D&C 3

D&C 3

The works of God cannot be frustrated

V 1-3

• The works and the designs and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught

• God doth not walk in crooked paths: the way to happiness is consistent

• AGAIN: it is NOT the work of God that is frustrated,but the work of men

Multiple Choice

Whose works cannot be frustrated?

• God's

• Men's

V 4-7

• Acknowledgement that people are given revelations and power, and that can seem impressive, but IF THEY BOAST THEY MUST FALL, because their power is not of their own making, it is of God.

• Joseph knew the rules. He frequently forgot them in small ways and was forgiven. But this was not a small way. 

• “You should not have feared man more than God” 

Multiple Choice

When we make an agreement with God to keep "rules" in exchange for blessings, that is called a...

• deal

• covenant

• promise

• pact

Open Ended

I feel like this is really relatable. How often do we do this? How often are we more afraid of what people will think of us for doing what we know is right than we are for bearing the spiritual consequences of a wrong choice? Life is hard sometimes! Give me one example of what we're talking about here. It can be from your life, or the life of somebody you know. It can be from a book you've read, or the scriptures.

Verse 8

Joseph felt pressure to do something to help Martin because Martin had done so much to help Joseph and Emma, and to help the work move forward. He felt a need to reciprocate, to help appease Martin’s wife. He wanted to stave off potential future trouble. Joseph thought that he could foresee future potential problems if he did not send the pages with Martin, but he forgot that God knows all. Verse 8 is in response to that line of thinking: 

“You should have been faithful and he (God) would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in evry time of trouble.” 

Verses 9-11

• At this time Joseph had to give back the stones and the plates and lost the ability to translate for a period of time while he repented.

• REAL CONSEQUENCES. These verses are a warning that our gifts (physical and spiritual) can be taken away for good. 

• ***learning experience*** maybe Joseph needed to have this humbling experience in order to truly understand that the POWER and the GIFTS and REVELATIONS he had were of God, (see verse 4)

• Take-home lesson: sometimes we need to be humbled a bit to adjust our perspective

Multiple Choice

When Joseph challenged God's decision about letting Martin have the plates, what did he have taken from him?

• The plates

• The Urim and Thummim

• The spiritual gift to translate

• all of the above

• none of the above

Open Ended

Look at verses 12-13 and LIST FOUR THINGS THAT MARTIN HARRIS DID WRONG (hint: they're all in verse 13)

Verses 16-20

The Lord wanted to reassure Joseph that no matter what, Verses he would make sure that he kept his promises to the descendants of the prophets who kept the records on the plates. 

The Take-Home lesson here: no matter what OTHER PEOPLE DO, the promises that the Lord makes to YOU are SECURE. The actions of others CANNOT dissolve the promises that you make with your Father in Heaven.

Now, go finish this lesson :)