Friend January 2021 “Goals and Growing Up” Thinking about some things learned in the past, what want to learn in the future, how to accomplish it, and then visualizing accomplishing the goal.
Friend April 2021 “Growing Tall and Strong” You are like a tree, growing taller and stronger every day! On the roots, draw or write the names of people, places, and things that help you feel loved. On the branches and trunk, draw pictures or write words that describe the kind of person you want to become.
Friend October 2020 “Funstuff: Find It” Antonio set a goal using his Children’s Guidebook to learn how to paint. His Primary class wants to learn with him! Find 12 jars of orange paint and 19 pumpkins.
Friend January 2020 “Food and Fun: Inspiration Board” Cut out pictures and words related to goals you would like to set or have set in your Children’s Guidebook. Glue the pictures and words to a poster board or large paper and hang it up to remind you of your goals.
Friend March 2020 “Funstuff” Juana set a goal to learn to play soccer. Now learn to draw yourself playing soccer! Change the hair style and clothing to look like you.
Friend March 2023 “A Tasty Goal” Sara wanted to follow the Word of Wisdom better (see Doctrine and Covenants 89). She made a goal for Children and Youth to eat more fruits and vegetables. Can you find two rows that have all of the same foods but in a different order?
Friend June 2021 “A Day at the Beach” Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ made a beautiful world for us to enjoy. When we look around, we can remember how much They love us!
Friend February 2019 “What’s in the Box” Ava was excited to see what was in the shiny wrapped box that her Primary teacher had brought. She was even more curious when her teacher said, “Inside this box is one of Heavenly Father’s greatest creations.” When it was her turn to look inside the box, she lifted the lid and found a mirrror. She saw her own face looking back. She realized that she was one of God’s greatest creations and he loved her. She felt warm and happy inside.
Friend November 2022 “Just the Right Size” Kids at school tease Trina because she is so small. Josie, from her Primary class, was kind and made her feel better. Then on Sunday her class decorated a board with hearts that said things they love about her, like her smile and her big heart. Then her teacher told her, “Heavenly Father loves each one of us. Short. Tall. Big. Small. That doesn’t matter to Him. We are all His children, and He loves every single one.”
Friend March 2018 “Heavenly Father Listens” Elder Clayton felt the love of God as a teen when he prayed about some worries. Heavenly Father loves us and is interested in our lives just like a parent would be. (Activity page included: Find the hearts in the room of the girl who is praying.)
Friend February 2017 “Explorer Everett” Everett knows Heavenly Father loves him because He answers Everett’s prayers. Activity: Find the things in the picture that show Heavenly Father and Jesus’s love.
Friend January 2019 “Something Special to Share” Diego wants to take something special to share for Show and Tell. He decides to take a picture of Jesus and tell them that Jesus loves everyone.
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Friend April 2022 “Somebody Loves You” When Sister Susan H. Porter, First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency, was on her way to a new job, she started worrying that she wasn’t good enough. Then she had a clear feeling to try her best and remember that even if it doesn’t go well, there’s somebody who loves her.
Friend August 2022 “The 15-Minute Miracle” Sasha and her mom were on vacation and found out they needed to catch a bus quickly to make it to a place they had tickets for. Sasha said a prayer and little miracles happened on their way to the bus. Her mom said, “Sometimes we have little miracles that remind us how much Heavenly Father loves us.”
Doctrine and Covenants Section 19 Revelation given through Joseph Smith, at Manchester, New York, likely in the summer of 1829. In his history, the Prophet introduces it as “a commandment of God and not of man, to Martin Harris, given by him who is Eternal.”
Desiring to support the Prophet Joseph Smith and the publication of the Book of Mormon, Martin Harris promised to help pay for the printing. When he later realized that this may require him to sell his farm, he asked Joseph for a revelation of guidance from the Lord. In Doctrine and Covenants 19, the Savior recounted how He chose to submit to Heavenly Father’s will and gained the power to overcome all things. The Lord counseled Martin to repent and make the sacrifice required to pay the debt he owed to the printer. Martin was promised peace if he would repent and submit to what the Lord had asked him to do.(Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual)
You can help your children feel reverence and gratitude for the Savior by reading together Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19 or “Chapter 51: Jesus Suffers in the Garden of Gethsemane,” in New Testament Stories, 129–32, or the corresponding video in Gospel Library. Consider pausing to make sure your children understand and to let them express their feelings.
In verse 16, what are “these things” Jesus suffered for us? (see Mosiah 3:7; Alma 7:11–12). What do we learn from His description of His suffering?
Separate into 2 groups, if you have a small class work together. Have them draw and write the things that Christ suffered on this puzzle piece (Mosiah 3:7) and the next puzzle piece (Alma 7:11–12). Then complete the floor puzzle, while they tell you about their drawings.
How can we show our gratitude for what He did for us?
Help the children look in Hymns or the Children’s Songbook for songs that help them express their feelings about Jesus Christ (see the topic indexes in these books). Invite the children to sing the songs they chose and bear their testimonies.
Show a picture of Jesus Christ suffering in Gethsemane (see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). Ask the children to tell you what they know about what is happening in this picture. Summarize in your own words what the Savior said in Doctrine and Covenants 19:18–19 about His suffering. Emphasize that suffering for our sins was the hardest thing anyone has ever done, but because Jesus loved His Father and us, He obeyed God’s will. What difficult things does God ask us to do? How can we find courage to obey Him?
What does it mean that Jesus Christ submitted His will to the Father?
How do you think what Jesus Christ taught about Himself could have helped Martin in his situation? How could it help us?
You might help your children think of simple actions that go along with phrases in Doctrine and Covenants 19:23. Read the verse several times while they do the actions. What are some ways we can learn of Christ and listen to His words?
23 Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me. Read the verse several times while the children do the actions. Help them think of ways we can learn of Christ and listen to His words.
