Lesson
Lesson 34: Jesus Teaches the Beatitudes
I can be a good example for others.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “3 Nephi 12–16: “I Am the Law, and the Light”
Sing together a song that encourages the children to shine like a light, such as “Shine On” or “I Am like a Star” (Children’s Songbook, 144, 163). Tell the children about the light you see in them when they do “good works,” and explain how their light and examples help others and inspire you to do good works too.
Latter Day Kids “Let Your Light So Shine”- Come Follow Me” Video and lesson ideas to go along with it.
Video: The moose gets lost at sea and he doesn’t know which way to go. A lighthouse light guides him back home.
More ideas for being a good Example
Heavenly Father answers my prayers.
Friend September 2020 “Come Follow Me for Little Ones” Read 3 Nephi 13:9–13 together and help your little ones say, “Heavenly Father wants me to pray to Him.” Collect pictures of people doing different gospel activities, including praying, from Church magazines or at medialibrary.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Turn all the pictures upside-down, then take turns flipping them over. Whenever you see someone praying, help everyone practice folding their arms, bowing their heads, and closing their eyes.
President Russell M. Nelson said: “Does God really want to speak to you? Yes! … Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know” (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95).
Younger children might enjoy a game, inspired by 3 Nephi 14:8–9, in which they ask for something and receive something entirely different. What did the Savior want us to know about our Father in Heaven when He shared this example?
Spiritual safety comes from hearing and doing what the Savior teaches.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “3 Nephi 12–16: “I Am the Law, and the Light”
Show the children a rock and some sand. Ask them to point to the rock when you describe a choice to follow the Savior and point to the sand when you describe a choice not to follow Him. Testify that when we do what the Savior says, we are strong like a house built on a rock.
Sing together “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” (Children’s Songbook, 281), or read 3 Nephi 14:24–27. Help the children substitute their names for “the wise man” as they sing. Why did the wise man’s house stay standing during the storm? Review verse 24 to emphasize that he both heard and did what the Savior said.
As a class, read 3 Nephi 14:21–27 and 15:1, and ask the children to stand up every time you read the word “doeth.” Why does the Savior emphasize doing His sayings, not just hearing or remembering?
Invite the children to stand up, and ask them to imagine that one leg represents hearing the Savior’s words and the other represents doing them. Invite them to raise the “doing” leg and balance on the “hearing” leg. What would happen if a strong wind blew through the room? Use this example to illustrate why it is safer to do what the Savior says and not just hear His words.
I should hunger and thirst after righteousness.
These verses could prompt a discussion about what your family treasures. Are there some treasures on earth that are keeping you from laying up treasures in heaven? You could reinforce this point by leading the family on a treasure hunt to find things in your home that remind your family members of treasures with eternal value.
Ensign September 2020 “Family Study Fun”
Read 3 Nephi 13:19–21 together and talk about what it means to focus on heavenly treasure.
- Decorate or label a box as a “treasure chest.” Invite each family member to put a gospel item inside (Book of Mormon, picture of ancestor, temple recommend, etc.).
- Tell everyone to close their eyes while one person hides the treasure chest nearby. Then everyone should try to find it.
- When someone finds the treasure, they should take their item out of the box and share why it is special to them.
- Take turns hiding and sharing until all the treasure is gone.
Discussion: Why is spiritual treasure more valuable than earthly treasure? What can our family do to focus on spiritual instead of earthly treasure this week?
Have pictures of food and drink with scriptures printed on them. Cut off a little piece like a bite and see what the children can learn from that piece. Give them the rest of the that item and ask what they learn from the whole scripture. Explain that a little nibble here and there isn’t enough to keep us spiritually fed and strong.
Jesus Christ taught the twelve Nephite disciples that they would be blessed as they followed His commandments. Our Heavenly Father knows that we need certain things, and He promises that we will receive them as we seek His kingdom first in our lives. (See 3 Nephi 13:31–33.)
I should do good things for the right reasons.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “3 Nephi 12–16: “I Am the Law, and the Light”
- Ask each child to search 3 Nephi 13:1–4, 5–8, or 16–18 and identify the good works mentioned in these verses (explain that doing “alms” means giving to the poor). Why did the Savior say not to be like some of the people doing these things?
Give each child a slip of paper with a righteous act written on it (or let them think of their own examples). Ask them to think of good reasons and bad reasons for doing those things. Encourage them to always do good things for the right reasons.
Righteous acts are not enough; my heart must also be pure. The Savior’s invitation is to live a higher law—to be righteous not only in our outward actions but also in our hearts. Look for this theme when the Savior speaks of contention (3 Nephi 12:21–26), immorality (3 Nephi 12:27–30), prayer (3 Nephi 13:5–8), and fasting (3 Nephi 13:16–18). What other examples can you find? What can you do to purify the desires of your heart rather than focus on outward actions only?
Jesus is the Good Shepherd
Book of Mormon Stories “The Good Shepherd” Images and Video
Friend September 2020 “Family Night Fun”
Jesus Called Twelve Apostles
Who did Jesus Christ say the Nephites should listen to and obey? (3 Nephi 12:1.) Why is it important that we listen to and obey our Church leaders today?
