Additional Teaching Ideas

The following material supplements the suggested lesson outline. You may want to use one or more of these ideas as part of the lesson.

1. Manifestation of the Holy Ghost at the Kirtland Temple dedication

Explain that an outpouring of the Spirit similar to the one in Acts 2:1–4 occurred at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple on 27 March 1836. Have a class member read aloud Doctrine and Covenants 109:36–37, the part of the dedicatory prayer in which the Prophet Joseph Smith requested such an outpouring. Then have another class member read the following statement, which describes how that request was granted:

The Prophet Joseph Smith said that at an evening meeting on the day the Kirtland Temple was dedicated, “Brother George A. Smith arose and began to prophesy, when a noise was heard like the sound of a rushing mighty wind, which filled the Temple, and all the congregation simultaneously arose, being moved upon by an invisible power; many began to speak in tongues and prophesy; others saw glorious visions; and I beheld the Temple was filled with angels, which fact I declared to the congregation. The people of the neighborhood came running together (hearing an unusual sound within, and seeing a bright light like a pillar of fire resting upon the Temple), and were astonished at what was taking place” (History of the Church, 2:428).

2. “The times of restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21)

Have a class member read Acts 3:20–21.

3. “They had all things in common” (Acts 4:32)

Discuss Acts 4:32–5:11. Explain that members of the early Church “had all things common” (Acts 2:44; see also Acts 4:32, 34–37). They consecrated all they had so that everyone’s needs were met. (You may want to compare this with the city of Enoch [Moses 7:18], the descendants of Lehi [4 Nephi 1:1–3], and the early members of the Church in this dispensation [D&C 42:30–34].)

4. Youth activity

Teachers of youth may want to use the process of “inquiry training” in parts of the lesson. Have class members try to determine the topic of the lesson by asking questions that you can answer “yes” or “no.”

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