Friend January 2017 “Jesus Loves Me” Jesus was chosen in the premortal life to be our Savior. On earth he taught us the right way to live and he atoned for our sins because he loves us.
To Be Obedient to the Father & To be an Example for Us
7) But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.
To Show us that We Need to Enter the Gate (Baptism) that Leads to the Path Towards Eternal Life
9) And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them
5) And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!
10) And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me
Friend August 2017 “Jesus Forgives” Jesus teaches Peter to forgive. Jesus forgave sins, and he forgave his crucifiers.
Jesus Healed the Sick and Raised the Dead
Friend May 2019 “The Story of the Ten Lepers” You can read this story in .
Friend June 2017 “Jesus Healed People” Story of Jarius’s daughter being raised from the dead, and the story of the women with an issue of blood being healed when she touches the hem of Jesus’s robe.
Easter.ComeuntoChrist.org contains a timeline and description of what happened on each day of the last week of the Savior’s life. Each day of the week, your family could review these descriptions to see what the Savior did that day, or you could read about His last week in the scriptures as a family (see a suggested list in “Ideas for Personal Scripture Study” above).
Friend March 2021 “Because of Jesus” When Jesus died for us, He gave us many blessings. Some of these blessings are written on these cards. Find the match for each scripture.
Show the picture in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families as you tell about Jesus’s trial, Crucifixion, and burial (see also Gospel Art Book, nos. 57–58). Invite the children to share what they know about these events. Emphasize that on the third day, Jesus was resurrected. In other words, He came back to life.
Jesus is Laid in a Tomb
Ask the children to name some things their parents do for them that they cannot do for themselves. Show a picture of the Savior. Explain that because of Jesus, we can be resurrected—something we cannot do ourselves.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 Why are you grateful that Jesus Christ died for you? Consider how you can help the children understand the significance of the Savior’s sacrifice for them.
Write key events from Matthew 27:11–66 on separate pieces of paper (for help doing this, see “Chapter 52: The Trials of Jesus” and “Chapter 53: Jesus Is Crucified,” in New Testament Stories, 133–38, or the corresponding videos on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Invite the children to study these verses and place the events in the correct order.
Story: Jesus gave His life for us because He loves us. Because He was resurrected, we all will be too.
Song: “He Sent His Son” (Children’s Songbook, 34–35)
Activity: Gather these objects: a nail, a piece of wood, a piece of cloth, and a stone. Pass them around while you read John 19:17–19 and Matthew 27:57–60. Why are you thankful for Jesus?
Ask a child to read Matthew 27:54, and invite the children to share things about Jesus that help them know He is the Son of God.
Describe how the soldiers were unkind to Jesus (see Matthew 27:26–37), and then read Luke 23:34. Explain that when we forgive others, we aren’t angry at them anymore and we show love to them.
Invite the children to take turns reading about the soldiers being unkind to Jesus in Matthew 27:26–37 and Jesus forgiving them in Luke 23:34. (See the insight provided by the Joseph Smith Translation in Luke 23:34, footnote c.) What do we learn from Jesus’s example?
The soldiers beat Jesus with whips. They put a purple robe on Him. They made a crown of thorns and put it on Jesus’s head. They laughed at Him and spit on Him. They called Him “King of the Jews.”
Many people followed the soldiers as they took Jesus to a hill near Jerusalem. They made Him carry His own cross. They nailed His hands and feet to the cross and lifted it up. They also crucified two other men, who were thieves.
Jesus prayed. He asked Heavenly Father to forgive the soldiers who crucified Him. They did not know that He was the Savior.
Because Jesus suffered and died for me, I can repent and be forgiven.
Invite a child to read aloud Luke 23:32–33, 39–43. Explain that the two people being crucified with Jesus were thieves. How did one of the thieves show that he was beginning to repent? What can we do to show that we are repenting? (See Guide to the Scriptures, “Repent, Repentance,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.)
Write the following sentence on the board, leaving blanks for the italicized words: “I can be forgiven when I repent because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” Give the children clues to help them fill in the blanks.
Display a picture of Jesus on the cross or being buried in the tomb (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 57, 58). Ask the children to explain what is happening in the picture. Read to the children Job’s testimony in Job 19:25. Display a picture of the resurrected Savior (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 59, 60; see also this week’s activity page), and testify that Jesus Christ was resurrected and lives today. Why are we thankful that Jesus was resurrected?
Gospel Art Book
Gospel Art Book
Show a picture of Job, and explain that Job was in a lot of pain because his skin had sores all over it. He had lost his home, and his children had died. But Job knew something very important that gave him comfort. Read Job 19:25, and ask the children what Job knew. Share with the children how you know that Jesus Christ lives, and invite them to share their testimonies of Him.
Ask the children to color this week’s activity page. As they do, play or sing a song about Jesus’s Resurrection, such as “Did Jesus Really Live Again?” or “Jesus Has Risen” (Children’s Songbook, 64, 70). Ask them to share how they feel about Jesus, and help them understand that we can have good feelings from the Holy Ghost to help us know Jesus Christ is real.
