Gratitude & Blessings: Lesson Ideas

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The Lord has done many wonderful things for me.

1 Samuel CHAPTER 2

Hannah sings praises to the Lord—Samuel ministers before the Lord—Eli blesses Elkanah and Hannah, and they have sons and daughters—The sons of Eli reject the Lord and live in wickedness—The Lord rejects the house of Eli.

1 Samuel 2:1–10

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Ruth; 1 Samuel 1–3” Hannah showed her gratitude to the Lord with a beautiful poem of praise. Her example can help the children think about the many things they can thank Heavenly Father for.

  • Read to the children some of what Hannah said after the Lord blessed her with a son (see 1 Samuel 2:1–2). Share with the children a blessing you have received from the Lord and how it made you feel. Then invite the children to talk about blessings the Lord has given them. How can we show our gratitude to Him?

Friend May 2023 “Bright Idea”

Friend October 2017 “Bread and Gratitude” For each letter of the alphabet, come up with something you’re thankful for!

  • Sing a song together that describes some of the blessings the Lord gives us, such as “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228–29). Invite the children to draw pictures of blessings they have received from the Lord.

Hannah’s poem of praise to the Lord may lead you to think of songs that you use to praise the Lord. You could sing some together. Your family members might also think of other ways to express their feelings for Jesus Christ. For example, they could draw pictures that show why they love the Savior. Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Ruth; 1 Samuel 1–3”

Friend February 2024 “Come, Follow Me Activities: Bouncy-Ball Blessings” Jacob said we can be happy because of the blessings Heavenly Father gives us (see 2 Nephi 9:3). Bounce a ball back and forth. When it’s your turn to bounce the ball, say a blessing Heavenly Father has given you. Keep going as long as you can!

Heavenly Father gives us good gifts.

Luke 11:11–13

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Matthew 11–12; Luke 11” The Savior’s teaching in Luke 11:11–13 can help the children you teach understand that Heavenly Father loves them and wants to bless them.

New Testament Seminary Student Manual (2023) “Luke 11:1–13” Jesus compared a mortal father’s desire to give gifts to his children to Heavenly Father’s desire to give us gifts. Jesus taught that if an imperfect mortal father “know[s] how to give good gifts unto [his] children” ( Luke 11:13), “how much more shall your heavenly Father give good gifts, through the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Joseph Smith Translation, Luke 11:14 [in Luke 11:13 , footnote a]).

  • Use an object lesson to illustrate the Savior’s teachings in Luke 11:11–13. For example, you could place a stone inside a bread bag or put a picture of a scorpion inside an egg carton. Ask the children to guess what is inside, and then show them. Invite them to replace the stone or picture with a piece of bread or an egg. Read Luke 11:11–13, and share your testimony that Heavenly Father loves us, answers our prayers, and gives us many blessings through His Spirit.

For the Strength of Youth June 2023 “The Friend at Midnight” Luke 11:5–13

Friend March 2018 “Heavenly Father Listens” Elder Clayton felt the love of God as a teen when he prayed about some worries. Heavenly Father loves us and is interested in our lives just like a parent would be. (Activity page included: Find the hearts in the room of the girl who is praying.)

Find the things in the picture that show Heavenly Father and Jesus’s love for us.

  • Sing together a song about God’s love, such as “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228–29). What are some of the good gifts that He has given us? Ask the children to draw pictures of blessings from Heavenly Father that they are grateful for.

Friend February 2023 “What’s on Your Mind?”

I can praise the Lord.

Psalm 146:1, 5–9

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 To praise the Lord means to express our gratitude and love for Him. Help the children learn that we are praising Him when we do things like sing, pray, and obey His teachings.

  • Invite the children to share experiences when someone praised them or told them they did a good job. Share some of the good things from Psalm 146:6–9 that the Lord has done, and invite the children to talk about other things He does for us. Help them think of ways they can praise Him for those things.

Friend November 2004 “Blessings Tree” Cut out the leaves and place them in a sack. Have the children take turns picking a leaf from the sack, telling how the item written is a blessing, and gluing it to the tree. When they pick a blank leaf, have them share a blessing of their choice that they are thankful for. Then write the blessing on the leaf and glue it to the tree.

  • Sing together a song of praise, such as “Beauty Everywhere” (Children’s Songbook, 232–33). Explain that for the Israelites long ago, the Psalms were like the songs we sing today to worship and praise God.

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 You might invite your family to read a few verses of Psalms 146–50 out loud, trying to convey the feelings of the writer. How can we express our praise to the Lord? Family members might enjoy writing their own psalms of praise and sharing them with each other.

