Choices: Lesson Ideas

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Table of Contents

Free Agency

God gave me the freedom to choose.

Opposition

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “2 Nephi 1-2” To help your children understand what Lehi taught about opposites and making choices, you could play a game in which you say a word (such as light) and your children say its opposite (dark). Help them learn why opposites are part of God’s plan as you read together 2 Nephi 2:11, 16. Then you could share stories about a child who is tempted to make a wrong choice. Your children could share what the opposite of the wrong choice is and act it out.

Friend February 2024 Come, Follow Me Activities Lehi taught that having both good and bad times is part of God’s plan for us on earth (see 2 Nephi 2:11). Write down words with opposites (like “tall” and “short”) on pieces of paper and put them in a bowl. Take turns reading the papers. See who can guess the opposite of each word the fastest! For younger children: Having opposites in life is good. Turn a light on and off. Explain how the light helps us see and the dark helps us sleep. We need both to be happy.

Friend May 2019 “Last Friend Standing”  Some new friends of a girl want to hide their bowling shoes and not pay for the game. The girl prays for courage and then tells them that she won’t steal.  Even though she loses them as friends, she feels the Holy Ghost telling her that she did the right thing.

Primary 6: Old Testament “Lesson 4: The Fall of Adam and Eve” Ask the children to think of opposites—such as happy and sad, hot and cold, hard and soft, smooth and rough, heavy and light, high and low, or fast and slow—to illustrate the importance of opposition (see 2 Nephi 2:11, 15). Let the children describe their experiences with opposites. To help them get started, you might use the following examples: After someone has been sick, they can better appreciate feeling well. Or without darkness, you cannot recognize light, which is why you cannot see the stars during the day. To illustrate this second example, you might bring a flashlight and show how its light is barely noticeable in a well-lit room, but the light is much brighter when you darken the room.

Liahona February 2024 “Why Is Opposition Necessary in God’s Plan?” Opposition means that we will face challenges, but it also means that we can find some good in our trials. What good can you find in failure, loss, financial stress, or other challenges?

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “2 Nephi 1-2” To learn about the difference between “liberty” and “captivity” (2 Nephi 2:27), your children could draw pictures of an animal in a cage and an animal in its natural environment. Which animal is free? Invite the children to point at the correct picture when you read the word “free” in 2 Nephi 2:27. Testify that Jesus Christ makes us free.

Clipart Library

Sing together a song like “Choose the Right” (Hymns, no. 239). What do we learn from the song about making choices?

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020

  • Hold up a picture of Adam and Eve (see Gospel Art Book, no. 4), and invite the children to share what they know about what happened to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Help the children find answers in 2 Nephi 2:22–27. Explain that because of Adam and Eve’s choice, we are blessed to come to earth and use our agency to make good choices and repent through Christ’s Atonement when we make wrong choices.
  • Write the words of 2 Nephi 2:27 on the board. Help the children memorize the verse by repeating it and taking turns erasing words every time they repeat it. Help the children imagine what a life without choices would be like. Why are they grateful for agency?

“Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.”

Friend February 2011 “Article of Faith Two” Crossword puzzle and lesson ideas about Adam and Eve and free agency.

2 Nephi 2:25: “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

Friend February 2018 “Adam and Eve”

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “2 Nephi 1-5”

God’s premortal children could not become like him … unless they obtained … experience in an arena where both good and evil were present.… We wanted the chance to … confront good and evil and be strong enough to choose the good. (Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Covenant: The Messianic Message of the Book of Mormon [1997], 200, 204)

Heavenly Father has Given Me Power to Choose.

Moses 4:1–4

  • • In the preexistence Satan had a plan to destroy the freedoms and agency of the people who came to earth. What did Satan hope to gain from implementing his plan? (Glory and power)
  • • What would life be like without agency? To help the children imagine what it might be like to live under Lucifer’s plan, tell them that for the next few minutes they must do exactly what you say and nothing else (make sure they know they cannot talk). Have them stand and remain standing perfectly still for a few seconds. Then tell each child where to sit. (Do not sit friends near each other.) Tell the children they must sit erect, feet flat to the floor, looking straight ahead, not moving or speaking. Have them hold the position until you tell them otherwise. After about thirty seconds, let them stand again and sit where they want. (Walk in His Ways pg 62)

In Moses 4:3, we learn that Satan “sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him.” How will you help the children appreciate the ability to choose between right and wrong?

  • Talk to the children about some choices you made today, and help them think about choices they made. Read to them from Moses 4:3: “The agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him.” Explain that this verse teaches us that God has given us the ability to make choices. Express your gratitude that you are able to choose the right, and testify that the children can also choose to do what is right.

Coloring Page: “Jesus created the earth as a place where I can learn to choose the right.” (Jan. 2012 Friend)

Friend January 2022 “Come, Follow Me Activities: Good Choices Toss”

Story: In the Garden of Eden, Eve chose to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge. She offered the fruit to Adam. He also chose to eat the fruit. (See Moses 4:12.) After they ate the fruit, they learned the difference between right and wrong.

Song: “Choose the Right Way” (Children’s Songbook, 160–61)

Activity: Sit in a circle and toss a ball around. When you catch the ball, tell about a good choice you made this week.

Why is agency so important to God’s plan that Satan would want to destroy it?

Friend January 2012 “Agency Is the Gift to Choose for Ourselves”

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 58–59”

Help the children know that Heavenly Father wants us to make good choices that bring happiness to our lives and to others.

  • Read phrases from Doctrine and Covenants 58:27–28 to help children understand that they can choose to do good. Put a happy face on one side of the room and a sad face on the other side. How do we feel when we choose to do good? Describe several situations along with a good or bad choice for each one. After describing each situation and choice, ask the children to stand by the happy face if the choice is good and by the sad face if it is bad.
  • Show the children a container of many different colors of crayons. Show them a second container with only one crayon. Ask the children which of these containers they would want to use. Why? Explain that being able to choose is a blessing from Heavenly Father. Testify that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us and want us to make good choices.
  • Tell the children about a time when you made a good choice, and describe how you felt afterward. Invite the children to draw a picture of your story or a story of their own. Then let them share their pictures with the class and tell what they learned from the story.

Agency is the Power to Choose.

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 58–59”

God has given us the power to choose, and with that power we can “bring to pass much righteousness” (verse 27). How can you help the children you teach see that even though there is wickedness in the world, “the power is in them” to “do good”? (verse 28).

  • Show the children a piece of paper that has the word choice written on one side and the word consequence written on the other side. Explain that choices have consequences, or results that naturally follow actions. Invite a child to pick up the paper to show that when you pick up the paper, you get both the choice and the consequence of that choice. Ask a child to read Doctrine and Covenants 58:27–28. What choices can we make that will “bring to pass much righteousness” or good consequences? (verse 27). When have we made good choices that had consequences that blessed others?

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “2 Nephi 1-5” Make a booklet. We have free agency like Adam and Eve.

2017 Sharing Time Outline Tell the children that you are thinking of a word, and give them clues to help them guess the word. Ask them to raise their hands when they know the answer. Clues could include the following: We had this before we came to earth. It is a gift from our Heavenly Father. It is an important part of Heavenly Father’s plan for us. Satan wanted to take it from us. We use it when we make choices. It is a gift that lets us choose for ourselves. It starts with the letter A. After the children have guessed the answer, say together, “Agency is the gift to choose for ourselves.”

Show the children a long stick that has the word choice written on one end and the word consequences written on the other end. Explain that a consequence is what naturally happens because of a choice we make; for example, if we choose to practice playing a musical instrument, we will get better at it, and if we choose to touch fire, we will be burned. Pick up the stick and show the children that every time you pick up the stick, you get both the choice and the consequence of that choice. Ask an older child to read 2 Nephi 2:27. Invite the other children to listen for what the consequences are for making the right choice (liberty and eternal life) and what the consequences are for making the wrong choice (captivity and misery).
Invite two children to come to the front of the room, and let each child hold one end of the stick. Ask the child holding the “choice” end to give an example of a good choice (for example, speaking kindly to others). Ask the other child to share possible consequences of that choice (for example, making lasting friendships). Repeat with several other children.

2017 Sharing Time Outline Show the children a container of many different colors of crayons. Show them a second container with only one color. Ask the children: “If you were going to color a picture, which of these containers of crayons would you want to use? Why?” Explain that having a variety of choices is a blessing. Testify that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us and They want us to make correct choices.

Choices Have Consequences

Our actions, both good and bad, have consequences. (Jr)

Galatians 6:7–9

Display a seed and a vegetable. Read Galatians 6:7–9 to the children. Ask the children to pretend to plant a seed when they hear the word soweth. Ask them to pretend to pick a vegetable from a plant when they hear the word reap. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Galatians”)

Friend September 2016 “A Lesson from Seeds” A customer complained to the seed company that he wanted pumpkins but Zuchini grew. The seed company explained that he ordered zuchini seeds ,and what you plant is what will grow.

Friend September 2016

Friend October 2015  This boy and his father planted pumpkin seeds and pumpkins grew.

Could use the below images for the children to pretend to get a pumpkin seed and plant it and then pick a pumpkin.

Latter Day Kids “The Law of the Harvest” Lesson idea

Show the children several kinds of vegetables, and help them find the seeds in each. Put the seeds in a container, and let the children take turns choosing one and telling what vegetable will grow if they plant it. Help them see that just as the seeds we plant determine the vegetable we get, the choices we make determine the consequences and blessings we ultimately receive. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Galatians”)

Gospel Grab Bag This activity is great to demonstrate consequences, but it does comes from a pay to use site. It cost 2.00.

Make a line on the floor with tape. Place a happy face and a sad face on opposite ends of the line. Invite a child to stand in the middle of the line, and help the other children think of choices that will lead to happiness or sadness. For each choice, ask the child in the middle to step toward the happy side or the sad side. Repeat the activity several times, and let other children take turns standing on the tape. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Galatians”)

Clipart Library

Our actions, both good and bad, have consequences. (Sr)

Galatians 6:7–9

Help the children understand that consequences of our behavior sometimes come immediately and other times may come “in due season” (verse 9). (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Galatians”)

Read together Galatians 6:7–9. Provide a list of actions (or seeds we “sow”) and consequences (or fruit we “reap”). Ask the children to match the actions to their consequences. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Galatians”)

The Red Crystal Sort the seeds into the packets of Corrupution or Everlasting Life

Invite the children to list some of the blessings they hope to receive from Heavenly Father. Help them think of the “seeds” they must sow in order to “reap” these blessings. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Galatians”)

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 “Galatians” If your family has ever planted something together, you could use that experience to illustrate the principle “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (verse 7). Or you could ask family members about their favorite fruits or vegetables and talk about what it takes to grow a plant that produces that food. (See the picture at the end of this outline.) You could talk about the blessings your family hopes to receive and how to “reap” those blessings.

2 Nephi 9:20, 28–29, 42–43, 49

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “2 Nephi 6-10” To encourage your children to “[delight] in righteousness” or joyfully obey the Lord (2 Nephi 9:49), perhaps you could share examples in which a child makes a good choice or a bad choice. Invite your children to stand up when the choice brings happiness and sit down when the choice brings sadness. When have we felt happy because we made a choice to follow Jesus Christ?

The Cozy Red Cottage CTR board Game-Divide the class into 2 teams.  Each team starts by rolling the dice and moving the correct number of circles.  If they land on one of the CTR spaces they get to roll again. Then pick a card.  Read the scenario on the card (I’ve included the ones from the lesson as well as many others).  Decide if its a good choice or a bad choice and if it would make you happy or sad.  Have them raise the correct puppet.  If its a wrong choice ask what should you do? 

Friend February 2020 “Come Follow Me for Little Ones” Read 2 Nephi 10:23 together and help your little ones say, “I can make good choices.” Flip through the Friend and help your children smile and give a thumbs up—or whatever gesture means “good job” in your culture—whenever you find a picture of someone making a good decision.