For the Strength of Youth April 2023 “Fun Stop” Print, cut out, and glue the two pictures together back to back. Shine a flashlight behind the images (or hold the page up to a window or light) to learn more about the events surrounding the Savior’s atoning sacrifice.
Cut out the circles and put the first circle on top of the other. Poke a hole in the center and hold them in place with a pin or metal brad. Then turn the top circle to tell the Easter story.
Show a picture of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and ask the children to share what they know about the picture. If needed, share with them the story of Jesus being resurrected (see “Jesus Is Risen,” in New Testament Stories, 139–44). Play or sing a song about the Resurrection, such as “Jesus Has Risen” (Children’s Songbook, 70), and invite the children to share how it makes them feel to know that Jesus rose from the dead.
Tell the children about someone you know who has died. How do we feel when someone we love dies? Invite the children to draw a face of someone crying. Then read Isaiah 25:8 to them. What will Jesus do to our tears when we miss someone who has died? Invite the children to draw a happy face. Bear your testimony that because Jesus Christ was resurrected, we can feel comforted when someone dies and know that we will all be resurrected one day.
Friend December 2020 “A Christmas Song for Grandpa” Jennifer’s grandfather passed away on the day she is supposed to sing a solo at the Christmas community program. She is heartbroken but remembers that because of Jesus she will see her grandfather again. She decides to sing about Jesus at the program so she can share the light and hope Jesus gives.
Friend March 2021 “He is Risen” President Henry B. Eyring tells about feeling sad when his mother died, but then felt happy when the Holy Ghost told him that the Resurrection is real. (Cut out the cards and glue them on paper. Punch the holes and tie together with string. Now you have an Easter storybook!)
Friend April 2020 “The First Easter” Cut out the story and the pictures to tell the story of the first Easter.
Friend April 2019 “The Miracle of Easter” Learn about Easter! You could read one part each day starting on Palm Sunday, a week before Easter. Each section includes information about a certain part of Jesus’ life, a scripture, and a song. It ends with the resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Friend April 2020 “Food & Fun: Tell the Easter Story” Use this activity to tell the story of when Jesus Christ was resurrected. Number 12 plastic eggs and put each slip of paper inside, along with the object that goes with it (optional). Then hide the eggs for a family Easter egg hunt! When all the eggs have been found, take turns opening them in order and read the paper inside to tell the Easter story.
Friend April 2020 “My Family Night Fun” Build a Resurrection garden! Fill a large dish or flower pot with dirt. Then lay a cup sideways to look like a tomb. You could use the cutouts on pages FJ2–FJ3 to finish the scene.
Friend March 2018 “Jackson Loves Easter” Jackson loves Easter because it reminds him of Jesus and all the things Jesus has done for us.
Friend March 2018 “Seven Days Until Easter” Starting the Sunday before Easter, read the scripture for each day and color the matching numbered area. (Print and tape the two pictures together.)
Friend April 2020 “The Easter Tree” Oliver wanted to wave palm branches like the people did when Jesus entered Jerusalem, so he and his parents cut down some branches. After they were done waving their branches and shouting hosanna, they put the branches in a vase. Then they wrote why they loved Jesus and put the papers in Easter eggs and hung them on the branches. Oliver learned that because of Jesus he would one day see his baby sister again. That made him happy.
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 LessonDirections 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.
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?
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.
Friend April 2020 “The First Easter” Cut out the story and the pictures to tell the story of the first Easter.
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”
Easter Puppet Object Lesson Directions on how to make and present object lesson of spirit leaving body and then being reunited.
Assign each child one of the following scripture passages: Doctrine and Covenants 63:49; 88:14–17, 27; 138:11, 14–17. Invite the children to search their verses to find a phrase that they feel captures the message of Easter. Let them share their thoughts. If time allows, let them make cards that feature the phrases they found that they can give to family members or friends.
Friend April 2023 “We Will Live Again” Carlan wants to know where people go when they die and whether we will see them again. Her mother explains that because of Jesus we will all live again.
The Prophet Joseph Smith testified that Jesus Christ lives.
Show the children a picture of Joseph Smith’s First Vision. Invite the children to tell you what is happening in the picture, and ask them to find Jesus Christ.
Ask the children if they know about other times Joseph Smith saw the Savior. In your own words, tell about the experiences described in Doctrine and Covenants 76:11–24; 110:1–7. Why is it a blessing to know that Joseph Smith saw the risen Savior?
April 3, 1836, was Easter Sunday. After helping administer the sacrament to Saints gathered in the newly dedicated Kirtland Temple, Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery found a quiet place behind a veil in the temple and bowed in silent prayer. Then, on this sacred day when Christians everywhere were commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the risen Savior Himself appeared in His temple, declaring, “I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain” (Doctrine and Covenants 110:4).
