by S. Hales Swift on February 3rd, 2013
At FAIR, we like to keep abreast of various resources which become available for studying, understanding, and teaching the gospel. With the current Sunday School year focusing on the Doctrine and Covenants, there are two new resources to which we would particularly like to call your attention, as well as some old favorites. The first is found here:
http://history.lds.org/series/doctrine-and-covenants-revelations-in-context?lang=eng#
and contains articles written by historians discussing with balance and grace some of the key characters and events associated with the restoration. A particular focus is the context in which the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants were received. These historical papers provide a golden opportunity for teachers and students to better understand the context and process through which Joseph received many of the early canonized revelations so that they can better apply the process in obtaining divine guidance in their own lives. They also provide an excellent opportunity to better understand the historical unfolding of the restoration.
The Scripture Roundtables, hosted by Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture provide a second useful resource in the study of the Doctrine and Covenants. Each Roundtable involves a rotating collection of scholars discussing the gospel doctrine lessons. The discussions are roughly forty minutes each and may be found here:
http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/category/scripture-roundtable/
The guests have included a number of BYU professors, scholars associated with FAIR, students at Claremont Graduate University and other specialists who each bring unique insights and perspective to the study of the scripture. Interpreter’s multimedia platform makes it especially ideal for those who like to learn on the go. Their roundtable discussions are available as an itunes podcast as well as in the youtube format linked above.
A few other notable resources bear mention. This site: http://bit.ly/ldsarcdc provides teachers notes, slide shows, and class handouts for the Doctrine and Covenants.
Another resource, located at http://scripture.byu.edu, provides references for each time a scripture has been used in, for example, General Conference, and allows a teacher or student to get an idea how a particular scripture is typically employed in teaching.
Used wisely, these various (ultimately explanatory) resources help us fulfil our divinely mandated duty to “seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom, seek learning even by study and also by faith” (D&C 109:7) and also to “Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;” (D&C 88:78)
Posted in General, Gospel Doctrine: D&C, LDS History, Lesson Aids, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
by Mike Parker on September 11th, 2009
This week: Lesson 35, “A Mission of Saving.”
Subjects covered: The rescue of the Martin and Willie handcart companies.
Potential issues:
There are no FAIR articles that deal directly with the Martin and Willie handcart rescue, but there others that cover issues that took place during the same time period, including:
If you can think of any other issues from this week’s lesson, please comment below so we can add more links.
PLEASE NOTE: This information is a preparatory resource for gospel doctrine teachers to help them formulate answers to questions that might arise during their class. It is not in any way a substitute for the Gospel Doctrine manual, nor should instructors make these topics the focus of class instruction. This information is provided with the understanding that it is an additional resource only.
Posted in Gospel Doctrine: D&C, Lesson Aids | 2 Comments »
by Mike Parker on September 3rd, 2009
This week: Lesson 34, “Faith in Every Footstep” (D&C 136).
Subjects covered: The pioneer trek across the Great Plains to the Salt Lake Valley.
Potential issues:
If you can think of any other issues from this week’s lesson, please comment below so we can add more links.
PLEASE NOTE: This information is a preparatory resource for gospel doctrine teachers to help them formulate answers to questions that might arise during their class. It is not in any way a substitute for the Gospel Doctrine manual, nor should instructors make these topics the focus of class instruction. This information is provided with the understanding that it is an additional resource only.
Posted in Gospel Doctrine: D&C, Lesson Aids | 14 Comments »
by Mike Parker on August 27th, 2009
This week: Lesson 33, “President Brigham Young Leads the Saints.”
Subjects covered: Joseph Smith gave the keys to the Twelve Apostles, who then led the Church until Brigham Youn was sustained as President; the Saints received their temple ordinances before proceeding west.
Potential issues:
If you can think of any other issues from this week’s lesson, please comment below so we can add more links.
PLEASE NOTE: This information is a preparatory resource for gospel doctrine teachers to help them formulate answers to questions that might arise during their class. It is not in any way a substitute for the Gospel Doctrine manual, nor should instructors make these topics the focus of class instruction. This information is provided with the understanding that it is an additional resource only.
Posted in Gospel Doctrine: D&C, Lesson Aids | 3 Comments »
by Mike Parker on August 19th, 2009
This week: Lesson 32, “To Seal the Testimony” (D&C 135).
Subjects covered: The martyrdom of Joseph Smith.
Potential issues:
If you can think of any other issues from this week’s lesson, please comment below so we can add more links.
PLEASE NOTE: This information is a preparatory resource for gospel doctrine teachers to help them formulate answers to questions that might arise during their class. It is not in any way a substitute for the Gospel Doctrine manual, nor should instructors make these topics the focus of class instruction. This information is provided with the understanding that it is an additional resource only.
Posted in Gospel Doctrine: D&C, Lesson Aids | 58 Comments »
by Mike Parker on August 19th, 2009
Sorry this is a week late. I wrote it last week, but somehow neglected to click “Publish” and didn’t follow up to see if it had been posted.
This week: Lesson 31, “Sealed…for Time and for All Eternity” (D&C 131:1–4; 132:4–33).
Subjects covered: Eternal marriage; plural marriage.
Potential issues:
If you can think of any other issues from this week’s lesson, please comment below so we can add more links.
PLEASE NOTE: This information is a preparatory resource for gospel doctrine teachers to help them formulate answers to questions that might arise during their class. It is not in any way a substitute for the Gospel Doctrine manual, nor should instructors make these topics the focus of class instruction. This information is provided with the understanding that it is an additional resource only.
Saints were excused from building a temple in Missouri
Posted in Gospel Doctrine: D&C, Lesson Aids | 18 Comments »
by Mike Parker on August 6th, 2009
This week: Lesson 30, “The Prisoners Shall Go Free” (D&C 2; 124:25–55; 127; 128; JS—H 1:36–39).
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Posted in Gospel Doctrine: D&C, Lesson Aids | 37 Comments »
by Mike Parker on July 29th, 2009
This week: Lesson 29, “Building the Kingdom of God in Nauvoo, Illinois” (D&C 124:1–21, 87–90, 97–110; 126).
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Posted in Gospel Doctrine: D&C, Lesson Aids | 77 Comments »
by Mike Parker on July 22nd, 2009
This week: Lesson 28, “O God, Where Art Thou?” (D&C 121:1–33; 122).
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Posted in Gospel Doctrine: D&C, Lesson Aids | 7 Comments »
by Mike Parker on July 14th, 2009
In what will hopefully become a recurring feature on the FAIR blog, we present a list of issues that could come up as you teach or participate in your ward’s Gospel Doctrine class. Each issue is linked to an examination and response by FAIR.
This week: Lesson 27, “They Must Needs Be Chastened and Tried, Even as Abraham” (D&C 101; 103; 105).
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Posted in Gospel Doctrine: D&C, Lesson Aids | 85 Comments »
