Honesty: Lesson Ideas

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I Can Be Honest.

Doctrine and Covenants 97:8

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 ” Doctrine and Covenants 94–97″

In Doctrine and Covenants 97:8, the Lord identified honesty as one attribute of those who are “accepted of me.”

  • Explain to the children that God taught that when we are honest, He accepts us (see Doctrine and Covenants 97:8). Share with them a few brief stories that help them understand what it means to be honest. These stories could come from your own life, from the life of someone you know, or from the Friend or Liahona. Help the children retell the stories to you or share experiences with honesty from their lives.
  • Help the children learn the first phrase of the thirteenth article of faith: “We believe in being honest.” Help the children act out examples of being honest and dishonest. For example, the children could act out taking something from a sibling and telling their parents that they didn’t take it. Then help the children act out the same scenario in which they tell the truth to their parents. Explain that this is being honest.

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 94-97”

According to Doctrine and Covenants 97:8., how can we be “accepted of” the Lord? How is that different from being accepted by the world? What does it mean to “observe [our] covenants by sacrifice”? How have we done this?

Friend September 2018 “I Can Tell the Truth” Coloring page

For additional teaching aids see Honesty Stories and Resources for Teaching Children “Honesty

Doctrine and Covenants 51:9

And let every man deal honestly,

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 51–57”

  • Read to the children from Doctrine and Covenants 51:9: “Let every man deal honestly” (see also Articles of Faith 1:13). Ask the children if they know what it means to be honest. To help them better understand, give them examples of actions that are honest.
  • Share some simple stories of children who face decisions about being honest, such as the decision to admit when they did something wrong. Use pictures, sock puppets, or paper dolls to make the stories more interesting. Ask the children if these people are being honest or dishonest.
  • Sing a song about honesty, such as “Stand for the Right” (Children’s Songbook, 159). Bear your testimony about why it is important to be honest.

Friend August 2020 “How Do You Spell Honesty” When Elder Timothy J. Dyches was in six grade he hadn’t missed a spelling word all year long. If he kept getting perfect scores, I would receive an award for spelling at the end of the year. Then he noticed that he had missed a word on a spelling test that was incorrectly graded. He was honest and told his teacher about it.

Take this quiz to think about how you can be honest with yourself and others.

“Honesty Quiz” (April 2011 Friend) A quiz to help children evaluate how honest they are.

You could play a game that the family enjoys and then talk about how the game would have been different if someone had cheated. Why is it important to “deal honestly” with each other? How does honesty help us “be one”? Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 51–57”

Friend May 2021 “Scripture Time Fun: Be Honest!”

  • Sing “Do What Is Right” (Hymns, no. 237).
  • Jesus taught that we should “deal honestly” with each other (Doctrine and Covenants 51:9). That means telling the truth and being fair with others.
  • Come up with situations you might face in everyday life—like finding money that someone lost or losing something you borrowed. Act out what you would do to “deal honestly.”

Latter Day Kids “Honesty” Lesson ideas, videos, music, etc.

Friend September 2018 “Family Night Fun” The more honest we are, the more others can trust us. Have each family member decorate a clear jar with ribbons, markers, paint, or whatever!
Keep your honesty jars where everyone can see them. Every time you do something honest—like admitting to a mistake or returning a lost toy—add something to the jar.

Friend January 1987

Friend March 1987

Friend March 1987
Friend March 1987
Friend March 198

I can be honest.

Acts 5:1–11

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Acts 1-5” The early Christians shared what they had to help care for each other. Those who owned land sold it and gave the money to the Apostles, who then gave it to the Saints according to their needs. Ananias and Sapphira were dishonest about their contribution, thinking they could deceive the Lord’s servants.

Help the children act out the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Explain that although we won’t die when we tell a lie, this story shows how important being honest is to Heavenly Father.

  • The below videos aren’t produced by the church, but they may provide some ideas on how the children may act out the story.

