Preparation
• Items needed: five pages of different colors of construction paper (not blue or black), three pages of blue construction paper, tape, a black marker, magnets, and a metal chain.
• Print the word strips. Cut the word pages in half. (Trim off any extra paper if desired.)
• Print pictures for the first verse. (Look on Sugardoodle.com.) I used the pictures from the OCD Primary Chorister website. I really appreciated these pictures because they tell the verse in story form. But the pictures of the Savior didn’t portray him as I wanted, so I used this picture for the first line, and I copied, pasted, and enlarged her first picture onto Microsoft Word, and then I printed and cut out the picture of the boy and glued him onto the right side of this picture of the Savior. I used this page for the last line of the verse.
• Cut the construction paper into 1 ½ inch strips. (widthwise)
• Cut pieces of tape and hang them on the bottom rim of the chalkboard.
Presentation
Put the picture of the Savior with the children at the top, middle of the board and put the song title below it. Explain that these words are the title of the song and they are also the first line of the song.
Next explain that there are five questions that go with this first line. Put the first question on the board with its matching picture above it.
Point out that the child in the picture isn’t being kind. Ask if they think the child would be less likely to do something like that if the Savior was standing next to them. Ask what other kinds of things a person might try more carefully not to do if the Savior was standing next to him. Write each of the children’s responses on a colored strip of paper. After each response, have that child come up and make a chain link with their response(using the tape). Add a blue strip after each response. The answers will form a chain. Make sure their links face forward so people can see their answers. Using the magnets, hang the chain under the question. (Do the same chain activity with each question, taking only three responses per question.)
1. Would I do the things I do? (After discussing this question have the children sing the first two lines of the verse.)
2. Would I think of His Commandments Point out that the child in the picture is thinking about the Ten Commandments. Where are the commandments found? In the scriptures. What are some of the commandments Jesus has given us?
3. Try harder to be true? (There is not a picture for this line.) To be true means to be faithful and trustworthy. In what ways can we try harder to be true to the Savior? (Have the children sing these two lines.)
4. Would I follow His example? What is happening in this picture? The boy is trying to be like the Savior and be kind.. What other things did the Savior do that we could follow and do?
5. Would I live more righteously? Point out the CTR shield in the picture and explain that when we are choosing the right we are living righteously. What things can we do to in order to live more righteously? (Sing these two lines.)
Explain that the last line of the verse is -“If I could see the Savior standing nigh watching over me.” Put the picture that goes with this line on the board. Put half the line above the picture and half below the picture. Explain that the word “Nigh” means close or near.
Show a metal chain and explain that the links help make it stronger than having just a single strip of metal. A single strip of metal might bend and break. Point to the chain the kids made and explain that the blue links represent the Savior standing near to them. Remind them that being near to the Savior makes us more likely to do right things, which makes us spiritually stronger. Explain that in the third verse of the song we will discuss more about the concept of the Savior being near.
Have the children sing the entire verse.
To memorize this verse, take off a couple of lines at a time (not the pictures), and then have them sing the verse again. Continue in this manner until all the lines are gone. After that remove a few pictures at a time.
Worksheet – Instruct the children to fill in the blanks in Section A on the worksheet, using paragraphs one and two of the “Introduction” for reference. After they are done, go over the answers together.
SECTION A: Worksheet Answers – The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture. It is a record of God’s dealings with the ancient inhabitants of the America’s and contains, as does the Bible, the fullness of the everlasting gospel. The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation, and was abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon.
• What does abridged mean? It means that Mormon studied records other prophets had written, and then he took important parts from each of their records and wrote them on the gold plates. The Book of Mormon is named after Mormon because he compiled the record. (Show the picture of “Mormon Abridging the Plates” to the children.)
Now have the children fill in the blanks in section B on the worksheet using paragraph six of the “Introduction” for reference. Go over the answers together after they are done.
SECTION B: Worksheet Answers- Joseph Smith told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on the earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.
• What did Joseph Smith mean when he said the Book of Mormon is the most correct book on the earth? The Book of Mormon is of God. Books produced by men may contain errors in understanding, perception, and translation.
• What did Joseph Smith mean when he said, “A man could get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book”? Abide means to accept or act in accordance with, and precepts are commandments or principles. So, if we accept or act in accordance with God’s will and obey the commandments and principles found in the Book of Mormon, we will grow nearer to God.
The Book of Mormon was given to us by the power of God.
See more ideas for teaching Introduction to the Book of Mormon here.
Purpose of the Book of Mormon
The Title Page tells us that the purpose of the Book of Mormon is to testify of Christ.
Write the following questions on the board and have the children listen for the answers as they watch the below video. The first part is from Moroni 10 and the last part, from 0.58 to the end, are words from the Title Page of the Book of Mormon. Stop the video at the parts that answer the questions and discuss them.
The purpose of the Book of Mormon is stated on the title page–to convince all that Jesus is the Christ.
For Younger Children:
Friend January 2020 “Come Follow Me for Little Ones” (Let your children look at and hold a copy of the Book of Mormon. Help them point to the subtitle, Another Testament of Jesus Christ) Read the full title of the Book of Mormon, including the subtitle, “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” Put a picture of the Savior somewhere in the pages of a Book of Mormon. Help your children flip through the book and find the picture. You could do this repeatedly, and every time you find it, help your little ones say, “The Book of Mormon is about Jesus!”
