Friend July 2021 “Winfred’s New Recipe” Winfred is sad because she misses her father who has to work far away, and she misses her friends because of Covid. She figures out a recipe for happiness which includes prayer, reading scriptures, having faith, being grateful, and serving others.
Gratitude
Friend October 2017 “Bread and Gratitude” A man at a restaurant always find some fault in the meal no matter what extras the waiter provides. “As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are commanded to “thank the Lord [our] God in all things” (D&C 59:7). If we focus on the blessings we think we are missing, it can make us unhappy.”
Look for the Good
Friend March 1988 “Mike to the Rescue” Mike can’t do all the things his older siblings can do, but he finds lots of benefits to being little.
Serve Others
Friend December 2018 “The Secret Santa” After Tasha’s grandma and father died, Christmas was difficult and sad. But then a Secret Santa started dropping off gifts. She wanted to thank them and pass on the kindness, so she started doing kind things for others. She learned that helping others made her feel happy.
Friend August 2022 “What Makes Me Happy” Angeline tells of the things that make her happy. She says she feels happy when she helps others and follows Jesus. (Includes photo of Angeline)
Helping Others be Happy
Friend September 2024 “Cheering for Both Teams” Jayne wanted to win the family game, but her team was losing. Everyone was surprised when she got angry and didn’t want to play anymore. Her uncle told her that winning is everything and she should just try to have fun. She watched her uncle and she realized he was cheering for both teams. She decided to do that too. She could be happy for her family members even if she lost. She then discovered she was having fun.
Friend December 2018 “Path of Happiness” Jesus Christ has shown us the way to be truly happy! Follow the blue line through the maze. What is each child doing to find happiness?
Living the gospel brings me joy.
Friend February 2024 “How to Be Happy” President Dallin H. Oaks “The prophet Lehi taught that “men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25). Heavenly Father created us to have joy. He wants us to return to Him. He wants us to be happy in this life. How do we seek happiness or joy? King Benjamin invited his people to “consider the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things” (Mosiah 2:41). Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, love you. Their plan for us is the “great plan of happiness” (Alma 42:8). That plan and Their commandments lead us to the greatest happiness and joy. I urge each of you to seek the joy that comes from keeping the commandments of God.”
Invite the children to talk about what makes them happy.
Show pictures of happy people. Explain that the people in 4 Nephi had almost 200 years of happiness because they all tried their best to live the gospel. Help the children think of some commandments they could obey. For example, you could read them 4 Nephi 1:15 to teach that the people didn’t fight with each other anymore. Invite the children to act out obeying the commandments they thought of. Sing together a song about the joy that comes from living the gospel, such as “When We’re Helping” (Children’s Songbook, 198).
To reduce contention in your home, perhaps family members could set a goal to be more loving to each other this week. After the week is over, review your progress together and discuss how showing greater love has affected your family.
Read phrases from 4 Nephi 1:24–29, 34–35, and 43 that describe what happened when some of the Nephites stopped keeping the commandments. As you do, invite the children to make a sad face when they hear something that sounds unhappy. Testify that keeping the commandments leads to happiness.
To help the children practice what is taught in 4 Nephi 1:15–16, present them with situations where people are angry with each other. Invite them to role-play what the situation might be like if they tried to live with “no contention.” Why is it easier to avoid contention when we have the “love of God” in our hearts?
Read with the children the following verses, and ask them to find reasons the Nephites and Lamanites no longer had peace and happiness: 4 Nephi 1:20, 24–29, 34–35, and 43. How can we avoid these dangers?
Ensign October 2020 “What Does it Mean to be Truly Converted?” After the Savior’s appearance to the Nephites, they experienced nearly 200 years of unity and peace because they were “all converted unto the Lord” (4 Nephi 1:2). Compare the happiness of the righteous Nephites to the sorrow when they were unrighteous. Ponder the difference and find ways you can become more converted to the Lord.
