Friend March 2021 “For Little Friends” Circle the ways you can show kindness!
Friend October 2020 “Who Did What?” Each of these kids wanted to do something extra nice for someone else to follow Jesus’s example. Follow the lines to see what they did.
Friend September 2021 “Service Challenge Origami” Make the origami folding craft and write kind acts underneath the flaps. Do the activity until it lands on one of the kind acts. Do that kind act for someone.
Words We Say
Friend October 2019 “Words Matter” The words we say make a big difference. Trace your finger along the lines to see how the words you say can make others feel. Also, make some kind notes to give to others.
Friend June 2019 “Friends by Mail” Activity day girls in Florida, USA, created a tropical kindness garden! It hangs in the Primary room for other children to add their kind deeds. (includes photo)
Friend August 2019 “Friends by Mail” We loved the idea of a kindness garden, so we decided to make our own. We put it up on a wall in our house, and every week we add a kind deed we did. We plan to do different things each month for our kindness garden. We want to be like Jesus and be kind. (includes photo)
Friend July 2019 “Matt and Mandy” Matt and Mandy have both been helping people, so they decide to make something for the kindness garden.
Friend November 2019 “Kindness Flowers” A kindness game like the game “hangman” you can play with a friend or family member. Think of a kind word that describes the other person.Have the other person guess which letters are in the mystery word. If they guess correctly, write that letter in the blank. If they guess a letter that’s not in the word, draw a petal on the flower and write that letter in it.’
Friend January 2018 “Colors of Kindness” Crossword puzzle of ways Jesus showed kindness to others.
Friend March 2017 “Love Your Neighbor” Board game about showing kindness to people in various situations.
Friendshipping and Including Others
Friend August 2022 “Find It” These kids like to make sure everyone has a friend at lunch. How can you be kind at school? Can you find all the hidden items?
Friend September 2021 “Find It” These friends invited others to play with them. They want everyone to feel welcome! Can you find the hidden items in the picture?
Friend January 2019 “Find It” On this snowy Saturday, Austin and Alicia are trying to be more like Jesus. Can you help them find two kids who look lonely? Can you also find the hidden objects?
Friend September 2017 “Find It” Everyone should have someone to play with at recess! Samantha and Jia want to help. Can you help them find these kids who might need a friend?
Friend February 2015 “Bulletin Board” Game idea for lesson where everyone seeks someone and hides with them – represents seeking someone lonely and staying with them.
Friend April 2017 “Ready for Church” Ian prepares for church by getting everything set out and ready on Saturday.
Get Enough Rest the Night Before
Friend May 2021 “Soccer and the Sabbath” Late night, Saturday soccer games on tv were making it hard for Samuel to stay awake in church. He decides to do other things, like take walks with his family, on Saturday instead.
New Era January 2020 “Snoozing Through the Sabbath” A boy stays up late playing video games and is so tired the next day at church that he sleeps in and rushes to get ready, and at church he can’t stay awake.
This Sunday I made pancakes. When my family came down, they said thank you. We are usually a little late for church, but we weren’t because I made pancakes. That made me feel good inside. Kyler M., age 10, Switzerland
Sabbath Day Lesson: Item # 7 from Friend March 1998 “Sunday Morning Problem” Several Sundays in a row Kelly and her family had been late for church. One day in Primary, Kelly’s teacher taught that children can help solve problems and be peacemakers. The next Sunday, Kelly got up and helped get everyone get ready for church. Her mother was so happy and grateful she was even singing.
Keeping Sabbath Holy
Sabbath Day: Lesson Item 6 Matching game of stories and images of children choosing to keep the Sabbath Day holy.
Friend November 2023 “The Tryouts” Jared was excited to try out for the regional basketball team. Only a few players get invited to try out for it. But when he found out it was on Sunday his excitement faded. But he knew God was more important than basketball. He said a prayer and afterwards felt a comforting feeling that everything would be okay. Two days later he got an email saying tryouts would be on Saturday instead. He prepared very hard for the tryout and did his best but wasn’t selected. Then, a comforting thought came to him. “Things won’t always work out how I want,” he said. “But Jesus Christ knows exactly how I feel. He’s on my side.”
