The Liahona & Traveling in the Wilderness

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1 Nephi CHAPTER 16 The wicked take the truth to be hard—Lehi’s sons marry the daughters of Ishmael—The Liahona guides their course in the wilderness—Messages from the Lord are written on the Liahona from time to time—Ishmael dies; his family murmurs because of afflictions. About 600–592 B.C.

The Liahona

The Lord told Lehi to continue his journey. The next morning Lehi found a brass ball called the Liahona outside his tent. It pointed the way to go in the wilderness.
Lehi’s family gathered food and seeds and packed their tents. They traveled through the wilderness for many days, following the directions of the Liahona.

Book of Mormon Videos 

Friend January 2020 “Book of Mormon Cutouts”

Friend June 1987 “Compass of Faith” Liahona dot-to-dot and story figures.

Stand up figures as you tell story of journey to promised land. Tell ways that each member of family did, or did not, show faith through their obedience.

When I keep the commandments, the Lord guides me.

1 Nephi 16:10, 28–2918:8–13, 20–22

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 If you have a compass, a map, or something else that helps us find our way, you could show it to your children. This could be a good way to begin a discussion about the Liahona, which you can read about in 1 Nephi 16:10, 28–29. What are some reasons a compass or map might not work? Why did the Liahona sometimes not work for Lehi’s family? (see 1 Nephi 18:9–12, 20–22). What has Heavenly Father given us today to guide us back to Him?

Friend May 2000 “Sharing Time: Keeping Promises” The Liahona is like the Holy Ghost. Roller Box story.

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Friend February 2024 “The Liahona”

To help your children apply what they learn about the Liahona in 1 Nephi 16:10, 26–3118:8–22, you could invite them to think about an important or difficult decision. What has God given us to guide us today that works like the Liahona? (See, for example, Alma 37:38–44.) Consider sharing a personal experience in which Heavenly Father guided you. (Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024)

Friend February 2016 “Savannah the Engineer” Savannah needs to decide whether or not to join an after school science team.

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New Era January 2019 “How to Get Better Revelation Reception” Use a cup and string communication device and put folded papers on the string of things that might interfere with receiving revelation. (See article for more information.)

Come Follow Me Kids “I Will Prepare the Way Before You If it’s something that would be conducive to receiving revelations, have the kids make a thumbs up sign. If it’s something that would interfere with receiving revelation, make a thumbs down sign. Talk about additional ways we can keep the commandments and feel the Lord’s spirit and guidance.
 You hurt your brother/sister.
 You disobey your mom/dad.
 You share your candy with your brother/sister.
 You tell your family members that you love them.
 You help your brother/sister clean up their toys.
 You give a family member a hug to help them feel better when they get hurt.
 You listen to songs with bad words.
 You pray reverently.
 You try to be like Jesus

Friend February 2019 “Yo-Yo Decision” While shopping with her mom, Lea found a yo-yo. Oscar had brought one to school and had impressed everyone with tricks. Lea wanted to do that too, but she didn’t have enough money to buy the yo-yo. A thought came into her mind that she could just put it in her pocket, but then she had a bad feeling. She realized it was the Holy Ghost warning her, so she put it back and felt peaceful and happy.

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020: 1 Nephi 11-15 Bring a box containing several clues that describe a location in or around the church building. Use the box and clues to represent the Liahona, and let the children take turns selecting clues and guessing what the location is. Then travel to the location together. Explain that when we show faith and follow the direction the Lord gives us, He will help us return to Him (see Alma 37:38–42). How does Heavenly Father guide us in our journey back to Him?

The Red Crystal This print out can be used to write clues on to describe a location in the church, or you can place scriptures a picture of a prophet, church magazine, etc…around the room. When the children find them they can stick a Liahona on them, because they are….”What helps us today to find our way back to Heavenly Father.” CFM-For Primary page 17

The Cozy Red Cottage

The Liahona Teachingldschildren.com Attention Activity: Tape the sign “Eternal Life” on a wall. On an opposite wall put the sign “Mortal Birth.” Ask for a volunteer. Blindfold that person, and tell them they need to get from the sign that says “Mortal Birth” to the sign that says “Eternal Life.” Tell them there will be obstacles in the way but you will provide someone to help them get safely around the obstacles. (See additional instructions at link.)

Game: Put the game board and the Liahona on a display board for everyone to see. Choose a volunteer. Tell the volunteer that the object of the game is to get from the starting square to a square that says “The Promised Land.” There are two ways they can do this: they can try and guess which way to go, or they can check the Liahona for directions. Tell them it will take a little diligence and effort to get directions from the Liahona. They will have to look up a scripture and find the directions in the scripture. But if they try to guess which way to go, and it is the wrong guess, they will lose their next turn. (See additional instructions at link)

Friend February 2024 “Come, Follow Me Activities” The Liahona guided Nephi’s family to the promised land (see 1 Nephi 18:21–23). Have one person hide an object. Everyone else takes turns asking the hider yes-or-no questions to find the object together.

For younger children: Have your child hide an object. Ask them to give you hints about where it is by saying “hotter“ when you get closer and “colder“ when you get farther away.