To help family members understand the joy the Savior described in these verses, you could play a game in which family members hide and another family member tries to find them. This could lead to a conversation about why it’s important to find every family member so that “none of them are lost.” How can we help our family members stay strong in the gospel or return if they have left?
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “2 Nephi 6-10” To encourage your children to “[delight] in righteousness” or joyfully obey the Lord (2 Nephi 9:49), perhaps you could share examples in which a child makes a good choice or a bad choice. Invite your children to stand up when the choice brings happiness and sit down when the choice brings sadness. When have we felt happy because we made a choice to follow Jesus Christ?
The Cozy Red Cottage CTR board Game-Divide the class into 2 teams. Each team starts by rolling the dice and moving the correct number of circles. If they land on one of the CTR spaces they get to roll again. Then pick a card. Read the scenario on the card (I’ve included the ones from the lesson as well as many others). Decide if its a good choice or a bad choice and if it would make you happy or sad. Have them raise the correct puppet. If its a wrong choice ask what should you do?
Friend February 2020 “Come Follow Me for Little Ones” Read 2 Nephi 10:23 together and help your little ones say, “I can make good choices.” Flip through the Friend and help your children smile and give a thumbs up—or whatever gesture means “good job” in your culture—whenever you find a picture of someone making a good decision.
What makes us happy? Consider reading together verses from 2 Nephi 4 to find out what delighted Nephi or made him happy (see verses 15–16, 20–25, 34–35). In his message “The Things of My Soul,” Elder Ronald A. Rasband shared seven “things of the Lord” that are precious to him (Liahona, Nov. 2021, 39–41). Perhaps you could review his list together and talk about “things of the Lord” that are precious to you.
2 Nephi 5 also describes things that helped the Nephites live “after the manner of happiness” (verse 27). You could provide some words or pictures that represent these things and help your children match them to verses in chapter 5. Some examples include family (verse 6), God’s commandments (verse 10), the scriptures (verse 12), work (verses 15 and 17), temples (verse 16), and Church callings (verse 26). How do these things bring us happiness?
Liahona February 2024 “How Can We Live “After the Manner of Happiness”?” Often in life we can make the mistake of believing that happiness consists only of having fun or not having any problems. Nephi said, “We lived after the manner of happiness” (2 Nephi 5:27). But did that mean they were happy because they had easy lives? Of course not! In 2 Nephi 4, Nephi describes problems that frustrated him. “[Many people] seek only to have fun in life. With this as their main goal, they allow temporary pleasure to distract them from lasting happiness. They rob themselves of the enduring joys of spiritual growth, service, and hard work.
Ensign February 2020 “Family Study Fun” All of us want to live “after the manner of happiness” (2 Nephi 5:27). But happiness requires effort. Create a family plan to help your family experience more joy. Read 2 Nephi 5:10–12, 15–17, 26–27. Discuss what Nephi’s people did to live “after the manner of happiness.” Make a list together of commandments that, if kept, will bring your family happiness. Add to the list other things that bring you joy (good friends, game night, etc.). Turn your list into a family declaration. (“We, the Jones family, hereby commit to pursue happiness by …”) Place your declaration in a prominent place where you can see it often.
Friend March 2011 “How can the gospel help me be happy?” Elder David A. Bednar shares how to have happiness in life: “The source and cause of true happiness are gospel truth and obedience to eternal law. Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness is designed to provide direction for His children, to help them become happy, and to bring them safely home to Him. For your happiness and protection, I invite you to study and live more diligently the Savior’s gospel.”
Friend February 2024 “How to Be Happy” President Dallin H. Oaks “The prophet Lehi taught that “men are, that they might have joy” (2 Nephi 2:25). Heavenly Father created us to have joy. He wants us to return to Him. He wants us to be happy in this life. How do we seek happiness or joy? King Benjamin invited his people to “consider the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things” (Mosiah 2:41). Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, love you. Their plan for us is the “great plan of happiness” (Alma 42:8). That plan and Their commandments lead us to the greatest happiness and joy. I urge each of you to seek the joy that comes from keeping the commandments of God.”