Friend September 2023 “Singing on Sunday” Alejandra was doing well in a singing contest. Then she found out that the final round was going to be on a Sunday. She didn’t know what to do. She talked to her father and he explained about the Sabbath but told her it was her choice. The next Sunday she sang a song in Sacrament with the Primary. Then she thought, “What would she miss if she didn’t come to church on the contest day? She wouldn’t be able to sing her testimony in Primary with her friends. And she would miss the sacrament.” She decided not to do the contest.
Friend February 2023 “The Soccer Choice” Isaac loves soccer but couldn’t go to many of the games because they were on Sunday. One day his coach asked why he didn’t come to games on Sundays. He explained that he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that Sunday is a special day for him. He only does things that help him remember Jesus Christ and get closer to Him. A few minutes later the coach said the game would be changed to Saturday. After practice, a boy on his team came over and said thank you to him for sharing his beliefs because he goes to church on Sunday and was going to have to miss the game too
Friend May 2022 “The Footy Decision” Sam loved playing footy and when he found out the games were on Sunday he was sad. He prayed about what to do. He knew it was important to make Sunday special so he decided to go to practices on Thursdays but go to church on Sundays.
Friend September 2021 “The Winning Choice” Nathan earned the opportunity to go the Provincial Track Meet but he finds out it is on Sunday. He decides to put Christ first and keep the Sabbath Day holy.
Friend April 2021 “The Big Bowling Question” When Elder Hales was young he had a friend that wasn’t a member. One day that friend invited him to go bowling on Sunday. His mom said it was his decision, so he went. The whole time he knew it was not something he should be doing on the Sabbath. He learned an important lesson.
Friend January 2020 “The Pizza Problem”At church, Jake and his family learn about keeping the Sabbath Day holy. They decide to stop going out for pizza after church and instead start a new tradition of cooking a frozen pizza on Sundays. Refreshment Idea:Pizza Roll-Ups
Friend January 2019 “An Olympic Decision” In 1924 Eric Liddell was chosen to run the 100 meter in the Olympics, but when he discovered that his race was on Sunday, he changed to a longer, more difficult race on a different day. People were mad at him saying he was betraying his country, but he kept firm to his beliefs. When he ran the race, he broke records and won the gold medal.
Friend April 2018 “Tara’s Sabbath Day” (For Little Ones) The things Tara does to keep the Sabbath day happy and holy.
Friend November 2017 “Primary with the Prophet” When Sam and Martha are too sick to go to church their mom has them do their own Primary at home.
Friend April 2017 “Competing on Sunday” McKay wants to compete in gymnastics at regionals but it is in Sunday. He fasts to decide what to do.
Friend December 2016 “Happy Sabbath: Sunday Stories” Stories of how some children kept the Sabbath Day holy.
Friend October 2016 “What I Learned from Alex” Alex sets a good example of keeping the Sabbath Day holy.
Friend July 2024 “The Sunday Choice” Anita invited Evolett to come play at her house on Sunday. Evolett explained that she was going to church with her family to learn more about Jesus Christ. Anita asked if she could go to church with them.
Friend June 2019 “Sharing the Sabbath Day” Alex wants to ride bikes, but Thomas is reading scripture stories with his family. Thomas invites Alex to come listen to the stories with him. (Activity: Alex also helps Thomas draw pictures for his grandma. Find the things they need.)
Friend September 2020 “Max and Mindy” Max and Mindy worry that their friends will think they don’t like them because they have turned down several invitations for parties and movies that were happening on Sunday. They decide to invite their friends to church activities so they know they like them
Friend September 2023 “Margo and Paolo” Margo and Paulo explain why they can’t go to a movie with their friend on Sunday. Then they invite her to come to a church activity with them since they can’t go to the movie with her.
Service on the Sabbath
Friend November 2019 “Kindness Kits” A family collects some items and makes some muffins on the Sabbath to take to some homeless.
Friend November 2018 “Learning by Light” Find out what Quentin L. Cook said about following the light of Jesus. Match the stars with the letters below.
Answers: “Following His light and example will bring us joy, happiness, and peace”;
Following Jesus’ Example of Service
Friend March 2019 “The Living Christ” Make a map of where you walk and draw pictures of ways you can help.
Following Jesus Example of Being Kind
Friend November 2019 “Being an Example” Activity Included: Draw a line to match the pictures of Jesus with ways you can be kind too.
Friend March 2019 “A Lesson From My Parents” Color the pictures and circle the things a parent or other family member has taught you. What else can you think of?
