Friend November 2015

Friend November 2011 “Article of Faith 12”

Friend December 1987

The Lord Wants Me to Obey the Law.

Doctrine and Covenants 134:5

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 133-134

Young children often have rules to follow at home, at school, and elsewhere. You can help them understand that the Lord expects us to follow the rules and laws in our community and nation.

• Invite the children to play a simple game without following any rules, and then have them play it with rules. How do rules help us? Express your gratitude for the laws of the land.
• Help the children repeat the twelfth article of faith. Emphasize key words, like “obeying, honoring, and sustaining,” and talk with the children about what those words mean. Share with them why it is important to obey the law.

Although there are different forms of government around the world, the Lord wants us to “sustain and uphold the … governments in which [we] reside” (Doctrine and Covenants 134:5).

• Invite the children to list rules or laws they obey. What would life be like if no one obeyed these laws? Read Doctrine and Covenants 134:1–2 with the children, helping them understand any words or phrases they might not understand. Why does the Lord want us to have government and laws?
• Write each word or phrase from the eleventh and twelfth articles of faith on a separate slip of paper. Mix the papers up, and ask the children to work together to put them in the right order. How do we show that we believe what these articles of faith teach?

Doctrine and Covenants Coloring Book “Religious Freedom”

Friend November 2021 “Matt and Mandy”

Additional teaching ideas about obeying the law:

• “Lesson 31: I Will Obey the Law,” Primary 2: Choose the Right A“
• “Sharing Time: Obey the Law” (October 1995 Friend)
  Includes instructions for making a coat of arms.
• “What Laws Mean” (May 1976 Friend)
  A matching activity about different laws.
• “It’s the Law” (February 1997 Friend)
• Christopher and Sarah learn that Heavenly Father wants us to obey the law.
• Matt and Mandy” (March 2011 Friend)
• Boys invite Matt to spray graffiti and he declines.