

Doctrine and Covenants and Church History: Gospel Doctrine Teacher’s Manual, (1999), 145–49


To inspire class members to follow the example of the Kirtland Saints who made great sacrifices to share the gospel and remained steadfast during times of adversity.


  1. 1.

    Prayerfully study the scriptures in this lesson and Our Heritage, pages 29–33, 36.

  2. 2.


  3. 3.


    1. a.

      “Missions of Early Ohio Converts” and “Mission of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles” (pages 30–32).

    2. b.

      “Mission to England” (pages 32–33).

    3. c.

      “Exodus from Kirtland” (page 36).

    You may also want to assign class members to relate other stories from the lesson.

  4. 4.

    If you use the attention activity, put the following items in a small suitcase or bag: a set of scriptures, a pair of socks, five small coins, and a piece of paper with the following message (omit the references at the end):

    This suitcase belongs to Elder Erastus Snow. I have been called by the Prophet Joseph Smith to serve a mission in western Pennsylvania. I am instructed to leave in the spring of 1836. I will be departing from Kirtland alone and on foot. I am taking all my worldly wealth. (See Our Heritage, page 31; “Autobiography of Erastus Snow,” Utah Genealogical and Historical Magazine, July 1923, 106.)

Suggestions for Lesson Development

Attention Activity


Display the suitcase or bag you have prepared (see “Preparation,” item 4). Ask a class member to open it, read what is written on the paper, and show what this missionary took with him: scriptures, socks, and five small coins. Write three words on the chalkboard: Sacrifice, Courage, and Faith. Ask class members to consider the sacrifice, courage, and faith it took for Elder Snow to undertake this missionary journey as the Lord directed.

Explain that this lesson includes a discussion of the missionary work carried out at great sacrifice by Saints living in Kirtland, Ohio. These missionaries helped convert many people to the gospel, strengthening the young Church.

Discussion and Application


1. The Lord poured out great blessings during the Kirtland period.

Explain that most of the last 13 lessons have focused on the doctrines that were revealed and the events that occurred while the Saints were in Kirtland, Ohio. During this time the Lord blessed His people greatly. Use the following questions to briefly review the highlights from the Kirtland period. Refer to previous lessons and to Our Heritage as necessary.

  • What are some of the important doctrines the Lord revealed during the Kirtland period? (Answers could include revelations on the law of consecration, the law of tithing, the kingdoms of glory, the Word of Wisdom, the Second Coming, and the priesthood.)

  • What were some of the important events and accomplishments during the Kirtland period?

2. The Saints in Kirtland made great sacrifices to share the gospel.


  • Read D&C 42:6 and D&C 88:81 with class members. What message does the Lord give in these verses? Explain that many revelations given in Kirtland included commandments to preach the gospel.

Ask the assigned class member to summarize the sections “Missions of Early Ohio Converts” and “Mission of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles” from Our Heritage, pages 30–32.

  • What sacrifices did these Saints make in order to share the gospel?

You may also want to tell the following experiences:



“For three weeks John Taylor attended Elder Pratt’s meetings, making detailed notes of his sermons and carefully comparing them with the scriptures. Gradually he became convinced that the true gospel of Jesus Christ was restored. He and his wife, Leonora, were baptized on 9 May 1836” (Church History in the Fulness of Times [Church Educational System manual, 1993], 157; see also Parley P. Pratt, Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt [1975], 134–40, 151).

John Taylor was ordained an elder and served faithfully as a missionary. Later he became the third President of the Church.

  • How did the Lord bless Elder Pratt as he sought to preach the gospel?


Later, Levi served valiantly as part of Zion’s Camp. In February 1835 he was chosen as one of the Presidents of the Seventy. (See Don L. Searle, “It Is the Truth, I Can Feel It,” Ensign, July 1999, 48–50.)

  • What can we learn about missionary work from these stories? What can we learn about overcoming adversity in missionary work?


3. Members of the Quorum of the Twelve taught thousands in England.

Explain that as the Church grew, the forces working against it became more vigorous. Some of the Saints faltered in their faith. During this difficult time, the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that “something new must be done for the salvation of His Church” (History of the Church, 2:489).

