I Can Be Honest.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 ” Doctrine and Covenants 94–97″
In Doctrine and Covenants 97:8, the Lord identified honesty as one attribute of those who are “accepted of me.”
- Explain to the children that God taught that when we are honest, He accepts us (see Doctrine and Covenants 97:8). Share with them a few brief stories that help them understand what it means to be honest. These stories could come from your own life, from the life of someone you know, or from the Friend or Liahona. Help the children retell the stories to you or share experiences with honesty from their lives.
- Help the children learn the first phrase of the thirteenth article of faith: “We believe in being honest.” Help the children act out examples of being honest and dishonest. For example, the children could act out taking something from a sibling and telling their parents that they didn’t take it. Then help the children act out the same scenario in which they tell the truth to their parents. Explain that this is being honest.
According to Doctrine and Covenants 97:8., how can we be “accepted of” the Lord? How is that different from being accepted by the world? What does it mean to “observe [our] covenants by sacrifice”? How have we done this?
Friend September 2018 “I Can Tell the Truth” Coloring page
For additional teaching aids see Honesty Stories and Resources for Teaching Children “Honesty“
9 And let every man deal honestly,
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 51–57”
- Read to the children from Doctrine and Covenants 51:9: “Let every man deal honestly” (see also Articles of Faith 1:13). Ask the children if they know what it means to be honest. To help them better understand, give them examples of actions that are honest.
- Share some simple stories of children who face decisions about being honest, such as the decision to admit when they did something wrong. Use pictures, sock puppets, or paper dolls to make the stories more interesting. Ask the children if these people are being honest or dishonest.
- Sing a song about honesty, such as “Stand for the Right” (Children’s Songbook, 159). Bear your testimony about why it is important to be honest.
Friend August 2020 “How Do You Spell Honesty” When Elder Timothy J. Dyches was in six grade he hadn’t missed a spelling word all year long. If he kept getting perfect scores, I would receive an award for spelling at the end of the year. Then he noticed that he had missed a word on a spelling test that was incorrectly graded. He was honest and told his teacher about it.
Take this quiz to think about how you can be honest with yourself and others.
“Honesty Quiz” (April 2011 Friend) A quiz to help children evaluate how honest they are.
You could play a game that the family enjoys and then talk about how the game would have been different if someone had cheated. Why is it important to “deal honestly” with each other? How does honesty help us “be one”? Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 51–57”
Friend May 2021 “Scripture Time Fun: Be Honest!”
- Sing “Do What Is Right” (Hymns, no. 237).
- Jesus taught that we should “deal honestly” with each other (Doctrine and Covenants 51:9). That means telling the truth and being fair with others.
- Come up with situations you might face in everyday life—like finding money that someone lost or losing something you borrowed. Act out what you would do to “deal honestly.”
Latter Day Kids “Honesty” Lesson ideas, videos, music, etc.
Friend September 2018 “Family Night Fun” The more honest we are, the more others can trust us. Have each family member decorate a clear jar with ribbons, markers, paint, or whatever!
Keep your honesty jars where everyone can see them. Every time you do something honest—like admitting to a mistake or returning a lost toy—add something to the jar.
Friend September 2024 “I Can Follow Jesus by Being Honest”
I can be honest.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Acts 1-5” The early Christians shared what they had to help care for each other. Those who owned land sold it and gave the money to the Apostles, who then gave it to the Saints according to their needs. Ananias and Sapphira were dishonest about their contribution, thinking they could deceive the Lord’s servants.
Help the children act out the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Explain that although we won’t die when we tell a lie, this story shows how important being honest is to Heavenly Father.
- The below videos aren’t produced by the church, but they may provide some ideas on how the children may act out the story.
Sing together a song about honesty, such as “I Believe in Being Honest” (Children’s Songbook, 149). Help the children understand that being honest means always telling the truth and not taking things that belong to someone else.
Use paper-bag puppets to act out simple situations in which someone is being honest or dishonest. Ask the children to stand up if the person was being honest or sit on the floor if the person was being dishonest. Help the children understand why it is important to be honest.
The sites below have free printable cutouts to help make paper bag people.
- “Honesty Quiz” (April 2011 Friend) A quiz to help children evaluate how honest they are.
- Friend September 2018 “Map Champ” During a map game at school, Linda doesn’t hear the teacher because the kids are being too loud. Her teacher trusts her because she doesn’t lie, and the teacher gives her another chance.
