Tag Archives: Joshua

May 25 2022

Joshua 1–8; 23–24

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Table of Contents

Joshua Sends Spies to Jericho

Joshua CHAPTER 1 The Lord speaks to Joshua—He is commanded to be of good courage, to meditate upon the law, and to keep the commandments—He prepares Israel to enter Canaan.

Joshua CHAPTER 2 Joshua sends spies to Jericho—They are received and concealed by Rahab—They promise to preserve Rahab and her household.

“Be strong and of a good courage.”

Joshua 1–4; 6

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24” After Joshua became the leader of the Israelites, the Lord encouraged him by saying, “Be strong and of a good courage” (Joshua 1:6). What can the children learn from Joshua about how to be strong and courageous for Christ?

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026

  • Here is one way to help your children “be strong and of a good courage” (Joshua 1:6) through Jesus Christ. Invite them to find a phrase that is repeated in Joshua 1:6, 9, and 18, and write it down or memorize it. Help your children think of situations where they might need this message, just as Joshua did. You could also review together some of the stories in Joshua 1–4; 6 (see also “Joshua the Prophet” and “Rahab and the Spies” in Old Testament Stories, 85–91). How did the people in these stories show courage and strength in the Lord?

    Old Testament Stories “Joshua the Prophet”

    Friend May 2022 “Joshua’s Courage”

    Old Testament Stories “Rahab and the Spies”

    Friend May 2022 “Scripture Hero Cards”

    • Invite the children to talk about someone they know who is strong and courageous for Jesus Christ. Encourage them to write down something they would like to do to be stronger and more courageous for Christ.

    Come Follow Me with Living Scriptures “Have Courage and Serve God” Lesson ideas

    Studying the scriptures brings me blessings.

    Joshua 1:8

    Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24” The Lord told Joshua that if he meditated on the scriptures and followed the counsel in them, he would have success leading the Israelites into the promised land. What can you do to teach the children of the great blessings that come from the scriptures?

    Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026

    • Reading Joshua 1:8 could inspire your children to read the scriptures on their own. Help them find words in this verse that teach them how and why we should read the scriptures. They could look for the same thing in 1 Nephi 15:23–24; 2 Nephi 31:20; 32:3; Jacob 4:6; Helaman 3:29–30. Ask them to find words and phrases in this verse that teach us about the blessings of studying the scriptures. How can meditating on the scriptures help us have success in the other things we do each day? You could also help them make and carry out a plan to read the scriptures.

    Give each child a picture or drawing of the sun and the moon. Read to them from Joshua 1:8: “Meditate [on the scriptures] day and night.” Explain that meditate means to think deeply about something. Repeat the phrase several times, and invite the children to hold up the sun when you say “day” and the moon when you say “night.” Let the children repeat the phrase with you.

    Friend April 1996 “Ponder, Pray, and Listen”

    • Older Children: Invite the children to write down how much time they spend in an average day on various activities. Then invite them to read Joshua 1:8, looking for something that we all need to do every day and night.
    • “Scripture Treasures” (January 2015 Friend)
      This poem tells of treasures you can find as you read the scriptures daily.

    Bright Idea Poster: Elder Richard G. Scott—“Scriptures are like packets of light” (April 2013 Friend)

    The Israelites Cross the River Jordan on Dry Ground

    Joshua CHAPTER 3 Joshua leads Israel to the Jordan—The Lord cuts off the water of the Jordan; it stands up as a heap, and Israel passes over on dry ground.

    Joshua CHAPTER 4 Joshua places twelve stones to commemorate the crossing of the Jordan—Joshua is magnified before the children of Israel as they cross the Jordan—After the priests bearing the ark pass over, the river returns to its course.

    Joshua CHAPTER 5 The inhabitants of Canaan fear Israel—The males of Israel are circumcised—Israel keeps the Passover, eats the fruit of the land, and manna ceases—The captain of the Lord’s host appears to Joshua.

    I must be baptized to enter the kingdom of heaven.

    Joshua 3–4

    Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24” The story of Joshua leading the Israelites through the Jordan River into the promised land provides an opportunity to teach the children that we must be baptized to enter the kingdom of heaven.

    Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026

    • You might use the story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River as a symbol of baptism—giving up our old life in the wilderness and starting a new one in a covenant relationship with God. So as you read together Joshua 3–4 (or “Joshua the Prophet” in Old Testament Stories, 85–89), you could also look at a picture of Jesus being baptized and explain that Jesus was baptized in the same river the Israelites crossed. You could then sing a song such as “Baptism” (Children’s Songbook, 100–101). Share with each other how being baptized is like starting a new life in Jesus Christ’s kingdom.
      • Sing a song about baptism with the children, such as “Baptism” (Children’s Songbook, 100–101). Help them identify what this song teaches us about why Jesus was baptized and why we should follow His example. Let the children share their feelings about being baptized. Talk about what the children can do now to prepare to be baptized when they are eight years old.

