Old Testament Stories & Lesson Ideas

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Old Testament

Friend February 2026 “Old Testament Timeline” Color in each part of this Old Testament timeline. How does God show His love for His children in these stories?

Who is Jehovah?

Exodus 6:3

Jehovah is one of the names of Jesus Christ and refers to the premortal Savior. The Joseph Smith Translation clarifies that the prophets Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew the Lord by this name (see Exodus 6:3, footnote c). Usually, when the phrase “the Lord” appears in the Old Testament, it refers to Jehovah. In Exodus 3:13–15, the title “I AM” is also a reference to Jehovah (see also Doctrine and Covenants 38:139:1).

Premortal Life

Lesson 1: Heavenly Father’s Plan for Us,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 1–5 To help the children understand that they are spirit children of Heavenly Father and that he has a plan that will help them become like him and return to live with him again.

Lesson 2: Jesus Christ Was Chosen to Be Our Savior,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 6–8 Purpose:
To help the children understand the importance of using their agency to choose and act for themselves.

Creation

(See this link for Creation items.)

Adam and Eve

Friend February 2018 “Adam and Eve”

Lesson 4: The Fall of Adam and Eve,” Primary 6: Old Testament(1996), 13–1 To help the children understand the fall of Adam and Eve and to have a desire to return to the presence of Heavenly Father.

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 3–4; Moses 4–5”

Because of the Book of Mormon and other latter-day revelations, we have a unique perspective on the Fall. For example, consider what the prophet Lehi taught his family about Adam and Eve in 2 Nephi 2:15–27. How do Lehi’s teachings clarify what happened in the Garden of Eden and help us understand why it was important?

Article of Faith 2

Memorizing Tip: Adam and Eve were the first two people to live on the earth, and Article of Faith 2 is about Adam.

To transgress means to break a law or commandment. In the Garden of Eden, God told Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but they ate it anyway. We are each responsible for our own decisions. We can’t be punished for someone else’s sins.  (Friend Jan 2015)

Friend Feb 2011

Friend Feb 2011

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “2 Nephi 1-5” Make a booklet about the ways we are like Adam and Eve, such as we have agency

See also Teaching Children the Gospel “2nd Article of Faith”

Friend January 2022 “Scripture Hero Cards”

Gospel Art Picture: “Adam and Eve Kneeling at an Altar”

For the Strength of Youth January 2026 “The Fall: Adam and Eve”

Adam and Eve’s Family

Old Testament Stories “Adam and Eve’s Family” Images and Video

Friend February 2018 ”Adam and Eve Taught their Family” Link also includes info about Adam and Eve and how we can be like them.

Coloring Page: “Adam and Eve Teach Their Children” (Feb. 2010 Friend)

Gospel Media “Adam and Eve Teaching Their Children”

Come Follow Me With Living Scriptures” Free to Choose” Lesson ideas

Lesson 5: Adam and Eve and Their Family Offered Sacrifices,” Primary 6: Old Testament , Page 18–22 To help the children want to always remember Jesus Christ.

Lesson 6: Adam and Eve Lived the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” Primary 6: Old Testament, Pages 23–26 To help the children understand that the gospel of Jesus Christ is eternal and is based on truths that will help us gain exaltation.

Gospel Media “Adam and Eve”

Lesson 4: The Fall of Adam and Eve,” Primary 6: Old Testament  

Ask the children to think of opposites—such as happy and sad, hot and cold, hard and soft, smooth and rough, heavy and light, high and low, or fast and slow—to illustrate the importance of opposition (see 2 Nephi 2:11, 15). Let the children describe their experiences with opposites. To help them get started, you might use the following examples: After someone has been sick, they can better appreciate feeling well. Or without darkness, you cannot recognize light, which is why you cannot see the stars during the day. To illustrate this second example, you might bring a flashlight and show how its light is barely noticeable in a well-lit room, but the light is much brighter when you darken the room.

Come Follow Me Kid Lesson ideas

The Red Crystal

Enoch

  • “Enoch” (December 1994 Friend)
    A retelling of the story of Enoch.
  • “Enoch Builds Zion” (October 1998 Friend)
    A retelling of the story of Enoch. Includes figures to use in telling the story.
  • “Follow the Prophet” (May 2001 Friend)
    A retelling of the story of Enoch. Includes figures to use in telling the story.
  • “Being Like a Missionary” (January 2010 Liahona and Friend)
    Learn about and color a picture of Enoch and then draw clothing on a boy to show what missionaries look like today.

Friend February 2026 “Weekly Family Scripture Fun” The Lord helped Enoch teach the gospel. Teach the gospel like Enoch by sharing your testimony! Say a prayer to receive help from Heavenly Father. Write or draw something you believe. Then share your testimony with someone you love.

The people of Enoch were “of one heart and one mind” (Moses 7:18). That means they all served each other and worked together. Practice working together by doing a three-legged race! With a partner, use a scarf to tie one of your legs to one of their legs. How fast can you move together?

  • “The City of Enoch” (April 2002 Friend)
    Create a moving picture to use in telling the story of the city of Enoch being taken up to heaven.


Video: Old Testament Stories, “Chapter 5: Enoch”


Come Follow Me with Living Scriptures “Building Zion” Lesson ideas

Scripture Explorers “The City of Zion”

Lesson 7: Enoch and a Zion People,Primary 6: Old Testament(1996), 27–30

Noah

Lesson 8: Noah and the Flood,” Primary 6: Old Testament(1996), Pages 31–33 Lesson ideas

Friend March 2018 “Noah”

For the Strength of Youth February 2026 “The Flood”

Friend May 1987

These below cutouts are from old Primary manuals.

Friend October 2002

Friend October 2002

Larger PDF version of the October 2002 Friend activity and story visual aid “Noah’s Ark”

Friend February 2026 “Weekly Scripture Fun: Origami Noah’s Ark” Use the origami instructions to make a paper boat. Then cut out Noah and his animals (below) to go inside! As you make your ark, talk about ways you can follow Heavenly Father and grow your faith.

Friend February 2026 “Noah and the Animals”

2017 Outline for Sharing Time  Identify the doctrine (playing a matching game): Draw a simple ark on the chalkboard. Prepare several sets of two identical animal pictures. Give one picture to each child. Ask the children to stand and make the sound that the animal in their picture makes and to listen for someone else who is making a similar sound. When the children with matching pictures find each other, have them stand together until all the animals have been paired. Ask the children to come as pairs and put their animals on the ark drawing. Ask the children, “Which prophet did the Lord ask to gather the animals into the ark?” Point out that it was probably a difficult task to gather so many animals into the ark, but Noah chose to obey the Lord’s command.

Friend February 2022 “Scripture Hero Cards”

Liahona February 2022 “Noah’s Ark” For 120 years, Noah repeatedly “called upon the children of men that they should repent; but they hearkened not. … Despite “the long suffering of God … in the days of Noah, … [only] eight souls were saved” (1 Peter 3:20).

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

Friend February 2022 “Come, Follow Me Activities” Sink or Float?

Story: God told the prophet Noah to build a large boat called an ark. When there was a big flood, Noah, his family, and the animals stayed in the ark while it floated on the water, and they were safe. Today, we can stay safe by following the prophet.

Song: Verse three of “Follow the Prophet” (Children’s Songbook, 110–11)

Activity: Fill a bowl with water. Take turns putting leaves, rocks, and other waterproof items in the water. Do they float or sink? Whenever something floats, say something you can do to follow the prophet.

Liahona February 2022 “Teaching about God’s Promises”

Noah’s Animals—20 Questions

Genesis 6–11Moses 8

The Lord gave Noah specific instructions to prepare him and his family for the coming flood. “And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him” (Genesis 7:5). Even though there was no evidence of rain, Noah listened and gathered the animals into the ark.

  1. Briefly tell the story of Noah and the ark (see Genesis 6-8). Discuss how Noah was commanded to help animals enter the ark (see Genesis 6:207:14).
  2. Name different kinds of animals that Noah might have brought on the ark.
  3. Then play a game of 20 questions with your family. Have one person think of an animal that was on the ark. Everyone else takes turns asking yes or no questions to try and guess the animal.
  4. Continue asking questions until someone guesses the animal correctly or until 20 questions have been asked.
  5. Repeat the game until everyone has had a turn thinking of an animal.

Discussion: What are some ways Noah acted in faith? What are some things the Lord has asked us to do? How will we be blessed as families by following the teachings of Jesus Christ?

Liahona February 2022 “Flood Warning” How can you help…[your children or grandchildren] avoid the obscenity, violence, and pornography in today’s media?

  • As you talk about Noah together, help your children see how blessed we are to have a prophet of God today. Help your children search Moses 8:16, 19–20, 23–24to find things Noah taught that the Lord’s prophets still teach today. How are we blessed when we obey these teachings?

The Red Crystal

Here is an ark puzzle they can write the things that prophets teach today on the back before they put it together.

  • How are these teachings like the ark that Noah built?

Come Follow Me Kid Lesson ideas

Have each person draw themselves obeying something specific that the prophet has taught us to do.
Place their pictures in the ark below while reminding them that it will bring safety and peace to their lives.

The Red Crystal

Come Follow Me with Living Scriptures “Follow the Prophet” Lesson ides

Tower of Babel

Ensign February 2018 “The Tower of Babel”

Ensign March 1998 “The Tower of Babel” Lesson ideas

Abraham

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).

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).

Old Testament Stories for Young Readers “Abraham and Sarah”

Friend February 2022 “Abraham and Sarah”

Old Testament Scripture Stories “Hagar”

Abraham Gives Lot His Choice of Land

Genesis 13:5–12

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.

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026 & Come Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 12–17; Abraham 1–2” When Abraham’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen disagreed over their grazing land, Abraham proposed a solution that brought peace.

  • 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.

Latter Day Kids “Abraham and Lot” Lesson ideas to go with the above video

“Lesson 9: Jehovah Makes Covenants with Abraham,” Primary 6: Old Testament Bring some sand in a container. Let the children try to count the grains they can hold between their thumb and forefinger. Imagine the vastness of Abraham’s posterity. Ask the children how they personally can help fulfill the promises made to Abraham that his seed would become as numerous as the grains of “sand which is upon the sea shore” (Genesis 22:17)

  • Invite the children to read Genesis 17:1–8 and Abraham 2:8–11 and make two lists: what Abraham was asked to do and what the Lord promised him in return. What do we learn about the Lord from these verses?

“Lesson 9: Jehovah Makes Covenants with Abraham,” Primary 6: Old Testament Pages 35–38 Have the children take turns choosing slips of paper with the following scripture references on them that tell of the promises made to Abraham. Explain that seed means descendants. Have them read each verse aloud and, if they desire, mark the verses in their own scriptures.
Abraham 2:9—His name would be great among all nations.
Abraham 2:10—All who accept the gospel through baptism would be known as Abraham’s descendants.
Abraham 2:11—The Lord would bless those who blessed Abraham and curse those who cursed Abraham.
Abraham 2:11—His descendants would have the priesthood.
Abraham 2:11—His seed would have the responsibility to be missionaries and take the gospel to all nations.
Abraham 2:19—Abraham and his descendants would be given the land of Canaan.
Genesis 22:17—The Lord would multiply Abraham’s seed greatly (Abraham would have many descendants).

Lesson 9: Jehovah Makes Covenants with Abraham,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 35–38 To help the children understand that as God’s covenant people we each have the responsibility to live the gospel and share it with others.
Lesson 10: Abraham and Lot,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 39–4 To strengthen each child’s desire to show love to others.
Lesson 11: Abraham and Isaac,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 43–4 Purpose:
To help the children understand that we should trust Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ completely.

Friend March 2018 “Abraham and Sarah made Covenants” Link includes story and goal card ideas to learn more about how to be like Abraham and Sarah.

Friend February 2026 “Weekly Family Scripture Fun” God hears your prayers. Make a prayer banner. On small pieces of paper, write or draw things you want to pray for or talk to Heavenly Father about. Then poke holes and hang them on a string. Use this banner to give you ideas of what to pray for. Ask

Friend March 2026 “Come, Follow Me: Weekly Scripture Fun” Abraham and Sarah had to be patient and wait a long time before God blessed them with a baby. You can be patient too. Wrap a toy or treat in several layers of paper. Then unwrap one layer every time you read a verse from the scriptures above about Abraham and Sarah’s story. When you’re done, talk about how sometimes blessings don’t come right away. But as we are patient and trust God, His blessings will always come.

Abraham and Isaac

Old Testament Stories “Abraham and Isaac” Illustrations

  • Using pictures of Abraham and Isaac and of the Crucifixion (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 957) 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.

Scripture Helps Old Testament

IsaacJesus Christ
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 22:22 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).Jesus carried His cross (see John 19:17).
Abraham said God would provide a lamb (see Genesis 22:8).Jesus was the Lamb offered up for us (see 1 Peter 1:19).
Isaac was bound and laid upon the altar (see Genesis 22:9).Jesus was nailed to the cross (see Luke 23:33).
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).

Come Follow Me with Living Scriptures “Obedience and Sacrifice” Lesson, activity, and refreshment ideas

Latter Day Kids “Abraham and Isaac” Lesson ideas

Come Follow Me Kid Lesson ideas

The Red Crystal Lesson ideas

Lot and Sodom and Gomorrah

Friend February 2022 “Come, Follow Me Activities”

Story: Heavenly Father gives us commandments to help us and keep us safe. Angels told a man named Lot to leave his home in a wicked city. Because Lot listened and obeyed, he stayed safe.

Song: “Keep the Commandments” (Children’s Songbook, 146–47)

Activity: Now play a game! Take turns being the leader. The leader tells others to do actions, like “jump up and down” or “run in a circle.” Everyone else follows them. How can following the commandments help you?