The Book of Mormon translation was now finished. Joseph gave the gold plates back to the angel Moroni. Now it was time to print copies of the book so everyone could read it and learn more about Jesus Christ. (Saints, 1:75–76)
It cost a lot of money to print the Book of Mormon. Martin Harris gave up part of his farm to pay for it. He did this because he knew the Book of Mormon is true. Every copy of the book has the testimony of Martin and the other witnesses for all to read. The witnesses never denied their testimony. (Saints, 1:76–78)
God’s blessings are greater than the treasures of the earth.
You and your children could take turns holding a copy of the Book of Mormon and sharing what you love about it. Briefly talk about Martin Harris’s sacrifice so the Book of Mormon could be printed (see Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 33). What did the Lord say to Martin in Doctrine and Covenants 19:38 that might have helped him be faithful and obedient? Help your children think of something they can sacrifice to obey God or help in His work.
Friend January 2017 “The Next Level” Max takes a week off from playing games and he learns new things, spends time with his family, serves, and feels the Spirit.
When the translation of the gold plates was almost finished, Joseph Smith began looking for someone to publish the translation as a book. He talked to a printer in Palmyra, Egbert B. Grandin, and asked him to give an estimate of the cost of printing the book. Grandin did not want to print the “golden Bible,” as he called it, because he knew that people were against the book, and he was afraid he would not be paid. Joseph went to Rochester, New York, to see if he could find someone else to do it. One printer refused to print the book because he did not believe Joseph’s account of where he got it; another agreed to print it, but his price was very high. Finally Joseph returned to Palmyra and convinced Grandin to print the book. Grandin agreed only after Martin Harris pledged his farm to guarantee the printing costs.
People in Palmyra who opposed the Book of Mormon held a meeting and resolved not to buy the book when it was published. Grandin again became worried that he would not be paid. Martin Harris was afraid he would lose his farm, and he wondered what he should do. Joseph Smith inquired of the Lord, and the Lord told Martin not to “covet” his own property but to “impart it freely” to cover the costs of printing the Book of Mormon (see D&C 19:26). Martin Harris eventually sold 151 acres of his farm to pay Grandin for publishing the Book of Mormon.
Martin and Lucy Harris had one of the finest farms in Palmyra, New York. It had taken them years to acquire, had enabled them to raise a family, and had given them good standing in the community. But in 1829 it became clear that the Book of Mormon could be published only if Martin mortgaged his farm to pay the printer. Martin had a testimony of the Book of Mormon, but Lucy did not. If Martin went forward with the mortgage and the Book of Mormon did not sell well, he would lose his farm and jeopardize his marriage. At some time or another, we all face questions similar to those that Martin may have been facing: What is the gospel of Jesus Christ worth to me? What am I willing to sacrifice to help build God’s kingdom? It may help us to remember that no one has ever paid a higher price to bless God’s children than Jesus Christ, “the greatest of all” (Doctrine and Covenants 19:18).
Martin made the decision to mortgage his farm. His sacrifice paid for the printing of the first 5,000 copies of the Book of Mormon. And now, more than 190 million copies later, millions of souls around the world have been blessed.
For more information about the publication of the Book of Mormon, see Saints, 1:76–84.
Genesis CHAPTER 18 Abraham entertains three holy men—They promise that Sarah will have a son—Abraham will command his children to be just—The Lord appears to him—They discuss the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Genesis CHAPTER 21 Sarah bears Isaac—He is circumcised—Hagar and her son are cast out of Abraham’s household—The Lord saves Hagar and Ishmael—Abraham and Abimelech deal honorably with each other.
Even though God had promised that Sarah and Abraham were going to have a son, as they got older it seemed impossible—Abraham was 100 years old, and Sarah was 90 (see Genesis 17:17).
Write on the chalkboard: Is anything too hard for the Lord? Invite the children to discuss this question. Or write each word from the first sentence of Genesis 18:14 on a separate piece of paper, and give one to each child. Then ask the class to put the words in the correct order.
You and your children could then read Genesis 17:15–21; 21:1–7 to find an example of something the Lord did that seemed impossible. Share with your children your faith that the Lord will fulfill His promises, even if they seem impossible or take a long time.
Abraham and Sarah had a baby boy, just as the Lord promised. They named him Isaac. Genesis 17:9; 21:1–3
To learn about Abraham and Sarah’s trust in God’s promises, you and your children could talk about a time when they had to wait for something they really wanted. You could then look at the picture of Sarah and Isaac and talk about the promise God made to her and Abraham. Help your children think of things that God has promised us if we are faithful. Encourage them to be patient and trust that God will keep His promises.
With the children, sing a song that testifies of God’s promises, such as “Keep the Commandments” (Children’s Songbook, 146–47). Help the children identify things that God has promised us if we are faithful.
This video is going too fast during the second verse and you will need to use the pictures below during that part.
Additional Teaching Ideas:
“Lesson 11: Abraham and Isaac,” Primary 6: Old Testament (Pages 35-38) Show the pictures The Crossing of the Red Sea, Daniel in the Lions’ Den, and Three Men in the Fiery Furnace. Briefly explain that the Lord parted the waters of the Red Sea to let Moses and the Israelites escape from the Egyptian army, he protected Daniel from a den of lions, and he kept three young men from being burned when they were cast into a fiery furnace. (Note: Do not teach these stories in detail. Tell the children that they will learn more about these stories later in the year.) Point out that these people trusted in the Lord and had faith that his will would be done. Their faith was rewarded with miracles.
Genesis CHAPTER 19 Lot entertains holy men—The men of Sodom seek to abuse Lot’s guests and are smitten with blindness—Lot is sent out of Sodom—The Lord rains brimstone and fire upon Sodom and Gomorrah—Lot’s daughters preserve his seed in the land.
Friend November 2017 “Peer Pressure Problems” Ideas on how to deal with peer pressure to avoid making wrong choices
Summarize Genesis 19:15–26 by explaining that Lot’s family lived in a very wicked city and angels warned them to leave. As you and your children read together verses 15–17, 26, ask them what it might mean for us today to “escape” evil and “look not behind” (verse 17).
