I can follow Jesus Christ by standing for the right.
I Can Stand for the Right Despite Opposition.
I can be faithful even when others make fun of me. (Sr)
God will bless me as I choose to follow Jesus Christ.
Courage to Stand for the Right
Friend February 2024 “True Friends?” Henry’s friends did things that made him uncomfortable like watching bad videos, telling mean jokes at school, or stealing apples. He was afraid to say anything because he didn’t want to be alone and friendless. His mom told him that true friends help you do what’s right. The next time they watched a bad video he said he didn’t want to watch it. His friends made fun of him and said mean things about him. “Is this what true friends would do?,” Henry thought. He left and felt peaceful. He realized he wasn’t alone. The Holy Ghost was with him.
Friend July 2022 “Matt and Mandy” Mandy’s friend steals some fruit and offers it to Mandy. Mandy said she can’t take it because she wouldn’t feel good about it. They decide to return the fruit.
Friend April 2021 “The CTR Reminder” Raish was afraid to say anything to her friends who were being mean to a new girl, but then she saw her CTR ring and remembered something her teacher had said. Remember who you are and what you stand for. So Raish stood for the right and asked her friends to stop being mean, and then she went and apologized to the new girl and asked to be her friend.
Friend July 2020 “Kind Enough to Speak Up” Charlie’s friend was mean to people and called them names. Charlie talked to his friend about it and he agreed to stop being mean.
Friend May 2020 “Rose Marie Takes a Stand” Rose Marie was a famous swimsuit designer. Many people wanted her to make immodest swimsuits, but she refused. She also wouldn’t allow her swimsuits be used to advertise things such as cigarettes. (Story includes actual photos.)
Friend November 2018 “Finders Keepers?” Mike finds some money on the school grounds and takes it to the office even though his friends think they should keep it and spend it.
Friend February 2018 “The Pencil Problem” when Alex gets two pencils from a machine when he only paid for one, Maya says he should tell the librarian. All their other friends thinks he should keep it.
Write a Letter
Friend February 2019 “Gary and Goliath” Gary didn’t like seeing the signs near his neighborhood and church of people not wearing very many clothes, He decides to write a letter to the owners asking them to take the signs down. He is very happy when he sees them taking down the signs. Even boy can make a difference.
Do a Presentation
Friend February 2018 “Standing up for Church” Easton is surprised when kids in his international school class laugh when a boy says he goes to church. He decides to do his family identity presentation on church so that others would see why it’s important and not silly.
Friend August 2016 “Courage to Be Kind” Bullying is a problem at Rachel’s school. She made a “Challenge for Kindness” presentation and shared it with her class and school.
Tell Them
Friend February 2020 “Matt & Mandy” When some kids find a wallet, Matt and his friend stand for the right by telling a boy, who wants to keep the money, that they need to return the wallet to its owner.
Friend September 2017 “Matt and Mandy” Matt tells some boys he doesn’t want to hear a bad joke even though they call him chicken.
Friend July 1988 “Sama the Thumb” Sama goes to church even though it is against the village rules to attend a different church. He is persecuted, but stands fast.
Friend June 1986 “Another Kind of Courage” Trent stops his friends from teasing a boy.
Friend January 2016 A girl plays with someone other than her normal friends. Eventually her other friends include the new girl.
Friend March 2021 “Courage in Choir” While singing a new song in her school’s choir, Scarlett hears Heavenly Father’s name in vain being taken in vain in the song. She asked the teacher if she could say something different. The teacher changed the words for everyone.
Friend June 2023 “The Dance Choice” Maddie didn’t feel good about a song that her dance class was going to dance to. She remembered that her mom had said music with bad words could make it harder to feel the Spirit. Maybe the Holy Ghost was telling her the song wasn’t good. Maddie’s teacher said she could sit out during the song. Even though it was scary to sit out alone, she chose to do that and felt good that she had listened to the Holy Ghost.
I hear a living prophet speak the things that Christ would say If He were here upon the earth to talk with me today. The prophet teaches how to live in righteousness and peace, And if I listen with my heart I hear the Savior’s voice.
When I hear the prophet’s voice, I feel closer to God.
I listen and feel the Savior’s love deep within my heart.
When I hear the prophet’s voice, I will gladly obey.
I know that the Savior speaks through him for our day.
We Listen to a Prophet’s Voice
We listen to a prophet’s voice and hear the Savior too. With love he bids us do the work the Lord would have us do. The Savior calls his chosen seer to preach the word of God, That men might learn to find the path marked by the iron rod.
In ev’ry land, in ev’ry tongue, our prophet will be heard; How swiftly round the world his voice reveals the gospel word! The sacred message that he brings will witness and agree With ev’ry prophet called of God throughout earth’s history.
Hosanna! Let our praise ascend unto the Savior’s throne; Rejoice! The prophet has confirmed that by Him we are known. Attend, ye earth! The prophet speaks; come listen and obey. He is the man who holds the keys of priesthood pow’r today.
Friend February 2001 “Latter-day Prophets Wheel” Fasten the two circles together with a metal fastener through the center dots. Find the picture of Joseph Smith; in the window below his picture you can read an interesting fact about him. Continue turning the top circle to the right to see the men in the order that they served as Presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to read something that that prophet is remembered for. You might want to use the wheel to help you sing “Latter-day Prophets”* in a family home evening.
Friend May 2018 Latter-day prophets song with the addition of Russell M. Nelson.
Come Listen to a Prophet’s Voice
Come, listen to a prophet’s voice, And hear the word of God, And in the way of truth rejoice, And sing for joy aloud. We’ve found the way the prophets went Who lived in days of yore. Another prophet now is sent This knowledge to restore.
We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet
We thank thee, O God, for a prophet To guide us in these latter days. We thank thee for sending the gospel To lighten our minds with its rays. We thank thee for every blessing Bestowed by thy bounteous hand. We feel it a pleasure to serve thee And love to obey thy command.
Jacob CHAPTER 5 Jacob quotes Zenos relative to the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees—They are a likeness of Israel and the Gentiles—The scattering and gathering of Israel are prefigured—Allusions are made to the Nephites and Lamanites and all the house of Israel—The Gentiles will be grafted into Israel—Eventually the vineyard will be burned. About 544–421 B.C.
Jacob CHAPTER 6 The Lord will recover Israel in the last days—The world will be burned with fire—Men must follow Christ to avoid the lake of fire and brimstone. About 544–421 B.C.
Jacob CHAPTER 7 Sherem denies Christ, contends with Jacob, demands a sign, and is smitten of God—All of the prophets have spoken of Christ and His Atonement—The Nephites lived out their days as wanderers, born in tribulation, and hated by the Lamanites. About 544–421 B.C.
Friend April 2024 After you read, color part of the picture. You can read these scriptures that go along with each week’s reading from Come, Follow Me.
Allegory of the Olive Tree
As Jacob taught his people, he quoted an allegory given by a prophet named Zenos (see Jacob 5:1). An allegory, like a parable, is a story that uses symbolic characters, and familiar objects and actions to teach truths. This allegory is about people who have turned away from the Lord in sin and the Lord’s efforts to help them return to Him. As you study Jacob 5, consider how the Lord is always reaching out to you even when you have sinned.
Jacob 5 is a long chapter—the longest in the Book of Mormon. Perhaps it would help to divide it into the following sections, which describe periods of the world’s history:
Verses 3-14 The scattering of Israel before the time of Christ
To save the house of Israel, He plucks off the most wicked branches (people) and destroys them.“Now in that parable the olive tree is the House of Israel. … In its native land it began to die. So the Lord took branches like the Nephites, like the lost tribes, and like others that the Lord led off that we do not know anything about, to other parts of the earth. He planted them all over his vineyard, which is the world.
Verses 15–28. The ministry of Christ and the Apostles
The chapter ends with the Millennium and the earth’s final cleansing. The rest of Jacob 5 represents the Lord’s and His servants’ efforts to save those who live in the last days. He gathers his people and nourishes them one last time ( Book of Mormon Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students “Unit 10”)
Pruning removes dead branches and bad fruit from a tree. The master cut off the dead branches and cast them into the fire (see Jacob 5:9). How does God help us “prune” our lives of sins and weaknesses?
Digging includes clearing away obstacles, such as weeds, from around a tree. Digging ensures nothing will hinder the tree’s ability to grow. What obstacles keep us from growing spiritually?
Nourishing keeps a tree healthy by providing minerals and other nutrients. Like trees, our spirits need nourishment. How can we nourish our spirits? Ensign March 2020 “What Can We Learn from the Allegory of the Olive Tree?”
He commanded that the main decaying branches of the olive tree be removed and that some branches from a wild olive tree be grafted to the main tree (see Jacob 5:7–10). This grafting can represent the Lord’s efforts to help Gentiles become part of His covenant people through baptism and conversion.
He took young and tender branches from the main olive tree and grafted them into different portions of the vineyard (see Jacob 5:8, 13–14). This can represent the scattering of Israel to different portions of the world. Some of those who were scattered were righteous, such as Lehi’s family (see 1 Nephi 10:12–13). Others were scattered because of wickedness.
What did you notice about the state of the trees and the fruit during these visits?
What did you notice about the words and actions of the lord of the vineyard during these visits?
What do these words and actions teach you about Jesus Christ? (Add your insights to your journal page.)
The video below is great to help children understand this story. The only problem with this video is that it calls the wild branches bad. The wild branches are the Gentiles who have not made covenants with the Lord. The children should know that all can repent and join with God’s covenant people and and produce good works, but all those who do not change from their wicked ways will have God’s judgements come upon them–represented by the fire.
For additional insights about the allegory, see the diagram and charts below.
Symbol
Meaning
Tame olive tree (verse 3)
The house of Israel, God’s covenant people
The vineyard (verse 3)
The world
Decay (verse 3)
Sin and apostasy
Master of the vineyard (verse 4)
Jesus Christ
Pruning, digging, and nourishing (verse 4)
The Lord’s efforts to help us be righteous and produce good works
Branches (verse 6)
Groups of people
Wild olive tree (verse 7)
Gentiles—those who have not made covenants with the Lord. Later in the allegory, natural olive trees, representing portions of the house of Israel in apostasy, are also described as “wild.”
Plucking and grafting branches (verses 7–8)
The scattering and gathering of the Lord’s covenant people. In addition, the grafting of wild olive branches into the tame olive tree represents the conversion of Gentiles who become part of the Lord’s covenant people through baptism.
Burning branches (verse 7)
God’s judgments upon the wicked
Fruit (verse 8)
The lives or works of people
Roots of the tame olive tree (verse 11)
The covenants the Lord makes with those who follow Him. Roots may also represent individuals with whom the Lord covenanted anciently, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see Jacob 6:4).
Ponder the phrase “It grieveth me that I should lose this tree.” What emotions do you think the Lord expressed here, and why?
Read the phrase again, and this time insert your name in place of “this tree”: “It grieveth me that I should lose [your name].” By inserting your name throughout Jacob 5 in places that are meaningful and appropriate, you will be able to relate the allegory to yourself and learn more about the Lord’s concern for you. You may also insert the word I or me in suitable places in the scriptures.
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Book of Mormon 2020 “Jacob 5-7” Some families have found it helpful to draw the symbols from the allegory of the olive trees as they read it. Your family might enjoy that approach, or there could be another way you can help family members visualize the symbols in the allegory. Maybe you could mark an area on a table or floor to represent the vineyard (or the world) and depict the tame olive tree (or the house of Israel) with an object, such as a puzzle, that can be divided into pieces (to represent the scattering of Israel) and then brought back together (to represent the gathering of Israel). What does this allegory teach us about the Lord? about His servants?
How can you share the story of the olive trees in a way that your children can understand? One way is to take a walk outside to look at a tree and briefly review the main points of the story. What did the Lord of the vineyard do for His trees? How can we be like workers in the story and help others feel the Savior’s love?
Jacob shared the story of the olive trees to invite his people to come unto Christ. It can do the same for your children. Perhaps you could summarize the story with verses such as Jacob 5:3–4, 28–29, 47, and 70–72 (see also “Old Testament Olive Vineyard” , Gospel Library). You or your children could then read Jacob 5:11, 41, 47, and 72, looking for things that show how much the Lord of the vineyard (Jesus Christ) cared about the trees. What does the Savior do to show that He cares about us?’
Read and explain to the children key verses summarizing the allegory of the olive trees, such as Jacob 5:3–4, 28–29, 47, and 70–72, and invite the children to draw pictures of what these verses describe. What do we learn from these verses about how the Lord feels about His people? Ask the children to pretend to take care of an olive tree as you briefly summarize verses 61–71 (they might act out digging, watering, and so on). Invite a few children to read Jacob 5:11, 41, 47, and 72, looking for things that show how much the Lord of the vineyard (Jesus Christ) cared about the trees. What does the Savior do to show He cares about us? The video “Old Testament Olive Vineyard” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org) can help with this activity.
List some of the symbols in Jacob 5 on the board, such as the vineyard, the lord of the vineyard, the servant, and the olive trees. Then make another list, in random order, of the things these symbols might represent, such as the world, the Savior, Church leaders or missionaries, and God’s people. Read together verses from Jacob 5 that mention these symbols, and help the children draw lines on the board connecting the symbols with their possible meanings (see, for example, verses 3–4, 28–29, 47, 70–72).
“Today Latter-day Saints are going to all parts of the world as servants in the vineyard to gather this fruit and lay it in store for the time of the coming of the Master.
Watch this video from the church media library: The Olive Tree
The story of the Lord and his vineyard in Jacob 5 is an allegorical telling of the scattering and gathering of Israel. We are living in the time of the final gathering. The “other servants” (Jacob 5:70) who were called into the Lord’s vineyard include people like you. What can we do to help gather Israel in preparation for the Savior’s Second Coming?
Fruit Fun
Sing “Dare to Do Right” (Children’s Songbook, 158).
The prophet Jacob taught about missionary work by telling a story about trees. He compared sharing the gospel to helping trees grow good fruit (see Jacob 5).
Cut out paper fruit in different colors. Have everyone write one way they can share the gospel. You could even make a tasty fruit treat for dessert (see Treat Time)! Friend March 2020 “My Family Night Fun{“
Read Jacob 5:61 together and help your little ones say, “I can teach people about Jesus.” Then color nametags and dress up like missionaries! Practice talking about the scriptures and Jesus. You could sing a missionary song together, like “I Want to Be a Missionary Now” (Children’s Songbook, 168). Friend March 2020 “Come Follow Me for Little Ones”
The allegory of the olive tree teaches us that we have a duty to help gather Israel, both among the living and beyond the veil.
Open the Family Tree app on your phone (or go to FamilySearch.org).
Select “Temple.” If you don’t already have a name prepared for the temple, select “Ordinances Ready.”
Choose the ordinance you’d like to perform, and the names of any ancestors who need that ordinance will appear.
Create a bar code to print the names at the temple or print them at home.
Set a date in the near future to go to the temple and do the ordinances.
Discussion: How does it make you feel to know you are assisting the Lord in gathering His people? Ensign March 2020 “Family Study Fun”
Show a picture of a tree, or take a walk outside to look at a tree, and briefly review the main points of the allegory of the olive trees in Jacob 5. For example: the Lord of the vineyard (who could represent Jesus) worked very hard to look after his olive trees (which could represent the people on earth) because He cared so much about them. He called laborers (who could represent missionaries) to help care for the trees. Pick one or two verses from Jacob 5 to read to the children (such as verses 71–72).
Ask the children if they know someone who has served a mission, or talk about someone you know. Help the children locate on a map the places where those missionaries are serving. Explain that Jacob compared the world to a group of olive trees. The trees are like the people on earth, and caring for those trees is like what missionaries do for God’s children. What do missionaries do to bless Heavenly Father’s children? Look together for some answers to this question in a song such as “Called to Serve” (Children’s Songbook, 174–75). How can we be like missionaries?
Jacob 6:4–5 has an important message for us when we make wrong choices. Maybe you could help your children find it. Which words in these verses give us hope in God’s redeeming love? Elder Allen D. Haynie’s story about getting dirty in a mud pit, in his message “Remembering in Whom We Have Trusted” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 121–22), could help. What do this story and Jacob 6:4–5 teach us about what we need to do to be saved in the kingdom of God?
Invite the children to give themselves a hug. How do we feel when someone we love gives us a hug? Read Jacob 6:5 to the children, and explain that the phrases “[God] cleaveth unto you” and “his arm of mercy is extended towards you” teach that Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to come back to Him someday.