Friend August 2022 “Write a Psalm”

Friend November 2010 “Bright Idea”

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 The traditional Jewish name for the book of Psalms is a Hebrew word that means “praises.” That word, Tehillim, is also related to the exclamation “hallelujah” (meaning “praise Jehovah” or “praise the Lord”). If you had to choose one word to sum up the main message of the Psalms, “praise” would be a good choice. Some of the Psalms contain the direct invitation to “praise ye the Lord” (see especially Psalms 146–50), and all of them can inspire a feeling of worship and praise. The Psalms invite us to reflect on the Lord’s power, on His mercy, and on the great things He has done. We can never repay Him for any of this, but we can praise Him for it. That praise may take different forms for different people—it may involve singing, praying, or bearing testimony. It often leads to a deeper commitment to the Lord and to following His teachings. Whatever “praise ye the Lord” means in your life, you can find more inspiration to do it as you read and ponder the Psalms.

Friend October 1989 “Sing Praises” Lesson ideas and activity. (Activity: Look up scriptures where people in the scriptures sang praises to the Lord and then fill in the blanks.)

I can show my love for Heavenly Father by being grateful for my blessings. (younger children)

Luke 17:11–19

Friend May 2023 “One Thankful Man”

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Luke 12–17; John 11” How might the story of the ten lepers encourage the children to be thankful?

  • Tell the story of the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus. Show the picture found in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families and invite the children to count to ten on their fingers. Then ask them to put down nine fingers to show the one leper who thanked Jesus. Help the children think of someone they could thank for a kind or helpful action.

See The Red Crystal “Luke 12-17, John 11” for a ten leper finger puppet printable for this part.

  • Invite each child to act out something he or she is grateful for, and have the rest of the children guess what it is. Ask the children to share ways we can show Heavenly Father that we are thankful for our blessings.

Friend May 2023 “Come, Follow Me Activities: Showing Gratitude”

Story: Read the story “One Thankful man” on page 46. How can you show gratitude?

Song: “Thanks to Our Father” (Children’s Songbook, 20)

Activity: Cut out 10 strips of paper. On each strip, write (or draw) one thing you are grateful for. Loop the strips around each other and glue or tape the ends together to make a chain. Hang your gratitude chain somewhere you will see it often.

Friend May 2023 “Come, Follow Me Activities for Little Ones”

Play this gratitude guessing game with your little ones! Choose something you’re grateful for, but don’t say what it is yet. List reasons why you are grateful for that person or thing until your child guesses correctly. Then it’s their turn!

Friend May 2023 “I Can Be Thankful”

For additional teaching ideas see Gratitude.

New Testament Coloring Book “The Ten Lepers”

Friend May 2013 “Coloring Page”

I can show my love for Heavenly Father by being grateful for my blessings. (older children)

Luke 17:11–19

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Luke 12–17; John 11” The story of the ten lepers might be a good way to inspire the children to express gratitude to Heavenly Father for their blessings.

Leprosy, more common anciently than today, is a skin disease that can lead to physical disfiguration and death. In biblical times, people with leprosy were separated from the rest of society and were required to call out “Unclean!” to warn anyone approaching them (see Bible Dictionary, “ Leper,” “ Leprosy ”).

Gospel Art Picture: “The Ten Lepers”

  • Read together the account of the ten lepers. How was the leper who gave thanks blessed for his gratitude? Why is it important to thank God for our blessings?

The Lord often blesses us more if we are grateful for what He has already given us.

Friend April 2019 “God’s Great Gift” President Nelson asked the person who daily fed some tropical fish if they had ever thanked her. He says that some people are like those fish. They are not aware of God and His goodness to them.

  • Invite the children to list things they are grateful for that start with each letter of their name.

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

“Lesson 24: I Can Show Gratitude,” Primary 2: Choose the Right A

Display the empty cup, the spoon, and the container of water. Ask the children to think of the many blessings Heavenly Father has given them, and explain that each time they name a blessing they may take a spoonful of water from the container and put it into the cup.

Place the cup and the container of water in the pan or dish to catch spills, and place the pan or dish on a flat surface such as the table or floor.

You may want to use the following questions to help the children think of their blessings:

  • What are some of the beautiful creations Heavenly Father has given us?
  • Who are some special people he has blessed us with?
  • What things can our wonderful bodies do?

Have the children take turns naming blessings and putting spoonfuls of water in the cup until the cup is filled to overflowing. Explain that Heavenly Father loves us and has given us many blessings. When we think of these blessings, we are thankful and filled with love for Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father has given us so many blessings that we can overflow with love, just like the cup overflowed with water.

  • Ask the children to write thank-you notes to Heavenly Father for the blessings He gives them. They could hang the notes by their beds to remind them to express gratitude when they pray.

For additional teaching ideas see the following:

Gratitude

“Lesson 25: Remember to Say ‘Thank You’” Primary 2: Choose the Right A

“Lesson 21: Jesus Christ Heals Ten Lepers,” Primary 7: New Testament

News with Naylors “Week 19: The Ten Lepers (gratitude)” Has a fun M&M gratitude activity.