Display a picture of the Savior, and ask the children to take a step toward it as they share one thing they can do to flee wickedness and come closer to Christ.
Although we do not know the identity of the three messengers, Abraham treated them as if they were presiding authorities of the Lord’s kingdom then on the earth, and their messages were directly from the Lord (see Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary[1973], 3:235; Sidney B. Sperry, “Abraham’s Three Visitors,” Improvement Era, Aug. 1931, 583, 585).
ABRAHAM AND ISAAC, SACRIFICE
Genesis CHAPTER 22 Abraham is commanded to sacrifice Isaac, his son—Both father and son yield to the will of God—Abraham’s seed will be as the stars and the sand in number—In his seed, all nations will be blessed—Rebekah is born to Bethuel.
Using pictures of Abraham and Isaac and of the Crucifixion (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 9, 57) can help your children compare the story in Genesis 22 with the Savior’s sacrifice. How does the story of Abraham and Isaac remind us of the sacrifice Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ made for us.
Isaac was Abraham and Sarah’s only son (see Genesis 22:2).
Jesus was the Only Begotten Son of the Father (see John 3:16).
Isaac was to be offered on a mountain in the land of Moriah, which tradition holds was the temple mount in Jerusalem (see Genesis 22:2; 2 Chronicles 3:1).
Jesus was crucified on a hill outside of Jerusalem (see Mark 15:22).
Isaac was to be a burnt offering (see Genesis 22:2).
All sacrifices are to be done in similitude of Jesus Christ (see Moses 5:5–7).
Isaac carried the wood for the sacrifice (see Genesis 22:6).
Isaac submitted to the will of his father (see Genesis 22:9).
Jesus submitted to the will of His Father (see Luke 22:42).
Abraham did not withhold his son (see Genesis 22:11).
God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son (see John 3:16).
Can you think of a simple game to play with your children that requires them to follow directions? Maybe the directions could lead to a hidden picture of the Savior. The game could prompt a conversation about things Heavenly Father has commanded us to do so we can live with Him and Jesus Christ again. Consider singing a song such as “Keep the Commandments” (Children’s Songbook, 146–47). This week’s activity page could help as well.
Show the video “For God So Loved the World” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), or sing together a song about the Savior’s sacrifice, such as “He Sent His Son” (Children’s Songbook,34–35). Invite the children to talk about how Jesus’s sacrifice shows Heavenly Father’s love for us.
What have we been asked to sacrifice as a family? How have these sacrifices brought us closer to God?
Additional Resources
Additional Chapters
Genesis CHAPTER 20 Abimelech desires Sarah, who is preserved by the Lord—Abraham prays for Abimelech, and the Lord blesses him and his household.
Genesis CHAPTER 23 Sarah dies and is buried in the cave of Machpelah, which Abraham buys from Ephron the Hittite.
Friend February 2023 “Find It!” Many families around the world celebrate Lunar New Year. What are your favorite family traditions? Find the items hidden below.
Friend July 2024 “Visiting Grandma and Grandpa” While Ernesto’s family were visiting his grandparents in Indonesia, he was able to share his beliefs with them by explaining why he doesn’t drink tea when offered some, and by reading the scriptures and praying with his family and inviting his grandparents to join with them.
Hong Kong (China)
Friend December 2022 “Meet Jun Eui from Hong Kong” Jun Eui patiently helps his sisters with homework. He also helps his mother with chores. He says that when he helps others he feels happy and he feels the Holy Ghost. (See link for photos)
Friend February 2024 “A Happy Lunar New Year” Claire and her family celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. Not only is it a time to enjoy the fun holiday traditions, it is also a time to spend with family, so they put family member pictures on the table and called Claire’s grandma and grandpa.
Friend August 2020 “Food and Fun” Make this tasty Malaysian treat! Sweet Potato Balls. Also, Batu Seremban is a traditional Malaysian game. Here’s a version you can play.
Friend August 2020 “The Mooncake Festival” Vincent was excited to explore at the mooncake festival, but while exploring he fell and hit his chin. He had to go to the hospital and he was scared, so he prayed and felt the comfort of the Holy Ghost. He knew that everything would be okay.
Friend May 2025 “Following Jesus in Malaysia” Luke follows Jesus Christ by praying and comforting others. He also loves to go to Primary and learn about what Jesus. He likes to serve his mom by helping with chores and by taking care of his younger brother
Phillipines
Friend January 2019 “Hello from the Philippines” Margo and Paulo share about the the places they are visiting around the world, starting with the Philippines.
People come in all shapes and sizes and colors. Everyone is an important child of God. Challenge: Be friendly to someone new and include them even if they’re different from you.
Friend March 2021 “Augusto Lim” Augusto’s little daughter asked why they didn’t attend church. Augusto prayed about it and a couple of days later missionaries showed up at their door. Augusto served Heavenly Father his whole life and became the first General Authority in the Philippines.
Friend April 2021 “Meet Shiloh from the Philippines” Shiloh loves to help people everywhere he goes, and is friendly and willing to play with everyone. It doesn’t matter how different they are. Shiloh has a condition called Down syndrome, but he knows everyone is a child of God! (photos included in story)
Friend November 2022 “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.
Friend July 2025 “For Older Kids” Tapatan: Play a game from the Philippines with a friend! Draw a game board like the one on the left. Each of you will need three small items, like rocks or coins. Take turns placing your item on a circle. Once they’re all on the board, take turns moving your item one circle in any direction. Whoever covers three circles in a row wins!
Cambodia
Friend July 2019 “Hello From Cambodia!” (Also food and a game from Cambodia.)
Friend June 2022 “Meet Septream from Cambodia” Sometimes at school Septream notices friends who don’t have enough food. So he shares his snacks and lunch with them. (See photos at link)
Friend August 2019 “Food and Fun” Korean Rice Bowl and the Korean game Jero.
Friend September 2021 “Kim Ho Jik” Kim Ho Jik learned about the gospel from a friend while studying at a university in the U.S. Kim Ho Jik became a leader in his country. He helped open South Korea for missionary work and translated Church materials into Korean.
