Israelâs covenant with the Lord was meant to be so deep and meaningful that the Lord compared it to a marriage. The covenant, like a marriage, included eternal commitment, shared experiences, building a life together, exclusive loyalty, and, most of all, wholehearted love. Sadly, the Israelites were not faithful to their covenant. And yet the Lordâs message to them was not âI will reject you forever.â Instead it was âI will invite you backâ (see Hosea 2:14â15). âI will betroth thee unto me in righteousness,â He declared through the prophet Hosea (Hosea 2:19). âI will heal their backsliding, I will love them freelyâ (Hosea 14:4). This is the same message He gives us today as we seek to live our covenants with love and devotion.
Joel shared a similar message: âTurn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindnessâ (Joel 2:13). Reading these prophetsâ words may prompt you to ponder your own relationship with the Lordâto think about how His faithfulness to you inspires you to be faithful to Him.
For an overview of the books of Hosea and Joel, see âHosea, or Hosheaâ and âJoelâ in the Bible Dictionary.
Ideas for Learning at Home and at ChurchHoseaâs wife, Gomer, was unfaithful to him, and God pointed to this sad event to teach the Israelites how He felt about them and their covenants with Him. As you read Hosea 1â3, ponder how the Lord views His relationship with His covenant people. How is making a covenant with the Lord like entering into a marriage? How is failing to keep that covenant like being unfaithful to a spouse? (see Hosea 2:5â7, 13). What does Hosea 2:14â23 teach you about the Lordâs love and mercy? How do you show Him your love and loyalty?
In Hosea 14, look for the many beautiful promises the Lord makes to those who return to Him. What does the phrase âlove them freelyâ mean to you? (verse 4). What do the plant metaphors in verses 5â8 teach you about the Lordâs blessings, including the blessings of repentance? As part of your study, consider singing or listening to a hymn about the Saviorâs mercy, such as âCome unto Jesusâ (Hymns, no. 117).
The people in Hoseaâs day were offering animal sacrifices, but they were breaking more important commandments. What do you think it means that the Lord âdesired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offeringsâ? (Hosea 6:6). What do you think it means for righteousness to be like a cloud or like dew? (see Hosea 6:4). What should our righteousness be like? (see Isaiah 48:18; 1Â Nephi 2:9â10).
You could also read Matthew 9:10â13; 12:1â8 to see how the Savior used Hosea 6:6 during His ministry. How do these passages help you understand Hoseaâs words?
When reading Joel 2:12â13, it might help to know that rending or tearing oneâs clothing was an outward sign of mourning or remorse. How is rending our hearts different from rending our garments?
What similarities do you see between our day and the day Joel foresaw? (see especially Joel 2:1â2, 11, 18â32). What impresses you about the blessings the Lord promised in verses 18â32? Why might these blessings be especially valuable today?
It might be interesting to read what Moroni said about Joel 2 when he visited Joseph Smith in 1823 (see Joseph SmithâHistory 1:41). How do you feel the prophecies in Joel 2:28â32 are being fulfilled in our day? (see also Acts 2:1â21). What do you think it means that the Lord would âpour out [His] spirit upon all fleshâ? (Joel 2:28).
You might ponder these words from President Russell M. Nelson: âIn coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghostâ (âRevelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,â Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 96). Why is revelation essential to your spiritual survival?
What can you do if you feel like you arenât receiving that outpouring? Here are some examples that might help. What did the people in these scriptures do to receive an outpouring of the Lordâs Spirit?
As you read these words from Elder David A. Bednar, ponder what it means to you to feel an outpouring of the Holy Ghost in your daily life:
âWe often make it hard on ourselves to receive personal revelation. By that I mean the covenant promise is that as we honor our covenants, we may always have the Holy Ghost to be our constant companion. But we talk about it and we treat it as if hearing the voice of the Lord through His Spirit is the rare event. ⊠[The Spirit] ought to be with us all of the time. Not every nanosecond, but if a person is doing his or her bestâyou donât have to be perfectâbut if you and I are doing our best and weâre not committing serious transgression, then we can count on the Holy Ghost guiding us. âŠ
ââŠÂ We seem to believe that the Holy Ghost is dramatic and big and sudden, when itâs still and small and incremental over timeâ (âElder David A. Bednar Discussionâ [evening with a General Authority, Feb. 7, 2020], broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
See also Gary E. Stevenson, âPromptings of the Spirit,â Liahona, Nov. 2023, 42â45; âEnemy Territoryâ (video), Gospel Library.
Create a spiritual environment. âWhat have you observed that contributes to a spiritual environment for learning the gospel? What detracts from it? ⊠Think about the setting where you most often teach [or learn]. How do you feel when you are there? How can you more effectively invite the Spirit to be present there?â (Teaching in the Saviorâs Way, 7).
Text and music:Orson Pratt Huish, 1851â1932
By President Russell M. Nelson
President of the Church
What a glorious privilege it has been to celebrate Easter with you on this Sunday of general conference! Nothing could be more fitting than to commemorate the most important event that ever occurred on this earth by worshipping the most important being who ever walked this earth. In this, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we worship Him who commenced His infinite Atonement in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was willing to suffer for the sins and weaknesses of each of us, which suffering caused Him âto bleed at every pore.â He was crucified on Calvaryâs cross and rose the third day as the first resurrected being of our Heavenly Fatherâs children. I love Him and testify that He lives! It is He who leads and guides His Church.
Without our Redeemerâs infinite Atonement, not one of us would have hope of ever returning to our Heavenly Father. Without His Resurrection, death would be the end. Our Saviorâs Atonement made eternal life a possibility and immortality a reality for all.
It is because of His transcendent mission and the peace He grants His followers that my wife, Wendy, and I felt comfort late on January 2, 2018, when we were awakened by a phone call telling us that President Thomas S. Monson had stepped through the veil.
How we miss President Monson! We honor his life and his legacy. A spiritual giant, he left an indelible imprint upon all who knew him and upon the Church that he loved.
On Sunday, January 14, 2018, in the upper room of the Salt Lake Temple, the First Presidency was reorganized in the simple yet sacred pattern established by the Lord. Then, at yesterday morningâs solemn assembly, members of the Church throughout the world raised their hands to confirm the earlier action taken by the Apostles. I am humbly grateful for your sustaining support.