I Should Receive “All Things with Thankfulness.”

Doctrine and Covenants 78:19

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 77-80”

The Lord often blesses us more if we are grateful for what He has already given us. How can you help the children you teach be grateful for their blessings?

  • Ask the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 78:19 and find what the Lord promises to those who are thankful. Help the children understand what “an hundred fold” means, perhaps by showing a small object and then 100 of that same object.
  • Sing a song about gratitude, such as “I Am Glad for Many Things” (Children’s Songbook, 151), or watch the video “Think to Thank” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Give the children time to make lists of things they are thankful for. Encourage them to list as many things as possible in the time you give them.

For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 77-80”

Family members could draw pictures of blessings from God they are thankful for. What are we doing to express our thankfulness for these blessings? You could also discuss how your family is following the counsel to receive “all things with thankfulness” (verse 19). What does the Lord promise to those who do?

Friend November 2004 “Blessings Tree”

Gratitude for God’s Blessings

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Mormon 1–6: “I Would That I Could Persuade All … to Repent”

Read Mormon 3:3 and 9 to the children, and explain that the Nephites had not recognized that Heavenly Father had blessed them. (Instead they became prideful and boasted in their own strength.)

What happens when we become prideful and boastful and wicked? We lose the guidance and protection of the Holy Ghost and we are left to our own devices. What happened to the Nephites after they became boastful and vengeful. (See Mormon 3:11 & 4:1-5) They faced the consequences of their actions.

Help the children think of blessings Heavenly Father has given them. Show pictures or objects to give them ideas. What can we do today to show we are thankful to Heavenly Father for our blessings?

Help the children think of blessings Heavenly Father has given them, and ask them to draw pictures of some of these blessings. Invite them to hang their pictures somewhere at home where they can see them and remember that Heavenly Father blesses them in many ways. You could also invite them to identify blessings that come from Heavenly Father as they sing the first verse of “I Thank Thee, Dear Father” (Children’s Songbook, 7).

Heavenly Father wants Me to be Grateful.

Doctrine and Covenants 59:7 Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things.

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

  • Tell the children something that you are thankful for, and ask them to share things they are thankful for. Read Doctrine and Covenants 59:7, and help the children think of ways they can thank Heavenly Father for their blessings. What could they make to take home to remind them to thank Heavenly Father for their blessings?
  • Sing together a song about gratitude, such as “For Health and Strength” (Children’s Songbook, 21). Invite the children to replace words in the song with other things they are thankful for.
  • Let the children draw pictures of things they are thankful for.

Friend May 2021 “Scripture Time Fun for Little Ones” Read Doctrine and Covenants 59:7. Then play this gratitude search game with your little ones. Go on a walk and say, “I spy something (red, small, etc.) that I’m grateful for.” See if they can spot it!

Friend May 2021 “Scripture Time Fun” Thankful Journals

  • Sing “I Thank Thee, Dear Father” (Children’s Songbook, 7).
  • Jesus taught, “Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:7).
  • Make thankful journals with your family! Fold pieces of paper together like a book and decorate the cover. Every night before you go to sleep, write or draw three things you are grateful for.

See also Gratitude and Resources for Teaching Children “Gratitude” for additional stories, activities, and song teaching aids.

“Beware lest thou forget the Lord.”

Deuteronomy 6:10–15.

These verses might prompt your family members to think of ways your family has been blessed. How can we follow the counsel to “beware lest thou forget the Lord”? (Deuteronomy 6:12). You may want to record your feelings about your blessings, perhaps in a journal or on FamilySearch. (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022)

Friend April 2019 “God’s Great Gift” President Nelson asked the person who daily fed some tropical fish if they had ever thanked her. He says that some people are like those fish. They are not aware of God and His goodness to them.

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

Friend April 2017 “Blessings All Around” Action rhyme for little ones.

Handout

Friend August 2016 “Happy Sabbath: Thank You”  Activity idea of making bread and for every ingredient added saying something Heavenly Father has blessed you with. Also demonstrates the sign language for saying “thank you.”

Friend November 1986 “Writing thank-you notes”

Friend November 2017 “For Older Kids” What are you grateful for? Set a timer for five minutes, and see how many things you can write down! Write them in your journal.

Friend May 2016 Take pictures of your blessings.

After arriving safely in the promised land, the Jaredites were so thankful that they “shed tears of joy” (Ether 6:12).