Friend December 2024 “Hello from South Korea!”
Friend December 2024 “Following Jesus in South Korea” Uicheon follows the Savior by praying when he needs help. When he was younger, he lost part of his toy car. He was sad. Then he and his father prayed together. Right after they said “amen,” they found the missing part! “It was such a quick answer to our prayer,” says Uicheon.
Ji-in followed Jesus Christ by being baptized. She wanted to follow His example. “When I stood up from the water, I had a great feeling and thought about Jesus,” she says. “I felt refreshed, and I thought I became a better person.” (See more images at link)
Friend June 2021 “Tea or Mango Juice?” Chung’s friend, Jiro, ordered the two of them cold tea on a hot day, but Chung asked for mango juice instead. He explained to Jiro why he doesn’t drink tea. He invited Jiro to church hoping someone could explain it better, but Jiro wasn’t interested. Jiro spoke up for him though when their class was going to have tea as a reward for hard work. He explained that Chung didn’t drink tea because it was part of his religion. Chung was glad he had such a good friend.
Friend July 2025 “Following Jesus in Taiwan” Ellie follows Jesus Christ by helping her family do home evening activities. Ellie is a peacemaker in her family. When her younger siblings are fighting over a treat or a chair, she shares with them.
Friend February 2026 “Happy Helping Hands” Yu-Qian and Yu-He were excited to celebrate the Lunar New Year, but they knew there were many people who didn’t have a home or even a family and wouldn’t be able to celebrate. They decided to make food for those people. They made 20 containers of taro porridge and 30 egg tarts! They also had lots of self-care kits. They dropped them off at a charity group, and got to watch as members of the charity gave their food and kits to people. It reminded them of the scripture “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” They were happy they could do something special for Jesus Christ on that special night.
Vietnam
Friend June 2021 “Elder Christofferson Visits Vietnam” Elder Christofferson said President Nelson’s visit was a reminder to the Vietnamese people that they matter to Heavenly Father. (See photos of his visit at link)
India
Friend July 2020 “The Surprise Mission Call” Edwin and his wife were from India. They had joined the church while working in Samoa. They wanted their families to learn about the gospel, so they wrote church headquarters to ask for missionaries to be sent there. To their surprise, they were called to as missionaries. They were able to baptize many of their family members and enough people to start a branch.
Friend February 2025 “Finding the Gospel in India” In 1954 a man named S. Paul Thiruthuvadoss was in a used bookstore in India. He found a pamphlet about Joseph Smith inside a book and read it. He and his family were baptized! Can you find the hidden items?
In 1957, S. Paul Thiruthuvadoss requested baptism after having read the Book of Mormon five times. In 1964, Elder Gordon B. Hinckley of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles visited him with President Jay A. Quealy of the Southern Far East Mission. Finally, on Feb. 5, 1965, President Quealy baptized him, thus beginning the modern-day era of the Church in India.
“At the time he was baptized, there were two missionaries sent for six months,” Sister Rutherford recounted. “And basically, after that six months, Brother Thiruthuvadoss was on his own. When the Church finally sent missionaries back, it was 1973, and there were 225 members. Most of them had been taught by Brother Thiruthuvadoss.”
Friend November 2021 “They’re Waiting for Me!” Giselle lives in India, and she can’t wait until the temple is built there so she can do baptisms for her ancestors who have died without knowledge of the gospel. (Photos at link)
Friend July 2022 “Michael’s Long Search” Michael read a magazine from the church and wanted to learn more, but there weren’t any Latter-day Saint churches in India. He also read the Book of Mormon and prayed. He knew it was true! He wanted to be baptized. Many years later a senior missionary couple came to India. Finally, Michael was baptized! Later he became a translator for General Conference.
Challenge: Look for living things in a pond, river, or ocean near you. You can help protect them by picking up trash near water and not putting harmful chemicals down drains.
Friend November 2022 “Meet Carmen from Lebanon” Carmen wanted to do something nice for their Syrian neighbor for Christmas, so each day she bought something small and put it in the box. On the 25th she gave it to the neighbors. (See images at link)
Abraham CHAPTER 1 Abraham seeks the blessings of the patriarchal order—He is persecuted by false priests in Chaldea—Jehovah saves him—The origins and government of Egypt are reviewed.
Abraham CHAPTER 2 Abraham leaves Ur to go to Canaan—Jehovah appears to him at Haran—All gospel blessings are promised to his seed and through his seed to all—He goes to Canaan and on to Egypt.
Genesis CHAPTER 12 Abram will become a great nation—He and his seed will bless all the families of the earth—He travels from Haran to the land of Canaan—Because of famine, he goes down into Egypt—Abram and Sarai are tested in Pharaoh’s court.
As you and your children read Abraham 1:18 and 2:8, you could invite them to listen for a part of the body that is mentioned in both verses. Maybe you could play a game in which a child closes their eyes and you lead the child somewhere by the hand. How would it feel to have Jesus Christ lead us by the hand or to have His hand protecting us?
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 12–17; Abraham 1–2” Abraham wanted to be righteous even though members of his family were wicked. The Lord said to him, “I will lead thee by my hand” (Abraham 1:18). Just as God promised to help Abraham, He can lead the children you teach when they desire to choose the right. Testify that Jesus leads us by guiding us through His Spirit.
Friend January 2021 “The Party Problem” Luz felt uneasy about going to a graduation party. It didn’t sound like the kind of party where she’d be able to feel the Holy Ghost. She thought about it, made her choice not to go, and then asked Heavenly Father if that was the right choice. Afterwards she felt a wave of warmth and light and knew she had made the right choice.
When Abraham’s life was in danger, he called on God. When Hagar was alone in the wilderness, she learned that God heard her. Consider sharing these two stories with your children: “Abraham and Sarah” and “Hagar” in Old Testament Stories, 28–31, 32–33. What do we learn about God from these stories? Then you could share with each other experiences when you felt that God heard you. A song like “A Child’s Prayer” (Children’s Songbook, 12–13) could reinforce this principle.