Institute: Old Testament Student Manual Genesis-2 Samuel “Genesis 18–23”

When these three messengers arrived in Sodom, they met Lot, Abraham’s nephew. For reasons that are not clear, Lot had moved his family from living near Sodom (see Genesis 13:12) to living in Sodom (see Genesis 14:12). In the last lesson, you learned about the great wickedness that existed in Sodom and the Lord’s decision to destroy the city (see Genesis 18).

There are two indications in the scriptures that the phrase “looked back” was an idiomatic way of saying “she turned back” or “returned to Sodom.” The implication is that Lot’s wife started back to Sodom, perhaps to save some possessions, and was caught in the destruction.

Most scholars agree that the most probable site of Sodom is now covered by the southern part of the Dead Sea, a body of water with a high salt content. If Lot’s wife returned to Sodom, she would have been caught in the destruction. Her becoming a pillar of salt could be a figurative way of expressing this outcome.

Isaac and Rebekah

Friend February 2022 “Come, Follow Me Activities” Ten-Camel Kindness

Story: Rebekah helped Abraham’s servant by bringing water for his 10 camels (see Genesis 24:10–20). Abraham’s servant was thankful for her kindness.

Song: “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus” (Children’s Songbook, 78–79)

Activity: You can serve like Rebekah! Draw 10 camels (see page 12 to learn how). Hang them up where your family can see them. Each time you do something kind for someone else, color in a camel.

Lesson 12: Isaac and Rebekah,” Primary 6: Old Testament Pages 47–51 Purpose:To teach the children that the same eternal blessings promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob can be theirs if they make and honor temple marriage covenants.

Finding a Bride for Isaac
Rebekah was Kind

Friend June 1989 “Scriptural Giants: Rebekah”

Friend February 2022 “Scripture Hero Cards”

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 24–27”

To highlight Rebekah’s impressive example of kindness, you could show your children the picture below or this week’s activity page as you summarize the story in Genesis 24:10–21. This could lead to a conversation a.

Show the picture of Rebekah in this week’s activity page. Point out details in the picture as you summarize the story in Genesis 24:10–21, in which Rebekah showed kindness to the servant of Abraham. Point out that her words and act of kindness were the sign that Rebekah was the one that God wanted to marry Abraham’s son Isaac.

Your children might enjoy acting out the story. Invite the children to pretend to be the servant arriving with his camels or Rebekah getting water for them. Give them phrases to recite from the scriptures, such as “Let me … drink a little water” (verse 17) and “I will draw water for thy camels also” (verse 19). Why is it important for us to be kind to others?

Friend March 2026 “Come, Follow Me: Weekly Scripture Fun” Rebekah was kind. She gave a stranger and his camels water. Go on a kindness hunt! Walk around your home or your neighborhood and look for ways you can show kindness. Then do them!

Latter Day Kids “Rebekah at the Well” Lesson ideas

Come Follow Me with Living Scriptures “Our Divine Birthright” Lesson ideas

The Red Crystal

Come Follow Me Kid Lesson ideas

Bracelets and Scriptures – The manual suggests, “Your family could look in these verses for attributes
that made Rebekah a worthy eternal companion for Isaac. Encourage family members to pick
one of these attributes that they feel they should develop.”

  • Scriptures: Read Genesis 24:15–28, 55–60 and let each person choose one way they want to be more like Rebekah.
  • Bracelet: Write that attribute on a strip of paper and draw specific things you might do if you have that attribute. Tape/staple the strip to make a bracelet. Wear it to remind you of the story of Rebekah. Could also write the attribute on the below jewels and cut them into two strips to make a bracelet.

For the Strength of Youth March 2026 “What do we know about Rebekah, the wife of Isaac?”

She was virtuous and beautiful. See Genesis 24:16.

She was kind and diligent. Abraham’s servant traveled far to find someone for Abraham’s son Isaac to marry in the covenant. He stopped at a well and prayed that the woman who would draw water for both him and his 10 camels would be the one God had appointed to marry Isaac. Rebekah did this. (See Genesis 24:1–28.)

She had great faith. When she was asked the next day if she would go back with Abraham’s servant, Rebekah said she would. She had faith in the Lord, who had guided him. (See Genesis 24:50–58.) Also, over 20 years of childlessness, she kept up hope in her covenants (see Genesis 25:20, 26).

She [sought out] received revelation for her family. When Rebekah was pregnant with twins, [and the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord.] the Lord told her, “The elder shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). She later saw how the elder twin, Esau, rejected the Lord’s counsel and disrespected his birthright and how the younger twin, Jacob, was faithful. She helped Jacob receive the birthright blessing and warned him that his brother wanted to kill him. (See Genesis 27.)

Jacob

Jacob and Esau

Old Testament Stories “Jacob and Esau”

Lesson 13: Jacob and Esau,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 52–55 Purpose: To help the children recognize how our values influence our choices.

“Jacob and Esau Matchup” (February 1990 Friend)
Draw a line from each symbol to the twin the item describes.

Jacob’s Vision of a Ladder

Jacob and His Family

“Lesson 14: Jacob and His Family,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 56–61 Purpose: To help the children have a desire to be honest and have integrity

Friend May 2018 “Jacob’s Sons: Funstuff” The prophet Jacob had 12 sons. Can you find the two sons dressed exactly the same?

“Lesson 14: Jacob and His Family,” Primary 6: Old Testament 

Old Testament Coloring Book “The Twelve Tribes of Israel”

Come Follow Me Kid Lesson ideas

The Red Crystal Lesson ideas

Come Follow Me with Living Scriptures “The House of Israel” Lesson ideas

Joseph

Old Testament Stories “Joseph’s Inspired Dreams” Illustrations

  • “Joseph, Son of Israel (Part 2)” (June 1990 Friend)
    An illustrated retelling of the second half of the story of Joseph, including Joseph’s experience with Potiphar, interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh, and giving his family food.

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 37–41” Jealousy led Joseph’s brothers to make terrible choices. Their wrong choices hurt Joseph and broke their father’s heart. This story can help the children choose to be happy when others are blessed by the Lord.

  • Invite the children to review Genesis 37:3–11 and draw pictures of Joseph’s coat and his two dreams. How did Joseph’s brothers feel about Joseph? How could they have responded differently? Discuss why it is important to be happy when good things happen to other people.

Old Testament Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students “Unit 7: Day 3, Genesis 33–37”

“Lesson 38: Genesis 35–37,” Old Testament Seminary Student Material

Sometimes a person might feel envious or jealous if a sibling or close friend receives an important award; is selected for an athletic team, band, orchestra, or choir; or performs the best in his or her class on an exam.

What is the danger of feeling envious or jealous of others who experience good fortune?

We can learn the following principle from the account of Joseph and his brothers: Choosing to hate or envy others can lead us to commit additional sins.

Old Testament Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students “Unit 7: Day 3, Genesis 33–37” It may help you to understand the following: Sheaves (see Genesis 37:7) are bundles of wheat. To make obeisance (see Genesis 37:7) means to bow down before a superior to show deep respect. To rebuke (see Genesis 37:10) is to reprimand or correct. To observe (see Genesis 37:11), in this context, means to consider and reflect.

Old Testament Stories “Joseph in Egypt” Illustrations

Here’s an object lesson that can help your children follow Joseph’s example of fleeing from Potiphar’s wife: Use two magnets to represent Jesus Christ and Satan. Use a small metal object, like a paper clip, to represent us. Then let your children see how the influence of a magnet on the metal object is stronger when they move the object closer to it. How does Joseph’s experience in Genesis 39:7–12 illustrate this truth?

As the children you teach face temptations throughout their lives, they can gain strength from Joseph’s example of fleeing temptation.

  • Show a picture of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife (see Gospel Art Book, no. 11), and share the story in Genesis 39:7–12. How did Joseph resist temptation?

Help your children think of temptations they might face. Let them role-play how they could “flee” from these temptations.

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 37–41”

  • When your children face hard times, they need to know that the Lord will be with them, as He was with Joseph. Perhaps you could help your children make a list of hard things that happened to Joseph (see Genesis 37:23–2839:20; or “Joseph’s Inspired Dreams” and “Joseph in Egypt,” in Old Testament Stories, 47–51, 52–56). After each hardship they find, invite your children to repeat, “The Lord was with Joseph” Genesis 39:1–3, 20–23 . Invite the children to share what they think the phrase “the Lord was with Joseph” means (Genesis 39:2). Invite them to share experiences when they felt that the Lord was with them or their families during a hard time. Share similar experiences from your life.

Friend April 2018 “Joseph Trusted God”

Old Testament Stories for Young Readers “Joseph Prepares for Hard Times”

“Lesson 14: ” Primary 6: Old Testament “Joseph was Sold into Egypt” Pages 62-66 Ask the children if they have ever had something small, like a piece of sand, in their eye. How did it feel? Show the children the picture of the oyster and the pearl, or, if available, show a pearl and some sand. Explain that something as beautiful as a pearl can develop from the irritation caused by a small grain of sand inside an oyster shell. Explain that there are things in our lives that can cause irritations, like being hurt, disappointed, mistreated, or misjudged. We can complain, be sad, be angry, or be jealous, or we can have a positive attitude and make the best of the situation.

“Lesson 14: ” Primary 6: Old Testament “Joseph in Egypt” Pages 67-70

Come Follow Me Kid Lesson ideas

The Red Crystal Lesson ideas

Latter Day Kids “Joseph in Egypt” Lesson ideas

Come Follow Me with Living Scriptures “The Lord is With Us” Lesson Ideas

Old Testament Stories “Joseph and the Famine” Illustrations

Gospel Art Picture: “Joseph Greets His Brothers in Egypt”

Lesson 17: Joseph Forgives His Brothers,” Primary 6: Old Testament Pages 71–74


Friend May 2018 “Joseph Forgives His Brothers”

  • “Joseph” (September 1994 Friend)
    A retelling of the story of Joseph of Egypt.

Come Follow Me with Living Scriptures “Forgiveness Brings Blessings” Lesson ideas

Scripture Figures: “Joseph ‘Holds to the Iron Rod’” (July 1998 Friend)

  • “Joseph and His Brothers” (May 1995 Liahona and September 1994 Friend) Read the story of Joseph in the Old Testament and then circle the true statements from the story and X off those that are false.

Friend March 2022 “Scripture Hero Cards”

Friend May 2018 “Joseph Forgave” Story, video, and goal card.

When Joseph met his brothers again after many years, how did they demonstrate that they had changed since he last saw them? What can we learn about repentance from their experiences?

Joseph recognized that although his experience in Egypt had been difficult, “God meant it unto good” (Genesis 50:20). Has your family experienced any trials that God turned into blessings?

Liahona March 2022 “Similarities between Joseph of Egypt and Jesus Christ”

Institute Old Testament Student Manual Genesis-2 Samuel “Genesis 37–50”

  1. Joseph was the favored son of his father; so was Jesus (see Genesis 37:3Matthew 3:17).
  2. Joseph was rejected by his brothers, the Israelites, as was Jesus (see Genesis 37:4John 1:11Isaiah 53:31 Nephi 19:13–14).
  3. Joseph was sold by his brothers into the hands of the Gentiles, just as Jesus was (see Genesis 37:25–27Matthew 20:19).
  4. Judah, the head of the tribe of Judah, proposed the sale of Joseph. Certain leaders of the Jews in Jesus’ day turned Jesus over to the Romans. Judas (the Greek spelling of Judah) was the one who actually sold Jesus. (See Genesis 37:26Matthew 27:3.)
  5. Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver, the price of a slave his age. Christ was sold for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave His age. (See Genesis 37:28Matthew 27:3Exodus 21:32Leviticus 27:5.)
  6. In their very attempt to destroy Joseph, his brothers actually set up the conditions that would bring about their eventual temporal salvation—that is, Joseph, by virtue of being sold, would become their deliverer. Jesus, by His being given into the hands of the Gentiles, was crucified and completed the atoning sacrifice, becoming the Deliverer for all mankind.
  7. Joseph began his mission of preparing salvation for Israel at age thirty, just as Jesus began His ministry of preparing salvation for the world at age thirty (see Genesis 41:46Luke 3:23).
  8. When Joseph was finally raised to his exalted position in Egypt, all bowed the knee to him. All will eventually bow the knee to Jesus. (See Genesis 41:43D&C 88:104.)
  9. Joseph provided bread for Israel and saved them from death, all without cost. Jesus, the Bread of Life, did the same for all men. (See Genesis 42:35John 6:48–572 Nephi 9:50.)

The Red Crystal

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 42–50” The story of Joseph saving his family from famine can teach us about Jesus Christ, who saves us from sin and death.

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 42–50”

  • You and your children could look at the picture of Jacob blessing his sons at the end of this outline and discuss what is happening (see Genesis 48:8–9). If needed, explain that Jacob, Joseph’s father, wanted to give priesthood blessings to his family. Perhaps you could share with each other any experiences you’ve had receiving help from God through a priesthood blessing. What are some reasons we might ask for a priesthood blessing?

Joseph Prophesied about Joseph Smith

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 42–50” Thousands of years in advance, Joseph of Egypt saw that the Lord would call Joseph Smith to do a great work in the latter days. Teach the children how the Lord has blessed us through the Prophet Joseph Smith.

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?

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?

See more teaching ideas at Teaching Children the Gospel “Genesis 37-41” Come Follow Me

Moses

Baby

Exodus CHAPTER 1

The children of Israel multiply—They are placed in bondage by the Egyptians—Pharaoh seeks to destroy the sons born to Hebrew women.

Friend March 2022 “Scripture Hero Cards”

Exodus CHAPTER 2

Moses is born to Levite parents, is raised by Pharaoh’s daughter, slays an Egyptian in defense of an Israelite, flees to Midian, and marries Zipporah—Israel in bondage cries to the Lord.

Old Testament Stories “Baby Moses” Illustrations and video

Latter Day Kids “Baby Moses” Lesson Ideas

Friend March 2026 “Come, Follow Me: Weekly Scripture Fun” Moses’s mother put baby Moses in a basket and hid him near a river so that he would be safe! Make a small basket using materials in your home. You could use craft sticks, paper, or even fruits or vegetables. Then try floating your basket in some water. Read the scriptures above and talk about how the Lord helped Moses. God’s miracles kept Moses safe!