      Remembering our Blessings

      Joshua 4

      Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24” After reading what the Lord wanted the Israelites to do with stones from the Jordan River, your family could talk about some of the great things the Lord has done for you. Then you could give each family member a stone and invite them to write or draw on it something the Lord has done for them.

      Friend May 2022 “Come, Follow Me Activities”

      Remembrance Rocks

      Story: God helped Joshua part the River Jordan so the people could walk across on dry ground. Then God asked Joshua and his people to collect stones from the river to remember how God helped them (see Joshua 4:5–7).

      Song: “Where Love Is” (Children’s Songbook, 138–39)

      Activity: Find rocks to paint or color. Write the word remember on them. While you decorate them, talk about ways God has helped you.

      Faith Precedes the Miracle

      Miracle of the parting of the River Jordan didn’t occur until after the Israelites exercised faith and walked into the river.

      Jericho is Destroyed

      Joshua CHAPTER 6 Jericho is taken and destroyed—Only Rahab and her household are saved.

      Joshua CHAPTER 7 Israel is defeated by the people of Ai—Joshua complains to the Lord—Achan and his household are destroyed because he disobeyed the Lord by taking the spoils of Jericho.

      Joshua CHAPTER 8 Joshua uses an ambush, takes Ai, and slays its inhabitants—He builds an altar in Mount Ebal—The words of the law, both blessings and cursings, are read to the people.

      Obedience brings God’s power into my life.

      Joshua 6–8

      Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24” These chapters deal with battles over the lands of Jericho and Ai. What do you learn about how God can help you and what you need to do to access His power? As you read them, consider how you battle temptation in your own life (for example, see Joshua 7:10–13). What impresses you about the Lord’s instructions for taking Jericho? (see Joshua 6:1–5). Perhaps the account in Joshua 7 will inspire you to determine if “there is an accursed thing” in your life that you need to remove (Joshua 7:13).

      Your family might have fun acting out the instructions the Lord gave to the Israelites in order to conquer Jericho. What might the Lord want us to learn from this story?

      Media Library “Joshua Taking Jericho (The Taking of Jericho)”

      Old Testament Coloring Book “The City of Jericho”

      Joshua CHAPTER 23 Joshua exhorts Israel to be courageous, keep the commandments, love the Lord, and neither marry among nor cleave unto the remnants of the Canaanites who remain in the land—When the children of Israel serve other gods, they will be cursed and dispossessed.

      Joshua CHAPTER 24 Joshua recites how the Lord has blessed and led Israel—Joshua and all the people covenant to choose the Lord and serve Him only—Joshua and Eleazar die—The bones of Joseph, taken from Egypt, are buried in Shechem.

      Joshua Teaches “Choose You this Day Whom Ye will Serve

      I can choose to serve Jesus Christ.

      Joshua 24:15

      Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24” Among Joshua’s final words to the Israelites was a plea to “choose … this day whom ye will serve.” Ponder how this counsel could also bless the children you teach.

      Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026

      Joshua’s final teachings to the Israelites in Joshua 23–24 include important warnings, counsel, and promised blessings. Perhaps you could make a list of what you find. Considering everything the Israelites had been through, why do you think Joshua chose to tell them these things at the end of his life? What do you find that inspires you to “cleave unto the Lord”? (Joshua 23:8).

      • What could you do to help your children learn to choose to follow Jesus Christ, as Joshua invited the Israelites to do? You might invite them to:
        • Memorize a short phrase from Joshua 24:15. Try to make it fun for your children. The number of words they memorize may depend on their age.
        • Find stories about people who chose to serve Jesus Christ. They could look in the Friend magazine, the Gospel Art Book, or Old Testament Stories and other scripture stories books.
        • Role-play situations in which they can choose to follow and serve the Savior.
      • Ask the children to talk about some of the choices they have made today. Read to the children from Joshua 24:15: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” How have the children chosen to serve the Lord today? What are some ways we can choose to serve Him every day?
      • Sing a song about making good choices, such as “Choose the Right Way” (Children’s Songbook, 160–61). How do we feel when we choose to serve Jesus Christ? Invite the children to draw pictures of themselves doing something to serve the Lord. Share a story from your life or from a Church magazine about choosing to serve the Lord.

      Latter Day Kids “Choose You This Day” Lesson ideas

      Joshua 24:15

      • Invite the children to create a poster using some of the key words and phrases in Joshua 24:15. Let them share their posters and explain why they chose those words. How can we show God that we have chosen to serve Him?
      • Invite the children to suggest situations in which they might have to decide to choose God over other things. Ask them to consider what they would do. Why is it important to “choose … this day” rather than waiting for the situation to arise? How will we be blessed when we make the right choice?

      After reading this verse, family members could share experiences in which they chose to serve the Lord even though it was difficult. Why is it important to make the choice to serve Him “this day” instead of waiting to decide until a situation arises? How can we support members of our “house” as we strive to “serve the Lord”? (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24”)

      Lesson 23: Joshua Leads Israel,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 101–5
      To help the children choose to serve the Lord

      For additional teachings ideas see “Priorities“

      Additional Resources: