Because of Jesus Christ, I will be resurrected.

Doctrine and Covenants 63:49; 88:14–17, 27; 138:11, 14–17

• Show pictures of the death, burial, and Resurrection of the Savior (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 57, 58, and 59). (Or use the images below) Let your children share what they know about these events. Testify that Jesus died for us and rose from the dead so that we can all be resurrected after we die. Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 and Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”

Easter Scripture Story

• Think of an object lesson that can help the children understand what happens when we die (our spirits and bodies separate) and when we are resurrected (our spirits and bodies come back together and our bodies are perfect and immortal). For example, what happens when we remove the battery from a flashlight or the ink container from a pen? What happens when they are reunited?Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”

• Do your children know someone who has passed away? Let them share a little about these individuals, and then read together Doctrine and Covenants 138:17. Talk with each other about how it feels to know that our loved ones will be resurrected and have bodies again. Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025

Joseph Smith knew how it feels to mourn the death of loved ones. Two of his brothers, Alvin and Don Carlos, died as young men. Joseph and Emma buried six children, each younger than two years old. But from the revelations he received, Joseph gained an eternal perspective on death and God’s eternal plan. Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”

• Assign each child one of the following scripture passages: Doctrine and Covenants 63:49; 88:14–17, 27; 138:11, 14–17. Invite the children to search their verses to find a phrase that they feel captures the message of Easter. Let them share their thoughts. If time allows, let them make cards that feature the phrases they found that they can give to family members or friends. They could do the same with the video “Because He Lives” (Gospel Library). How can we share this message with others?

• Ask the children how they would explain to a younger sibling or a friend what it means to be resurrected. For ideas, read together Doctrine and Covenants 138:14–17, and consider questions like these: What happens to our spirits and bodies when we die? What happens when we are resurrected? How did Jesus Christ make resurrection possible? Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”

The Prophet Joseph Smith testified that Jesus Christ lives.

The Prophet Joseph Smith saw Jesus Christ.

Doctrine and Covenants 76:11–24; 110:1–10; Joseph Smith—History 1:14–17

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 and Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”

• Show the children a picture of Joseph Smith’s First Vision. Invite the children to tell you what is happening in the picture, and ask them to find Jesus Christ.

Ask the children if they know about other times Joseph Smith saw the Savior. In your own words, tell about the experiences described in Doctrine and Covenants 76:11–24; 110:1–7. Why is it a blessing to know that Joseph Smith saw the risen Savior?

• April 3, 1836, was Easter Sunday. After helping administer the sacrament to Saints gathered in the newly dedicated Kirtland Temple, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery found a quiet place behind a veil in the temple and bowed in silent prayer. Then, on this sacred day when Christians everywhere were commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the risen Savior Himself appeared in His temple, declaring, “I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain” (Doctrine and Covenants 110:4).

Video: Watch the first part of Doctrine and Covenant Stories: Visions in the Kirtland Temple 

Video: Watch the first part of Doctrine and Covenant Stories: The Three Kingdoms of Heaven

• On the board, list some truths we learn about the Savior from these verses. Invite the children to identify which verses teach the truths listed on the board. On this week’s activity page, help the children match the pictures with the scripture verses.
• As the children color this week’s activity page, read to them the scriptures it refers to. Point out details in the pictures that are described in the verses. Testify to the children that the Prophet Joseph Smith saw Jesus Christ, and this is one reason we know that Jesus lives. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”)

• What does it mean to say that Jesus Christ is “he who liveth”? It doesn’t just mean that He rose from the tomb on the third day and appeared to His Galilean disciples. It means that He lives today. He speaks through prophets today. He leads His Church today. He heals wounded souls and broken hearts today. So we can echo the words of Joseph Smith’s powerful testimony: “After the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony … which we give of him: That he lives!” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22). (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”)

For the Strength of Youth April 2021 “He Lives” Line by line explanation of D&C 76:22-24

Friend March 2021 “Scripture Time Fun for Little Ones”

To help your family consider the many ways the risen Savior blesses us today, you could sing together “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” (Hymns, no. 136) and connect truths taught in this song with those taught in the following scriptures: Doctrine and Covenants 6:34; 45:3–5; 84:77; 98:18; 138:23. Your family might also enjoy writing additional verses for the hymn that express how they know that their Redeemer lives. (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”)

Because of Jesus Christ, I can be forgiven of my sins.

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 and Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”

Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–13; 19:16–19; 45:3–5; 58:42–43

In addition to saving us from physical death, Jesus Christ provided a way for us to be saved from spiritual death—in other words, to be forgiven of our sins and return to God’s presence.

The truths Joseph Smith learned about forgiveness through Christ can give your children hope that they can be forgiven of their mistakes and sins.

Write on the board two headings similar to these: What the Savior did and What I must do. Invite each child to search one of the following passages to find something that belongs under these headings: Doctrine and Covenants 18:10–13; 19:16–19; 45:3–5; 58:42–43. Share your joy and gratitude for what the Savior did for us.

Help the children learn the third article of faith. You could help them memorize it by showing pictures that go with key phrases.

Friend February 2015

Show the video “The Shiny Bicycle” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), or tell a story of your own about a child who made a wrong choice and then repented. Help the children discuss what the child in the story did to receive forgiveness. How has the Savior made it possible for us to be forgiven? You could also share experiences when you felt the Savior’s forgiveness as you repented.

Additional Resources

Liahona April 2021 “Gospel Basics: Jesus Christ Saved Us from Sin and Death”

Resources for Teaching Children: Resources by Topic: Atonement

Teaching Children the Gospel: Jesus Christ: Atonement

See more teaching ideas at Easter and Resurrection

Come Follow Me Kid Lesson ideas

The Red Crystal