Come Follow Me Kid “Jacob 5-7” Outstretched/Extended Arm Hugs- Jacob 6:4-5 says that God “stretches forth His hands” to us and “His arm of mercy is extended” towards us. Remind them that Heavenly Father and Jesus love us and want us to come back, to them someday. Jacob 6:5 also says, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you.” Explain what it means to cleave unto God. Take turns stretching out our arms and hands while family members run in for a hug and “cleave unto” you. Remind them of how much Heavenly Father and Jesus love us and would love to give us a hug right now.
Sing together a song about love, such as “I Feel My Savior’s Love” (Children’s Songbook, 74–75). Invite the children to name things that help them feel the Savior’s love.
Make a chart on the board with two columns labeled Heavenly Father and Us. Read together Jacob 6:4–5, and ask half of the class to look for phrases that apply to God and the other half to look for phrases that apply to us. Record what they discover in the appropriate column. Help them define words they do not understand.
One meaning of the word cleave is to adhere to or stick to something firmly, closely, and unwaveringly.
Jacob asked us to “cleave,” or stay close, to God with all our hearts (Jacob 6:5). Play a game about staying together as a team! Choose one person to be the chaser. When the chaser tags someone, they join hands and chase the other players. When the next person gets tagged, they join hands with one of the chasers too. Keep playing until everyone joins hands.
For younger children: When we “cleave” to someone, we hold tightly to them. Have your children hug a stuffed animal or comfort toy. Talk about how we can be closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by praying and reading the scriptures.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “Jacob 5-7” How can you inspire your children to stand for truth like Jacob did? Your children could watch the video “Chapter 10: Jacob and Sherem” (Gospel Library) and act out the interaction between Jacob and Sherem, using Jacob 7:1–23 as a guide. How did Jacob stand for what he knew was right? Invite your children to share experiences when they stood for the right, or share your own.
Friend February 2019 “What’s on Your Mind” Someone writes to the Friend and wants to know how to help make the bad things in life better. The Friend responds with an activity of some ways to stand for the right. Unscramble the words, then put them in the correct sentence to find ways to help.
Write on slips of paper situations in which someone tries to convince a child to do something wrong and a reference to a corresponding commandment from the scriptures. For example, your friend goes with you into a store and tries to get you to steal some candy (Exodus 20:15 or Mosiah 13:22), someone offers you a taste of an alcoholic beverage (D&C 89:7), or you are tempted to stay home and not go to church (D&C 59:9). Have the children look up and read each scripture. Discuss how knowing what the scriptures teach strengthens our testimonies of Jesus Christ and helps us resist evil influences.You might want to have the children pantomime these situations and have the other children guess what is being pantomimed.
Stand for the Right Song: Teaching Ideas
Perhaps they could also sing a song that expresses courage like Jacob’s, such as “Stand for the Right,” Children’s Songbook, 159.
Ask them to stand whenever they sing words like right or true.
Jacob CHAPTER 1 Jacob and Joseph seek to persuade men to believe in Christ and keep His commandments—Nephi dies—Wickedness prevails among the Nephites. About 544–421 B.C.
Jacob CHAPTER 2 Jacob denounces the love of riches, pride, and unchastity—Men may seek riches to help their fellowmen—The Lord commands that no man among the Nephites may have more than one wife—The Lord delights in the chastity of women. About 544–421 B.C.
Jacob CHAPTER 3 The pure in heart receive the pleasing word of God—Lamanite righteousness exceeds that of the Nephites—Jacob warns against fornication, lasciviousness, and every sin. About 544–421 B.C.
Jacob CHAPTER 4 All the prophets worshiped the Father in the name of Christ—Abraham’s offering of Isaac was in similitude of God and His Only Begotten—Men should reconcile themselves to God through the Atonement—The Jews will reject the foundation stone. About 544–421 B.C.
God calls Church leaders to help me follow Jesus Christ
Book of Mormon Stories Before Nephi died, he gave the plates he had written on to his younger brother Jacob. This meant that Jacob would also be the spiritual leader of the people. Jacob 1:1–2, 8
Nephi told Jacob to write the things that would help the people believe in Jesus Christ. Jacob 1:4–6
Nephi gave his younger brothers Jacob and Joseph the power to be priests and teachers in the Church and to teach the Nephites the word of God. Jacob 1:18
Go through the Fifth Article of Faith and explain that Nephi would have prayed to find out who God wanted called to certain responsibilities. He then would have “consecrated” Jacob and Joseph for those responsibilities by the laying on of hands because he had the priesthood authority from God to do so.
Jacob and Joseph labored diligently among their people, that they might persuade them to come unto Christ and partake of the goodness of God Jacob 1:7
Make simple puppets to represent Jacob and Joseph, Nephi’s younger brothers, who were leaders in the Church. Share some verses from Jacob 1 and 2 to explain what Church leaders are called to do. For example, leaders persuade us to “believe in Christ” (Jacob 1:8), invite us to repent (see Jacob 2:5–6, 9–10), and “declare [God’s] word” (Jacob 2:2, 11). Let the children use the puppets to pretend to do some of these things.
Invite the children to name some Church leaders they know, like Primary leaders, bishopric members, and prophets and apostles. Help the children think of ways these leaders bless us.
Senior Primary
Read with the children Jacob 1:6–8 and 2:1–6, 11, helping them look for phrases that describe how God’s servants lead the Church. Ask them to write these phrases on pieces of paper and then display the papers on the board. Why does God call Church leaders to guide us? Ask the children to share experiences with learning or receiving guidance from a Church leader or teacher and the blessings they received.
Ask the children to draw a picture of a Church leader they know about, and let the rest of the class guess who they drew. What do these leaders do to help us follow Jesus Christ? Invite the children to write notes to Church leaders, thanking them for their service.
Invite a local Church leader to tell the children what he or she does to fulfill his or her calling. Ask the children to name some things they can do to sustain their leaders.
Nephi began to be old, and he saw that he must die soon; so he anointed a man to be a king and a ruler over his people, according to the reigns of the kings. (Jacob 1:9) Because of the great love of the people for Nephi, all kings after Nephi were called Nephi (1st Nephi, 2nd Nephi, etc.). (Jacob 1:11)
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “Jacob 1-4” To help your children understand how a “wounded soul” can be healed, you could discuss together how our bodies get wounded and what helps them heal. Perhaps your children could talk about times when they got hurt and what helped them heal. You could even show them bandages or medicine as part of this conversation. Maybe you could share with them how the Savior has helped you when your spirit needed healing.
The people began to grow wicked during the reign of the second king, wanting lots of riches.
Some of the people in Jacob’s time were very rich and prideful, and they didn’t want to share what they had with people who were poor.
Jacob taught in the temple and told the people to repent of the bad things they were doing.
Jacob taught the following: “And the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most pleasingly (this phrase means that Heavenly Father had blessed them), that you have obtained many riches; and because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are alifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they.” (Jacob 2:13)
Jacob taught that we should clothe the naked, and feed the hungry, liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted. (Jacob 2:19)
Jacob taught that we should be “free with [our] substance” (Jacob 2:17). That means sharing what we have with others. Make a treat to share with some neighbors or friends!
For younger children: Even small acts of service can help people feel lots of love. Help your children think of a kind thing they can do for someone else.
Some of the people in Jacob’s time were very rich, but they didn’t want to share what they had with others. As you read Jacob’s teachings to them in Jacob 2:17–19, you could give your children pictures or objects to hold that go with words or phrases in these verses. You might explain that you are sharing these objects with them; maybe you could then invite them to share the objects with you or with each other. Talk about how you feel when you share. What else could we share with others to help them feel happy?
After reading together Jacob 2:17, perhaps your children could name some blessings Heavenly Father has shared with them. Why does He want us to share with each other?
Invite the children to act out ways they can share what they have with someone in need. Testify that we are blessed as we share with others.
Bring something to class that you can share with the children. Give some of it to each child, and explain that you are sharing. Ask them how they felt when you shared with them. How do they feel when they share with others? Help them think of something they could share to help someone feel happy.
Tell the children that many people in Jacob’s time became prideful and unkind because they loved riches (see Jacob 2:12–14, 17–21). Invite a few children to read Jacob 2:17–19 out loud, and help them understand any difficult words. What should we seek before we seek riches? What should we seek to do with any riches we receive?
Read Jacob 2:17 to the children. What blessings has Heavenly Father shared with us? Why does He want us to share with each other? Invite the children to share times when they shared something with someone else, including how they felt and how the other person felt.
Story Ideas
Friend March 2020 “Harry Shares” Harry is playing with toys. He is having fun. Harry sees a girl who looks sad. Harry shares toys with her. Now they are both having fun!
Friend November 1987 “Hand-Me-Down Box” Leigh is fortunate to have a caring friend who shares her hand-me-down clothes with her. She wants to grow up to be someone who shares with others.
Was there someone in the story who was prideful and made fun of Leigh for her hand-me-down clothes?
Jacob taught the following: Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you. Jacob 2:17
What does it mean to think of others like unto yourselves? (Treat others like you would like to be treated, and give to others like you would give to yourself. (Think about the things you need and then help others who don’t have those types of things so they can have them too.)
Friend December 2019 “Martin’s Favorite Toys” Martin was not happy about having to move, but eventually he got used to his new home. One Sunday, he noticed a lot of new people at church. He found out that they were refugees. He wanted to help them, but he didn’t want to give them any of his toys. Then he realized that many of the children had to leave everything behind. He remembered how hard it was for him to move, but at least he got to bring his things with him. He then wanted to give them his favorite toys to help them be happier.
Friend December 2019
Friend December 2019
Invite the children to think of something they could share to help someone feel happy.
Cut out the arrow, and attach it to the center of the circle. Spin the arrow, and tell about how you can share what the arrow points to. CFM for Primary: BofM
Friend March 2020 “Come Follow Me for Little Ones” Play a sharing game. Give each person a toy and set a timer. When it dings, everyone should run to someone else and say, “God is happy when I share!” and trade toys.
Jacob’s faith in Christ was so strong it could not be shaken. To teach your children how to build faith like this, you could ask them about things we do to make our bodies stronger. What can we do to make our faith in Jesus Christ stronger? Read Jacob 4:6 together to help the children discover what Jacob and his people did to make their faith “unshaken.”
Another way to help your children understand what it means to be “unshaken” in their faith would be to find a large tree and ask them to shake individual branches. Then let them try to shake the trunk. Why is it harder to shake the trunk? What phrases in Jacob 4:6, 10–11 describe what we can do to make our faith in Jesus Christ unshaken?
For other comparisons to teach your children about unshakable faith in Jesus Christ, see Neil L. Andersen, “Spiritual Whirlwinds” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 18–21; and the video “Spiritual Whirlwinds“) or “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” (Children’s Songbook, 281; see also Matthew 7:24–27).
How did Jacob and others develop faith in Christ that is “unshaken” ?
6 Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can ccommand in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.
Jacob studied the words of the prophets, and he received revelations from the Spirit. How can we follow his example and develop unshaken faith?
All the Prophets Taught of Christ Jacob 4:4For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us.
Jacob taught this about the Jews: “Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall.”
The Jews misunderstood the law of Moses and its intent to lead them to the Savior. They were looking for a different kind of deliverance than the kind Jesus, the Messiah, offered them—they were looking for deliverance from foreign rule and oppression.
If we fail to keep focused on our Savior Jesus Christ, what could happen?
The prophet Jacob taught that the spiritual blindness of the Jews caused them to look “beyond the mark” (Jacob 4:14), which resulted in their stumbling spiritually and missing many gospel truths.
Place a bucket or sturdy bowl in the backyard.
Take turns tossing a ball into the bucket, standing a short distance away.
Now try tossing the ball into the bucket without looking at the bucket.
Discussion: Why was it harder to hit the target when we’re not looking at it? How did the Jews look “beyond the mark”? (Jacob 4:14). Read “Looking beyond the Mark” by Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (Ensign, Mar. 2003, 40–44). Discuss how we might find ourselves looking beyond the mark today.
Come Follow Me Kid Blank Arrows (I Can Be Reconciled to God through the Atonement of Jesus Christ) The manual asks, “What has God provided to point you to Christ? How are you using these things to draw closer to God?” Write/draw answers on blank arrows (below) and place around the bucket pointing to it.
Book of Mormon Study Guide “for Home-Study Seminary Students” Lift your pen or pencil at least two feet or one meter above this target, and try to drop it so that it hits the center of the target—“the mark.” You may want to try this several times. Think about how less effective your efforts would be if you were looking somewhere other than the target. How well do you think people would do in archery if they never looked at the target, or mark, while they were shooting or if they looked at what was beyond the mark? Read Jacob 4:14, and identify characteristics of the people Jacob prophesied would look “beyond the mark.”
Song: Wise Man and the Foolish Man
Jacob teaches that the Jews rejected the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation. (Jacob 4:15-17)
Sing “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” See herefor teaching ideas, sing-along videos, and visual aid ideas.
2 Nephi CHAPTER 31 Nephi tells why Christ was baptized—Men must follow Christ, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end to be saved—Repentance and baptism are the gate to the strait and narrow path—Eternal life comes to those who keep the commandments after baptism. About 559–545 B.C.
2 Nephi CHAPTER 32 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost—Men must pray and gain knowledge for themselves from the Holy Ghost. About 559–545 B.C.
2 Nephi CHAPTER 33 Nephi’s words are true—They testify of Christ—Those who believe in Christ will believe Nephi’s words, which will stand as a witness before the judgment bar. About 559–545 B.C.
Before Nephi died, and before he passed his responsibilities on to Jacob, he wrote some final words, and they are about the first principles and ordinances of the gospel.
Nephi taught that following the Savior’s example and teachings are the only way to “be saved in the kingdom of God” (2 Nephi 31:21).
Jesus Christ taught me how to return to Heavenly Father.
We can return to God after this life by following the doctrine Jesus Christ taught: faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “2 Nephi 31-33” To help your children visualize the teachings in 2 Nephi 31, they could draw a path with a picture of Christ at the end. You could help them find or draw pictures that represent steps on that path, such as faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. [Could also help them place some pictures along the path.] They could point to the pictures as you read 2 Nephi 31:17–20 together.
Idea for Reading and Listening to the Scriptures: Explain that the doctrine of Christ includes the things Jesus Christ taught that we need to do to return to Heavenly Father. Write on different sheets of paper faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, (or use the pictures below if you have little children, making one copy per child) and scatter them around the room. Read to the children 2 Nephi 31:11–19, and invite the children to take turns jumping from paper to paper as they hear these principles mentioned. Help them think of an experience they have had with each principle. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “2 Nephi 31-33: This is the Way”)
Or make these finger puppets for each child and have them put up the correct puppet as it is mentioned in the scriptures.
Friend April 2011 “Article of Faith 4” Draw a line from the principle or ordinance to the correct picture.
Friend July 2003 Fourth Article of Faith Picture Scramble. Cut out the pictures and glue them in place in the right order.
Ensign March 2020 “Family Study Fun: Spiritual Stepping Stones” Christ said, “Follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do” (2 Nephi 31:12). Place a picture of Christ on the opposite side of the room. Write on narrow pieces of paper or cards the “stepping stones” to Christ: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism, The gift of the Holy Ghost, Enduring to the end. Have someone put the steps in order. Place the steps on the floor in a “strait and narrow path” (2 Nephi 31:18) to Christ.
Discussion: Which stepping stone is next for each of you? How can we honor the steps we have taken? What can we do to strengthen our resolve to stay on the path?
Friend March 2024 “Come, Follow Me Activities” Nephi taught that we follow Jesus Christ when we have faith in Him, repent, are baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end (see 2 Nephi 31). Write each step on a different piece of paper, then spread them on the floor. One person closes their eyes and counts to 10 while everyone else stands on a paper. The person who counted then says one of the steps to follow Jesus. The person on that paper counts next.
For younger children: When we have faith in Jesus Christ, we follow what He says. Form a line and walk around. The person in front is the leader. Each person copies how the leader walks. Take turns being the leader!
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “2 Nephi 31-33” Explain that the doctrine of Christ includes the things Jesus Christ taught that we need to do to return to Heavenly Father. Write on different sheets of paper faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end, and scatter them around the room. Read to the children 2 Nephi 31:11–19, and invite the children to take turns jumping from paper to paper as they hear these principles mentioned. Help them think of an experience they have had with each principle.
Help the children learn the fourth article of faith. Sing together a song about one of the first principles of the gospel, such as “Faith,” “When I Am Baptized,” or “Choose the Right Way” (Children’s Songbook, 96–97, 103, 160–61).