Sing together a song about honesty, such as “I Believe in Being Honest” (Children’s Songbook, 149). Help the children understand that being honest means always telling the truth and not taking things that belong to someone else.

Use paper-bag puppets to act out simple situations in which someone is being honest or dishonest. Ask the children to stand up if the person was being honest or sit on the floor if the person was being dishonest. Help the children understand why it is important to be honest.

The sites below have free printable cutouts to help make paper bag people.

Aunt Annie’s Crafts

The Caterpillar Years

  • “Honesty Quiz” (April 2011 Friend) A quiz to help children evaluate how honest they are.
  • Friend September 2018 “Map Champ” During a map game at school, Linda doesn’t hear the teacher because the kids are being too loud. Her teacher trusts her because she doesn’t lie, and the teacher gives her another chance.

Latter Day Kids “I Can Be Honest” Lesson ideas

I believe in being honest. (Jr)

2 Corinthians 4:1–2

Help the children memorize the phrase “We believe in being honest” (Articles of Faith 1:13). Write this phrase on paper bracelets the children can decorate and wear. Explain that being honest includes telling the truth. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 1-7” )

The Red Crystal

Ask the children to raise their hands when you say something that is true and lower them when you say something that is not true. Make simple but obvious statements, such as “Today is Sunday” or “I have three noses.” Repeat the activity a few times, letting the children take turns being the one who makes true and false statements. Why does Heavenly Father want us to tell the truth? (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 1-7” )

OR, use paper-bag puppets to say the true or not true things. Ask the children to stand up if the person was being honest or sit on the floor if the person was being dishonest. Help the children understand why it is important to be honest. (Children could take a turn with the puppets saying something true or not true with them.)

The sites below have free printable cutouts to help make paper bag people.

Aunt Annie’s Crafts

The Caterpillar Years

Friend September 2019 “Making Things Right” After shopping, a boy’s mother notices that the cashier didn’t charge them for all their items. She decides to go back and fix it. The boy wonders why they have to go back since it wasn’t their mistake. His mom explains that being honest matters to Heavenly Father and it might matter to someone else. When they get back to the store they find out that the cashier would have had to pay for the mistake.

Show the video “A Visit with Elder Ulisses Soares” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What did young Elder Soares learn about honesty? Encourage the children to prepare for their baptismal covenant by being honest. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 1-7” )

Friend September 2018 “Family Night Fun” The more honest we are, the more others can trust us. Have each family member decorate a clear jar with ribbons, markers, paint, or whatever!
Keep your honesty jars where everyone can see them. Every time you do something honest—like admitting to a mistake or returning a lost toy—add something to the jar.

I Believe in Being Honest (even when others are not) (I should always keep my promises)

Old Testament Stories “Jacob and His Family” Images

Genesis CHAPTER 29

Jacob meets Rachel at the well—He serves Laban seven years for her—Laban gives to Jacob first Leah then Rachel in marriage—Jacob serves another seven years—Leah bears Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.

Genesis 29:16–30

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 28-33” Jacob agreed to work for Laban for seven years so that he could marry Laban’s daughter Rachel. Jacob kept this agreement, but Laban did not. Consider using this story to teach the children about the importance of keeping our promises. How can you use this story to help the children understand the importance of being honest even when others are dishonest?

  • Read Genesis 29:18, 20 to the children, and explain that Jacob kept his promise to work seven years for Laban so he could marry Rachel, even though this was a long time to work (see also “Jacob and His Family” in Old Testament Stories). Help the children think of promises they might make to other people. Why is it important to keep our promises? Help them understand that a covenant is a sacred promise between God and each of us. Bear your testimony that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ always keep Their promises.
  • Read together Genesis 29:16–30, and help the children summarize the events in these verses. How did Jacob react to being tricked? What can we learn from this account?
  • On the board write What happens when we are dishonest? and What happens when we are honest? Invite the children to find answers by reading “Honesty and Integrity” (in For the Strength of Youth [2011], 19).