Friend November 2019 “Kindness Flowers” A kindness game like the game “hangman” you can play with a family member. Think of a kind word that describes the other person. Have the other person guess which letters are in the mystery word. If they guess correctly, write that letter in the blank. If they guess a letter that’s not in the word, draw a petal on the flower and write that letter in it.’
Friend March 2020 ” Funstuff: Find It!” This family enjoys working together to gather food to eat. Can you find 15 coconuts? Then find the other hidden objects.
Family Gatherings
Friend August 2019 “Funstuff: Find it” Every year this family gets together for a weekend of fun! This year, the cousins acted out a favorite scripture story for the rest of the family. Which story are they acting out? Can you find the hidden objects?
Friend May 2019 “Funstuff: Find It” Great-Grandma wanted an old-fashioned family dance party for her birthday! Find the hidden objects.
Families Come in a Variety of Ways
Friend July 2018 “Funstuff” Families come in all shapes and sizes. No two are exactly the same! Follow the lines to match the kids with the adults in their family.
Family Recreation
Friend June 2018 “Family Fun Jar” Things for kids to do together. Pick a paper from the jar when you’re bored or just want to have fun!
Friend April 2023 “Find It” This family likes playing at the beach together. Can you find the hidden objects?
Friend February 2019 “Find it!” Camila and Carlos are excited that all their cousins are visiting for Camila’s baptism tomorrow. Today they’re busy playing the best game of las escondidas (hide and seek) ever! Find Camila, Carlos, and their 10 cousins, all in red shirts. Then find 10 geckos.
“We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”
Friend August 2015 – Reveal means to tell something that was not known before. The scriptures contain many things Heavenly Father revealed in the past and events that will happen in the future. He continues to reveal things now to the prophet and apostles. We hear these truths at general conference.
Pertain means “about” or “relating to.”
Memorization Tip God has revealed many things throughout time—past, present, and future. Nine sounds like time, so Article of Faith 9 is about revelation over time.
Friend May 2020 “Helmets, Rules, and Rocky Roads” Diego hated wearing a helmet while riding his bike, but it was a family rule. His mother explained that rules are meant to keep you safe. He understood that better when he tumbled off his bike and found a big dent in his helmet.
Friend October 2018 “Watch Out for the Thorn Patch” Daniel and Tyler are told to not go near the thorn patch, but when their ball goes into the thorns, Tyler thinks he can reach it. When he reaches in for the ball he falls in and gets painfully stuck. “Heavenly Father loves us. He gives us guidelines and standards to keep us safe. When we choose to listen, we can avoid ending up in a prickly situation!”
Friend April 2021 “Trouble at the Creek” Brian doesn’t keep his promise to his mom to stay away from the creek after the storm. He crosses it on a fallen log and gets his foot stuck.
Friend September 2017 “Don’t Play With Fire” When Jean was a little girl her job was to burn the garbage, but one day it was too windy to light with a match so she tried a different method and ended up burning off her eyebrows and eyelashes. She relates this to being obedient.
Friend August 2017 “The Rocket Fiasco” Andrew’s friends convince him to try out his birthday rocket that he’s supposed to wait and do with his dad’s supervision. The rocket lands in the neighbors car and starts a fire.
Friend May 2017 “Safe Ground” A child wants to touch the water at Yellowstone Park but learns that being obedient keeps us safe.
Friend February 2017 “Obedience Helps Us Be Happy” Elder Clayton learns obedience as a child and then he learns that obedience to God’s commandments helps us be happy.
Obeying Parents
Friend February 2017 “Double Happy” Lily helps her little brother, Sam, feel comfortable in Primary, but her parents want her to let Sam’s teacher do that now so Lily can go to her class. Lily obeys even though she’s worried about Sam, and they both have a great time in Primary.
Friend August 2018 “Racing Rules” Lelah wants to race her trike down the sidewalk, but the family rule is to stay in the driveway. She obeys and has a happy feeling.
Friend August 2018 “Puddles and Blessings” Marcel doesn’t want to go on a hike in the rain with his mom and the Young Women. His mom tells him something good might happen because there are blessings from obeying parents. At the hike he finds that his friend Noah is there and they have a blast playing in puddles together.
Friend December 2016 “The Hill” Darla’s friends decide to go sledding down a steep hill that her mom had told her not to go on. Darla is obedient and goes home instead and has a good feeling.