Friend January 2009 “Becoming Like Jesus Christ” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf explains that faith in Jesus Christ and in His Atonement means relying completely on Him—trusting in His infinite power, intelligence, and love. When we have faith in Christ, we trust the Lord enough to follow His commandments—even when we do not completely understand the reasons for them. We need to rely, through the path of true repentance, upon the merits of Jesus Christ and the blessings of His Atonement.
Repentance
11) And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.
Ensign January 2018 “Repentance is a Gift” Match each picture with a different step of repentance.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “2 Nephi 31-33” There’s a picture of Jesus being baptized at the end of this outline. Maybe your children could use it to tell you what they know about this event (see also Matthew 3:13–17). Why does Jesus want us to be baptized like He was? Your children could listen for reasons as you read together portions of 2 Nephi 31:4–13. It might be helpful if someone who was recently baptized could share their experience.
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.
Friend August 2019 “Coloring Page: A New Path” When I am baptized, I choose to walk a new path with Jesus. (See Romans 6:4.)
We Need to Follow His Example and be Baptized
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
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “2 Nephi 31-33” Display the picture in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families, and ask the children to share what they know about Jesus’s baptism (see Matthew 3:13–17). Put the following words in random order on the board: Jesus witnessed unto the Father that He would be obedient unto Him. Invite the children to read 2 Nephi 31:7 as a class and put the words into the correct order.
Ask the children what they would say to someone preparing to be baptized, and help them compile their advice onto simple cards they could give to someone. How can we continue to follow the example of Jesus after we are baptized?
Gift of the Holy Ghost
When we repent and choose to be baptized, like Jesus, then we can be confirmed and have the gift of the Holy Ghost too.
12) And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying: He that is baptized in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost, like unto me; wherefore, follow me, and do the things which ye have seen me do.
Friend June 2019 “The Holy Ghost is…” The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead, a gift that comes with baptism, and a promise from Heavenly Father. He is a comforter, warning, teacher, messenger, friend.
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Friend March 2020 “How Does Heavenly Father Speak to Us?” A feeling that Jesus loves us and that the gospel is true, A comforting feeling when we are sad or lonely, A happy feeling after we have repented, A good feeling when we hear beautiful music or see inspiring art, A peaceful feeling that something is a good choice, A warning feeling that something is wrong
Endure to the End
They [must] then endure to the end, or, in other words, they continue throughout their lives in exercising faith in Jesus Christ, repenting, and renewing the covenants they have made. These are not just steps that they experience once in their lives; rather, when repeated throughout life these principles become an increasingly rewarding pattern of living. In fact, it is the only way of living that will bring peace of conscience and enable Heavenly Father’s children to return to live in His presence. (Preach My Gospel pg. 6)
Friend March 2020 “Come, Follow Me for Little Ones” What blessing can we receive if we endure to the end? (See 2 Nephi 31:20.)
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “2 Nephi 31-33” To teach about “feasting” on the words of Christ, you could ask your children to act out how they would feast on their favorite food. In 2 Nephi 32:3, what did Nephi say we should feast on? How is feasting on God’s word different from just reading it? Maybe your children could act out the differences. Share with them the blessings you’ve received as you’ve feasted on the scriptures.
“Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.”
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “2 Nephi 31-33” Ask the children to name some of their favorite foods, and invite them to act out how they would feast on them. (To feast upon something is to enjoy it or to consume a great deal of it because it brings joy. )Read 2 Nephi 32:3, and ask the children to listen for what Nephi says we should feast on. What does it mean to feast on the scriptures? Explain that the scriptures are one place where we can find the words of Christ.
Ask the children to imagine a feast. What food would they want there? What would they eat first? Then invite them to imagine what feasting on the scriptures might mean as you read 2 Nephi 32:3. Why did Nephi use the word feast to teach us how we should study God’s word? Why didn’t he just say read? What does it mean to feast on the scriptures? Share with the children the blessings you’ve received as you’ve feasted on the scriptures
Write the following words on separate pieces of paper: sample, gorge, taste, nibble, snack, and feast. Hand the papers out to six students, without letting the other students see what is written. Have the six students come to the front of the class. Give them dishes and tell them to imagine there is food in them. Invite the six students to describe or demonstrate the word on their paper, and have the class try to guess the word. Reveal the six words. (Book of Mormon Teacher Resource Manual)
Write the words God and Lord on the board. Invite the children to open to a page of scripture and look for these words. Give them help if needed. Testify that as we read the scriptures, we can learn about God.
Complete the activity page with the children, and invite them to make a goal to do at least one thing to feast on the scriptures this week.
The Wise Man and the Foolish Man Explain that “the wise man built his house upon the rock” means that wise man built his life upon the teachings of Jesus. The foolish man didn’t and his house (life) fell apart in the storms of life. Discussion Ideas: What things in our life are like the rain and wind? How does following Jesus’s teachings protect us and make our faith strong as a house built on a rock? Song: “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” (Children’s Songbook, 281) Scripture: Matthew 7:24–29 Sing-along video
Rock Art: Choose a smooth rock. With a marker or paint, write “Jesus Christ” on it. Talk about why it’s so important to build our lives on His teachings. Keep the rock in a place where you can see it often.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “2 Nephi 31-33” After reading 2 Nephi 32:8–9, talk with your children about why Satan doesn’t want us to pray. Why does God want us to “pray always”? Your children could make a list or draw pictures of situations in which they could pray. Then you could sing a song that teaches about prayer, such as “Did You Think to Pray?” (Hymns, no. 140). You could replace some of the words in the song with the words from their lists. How does God bless us when we pray always?
Talk with the children about times when they can pray, such as when they are scared, when they make mistakes, or when they need help in school. Why is it good to pray in these situations? Teach the children that no matter where they are, they can always pray in their hearts.
Read to the children the Lord’s counsel to be “faithful … in prayer always, vocally and in thy heart, in public and in private” (Doctrine and Covenants 81:3). Explain what it means to pray in our hearts, and share a personal example. Help the children think of times when they can pray “in public and in private.”
Invite someone to read Doctrine and Covenants 81:3, and ask the children what it means to pray “in [your] heart.” Share an experience when you prayed aloud or in your heart and the Lord helped you. Also ask the children to share their own experiences. How can prayer bring us closer to Heavenly Father?
Ask the children when they pray. Do they pray in the morning? at night? before meals? Help the children think of actions to show when we can pray, such as when we wake up, go to bed, and eat—or any other time. Read to them the first line or two from 2 Nephi 32:9, and emphasize the phrase “pray always.”
Ask the children how they pray. What do they do with their head, hands, and so on? What sorts of things do they say? Ask them to imagine that you don’t know how to pray, and let them teach you. Why does Heavenly Father want us to pray?
The adversary tempts us not to pray. Consider how you can help the children resist this temptation and “pray always” (2 Nephi 32:9).
Choose a phrase about prayer from 2 Nephi 32:8–9, write it on the board, and cover each word with a piece of paper. Invite the children to take turns removing one paper at a time until they can guess what the phrase is.
Read 2 Nephi 32:8–9 together, and ask the children to share what they learn about prayer from these verses. What does it mean to “pray always”? (verse 9). How can we do this?
What might make someone not want to pray? Share an experience when you prayed even though you didn’t feel like it. How did you feel afterward? Invite a child to read the second half of 2 Nephi 32:8, and give the children time to ponder it. Why doesn’t Satan want us to pray? How can we remind ourselves to pray even when we don’t feel like it?
2 Nephi CHAPTER 26 Christ will minister to the Nephites—Nephi foresees the destruction of his people—They will speak from the dust—The Gentiles will build up false churches and secret combinations—The Lord forbids men to practice priestcrafts. About 559–545 B.C.
2 Nephi CHAPTER 27 Darkness and apostasy will cover the earth in the last days—The Book of Mormon will come forth—Three witnesses will testify of the book—The learned man will say he cannot read the sealed book—The Lord will do a marvelous work and a wonder—Compare Isaiah 29. About 559–545 B.C.
2 Nephi CHAPTER 28 Many false churches will be built up in the last days—They will teach false, vain, and foolish doctrines—Apostasy will abound because of false teachers—The devil will rage in the hearts of men—He will teach all manner of false doctrines. About 559–545 B.C.
2 Nephi CHAPTER 29 Many Gentiles will reject the Book of Mormon—They will say, We need no more Bible—The Lord speaks to many nations—He will judge the world out of the books which will be written. About 559–545 B.C.
2 Nephi CHAPTER 30 Converted Gentiles will be numbered with the covenant people—Many Lamanites and Jews will believe the word and become delightsome—Israel will be restored and the wicked destroyed. About 559–545 B.C.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “2 Nephi 26-30” To teach your children about the Savior’s invitations in these verses, you might talk with them about times they invited people to a special event, like a birthday party. Then you could read 2 Nephi 26:23–28 together and find out what Jesus is inviting us to do. Your children might like to create a card inviting someone to come unto Jesus Christ. Encourage them to use a phrase from these verses in their invitation.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “2 Nephi 26-30” The painting at the end of this outline shows people from many backgrounds. Maybe your children could look at this picture as you read 2 Nephi 26:33. You could repeat the phrase “Jesus invites all to come unto Him” as your children point to each person in the picture—and then to themselves. How do we come unto Jesus?
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “2 Nephi 26-30” Display pictures of people from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds (you may find some in Church magazines). Ask the children to describe some of the details they see in the pictures. Open the scriptures to 2 Nephi 26:33 and read, “[Jesus Christ] inviteth them all to come unto him.” Repeat this phrase with the children as you point to each picture. Then point to each child and say, “Jesus Christ invites you to come unto Him.” What can we do to come unto the Savior?
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “2 Nephi 26-30 Read 2 Nephi 26:33 with the children, and help them make a list of who, according to this verse, is invited to “partake of [the Lord’s] goodness.” (You may need to explain that “the heathen” are those who don’t believe in God.) Invite them to add their own names to the list. How do we partake of the Lord’s goodness? Invite the children to draw a picture of Jesus with many different children.
The words of Lehi’s seed (his descendants) speaking from “low out of the dust” with a “familiar spirit” and being “sealed up in a book” (2 Nephi 26:14–17; see also Isaiah 29:4).
What does voices from the dust mean? The prophets who wrote the Book of Mormon are long gone and their bodies have turned to dust, but we hear their words by reading the Book of Mormon.
Read 2 Nephi 27:25–26, looking for what the Lord promised He would do. Nephi prophesied that the Book of Mormon would come forth to help with the problems of the last days (see 2 Nephi 27:6).
President Russell M. Nelson stated that this “marvelous work would include the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the gospel” (“Scriptural Witnesses,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 46).
Nephi also wrote that God would allow a few witnesses to behold the plates the Book of Mormon was translated from and to testify of the truthfulness of the book to the world (see 2 Nephi 27:12–14). Nephi then shared a prophecy about some of the details related to the translation of the Book of Mormon.
Church History Topics “Martin Harris’s Consultations with Scholars” This article tells the story and has pictures of Martin Harris and Professor Anthon.
What did Professor Anthon say when Martin Harris first showed him a copy of some of the Book of Mormon writings? (JS—H 1:64.) Why do you think Professor Anthon tore up the certificate when he learned that an angel had shown Joseph Smith where to find the gold plates? (JS—H 1:65.
Why do you think the Lord used Joseph Smith, who was an unlearned man, to bring forth the Book of Mormon?
Emma Smith (1804–1879), the wife of the Prophet, testified of the divine assistance Joseph received in his translation of the Book of Mormon:
Joseph Smith could neither write nor dictate a coherent and well-worded letter, let alone dictat[e] a book like the Book of Mormon. And, though I was an active participant in the scenes that transpired, … it is marvelous to me, “a marvel and a wonder.” …
My belief is that the Book of Mormon is of divine authenticity—I have not the slightest doubt of it. … It would have been improbable that a learned man could do this; and, for one so ignorant and unlearned as he was, it was simply impossible. (Emma Smith, in “Last Testimony of Sister Emma,” The Saints’ Herald, Oct. 1, 1879, 290)
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “2 Nephi 26-30” Explain that because of Heavenly Father’s great love for us, he has given us a gift to help us achieve eternal life (the kind of life Heavenly Father has).Show the children a Book of Mormon wrapped as a gift, and tell them that something valuable is inside. Let them hold the gift, and give clues to help them guess what it is; for example, it’s something the Lord has given us, it helps us believe in Jesus Christ, and so on. Read from 2 Nephi 30:6: “It is a blessing unto them from the hand of God.” Let the children open the gift, and then explain that we must open the Book of Mormon and read it to receive the blessings it contains.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “2 Nephi 26-30” Read 2 Nephi 28:2 to the children. Explain that Nephi saw that the Book of Mormon would “be of great worth” to us, which means that it will help and bless us. Tell the children why the Book of Mormon is of great worth to you. Share your favorite verse or story from the Book of Mormon, and invite the children to share theirs. Show pictures from the Gospel Art Book to give them ideas.
Friend February 2012 “The Book of Mormon: Our True Guide” President Henry B. Eyring teaches how the Book of Mormon is our guide to return home. The article includes a simple maze activity.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “2 Nephi 26-30” Because we have the Bible, some people believe that the Book of Mormon is unnecessary. These verses can help the children understand, and explain to others, why we are thankful for both books of scripture.
Give one child a copy of the Book of Mormon and another a copy of the Bible. Ask them how these books are similar and how they are different. Show the children a map of the world, and help them match each book with the part of the world it came from. Read and discuss 2 Nephi 29:8. Why did God give us two “testimonies” or books of scripture that teach us about Him?
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “2 Nephi 26-30” Consider asking your children to imagine that a friend says, “I don’t need to read the Book of Mormon. I’ve already read the Bible.” What could we say to our friend? Read together 2 Nephi 29:7–11 to learn why God wants us to have both books. (Then ask them to share ideas about what they might say to their friend.)
Bible stories teach us How to live like Jesus. Book of Mormon stories, too, Tell what He would have us do.
Hand in hand together, the Bible and the Book of Mormon stand forever to tell of Jesus Christ.
Bible prophets tell us things to bless and help us. Book of Mormon prophets, too, Testify of all that’s true.
Hand in hand together, the Bible and the Book of Mormon stand forever to tell of Jesus Christ. Hand in hand together, the Bible and the Book of Mormon stand forever to tell of Jesus Christ.
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Book of Mormon 2020 “2 Nephi 26-30” “I prophesy unto you concerning the last days,” Nephi wrote (2 Nephi 26:14). In other words, he was writing about our day. And there’s reason to be concerned about what he saw: people denying the power and miracles of God, rampant envy and strife, the devil binding people with strong cords. [But he also spoke of] a book that speaks from the dust, that exposes Satan’s lies, and that gathers the righteous like a standard. That book is the Book of Mormon.
Satan Seeks to Deceive
Things Satan wants people to believe:
You don’t need to strive to improve yourself because you are already good enough. (Verse 21)
God will justify a little sin. He may punish you a little, but he will still allow you to be saved in His Kingdom. (Verse 8)
There is no hell or devil. (Verse 22)
God has already given all His words. You don’t need more. (Verse 29)
Beware of those who say miracles still occur. Miracles don’t need to happen anymore. (Verse 6)
What could the personal consequences be for believing each of the above lies? (You could wrap some thread around someone’s wrists to represent “a flaxen cord” as the family members mention possible consequences. Then read the following: [Satan] leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever. 2 Nephi 26:22)
Object lesson: Ask for a volunteer. Have the volunteer put their hands together. Wrap one layer of the masking tape around their fingers and thumbs. Ask them if they can break free. Explain that when we first make a mistake or sin we are easily able to break free of its grasp and repent. But Satan knows that if he continue to gets us to sin, little by little, eventually the sin will become accepted and then we become bound in captivity to the sin because it becomes a habit or an addiction. (Wrap the tape around the child’s hands several times, layering one area around the fingers and thumbs.) Ask the child to try and break free from the bindings. They shouldn’t be able to. Satan wants us to be miserable like he is, and he knows that sin binds us in captivity and destroys lives.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “2 Nephi 26-30” Perhaps you can think of an object lesson that will help your children understand what it means to learn “line upon line.” For example, they could put together a puzzle or build something with blocks, one piece at a time. Or you could teach them a skill step by step, such as tying a bow or drawing a picture. You could then read 2 Nephi 28:30 and discuss how Heavenly Father teaches us one truth at a time.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “2 Nephi 26-30” Give them one puzzle piece or one block at a time, and while they are building, explain that this is the way Heavenly Father teaches us—one truth at a time. What would happen if we tried to put all of the pieces together at once?
