Come, Follow Me
Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 17:
April 19–25
“My Law to Govern My Church”
Doctrine and Covenants 41–44
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“If thou shalt ask,” the Lord promised, “thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:61). What questions can you ask in order to receive the revelation you need?
D&C 41: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to the Church, at Kirtland, Ohio, February 4, 1831. This revelation instructs the Prophet and Church elders to pray to receive God’s “law” (see section 42). Joseph Smith had just arrived in Kirtland from New York, and Leman Copley, a Church member in nearby Thompson, Ohio, “requested Brother Joseph and Sidney [Rigdon] … live with him and he would furnish them houses and provisions.” The following revelation clarifies where Joseph and Sidney should live and also calls Edward Partridge to be the Church’s first bishop.
D&C 42: Revelation given in two parts through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, February 9 and 23, 1831. The first part, consisting of verses 1 through 72, was received in the presence of twelve elders and in fulfillment of the Lord’s promise previously made that the “law” would be given in Ohio (see section 38:32). The second portion consists of verses 73 through 93. The Prophet specifies this revelation as “embracing the law of the Church.”
D&C 43: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, in February 1831. At this time some members of the Church were disturbed by people making false claims as revelators. The Prophet inquired of the Lord and received this communication addressed to the elders of the Church. The first part deals with matters of Church polity; the latter part contains a warning that the elders are to give to the nations of the earth.
D&C 44: Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Sidney Rigdon, at Kirtland, Ohio, in the latter part of February 1831. In compliance with the requirement herein set forth, the Church appointed a conference to be held early in the month of June following.
Resources on ChurchofJesusChrist.org
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
Come, Follow Me—For Sunday School (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
Come, Follow Me—For Aaronic Priesthood Quorums and Young Women Classes (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
Come, Follow Me—For Primary (lesson materials at ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
“I Want to Live the Gospel,” Children’s Songbook, 148; see “Ideas to Improve Your Family Scripture Study.”
- Chapter 15: Doctrine and Covenants 37–38; 41, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
- Section 41, The First Bishop Is Called, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 81–82
- “A Bishop unto the Church”, Revelations in Context
- The Law, Revelations in Context
- Section 42, The Law of the Lord, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 82–86
- Chapter 16: Doctrine and Covenants 42, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
- “I Quit Other Business”: Early Missionaries, Revelations in Context
- “All Things Must Be Done in Order”, Revelations in Context
To “Act in All Holiness”, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
- Section 43, “The Lord Shall Utter His Voice out of Heaven”, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 87–90
- Chapter 17: Doctrine and Covenants 43–45, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
- Section 44, The Fourth General Church Conference, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 90–91
How can we be like Edward Partridge?, Liahona – Come, Follow Me: Doctrine and Covenants
Resources on Interpreter Foundation
Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 17: D&C 41–44, Jonn Claybaugh
Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 17 (D&C 41–44)
Additional Posts & Roundtables on the Interpreter Foundation Website
Articles in Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship
Resources on Other Sites
Doctrine and Covenants 41-44 (Come, Follow Me), FAIR
Section 41, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
Section 42, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
Section 43, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
Section 44, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
Come Follow Me with Casey Paul Griffiths (Doctrine and Covenants 41-44, Apr 19-25), Book of Mormon Central
Come Follow Me Insights (Doctrine and Covenants 41-44, Apr 19-25), Book of Mormon Central
Come Follow Me: Act in Doctrine (Doctrine and Covenants 41-44, Apr 19-25), Book of Mormon Central
Come Follow Me with Taylor Halverson (Doctrine and Covenants 41-44, Apr 19-25), Book of Mormon Central
Come Follow Me with John Hilton III (Doctrine and Covenants 41-44, April 19-25), Book of Mormon Central
Doctrine & Covenants 41 – Section Resource, Doctrine & Covenants Central
Doctrine & Covenants 42 – Section Resource, Doctrine & Covenants Central
Doctrine & Covenants 43 – Section Resource, Doctrine & Covenants Central
Doctrine & Covenants 44 – Section Resource, Doctrine & Covenants Central
Doctrine and Covenants 41 & 42, with Scott Woodward, Doctrine & Covenants Central
Hard Questions in Church History with Lynne Hilton Wilson: Lesson 17 (D&C 46, May 3-9), Doctrine & Covenants Central
Doctrine and Covenants 41-44 (Apr. 19-25) Come Follow Me Don’t Miss This, Don’t Miss This
Come Follow Me – Doctrine and Covenants 41-44: “My Law”, Unshaken
Come, Follow Me Podcast #17: “My Law to Govern My Church”, Doctrine and Covenants 41-44, Meridian Magazine
April 19-25, 2021 Come, Follow Me Songs, Music for Latter-day Life
Doctrine and Covenants 41 to 44- “My Law to Govern My Church”, BYU Studies