Friend February 2024 “Tommy’s Very Bad Day” Everything had gone wrong during Tommy’s day and he wanted to just sit so nothing else bad would happen, but that just made him feel worse. Then he saw his neighbor raking leaves and having a hard time putting them in the bag. Tommy decided to help, and pretty soon he was having so much fun he forgot about his bad day.
Ensign February 2020 “Family Study Fun” All of us want to live “after the manner of happiness” (2 Nephi 5:27). But happiness requires effort. Create a family plan to help your family experience more joy. Read 2 Nephi 5:10–12, 15–17, 26–27. Discuss what Nephi’s people did to live “after the manner of happiness.” Make a list together of commandments that, if kept, will bring your family happiness. Add to the list other things that bring you joy (good friends, game night, etc.). Turn your list into a family declaration. (“We, the Jones family, hereby commit to pursue happiness by …”) Place your declaration in a prominent place where you can see it often.
Friend March 2011 “How can the gospel help me be happy?” Elder David A. Bednar shares how to have happiness in life: “The source and cause of true happiness are gospel truth and obedience to eternal law. Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness is designed to provide direction for His children, to help them become happy, and to bring them safely home to Him. For your happiness and protection, I invite you to study and live more diligently the Savior’s gospel.”
Friend November 2009 “A Happy Home.” This cut-and-paste activity reminds us of the things we can do to make our homes a happier place.
Matthew CHAPTER 5 Jesus preaches the Sermon on the Mount—Its teachings replace and transcend some aspects of the law of Moses—All are commanded to be perfect like their Father in Heaven.
Luke CHAPTER 6 Jesus heals on the Sabbath—He chooses the Twelve Apostles—He pronounces blessings upon the obedient and woes upon the wicked. Sermon on the Mount
Explain that the beginning of Jesus’s sermon includes what is known as the “Beatitudes.” Beatitude means to be blessed or happy. In these verses, Jesus identified attributes that He and His Father possess that lead to true happiness in this life and in the life to come. Developing these attributes will help you become more like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Create a chart on the board with two columns labeled Blessed are … and Blessing. Invite the children to search Matthew 5:3–12 looking for the qualities of those Jesus said would be blessed and the blessings He promised them. Then fill in the chart with what they find. Discuss with the children what each quality and corresponding blessing mean.
Write each quality from these verses on a card and its corresponding blessing on a card. For example, one card would say “meek,” and another would say “inherit the earth” (verse 5). Let the children match the qualities and the blessings. Ask the children to pick one of the qualities in these verses that they want to develop.
Friend March 2019 “Sermon on the Mount” The scriptures teach us about a special talk (or “sermon”) that Jesus gave called the Sermon on the Mount. Look up the scriptures below and match them with what Jesus taught.
Friend April 2004 “If I Choose to Obey, I’ll Be Happy All Day!” In the Sermon on the Mount (see Matt. 5; 3 Ne. 12) Jesus taught us how to live so we can be happy. Some of these teachings are known as the Beatitudes. Beatitude means “happiness” or “blessing.” To make a Beatitude Book, glue page 29 onto a sheet of paper. Cut on the solid lines. Glue the second strip to the tab on the first strip. Fold back and forth on the dotted lines.
Friend February 2023 “Scripture Toss” Put this page on the ground. Take turns tossing a beanbag onto the paper. When the beanbag lands on a square, read that scripture verse. If someone has already read that verse, tell what it means to you. Or you can tell how you can do what it teaches.
Friend February 2023 “Come, Follow Me Activities for Little Ones”Tell your little ones that we are happy when we choose the right like Jesus did. Hang up a paper with a smiley face drawn on it. Add a smiley face each time your little ones make a “happy” choice.
In Matthew 5, the Savior teaches His disciples a higher law to live by so they can become like Him.
Read the beatitudes in Matthew 5:1–12. Talk about each characteristic and the promise that goes with it.