I am also grateful for those upon whose shoulders I stand. It has been my privilege to serve in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for 34 years and to know personally 10 of the 16 previous Presidents of the Church. I learned much from each of them.
I also owe much to my forebears. All eight of my great-grandparents were converts to the Church in Europe. Each of these stalwart souls sacrificed everything to come to Zion. During subsequent generations, however, not all my ancestors remained so committed. As a result, I was not raised in a gospel-centered home.
I adored my parents. They meant the world to me and taught me crucial lessons. I cannot thank them enough for the happy homelife they created for me and my siblings. And yet, even as a boy, I knew I was missing something. One day I jumped on the streetcar and went to an LDS bookstore to find a book about the Church. I loved learning about the gospel.
As I came to understand the Word of Wisdom, I wanted my parents to live that law. So, one day when I was very young, I went to our basement and smashed on the concrete floor every bottle of liquor! I expected my father to punish me, but he never said a word.
As I matured and began to understand the magnificence of Heavenly Fatherâs plan, I often said to myself, âI donât want one more Christmas present! I just want to be sealed to my parents.â That longed-for event did not happen until my parents were past 80, and then it did happen. I cannot fully express the joy that I felt that day, and each day I feel that joy of their sealing and my being sealed to them.
In 1945, while I was in medical school, I married Dantzel White in the Salt Lake Temple. She and I were blessed with nine splendid daughters and one precious son. Today our ever-growing family is one of the greatest joys of my life.
In 2005, after nearly 60 years of marriage, my dear Dantzel was unexpectedly called home. For a season, my grief was almost immobilizing. But the message of Easter and the promise of resurrection sustained me.
Then the Lord brought Wendy Watson to my side. We were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on April 6, 2006. How I love her! She is an extraordinary womanâa great blessing to me, to our family, and to the entire Church.
Each of these blessings has come as a result of seeking and heeding the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Said President Lorenzo Snow, âThis is the grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint ⊠that it is our right to have the manifestations of the Spirit every day of our lives.â
One of the things the Spirit has repeatedly impressed upon my mind since my new calling as President of the Church is how willing the Lord is to reveal His mind and will. The privilege of receiving revelation is one of the greatest gifts of God to His children.
Through the manifestations of the Holy Ghost, the Lord will assist us in all our righteous pursuits. I remember in an operating room, I have stood over a patientâunsure how to perform an unprecedented procedureâand experienced the Holy Ghost diagramming the technique in my mind.
To strengthen my proposal to Wendy, I said to her, âI know about revelation and how to receive it.â To her creditâand, as I have come to learn, typical of herâshe had already sought and received her own revelation about us, which gave her the courage to say yes.
As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, I prayed daily for revelation and gave thanks to the Lord every time He spoke to my heart and mind.
Imagine the miracle of it! Whatever our Church calling, we can pray to our Heavenly Father and receive guidance and direction, be warned about dangers and distractions, and be enabled to accomplish things we simply could not do on our own. If we will truly receive the Holy Ghost and learn to discern and understand His promptings, we will be guided in matters large and small.
When I recently faced the daunting task of choosing two counselors, I wondered how I could possibly choose just two from twelve men whom I love and respect.
Because I know that good inspiration is based upon good information, I prayerfully met one-on-one with each Apostle. I then sequestered myself in a private room in the temple and sought the Lordâs will. I testify that the Lord instructed me to select President Dallin H. Oaks and President Henry B. Eyring to serve as my counselors in the First Presidency.
In like manner, I testify that the Lord inspired the call of Elder Gerrit W. Gong and Elder Ulisses Soares to be ordained as His Apostles. I and we welcome them to this unique brotherhood of service.
When we convene as a Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, our meeting rooms become rooms of revelation. The Spirit is palpably present. As we wrestle with complex matters, a thrilling process unfolds as each Apostle freely expresses his thoughts and point of view. Though we may differ in our initial perspectives, the love we feel for each other is constant. Our unity helps us to discern the Lordâs will for His Church.
In our meetings, the majority never rules! We listen prayerfully to one another and talk with each other until we are united. Then when we have reached complete accord, the unifying influence of the Holy Ghost is spine-tingling! We experience what the Prophet Joseph Smith knew when he taught, âBy union of feeling we obtain power with God.â No member of the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve would ever leave decisions for the Lordâs Church to his own best judgment!
Brothers and sisters, how can we become the men and womenâthe Christlike servantsâthe Lord needs us to be? How can we find answers to questions that perplex us? If Joseph Smithâs transcendent experience in the Sacred Grove teaches us anything, it is that the heavens are open and that God speaks to His children.
The Prophet Joseph Smith set a pattern for us to follow in resolving our questions. Drawn to the promise of James that if we lack wisdom we may ask of God, the boy Joseph took his question directly to Heavenly Father. He sought personal revelation, and his seeking opened this last dispensation.
In like manner, what will your seeking open for you? What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.
Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknessesâyes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will âgrow into the principle of revelation.â
Does God really want to speak to you? Yes! âAs well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course ⊠as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.â
You donât have to wonder about what is true. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lordâs Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true.
I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that âif thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable thingsâthat which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.â
Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, âTo those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, it is clear that the Father and the Son are giving away the secrets of the universe!â
Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work.
To be sure, there may be times when you feel as though the heavens are closed. But I promise that as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honor the Lordâs timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek. Every blessing the Lord has for youâeven miraclesâwill follow. That is what personal revelation will do for you.
I am optimistic about the future. It will be filled with opportunities for each of us to progress, contribute, and take the gospel to every corner of the earth. But I am also not naive about the days ahead. We live in a world that is complex and increasingly contentious. The constant availability of social media and a 24-hour news cycle bombard us with relentless messages. If we are to have any hope of sifting through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth, we must learn to receive revelation.
Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.
My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. Let this Easter Sunday be a defining moment in your life. Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.
With Moroni, I exhort you on this Easter Sabbath to âcome unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift,â beginning with the gift of the Holy Ghost, which gift can and will change your life.
