The LawDoctrine and Covenants 42

Joseph Smith Arrives in Kirtland

“About the first of February, 1831, a sleigh containing four persons drove through the streets of Kirtland and drew up in front of the store of Gilbert and Whitney. One of the men, a young and stalwart personage alighted, and springing up the steps walked into the store and to where the junior partner was standing. ‘Newel K. Whitney! Thou art the man!’ he exclaimed, extending his hand cordially, as if to an old and familiar acquaintance. ‘You have the advantage of me,’ replied the merchant, as he mechanically took the proffered hand, ‘I could not call you by name as you have me.’ ‘I am Joseph the Prophet,’ said the stranger smiling. ‘You’ve prayed me here, now what do you want of me?’ The Prophet … while in the east had seen the Whitneys, in vision, praying for his coming to Kirtland.”

History of the Church, 1:145-146

Preface…

D&C 42:61

Have you ever broken a law?

How do you feelabout laws…

RestrictionBlessing Burden Annoyance Gift Reward

"Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God. But we cannot keep all the commandments without first knowing them, and we cannot expect to know all unless we comply with or keep those we have already received" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 255–56).

The Law

You will receive one law. Become a ‘legal expert’ in that area. Use the verses listed in D&C 42

and lds.org and the Indexes for other information. You will be asked a series of

questions about your law, so be prepared to answer correctly and accurately.

Law of Teaching 4‑17 Law of Morality 18‑29

(6 subcategories)

Law of Consecration 30‑42

Law of Healing 43‑52 Law of Revelation 61‑68 Law of Offenses 79, 80-

83, 84-87 (3 subcategories)

THE LAW: D&C 42

Law of TeachingD&C 42:7-17

• What should be our source for teaching?

• What role does the Holy Ghost have in gospel teaching?

“The scriptures say, ‘The Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach’ (D&C 42:14). This teaches not just that you won’t teach or that you can’t teach or that it will be pretty shoddy teaching. No, it is stronger than that: ‘Ye shall not teach.’ (“Teaching, Preaching, Healing,” Ensign, Jan. 2003, 41).

Be sure to mark D&C 42:17

Law of TeachingPresident Thomas S. Monson: “Young men, I admonish you to prepare for service as a missionary. Keep yourselves clean and pure and worthy to represent the Lord. Maintain your health and strength. Study the scriptures. (“As We Meet Together Again”Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 5–6).

Law of MoralityD&C 42:18-29

• D&C 42:18–19 (killing); • D&C 42:20 (stealing); • D&C 42:21 (lying); • D&C 42:22–23 (lusting); • D&C 42:24–26 (adultery); • D&C 42:27 (speaking evil of

others)

The Law of ConsecrationD&C 42:29-42

“The basic principle and the justification for the law of consecration ‘is that everything we have belongs to the Lord’; therefore, the Lord may call upon us for any and all of the property which we have, because it belongs to Him. … ”J. Reuben Clark, Jr., in Conference Report, Oct.1942, p. 55)” (Marion G. Romney, “Living the Principles of the Law of Consecration,”  Ensign, Feb. 1979, 3).

• What is the Law of Consecration?

The Law of Consecration

D&C 42:29-42

MARK EACH WORD/VERSE:

• We consecrate all to the Church (see D&C 42:31).

• We receive a stewardship (see D&C 42:32).

• We give surplus (see D&C 42:33). WHAT IS THE RESULT?

• Needs and wants amply supplied (see D&C 42:33).

Taxes

Capitalism

Man works hard(No free lunch!)

Meets hisNeeds

Surplus! (more

Than he needsRight now)

Government

Sick, poor, widowed

Wealth

My Treasure

Returns backto the LordWhat he

didn’t need

Law of Consecration

Man uses the Lord’sresources

Receives “Sufficient for his Needs”

Surplus! (more than

he needsright now)

Bishop’s Storehouse

Sick, poor, widowed

The Law of Consecration

D&C 42:42

What happens if you are lazy?

Be sure to mark D&C 42:42

The Law of Consecration

D&C 42:29-42

• Where is the Bishop’s Storehouse?

• What is the Bishop’s Storehouse?

“The Lord’s storehouse exists in each ward.

The bishop is the agent of the

storehouse. Guided by inspiration from the Lord, he distributes

the Saints’ offerings to the poor and needy.

He is assisted by priesthood quorums

and the Relief Society.” (Church Handbook

of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary

Leaders [1998], 256).

President Thomas S. Monson : “The Lord’s storehouse includes

the time, talents, skills, compassion,

consecrated material, and financial means

of faithful Church members. These

resources are available to the

bishop in assisting those in need” (“

Guiding Principles of Personal and Family Welfare

,” Ensign, Sept. 1986, 5).

The Law of Consecration

D&C 42:29-42

• What are some ways in which someone around you might be in need (besides financially)?

• What time, talents, and means do you have that you could use to help those who are in need?

• When have you been blessed by someone else who has given up time, talents, or means to help you?

Laws of …Law of TeachingLaw of Morality Law of Consecration

Law of Healing vs43‑52Law of Revelation vs61‑68Law of Offenses vs74-87

Yesterday

Today

Law of Healing

Have you ever prayed for someone that wasn’t healed?

Law of Healing

• According to verse 44, will every sick person who receives a priesthood blessing be healed?

• According to verse 48, what is the major factor that determines the outcome of a priesthood blessing?