Help the children draw this temple one step at a time:
When we follow the numbers and draw line upon line, we are able to create a beautiful drawing of the temple. How hard would it be to draw the entire temple without the small number directions to guide us to draw each line? When we study and follow God’s words and increase line upon line, we can eventually become like our Heavenly Father and Jesus.
Or have the children put together this puzzle one piece at a time:
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “2 Nephi 26-30” Another idea could be to choose a phrase from 2 Nephi 28:30 and take turns writing it, one word at a time. How is this like the way God gives us truth? Why does God reveal truth to us “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little” instead of all at once? How can we show God that we want to receive more truth from Him?
Come Follow Me Kid “A Marvoulous Work and Wonder” Hold up a Book of Mormon. 2 Nephi 30:6 says that this book is “a blessing unto them from the hand of God.” 2 Nephi 28:2 says that it is “of great worth.” Discuss how it is a valuable blessing to us. Open up a Bible as well as a Book of Mormon and point out how there are LOTS of lines in them. The scriptures teach us that we learn “line upon line.” Heavenly Father and Jesus don’t expect us to know everything all at once, but we should try to learn a little each day. Activity: Cut apart the lines from 2 Nephi 28:30 below. Mix them up and have them sequence them into the right order. Discuss each one as it’s placed in order.
How many lines did we just learn about? (5). How many lines do you think there are in all of the scriptures? (Lots!). How many lines have been taught by prophets and apostles? (Lots!). How many MORE good lines of good things do you think we’ll learn throughout our lives from the scriptures, prophets, apostles, etc.? (Lots!) Summarize how we should never feel that “we have enough” of the word of God.
You may have heard the phrase “line upon line” in church. Or in scriptures like 2 Nephi 28:30. But what does it mean? Joseph Smith explained it this way:
“When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation.”1
You can’t reach the top of a ladder without climbing the steps upward. Similarly, we become like our Heavenly Father one gospel step at a time. So don’t worry if it seems like you don’t have a super strong testimony yet. Or you make a mistake while learning how to do your calling. It’s all part of building faith, step-by-step.
Nephi warned against the attitude that we don’t need any more truth from God. Help the children see gospel learning as a gradual, lifelong pursuit.
God’s word in the Book of Mormon helps us see and avoid Satan’s deceptions, and He continues to give revelation to us individually, and to His prophets that teach us His words. But He reminds us that, “for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.” (Review Satan’s lies pertaining to the idea of not needing to do or learn more. Also point out that Heavenly Father doesn’t expect us to know everything at once. Point out that we learn “line upon line.” Do the activity below to help the children understand one of the reasons for that.)
The first person says, “I’m going to church, and I’m going to learn ______.” The next person repeats what the first person said and adds their own item at the end. Continue going around the circle, repeating all the items and adding more one by one. Can you remember them all? Too much at once can be a little overwhelming and hard to remember. But when we try to learn a little each day, we are able to retain it better. Reading the Book of Mormon each day helps us learn “line upon line” and helps us avoid Satan’s temptations and stay on the path to Eternal Life.
Show the picture in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families (see also Gospel Art Book, no. 43) as you tell the story from Matthew 14:22–33 in your own words. Consider using this week’s activity page to help the children tell the story back to you. You could also bring a small bowl of water and invite the children to pretend to “walk” their fingers across the surface of the water.
Show the video “Wherefore Didst Thou Doubt?” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), and ask the children why Peter was afraid. Then ask them to tell about times when they felt afraid and share what helped them. Help them see that faith in Jesus Christ helps us overcome fear.
Show the picture in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families (see also Gospel Art Book, no. 43). Ask the children to find phrases in Matthew 14:22–33 that describe the picture.
Ask the children to look for signs of faith and signs of fear as they read Matthew 14:22–33. You could also show the video “Wherefore Didst Thou Doubt?” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ? Help the children think of times when their faith helped them overcome fear.
Ask the children to imagine they were present and had a camera when Jesus and Peter walked on the sea. Which moment would they choose to photograph and why? Suggest that they search Matthew 14:22–33 for ideas. Invite them to draw a picture of the moment they chose, share their pictures, and explain why they chose that moment.
Invite the children to find the phrase that is repeated in Joshua 1:6, 9, and 18, and write it on the board (see also verse 7). Help the children think of reasons we might need this message, just as Joshua did. Review as a class some of the stories in Joshua 1–4; 6 (see also “Joshua the Prophet” and “Rahab and the Spies” in Old Testament Stories), and ask the children to identify how the people in these stories showed courage and strength.
Invite the children to talk about someone they know who is strong and courageous for Jesus Christ. Encourage them to write down something they would like to do to be stronger and more courageous for Christ.
Friend July 2022 ““I Don’t Want to Grow Up!” Chakell had a lot of worried thoughts about the future. She worried about going to middle school and whether she would be smart enough or have friends. She worried that future changes in her life would be too hard. Her mother explained that with faith we can let Heavenly Father lead us and help us.
Heavenly Father helps me have courage when I am afraid.
Do the children you teach know what it means to be brave? Share a simple definition, such as “Being brave means doing what is right even when you are afraid.” Share the story of Esther (see “Queen Esther” in Old Testament Stories), and help the children see how Esther was brave. Let the children use the figures on this week’s activity page to retell the story.
Show a picture of Esther (see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). Sing with the children a song about being brave, such as “I Will Be Valiant” (Children’s Songbook, 162). Point out words and phrases in the song that describe Esther, and testify that the Savior can help the children be brave.
Tell the children about times when Jesus Christ was brave; for example, when He suffered for our sins, both in Gethsemane and on the cross (see Matthew 26:36–39; 27:33–35). Ask the children to tell about a time when they were brave (consider contacting their families in advance to ask them for some examples). What helped them be brave? Tell the children how the Lord has helped you be brave when you were afraid.
Friend August 2020 “Maddy’s Courage” Maddy didn’t want to start school because she was afraid. Her mom reminded her of sometimes we have to do brave and hard things, such as Daniel facing the lions, or Nephi crossing the ocean, or Esther talking to the king. And just like Heavenly Father helped all of those people, He would help her too.
Write on the board Mordecai showed courage by … and Esther showed courage by … Invite some of the children to read Esther 3:1–11 and others to read Esther 4:10–17. Ask them to use what they read to complete the sentences on the board. Then write I will show courage by … and invite the children to list things Heavenly Father wants them to do that require courage. How can we be like Mordecai and Esther?
Invite the children to think of situations they face in which it might be hard to do the right thing. Write on the board Esther’s courageous words “So will I go in unto the king, … and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). Help the children apply Esther’s words to themselves by replacing “go in unto the king” with a righteous but difficult choice they might have to make. Then invite them to replace “perish” with something unpleasant that might come from doing what is right. Why is it better to do the right thing, even if there are difficult consequences?
Show the video “Choose the Harder Right” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), and invite the children to decide on a “harder right” in their lives that they will choose. Discuss how Jesus Christ is an example of this principle.
When Enoch was called to preach the gospel, he worried that he would fail. But God helped him do great things.
Ask the children to share a time when they were asked to do something that was hard or scary for them. Share the story of Enoch’s call to be a prophet, found in Moses 6:27, 31–34 (see also “Enoch the Prophet” in Old Testament Stories). Emphasize that although Enoch did not feel ready to be a prophet, God promised to help him. Help the children understand some ways God helps us when we are asked to do hard things.
Share some scriptural examples of when God helped people do difficult things—for example, Noah building the ark, David fighting Goliath, Ammon defending the king’s flocks, or Samuel the Lamanite preaching. (For pictures and scripture references, see Gospel Art Book, nos. 7, 19, 78, 81.) Share an experience when the Lord helped you do something difficult.
Read Moses 6:26–34 with the children. Why did Enoch feel that he couldn’t preach the gospel? (see Moses 6:31). How did God help Enoch? (see Moses 6:32–34; 7:13).
Invite the children to name some difficult things that children their age sometimes do (such as completing an assignment for school, being kind to someone who is unkind, or telling the truth when they have made a mistake). Help the children find phrases in Moses 6:32–34 that can help them. Ask the children to share a time when God helped them do something difficult. Share your own experiences too.
Friend August 2020 “Maddy’s Courage” Maddy didn’t want to start school because she was afraid. Her mom reminded her of sometimes we have to do brave and hard things, such as Daniel facing the lions, or Nephi crossing the ocean, or Esther talking to the king. And just like Heavenly Father helped all of those people, He would help her too.
Help the children imagine that they are on the ship as you read Mark 4:35–41. (See also “Chapter 21: Jesus Commands the Winds and the Waves,” in New Testament Stories, 53, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.) Ask the children to describe how they might have felt if they had been there. When have the children been scared? How did they find comfort?
Friend March 2023 What are some things that scare your little ones? Calmly talk about one of those fears. Then help them say, “When I am afraid, Jesus can help me feel peace.”
Story: Read the story of Jesus Christ calming the storm on page 46 or in Mark 4:36–41. Talk about ways Jesus brings you peace.
Song: “I Feel My Savior’s Love” (Children’s Songbook, 74–75)
Activity: Stand in a circle and hold the sides of a blanket. Put a ball on the blanket and gently toss it around, like the ship was tossed on the waves. Take turns telling the group to go fast, slow down, or “be still.”
Invite the children to make the sounds of a storm and stop when someone says “Peace, be still.” Testify that just as Jesus can bring us peace when there is a storm outside, He can bring us peace in our hearts when we feel bad on the inside.
Friend March 2023 “The Earthquake Prayer” Violet woke up when she felt an earthquake. She and her family ran to the kitchen and crawled under the table. They had practiced what to do in an earthquake, but Violet was scared. She said a prayer, and felt like someone was giving her a hug. She was glad Heavenly Father helped her feel peace.
Teach the children actions to accompany the third verse of “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” (Children’s Songbook, 57), and sing the verse together while doing the actions.
When I am afraid or in danger, Jesus can help me feel peace. (Senior)
Ask one of the children to use Mark 4:35–41 and the picture Jesus Calms the Storm (Gospel Art Book, no. 40) to tell the story of Jesus calming the storm. Ask the children to describe how they might have felt if they had been there.
Invite the children to share experiences when they felt peace after praying for help. Remind them that this peace comes from the Savior.
Friend March 2023 “The Earthquake Prayer” Violet woke up when she felt an earthquake. She and her family ran to the kitchen and crawled under the table. They had practiced what to do in an earthquake, but Violet was scared. She said a prayer, and felt like someone was giving her a hug. She was glad Heavenly Father helped her feel peace.
Give each child a paper rain cloud, and ask them to write on it a trial that someone might have. Put all of the clouds on the board, covering a picture of the Savior. Invite a child to remove one of the clouds and suggest ways we could help someone with that trial to find peace. When all the clouds are removed, testify of the Savior’s power to calm the storms in our lives.
Friend March 2023 “Peace from the Savior” President Eyring gives ideas on how to feel peace even during difficult times such as remembering the Savior and following him.
The Savior has the power to calm any storm in your life. He can heal your pain, ease your burdens, and provide light when you’re in darkness.
It’s important to remember that sometimes the Lord calms the storms in your life, and sometimes He instead calms and comforts you while the storm rages on. When you have faith in Him, you also trust in His will and timing. You believe that He will help you, regardless of when your peace and calm actually arrive.
When you’re lonely, sad, anxious, or waiting for promised blessings, remember this question: Are you waiting for “a great calm” with a fearful heart or with a faithful heart?
Read 2 Kings 6:15 to the children, or paraphrase it so they can understand. Invite the children to imagine they are surrounded by a large army with horses and chariots, as Elisha’s servant was. How would they feel? What would they do? Ask them to close their eyes while you read 2 Kings 6:16–17 to them. When you get to the words “open his eyes,” ask the children to open their eyes. Describe to them what the servant saw protecting him and Elisha. Share how you know the Lord is watching over us.
Sing together a song about God’s care for us, such as the first verse of “Dearest Children, God Is Near You” (Hymns, no. 96). Replace words in the song with names of the children to emphasize that God is watching over them.
Read together 2 Kings 6:15–17. Invite one of the children to pretend to be Elisha’s servant while the other children ask questions about his experience, such as how he felt when the Syrian army surrounded the city or what it was like to see the army of God. Talk with the children about times when they feel alone in trying to live the gospel. How does the Lord help us know that we are not alone?
Sing a song about relying on the Lord, such as “When Faith Endures” (Hymns, no. 128). What does this song teach us about trusting in the Lord?
Family members might enjoy drawing a picture of the experience of Elisha and his servant described in these verses. How can these verses help us when we feel alone or overwhelmed?
Read the story of Elisha and the young servant in 2 Kings 6:8–23.
Get a thin stick that could be easily broken.
Challenge someone to break it.
Put 10 or more sticks together. Challenge the same person to break the group of sticks without separating any.
Why was the challenge more difficult the second time?
Read 2 Kings 6:16-17: “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”
Whom did Elisha and the young servant see protecting them?
Read the following: “Like that servant of Elisha, there are more with you than those you can see opposed to you. Some who are with you will be invisible to your mortal eyes” (Henry B. Eyring, “O Ye That Embark,” Liahona, Nov. 2008, 58).
Discussion: Read Doctrine and Covenants 84:88. At times when we might feel alone, how can we trust that we are not? How is the Lord protecting and helping us today? (For ideas, see Ronald A. Rasband, “Be Not Troubled,” Liahona, Nov. 2018, 18–21.)
Friend July 2022 “What’s on Your Mind?” A child writes the Friend with this question: “Sometimes I worry about all the bad things that could happen. How can I feel more hopeful and less worried?, and the Friend Magazine responds.
Friend February 2017 “Conference Cards” Handout that says, ““The only opinion of us that matters is what our Heavenly Father thinks of us.”
Friend July 2021 “Courage to Stand Alone” Sometimes we need to do the right thing even when no one else is doing it. Activity page brining to mind moments and people who had courage to do the right thing. Also, ideas about how to gain courage.
I can be faithful even when others make fun of me. (Sr)
Ask children to share times when others made fun of them or someone they know because they did what is right. Invite the children to read Jude 1:18–22 and look for how we can remain faithful when others mock or make fun of us. Write what they find on the board, and discuss ways they can follow this advice. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “1-3 John; Jude”)
People in a large building on the other side of the river made fun of those who ate the fruit. Some who had eaten the fruit became ashamed and left the tree.
Dealing with Changes in Life
Ensign December 2019 “Navigating Through Transitions” Starting school, leaving Primary, and moving to a new location can all be new, scary situations for children. These tools and tips can help them navigate them successfully.
Friend November 2023 “What’s on Your Mind?” Someone who is struggling with change says, “I feel like so much is changing, and I’m not ready. Why can’t things stay the same?” A few of the things the Friend magazine responds include: “Remember that you are the hero of your story. Each change is a chance to learn and grow. And Heavenly Father will help you.”
Fear of Failing
Friend February 2020 “What’s on Your Mind?” A child writes to the Friend saying that sometimes he is afraid to try new things because he might fail. The Friend magazine reminds him that all people who are really good at something started out as beginners, and it’s okay to make mistakes. They also share some examples of people who weren’t very good when they first started, but they kept trying and eventually became successful.
Dealing with Seeing Bad or Scary Things in the World
Ensign August 2018 “Dealing with Disasters” Helping children cope with traumatic situations.
Friend August 2018 “What’s on Your Mind?” Ways to feel better after seeing bad or scary things in the world. You can turn to Heavenly Father in prayer, to the scriptures, and to a grown-up you trust. Serving others can also help the Holy Ghost bring you peace.
Every night, I read the Friend before sleeping. Whenever I read it, I feel happy and my worries go away. It has helped me when I have worries. Thank you for the Friend!
Friend March 2017 “For Parents of Little Ones” Ideas for helping children deal with fear.
Write the first word of each pair below on slips of paper and hand them out to the children. Ask each child to think of a word that means the opposite of the word on his or her paper. Let each child say the opposite word he or she has thought of while the rest of the class tries to guess the positive word on the child’s paper. (You may want to write both words on the board for more emphasis.)
Satan wants us to feel afraid and unhappy. Heavenly Father wants us to follow him so we can be happy. The more we learn the gospel, the better prepared we are to know and do what is truth and right and be not afraid in this world.