Invite the children to share stories they know from the Book of Mormon, using pictures 67–86 in the Gospel Art Book or other pictures you have. And/or have everyone draw their favorite Book of Mormon story. Then have each child tell about their picture. Briefly tell them how the Book of Mormon has strengthened your faith in Jesus Christ.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “Introductory Pages of the Book of Mormon “Let your children look at and hold a copy of the Book of Mormon. Help them point to the subtitle, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. You might also help them find, on the title page, the phrase “Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.” Help them understand that this means the Book of Mormon teaches us about Jesus Christ.
All of the prophets in the Book of Mormon taught about Jesus.
Friend January 2016 “The Book of Mormon Teaches about Jesus Christ” Take turns reading these scriptures. Each talks about a Book of Mormon prophet who taught about Jesus. Match the scripture with the prophet who said it.
Invite the children to share stories they know from the Book of Mormon, using pictures 67–86 in the Gospel Art Book or other pictures you have. And/or have everyone draw their favorite Book of Mormon story. Then have each child tell about their picture. Briefly tell them how the Book of Mormon has strengthened your faith in Jesus Christ.
3. The Savior visited their land After He had risen in His glory. He blessed the children just like me; I love to read their story. The Book of Mormon tells of Christ And helps me feel the Holy Spirit. Heavenly Father’s voice is calling me, And the scriptures help me hear it.
Friend January 2024 ” Power in the Book of Mormon” President Nelson said, “The Book of Mormon is . . .Another testament of Jesus Christ. Many prophets who wrote it saw Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon includes their testimonies of Him. I invite you to read the Book of Mormon. As you read, I encourage you to mark each verse that speaks of the Savior. You will become closer to Him through this process. And changes, even miracles, will begin to happen. The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, strengthen, and cheer our souls.”
President Nelson invited us to look for Jesus Christ’s name as we read the Book of Mormon. Jesus has many names in the scriptures. Here are some you can look for!
To Help Us Get Nearer to God
Now have the children fill in the blanks in section B on the worksheet using paragraph six of the “Introduction” for reference. Go over the answers together after they are done.
SECTION B: Worksheet Answers- Joseph Smith told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on the earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.
• What did Joseph Smith mean when he said the Book of Mormon is the most correct book on the earth? The Book of Mormon is of God. Books produced by men may contain errors in understanding, perception, and translation.
• What did Joseph Smith mean when he said, “A man could get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book”? Abide means to accept or act in accordance with, and precepts are commandments or principles. So, if we accept or act in accordance with God’s will and obey the commandments and principles found in the Book of Mormon, we will grow nearer to God.
The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion.
• What did Joseph Smith mean when he said the Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion? Show the picture of the arch. Explain that the keystone is the central supporting stone at the top of the arch. The stones would fall without the keystone holding them in place. The Book of Mormon is the keystone of our religion because it supports and explains doctrines and principles that are necessary for salvation. Another reason it is the keystone is that when we receive a testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon we will know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, that the church of Jesus Christ is restored on the earth again, and that Jesus is the Christ.
Mormon taught that the Book of Mormon was written to help us believe the Bible and that those who believe the Bible will believe the Book of Mormon.
Show the children the title page of the Book of Mormon, and point to the words of the title as you read it, emphasizing the word another. Help the children think of other books of scripture that teach us about Jesus. Show them that the Bible has the Old Testament and the New Testament. Help the children say “Old Testament, New Testament” when you point to the Bible and “Another Testament” when you point to the Book of Mormon.
Display a world map or the activity page for this outline, along with a Bible and Book of Mormon. Use these items to teach the children that the Bible is a record of Jesus’s teachings in and around Jerusalem and the Book of Mormon is a record of His teachings in the Americas.
Choose several events and truths that both the Bible and the Book of Mormon testify of, such as Jesus’s birth, death, and Resurrection. Show pictures from the Gospel Art Bookthat depict these events and truths. Ask the children to describe what they see in the pictures, and tell them that both the Bible and the Book of Mormon teach about these things.
Write Mormon 7:9 on the board, but leave blanks in place of the words this and that. Also write on the board this= the Book of Mormon and that= the Bible. Invite the children to read Mormon 7:9 out loud and use the phrases on the board to fill in the blanks. What do we learn about the Bible and the Book of Mormon from this verse?
Display a Book of Mormon and a Bible. Share a few stories from each book, showing pictures if available (see the Gospel Art Book). Invite the children to point to the book the story comes from. Why do we need both books?
Write each word of the eighth article of faith on separate pieces of paper. Give one or two words to each child, and invite the children to work together to put the words in the correct order. Then ask them to repeat the article of faith several times. What does it teach us?
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.
Hand in Hand piano
Nephi saw that many Plain and Precious Things would be Removed from Bible
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “1 Nephi 11-15” To help your children value the “plain and precious” truths in the Book of Mormon, you could draw a picture and invite your children to change or remove parts of the picture to make it look different. You could use this to teach that things in the Bible were changed and taken out over time. Read together 1 Nephi 13:40 and talk about how the Book of Mormon (“these last records”) helps us understand the “plain and precious things” that were lost from the Bible (the “first” records). What “plain and precious” truths have you learned from the Book of Mormon?
Draw a picture on the board, and invite the children to change or remove parts of the picture to make it look different. Help them understand that, like this picture, some things in the Bible were changed and taken out over time. Read parts of 1 Nephi 13:40 that teach how the Book of Mormon (which Nephi calls “these last records”) helps us understand the “plain and precious things” that were lost from the Bible.
Book of Mormon Seminary Student Manual (2024) A bicycle is a simple and effective form of transportation. Cycling can also be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. What are some of the essential parts that allow a person to operate a bicycle safely and effectively? Imagine you owned a bicycle and someone intentionally removed certain essential parts from it.