Ask the assigned class member to explain what was done by summarizing the section “Mission to England” from Our Heritage, pages 32–33.

  • How did the Lord bless the Church during this time of persecution and trial? What can we learn from the example of Elder Heber C. Kimball?

The Lord’s commandment for these brethren to leave Kirtland at such a difficult time may have seemed hard to understand. But the sacrifices made by these faithful brethren resulted in a great strengthening of the Church.

On 23 July 1837, the day the missionaries first preached the gospel in England, the Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation directed to Thomas B. Marsh, the President of the Quorum of the Twelve. This revelation is now D&C 112. Verses D&C 112:12–34 contain instructions that Thomas B. Marsh was to give to the Twelve.

  • Read D&C 112:19–22 with class members. What promises did the Lord make to the Twelve Apostles in these verses?

Explain that the promise given in D&C 112:19 was fulfilled quickly. Within eight months, 2,000 people had joined the Church through the efforts of these missionaries, and 26 branches had been organized.

The Lord promised the Twelve that He would give them power to open nations to the preaching of the gospel if they would “humble themselves before [Him], … abide in [His] word, and hearken to the voice of [His] Spirit” (D&C 112:21–22). To show that the Lord continues to fulfill this promise, you may want to share the following story related by President Thomas S. Monson:



“I stood at the pulpit, and with tear-filled eyes and a voice choked with emotion, I made a promise to the people: ‘If you will remain true and faithful to the commandments of God, every blessing any member of the Church enjoys in any other country will be yours.’ Then I realized what I had said. That night, I dropped to my knees and pleaded with my Heavenly Father, ‘Father, I’m on Thy errand; this is Thy Church. I have spoken words that came not from me but from Thee and Thy Son. Wilt Thou fulfill the promise in the lives of this noble people.’ Thus concluded my first visit to the German Democratic Republic.”

Eight years later, Elder Monson offered a dedicatory prayer on the land:




Following this inspired prayer, the Church grew rapidly in the land. District councils were organized, followed by the creation of stakes. Priesthood leaders and patriarchs were called. The Freiberg Germany temple was dedicated in 1985. And in 1989 the government permitted the Church to send full-time missionaries to the country. (In Conference Report, Apr. 1989, 66–69; or Ensign, May 1989, 50–53.)

4. Many Saints in Kirtland remained valiant despite persecution.

Explain that by 1838, the Saints’ time in Kirtland was drawing to a close. Persecution intensified, and it became unsafe to remain there. Ask the assigned class member to summarize the section “Exodus from Kirtland” from Our Heritage, page 36.

While some Church members fell into apostasy in Kirtland, most of them remained faithful and were a great strength to the Church. Relate the following experience from the life of Brigham Young:

While living in Kirtland, Brigham Young was in a meeting where a group of apostates, including some prominent Church leaders, were plotting to depose the Prophet Joseph Smith and put someone else in his place. Brigham Young said of this experience:

“I rose up, and in a plain and forcible manner told them that Joseph was a Prophet, and I knew it, and that they might rail and slander him as much as they pleased; they could not destroy the appointment of the Prophet of God, they could only destroy their own authority, cut the thread that bound them to the Prophet and to God, and sink themselves to hell. Many were highly enraged at my decided opposition to their measures. … This meeting was broken up without the apostates being able to unite on any decided measures of opposition” (“History of Brigham Young,” Deseret News, 10 Feb. 1858, 386).

  • What qualities did Brigham Young demonstrate in this situation? How does sustaining our Church leaders strengthen us? How does it strengthen the entire Church?


Emphasize that great blessings came to the Saints while they lived in Kirtland. Many of them were called to serve missions and willingly made sacrifices to share the gospel. Most of them remained faithful during a time of great adversity. Concerning these Church members, Our Heritage states, “In the example of their lives, they … left a permanent heritage of faithful obedience to the Lord’s anointed leaders and personal sacrifice in the work of the Lord” (36).

Encourage class members to follow the example of the Saints in Kirtland who made great sacrifices for the Lord’s work and remained faithful during times of adversity. As prompted by the Spirit, testify of truths discussed during the lesson.