See Obedience and Commandments and Choice (Choosing the Right Helps Us Be Happy)

The Lord’s ways are higher than my ways.

Isaiah 55:7–9

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Isaiah 50–57” When we understand that the Lord’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours, it becomes easier to trust in Him.

  • Ask the children who they would go to if they were having a difficult problem, and why. Read with the children Isaiah 55:8–9, and ask them to listen for why we should seek the Lord’s guidance when we need help.
  • Draw on the board the sky and the ground, and label them Heavens and Earth. Then invite the children to read Isaiah 55:9 to find out what the Lord compared to the heavens and the earth, and ask them to add these other labels to the drawings. What does it mean that the Lord’s ways and thoughts are “higher” than ours? Why is it important to know this?

Heavenly Father sees and knows all things. He can help us get to a higher place so we can see as well.

When we are up high we can see more. We can see which way to go to move away from difficult places and get to safe places.

  • Discuss with the children some of the Lord’s ways that are higher than our ways. For example, what is His way of treating sinners? (see Mark 2:15–17). What is His way of leading others? (see Matthew 20:25–28). How are His ways different from the ways of others? Tell the children how you have learned to trust the Lord’s higher ways and thoughts.

Activity: Print the scriptures below (on colored paper.) Cut them out. Tape them onto the board or hand them out to children.

Read a situation below and then have the children tell what the world’s way is and write that on the ground that is drawn on the board. Have the children look at the scripture cards and have them find the Lord’s way for the situation. Discuss why the Lord’s way is higher and better. Have a child tape that scripture card on the board in the sky. Continue until all scripture cards are on the board.

1 Your friends have invited you to a movie. When you get there, you realize that it is not a good, wholesome one. Your friends decide to see it anyway. What choice will you make?

2 Someone wants you to try drugs, smoke, or drink alcoholic beverages, saying that using such things will make you feel good. Will you do it to see if he is right?

3 You break the cookie jar while getting some cookies. Your mother asks you what happened. Will you avoid the blame by telling her that you don’t know who broke it?

4 Some of your friends swear. Will you swear, too, so that you can be more acceptable to the group?

5 Your friends invite you to go to the circus on Sunday after your church meetings are over. What will you tell them?

6 You don’t know an answer on a test at school. You promised your parents that you would try to get a good grade. Will you look at your neighbor’s paper for the right answer?

7 You earn some money to buy a new toy. When you go to pay for it, it costs more than you thought. Will you add your tithing money to what you have saved so that you can buy the toy?

8 Someone tells you some gossip about a friend. Will you pass it on to your other friends?

9 You’re very tired and get into bed before remembering to pray. Will you skip praying for one night?

10 Your brother is being mean and teasing you, and you want to get even with him. What will you do?

11 Your mother asks you to do your chores. Your friends just called you to play a game of ball. Which will you do first?

12 You see a student put some money into his desk at school. Will you take it so that you can buy some candy on the way home?

Our Choices can Affect Our Eternal Future

Old Testament Stories “Jacob and Esau”

Genesis 25:29–34

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 24–27” Because Esau was the oldest child in his family, he was supposed to get special responsibilities and privileges, called a birthright. One day when Esau was hungry, he traded his birthright to his brother, Jacob, for some food. This story can teach the children that we should choose lasting things over temporary satisfaction.

  • Bring to class some objects that could help tell the story of Esau selling his birthright, such as a bowl and a picture of someone getting a priesthood blessing. Invite the children to use the objects as they tell you what they know about the story. “Jacob and Esau” (in Old Testament Stories) can help. Read together Genesis 25:34, and explain that whoever had the birthright would have special privileges and responsibilities to care for the rest of the family.
  • Show the children two pictures: one of something of great spiritual worth (like a temple) and one of something that brings only temporary happiness (such as a game, toy, or treat). Ask them to choose which thing will better help us return to our Heavenly Father. Repeat with other pictures.

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 24–27” As you discuss Esau selling his birthright, you might also talk about what matters most to your family, like your relationships with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Perhaps family members could find objects or pictures that represent what they consider to be of eternal value. Let them explain why they chose those things.

Friend August 2018 “Soccer and Sundays” When we try to live the gospel and put the most important things first, we are blessed! Follow the path of scriptures to help the boy get to church.

  • Sing a song about making good choices, such as “Choose the Right Way” (Children’s Songbook, 160–61) with the children. Testify that we are blessed and happy when we choose the right.

Lesson 13: Jacob and Esau,” Primary 6: Old Testament Display the wordstrips you have prepared (or write Temporary and Eternal on the chalkboard). Discuss as a class what each word means. (Temporary: lasting only a short while, not permanent. Eternal: something that will last forever.) Show the objects, pictures, or wordstrips that represent things of temporary and eternal value. Have the children decide which wordstrip each item belongs under. Briefly discuss each item and why it gives either lasting satisfaction or temporary pleasure.

  • If you had to choose between going on a picnic and being baptized, which would you choose? Which would give temporary pleasure? Which would make eternal happiness possible?

Explain that some choices we make have either immediate or eternal results. The choices we make show what our values are, or what is most important to us.

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 24–27” Esau chose to trade something of great value, his birthright, for something of lesser value, some bread and a bowl of soup. As you read these verses, ponder how you can help the children prioritize things that are eternally important.

  • Read together the story of Jacob and Esau in Genesis 25:21–34. As you read, invite each child to choose something to draw from the story. Then invite them to use their pictures to tell the story in their own words. If they need help understanding what a birthright is, encourage them to read “Birthright” in the Bible Dictionary or Guide to the Scriptures (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Invite the children to imagine that Esau asked for our advice about whether he should trade his birthright for the pottage; what would we say to him?
  • Tell about a time when you had to sacrifice something good for something else of greater value. Or show the video “Continue in Patience” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). How does your story or the story in the video relate to the choice Esau made in Genesis 25:29–34? Help the children think of blessings Heavenly Father wants to give them (such as a stronger testimony, temple blessings, or eternal life with Him). Encourage them to think of things they would be willing to sacrifice in order to receive these valuable blessings.

“Lesson 33: Genesis 25–27,” Old Testament Seminary Student Material Isaac received more than Abraham’s other children because of Isaac’s birthright. A son who held the birthright not only inherited his father’s lands and possessions, but he also took his father’s position as the spiritual leader of the family and received the “authority to preside” (see Bible Dictionary, “Birthright”). The birthright son was then responsible to provide for the family’s needs. The birthright was often passed from a father to his eldest son. However, righteousness was more important than being the firstborn son. The birthright Isaac received from Abraham also included all the blessings and responsibilities of the Abrahamic covenant. (Our choices affect our inheritance from our Heavenly Father.)

The Lord Wants Me to Use My Agency and His Spirit to Make Good Choices.

Doctrine and Covenants 60:561:2262:5–8

Friend May 2017 “Why Do We Need the Gift of the Holy Ghost”

Sometimes the Lord gives us specific direction, and other matters He leaves up to us to decide. Why doesn’t the Lord give commandments about every aspect of our lives? According to verse 8, how are we to make decisions? Why is it good for us to make some decisions without specific direction from God?(Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 60–62”)

Story below about rolypolys that didn’t do anything until they got instructions.

Friend June 2021 “Scripture Time Fun” What good choices have you made today? Together, make a CTR shield to remind you to choose the right. You could draw it on a poster or make the shape out of items in your home.

Walking in Holiness

Doctrine and Covenants 20:69

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 20–22: The Rise of the Church of Christ”

What does it mean to “[walk] in holiness before the Lord”? It might be fun for family members to draw or write on pieces of paper some things that could help them walk in holiness or things that could distract them from doing so. Then they could create a path using the papers and try to walk on the path, stepping only on the drawings that will bring them to Christ.

Always Remember Him

Judges CHAPTER 2

An angel rebukes Israel for not serving the Lord—As a pattern of future events, a new generation arises that forsakes the Lord and serves Baal and Ashtaroth—The Lord is angry with the children of Israel and ceases to preserve them—He raises up judges to guide and lead them—The Canaanites are left in the land to test Israel.

Judges 2:10.

After Joshua died, the next generation of Israelites “knew not the Lord.” Talk with your family about how they know the Lord and “the works which he [has] done” for them. How will you ensure that this knowledge will be preserved for future generations? (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Judges 2–4; 6–8; 13–16”)

How do we come to know the Lord? Through scripture study, prayer, sacrament, living the commandments. etc.

Friend June 2019 “The Sacrament Reminds Us of Jesus Christ” Ways to prepare for the sacrament before hand, what to do during the sacrament, and remembering Jesus and following him after the sacrament.

New Era March 2008 “How Can I Come to Know Christ?”

Friend November 2017 “Family Night Fun” Ways you can look for blessings every day.

Let God Be the Most Powerful Influence in Our Lives

Friend August 2020 “Let God Prevail!” President Russel M. Nelson tells what it means to let God prevail in our lives.

Heavenly Father and Jesus Can Help Us Make Good Choices

Abraham 1:182:8

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 12–17; Abraham 1–2” Abraham wanted to be righteous even though members of his family were wicked. The Lord said to him, “I will lead thee by my hand” (Abraham 1:18). Just as God promised to help Abraham, He can lead the children you teach when they desire to choose the right.

  • Use “Abraham and Sarah” (in Old Testament Stories) to help the children understand that people around Abraham were doing bad things, but Abraham wanted to do what was right and the Lord helped him.

Old Testament Stories ” Abraham and Sarah”

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  • Read to the children Abraham 1:18 and 2:8, and invite the children to listen for a part of the body that is mentioned in both verses. How would it feel to have Jesus Christ lead us by the hand or to have His hand protecting us? Testify that Jesus leads us by guiding us through His Spirit.
  • How do Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ help us when we try to choose the right?

Gospel Media “He Will Lead Thee”

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Friend January 2021 “The Party Problem” Luz felt uneasy about going to a graduation party. It didn’t sound like the kind of party where she’d be able to feel the Holy Ghost. She thought about it, made her choice not to go, and then asked Heavenly Father if that was the right choice. Afterwards she felt a wave of warmth and light and knew she had made the right choice. 

  • Show several pictures of the Savior (see Gospel Art Book,nos. 383940, and 41), and help the children see things that He did with His hands. What can we do with our hands to help others?
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Below song includes a story about a boy that didn’t have any friends and another boy learns in FHE and then befriends the lonely boy.

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Heavenly Father will help me make righteous choices. (Jr)

1 Corinthians 10:13

Read 1 Corinthians 10:13 to the children, inviting them to shake their heads when they hear the words “tempted” or “temptation.” Explain what this verse means to you. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “1 Corinthians 8–13” )

Gospel Home Study Packets “Resisting Temptations” Has some good temptation scenarios and an activity.

Tell some brief stories of people who are about to make a wrong choice. As the children listen, invite them to hold up their hands or a paper stop sign when the person in the story makes a wrong choice. What would be the right choice? Testify that Heavenly Father will help us choose the right. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “1 Corinthians 8–13” )

Friend February 2019 “A Little Better Every Day” 

Show a picture of Jesus, and sing with the children a song about Him, such as “I’m Trying to Be like Jesus” (Children’s Songbook, 78–79). Talk about how remembering Jesus helps you make good choices. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “1 Corinthians 8–13” )

Show pictures of other things that help us make good choices, such as parents or scriptures. Ask the children what helps them make good choices. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “1 Corinthians 8–13” )

“Choosing the Right through Study and Prayer” (June 1997 Friend)

The Red Crystal Includes story scenarios to go with the game.

“I Will Always Choose the Right” (October 2005 Liahona and Friend)
A message about what resources can help us choose the right.

The light of Christ helps me judge between good and evil.

Moroni 7:12–20

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families “Moroni 7–9: “May Christ Lift Thee Up”

How can Mormon’s counsel help us make good choices about how we spend our time and who we spend it with? You could invite family members to search your home and “lay hold upon” (Moroni 7:19), or hold on to, things that invite them “to do good, and to love God, and to serve him” (Moroni 7:13). Praise them for the good things they find.

