Table of Contents
The Lord speaks to Joshua—He is commanded to be of good courage, to meditate upon the law, and to keep the commandments—He prepares Israel to enter Canaan.
Joshua sends spies to Jericho—They are received and concealed by Rahab—They promise to preserve Rahab and her household.
“Be strong and of a good courage.”
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24” After Joshua became the leader of the Israelites, the Lord encouraged him by saying, “Be strong and of a good courage” (Joshua 1:6). What can the children learn from Joshua about how to be strong and courageous for Christ?
- Invite the children to find the phrase that is repeated in Joshua 1:6, 9, and 18, and write it on the board (see also verse 7). Help the children think of reasons we might need this message, just as Joshua did. Review as a class some of the stories in Joshua 1–4; 6 (see also “Joshua the Prophet” and “Rahab and the Spies” in Old Testament Stories), and ask the children to identify how the people in these stories showed courage and strength.
Old Testament Stories “Joshua the Prophet”
Friend May 2022 “Joshua’s Courage”
Old Testament Stories “Rahab and the Spies”
Friend May 2022 “Scripture Hero Cards”
- Invite the children to talk about someone they know who is strong and courageous for Jesus Christ. Encourage them to write down something they would like to do to be stronger and more courageous for Christ.
Come Follow Me with Living Scriptures “Have Courage and Serve God” Lesson ideas
I can think about the scriptures day and night.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24” The Lord told Joshua that if he meditated on the scriptures and followed the counsel in them, he would have success leading the Israelites into the promised land. What can you do to teach the children of the great blessings that come from the scriptures?
What does this verse suggest about how we should approach our scripture study, both individually and as a family? How have the scriptures made our “way prosperous” and brought us “good success”? (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24”)
Give each child a picture or drawing of the sun and the moon. Read to them from Joshua 1:8: “Meditate [on the scriptures] day and night.” Explain that meditate means to think deeply about something. Repeat the phrase several times, and invite the children to hold up the sun when you say “day” and the moon when you say “night.” Let the children repeat the phrase with you.
Friend April 1996 “Ponder, Pray, and Listen”
- Younger Children: Ask the children to name things they do during the day and things they do at night. Tell them that Joshua was told to think about the scriptures day and night. Help them think of stories or teachings from the scriptures that they could think about day and night. Invite them to draw a picture of themselves or their family studying the scriptures. Why do they like studying the scriptures? How are they blessed when they do?
- Older Children: Invite the children to write down how much time they spend in an average day on various activities. Then invite them to read Joshua 1:8, looking for something that we all need to do every day and night. Ask them to find words and phrases in this verse that teach us about the blessings of studying the scriptures. How can meditating on the scriptures help us have success in the other things we do each day?
Invite the children to read together the following scriptures: Joshua 1:8; 1 Nephi 15:23–24; 2 Nephi 31:20; 32:3; Jacob 4:6; Helaman 3:29–30. Ask the children to find a word or phrase in each passage that teaches them about the power of studying the scriptures. What goals can they set for their personal scripture study?
- “Scripture Treasures” (January 2015 Friend)
This poem tells of treasures you can find as you read the scriptures daily.
- “How can I learn more when I read the scriptures?”(April 2009 Friend)
Elder David A. Bednar shares five principles for reading the scriptures.
- “How can the scriptures help me?” (January 2015 Friend and Liahona)
President Boyd K. Packer shares thoughts on the subject.
Bright Idea Poster: Elder Richard G. Scott—“Scriptures are like packets of light” (April 2013 Friend)
- “Why is it important to read the scriptures?”(February 2011 Friend)
President Boyd K. Packer shares some thoughts on this subject.
- “Sharing Time: On the Right Path” (February 2000 Liahona and January 2000 Friend)
- Includes a “gospel road signs” activity.
I must be baptized to enter the kingdom of heaven.
CHAPTER 3
Joshua leads Israel to the Jordan—The Lord cuts off the water of the Jordan; it stands up as a heap, and Israel passes over on dry ground.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24” The story of Joshua leading the Israelites through the Jordan River into the promised land provides an opportunity to teach the children that we must be baptized to enter the kingdom of heaven.
- Review some details of the story of the children of Israel crossing the Jordan River to enter the promised land (see “Joshua the Prophet” in Old Testament Stories). Then show a picture of Jesus being baptized, and tell the children that Jesus was baptized in the same river. Invite the children to share other things they know about Jesus’s baptism.
- Sing a song about baptism with the children, such as “Baptism” (Children’s Songbook, 100–101). Help them identify what this song teaches us about why Jesus was baptized and why we should follow His example. Let the children share their feelings about being baptized. Talk about what the children can do now to prepare to be baptized when they are eight years old.