We are followers of Jesus Christ. The most important truth the Holy Ghost will ever witness to you is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. He lives! He is our Advocate with the Father, our Exemplar, and our Redeemer. On this Easter Sunday, we commemorate His atoning sacrifice, His literal Resurrection, and His divinity.
This is His Church, restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I so testify, with my expression of love for each of you, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.
See Luke 23:33.
See Alma 26:16.
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow (2012), 76.
See Russell M. Nelson, âSweet Power of Prayer,â Ensign or Liahona, May 2003, 7â8.
See 3Â Nephi 28:1.
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 393â94.
See James 1:5.
Teachings: Joseph Smith, 132.
See Moroni 10:5.
Neal A. Maxwell, âMeek and Lowlyâ (Brigham Young University devotional, Oct. 21, 1986), 9, speeches.byu.edu.
See 2Â Nephi 32:3.
Evening with a General Authority
Elder David A. Bednar
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Friday, February 7, 2020
By Elder Gary E. Stevenson
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Recently, the eyes of the sporting world focused on the 2023 FIFA Womenâs World Cup, hosted by Australia and New Zealand. World-class athletes narrowed from more than 200 national teams from around the globe demonstrated their grit, dedication, talent, and athleticism as they competed for the soccer worldâs highest honor.
We marvel at performers in numerous sports and other disciplines who achieve the highest level of their art. We speak of their God-given talents or gifts. This includes those gifted in dance, gymnastics, music, art, drama, mathematics, science, and more. Each such person demonstrates God-given gifts that are then refined and honed by a lifetime of hard work, study, and practice. God-given gifts make gifted people.
Looking through a gospel lens, God endows His children with many spiritual gifts, making them spiritually gifted people. Covenant-keeping members of the Church are bestowed with gifts of the Spirit, which include the gift of a testimony of Jesus Christ as our Savior, the gift of the Holy Ghost, the gift of faith to heal and be healed, the gift of discernment, the gift of receiving miracles, and the gifts of wisdom and knowledge. The Lord invites us to earnestly seek the best gifts, even spiritual gifts. He gives spiritual gifts to bless us and to use in blessing others.
Returning to our analogy of gifted performers, it is important to remember that a gift alone does not a master make. Extraordinary natural talent notwithstanding, it is through painstaking and laborious practice and effort that performers refine and hone their craft to reach their highest level of artistry. Even those gifts received and unwrapped are often accompanied by the dreaded language âsome assembly required.â
Likewise, I have observed a learning curve associated with spiritual gifts. Exercising spiritual gifts requires spiritual exercise. âHaving the guidance of the Holy Ghost in your life requires spiritual work. This work includes fervent prayer and consistent scripture study. It also includes keeping your covenants and Godâs commandments. ⊠It includes worthily partaking of the sacrament each week.â
What are the fruits of exercising spiritual gifts? They include promptings from the Spirit that help us face our daily needs and show us what to do and say and blessings of peace and comfort. As we listen and act on spiritual promptings, the Holy Ghost magnifies our abilities and capacities to far exceed what we can do on our own. These precious spiritual gifts will help us in every aspect of our lives.
The constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is one of the greatest spiritual gifts Latter-day Saints enjoy.
How important is this gift? President Russell M. Nelson answered this question categorically when he stated that âin coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.â
Over the course of my ministry, I have found a universal longing by everyone to know how to invite and recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Promptings of the Spirit are very personal and come in different ways. We are, however, blessed to have words of prophets, both ancient and modern, give us valuable insights about how to receive direction from the Spirit.
Let me offer four guiding principles that may be of assistance to you in inviting and recognizing the promptings of the Spirit.
The first is to stand in holy places. I recently participated in the Tokyo Japan Temple open house. The response to formal invitations sent to both media and VIP guests far exceeded expectations. Hundreds joined in these guided temple tours. Guests were deeply touched by the beauty of the temple, including patterns and motifs with deep, traditional Japanese connections. More poignant yet was the reverent and respectful reaction elicited from guests as ancestral ordinances were described in rooms where they would occur. But most heartwarming were stirrings of the Spirit.
One such moment with a prominent government official remains etched in my mind. Following a moment of meditative silence in the celestial room, emotional and deeply touched he whispered in my ear, âEven the air that I breathe in this room feels different.â I recognized he was trying to describe the presence of the Holy Spirit, which, indeed, dwells in sacred spaces. If you hope to feel the Spirit, be in a place where the Spirit can easily dwell.
Our temples and homes are the most sacred of these dedicated spaces. In them we more easily invite and recognize the Spirit. Other holy places include meetinghouses, seminary buildings and institutes, and Church history sites and visitorsâ centers. Stand in holy places.
Second, stand with holy people. Iâll describe the second guiding principle with another memory.
I will never forget participating in a devotional held in a popular sports arena. Usually, this arena was filled with raucous fans cheering their home team and perhaps even jeering their opponent. But on this night, the atmosphere was quite different. The arena was filled with thousands of young people assembled to honor and commemorate the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Their reverent, quiet tone; gratitude; and prayerful hearts filled the arena with the presence of the Holy Spirit. I could literally see it in their faces. It was the gift of the Holy Ghost in action, affirming the testimonies being borne of Joseph Smith and the Restoration of the gospel.
The Spirit cannot be restrained from attending a gathering of holy people. If you hope to feel the Spirit, be with people with whom the Spirit can easily dwell. The Savior said it this way: âFor where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.â For young people, consider your gatherings of holy people: quorums and classes, FSY and seminary, ward and stake activitiesâeven ward choirs. Choose to be with people and go to places where righteousness is found. Find your strength in numbers. Find good friends. Be good friends. Support one another wherever you are. Stand with holy people.
Third, testify of holy truths as often as you can. The Comforter always shares His voice when we testify with our voice. The Spirit bears witness to the speaker and listener alike.
I remember once taking a 45-minute taxi ride in New York City. Having had a warm gospel conversation with the driver for the duration of my ride to the airport, I paid her and prepared to exit the taxi. Then I realized I had not offered a testimony of what I had shared. Pausing, I shared a simple, short testimony, inviting the Spirit and bringing tears to both our eyes.