Primary 4: Book of Mormon “Lesson 42: Moroni and His Writings,” 

  1. Use the following or similar examples of choices that apply to your class. Have the children use Moroni 7:16 to help them choose good from evil.
    • You are playing ball with your friends when a child who does not play well wants to join your team. Your friends tell you if this person plays on your team you will lose the game. You consider telling the child not to play with you. Ask yourself, “Does this choice invite me to do good and to believe in Jesus Christ?”
    • You are watching a movie that has an immoral scene that lasts only a few seconds. You feel embarrassed to leave the movie. Ask yourself, “Does watching this movie invite me to do good and to believe in Jesus Christ?”
    • You are in a store when the clerk makes a mistake and doesn’t charge you the right amount for the item you are buying. You know that the item costs more than what you were charged, but the clerk made the error. Ask yourself, “Does paying the wrong price invite me to do good and to believe in Jesus Christ?”
    • Your bishop has asked you to read the Book of Mormon every day. Sometimes scripture words are hard for you to understand. Ask yourself, “Does reading the scriptures every day help me to do good and persuade me to believe in Christ?”

Little Choices Make a Difference

Friend January 2022 “For Older Kids”

Friend June 2018 “Small Things Make a Big Difference” Little choices, good or bad, can make a big difference.

Friend May 2018 “Conference Notes” President Oaks used the example of a growing root cracking the sidewalk to teach that little choices can make a big difference over time.

Sister Aburto once saw a big group of butterflies. She learned that every year they fly thousands of miles from Mexico to Canada, and then back. They do this one tiny wing flap at a time. Like the butterflies, we are on a journey back to our heavenly home. One small good choice at a time can get us there.

Ensign March 2018 “Family Home Evening: Discerning Right from Wrong” Object Lesson. Satan tries to make good, righteous, and joyful seem miserable and evil appear to be good. Wrap a rock as a gift and put a treat in a brown paper bag.  (See more at link)

Friend September 2020 “Bright Idea” Whether you feel like a hero or not, you are one! You are the hero of your own life’s story. (Battling against evil, helping others, etc)

Friend September 2016 “For Parents of Little Ones” Lesson ideas for little ones about making choices.
Friend February 2020 “Come Follow Me for Little Ones” Read 2 Nephi 10:23 together and help your little ones say, “I can make good choices.” Flip through the Friend and help your children smile and give a thumbs up—or whatever gesture means “good job” in your culture—whenever you find a picture of someone making a good decision.

Jesus is Happy When I Try to Do Good.

Doctrine and Covenants 124:15, 20

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 124” In the revelation recorded in section 124, the Lord expressed His approval for Hyrum Smith and George Miller because they were striving to follow Him. How will you help the children recognize that the Lord is pleased when they try to do good?

  • Help the children think of things they can do that are good. Show pictures to give them ideas (you can find some in the Gospel Art Book or Church magazines). Ask the children to point to these good things. Read Doctrine and Covenants 124:15 to the children, and ask them to listen for how the Lord felt when Hyrum Smith chose to do good. How does Jesus feel when we try to do good things?
  • Give the children paper hearts, and ask them to draw pictures of themselves doing good things. Invite them to share what they drew with the class. How do we feel when we do something good? Testify that Jesus is happy when we try to do the right thing.
  • Sing a song about doing things that Jesus wants us to do, such as “Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam” (Children’s Songbook, 60–61).

See examples of children doing good in Gospel Living: Children’s Experiences

Friend October 2021 “Scripture Time Fun: Good Hearts”

  • Sing “Have I Done Any Good?” (Hymns, no. 223).
  • Jesus is happy when we try to do good (see Doctrine and Covenants 124:15–21).
  • Cut out paper hearts and draw yourself doing a good thing on each one. Each day this week, pick a heart and do what the drawing shows.

Doctrine and Covenants 124:12–21

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 124” In section 124, the Lord commended several Saints for their faithfulness. His words can help the children identify qualities they should develop.

  • Choose some good qualities mentioned in Doctrine and Covenants 124:12–21, and write them on the board around a picture of the Savior. Ask the children to search verses 12–21, looking for these words. Help them understand words that they might not be familiar with. According to these verses, how does the Lord feel about people who develop these qualities?
  • Write the word integrity on the board. Invite the children to learn what the Lord said about integrity in Doctrine and Covenants 124:15, 20. To help the children understand what integrity is, read this statement: “Integrity means thinking and doing what is right at all times, no matter what the consequences” (For the Strength of Youth, 19). You could also share examples of a child demonstrating integrity from your own experience or from the Friend or Liahona magazines. Challenge the children to set a goal to act with more integrity this week.

Friend September 2015 “Choosing Integrity”

Liahona October 2021 “What does it mean to have integrity?”

I Am Blessed when I Choose the Right

Blessings Come From Obedience to God.

Doctrine and Covenants 130:20–21132:5, 21–23

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 129-132”

  • Share a simple comparison with the children that shows how important it is to follow instructions; for example, talk with them about the steps we must follow to prepare food or play a game or build something. What happens when we don’t follow the instructions? (Maybe you have a personal experience you can share.) Read Doctrine and Covenants 130:21, and compare these instructions to the commandments we must follow to receive blessings from Heavenly Father.
  • Ask the children if they can think of a time when they obeyed one of God’s commandments. How did they feel? Sing together a song about obedience, such as “Keep the Commandments” (Children’s Songbook, 146–47), and identify blessings of obedience mentioned in the song. Discuss some of the things God has commanded us to do. How does God bless us when we keep those commandments?
  • Sing a song about obedience, such as “Keep the Commandments” (Children’s Songbook, 146–47), and invite the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 130:20–21and 132:5. Help them find words and ideas in the verses that are similar to those in the song. How do we receive blessings from God? Ask the children to share how they have been blessed for obeying God’s laws.
  • Read together Doctrine and Covenants 132:21–23, and invite the children to draw pictures to represent what they learn from these verses. Encourage them to be creative, and suggest that they include in their drawings the laws or commandments that help us stay on the narrow way to eternal life.

Friend March 1997 “My Choices Have Consequences” Turn the top disk to see a commandment from Heavenly Father. Read the scripture in the other window to find out what blessings are promised to those who keep that commandment. (Link page includes additional lesson ideas.)

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 129-132”

You could sing a song about gratitude, such as “Count Your Blessings” (Hymns, no. 241), and make a list of the blessings your family has received for obeying God’s laws. What blessings do we hope to receive? How can we receive those blessings?

Latter Day Kids “Obeying God’s Commandments Leads to Happiness” Lesson ideas

For additional teaching ideas see Commandments, Obedience and Resources for Teaching Children: Commandments, Obedience

Choose the Right

“Ponder the path of thy feet.”

Proverbs CHAPTER 4 Keep the commandments and live—With all your getting, get understanding—Go not in the way of evil men.

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families Old Testament 2022

Proverbs 4 describes wisdom and righteousness as a “path” or a “way” (see also Proverbs 3:5–6). As you read this chapter, you might find passages that help you ponder “the path of thy feet” (verse 26) and how your steps are drawing you closer to the Lord. For example, what do verses 11–12 and 18–19 teach about the blessings of following the right path? What do verses 26 and 27 mean to you? See also 2 Nephi 31:18–21.

Liahona September 2022 “Seeking Spiritual Guidance: Come, Follow Me Family Fun”

  1. Place a picture of the Savior on one side of a large open area or room.
  2. Stand on the opposite side of the room. Take turns blindfolding each family member, spinning them in a circle, and then seeing if they can walk to the picture of Jesus Christ without any help.
  3. Read Proverbs 4:26–27.

Discussion: What types of help have we been given in this life to keep us on a path that leads to Jesus Christ? For further discussion, read Proverbs 3:5–6. What actions do we need to take to trust the Lord with all our hearts?

Friend November 2022 “I Can Do What’s Right”

Our motives for doing righteous acts

Matthew 6:1–18

New Testament Seminary Student Manual (2023) “Matthew 6:1–18”

Think about the following statement: Gustavo fixed his neighbor’s fence.

Stick Figure
  • What do you think about Gustavo?

Would your opinion change if Gustavo fixed the fence because he broke it in a fit of rage? What if he fixed it as part of a service project that his mom made him attend? What if he fixed it because he didn’t want his neighbor’s dog coming into his yard or because he was trying to impress his neighbor’s daughter? Or what if he simply wanted to be kind?

  • Why are our motives important?

We read in Matthew 6 that the Savior continued His Sermon on the Mount and taught about motives for doing good works. To help you think about the reasons you do good works such as ministering, serving others, praying, and attending [church], do the following activity.

Create a three-column chart in your study journal. Fill out the top of the chart as follows:

What are three good works you have done in the past week? (List one per row.)What were your reasons for doing them?How did you feel after you did these good works?

Read Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18, looking for what the Savior taught about our motives for our righteous acts. The word alms refers to “acts of religious devotion” ( verse 1, footnote b), such as giving to the poor. The word hypocrites refers to those who are “pretenders” ( verse 2, footnote a).

  • How would you summarize what the Savior taught?

It is important to understand that public prayer is not wrong simply because it is not done “in secret” ( Matthew 6:6). Prayer and other religious practices can be performed publicly if they are performed with sincerity, devotion, and a desire to glorify God. This is also true in regard to fasting. The phrases “sad countenance” and “they disfigure their faces” in Matthew 6:16 refer to individuals in Jesus’s time who made outward displays of their fasting to draw attention to themselves.

I can choose to serve Jesus Christ.

Joshua CHAPTER 24

Joshua recites how the Lord has blessed and led Israel—Joshua and all the people covenant to choose the Lord and serve Him only—Joshua and Eleazar die—The bones of Joseph, taken from Egypt, are buried in Shechem.

Joshua 24:15

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24” Among Joshua’s final words to the Israelites was a plea to “choose … this day whom ye will serve.” Ponder how this counsel could also bless the children you teach.

  • Ask the children to talk about some of the choices they have made today. Read to the children from Joshua 24:15: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” How have the children chosen to serve the Lord today? What are some ways we can choose to serve Him every day?
  • Sing a song about making good choices, such as “Choose the Right Way” (Children’s Songbook, 160–61). How do we feel when we choose to serve Jesus Christ? Invite the children to draw pictures of themselves doing something to serve the Lord. Share a story from your life or from a Church magazine about choosing to serve the Lord.

Latter Day Kids “Choose You This Day” Lesson ideas

Joshua 24:15

  • Invite the children to create a poster using some of the key words and phrases in Joshua 24:15. Let them share their posters and explain why they chose those words. How can we show God that we have chosen to serve Him?
  • Invite the children to suggest situations in which they might have to decide to choose God over other things. Ask them to consider what they would do. Why is it important to “choose … this day” rather than waiting for the situation to arise? How will we be blessed when we make the right choice?

After reading this verse, family members could share experiences in which they chose to serve the Lord even though it was difficult. Why is it important to make the choice to serve Him “this day” instead of waiting to decide until a situation arises? How can we support members of our “house” as we strive to “serve the Lord”? (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24”)

For additional teachings ideas see “Priorities

Lesson 23: Joshua Leads Israel,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 101–5
To help the children choose to serve the Lord

Friend June 2019  Different ways to choose the right.

I can choose to follow Jesus Christ. (Younger Children)

1 Kings CHAPTER 18

Elijah is sent to meet Ahab—Obadiah saves a hundred prophets and meets Elijah—Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to call down fire from heaven—They fail—He calls down fire, slays the prophets of Baal, and opens the heavens for rain.

1 Kings 18:17–39

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “1 Kings 17–19” Elijah urged the people of Israel to make a decision to follow Jesus Christ. Help the children see that they can make this same choice.