“Baby-Moses Action Rhyme” (January 1997 Friend) A poem with actions about the baby Moses.

Gospel Library


“Miriam Tends Baby Moses” (January 1972 Friend) A retelling of the story of Moses in the bulrushes. Illustrations by Virginia Sargent


Friend March 2022 “Make a Basket for Baby Moses”

Friend April 2022 “Scripture Hero Cards”

Moses is Called to Deliver the Israelites

Exodus CHAPTER 3

The Lord appears to Moses at the burning bush—Moses is called to deliver Israel from bondage—The Lord identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and as the Great I AM—He promises to smite Egypt and bring His people out with great wealth.

Old Testament Stories “Moses the Prophet” Story illustrations and Videos

Friend March 2026 “Moses the Prophet”

Come Follow Me With Living Scriptures “I Will Deliver You” Lesson ideas

Know the Lord

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Exodus 1–6”

Exodus 5:2. And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

What are some things we can do to “know the Lord” in our lives?

Who is Jehovah?

Exodus 6:3

Jehovah is one of the names of Jesus Christ and refers to the premortal Savior. The Joseph Smith Translation clarifies that the prophets Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob knew the Lord by this name (see Exodus 6:3, footnote c). Usually, when the phrase “the Lord” appears in the Old Testament, it refers to Jehovah. In Exodus 3:13–15, the title “I AM” is also a reference to Jehovah (see also Doctrine and Covenants 38:139:1).

The Plagues of Egypt

Old Testament Stories “The Plagues of Egypt” Illustrations and video

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Exodus 7–13” The Israelites were in captivity and could not free themselves, but the Lord showed His power and delivered them. How can you use this story to help the children trust the Lord and His power?

  • Junior: Read selected verses from Exodus 7–11 to teach the children about the ten plagues that the Lord sent upon the Egyptians. Invite the children to draw pictures that portray some of the plagues. Ask the children to hold up their pictures as you review the plagues again. Read phrases from Exodus 7:5 and 9:14 to explain why the Lord sent the plagues to Egypt.
  • Senior: Give each child a paper divided into ten sections, and invite the children to draw pictures of the plagues described in these verses: Exodus 7:17–188:1–48:16–178:20–229:1–69:8–99:22–2310:4–510:21–2211:4–7. What do the plagues teach us about God’s power? Why is it important to know about His power?

Lesson 19: Moses Delivers the Israelites from Bondage,” Primary 6: Old Testament Pass out numbered slips of paper with the scripture references for each of the ten plagues on the corresponding numbered paper. Have each child look up his or her reference and tell the class about it. You could supply the class with art materials and let them draw pictures of the plague that they read about. They could then show the picture to the class as they tell about the plague. What were the ten plagues the Lord commanded Moses to call down upon Egypt because Pharaoh refused to let Israel go? (See enrichment activity 1.)

(1) Exodus 7:20–21, river turns to blood

(2) Exodus 8:6, frogs

(3) Exodus 8:17, lice

(4) Exodus 8:24, flies

(5) Exodus 9:6, cattle die

(6) Exodus 9:10, boils

(7) Exodus 9:23, hail and fire

(8) Exodus 10:14–15, locusts

(9) Exodus 10:22, darkness

(10) Exodus 11:5, death of firstborn

What pattern did Pharaoh follow with each plague? (Exodus 8:8, 13, 15.)

Old Testament Coloring Book “Plagues of Egypt”

Friend April 2022 “Come, Follow Me Activities: Leap Frog”

Story: Moses was a prophet. He told Pharaoh to let God’s people go free (see Exodus 8:1). Pharaoh said he would let them go. But then he broke his promise. God sent frogs, lice, flies, and other plagues to warn Pharaoh to follow the prophet.

Song: “Follow the Prophet,” verse 5 (Children’s Songbook, 110–11)

Activity: Play a game! Have everyone get in a line. Then crouch down low. One person puts their hands on another person’s back and jumps over each person one by one, like a frog. Take turns until everyone has gone. Each time you hop, say one way you can follow the prophet.

Friend April 2018

Friend April 2022 “For Older Kids”

Friend April 2026 “Weekly Scripture Fun”

Latter Day Kids “Moses and the Plagues of Egypt” Lesson ideas

Lesson 19: Moses Delivers the Israelites from Bondage,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 81–84 Purpose: To teach the children that the priesthood is the power of God.

Old Testament Scripture Stories “The Passover”

The Passover video

Institute: Old Testament Student Manual Genesis-2 Samuel “Exodus 11–19: The Passover and the Exodus” Great explanation of the symbolism of the passover

All of God’s children come into a world of sin and may find themselves in bondage to Satan and the powers of sin. (The terminology of slavery is used in such scriptures as 2 Nephi 2:29Alma 34:35D&C 84:49–51Moses 4:47:26.) Thus, the pharaoh could be thought of as a type or symbol of Satan. In light of this truth, it should be noted that what finally released the children of Israel from the bondage of the pharaoh (the symbol of Satan) was the death of the firstborn of Egypt. In like manner the atoning sacrifice of the Firstborn Son of God freed the children of God from death, a bondage to Satan.

Leaven, or yeast, was seen anciently as a symbol of corruption because it so easily spoiled and turned moldy. Jesus used this imagery when He warned the disciples of the “leaven of the Pharisees” (Matthew 16:6), meaning their corrupt doctrine (see Matthew 16:6–12). In the law of Moses no leaven could be offered with the trespass offering (see Leviticus 6:17), suggesting that the offering must be without any corruption. For the Israelites, eating the unleavened bread symbolized that they were partaking of the bread which had no corruption or impurity, namely, the Bread of Life, who is Jesus Christ (see John 6:35). The careful purging of the household of all leaven (see Exodus 12:19) was a beautiful symbol of putting away all uncleanliness from the family.

Parting the Red Sea

Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Old Testament 2026 & Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Exodus 14–17”

  • Think of ways to share the story of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea in an interesting and memorable way. For example, you or another ward member could dress up like Moses to tell the story from Exodus 14:5, 9–10, 13–16, 19–22. The children could pretend that the chairs or blankets are the Red Sea, and they could follow the person portraying Moses as he makes a path between them. Or the children could pretend to be the water and move to separate sides of the room as Moses divides them. Emphasize that the Lord gave Moses the power to part the sea so the Israelites could be delivered from captivity.

The Red Crystal This site has a fun reenactment skit. (or you could use the skit below)

Friend April 2022 “Moses Parts the Red Sea” Script to act out Moses parting the Red Sea.

When the Lord parted the Red Sea, Moses and the Israelites saw how powerful He is. (see also “The Passover” in Old Testament Stories, 70–74). Then you could share with each other how you have seen God’s power in your lives.

Old Testament Scripture Stories “The Passover”

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Exodus 14–17”

As you read Exodus 14:1–10, imagine how the Israelites might have felt as they saw Pharaoh’s army closing in. Perhaps you feel that you need a miracle to survive a difficult challenge you are facing.

Your family members might enjoy trying to “divide” the water in a bowl or a bathtub, as Moses divided the Red Sea. Help them understand that the Red Sea could not be divided without the power of God. How have we seen God’s power in our lives and the lives of our ancestors?

Liahona April 2022 “Jesus Christ Is Our Savior” Stand Still and Have Faith

With the Lord’s help, Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt. They were frightened because they were trapped by the Red Sea and Pharaoh’s army was chasing after them. “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13).

  1. Display a picture of the parting of the Red Sea. Read together Exodus 14:21–29. Note the actions in those verses.
  2. Role-play the parting of the Red Sea, using the actions above. Play until everyone has had a chance to play the parts they want.

Discussion: How did the children of Israel exercise faith by doing what the Lord commanded? How can we exercise faith when we experience challenges in our lives?

Friend April 2022 “Come, Follow Me Activities” Act out the above story and then sing “Redeemer of Israel” (Hymns, no. 6)

Latter Day Kids “God Parts the Red Sea” Lesson ideas

Friend April 2026

Israelites in Wilderness

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

The Red Crystal Matching activity: One page has scriptures from Exodus, the other page has scriptures that tie it to Jesus. When a match is made, read both scriptures and ask the children how the object taught them about Jesus.

Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Exodus 14–17” Divide the class into pairs or small groups, and assign each group to read one of the following passages: Exodus 15:23–2516:14–1517:1–6. Ask the children in each group to draw pictures representing what they read in these verses, and then ask other class members to guess what they have drawn. Help the children identify what these stories teach about Jesus Christ. What trials do people have today? How do Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ help us with our trials?

Old Testament Stories “The Israelites in the Wilderness” Video and Illustrations

Friend April 2022 “Moses and the Manna”

As you review these stories, ask the children why bread and water were so important to the children of Israel. What would have happened if they hadn’t had these things?

The accounts of the Lord providing food and water for the Israelites in the wilderness teach us that He can provide for our needs. If we turn to Jesus Christ, He can help us during difficult times in our lives, just as He helped the children of Israel.

Additional Resources:

Friend June 2018 “Moses Obeyed God” Story, video, and goal card.

Lesson 21: The Ten Commandments,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 90–94
To teach the children that keeping the Ten Commandments helps us be happy.
Lesson 22: Israel and the Brass Serpent,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 95–100
To encourage the children to be humble and have faith in Jesus Christ.

Friend June 2018 “Moses Follows God”

Ten Commandments

Friend April 2026 “Weekly Scripture FunActivity: Write the Ten Commandments on pieces of paper. Take turns choosing one and coming up with ways to remember it. You could make up a song, do actions with your hands, or draw pictures! Then see how many you can remember without looking at your list.

Friend June 2018 “Moses Obeyed God” Story, video, and goal card.


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Latter Day Kids “Commandments Are a Blessing” Lesson ideas

Come Follow Me With Living Scriptures “Keep the Commandments” Lesson ideas

Golden Calf

Scripture Helps: Old Testament

What blessings did the Israelites lose because of their disobedience?

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai and saw the golden calf and the people’s behavior, he broke the stone tablets that had been written by the Lord. Moses’s act of breaking the tablets reflected Israel’s broken covenant. President Jeffrey R. Holland explained that “there was considerably more on those tablets than the Ten Commandments.”

The Joseph Smith Translation clarifies that the broken tablets contained the Lord’s instructions for the ordinances and covenants of the Melchizedek Priesthood. These ordinances and covenants are necessary for us to become like God and dwell in His presence. However, because the Israelites hardened their hearts, they were not worthy to receive these blessings from the Lord.

Despite Israel’s disobedience, the Lord was still merciful to those who repented. When Moses climbed Mount Sinai later, the Lord instructed him to institute the “law of a carnal commandment,” or the preparatory gospel administered through the Aaronic Priesthood. This law came to be known as the law of Moses.

Old Testament Seminary Student Material

Coveting, in this context, means having a selfish desire for something that belongs to another person. Coveting can cause feelings of jealousy, envy, pride, and greed. Coveting can lead us to be ungrateful and never satisfied with what we have.

Joshua

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

Gideon

Lesson 24: Gideon,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 106–9
To teach the children the value of trusting in the Lord.

Samson

Lesson 25: Samson,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 110–13
To teach the children that by keeping our covenants, we will develop spiritual strength.

Samuel

Samuel – Friend March 1987

Joshua

Joshua, Devout General – Friend January 1987

Rehoboam

Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, becomes king.

“Lesson 32: Rehoboam,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 140–44 To encourage each child to be a positive influence on others and to withstand negative peer pressure.

Naman

Naman the Syrian – Friend February 1987

Job

Friend November 2022 “Scripture Hero Cards”

Old Testament Coloring Book “Job”

Job – Friend June 1987

Josiah

Ruth and Naomi

Lesson 26: Ruth and Naomi,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 114–16
To help the children have the desire to follow the example of righteous people and to be good examples themselves.

Friend July 2018 “Ruth was a Loyal Friend” Link includes story and goal card ideas to learn how to be a good friend like Ruth.

For the Strength of Youth June 2022 “Fun Stop”

Samuel

Lesson 27: Samuel, the Boy Prophet,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 117–19
To encourage the children to listen for the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

Friend July 2018 “Hannah and Samuel” Story

David

Lesson 28: David and Goliath,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 120–24
To encourage each child to seek Heavenly Father’s help in overcoming obstacles.


Friend August 2018 “David Trusted God” Story and goal card. (Young David trusted God and did hard things, and I can too!)

Friend May 2019 “Bright Idea” Poster or handout that says “I can conquer giant problems” next to a giant like David slew.

Friend August 1987

Friend August 2018 “David and Goliath”

Friend June 2022 “For Older Kids”

Friend July 2022 “Stand for What You Believe” Elder Rasband tells of his youth and often being the only Church member at school. He says that When we live the gospel, we will be different. The Apostle Peter said we would be “peculiar” (1 Peter 2:9). And that’s OK. We don’t need to worry about being different when we stand for what we believe. David stood for what he believed. He wasn’t alone. God’s power was with him. He beat Goliath. God will help us even when we face Goliath-sized challenges.

Lesson 29: David and Jonathan,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 125–30
To help the children understand how to be a true friend.
Lesson 30: King David and Bathsheba,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 131–34
To help the children keep their thoughts and actions pure.

Abagail

Friend October 2022 “Scripture Hero Cards”

Daniel

Friend November 2022 “Daniel and the Lions’ Den” Finger puppets

Friend November 2018 “Daniel Bravely Followed God” Story and goal card. (I can stand up for what I believe)

Friend November 2018 “Daniel and the Lions”

Friend October 2018 “The T-E-S-T”  One day, when Sharon’s father was reading to her the Bible story about Daniel in the lion’s den, he traced the word “test” on her forehead. He told her she would have tests like Daniel, but she should follow Heavenly Father’s commandments and not give into fear. (Also includes a lion activity of ways Heavenly Father helps us with challenges. )

Friend Jan 1983

Friend November 2018 “Coloring Page: I Love Scripture Stories”  Children acting out story of Daniel in lion’s den.

