DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 51-52

Unity through Patterns

1. What is the most unified group you have been part of?

2. How do you know if a group of people is unified?

3. What types of practices or events help a group to become unified?

“The Lord’s prophets have always called for unity…We must seek it and qualify for it with others.

“It is not surprising that God urges us to gather so that He can bless us. He wants us to gather into families, classes, and wards, and has commanded us to meet together often. In those gatherings lies our great opportunity for joy.”

(President Ryring, “Our Hearts Knit as

One,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 68, 69).

DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 51-52 BACKGROUND: Saints who had moved from New York began arriving in Ohio in the spring of 1831.

Doctrine and Covenants 51:1–3. Look for Bishop Edward Partridge’s responsibilities.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 51:9, 52:4-5. Look for two intended results.

Early Communal SystemsDuring Joseph Smith’s

day, some groups of people attempted to form communal systems in which the group shared ownership of all the wealth and resources.

Prior to the revelation on the law of consecration, some members of the Church in Ohio had established such a group. Some of their practices were problematic:

“When [Joseph Smith] arrived in Ohio [he] discovered a group of about fifty people who had established a cooperative venture based on their interpretation of statements in the book of Acts, describing the early Saints as having all things in common.

This group, known as ‘the family,’ … were members of the Church living on Isaac Morley’s farm near the village of Kirtland. When John Whitmer arrived in mid-January, he noted that what they were doing created many problems.

For example, Heman Bassett took a pocket watch belonging to Levi Hancock and sold it. When asked why, Heman replied, ‘Oh, I thought it was all in the family.’ Levi responded that he did not like such ‘family doing’ and would not endure it any longer.

February 1831

ConsecrationThe Lord commanded the Saints to consecrate their properties to support the poor “To consecrate is

to set apart or dedicate something as sacred, devoted to holy purposes” Elder D. Todd Christofferson

The Lord commands us to care for the

poor and those in need

The Needs of a Family

Families who do not have enough money or goods to support

their needs

Families who have their needs met

Stewardship Every family worked with the bishop and received what was called a “stewardship” (D&C 42:72).

Families had private ownership of the property and resources they received, and they were to use their agency to manage their stewardship.

They were accountable to Him and fully responsible for what He entrusted to them.

Allocating Funds“Wherefore, let my servant Edward Partridge, and those whom he has chosen, in whom I am well pleased, appoint unto this people their portions, every man equal according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs.”The allocation of portions was based

on each family’s circumstances, wants, and needs.

ResidueWhat did the Lord instruct the Saints to do with the leftover property, or the “residue”?

They were to use it to help the poor, finance Church buildings, and help members who were in need.

The Bishop’s storehouse

Bishop’s Storehouse“More than 180 years later, bishops’ storehouses around the world continue to support bishops in the call to ‘be faithful; stand in the office which [the Lord has] appointed unto [them]; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees’.

“Whether it is a building containing food and other supplies or a set of resources in the ward a bishop can draw from, bishops’ storehouses are being used to care for those in need.

The Lord’s storehouse is available to every bishop and exists in every ward. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the Lord’s storehouse is not limited to a building or a warehouse filled with commodities awaiting distribution.’

Living Within Our MeansSo…will the church pay for cable bills? Cell phones?

Car payment?

“Consecration is the giving of one’s time, talents, and means to care for those in need—

whether spiritually or temporally—and in

building the Lord’s kingdom” President Spencer W. Kimball

Thoughts?

What thoughts do you have about this process of helping the poor and needy?

The Bishop’s storehouse

DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 52

List 3-4 patterns The Lord has revealed in our day

List 3-4 common troubles facing people today

Which patterns help resolve each trouble?

Let’s read D&C 52:14-19

How is the balance in your life?

KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL LIFE:

“spirit is contrite” (D&C 52:15)

“obey mine ordinances” (D&C 52:15)

“language is meek and edifieth” (D&C 52:16)

“bring forth fruits” (D&C 52:17)

Elder Marvin J. Ashton taught: "The gospel of Jesus Christ is God's pattern for righteous living and eternal life. Satan and his advocates will constantly try to deceive and entice us into following their patterns. If we are to achieve daily safety, exaltation, and eternal happiness, we need to live by the light and truth of our Savior's plan" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1990, 24; or Ensign, Nov. 1990, 20).

DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS 51-52

Unity through Patterns