  • Explain to the children that people in Elijah’s time weren’t sure if they wanted to follow the Lord. Share the story of how Elijah invited them to choose to follow the Lord, found in 1 Kings 18:17–39 (see also “Elijah and the Priests of Baal” in Old Testament Stories). Tell the children why you choose to follow Jesus Christ, and ask them why they choose to follow Him.
  • Read to the children what Elijah said to the people: “If the Lord be God, follow him” (1 Kings 18:21). What does it mean to follow Jesus Christ? Help the children think of specific things they will do to follow Jesus Christ, and invite them to draw pictures of themselves doing those things.

Friend March 2018 “Family Night Fun” Each person makes a pair of sandals and then writes on their shoes one way they want to follow Jesus.

1 Kings 18:17–39

I can choose to follow Jesus Christ. (Older Children)

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “1 Kings 17–19” The Israelites were indecisive about following the Lord. Ponder how you can inspire the children to be committed in their discipleship.

  • Assign each child to read several verses from 1 Kings 18:17–39 and draw a picture of what his or her verses describe. Help the children understand the verses if needed. Then let them use their pictures to tell the story. What does this story teach us about the Lord?
  • Ask the children to talk about times when they had to decide between two different things. What helped them decide? Help them think of situations when they might need to decide whether or not to follow Jesus Christ. What truths from the story in 1 Kings 18:17–39 could help them decide?

For the Strength of Youth July 2022 “The Choice” Ben forgot to write a book report that was due the next day. He has to make a choice whether he will follow God or cheat and copy a book report from the internet.

Friend September 2018 “Elijah was a Prophet” Story and goal card.

Come Follow Me with Living Scriptures “Am I Willing to Serve” Lesson ideas

“Lesson 34: Elijah and the False Prophets of Baal,” Primary 6: Old Testament To encourage the children to worship Heavenly Father diligently.

I Can Follow Jesus by Choosing the Right

Friend February 2023 “I Can Follow Jesus by Choosing the Right”

Friend February 2024 “I Can Follow Jesus by Making Good Choices”

Handouts

Friend August 2015
Friend August 2015

CTR

Friend September 2017 “Show and Tell” I love the CTR shield because it reminds me of a knight’s shield that protects them from a dragon. I know when I choose the right I’m protected from sin.

Libby R., age 8, Utah, USA

Peer Pressure

I should care more about pleasing God than pleasing others.

Doctrine and Covenants 3:5–105:21–22

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 3–5: “My Work Shall Go Forth”

The above story and scriptures help us to “be inspired to remain faithful when others tempt [us] to be disobedient. Read together Doctrine and Covenants 3:5–85:21–22, and look for the blessings that come when we remain true to God.”

Friend January 2021 “Come Follow Me

Primary 5 Manual: Doctrine and Covenants “Lesson 6: Joseph Smith Begins to Translate the Gold Plates” Write the following on the chalkboard: “When the Lord commands, do it.” Explain that Joseph Smith learned from his mistakes and challenges. Even though he faced despair when the 116 pages were lost, he learned the importance of obedience, repentance, and accepting the will of Heavenly Father. He learned to listen to the promptings of the Spirit and grew in his ability to use the Urim and Thummim. Later in life he was able to say, “I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, do it” (History of the Church, 2:170).

Ensign December 2017 “Dealing with Peer Pressure” Helping Kids Say No

Role-play different situations at home to give your child practice.

Let them know it’s OK to blame an escape on you. “Sorry, I have to be home. Gotta go!”

Brainstorm escape plans as a family. For example, come up with a code word your children could use in a phone call or text message to let you know they need help getting out of a situation. Talk through how the scenario might play out.

Reassure your children that, even when they make mistakes, you are always there to love and help them!

Scripture Support

Nephi’s example (1 Nephi 4:2): We often think of Nephi as the good example. But who set an example for Nephi to follow? Talk about role models who have helped you make good choices.

The Lord’s promise (D&C 6:33–37): Sometimes making the right choice is hard, and it can feel like everyone is against us. The Savior tells us that in these situations, we should still “do good” and know that He is with us.

Daniel said no (Daniel 1:8–16): Daniel and his friends refused the food the Lord had commanded them not to eat and chose better food instead. What are some different ways you can say no to outside pressures?

Friend April 2019 “What’s on Your Mind” Fill in the the speaking bubbles with what you could say when someone tries to get you to do something that is not right. Try explaining why it’s important to you. Even if others don’t understand your reasons, ask them to be respectful.

Friend November 2017 “Peer Pressure Problems” Ideas on how to deal with peer pressure to avoid making wrong choices.

I can follow God’s will, even if others try to persuade me not to.

Numbers CHAPTER 22

Balak offers money, cattle, and great honors to Balaam to curse Israel—The Lord forbids Balaam to do so—An angel opposes Balaam on the way.

Numbers CHAPTER 23

The Lord commands Balaam to bless Israel—He does so, saying, Who can count the dust of Jacob? and, What hath God wrought!

Numbers CHAPTER 24

Balaam sees in vision and prophesies of the destiny of Israel—He prophesies of the Messiah: There will come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre will rise out of Israel.

Come Follow Me With Living Scriptures “Look and Live” Lesson ideas

Numbers 22–24

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Numbers 11–14; 20–24” Balak tried to persuade Balaam to curse the Israelites, but Balaam knew that this was against God’s will. Balaam’s example could help the children when they face pressure to disobey God.

  • Summarize Numbers 22:1–18 for the children, emphasizing how Balaam refused to curse God’s people, even though Balak, the king of Moab, offered him honor and riches. Ask the children to search the following verses for phrases that they feel show Balaam’s determination to follow God: Numbers 22:1823:2624:13. Invite the children to pick one phrase they like and write it on a card to help them remember to obey the Lord.
  • Talk with the children about situations when friends or others might try to persuade them to do something wrong, as Balak did to Balaam. How did Balaam’s commitment to the Lord help him resist pressure from Balak? Invite the children to practice responding to these situations using words like Balaam’s.
  • “Treehouse” (August 2003 Friend)
    Jordan refuses when his friends try to get him to use a bad word as the password for their club.
  • “The Strength to Choose” (April 2010 Friend) Chris’s friend tries to get him to smoke a cigarette.
  • “Tag, You’re It” (August 2015 Friend and Liahona) Lauren decides to not follow Tami’s plan to be mean to Ally.
  • “Garbage Can Graffiti” (September 2010 Friend) Joe makes a bad decision after he listens to his friend instead of the Holy Ghost.

“Lesson 32: Rehoboam,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 140–44 To encourage each child to be a positive influence on others and to withstand negative peer pressure

I can choose the right despite opposition.

Lesson 107: Ezra,” Old Testament Seminary Student Material (2018)

When the 50,000 Jews returned to Jerusalem, they encountered a group of people living nearby called Samaritans. The Samaritans were the “people who lived in Samaria after the northern kingdom of Israel was captured by the Assyrians. The Samaritans were partly Israelite and partly Gentile. Their religion was a mixture of Jewish and pagan beliefs and practices” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Samaritans,” scriptures.lds.org).

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Ezra 1; 3–7; Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8” The Lord’s work rarely goes unopposed, and this was certainly true of the efforts led by Zerubbabel and Nehemiah. In both cases, the “adversaries of Judah” (Ezra 4:1) were Samaritans—descendants of Israelites who had mixed with the Gentiles. Reading about their opposition to building the temple (see Ezra 4–6) might lead you to ponder the opposition [you may face as you stand for the right.]

. According to verses 1–2, what did the Samaritans want to do?

  1. Stop the Jews from building the temple
  2. Build a different kind of temple
  3. Help the Jews build the temple

2. What did Zerubbabel and the other Jewish leaders tell the Samaritans?

  1. The Jews would build the temple themselves.
  2. The Jews would be happy to have the Samaritans’ help.
  3. The Samaritans must wait until the next year to help them.

3. How did the Samaritans respond when Zerubbabel and the other Jewish leaders rejected their offer?

  1. They went away and left the Jews alone.
  2. They discouraged the Jews from building the temple and created opposition.
  3. They gave the Jews supplies for the building of the temple.

As a result of the Samaritans’ opposition, the temple’s construction stopped for several years (see Ezra 4:1–24Haggai 1:2–6).

Our spiritual progress may halt if we don’t choose the right or if we listen to the opposition and give in.

Friend February 2020 “Matt & Mandy” When some kids find a wallet, Matt and his friend stand for the right by telling a boy, who wants to keep the money, that they need to return the wallet to its owner.

Friend September 2017 “Matt and Mandy” Matt tells some boys he doesn’t want to hear a bad joke even though they call him chicken.

Ezra CHAPTER 5

Haggai and Zechariah prophesy—Zerubbabel renews the building of the temple—The Samaritans challenge the Jews’ right to continue their building work.

Lesson 107: Ezra,” Old Testament Seminary Student Material (2018) We read in Ezra 5:1–2 that some of the Jews began to rebuild the temple again. When local Persian-appointed governors learned that the Jews had resumed building the temple, they questioned the Jews’ authority to do so and looked for ways to stop the construction.

Read Ezra 5:5, looking for why the local governors could not stop the Jews from rebuilding the temple.

What principle can we identify from the Jews’ experience of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem?

One principle we can identify from Ezra 5:5 is that God watches over and helps us as we seek to obey Him.

Friend July 2022 “Stand for What You Believe”David stood for what he believed. He wasn’t alone. God’s power was with him. He beat Goliath. God will help us even when we face Goliath-sized challenges.

Remember that previously (approximately 90 years earlier), the Persian king Cyrus had allowed many Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and establish a community there. The city, which at that time was without walls, was unsafe to live in. The people were in “great affliction” (verse 3), and the temple was in danger of being destroyed again.

Nehemiah 2:17–206:1–9

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Ezra 1; 3–7; Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8” When Nehemiah was repairing the walls surrounding Jerusalem, his enemies tried to get him to stop, but he remained faithful to his task. What are some important things the Lord wants the children to do, and how can you inspire them to be faithful to that work?

  • Share with the children the story of Nehemiah (see Nehemiah 2:17–206:1–9; Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2009, 59–62). Tell the children what Nehemiah said when people made fun of him for wanting to fix Jerusalem’s walls: “The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build” (Nehemiah 2:20). Invite the children to stand up and pretend to help fix the walls of Jerusalem.
  • Bring some blocks to class, and let the children use them to help you build a wall (or draw a wall on the board). Help the children think of some important things Heavenly Father might ask them to do, like learning how to read the scriptures. With each idea they share, invite them to add a block to the wall. Explain that when Nehemiah was doing his important work of fixing Jerusalem’s walls, people tried to stop him. Read Nehemiah 6:9, and invite the children to raise their hands when you read “strengthen my hands.” Tell the children about a time when you felt God strengthen your hands to do His work.

The Lord will strengthen me

Nehemiah 246

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Ezra 1; 3–7; Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8” The Lord has an important work for the children you teach. What can they learn from Nehemiah about persevering in that work even when they face opposition?

  • Review with the children the story about Nehemiah repairing the walls surrounding Jerusalem, including the opposition he faced. Read together Nehemiah 2:19, and ask the children to share situations in which someone might laugh at us for doing the right thing. According to Nehemiah 2:20, how did Nehemiah respond? How can we respond when people make fun of us or criticize us for doing the right thing?

Friend November 2018 “Finders Keepers?” Mike finds some money on the school grounds and takes it to the office even though his friends think they should keep it and spend it.

  • Read together Nehemiah 6:1–9. How did Nehemiah’s enemies repeatedly try to get him to stop working on the wall, and how did he respond? What work does God want us to do? (see, for example, Mosiah 18:8–10). How can we follow Nehemiah’s example in verse 9 when it’s difficult to do what God has asked us to do?

Describe how you can apply the phrase “I am doing a great work and cannot come down” (see Nehemiah 6:3) when you face opposition in doing God’s will. 

I can do what is right even when it’s hard.

Daniel 136

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Daniel 1–6” The book of Daniel contains stories of people who chose to follow God’s commandments even when doing so was hard. How will you help the children learn from these examples?

