Scripture
And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
Hymn
We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet, Hymn #19
1. We thank thee, O God, for a prophet
To guide us in these latter days.
We thank thee for sending the gospel
To lighten our minds with its rays.
We thank thee for every blessing
Bestowed by thy bounteous hand.
We feel it a pleasure to serve thee
And love to obey thy command.
2. When dark clouds of trouble hang o’er us
And threaten our peace to destroy,
There is hope smiling brightly before us,
And we know that deliv’rance is nigh.
We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness.
We’ve proved him in days that are past.
The wicked who fight against Zion
Will surely be smitten at last.
3. We’ll sing of his goodness and mercy.
We’ll praise him by day and by night,
Rejoice in his glorious gospel,
And bask in its life-giving light.
Thus on to eternal perfection
The honest and faithful will go,
While they who reject this glad message
Shall never such happiness know.
Lesson
*Suitable for All Ages*
Begin by watching this video about Jesus instructing and calling His original Twelve Apostles.
Ask: What were some of the things Jesus instructed his Apostles to do? How did Jesus set apart His Apostles?
Read aloud: The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is one of the governing bodies of the Church, called to be a special witness of Jesus Christ. They have a specific mission to go into all the world and help people learn about Christ. All of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve hold all the keys of the Priesthood; however, they are only used by an Apostle when instructed by the Prophet. Just as Jesus called Twelve Apostles, He calls Twelve Apostles today and they are set apart by the power of the Priesthood, just as Christ set apart His Apostles in the video. Apostles serve for life.
Recently, an Apostle passed away. His name was L. Tom Perry and he served faithfully in the Church for many years. We will miss him greatly! With his death, there is now a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve. This means a new Apostle needs to be called. The process of calling a new Apostle is dictated by the Lord. Here is the basic process:
- The current members of the Twelve pray and fast for a name to submit. Generally, they are asked to submit three names on a slip of paper. All of the information is given to the First Presidency. The Prophet, while taking these inspired suggestions into account, ultimately goes to the Lord for direction in calling a new Apostle.
- After a name is presented, the new Apostle is announced in General Conference. Sometimes, if the Lord feels it is necessary, the name of the person called may be announced before Conference. During Conference, the general membership of the Church sustains the new Apostle.
- The new Apostle is ordained by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve by the laying on of hands.
- The new Apostle takes his place in the line of seniority. The seniority in the Quorum ultimately determines who will be the next Prophet should President Monson pass away.
Ask: What does this process tell us about the way the Church is run?
Read aloud: Those called to be Apostles are normal men. Before being called to be an Apostle, they have normal jobs and families. Some Apostles have been teachers, Senators, heart surgeons, and cars salesmen. The next Apostle they call can be anyone the Lord sees fit. Sometimes, the man called is from another governing body of the Church, such as the Presidency of the Seventy. Other times, he is not. The last time a new Apostle was called was in 2009. Elder Neil L. Andersen was called as an Apostle after Joseph B. Wirthlin passed away.
Ask: Is there an Apostle who has touched your life or a talk you can remember from an Apostle that had an impact on you? If you could meet an Apostle, what would you want to say to them? How can we support the leadership of the Church?
Use this page or a recent General Conference ensign to show your family pictures of the Quorum. Point out Elder Perry and discuss anything they will want to remember about his service. Show how they are pictures in order of seniority. If time and interest permits, you can discuss the succession in the Presidency. Finish by bearing your testimony.
Related Products
Treat
TreatCaprese Garlic Bread or Watermelon Coconut Ice Cream
Caprese Garlic Bread
Ingredients:
-1 loaf ciabatta bread, horizontally cut in half
-4 tablespoons salted butter
-3 cloves garlic, minced
-12 ox. fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
-1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
-2 medium tomatoes, sliced
-salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
-1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place both sides of the baguette on a large baking sheet with the cut side up.
2. In a small bowl, combine butter and garlic and spread evenly on bread halves. Place the mozzarella cheese slices on top of the bread, making sure the cheese covers the bread completely. Bake the bread for 12-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
3. While the bread is in the oven, make the balsamic reduction. Place the balsamic vinegar in a small saucepan. Bring the vinegar to a boil, decrease the heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is reduced by about half. This should only take about 5-7 minutes. Set aside.
4. Remove the bread from oven. Top the bread with tomato slices. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the fresh basil and drizzle with balsamic reduction. Cut into slices and serve.
(Courtesy of Two Peas & Their Pod)
Watermelon Coconut Ice Cream
Ingredients:
-1 can full fat coconut milk
-5 pitted medjool dates
-1/8 teaspoon scraped vanilla bean or 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
-1 1/2 cups cubed watermelon
Directions:
1.Blend all ingredients in a blender and transfer to a brownie or cake pan.
2.Place in the freezer for 3 hours or until hardened.
3.Break frozen watermelon mixture into chunks and place back in the blender.
4.Blend until a creamy consistency is reached.
5.Place back in a container or large bowl and place in the freezer to firm up for about 30 minutes.
Enjoy!
(Courtesy of Nutritionist in the Kitch)
Activity
Special Witnesses of Christ or Balloon Ping Pong
Special Witnesses of Christ
You can find all of the special video segments of Special Witnesses of Christ here. The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles each bear their personal testimony about the Savior and Redeemer of the World. Watch through them as a family and discuss anything that stood out to you.
Balloon Ping Pong
You’ll need a balloon (or multiple balloons), paper plates, and popsicle sticks. Using heavy tape or staples, make paddles by attaching the thick popsicle sticks to the paper plates. Blow up the balloon and set aside an area to play. Use your paddles to keep the balloon up in the air and volley back and forth.
I noticed that you said that the prophet would be chosen in order of seniority. Although that has been the pattern thus far in this dispensation, that is not the doctrine of the church. The prophet is chosen by unanimous vote of the quorum of the apostles, as they are moved upon by the spirit.
It’s an easy mistake to make, seeing the pattern has held thus far. But remember, the prophet will be chosen by God, and it may be that someday, it won’t be the senior apostle. Don’t fall away when (not if) that happens.