Display the picture An Angel Saves Abraham (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), and invite the children to share what they know about the story it depicts, found in Abraham 1:12, 15–17. Ask the children to read these verses and share things they learn about prayer.
President Joseph Fielding Smith, commenting on the human sacrifices that took place during the time of Abraham, wrote: “Abraham was of the [tenth] generation from Noah. Several hundred years had passed since the flood, and people had multiplied and spread over the face of the earth. The civilizations of Egypt, Chaldea, Assyria and the petty nations of Canaan, had been established. In the midst of this scattering the true worship of the Father was nearly lost. Sacrifice instituted in the days of Adam and continued in the practice and teaching of Noah, in the similitude of the great sacrifice of the Son of Man, had become perverted. Instead of offering clean animals, such as the lamb and bullock, the apostate nations had dwindled in unbelief to the extent that human sacrifice was offered to their idol gods” (The Way to Perfection, 85).
Invite the children to share experiences when Heavenly Father answered their prayers, and share one of your own experiences.
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 suggested they pray. He then receives a prompting on which way to go, and they are able to quickly find their way out.
Genesis CHAPTER 13 Abram returns from Egypt—He and Lot part—The Lord will make Abram’s seed as the dust of the earth in number—Abram settles in Hebron.
Your children might enjoy acting out the story from Genesis 13:5–12, pretending to be Abraham, Lot, and the herdsmen. How can we follow Abraham’s example of being a peacemaker with our family or friends? Try role-playing their answers.
Read Matthew 5:9, and explain that Jesus wants us to be peacemakers. Help the children think of what they can do to be peacemakers at home or with friends. Invite them to draw a picture of themselves being a peacemaker. Ask the children to share how they feel when they are peacemakers like Jesus Christ.
“Cease From Anger” (February 2010 Friend) Take this quiz to see how forgiving you are. When we are loving and forgiving, we can be peacemakers.
Write Main Characters,Setting,Problem, and Solution on the board. Invite the children to read Genesis 13:5–12 and identify the parts of the story listed on the board. Help the children think of situations when they could be peacemakers, such as when someone argues or tries to fight. Then invite them to role-play how they could be peacemakers in those situations.
Help the children find the topics “Peace” and “Peacemaker” in the Guide to the Scriptures (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Invite each child to select a scripture about peace and share what he or she learns with the class. Help them think of some examples of the Savior being a peacemaker, such as in Luke 22:50–51. How can we follow His example?
“Matt and Mandy” (October 1994 Friend) Mandy learns to be a peacemaker by watching her mother’s example.
Genesis CHAPTER 14 Lot is captured in the battles of the kings—He is rescued by Abram—Melchizedek administers bread and wine and blesses Abram—Abram pays tithes—He declines to accept the spoils of conquest.
In Genesis 14:20, we read that Abraham paid tithing. Elder David A. Bednar has taught that spiritual blessings “are poured out through the windows of heaven and into our lives as we honor the law of tithing” (“The Windows of Heaven,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2013, 18).
As a family, discuss the blessings you’ve seen from obeying the law of tithing.
Have one person write the blessings down.
Together, go through the list again and discuss some of the ways these blessings make your life better.
Elder Bednar also taught that “a subtle but significant blessing we receive [as we honor the law of tithing] is the spiritual gift of gratitude that enables our appreciation for what we have. … A grateful person is rich in contentment” (“The Windows of Heaven,” 18). How has your family seen gratitude as a blessing of paying tithing?
The Lord Makes Covenants with Abraham
Genesis CHAPTER 15 Abram desires offspring—The Lord promises him seed in number as the stars—Abram believes the promise—His seed will be strangers in Egypt—Then, after four generations, they will inherit Canaan.
Genesis CHAPTER 16 Sarai gives Hagar to Abram as his wife—Hagar flees from Sarai—An angel commands Hagar to return and submit herself to Sarai—Hagar bears Ishmael.
Genesis CHAPTER 17 Abram is commanded to be perfect—He will be a father of many nations—His name is changed to Abraham—The Lord covenants to be a God unto Abraham and his seed forever—Also, the Lord gives Abraham the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession—Circumcision becomes a token of the everlasting covenant between God and Abraham—Sarai’s name is changed to Sarah—She will bear Isaac, with whom the Lord will establish His covenant—Abraham and the men of his house are circumcised.
Consider showing your children a container of sand, the stars in the night sky, or the picture at the end of this outline. This could help them understand God’s promises in Genesis 13:16; 15:1–6. Talk about how you’ve learned to trust God’s promises, even when they seemed impossible.
To teach your children about covenants, ask them to tell you about a time when they made a promise or someone made a promise to them.
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.
Sometimes keeping our promises helps keep us physically safe, such as in the the story above. Keeping the covenants we make with Heavenly Father can also help keep us safe, spiritually and physically, and help us to become more like our Heavenly Father
Share some examples of your own—including covenants you’ve made with God at baptism or in the temple. How have your covenants affected your relationship with God?
Friend February 2019 “The Baptism Covenant” Cut out and mix up these cards. Then take turns matching cards that go together. With each match, talk about that part of the baptism covenant.
Help the children understand that Abraham and Sarah promised to obey God. Choose a few phrases from Genesis 15:1–6; 17:1–8; Abraham 2:9–11 to share some of the blessings God promised to them. These might include “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield,” “Thou shalt be a father of many nations,” or “All the families of the earth [shall] be blessed.”
Song: “I Want to Live the Gospel” (Children’s Songbook, 148)
Activity: Draw or make a shield. Write on your shield ways you can obey God.
Liahona February 2022 “The Abrahamic Covenant” God promised Abraham that “as many as receive this Gospel shall be … thy seed” (Abraham 2:10). Our covenants at baptism and in the temple allow us access to the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant and make us part of the covenant people of God, as long as we are faithful (see Ezekiel 11:20).
