Table of Contents
- I will live again after I die, just as Jesus did.
- Because Jesus was resurrected, everyone will be resurrected.
- I can have faith in Jesus Christ even though I can’t see Him. (Younger Children)
- I can have faith in Jesus Christ even though I can’t see Him. (Older Children)
- I can show my love for Jesus by serving others.
- I can show my love for Jesus by feeding His sheep.
- Additional Resources
Matthew CHAPTER 28 Christ the Lord is risen—He appears to many—He has all power in heaven and earth—He sends the Apostles to teach and baptize all nations.
Mark CHAPTER 16 Christ is risen—He appears to Mary Magdalene, then to others—He sends the Apostles to preach and promises that signs will follow faith—He ascends into heaven.
Luke CHAPTER 24 Angels announce the resurrection of Christ—He walks on the Emmaus road—He appears with a body of flesh and bones, eats food, testifies of His divinity, and promises the Holy Ghost—He ascends into heaven.
John CHAPTER 20 Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John find the empty tomb—The risen Christ appears to Mary Magdalene in the garden—He appears to the disciples and shows His resurrected body—Thomas feels the wounds in Jesus’ hands, feet, and side—Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
John CHAPTER 21 Jesus appears to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias—He says, Feed my sheep—He foretells Peter’s martyrdom and that John will not die.
I will live again after I die, just as Jesus did.
Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20:1–23
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 The Atonement of Jesus Christ, including His Resurrection, is the most important event in history, and it is the foundation of Christian faith. As you read about the Resurrection, ponder how you will help the children build their faith in Jesus Christ.
Tell the story of Jesus’s Resurrection in your own words. (If needed, use “Chapter 54: Jesus Is Risen,” in New Testament Stories, 139–44, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.)
Explain that when Jesus died, His spirit left His body. When He was resurrected, His spirit and His body came together again. Ask the children to take turns repeating the story back to you. Ask the children how they would have felt if they had seen Jesus alive again.
- Think of an object lesson that can help the children understand what happens when we die (our spirits and bodies separate) and when we are resurrected (our spirits and bodies come back together). For example, what happens when we remove the battery from a flashlight or the ink container from a pen? What happens when these things are reunited? Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”
Show the video “What Happens after We Die?” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), and tell about someone you know who has died. Share your testimony that everyone will be resurrected someday. Invite the children to share their testimonies.
- Easter Puppet Object Lesson Directions on how to make and present object lesson of spirit leaving body and then being reunited.
Sing a song about the Savior’s Resurrection, such as “Did Jesus Really Live Again?” (Children’s Songbook, 64). Ask the children to imagine what it will feel like to see Jesus. Let them share their thoughts with the class.
Because Jesus was resurrected, everyone will be resurrected.
Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20:1–23
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 It’s natural for children to wonder what happens after we die. Consider how you can teach about the Resurrection in a way that will build their faith.
Invite the children to close their eyes and imagine that they are sitting by Jesus’s tomb while you read John 20:1–17 or summarize the story of His Resurrection (see also “Chapter 54: Jesus Is Risen,” in New Testament Stories, 139–44, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What does it mean to be resurrected? What would it have been like to see the resurrected Savior?
New Testament Stories “Jesus is Risen”
Ask each child to study the experience of someone who saw the resurrected Savior and share with the rest of the class what he or she learned.
- Mary Magdalene: John 20:1–18
- Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus: Luke 24:13–34.)
- The Ten Apostles: Luke 24:36–41, 44–49.
Watch one or more of these videos with the children: “Jesus Is Laid in a Tomb,” “Jesus Is Resurrected,” “Christ Appears on the Road to Emmaus,” and “The Risen Lord Appears to the Apostles” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Invite the children to share why the Savior’s Resurrection is important to them.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023
I can have faith in Jesus Christ even though I can’t see Him. (Younger Children)
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 Consider how you can help the children understand what faith is and how they can exercise faith in the Savior.
Show the picture Christ Approaches Thomas (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) while you tell about Thomas’s experience in John 20:24–29.
Repeat the story, but this time ask the children to provide some of the details.
Show a box with an object inside that the children can’t see, and describe the object to the children. Ask them if they believe the object is really inside the box and why. Then show them the object, and explain that faith is believing in things we can’t see. The most important faith we can have is faith in Jesus Christ.
Friend June 2023 “Have You Seen Jesus?”
I can have faith in Jesus Christ even though I can’t see Him. (Older Children)
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 How can you help the children strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ?
Invite the children to read John 20:24–29. (See also the video “Blessed Are They That Have Not Seen, and Yet Have Believed” on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.)
How can we know Jesus Christ lives, even if we can’t see Him?
Friend June 2023 “Have You Seen Jesus?”
Write each word in the phrase “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” on separate pieces of paper. Invite the children to put the words in order. Invite them to tell of experiences in which they felt the Savior’s love even if they did not see Him.
Invite the children to draw pictures of things they can do to strengthen their faith this week. Ask them to share what they drew, and share what you have done to strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ.