For Example:
Friend July 2017 “Fighting off Falsehoods” The gospel truths help us fight against the falsehooods of Satan that we see and hear on media. Match the falsehood with the truth.
Being prepared also helps with tasks that may seem difficult or scary. You could discuss recent family or personal experiences that required preparation. How did your preparation affect the experience?
2 Nephi CHAPTER 11 Jacob saw his Redeemer—The law of Moses typifies Christ and proves He will come. About 559–545 B.C.
2 Nephi CHAPTER 12 Isaiah sees the latter-day temple, gathering of Israel, and millennial judgment and peace—The proud and wicked will be brought low at the Second Coming—Compare Isaiah 2. About 559–545 B.C.
2 Nephi CHAPTER 13 Judah and Jerusalem will be punished for their disobedience—The Lord pleads for and judges His people—The daughters of Zion are cursed and tormented for their worldliness—Compare Isaiah 3. About 559–545 B.C.
2 Nephi CHAPTER 14 Zion and her daughters will be redeemed and cleansed in the millennial day—Compare Isaiah 4. About 559–545 B.C.
2 Nephi CHAPTER 15 The Lord’s vineyard (Israel) will become desolate, and His people will be scattered—Woes will come upon them in their apostate and scattered state—The Lord will lift an ensign and gather Israel—Compare Isaiah 5. About 559–545 B.C.
2 Nephi CHAPTER 16 Isaiah sees the Lord—Isaiah’s sins are forgiven—He is called to prophesy—He prophesies of the rejection by the Jews of Christ’s teachings—A remnant will return—Compare Isaiah 6. About 559–545 B.C.
2 Nephi CHAPTER 17 Ephraim and Syria wage war against Judah—Christ will be born of a virgin—Compare Isaiah 7. About 559–545 B.C.
2 Nephi CHAPTER 18 Christ will be as a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense—Seek the Lord, not peeping wizards—Turn to the law and to the testimony for guidance—Compare Isaiah 8. About 559–545 B.C.
2 Nephi CHAPTER 19 Isaiah speaks messianically—The people in darkness will see a great light—Unto us a child is born—He will be the Prince of Peace and will reign on David’s throne—Compare Isaiah 9. About 559–545 B.C.
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Book of Mormon 2020 Engraving on metal plates is not easy, and space on Nephi’s small plates was limited. So why would Nephi go to the tedious effort of copying a large amount of Isaiah’s writings into his record? In an article in the Ensign September 1998, it explains that Nephi’s own commentary on Isaiah begins in 1 Nephi 19, where he tells us that in order to “more fully persuade them [Nephi’s people] to believe in the Lord their Redeemer” he would turn particularly to the prophet Isaiah (see 1 Ne. 19:23).
Friend December 2008 “Isaiah’s Prophecies” Prophecies from an Old Testament prophet regarding the life and second coming of the Savior.
Friend August 1994 “Isaiah and the Time Machine” Anthony was having a hard time following along during his family’s Book of Mormon study time. They were reading the words of Isaiah in 2 Nephi, and he didn’t understand them. Anthony loved playing in his pretend time machine and his father decided to help the children understand Isaiah by using the time machine. (Excellent story!)
Liahona March 2012 “How Can I Understand the Words of Isaiah?” Article includes the following: know Isaiah’s main topics, the reasons for studying Isaiah, the events of Isaiah’s days that he used symbolically, helpful hints to understanding his words, etc.
Friend November 1994 “Isaiah” Isaiah prophesied of many things that would happen in his day and in the future. This article includes an explanation of Isaiah’s most quoted prophecies.
Prophecy About Latter Day Temples
The Temple is God’s House Where He Will Teach Us His Ways
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “2 Nephi 11-25” Read 2 Nephi 12:3, and explain that in this verse a prophet named Isaiah prophesied that there would be temples in the last days. Read the verse again, and and invite the other children to listen for reasons why Isaiah said we need temples. Emphasize that when we go to the temple, the Lord “will teach us of his ways” and help us “walk in his paths.”
2 And itshall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
In ancient times, it was common for a prophet to go to the top of a mountain to commune with the Lord God. Thus, the term “mountain of the Lord” symbolically denotes any location where the Lord makes His divine will known to His holy prophets. Church News
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the chouse of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
To illustrate the phrase “we will walk in his paths” from 2 Nephi 12:3, you could make a path on the floor, leading to a picture of a temple. As your children walk on the path, they could name things they can do to walk in the Lord’s paths.
Perhaps your children could draw a picture of themselves going to the temple. They could also sing or listen to a song about the temple, such as “I Love to See the Temple” (Children’s Songbook, 95). Help them find phrases in the song that teach what the temple is and what we do there.
Friend March 2024 “Come, Follow Me Activities: Paper Temples” Isaiah taught that temples are special places where we learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ (see 2 Nephi 12:3). Make your own temple! Fold a piece of paper into thirds. Cut one end into a triangle. Unfold the paper and draw yourself in the middle.
For younger children: Look at a picture of a temple together. Talk about how you can feel love in God’s house just like in your own home.
There are several names for Jesus Christ in 2 Nephi 11:4–7; 17:14; 19:6. Help your children find them and talk about what they mean. For example, “Christ” means “the anointed” and “Immanuel” means “God with us.” What do these names teach us about Jesus?
Show portions of the video “The Christ Child” (Gospel Library) that show different people seeing Jesus for the first time. Pause the video during these depictions, and ask your children about what these people might have felt. What would we feel if we were there? How will we feel when we see Him again?
Another idea is to make beautifully decorated cookies with salt instead of sugar. Be sure to give each child a napkin to spit the bite of cookie out into. and let them choose a cookie. Explain that Satan makes sin look appealing and he even makes bad things seem good. They look appealing on the outside, but if we partake then we may consume something into our lives that would be bad and harmful. Ask the children if they can think of anything that looks appealing but is actually harmful to our souls. Inappropriate movies, violent video games, fighting, arguing,
You could also show the first 90 seconds of the video “You Will Be Freed” (Gospel Library). Why does the fisherman disguise his hook? Why does Satan disguise sin? How does Jesus Christ help us avoid being deceived by Satan?
Explain that the prophet Ether tried to teach the Jaredites “great and marvelous things,” but they didn’t believe what he said. Invite the children to read Ether 12:5 to find out why they didn’t believe. What are some things Heavenly Father wants us to believe even though we don’t see them? Read together Ether 12:6.
Moroni shared several examples of people who accomplished great things because of their faith.
Show pictures that depict the examples of faith in Ether 12:13–15, 20–21 (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 78, 85, and this week’s activity page). Let the children tell you what they see in the pictures and what they know about the stories. Talk with the children about how these individuals showed faith and what happened because of their faith.
Play a guessing game with the children. Give them clues about the faithful people described in Ether 12:13–15, 19–20 until the children can guess who they are. Then let the children play the game again by taking turns giving clues about the same people (or other faithful people) while the rest of the class guesses. Share what you admire about the faith of these people.
Show one of the children a picture without letting the other children see, and ask the child to describe the picture to the rest of the class. As time allows, let other children take turns doing the same with different pictures. Then invite them to read Ether 12:6 and find this phrase: “Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen.” How do we show faith in Jesus Christ when we cannot see Him?
Ask the children to read this phrase in Ether 12:6: “Ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.” Help the children understand that when we obey a commandment, we can know it is true. Ask them to think of gospel principles that God wants us to have a testimony of, such as paying tithing, keeping the Sabbath day holy, or living the Word of Wisdom. Then write on the board In order to gain a testimony of , I must . Share how you have exercised faith in order to gain your testimony of these and other gospel truths.
Invite one of the children to close his or her eyes, and ask the other children to give directions to help him or her complete a task such as building a tower with blocks or walking across the room. How does this activity help us understand what it means to “walk by faith” in God? (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 1-7” )
What are we doing to show that we believe in the Savior even though we can’t see Him?
Show the video “Reunited by Faith” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), and ask the children how the young man in the video walked by faith. Share an experience when you walked by faith, and encourage the children to share experiences.(Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 1-7” )
Faith of a Mustard Seed
Friend May 2021 “Faith Will Move Mountains” Jesus promised that if we “have faith as a grain of mustard seed,” we will be able to move mountains (Matthew 17:20). Your mountains may be loneliness, doubt, illness, or other problems. The mustard seed represents a small but growing faith.
Trusting in God
Friend November 2019 “Family Night Fun” Having faith and trusting in God lesson idea includes a song, scripture, game, and scripture story telling idea, and a question. (“Having Faith, Trusting God” scripture story game. Friend November 2019)
For the Strength of Youth August 2024 “Faith and a Fall” A boy thinks he can be indestructible like the Stripling Warriors. Then he learns that they weren’t indestructible, but they trusted in the Lord, and He strengthened them.
Liahona June 2021[God] is the Father of our spirits. He loves each of His children perfectly. God is perfect, has all power, and knows everything. He is just, merciful, and kind. We lived as spirits with God before we were born. He sent us to earth to learn and grow. God’s greatest desire is for each of His children to return to live with Him again after we die. God teaches us that we must follow Jesus Christ to return to God’s presence.
Help the children role-play how they could respond to people who think God’s commandments are “foolish”—such as the commandment to have faith in the Savior, keep the Word of Wisdom, or obey the law of tithing. For example, they could testify of the blessings that come from living these teachings.(Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “1 Corinthians 1–7” )
Friend August 2023 “Trouble at the Park” Hunter’s friends started saying bad words at the park. They wanted him to say one too. He told them he doesn’t say those words. His friends said that one word won’t hurt. He decides to play somewhere else in the park.
Friend November 2018 “Finders Keepers?” Mike finds some money on the school grounds and takes it to the office even though his friends think they should keep it and spend it.
New Testament Seminary Student Manual (2023) “1 Corinthians 1–4” Many who lived in Corinth valued worldly wisdom. The message of a crucified Messiah didn’t make sense to many Jews and Gentiles. In the Roman world, the punishment of crucifixion symbolized shame and defeat. The idea of someone willingly suffering for others was “foolishness” to the Greeks ( 1 Corinthians 1:23). For the Jews, a Messiah who died on a cross was a “stumbling block” ( 1 Corinthians 1:23) because they expected the Messiah to conquer their enemies.
I can trust Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. (Younger Children)
Name a few things that a good king might do and some things that a bad king might do. Ask the children to stand up and cheer for the good things and to sit down for the bad things. Explain to the children that Israel had many kings, some righteous and some not. Invite the children to listen for what made Hezekiah a good king as you read 2 Kings 18:3, 5. Help them think of ways we can show that we trust the Lord as Hezekiah did.
Help the children understand what it means to trust someone. Talk about people you trust, and let the children do so too. Show a picture of Jesus Christ. Why can we trust Jesus Christ? Express your trust that Jesus Christ loves us and will help us return to live forever with Heavenly Father.
Friend June 1998 When we trust someone, we believe in him or her. We feel sure the person will do what he or she promises to do. There is Someone we can always trust. We can always trust the Lord.
Let one of the children hold a picture of the Savior as you read Proverbs 3:5. Tell the children what trusting in the Lord means to you. Invite the children to make a heart with their hands or hold their hands over their hearts while repeating the phrase “trust in the Lord with all thine heart” several times.
Friend June 1998 When we trust someone, we believe in him or her. We feel sure the person will do what he or she promises to do. There is Someone we can always trust. We can always trust the Lord.
Draw a large heart on the board, and help the children think of things they can do to show that they trust the Lord. Invite them to draw their ideas inside the heart or on a piece of paper. Encourage them to share their ideas with their families.
“Faith in Jesus Christ” (August 2019 Friend) Make a path through your home that includes objects representing how you show faith in Jesus Christ.
(Or you could have pictures or objects of ways you can show your faith. Have the children choose one and tell how it shows their trust in God. Some additional ideas: a picture of people going to church, picture of a child praying, a picture of the ten commandments or children being kind and obeying the commandments.
Read together Proverbs 3:5–7, and invite the children to list the things these verses say we should do and should not do. Ask them what they feel each of these things might mean. What qualities do we find in people we trust? What qualities does the Lord have that help us trust Him?
To show what it means to “lean not unto thine own understanding,” let the children try leaning a stick or a pencil against various objects, such as a book or a piece of paper. Which objects worked best? Why is it important to “trust in the Lord” and not lean on our “own understanding”?
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families Old Testament 2022 To help family members visualize what these verses teach, you could invite them to lean against something sturdy and stable, like a wall. Then they could try leaning against something that is not sturdy, like a broom. Why should we “lean not unto [our] own understanding”? How can we show that we trust Jesus Christ with all our hearts?
In English the word lean has a connotation of physically listing or moving to one side. When we physically lean toward one side or another, we move off center, we are out of balance, and we tip. When we spiritually lean to our own understanding, we lean away from our Savior. If we lean, we are not centered; we are not balanced; we are not focused on Christ. (Ensign May 2017 “Trust in the Lord and Lean Not ”
Proverbs 4 describes wisdom and righteousness as a “path” or a “way” (see also Proverbs 3:5–6). As you read this chapter, you might find passages that help you ponder “the path of thy feet” (verse 26) and how your steps are drawing you closer to the Lord. For example, what do verses 11–12 and 18–19 teach about the blessings of following the right path? What do verses 26 and 27 mean to you?
The Cozy Red Cottage The manual states, “Perhaps your family could contrast Nephi’s account of traveling in the wilderness (see 1 Nephi 17:1-6) with his brothers’ account (1 Nephi 17:17-22). Why do you think they saw the same events differently? What can we learn from Nephi about having a faithful perspective?” (Could write responses to the above situations on this form.)
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Book of Mormon 2020 “As Lehi’s family journeyed toward the promised and, the Lord made them this promise: “I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments” (1 Nephi 17:13). Clearly, that promise did not mean that the journey would be easy—family members still disagreed, bows broke, and people struggled and died, and they still had to build a ship from raw materials. However, when the family faced adversity or seemingly impossible tasks, Nephi recognized that the Lord was never far away. He knew that God “doth nourish [the faithful], and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them” (1 Nephi 17:3). If you ever wonder why bad things happen to good people like Nephi and his family, you may find insights in these chapters. But perhaps more important, you will see what good people do when bad things happen.”
Exodus CHAPTER 7 Moses is appointed to give the word of the Lord to Pharaoh—The Lord will multiply signs and wonders in Egypt—Aaron’s rod becomes a serpent—The river is turned into blood—The magicians imitate the miracles of Moses and Aaron.
Exodus CHAPTER 8 The Lord sends plagues of frogs, lice, and flies upon Egypt—Pharaoh hardens his heart.
Exodus CHAPTER 9 The Lord destroys the cattle of the Egyptians, but not of the Israelites—Boils and blains are sent upon the Egyptians—The Lord sends hail and fire upon the people of Pharaoh, but not upon the people of Israel.
Exodus CHAPTER 10 The Lord sends a plague of locusts—This is followed by thick darkness in all Egypt for three days—Moses is cast out from the presence of Pharaoh.
Exodus CHAPTER 11 The departing Israelites are authorized to ask for jewels and gold from their neighbors—The Lord promises to slay the firstborn in every Egyptian home—He puts a difference between the Egyptians and the Israelites.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Exodus 7–13” The Israelites were in captivity and could not free themselves, but the Lord showed His power and delivered them. How can you use this story to help the children trust the Lord and His power?
Junior: Read selected verses from Exodus 7–11 to teach the children about the ten plagues that the Lord sent upon the Egyptians. Invite the children to draw pictures that portray some of the plagues. Ask the children to hold up their pictures as you review the plagues again. Read phrases from Exodus 7:5 and 9:14 to explain why the Lord sent the plagues to Egypt.
Senior: Give each child a paper divided into ten sections, and invite the children to draw pictures of the plagues described in these verses: Exodus 7:17–18; 8:1–4; 8:16–17; 8:20–22; 9:1–6; 9:8–9; 9:22–23; 10:4–5; 10:21–22; 11:4–7. What do the plagues teach us about God’s power? Why is it important to know about His power?
Lesson 19: Moses Delivers the Israelites from Bondage,” Primary 6: Old Testament Pass out numbered slips of paper with the scripture references for each of the ten plagues on the corresponding numbered paper. Have each child look up his or her reference and tell the class about it. You could supply the class with art materials and let them draw pictures of the plague that they read about. They could then show the picture to the class as they tell about the plague.What were the ten plagues the Lord commanded Moses to call down upon Egypt because Pharaoh refused to let Israel go? (See enrichment activity 1.)