Latter Day Kids “I Can Be Honest” Lesson ideas
- For additional teaching aids see Honesty Stories and Resources for Teaching Children “Honesty“
- “Lesson 38: Barnabas, Ananias, and Sapphira,” Primary 7: New Testament
I believe in being honest. (Jr)
Help the children memorize the phrase “We believe in being honest” (Articles of Faith 1:13). Write this phrase on paper bracelets the children can decorate and wear. Explain that being honest includes telling the truth. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 1-7” )
Ask the children to raise their hands when you say something that is true and lower them when you say something that is not true. Make simple but obvious statements, such as “Today is Sunday” or “I have three noses.” Repeat the activity a few times, letting the children take turns being the one who makes true and false statements. Why does Heavenly Father want us to tell the truth? (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 1-7” )
OR, use paper-bag puppets to say the true or not true things. Ask the children to stand up if the person was being honest or sit on the floor if the person was being dishonest. Help the children understand why it is important to be honest. (Children could take a turn with the puppets saying something true or not true with them.)
The sites below have free printable cutouts to help make paper bag people.
Friend September 2019 “Making Things Right” After shopping, a boy’s mother notices that the cashier didn’t charge them for all their items. She decides to go back and fix it. The boy wonders why they have to go back since it wasn’t their mistake. His mom explains that being honest matters to Heavenly Father and it might matter to someone else. When they get back to the store they find out that the cashier would have had to pay for the mistake.
Show the video “A Visit with Elder Ulisses Soares” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What did young Elder Soares learn about honesty? Encourage the children to prepare for their baptismal covenant by being honest. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 1-7” )
Friend September 2018 “Family Night Fun” The more honest we are, the more others can trust us. Have each family member decorate a clear jar with ribbons, markers, paint, or whatever!
Keep your honesty jars where everyone can see them. Every time you do something honest—like admitting to a mistake or returning a lost toy—add something to the jar.
I Believe in Being Honest (even when others are not) (I should always keep my promises)
Old Testament Stories “Jacob and His Family” Images
Jacob meets Rachel at the well—He serves Laban seven years for her—Laban gives to Jacob first Leah then Rachel in marriage—Jacob serves another seven years—Leah bears Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 28-33” Jacob agreed to work for Laban for seven years so that he could marry Laban’s daughter Rachel. Jacob kept this agreement, but Laban did not. Consider using this story to teach the children about the importance of keeping our promises. How can you use this story to help the children understand the importance of being honest even when others are dishonest?
- Read Genesis 29:18, 20 to the children, and explain that Jacob kept his promise to work seven years for Laban so he could marry Rachel, even though this was a long time to work (see also “Jacob and His Family” in Old Testament Stories). Help the children think of promises they might make to other people. Why is it important to keep our promises? Help them understand that a covenant is a sacred promise between God and each of us. Bear your testimony that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ always keep Their promises.
- Read together Genesis 29:16–30, and help the children summarize the events in these verses. How did Jacob react to being tricked? What can we learn from this account?
- On the board write What happens when we are dishonest? and What happens when we are honest? Invite the children to find answers by reading “Honesty and Integrity” (in For the Strength of Youth [2011], 19).
Friend September 2019 “Making Things Right” After shopping, a boy’s mother notices that the cashier didn’t charge them for all their items. She decides to go back and fix it. The boy wonders why they have to go back since it wasn’t their mistake. His mom explains that being honest matters to Heavenly Father and it might matter to someone else. When they get back to the store they find out that the cashier would have had to pay for the mistake.
Friend September 2018 “Map Champ” During a map game at school, Linda doesn’t hear the teacher because the kids are being too loud. Her teacher trusts her because she doesn’t lie, and the teacher gives her another chance.
“Lesson 14: Jacob and His Family,” Primary 6: Old Testament
Write each of the children’s names on separate slips of paper and place them in a container. Read one of the following situations; then draw a name from the container and ask that child to tell what should be done. Afterward, let that child draw out the next name. If the class is small, replace the names in the container after each use so a child may answer more than one question. You might want to add other examples.
- You are given too much change at the store.
- You forgot to do a school assignment. You are tempted to tell the teacher you were ill.
- You are playing with a friend’s toy when it breaks.
- You want some money to buy a treat and your mother’s purse is on the table.
- You used one of your father’s belongings without permission and lost it.
- Your friend left a toy at your house by mistake. It is something you would really like to have.
- You are setting out a game to play while your friend goes to get a drink of water. You realize that while she is out of the room you could arrange the game so you would win.
- You accidentally knock over a breakable object belonging to someone else. Your friend tells you that if it is an accident, you don’t need to admit you did it.
Winnie Wins – A girl is tempted to cheat in a geography test to beat a boy who teases her. Friend May 1984
Jacob marries Bilhah, and she bears Dan and Naphtali—He marries Zilpah, and she bears Gad and Asher—Leah bears Issachar and Zebulun and a daughter, Dinah—Then Rachel conceives and bears Joseph—Jacob works for Laban for wages of cattle and sheep.
The Lord commands Jacob to return to Canaan, and Jacob departs secretly—Laban pursues him; they resolve their differences and make a covenant of peace—Laban blesses his descendants, and he and Jacob part company.
