When I make a wrong choice, Jesus Christ can help me change.
PSALM 51 David pleads for forgiveness after he went in to Bathsheba—He pleads, Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 Help the children understand that mistakes are part of mortal life and that we can receive help from Jesus Christ to overcome them.
- To help your children discover truths about repentance in Psalm 51, you could draw a large heart. Then you could help your children write inside the heart bad things Satan tempts us to do. How do we get these things out of our hearts?
- Ask your children to find the word “heart” in Psalm 51:10, 17. Talk about what these verses teach about repentance. Help the children understand that even if we stop committing sin, our hearts need to change in order for us to repent. Let your children erase the words inside the heart and write new words that describe the ways Jesus can change us when we repent and also describes the change in our hearts when we repent. Share your testimony that God can “create in [us] a clean heart” when we repent (verse 10).
Come Follow Me Kid Use tape or rope to make a heart shape on the floor. Cut out the pieces from page 7 below.Read them one at a time and ask if that’s something clean that should be in our heart. Place all of the pieces inside of the tape/rope heart and take turns racing to see how fast each person can “clean” the heart out by only leaving good things inside of it. Remind them that Jesus can help clean our hearts through repentance.
- You might want to help your children learn what it means to have “a broken and a contrite heart” (Psalm 51:17). They could take turns breaking open something that has a hard shell, such as an egg or a nut. You could help them compare the shell to things that keep us from feeling Heavenly Father’s love. How can we open our heart to Him?
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022
- Share a simple story, from your life or from the Friend or Liahona, about a child who made a wrong choice but received help from the Savior to be better (for example, see the video “The Shiny Bicycle” at ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Read Psalm 51:10, and share the joy you feel when the Savior helps you have “a clean heart” and “a right spirit.”
- Show the children this week’s activity page. Point to each picture, and ask the children to describe what they see. Read the captions to help the children learn about repentance and forgiveness.
Assign each child to read one of the scripture references on this week’s activity page. Ask them to find words that teach them something about repentance. Let them write the words on the board. After everyone has shared, ask the children how they would answer a friend who asks, “What does it mean to repent?”
Liahona August 2022 “What Can Psalm 51 Teach Us about Repentance?”
Latter Day Kids “Repentance and A New Heart” Lesson ideas
The Lord is My Shelter
PSALM 61 David finds shelter in the Lord, abides in the Lord’s presence, and keeps his own vows.
Jesus Christ is my rock.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026
- Your children might enjoy drawing pictures of the symbols in Psalm 61:2–3. How is Jesus Christ like a high “rock” (verse 2), “a shelter,” and “a strong tower”? (verse 3).
Friend August 2026 “Weekly Scripture Fun: Jesus is My Rock” Jesus Christ is like a rock because we can always rely on Him to be firm and strong.
“I will remember the works of the Lord.”
PSALM 66 Praise and worship the Lord—He tests and tries men—Sacrifices are to be offered in His house.
PSALM 77 The righteous cry unto the Lord—They remember the wonders of old, how He redeemed the sons of Jacob and led Israel like a flock.
PSALM 78 The Israelites are to teach the Lord’s law to their children—Disobedient Israel provoked the Lord in the wilderness—The Egyptian plagues are recounted—The Lord chooses and blesses Judah and David.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 The Israelites taught their children about the miracles God had done for them so that the children “might set their hope in God” (Psalm 78:7).
- Ask your children to share some of their favorite scripture stories (pictures from the Gospel Art Book might help). What do these stories teach us about the Lord? Why do they like these stories? What do these stories teach us about the Lord? Read together Psalms 77:11; 78:7. Why is it important to “remember the works of the Lord”?
- As you read Psalms 77:11; 78:6–7 together, you could share with each other how you try to “remember the works of the Lord” (Psalm 77:11), including His works in your life. Invite the children to draw pictures to help them remember the great things He has done.
- Ask the children to read Psalm 66:16 and think about or write down answers to the question “What has the Lord done for my soul?” Then let them share their answers, if they’d like. What can we do to “always remember” (Moroni 4:3; 5:2) what the Lord has done for us?How does the sacrament help us “always remember”?
