Church History: Activities & Games

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Reading Charts

Reformation & Restoration

Friend April 2018 “The Restoration and Me” Match the restoration event with the blessing we enjoy because of that event.

Friend April 1985

Friend
Friend April 1988
Friend April 1988 Restored Blessings
Friend November 2015
Friend November 2015 “Find the Gold Plates” – Activity idea: Ask questions about the restoration at every path crossroads. Correct answer could direct players to right path.

First Vision

Gold Plates

Book of Mormon Coloring Book “Moroni Buried the Gold Plates”

Joseph Smith Birthday

Friend December 2021 “Birthday Time” Joseph Smith’s birthday is on December 23. Can you find and color 23 candles in the picture below?

Aaronic Priesthood

The Three Witnesses

Book of Mormon Printing

Nauvoo

Friend Aug/Sept 1984
Friend Aug/Sept 1984 “Peaceful Nauvoo”
Friend Aug/Sept 1984
Friend Aug/Sept 1984
Friend Aug/Sept 1984
Friend Aug/Sept 1984
Friend Aug/Sept 1984
Friend Aug/Sept 1984
Friend October 1984
Friend October 1984

Pioneers or Crossing the Plains

Friend July 1985

Friend March 2021″Church History Animals” Early Church pioneers didn’t have cars or trains to travel in. Lots of them used horses and oxen to get around and help carry heavy things. Learn how to draw your own!

Salt Lake Valley

 Friend July 2018 “Pioneer Messages” To help immigrants learn to speak and write English, Brigham Young and others created a new alphabet! Figure out the message using the Deseret Alphabet.

Review Activities

Match the important places in church history with the appropriate descriptions.

1. Palmyra, New Yorka. Joseph Smith’s birthplace
2. Cumorah, New Yorkb. Means “beautiful place”
3. Kirtland, Ohioc. Permanent camp along Mormon Trail
4. Fayette, New Yorkd. First temple built by Saints
5. Sharon, Vermonte. Hill in which gold plates were hidden
6. Nauvoo, Illinoisf. Church organized in Peter Whitmer’s home April 6, 1830
7. Winter Quarters, Nebraskag. Town’s name means “honeybee”
8. Great Salt Lake Valley, Utahh. Location of Independence, the center of the new Zion
9. Jackson County, Missourii. Destination of pioneers crossing the plains
10. Carthage, Illinoisj. Joseph Smith received the First Vision
11. Deseret, Utahk. Joseph and Hyrum Smith martyred in jail

Answers:

(1) j, (2) e, (3) d, (4) f, (5) a (6) b, (7) c, (8) i, (9) h, (10) k, (11) g.

Primary History

Friend August 1983
Friend August 1983 – Primary
Friend August 1983
Friend August 1983

Primary Children’s Hospital

Friend May 2022 “Find It” The Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, opened 100 years ago this month. Primary children collected coins to help the sick children who stayed there. Can you find the hidden items below? How many coins can you find?

Review

Friend January 2021 “Church History Cards” Church History Cards that could be used for a matching game or for lessons.

Friend February 2021 “Church History Cards”

Friend March 2021 “Church History Cards”

Friend April 2021 “Church History Cards

Friend June 2021 “Church History Cards”

Friend August 2021 “Church History Cards”

Friend September 2021 “Church History Cards”

Friend October 2021 “Church History Cards”

Friend December 2021 “Church History Cards” Sister Nachie from Japan & Truman O. Angell architect of Salt Lake Temple


Missionary #2

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Why Share the Gospel – Scripture Story and Object Lesson

 Preparation

  • Print pictures from Doctrine-and-Covenant-Stories. Divide each picture page by cutting on the dotted lines.
  • Gather ingredients to make a chocolate cake. Also collect a mixing bowl, a spoon, and a few extra odd items such as pickles, mustard, etc.

 

Scripture Story – Apostasy and Restoration

 (Teach the following story using the pictures from Doctrine and Covenants Stories as visual aids.  Read the following corresponding text as you show the pictures to the family.)

#1) The gospel has been on the earth since the time of Adam, whenever there has been a righteous man who has authority to administer in God’s name, and a people who are willing to listen to and accept the gospel.

#2) When people reject and rebel against the commandments of God, they are in a state of apostasy (a turning away from truth). They lose the blessings of divine guidance and authority. This happened several times during the Old Testament time period. Another time period apostasy occurred was after the Savior was resurrected.

#3) After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the apostles continued to teach people about Jesus and his gospel. Many people joined the church, but soon apostasy began to creep into the church. Some of the people began to turn away from the truth and teach false ideas based on their old religious beliefs.

#4) During this time period, there was also persecution going on from outside the church. Many church members were persecuted and killed because of their beliefs. One by one the apostles were all killed by these persecutors.  After the apostles died, the priesthood keys and authority were no longer on the earth.  Because of the wicked state of the people, they were not restored to the earth at that time. Without prophets and apostles to lead and guide, more and more error crept into church doctrine. Knowledge and understanding about many important doctrines were lost, including the knowledge of the purpose of life.

#5) Ordinances were also changed. Baptisms began to be preformed on babies instead of waiting until a child had grown to the age of accountability. Baptisms also began to be done by sprinkling water instead of  by immersion.  Because of the changes to doctrine and ordinances, and the loss of priesthood keys and authority, the true church was no longer on the earth.

Object Lesson

Show the family the chocolate cake ingredients you gathered. Tell them you don’t have the recipe, but  it doesn’t matter because you think you can remember how to do it. Tell them you also want to make a few changes and add some things to the cake that you think will make it taste better.  Mix ingredients in random amounts, and add a few of the extra items.  Ask the family if they think your concoction will make a delicious chocolate cake? Why not? Without the right ingredients and recipe, the end result won’t be as hoped for.

Tell the family that just as the cake needed the correct ingredients, it is also necessary for a church to consist of the correct components, which includes correct doctrines and ordinances, and power and authority from God.

  •  How and when was the gospel of Jesus Christ restored to the earth again?  In 1830, through Joseph Smith

 

#6) When Joseph Smith was young, he noticed how the different churches interpreted the same things in different ways. He wanted to know which of all the teachings and churches were correct.

#7) As he prayed for an answer, God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him. The restoration process then began. Joseph Smith, who had been chosen for this responsiblity because of his faithfulness in the preexistence, helped restore the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth once again.  Because of the restoration we now have vital truths, knowledge, and the true priesthood authority that had been lost.