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Exodus 7–13” Children face challenges and need the Lord to help them. The story of the ten plagues the Lord sent to free the Israelites can help the children understand that He also has the power to help them.
The Lord Has Power to Deliver Me.
Ask the children about times when they felt they needed the Lord’s help. How can He help us in these situations? Encourage them to talk about times when they or their family have experienced the Lord’s power in their lives. Bear your testimony that the Lord has the power to help us.
Friend July 1988 “Power of Prayer” A pioneer father is inspired that something was wrong at home. When he arrives he finds that his daughter has fallen into the fireplace. He gives her a blessing and every promise is fulfilled.
Share with the children how the Lord has shown you “that there is none like [Him] in all the earth” (Exodus 9:14). Let the children share how they know that the Lord is powerful.
Story: Moses was a prophet. He told Pharaoh to let God’s people go free (see Exodus 8:1). Pharaoh said he would let them go. But then he broke his promise. God sent frogs, lice, flies, and other plagues to warn Pharaoh to follow the prophet.
Song: “Follow the Prophet,” verse 5 (Children’s Songbook, 110–11)
Activity: Play a game! Have everyone get in a line. Then crouch down low. One person puts their hands on another person’s back and jumps over each person one by one, like a frog. Take turns until everyone has gone. Each time you hop, say one way you can follow the prophet.
Think of ways to share the story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea in an interesting and memorable way. For example, you or another ward member could dress up like Moses to tell the story from Exodus 14:5, 9–10, 13–16, 19–22. The children could pretend that the chairs are the Red Sea, and they could follow the person portraying Moses as he makes a path between them. Or the children could pretend to be the water and move to separate sides of the room as Moses divides them. Emphasize that the Lord gave Moses the power to part the sea so the Israelites could be delivered from captivity.
Invite the children to color the activity page as you review with them the story from Exodus 14:5–22. Then they could work together to tell the story using the activity page.
As you read Exodus 14:1–10, imagine how the Israelites might have felt as they saw Pharaoh’s army closing in. Perhaps you feel that you need a miracle to survive a difficult challenge you are facing.
Your family members might enjoy trying to “divide” the water in a bowl or a bathtub, as Moses divided the Red Sea. Help them understand that the Red Sea could not be divided without the power of God. How have we seen God’s power in our lives and the lives of our ancestors?
With the Lord’s help, Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt. They were frightened because they were trapped by the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army was chasing after them. “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13).
Display a picture of the parting of the Red Sea. Read together Exodus 14:21–29. Note the actions in those verses.
Role-play the parting of the Red Sea, using the actions above. Play until everyone has had a chance to play the parts they want.
Discussion: How did the children of Israel exercise faith by doing what the Lord commanded? How can we exercise faith when we experience challenges in our lives?
Tell the children the story of the daughter of Jairus (see Mark 5:22–23, 35–43). At the appropriate point in the story, read Jesus’s words “I say unto thee, arise” (verse 41), and invite the children to stand up. Help the children understand that Jesus has the power to heal people and give us eternal life.
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.
Show a picture of the account in Matthew 9:20–22 as you read these verses. Help the children memorize the phrase “Thy faith hath made thee whole” (verse 22). To do this, you could assign each child a word, and then have the children say their words in order several times. How did the woman show that she had faith in Jesus Christ? What can we do to show that we have faith in Christ?
Ask the children to close their eyes and listen as you read from Matthew 9:27–30. When you read about Jesus healing the blind men, invite the children to open their eyes. Invite the children to talk about how they would feel if Jesus had healed them.
Friend June 2005 “Faith in Jesus Christ” Two blind men came to Jesus Christ and asked Him to heal them. Jesus asked if they believed that He could restore their sight. The men said, “Yea, Lord.” Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith be it unto you.” When they opened their eyes, they could see. (See Matt. 9:27–30.)
Use this week’s activity page to help the children learn the story of the Savior raising Jarius’s daughter from the dead.
Gather first-aid items and explain how they are used to heal us. Then explain that Jesus Christ’s power to heal is even greater. Describe one of the miracles in Matthew 9.
Read together the accounts of Jesus healing people found in Matthew 9:20–22, 27–30 and Mark 5:22–23, 35–43 (or show the videos “Jesus Heals a Woman of Faith” and “Jesus Raises the Daughter of Jairus” on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). How did the people in these stories show their faith in Jesus Christ? What do we learn about the Savior from these stories?
“This faithful, focused woman needed to stretch as far as she could to access His power. Her physical stretching was symbolic of her spiritual stretching. …When you reach up for the Lord’s power in your life with the same intensity that a drowning person has when grasping and gasping for air, power from Jesus Christ will be yours. When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him—when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life—you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do [see Doctrine and Covenants 88:63]. When you spiritually stretch beyond anything you have ever done before, then His power will flow into you. (Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 41–42)
Invite the children to share experiences when they or someone they know received a priesthood blessing for the healing of the sick. How were they healed or blessed? Explain that sometimes a miraculous healing is not the Lord’s will, but we can still be blessed by His love and comfort.
Friend July 1988 “Power of Prayer” A pioneer father is inspired that something was wrong at home. When he arrives he finds that his daughter has fallen into the fireplace. He gives her a blessing and every promise is fulfilled.
Story: Jesus Christ performed many miracles. He healed a man who couldn’t walk. He brought a dead girl back to life. He healed blind men. (See Matthew 9.) What other miracles did Jesus do?
Song: “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” (Children’s Songbook, 57)
Activity: Write down some of Jesus’s miracles on slips of paper and put them in a bowl. Pick a paper, read the miracle on it, and draw a picture of it. The others can guess which one it is!
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 “Matthew 9–10; Mark 5; Luke 9” Why the emphasis on physical healing? Certainly one obvious message is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, with power over all things, including our physical pains and imperfections. But another meaning is found in His words to the skeptical scribes: “That ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins” (Mark 2:10).
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.
Ask the children to share with you some of their favorite stories from the scriptures (pictures from the Gospel Art Book might help them think of stories). 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”?
Read to the children Psalm 77:11, and tell them how you try to “remember the works of the Lord,” 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?
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “2 Kings 2-7” Elisha multiplies the widow’s oil—He promises a son to a Shunammite woman—The child dies and is raised to life by Elisha—He makes the poisonous food harmless—Bread and grain are multiplied for the people to eat.
Naaman, the Syrian, comes to Elisha to be healed of leprosy—He rejects the prophet’s instruction at first but relents and dips himself in the Jordan seven times; he is healed—Elisha refuses to accept a reward—Gehazi accepts a gift from Naaman and is cursed with leprosy.
Share one or more of the miracles recorded in 2 Kings 4–5 (see “Elisha the Prophet” and “Elisha Heals Naaman” in Old Testament Stories). Let the children share what they like about these stories. Invite them to retell the stories to each other.
Testify that the Lord can use His power to do great things to help us. We call these things miracles. Share how the Lord has shown His love for you in ways that are large or small. Sing together a song about God’s love, such as “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228–29). Ask the children to share how they know Heavenly Father loves them.
God can work miracles in my life. (Older Children)
Invite the children to write on the board as many miracles as they can remember from the scriptures. Then give them time to review 2 Kings 4–5 and add to their list (see 2 Kings 4:1–7, 14–17, 32–35, 38–41, 42–44; 5:10–14). What do these miracles teach about how Heavenly Father feels about us?
Ask the children to talk about what a miracle is. If they need help, they could review “Miracle” in Guide to the Scriptures (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Invite them to share some miracles that Jesus performed. Media Library “Life of Jesus Christ: Miracles” Talk about how you have seen God’s power in your life. You might include daily miracles such as feelings of peace, the gift of daily life, or help with daily tasks. Invite the children to talk about miracles in their lives, both large and small.
Show the picture in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families (see also Gospel Art Book, no. 43) as you tell the story from Matthew 14:22–33 in your own words. Consider using this week’s activity page to help the children tell the story back to you. You could also bring a small bowl of water and invite the children to pretend to “walk” their fingers across the surface of the water.
Show the video “Wherefore Didst Thou Doubt?” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), and ask the children why Peter was afraid. Then ask them to tell about times when they felt afraid and share what helped them. Help them see that faith in Jesus Christ helps us overcome fear.
Show the picture in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families (see also Gospel Art Book, no. 43). Ask the children to find phrases in Matthew 14:22–33 that describe the picture.
Ask the children to look for signs of faith and signs of fear as they read Matthew 14:22–33. You could also show the video “Wherefore Didst Thou Doubt?” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ? Help the children think of times when their faith helped them overcome fear.
Ask the children to imagine they were present and had a camera when Jesus and Peter walked on the sea. Which moment would they choose to photograph and why? Suggest that they search Matthew 14:22–33 for ideas. Invite them to draw a picture of the moment they chose, share their pictures, and explain why they chose that moment.
Israel murmurs and speaks of returning to Egypt—Joshua and Caleb give a good report of Canaan—Moses mediates between Israel and the Lord—The adults of Israel will not enter the promised land—The Lord slays the false spies by a plague—Some rebels try to go alone and are slain by the Amalekites and Canaanites.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Numbers 11–14; 20–24” When Moses sent 12 men to find out about the promised land, 10 of them came back afraid because of the mighty people who lived there. Two of them, Caleb and Joshua, were not afraid, because they had faith in the Lord.
Use pictures or drawings of grapes, honey, giants, and grasshoppers to briefly tell the children about the 12 men Moses sent to explore the promised land (see Numbers 13:17–33). Explain that they found a lot of fruit and other foods (invite the children to pretend to eat the food), but they also were afraid because the people there were large and strong (invite the children to pretend to be afraid). Show a picture of Jesus, and point out that two Israelites, Caleb and Joshua, were not afraid because they had faith in Jesus Christ.
Read Numbers 14:9 to the children, and talk about a time when you were afraid but your faith in Jesus Christ helped you have courage. Help the children think of any similar experiences they’ve had.
Friend July 2022 ““I Don’t Want to Grow Up!” Chakell had a lot of worried thoughts about the future. She worried about going to middle school and whether she would be smart enough or have friends. She worried that future changes in her life would be too hard. Her mother explained that with faith we can let Heavenly Father lead us and help us.
Jesus can perform miracles in my life as I have faith in Him.
Ask the children to pick one of the following miracles to read about and draw: Matthew 8:1–4, 5–13, 14–15; Mark 2:1–12; 3:1–5; Luke 7:11–16. Invite the children to explain their drawings to the class. What do we learn about Jesus from these stories?
Ask the children to act out how they feel when they are sick, sad, afraid, or worried. How can Jesus help us when we have these feelings? Testify that Jesus can help the children in all of these situations.
Friend March 2019 “Missing Mom and Dad” Dylan’s mom and dad were going on a trip, and he was going to stay with his grandparents. He loved staying with his grandparents, but for some reason he was scared about being away from his mom and dad for so long. He decided to pray for help, and he received comforting thoughts and feelings.
During His mortal ministry, Jesus Christ healed the sick and the afflicted, but each person had to exercise faith in Him and act to receive His healing. Some walked for long distances, others extended their hand to touch His garment, and others had to be carried to Him in order to be healed. (Reyna I. Aburto, “Thru Cloud and Sunshine, Lord, Abide with Me!,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 58)
Having faith in Jesus Christ means relying completely on Him—trusting in His infinite power, intelligence, and love. It includes believing His teachings. It means believing that even though we do not understand all things, He does. Because He has experienced all our pains, afflictions, and infirmities, He knows how to help us rise above our daily difficulties.(Gospel Topics, “Faith in Jesus Christ,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
The Lord counsels us not to fear. Throughout the scriptures the Lord has counseled us to “be not afraid, only believe” (Mark 5:36). What are some actions that you could take to follow the Savior’s invitation to “be not afraid, only believe”? How will those actions help you face your fears?
Create a picture with the phrase “Be not afraid, only believe.” Put this picture in a place where it will help you remember to believe in Jesus Christ and not fear.
Fear and faith cannot coexist in our hearts at the same time. (Neil L. Andersen, “You Know Enough,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 14)
Israel and the Philistines engage in war—Goliath of Gath, a giant, defies Israel and challenges any Israelite to personal combat—David goes against him in the name of the Lord—David slays Goliath with a sling and a stone—Israel defeats the Philistines.
Review the story of David and Goliath with the children (see “David and Goliath” in Old Testament Stories), and let them take turns acting out the story. Prompt the child pretending to be Goliath to say, “Give me a man, that we may fight together” (1 Samuel 17:10). Prompt the child pretending to be David to say, “I come to thee in the name of the Lord” (1 Samuel 17:45). Testify that when we have faith in the Lord, He will help us have courage like David had.
Use this week’s activity page to show how tall Goliath might have been compared to a young boy like David. Explain that the army of Israel was afraid of Goliath. Ask the children to pretend to be scared. Then show a picture of Jesus Christ, and tell the children that because David had faith in the Lord, he could be brave. Ask them to stand up tall, like they are brave.
Invite the children to march like they are David going to fight Goliath while singing a song about being courageous, such as “I Will Be Valiant” (Children’s Songbook, 162).
Help the children memorize the first line from Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Talk with them about what it might mean to “be still,” both physically and mentally. Share with the children an experience in which being “still” strengthened your testimony of Heavenly Father. Ask the children to share any experiences they have had. Why is being still an important way to know that God lives?
Invite the children to review with you what they do during a typical day. Help them think of moments during their day when they could try to “be still” and feel close to Heavenly Father. Encourage them to set a goal to use such moments during the coming week to strengthen their testimony of Heavenly Father.
Friend August 2016 “The Little Bottle of Silence” Gage’s grandfather gives him a empty bottle of “silence” at his baptism to remind Gage that quietness helps you hear the Holy Ghost. He feels the Holy Ghost comforting him during a sad time when he seeks quiet time.
Invite the children to list some things we can do to know for ourselves that Heavenly Father is real and that He loves us. Invite them to choose something from the list that they want to do.
Job testifies of the shortness of life, the certainty of death, and the guarantee of a resurrection—He asks, If a man die, will he live again?—Job answers that he will await the Lord’s call to come forth from the grave.
Job tells of the ills that have befallen him and then testifies, I know that my Redeemer lives—Job prophesies that he will be resurrected and that in his flesh he will see God.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Job” Everyone has difficult days, and some people have trials that last a long time. Job’s faith in God sustained him through his trials. Consider how his story can help the children build their faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ so that they will be able to face their trials, now and in the future.
Ask the children to share what they know about Job’s story. What kind of a person was he? What happened to him? How did he respond to his challenges? Point them to verses in Job 1–2 to help them tell the story (see Job 1:1, 13–22; 2:7–10; see also “Job” in Old Testament Stories). Invite the children to share what they feel is the main message of Job’s story.
Display a few pictures of Jesus Christ interacting with others, and ask the children what they feel these pictures teach us about who Jesus Christ is and what He is like. What else do we know about Him? Invite the children to read some of the following verses to find out some things Job knew about the Lord: Job 12:10, 13, 16; 19:25–27. Why is it valuable to know these things about the Savior?
Read to the children Job’s words in Job 13:15: “I trust in him.” To help the children understand what it means to trust in God, talk with them about other people they trust.
What do we trust Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to do? Express your trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and help the children think of ways they can show that they love and trust Them. (Such as keeping the commandments, praying, etc.)
Invite the children to read Job 19:14–19, and ask them what these verses say about how other people were treating Job. How might we feel if this happened to us? Invite the children to read Job 19:23–27 to find out how Job found comfort in this situation. What do these verses teach us about the Savior? Why is it important to know that He lives and loves us? (see John 17:3).
Sing together a song that testifies of Jesus Christ, such as “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” (Hymns, no. 136). What does the song suggest about why it is important to have a testimony that Jesus Christ lives? Tell the children how you know the Savior lives and why you are thankful for that knowledge. Encourage them to share their feelings and testimonies as well.
God helped people in the scriptures, and He can help me.
Explain that King Limhi’s people were in trouble, so he shared a story to help them have faith. Read Mosiah 7:19 to the children, see “The Passover” and “The Israelites in the Wilderness” and Moses Parting the Red Sea, ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Maybe your children would like to act them out. How did the Lord help the people in these stories? How can He help us?
For more examples of how the Lord helps us, select some verses of “Book of Mormon Stories” or “Nephi’s Courage” (Children’s Songbook, 118–19, 120–21) to sing with your children. Help them identify how the Lord helped people in the Book of Mormon—and how He can help us.
How did the people in these stories show that they trusted in God? How did the Lord help these people?
What stories from our lives or our ancestors’ lives can we share to inspire greater trust in God?