Friend February 2021 “The Savior and Me”
I can tell others about Jesus Christ.
PSALM 71 David praises God with thanksgiving—Who is like unto the Lord!
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022
- After reading Psalm 71:8 with your children, invite them to draw a large mouth. Ask them to help you “fill” the mouth with pictures or words representing things we can tell others about Jesus Christ.
- You could pass around a picture of Jesus Christ. The person holding the picture could say one thing they know about Him. How can we help other people know these things?
Friend April 2019 “God’s Great Gift”
Friend January 2019 “Something Special to Share” Diego wants to take something special to share for Show and Tell. He decides to take a picture of Jesus and tell them that Jesus loves everyone.
[unitegallery 2019Januar]
All Nations Will Call Him Blessed
Psalm 72. David speaks of Solomon, who is made a type of the Messiah—He will have dominion—His name will endure forever—All nations will call him blessed—The whole earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord.
(Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022)
Psalm 72 was written by David about his son Solomon, but much of it can also apply to Jesus Christ. As your family reads this psalm, they could hold up a picture of the Savior when they find verses that remind them of Jesus Christ. How can we help fulfill the desire that “the whole earth be filled with his glory”? (Psalm 72:19; see also Doctrine and Covenants 65:2).
The Restoration
PSALM 85 The Lord speaks peace to His people—Truth will spring out of the earth (the Book of Mormon), and righteousness will look down from heaven.
This verse could inspire a discussion about events of the Restoration of the gospel—how the Book of Mormon is truth that “[sprang] out of the earth” and how heavenly messengers came “down from heaven” (see also Moses 7:62). The video “Preparation of Joseph Smith: Tutored by Heaven” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) depicts some of these events.
Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers.
PSALM 86 David implores God for mercy and is saved from the lowest hell—The Lord is good and generous in mercy—All nations will worship before Him.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022
- Many of the psalms are like prayers to God. As you read Psalms with your children, you might show them things we can use to communicate with people who are far away, such as a phone or a letter. Then read Psalm 86:7. How do we “call upon” Heavenly Father? How does He answer us?
- Ask the children how they talk with people who live far away. Show them things we can use to communicate, such as a phone or a letter. Read to them Psalm 86:7. How do we “call upon” Heavenly Father? How does He answer us?
- You could sing together a song about prayer, such as “A Child’s Prayer” (Children’s Songbook, 12–13; see also Susan H. Porter, “Pray, He Is There,” Liahona, May 2024, 77–79). Tell each other about times when God answered your prayers.
Little LDS Ideas “Answers to Prayers from Heavenly Father Come in Many Ways” Includes lesson ideas
- Invite the children to act out things they do every day, such as waking up, eating breakfast, leaving for school, or going to bed. Help them find times during the day when they can pray to Heavenly Father. Testify that we can pray to Him anytime, and He will always hear us.
“Prayer is Reverent Communication Between God and Me” (October 2011 Friend)
Create a matching game showing different situations where children are praying. Includes discussion point suggestions.
- Sing together a song about prayer, such as “A Child’s Prayer” (Children’s Songbook, 12–13). Tell about a time when God answered your prayers.
The Lord wants to forgive.
When we sin, Satan wants us to think that the Lord will never forgive us. Help the children build their faith that the Lord is “ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy” (Psalm 86:5).
- Show a picture of the Savior (such as one in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families), and ask the children what words they would use to describe Him. Invite them to find words that describe Him in Psalm 86:5, 13, 15. If needed, help them define these words.
- What could we say to a friend who feels that God is angry at them when they sin?
- Sing with the children a song that you feel will help them understand the Savior’s forgiving nature, such as “I Stand All Amazed” (Hymns, no. 193). Share your testimony that Jesus Christ wants to forgive us.
Additional Resources
Come Follow Me Kid Lesson ideas
PSALM 49 Men cannot be ransomed or redeemed by wealth—God alone can redeem a soul from the grave—The glory of a rich man ceases with his death.
PSALM 50 Asaph speaks of the Second Coming—The Lord accepts the sacrifices of the righteous and will deliver them—Those whose conduct is right will see the salvation of God.
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