- Friend August 2019 “Practicing Faith” Klarie, who plays basketball, heard the words “we must…actively exercise our faith” on a conference talk and asks her mom how to do that. Her mother explains that just like Klarie has to practice and work to get better at basketball, Heavenly Father gave us ways to practice and get better at faith. We talk to Him in prayer. He’s kind of like our coach. He gives us scriptures. They’re like His playbook. And He gives us families to help us. Our family is like out team that works and practices together. When we practice spiritual habits, like prayer, we’re exercising our faith, and the more we practice the better we get. (Lesson Activity Idea: Bounce a ball to someone and ask them to say one thing they can do to help their faith grow. Then they bounce it to someone else. Friend August 2019 “Family Night Fun”)
- Pray to gain faith in Jesus Christ
- Read scriptures about Jesus Christ
- Follow and obey his teachings
- Activate his atonement in your life by repenting of wrong doings and asking for forgiveness.
- Listen for the Holy Ghost’s witness of the truth of Jesus and his teachings
- Serve and love others as Jesus has asked us to do.
- Listen to and follow the words of his leaders
I can show my love for Jesus by serving others.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 How can you inspire the children to love and help those around them?
Read John 21:15–17, or show the video “Feed My Sheep” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Help the children understand what Jesus wanted Peter to do: share the gospel and invite everyone to believe in Jesus.
Friend July 2019 “Jesus Said to Share the Gospel”
Give each of the children a paper sheep, and ask them to write or draw on it something they can do to help someone they know to come closer to Jesus.
“Lesson 33: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Primary 7: New Testament
- Be a good example by attending church, using clean language, obeying the commandments, being honest, praying, studying the scriptures, living what you learn, and obeying your parents and the laws of the land.
- Bear testimony to members and nonmembers.
- Help others choose the right when they are tempted.
- Talk about the gospel to people who don’t know about it.
- Pray and study the scriptures to grow closer to the Lord.
Help the children think of things they are doing to love and serve others. What else can we do to show our love?
Write the name of every child in your class on pieces of paper cut into the shape of sheep, and scatter these sheep around the room. (Include the names of children who don’t attend regularly.) Invite the children to gather the sheep by finding the one with their name on it. Help the children think of ways they can reach out to a friend who doesn’t come to church.
- Show the children the treat you brought. Point out how wonderful and mouth watering it looks. Take a bite and describe the texture and flavor; tell them how delicious it is. Ask the children how they would feel if you ate the treat in front of them and didn’t share.
- Show the treats with the gospel blessing labels attached. Explain to the children that the labeled treats represent the many blessings they enjoy because they are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Read the labels to the children. Ask if it would be fair or right if we kept the blessings of the gospel to ourselves and didn’t share with anyone else.
- Tell the children that you brought treats to share with each of them. Ask how that makes them feel.
- Explain to the children that the Lord has asked us to share the gospel with others and help feed his children spiritual food so they can enjoy the blessings of the gospel too. Teaching Children the Gospel “Lesson 17 – Ammon – A Mighty Missionary”
I can show my love for Jesus by feeding His sheep.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 Children can greatly influence those around them. How can you encourage them to strengthen others in the gospel?
Read John 21:1–17 together. When you read verses 9–13, ask the children to think about a time when someone made a special meal for them, and invite them to think about ways that Jesus feeds us spiritually. When you read verses 15–17, replace Simon’s name with names of the children.
Friend July 2023 “Jesus Asked Us to Share the Gospel”
Who are Jesus’s sheep? How can we help Him feed them?
“Lesson 33: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Primary 7: New Testament
- Be a good example by attending church, using clean language, obeying the commandments, being honest, praying, studying the scriptures, living what you learn, and obeying your parents and the laws of the land.
- Bear testimony to members and nonmembers.
- Help others choose the right when they are tempted.
- Talk about the gospel to people who don’t know about it.
- Pray and study the scriptures to grow closer to the Lord.
Friend July 2023 “How You Can Be a Missionary”
Friend March 2017 “Love Your Neighbor”
Share a simple snack with the children. As they are eating, ask them how sharing the gospel with someone is like feeding them.
- Show the children the treat you brought. Point out how wonderful and mouth watering it looks. Take a bite and describe the texture and flavor; tell them how delicious it is. Ask the children how they would feel if you ate the treat in front of them and didn’t share.
- Show the treats with the gospel blessing labels attached. Explain to the children that the labeled treats represent the many blessings they enjoy because they are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Read the labels to the children. Ask if it would be fair or right if we kept the blessings of the gospel to ourselves and didn’t share with anyone else.
- Tell the children that you brought treats to share with each of them. Ask how that makes them feel.
- Explain to the children that the Lord has asked us to share the gospel with others and help feed his children spiritual food so they can enjoy the blessings of the gospel too. Teaching Children the Gospel “Lesson 17 – Ammon – A Mighty Missionary”
- Why is feeding sheep a good way to describe serving God’s children?
Friend June 2023 “Come, Follow Me Activities”
- Story: After Jesus was resurrected, He told His disciples to “teach all nations” about His gospel (Matthew 28:19). Today missionaries share the gospel all over the world.
- Song: “We’ll Bring the World His Truth” (Children’s Songbook, 172–73)
- Activity: Look through this copy of the Friend. How many country names can you find? Pick a country to learn more about. You can start with “Hello from Portugal!” on page 18.
- “Lesson 34: Feed My Sheep,” Primary 7: New Testament
- Image: “Feed My Sheep”
- Image: “Jesus Christ asks Peter “Lovest Thou Me More Than These?”
Additional Resources
- “Lesson 33: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Primary 7: New Testament
- “Lesson 41: Jesus Christ Is Our Savior,” Primary 2: Choose the Right
- “Lesson 45: We Celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Easter)” Primary 2: Choose the Right A
Come Follow Me with Living Scriptures “Teach All Nations” Lesson ideas
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