Were I teaching both of these lessons, I would focus on 2, 110, JSH and likely combine it with a little 128:15-28 one week and then focus on 138 the other week. But I am out of town and only teaching one of the two so who knows what I will do. :)
A couple textual notes about section 2. The promises of the fathers--the patriarchal fathers. We're talking about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob here--the Abrahamic covenant. We have a few differences between section 2, JSH, and Malachi.
Though the sealing keys are restored with section 110 in 1836, the ordinances that we think of in connection to the sealing power begin to be introduced to the Saints in the 1840s. But it is not until the 1870s that the practice of proxy endowments and sealing for your own ancestors begins amongst the saints. Read Richard Bennet's article on the 1877 commencement here. And for a good look into the LDS nineteenth century concept of adoption read Jonathan Stapley and Samuel Brown's articles here (the intro begins on page 1).
Now we'll move on to section 138. This is Joseph F. Smith's contribution to the canon. Note the process he talks about to receive the vision (v1-11). He is pondering the scriptures and the atonement, particularly 1 Peter 3-4. We'll talk more about what is going on in his life and in the world at the time, but this process of pondering is really important. Look at Section 76--Joseph and Sidney record a similar process leading to the vision of the three degrees of glory. They asked, they received an initial answer, but the pondering continued and the veil was pulled back, and they were able to see into eternity.
Context is also really important here. Read George Tate's examination of Joseph F.'s biographical context, World War I, and the 1918 influenza pandemic here. Death is not only pervasive in Joseph F's own life, but this is likewise the context for those Saints who first hear of the vision in General Conference and people across the globe. The Great War was bad enough and then came the flu. More people died from the 1918 influenza pandemic than in WW1--read this tidbit. (Think Downton Abbey Spanish influenza--poor Lavinia.) October 1918 is the height of the pandemic in the United States.
This is my favorite headstone in the Salt Lake Cemetery. Mary Fielding Smith died in relative obscurity in 1852. Joseph F had lost his father at 5, at 14 he lost his mother. This would not be the end of his loss (a second plea to read George Tate's account above). Yet, out of his personal loss comes a flood of light and comfort. Because he sought answers of the Lord in the midst of his anguish the rest of us are blessed.
As for the finding joy in temple and family history bit, I'll defer to Joseph's words recorded in section 128. As he writes of the "welding link" between fathers and mothers and children he asks, "Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; glad tidings for the dead; a voice of gladness for the living and the dead; tiding of great joy." That welding link can be a key part of the Lord trading "the oil of joy for mourning." (Isaiah 61:3)
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