As you seek and take opportunities to share your testimony with others, you will create moments to recognize the Spirit for yourself.
The final principle is to listen to the Holy Spirit. He can be our constant companion, but He speaks in subtle, quiet tones. The prophet Elijah found that the voice of the Lord was not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire but was âa still small voice.â It is ânot a voice of thunderâ but rather âa still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper,â and yet it can âpierce even to the very soul.â
President Boyd K. Packer stated: âThe Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand. Rather it whispers. It caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all.â I have observed that sometimes His voice is so subtle, or I am so preoccupied, that a loved one captures it for me. Many have been the times when promptings of the Holy Ghost have come to me through my wife, Lesa. Righteous parents or leaders may also receive inspired guidance for you.
The noise, clamor, and contention prevalent in the world may overpower still, quiet impressions of the Holy Spirit. Find a quiet place, a holy space where you can seek to receive direction from the Spirit.
As you consider these principles to invite and recognize the Spirit, consider the following words of cautionary guidance.
Confirm your spiritual impressions. For example, impressions from the Spirit will align with the scriptures and the teachings of the living prophets.
Be certain that the feelings you receive are consistent with your assignment. Unless you are called by proper authority, impressions from the Spirit are not given for you to counsel or correct others.
Spiritual matters cannot be forced. You can cultivate an attitude and an environment that invite the Spirit, and you can prepare yourself, but you cannot dictate how or when inspiration comes. Be patient and trust that you will receive what you need when the time is right.
Use your own best judgment. Sometimes we want to be led by the Spirit in all things. However, often the Lord wants us to use our God-given intelligence and act in ways that are consistent with our best understanding. President Dallin H. Oaks taught:
âA desire to be led by the Lord is a strength, but it needs to be accompanied by an understanding that our Heavenly Father leaves many decisions for our personal choices. ⊠Persons who try to shift all decision making to the Lord and plead for revelation in every choice will soon find circumstances in which they pray for guidance and donât receive it. âŠ
âWe should study things out in our minds. ⊠Then we should pray for guidance and act upon it. ⊠If we do not receive guidance, we should act upon our best judgment.â
In conclusion, Latter-day Saints should be gifted, covenant-keeping people. Nonetheless, it remains for each of us to seek to exercise our spiritual gifts and then to invite and learn to recognize promptings of the Spirit. Four guiding principles to assist us in this crucial spiritual endeavor are:
Stand in holy places.
Stand with holy people.
Testify of holy truths.
Listen to the Holy Spirit.
Your ability to invite and recognize the promptings of the Spirit will develop a step at a time. âBecoming more attuned to the language of the Spirit is like learning another language. It is a gradual process that requires diligent, patient effort.â
Returning to where we began, please remember that as Latter-day Saints you are gifted. Picture this familiar fast Sunday scene, recently described to me. A young child, standing on a stool, was barely visible over the pulpit. Her father stood next to her, offering encouragement and assisting with soft whispers to her ear as she proudly shared, âI am a child of God.â
The next testimony that followed came from a young adult who began with a nervous quip: âI wish I had someone whispering in my ear like that.â Then she had a flash of inspiration and testified, âI do have someone whispering in my ear like thatâthe Holy Ghost!â
I close with an invitation especially for all youth! Many of you start your day by standing in front of a mirror. Tomorrow, this week, this year, always, pause as you look at yourself in the mirror. Think to yourself, or say aloud if you like, âWow, look at me! I am awesome! I am a child of God! He knows me! He loves me! I am giftedâgifted with the Holy Ghost as my constant companion!â
I add my testimony to you, gifted Latter-day Saints, of God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, who bears testimony of Them. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
See Doctrine and Covenants 46:8â9, 26; Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2023), 103.
Preach My Gospel, 101.
See Preach My Gospel, 101.
Russell M. Nelson, âRevelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,â Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 96.
Boyd K. Packer, âThe Candle of the Lord,â Ensign, Jan. 1983, 53.
Much of the content in this section is taken from chapter 4 of Preach My Gospel.
Dallin H. Oaks, âOur Strengths Can Become Our Downfall,â Ensign, Oct. 1994, 13â14.
Preach My Gospel, 106.
When the Savior commanded Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon to preach His gospel, He promised them, âThe Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall sayâ (Doctrine and Covenants 100:8; see also Doctrine and Covenants 42:15â17; 50:17â22). The same promise applies to all those who teach the gospel, including you. As you teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, you can have the Holy Ghost with you to guide you and to testify of the truth to the minds and hearts of those you teach (see Doctrine and Covenants 8:2). You are not alone when you teach, for âit is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghostâ (Mark 13:11).
The Holy Ghost is the true teacher. No mortal teacher, no matter how skilled or experienced, can replace His role in witnessing of truth, testifying of Christ, and changing hearts. But all teachers can be instruments in helping Godâs children learn by the Spirit.
Prepare yourself spiritually.
Always be ready to respond to spiritual promptings about the needs of learners.
Create settings and opportunities for learners to be taught by the Holy Ghost.
Help learners seek, recognize, and act on personal revelation.
Bear testimony often, and invite learners to share their feelings, experiences, and testimonies.
To prepare for His ministry, the Savior spent 40 days in the wilderness âto be with Godâ (Joseph Smith Translation, Matthew 4:1 [in Matthew 4:1, footnote b]). But His spiritual preparation had begun long before. When Satan tempted Him, He was able to draw upon the âwords of lifeâ that He had treasured up for the âvery hourâ when He would need them (Doctrine and Covenants 84:85). Think about your own efforts to prepare yourself spiritually to teach. What do you learn from Matthew 4:1â11 about how you can follow the Saviorâs example in your spiritual preparation?
The Spirit is the real teacher and the true source of conversion. Powerful gospel teaching requires not just preparing a lesson but preparing yourself spiritually well before you begin to teach. If you are spiritually prepared, you will be better able to hear and follow the guidance of the Spirit as you teach. The way to invite the Holy Ghost into your teaching is to invite Him into your life. This includes diligently striving to follow the Saviorâs example and live His gospel with all your heart. And because none of us does this perfectly, it also means repenting each day.