Friend September 2019 “Making Things Right” After shopping, a boy’s mother notices that the cashier didn’t charge them for all their items. She decides to go back and fix it. The boy wonders why they have to go back since it wasn’t their mistake. His mom explains that being honest matters to Heavenly Father and it might matter to someone else. When they get back to the store they find out that the cashier would have had to pay for the mistake.

Friend September 2018 “Map Champ” During a map game at school, Linda doesn’t hear the teacher because the kids are being too loud. Her teacher trusts her because she doesn’t lie, and the teacher gives her another chance.

“Lesson 14: Jacob and His Family,” Primary 6: Old Testament 

Write each of the children’s names on separate slips of paper and place them in a container. Read one of the following situations; then draw a name from the container and ask that child to tell what should be done. Afterward, let that child draw out the next name. If the class is small, replace the names in the container after each use so a child may answer more than one question. You might want to add other examples.

  • You are given too much change at the store.
  • You forgot to do a school assignment. You are tempted to tell the teacher you were ill.
  • You are playing with a friend’s toy when it breaks.
  • You want some money to buy a treat and your mother’s purse is on the table.
  • You used one of your father’s belongings without permission and lost it.
  • Your friend left a toy at your house by mistake. It is something you would really like to have.
  • You are setting out a game to play while your friend goes to get a drink of water. You realize that while she is out of the room you could arrange the game so you would win.
  • You accidentally knock over a breakable object belonging to someone else. Your friend tells you that if it is an accident, you don’t need to admit you did it.

Winnie Wins – A girl is tempted to cheat in a geography test to beat a boy who teases her. Friend May 1984

Genesis CHAPTER 30

Jacob marries Bilhah, and she bears Dan and Naphtali—He marries Zilpah, and she bears Gad and Asher—Leah bears Issachar and Zebulun and a daughter, Dinah—Then Rachel conceives and bears Joseph—Jacob works for Laban for wages of cattle and sheep.

Genesis CHAPTER 31

The Lord commands Jacob to return to Canaan, and Jacob departs secretly—Laban pursues him; they resolve their differences and make a covenant of peace—Laban blesses his descendants, and he and Jacob part company.


Honesty & Integrity: Stories

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Take this quiz to think about how you can be honest with yourself and others.

Lying

Friend September 2019 “The Shaving Mistake” When Elder Allen D. Haynie was nine years old he thought he could grow a mustache if he shaved, so he used his father’s razor for several days. One day his father saw him shaving and warned him not to do that because he could get cut. He disobeyed and did it again. The razor slipped and cut above his lip. He lied to his father about what happened and felt terrible, so he told his father the truth. He learned to tell the truth from that experience. (Activity: Use the code to fill in the blanks with the right letters. It makes the message “I can be brave by telling the truth.”)

Not Charged Enough

Deciding to Be Honest

Friend August 2020 “How Do You Spell Honesty” When Elder Timothy J. Dyches was in six grade he hadn’t missed a spelling word all year long. If he kept getting perfect scores, I would receive an award for spelling at the end of the year. Then he noticed that he had missed a word on a spelling test that was incorrectly graded. He was honest and told his teacher about it.

Friend July 2019 “Score One for Honesty” Eli needed to practice his throwing because he had a football game coming up, but it was raining outside. Even though it was against the rules, he decided to practice inside with his brother while his mom was at the store. But disaster strikes when one of his throws hits the shelf with his mother’s fancy dishes on it. He tries to fix the broken dishes but it doesn’t work. He thinks about hiding what happened, but he decides to be honest and tell the truth so he can honor his priesthood.

Friend April 2019 “Sweet Honesty” Trying to get a taste of sugar, Arlen accidentally knocks the sugar jar off a high shelf when she is left in charge of the house. She considers not telling her mom that she spilled all the sugar, but decides to be honest.