Write each person’s name on a separate sheet of paper.
Give each person a paper, making sure they don’t get one with their own name written on it.
Have everyone draw a picture of a time when the person on their paper exemplified one of the beatitudes. Write a sentence about it. For example, “Hannah is a peacemaker because she shared with her sister.”
Look up the blessing associated with that beatitude and write it at the bottom of the page.
Take turns sharing what was written.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings me joy, and I can share this joy.
Perhaps you and your children would enjoy drawing pictures of things in the gospel of Jesus Christ that bring you joy. Share your picture with your children, and encourage them to share their picture with someone to help that person feel joy too. (Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “Alma 23-29”/9
Friend July 2021 “Winfred’s New Recipe” Winfred is sad because she misses her father who has to work far away, and she misses her friends because of Covid. She figures out a recipe for happiness which includes prayer, reading scriptures, having faith, being grateful, and serving others.
Help your children find the words joy and rejoice in Alma 26 and 29. What brought Ammon and Alma joy or caused them to rejoice? This question could lead to a discussion about the joy that comes from living or sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Read Alma 27:17–19 and Alma 29:13–14 together, paying special attention to the word joy. Ammon and Alma found great joy in serving other people and the Lord.
Invite one or two people to act out helping someone else—no speaking allowed! Examples could include opening the door for someone, helping a person in their yard, helping fix dinner, and so on.
While the scene is being acted out, other family members guess what the service is.
Take turns until everyone has had a chance to act.
Discussion: Why is it important to help other people? When have you felt joy after helping someone? What could our family do to help someone this week?
The gospel brings me joy, and I can share this joy with others.
Invite two children to face each other and see who can make the other child smile first. What are some ways we can spread joy to others? How does sharing the gospel spread joy? Help the children think of ways they can share the joy of the gospel with their friends and families.
Life is not meant to be free from difficulty, but you can help the children discover that they can still find a fulness of joy through Jesus Christ.
Put water in a cup. Ask the children to name things the Savior has done for us so that we can have joy, and invite them to drop a pebble in the cup for each thing they name until the cup is full. Read with the children Doctrine and Covenants 101:36, and ask them to look for how we can have a fulness of joy. What are some things we can do to “seek … the Lord” (verse 38) so we can have the joy that He wants to give us?
Second Coming
Explain that Doctrine and Covenants 101:23–32 teaches about what life will be like when Jesus Christ comes again. As you read these verses together, talk about things the children find that will bring us joy when He comes. Why is it helpful to know about these things when we are having a hard time?
Sing “There Is Sunshine in My Soul Today” (Hymns,no. 227).
Jesus said, “In me your joy is full” (Doctrine and Covenants 101:36). Joy is long-lasting happiness you feel in your heart.
Draw a happy face and a frowny face on either side of a paper plate or paper circle. Together name some things that make people happy or sad and hold up the happy or sad face. Make sure to name some happy things about Jesus!
(Paul encouraged the Saints to rejoice—even though they faced difficult trials and Paul himself was in prison. How will you help the children see that following Jesus Christ brings joy?) Ask the children to listen for a repeated word as you read Philippians 4:4. Ask the children to show you what they do when they rejoice. Tell the children why you “rejoice in the Lord”—why you feel happy because of Jesus Christ. Let the children share how they feel about Jesus. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Philippians; Colossians”)
Show objects or pictures that represent things that help you “rejoice in the Lord” (Philippians 4:4), such as His creations, a temple, His Resurrection, or a family. Let the children take turns selecting a picture or object, and then tell them why it makes you happy. Invite them to share things that help them rejoice in the Lord.(Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Philippians; Colossians”)
Ask the children to imagine that they are in prison, as the Apostle Paul was when he wrote the Epistle to the Philippians. Read Philippians 4:4–13 with the children, and ask them to look for the words “rejoice,” “peace,” and “content.” Why was Paul able to rejoice and feel peace even in prison? Then ask the children to find the words “Lord,” “God,” and “Christ” in the verses. Help them understand that Paul’s faith in Jesus Christ made it possible for him to rejoice. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Philippians; Colossians”)
Life is not meant to be free from difficulty, but you can help the children discover that they can still find a fulness of joy through Jesus Christ.