To help your children prepare to make a covenant with God when they are baptized, you could use some of the activity ideas suggested in appendix A or appendix B.
I Can Keep the Covenants I Make with Heavenly Father.
Institute: Old Testament Student Manual Genesis-2 Samuel Abraham could validly state that Sarah was his sister. In the Bible the Hebrew words brother and sister are often used for other blood relatives. (See Genesis 14:14, in which Lot, Abraham’s nephew, is called “his brother.”) Because Abraham and Haran, Sarah’s father, were brothers, Sarah was Abraham’s niece and thus could be called sister. The accompanying pedigree chart shows this relationship.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “John 2–4” When we are baptized, which Jesus called being “born of water,” we receive a remission of our sins and can “enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). How can you help the children you teach understand what being born again means?
Make word strips showing the Savior’s words in John 3:3, and let the children put them in the correct order. How is being baptized and confirmed like being born again?
What does it mean to be born again?
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught: “We begin the process of being born again through exercising faith in Christ, repenting of our sins, and being baptized by immersion for the remission of sins by one having priesthood authority. …
President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “In addition to the physical ordinance of baptism and the laying on of hands, one must be spiritually born again to gain exaltation and eternal life” (“Born of God,” Ensign, July 1989, 2–4). Therefore, being born again requires more than simply being baptized and confirmed. In order to be born again one needs to live in such a manner that the Holy Ghost changes the heart.
Elder David A. Bednar taught: “Conversion … is mighty, not minor—a spiritual rebirth and fundamental change of what we feel and desire, what we think and do, and what we are. As we choose to follow the Master, we choose to be changed—to be spiritually reborn” (“Ye Must Be Born Again,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 20).in order to realize the intended blessings of this born-again status, we must still keep our covenants and endure to the end” (“Have You Been Saved?,” Ensign, May 1998, 56).
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 “John 2-4” Talk with your family about the miracle of pregnancy and birth—the process of creating a living, intelligent being. Jesus taught that we must be reborn before entering the kingdom of God. Why is rebirth a good metaphor for the change required of us before we can enter the kingdom of God? How can we experience the process of spiritual rebirth? (It takes time for an living intelligent being to grow in the womb and be born. Being born again is also a process and doesn’t happen instantly. )
“Total immersion in and saturation with the Savior’s gospel are essential steps in the process of being born again” (“Ye Must Be Born Again,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 21).
Display a picture of a newborn baby and of someone getting baptized and confirmed (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 104–5). How are we like a newborn baby after we are baptized and confirmed? (see John 3:3–5).
Invite the children to share memories of their baptisms. Read Mosiah 18:8–10 and Doctrine and Covenants 20:37 to review the baptismal covenant. Teach the children that taking the sacrament thoughtfully every week is a way to continue the process of being born again.
John 3:7–8. Why did Jesus compare being “born again” to the wind?
New Testament Seminary Teacher Manual “John In response to Nicodemus’s confusion about being born again, the Savior compared being born of the Spirit to the wind. (The Greek word for spirit is pneuma, which may also be translated as breath or wind.) Just as the wind is difficult to see, so it is difficult to see the process of being born again. We can see the effects of the wind but struggle to know when it starts and when it ends as well as where it comes from. A similar conclusion can be drawn about the process of being born again. It is difficult to see exactly when it starts or when it ends, but its effects are very visible as actions and desires change.
Friend February 2021 “Feeling Christ’s Love” When Elder Takashi Wada Of the Seventy was young he read the Bible in school and wanted to know more about Jesus. Then he met the missionaries and they gave him a Book of Mormon and her learned more about Jesus. He wanted to be baptized and follow Jesus.
Several years ago, my son Jack and I had the opportunity to play the Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland, where the game of golf began. It was simply amazing! Upon my return I tried to convey to others the magnitude of the experience. But I couldn’t. Photos, videos, and my best descriptions were totally inadequate. I finally realized the only way for someone to know the grandeur of St. Andrews is to experience it—to see the vast fairways, breathe the air, feel the wind in their face, and hit a few errant shots into the cavernous bunkers and burly gorse bushes, which we did with great efficiency.
So it is with the word of God. We can teach it, we can preach it, we can explain it. We can talk about it, we can describe it, we can even testify of it. But until a person feels the sacred word of God distill upon his or her soul like the dews from heaven through the power of the Spirit,8 it will be like looking at a postcard or someone else’s vacation photos. You have to go there yourself. Conversion is a personal journey—a journey of gathering.
Ezra Booth was converted to the Church after seeing Joseph Smith heal Elsa Johnson’s arm (which she hadn’t been able to use for two years). But Ezra later lost his faith, and he became critical of the Prophet. Doctrine and Covenants 63 contains warnings against trying to build our faith on signs, such as miraculous healings, rather than on spiritual confirmation of truth. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 63”)
Invite the children to draw a house sitting on top of a rectangle and another house sitting on the point of a triangle. Tell the children that the houses represent our faith and testimonies. Ask them to read Doctrine and Covenants 63:9–10 and Helaman 5:12. Then have them write in the rectangle what we should build our faith on and in the triangle what we should not build our faith on. Point out that the rectangle provides a solid place to build but the triangle is not safe and secure. Why is it important to build our faith on Jesus Christ rather than on other things? (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 63”)
Explain that a miracle is something God does to show His power and bless our lives (see Bible Dictionary, “Miracles”)You might also consider why some people receive signs “for the good of men unto [God’s] glory” (verse 12) and others receive them “unto … condemnation” (verse 11). Maybe your family members could talk about miracles that have strengthened their faith, including experiences from your family or your family history. How did they exercise the faith needed to receive these miracles? What does Doctrine and Covenants 63:7–12 teach about the relationship between faith and miracles? (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Doctrine and Covenants 2021 “Doctrine and Covenants 60–62”)
The people felt different and new inside because they had faith in Jesus. Now they wanted to do good things all the time. They made a promise to follow God’s commandments for the rest of their lives. Because they believed in Jesus and made this promise, they were called Jesus’s people. Mosiah 5:2–9, 15; 6:1–2
Come Follow Me Kid “Mosiah 4-6” A Mighty Change – What does the word “change” mean? Share examples of things that change (caterpillars change to butterflies, dough changes to cookies when you bake it, etc.). Can WE change? Mosiah 5:2 says that the Spirit of the Lord caused a “mighty change” in the hearts of people.