Questions to Ponder: What does it mean to you to prepare yourself spiritually to teach? What do you feel inspired to do to improve the way you prepare yourself spiritually? How do you think spiritual preparation can make a difference in your teaching?
From the Scriptures: Ezra 7:10; Luke 6:12; Alma 17:2â3, 9; Doctrine and Covenants 11:21; 42:13â14
Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, had fallen at Jesusâs feet, begging Him to help his dying daughter. Jesus and His disciples were pressing their way through the crowded streets toward Jairusâs house when suddenly Jesus stopped. âWho touched me?â He asked. It seemed like an odd questionâin the press of people, who wasnât touching Him? But the Savior perceived that in that multitude, someone had approached Him with a specific need and with the faith to receive the healing He offered. There would still be time to visit Jairusâs daughter. But first He said to the woman who had touched His clothes, âDaughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peaceâ (see Luke 8:41â48).
As a teacher, you might sometimes find yourself in a rush to cover something you had prepared to teach. While that may be important, be sure that in your haste you donât unintentionally hurry past an urgent need of someone youâre teaching. In addition to the spiritual guidance you sought as you prepared to teach, seek also the Spiritâs guidance while you are teaching. Try to be aware of the needs, the questions, and the interests of learners. The Holy Ghost can help you discern how a learner is receiving or understanding something you have taught. He may prompt you, at times, to alter your plans. For example, you might be impressed to spend more time than you had intended on a topic or to leave some discussions for later in favor of something that is more important to learners now.
Questions to Ponder: When have you felt that a parent or other teacher was aware of your needs as a learner? Do those you teach know that you are more interested in their learning than in completing a lesson? How can you better communicate your interest?
From the Scriptures: 1Â Peter 3:15; Alma 32:1â9; 40:1; 41:1; 42:1
It was difficult for many in Jesusâs time to understand who He really was, but there were plenty of opinions. âSome say that thou art John the Baptist,â His disciples reported, âsome, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.â But then Jesus asked a question that invited His disciples to set aside the opinions of others and look inside their own hearts: âWhom say ye that I am?â He wanted them to find their answer not from âflesh and bloodâ but directly from âmy Father which is in heaven.â It was this kind of witnessâpersonal revelation from the Holy Ghostâthat enabled Peter to declare, âThou art the Christ, the Son of the living Godâ (see Matthew 16:13â17).
To survive spiritually in the latter days, the people you teach will need a spiritual witness of the truth. You canât give it to them, but you can invite, encourage, inspire, and teach them to seek it. You can make clearâthrough your words and actionsâhow crucial the Holy Ghost is to gospel learning. Consider, for example, the learning environment you create and encourage. Something as simple as the arrangement of the chairs in a room or the way you greet and interact with learners sets a spiritual tone for the experience the learners will have. You can also invite learners to prepare themselves spiritually to learn, just as you prepare spiritually to teach. Ask them to take responsibility for the spirit they bring. And you can provide opportunities for them to feel the Spirit testify of Jesus Christ and His gospel. That witness will become a ârockâ for them, âand the gates of hell shall not prevail against [them]â (Matthew 16:18).
Questions to Ponder: What have you observed that contributes to a spiritual environment for learning the gospel? What detracts from it? What helps the people you teach learn from the Spirit? Think about the setting where you most often teach. How do you feel when you are there? How can you more effectively invite the Spirit to be present there?
From the Scriptures: Luke 24:31â32; John 14:26; 16:13â15; Moroni 10:4â5; Doctrine and Covenants 42:16â17; 50:13â24
As we teach, we can invite learners to seek their own spiritual witness of the truth.
The Lord wants to communicate with usâand He wants us to know that Heâs communicating with us. In 1829, a 22-year-old schoolteacher named Oliver Cowdery was learning about the bold, exciting doctrine that anyone can receive personal revelation. But he had questions similar to what many of us have asked: âIs the Lord really trying to speak to me? And how can I know what He is saying?â To answer these questions, Jesus Christ invited Oliver to think back on a private moment of spiritual searching. âDid I not speak peace to your mind?â He asked (see Doctrine and Covenants 6:21â24). Later, He taught Oliver about other ways the Spirit could speak to him (see Doctrine and Covenants 8:2â3; 9:7â9; see also Doctrine and Covenants 11:12â14).
Living in a world that is so often oblivious to spiritual things, we all need help recognizing the voice of the Spirit. We may have felt the Spirit without realizing it. And we all can learn more about how to seek the Spirit, recognize His influence, and act on the promptings He gives us. As you teach, help learners discover the ways the Spirit can communicateâand how He has communicated with them. One of the greatest gifts you can give as a teacher is to help those you teach progress in this lifelong pursuit of personal revelation.
Questions to Ponder: Why is it important to learn to receive personal revelation? Has someone ever helped you understand how to seek and recognize revelation? How can you encourage those you teach to seek, recognize, and act on revelation from the Holy Ghost?
From the Scriptures: Galatians 5:22â23; Alma 5:45â47; Doctrine and Covenants 42:61; 121:33; Joseph SmithâHistory 1:8â20
During an especially tender moment of teaching and ministering, Jesus sought to comfort His friend Martha, whose brother had died. He shared with her a simple testimony of an eternal truth: âThy brother shall rise againâ (John 11:23). His witness prompted Martha to share her own testimony: âI know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last dayâ (John 11:24). Notice how this pattern repeats in John 11:25â27. What impresses you about the Saviorâs example? Why is sharing testimony of gospel truths such an important part of teaching?
Your testimony can have a powerful influence on those you teach. It doesnât need to be eloquent or lengthy. And it doesnât need to begin with âIâd like to bear my testimony.â Simply share what you know by the power of the Holy Ghost. A testimony of truth is most powerful when it is direct and heartfelt. Bear testimony often of the Savior, His gospel, and His power in your life, and encourage those you teach to do the same. And remember that sometimes the most powerful witness is borne not by the teacher but by a fellow learner.
Questions to Ponder: Look for examples in the scriptures that illustrate the powerful influence of someone bearing testimony. What do you learn from those examples? When have you been blessed by someoneâs testimony? How has sharing your testimony influenced those you teach? How has it influenced you?