What might those actions indicate about his or her feelings toward you?
What could happen if you attempted to operate the bicycle with missing parts?
Who might you contact to repair and restore your bicycle to function properly?
In a similar way, Satan has sought to harm and confuse God’s children by removing and changing important parts of Jesus Christ’s gospel. As you study 1 Nephi 13, look for what the Savior has done to help us overcome Satan’s obstacles.
The video “The Book of Mormon—a Book from God” (Gospel Library) could help your children see why it’s important to have both the Bible and the Book of Mormon. Children might enjoy re-creating the illustration from the video. (watch to 5:41)
Why is it helpful to have more than one witness? Draw a dot on the board, label it Bible, and invite each child to draw a different straight line passing through the dot to illustrate that teachings in the Bible can be interpreted many ways when the Bible stands alone. Erase the lines, and draw a second dot labeled Book of Mormon. Invite a child to draw a straight line that passes through both dots to show that there is only one way to interpret the gospel when the Bible and Book of Mormon are used together.
Friend February 2024 “Come, Follow Me Activities: Scripture Teamwork” The Book of Mormon and the Bible work together to teach us about Jesus Christ (see 2 Nephi 3:12). Play a game about working together! Have one person crumple up pieces of paper into balls and throw them in a bowl. Have another person try to stop the papers from going in. Now try it with two people throwing papers. Which time was it easier to get papers in the bowl?
Read 1 Nephi 13:26–29 together, and invite the children to look for what happens when people do not have the “plain and precious” truths of the gospel. How did the Lord restore truths that had been lost? (see verses 35–36, 40). Invite the children to share their testimonies of truths they have learned from the Book of Mormon, or share your own.
Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants and Church History “Lesson 20: Joseph Smith Translates the Bible and Other Scriptures,” (See more at link) Have the children stand in a line. Whisper the two- or three-sentence message into the ear of the first child in line. Have each child in turn whisper the message to the next child. Instruct each child to say the message only once. Continue until the message reaches the last child in line. Ask the last child to repeat the message aloud. Compare the message the last child received with the original message to see how the message changed.
How had the message changed by the time it reached the end of the line? What was left out? What was added?
Why do you think the message changed as it passed from person to person?
Explain to the children that just as their message changed as it was passed from person to person, over many years some of the scriptures in the Bible had been changed as people translated the Bible and made copies of it by hand. Mistakes were made: some incorrect teachings had been added to the Bible, and some important teachings had been left out. (see Articles of Faith 1:8).
Watch the following video until 3.12
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “1 Nephi 11-15 Hide around the room pictures representing gospel truths that are clarified in the Book of Mormon, such as baptism, the sacrament, and resurrection. Invite the children to find these pictures. Explain that the Book of Mormon brought back gospel truths that had been lost (during the apostasy).
Help the children memorize the eighth article of faith. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
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.
For they were the very vilest of sinners.(Mosiah 28:4) But Alma 48:17-18 talks about these men and the changes they had made.
17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.
18 Behold, he was a man like unto Ammon, the son of Mosiah, yea, and even the other sons of Mosiah, yea, and also Alma and his sons, for they were all men of God.
Friend January 2020 “Book of Mormon Videos: Behind the Scenes” In 2019 the church made Book of Mormon videos to go with Come Follow Me: Book of Mormon 2020. This image shows how they made some of the videos.
Elder Rasband told about how the prophet gave a copy of the Book of Mormon to a king in Ghana. Together, President Nelson and the king read about Jesus Christ in 3 Nephi 11. The king said the book was more valuable than diamonds or rubies because it taught him more about Jesus.
Print the word strips onto heavy paper. Cut them out and fold each one in half so the words are hidden. Label each with its correct number.
Draw on the board a large paper doll shape.
Presentation
Explain that the second verse of the song tells of additional blessings Heavenly Father has given us, and the children are going to draw them on the board as they do an activity to help them learn the verse.
Have a volunteer come up. Give the child the first folded word strip that says “Eyes”. Tell the child to draw it where it goes on the doll figure. Explain to the children that they are going to guess what the person is drawing. Give the child a time limit to draw the item. When the time is up have them choose someone to tell what the item is. When the correct guess is made explain that the first words in the second verse are “He gave me my eyes that I might see.”
Have another volunteer come up. Give that child the slip of paper that says “Butterfly (with colorful wings)”. Have them draw it next to the doll shape. When the correct guess is made, tell the words that go with this part. “the color of butterfly wings”. Have the children sing these first two parts.
Do the same thing with each word, going in order. Be sure to tell the song words that go with each item, and sing the lines after every few that are introduced. When you come to the word “body” have the child draw around the outline of the doll figure, or draw arrows pointing to the doll figure. When the correct word is guessed explain that the words that go with this are “He gave me my life”.
For the words “brain” and “heart” have them draw those items where they go on the doll figure. For the word “prayer” have the child erase the arms and redraw them folded (if that doesn’t work have the child draw the eyes closed or the knees bended.)
For the word “creations” you may need two or three children to draw. Have them draw the items around the doll figure. (You can put a smile on the doll when you mention the words “of which I’m a part.”)
For the word “love”, have the child draw a huge heart around the doll figure. The heart is for the words “Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me.”
After all the lines have been introduced, have the children sing the whole verse. Point to the items as each part is sung. Then have the children begin to memorize the verse by erasing items on the board each time they sing the song.
Friend June 1987 A boy is given the assignment to move a rock. He tries everything except asking his father for help.