Elijah

Friend September 2018 “Elijah and the Widow”

Friend September 2022 “Scripture Hero Cards”

Friend September 2018 “Elijah was a Prophet” Story and goal card.

Esther

Friend November 2022 “Scripture Hero Cards”

Friend October 2018 “Esther the Queen”

Friend October 2018 “Esther Was Courageous” Story and goal card.

Jonah

Friend December 2018 “Jonah and the Whale”

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Friend December 2018 “Jonah Repented” Story and goal card.

Isaiah

Friend August 1994 “Isaiah and the Time Machine” Anthony was having a hard time following along during his family’s Book of Mormon study time. They were reading the words of Isaiah in 2 Nephi, and he didn’t understand them. Anthony loved playing in his pretend time machine and his father decided to help the children understand Isaiah by using the time machine. (Excellent story!)

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Book of Mormon 2020 Engraving on metal plates is not easy, and space on Nephi’s small plates was limited. So why would Nephi go to the tedious effort of copying a large amount of Isaiah’s writings into his record?

Liahona February 2020 “Who Was Isaiah?”

Liahona March 2012  “How Can I Understand the Words of Isaiah?” Article includes the following: know Isaiah’s main topics, the reasons for studying Isaiah, the events of Isaiah’s days that he used symbolically, helpful hints to understanding his words,  etc.

Friend November 1994 “Isaiah” Isaiah prophesied of many things that would happen in his day and in the future. This article includes an explanation of Isaiah’s most quoted prophecies

Review

Friend August 2022 “For Older Kids”

Friend August 2022 “Old Testament Sudoku”


Praise to the Man: Verse One

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Praise to the Man  – Verse One
Preparation
  • Print the pictures, and the word pages. Cut each picture page in half lengthwise so one picture is on each half. Put each of the word pages in a page protector. (Optional: cover each word page with a colored paper, and tape the top edges so the colored paper can be flipped up to show the clue.)
  • Items needed: a large picture of Joseph Smith, a dry erase pen or strips of paper, a digital copy of the song “Praise to the Man” (or a CD player and a CD of “Praise to the Man.” The CD hymns with words can be found at most meetinghouse libraries. If a CD is not available, the song can be downloaded from www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study onto a laptop. A microphone can be put next to the laptop speaker so the children can hear the song. Another idea would be to have the adults in the room sing the song.)

Presentation
Explain to the children they are going to learn a new song, and they are going to do two activities to help them remember it. The first activity is to try and guess who the song is about. (Post the pictures on the board and explain that the song is about one of these people. Also post the first seven word pages on the board, in order, but turned over or covered with another sheet of paper.) Explain that the covered pages are lines in the song, and they are clues to who the song is about. One person on the board will be eliminated as each clue is read. (Some of the children may guess the name before the clues are finished, but tell them not to say it out loud.)

The second activity they are going to do is find the correct word in each line. Explain that there will be two orange words on each song page. One of the words is the correct word that is in the song, and the other is a synonym and means the same thing as the correct word. They are going to listen to the song on CD and see if they can figure out which is the correct word.

To begin teaching the verse, turn over the first song page on the board, and explain to the children that the first line in the song is the name of the song – “Praise to the Man.” Point out that this line doesn’t have any orange words in it, but it is a clue. Have a volunteer take off one of the pictures on the board that doesn’t match with this clue. (Emma Smith, because she is not a man.)

Turn over the second song page on the board – “who talked/communed with Jehovah.”

• Who is Jehovah? (Jesus) Which of the people on the board did not talk to or communicate personally with Jesus. (Benjamin Franklin) (Note: We don’t know if President Monson has talked directly with the Savior, but we do know that as His spokesman on the earth, President Monson has received direction from the Savior through revelation. The picture of President Monson is included because he is needed for a clue further on in the song.) (Lorenzo Snow saw and talked with the Savior Jesus Christ in the Salt Lake Temple – see Friend/August 1993)

Once the children have taken off one of the pictures, have them listen to the CD and see which of the orange words is correct. (Whenever they listen to the CD, start it from the beginning. Have the children sing along until they get to the clue they are working on, and then they should just listen.) Have a volunteer cover up the incorrect word with strips of paper or cross it out with a dry erase pen.

Turn over the third song page on the board – “Jesus anointed/appointed that prophet and seer.” Explain that the clue for this line is the words “prophet and seer.”

  • Which person on the board is not considered to be a prophet and seer? (Joseph had a very special role as Jesus’ guardian, but as far as we know he was not considered to be a prophet and seer.)

After the children guess the clue, have them listen to the CD to find out which of the orange words are correct. After they figure out which is correct, explain that one definition of anointing is- a sacred ceremony or process of appointing someone to a position of great responsibility, usually using consecrated oil. (For example, in the scriptures, kings and priests were anointed to their office in ancient times by prophets.)

Explain to the children that the next line in the verse needs to be skipped for now because it would give away who the song is about. Turn over the line that comes after the skipped line – “Kings shall praise/extol him and nations admire/revere.

• Which of these prophets is not well enough known for kings to praise and nations to admire?” (The choice would be either the Brother of Jared or Lorenzo Snow. Have them take off Lorenzo Snow.)
After the children remove a picture, have them listen to the CD for the correct words in the line. (Try to start the CD at this point instead of at the beginning.)

Turn over the next song page on the board – “Hail/salute to the prophet ascended /risen to heaven”.

• What does ascended or risen to heaven mean? It means that the person is no longer living and is in heaven. Which prophet is still living in mortal life? (President Monson) (Note: Moses might be a confusing one for this category because he is not dead but was taken up to heaven in a translated state.)

Turn over the next song page on the board – “Traitors and tyrants/oppressors now fight him in vain/unsuccess.”

• Which prophet did not have traitors and tyrants fighting against him, that we know of? (The Brother of Jared)

After the children remove a picture, have them listen to the CD for the correct words in the line. After they have crossed out the incorrect word, go back to the song line that was skipped, and turn it over -“Blessed to open the last dispensation/gospel period“.

• Dispensation is a period were the gospel is renewed upon the earth. Which prophet opened the last dispensation? (Joseph Smith) Remove the picture of Moses and replace the small picture of Joseph Smith with the large picture. Point out that the children have discovered who the song is about.

Have the children listen to the CD for the correct words in the line. Start the CD from the beginning and remind them to sing all lines, except for the current clue.

Put the last two lines on the board one at time starting with – “Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren.”

• Do you think Joseph Smith is still serving in heaven trying to help us, his brothers and sisters?

Turn over “Death cannot conquer/overcome the hero again.”

• How is Joseph Smith a hero? (See D&C 135:3) He gave his all, including his life, in service to God and his fellow man.

  • Can death overcome him again after he is resurrected?  No, he will never die again.

Play the CD all the way through, and have the children sing the song until they come to the last line, then they should listen for the correct word.

 

Note: If you have already taught this verse, this activity can be used as a review. This was a hard song to prepare and teach. If you find any problems with the presentation, please let me know.


Lesson 12 – Alma Baptizes at Waters of Mormon

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Lesson 12
Alma Baptizes at Waters of Mormon

Preparation

  • Print and cut out the visual aids, and the word strips and situation cards.
  • Items needed: medium size rocks (or cans of food with the labels removed), a backpack or heavy duty bag, chalk, some little pieces of wrapped candy and a candy bar for each child. Tape the burden situations to the rocks (or cans of food).
  • Print a new Scripture Reading Chart for each child.

Attention Activity
Explain that you are going to start off the lesson by giving each of them a small piece of candy. Point out that the piece of candy is small, but if they promise not to eat or open it, you promise to give them something bigger and better at the end of class. Emphasize the fact that you are both making promises.

Point out that eating candy is not a sin, but there are many things in life that give pleasure that are against the commandments of God because they are spiritually harmful. If we obey God’s commandments and avoid partaking in these spiritually harmful things, we can eventually receive the greatest gift of all, which is eternal life. Tell the children that in today’s lesson they will learn how the Lord tries to help us avoid these harmful things so that we can gain this eternal reward.

Scripture Story
Using the visual aids, tell the following story. As the story is told, background scenery such as a waterfall, a pool of water, and a grove of trees can be drawn on the chalkboard.

Remind the children that in last week’s lesson they learned about the prophet Abinadi being condemned to death by the wicked King Noah. They also learned about the repentant priest Alma who pleaded for Abinadi’s life. King Noah was angry with Alma and tried to have Alma killed, but Alma fled and hid. Alma hid in the wilderness at a place called Mormon.

  • Why was Mormon a good place to hide? (Have the children look up and read Mosiah 18:4-5 to find the answer.) It had a fountain of pure water, it was near the border of the land, it was supposed to be infested at times with wild animals, and it had a thicket of small trees that Alma hid in during the day to avoid the searches of the king–so Alma had water, food, and seclusion and cover while hiding.

At times, Alma secretly went among the people and taught the words of Abinadi to all who would listen. Many believed Alma’s words. Those who believed his words went to the place called Mormon to hear him preach.

One day Alma was teaching a large group of believers near the waters of Mormon. He taught them faith in Jesus Christ and repentance. He asked if they desired to take the next step toward becoming God’s people.

  •  What is the next step after faith and repentance? Tell the children to think of the fourth Article of Faith. (Baptism)

In order for the believers to be called God’s people they needed to covenant (promise) to serve God and keep his commandments. Sometimes when people make promises they shake hands or sign something as a symbol of their agreement. Baptism served as a witness or sign that they were willing to serve God and keep his commandments because baptism symbolizes the death of the old sinful person and the rebirth of the new spiritual person.

When the people heard they could be God’s people they clapped their hands for joy and exclaimed that it was the desire of their heart.

  • In order to be called God’s people they needed to covenant to serve God and keep His commandments. What is a covenant? A covenant is a two-way promise made between us and the Lord; both sides make promises.
  • Why does the Lord want us to make covenants? The Lord loves us and wants us to gain the blessings of eternal life, and in order to do this we must become like our Savior Jesus Christ and do the things he would do. The Lord knows that when we make bonding promises and commitments to do those things, we are more likely to do them.

Activity
Put the “Baptismal Covenants” word strip on a wall or display board. Put the word strip “We Promise” and the word strip “The Lord Promises” on each side underneath it.

We Promise
Have the children look up and read Mosiah 18:8-10 to find the covenants we make at baptism. As they find each one have them put the corresponding word strips under the “We Promise” word strip.

To come into the fold of God and be called his people.
We promise to join his church and take upon us the name of Christ. As members of his church we represent Christ and are to be examples of his teachings. (See the lesson on King Benjamin to further review this principle.)

To stand as a witness of God at all times and all places.
A witness is someone who tells others what they know and have seen; so a witness of God tells others what they know about God and His church. They state their beliefs in His commandments and try to be an example of them.

To serve God and keep his commandments.
We become more like our Savior as we obey the commandments.

To serve and help others.
We become more like our Savior as we serve and help others, which includes:

o Mourning with those that mourn.
o Comforting those that stand in need of comfort.
o Bearing one another’s burdens.

  • How do we mourn with those that are mourning? Answers might include: grieving and feeling sadness for the person’s loss and sorrow.
  • How do we bear one another’s burdens that they may be light? (Discuss this by doing the following activity.)

Activity
Show the children the rocks, and explain that you are using the rocks to represent the burdens that some people carry. Read the situation title as you put each rock into a bag.  Tell the children that life’s burdens can become heavy and difficult to carry. Let each child come up and lift the bag. Ask if they would want to carry that weight for very long. Remind the children that we covenant at baptism to help each other with our burdens. Have the children take turns reaching into the bag and taking out a rock. Have them read the situation and tell how they can help someone with that burden to make it lighter and easier to bear.

The Lord Promises
• What does the Lord promise if we keep the covenants we make? (Have the children look up and read Mosiah 18:9-10 to find the things the Lord promises. As they find each one, have them put the corresponding word strips under the “The Lord Promises” word strip.

We can be redeemed of God.
This means we can be forgiven of our sins when we repent.

We can come forth in the first resurrection.
We will be ready and spiritually prepared to come forth out of the spirit world during the first resurrection.

We can have eternal life.
Eternal life is the kind of life Heavenly Father has, which includes having a fullness of joy, love, peace, knowledge, and power.

He will pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon us.
As we keep our covenants, the Lord will bless us with his spirit more abundantly. The companionship of the Holy Ghost is a wonderful blessing because the Holy Ghost guides, teaches, protects, and comforts us.

The Lord promises to pour out wonderful blessings upon us if we keep our covenants (promises) to do the things he asks us to do.

Have the children trade their small piece of candy for a full size candy bar. Ask the children what would have happened if they hadn’t kept their promise and had instead opened and eaten the small piece of candy. They wouldn’t have received the bigger, better prize. Point out that it is the same with covenants. If we partake of unfulfilling sinful pleasures while on the earth instead of keeping our covenants (promises), we may not receive the wonderful blessing of eternal life which brings true happiness and joy. (Note: If a child has opened or eaten his or her candy, tell them they can still have another chance. Give them another piece of candy, and tell them to bring it back the following week. If they bring it back uneaten and unopened, they can still earn their reward. The Lord also gives us the opportunities in life to fix our mistakes and repent.)

Scripture Story Continued
After the people told Alma they wished to become God’s people and be baptized, Alma began to baptize them in the waters of Mormon. The first one he baptized was a man named Helam. As Alma baptized Helam, Alma submerged himself also.

  •  Why did Alma immerse himself also when he baptized Helam? In Mosiah 18:13 it says that Alma had the priesthood authority to baptize. This is evidence that he had already been baptized. Therefore when Alma immersed himself with Helam it was merely as a token to the Lord of his humility and full repentance. Alma did not immerse himself again while baptizing the others. (Joseph Fielding Smith: Answers to Gospel Questions)

Alma baptized about two hundred and four souls that day at the waters of Mormon, and anyone who was baptized from that time forward was also added to the church of Christ.