Friend April 2020 “Family Night Fun”Heroes with God’s Help: Make your own faith hero cards! Draw pictures of people in the scriptures who did something hard with God’s help. On one of your hero cards, draw a picture of yourself. What hard things can you do with God’s help?
Read Mosiah 7:33 to the children, and help them understand what the verse teaches us to do to receive help from the Lord. Help the children think of actions to represent these things, and repeat the verse while they do the actions. What are some things we need help with? How can we show that we trust the Lord? Share an experience when you trusted the Lord and He helped you.
Invite three children to write a trial or challenge they face on the board. Ask a child to read Mosiah 7:33, and encourage the other children to erase one of the trials or challenges each time they hear something they can do to receive the Lord’s help. How can trusting in the Lord help us overcome our challenges?
In Mosiah 7, Limhi reminds his people of instances when God has delivered groups out of physical bondage. Likewise, the Lord is willing and able to deliver us from spiritual bondage.
On strips of paper, write the tools that Satan uses to keep us in spiritual bondage (pornography, alcohol, immorality, and so on).
Connect the paper strips to make a paper chain.
Bind someone’s wrists with the paper chain.
Read Mosiah 7:33 aloud. As you discuss ways we can turn to the Lord, trust Him, and serve Him, break the chain to represent how the Lord can deliver us.
Discussion: What does it mean to “turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart”? How do we “serve him with all diligence of mind”?
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Matthew 1; Luke 1” The births of Jesus and John the Baptist were possible only through the power of God. Learning about these miracles can strengthen the children’s faith that God has the power to work miracles in their lives.
As you and the children review Matthew 1:18–25 and Luke 1:5–37, ask the children questions like “What would you say if you were Mary?” or “How would you feel if you were Zacharias?”
In simple terms, tell the stories described in Matthew 1:18–25 and Luke 1:5–37. Ask the children to raise their hands when they hear something that might seem impossible without God’s power. What other stories can the children share in which God did something that seemed impossible?
Help the children memorize Luke 1:37. To do this, you could write the verse on the board and invite the children to recite it several times. After each time, erase one word.
Story: Elisabeth and Zacharias wanted to have a baby, but Elisabeth was too old. One day, an angel told Zacharias that they would have a son! Their son was John the Baptist. Elisabeth and Zacharias learned that with God, nothing is impossible. (See Luke 1:11–14, 37.)
Activity: Try this “impossible” task! First, bend your middle finger under. Then put your hand down on a table, palm down. Now try to lift your ring finger. Then ask someone else to lift it for you. How has Heavenly Father helped you do something that did not seem possible?
Like Mary and her cousin Elisabeth in the New Testament (see Luke 1:5–55), sometimes we are asked to do hard things and may wonder if we can.
Set an empty container, such as a bucket or a box, at one end of the room.
Give each family member a feather.
Starting on the opposite end of the room from the container, have each family member try to get their feather into the container by blowing it to keep it in the air as they cross the room.
To make it more challenging, allow only 30 seconds, and use a straw to blow air on the feather. Continue to decrease the allotted time until the activity becomes impossible.
Discussion: Keeping in mind that some challenges may not be resolved in this life, share an experience that strengthened your testimony that “the things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (Luke 18:27) What small steps can you take each day to achieve tasks in your life that seem impossible?
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 “Matthew 1; Luke 1” From a mortal perspective, it was impossible. A virgin could not conceive—nor could a barren woman who was well past childbearing years. But God had a plan for the birth of His Son and the birth of John the Baptist, so both Mary and Elisabeth, against all earthly odds, became mothers. It can be helpful to remember their miraculous experiences whenever we face something that seems impossible. Can we overcome our weaknesses? Can we touch the heart of an unresponsive family member? Gabriel could easily have been speaking to us when he reminded Mary, “With God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). And Mary’s response can also be ours when God reveals His will: “Be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38).
I Can Learn to Always Follow the Spirit.
The Lord is all powerful and can preserve me [and help me].
On the way back to Kirtland, Joseph Smith and other Church leaders had a life-threatening experience on the Missouri River (see Saints, 1:133–34).
The Lord used this opportunity to warn and instruct His servants. What do you find in Doctrine and Covenants 60:4; 61:1–2, 36; 62:1 that encourages you to put your trust in the Lord as you face your own challenges?
How could you help your family remember that the Savior is “in [our] midst”? (Doctrine and Covenants 61:36) You could decide together where to prominently display a picture of Him in your home. How can we invite the Savior into our daily lives?
What reason do we see in Doctrine and Covenants 61:36 to “be of good cheer”? (see also John 16:33). Perhaps your family could write or draw pictures of things that bring them joy and collect them in a “good cheer” jar. (Be sure to include pictures of the Savior and reminders of His love for us.) Throughout the week when family members need a reminder of reasons to be happy, they could choose something from the jar.
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Salem, Massachusetts, August 6, 1836. At this time the leaders of the Church were heavily in debt due to their labors in the ministry. Hearing that a large amount of money would be available to them in Salem, the Prophet, Sidney Rigdon, Hyrum Smith, and Oliver Cowdery traveled there from Kirtland, Ohio, to investigate this claim, along with preaching the gospel. The brethren transacted several items of Church business and did some preaching. When it became apparent that no money was to be forthcoming, they returned to Kirtland. Several of the factors prominent in the background are reflected in the wording of this revelation.
1–5, The Lord looks to the temporal needs of His servants; 6–11, He will deal mercifully with Zion and arrange all things for the good of His servants.
Elijah seals the heavens and is fed by the ravens—At his command the barrel of flour and the jar of oil of the widow of Zarephath never become empty—He raises her son from death.
Display pictures or objects that go with the stories in 1 Kings 17, such as birds, bread, or a boy. Tell these stories to the children (“Elijah the Prophet” in Old Testament Stories can help), and invite them to find the picture or object that goes with each story. Emphasize that Elijah and the widow had faith in Jesus Christ and received great blessings.
Help the children think of ways they can show that they have faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, which means that they believe in Them and trust Them. Sing with them a song about faith, such as “I Know My Father Lives” (Children’s Songbook, 5).
When the Lord asks me to sacrifice, I can obey in faith.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “1 Kings 17–19” The widow of Zarephath trusted the Lord and His prophet, even though she was asked to make a great sacrifice. This story could help the children when the Lord asks them to make sacrifices.
Read to the children 1 Kings 17:8–16. Invite them to act out the story as you read it a second time. Pause at various points and ask them how they would feel if they were Elijah or the widow. Invite them to share what they learn from this story.
Invite a child to draw on the board a picture of what the Lord asked the widow to give Elijah (see 1 Kings 17:12–13). Invite another child to draw what the widow received in return (see 1 Kings 17:15–16). What are some things the Lord asks us to sacrifice? Ask the children to share how they have been blessed for making sacrifices.
Friend August 2024 “The Greatest Power” Just like we can help a seed grow by giving it sunlight, water, and good soil, we can do things to help our faith grow! Color each part of the picture and read what you can do to grow your faith.
Friend June 2022 “Building Your Faith” President Oaks lists some ways to build faith. Following the prophet is one important way to build your faith. Write other ways on the shapes. Then cut them out and follow the pattern to build a temple.
Friend July 2023 “Tower of Faith” When the missionaries visited Dashanel and her family, they taught them a lesson about faith. They built a tower of faith with cups. Each of the cups represented something they can do to build faith, such as prayer, scripture study, going to church, etc. Dashanel kept doing things to build her faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized.
What does it mean to nourish a plant? (To feed it and provide all the things it needs in order to grow.) What kinds of nourishment does a plant need in order to grow? (Show the children the picture of the plant food, the watering can, the rain, and the sun cutout as each item is mentioned, and explain that we must make sure the plant gets enough water, sun, and fertilizer.)
•What kind of things will nourish our faith in the word of God? (Answers might include listening to the testimonies of others, seeking for the witness of the Holy Ghost concerning the truth of the word, listening to the words of the prophet, and continuing to exercise our growing faith through studying and acting upon the words of God.)
My testimony of Jesus Christ grows as I nourish it.
Seeds, trees, and fruit are familiar objects that can help children understand abstract principles like faith and testimony. Let your children hold a seed while you read Alma 32:28. Then you could ask them to help you think of ways that growing a testimony of Jesus Christ is like planting and nourishing a seed (see “Chapter 29: Alma Teaches about Faith and the Word of God,” Book of Mormon Stories, 81). Maybe you could plant your seed and talk about what is needed to help a seed—or a testimony—grow.
A picture of a tree accompanies this outline; you might use it to illustrate Alma’s words in Alma 32:28–43. Or you could go for a walk to find plants at different stages of growth and read verses from Alma 32 that compare a growing plant to our testimony. Or maybe your children could draw a tree on the board and add a leaf or a fruit every time they think of something they can do to help their testimony of Jesus Christ grow.
What can a seed become? (A plant or tree, depending on the type of seed.)
What must happen before a seed can begin to grow? (Show the illustration of the sprouting seed or draw one on the chalkboard.)
What does a tree look like when it is young? (Show the illustration of the sap-ling or draw one on the chalkboard.) What does it look like when it is mature? (Show the illustration of a tree or draw one on the chalkboard.)
What nourishment does a seed need to help it grow into a plant or tree? (Explain that nourishment means something that helps things grow or keeps them alive and well, such as water, fertilizer, sunshine, and soil. Place the illustrations of the sun, rain, soil, and fertilizer near the picture of the seed.)
Explain to the children that in this lesson they will learn how they can grow a strong testimony.
Friend January 2019 “Testimony Plants” In Primary, the children were supposed to draw a plant that represented their testimony, but Elisa wasn’t sure what that meant or if she had a testimony. She learns that a testimony is the things she believes in like Heavenly Father and Jesus. She also learns that testimonies grow and need to be nourished.
Friend July 2020 “Come Follow Me for Little Ones” Read Alma 32:41 together and help your little ones say, “My faith grows when I do good things.” Help your children learn about seeds and plants by picking seeds out of a piece of fruit or caring for a houseplant. Explain that our testimonies grow little by little, like a seed grows into a plant.
As you read Alma 32:26–43 together, stop occasionally and invite the children to draw a picture of the seed or plant being described—for example, a seed and a seedling (verse 28), a growing plant (verse 30), and a mature plant bearing fruit (verse 37). Encourage them to label their pictures with references from Alma 32. How is nourishing a seed like nourishing our testimonies of Jesus Christ? How do we nourish our testimonies? Invite the children to silently think about how their testimonies are growing and what they will do to nourish them. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Alma 32-35”)
If possible, give each of the children seeds to take home and plant to remind them to help their testimonies of Jesus Christ to grow.
Show pictures of a plant in various stages of growth, and ask the children to help you put the pictures in the correct order (see the pictures in this week’s activity page). Explain that as we live the gospel, our testimony grows—it starts small like a seed but can become big like a tree. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Alma 32-35”)
Friend July 2024 “Come, Follow Me Activities: Growing Your Testimony” Alma taught that when you listen to the word of God and do things to show your faith, your testimony will grow, like a tree (see Alma 32:37). Draw things you can do to help a tree grow, like giving it water and sunshine. Then draw things you can do to help your testimony grow, like going to church and praying.
For younger children: Sing “Faith” (Children’s Songbook, 96). While you sing, do actions to show a seed growing big and tall. Talk about growing your testimony.
Friend August 2019 “Family Night Fun” Make a path with string. Put things (or pictures) along the path that help show or grow faith such as scriptures (reading about Jesus’s life and his teachings and the testimonies of prophets about Jesus 2 Nephi 33:4 help grow faith). See “Feast Upon the Words of Christ” below), Sunday clothes (we can learn about Jesus when we attend church), a piece of bread to represent the sacrament (when we take the sacrament we covenant to always remember Jesus and keep his commandments), picture of the prophet (the prophet teaches Jesus’s words to us), picture of prayer (we gain faith when follow Jesus and keep his commandments- See “Pray Always” below). Ask how each object helps grow or show faith in Jesus Christ as the family walks the path.
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.
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?
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.
Invite family members to find or mark phrases that begin with “I am” or “I will.” What do we learn from the “I am” phrases about who Jesus Christ is and what He is like? What do we learn from the “I will” phrases about what He does? Encourage family members to share how these truths strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ.
Help the children find and make a list of some of the characteristics of Jesus as you read Doctrine and Covenants 60–62
Display a picture of Ruth and Naomi (see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). Then write three headings on the board: Trials, Actions, Blessings. Invite the children to read Ruth 1:3–5, 8, 16; 2:1–3, 8–12; 4:13–17, and write under the headings what they find in these verses. How did Ruth show her faith in the Lord? Share an example of how you have been blessed because you have faith in Jesus Christ, and let the children share their own experiences.
Friend January 2017 “Will Heavenly Father Answer My Prayers” When Elder Oaks was seven his father died. Dallin’s mother had faith and trusted in the Lord’s will.
Sing together a song about faith, such as “The Lord Is My Light” (Hymns, no. 89) or “Faith” (Children’s Songbook, 96–97). What does the song teach us about trusting the Lord? How can we have faith in Jesus Christ even during difficult times?
Write on the board some statements spoken by people in John 11. Ask the children to identify who said each statement, and invite them to search John 11 to check their answers. How would they feel if they were Jesus, Martha, Mary, or Lazarus? How can believing in Jesus help us when we are sad or scared?
Read Martha’s testimony, found in John 11:20–27. Ask the children to look for words and phrases that show that Martha had faith in Jesus Christ. What can we do to have faith in Him?
We study and practice to develop the skills we need in any earthly endeavor. So also do we develop faith. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” the Apostle Paul explains (Rom. 10:17). Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles observes that “simply hearing the words of doctrine can plant the seed of faith in the heart. And even a tiny seed of faith in Jesus Christ invites the Spirit” (“The Power of Teaching Doctrine,” Ensign, May 1999, 74).
Once the seed of faith has been planted in our hearts, it must be nourished. Our faith in Jesus Christ is nourished as we study, search, and ponder the scriptures; fast and pray; participate in sacred ordinances; keep our covenants; serve the Lord and others; sustain our Church leaders; and obey the commandments.
As our faith in Jesus Christ grows stronger, we learn to walk with faith in Him. “To have faith in Christ,” says Sister Sheri L. Dew, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency, “is to believe in Him, follow Him, and rely on Him. And it is to be blessed with the peace of conscience and mind that the Apostle Paul spoke of when he said, ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me’” (Philip. 4:13) (“Our Only Chance,” Ensign, May 1999, 67).
21 And now I come to that faith, of which I said I would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing. 22 and in Christ there should come every good thing. 25 and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing;
Help the children list on the board some of the “good thing[s]” that we receive through the gospel of Jesus Christ, such as having eternal families, returning to Heavenly Father, and being forgiven of our sins.
Show the picture of a tree from this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families while you read key phrases from Colossians 1:23; 2:6–7 (or show the video “Spiritual Whirlwinds” on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What would happen to this tree if a storm came and the tree did not have strong roots? Let the children stand and pretend to be a tree that has weak roots in a storm and then a tree with strong roots. Testify that faith in the Savior helps us be like a tree with strong roots. Then we can withstand spiritual “storms,” like temptations and hard times.(Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Philippians; Colossians”)
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 “Philippians; Colossians” Perhaps your family could read these verses while sitting around a tree or looking at a picture of a tree (such as the one that accompanies this outline). What does it mean to be “grounded” and “rooted” in Christ? How can we help each other strengthen our spiritual roots?
Draw a picture of your favorite fruit tree and follow the instructions to add to it throughout the lesson:
Draw deep and strong roots for your tree. Label some of the roots with attributes these people have or actions they take that you feel firmly connect them to Jesus Christ.
Just as there are natural forces that can uproot or destroy a tree, there are forces that try to uproot us from our spiritual foundations in Jesus Christ.
Around your tree, draw winds or storms that may uproot your tree. Label these winds and storms with forces that could spiritually uproot you from being grounded and settled in Jesus Christ. You may want to read Colossians 2:4, 8 to see some of the forces that the Saints in Colossae were experiencing.
How can the roots you identified today help you receive the Savior’s power to stand strong against the forces you identified?
Primary 4: Book of Mormon “Lesson 20: Korihor, the Anti-Christ,” Write the first word of each pair below on slips of paper and hand them out to the children. Ask each child to think of a word that means the opposite of the word on his or her paper. Let each child say the opposite word he or she has thought of while the rest of the class tries to guess the positive word on the child’s paper.
