I Can Be Faithful in Doing What the Lord Asks of Me.
In March 1832, the Lord called Jesse Gause to be a counselor to Joseph Smith in the Presidency of the High Priesthood (now called the First Presidency). Doctrine and Covenants 81is a revelation to Brother Gause, instructing him in his new calling and promising him blessings for serving faithfully. But Jesse Gause did not serve faithfully. So Frederick G. Williams was called to replace him.
I Should Pray Always. I Can Pray “Vocally and In [My] Heart.”
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 81-83”
When the Lord called Frederick G. Williams to be a counselor to the Prophet Joseph Smith, He counseled Frederick to be “faithful … in prayer always.”
- Read to the children the Lord’s counsel to be “faithful … in prayer always, vocally and in thy heart, in public and in private” (Doctrine and Covenants 81:3). Explain what it means to pray in our hearts, and share a personal example. Help the children think of times when they can pray “in public and in private.”
- Invite someone to read Doctrine and Covenants 81:3, and ask the children what it means to pray “in [your] heart.” Share an experience when you prayed aloud or in your heart and the Lord helped you. Also ask the children to share their own experiences. How can prayer bring us closer to Heavenly Father?
- Read or sing with the children a hymn about prayer, such as “Did You Think to Pray?” or “Secret Prayer” (Hymns,nos. 140, 144). Invite the children to share a phrase from the hymn that helps them understand something about prayer. Give them time to ponder what they can do to improve their prayers and then write their ideas.
You could give paper hearts to family members and invite them to draw or write something they would like to pray about. Talk about what it means to pray “always, vocally and in thy heart.” (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 ” Doctrine and Covenants 81–83″)
- Ask the children to show you what they do when they pray. What do they do with their arms? their heads? their eyes? Explain that sometimes we want to talk to Heavenly Father, but we can’t kneel or close our eyes. What can we do? Read to the children from 3 Nephi 20:1: “[Jesus] commanded them that they should not cease to pray in their hearts.” Tell the children how you pray in your heart.
- Draw a mouth and a heart on the board. Ask the children to point to the mouth and tell you some things they say when they pray. Then ask them to point to the heart, and explain that we can say those same things in our hearts. Testify that Heavenly Father knows our feelings and thoughts.(Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “3 Nephi 20–26: “Ye Are the Children of the Covenant”)
(Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Alma 32-35”)
- Read phrases you have selected from Alma 33:4–11 that describe places we can pray, and help the children think of places they can pray. Then invite them to draw pictures of themselves praying in those places. Testify that they can pray anywhere, even if they are praying silently.
I Can Serve Those Around Me.
Doctrine and Covenants 81:5; 82:19
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 81-83”
Heavenly Father knows the needs of each of His children, and He often uses other people—like the children you teach—to help meet those needs. How can you help the children recognize the needs of others and serve them?
- Read Doctrine and Covenants 81:5 to the children, and help them understand phrases like “succor the weak” and “lift up the hands which hang down.” Let them act out ways we can do what the Lord asks in this verse. Use pictures or videos to tell simple stories of Jesus Christ serving others (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 41, 42, 46, 47, 55; biblevideos.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). How can we follow the Savior’s example of helping others?
Friend June 2017 “Jesus Healed People” Story of Jarius’s daughter being raised from the dead, and the story of the women with an issue of blood being healed when she touches the hem of Jesus’s robe.
Friend July 2017 “Jesus Fed Many People”
Friend September 2017 “Jesus is Kind” Jesus blesses the children.
- Read Doctrine and Covenants 82:19 to the children, emphasizing the phrase “seeking the interest of his neighbor.” Explain that this means doing things that help our neighbors—including our family. Help the children think of ways they can serve someone this week.Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 81-83”
Friend January 2018 “Following Paw Prints” As Derek was following paw prints in the snow, he helped his neighbors along the way. He likes to follow the example of Jesus by helping others. (Also do the activity of finding ways Derek can help family members.)
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 81-83”
- Sing the fourth verse of “I Feel My Savior’s Love” (Children’s Songbook, 74–75) or another song about service. Tell about a time when someone helped you feel the Savior’s love by serving you.