Friend April 2024 “The Prayer Question” Xóchitl wondered why we need to pray and what would happen if she stopped praying. She decided to try it. Weeks then months went by and she didn’t feel any different. When summer was about done and school was about to start, she realized she was feeling scared to go. Then she remembered her parents taught her that she could pray for help and comfort. She tried praying for several nights but didn’t feel any different. Then she started telling Heavenly Father her feelings. She felt a strong feeling of peace wrap around her. So this is why we pray, she thought. To feel Heavenly Father’s love. It was an amazing feeling. For all those months she didn’t pray, she had been missing out on that feeling.
How to Pray
Friend October 2024 “Learning to Pray” When Elder Michael A. Dunn Of the Seventy was young his parents didn’t teach him to pray. He learned to pray by listening to his grandparents pray. When he was five he wanted to pray to Heavenly Father. He thanked Him for his blessings and asked Him for what he needed. He felt strong and happy because He knew Heavenly Father loved him.
Friend June 2016 “Caleb’s Bedtime Prayer” Caleb learns what to pray for.
Pray for Our Leaders
Friend March 2019 “Prayer Power” Lucy and her family hear a talk by President Eyring about supporting their leaders and praying for them. They all decide to pray for their branch presidency. In the next sacrament meeting the branch president thanked everyone for their prayers and said they could feel strength from them.
Friend July 2018 “Arturo’s Family Prayer” Arturo’s dad asks the family members what they need help with before saying the family prayer. He then prays for those things.
Friend November 2017 “Even if You Can’t See Him” Allie feels like she’s is talking to an empty room when she says her prayers. Her Primary teacher uses an object lesson to help her see that Heavenly Father is there even if we don’t see him.
Heavenly Father Loves Us
Friend March 2018 “Heavenly Father Listens” Parents love us and are interested in our lives and so is Heavenly Father. He always listens when we pray but answers our prayers in different ways. Elder Clayton felt the love of God as a teen when he prayed about some worries. (Activity page included: Find the hearts in the room of the girl who is praying.)
Heavenly Father Answers My Prayers
Friend January 2025 “The Lost Glasses” Andres loses his new glasses at school. His Mami looked worried when he told her. She said, “Let’s ask Heavenly Father for help.” The next day a boy walked up to him and said he had found his glasses and gave them to him. He was happy to have his glasses again, but he was happier for what he learned. “Prayer does work!”
Answers to Prayer
Peace
Friend November 2019 “Please Bless Ace” Zach’s dog, Ace, has to have surgery and Zach is worried about him. Zach prays that Ace will live. After his pray, Zach felt the worried feeling leave. He remembered that peace throughout the day. When he got home, he found out that his dog was okay. The family gave Ace extra care that week. Then Ace got sick again and he died. Zach had wanted Ace to live, but he was glad he had been given extra time to spend with him and show Ace how much he loved him.
Friend November 2023 “Someone Who Understands” Blair is embarrassed because she can’t go play at a friends like she said she would because she doesn’t feel good. She has Crohn’s disease and feels sick a lot. She prayed and told Heavenly Father how she was feeling. During the prayer she felt like she was getting a hug, and then the thought came into her mind that other’s may not understand what she is going through but Heavenly Father and Jesus do.
Thoughts that come to Mind (Still, Small Voice)
Friend February 2020 “Riding to the Rescue” When their cow herder friend Marcus gets hurt while they are out on the range, Sterling and Glen don’t know what to do. Sterling steps behind a pile of rocks and says a prayer and asks for help. The words “ride north” come into his mind. He listens and is able to find a truck with sheepherders that can take Marcus to a hospital.
Friend February 2020 “Show and Tell” On our way driving home from a swim meet, it was dark and snowing. My mom was worried and asked us to pray. I remembered how Jesus taught us to pray when we need help. So I bowed my head and closed my eyes to pray to get home safely. After I prayed and opened my eyes, I felt a warm feeling in my heart. Then I heard a still, small voice whisper, “Everything will be all right.” Peichi C., age 10, Massachusetts, USA
Friend February 2020 “Brave on the Bus” Some kids were using bad language on the bus and it made Natalie and her friends feel uncomfortable. Natalie said a prayer asking Heavenly Father to please make them stop. The thought came to her to talk to the bus driver. She listened, and the bus driver helped fix the situation.
Friend November 2023 “Felipe Finds the Way” Felipe and his mother were lost in the jungle forest. Felipe said a prayer and asked for help. A thought came to his mind to look for coconut trees because that was where villages are.
Not in the Way Expected
Friend July 2020 “Prayers and Planes” Vern prayed every night for a model plane, but it never arrived. He decided to build one himself from an old wood box he found. He realized later that his prayer had been answered, just not the way he expected. Heavenly Father helped him figure out how to build his own. When he grew up, he fixed and flew planes for a living. (After reading the story, have everyone make paper airplanes and fly them outside.)
Friend January 2025 “Camp Rainy Day” Lucy prayed that the rain would clear up in time for her softball game. When she found out that the game was cancelled she was very disappointed and wondered why her prayer wasn’t answered. In the evening her sister wanted Lucy to play with her. Lucy decided to have a rainy day camp for all her sisters. They sang silly camp songs, set up a fort tent, and played games. Her mom thanked her for making sunshine out of a cloudy situation. Lucy felt happy. Her prayers weren’t answered the way she wanted, but Heavenly Father still helped her.