King Noah eventually discovered there was a movement among the people. He sent his servants to watch the group. When the king’s servants reported what was happening, Noah said that Alma was stirring up the people to rebellion against him. Noah ordered his army to destroy them. Alma was warned of the Lord that the king’s army was coming, so he and his people took their tents and their families and departed into the wilderness. They were in number about 450 souls.

Conclusion
As we keep our baptismal covenants, we learn to become more like our Savior Jesus Christ, and we become worthy to receive the greatest gift and reward we could ever receive, which is eternal life.

Weekly Reading Assignment

Give each child a new scripture reading chart, and remind the children to do their scripture reading assignment for this week: Mosiah 18:1-17, 30-35


Lesson 11 – Abinadi and King Noah

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Lesson 11
Abinadi and King Noah

Preparation
• Print the visual aids. Number the visual aids on the back in the order printed.
• Items needed: tape, an envelope or small paper bag, a clear jar full of nine opened rolls of pennies (or 450 of some other item), small pieces of paper, pencils, a Book of Mormon for each child.
• Print and cut out the situation cards. Put them in an envelope or small bag.

Attention Activity
Show the children the jar of pennies. Have them each write on a piece of paper how many pennies they think are in the jar. After they have guessed, instruct them to put their papers under their chairs. Explain that in today’s lesson they will learn how one person, who stood up for the right, influenced the lives of as many people as there are pennies in the jar.

Scripture Story Activity
Attach the visual aid pictures to a wall or chalkboard in random order. Tell the following story, stopping whenever you see the initials WHN. Have the children guess “What Happens Next” by picking out a picture on the wall. After you continue, have them decide if the picture they picked goes with that part of the story. If it doesn’t, have them choose the correct picture.

Many years before King Benjamin’s address to his people, a group of people led by a man named Zeniff left Zarahemla and went back to the land of Nephi. Zeniff and his people wanted to return to the land of Nephi because they considered it to be the land of their inheritance.

• What was the problem with their plan to return to the land of Nephi? The Lord had commanded the people to leave the land of Nephi because of the danger from the Lamanites.

• Were Zeniff and his people being obedient to the Lord’s commands when they went back to the land of Nephi? What usually happens when people don’t listen to the Lord? (They have to suffer the resulting consequences and sorrows.) We need to trust in the Lord, that he knows what is best for us.

WHN – When Zeniff and his people arrived at their destination, Zeniff took four men and went to talk to the king of the Lamanites about allowing them to possess the land of Nephi.

• The Lamanite King allowed them to possess the land, but he had a reason for allowing it. What might that reason have been? (See Mosiah 9:10) The Lamanite king was cunning and devious, and he allowed them to possess the land so that the Lamanites could bring Zeniff’s people into bondage. The Lamanites were a lazy people, and they hated the Nephites. They wanted to glut themselves on the Nephite’s labor.

WHN – The king of the Lamanites allowed Zeniff and his people to live in peace for several years to give the Nephites time to establish their crops and flocks.

WHN – The king of the Lamanites then incited his people to attack Zeniff’s people.

WHN – Zeniff and his people fought against the Lamanites, and eventually they were able to drive them off because Zeniff and his people turned to the Lord for help.

They set guards around the land to keep watch so the Lamanites could not come upon them and destroy them. Zeniff eventually became old. Before he died, Zeniff conferred his kingdom upon his son Noah.

WHN – Unlike his father, Noah was not a good king, and he did not keep the commandments of God.

• What were some of the things King Noah did that were against the commandments? (See Mosiah 11:2, 5 and 14 to find the answers.)
o He had many wives and concubines, which was not lawful.
o He placed his heart upon riches. He taxed the people to support himself in luxury. He had a palace and many elegant and spacious buildings built. He used gold and other precious items to ornate them.
o He spent his time in partying, wild living, and excessive wine drinking.
o He got rid of all the consecrated priests. He appointed his own priests–men who would sustain him and his wicked life style.
o He caused and encouraged his people to commit sin.

• Why would King Noah want his people to commit sin?  Through getting others to sin, Noah may have hoped to justify his sins and make sin seem acceptable and normal. (Encourage the children to remember the story of wicked King Noah when someone tries to get them to do something wrong.)

After many years the Lamanites began to attack the people again. King Noah’s armies drove them back, but King Noah’s people had become wicked and prideful. They boasted of their strength because of their victory. They also delighted in the killing and the bloodshed of their enemies.

WHN – A prophet named Abinadi was commanded by the Lord to go among the people to preach and prophesy.

• Ask the children what they think Abinadi told the people. (See Mosiah 11:21) He warned them that unless they repented they would be delivered into the hands of their enemies and be brought into bondage.

• How did the people respond to Abinadi’s words? (See Mosiah 11:26) The people were angry with him and they wanted to kill him, but the Lord delivered him out of their hands.

• Why do you think some people get angry with those who call them to repentance? Answers may include the following: It reveals their evil actions and guilt. They desire to continue doing the evil things. Their pride is offended because they don’t want to acknowledge they have weaknesses.

Because of their anger, those who are sinning may try to make it appear as if the person who is calling them to repentance is in the wrong or at fault. King Noah became angry and tried to make Abinadi seem like a self-righteous person trying to cause contention.

• When we are told to repent and improve some area of our life, how does the Lord want us to respond? He wants us to be humble and teachable.

.Why does the Lord want us to repent? Because he loves us and does not want us to suffer the temporal and eternal consequences that result from sin.

King Noah sent his men to get Abinadi so he could kill him, but they could not find him. After two years Abinadi came back among the people.

• Why did the Lord wait two years before sending Abinadi back? To give the people time to repent.

But the people had not repented. Because they did not repent, Abinadi told them they would be smitten with bondage, afflictions, famine, and pestilence. He also said they would be utterly destroyed if they did not then change their ways.

WHN – The people were angry with Abinadi. They bound him and took him before King Noah.

WHN – The priests questioned Abinadi, trying to cross him so they would have something to accuse him of. Abinadi answered them boldly and withstood all their questions. He confounded them to their astonishment. He accused them of altering and misrepresenting the ways of the Lord for their own purposes, and he accused them of not keeping the laws that they were supposed to be teaching.

• How did King Noah respond to Abinadi’s words? (See Mosiah 13:1) King Noah wanted to kill Abinadi, and he tried to make it seem as if Abinadi was crazy. Why would King Noah try to make it seem as if something was wrong with Abinadi?

WHN – They attempted to take Abinadi, but he withstood them. He told them not to touch him because he had not finished delivering his message. The people didn’t dare lay their hands upon Abinadi because the spirit was with him, and his face shone with exceeding luster. He also spoke as with power and authority from God. Abinadi preached to them many things about the commandments and about the Savior Jesus Christ.

• When Abinadi was done with his message how did King Noah respond this time? Did King Noah repent after witnessing that the power of God was with Abinadi? (See Mosiah 17:1) King Noah commanded that Abinadi should be put to death.

• Why did King Noah want to slay Abinadi? (See Mosiah 13:7) Because it cut him to the heart that Abinadi was speaking the truth about his iniquities.

• Did anyone repent and believe Abinadi’s words? (See beginning of Mosiah 17:2) There was a priest named Alma that believed the words of Abinadi.

WHN –  Alma pleaded with the king for Abinadi’s life.

WHN – The king cast Alma out and sent his servants to kill him. Alma hid and could not be found. While he was hiding he wrote down all the words Abinadi had spoken.

King Noah and the priests told Abinadi they would kill him unless he denied the things he had said.

• How did Abinadi respond? (See Mosiah 17:9-10) Abinadi told King Noah he would not recall the words he had spoken, and if King Noah killed him, then his innocent blood would stand as a witness against the king at the last day.

To take innocent life is murder and merits eternal punishment. This made Noah fearful and he was about to release Abinadi, but the priests stirred Noah back into anger.

WHN – They whipped Abinadi, and then they burned him to death. As Abinadi was burning he cried out that even as they had done to him so would they endure the same.

• Why did the Lord allow Abinadi to be killed? Sometimes the Lord’s servants are called to seal their testimony with their blood. Their death stands as a witness of the truth of their words and also stands as a witness against the wicked.

• Why was Abinadi not afraid to die? Abinadi knew that he would receive eternal life and salvation because of his faithfulness.

WHN – After Abinadi’s death, his prophecies that God would deliver the people into the hands of their enemies began to come true when the Lamanites attacked the city.

WHN – The king commanded the people to flee, but the Lamanites pursued them and overtook them and began to slay them. The king commanded that the men should leave their wives and children.

• Why would King Noah command his men to leave their wives and children? He was concerned about his own safety, and the women and children were slowing them down.

Some of the men stayed with their families and were able to convince the Lamanites to spare them and their loved ones. They were taken captive.

WHN – The men that had left with the king wanted to return for their wives and children, but the king commanded them not to. They became angry and caused him to be burned to death.

Point out that Abinadi had prophesied that King Noah would suffer the same manner of death that he had inflicted upon Abinadi.

Discussion
Abinadi stood as a witness for God. A witness for God is someone who states his or her beliefs in God and in his commandments. Ordinarily they do not have to sacrifice their lives to do this.

• How can we stand as witnesses for God?

Activity
Tell the children they are going to do an activity to help them see how they can stand for the right and be a witness for God. Divide the children into sets of two. Have each set of children choose a situation card from the envelope. Have the children act out the scenario found on the card. Have them demonstrate how they can be a witness for God in each situation by sharing their beliefs and standing for the right.  Give the children a couple of minutes beforehand to talk about and prepare their scenes with their partners.

Conclusion
When we are valiant in standing as a witness for God we can be an influence for good in others’ lives.

• Who did Abinadi influence? Abinadi influenced Alma, the former priest of King Noah, and Alma shared Abinadi’s message with many others.

Get out the jar of pennies, and have the children get their papers from under their chairs. Tell the children that 450 souls listened to and believed Alma’s message, and there are 450 pennies in the jar. Later, Alma influenced even more people because he became the high priest in Zarahemla.

Ask the children if any of them came close to guessing how many pennies were in the jar. Praise everyone for their guesses.

Encourage the children to be witnesses of God and to be good influences upon those who are around them. Explain that even though some people may appear not be interested in listening, we may have more of an influence than we realize.

Weekly Reading Assignment  

Remind the children to do their scripture reading assignment for this week – Mosiah 11-13, Mosiah 17 and Mosiah 19:4–20.

Note: It is important to complete the lesson and do the activity to help the children see how to apply what has been learned. If there is not enough time, it may be necessary to discard the WHN activity and just show the pictures and tell the story.


Lesson 9: Enos Prays

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Lesson 9
Enos Prays

Preparation

• Items needed: removable double-sided tape, two cell phones (or two pretend phones), several sheets of paper, pencils, and an eight inch piece of ribbon and a small Ziploc baggie for each child.
• Print and cut out the Scripture Story pdf Visual Aids or word. Also print and cut out the game items pdf or word; print one copy of the game questions and large phone and one copy per every two children of the small cell phone and game answers.  Put a piece of removable double-sided tape on the screen area of each cell phone. Put a small phone and one set of answers in each Ziploc baggie.

Attention Activity

Ask for a volunteer. Hand the volunteer one of the cell phones. Tell them to answer the phone when it rings. Call them using your cell phone. Greet them by name and then say, “I have a problem with my sister. She uses my stuff and doesn’t return it. It makes me very upset. What should I do about it?” Hang up before they can answer, or say, “Oh, I got to go, bye.”

• Did it do any good to ask the person for help and advice? Why not? Because time was not taken to listen for an answer. Do we sometimes do that: ask Heavenly Father for help with a problem but then don’t listen for the answer?

In today’s lesson we are going to learn about someone who prayed fervently and then took the time to listen for answers.

Ask the children if they remember which prophet they learned about in last week’s lesson. Give hints if needed. After they have recalled Jacob’s name, tell them that the prophet Jacob had a son named Enos. Jacob grew old and saw he would soon die, so he passed the spiritual and historical records of the people to his son Enos.

Have the children turn to the “Book of Enos.” Tell the children that the “Book of Enos” is only one chapter long, but it teaches important lessons about prayer.

Using the scripture story visual aids, tell the following story. Direct the children to listen for three things that Enos prayed for.

Scripture Story
One day as Enos was hunting in the forest, he recalled the words his father had spoken about the joy of eternal life. Enos wanted to be forgiven of his sins so he could be worthy to receive the blessings of eternal life, so he knelt down, prayed, and asked for forgiveness. He prayed all day, and he was still praying when it became night.

• How long did Enos pray? Ask the children what things they do in a normal day. Explain that Enos would have been praying during the time they normally spend going to school, attending classes, and eating lunch. He still would have been praying during the time they come home from school, eat dinner, and get ready for bed.

After praying all day and into the night, a voice came to Enos saying, “Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.” Enos knew God could not lie, so his guilt was washed away. He asked the Lord how it was done. The Lord told him it was because of his faith in Christ.

• Why is faith in Jesus Christ necessary for forgiveness of sins? Jesus suffered and paid the price for our sins to make it possible for us to be forgiven. If we have faith in Christ and his atonement, we will believe we can be forgiven, and then we will do the things that are necessary to be forgiven, such as repent.

After Enos’s sins were forgiven, he was concerned for the welfare of the other Nephites, and he prayed for them. (Post picture of the Nephites.) The Lord told Enos they would be blessed if they kept the commandments, but if they disobeyed, their sins would bring sorrow upon them.

• Why did Enos pray for the Nephites? He was concerned about them and their eternal spiritual welfare. The Nephites constantly had to be reminded to keep the commandments. Enos preached the word of God to them throughout his whole life.

