Doctrine and Covenants Lesson # 8: "Restoration of the Priesthood"--Sara

Doctrine & Covenants Lesson # 8

“The Restoration of the Priesthood”

Is it okay to have questions? 

Does it show faithlessness or pride when I question things?

Why am I the only person who seems to have them?

I'm hoping that everyone in class has a question that they would like answered EACH week we discuss a new topic in Sunday School and I feel the same way about this week's topic: the restoration of the priesthood.

I don't know if my experience was unique, but I feel like I learned the same few things about the priesthood and its restoration throughout Young Womens and in my Sunday School and Relief Society classes. While reading for this lesson, I've been able to see a larger picture of what the priesthood is, what an amazing gift it is, what delegated priesthood authority looks like for women and men, and the power of keys.

This week, I'm going to provide the links to outside reading sources that are cited in the lesson. There are a lot of them, but I figure we all have different weak spots in our knowledge and you can choose which ones would most benefit you.

“Oliver Cowdery’s Gift”: This article gives context for the revelation now known as Doctrine and Covenants 13.

Priesthood Restoration Site: A series of articles, maps, and other content helps visitors learn more about Harmony Township, Pennsylvania, where priesthood authority was restored.

“Ministry of Joseph Smith: The Restoration of Priesthood Authority”: This one-minute video introduces the priesthood restoration.

“Joseph Smith’s Teachings about Priesthood, Temple, and Women”: This Gospel Topics essay gives an overview of Joseph Smith’s teachings involving the priesthood and women.

Daughters in My Kingdom, chapter 8: This chapter gives an overview of Joseph Smith’s teachings involving the priesthood and women.

“Race and the Priesthood”: This Gospel Topics essay discusses the history of the racial restrictions on priesthood, which were Church policy from the 1850s until 1978.

“Witnessing the Faithfulness”: This article discusses the experiences of a few black members of the Church in the United States, Brazil, and Ghana leading up to and just after the 1978 revelation that once again extended the priesthood to worthy men of African descent.

I'm excited to hear about your questions and things you've learned in class tomorrow!

By the way, for those of you who accepted the revelation challenge a few weeks ago, be prepared for blessings tomorrow. For those of you who forgot, find your question, recommit, and I won't forsake you :).