  • Find pictures of the stories in Daniel 13, and 6 (see this week’s activity page, this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families, or Gospel Art Book, nos. 232526). Place the pictures facedown on the board or on the floor. Invite a child to turn over one of the pictures, and help him or her tell the story it represents. (For help, see “Daniel and His Friends,” “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego,” and “Daniel and the Lions’ Den” in Old Testament Stories.) After each story, discuss questions like these: What did the people do to follow the Lord? How did the Lord bless them? Share how you have been blessed for choosing to follow Jesus Christ. Ask the children to share their experiences.
  • Invite the children to act out situations where they can show their faith in God by keeping His commandments. These could include being kind to a sibling, telling someone about the Savior, or praying each night.

Friend November 2022 “Come, Follow Me Activities: Daniel and the Lion’s Den”

Story: The prophet Daniel prayed each day. Some jealous men tricked the king into making a bad law. Anyone who prayed to God would be thrown into a den of lions! Daniel prayed anyway. He was thrown into the lions’ den, but God sent an angel to protect him. (See Daniel 6.)

Song: “I Want to Live the Gospel” (Children’s Songbook, 148)

Activity: Cut out the finger puppets on page 17 and use them to tell the story of Daniel and the lions’ den. Why is it good to pray?

Friend October 2018 “The T-E-S-T”  One day, when Sharon’s father was reading to her the Bible story about Daniel in the lion’s den, he traced the word “test” on her forehead. He told her she would have tests like Daniel, but she should follow Heavenly Father’s commandments and not give into fear. (Also includes a lion activity of ways Heavenly Father helps us with challenges. )

Coloring page: “Daniel Chooses the Right” (September 2010 Friend)

The stories in Daniel 13, and 6 can give the children you teach courage and faith to make good choices, even when they feel alone.

  • Draw on the board several arrows all pointing in the same direction and then one arrow pointing in the opposite direction. How are Daniel and his friends like this one arrow? Invite the children to give examples from the stories in Daniel 13, and 6 (see “Daniel and His Friends,” “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego,” and “Daniel and the Lions’ Den” in Old Testament Stories). Ask the children why they think it might have been hard for Daniel and his friends to make good choices. How did the Lord bless them for choosing the right?
  • Help the children think of situations when they might be pressured to make a wrong choice. Invite them to share experiences when they were blessed for choosing the right even when it was hard. Sing together a song related to this topic, such as “Choose the Right” (Hymns, no. 239).
  • “The Rule Review” (May 2014 Friend)
    Joseph keeps the family rules instead of giving in to peer pressure.
  • “Luke the Leader” (July 2014 Friend)
    When Luke’s friends want him to say a bad word, he makes up silly words instead.
  • “Matt and Mandy” (March 2011 Friend)
    Matt chooses the right even when his friend pressures him to do something bad.
  • “The Bad Movie” (June 2013 Liahona and Friend)
    When her class chooses a movie, Evelyn decides to watch only things that would be pleasing to Heavenly Father.

Friend November 2018 “Daniel Bravely Followed God” Story and goal card. (I can stand up for what I believe)

Heavenly Father wants me to choose the right.

Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43, 47–48

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Matthew 13; Luke 8; 13” Some of Jesus’s parables teach that at the last day, God will separate the wicked from the righteous. How can you use the parables to inspire the children to choose the right?

Let the children act out the parable of the wheat and the tares (see Matthew 13:24–30). Explain that the wheat represents people who make righteous choices, and the tares (harmful weeds) represent people who do not. One day, Heavenly Father will gather the righteous people to live with Him.

Latter Day Kids “The Parable of the Sower” Lesson ideas

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 29: “Jesus Christ Will Gather His People”

Give the children some examples of right and wrong choices. Ask the children to say “wheat choice” when you describe a right choice and “tare choice” when you describe a wrong choice.

Fighting with siblings/ Sharing with siblings

Doing chores when asked/ Complaining about chores

Getting angry after losing a game/ Choosing to congratulate the winner

Choosing to tell the truth about breaking something/ Choosing to lie so you don’t get into trouble.

Choosing to make fun of someone/ Choosing to be kind

Friend Jan 2015

Friend February 2020

Bring pictures of stalks of wheat, and let the children draw on the pictures some ways they can be righteous.

I can choose the right even when those around me do not.

Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Matthew 13; Luke 8; 13”

Invite the children to draw different scenes from the parable of the wheat and the tares, found in Matthew 13:24–30, and share their drawings with the class. Ask them to label their drawings using the interpretation of the parable found in Matthew 13:36–43. You may need to explain that tares are harmful weeds.

Lesson 17: The Parables of the Sower and the Wheat and Tares,” Primary 7: New Testament 

SowerJesus Christ and his Apostles
Good seed (wheat)Followers of Jesus
FieldWorld
EnemySatan
Tares (weeds)Followers of Satan
ReapersAngels
HarvestJesus’ second coming

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 “Matthew 13; Luke 8; 13” The righteous must grow among the wicked until the end of the world. One way to analyze this parable is to draw a picture of it and label it with the interpretations in Matthew 13:36–43 and Doctrine and Covenants 86:1–7. A tare is a “poisonous weed, which, until it comes into ear, is similar in appearance to wheat” (Bible Dictionary, “Tares”). What truths in this parable inspire you to remain faithful in spite of the wickedness in the world?

If possible, display a picture of wheat and tares. Explain that the wheat and tares will grow together until the harvest (the end of the world). This teaches us that we live with both good and evil around us, and we must be careful to choose the right.

 Ask the children to share how they can tell the difference between good and evil.

12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually.

13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.

17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.

Moroni 7 

When a choice needs to be made, ask yourself, “Does it persaudeth men to do evil (from the devil) or does it inviteth to do good (from God).”

Read the situations below and ask the children to tell you what kind of reactions and thoughts would be from God, and what kind of reactions and thoughts would be from Satan.

  •  Your friends have invited you to a movie. When you get there, you realize that it is not a good, wholesome one. Your friends decide to see it anyway.
  • Someone wants you to try drugs, smoke, or drink alcoholic beverages, saying that using such things will make you feel good.
  • Some of your friends won’t include you if you don’t swear with them.
  • Someone tells you some gossip about a friend and suggests you pass it on.
  • You break the cookie jar while getting some cookies. Your mother asks you what happened.
  • Your friends invite you to go to the circus on Sunday after your church meetings are over.
  • You don’t know an answer on a test at school. You promised your parents that you would try to get a good grade.
  • You’re very tired and get into bed before remembering to pray.
  • Your brother is being mean and teasing you.

I can choose the right even when I feel alone.

Mormon 8:3 & Mormon 8:1–7

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Mormon 7–9: “I Speak unto You as If Ye Were Present”

Read Mormon 8:1–7 with the children, and invite them to share how they would have felt if they had been Moroni. 

Moroni was the last righteous Nephite, but he stayed true to his testimony. Help the children learn from his example.

  • Read Mormon 8:3, emphasizing that Moroni was all alone, but he still kept the commandments, including the commandment to finish the Book of Mormon. Share a time when you were faithful even when you felt alone.
  • After discussing Moroni’s example, share some scenarios in which a child must decide whether or not to choose the right, even though no one is looking. Or invite the children to each write down a situation in which they have to make a choice between right or wrong when no one is watching. Put their ideas in a container, and let the children take turns picking a situation and sharing what they would do to be like Moroni.What would Moroni have done?

Sing with the children a song about choosing the right, such as “Stand for the Right” (Children’s Songbook, 159). Why is it important to choose the right all the time, even when you are alone?

Think Good Thoughts

Friend August 2019 “Friends by Mail” We took pictures from the Friend and made a poster collage that says “Think Good Things” to help us remember to think about good things around our home. We love the Friend! It helps us learn more about how to become like Jesus. Jack, Calvin, Maggie, and Clark B., ages 9, 3, 6, and 8, Arizona, USA

Ether 4:11–12

After reading these verses, family members could write down some everyday things that influence your family (such as movies, songs, games, or people) on slips of paper and place them in a bowl. Then they could take turns picking one and discussing whether it “persuadeth [them] to do good” (Ether 4:12). What changes does your family feel inspired to make?,Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Book of Mormon 2020 “Ether 1–5: “Rend That Veil of Unbelief””

Both my actions and my heart must be pure.

Luke 11:37–42

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Matthew 11–12; Luke 11” The Savior taught that it is not enough to appear righteous to others. Our thoughts, feelings, and private actions must also be pure.

  • To illustrate what these verses teach, show the children a cup or other container that is clean on the outside but dirty on the inside. Help them think about what “the outside of the cup” might represent. What does the “inward part” represent? Why is it important to clean both the outside and the inside?

Object Lesson

What we think about and put into our minds affects what actions come out.

Demonstrate this with an empty toilet paper roll or paper towel roll. Shove some dirt covered paper towels into the cardboard roll as the children tell what things might make our spirits dirty, things such as what we see and hear or thoughts that are filled with hate and anger, dishonesty, greed, pride and vanity (thinking we are better than others in appearance, abilities, intelligence, etc.) selfishness, disobedience, etc.

Ask what would happen if you continued to shove dirty paper towels into the roll. (They would come out the other end.) What happens when we fill our minds with things that are unclean? They come out and manifest themselves through unclean actions.

Show another toilet paper roll and fill it with clean paper towels. Ask the children what will come out the other end. Explain that the clean paper towels represents thinking good thoughts by filling our minds with good things like reading our scriptures, listening to talks and lessons at church, praying, watching and listening to good, uplifting media and music, etc. When we fill our lives with things that are good and uplifting, our thoughts and actions become clean. (You can also push the dirty paper towels out with clean ones to demonstrate that we can clean out unclean thoughts by replacing what we see, hear, and think with good things.)

  • Read together some other scriptures that emphasize righteousness both in our hearts and our actions—for example, Psalm 24:3–5Matthew 15:7–8Moroni 7:6–9. Discuss why the Savior wants our hearts and private actions to be spiritually clean.

The things we do and think affect our happiness in this life and the life to come.

Lesson 38: Peace Among the Nephites

Print and cutout all the signs except for the top page.  Using tacky wax or removable double sided tape, attach all the small words to a piece of cardstock in random order. Tape the faces to the board or wall. Explain that after Jesus visited the Nephites they kept their spirits clean for many years and they lived in happiness. Show the cardstock to children. Have them take off the words they associate with happiness and put them under the smiley face. Explain that the scriptures tell that these are the things they experienced as a result of keeping their spirits clean. After a long period of time, wickedness started to creep in and the Nephites started experiencing terrible things as a result of the wickedness. Tape the rest of the words on the cardstock under the frowning face.

Explain that when we keep our minds and thoughts clean, we make good choices and we are happy. We can also return to live with Heavenly Father and again and enjoy the blessings of eternal life (the kind of life Heavenly Father has).

My Choices Can Affect Others

Friend July 2022 ” For Older Kids” Good choices and bad choices affect others around us. For example: Getting upset at someone ripples from that person to others.


Choices: Activities & Games

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Friend August 2018 “Racing Rules” Help Lelah make happy choices as she goes through the maze.

Friend November 2016 Make an origami CTR shield.

Friend November 2016

Ensign September 2016 Circle ways you can choose the right.

Ensign September 2016

Friend October 2017 Use crayon to color the shield. Color over with black crayon as dark as you can. Use your fingernail or a coin to scrape a CTR pattern or a picture of choosing the right or something that helps you choose the right

Friend September 2017 “CTR Fun” Fill in the blanks in the poem about choosing the right.

Friend September 2017 “CTR Fun” Guess which “CTR” ring goes with which language.

Friend September 2017 “CTR Fun” What else can CTR stand for? Maybe a good reminder, like “current temple recommend” or “choose to (be) reverent.” How many others can you come up with?

Friend September 2017 Choose the right path.

August Friend 2016 Fill in the blanks to help the children in the pictures know what to do.