Remembering our Blessings
Joshua places twelve stones to commemorate the crossing of the Jordan—Joshua is magnified before the children of Israel as they cross the Jordan—After the priests bearing the ark pass over, the river returns to its course.
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24” After reading what the Lord wanted the Israelites to do with stones from the Jordan River, your family could talk about some of the great things the Lord has done for you. Then you could give each family member a stone and invite them to write or draw on it something the Lord has done for them.
Friend May 2022 “Come, Follow Me Activities”
Remembrance Rocks
Story: God helped Joshua part the River Jordan so the people could walk across on dry ground. Then God asked Joshua and his people to collect stones from the river to remember how God helped them (see Joshua 4:5–7).
Song: “Where Love Is” (Children’s Songbook, 138–39)
Activity: Find rocks to paint or color. Write the word remember on them. While you decorate them, talk about ways God has helped you.
Faith Precedes the Miracle
The inhabitants of Canaan fear Israel—The males of Israel are circumcised—Israel keeps the Passover, eats the fruit of the land, and manna ceases—The captain of the Lord’s host appears to Joshua.
Obedience brings God’s power into my life.
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24” These chapters deal with battles over the lands of Jericho and Ai. What do you learn about how God can help you and what you need to do to access His power? As you read them, consider how you battle temptation in your own life (for example, see Joshua 7:10–13). What impresses you about the Lord’s instructions for taking Jericho? (see Joshua 6:1–5). Perhaps the account in Joshua 7 will inspire you to determine if “there is an accursed thing” in your life that you need to remove (Joshua 7:13).
Your family might have fun acting out the instructions the Lord gave to the Israelites in order to conquer Jericho. What might the Lord want us to learn from this story?
Media Library “Joshua Taking Jericho (The Taking of Jericho)”
Old Testament Coloring Book “The City of Jericho”
Jericho is taken and destroyed—Only Rahab and her household are saved.
Israel is defeated by the people of Ai—Joshua complains to the Lord—Achan and his household are destroyed because he disobeyed the Lord by taking the spoils of Jericho.
Joshua uses an ambush, takes Ai, and slays its inhabitants—He builds an altar in Mount Ebal—The words of the law, both blessings and cursings, are read to the people.
Joshua exhorts Israel to be courageous, keep the commandments, love the Lord, and neither marry among nor cleave unto the remnants of the Canaanites who remain in the land—When the children of Israel serve other gods, they will be cursed and dispossessed.
I can choose to serve Jesus Christ.
Joshua recites how the Lord has blessed and led Israel—Joshua and all the people covenant to choose the Lord and serve Him only—Joshua and Eleazar die—The bones of Joseph, taken from Egypt, are buried in Shechem.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24” Among Joshua’s final words to the Israelites was a plea to “choose … this day whom ye will serve.” Ponder how this counsel could also bless the children you teach.
- Ask the children to talk about some of the choices they have made today. Read to the children from Joshua 24:15: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” How have the children chosen to serve the Lord today? What are some ways we can choose to serve Him every day?
- Sing a song about making good choices, such as “Choose the Right Way” (Children’s Songbook, 160–61). How do we feel when we choose to serve Jesus Christ? Invite the children to draw pictures of themselves doing something to serve the Lord. Share a story from your life or from a Church magazine about choosing to serve the Lord.
Latter Day Kids “Choose You This Day” Lesson ideas
- Invite the children to create a poster using some of the key words and phrases in Joshua 24:15. Let them share their posters and explain why they chose those words. How can we show God that we have chosen to serve Him?
- Invite the children to suggest situations in which they might have to decide to choose God over other things. Ask them to consider what they would do. Why is it important to “choose … this day” rather than waiting for the situation to arise? How will we be blessed when we make the right choice?
After reading this verse, family members could share experiences in which they chose to serve the Lord even though it was difficult. Why is it important to make the choice to serve Him “this day” instead of waiting to decide until a situation arises? How can we support members of our “house” as we strive to “serve the Lord”? (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Joshua 1–8; 23–24”)
Lesson 23: Joshua Leads Israel,” Primary 6: Old Testament (1996), 101–5
To help the children choose to serve the Lord
For additional teachings ideas see “Priorities“
Additional Resources:
- Friend August 1994 “Joshua”
- Friend January 1987 “Scriptural Giants: Joshua, Devout General”
- Video: Old Testament Stories, “Chapter 23: Joshua”
- Friend May 2022″ Scripture Hero Cards”