After Enos prayed for the Nephites, he began to pray diligently for the Lamanites. (Post picture of the Lamanites.) The Lamanites had become a wild, ferocious, bloodthirsty people full of idolatry and filthiness. They lived in tents and fed on wild beasts, and many ate nothing but raw meat. They wandered around the wilderness with their heads shaven, wearing nothing but a short girdle made out of skins. They would not listen when the Nephites tried to teach them the gospel.

The Lamanites were constantly seeking to destroy the Nephites, and they swore to destroy the Nephite records and traditions. Enos prayed that if the Nephites were someday destroyed, the Lord would preserve a record of the Nephites and at some future date bring forth the record so the Lamanites might perhaps be brought to salvation.

• Why do you think Enos prayed for the Lamanites when they were the Nephites’ enemies? He had a great love for all of Heavenly Father’s children. He was sad about the choices the Lamanites were making and the consequences they would suffer. He wanted to help them change their ways, if not now then someday.

• What could we pray for in behalf of someone who has not been kind to us?

The Lord told Enos he would grant his desire; a record would be preserved. The Lord also said that other ancestors of Enos had prayed for the same thing.

• What is the Nephite record called that was preserved and brought forth in the latter days to help bring the Lamanites to God? The Book of Mormon

Discussion
• When Enos prayed, how do we know he took the time to listen for answers? He prayed all day and into the night asking the Lord to forgive him of his sins.

We don’t have to pray all day like Enos, but we should take the time in each prayer to ponder and think about our problems and to listen for help and counsel.

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, “The trouble with most prayers is that we give them as if we were picking up the phone and ordering something. We place our order and then hang up.”

• What happens when we ask for guidance and help concerning a problem but then don’t take time to listen for the answer? We might miss out on the help and guidance Heavenly Father would like to share with us.

Ask the children to name some difficulties kids their age have to face. Possible answers might include problems with family, friends, schoolwork, health, etc. Explain that the Lord wants to help them with these challenges, but they need to ask for His help and then listen for His response.

• In what ways might answers come? Ideas and solutions might come into their mind as they think about the problem. Or if they have asked a specific yes or no question about their problem, they might have a peaceful or an uneasy feeling according to what the answer is.

• Enos said he cried in mighty prayer and supplication to the Lord. How can we make our prayers more sincere and deeply felt so we are not just repetitiously repeating the same words? One possible answer might be to think about our specific problems and blessings before saying our prayers.

Activity
Give each child a piece of paper and a pencil. Instruct them to fold the piece of paper like a fan and then fold the fan in half. On the inside of the folds on the left side of the paper, have the children write specific things that Heavenly Father has blessed them with. On the inside folds on the right side of the paper, direct them to write specific things they might need help with. After they are done, instruct them fold it into a fan again. Have them tie a ribbon around the middle part of the fan. (If they desire to keep their lists private, they can fold the fan down into thirds until it is a small block of paper. They can use the ribbon that is in the middle of the fan to tie up the block.) Tell the children to put the fan on their pillow and open it when they say their prayers. Explain that it will help remind them of the things they need to thank Heavenly Father for, and it will also remind them of the problems and concerns they need help with.

Explain to the children that their blessings and needs will change as their life changes, but if they will always take a few moments to think of specific things that are going on in their life before they pray, their prayers will be more sincere and heartfelt.

Review Game

Pass out the baggies you have prepared (one per every two children). Explain that the class is going to play a review game. Show the children the large cell phone. Tell the children that you are going to place a question on the large cell phone screen. They can find the answer to the question in their baggie and then place the answer on their small cell phone screen. After everyone shows you their response, you will let them know how many phones have the correct answer on them. If they don’t all have the correct answer, they can look at each other’s phone and decide which ones are correct and then try again. When everyone has the correct answer, replace the question on the large cell phone with another question. Continue in this manner until all the questions have been answered.

Weekly Reading Assignment

Remind the children to do their scripture reading assignment for this week: The Book of Enos


Lesson 8 – Jacob’s Encounter with Sherem

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Lesson 8
Jacob’s Encounter with Sherem

Preparation
• Print the scripture story visual aids. (The visual aids are from Book of Mormon Stories chapters nine and ten.)
• Items needed: one package of toothpicks, masking tape or stickers, fine tip markers, several pieces of string or ribbon cut into three inch lengths, and packages of stick gum (stick gum can be found at Dollar Tree). (The amounts needed for each item will be based on how many children are in the class.)
• Carefully remove the gum from the wrappers in one of the packages of gum. Replace the empty wrappers back into the package, making it appear as if the gum is still in the wrappers.
• Fold two inch pieces of masking tape or stickers in half over the end of the toothpicks. Each should look like a small flag when done. Cut off the other pointy end of the toothpick with scissors. Make five toothpick flags per child. Save the remaining flag free toothpicks for the object lesson.

Attention Activity

Tell the children you brought some gum to share with them, and show them the empty gum package. Offer it to the children. After they take a piece, ask them how they felt when the discovered the wrappers were empty. Explain to the children that during their life people will try to convince them to accept beliefs that are empty and have no value. In today’s lesson they will learn how to discern divine truth so as to help them avoid the disappointment and sorrow that comes from accepting empty, false beliefs. (Tell the children that at the end of class you will give each of them a piece of real gum to take home.)

Scripture Story Introduction
Tell the following scripture story and show the numbered visual aid pictures where indicated.

Remind the children that in last week’s lesson they learned about Nephi and his family crossing the sea and arriving at the promised land. In the promised land, Lehi eventually grew old and died.

(1) After Lehi died, Laman and Lemuel once again became angry with Nephi for urging them to keep the commandments. (1) They complained, saying their younger brother wanted to rule over them. They became so angry they sought to kill him.

(2) The Lord warned Nephi that he should flee into the wilderness and take all those who would go with him. All those who believed in the warnings and revelations of God followed Nephi. They traveled into the wilderness for several days. They settled in a land and prospered there. They constructed buildings and a temple. They called themselves the people of Nephi.

(3) The people who followed Laman and Lemuel were called Lamanites. A curse was put upon the Lamanites; they were cut off from the Lord’s help and guidance because they chose to do wicked things. The Lord also caused their skins to darken so the Nephites would be reminded not to mix or intermarry with them and bring the curse upon themselves. The Lamanites became an idle people, full of mischief and trickery. They hated the Nephites and wanted to destroy them. The Lord told Nephi that the Lamanites would be a scourge to his people to help turn the Nephite’s hearts back to the Lord when they faltered.

Nephi led his people in righteousness and helped protect them against the Lamanites, but eventually he grew old. (4) He gave the historical and spiritual records to his younger brother Jacob. Jacob had been consecrated a priest and teacher by the hand of Nephi. (5) He was ordained of God to lead and teach the people.

(Direct the children to turn to the “Book of Jacob” in their Book of Mormons.) Some of Jacob’s words are recorded in the “Book of Jacob.” In the seventh chapter of the “Book of Jacob” Jacob tells about a man named Sherem who came among the Nephites preaching and trying to convince the people to accept his teachings.

Scripture Story
(6) The man named Sherem tried to convince the people to accept false things that were not true. One of the main things he tried to convince the people was that there would be no Christ. He taught that it was not necessary for an atonement to be made for the sins of mankind. He said that the people only had to follow the basic laws and rituals of the Law of Moses in order to gain salvation.

• Is it possible to gain salvation without Christ’s atonement? We cannot undo the sins we have committed, and no unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of God. Christ suffered and paid the price for our sins. Only through Christ’s Atonement can we become clean again.

• Why would Sherem try to convince the people there would be no Christ? Sherem was under Satan’s influence. Satan did not want people to believe in Christ and be saved.

(7) Sherem was a learned man, and he was very good at speaking to people and flattering them. Many people believed his words.

• Why did people find his words to be so appealing? Possibly because they wanted to follow the easier path of just performing the basic rituals and performances of the Law of Moses instead of following the more difficult path of sincere repentance and of living righteous lives in order to qualify for forgiveness of their sins when Jesus Christ performed the Atonement.

Sherem knew that Jacob had faith in Christ, so he sought to speak to Jacob. He hoped to shake Jacob’s faith.

• Why would Sherem want to shake Jacob’s faith? Perhaps he hoped to shake Jacob’s faith so that all the people who listened to Jacob would also falter, and then Sherem could try to influence them to believe his teachings and follow him. But Jacob’s faith could not be shaken. Jacob had received many revelations, he had seen angels, and he had heard the voice of the Lord. His faith was firm.

(8) Sherem eventually got the opportunity to speak to Jacob. He accused Jacob of leading the people into changing the right ways of worshiping God by preaching of a being named Christ. Sherem said that no man could know of such things or of what was to come in the future.

(9) The Lord blessed Jacob with the spirit, and he was able to confound and thwart everything Sherem said. Jacob asked Sherem if he believed in the scriptures. Sherem said he did believe in the scriptures. Jacob said he must not understand them because all the prophets in the scriptures had testified of Christ. Jacob also testified that he personally knew that Christ would come because it had been revealed to him by the power of the Holy Ghost.

(10) Sherem said he wanted to see a sign by that power. Jacob said he would not ask God for a sign to show Sherem something that he already knew was true. (Sherem must have had a belief in Christ, but his personal notions and desires became so powerful that he tried to ignore that knowledge.)

(11) Jacob said if it was the will of the Lord to smite Sherem, then that would be his sign that God has power and that Christ will come.

(12) The power of the Lord came upon Sherem, and he fell to the earth. He was so stricken and incapacitated that others had to feed him and take care of him for many days.

• Did Sherem ask for a sign so he could believe in Christ? No. He did not expect a sign to be produced, and if none was produced he could accuse Jacob of being false. Sherem had not planned on being struck down by God.

• If we want to gain a testimony of Christ, would seeking for signs be a good way to do it? Have the children look up and read D&C 63:9 & 11-12. Explain that signs and miracles come because of faith. Signs do not give a person faith. Faith in Christ comes through the witness of the Holy Ghost. Remind the children of Laman and Lemuel. They did not have faith even though they had seen an angel, heard the voice of the Lord, and had seen many mighty miracles. They did not have faith because they would not open their hearts to the Holy Ghost. If we seek for signs it will be to our condemnation.

(13) Sherem suffered for many days after being struck down by the power of God. He asked that the people be gathered. He knew he was dying, and he wanted to speak to them before he died. When the people were gathered, he denied the things he had taught them and confessed that Christ was true. He said he had been deceived by the devil and now feared for his soul. He knew he was about to die and face God. He was afraid of the eternal judgements he would face for his sins.

• How did Sherem feel when he realized he would have to suffer the consequences of preaching false doctrines? (Fear and sorrow) How would someone feel if they had accepted false doctrine and then realized they would have to suffer the consequences of that choice?

(14) After confessing, Sherem died. The power of God came upon the people. They felt the Spirit’s witness of the truth of the matter. They fell to the earth in awe. The people once again turned their hearts to God.

Discussion
There are many people in today’s world that are influenced by Satan. They try to lead people away from Christ. Some try to convince us that Jesus is not the Son of God, that He didn’t suffer and die for our sins. They say we do not have to believe in Christ and follow the commandments to receive salvation.

• How can we find out for ourselves that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he atoned for our sins, and that only through Him can we be saved? Jacob had faith in Christ because the Holy Ghost had revealed the truth of it to him. We can receive that same witness of Christ if we will pray and seek for the Holy Ghost to reveal the truth to us. We also learn from Jacob that we can gain a testimony of Christ through reading the scriptures. The scriptures testify of Christ.

Object Lesson
Ask for a volunteer. Instruct the volunteer to break one of the toothpicks. Point out how easy it was. Tell the children that the broken toothpick represents someone who does not have a strong testimony. That person’s resolves to follow Christ is easily broken when temptation comes along.

Someone who has built up their testimony of Jesus Christ through study, prayer, and obedience to the commandments can gain spiritual strength like Jacob’s. Jacob’s testimony was strong and firm.

Add toothpicks to a pile as you mention (or as the children mention) things that will strengthen a testimony such as: studying the scriptures every day, praying every morning and night, listening to General Conference, listening carefully to teachers and speakers at church, listening and participating in Family Home Evening and family scripture study, reading stories from the Friend magazine, studying for and giving talks in Primary, and obeying the words of Christ.

After you have at least 10-12 toothpicks in the pile, have a volunteer try to break the pile. They must keep them bundled close together. If they do this, it should not be possible to break them. Explain that our testimony can start out weak and small, but it can be reinforced and built up until it is strong and firm.

Activity
Hand out five labeled toothpicks to each child. Direct the children to write on each side of the labels things they can do to strengthen their testimony. Tie each person’s toothpicks together in a bundle with string or ribbon. Instruct the children to put their bundle somewhere where they will see it daily to help remind them of the things  they need to do to strengthen and build up their testimonies.

Weekly Reading Assignment

Remind the children to do their scripture reading assignment for this week –  2 Nephi 5:1-25 and Jacob 7:1–23.


Lesson 7 – Crossing the Sea

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Lesson 7 – Crossing the Sea

Preparation
• Items needed: a large rectangular pan, a large container filled with water, a paper boat made from the instructions found in Lesson 6, a small paper bag, and a Book of Mormon for each child.
• Print the visual aids. Cut out the scripture references. Tape or paste each scripture reference to the back of its matching numbered scripture story picture. (There will be some pictures with the same number on them. Keep the sets together when handing them out to the children.) Cut out the game pieces. Put the sun and lightning pieces in the paper bag. (Note: I printed the game board onto blue paper and cut out the game path, waves, and fish and pasted them onto yellow cardstock. I also colored the fish and star yellow with a colored pencil.)

Attention Activity

Ask the class if they think crossing the sea in a ship is easy.

Pour the container of water into the rectangular pan. Have a volunteer try to blow the paper boat from one long side of the pan to the other. Have two other volunteers try to make the task difficult by blowing the boat in the opposite direction and by blowing on the water to make waves. (Have the volunteers stay about a foot away from the boat as they do their individual tasks.) When the boat reaches the other side of the pan, or when it sinks, point out the difficulties that occurred during the activity: the boat tumbling over, the boat filling with water, the boat going in the wrong direction, etc.

