Jesus Christ can help weak things become strong.
As children get older, they become more aware of their weaknesses. Use these verses to teach them how the Savior can make “weak things become strong” (Ether 12:27).
- Describe for the children a task that would require a lot of physical strength to accomplish. Invite them to share examples of things they aren’t strong enough to do now. How could we become strong enough to accomplish these tasks? Explain that we also have spiritual work to do, but we sometimes feel spiritually weak. Moroni felt this way about his writings on the plates (Ether 12:23–25). Read Ether 12:27 to the children. What did the Lord promise those who feel weak?
- Share an experience in which the Savior helped you or someone you know do something that was hard. Testify to the children that if they seek His help, Jesus can help them be strong, even when they feel weak.
- Invite the children to draw a picture of something weak and something strong. Then invite them to add to their drawing some words and phrases from Ether 12:23–29 that teach them about how the Savior can help us turn our weakness into strength. Encourage the children to think about a weakness they might have and then seek the Savior’s help to become strong.
Why does the Lord give us weakness? What is our part in making “weak things become strong”? What is the Savior’s part?
“Weak Things Stronger.” In this Friend article, Parker learns that he doesn’t have to be perfect and that the Savior is there to help him.
Friend June 2018 “For Parents of Little Ones” Helping little ones understand and talk about their feelings.
Friend March 2022 “He Is There” Song and Music Video
2. Do you ever stop to think What your Heavenly Father sees When He looks at you?
He smiles brighter than the sun When He sees His precious one; There’s just one like you!
So take comfort when that quiet voice reminds you:
Chorus 2: He is there, greater than any challenge. God is there, watching you as you grow,
Sending comfort in the night, Helping you know and choose what’s right.
You’re not alone, for He is always there. So keep trying, keep growing;
Keep praying, keep knowing:God loves you so, and He is always there.
Handout Ideas
Friend September 2019 “Bright Idea” You are strong. You are loved. The world is better because of you!
Afraid of Trying New Things and Failing
Friend February 2020 “What’s on Your Mind?” A child writes to the Friend saying that sometimes he is afraid to try new things because he might fail. The Friend magazine reminds him that all people who are really good at something started out as beginners, and it’s okay to make mistakes. They also share some examples of people who weren’t very good when they first started, but they kept trying and eventually became successful.
Friend September 2024 “What’s on Your Mind?” Maybe you think that if you don’t do things perfectly, you are a failure. But that’s not true! In fact, mistakes can help you learn and improve.
Making Mistakes
Frustration with Imperfection
Friend June 2019 “What’s on Your Mind?” Somebody writes the Friend about trying to do things right but failing. The Friend responds by saying that Heavenly Father doesn’t expect you to be perfect right away. He sent you here to learn and grow, little by little. (Also, includes a fill-in-the-blank activity about scriptures that discuss growing little by little.)
Friend July 2024 “What’s on Your Mind?”
Learn from them and try again
Friend February 2019 “Bright Idea” Handout that says, “Everyone makes mistakes. Heavenly Father will help me learn and grow and try again.”
Friend September 2019 “For Parents of Little Ones” When children are so afraid of making a mistake that they refuse to try something new, they can miss out on a lot of growth and wonderful experiences! This article contains some ideas on how to help children realize that making mistakes is an important part of learning.
Don’t Give Up
Friend September 2023 “The Cake Mistake” Shiloh planned a beautiful layered cake to enter into the school contest, but things didn’t go well. It didn’t look anything like her plans. She wanted to throw it away because she thought she would get last place. Her mom said a prayer for Hannah to be happy with what she had done. Shiloh decided it didn’t look that bad, and she had had fun making it. She was even able to win second place. She was glad she hadn’t given up because it wasn’t perfect.
Positive Self Talk
Friend November 2023 “Conference Notes”
Elder Stevenson invited us to stop each time we see ourselves in a mirror and say, “Wow, look at me! I am amazing! I am a child of God! He knows me! He loves me!” Doing this will help us remember who we really are and how God and the Holy Ghost can help us.
This teaches me:
Friend May 2021 “Encouraging Words” If something goes wrong and you’re feeling bad, try writing yourself an encouraging note!
New Era February 2018 “Change Your Thinking”
Friend June 2017 “Family Night Fun” What do you say to yourself when you need to do something tough? Try the ideas in this article. You can do it!
Fear of what Others Think
- Read Doctrine and Covenants 30:1 together, and ask the children to summarize, in their own words, the counsel the Lord gave David Whitmer. In what ways might we sometimes “fear man,” or worry what others might think, instead of doing what we know we should? Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 30–36”
Friend February 2017 “Conference Cards” Handout that says, ““The only opinion of us that matters is what our Heavenly Father thinks of us.”
Feeling Good About What Makes You Unique
Friend November 2016. Trees, fruits, flowers, and animals are all different shapes, colors, and sizes. Heavenly Father made people different too! You can feel good about who you are and what makes you special. Use your answers from the questions below to draw a picture that represents you!
You are a Hero
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.
Each of Us is of Great Worth to God.
Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–12
Many people struggle with feelings of low self-worth; others are unkind toward people who are different from them. The powerful message of Doctrine and Covenants 18:10 can change how we view ourselves and people around us.
Repeat verse 10 with the children, this time replacing “souls” with the children’s names.
Help the children think of things that people consider valuable. Then let the children take turns looking in a mirror, and as they do, tell each child that he or she is a child of God and of great worth. Testify that to Heavenly Father, they are more valuable than all the things they thought of earlier.
- Ask each child to write his or her name on a piece of paper and pass the papers around the room. Invite them to write on each paper they receive something they like about that person. Encourage them to be kind and thoughtful in their comments. Then help the children read Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–12, and invite them to share what they learn about how God feels about us. Explain that we are all of great worth to God because we are His children.
- Show the children something that is very valuable to you. How do we treat things that are valuable to us? Ask a child to read Doctrine and Covenants 18:10. How can we show other people that “the worth of [their] souls is great” in our sight?
Each family member could read Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–13 and substitute his or her name in place of the words “soul,” “souls,” and “all men.” You could then discuss how these verses help us understand our worth to the Father and the Son (see Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19).
Liahona February 2021 “Your Worth is Great” Family Study Fun: Circle of Worth
Circle of Worth: Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer were counseled to remember that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:10). As we help others to see their own worth, we bring them nearer to Christ while becoming closer to Him ourselves.
- Invite family members to sit in a circle.
- Each person will take a turn standing in the middle of the circle.
- Everyone sitting in the circle will tell the middle person, “You matter to me because ___________,” and share specific details of why that person is of worth to them.
- The middle person will then choose their own statement of personal worth: “I matter to God and myself because __________.”
Discussion: Why is it important to remember our own worth as well as the worth of those around us? If Christ were in the circle, what would He say about us? Read Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–13 and discuss what Christ went through because of how much He loves and values us.
Friend February 2021 “Scripture Time Fun”
Friend February 2021 “Scripture Time for Little Ones” For Doctrine and Covenants 18–19: Help your little ones say, “I am important to Heavenly Father.” Then sing “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2) and have your children give themselves a hug when they sing the words, “I am a child of God.”
Friend November 2020 “We are Moving Forward”
For the Strength of Youth March 2024 “12 Scriptures for When You Feel …”
Friend April 2021 “Things to Remember”
For additional teaching ideas see “Child of God“ and Love of God