After King Benjamin taught his people about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, they experienced “a mighty change” in their hearts, so that they had “no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2).
Cut out six paper hearts and write the letters C-H-A-N-G-E, one letter on each heart. Turn the hearts upside down on the table and scramble them.
Choose a family member to flip the papers over and unscramble the word. Discuss how King Benjamin’s people experienced a change in their hearts.
Each family member now chooses a letter from the table and thinks of a word or phrase that suggests a mighty change of heart. (Example: C = charity, or choose the right; H = happiness; and so on.)
Discussion: What caused the people to experience “a mighty change” in their hearts? What blessings can we receive when we turn our hearts to God?
Friend February 2001 “Latter-day Prophets Wheel” Fasten the two circles together with a metal fastener through the center dots. Find the picture of Joseph Smith; in the window below his picture you can read an interesting fact about him. Continue turning the top circle to the right to see the men in the order that they served as Presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to read something that that prophet is remembered for. You might want to use the wheel to help you sing “Latter-day Prophets”* in a family home evening.
Friend January 2001 “Funstuf: Latter-day Prophets” All of the latter-day prophets are listed below, but it is difficult to read them. To unscramble the letters in each group, start at the IN arrow and connect the letters to spell a prophet’s name ending at the OUT arrow. Some letters will not be used. The first one has been done as an example for you.
Prophet Dot-to-Dot Activity Idea: Make several cards with information about the prophet on each one. Label the back of each card with a section of numbers from the dot-to-dot such as 1-5 or 15-20. Put the cards, numbers face up, on a table. A child picks one of the cards, reads the clue, and gets to draw those lines on the picture and try to guess who the prophet it is. They write their guess down and their name on the first slot of a numbered card. Continue in this manner until all the clues are read and the lines on the picture are drawn. Reveal the name of the prophet, and then read the card with the guesses to see who got the correct answer first. (Note: You may need to display a picture that contains all the prophets and their names to help the children have a reference to make their guesses from.)
Watch the video “President Nelson: Prophet of God” from time code 0:00 to 5:41. How do you see President Nelson ministering to others in the same way Jesus Christ did?
Friend January 2021 “I Love You” President Nelson met with some Primary children in a log house in Palmyra, New York and shared the following messages: The Lord loves effort; Commandments are a recipe for happiness; Repentance is a joyous opportunity. (See the article for more info.)
Friend June 2019 “Grateful for Parents” President Nelson’s parents didn’t attend church when he was young, and he wanted them to. When he learned about the Word of Wisdom he broke every bottle of liquor in the house. The thing he wanted for Christmas every year was to be sealed to his parents.
Friend August 2018 “President Nelson Loves Children” President Nelson meets Primary children as he travels all over the world. (Link includes photos.)
Friend January 2019 “Show and Tell” Senior Primary children in Greater Manchester, England, wrote their own verse about President Russell M. Nelson for the song “Follow the Prophet.”
Russell is a prophet, Baptised at sixteen, His parents were less active; He was very keen. He became a doctor, Doctor of the heart. Building many temples, He has made a start.
Friend March 2021 “Trust in the Prophet” When Elder Homer was young, he wanted to be very reverent when passing the sacrament. Russel M. Nelson was in his ward and noticed his reverence and complimented him on it. That meant a lot to Elder Homer. (Make a mobile of quotes by President Russel M. Nelson.)
Friend May 2019 Bookmark with a testimony by President Nelson
Among President Nelson’s most important teachings are the following:
He has admonished us to use the correct name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He has counseled us in how to let God prevail in our lives.
He has encouraged us to “think celestial.”
He has taught us an enlarged vision of gathering Israel on both sides of the veil.
He has inspired us to progress on the covenant path, and he has lovingly invited us to return to that path if we have strayed.
He has exhorted Church members everywhere to follow a home-centered, Church-supported pattern of gospel learning.
Friend November 2025 “Remembering President Nelson” Our wonderful prophet President Russell M. Nelson passed away the week before general conference. He was 101 when he died and set an example of following Jesus Christ his whole life.
Book of Mormon Seminary Student Manual (2024) It was decreed in the counsels of eternity, long before the foundations of the earth were laid, that he, Joseph Smith, should be the man, in the last dispensation of this world, to bring forth the word of God to the people, and receive the fulness of the keys and power of the Priesthood of the Son of God.(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 96, 343)
Prophets long ago knew that a man named Joseph would translate the scriptures (see 2 Nephi 3:7, 15). They wrote about him on the gold plates. Can you imagine how Joseph Smith felt when he translated those words?
Joseph of Egypt Prophesied about Joseph Smith
Book of Mormon Seminary Student Manual (2024) Chapter 3 of 2 Nephi records Lehi’s dying words to his youngest son, Joseph. Lehi quoted a prophecy [from the brass plates] made by Joseph of Egypt roughly 1,700 years before the birth of Christ. Imagine Joseph Smith’s surprise when he discovered that he was the subject of much of the prophecy made by Joseph of Egypt. (see also Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 50:24–38 (Note that “fruit of thy loins” refers to children or posterity.)
Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 50:27–33 (in the Bible appendix) Joseph in Egypt prophesies of Moses freeing Israel from Egyptian bondage; of a branch of Joseph’s descendants being led to a faraway land, where they will be remembered in the covenants of the Lord; of God calling a latter-day prophet named Joseph to join the records of Judah and of Joseph.