Remind the children of the ship that Nephi built. Nephi was blessed with Heavenly Father’s guidance in building the ship, so it was a well built ship, but crossing a sea in any ship can be dangerous. Storms can occur, causing heavy winds that could blow the ship off course. Large waves can form that could flood or capsize a ship. Navigating a ship can also be a problem. In the vast, wide open, empty sea it is difficult to know where you are and what direction you are going. People could starve to death or die of thirst if they can not find their way to land.

Nephi and his family needed the help of the Lord to carry out the difficult and perilous journey of crossing the sea.

Scripture Story

Give each child one of the scripture story pictures. Children can share pictures, or they can be given more than one picture if needed. Make sure each child has a Book of Mormon. Give the children a few minutes to look up and read the scripture reference found on the back of their individual pictures. Going in order, have the children stand up one at a time and describe what is happening in their picture according to the scripture reference they read. Add any details they leave out. Ask any questions that go with that part of the story.

#1) 1 Nephi 18:5-6 The voice of the Lord came to Lehi. Lehi was told that it was time for his family to begin their journey across the sea. They loaded provisions onto the ship such as fruit, meat, honey, and all other items they would need according to what the Lord had commanded.

#2) 1 Nephi 18:8 After Nephi, his family, and all their provisions were on board, they put out to sea. Strong winds blew the ship toward the promised land.

#3) 1 Nephi 18:9 After many days of traveling on the sea, Nephi’s brothers, the sons of Ishmael and their wives began to make themselves merry. They began to dance and sing. Then they began to speak rudely to others. They forgot about the Lord and his commandments, and they forgot that it was by His power they had come to enjoy safety, guidance, and assistance on their journey.

#4) 1 Nephi 18:10-11 Nephi began to fear that the Lord would be angry with them and smite them because of their iniquity. He understood the precarious and dangerous situation they were in. They were dependent upon the Lord’s mercy and assistance to help them safely cross the sea.

Nephi talked to his brothers and the others about what they were doing, but they became angry with him. They were prideful and did not want anyone, especially their younger brother, telling them what they should do. Laman and Lemuel took Nephi and tied him up with cords. They treated him cruelly and harshly. The Lord allowed it so He could teach them a lesson and demonstrate to them His great power.

• Is it wrong to be happy and celebrate? The Lord approves of proper dancing, singing, and celebrating, but some music and dancing can encourage inappropriate behavior and a loss of self-control. The dancing and singing on the ship led them to abandon their self-restraint which led them to speaking with much rudeness. To be rude means to be unkind or vulgar. Rude behavior makes the spirit withdraw, and it is only natural to expect the protective blessings of heaven to withdraw also.

#5) 1 Nephi 18:12-13 After Laman and Lemuel tied up Nephi, the Liahona stopped working. They didn’t know what direction they should steer the ship. Then a great storm arose. Terrible and fierce winds drove them backwards for three days. Laman and Lemuel began to be frightened they would drown in the sea, but they still did not free Nephi from his bonds.

• In what ways did the Lord demonstrate his great power?

#6 ) 1 Nephi 18:17-19 Lehi tried to talk to Laman and Lemuel about what they were doing, but they would not listen. They threatened anyone who spoke for Nephi. Lehi and Sariah were old, and the grief they suffered because of their children caused them to become ill and lay sick in bed. They became so ill they came close to dying. Jacob and Joseph, who were their young sons that had been born in the wilderness, needed care and nourishment from their parents. These young sons also suffered and were full of sorrow. Not even Nephi’s wife and his children’s tears and prayers softened Laman and Lemuel’s hearts.

#7) 1 Nephi 18:14-16 On the fourth day the winds and storm became even more severe. They were about to be swallowed up by the huge waves. Laman and Lemuel realized that the judgments of God were upon them, and that they would not survive if they didn’t repent, so they loosened the bands from Nephi. Nephi’s ankles and wrists were terribly swollen and sore from being constrained for so long, but Nephi never murmured or complained. Instead he praised the Lord.

• Why do you think Nephi was grateful and praised the Lord instead of complaining after suffering so much?

• Was Laman and Lemuel’s repentance sincere? They did not feel sorrow for what they had done. They had only released Nephi because of personal, selfish concern for their own lives. Not even the suffering and near death of their parents, or the suffering of their younger brothers, turned their hearts.

#8) 1 Nephi 18:21–22 After Laman and Lemuel let Nephi loose, Nephi picked up the Liahona and it began to work again. Then Nephi prayed, and the winds and the storm ceased. There was a great calm. Nephi guided the ship, and they once again sailed towards the promised land.

• Why did the Liahona work for Nephi but not for Laman and Lemuel? The Liahona only worked according to faith and diligence. Laman and Lemuel were not faithful and diligent in obeying the Lord or his commandments.

#9) 1 Nephi 18:23-25 After many days of traveling on the sea, Nephi and his family arrived at the promised land. The land was fertile, and their seeds grew abundantly. They also found many kinds of animals there such as cows, ox, horses, goats, and all kinds of wild animals in the forests. They also found all kinds of ores such as gold, silver, and copper.

Discussion
• How did Laman and Lemuel’s disobedience affect their parents and the rest of the family? It made their parents sick, and it caused everyone to suffer fear and distress.

• How does our disobedience affect our parents and family members? Sin causes a lot of pain, sorrow, and suffering for everyone. The person sinning suffers the consequences of their sins, and the people that are near to them are hurt and affected by the wicked things the sinner does.

Game
Show the game board and explain to the children that the object of the game is to get the ship from the start to the promised land.

• Ask the children if they remember what the promised land is a representation of. (Eternal Life) Explain that as we travel through our mortal lives, we need to strive to do the things necessary to attain eternal life. There are things that help us move toward that goal, and there are things that impede our progress. In this game we talk about both.

Have the children take turns drawing papers out of the bag and moving the ship on the game board. If they draw the sun, they move the ship forward two spaces. They must then tell of something that helps keep the guidance of the Lord in their lives. They must also explain how doing that thing helps them in life. Answers might include: prayer, scripture reading, keeping the commandments, being honest, being kind to others, etc.

If they draw the lightning they move the ship back one space. They then tell of something that drives the Spirit away and causes suffering in people’s lives. They must also explain how it causes suffering. Answers might include: swearing, lying, cheating, complaining, arguing, stealing, using drugs or alcohol, etc. Note: If they draw a lightning piece at the start, they stay at the start position.

Continue in this manner, with the children taking turns drawing papers from the bag and moving the ship, until they have reached the space marked “Promised Land.”

Conclusion
Remind the children that sin and disobedience will always cause misery and suffering for themselves and others. Alma 41:10 says, “Wickedness never was happiness.” Encourage the children to do the things that will help them have the divine guidance of the Spirit in their lives so they can be guided toward eternal life and happiness.

Weekly Reading Assignment

Remind the children to do their scripture reading assignment for this week – 1 Nephi 18:5-25


Lesson 5 – The Liahona

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Lesson 5
The Liahona

Preparation

  • Items needed: tape, chalk.
  • Print and cut out the scripture story pictures.
  •  Print the signs, game board, and Liahona onto cardstock. (Print the Liahona onto gold cardstock, or color it with a crayon.)  Cut out the signs.
  • Cut out the Liahona and the Liahona strips. Glue the Liahona to a heavy piece of paper. With an exacto/utility knife, cut along the two dotted lines on the Liahona. Tape the two Liahona strips together at a tab to make one long strip. Make sure the strip is in numerical order. Coming from the back, insert one end of the combined strip through the top cut out line on the Liahona. Then push it through the bottom cut out line, going toward the back. Pull the strip through until only the first block of words is showing in the front of the Liahona. Tape together the ends of the strip in the back so they form a loop.
  • Laminate the game board, or put it into a page protector and tape the top closed. Cut apart the square game pieces. Cover each  star square on the game board with a blank square. (Leave the start square uncovered.) Put the Lose a Turn squares face down on all the squares that don’t have stars. Use rolled pieces of tape to hold the cutout game piece squares in place.
  • Draw a large version of the map found at the end of the lesson onto the chalkboard.

 

Attention Activity
Tape the sign “Eternal Life” on a wall. On an opposite wall put the sign “Mortal Birth.” Ask for a volunteer. Blindfold that person, and tell them they need to get from the sign that says “Mortal Birth” to the sign that says “Eternal Life.” Tell them there will be obstacles in the way but you will provide someone to help them get safely around the obstacles.

Quickly set up some obstacles between the two signs such as chairs, books, people, etc. Ask for another volunteer. Have that person give verbal directions to the blindfolded person on how to get safely from one end of the room to the other. Stay next to the blindfolded person in case they need additional assistance.

  •  What might have happened if the blindfolded person hadn’t listened to the person giving directions? The blindfolded person might have gotten hurt because he or she couldn’t see the obstacles in the way. The person also might have gone the wrong way and not accomplished the goal of getting to the sign that says “Eternal Life”.

Ask the children if they think it would be nice to have someone guiding them in life so they always know the right way to go and the right things to do. Tell them we do have that guidance. In this lesson we learn where that guidance comes from and what happens when we don’t follow that guidance.

Scripture Story
Using the scripture story pictures and the large drawing of the map, tell the following story. As you tell the story, tape the pictures on the map according to where they took place.

Nephi and his brothers were again instructed to return to Jerusalem. This time they were sent to get Ishmael and his family. Nephi and his brothers would need wives in the Promised Land, and Ishmael had many daughters. Ishmael agreed to go with them. Nephi and his brothers married the daughters of Ishmael when they returned to their father’s tent in the Valley of Lemuel. Lehi was then instructed by the Lord that it was time to take their journey to the Promised Land.

On the morning their journey was to begin, Lehi found a brass ball of curious workmanship outside his tent door. Inside the ball were two spindles; one spindle pointed the way they should go in the wilderness. They gathered their provisions and departed. They followed the directions on the ball which led them through the more fertile parts of the wilderness, which was near the borders of the Red Sea. They hunted for food as they went. After traveling for many days, Nephi’s steel bow broke and his brother’s wood bows lost their spring.

Because of the loss of their bows, the sons of Lehi weren’t able to provide food for their family. Many of them began to murmur against the Lord, including Lehi. Instead of complaining, Nephi worked to resolve the problem. He went and made a new bow out of wood. After Nephi made the bow, he went and asked his father where he should go to obtain food.

  •  Why did Nephi approach his father for help? Lehi was the head of the family, and he was a prophet of the Lord.

Because of Nephi’s actions, Lehi was reminded of his duty and he repented. Lehi was chastened by the Lord for his murmuring, and then he was instructed to look at the brass ball. He saw there was writing inside the ball. Nephi went up to the top of the mountain according to the directions given in the ball, and he obtained food for the family.

During their travels in the wilderness, Ishmael died at a place called Nahom. The daughters of Ishmael mourned for their father and murmured because of their afflictions in the wilderness. They, along with Laman and Lemuel, wanted to return to Jerusalem. Laman and Lemuel plotted to kill their father and Nephi. The love in their hearts had waxed cold because of their wickedness. The voice of the Lord spoke to the two brothers, and they repented for a time.

The family traveled in the wilderness for eight years. Many children were born as they were traveling. The Lord strengthened them, and they were able to bear all hardships. They eventually arrived at a place they called Bountiful.

Chalk Board Discussion

After asking each question below, write a shortened version of the answers on the board. (See example diagram for layout of answers.)

• What was the ball of brass called that Lehi found outside his tent? (See Alma 37:38) The Liahona – meaning director or compass
• The Liahona was prepared by the Lord to show Lehi and his family the way they should go in the wilderness. How did it direct Lehi and his family? Through spindles that pointed the way, and through words that taught them the ways of the Lord.
• What is the Liahona a spiritual representation of? (See Alma 37:45) The words of Christ
• Where are the words of Christ found? In the scriptures, in the words of the prophet, in revelation through the Holy Ghost.
• Where was the Lord leading Lehi and his family with the Liahona? To the promised land
• Where do the words of Christ lead people to? Eternal Life
• What things caused the Liahona to cease working? (See Alma 37: 40-41 and 1 Nephi 16:28) It ceased to work when their faith in God wavered, when they murmured and complained, or when they were slothful and lazy and didn’t give diligent heed to the directing compass provided by the Lord.

• What things interfere with the words of Christ leading people to eternal life? People’s lack of faith in God. People’s lack of heed and diligence in studying, seeking for, and obeying the words of Christ.
• What difficulties did Lehi and his family suffer when the Liahona ceased to work? (See Alma 37:42) They did not prosper or progress in their journey; they were afflicted with hunger and thirst, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course.
• What difficulties can people suffer if they don’t give heed to the words of Christ? Answers might include the following: Without guidance, temptations become harder to resist, and sin causes suffering. If we linger in the “wilderness” we may not reach our goal of eternal life.

Game

Put the game board and the Liahona on a display board for everyone to see. Choose a volunteer. Tell the volunteer that the object of the game is to get from the starting square to a square that says “The Promised Land.” There are two ways they can do this: they can try and guess which way to go, or they can check the Liahona for directions. Tell them it will take a little diligence and effort to get directions from the Liahona. They will have to look up a scripture and find the directions in the scripture. But if they try to guess which way to go, and it is the wrong guess, they will lose their next turn.

The volunteer then decides whether to guess which way to go or to check the Liahona for directions. If they decide to guess, they can choose any square that is touching the starting square including the ones going diagonally. If they choose to check the Liahona, it will give a scripture reference. The class will need to look up that scripture. They will look for the following words in the scripture: up, down, right or left. Display the sign that has those words written on it to help remind the children of what they are looking for. In the scripture there may be combinations of two of those words to indicate which way to go diagonally. The class can look for the words, but the person whose turn it is makes the final decision on which way to go.