  • Read to the children phrases from Ether 6:9 and 12 to teach them how the Jaredites showed their gratitude to the Lord for helping them reach the promised land. Ask the children to name some things they are thankful for. Sing together, like the Jaredites did, a song that expresses gratitude, such as “I Thank Thee, Dear Father” (Children’s Songbook, 7).
  • Read to the children Ether 10:2 to show that even many years later, the Jaredites remembered how the Lord had helped their ancestors cross the ocean. Help the children think of ways the Lord has blessed them. Then let the children draw pictures to remind themselves of these blessings (or help them choose from some pictures you bring, perhaps from a Church magazine).

Latter Day Kids “Being Thankful- Come Follow Me” Lesson ideas and video

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Ether 6–11: “That Evil May Be Done Away”

One thing that distinguished the righteous Jaredite kings from the wicked ones is that the righteous kings “remembered the great things that the Lord had done” for them (Ether 7:27).

  • Ask the children to read Ether 6:307:27; and 10:2 individually or in small groups and find something that these verses have in common. Share your feelings about what the Lord has done for you, and invite the children to do the same.
  • Share with the children about how you try to remember ways the Lord has blessed you and your family. Help the children think of ways they can remind themselves what the Lord has done for them. Give them each a piece of paper, and invite them to ponder and write down something He has done for them recently. Suggest that they make a regular habit of writing down blessings they notice from the Lord (see “O Remember, Remember” [video, ChurchofJesusChrist.org]).

“I will remember the works of the Lord.”

PSALM 66 Praise and worship the Lord—He tests and tries men—Sacrifices are to be offered in His house.

PSALM 77 The righteous cry unto the Lord—They remember the wonders of old, how He redeemed the sons of Jacob and led Israel like a flock.

PSALM 78 The Israelites are to teach the Lord’s law to their children—Disobedient Israel provoked the Lord in the wilderness—The Egyptian plagues are recounted—The Lord chooses and blesses Judah and David.

Psalms 66:1677:1178:7

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 The Israelites taught their children about the miracles God had done for them so that the children “might set their hope in God” (Psalm 78:7).

  • Ask the children to share with you some of their favorite stories from the scriptures (pictures from the Gospel Art Book might help them think of stories). Why do they like these stories? What do these stories teach us about the Lord? Read together Psalms 77:1178:7. Why is it important to “remember the works of the Lord”?
  • Read to the children Psalm 77:11, and tell them how you try to “remember the works of the Lord,” including His works in your life. Invite the children to draw pictures to help them remember the great things He has done.
  • Ask the children to read Psalm 66:16 and think about or write down answers to the question “What has the Lord done for my soul?” Then let them share their answers, if they’d like. What can we do to “always remember” (Moroni 4:35:2) what the Lord has done for us?

Friend February 2021 “The Savior and Me” 

Remembering our Blessings

Joshua CHAPTER 4

Joshua places twelve stones to commemorate the crossing of the Jordan—Joshua is magnified before the children of Israel as they cross the Jordan—After the priests bearing the ark pass over, the river returns to its course.

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24” After reading what the Lord wanted the Israelites to do with stones from the Jordan River, your family could talk about some of the great things the Lord has done for you. Then you could give each family member a stone and invite them to write or draw on it something the Lord has done for them.

Friend May 2022 “Come, Follow Me Activities”

Remembrance Rocks

Story: God helped Joshua part the River Jordan so the people could walk across on dry ground. Then God asked Joshua and his people to collect stones from the river to remember how God helped them (see Joshua 4:5–7).

Song: “Where Love Is” (Children’s Songbook, 138–39)

Activity: Find rocks to paint or color. Write the word remember on them. While you decorate them, talk about ways God has helped you.

Quail is Provided when Israelites Lust for Meat

I can be thankful for what God has given me.

Numbers 11:4–10

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Numbers 11–14; 20–24” Even though the Lord had done wonderful things for the children of Israel, they often focused instead on what they didn’t have. Help the children learn to be thankful for what God has given them.

  • Ask the children if they remember some of the miracles the Lord performed to bless the Israelites in the wilderness. (If the children need help, show them pictures from the April 4–10 outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families; see also Exodus 14:21–2215:23–2516:4. (Ideas include the plagues of Egypt, crossing the Red Sea, manna, water from rocks, defeating enemies in battles, etc. ) Then summarize for them Numbers 11:4–10, emphasizing that the Lord was unhappy because the Israelites were complaining. Help the children think of ways they can show gratitude to the Lord.

Friend May 2022 “Come, Follow Me Activities” Gratitude Game

Story: Sometimes the Israelites forgot how the Lord had helped them. God wants us to remember to be grateful. It makes us happier too!

Song: “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228–29)

Activity: Play a gratitude game! Mark some sticks with one of three colors. Then take turns choosing a stick. For one color, name a person you are thankful for. For another color, say a place you are thankful for. For the third color, say a thing you are thankful for.

