For the Strength of Youth July 2021 “The Vision”
Friend July 2021 “A Vision of God’s Plan”
We Are All Children of God.
President Dallin H. Oaks said that if we teach “a young person the powerful idea that he or she is a child of God,” we can give him or her the “self-respect and motivation to move against the problems of life” (“Powerful Ideas,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 25).
We lived in Heaven: (Click on the below picture. Print the picture, or show it on an electronic device.) Explain that before we were born on earth we lived in heaven with Heavenly Father.
We were spirits there. A spirit is what is inside of us that makes us alive. When we were spirits, we didn’t have flesh and bones like our bodies have now, but we looked the same.
Explain that Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, and we are his spirit children
- To help the children understand their potential to become like God, find ways to show them that baby animals grow to become like their parents—perhaps the children could match pictures of animals with pictures of the animals’ babies. Open the scriptures to Doctrine and Covenants 76:24, and tell the children that we are all “sons and daughters unto God.” Bear your testimony that God is our Father and that we can grow to be like our Heavenly Parents.
We can be like Heavenly Father
(Print and cut out these images pdf.) Use the following questions with the images. They could also be made into a matching game.
- What is a baby dog called?
- What will that puppy grow up to be?
- What is a baby chicken called?
- What will that chick grow up to be?
Explain that just as animals grow up to be like their parents, we will grow up to be like our parents.
Friend January 2017 “Kylie’s Parents” Kylie is like her earthly parents, and she is also like her Heavenly Parents. PDF version
Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, so we can grow to be like him. Heavenly Father is loving, good, and kind. When we are loving, good, and kind, we are being like Heavenly Father. We should try to become more like Heavenly Father every day.
Have children tell or act out ways they can be loving, good, or kind.
- Sing together “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook,2–3), and invite the children to point to themselves when they sing “I.” Ask them to sing the song again, replacing “I am” with “you are” and pointing to someone else in the class.
Explain that God is another name for Heavenly Father.
(The below visuals are from the Nursery Manual. Also see lds.org for the music)
Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.
Doctrine and Covenants 76:40–42
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 76”
The word gospel means good news. The good news that the gospel brings is that Jesus Christ “came into the world … to cleanse it from all unrighteousness” (verse 41).
- Tell the children about some good news you heard recently. Ask them to share good news they have heard. Then share with them the good news of the gospel by reading Doctrine and Covenants 76:41–42. Ask the children how this good news makes them feel. Share with them the joy this good news brings to you.
- Show a picture of Jesus Christ. Ask the children if they know what Jesus Christ did for us. Show the children something dirty and something clean (like a white handkerchief or sheet of paper), and explain that sin is like dirt on our spirits, but Jesus Christ came to help us become clean again.
Friend February 2020 “Funstuff: Blessing from Jesus” Match the cards to finish each sentence. Examples: Because Jesus died for us… … everyone who dies will live again. Because Jesus paid for our sins… …we can repent and be forgiven.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 76”
- Help the children understand that the glorious blessings God promises to the faithful in the next life are possible only because of the Savior Jesus Christ. Write on the board What has Jesus Christ done for me? Ask each child to silently read verses 41–42 and verse 69. looking for possible answers to the question on the board. Let them share their answers (see also “He Sent His Son,” Children’s Songbook, 34–35). How can we show our gratitude for what the Savior has done for us?
- Write the third article of faith on the board, leaving blanks in place of key words. Give the children these missing words on slips of paper, and invite them to put their words in the correct places on the board. What does this article of faith teach us about why we need Jesus Christ? (see also the video “Why We Need a Savior,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
Heavenly Father has Prepared a Kingdom of Celestial Glory for Me.
Doctrine and Covenants 76:50–70
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 76”
- Tell the children about the three kingdoms of glory that Joseph and Sidney saw in their vision. (You might read to the children part or all of “Chapter 26: The Three Kingdoms of Heaven” Focus in particular on describing the celestial kingdom, and testify that this is where Heavenly Father wants each of us to be.
- If someone asked us, “Why should I follow Jesus Christ and keep His commandments?” what would we say? Invite the children to look for answers in Doctrine and Covenants 76:50–70.
- Draw a large picture of the sun on a piece of paper, and cut it into several puzzle pieces. Give each child a piece, along with one of the following scripture passages to read: Doctrine and Covenants 76:51; 76:52; 76:53; 131:1–2. Ask the children to find in their verses something that we must do to receive eternal life in the celestial kingdom (some verses include more than one answer), and write it on their piece of the sun. As they work together to assemble the puzzle, express your confidence in them that with the Savior’s help, they can qualify for the celestial kingdom.