From the Scriptures: Acts 2:32â38; Mosiah 5:1â3; Alma 5:45â48; 18:24â42; 22:12â18; Doctrine and Covenants 46:13â14; 62:3
Ask learners to share what the Holy Ghost taught them as they studied the word of God.
Prepare beforehand to receive spiritual promptings while teaching.
Write down spiritual impressions that come as you prepare.
Provide occasional opportunities for class members to quietly ponder what the Spirit is teaching them.
Use sacred music and pictures to invite the influence of the Spirit.
Listen for promptings as you plan and teach, and be willing to adjust your plans.
Provide opportunities for all learners to bear testimony of what they are learning.
Help others recognize when the Spirit is present.
Live the truths you are teaching so that you can bear witness of them.
Follow promptings to teach in spontaneous, informal moments.
Scripture Helps
The Lord commanded Hosea to marry an adulteress, and Hosea chose a woman named Gomer, who was unfaithful to him. The Lord used this marriage as a symbol to teach the Israelites about His covenant relationship with them. The Israelites were unfaithful to the Lord because they sought after false gods. Hosea warned Israel that their unfaithfulness would lead to destruction. He prophesied that in the latter days God would extend mercy to Israel when they returned to Him. Joel prophesied of impending destruction and counseled the people to gather to the house of the Lord. He further prophesied of calamities that would come upon the wicked in the last days and of the Spirit of the Lord being poured out upon all flesh. Joel foretold a great battle that would happen in the last days.
Note: The citation of a source not published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not imply that it or its author is endorsed by the Church or represents the official position of the Church.
The prophets whose writings appear in the last 12 books of the Old Testament are often called the âminor prophets.â This is not because their message is less important but because their books are shorter in length than the writings of the âmajor prophets.â
The following chart provides an overview of these twelve prophets, including their primary audience and the approximate dates of their ministry.
Prophet
Primary Audience
Approximate Time of Ministry
Prophet
Hosea
Primary Audience
Northern Kingdom of Israel
Approximate Time of Ministry
Mid-700s BC
Prophet
Joel
Primary Audience
Southern Kingdom of Judah
Approximate Time of Ministry
Uncertain (probably somewhere between the ninth and fifth centuries BC)
Prophet
Amos
Primary Audience
Northern Kingdom of Israel
Approximate Time of Ministry
Mid-700s BC
Prophet
Obadiah
Primary Audience
Southern Kingdom of Judah
Approximate Time of Ministry
Uncertain (possibly shortly after 586Â BC)
Prophet
Jonah
Primary Audience
Ninevah (Assyria); Northern Kingdom of Israel
Approximate Time of Ministry
700s BC
Prophet
Micah
Primary Audience
Southern Kingdom of Judah
Approximate Time of Ministry
Mid-700s BC
Prophet
Nahum
Primary Audience
Southern Kingdom of Judah
Approximate Time of Ministry
Probably between 626 and 612Â BC
Prophet
Habakkuk
Primary Audience
Southern Kingdom of Judah
Approximate Time of Ministry
Probably shortly before 597Â BC
Prophet
Zephaniah
Primary Audience
Southern Kingdom of Judah
Approximate Time of Ministry
Mid-600s BC
Prophet
Haggai
Primary Audience
Post-exilic Judah
Approximate Time of Ministry
520Â BC
Prophet
Zechariah
Primary Audience
Post-exilic Judah
Approximate Time of Ministry
520Â BC
Prophet
Malachi
Primary Audience
Post-exilic Judah
Approximate Time of Ministry
Uncertain (somewhere between 500 and 350Â BC)
Post-exilic refers to the period when the Jews in Babylonian exile returned to Jerusalem, reestablished their community, and rebuilt the temple.
The book of Hosea contains the teachings of the prophet Hosea. His ministry took place in the Northern Kingdom of Israel during the latter half of the eighth century BC. Hosea prophesied during a time of great wickedness, when Israel was close to being conquered by the Assyrian empire.
Hoseaâs name means âsalvationâ or âJehovah savesââand the salvation of Jehovah is a message that is powerfully portrayed in Hoseaâs account. This message is conveyed through the metaphor of marriage. Hoseaâs wife, Gomer, was unfaithful to him. Through the symbols of Gomerâs infidelity and Hoseaâs efforts to reconcile with her, we gain insight into the Lordâs covenant relationship with Israel. Israelâs sins can be compared to the betrayal of a spouse, and the Lord can be compared to a loving and faithful husband. This faithful husband longs for and makes efforts to persuade His unfaithful bride to return to Him.
President Henry B. Eyring explained that the book of Hosea is âa love story, ⊠a story of a marriage covenant bound by love, by steadfast love.â
The book of Hosea can be divided into two sections.
Hosea 1â3: The Lordâs command to Hosea to marry. The birth of the coupleâs three children, Gomerâs betrayal, and Hoseaâs efforts to bring her back to their covenant relationship.
Hosea 4â14: Hoseaâs prophetic warnings and promises to Israel.
Bride and Groom, by Lyle Beddes
Scholars have long debated whether the Lordâs command for Hosea to marry âa wife of whoredomsâ was literal or symbolic. Either way, the central message of the book of Hosea is not the marriage itself but what it symbolizes: the covenant relationship between God and Israel. At some point in their marriage, Gomer left Hosea and returned to a life of immorality. Gomerâs unfaithfulness to her husband symbolizes Israelâs spiritual adultery and broken covenant with the Lord.
The names of the three children born to Hosea and Gomer represent consequences that Israel would suffer because of their own unfaithfulness. Their first child was named Jezreel, meaning âGod sows.â Jezreel is the name of the city where significant bloodshed had recently occurred. His name symbolized the judgment and scattering that would soon come upon the house of Israel. The second child was named Lo-Ruhamah, meaning ânot pitiedâ or ânot having obtained mercy,â signifying that the Lordâs compassion toward Israel would be withdrawn for a time. The third was named Lo-Ammi, meaning ânot my people,â representing how Israel had broken their covenant as Godâs chosen people through their unfaithfulness.
