAT DOES A KISS MEAN?“The Church counsels against early

[steady] dating. This rule is not designed to hurt you in any way. It is designed to help you, and it will do so if you will observe it.

“Steady dating at an early age leads so often to tragedy. It is better, my friends, to date a variety of companions until you are ready to marry. Have a wonderful time, but stay away from familiarity. It may not be easy, but it is possible” (New Era, Jan. 2001, 13). President Gordon B.

Hinckley

KEEP IT HORIZONTALOne Acquaintance Handshake

Two Friendship High Five

Three Casual Dating Brief hugs and flirtations

Four Serious Dating Holding hands, kissing

Five Engagement Lingering kisses

Six Marriage Intimacy

KEEP IT HORIZONTALOne Acquaintance Handshake

Two Friendship High Five

Three Casual Dating Brief hugs and flirtations

Four Serious Dating Holding hands, kissing

Five Engagement Lingering kisses

Six Marriage Intimacy

WHICH COMES FIRST? EXCLUSIVITY VS LOVE

“As you are aware, kissing is more stimulating than satisfying; consequently, it invites more and more. Once a couple begins to share affection in a physical way, this activity tends to become the focus of interest. Often such a couple ceases to explore the other significant dimensions of personality. Kissing for the sake of kissing invites more affection, and many fine young people become more deeply involved than they actually wish to be” (Bruce Monson,

New Era, June 2001, pg. 38).

THE BEAUTY OF FRIENDSHIP VS SERIOUSNESS

•Less stress; less threats

•Friends for life

•True self esteem

•Better at missions

•Better at marriage

BLESSINGS OF CASUAL DATINGWhat blessings come from being more casual than

serious?

Revelation For EmmaCalling

Be his scribe

Make a selection of sacred hymns to be sung in church

D&C 25:4-16

Council

Murmur not

Comfort and console

Do not fear

Lay aside the things of the world

Lift up “thy heart” and rejoice and “cleave” the covenants made

Beware of Pride

Let “thy soul delight in thy husband”

Keep the commandments

Promises

Receive the Holy Spirit

Gain knowledge

Receive blessings

Her husband will support her

Her husband’s glory shall come upon him

DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 25

•Emma commanded to …Read 25:11-12

•How do songs make you feel?

•BODY (movements and endorphins)

•MEMORY (lyrics)

• EMOTIONALLY

HYMNS FUN FACTS• The original hymnal collected by Emma had no tunes--only words. 

• Over 6,000 submissions of texts and tunes were reviewed for the 1985 hymnal.

• Emma's original collection of 90 hymns was published in a 3"X4 1/2" pocket-sized book. Only 26 of those original hymns made it into the 1985 hymnal.

• It used to be the music director's responsibility to decide which tunes the congregation would sing with which words.

• Evan Stephens composed 16 of the hymns--the most of any composer in the hymnal; he wrote the "Hosanna Anthem"

• Prior to the 1985 hymnal, the first verse of "How Firm a Foundation" ended with the phrase: You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled.  However, because this phrase sounds awkward to modern-day Saints (and as some will admit, easily misheard as "Yoo-hoo unto Jesus!"), the 1985 hymn book committee rephrased it to be: Who unto the Savior. 

DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 25"Some music is spiritually very destructive. You young people know what kind that is. The tempo, the sounds, and the lifestyle of those who perform it repel the Spirit. It is far more dangerous than you may suppose, for it can smother your spiritual senses" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 78; or Ensign, Nov.

1994, 61).

• Read the Hymn book opening paragraph. 

• Which hymn do you choose to pump you up?

• Make you happy?

• For sacrament meeting?

• For Jesus?

D&C 25:11-12

•How can a “song of the heart” be a prayer?

•How can a hymn strengthen and encourage us?

•How can hymns help us overcome temptation?

Choose from among the sacred music of the Church a favorite hymn, one with words that are uplifting and music that is reverent, one that makes you feel something akin to inspiration. Go over it in your mind carefully. Memorize it. Even though you have had no musical training, you can think through a hymn. Now, use this hymn as the place for your thoughts to go. Make it your emergency channel. Whenever you find [inappropriate thoughts slipping] onto the stage of your mind, put on this record, as it were. As the music begins and as the words form in your thoughts, the unworthy ones will slip shamefully away. It will change the whole mood on the stage of your mind. Because it is uplifting and clean, the baser thoughts will disappear. Boyd K. Packer, Oct. 1976 Gen. Conf.

D&C 25:11-12

•Grab a hymn book

•Select a favorite hymn

•Start memorizing!

DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 25

•How has your life been influenced by music? Has a song ever changed your day?

•How has your life been influenced by media? Has a video ever changed your day?

•What’s the rule with what we should watch and listen to? (see Moroni 7:14–16).

THE POWER OF MEDIAName a movie that ‘teaches’…

• Love can overcome death

• Love can overcome cultural differences

• Love can overcome socio-economic differences

• Love can overcome age gaps

• Love can overcome species

• Love can overcome distance

• Love can overcome illness

• Love supersedes marital vows

THE POWER OF MEDIA

• Things as They Really Are (https://www.lds.org/youth/video/things-as-they-really-are?lang=eng)

Scripture Mastery

“Wherefore, lift up thy heart and rejoice, and cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made.”D&C 25:13

Scripture Mastery

D&C 25A REVELATION FOR EMMA SMITH