Put water in a cup. Ask the children to name things the Savior has done for us so that we can have joy, and invite them to drop a pebble in the cup for each thing they name until the cup is full. Read with the children Doctrine and Covenants 101:36, and ask them to look for how we can have a fulness of joy. What are some things we can do to “seek … the Lord” (verse 38) so we can have the joy that He wants to give us?
Story: When things are hard, we can pray for help. Because of the Savior, we can feel comfort and peace. (See Philippians 4:4–7.)
Song: “I Feel My Savior’s Love” (Children’s Songbook, 74–75)
Activity: On page 10, read a story about a girl who felt Jesus Christ’s love. Then think about a time you felt peaceful because of Him. Write about it or draw a picture.
Invite the children to help you complete sentences like the following: “I can be in the dark and still see things if I have a . I can be outside on a hot day and still feel cool if I have a . I can have hard times and still find joy if I .” What does Philippians 4:4–13 suggest we can do to find joy? Invite the children to share some hymns or scriptures about Jesus that can help them feel joy during hard times.(Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Philippians; Colossians”)
Help the children think of examples of hard things that Jesus went through, such as being mocked or made fun of. Explain that we will have hard times in our lives. Read 1 Peter 1:6–7; 3:14 together, and share an experience when you faced a “trial of your faith” and the Savior helped you find joy. Or you could share the Prophet Joseph Smith’s prayer in Liberty Jail and the comfort God gave him (see Doctrine and Covenants 121:1–8; 123:17). (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “1 and 2 Peter”)
Friend November 2023 “The Tryouts” Jared was excited to try out for the regional basketball team. Only a few players get invited to try out for it. But when he found out it was on Sunday his excitement faded. But he knew God was more important than basketball. He said a prayer and afterwards felt a comforting feeling that everything would be okay. Two days later he got an email saying tryouts would be on Saturday instead. He prepared very hard for the tryout and did his best but wasn’t selected. Then, a comforting thought came to him. “Things won’t always work out how I want,” he said. “But Jesus Christ knows exactly how I feel. He’s on my side.”
Em is Crafty “Come Follow Me 2019 – Lesson Plans for young kids: Lesson 43” Popcorn Kernels – Since God and Jesus know and love us, does that mean we’ll never have to go through anything hard in our lives? Set out an uncooked popcorn kernel and ask if this looks good to them. What needs to happen in order to make this kernel even better? (We need to give it some heat). Read/discuss/summarize 1 Peter 1:7 and 1 Peter 5:10-11 and explain that hard things we go through (trials of our faith) are more precious than gold and can help turn us into better people than we would’ve been otherwise. Remind them that God is “the God of all grace,” and He is the one who can change us into better people. Just like heat applied to popcorn kernels can change them into something much better, trials that we go through can turn us into better people if we rely on the Lord. Pop some popcorn to eat while sharing the examples in the following activity.
Brainstorm some things that could be trials of our faith and talk about how we can remain strong and become better people because of them (getting up to do the primary program in front of everyone, listening to scriptures instead of playing with toys, sharing instead of keeping favorite toy to self, sitting through sacrament quietly, obeying Mom/Dad when don’t want to, being patient instead of getting mad, etc.)
The children you teach may have experienced some form of teasing or mocking because of what they believe. These verses can help them during those times.
Summarize a few stories about Jesus being persecuted, or invite the children to read them—see, for example, Matthew 12:9–14 or Luke 22:47–54. Ask the children if they have ever been teased or mocked because they live the teachings of Jesus Christ. How did it make them feel? Then read together 1 Peter 3:12–14; 4:13–14, 16, and ask the children to look for what Peter said about suffering “for righteousness’ sake.” Why can we still be happy when other people mock us for doing what is right? (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “1 and 2 Peter”)
Friend July 2021 “Vaha’i Tonga”Vahai’ was determined to remain faithful, so he said his prayers every night at boarding school. At first the other kids made fun of him, then they started to join him. He invited them to a district conference and 77 of them came. Seven of them wanted to be baptized after the conference.