Friend November 2019 “A Prayer in the Fog” When the fog becomes so thick that it is hard to see the lines on the road, Henry says a prayer asking Heavenly Father to make the fog go away so they could be safe. When he opened his eyes the fog was still there. But just then, the lights along the freeway came on. They were able to follow the lights and find their way home. Henry thanked Heavenly Father for helping them be safe.
Answered in Lord’s Time and Way
Friend September 2019 “The Diabetes Dilemma” Joe prayed that his sister didn’t have diabetes. When they found out she did have diabetes, he was devastated. He didn’t understand why Heavenly Father didn’t answer his prayer. His mom explained that answers to prayers don’t always happen the way we want. Sometimes, instead of taking something hard away, He answers by giving us peace and helping us be strong. Joe then realizes that Heavenly Father was blessing his sister and family with peace.
Friend September 2019
Friend September 2019
Friend September 2019
Friend March 2019 “Faith and Raindrops” A girl has faith that her prayer for rain will be answered, but she learns that we also need to have faith in God’s timing.
Friend September 2017 “Bear Cave” Ben prays for angels help when he becomes afraid in his new room in the basement. He feels like his prayer isn’t being answered, but then his mom shows up. She felt the Spirit telling her to check on Ben.
Friend October 2016 “The Loose Tooth Test” Tessa says a prayer that her loose tooth that is bothering her will fall out. Tessa learns that sometimes the answer is to wait.
Friend October 2016
Friend January 2017 “Don’t Forget to Pray for Erik” Kari doesn’t understand why Heavenly Father hasn’t answered their many family prayers for Erik to come back to the gospel.
Heavenly Father Sometimes Uses Others to Help Answer Prayers
Friend October 2019 “The Little Red Harmonica” Katie uses her music points to get two harmonicas. She gives one to her little brother. She loved seeing how happy it made him, but then he became devastated when he lost it. Kaity helped him look for it, but no luck. Ryan says a prayer asking for help in finding it, but still no luck. Katie prays for her brother and an idea comes to her. She gives her harmonica to him. Katie told Ryan that Heavenly Father was letting her help him answer Ryan’s prayer.
Listening to Answers
Friend November 2017 “Prayers and Pumpkins” Rachel loses her family during a pumpkin walk in Nauvoo. She prays for help and is inspired to talk to a missionary couple. The couple she finds turns out to be Elder Perry and his wife, and they helped her find her family.
Praying for Others
Friend September 2020 “A Cup of Warm Water” Minjun’s friend Jungmin was getting baptized, but the water heater wasn’t working in the font and it was ice cold in the winter. Minjun prayed to know how to help his friend. The idea came to fill hot water in a bowl and a cup in the kitchen. Pretty soon everyone was helping, and his friend was able to be baptized.
Friend March 2020 “Praying for Uncle Dan” At bedtime Isabelle’s family prayed together. They always started by talking about people who might need extra blessings. This time dad asked them to pray for Uncle Dan who had lost his job. Every day they prayed for him, and eventually he started making progress in finding a new job.
Friend March 2020
Friend March 2020
Friend March 2020
Friend March 2020
Friend September 2019 “Praying Like Alma” Joplin got hit by a tornado and Isaac wants to go help, but he’s too young. While learning about Alma’s prayer for his son, Isaac got the idea to pray for the people of Joplin. He said prayers for them everyday.
Friend February 2025 “For Older Kids”One day, when my mom and I were driving home, our car was really low on gas. We started driving to a gas station, but soon it said we had zero miles left. I said a prayer. We made it to the gas station! I thanked Heavenly Father for helping us be safe. Austin E., age 9, Iowa, USA
Friend April 2024 “Lions in the Woods” When Elder Kyle S. McKay was young, he and his brother got lost in the woods and he imagined there were lions in the bushes. They prayed, and their father found them. He told them, “We need to pray again to thank Heavenly Father for His help.” This time Elder Mckay closed his eyes and wasn’t afraid of lions.
Friend April 2024 “Road-Trip Trouble” As Emma’s family travelled in their camper van to Italy for a vacation, they got a a flat tire. They prayed about what they should do and felt the Holy Ghost guiding them. They prayed again to find a replacement tire and the Lord helped them.
Friend January 2024 “Papa’s Perfect Party” Alex wanted his grandfather’s birthday party to be special, but the weather turned bad and he was worried. He said a prayer and asked Heavenly Father to bless the rain to go away in time for the party. In a few hours, all the clouds were gone! They were able to have the party. As soon as the party was over the clouds and rain returned.
Friend March 2023 “Just Lillian” Lillian was excited to go into Young Women’s, but then she learned she would be the only one in there, her and the teachers. She prayed for help, and her prayers were answered when her mom said that her young women’s leader was her best friend. Maybe that would happen for her too. And then a new girl moved into the ward too.
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.
Friend August 2022 “Ready to Ride” Quade doesn’t know how to ride a bike, but he wants to learn so he can ride with his friends. The only problem is that the wobbly bike is very scary. He says a prayer asking for help. After several more attempts, he is riding without help. He keeps practicing and soon he is able to ride with his friends.
Friend May 2022 “A Prayer in the Storm” Alexis was scared of the thunder in the storm and didn’t feel safe. She found her dad and asked if they could say a prayer. After the prayer she felt peaceful and wasn’t afraid anymore.
Friend January 2021 “Just One Taxi” Ellie’s family was trying to get to church, but it was too stormy to walk to the bus. They decided to take a taxi, but became concerned when there wasn’t a taxi in the first and second spots. Ellie and her little sister decided to say a prayer, and they were able to find a taxi and get to church.