Before class, make a large illustration of the sun out of paper, and cut it into four puzzle pieces. Write one of the following on each piece:
- Be baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- Receive the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands.
- Receive the temple endowment.
- Be married, or sealed, in the temple.
Explain to the children that we must receive certain ordinances to be able to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom. Place the four puzzle pieces on the table or floor, with the illustration facing up. Have a child turn over a piece and read what it says. Repeat with the other three pieces. Then have the children put the puzzle together.
Friend July 2021 “Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness”
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 76”
Doctrine and Covenants Scripture Stories “Chapter 26: The Three Kingdoms of Heaven” Includes images and video
Gospel Media “Degrees of Glory”
Ask the children to close their eyes and imagine they are outside on a cloudy night when everything is absolutely dark.
- What do you see?
- What could you see if you had the light of the stars?
- What could you see if you had the light of the moon?
- What could you see if you had the light of the sun?
Have the children open their eyes. Draw pictures of a star, the moon, and the sun on the chalkboard, with the star at the bottom of the chalkboard, the moon above the star, and the sun above the moon.
- If you could choose just one of these sources of light to see by, which would it be? Why?
Explain that Heavenly Father has provided three different places for people to live after they are resurrected. These places are referred to as kingdoms of glory in heaven.
As you explain the following information about these kingdoms, put the corresponding wordstrip next to the drawing of the star, moon, or sun:
- The telestial kingdom is the lowest kingdom. It has a glory compared to the brightness of the stars. (See D&C 76:81.)
- The terrestrial kingdom is the middle kingdom. It has a glory compared to the brightness of the moon. (See D&C 76:71.)
- The celestial kingdom is the highest kingdom. It has a glory compared to the brightness of the sun. (See D&C 76:70.)
- Who will live in the telestial kingdom? (D&C 76:81–82, 103.) Which member of the Godhead will visit the people in the telestial kingdom? (D&C 76:86, 88.) Explain that the Holy Ghost and angels will minister to the people in the telestial kingdom. The people there will know about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ but will never live with them or see them.
- Who will live in the terrestrial kingdom? (D&C 76:71–76.) Which member of the Godhead will visit the people in the terrestrial kingdom? (D&C 76:77.) Explain that Jesus Christ will visit the people in the terrestrial kingdom. The people there will know about Heavenly Father but will never live with him.
- Who will live in the celestial kingdom? (D&C 76:50–52.) Explain that the celestial kingdom will include faithful members of the Church who have been baptized and confirmed and have kept the commandments (see enrichment activity 1). Which members of the Godhead will the people in the celestial kingdom live with? (D&C 76:62;
As you discuss the three kingdoms, emphasize that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want all of us to live in the highest level, or degree, of the celestial kingdom with them and our families. To be worthy of the celestial kingdom, we must keep Heavenly Father’s commandments and receive important gospel ordinances. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been restored to the earth to help us reach the celestial kingdom.
For the Strength of Youth July 2021
The Lord has revealed some powerful truths about [the celestial kingdom]. Here are some of the things we know:
- To live there means to dwell in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ with a perfect, resurrected body and to live the kind of life They live. This life is “a state of never-ending happiness” (Mosiah 2:41) and a “fulness of joy” (3 Nephi 28:10).
- Those who live there have been “made perfect through Jesus,” and “all things are theirs” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:59, 69).
- It has the greatest glory of any kingdom. Its glory has been likened to the brightness of the sun.
- The same kinds of relationships we have here will exist there, including family relationships, but they will be “coupled with eternal glory” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:2).
- It has three degrees. The highest degree is where people live who have been sealed together in eternal marriage and have been true to their covenants (see Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4).
- The earth will receive a celestial glory (see Doctrine and Covenants 88:17–20).
Doctrine and Covenants Coloring Book “Three Kingdoms of Glory”
What do we learn from these verses about the importance of our testimonies? What role do our testimonies play in our eternal destiny? It might help to look up definitions of valiantto discuss how to be “valiant in the testimony of Jesus” (verse 79). You could also sing “I Will Be Valiant” (Children’s Songbook, 162).
Liahona July 2021 “Gospel Basics: Our Heavenly Father Wants Us to Be Happy” Teaches about the plan of salvation.
Friend July 2021 “Plan of Salvation Board Game”
Studying the Scriptures can Help Me “Understand the Things of God.”
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 76”
Possible Activities
Additional Resources
Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources “Doctrine and Covenants 76“
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