“The Holy Ghost Testifies of the Truth of all Things” (June 2010 Liahona and Friend)

“Lehi and His Family Are Led through the Wilderness” Primary 4: Book of Mormon (Lesson Ideas) Attention Activity: Give the children each a piece of string 20 inches (50 cm) long. Have them hold one end of the string in their right hand and the other end in their left hand. Ask them to tie a knot in the string without letting go of the ends. If you do not have enough string, have one child do the activity in front of the class.

  • Does this seem too hard or impossible to do?

Have the children try to tie a knot again, but this time have them fold their arms first and with their arms still folded have them pick up one end of the string with their right hand and the other end with their left hand. Ask them to hold onto the ends as they unfold their arms. Their string will be knotted. Collect the strings from the children. Point out that the children could tie the knot when you showed them how to do it. Tell the children that in the same way we all have challenges in our lives that might seem impossible to solve. If we do all we can and put our trust in Heavenly Father, he will help us find the answers.

Nephi’s Broken Bow

Friend February 2020 “Nephi’s Broken Bow”

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I can be a good example to my family.

1 Nephi 16:21–32

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 As you read 1 Nephi 16:21–32 together, help your children discover how Nephi’s example blessed his family (see also the video “The Lord Guides Lehi’s Journey” [Gospel Library]). This could lead to a discussion about how we could be like Nephi. Invite your children to plan one thing they can do to be a good influence on other family members.

The Cozy Red Cottage Example match game cards also include truthful, forgiving, peacemaker, kind & loving, unselfish. (The link to download the free printables is at the end of the post.)

Friend March 2011″Daniel’s Example of Prayer” Daniel sets an example for his grandparents who aren’t members of the church.

Friend March 2011 “Being a Good Example”

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020: 1 Nephi 11-15 Assign each child to draw a picture of something from the story of Nephi’s broken bow (see 1 Nephi 16:14–32), such as Nephi, a bow, or the Liahona. Then use the pictures to tell the story to the class, and let the children take turns doing the same. How can we be like Nephi when our families are going through hard times?

The Red Crystal How would someone with faith and hope react to the following situations? How would someone who is murmuring react?

The Cozy Red Cottage The manual states, “Perhaps your family could contrast Nephi’s account of traveling in the wilderness (see 1 Nephi 17:1-6) with his brothers’ account (1 Nephi 17:17-22). Why do you think they saw the same events differently? What can we learn from Nephi about having a faithful perspective?”
(Could write responses to the above situations on this form.)

Friend February 2020 “Coloring Page: Nephi Trusted God”

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020: 1 Nephi 11-15 Invite the children to each cut out a paper circle and draw a sad face on one side and a happy face on another. As you tell the story of Nephi’s broken bow, invite them to use the faces to show how Nephi’s family was feeling during different parts of the story. How did Nephi help make his family happy? What can we do to make our families happy?

The Red Crystal

Additional Resources

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Book of Mormon 2020 “As Lehi’s family journeyed toward the promised and, the Lord made them this promise: “I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments” (1 Nephi 17:13). Clearly, that promise did not mean that the journey would be easy—family members still disagreed, bows broke, and people struggled and died, and they still had to build a ship from raw materials. However, when the family faced adversity or seemingly impossible tasks, Nephi recognized that the Lord was never far away. He knew that God “doth nourish [the faithful], and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them” (1 Nephi 17:3). If you ever wonder why bad things happen to good people like Nephi and his family, you may find insights in these chapters. But perhaps more important, you will see what good people do when bad things happen.”

Friend January 2020 “Following the Liahona: Action Rhyme”

Friend January 2020 “Come, Follow Me for Little Ones” Read 1 Nephi 17:13 together and help your little ones say, “The Lord will guide me.” Turn off the lights and walk around a room using just flashlights. Talk about how Jesus, like the light, can help us feel safer and know what to do.

Teaching the Scripture Readers: In the Wilderness

Friend January 2016 “Journey to the Promised Land” We can be obedient like Nephi.  Video

Friend July 2020 “Small and Simple Puzzle” Like the Liahona that guided Lehi’s family, simple things can help us solve big problems (see Alma 37:6, 38–44). What are small and simple ways you can follow Jesus? Can you find each of the pieces below in the puzzle?

Scripture Stories Coloring Book—Book of Mormon Draw what you think the Liahona looks like. How did the Liahona work?

“A Real Hero” (July 2007 Friend) Ji-Woong likes to play super heroes. At family home evening he learns about a real hero, Nephi. Nephi had power from the Lord to pray and stop a storm, build a ship, shock his brothers, be led by the Spirit through the streets of Jerusalem to obtain the brass plates. Ji-Woong asked, “How did Nephi get his power?” “The Lord gave him power because Nephi was a righteous man who prayed in faith,” Appa explained. “You too can pray and then follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Heavenly Father will help you know when people need help.”


Elder Richard G. Scott: “Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses
applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence
that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more. He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate
growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from
where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails
discomfort and pain.”

Come Follow Me Kids “I Will Prepare the Way Before You” Lesson ideas

The Red Crystal


3 thoughts on “The Liahona & Traveling in the Wilderness

  1. Pingback: Book of Mormon Lesson Ideas 1 - 10 - Teaching Children

  2. Hello, is there a link to the lesson idea : travelling in the wilderness? it looks great for my grand children

  3. Pingback: Book of Mormon Table of Contents - Teaching Children the Gospel

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