Friend August 2016

Friend June 2016 Draw a line between the two pictures of the same child. How did that child choose to change?

Friend June 2016

Friend Aug/Sept 1982

Friend Aug/Sept 1982

Primary 4 Manual: Book of Mormon “Lesson 16” Have the children draw lines that will connect each word on the left to a word on the right to make a statement about choosing the right. 


Choices: Stories

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Choosing the Right Helps Us Feel Holy Ghost

Friend April 2017 “Game Changer” Caleb feels like it is hard to have to make different choices than his friends, but the Holy Ghost comforts him and and helps him.

Choices Have Consequences

Friend March 2017 “Toys in the Bathtub” Eli really wants to put a toy in the bath, but his mom says no because it could mess up the toy.

Good, Better, Best

Friend October 2016 “Halloween Choice” Carly has to make a choice between a family trip to the temple and a Halloween party.

Choosing the Right Regardless of Peer Pressure

Friend July 2021 Secrets and Surprises” Maddy’s friend Kate told her to put a crumpled paper doll from the store in her pocket so they could rescue it from being thrown away. At home Kate told Maddy to keep it a secret and Maddy realized they had stolen it. Maddy had an upset feeling. She didn’t think it was right to keep it a secret so she told her mom. Her mom explained that most secrets are not good unless it is something like a happy surprise.

Friend November 2018 “Finders Keepers?” Mike finds some money on the school grounds and takes it to the office even though his friends think they should keep it and spend it.

Regardless of Loss of Friends or Position

Friend May 2019 “Last Friend Standing”  Some new friends of a girl want to hide their bowling shoes and not pay for the game. The girl prays for courage and then tells them that she won’t steal.  Even though she loses them as friends, she feels the Holy Ghost telling her that she did the right thing.

Friend April 2019 “Farm-Club Fiasco” Nathan is the president of the Farm Club but is ostracized and removed as president when he doesn’t want to stay an extra night for fun at a competition because he doesn’t want to miss church.

Making Good Choices

Friend February 2020 “Layla Makes Good Choices”Layla likes making good choices! She helps her dad and mom and she puts on her pajamas when asked. Good choices make Layla and Mommy and Daddy happy! When we make good choices, we are following Jesus. Activity: Heavenly Father is happy when we choose the right! Point to the good choices.

Choosing the Right

Friend September 2020 “The Lost Ring” Tyler found a silver diamond ring during PE and tried to find the owner. He turned it in to the front desk even though his friend thought he should keep it and sell it. He had a warm feeling afterwards.

Friend October 2018 “I was trick-or-treating with friends and found $200. I told my mom about it. Later as we were walking down the street, a lady was looking for $200 that she had lost. She was so happy that we found it, and she gave me $10 for being honest. I shared $5 with my friends. I felt warm and happy because I was honest and chose the right. Leah D., age 6, Kentucky, USA“

Friend July 2018 “Show and Tell” I was playing with a friend who showed me a video. At first it was funny, but then a character said a bad word. When I hear bad words, it feels bad in my body, so I asked him if we could do something else. He said OK. I felt happy inside! Javaan F., age 9, North Carolina, USA

Friend June 2017 “My Light” Poem about the light that shines when we choose the Right. (Could be the light of Christ or light of example.)

Friend September 2016 “Blair Chooses the Right”  Blair has choices to make on Sunday and she chooses the right on each choice.

Friend Sept 2015 “A Courageous Choice” – Girl able to have courage to do what was right after remembering a story in the Friend magazine about a child choosing the right in the same type of situation.

What Would Jesus Do

Friend April 2016
Friend April 2016

Friend September 1986 “The Competition”  Elizabeth wants to win a piano competition. On the way to the competition she sees her competition’s car has slid off the road. She chooses to help.

Choosing the Right Keeps Us Safe and Happy

Friend March 2023 “Run toward the Light” When Elder Peter M. Johnson was a child he ran away from boys who wanted to steal his money. He ran out of a dark alley towards the light and was safe. In his life he tried to run from what was bad and look for what was good. In college he met some members of the church while playing basketball. He joined the church. He knew there was hope, peace, and happiness when running toward the light.

Things that Help us Choose the Right

Friend

Scriptures

Friend June 2017 “Martin’s Choice” Martin feels spiritually stronger after doing family scripture study. He also feels happy when he makes good choices and follows the prophet. These things help him when he has to make a choice, such as what to do when he is given tea at a school campout.

Prayer

Friend January 2021 “The Party Problem” Luz felt uneasy about going to a graduation party. It didn’t sound like the kind of party where she’d be able to feel the Holy Ghost. She thought about it, made her choice not to go, and then asked Heavenly Father if that was the right choice. Afterwards she felt a wave of warmth and light and knew she had made the right choice.

Holy Ghost

Friend November 2015 “Karson & the Golden Ticket” Karson finds an extra ticket for the prize jar but feels bad when he goes to put his name on it.

Choosing the Right Helps Us Be Happy

Friend August 2018 “Racing Rules” Lelah wants to race her trike ke down the sidewalk, but the family rule is to stay in the driveway. She obeys and has a happy feeling.

Friend March 2018 “Ruby Gets Ready” Ruby doesn’t like to put her socks and shoes on all by herself so she cries when asked to do it. She realizes that she needs to make a better choice because she doesn’t feel happy when she gets upset and cries.

Friend March 2018 A man drops some money and Brianna gives it to him. She has a wonderful feeling afterwards.

Friend January 2017  “The Favorite Ball” Seth and Adam are fighting over whose turn it is to play with their favorite ball. Seth doesn’t like the way he is feeling inside and realizes that fighting is not a good choice.

Friend February 2015 “The Blessing Quest” Nathan wants to ride bikes with his friends instead of going to church, but he learns that commandments are meant to help us be happy.

Friend March 2022 “The Snack-Stand Superheroes” Some boys find a box of candy bars under the bleachers. They decide to do the right thing and take it to the snack stand owner to see if it belongs to him. They feel like superheroes.

Choosing the Right Changes Hearts

Friend July 2017 “The Magic Wallet” Mandy’s family is staying in a motel until their house is built, but the manager doesn’t like all the noise the kids make. His heart and views change when Mandy turns in a lost wallet that she finds.

Courage to Choose the Right

Friend April 2021 “The CTR Reminder” Raish was afraid to say anything to her friends who were being mean to a new girl, but then she saw her CTR ring and remembered something her teacher had said. Remember who you are and what you stand for. So Raish stood for the right and asked her friends to stop being mean, and then she went and apologized to the new girl and asked to be her friend.

Friend August 2020 “Choosing the Channel” Camille’s best friend told her about a TV show, but it had some bad words in it so she turned it off. Camille was afraid to tell her friend that she didn’t watch it. They were best friends that did everything together and liked the same things. She was afraid they wouldn’t be friends anymore. But her friend was understanding and said they could find a show they both liked. 

Friend March 1988 “Haunted House Hero” A boy who has courage to choose the right rather than accept a dangerous dare, gets help for his friends who fall though the floor of an old house.

Friend November 1985 “The Guy in the Glass”- Boy chooses to befriend and stands up for another boy even though he might get teased and tormented too.

Peer Pressure

Friend March 2022 “The Bike Prank” Sam’s friends want to do a prank where they take all the valve caps off bikes at a bike stand. Sam doesn’t feel good about it but he agrees. He feels really bad about what they did and asks Heavenly Father to forgive him. The next time his friends want to do the same thing, Sam says no and distracts them with a bike race.

Friend March 2018 “Practically Popular” La-Neisha is invited to be friends with the popular girls but is told she can’t have any other friends. She tries to avoid her old friend but feels bad. She chooses to do the right thing regardless of what her new friends think.

Friend September 2017 “Matt and Mandy” Matt tells some boys he doesn’t want to hear a bad joke even though they call him chicken.

Friend May 1983 “Maria Makes a Choice” – Story about girl who chooses not to steal when a friend encourages it.

Friend April 2015 “Courage and Clubs” Kate chooses not to join her friend’s club because the requirement to join is to say a bad word.

Friend February 1987 “The Dogsled Race” Jody borrows a dog and enters a dogsled race to win some ice skates. The dog injures her paw close to the finish line. Jody sacrifices what she wants and does the right thing: she takes care of  the dog, like she promised she would–instead of making the dog finish the race.

Friend September 2015 – “To Cheat or not to Cheat” Boy chooses not to cheat on a test

Friend September 2015

Helping Others Make Good Choices

Friend February 2018 “The Pencil Problem” when Alex gets two pencils from a machine when he only paid for one, Maya says he should tell the librarian. All their other friends thinks he should keep it.

The Lord is Happy when We Choose the Right

Latter Day Kids “Heavenly Father is Happy When I Try to Do Good” Video and lesson ideas


If the Savior Stood Beside Me – verse two

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 P1080210

If the Savior Stood Beside Me – Verse Two

Preparation

  • Items needed: 18 feet of string or fishing line and two cans, two crayons (one yellow and one dark brown or black), and a small bag or bowl.
  • Print the second verse pictures from the following website – OCD Primary Chorister. I copied and pasted the first picture of the girl onto Microsoft Word and then cropped and enlarged it. I printed two copies and cut out the pictures. I printed two copies of this picture of the Savior and glued on one picture of the girl to the right side of each picture. I used these page for the last line of the verse and for the line “if he were never far away.”
  • Print and cut out the word bubbles.
  • Print the word chart and word strips. Cut out the word strips. Fold them and put them into a small bag or bowl. The word chart is based on the one found in the February Ensign.
  • Make a homemade phone by hammering a hole into the top of each metal can with a nail. Put one end of the string into the hole at the top of one can. Pull it through a little and tie the end into a knot. Put the other end of the string into the hole at the top of the other can. Pull it through and tie its end into a knot.

 Presentation

Explain that the first line in this verse is the same as in the first verse.  – If the Savior stood beside me. (Put up the picture of the Savior with the children (from verse one visuals) at the top of the board. )

Remind the children that the first verse was about the things we do. Explain that the second verse is about the things we say. Show the first word bubble and explain that word bubbles are used as visual aids to help remind them that the verse is about the things we say.

Put the first word bubble and picture on the board.

Would I say the things I say?   Discuss the picture by pointing out that the big sister’s words are making her little brother feel bad and cry. Ask the children if they think she would change how she is talking about her brother if the Savior was standing next to her.  Remind them that the Savior would like our words to be things that would lift and help people, not hurt or make them sad or tear them down.

Put up the next word bubble and picture on the board. (After discussing this line, continue in this manner–putting up the word bubble and matching picture and then discussing it–for the rest of the lines in the verse.)

Would my words be true and kind   Explain that the word “true” in this sentence means sincere and loyal. In this picture it looks like the girl changed her words to be more kind and loving toward her brother. Point out that he is now smiling and looks happy.

 If He were never far away?  Put up the picture of the girl standing by the Savior.  (Have the children sing all of the song lines up to this point.)

Would I try to share the gospel?   Explain that the girl in the picture is telling her friend about the Book of Mormon. Ask the children if they think talking about the gospel would be words that would help and lift others.

Would I speak more reverently?  Point out that the girl in the picture has her arms folded.  Remind the children that when we speak to our Heavenly Father we fold our arms and bow our heads to show reverence. Explain that we should also speak reverently when we talk about the gospel, or about sacred things, or when we are in the Lord’s house. (Though we don’t necessarily need to fold our arms in the process.)

Put up the last picture and explain that the last line is the same as the first verse. Have the children sing these last three lines of the verse, and then have them sing the entire verse.

Memorizing Activity

Tell the children they are going to do an activity as they memorize the verse. The activity will help remind them that our words affect people. Explain that in a recent Ensign article, President Uchdorf said our words should be a “light to others”.  A word chart activity was included in the article (show the word chart and put it on the board) to help children think about different kinds of words and how they can lighten up and brighten someone’s day or make a day dark and dreary.