Friend February 2023 “How to Have Joy” In the winter of 1838, members of the Church had to leave their homes in Missouri, USA. It was very cold. Some spent the night outside near a campfire. They sang hymns and roasted potatoes.Sister Eliza R. Snow said, “Not a complaint was heard—all were cheerful.” Sometimes it doesn’t seem like we can feel joy when something bad happens. But joy comes from focusing on the Savior. (See more at link)
Using Acts 23:10, explain that Paul was put in prison because he taught the people about Jesus. Then read Acts 23:11 with the children. Or show the video “Be of Good Cheer” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), which portrays this story. Why could Paul “be of good cheer” even though he was in prison?
Write on the board Acts 23:10–11; Acts 27:18–25; and Acts 28:1–6. Show pictures of a jail, a ship, and a snake, and invite the children to review these verses and match them with the pictures. In each of these accounts, how did the Lord show Paul that He was with him?
Help the children memorize what Jesus said to Paul: “Be of good cheer.” Ask the children to think of someone they can invite to be of good cheer—perhaps someone who is sad or worried.
Friend February 2023 “What’s on Your Mind?” A letter to the Friend asks how to feel happier. The Friend responds with, “One thing that can help us feel happier is gratitude.” They also suggest playing The Thankful Game. (See more at link)
Items needed: two large, clear plastic cups, string, a dowel rod or ruler, a clear glass of water, food coloring, a large clear glass bowl, pencils, a small scoop of dirt in a baggie, tape, tacky wax, chalk and eraser, one sheet of colored card stock, a black marker, and small bag of butter mints.
Measuring scale assembly instructions: Punch two holes beneath the top edge of each plastic cup (the holes should be evenly spaced and on opposites sides of the cup). Cut two 24 inch pieces of string. Stick one end of one of the strings through a hole on one of the cups, then stick the other end through the other hole. Tie the ends into knots. Do the same with the other cup and string. Cut another piece of string 40 inches long and tie the ends together so it forms a loop. Hang it around the center of the dowel rod and tape down the string on the dowel. Hang the top of the string loop on a door handle and make sure the dowel rod sits evenly. Make adjustments if needed. Loop each cup’s string over an end of the dowel rod and tape down the string on the dowel. The scale should sit evenly. Once again make adjustments if needed.
Print and cutout all the signs. Tape the end of the arrow to the center of the dowel rod so the arrow points up. Using tacky wax, attach all the small words to the cardstock in random order.
Before class starts, hang the scale on a clip or tack at the top of the board. Attach the sign “Health” in-between the cups on the scale. Attach the smiley face to the left of the scale and the sad face to the right. Put the cup of water and the food colorings in the clear glass bowl to help protect against spillage.
Attention Activity
Show the children the scale. Explain that our physical bodies need the nutrients that are found in healthy food choices in order to sustain good health. Add pictures of healthy foods to the left cup, and the scale arrow will point to the smiley face which represents good health.
What happens if we decrease the amount of healthy foods we eat (take off the healthy foods) and increase our consumption of junk food like candy bars, chips, soda, (put these items in the right scale cup)? (Good health could decrease.)
Explain that just as our bodies need proper nourishment to be healthy and strong, our spirits also need proper nourishment to be healthy and strong. (Put the sign “Spiritual” above the health sign, and take off the junk food items from the scale.)
What does our spirit need in order to be healthy and strong? (Spiritual food such as scripture study, prayer, church attendance, etc.)
Scripture Story
(Show the children the story pictures as you tell the story.
Explain that after Jesus departed from the Nephites, the disciples continued to teach the people, and within a few years all the people in the land were converted to the Lord.
