In a powerful vision, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon learn about God’s expansive plan for heaven. This Doctrine and Covenants FHE lesson helps us understand the three kingdoms of glory and what this knowledge means for our daily lives.
Scripture
These are they whose bodies are , whose is that of the , even the glory of God, the of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.
Hymn
I Will Follow God’s Plan | Children’s Songbook #164
My life is a gift; my life has a plan.
My life has a purpose; in heav’n it began.
My choice was to come to this lovely home on earth
And seek for God’s light to direct me from birth.
I will follow God’s plan for me,
Holding fast to his word and his love.
I will work, and I will pray;
I will always walk in his way.
Then I will be happy on earth
And in my home above.
Lesson
FOR CHILDREN
Begin by having the children draw pictures of the sun, moon, and stars. Ask them which one gives off the most light.
Read aloud: Joseph Smith had questions about what happens to us after we die. He had questions about heaven. In a vision, the Lord revealed that there are three different places for people to live after they have died and been resurrected.
The telestial kingdom is the lowest kingdom and is compared to the brightness of the stars. The terrestrial kingdom is the middle kingdom and is compared to the brightness of the moon. The celestial kingdom is the highest kingdom and is compared to the brightness of the sun. Our Heavenly Parents want us all to live in the celestial kingdom with them one day.
Ask: Why do you think the celestial kingdom is compared to the sun? [It’s the brightest, it’s warm, the sun gives us life, just like God.]
Read aloud: In order to live with God in the celestial kingdom, we need to follow the commandments and make sacred promises with Him. We should try our very hardest to be good people and choose the right. Jesus Christ will help us when we make mistakes. Heavenly Father is so excited to see us again and will do everything He can to help us get home.
Ask: What would you want to do with Heavenly Father when you get to the celestial kingdom?
Finish the lesson with your testimony.
FOR TEENS & ADULTS
Begin the lesson by watching the following video. Before pressing play, ask everyone to think about how the understanding of the three degrees of glory has impacted their life.
Read aloud: Through the vision Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon experienced, we learn there are three distinct kingdoms of glory—the telestial kingdom, likened to the stars, the terrestrial kingdom, likened to the moon, and the celestial kingdom, likened to the sun. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ, our supreme goal and aim is to return to live with our Heavenly Parents in the celestial kingdom and with one another. This can seem like a daunting process when we think of the righteous lives we need to live.
Ask: How can we have confidence in ourselves and in Christ as we strive to make ourselves fit for the celestial kingdom?
Share any relevant personal experiences about believing in yourself and Christ. Finish with your testimony.
FOR SINGLE STUDY
Read through Doctrine and Covenants 76. Write down the attributes of those who will inherit the celestial kingdom. Ponder on areas of your life where you’d like to improve and make a goal for the upcoming week.
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Treat
Treat
Cinnamon Sugar Chex Mix
Ingredients
-8 cups Rice Chex Cereal
-½ cup butter
-½ cup brown sugar
-¼ cup granulated white sugar
-2 tsp ground cinnamon
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 275F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix together the white sugar and the cinnamon in a small bowl. Set aside.
- In a glass measuring cup, melt the butter in the microwave. Add the brown sugar, mix well, and return to the microwave for another 20 to 30 seconds (watch to make sure it doesn’t bubble over). Whisk until the sugar is dissolved.
- Pour the Chex cereal into a large bowl, then drizzle the sauce over top. Use a spatula to gently mix until the Chex is evenly coated.
- Spread the Chex mix onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mix evenly over the Chex.
- Bake at 275F for about 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes (lift and turn with a metal spatula).
- Enjoy!
(Courtesy of onelittleproject.com)
Activity
The Shark Bit My Cup
Gather dixie cups or paper cups and poke a small hole in the bottom and sides of each one. Divide into teams and place a bucket at the end for each team to try and fill up. Fill up large buckets of water and place them near each team.
To play, have one person fill up their cup and place it on their head. The person then runs to their bucket and dumps the water in. The goal is to keep as much water in their cup as possible. They run back and pass the cup to the next person. The team that fills the bucket up to the top first or has the most water after a certain number of rounds wins.
Aleah is a graduate of Southern Virginia University, where she studied English, Creative Writing, and Dance. She now works full time as a marketing and product manager, writer, and editor. She currently hosts the podcast “Single to the Glory” about singlehood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Aleah served a mission in California and loves baking, Lang Leav poetry, Gaynor Minden pointe shoes, and Bollywood movies.