  • Sing together a song about gratitude, such as “Count Your Blessings” (Hymns, no. 241). Invite each child to draw pictures of blessings the Lord has given them or their families. Encourage them to think about or look at their picture whenever they are tempted to complain about something they don’t have.
This video is not produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or any of its members, but it has visuals and words to help you sing the song.

For additional teaching ideas see Gratitude

Gratitude Helps Us Feel Happier

Friend February 2023 “What’s on Your Mind?” A letter to the Friend asks how to feel happier. The Friend responds with, “One thing that can help us feel happier is gratitude.” They also suggest playing The Thankful Game. (See more at link)

Giving Thanks Even When Things Don’t Go Our Way

Friend November 2023 “The Tryouts” Jared was excited to try out for the regional basketball team. Only a few players get invited to try out for it. But when he found out it was on Sunday his excitement faded. But he knew God was more important than basketball. He said a prayer and afterwards felt a comforting feeling that everything would be okay. Two days later he got an email saying tryouts would be on Saturday instead. He prepared very hard for the tryout and did his best but wasn’t selected. Then, a comforting thought came to him. “Things won’t always work out how I want,” he said. “But Jesus Christ knows exactly how I feel. He’s on my side.”


Christmas: Lesson Ideas

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Focus on Jesus’s Birth

As a family, think of ways to stay focused on Jesus this Christmas.

Friend December 2018 “For Parents of Little Ones” Ways to help teach little ones the true meaning of  Christmas—the celebration of Jesus’s birth.

Friend December 2021 “Bright Idea”

Christmas Peace and Light

For the Strength of Youth December 2023 “6 Ways to Feel the Peace of Christ’s Light This Christmas Christmastime can get a little busy and stressful. Sometimes all that stress makes it hard to remember why we really celebrate Christmas. Put the two below pictures together, back to back. Shine a light behind the page to reveal six ways to focus on the Savior’s light and find more peace this Christmas.

Christmas Service Ideas

Friend December 2017 “Show and Tell” For the #LightTheWorld project, each member of our family wrote down on a light bulb what we did each day. (Click on Link for more ideas.)

Friend December 2021 “Show and Tell” Christmas cards for homeless, Giving tree (Click on link for photos)

We made 50 Christmas cards for people without homes who were staying in a temporary shelter in our town. We wanted to make sure they knew they were loved at Christmas. Jude and Oliver G., ages 4 and 8, California, USA

We set up a “giving tree” outside our house. We invited neighbors to do a good deed and then hang an ornament on the tree. Neighbors were happy to see so many good deeds happening. We are planning to make this a Christmas tradition! Kip, Annabelle, Hayes, and Dawson F., ages 2, 8, 4, and 6, Florida, USA

Friend December 2022 “For Older Kids” We used some of our Christmas gift money to help people in need. (Ridge and Blaike G., ages 9 and 13, Arizona, USA)

Gratitude for Gifts

Friend December 2017 “Family Night Fun” List the best gifts you’ve been given from friends and family and from Heavenly Father.

Gifts for Jesus

Friend December 2020 “Gifts of Love for Jesus” Heavenly Father gave us His Son, Jesus Christ. And Jesus gave His life for us so we can live with Him again. You may want to give a gift to Jesus. What gifts can you give Him?

We can give a gift to Jesus by serving others. Write on each person the name of someone you can serve.

Friend December 2017 “Family Night Fun” Make these cute gift boxes, and write a gift you want to give Jesus, like being kind, and put it in your gift box to remember!

Friend December 2017 “Dear Friends” One reason we give Christmas presents is to remember the gift of Heavenly Father and His Son. They love us so much. And we can show how much we love Them by being kind to others. You are a gift to the world too. Your life is a blessing to those around you.

Friend December 2015
Friend December 2015 Gifts of love

Help Others Come Unto Jesus

Friend December 2022 “Bright Idea”

Family Christmas

Ensign December 2017 Sample some foreign traditions. Wherever your ancestors come from, they probably had different Christmas traditions than you do now. Discover some traditional foods, games, or other activities from your ancestors’ homelands and try them out with your family.

Decorate your Christmas tree to reflect your family tree. Create ornaments that represent the ancestors. Place names and pictures (if available) of these ancestors among the tree’s decorations. (See link for more ideas.)

Light the World

Christmas Service

Friend December 2023 “Lighting the World Together” Dallin H. Oaks “As followers of Jesus Christ, we should be the friendliest of all people. We should serve those around us and those not of our faith. We should also notice the good done by others. Jesus Christ’s light guides all of us to help those in need.”

Symbols of Christmas

Clipart Library

Friend December 2022 “The Symbols of Christmas”

  • Show the children a few Christmas decorations (or pictures of some), such as a star, lights, or a gift. Ask the children how each of these things might remind us of the Savior. Explain that the scriptures often use symbols to teach us about Jesus Christ. Invite the children to look in one or more of the following verses for something that could symbolize Jesus Christ: Genesis 22:8Exodus 17:6Psalms 18:227:1 (see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families for additional examples). How is Jesus like a lamb, water, rock, a fortress, or light?