The people listened to the disciple’s teachings. They repented and were baptized, and they received the Holy Ghost. Their spirits were nourished. (Write the things they did to nourish their spirits on the healthy food pictures. Tape them on the left scale cup as you mention each item.)
Have the children look up 4 Nephi 1:12 to find out what other ways the people nourished their spirits. (Have the children write the items they find on the healthy food pictures and put them in the left cup.) (They kept the commandments, fasted, prayed, and they attended church to hear the word of God.)
Explain that when our spirits are strong and nourished we tend to make righteous choices, and making good choices helps our happiness levels increase. Explain that because the Nephites nourished their spirits and were committed to following Jesus’s teachings, their happiness level increased. According to 4 Nephi 1:16 there never was a happier people.
Activity
Show the children the cardstock with the words on it. Have them take off the words they associate with happiness and put them under the smiley face. Then hand out a crossword puzzle and a pencil to each child. Have the children take turns reading the clues and finding the word on the board that matches the clue. Put a check mark next to the word if it is the correct word. Have the children write the answer in the correct spot on their crossword puzzle. Explain that the clues and words tell us what the Nephites experienced as a result of living the gospel of Jesus Christ.
(See the following answers for discussion ideas on some of the words.)
Activity Answers
Fairness/Every man did deal justly one with another.
Sharing/They had all things common among them. (There were no poor.)
What does it mean that the people had “all things common among them”? Each person gave the extra he produced (crops, flocks, etc), and this extra was used for those who were in need of help.
Healing/All manner of miracles did they work. (Read 4 Nephi 1:5) The miracles included healing the lame, the blind, the deaf, and raising the dead.)
Peace/There were no contentions, strifes, or tumults in the land. (Meaning there was no fighting, arguing, riots, or war.)
Charity/The love of God … did dwell in the hearts of the people.
Goodwill/There were no envyings. (There was no jealousy. There was only gladness that others were blessed.)
Honesty/There were no … lyings.
Safety/There were no robbers or murderers.
Virtue/There were no whoredoms nor any manner of lasciviousness (crude behavior). (The people were chaste and clean.)
Unity/ There were no divisions of race or class. (There was no manner of “ites.” The people were no longer divided into Nephites and Lamanites but were united.)
Help the children understand that each one of the clues in the crossword puzzle relates to how we treat people. Help them see that the most important key to happiness is how we treat others. When we live the gospel, we treat each other with love and kindness, and as a result we enjoy greater peace and happiness in our lives.
Scripture Story Continued
3) The people were blessed in all their doings because of their righteousness. They prospered and built cities. They were strong and multiplied. The people lived in peace for many years.After nearly 200 years, two generations had passed on, and the people had multiplied and had spread out over all the land.
4) Then sin slowly started creeping into the land again.
Object Lesson
Show the children the glass of water, and put one drop of blue food coloring into the water. Have the children watch it spread throughout the glass and observe how quickly one little drop spreads. Explain that if people allow themselves to be exposed to a little sin, it can quickly grow and spread if left unchecked. We need to be careful about what we allow into our thoughts and lives.
4) The people had become very rich because of their prosperity in Christ, and they began allowing pride to take a hold in their lives. (4 Nephi 1:23-24) The people began to wear expensive clothing, jewelry, and other fine things of the world. From that time forth the people did not have their goods and their substance common among them. (4 Nephi 1:25)
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said this about pride: “At its core, pride is a sin of comparison, for though it usually begins with ‘Look how wonderful I am and what great things I have done,’ it always seems to end with ‘Therefore, I am better than you.’
The people began to focus on themselves instead of helping others. (Put the words “selfishness” and “poverty” on the right side of the board. Do the same for the italicized words as they are mentioned below.)
Have the children read 4 Nephi 1:26-27 & 29 to find the ways pride and sin began to spread. Put a different colored drop of food coloring in the water for every item mentioned. (The water should turn brown.)