What does it mean to say that Jesus Christ is “he who liveth”? It doesn’t just mean that He rose from the tomb on the third day and appeared to His Galilean disciples. It means that He lives today. He speaks through prophets today. He leads His Church today. He heals wounded souls and broken hearts today. So we can echo the words of Joseph Smith’s powerful testimony: “After the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony … which we give of him: That he lives!” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22). (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Easter: “I Am He Who Liveth, I Am He Who Was Slain”)
On the board, list some truths we learn about the Savior from these verses. Invite the children to identify which verses teach the truths listed on the board. On this week’s activity page, help the children match the pictures with the scripture verses.
Friend April 2022 “Find It” In Germany, many people decorate with eggs to celebrate Easter. How do you celebrate the Savior’s Resurrection? Find the hidden items.
Friend April 2021 “Find It” On the island of Barbados, many people have a tradition of flying kites around Easter to remind them that Christ rose from the tomb. Find the kites and other items listen below.
Friend March 2021 “Getting Ready for Easter” In Russia, Easter is celebrated with Clean Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. Story tells how Lydia and her family celebrate each of the days.
For the Strength of Youth April 2023 “Fun Stop” People from many countries decorate eggs at Eastertime. For some people, an eggshell represents an empty tomb and the risen Savior. Each egg below shows a decoration style from around the world. Can you guess which egg represents which country? ( 1. H 2. C 3. J 4. B 5. D 6. F 7. A 8. I 9. G 10. E)
Stories
Friend March 2024 “An Easter to Remember” (Finland) Noah and his family enjoyed roasted lamb and sweet pasha for their Easter dinner. After their traditional Easter dinner they had their special music program family home evening. Everyone in the family had prepared a song about Jesus Christ to share. Jonas felt Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s love as they each shared their talent and then watched an Easter video. Afterwards, they wrote in their special Easter journals what they would do to follow Heavenly Father and Jesus.
Easter, Resurrection: We love to color eggs and do an Easter egg hunt. There is always one plastic egg that is empty. It reminds us of the empty tomb after Jesus was resurrected! Eli W., age 6, California, USA
Easter, Resurrection: On Easter morning, we go to church and come back home to learn more about our Savior. We have 12 Easter eggs that represent things He did. The last egg is always empty because it represents that Jesus is risen! Scarlet A., age 10, New Mexico, USA
Friend March 2024 “Easter Lily Craft” Easter lilies can help us remember Jesus Christ’s Resurrection. Lily bulbs grow under the ground for a long time before they bloom in the spring. After Jesus died, His body was placed in a tomb. But after three days, He lived again! Make your own Easter lilies by following these steps.
New Era April 2020 “Fun Stop” Use a white crayon to write or draw designs on your eggs before dying them. Wherever you draw will stay un-dyed. Could use it to reveal an answer to a question or have the family members answer a question and then reveal their answers.
Friend April 1985 “Jesus Rose Again” The capitalized words in the story are also in the letter square. Find them by reading forward, backward, up, down, and diagonally. Note: Some terms appear as a unit, some as separate words.
Friend March 2016 “One Step Closer to Easter” Each week this month, you and your family can learn more about Jesus and His Resurrection. He lives!
Friend March 2016Friend March 2016
Friend April 2022 “Jesus is Risen” Getting Ready for Easter: Starting a week before Easter, read a scripture each day and color in the matching areas.
Friend April 2020 “Getting Ready for Easter” Get ready for Easter by doing an activity and coloring an egg each day to remember Jesus Christ.
Friend March 2015 “Getting Ready for Easter” Start on number 1 the Sunday before Easter. Each day, read about Jesus and answer the question. Then cut out the matching picture and add it to the chart.
Friend April 2017 “A Special Easter Treat” Kate makes Easter rolls with her mom. Each part of the process remind us of the Savior’s Atonement or resurrection. Link includes recipe.
Friend April 2023 “The Jerusalem Dinner” Every year at Easter Gideon’s family had a special dinner of things that Jesus might have eaten such as flatbread, dried dates, honey, olives, dried apricots, almonds, goat cheese, sliced cucumbers and fish. They also talked about their favorite stories of Jesus.
Friend December 2023 “The First Christmas” Make your own Nativity scene! Cut out each picture. Then glue or tape the pictures inside a small box or on a piece of cardboard.
Friend December 1988 “Sharing Time: Two Witnesses of Jesus Birth” Read the skit as the silhouettes are pressed against a backlit piece of fabric or sheet. (Book of Mormon & Bible tell of Jesus’ birth.)
Friend December 2019 “Matt and Mandy” Mandy and her friend Jazzmine want their families to do a nativity pageant together. Jazzmine’s grandparents want to play Simeon and Anna who recognized Jesus at the temple the same way we can recognize him in our lives, through the Holy Ghost.
Friend December 2017 “Skyler’s Nativity” Skyler helps with the nativity play. Also, count how many stars are in the sky.
Friend December 2020 “Christmas Play” After Mark and his siblings hear the story of Jesus’s birth, they dress up and act it out. (Circle the things Mark and Sarah could use for their play!)