See Service for additional teaching ideas.
God Wants Me to Serve and Strengthen Those In Need.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 81-83”
- Draw pictures of hands and knees on the board. Ask the children to read Doctrine and Covenants 81:5 to learn what the Lord says about these body parts. Watch the video “Pass It On” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), or share how you and the children have seen people serve each other. How can we be more aware of people in need around us? Invite the children to serve at least one person this week. For ideas about ways to serve others, sing a song about service, such as “Have I Done Any Good?” (Hymns, no. 223).
- Invite the children to take turns setting up dominoes (or similar objects) while naming ways they can serve others. Ask a child to knock over one domino and notice how it affects the others. How can our service have a similar effect on people around us? (See also the video “Dominoes,” ChurchofJesusChrist.org.) Tell about how someone’s loving service encouraged you to serve someone else. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 81-83”)
Friend July 2021 “Scripture Time Fun: Words of Comfort”
- Sing “Have I Done Any Good?” (Hymns, no. 223).
- Jesus taught that we should “lift up the hands which hang down” (Doctrine and Covenants 81:5). That means helping others and encouraging them when they are sad or tired.
- Make a helping hand! Trace your hand on a piece of paper and cut it out. Write something on it that you will do to help others and then hang it up where you can see it. If you want, you could hang your family’s hands up together to make a helping hands tree!
Friend July 2021 “Scripture Time Fun for Little Ones”
For Doctrine and Covenants 81–83: Think of someone your family can serve. Give them a treat or card or help them with something. Help your little ones say, “I can help others!”
God Promises Blessings When I Obey Him.
Doctrine and Covenants 82:8–10
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 81-83”
As they grow, children may wonder why God gives us so many commandments. You can help the children understand that He gives us commandments to bless us.
- Help the children think of commandments that God has given us (see, for example, Exodus 20:4–17; Matthew 22:37–39; Doctrine and Covenants 89:5–17). Draw pictures on the board to help the children understand and remember these commandments. Give examples of how God’s commandments can bless and protect us.
- Read to the children, “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say” (Doctrine and Covenants 82:10). Ask the children to repeat this phrase several times with you, and think of ways to help them remember it, such as inviting them to clap to the rhythm of the phrase. Testify that when we obey God’s commandments, He keeps His promises to us.
- Invite the children to imagine they have a friend who thinks that God has given too many commandments. Ask them to search Doctrine and Covenants 82:8–10 for something that would help their friend understand why God gives commandments. Share how God’s commandments have blessed you, and invite the children to share their thoughts as well.
- To help the children understand Heavenly Father’s promises to us, divide the class into three groups, and give each group one of the following scriptures to read: Doctrine and Covenants 1:37–38; 82:10; 130:20–21. Invite them to share what they learn about Heavenly Father’s promises. How does our obedience affect the blessings we can receive? Help the children think of examples from their lives or from the scriptures when obedience brought blessings from God.
- Share a personal experience that testifies of the principles taught in Doctrine and Covenants 82:8–10. How have you come to trust in the Lord and His promises?
Perhaps a simple game would help your family feel thankful for God’s commandments. One family member could give instructions to help a blindfolded family member make a sandwich or go through an obstacle course. Think of something fun and creative! Then discuss how God’s commandments are like the instructions in this game.
Friend January 2018 “What’s on Your Mind?” An explanation for why it matters that we keep the commandments. For example: How would it feel flying with a pilot who didn’t follow the rules of aviation? What about riding on a bus with a driver who didn’t stop at red lights? The commandments help keep us safe.
“Why is Being Obedient So Important” (April 2015 Liahona and Friend)
Learn about Elder Russell M. Nelson and why he believes it’s important to be Obedient.
Friend March 2007 “Try, Try, Try” Find the path to Eternal Life.
Also see Commandments and Resources for Teaching Children: Commandments and Obedience for more teaching ideas.
Additional Resources:
Doctrine and Covenants Historical Resources “Doctrine and Covenants 81–83”
See “Newel K. Whitney and the United Firm,” “Jesse Gause: Counselor to the Prophet,” Revelations in Context, 142–47, 155–57.
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