They once again began to be divided into social classes. (Inequality)
They built many different churches to themselves (not to God). The churches were built up to help people get gain (Greed). They denied the true church of Christ.
These churches professed to know Christ but denied most parts of his gospel. (These people were no longer nourishing their spirits with the teachings of Christ and they were becoming spiritually weaker and weaker.) (Take out the items from the left side cup on the scale.)
The churches became open to all manner of wickedness. They allowed the wicked to participate in sacred ordinances.
One of the churches denied Christ and persecuted the members of the true church of Christ because of the members’ humility and belief in Christ. (Persecution) They despised them because of the many miracles which were wrought among them. (Hate) (Jealousy)
Point out that as the people let wickedness into their lives, it spread. Have the children observe the color of the water, and explain that instead of nourishing their spirits, they filled their lives with worthless, self-indulgent thoughts, and their choice became increasingly wicked. They were filling their lives with darkness and dirt. (Put the dirt in the cup on the right side of the scale.) The choices they made resulted in misery and unhappiness for many people.
5) Among the true church of Christ were three disciples that Jesus had given power to remain on the earth until his second coming. Before Jesus Christ departed, he had asked each of his twelve Nephite disciples what they desired of him. Nine requested to speedily return to him when their ministry on the earth was complete.
6) Three of the disciples asked to remain on the earth to bring souls unto Christ. Those three became translated beings who would not taste death.
7) Those who denied Christ began to try and exercise power and authority over the three disciples. They cast them into prison; but by the power of God which was in them, the prisons were broken and they came out. They also cast the disciples into fiery furnaces and into dens of wild beasts, and from each place they came out unharmed. (4 Nephi 1:30, 33)
Why didn’t the people repent, realize their mistake, and change their ways after seeing these mighty miracles of God? (Their hearts were set upon wickedness. They wanted to do all manner of iniquity.) (4 Nephi 1:34)
The people dwindled more and more in unbelief and wickedness from year to year. Point out that the people had been given the wonderful blessing of the gospel. Show the children the butter mints and explain that they represent gospel blessings. Give each child a couple of mints to eat. Point out how sweet and wonderful they are. Put two mints in the water near the side of the glass so they are visible to the class. Ask the children to watch what happens to them in the dirty water. (They will dwindle away and disappear.) Explain that the Nephite’s faith and blessings dwindled and wasted away as the people increased in wickedness.
8) Once again the people began to divide into different groups of “ites.” Those who did rebel against God were called Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmealites. They did teach their children that they should not believe. The children were taught to hate the children of God, just as the Lamanites had taught their children to hate the Nephites. The wicked grew in numbers and became more numerous than the people of God. The more wicked part of the people began again to build up the secret oaths and combinations of Gadianton. The robbers of Gadianton spread over all the land. (4 Nephi 1:34-39) (Add “Theft” and “Murder” to the right side of the board.)
9) Eventually, even those who were called the people of Nephi began to be proud in their hearts because of their exceeding riches, and they become vain like unto their brethren the Lamanites. (4 Nephi 1:43) After three hundred years had passed from the time of Christ, both the Nephites and the Lamanites had become exceedingly wicked.
Conclusion
Explain that just as our bodies feel miserable and sick when we are unwell, we can experience misery and unhappiness in our lives when our spirits are not strong and healthy because we tend to make choices that lead to unhappiness. In the next lesson we will learn about the increasingly terrible and sorrowful things that occurred among the Nephites because of the poor choices they made as a result of allowing wickedness into their lives. (Put the words “War” and “Destruction” on the right side of the board.)
Point out the lists under happiness and unhappiness and ask the children which they would prefer. Remind the children that if they desire to live lives filled with the blessings of happiness and peace, they must strive to follow the Savior and his teachings. Remind the children that the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us how to make good choices that lead to happiness.
Weekly Reading Assignment
Remind the children to do their scripture reading assignment for this week: 3 Nephi 28:1-9 & 4 Nephi 1:1-18, 23–46