The Lord continued to use the childrenâs names and their symbolic meanings throughout the second chapter of Hosea. The chapter begins with the Lord calling two of the children by new names: Ammi (âmy peopleâ) and Ruhamah (âpitiedâ or âreceiving mercyâ), implying that Israelâs covenant with Him would not remain broken forever. The Lord then describes what He will do to reestablish His covenant relationship with Israel. The chapter concludes with a powerful message. Once again alluding to the names of the children, the Lord promised: âI will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.â
The Lordâs promise that Israel would one day be called âthe sons [and daughters] of the living Godâ refers to the new covenant He would make with them in the future. Every person is a spirit son or daughter of Heavenly Father, but those who are spiritually reborn and make covenants with the Lord become âchildren of Christ.â For them, Jesus Christ becomes the Father of their new lives.
President Russell M. Nelson explained: âWe are men and women of God quite precisely because we have made covenants with Him. We are of Abraham. We are children of the covenantâthe Abrahamic covenant. ⊠[We] become the chosen children of the Lord. Simply stated, all who are willing to make covenants with God and keep them are His covenant people.â
Despite Israelâs consequences for their unfaithfulness, the Lord promised to restore and bless them. He said that when Israel returns, they will no longer call Him âBaaliâ but will instead call Him âIshi.â While both words can mean âhusband,â Baali echoes the name of the false god Baal. By calling the Lord Ishi, Israel would demonstrate a complete rejection of false gods and a strengthened relationship with Jehovah.
Gomer Rescued, by Deb Minnard
In ancient Israelite culture, betrothal was a legally binding commitmentâthe final step before the full union of marriage. When the Lord declared, âI will betroth thee unto me for ever,â He was promising an eternal covenant relationship with Israel.
The Lord further described this eternal covenant as being made in ârighteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.â The Hebrew word translated as âlovingkindnessâ is hesed, which is used to describe the Lordâs covenantal love, loyalty, and mercy. President Russell M. Nelson explained: âBecause God has hesed for those who have covenanted with Him, He will love them. He will continue to work with them and offer them opportunities to change. He will forgive them when they repent. And should they stray, He will help them find their way back to Him.â
The Lord was not satisfied with the spiritual state of the Israelites. He told them that even though they had been consistent in performing sacrifices, they had âtransgressed the covenantâ and âdealt treacherouslyâ against Him. While sacrifices were still important, the Lord placed more value on their heartfelt devotion to Him and compassion for others.
Twice during His mortal ministry, Jesus Christ quoted this statement from the book of Hosea. In each case, the Savior rebuked the Pharisees for prioritizing religious observance over repentance and loving others.
Joel was a prophet who preached to the people of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. It is unclear when his ministry took place. The book of Joel contains prophecies that were likely made after the land of Judah was afflicted with a severe drought and a plague of locusts. These prophecies tell of many signs preceding the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
After describing the devastating judgments and calamities that would come upon the land, Joel asked a significant question: âFor the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?â The phrase âthe day of the Lordâ refers to a time when the Lord brings judgment to the wicked and deliverance to the righteous. Joel then urged the people to turn to the Lord with all their hearts and to ârend [their] heart, and not [their] garments.â In ancient times, tearing oneâs clothes was a traditional outward sign of grief or mourning. By urging the people to rend their hearts, Joel was inviting them to repent and come to the Lord with a broken heart and contrite spirit.
In contrast to the calamity and destruction that Joel describes earlier, the second half of Joel 2 emphasizes the future blessings the Lord would give His people. This includes the promise that He will âpour out [His] spirit upon all flesh.â
Joelâs prophecy, like many in the Old Testament, has multiple fulfillments. Peter declared that one fulfillment took place in his time on the day of Pentecost. Centuries later, on the evening of September 21, 1823, the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith and quoted Joel 2:28â32, explaining that this prophecy âwas not yet fulfilled, but was soon to be.â
Reflecting on this prophecy, President Gordon B. Hinckley taught:
âFrom the day that [Heavenly Father] and His Beloved Son manifested themselves to the boy Joseph, there has been a tremendous cascade of enlightenment poured out upon the world. ⊠The vision of Joel has been fulfilled. âŠ
âThere has been more of scientific discovery during these years than during all of the previous history of mankind. Transportation, communication, medicine, public hygiene, the unlocking of the atom, the miracle of the computer, with all of its ramifications, have blossomed forth, particularly in our own era.â
The Angel Moroni Appears to Joseph Smith, by Tom Lovell
Patrick Kearon, âGodâs Intent Is to Bring You Home,â Liahona, May 2024, 87â89
Russell M. Nelson, âRevelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,â Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 93â96
âCome Unto Jesus,â Hymns, no. 117
âThe Spirit of God,â Hymns, no. 2
Savior, by Kelly Pugh
See Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and others, Jehovah and the World of the Old Testament: An Illustrated Reference for Latter-day Saints (2009), 276.
Dates are from Holzapfel and others, Jehovah and the World of the Old Testament, 278â79, 283, 315, 365, 367.
See Guide to the Scriptures, âHosea,â Gospel Library; Bible Dictionary, âHosea, or Hosheaâ; Kenneth L. Barker and others, eds., NIV Study Bible: Fully Revised Edition (2020), 1489.
See D. Kelly Ogden and Andrew C. Skinner, Verse by Verse: The Old Testament (2013), 2:150, note on Hosea 1:1.
See Hosea 1:2â3; 3:1â3.
Henry B. Eyring, âCovenants and Sacrificeâ (address to religious educators, Aug. 15, 1995), 2.
See Hosea 2:2, 5.
See Hosea 1:2; 3:1; Aaron Schade, âThe Imagery of Hoseaâs Family and the Restoration of Israel,â in The Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament (2009), 235â36. See also Kent P. Jackson, âThe Marriage of Hosea and Jehovahâs Covenant with Israel,â in Isaiah and the Prophets: Inspired Voices from the Old Testament, ed. Monte S. Nyman and Charles D. Tate Jr. (1984), 59; Joshua M. Matson, âGodâs Steadfast Love, Mercy, and Kindness in the Marriage and Family of Gomer and Hosea,â in Tender Mercies and Lovingkindness: The Goodness of God in the Old Testament (2026), eds. David R. Seely and others, 323â26.