Friend January 2021 “Jaechan’s First Day” Jaechan was excited to start school. But after his mom dropped him off at the gate, he got lost in the school halls and couldn’t find his classroom. He was scared and said a prayer asking for his mom to come find him. A few minutes later his mom came around the corner. She had a feeling she should check to make sure he made it to class okay.
Friend December 2020 “Praying for Max” Max, the family dog, got nervous when a lot of noisy children were running around and he disappeared. The family couldn’t find him anywhere, so they said a prayer. Right when they finished they heard a bark from the closet.
Friend July 2019 “Prayer at the Market” While looking around at all the interesting things, Valerie loses her mom at the market. She says a prayer, and then she hears her mother calling her name. She says thank you to Heavenly Father.
Friend July 2019 “Lost in the Amusement Park” A boy loses his mom and sister at an amusement park and prays for help.
Friend May 2019 “Keeping the Orphans Warm” George Muller, a Christian, served God by helping orphans. He had strong faith that God would help him help them. Once, when the heater went out in one of his orphanages, he prayed that a warm wind would come to keep the children warm and that the workers would have a desire to get the work done quickly. His prayer was answered.
Friend March 2019 “Who Will Come to My Party” Enzo is excited to plan his future party and inviting his friends until he remembers that he will live in a new place when it happens. He worries about making new friends, so he prays for help to find friends. During his prayer he remembers that he already has a great friend there because his uncle lives there. Heavenly Father answered his prayer.
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.
Friend January 2019 “Dolphins to the Rescue” Lisa and a friend paddled their raft in the ocean but drifted too far out. Then a shark appeared. They prayed, and dolphins came and stayed by their raft until they were back to shore.
Friend October 2018 “Canyon Prayer” Carsen and some family members get lost in a canyon while hiking. Carsen knew that Heavenly Father knew the way out so he suggests they pray. He then receives a prompting on which way to go, and they are able to quickly find their way out.
Friend July 2018 “Allie’s New Class” Allie has to change kindergarten classes and she is worried, but she says a prayer, and she knows she can be brave because Heavenly Father will help her.
Friend May 2018 “Finding Floppy” Sam’s big sister helps him look for his lost stuffed elephant, Floppy. When they can’t find Floppy, she suggests they say a prayer. After finding Floppy she suggests they say a prayer of thanks.
Friend April 2018 “Lost and Found” Cael knows Heavenly Father answers prayers because when he found himself alone and scared on a mountain trail, he prayed. His father felt the Holy Ghost telling him to go look for his Cael.
I had a hard time learning how to ride my bike without training wheels. I became scared to ride my bike because I had crashed a few times. I said a prayer on my bike and was able to learn how to ride it without being afraid. I’m grateful Heavenly Father blessed me.
Reese H., age 6, Utah, USA
Friend September 2017 “Chief on the Run” Max accidently let his best friend’s dog out. He chased after Chief but couldn’t catch him. Afraid of Chief becoming lost, Max said a quick prayer for help. Chief ran into a neighbor’s fenced in back yard and Max was able to get him.
Friend August 2017 “Prayer for Speedy” Ashley’s kitten, Speedy, becomes lost, so Ashley prays for him.
Friend February 2015 “A Prayer in the Attic” As refugees during World War 2, Renate and her family are in constant danger from soldiers, but Heavenly Father helps them and answers their prayers and keeps them safe.
Friend February 2015 “There’s Always Time for Prayer” Flynn prays for help because he’s scared about starting a new school. He prays every morning, and when things get good he continues to remember to pray and express his gratitude.
Friend Feb 2014
Friend Feb 2015
Friend January 1989 “Lost, But Not Alone” Megan becomes seperated from her parents in a Korean market. She prays and is impressed to stay where she is, and she is helped by some Latter Day Saint Korean’s.
Friend January 2017 “Goats on the Run” Evelyn’s new goats jump the fence, and Evelyn is afraid they might not come back, so she says a prayer and the goats return.
Friend November 2016 “Henry and the Corn Maze” Henry and his mom and friends get lost and tired in the corn maze and say a prayer for help.
Friend September 2016 “Heavenly Father Hears Your Prayers” Small stories. One about a girl praying to know if Heavenly Father knows her and knows about her troubles. And one about a brother praying for another brother because he knew the brother was worried about soccer. Also a story about a mother praying for her son to find a friend.
Friend February 1987 “Tough Spot” A boy learns he can’t always fix things himself and he does need the Lord’s help in his life.
Friend February 1986 “The Power of Prayer” Admiral Byrd prays for help when the door on his Antartica shelter froze closed while he is outside.
Friend February 1986
Friend February 2016 “Olvera Street” A girl loses her family while site-seeing and prays for help.
Friend July 2015 “Finding Tinkerbell” Mia and her family pray for help to find Mia’s bedtime stuffed animal.
Friend May 2016 “Under the Stairs Prayer” Boy prays for help when he and his sister get stuck in a closet.
Praying for Help Learning a Skill
Friend April 2025 “The Piano Prayer” Miguel was having problems learning the new complicated song his teacher gave him. His mom suggested he pray before practicing. The next day he said a prayer before practicing and it helped him be patient and learn a little bit at a time instead of trying to learn it all at once.
Pray with Faith
Friend July 2015 Boy tries to pray like Jesus so heavens will be open.
Friend October 1986 “A Prayer for Uncle Alban” Jamon prays that his uncle will recover from a heart attack, but he doesn’t. He learns that the Lord knows what is best and we need to have faith in his judgment.