Friend December 1985 “The Answer Tree” A grandma put answers to her grandchild’s questions about Jesus onto tree ornaments. (activity idea)

Christmas Lights

For the Strength of Youth December 2022 “Christmas Light” Our Christmas celebrations help remind us that Jesus Christ is our true Light.

Star

  • Give each child a paper star, and invite the children to hold their stars up when you read the following phrase from Numbers 24:17: “there shall come a Star out of Jacob.” Invite the children to share how Jesus is like a bright star that shines to all the world. Sing together a song about the star that appeared when Jesus was born, such as “Stars Were Gleaming” (Children’s Songbook, 37) or “The First Noel” (Hymns, no. 213). (Jesus is our source of light to guide us in the paths we should follow.)

Little LDS Ideas

Friend December 1987 “Christmas Stars” Jody wants to be like the Christmas   star and lead people to Jesus by being a good example.

Friend December 2022 “The Nativity Star” Cayden’s family has a tradition of acting out the story of Jesus’s birth. Cayden wants to be the star that led the wisemen to Bethlehem because he wants to help people find Jesus like the star did.

Gifts

Friend December 2021 “The First Christmas Gift” An 11 year old’s father told her about the very first Christmas gift. It was when Heavenly Father gave us His Son, Jesus Christ, to be our Savior. Heavenly Father knew that His Son would suffer on earth, but He still gave Jesus to the world. And Jesus willingly gave Himself so that we could have eternal life.

Friend December 2019 “The Christmas Coins” Three people from the neighborhood were singing songs and collecting money to help sick children at the hospital. Janelle’s mother didn’t have any money, so Janelle gave all her coins to the singers. Afterwards she realized she had given away the money she was saving to buy her mom a gift. Janelle’s mom said she gave her the best gift by doing what Jesus would do, helping someone who needed help.

Friend December 2016 “You can’t Wrap a Horse” A family talks about gifts–gifts that can’t be wrapped like service and the gift of our Savior from Heavenly Father.

The Scriptures Teach of Jesus Birth

The Old Testament Teaches of Jesus Birth

Christmas: Old Testament

Christmas New Testament

What I Like About Christmas

Friend December 2023 “Following Jesus Together” Children’s Christmas crafts, art, and favorite things about Christmas


My Heavenly Father Loves Me: Song

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My Heavenly Father Loves Me

(Children’s Songbook, pg. 228 )

Preparation

  • Items needed: a half sheet of poster board, glue, scissors, drawing compass or ruler, and one brad.
  • Print the visual aid items and assemble the activity using the following steps:
  1. Cut out the earth pieces, and place the two pieces together, with the middle edges overlapping until the scenes on both side match in the middle. Glue the pieces together.
  2. Place the earth on the half sheet of poster board and trace around the outside edge. After removing the earth, find the middle point on the earth picture and on the poster board using a compass or a ruler. (Note: it must be the exact middle in order for this activity to work)
  3. Cut out the triangle pieces inside the blue lines. Place the blank triangle on the earth just left of the top middle, making sure the tip is at the center mark. Trace around the triangle with a pencil and then cut out the piece from the earth.
  4. Place each triangle on the poster board circle outline in the correct order (see above picture). They will overlap each other in order for them to all fit, but the points of all the triangles need to be circling the center mark. Once all the parts are situated, lightly glue down each piece. Place the earth on top of the circle and check to make sure that the opening on the earth shows each picture correctly as you turn it. Cut out the poster board circle, trimming off any parts of the triangles around the edges. Laminate both the earth and the poster board circle. (UPS stores have laminators. They also can enlarge the images and print them bigger if needed.) Cut off the excess laminating around the edges, but do not cut out the laminate on the cut out slice of the earth.)
  5. Place the earth on top of the circle cutout. With a thick needle, poke a hole through the center mark on both items leaving the needle in place. Turn the earth and make sure everything is lined up. If both circles are lined up, put the brad through both holes, opening up the arms in the back. Note: The visual aids were found on Microsoft Word clipart and in the Friend magazine. The idea for this visual aid was posted on Sugardoodle from “The Choristers Corner,” but it didn’t include printable images.
  6. Be prepared to attach the back circle to the board with strong magnets or sticky tack. If you plan on having  the children help with the wheel turning, a tab can be added to the front circle edge to help the younger children turn it. If this song idea is used for family home evening, sing the song with the children throughout the week to help the children remember it.

Presentation

Remind the children that our Heavenly Father loves us, so he had Jesus make this beautiful world for us to live on. Explain that this song reminds us of many of the wonderful things we are blessed with on the earth.