Friend December 2016Friend December 2016
Friend August 2016 “Micah Obeys” Micah learns that he can help his family be happy when he obeys.
Friend August 2015 “Fire” As a young boy, President Monson starts a fire with forbidden matches and he learns an important lesson about obedience.
Friend December 2014 “Yancy” Elder Nielson’s horse, Yancy, wouldn’t listen to the trainer and eventually got injured due to her disobedience.
Obeying our Leaders
Friend April 2015 “The Book of Mormon Challenge” Blake had just finished reading the Book of Mormon when the stake president challenged everyone to read it again because of the many benefits it brings into the people’s lives.
Friend February 2022 “A Holy Place” Elder Eyring tells of the first time he went inside a temple. He felt that he had been in a sacred place like that before he was born. (Activity: Copy the lines on the grid to finish the other half of the Calgary Alberta Temple.)
Friend December 2020 “For Older Kids” Temples have beautiful chandeliers that sparkle with light. Light reminds us of Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the World.
Friend November 2020 “For Older Kids” In the temple, waiting is a special time to feel the Spirit. Each temple has places where people can read scriptures and listen to peaceful music while they wait to do temple baptisms or other ordinances. (Circle every third letter to find out what country this temple is in.)\
Friend September 2019 “For Older Kids” Unscramble the words to find out what is written on each temple. (Holiness to the Lord)
Friend March 2020 “For Older Kids: A Look Inside the Temple” You can stand in for your ancestors as they receive the Holy Ghost! (Also, can you crack the code to find out which temple is in the picture? (See answers below.)
Friend September 2019 “Funstuff: Temples in Our Day” Many blessings are available to us because of temples. Solve the message below to discover just one of those blessings.
Temple Dedication
Friend October 2017 “Snacks and Crafts” Make a needle point or puff paint temple on a white handkerchief for a temple dedication.
Preparing to Go to the Temple
Friend October 2017 “Snacks and Crafts” Make a sugar cube temple. Place a sugar cube every time you do something to prepare to go to the temple.
Friend July 2017 “Snacks and Crafts” Draw a temple outline on a mirror so you will think about how you are preparing to go to the temple every time you look in the mirror.
Friend January 2021 “Traveling to the Temple” All over the world, people travel to the temple in different ways. Some people can reach a temple in a few minutes. Others must travel for days! Can you help these families visit their nearest temples?
Friend June 2020 “For Older Kids” Some temples have beautiful staircases. They can help us remember that we are here to grow and become closer to Heavenly Father, one step at a time. Circle every third letter to find out where this temple is located. The first two are marked for you.
Friend May 2020 “For Older Kids” This room in the temple is called an endowment room. (Read to learn more.) Use this word search to find where this temple is.
Friend April 2020 “For Older Kids” All temples have beautiful art inside, especially of our Savior. It helps us to focus on Jesus when we’re in the temple. Can you guess which temple this stained-glass window is from?
Temple History
Friend February 2021 “Finish the Temple” The Cardston Alberta Temple was the first temple built outside of the United States. Use this outline and the photo to draw it!
Friend September 2019 “Funstuff: Temples in Our Day” Pioneers worked very hard to build temples. In fact, the Salt Lake Temple took 40 years of hard work and sacrifice to finish. Try drawing this holy temple using the letter A!
Friend May 2019 “For Older Kids” Question: Which of these temples doesn’t have an angel Moroni?
Friend June 2021 “Temple Match” Temples come in different shapes and sizes. They are all beautiful houses of God! Trace the lines to match each place with its temple.
Rome, Italy Temple
Friend November 2019 “Stories of Jesus” The stained-glass window in the visitors’ center of the Rome Italy Temple is full of stories about what Jesus taught and what He did. Can you find them in this coloring page?
Temples Being Built or Remodeled
Friend July 2019 “For Older Kids”The Arequipa Peru Temple is under construction. Connect the dots to finish the temple!
Friend June 2019 “Temple Map Match” Fill in the numbers for these recently announced temples on the map! Also, match the first part to the rest of its name of some other temples that have been announced.
Friend May 2019 “Conference News” Announcements were made about pioneer temples being remodeled and about seven new temples being built in countries around the world. Match the colored boxes to fill in the missing vowels to find out the names of the countries where the seven new temples will be built.
Friend November 2018 “Conference News” In the October 2018 General Conference, President Nelson announced 12 new temples! Use the clues to fill in the names of the countries or states where they will be built.