Get two volunteers, preferably children who have been putting effort into singing the song. Show the children the homemade can phones. Explain that you will choose one of the words from the bag, which contains the same words that are on the chart. You will show it to one of the volunteers. That volunteer will speak the word into the can. The other child will plug one ear and hold the can to the other ear and listen. That child will tell everyone what word was spoken. If the child is correct he/she gets to draw a bright smiley face or dark unhappy face over the word on the chart, depending on how it would make someone feel. The other child will choose one of the word bubbles to take off the board. Have the children sing the song again. Continue in this manner until all the word bubbles are off the board. The pictures can be taken off next using the same activity.

Note: The string should be taut between the two cans while they are doing the activity.


Lesson 26 – Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty

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Lesson 26
Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty

Preparation
• Items needed: a national flag or pictures of the flag, patriotic music such as “The Star Spangled Banner” (Note: Hymn CD’s and players can be checked out at the meeting house library), a large piece of fabric that can be torn up, a pole or long stick, coloring markers, tape or sticky tack, scisssors, and a roll of wide masking tape. (Optional Items: small dowel rods to attach the children’s flags and glue or tape.)
• Each child will be making a flag from a piece of the fabric, so you need to determine how many flag pieces you need and how big you want them to be. With a pair of scissors, cut into the fabric slightly at the sections you wish to tear to make each child’s flag. Also cut or tear a large piece off of the fabric to make a prepared example of Moroni’s Title of Liberty. Write the following words on it using markers: “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children.” Be prepared to attach the “Title of Liberty” to a pole.
• Print and cut out the scripture story visual aids. Cut each page in half so one picture is on each half. Number the back of the pictures in the order they were printed. Print and cut out the activity visual aids. Be sure to cut out each stone.

Attention Activity
Have patriotic music playing and a flag displayed (or pictures of a flag) as the children enter into the classroom. Ask the children how they felt as they heard the music and saw the flag. Ask if they felt a sense of patriotic loyalty and devotion. Ask the children how they would feel if they heard that someone wanted to take over their country, take away their freedoms, take away their right to go to church, and even possibly harm their family members in the process.

Explain that in today’s lesson they are going to learn of a people who had to face this very problem, and they will learn what a leader of these people did to protect his people. They are also going to learn how the actions of this leader demonstrated how we can protect ourselves from the attacks of a spiritual enemy who desires to destroy our freedom and lives.

Scripture Story
Tell the following story using the scripture story visual aids.

1.  Among the Nephites there was a man named Amalickiah. He desired to be king. He sought to destroy the church and destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted them. (Alma 46:10)

• Why would Amalickiah want to destroy the church and the liberty of the people? Perhaps as a way to gain total power and influence over the people.

• In the preexistence who had a plan to destroy the freedoms and agency of the people who came to earth? (Satan) What did Satan hope to gain from implementing his plan? (Glory and power)

• What would life be like without agency? To help the children imagine what it might be like to live under Lucifer’s plan, tell them that for the next few minutes they must do exactly what you say and nothing else (make sure they know they cannot talk). Have them stand and remain standing perfectly still for a few seconds. Then tell each child where to sit. (Do not sit friends near each other.) Tell the children they must sit erect, feet flat to the floor, looking straight ahead, not moving or speaking. Have them hold the position until you tell them otherwise. After about thirty seconds, let them stand again and sit where they want. (Walk in His Ways pg 62)

Ask the children how they felt during the exercise and how they would feel if they were forced to do exactly what they were told to do, all day every day.

2. In Amalickiah’s quest for power he was able to get many people to follow him. He flattered them and told them he would make them rulers over the people if they supported him and made him their king.

3. When Moroni, the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, heard of these dissensions he was angry with Amalickiah.

Moroni rent (tore) his coat to make a flag to rally his people to fight against these threats to their freedom. Explain that a coat back in Moroni’s day was probably a cloak. (Using the large piece of fabric, demonstrate how a cloak might have looked and how it might have been used as a coat.)

After demonstrating how it was used as a coat, dramatically take the cloth off and tear it along one of the precut slices in the fabric. Explain that fabric wasn’t easy to make or as easily available back in Moroni’s time, so tearing his coat to make a flag demonstrated the depths of Moroni’s emotion and commitment.

Show the children the piece of fabric you prepared, and explain that Moroni wrote the following words on his rent coat, “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children.” He then fastened it to the end of a pole, and he called it the Title of Liberty. (Attach your prepared piece of fabric to a pole.)

Explain that the word “Title” has many definitions in the dictionary. One of its meanings is, “something that justifies a claim or an established right.” So the words on the Title of Liberty might have represented their claims and rights to fight for liberty.

4.  After making the Title of Liberty, Moroni put on his armor and bowed himself to the earth. He prayed mightily unto God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren.

5. Then Moroni went among the people waving the Title of Liberty in the air that all might see the writing, and crying with a loud voice saying,  “Whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.”

6.  When Moroni had proclaimed these words, the people came running together with their armor girded about them, rending their garments in token or as a covenant that they would not forsake the Lord their God.

• The Nephites would need to fight to defend their families and their freedoms. What direction had the Lord given to the Nephites concerning war? (Read Alma 43:47)

Explain to the children that we are also fighting a daily spiritual war against Satan. He wishes to bring us into captivity through getting us to sin. Demonstrate how Satan takes away our freedom through sin by doing the following object lesson.

Object Lesson
Ask for a volunteer. Have the volunteer put their hands together. Wrap one layer of the masking tape around their fingers and thumbs. Ask them if they can break free. Explain that when we first make a mistake or sin we are easily able to break free of its grasp and repent. But Satan knows that if he can get us to do the sin again and again, that eventually the sin will become a habit or an addiction and then we are bound in captivity to the sin. (Wrap the tape around the child’s hands several times, layering one area around the fingers and thumbs.) Ask the child to try and break free from the bindings. They shouldn’t be able to.

(Read 2 Nephi 2:27) “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.”

Satan wants us to be miserable like he is, and he knows that sin destroys lives and keeps us from the many joys and blessings we could be enjoying. (Ask the child whose hands are bound to try and do some form of activity they normally could do if their hands were free such as tying their shoes. With their fingers bound they shouldn’t be able to do the activity. Afterwards, remove the tape and thank them for their help.)

Explain that they are going to do an activity that will help them realize and think about all the blessings they enjoy due to freedom from sin.

Activity
Tear up the rest of the fabric into pre-sized pieces and give each child one of the pieces. Ask them to draw on it pictures or write on it the blessings they enjoy due to freedom from sin.

Share an example, such as a person who is a drug addict may not be enjoying the following blessings: good health, good relationships with family and friends, spiritual blessings such as temple attendance, freedom (they may be locked up in prison for illegal drug transactions), financial security (due to wasting their money on drugs), integrity and the trust of others (due to lying and stealing to buy drugs), etc. Their addiction becomes more important than anything else and destroys their ability to hold onto and enjoy all the good and wholesome things in life.

Once the children’s flags are finished, give them the option to share what they put on their flags. Afterwards explain that they should each post their flag in their room to remind them of the many blessings they enjoy and the many reasons to fight to maintain their freedom from Satan’s traps of sin.

Scripture Story Continued
7. When Amalickiah saw that the people of Moroni were more numerous than the Amalickiahites, and he also saw that his people were doubtful concerning the justice of the cause in which they had undertaken, therefore, fearing that he should not gain the point, he took those of his people who would go with him, and he departed into the land of Nephi.

8. Moroni thought to cut off the people of Amalickiah before they joined the Lamanites because he knew that Amalickiah would stir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites and cause them to come to battle against the them to obtain his purposes. Moroni headed off the armies of Amalickiah, but Amalickiah escaped with a few of his men.

9. Moroni caused the Title of Liberty to be hoisted upon every tower in the land of the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites. And there was peace in the land for four years.

10. After Amalickiah escaped Moroni and his army, he fled to the Lamanites. With much deceit, fraud, and murder he became king of the Lamanites. After becoming their king, he stirred up the Lamanites to go to war against the Nephites. He sought to rule over all the land.

11. While Amalickiah had been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni had been strengthening the Nephites against attack. He strengthened the armies and built up high banks of earth and high walls of stone around their forts, cities, and around their borders.

• Moroni had also been strengthening his people spiritually. Why was it important for the Nephites to be prepared spiritually? So they would be worthy of and in-tune to the Lord’s guidance when defending themselves against the attacks of the Lamanites. Moroni told the people to obey God’s commandments. If they would obey, God would help them to be free.” (Also see Alma 48:15–16.)

•In what other ways does obeying commandments help us be free? Obeying commandments helps protect us from Satan’s attacks (temptations) and helps keep us free of Satan’s destructive traps (sin). A loving Father in Heaven gives us commandments because he wants us to be safe and happy, just as a father or mother on earth gives their children rules such as “don’t play in the street” or “don’t touch the hot stove” because they want their children to be safe and happy.

Show the children the pictures of the signs, and ask what would happen if they didn’t obey the laws, rules, and warning signs that are around them in the world. (They could become seriously injured or even die.) Explain that just like laws, rules, and warning signs are meant for our protection, so are the commandments meant to be for our protection. We are free to choose whether or not we will obey God’s commandments, but we must also live with the consequences that follow as a result of our choices.

Scripture Story Continued
12. The Lamanites had prepared themselves for battle with armor, shields, and thick clothing. Being prepared they thought they could easily overpower the Nephites, but they were astonished and afraid when they saw the fortifications around the Nephite cities.

13. They attempted to attack and gain entrance to the cities in many different ways, but the Nephite’s defenses and preparations prevented the Lamanites from succeeding in their attempts. During these initial attempts to attack the cities, all of the Lamanite’s chief captains were slain and more than a thousand of the Lamanite’s soldiers were slain, but not one Nephite was killed.

The Lamanites fled and reported to King Amalickiah of their great losses. Amalickiah was exceedingly angry at his people because he had not gained his desire to bring the Nephites into bondage. He cursed God and Moroni.

14. The Nephites, on the other hand, did thank the Lord their God for delivering them from the Lamanites.

Activity
The Nephites built up fortifications to protect themselves from the attacks of the Lamanites. Through keeping the commandments we are also building up protective barriers and fortifying ourselves against the fiery darts of Satan’s attacks. (Ephesians 6:16)

Put the picture of the fiery darts on the board, and then put the wall outline to the left of the picture. Have the children build a barrier wall in front of the fiery darts by taking turns telling a commandment, explaining how that commandment helps protect them, writing the commandment on a stone, and then attaching it to the wall outline. Continue in this manner until the wall is built.

Remind the children that keeping the commandments helps keep us safe from Satan’s attacks and from his attempts to enslave us in sin. Express your testimony and gratitude for the commandments of God and for the freedoms and protection we enjoy through keeping the commandments.

Weekly Reading Assignment

Remind the children to do their scripture reading assignment for this week: Alma 46:4-22, Alma 48:1-17, Alma 49:1–30. Additional optional chapter: Alma 47


Choose the Right Way – Verse Two

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 Song: Choose the Right Way – Verse two

Object of the Game: Put the song cards in the right order on the pages. Check to see if they are correct by flipping over the top cover sheets. It is correct if the picture under the cover sheet matches the card beneath it.

Preparation

  • Items needed: 15 sheets of construction paper, magnets, a timing device such as a watch.
  • Print the song cards onto cardstock. Cut the excess paper off the top and bottom of each card leaving only the visual aids and the words.  Attach a strong magnet to the back of each card. Divide the cards into two stacks.  The first stack should contain the five cards that go with the first half of the song, and the second stack should contain the five cards that go with the last half of the song. Each stack should be in random order.
  • Print the matching pictures. Cut the pages in half so one picture is on each half.  Glue each picture to the top of a sheet of construction paper. Cut the remaining five sheets of construction paper in half, and place one on top of each picture. Tape the top edges of the two sheets of construction paper together.
  • Be prepared to play a recorded version of the song on an electronic device, or be prepared to sing the song to the children (or have someone else sing the song to the children).

