Old Testament Stories “Queen Esther” Images and video
Friend October 2018 “Esther the Queen” Video
Ahasuerus of Persia and Media makes royal feasts—Vashti disobeys the king and is deposed as queen.
I can serve my family.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Esther” Ahasuerus seeks a new queen—Mordecai presents Esther—Esther pleases the king and is chosen as queen—Mordecai exposes a plot against the king.
When Esther’s parents died, her cousin Mordecai took care of her. You can use their experience as an opportunity to talk about serving members of our families.
- On the board, draw figures that represent Esther, her parents, and her cousin Mordecai. Explain that Esther’s parents died, so Esther needed someone to take care of her. Read Esther 2:7 to the children, and ask the children to listen for what Mordecai did. Help the children think of needs their family members might have that the children can help with.
What can we learn from Mordecai’s example about helping family members in times of trial? Who in our family needs our support? Make a plan to help them.
- Invite some of the children to act out something kind they could do to serve someone in their families, and ask the other children to guess what they are doing. Invite them to talk about things they do to bless their families, and tell about some of the things you do.
- Sing a song about helping our families, such as “When We’re Helping” (Children’s Songbook, 198). Share your testimony that helping our families makes us happy.
I can be brave.
Mordecai, the Jew, refuses to bow to Haman—Haman arranges a decree to kill all the Jews in the kingdom.
Mordecai and the Jews mourn and fast because of the king’s decree—Esther, at the peril of her life, prepares to go in unto the king.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Esther” The children you teach will face situations when they need the Lord’s help to be brave. How will you help them learn from Esther’s example of courage?
- Do the children you teach know what it means to be brave? Share a simple definition, such as “Being brave means doing what is right even when you are afraid.” Share the story of Esther (see “Queen Esther” in Old Testament Stories), and help the children see how Esther was brave. Let the children use the figures on this week’s activity page to retell the story.
- Show a picture of Esther (see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). Sing with the children a song about being brave, such as “I Will Be Valiant” (Children’s Songbook, 162). Point out words and phrases in the song that describe Esther, and testify that the Savior can help the children be brave.
- Tell the children about times when Jesus Christ was brave; for example, when He suffered for our sins, both in Gethsemane and on the cross (see Matthew 26:36–39; 27:33–35). Ask the children to tell about a time when they were brave (consider contacting their families in advance to ask them for some examples). What helped them be brave? Tell the children how the Lord has helped you be brave when you were afraid.
Friend August 2020 “Maddy’s Courage” Maddy didn’t want to start school because she was afraid. Her mom reminded her of sometimes we have to do brave and hard things, such as Daniel facing the lions, or Nephi crossing the ocean, or Esther talking to the king. And just like Heavenly Father helped all of those people, He would help her too.
Heavenly Father helps me have courage when I am afraid.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Esther” When have you seen the children you teach be courageous? What experiences can you share when you needed the Lord’s help to be brave?
- Write on the board Mordecai showed courage by … and Esther showed courage by … Invite some of the children to read Esther 3:1–11 and others to read Esther 4:10–17. Ask them to use what they read to complete the sentences on the board. Then write I will show courage by … and invite the children to list things Heavenly Father wants them to do that require courage. How can we be like Mordecai and Esther?
- Invite the children to think of situations they face in which it might be hard to do the right thing. Write on the board Esther’s courageous words “So will I go in unto the king, … and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). Help the children apply Esther’s words to themselves by replacing “go in unto the king” with a righteous but difficult choice they might have to make. Then invite them to replace “perish” with something unpleasant that might come from doing what is right. Why is it better to do the right thing, even if there are difficult consequences?
- Show the video “Choose the Harder Right” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), and invite the children to decide on a “harder right” in their lives that they will choose. Discuss how Jesus Christ is an example of this principle.
I can be an instrument in God’s hands.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Esther” When Esther was fearful, Mordecai encouraged her by teaching her that perhaps the Lord had made her the queen “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Ponder how the Lord is preparing the children you teach for their opportunities to bless others.
- Invite someone to play a song for the children on a musical instrument, or display a picture of someone playing an instrument. Talk about what it means to be an instrument in God’s hands. Review the story of Esther with the children (see “Queen Esther” in Old Testament Stories), and invite them to talk about how Esther was an instrument for the Lord to accomplish His purposes. How can we be instruments for the Lord?
- After reviewing the story of Esther, attach a card with the name of one of the characters from the story on the back of each child. Invite the children to try to find out whose name is on their backs by asking other children questions like “Was this person righteous?” or “Was this person a woman?” Then discuss how Mordecai and Esther were instruments for the Lord to save the Jews.
Liahona July 2022 “Coming Closer to Jesus Christ”
For Such a Time as This
Esther was courageous in approaching the king and saving her people.
- Sit in a circle and ask a family member to name a scripture hero who was courageous, stating one way in which the person showed courage (example: Esther, courage to speak).
- The next person in the circle says the name of the first hero and then chooses another person in the scriptures they think was courageous and explains why.
- Continue around the circle, naming each scripture character who has been selected and adding a new one. Keep playing until everyone in the family has had at least one turn.
Discussion: How can we be courageous in our time and in our specific circumstances? How can we bless the lives of others when we act courageously and do the right thing?
Poster: Bright Idea (November 2013 Friend)
Fasting can help me and bless others.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Esther” During a time of need, Esther and the Jews fasted. How can you help the children you teach understand the spiritual blessings of fasting?
- Invite the children to make a list of things they could fast for (if needed, they could look at “Fasting and Fast Offerings” in True to the Faith, 66–69). Then ask them to read Esther 4:1–3, 10–17 to find out why the Jews and Esther fasted. Encourage the children to think of a reason they might need special help from the Lord, and suggest they make that reason part of their fast during the next fast Sunday.
- Invite the children to pretend they are explaining to a friend why they fast. What would they say? Point them to Guide to the Scriptures, “Fast, Fasting” (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org) if they need help. Share an experience when you fasted to receive the Lord’s help. Invite the children to share experiences they have had with fasting.
- “Fasting for Shem” (July 2013 Friend)
When Tim is worried about his friend Shem in the hospital, he decides to pray and fast for him.
- “Praying for David” (June 2011 Friend)
- John fasts and prays for his brother, who needs surgery.
“Lesson 38: Esther Saves Her People,” Primary 6: Old Testament To teach the children how fasting can bless their lives.
The king receives Esther—She invites him and Haman to a banquet—Haman plans to have Mordecai hanged.
Mordecai receives great honors—Haman mourns and is counseled by his wife.
Esther reveals Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews—He is hanged on his own gallows.
Mordecai is honored and placed over the house of Haman—Ahasuerus issues a decree to preserve the Jews.
The Jews slay their enemies, including Haman’s ten sons—The Feast of Purim is instituted to commemorate their deliverance and victory.
Mordecai, the Jew, stands next to Ahasuerus in power and might.
Additional Resources
Friend October 2018 “Esther Was Courageous” Story and goal card
“Queen Esther Saves Jehovah’s People” (August 2010 Liahona and Friend)
A retelling of the story of Queen Esther.
Coloring Page: “Esther Pleads with the King”
Latter Day Kids “The Story of Esther” Lesson ideas
“Funstuff: Esther and the King” (February 2015 Friend)
Solve the puzzle by finding the hidden pictures and matching the color of each object with the color wheel and write the letters in the spaces below.
Old Testament Coloring Book “Esther”
The Red Crystal “Come Follow Me- For Primary 2022, July 25-31, Free LDS Primary Helps, Esther”
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