Show the children the earth visual aid.

Senior primary:

Have the children listen for what word each pictures stands for as you sing the song for the children while turning the top circle on the earth visual aid. (See the underlined words below). Make sure the pictures are always at the top of the world. Sing the song again using the visual aid, and stop at each picture and have the children say the word. Sing the song again, two lines at a time, and have the children echo you. Then have them sing the whole song with you using the visual aids as clues.

After the children learn the song, you can use the actions to help remind them of the words instead of using the visual aid.

 

Whenever I hear the song of a bird

Or look at the blue, blue sky,

Whenever I feel the rain on my face

Or the wind as it rushes by,

Whenever I touch a velvet rose

Or walk by our lilac tree,

I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world

Heav’nly Father created for me.

Junior Primary

Sing a line while showing the visual aid. But before singing, tell the children to listen for the word each picture stands for. Sing that line again with the visual aid, but stop at the word and have the children say the word. Sing the line again in parts and have them echo you. Then have them sing the whole line with you. Do the same with the other lines. After they learn a new line, have the children sing it with previously learned lines.

After the children learn the song, you can use the following actions to help remind them of the words instead of using the visual aid.

 

Actions

Whenever I hear the song of a bird. (Cup hand around ear.)

Or look at the blue, blue sky, (Point at your eyes and then point at the sky.)

Whenever I feel the rain on my face (Stroke face, and then put hands up in front of you and wiggle your fingers as your hands move downward. )

Or the wind as it rushes by, (Wiggle your fingers as your hand move side to side.)

Whenever I touch a velvet rose. (Put finger out as if to touch something.)

Or walk by our lilac tree, (Make two fingers move as if walking.)

I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world. (Point to your smiling face, and then hold arms out with palms up.)

Heav’nly Father created for me.

 

Note: Accompaniment can be found at http://www.lds.org/music/library/childrens-songbook/my-heavenly-father-loves-me?lang=eng



Blessings & Gratitude: Stories & Poems

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Count Your Blessings

Friend November 2018 “Matt and Mandy” A regular meal turns into a Thanksgiving type meal when the family expresses things they are grateful for.

Friend November 2018 “Count Your Blessings” Jacy can’t sleep. Her father comes in when he hears her crying. He suggests that she sing a song and then count her blessings. Thinking about her blessings helps her relax and sleep.

Friend November 2017 “The Blessing Fish” A family learns the story of the disciples that caught a net full of fish after Jesus told them where to cast their nets. The children realize that the fish are a blessing to Peter’s family. They talk about the blessings their family has been given.

Friend November 2017 “Sincerely, Maisy: A Muddy Thanksgiving” Maisy feels she has a lot to be grateful for after helping a family at Thanksgiving whose house was being flooded.

Gratitude Jar

Friend November 2020 “The Thankful Jar” At school, the kids got to say one thing they were thankful for and put it in a jar. Henry couldn’t think of just one, so he wanted to make a thankful jar at home and fill it up.

Gratitude Journal

Friend November 2020 “Matt and Mandy Matt and Mandy wonder how the people in the Book of Mormon kept getting wicked again and again after they were blessed so much. They decided to write a gratitude journal so they wouldn’t forget all their blessings.

Friend November 2022 “Matt and Mandy” Mandy makes lists of all the things and people she is thankful for.

Gratitude for Nature

Friend March 2017 “Raining!” Rain makes the earth clean and beautiful. Water helps us in many ways.

Gratitude During Adversity (seeing blessings)

Friend November 2020 “120 Happy People” A family does a service project every year on the birthday of their baby who died because serving helps them feel thankful for what they have, and when they feel thankful, then happiness replaces the sad feelings. For this years project they decide to thank you notes to people every day and help 120 people feel happy.

Friend November 2019 “Matt and Mandy”  Matt broke his arm and had to have surgery. He keeps his sense of humor through the whole ordeal. At Thanksgiving he shares all the things he is grateful for in regards to what happened to his arm; he’s grateful for doctors, priesthood blessings, learning to do hard things, that his injury wasn’t worse, etc.

Friend November 2019 “Searching for Sir Crunch-a-Lot” Mackenzie’s family shop at the bishop’s storehouse for their food because they don’t have much money after her dad lost his job. Mackenzie wishes she didn’t have to eat boring food like granola instead of her favorite cereal brand, and sandwiches instead of pizza at school. But then she finds out that a friend sitting next to her isn’t eating lunch because she is fasting for a family member. Mackenzie realizes how hard it must be to fast, and she is grateful for all the people who fast and give fast offerings so she and her family don’t go hungry. (Refreshment Idea: Friend November 2019 “Family Night Fun: Gratitude Granola” Have family members say something they’re grateful for as they add each ingredient!