 

Presentation
Using magnets put the first five construction paper pages on the board in the correct order.  Make sure the half sheets of paper are covering the pictures. Explain to the children that under each of the cover sheets is a picture that goes with each line of the verse, and the pictures are in the correct order. Show the children the song cards and explain that each of the song cards also have the pictures (and the words) on them, but they are all mixed up. Tell the children they are going to play a game where they have to put the song cards in the correct order. They will place each song card below a cover sheet on one of the construction paper pages. The order can be checked by uncovering the picture to see if it matches the card that is under it.

Explain that you are going to play or sing the second verse only once, and they need to listen very carefully so they will be able to put the words in the correct order.

After the children have heard the song, have a volunteer come up. Give that child the first stack of cards.  Tell the child they have twenty seconds to put the cards in the correct order on the board. When their time has run out, check the order by uncovering one picture at a time above the cards. Start with the first picture and go in order until you come to one that isn’t correct.  Compliment them on their efforts.

Take off all the cards and put the cover sheets over the pictures again. Mix up the cards and give another volunteer twenty seconds to try and put them in the right order.  Check the answers again. Continue in this manner until all the cards are in the correct order.

When all the song cards are in the right order, have the children sing that part of the song. Afterwards have them do the same activity with the second half of the song, but this time add an activity to help them memorize the first half of the song. At the start of the activity have everyone close their eyes. Take off one set of words and pictures from the first half of the song, and then have the children open their eyes. The first person who raises their hand and can say the words that are missing will be the person who gets to try and put the song cards in order. Continue in this manner – singing the song, removing pictures and words, and putting song cards in order until the children have the second half in the correct order.

After all the song cards are in order, continue singing the song and removing pictures and word sets, but have the child who tells what words are missing be the one who picks which set to remove next.

Note: An alternate idea for this activity would be to use easels on a table instead of the board.


Choose the Right: Song

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Choose the Right – Hymn #239

Preparation

  • Items needed:  2 poster boards, 5 sheets of paper that match the color of the poster boards, 1 small bag, 1 sheet of brightly colored heavy paper, removable double-sided tape, magnets.
  • Print and cut out the song pictures. Put the small pictures in the bag. Glue the picture of the girl and the picture of the boy onto a brightly colored heavy sheet of paper. Cut out to make a brightly colored border around each picture. Glue a strong magnet to the back of both those pictures.
  • Print the word strips onto the papers that are the same color as the poster boards. Cut out the word strips, and using the double-sided tape, place the first five word strips, evenly spaced, across the top of one of the poster boards. Center the matching pictures below each word strip, and glue them onto the poster board. Continue doing each row in this manner. When you come to the point where no more pictures or word strips will fit on one poster board, butt the next poster board against the last line and glue or tape the two poster boards together. (If the word strips and pictures have been butted up against each other from top to bottom, the rest of the pictures and word strips should fit perfectly on the next poster board.) Put the large picture on the last square. Note: Be careful to put the word strips in the correct order because they are not in the right order on the printed papers.

 

Presentation

Using strong magnets, attach the poster to the chalkboard. Explain to the children that the pictures on the poster will be used as visual aids for the song, and the poster will also be used as a game that will help them memorize the song.

In senior primary go through and explain the pictures and words of each verse. You may wish to have them sing each verse after discussing it.

In junior primary go through and explain the pictures and words of the first verse. Then have the children sing that verse, but have them pay attention to the order of the pictures and words as they sing. Explain that after they sing the verse you are going to have two or three of them come up and put the lines of that verse in order on the board. Use the pictures with the words (cut each page in half vertically) for this activity. Take the poster off the board before they do the activity.  Give the children magnets to attach the pages to the board.  Hold up the poster so only the children in their seats can see it, and have them sing the song while the three children are putting the verse in order. This helps the junior primary get familiar with the words before they play the game. Do the same activity with the chorus, the second verse, and the third verse.

Below are some suggested explanations of some of the pictures and words:

Verse One

“In its right the Holy Spirit guides. And its light is forever shining over you when in the right your heart confides.” – Ask the children if they know what this means. Explain that if they have a sincere desire to know what is right, and they are doing their best to do the right things, the Holy Ghost will guide them and help them, especially when they confide in heart-felt prayer the choices and things they need help with.

Chorus

“Let wisdom mark the way before.” – A picture of an owl is used to represent the word wisdom. Owls are symbols of wisdom because of their ability to see in the dark, which is symbolic of using wisdom to do the right things in a dark world full of difficulty and temptations.

Verse Two

“Let no spirit of digression overcome you in the evil hour.” – Digression means to veer off the path you are on. So the spirit of digression means to think about veering off the right path during a time of temptation. The evil hour is a time of temptation.

“Be safe through inspirations power.”-  If you follow the guidance of the Holy Ghost you will be safe from the harmful effects of wrong choices because you will be doing the right things and not the wrong.

Verse Three

“There is peace” – The picture shows a dove and an olive branch. One of the reasons the dove symbolizes peace is because the dove that Noah sent out of the ark came back with an olive branch, which meant that the world was at peace again, in many ways. Point out the picture of the world and ask, “If people around the world were choosing the right would their be any wars, anger, or hate?” Explain that they can find peace in their own lives as they choose the right – the peace of forgiveness, the peace from not feeling guilt, etc.

“There is safety for the soul.” When you are choosing the right you’re safe because your spirit isn’t being harmed by wrong and sinful choices. The boy in the picture represents being safe by obeying the laws and doing the right things.

Memorizing Activity Game

Once the words and pictures have been explained, and the children are familiar with the tune, play the following game to help them memorize the words. Show the children the pictures of the boy and the girl, and explain that they will use one or the other as the game piece that they will move across the board. Choose one of the pictures to use for the first time they play.

Show the children the bag and show some of the game pieces that are in the bag. Explain that there is a matching game piece in the bag for every picture on the game board (and a couple extra that are needed for certain pictures). Explain that the game starts at the top of the poster. A child will draw pictures from the bag until they find one that matches one of the pictures on the top row.  That person then puts the picture of the child onto that square. Another person (probably the next person in their class or row) draws pieces until they get one that matches a square next to the square the picture of the child is on. It can be to the right or left, or diagonally down to the right or left, or straight down.  They won’t want to go back up because the object of the game is to get to the square that says “Let God and heaven be your goal.” There is no game piece for the finishing square in the bag, so in order to move to that square they have to get a game piece that says CTR, because in order to return and live with God in heaven they have to choose the right while on earth.

All the children will be singing the song as the game is being played. They may have to sing the song several times before they get the picture of the child to the ending square, but as they get familiar with how the game is played you can have them try and get to the finishing square before they finish singing the song once.

Each time they sing the song take word strips off the game board. Start with taking all the  “choose the right” word strips off, then take off the word strips for “in its light”. Then work on each section of the song, such as taking off the word strips for the chorus, then the word strips for the first verse, then the second, and finish with the third.

Note: You may want the older children be the first ones to play the game, because it may take a few times before the younger ones understand how the game works.  You may also need to bring a stool so the younger children can reach the pictures at the top of the game board.

This activity will take several weeks to complete. To put some more variety in the activity, you may want to print off an extra set of the big pictures and use them to test the children. Stop playing the game now and then and take the poster board off the board. Have a couple children put the pictures of one of the verses or chorus in order on the board. They will have to sing it in their head to remember the right order. Have the other children be the judges of whether it is correct or not. If that is too difficult, use the pictures with the words at first to test them.

Note: I used several of the fun visual aids that Carrie on Sugardoodle used in her flip chart, so I appreciated her sharing her ideas.


As a Child of God: Song

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As a Child of God – Song

Preparation

  • Items needed: ribbon or yarn, 16 page protectors, magnets, two brads, and one of each the following colors of cardstock  – red, orange, blue, green, yellow, purple, brown, pink.
  • Print the song pages. Cut out the boy and glue him next to the arrow sign on the first page. Put the song pages into page protectors. Also put the colored cardstock into page protectors. Using pieces of ribbon or yarn tied through the page protector holes, attach one colored cardstock to the top of each song page. (Be sure to put brown, green, yellow and orange on the first verse to match the small choosing wheel.) Using glue or double-sided tape, attach strong magnets to the back of each song page. Then attach one magnet to the front of each colored cardstock page.
  • Print the choosing wheels onto cardstock. Cut out each of the blank wheels. Cut open the window boxes on the dotted lines with an exacto knife. Center each blank wheel over the top of its matching color dot wheel. Poke a hole with a pin through the center dot all the way through both wheels. Push a brad through the hole and spread out the brad arms in the back – not too tightly. Note: colored squares can be glued over the dots to match available paper.
  • EXTRA: Here is another choosing wheel for those who want to break the lessons up into three weeks. This wheel would be for the second and third verses and would be used the second week. The final week would use the large wheel and all the verses.

 

Presentation
This song is about two things. It tells us that good choices bless and strengthen our families, and the chorus reminds us that we have the guidance of the Holy Ghost to help us make good choices.

Week One
Put the song pages of the first verse on the board with the cardstock pages covering them. Uncover each song page as you discuss it.  (I have included discussion suggestions for each song line.)

 “I came to earth with power to choose.” – This means we were given free agency to decide what we will do on earth.

“Good choices bless me and my family too.” – Ask the children what choices would bless them and their family and why.

Have the pianist play the first two lines so the children can hear how they sound, then have them sing those lines.

“As a child of God I receive special light.” – This part of the song is the chorus and we sing this with each verse. It talks about a way we can receive help to know which choices are good and which choices are not good. (Ask the children to tell you what light they think the line is talking about, explain that it is a guiding light.)

“The Holy Ghost helps me to know what is right.” – In what ways does the Holy Ghost communicate with us and help us know which choices are right. (Through good feelings, thoughts, or we may even hear a still small voice.)

Have the pianist play the chorus lines so the children can hear how they sound, then have them sing those lines.  Then have the children sing all four lines of the first verse.

Memorizing Activity
Using the small wheel, do the following activity to help the children memorize the first verse. Put the wheel on the board and show the children that there are four different colored spots on the wheel. Have a child spin the wheel and open the window to show which color it landed on. That child covers up the song page with the matching colored cardstock. Sing the song again. Have another child spin the wheel. If it lands on the same color as before, they have to uncover that song line. If it lands on another color they have to cover up that one. Explain that the object of the game is to get every song line page covered up. (After singing the song for the first two spins they only have to sing the song every two spins after that.)

Adapted version of the memorizing activity.

Week Two
The following week put all the song pages on the board. Put each verse in a column and the chorus under the columns. Discuss the lines from the second and third verse, then sing the verses. Afterwards play the memorizing game using the large wheel and all the song pages. Use the same rules as the week before, except add some choices to the game. After they close or open the color that the wheel landed on, they also get to choose another color (or the color they landed on) to close. The object once again is to get all the pages closed.

“I feel so safe and happy because”– Have the children look at the picture. Ask if they think the child looks safe and happy in his father’s arms. Ask why they think the child feels safe and happy. (Because his father protects, takes care of, and loves him.)

 “Such feelings of peace come from family love.”– Point out that the picture of the family and heart remind them of the words family love. Also point out that we feel peace in our home when it is filled with actions that demonstrate our love for each other. What actions might disrupt peace in a home? (Fighting and bickering, selfishness, not helping each other, etc.) Remind the children that the Holy Ghost can help them make good choices in their families, and then review the chorus.

“In my own home I’ll happily serve.” – Why do you think people happily serve in their homes? Because they know that their service helps promote the feelings of love, peace, and joy in their homes.

 “I’ll strengthen my family by my good works” – What good works can we do to help strengthen our family? (Ask what the boy in the picture is doing and how that helps strengthen his family.)

NEW: I added to this idea to make it more effective. See “As a Child of God”  in the song list.

Personal Note: This site  http://mypianolesson.blogspot.com/was the inspiration for this activity. Thank you!