In a satellite telecast that introduced the 1989 gospel doctrine course of study, Church members were given three specific challenges for the coming year.

President Howard W. Hunter of the Council of the Twelve issued the challenges during the Nov. 13 program."As one of the Lord's servants," President Hunter said, "I challenge you to do the following:

"One - read, ponder and pray over the scriptures daily as individual members of the Church.

"Two - hold family scripture reading on a regular basis. . . .

"Three - seek the Spirit to know better how to learn and teach by the Spirit."

President Hunter urged members to resolve to be more prayerful, to seek to live more fully by the Spirit, and to draw closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through constant study of the scriptures.

President Hunter also spoke specifically about the Doctrine and Covenants, which, along with Church history, is the course of study for gospel doctrine classes next year.

"The commandments, covenants, doctrines, and principles taught in the Doctrine and Covenants are from God," he testified. "They are intended for our salvation. They point us toward eternal life."

The first portion of the satellite telecast included a video of Elder Gene R. Cook of the First Quorum of the Seventy leading a group discussion on scripture study.

There are several reasons why people don't read the scriptures regularly, Elder Cook told a small group during the pre-recorded presentation. However, it is essential to overcome those barriers and find the small jewels of wisdom the Lord has buried throughout the scriptures.

"Those things that are most sacred, in my understanding, are buried the deepest and it's done to keep them from the eyes and the ears of the ungodly and those who would treat them lightly," Elder Cook explained. "And thus for saints, we must seek and search them out.

"You don't find many places where they talk about reading the scriptures," he continued. "It's usually seeking, searching and pondering."

One of the keys to understanding the scriptures is humility, Elder Cook counseled. Lack of belief, hardened hearts and unopened ears can prevent a person from truly understanding and appreciating the scriptures.

Elder Cook also advised members to liken the scriptures to themselves. "It is absolutely essential to apply the scriptures to yourself," he said. "When we're searching to apply them to our own hearts is when they really come alive."

Scripture study is the key to finding the Lord, Elder Cook testified. "If you really want to come unto the Lord, if you really want to draw close to Him and find out how He is, how He works, how He thinks, what He counts to be important and what He doesn't, you'll find it in the scriptures."

"Our goal in the telecast," explained Elder Hugh W. Pinnock of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy and executive director of the Curriculum Department, "was to communicate, in both instructional and inspirational ways, the importance of studying the scriptures.

"We believe this presentation accomplished what we hoped it would.

"Several people," continued Elder Pinnock, "have already commented on helpful the instruction was."

He said the presentation "was a new broadcast format." It included, first, instructions on how the scriptures could be more effectively utilized in the lives of members, and, second, the showing of a short movie, titled, "The Heavens Are Open." The film focused on the history and importance of the Doctrine and Covenants, including brief scenes from the life of Joseph Smith and other important figures in Church history.

"Almost every word in the film presentation was taken from the scriptures or Church history," said Elder Pinnock. "This is the first time we have utilized the scriptures this extensively in a presentation of this type."

Elder Pinnock said the video is to be used by leaders and teachers in priesthood quorum meetings and auxiliary meetings in teaching the importance of the scriptures. He said the portion containing Elder Cook's instructions is designed to be stopped at any time so the points may be discussed with class members or fellow teachers. The principles apply to any Church or family setting, he declared. "This is a pure instructional model."

"I believe," said Elder Pinnock, "the purposes of the video to help our members become more involved in the study of the scriptures and also to help them gain a more clear understanding of the significance of modern-day revelation were both achieved.

"The Doctrine and Coventants instructs us on Church organizational matters and also principles that help us live more satisfactorily in the confusions of the modern world. It is," Elder Pinnock emphasized, "as the title communicates - `the heavens are open.'

"Could there be a more important message to mankind?" he asked.

"The purpose of the film is to help the membership of the Church appreciate what a unique and important book the Doctrine and Covenants is," explained the film's director, Russell D. Holt. "We wanted to help Church members understand how we obtained the book and the circumstances under which some of the key revelations were received. We ought to know that when we hold the Doctrine and Covenants in our hands we're holding something that came out of a crucible of devotion and faith."

The film begins with a statement about the Doctrine and Covenants. "Of the world's multitude of books, one stands uniquely alone as a volume of revelations from God to man received in our time. The Doctrine and Covenants of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contains revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith with additions by his successors and the presidency of the Church. It is the only book on earth with a preface composed by the God of heaven. It contains the spoken words of angels and the written voice of the Lord in our day. In those revelations one sees the restoration and unfolding of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the ushering in of the dispensation of the fullness of times."

Approximately 50 cast and crew members worked on the movie. Production began in August.

Stakes had the option of scheduling a formal fireside at the time the satellite was actually telecast or recording it for a fireside at a future time. All stakes were encouraged to record the presentation for stake and ward libraries.