• Why won’t everyone who has faith in Jesus Christ be healed?

D&C 42: 43-53

Be sure to mark D&C 42:44,48

Law of Healing

“Latter-day Saints believe in applying the best available scientific knowledge and techniques. We use nutrition, exercise, and other practices to preserve health, and we enlist the help of healing practitioners, such as physicians and surgeons, to restore health.“In emergencies, prayers and blessings come first. Most often we pursue all efforts simultaneously” (Elder Oaks, “Healing the Sick,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 47).

D&C 42: 43-53

Law of Healing

Restate vs 46 into your own words

Be sure to mark D&C 42:46

D&C 42: 43-53

Law of Healing

“To some, the saying that ‘those who die in the Lord shall not taste of death’ has been a hard saying. They have seen good faithful men and women suffer days and months before they were taken. “But the Lord does not say they shall not suffer pain of body, but that they shall be free from the anguish…Death to them will be sweet in that they will realize that they are worthy before the Lord” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols. [1953], 1:186). (See also Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, 2nd ed. [Church Educational System manual, 2001], 85.)

D&C 42: 43-53

Law of RevelationD&C 42: 61-68

Be sure to mark D&C 42:61,65

Law of OffensesD&C 42: 74-87

• Killing (79)• Fornication and adultery (80-83)• Stealing and lying (84-87)

Law of OffensesD&C 42: 74-87

• How do you think resolving offenses appropriately might bless a family? A ward? A group of friends?

23 Now, I speak unto you concerning your families—if men will smite you, or your families, once, and ye bear it patiently and revile not against them, neither seek revenge, ye shall be rewarded;

25 And again, if your enemy shall smite you the second time, and you revile not against your enemy, and bear it patiently, your reward shall be an a hundredfold.

26 And again, if he shall smite you the third time, and ye bear it patiently, your reward shall be doubled unto you four-fold;

29 And then, if he shall come upon you or your children, or your children’s children unto the third and fourth generation, I have delivered thine enemy into thine hands;

30 And then if thou wilt spare him, thou shalt be rewarded for thy righteousness; and also thy children and thy children’s children unto the third and fourth generation.

CROSS REFERENCE: D&C 98:23-30

155 children in

three generation

s

780 children in

4 generations

Law of OffensesD&C 42: 74-87

The Lord gave direction to priesthood leaders concerning how to minister to those who have committed serious sin…

Bishops council (Bishopric and Executive Secretary or Clerk)

Stake council (Stake presidency, high councilors, and

secretary)

Format for Church Judgment (Church Disciplinary Councils)

Disciplinary councils may be convened following serious transgression: abortion, attempted murder, rape, forcible sexual abuse, intentionally inflicting serious physical injuries on others, adultery, fornication, child abuse, spouse abuse, deliberate abandonment of family responsibilities, robbery, embezzlement, theft, sale of illegal drugs, or apostasy.

A disciplinary council must also be held when a prominent Church leader commits a serious transgression.

What sins necessitate a disciplinary council?

When a bishop learns of a transgression, he first counsels with the member. When the sin is not grievous, the bishop may decide that no disciplinary action is needed.

Another option the bishop has is to place the member on informal probation, temporarily restricting his privileges as a Church member.

Informal Church Discipline

The spirit of inspiration may move the Church leader to convene a disciplinary council. If a serious transgression has been committed, he should confer with the stake president to decide if a council should be held.

The purpose is threefold: to save the soul of the transgressor, to protect the innocent, and to safeguard the Church’s purity, integrity, and good name.

Formal Church Discipline

A disciplinary council begins with an opening prayer, followed by a statement of the reason for the council being convened. The member is asked to tell in simple and general terms about the transgression and to explain his or her feelings and what steps of repentance he or she has taken. The member may respond to clarifying questions from the leaders. Then he or she is excused, and the leaders counsel together, pray, and reach a decision.

What is the process of Disciplinary Councils?

A council can reach one of four decisions: (1) no action, (2) formal probation, (3) disfellowshipment, or (4) excommunication.

Possible Actions of Disciplinary Councils

 A temporary state of discipline, imposed as a means to help the member fully repent.

Formal probation

Disfellowshipped persons retain membership in the Church, but are not entitled to offer public prayers or to give talks. They may not hold a Church position, take the sacrament, vote in the sustaining of Church officers, hold a temple recommend, or exercise the priesthood. They may attend church, pay tithes and offerings and continue to wear temple garments if endowed.

Disfellowshipment

 Excommunicated persons are no longer members of the Church and are encouraged to repent through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and to seek His forgiveness.

Excommunication

Church disciplinary action is not intended to be the end of the process—rather, it is designed to be the beginning. When the person has progressed through repentance, a new disciplinary council his held to consider what action needs to be taken and if rebaptism is a possibility.

How do people return?

After rebaptism, his or her membership record shows the original baptism date, with no reference to excommunication.

No sooner than a year after rebaptism, a “restoration of blessings” occurs, typically performed by a general authority, but occasionally by an authorized stake president.

In the case of a man, his previous priesthood office and temple blessings are restored.

How do people return?

Questions?

Mormon Message “Watch Your Step”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQk4-7SvhrY

Mormon Message “Watch Your Step”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQk4-7SvhrY

Law of Teaching Law of Morality Law of Consecration

Law of Healing Law of Scriptures Law of Revelation

Law of Offenses

Which law do you need to work on?

The LawDoctrine and Covenants 42