When everyone has had a turn, explain that just as every word in this activity has an opposite, Satan has a counterfeit or opposite teaching for every teaching of Jesus Christ. Following Heavenly Father brings us happiness; following Satan brings us unhappiness. Ask the children the difference between how people feel when they tell lies and how they feel when they tell the truth.
Teach the children that the more we learn about something, the more we can tell the difference between that thing and its opposite. The more we learn about and follow Jesus Christ’s teachings, the more we will be able to resist the temptations and deception of Satan..
Ensign March 2018 “Family Home Evening: Discerning Right from Wrong” Object Lesson. Satan tries to make good, righteous, and joyful seem miserable and evil appear to be good. Wrap a rock as a gift and put a treat in a brown paper bag. (See more at link)
Show the video “Spiritual Whirlwinds.” What are some temptations and false doctrines in the world today that can weaken our faith? Encourage the children to write down one thing they can do to strengthen their faith so that they are “rooted” (Colossians 2:7) in Jesus Christ. Ask them to display this somewhere they will see it each day. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Philippians; Colossians”)
“Faith is much more than passive belief. You express your faith through action—by the way you live.” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference (2004), 54.)
James says that having faith without works is like telling a poor man to be warmed and clothed without actually giving him something to warm or clothe himself.
Activity: Have a race! Set a start and finish line. Then move to the finish line by sliding your feet forward without lifting them. The winner of the race chooses a simple act of service for the group to do, like sending a kind message to someone or visiting someone who is lonely.
Invite some of the children to quietly read James 1:22–27 and others to read 2:14–18. Then invite them to share what they could do to show that they are doers of the word. For instance, how are they keeping their baptismal covenant? Do they know someone who is sick or lonely who they might visit? How could they serve their families more? You could also remind them of words they might have heard in sacrament meeting today. How can we be doers of these words? (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “James”)
Explain that we show our faith in Jesus Christ by obeying Him. Hide pictures around the room of people doing what Jesus has asked us to do. Let the children take turns finding and describing the pictures. What can we do to follow Jesus?
The below images in the circle are some ways we show our faith in Jesus Christ. We obey the commandments, we go to church and take the sacrament, we study his words in the scriptures, we share his gospel with others, we follow his example by helping others, etc.
Talking About Candy – Set out a bag of candy. Read the descriptions of the candy of the bag. Ask if family members think it sounds like something good. Now that we’ve had a great discussion about this candy, should we put it away and forget about it or do we want to eat it? Compare this to the things we learn about Jesus and His gospel. Hearing about these things is great, but we have to also DO something about what we’ve learned if we want the full joy from it. Read/discuss/summarize James 1: 22-25. Emphasize the difference between HEARING what Christ has taught us and DOING what Christ has taught us. Discuss: What are some things we’ve HEARD from the prophet and apostles? What have they caused us to DO differently? What are some things we’ve HEARD from the scriptures? What have they caused us to DO differently? Remind them that if we believe in (have faith in) things we hear, we internalize them and they affect our actions.
Picture Quiz of DOERS vs. HEARERS – If we’re hearers of the things Jesus taught, what kinds of things might we DO if we actually have faith in Him and His words? Show the kids the pictures in the picture quiz below. Read the options for each picture and have them tell you which of the options would be the best. Remind them that when we have faith in Christ, we DO things the way he taught us to do things. Let them have a piece of candy from the bag in the “Talking About Candy” activity for each correct answer they can give. Read/summarize/discuss James 2:14-26 and James 4:17. Brainstorm times in our lives when we could improve at being better DOERS of the things we’ve learned.
Joseph Smith Was an Example of Being a Doer of the Word – Ask if they remember who Joseph Smith was. Share the following quote from Elder David A. Bednar: “Joseph’s questions focused not just on what he needed to know but also on what was to be done!…Joseph went to the grove to ask in faith, and he was determined to act. True faith is focused in and on the Lord Jesus Christ and always leads to righteous action.” Talk about some of the things Joseph Smith DID because of his faith. Some examples: He read the scriptures and then DID what they told him to do in James 1:5 (ask of God). He did what Heavenly Father and Jesus asked him to do (wait for the fullness of the gospel to be made known to him). He taught people about Heavenly Father and Jesus, even when some people were mean to him.
If I have faith, I can do whatever God needs me to do.
Children who have faith in Jesus Christ and confidence in His power can accomplish great things when they are serving Him.
Read Moroni 7:33, and invite the children to stand up when they hear the word “faith.” Explain that we show our faith in Jesus Christ when we keep His commandments. Help the children make a list on the board of some things Jesus wants them to do, like obeying their parents or telling the truth. Testify that our faith in Jesus Christ can help us keep the commandments.
Display a few pictures that show someone from the Book of Mormon (or other books of scripture) accomplishing something important because he or she had faith in Jesus Christ (see, for example, Gospel Art Book, nos. 19, 70, 78, 81). Help the children tell the story portrayed in the picture. Tell them that because these people had faith in Jesus Christ, they were given power to do what He needed them to do.
Friend August 2019 “Family Night Fun” Make a path with string. Put things (or pictures) along the path that help show or grow faith such as scriptures (reading about Jesus’s life and his teachings and the testimonies of prophets about Jesus 2 Nephi 33:4 help grow faith.
See “Feast Upon the Words of Christ” below), Sunday clothes (we can learn about Jesus when we attend church), a piece of bread to represent the sacrament (when we take the sacrament we covenant to always remember Jesus and keep his commandments), picture of the prophet (the prophet teaches Jesus’s words to us), picture of prayer (we gain faith when follow Jesus and keep his commandments- See “Pray Always” below). Ask how each object helps grow or show faith in Jesus Christ as the family walks the path.
Ensign May 2017 “Trust in the Lord and Lean Not” Read the scripture Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust the Lord…and lean not unto thy own understanding. Demonstrate what happens when we lean–we move away from the center (Jesus Christ) and we may fall over.
Friend March 2020 “Bright Idea: When I Listen to the Prophets, My Faith in Jesus Christ Grows Strong”
Friend August 2019 “Family Night Fun” Make a path with string. Put things along the path that help show or grow faith. Ask how each object helps grow or show faith in Jesus Christ as the family walks the path. Also can do the coloring page “A New Path.“
Friend August 2019
I can show my faith in Jesus Christ by following Him.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Romans 1-6” Paul taught that the gospel has the power to bring salvation to everyone who lives by faith in Jesus Christ. How can you help the children show their faith in Jesus Christ by following Him?
Read Romans 1:17 to the children, and help them memorize the phrase “The just shall live by faith.” You could assign each child one word in the phrase and ask them to say that word when you point to them. Explain that this phrase means that we should have faith in Jesus Christ.
The Red Crystal has really great teaching ideas, including the one below.
Ask the children if they know what faith is. Show a picture of Jesus Christ and explain that we believe He is real even though we haven’t seen Him. This is faith—believing in something even though we haven’t seen it.
Explain that we show our faith in Jesus Christ by obeying Him. Hide pictures around the room of people doing what Jesus has asked us to do. Let the children take turns finding and describing the pictures. What can we do to follow Jesus?
The below images in the circle are some ways we show our faith in Jesus Christ. We obey the commandments, we go to church and take the sacrament, we study his words in the scriptures, we share his gospel with others, we follow his example by helping others, etc.
Ask one of the children to close his or her eyes, and guide him or her across the room toward a picture of Jesus. If time permits, let other children have a turn. Help the children understand that they can follow Jesus’s teachings just as they followed your guidance.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “Romans 1-6” Paul taught that the gospel has the power to bring salvation to everyone who lives by faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel. It motivates us to obey the commandments. How can you help the children better understand faith?
Ask a child to find Rome on a map. Help the children understand that over the next few weeks, they will learn from letters Paul wrote to Church members in various places, beginning with his letter to the Romans.
Write the text from Romans 1:16 on the board, replacing a few words with blanks. Ask the children to look up the scripture and fill in the blanks. Invite children to share what “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ” means to them.
To live unashamed of the gospel means we proclaim it, but it also means we apply it to our lives and show we believe it. Got Questions
Invite a child to read aloud Romans 1:17, and ask the other children to listen for a word that is repeated. What does it mean to “live by faith”? Help the children find a definition of faith in a resource such as Guide to the Scriptures, “Faith” (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
As most often used in the scriptures, faith is confidence and trust in Jesus Christ that lead a person to obey Him. Faith must be centered in Jesus Christ in order for it to lead a person to salvation. Latter-day Saints also have faith in God the Father, the Holy Ghost, priesthood power, and other important aspects of the restored gospel.
True faith brings miracles, visions, dreams, healings, and all the gifts of God that He gives to His Saints. By faith one obtains a remission of sins and eventually is able to dwell in God’s presence. A lack of faith leads one to despair, which comes because of iniquity (Moro. 10:22).
The below images in the circle are some ways we show our faith in Jesus Christ. We obey the commandments, we go to church and take the sacrament, we study his words in the scriptures, we share his gospel with others, we follow his example by helping others, etc.
How would our lives be different if we did not have faith in Jesus Christ?
Show the children a plant and a seed, and ask how we help a seed become a plant. Explain that when we plant and water a seed, we are showing that we have faith that it will grow.
How do we show that we have faith in Jesus Christ? Consider singing a song about faith, such as “Faith” (Children’s Songbook, 96), as part of this activity.
The Red Crystal has a great idea on how to teach the song “Faith.”
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 18–23” Even though God had promised that Sarah and Abraham were going to have a son, as they got older it seemed impossible—Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90 (see Genesis 17:17). How can you use this story to help the children have faith that God will always keep His promises?
Younger Kids
Summarize God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child and the fulfillment of this promise (see Genesis 17:15–19; 18:9–14; 21:1–7). Or invite a couple in the ward to dress up as Abraham and Sarah and tell their story. Help the children understand that Abraham and Sarah were too old to have children. Ask them the question from Genesis 18:14, “Is any thing too hard for the Lord?” Testify that the Lord can fulfill His promises, even if they seem impossible.
Write on the chalkboard: Is anything too hard for the Lord? Invite the children to discuss this question. Or write each word from the first sentence of Genesis 18:14 on a separate piece of paper, and give one to each child. Then ask the class to put the words in the correct order. Read Genesis 18:9–14; 21:1–7 with the children to find one example from the lives of Sarah and Abraham when the Lord did something that seemed impossible. What can we learn from the experience of Sarah and Abraham that can encourage us to trust God’s promises?
“Lesson 11: Abraham and Isaac,” Primary 6: Old Testament Show the pictures The Crossing of the Red Sea, Daniel in the Lions’ Den, and Three Men in the Fiery Furnace. Briefly explain that the Lord parted the waters of the Red Sea to let Moses and the Israelites escape from the Egyptian army, he protected Daniel from a den of lions, and he kept three young men from being burned when they were cast into a fiery furnace. (Note: Do not teach these stories in detail. Tell the children that they will learn more about these stories later in the year.) Point out that these people trusted in the Lord and had faith that his will would be done. Their faith was rewarded with miracles.
Abraham and Sarah had a baby boy, just as the Lord promised. They named him Isaac. Genesis 17:9; 21:1–3
Make a promise to the children that you will fulfill at the end of class (for example, that you will allow them to color a picture). Throughout class, remind them of your promise, and then fulfill it. Explain that the Lord always keeps His promises.
Ask the children to share a time when they had to wait for something that they really wanted. With the children, sing a song that testifies of God’s promises, such as “Keep the Commandments” (Children’s Songbook, 146–47). Help the children identify things that God has promised us if we are faithful.
This video is going too fast during the second verse and you will need to use the pictures below during that part.
Friend August 2024 “The Greatest Power” When President Nelson visited some islands, members prayed that their outdoor meetings would be protected from the rain. At some of the meetings the rain stopped, but in Tonga it didn’t. But he saw great faith at work among each of these islanders—faith to stop the rain and faith to keep going when the rain did not stop.
Jacob’s faith in Christ was so strong it could not be shaken. To teach your children how to build faith like this, you could ask them about things we do to make our bodies stronger. What can we do to make our faith in Jesus Christ stronger? Read Jacob 4:6 together to help the children discover what Jacob and his people did to make their faith “unshaken.”
Another way to help your children understand what it means to be “unshaken” in their faith would be to find a large tree and ask them to shake individual branches. Then let them try to shake the trunk. Why is it harder to shake the trunk? What phrases in Jacob 4:6, 10–11 describe what we can do to make our faith in Jesus Christ unshaken?
For other comparisons to teach your children about unshakable faith in Jesus Christ, see Neil L. Andersen, “Spiritual Whirlwinds” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 18–21; and the video “Spiritual Whirlwinds“) or “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” (Children’s Songbook, 281; see also Matthew 7:24–27).
How did Jacob and others develop faith in Christ that is “unshaken” ?
6 Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can ccommand in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.
Jacob studied the words of the prophets, and he received revelations from the Spirit. How can we follow his example and develop unshaken faith?
I can be faithful to the Lord even if others are not.
Although many of the Israelites fell away from the Lord, some remained true to Him and were able to help many others return to righteousness. How can you encourage the children to stay true to the Lord no matter what others are doing?
Tell the children that during a time when the Israelites had been wicked, a righteous woman named Deborah and the commander of the Israelites’ army, Barak, delivered Israel from their enemies (see Judges 4:1–15). Read together Judges 4:14, and ask the children to find something Deborah said that showed that her faith in the Lord was strong. Then ask them to read Doctrine and Covenants 84:88 to find a principle that is also in Judges 4:14. Encourage them to share what the Lord’s promise “I will go before your face” means to them.
Sing a song about obeying the commandments, such as “Choose the Right” (Hymns, no. 239) or “Choose the Right Way” (Children’s Songbook, 160–61). How can we stand for righteousness and obey the commandments even when others around us do not?
There are many people today who don’t believe that miracles still happen. Use Moroni’s teachings in these verses to teach the children that when we have faith, we can see God work miracles in our lives.
Show the children a recipe. What would happen if you left out an essential ingredient? Invite the children to search Mormon 8:24 and 9:20–21 to find the necessary “ingredient” that we must have before God can work miracles. Share examples of miracles—big or small—that you have seen in the Church or in your life. Invite the children to share their own examples.
Divide the children into two teams. Invite each team to look for examples of miracles in some or all of these scriptures: Mormon 8:24; 9:11–13, 16–18, 21–25. What could we say to someone who thinks miracles don’t happen anymore? (see Mormon 9:9, 15–21).
Explain that a miracle is something God does to show His power and bless our lives (see Bible Dictionary, “Miracles”). Read words and phrases from Mormon 9:11–13, 17 that describe some of God’s miracles. Help the children think of other miracles found in the scriptures (pictures from the Gospel Art Book, such as nos. 26, 40, 41, and 83, can help). Testify that God worked miracles in ancient times and He still works miracles today.
Share an experience when you have seen miracles in the Church today or in your own life. Bear your testimony that God is “a God of miracles” (Mormon 9:11)
Ezra Booth was converted to the Church after seeing Joseph Smith heal Elsa Johnson’s arm (which she hadn’t been able to use for two years). But Ezra later lost his faith, and he became critical of the Prophet. Doctrine and Covenants 63 contains warnings against trying to build our faith on signs, such as miraculous healings, rather than on spiritual confirmation of truth. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 63”)
Invite the children to draw a house sitting on top of a rectangle and another house sitting on the point of a triangle. Tell the children that the houses represent our faith and testimonies. Ask them to read Doctrine and Covenants 63:9–10 and Helaman 5:12. Then have them write in the rectangle what we should build our faith on and in the triangle what we should not build our faith on. Point out that the rectangle provides a solid place to build but the triangle is not safe and secure. Why is it important to build our faith on Jesus Christ rather than on other things? (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 63”)
Explain that a miracle is something God does to show His power and bless our lives (see Bible Dictionary, “Miracles”)You might also consider why some people receive signs “for the good of men unto [God’s] glory” (verse 12) and others receive them “unto … condemnation” (verse 11). Maybe your family members could talk about miracles that have strengthened their faith, including experiences from your family or your family history. How did they exercise the faith needed to receive these miracles? What does Doctrine and Covenants 63:7–12 teach about the relationship between faith and miracles? (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 60–62”)
Song Idea
Friend November 2020 “Come Follow Me for Little Ones” Read Mormon 9:19 together and help your little ones say, “God is a God of miracles.” Watch the sing-along video for the song “The Miracle.” If your children are old enough, you could learn to sing the chorus together. (For extra help, find the lyrics in the June 2018 Friend.)