Friend March 2019 “Being Honest is Best” Verity’s name means truth. She feels good when she is honest and truthful. (Activity: Circle the letters used to spell TRUTH in the picture below. Then practice writing the word TRUTH.)

Friend September 2018 “Stickers Everywhere” Carey found a package of stickers in a bag on the counter and opened them and stuck them all over the house. When her mom finds what Carey did she is upset because the stickers were for Carey’s brother’s birthday party, but Carey is honest and tells her mom that she did it. Her mom tells her to ask next time, but she is proud of Carey for being honest.

Friend June 1988 “Treasures” Amy accidently breaks one of Sister Pedersons glass treasures. She buys a glass swan to replace the one that broke and then she tells Sister Pedersons what she did.

The Helpers – Cindy tells her mom the truth after breaking a pot, even though her mom thinks the baby did it. Friend March 1987

Winnie Wins – A girl is tempted to cheat in a geography test to beat a boy who teases her. Friend May 1984

The Raid – A boy shows it’s better to be honest and ask to pick the cherries than it is to take them. Friend July 1985

The Compliment Tree – Betsy gets a branch on the compliment tree for doing well on a test, but she discovers a mistake on the test. She doesn’t want to lose her branch, but she is honest and tells the teacher. Friend February 1986

The Last Coin – Laura wants to be honest in achieving the swimming lesson requirements even though her friend wants her to cut corners. Friend August 1986

Friend March 2016 “Honesty Geography” During a geography test, Julie tells the teacher about a map accidentally left on the board.

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Friend January 1987 “Jason’s Courage” Jason accidentally breaks a church window. He learns it takes courage to be honest.

I Believe in Being Honest and True

Friend February 2023 “The Egg Mess” Sasha learned a part of the 13th Article of Faith; “I believe in being honest.” She remembers that part after she and her brother make a mess with eggs while playing a game with them. They tell their mother the truth, that they made the mess and will clean it up.

Finders Keepers?

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.

Helping Others Be Honest

Friend March 2017 “Sliding from the Truth” Tori’s lab partner accidentally broke a slide and wants to lie about it to the teacher. Tori helps him tell the truth.

Exaggerating

Friend February 2023 “Big Stories” Beckham tells others about things he has done, but he exaggerates to make it sound cooler.

Cheating

Friend April 2017 “Cheating is Poisonous” Annmarie has a hard time spelling poisonous and is tempted to cheat on a spelling test, but she realizes cheating would be poisonous to her spirit.

Friend March 2022 “Matt and Mandy” Matt studies hard for a test and won’t let a friend cheat off him because then he would be cheating too. He offers to help his friend study for the next test.

Friend February 2024 “Margo and Paulo” Margo refuses to go along with her friends plan to cheat on a test.

Stealing

Friend October 2018 “Toy-Truck Trouble”  When Nate was walking home from school he saw trucks in a sandbox. Everyday he put a different color truck in his pocket and took it home. He felt bad but wanted to collect the trucks. Then one day a woman found him taking a truck. She asked if he knew where the other trucks were. Nate went home and got them and brought them back. The boy asked if he’d like to play, and Nate had the best time.

Friend May 1987 “Ben & the Birthday Thief” Ben’s friend steals a watch to give to Ben as a birthday gift. What does Ben do?

Friend July 2022 “Matt and Mandy” Mandy’s friend steals some fruit and offers it to Mandy. Mandy said she can’t take it because she wouldn’t feel good about it. They decide to return the fruit.

We are Trusted when We are Honest

Friend September 2018 “Map Champ” During a map game at school, Linda doesn’t hear the teacher because the kids are being too loud. Her teacher trusts her because she doesn’t lie, and the teacher gives her another chance.

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.

Repenting of Being Dishonest

Fiend July 2021 “The Honesty Question” Christy was nominated for an outstanding citizen award, but she had to fill out some questions about the good things she does in the community. She ran out of ideas and decides to write what she plans on doing. She didn’t feel good inside after turning in her answers. She repents and goes to the office to make things right the next day.