Give the children descriptive clues about Joseph Smith, and invite them to guess who you are describing. Include clues from Joseph Smith Translation, Genesis 50:27–33 (in the Bible appendix), such as “he taught us about covenants” (see verse 28), “he gave us the word of the Lord” (see verse 30), and “he was named after his father” (see verse 33). After the children guess correctly, invite them to find these clues in the verses. What else do we learn about Joseph Smith from the prophecy of Joseph in Egypt?
Invite the children to search 2 Nephi 3:6–24 for clues about which prophet is being spoken of. List the clues on the board. Why is Joseph Smith called a “choice seer”? What did Joseph Smith do that is “of great worth to [his brethren]”? (verse 7).
Liahona February 2020 “Meet the Four Josephs” Lehi tells his son Joseph about some of the prophecies that Joseph of Egypt made about Joseph Smith, who was named after his father, Joseph. The article includes the following: What Did Joseph of Egypt Say about Joseph Smith? How Was Joseph Smith Like Joseph of Egypt? How Did Lehi Know about Joseph of Egypt?
Joseph Smith Made Good Choices as a Child and So Can I
Come Follow Me Kid Watch “Joseph Smith and His Family”, or tell the story above about the operation on Joseph’s leg. Tell them to pay close attention to what Joseph Smith decided to do when doctors told him that his leg would hurt a LOT during the operation unless he would drink wine. Joseph Smith made good choices as a child. We can make good choices too.
Joseph Smith was prepared to be a prophet of God.
The home life and nurture provided by Joseph Smith’s parents and siblings shaped much of Joseph’s early prophetic work. His attention to prayer and Bible study owed much to his parents’ religious commitments. (Church History Topics: Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family)
Joseph was chosen by God and prepared to be a prophet. Joseph’s experiences as a boy prepared him to be a prophet of God. A prophet is someone who speaks for God.
Learning about Joseph Smith’s youth could help your children relate to him as they learn from his experiences. Maybe they could hold a picture of Joseph Smith and share what they know about him. If needed, you might add some facts about him from Joseph Smith—History 1:3–14 (see also “Chapter 1: Joseph Smith and His Family,” in Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 6–8, or the corresponding video in Gospel Library). What did Joseph experience that helped prepare him to become a prophet? What might God be preparing us to do?
Joseph Smith was born in 1805 in the state of Vermont in the United States of America. He was the fourth of nine children. When Joseph was ten years old, he and his family moved to the state of New York, settling near the town of Palmyra (point out this area on the map). The Smith family was poor, and all the members of the family had to work hard to provide food and other necessities for the family. The family had moved many times before settling near Palmyra, where they found farmland on which crops would grow well.
How did Joseph Smith help his family? (JS—H 1:55.) How do you think learning to work hard helped prepare Joseph to serve the Lord? What are some ways you work in your family? Why should we be willing to work in our homes and yards to help our families? How will learning to work and take on responsibilities help us serve the Lord?
Joseph did not have much opportunity to attend school, so he learned only the basics of reading, writing, and simple arithmetic. Joseph’s mother said that he seemed just like other boys his age until the time of his vision. She said he was quiet and well-mannered and liked to study and think about important things. He was a tall, athletic, cheerful boy who seldom got angry.
“My grandfather, Asael smith long ago predicted that there would be a prophet raised up in the family, and. my grandmother was fully satisfied that it was fulfilled in me. My grandfather Asael died Oct 31, 1830 after having received the Book of Mormon and read it nearly through, and. he declared, that I was the very prophet that he had long known would come in his family.” (D.H.C. Vol. II p. 443)
“It has been borne in upon my soul that one of my descendants will promulgate a work to revolutionize the world of religious faith” (quoted in George Q. Cannon, Life of Joseph Smith, the Prophet [1986], 26).
Voices of the Restoration Lucy Mack Smith’s illness where she almost died and her promise that if the Lord would let her live she would find the religion that would enable her to serve him best. Also, Joseph said his father never did a mean or ungenerous act in his life.
Childhood Games
“Stick Pull” (February 2014 Friend) You can play a game played by Joseph Smith.
Historical Sites
Friend December 2018 “Digging into History” Children help archaeologists dig for clues for what life was like for Joseph Smith when he was young living in Vermont with his family. They find stone fences and some artifacts. The article includes photos.
“A Prophet Is Born” (December 2012 Friend) Learn about Joseph Smith’s early life with three children who visit their grandparents who are missionaries at the Prophet’s birthplace in Vermont.
What the Lord accomplished through the Prophet Joseph Smith
Show the children pictures that represent important things Joseph Smith did or taught (see, for example, Gospel Art Book, nos. 89–95, 97, 98, 117, 118). Help the children think of blessings we have because of Joseph Smith. For example, how has his work helped us come closer to Jesus Christ?
Display items that represent some of the Lord’s marvelous works during the latter days, such as a picture of the First Vision or of Joseph Smith receiving the priesthood (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 90, 93, 94) or a copy of the Book of Mormon. Invite the children to choose an item and share why it is marvelous to them.
Consider how you can teach your children about the great work that God accomplished through Joseph Smith. To begin, you could help your children find the word “seer” in 2 Nephi 3:6 and explain that prophets are called seers because Heavenly Father helps them see things we can’t see. Share why you are grateful to have a seer leading the Church.
To help family members understand what a seer is, perhaps you could show them pictures of tools that help us see things we couldn’t otherwise see, such as binoculars, a telescope, or a microscope. How are these tools like a seer? (see Moses 6:35–36). What can seers see that we do not? What evidence do we have that Joseph Smith was a seer?
The Gospel Art Book has several pictures you could use to teach about the work God did through Joseph Smith (see pictures 89–95). Let your children share what they know about the pictures. Why is Joseph Smith called a “choice seer”? What did Joseph Smith do that is “of great worth”? (verse 7).
“City of Enoch” (December 1994 Friend) Solve this code to figure out why the people in the city of Enoch were so righteous.
For the Strength of Youth January 2026 “Fun Stop The city of Enoch was “taken up into heaven” after they became of “of one heart and one mind” (Moses 7:18–21). Can you help this city become “one” by figuring out the correct missing piece? (Answer: 2)