Friend August 2018 “Temples Around the World” Use the clues to match the temple with its picture.
Friend November 2019 “Conference News” Eight new temples announced in October 2019 Conference. Match the cities with the countries (and states) where they will be.
Friend January 2024 “What Are Temples?” Temples are beautiful buildings where we can feel closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Each temple has the words “The House of the Lord” written on it. This reminds us that the temple is holy and different from the rest of the world. Prophets have promised that we can feel peace inside the temple.
Friend February 2024 “What Happens in Temples?” In the temple, we learn more about Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the plan of salvation. We receive ordinances and make sacred covenants. We can also do this for those who died without making those covenants. We can feel the Holy Ghost and receive answers to our prayers. Prophets have promised that going to the temple will help us receive guidance for our lives.
Friend April 2024 “What Are Temple Baptisms?” Jesus Christ taught that we need to be baptized to live with God again (John 3:5). If a person dies without being baptized, someone can be baptized for them in the temple. Then the person who died can choose to accept the baptism. Prophets have promised that doing temple baptisms will help us love our ancestors more.
Friend May 2024 “What Are Ordinances and Covenants?” An ordinance is a sacred act done with priesthood authority, like baptism and the sacrament. A covenant is a promise you make with Heavenly Father through a priesthood ordinance. Ordinances and covenants help us grow closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Someday you can make more covenants in the temple.
Friend June 2024 “What Is It Like inside the Temple?” Inside, the temple is a quiet, peaceful place. All around are beautiful paintings and places to sit and feel the Holy Ghost. There are rooms for different parts of temple worship, like a room with a baptism font and rooms for families to be sealed together. Prophets have promised that we can feel the Savior’s love inside His holy temples.
Friend July 2024 “What Are Temple Dedications?” When a new temple is finished, a prophet or apostle says an important prayer to dedicate, or bless, the temple. This prayer sets the temple apart to be a holy place where we can do God’s work. Prophets have promised that hundreds of temples will be dedicated to the Lord.
Friend August 2024 “Why Do We Call the Temple the House of the Lord?” Every temple has the words “The House of the Lord” near the entrance. The temple is the Lord’s house on earth, and it is filled with His power. Prophets have promised that the Lord will bring us miracles when we make the temple an important part of our life.
Friend September 2024 “What Does “Gathering Israel” Mean?” Gathering Israel means helping people make and keep covenants, or promises, with Heavenly Father. Inside the temple we can do this by being baptized for those who have died. Prophets have promised that as we help gather Israel, we will feel Jesus Christ’s love for us.
Friend October 2024 “What Is the Endowment?” When you are older, you can go inside the temple for a special ceremony called the endowment. During the endowment, we learn about God’s plan and Jesus Christ, and we promise to follow Them. The knowledge we receive and the covenants we make during the endowment are gifts from God. Prophets have promised that the endowment will give us more hope, comfort, and peace.
Friend November 2024 “What Is a Temple Sealing?” A temple sealing is an ordinance that binds families together forever. This means that if we keep our covenants and obey God, we will live with our family again after we die. Prophets have promised that because of Jesus Christ, families can be eternal.
Baptism for the Dead
Friend October 2019 “The Temple Challenge” Temple Scramble: This girl has taken a family name to the temple. Can you put the pictures in order?
Friend September 2019 “For Older Kids” Brain Teaser: Twelve brothers stand tall, With a bowl upon their backs, In a holy place. What is it?
Article of Faith 4 is about the first four principles and ordinances of the gospel. (Friend March 2015)
Help the children memorize the fourth article of faith. Write it in phrases on separate slips of paper; give each class a phrase to memorize, with younger classes getting the simpler phrases. Have each teacher help her or his class learn its phrase. Ask a member of each class to come to the front and present its phrase. While the entire Primary says the fourth article of faith, have the class representatives quickly but reverently put themselves in the correct order. Then have them repeat their phrases in order for the rest of the children. Repeat this process until all the children who wish to have participated and the article is memorized. Review the article by singing “The Fourth Article of Faith” (p. 124), with each class standing when its phrase is sung. (Friend October 2002 Sharing Time)
Scripture Story Ideas
To help the children understand that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel are the same today as they were in ancient days, review the story of Adam and Eve found on the back of GAK 101. Have the children recite the fourth article of faith, holding up one finger for each principle and ordinance mentioned: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion, and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Have them locate Moses 6:52 and hold up their fingers, one at a time, as they hear you read these same four principles and ordinances in that scripture.Divide the Primary into four groups, and assign each group one of these scriptures: Moses 5:4–6 (faith), Moses 6:53 (repentance), Moses 6:64 (baptism), Moses 6:65–66 (Holy Ghost). Have each group locate its scripture and decide which principle or ordinance Adam followed. (Friend October 2002 Sharing Time)
God taught Adam what we need to do to return to Him—have faith, repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. How can you help the children learn more about these things?
