Come, Follow Me
Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 19:
May 3–9
“Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”
Doctrine and Covenants 46–48
As you read Doctrine and Covenants 46–48, write down impressions you receive. Then you might ask, as Elder Richard G. Scott suggested, “Is there more I should know?” (“To Acquire Spiritual Guidance,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 8).
D&C 46: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to the Church, at Kirtland, Ohio, March 8, 1831. In this early time of the Church, a unified pattern for the conducting of Church services had not yet developed. However, a custom of admitting only members and earnest investigators to the sacrament meetings and other assemblies of the Church had become somewhat general. This revelation expresses the will of the Lord relative to governing and conducting meetings and His direction on seeking and discerning the gifts of the Spirit.
D&C 47: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, March 8, 1831. John Whitmer, who had already served as a clerk to the Prophet, initially hesitated when he was asked to serve as the Church historian and recorder, replacing Oliver Cowdery. He wrote, “I would rather not do it but observed that the will of the Lord be done, and if he desires it, I desire that he would manifest it through Joseph the Seer.” After Joseph Smith received this revelation, John Whitmer accepted and served in his appointed office.
D&C 48: Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Kirtland, Ohio, March 10, 1831. The Prophet had inquired of the Lord as to the mode of procedure in procuring lands for the settlement of the Saints. This was an important matter in view of the migration of members of the Church from the eastern United States, in obedience to the Lord’s command that they should assemble in Ohio (see sections 37:1–3; 45:64).
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)
- “Have I Done Any Good?” Hymns, no. 223.
- Joseph Smith’s Bible Translation, Revelations in Context
- Gifts of the Spirit Come to the Obedient, Doctrine and Covenants Teaching Videos, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
- Section 46, “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 98–102
- Religious Enthusiasm among Early Ohio Converts, Revelations in Context
- Chapter 18: Doctrine and Covenants 46–49, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2017)
- Section 47, The Importance of Church Records, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 102–3
- The Book of John Whitmer, Revelations in Context
- Section 48, Ohio: A Temporary Abode, Doctrine and Covenants Institute Student Manual (2002), pp 103–4
Resources Mentioned in the Lesson Manual
- “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance”, Elder Richard G. Scott, Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 8
- 1 Corinthians 12:1–11
- 3 Nephi 18:22–23
- Moroni 6:5–9
- “Welcome”
- “Religious Enthusiasm among Early Ohio Converts” , Revelations in Context, 105–11
- “Gifts of the Spirit”, Elder Robert D. Hales, Ensign, Feb. 2002, 16
- “Spiritual Gifts”, Gospel Topics
- 2 Nephi 29:11–12
- Moses 6:5
- Abraham 1:28, 31
- “There Shall Be a Record Kept among You” , Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Seventy, Ensign, Dec. 2007, 28, 33
- “Have I Done Any Good?”, Hymns, no. 223
Resources on Interpreter Foundation
- Come, Follow Me Study and Teaching Helps — Lesson 19: D&C 46–48, Jonn Claybaugh
- Audio Roundtable: Come, Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants Lesson 19 (D&C 46–48)
Additional Posts & Roundtables on the Interpreter Foundation Website
- Scripture Roundtable: D&C Gospel Doctrine Lesson 15, "Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts", Administration, March 20, 2017
Resources on Other Sites
- Doctrine and Covenants 46-48 (Come, Follow Me), FAIR
- Section 46, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Section 47, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Section 48, Harper, Steven C. – D&C Contexts (Book of Mormon Central Archive)
- Why Did John Whitmer Continue to Testify of the Book of Mormon?, Book of Mormon Central KnoWhy #602
- Come Follow Me with Casey Paul Griffiths (Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, May 3-9), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me Insights (Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, May 3-9), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me: Act in Doctrine (Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, May 3-9), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me with Taylor Halverson (Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, May 3-9), Book of Mormon Central
- Come Follow Me with John Hilton III (Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, May 3-9), Book of Mormon Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 46 – Section Resource, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 47 – Section Resource, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine & Covenants 48 – Section Resource, Doctrine & Covenants Central
- Doctrine and Covenants 46-48 (May 3-9) Come Follow Me Don’t Miss This, Don’t Miss This
- Come Follow Me – Doctrine and Covenants 46-48: “The Best Gifts”, Unshaken
- Come, Follow Me Podcast #19: “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”, Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, Meridian Magazine
- Come, Follow Me for Sunday School: “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”, Doctrine and Covenants 46-48, Meridian Magazine
- May 3-9, 2021 Come, Follow Me Songs, Music for Latter-day Life
- Doctrine and Covenants 46 to 48 –“Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”, BYU Studies