See Adele Berlin and Marc Zvi Brettler, eds., The Jewish Study Bible, 2nd ed. (2014), 1133, note on Hosea 1:4. See also 2Â Kings 9â10.
See Hosea 1:4. See also Ogden and Skinner, Verse by Verse, 150, note on Hosea 1:3â11. Regarding the Lordâs command for Hosea to name his son Jezreel, one scholar wrote: âConveyed in this symbolic name is a forewarning of the Lordâs vengeance on Jehuâs dynasty and the destruction of the kingdom of Israel. Jehu was the king who had come to power in Israel by overthrowing the previous king in the city of Jezreel, beginning his massacre of the descendants of King Ahab. Jehuâs descendants still ruled Israel in Hoseaâs day. The use of the name Jezreel is a prophetic pronouncement that the blood shed by Jehu at that place would now be avenged upon his dynasty, whose kings were wicked like their ancestorâ (Jackson, âMarriage of Hosea,â 61).
Hosea 1:6, footnote a; Schade, âImagery of Hoseaâs Family,â 238.
Hosea 1:9, footnote a. A significant aspect of Godâs covenant relationship with Israel was the idea that they would be His people and He would be their God (see Exodus 6:7; 19:5â6; Leviticus 26:12).
See Hosea 2:1. See also Kerry Muhlestein, âRecognizing the Everlasting Covenant in the Scriptures,â Religious Educator, vol. 21, no. 2 (2020), 60â61.
See Hosea 2:6â20.
Hosea 2:23, emphasis added. See also Schade, âImagery of Hoseaâs Family,â 242â43.
Mosiah 5:7. See also Muhlestein, âRecognizing the Everlasting Covenant,â 53; âMoses 6:64â68. How did Adam become a âson of Godâ?â
âThe Abrahamic Covenant,â in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Russell M. Nelson (2024).
See Hosea 1:10â11; 2:1â23.
See Berlin and Brettler, The Jewish Study Bible, 1135, note on Hosea 2:18.
See Hosea 2:17â20.
See Earl D. Radmacher and others, eds., NKJV Study Bible, 3rd ed. (2018), 1274â75, note on Hosea 2:19, 20.
See Muhlestein, âRecognizing the Everlasting Covenant,â 61â62.
Russell M. Nelson, âThe Everlasting Covenant,â Liahona, Oct. 2022, 6. See also âPsalm 26:1â3. What is the Lordâs loving-kindness?â
This verse connects directly with Hosea 4:1, in which Hosea laments that there is âno truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.â The Hebrew word for âmercyâ in both Hosea 4:1 and 6:6 is hesed, serving as a reminder of the Lordâs desire for covenant loyalty (see Michael D. Coogan and others, eds., The New Oxford Annotated Bible: New Revised Standard Version, 5th ed. [2018], 1282, note on Hosea 6:6).
Hosea 6:7. The Israelitesâ behavior did not fulfill the true purpose of the law of sacrifice: to turn people to Jesus Christ so that they would repent (see Alma 34:14â15; Moses 5:6â8).
See Harold W. Attridge and others, eds., The HarperCollins Study Bible: New Revised Standard Version, Including the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books (2006), 1201, note on Hosea 6:6. See also Jennifer C. Lane, âHostility toward Jesus: Prelude to the Passion,â in Celebrating Easter, ed. Thomas A. Wayment and Keith J. Wilson (2007), 144â45.
See Matthew 9:13; 12:7.
âHe may have lived sometime between the reign of Joash, before 850Â B.C., and the return of the tribe of Judah from captivity in Babylonâ (Guide to the Scriptures, âJoel,â Gospel Library).
See Joel 1:4, 6.
See Earl D. Radmacher and others, eds., NKJV Study Bible, 3rd ed. (2018), 1289, note on Joel 1:15. This phrase is used numerous times in the book of Joel (see Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11, 31; 3:14).
See Joel 2:12â13.
See Kerry Muhlestein, The Essential Old Testament Companion: Key Insights to Your Gospel Study (2013), 487. See also Matson, âGodâs Steadfast Love, Mercy, and Kindness,â 334.
See Acts 2:4â18.
Gordon B. Hinckley, âLiving in the Fulness of Times,â Ensign, Nov. 2001, 4, 5.
Text and music:Angie Killian, 2019
In the book of Hosea, the Lord compared His covenants with His people to a marriage. To learn from this comparison, you and your children could look at a picture of a bride and groom and talk about how Heavenly Father wants a husband and wife to treat each other. Help your children find words in Hosea 2:19â20 that describe how the Lord feels about us. How can we show the Lord that we love Him and will be faithful to Him?
Hosea 10:12 refers to sowing, reaping, time, and rain to invite us to seek the Lord. As you read this verse, what creative ideas come to mind that could inspire the children to seek Him? For example, maybe your children could draw a clock and write down ways they can seek the Lord at different times throughout the day. A song like âAnytime, Anywhereâ (Hymns for Home and Church, Gospel Library) could help you teach that it is always a good time to seek the Lord.
Or your children could do simple actions that go with the verse, such as pretending to plant seeds, pick vegetables, or stand in the rain. Help your children compare planting a seed and reaping good food to living righteously and receiving the Lordâs blessings. Then you could tell each other about the blessings the Lord has rained upon you as you have tried to seek Him.
To emphasize the truth in Hosea 13:4 that there is no Savior except Jesus Christ, you could show your children pictures of several people, including Jesus. Your children could take turns pointing to the person who has the power to save us from sin and death. Share your testimony of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
Your children could look for words in Hosea 13:4, 14 that describe Jesus Christ. What do these words teach us about Him? Consider helping your children use the Guide to the Scriptures to find other scriptures that teach that Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. Share with each other how you feel about Jesus Christ.
Maybe you could help your children understand Joel 2:28â29 by letting them pour a liquid and then contrasting it with a drip or a trickle. What could it mean for the Spirit to be âpoured outâ upon us?
As you read Joel 2:28â29 together, you might invite your children to insert each otherâs names in place of the phrases âyour sonsâ and âyour daughters.â Then help them search scriptures like John 14:16; Moroni 10:5; Doctrine and Covenants 42:17 to find out how the Spirit can help them.
For more, see this monthâs issue of the Friend magazine.