Find or draw pictures to represent faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost (see this week’s activity page). Place the pictures in a line leading to a picture of Jesus Christ. Read Moses 6:52 to the children, and ask them to stand next to the correct picture when they hear the words the picture represents (in this verse, the word “believe” is used for “faith”).
Sing songs that teach the principles in Moses 6:52, such as “Faith,” “Help Me, Dear Father” (verse 2), “When I Am Baptized,” and “The Holy Ghost” (Children’s Songbook, 96–97, 99, 103, 105). Help the children understand that doing the things taught in the songs will help us return to Heavenly Father.
Faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost prepare me to return to God.
Adam and Enoch taught their people the first principles and ordinances of the gospel: faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (see also Articles of Faith 1:4). What can you do to help the children understand the importance of these principles and ordinances in their lives?
Ask the children to read Moses 6:52, 57 to find the principles and ordinances of the gospel mentioned in the fourth article of faith.
Write the fourth article of faith on the board, and invite the children to read it. Then erase a word or two, and ask them to read it again, filling in the missing words from memory. Repeat this process until the children have learned the article of faith.
Invite the children to write a short talk about faith, repentance, baptism, or receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost—something they could share with their families. Each talk could include a scripture, an experience, and a testimony. The talk could also explain how the principle helps us return to Heavenly Father.
Display four paper footprints and four pictures representing believing in Jesus Christ, repenting, being baptized, and receiving the Holy Ghost. Read Doctrine and Covenants 49:12–14, and ask the children to point to the correct picture when each is mentioned in the verses. Let the children help you place the footprints on the floor with the pictures beside them, and invite the children to take turns walking on the footprints. Bear your testimony that when we do the things in these pictures, we are following Jesus Christ.
Use this week’s activity page to make finger puppets that can help the children learn how they can follow Jesus Christ by having faith, repenting, being baptized, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
What does it mean to be “born again into the kingdom of heaven”?
To have the Spirit of the Lord cause a mighty change in a person’s heart so that he has no more desire to do evil, but rather desires to seek the things of God. (Guide to the Scriptures, “Born Again, Born of God” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org) For additional information click on link.
What can we do to continue to be born again throughout our lives?
Display four paper footprints and four pictures representing believing in Jesus Christ, repenting, being baptized, and receiving the Holy Ghost. Read Doctrine and Covenants 49:12–14, and ask the children to point to the correct picture when each is mentioned in the verses. Let the children help you place the footprints on the floor with the pictures beside them, and invite the children to take turns walking on the footprints. Bear your testimony that when we do the things in these pictures, we are following Jesus Christ.
Use this week’s activity page to make finger puppets that can help the children learn how they can follow Jesus Christ by having faith, repenting, being baptized, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
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).
The Lord needs all of us to teach others that they can come unto Him by having faith, repenting, being baptized, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Invite the children to compare Doctrine and Covenants 49:12–14 with what Peter taught in Acts 2:38 and with the fourth article of faith. What similarities do they find? Why are these truths important?
Invite the children to work in pairs and pretend that one of them wants to know how to follow Jesus Christ. The other child in the pair can teach him or her using Doctrine and Covenants 49:12–14.
Friend March 2021 “Matt and Mandy” Matt invites a friend to his baptism. His friend asks why he is getting baptized. Matt explains the fourth article of faith to him.
Activity Ideas
Post pictures of principles and ordinances on board and have children tell which is a principle and which is an ordinance. (But first explain what the difference between a principle of the gospel and an ordinance is. – A principle is a basic doctrine or law. An ordinance is a sacred ceremony with spiritual meaning that is performed by someone with priesthood authority.) Pictures might include the following: prayer, confirmation, sacrament, baptism, temple marriage, service, tithing, repentance, etc.
Friend March 2000 Link includes some sharing time and music time ideas.