Friend May 1988 ” Sharing Time: Seeking Guidance Through Prayer” Story of Enos praying with faith and the story of two brothers who get lost in the woods and their prayer and answer.
Prayer Requires Effort
We have to do our Part
Friend February 2017 “Multiplication Master” Luca wants to become a multiplication master, but he isn’t doing well enough on the tests. He prays and expects to do well, but he doesn’t because he hasn’t practiced. He learns he has to do his part.
Friend April 1986 “I Forgot” Matthew keeps forgetting his responsibilities and he prays for help, but he still forgets. He learns he must do his part, and he makes a plan.
Friend January 2021 “Oliver the Brave” Oliver has a bad dream about monsters. He prayed, but it didn’t go away. His parents tell him he needs to do more than just pray. So he thinks of other things he can do such as singing “I am a Child of God”, and it worked.
Friend June 1983 ” The Secret Weapon” – Boy prays to do well in baseball game but doesn’t.
(I know one of the above pages has a word wrong, but I changed it in the printable file.)
My Heavenly Father Loves Me – Verse One
Preparation
Items needed: tape, magnets, items to make a large Valentine card, 15 sheets of pink heavy paper.
Print and cut out the visual aids. Put a magnet on the back of each item, but first tape together the word “rushes” with the picture of the woman rushing, and tape together the words “walk by” with the girl walking. Put the words on a word strip chart or tape them to a posterboard. Before Primary begins, hide the six hearts under the children’s chairs.
Make a large Valentine card (I taped two sheets of pink construction paper together and added some paper doilies and a glittery heart.) Print these pages and tape or glue the first two pages inside the card.
Cut out about 15 large hearts. I used pink construction paper.
Verse One (The following is exactly what I said to the children as I taught this song. The items in parenthesis are directions concerning what to do at certain parts.)
* What holiday do we celebrate in February? Valentine’s Day. On Valentines we celebrate love.
This month’s song is about love – our Heavenly Father’s love for us.
* What do people give to each other on Valentines to express their love for each other? Candy, cards, flowers…
Our Heavenly Father has given us many things that demonstrate his love for us. Look under your chairs to find some of those things. There are six items. If you find an item put it on the board.
All these items are mentioned in the first verse of the song. Our Heavenly Father has given us….(Shortly discuss each one of the items with the children.)
In the song these items are in pairs. Can you guess which items go together? (Have children come to the board and put the items in pairs. Discuss why the pairs go together and put them in the right order on the board– each pair about a foot apart from the other pairs.)
There are words that go with each of these items too. (Show the children the word strip chart or posterboard) For example, which of these things can make musical sounds? The bird ( Put the song notes near the bird.) All these things (point to wordstrips) are also things Heavenly Father has given us and demonstrate His love for us. (Quickly read and discuss each word)
Raise your hand if you think you know where one of the words go. One to two words go with each item. (Have the children take turns putting a word strip next to the item that it goes with. If an item gets put in the wrong spot, another children can move it during their turn. Make any necessary corrections after all the words have been placed.)
(Tell the children the words of the first two lines of the verse, pointing to the pictures and wordstrips when you come to those parts, then have them sing the first two lines. Do the same with the other two pairs. Afterwards have them sing everything together.)
(Show the children the homemade Valentine card and ask the following question: )
If you were to make Heavenly Father a Valentine card what would you say in it? Answers might include: I love you. Thank you for all the wonderful blessings.
(Open the card, read the inside, and explain that they might say something like that. Put the card on the board.)
In the last part of the verse we express our appreciation for this wonderful world Heavenly Father created. (Put the last page on board.)
(Have the children sing these last two parts of the song, and then have them sing the whole verse. Point to the pictures as they sing to help the smaller children.)
That is the first verse of the song. Now let’s memorize this verse.
When someone cares about another person they sometimes do a fun activity for that person called a heart attack. They cover something that belongs to that person with hearts such as their bedroom, their car, their house door, etc.
Today we are going do a heart attack and cover the song with hearts –as a way to show our love (for music time, Heavenly Father?) by memorizing this song.
While we sing the song I’m going to go around and see who is singing really well. If I give you one of these hearts (show them the big cutout hearts), you will go to the board and cover a part of the song with it. I will only give out 2-3 hearts each time we sing the song. (Attach a piece of tape to each heart as you give them out.)
(After singing the verse, discuss which parts of the song were covered up. Sing the verse again while giving out more hearts. Continue until the verse is memorized. )
Friend January 2018 “Lead Me, Guide Me, Game” Heavenly Father has given us some special things to help us find our way back home. Verse Two
Most of the children in primary know the first verse, so I started with the second verse.
I started off with some questions:
If each of us has an earthly father, how is Heavenly Father also our father? He is the father of our spirits.
What traits did you inherit from your earthly father? (Not just physical characteristics, but also things like temperament, intelligence, talents or abilities, etc)
Did you also inherit the ability to become like your Heavenly Father? Yes!
Show the children a balloon, and explain that just like a balloon grows with each breath of air we put into it, we also can grow and develop (spiritually) as we receive the words of God and take them into our lives.
Put the flipchart pages on the board for the second verse, and explain that we need to learn how to become like our Heavenly Father. His words in the scriptures tell us what we need to do in order to become like him, and we have a limited amount of time to study and learn them (our earth life).
Sing verse two.
Take the flipchart pages off the board.
Tell the children they are going to sing the second verse again, but this time they are going to pass a little container of balloons around as they sing. When the pianist stops playing, the child that is holding the bag needs to tell what the next words are in the verse. (They can get help from the children sitting next to them if needed.) After they tell what the words are, they get to take one of the balloons out of the container.