Friend November 2016 “Pie-crust Cabins” When Robbin’s great grandmother was young, her family didn’t have much at Thanksgiving, so they made pie crust cabins with what they had to remind them of their blessings. It became a family tradition.

Friend October 2017 “Bread and Gratitude” A man at a restaurant always find some fault in the meal no matter what the waiter provides.  “As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are commanded to “thank the Lord [our] God in all things” (D&C 59:7). If we focus on the blessings we think we are missing, it can make us unhappy.“

Friend October 2017 “Bread and Gratitude” Fill in the blank story about a boy who has a terrible day, but after a dream he realizes he is grateful for all those things that had been difficult the day before.

Friend March 1987 “Fruit for Hernando” Hernando and his family has very little, but he realizes they are blessed.

Friend Nov. 1985 “Something of Value” After her father loses his job, Janie learns that there are more important things than possessions and that she has many blessings.

Friend Nov. 2015 “Sweeter then Pie” Tally gets sick before her school party, but she has good friends that remember her.

Saying Thank You

Friend November 2020 “Thankful Thea” Thea says thank you whenever her mom and dad do something for her.

Friend May 2019 “The Gratitude Goal” Kate’s favorite scripture story was the story of the ten lepers. She couldn’t believe that out of the ten people Jesus healed, only one said thank you! She’d made it a goal ever since to always say thank you,  even when she was stressed and worried about such things as making the soccer team.

Friend July 2018 “Thank You!” Action rhyme about remembering to say thank you when someone helps you.

Friend June 2023 “The Kindness Coin” Nina gave her neighbor free lemonade at her stand as a thank you for all the help he had given to her family. Her neighbor was so kind though that he put it on the porch for her to find. Nina and her neighbor went back and forth finding places to put the coin at each other’s houses. It was a fun game. But then the neighbor had the coin made into a necklace for Nina.

Friend June 2023 “The Kindness Coin” Nina gave her neighbor free lemonade at her stand as a thank you for all the help he had given to her family. Her neighbor was so kind though that he put it on the porch for her to find. Nina and her neighbor went back and forth finding places to put the coin at each other’s houses. It was a fun game. But then the neighbor had the coin made into a necklace for Nina.

Friend February 2018 “Grateful Gifts”  A man in Alice’s ward gives her and her sister a flute as a thank you for playing the piano for Sacrament meetings. Alice loves the gift and learns a song to play for the man to show her appreciation.(Article includes photos of the people and of the special flute)

Friend November 1986 “My Thank-You Song” Poem about saying thank-you.

Blessing of Teachers

Friend September 2015 “Sister Pettigrew’s Lesson”  – link includes thank you note to write to teacher

Friend September 2015

Blessing of Freedom

Friend July 1988 “Grandpa Max’s Flag” Scott’s grandfather puts up a US flag everyday because he immigrated from a country where the people didn’t have freedom; they were taxed and imprisoned unfairly or forced to join the military.


Tithing #1

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 Pay Tithing with a Grateful Heart – Game and Activity

Preparation

Print one copy of the blessing cards found in the November 2008 Friend.  Glue the cards onto heavier paper so that the images can’t be seen through the cards when playing the game. Cut out each card.   

Print the purse, envelope and the page entitled “Our Blessings from Heavenly Father”.  Cut out the purse and envelope. Cut out the front windows of each, and cut out the handle opening on the purse. Tape a piece of clear plastic (a piece of a Ziploc baggie or page protector) over the window on the inside of the purse and envelope. To form the envelope and purse, fold each on the lines and glue the two side tabs to the inside fold.

Items needed: ten dimes or pennies, Doctrine and Covenant scriptures, a pen or a marker

Game

Place the cards facedown. Have the family take turns flipping over two cards trying to make a match. When someone makes a match, have them tell why they are thankful for that blessing. Have them write that blessing, and an additional blessing they are grateful for (not duplicating any previous ones), on the paper entitled “Our Blessings from Heavenly Father”. When the game is over, point out all the wonderful blessings Heavenly Father has given us.

Discussion

Read D&C 104:14-15    According to this scripture, who created the earth and who does everything belong to? (The Lord)  Everything we have is His, but He has created it and provided it for us to use.

The Lord asks (commands) that we give 10% of the income that He provides to help strengthen and build His church on the earth. This 10% is called tithing. This is a small amount compared to all the many things the Lord has given us.

(Hold out the ten dimes (or pennies) in your hand). Ask the family, “If we are to give 10%, which is one of every ten, how much would we owe the Lord if we had ten dimes.”  Put one dime in the envelope that says “For the Lord”. Put the rest in the container that says “For Us”.  Ten percent is a small amount compared to all he has given us (Indicate the blessing chart and the other 90% of the money).  We should give 10% with gratitude in our hearts.