When the volunteer decides where to go, he or she takes off one of the square coverings. If there is no star under the covering, they have chosen the wrong way to go and must take the covering which says “Lose a Turn”. They turn that square in on their next turn, but they can’t play again until the following turn. The next person whose turn it is has the same choice of whether to guess or consult the Liahona. They would move from the last star square the person before them was on.

Continue playing in this manner, with the children taking turns choosing what to do, until they reach the square marked “The Promised Land.” The Liahona word strip will need to be rotated down at each turn. To do this, reach under the page and pull down on the strip.

Conclusion
Explain to the children that the words of Christ will always lead them in the right direction. They help us know which way to go when we have choices to make. But if we don’t exercise faith and diligence, and we rely on our own judgment instead of seeking for and obeying the words of Christ, we may go the wrong ways and not progress in our journey towards Eternal Life.

Weekly Reading Assignment
Remind the children to do their scripture reading assignment for this week – 1 Nephi 16:1-39 and Alma 37:38-46.

Resources: Scripture story pictures –  “Book of Mormon Stories” chapter five.


Lesson 4 – Tree of Life Vision

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Lesson 4
Tree of Life Vision


Preparation

  • Print and cut out the Tree of Life Vision Pictures. Cut off the vertical edge of one side of the river. Glue the edges of the two river pieces together. Cut out and glue a “Temptation” to the back of each “Mist of Darkness.”
  • Also print and cut out the story figures of Lehi and his family found in the Friend, February 2008, For Little Friends, “Lehi and Nephi Obey God”.
  • Items needed: a Book of Mormon for each child, a bag of white Lifesaver mints (don’t remove the mints from their clear individual wrappers), chalk, and tape.

Scripture Story
Tell the following story using the Tree of Life Vision pictures and the pictures from “Lehi and Nephi Obey God.” Tape the pictures to the chalk board as you tell the story.

As Lehi and his family prepared for their journey to the promised land, Lehi had a vision. In the vision he was in a dark and dreary wasteland. He prayed to the Lord for mercy. He then saw a large and spacious field and a tree whose fruit was white to exceed all whiteness. The fruit was very desirable to make one happy. He partook of the fruit, and it was sweet above all others ever tasted. It filled him with joy, and he was desirous that his family partake of it also. As he looked around for his family he saw a river near the tree. At the head of the river he saw his wife Sariah and his sons Nephi and Sam. They looked as if they didn’t know where to go, so Lehi called and beckoned to them and they came and partook of the fruit. Lehi also wanted Laman and Lemuel to partake of the fruit. He looked and saw them at the head of the river. He beckoned to them, but they would not come.

As Lehi looked around some more he saw a rod of iron that led to the tree. The rod of iron extended along the bank of the river. There was also a strait and narrow path which went along side the rod of iron. He saw many people, and some were trying to get to the path. When they came and started on the path, a mist of darkness arose and they lost their way and wandered off. Others came forward and caught hold of the rod of iron, and they pressed forward until they partook of the fruit of the tree. Then Lehi saw on the other side of the river a great and spacious building, and it seemed to be floating in the air. The building was filled with a multitude of people whose clothes were very fine. They were mocking those who had partaken of the tree. Some who had partaken of the tree were ashamed because of the scoffing, and they fell away onto other paths and were lost. But there were some who did not heed the scorning of those in the building.

Discussion
• What did Lehi see in the large and spacious field? A tree with fruit on it.
• How did Lehi describe the fruit? (See 1 Nephi 8:10-12) Write on the display board the following descriptions:

It was white to exceed all whiteness.
It was most sweet above all others.
It was desirable to make one happy.
It filled him with joy.

The Lord frequently uses symbolism to teach important lessons. Sometimes it is difficult to understand what the symbolism means. After Nephi listened to his father tell about the dream, he wanted to know what the interpretation was, so he prayed to know its meaning. Because of his faith he was shown the same vision, and he was shown its meaning. Nephi learned that the fruit was the greatest of all the gifts of God.

• What is the greatest of all the gifts of God? (See D&C 14:7) What is eternal life? It is the highest degree in the celestial kingdom, and it is the kind of life Heavenly Father has. (Put the “Eternal Life” label next to the fruit.)

The purpose of Lehi’s vision is to teach us how to gain eternal life. Without the atonement of Jesus Christ we could not attain eternal life, regardless of how good we are on earth, because all men sin and no unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of God. Jesus paid the price for our sins. The tree represents the love of God demonstrated in the sacrifice and the atonement of his son Jesus Christ. (Put up the “Love of God, Atonement of Jesus Christ” label next to the tree.)

• What did the strait and narrow path represent? The strait and narrow path represents following Christ’s way of life such as praying, being honest, giving service, etc. (Put the “Christ’s Way of Life” label next to the path.)

We have been given aids to help us stay on the strait and narrow path. Lehi saw an iron rod that people could hold on to to help them stay on the path.

• What did the rod of iron represent? (See 1 Nephi 15:23–24) (Put the “Word of God” label next to the rod of iron.)

• Where can we find the word of God? In the scriptures, in the teachings of latter-day prophets, and in the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

• In Lehi’s vision some people started on the path but then became lost in mists of darkness. What did the mists of darkness represent? (See 1 Nephi 12:17) (Put the “Temptations of the Devil” label next to the mists of darkness.)

• What are some temptations of the devil? (Place a mist of darkness over the path for each answer given.)

The temptations of the devil blind us. We can’t see the right way to go and we can become lost.

• In the vision, some people made it through the mists of darkness. What did those people use to help guide them? The iron rod which is the word of God. The word of God can help us know the right way to go.

Game

Inform the children they are going to play a game that shows how the word of God helps them know the right way to go.

Tape a mint to each piece of fruit on the tree of life. Cover the rod of iron and the path with the remaining mists of darkness. Direct a volunteer to choose a mist of darkness and read the situation that is on the back. Instruct the children to look in the bible topical guide for the temptation’s subject and find a scripture that would help them avoid and resist that temptation. Have the volunteer read the scripture the children chose. The volunteer can then take a fruit (mint) off the tree. Have another child pick a mist of darkness and do the same process again. Continue until each child has had a turn. After the game is finished, remind the children that if we use the word of God to guide us, it will lead us to eternal life.

• How do we hold onto the word of God? By making it part of our life. We do this by studying and abiding by the teachings found in the scriptures and the words of the latter day prophets, and by seeking for and listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Heeding and obeying the word of God will help us avoid the deceptions and temptations of Satan so that we can avoid going astray.

• In the vision, Lehi’s mind was so occupied with other things that he did not notice that the water in the river was filthy. What did the river or fountain of filthy water represent? (See 1 Nephi 12:16 & 15:26–29) (Put the “Depths of Hell” label next to the river.) How do people end up engulfed in the depths of hell? They get lost in Satan’s temptations, go astray, and fall into the depths of hell.

In Lehi’s vision there were some people who held onto the rod until they reached the tree and partook of the fruit, and then they became ashamed and fell away because the world mocked them. These people represent those who accept the gospel and the ordinances necessary for eternal life, such as baptism and temple ordinances, but then they yield to the tauntings and temptations to be like the people of the world.

• The people of the world who were mocking those who partook of the fruit were in a great and spacious building that appeared to be floating in the air. What did the great and spacious building represent? (See 1 Nephi 11:36) (Put the “Pride of the World” label next to the building.)

Pride and feelings of superiority because of possessions, physical abilities, or accomplishments are empty and have nothing to hold them up because everything we have comes from God. Like the building floating in the air, people lifted up in pride eventually will fall. They do not realize that the things the world values such as wealth, honors, physical beauty, and physical ability have no value after death. The only thing of value will be the relationships and the righteous characteristics we develop while on the earth. If we spend our time seeking after worldly things, we may miss the opportunity to develop the things that will be important in the eternities.

In the vision there were those who fell away, but there were also people who partook of the fruit and then remained faithful. The people who remained faithful are those who endured by continuing to seek for and obey the word of God. Because of their study and prayers they have a clear understanding of what has lasting value, and they ignore the world’s empty offerings. They know that eternal life is better than anything that the world has to offer because it is the greatest of all God’s gifts.

Weekly Reading Assignment

  • Remind the children to do their scripture reading assignment for this week – 1 Nephi 8:1-38, 1 Nephi 11:1-36 and 1 Nephi 15:1-36.

If I Listen With My Heart – Verse Three

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“If I Listen With My Heart” – Verse Three

Preparation

  • Items needed: light weight colored paper, clear stick glue, magnets, a page protector, clear tape, a lamp or lantern, a large envelope, and chalk and eraser.
  • Print the story pictures, stain glass pattern, and word pages (make sure and print the picture of Christ onto light weight white paper). Cut out the story pictures. Cut apart the word pages on the dotted lines. Put a magnet on the back of each item. (Optional: Put a black background paper on the word cards.)
  • Cut the stain glass pattern along the lines so that you have nine pieces. Using the pieces as patterns, cut out each piece from  different colors of light weight paper (or print Emilie Hanson’s pre-made version) Glue the pieces to the front of the picture of the Savior. Make sure the picture of the Savior doesn’t show through the colored paper, but try not to use dark colors over the face. Using the photo above as your guide, cut  the pieces into four parts. Cut out the labels and glue each one to a piece as shown above. Put the pieces into an envelope.
  • Cut strips of dark paper and tape them to the edges of the page protector to make a frame.

Presentation

Tell the children that they are now going to learn the third verse of the song “If I Listen with My Heart.” Explain that this verse is about the Holy Ghost being a way we can hear the Savior’s voice. The Savior communicates with us through the Holy Ghost. There are many different things that the Holy Ghost tells us that the Savior wants us to know.

Ask the children if they have ever seen a stain glass window. Explain that a stain glass window is many pieces of colored glass combined to make a beautiful picture. When light comes through the window, it’s beauty can fill us with joy and uplift and warm our souls. Explain that the Holy Ghost can also fill our lives with joy, warm our souls, and light up our life with beauty. Like the different colored pieces of stain glass, there are different things the Holy Ghost does. A few of those things are mentioned in this verse.

Put the page protector on the board. Explain that you have several colored pieces of paper inside the envelope that will make a pretty stain glass type picture on the framed page protector. Each of these colored pieces of paper has a label on it. The labels are things the Holy Ghost does that are mentioned in the verse.

Choose a child helper. Draw out the piece of colored paper from the envelope that says “teaches truth and right.”  Give the piece to the child and have him or her put it on the page protector using rolled pieces of tape. Tell the children that the helpers will need to try to put each piece in the right spot on the page protector. Disclose that the picture should form a heart when completed.

Tell the children that in the July 1997 Friend there is a story about a boy named Christopher. Christopher had been given the gift of the Holy Ghost, but he had become concerned because he had never heard the still small voice.  (Put the picture of  the upset Christopher on the board.) Christopher told his parents how he was feeling (put picture of parents on board), and they explained that the Holy Ghost can communicate in other ways besides a still small voice.  They reminded Christopher of the good feeling he had after telling the truth about spilling the red punch on the carpet. (Put the picture of the spilled drink on the board. Also put the word card next to it that says “I feel the Holy Spirit as He teaches truth and right”.) Read the card to the children and explain that it is the first line in the verse. Ask “Does the Savior want us to know truth and right?”

Choose another helper. Give that child the piece of colored paper that says “comforts”. Have the child put it on the page protector. Explain that  the Holy Ghost can comfort us when we are afraid, sad, or worried. Tell the children that when Christopher was lost in the mall and was afraid,  he prayed for help. He felt calm and reassured. He also felt he should sit on a bench and wait, (put on the board the picture of  Christopher sitting on the bench), and his parents were able to find him there. (Put the word card on the board that says “He comforts me in times of need” next to the picture of Christopher on the bench.) Tell the children that those are the words of the next line in the verse.  Ask, “Do you think Jesus wants to comfort and help us?”  Explain that in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus not only suffered for our sins, but he also suffered our pains, heartaches, and fears so he would know how to comfort and help us.

Choose another helper, and give that child the piece of colored paper that says “Testifies of Christ”. Have the child put it on the page protector. Tell the children that in the story about Christopher, his parents also reminded him of the time when he was reading the scriptures, and he suddenly understood a parable that Jesus taught. (Put picture of Christopher and the scriptures on the board.)  Explain that the Holy Ghost can testify to us that Jesus is the son of God and that His words are divine truth. The Holy Ghost can also help us understand His words.   (Put the word card on the board that says “He testifies of Christ”  next to the picture of Christopher with scriptures. Tell the children that is the next line in the verse.)  Explain to the children that the Holy Ghost also testifies that Jesus is our Savior and redeemer,  and that because of His sacrifice and atonement we can repent and be forgiven of our sins. Ask, “Why does Jesus want us to know this?”

Draw out the last colored piece of paper that says “Fills with peace”. Put it on the page protector, and then put the word card on the board that says “He speaks to me in quiet ways that fill my soul with peace”.  Point out to the children that Christopher didn’t even realize that the Holy Ghost was speaking to him because it was in quiet ways such as warm feelings and thoughts that came to him. But those thoughts and feelings filled Christopher with peace.

Put the stain glass picture in front of a turned on lamp or lantern so that the children can see the picture of Jesus.  Explain that we learn in this verse that if we listen with our hearts, we will realize that the Holy Ghost is telling us the things that the Savior wants us to know.

 The chorus pages will not be needed. Hopefully by this time they know that part, but the stain glass picture can be used to help remind them of the words of the chorus.

(In Junior Primary you may want to sing each line of the verse as you put it on the board, and then review the lines at the end and try to sing the whole verse.)

To help the children memorize this verse, take off the first word card. Write its words on the board, but leave the main words blank except for the first letter. See if the children can remember what those words are, and then sing the verse. Do the same with the next word card. Continue in this manner until the children have each line memorized. Many junior Primary children know letters, so prompt them with the sound of the letter to help remind them of the word.

Safety Reminder: Use only battery powered lanterns. If you use a lamp, put the paper on the lamp shade using a straight pin. Do not put the paper near the hot light bulb.