Tell the children you are going to ask them a question, and for every answer they give, the child holding the balloon gets to put a large breath of air into the balloon. (Take only enough responses to get the balloon filled up.) Once the balloon is filled, have the child tie it off and bring it to the front of the room. (They can have a teacher help them tie it if needed.) The question is:
What is something we need to do in order to become more like our Heavenly Father, and what characteristic do we develop when we do that thing?
Start the verse again from the beginning. Continue singing and doing the above activity until the children have the words to the second verse memorized. (No need to sing the chorus.)
Verse Three
Show the children one of the filled balloons.
What happens to a balloons ability to stay afloat after it has been inflated with air? (Throw an unfilled and filled balloon into the air to see what happens.) The balloon has increased in its ability to stay afloat. The balloon filled with air also has increased in usefulness and enjoyment.
What happens to our abilities and eternal posibilities if we take in God’s words and do them? They increase.
Put the flipchart pages on the board for the third verse. Explain how the words relate to the above concept, then sing the third verse.
Have the children sing the third verse again, but this time give them a filled balloon (possibly one on each side of the room). Explain that they are to keep the balloon aloft by gently tapping on it as they sing. When the pianist stops playing, the person who the balloon lands on tells what the next line is in the verse. They also answer the following question: (They can choose someone to help them if needed.)
What blessings will we enjoy if we become like our Heavenly Father and return and live with him again? Answers might include the following: eternal families, a fullness of love, a fullness of knowledge and wisdom, eternal happiness, inheritors in his kingdom, etc. (You may need to provide hints to help them answer this question.)
After the answers have been provided, begin the song and activity again. Continue in this manner until the verse is memorized.
Review
Have the children sing all three verses. Help them to realize that the song is about them, and that they are each a child of God, by having them quickly stand up (and sit down) each time they sing the words “me, my, I, or I’ll”.
Items needed: Bible for each family member, one piece of heavy paper, exacto knife, glue,
Print and cut out the PDF or Word illustrations. Fold back the tabs on the basket. With an exacto knife, cut slits on the family picture along the side edges of A and C. Line up the bottom edge of the basket to the bottom edge of B on the family picture, and then tape tab B down (the tab should be inside the basket, not facing outward). Insert the A and C basket tabs into the A and C side slits. Tape those tabs to the back of the picture. The top of the basket should bow out like a basket. Fold the tabs back on the bottom of the Israelite family picture. Tape the tabs to the top of a heavy piece of paper. The family figure should be standing up on the heavy paper, but you should be able to fold it down to store the picture.
Cut out the scripture references (and the two numbers), and glue one to the back of each manna piece. (Israelite family and manna images are from the Friend Nov. 2004 pg. 390
Presentation
Display the picture of the Israelite family on the table or floor so that the family figure is standing up. Put the manna pieces in front of the family figure.
Tell the family that after Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, the Israelites had to travel through the wilderness to reach the Promised Land. They did not have enough food to make such a long journey, so the Lord provided manna from heaven for them to eat.
Activity Instructions:
Tell the family they are going do an activity that will teach them more about the story of the manna from heaven.
Have each family member take turns choosing pieces of manna until they are all gone. Have them look up the scripture references that are on the back of their manna pieces. (A couple of pieces will have numbers instead of scriptures on them. Those will be used later in the activity.)
Going in numerical order read the following questions to the family. After a question is read, ask the family if anyone has the answer to it. Have the person tell what the answer is. (Optional: Also have them read the scripture) After they tell the family the answer, have them put that piece of manna into the basket.
Questions:
Why did the children of Israel murmur against Moses and Aaron? (murmur means to complain or rebel) Exodus 16:2-3
Why would the murmuring against Moses and Aaron really be murmuring against the Lord? Exodus 16:6,8
What food did the Lord provide for the Israelites in the mornings, and what food did the Lord provide in the evenings? Also describe how the food arrived. Exodus 16:11-15
Describe the manna’s characteristics such as what it looked like, and what it tasted like. Exodus 16: 14, 21, 31
How much manna did the Lord command the Israelites to gather each day? Exodus 16:16-18
What happened the next day to the manna when more was gathered than was needed? Exodus 16:19-20
What did the Lord instruct the Israelites to do differently in regards to the manna on the day before the Sabbath? Exodus 16: 22-23
How were the Israelites blessed by preparing ahead for the Sabbath? Exodus 16: 24, 29
What happened when some of the people did not prepare ahead and expected to gather manna on the Sabbath? Exodus 16:27
What did the Israelite people do on the Sabbath? Exodus 16:30
How long did the Lord provide food for the Israelites? Exodus 16:35
* Have the family members with the numbered manna pieces answer the following questions.
What did the Israelites learn about the Sabbath? (That they should not work on the Sabbath. They should prepare ahead for the Sabbath so they can rest on the Sabbath day because it is a holy day.)
The Israelites prepared for the Sabbath by gathering twice as much food the day before. Name three things we could do to prepare ahead so that our Sabbaths can be peaceful, restful, and holy?
Friend August 2017 “Sabbath Day Activities” There are lots of things you can do on the Sabbath. Name five ideas of things to do from looking at these pictures.
Friend November 2016 “Happy Sabbath: Ready, Set, Share-ades” Write down words of things that you learned at church. Put them in a jar. Family members act out the word and guess what it is, then you explain what you learned.
Friend Aug/Sept 1985 – “Family Conference” – A family Sunday activity of classes that each family member prepares.
