Moses 7 Enoch continued preaching repentance. The Lord protected His people from their enemies. Enoch established the city of Zion on the principles of righteousness. He saw a vision of the earth’s history from his own day to the Millennium. He saw the influence of the adversary and watched God weep for the suffering of His children. Enoch also foresaw the coming of the Savior, the eventual Restoration of the gospel, the gathering of Israel, and the return of the city of Zion upon the earth. Enoch and his city were translated. (Scripture Helps: Old Testament “Moses 7”)
Activity: 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.
To help your children learn about Enoch and Zion, you could use “Enoch the Prophet” in Old Testament Stories (19–21) or the second verse of “Follow the Prophet” (Children’s Songbook, 110–11). Then you could ask your children to help you retell the story in their own words. The pictures of Enoch in this outline might help.
Here’s one way to help your children understand what it means to be of “one heart and one mind” (Moses 7:18): Make a paper heart and cut it into pieces, enough for each child to have one. Let them write their name on their piece and work together to put the heart together. As they do, you might talk about things you love about each child.
Help your children count how many times the word “Zion” appears in Moses 7:18–21, 62–63, 68–69. Each time they find the word, help them discover what the verse says about Zion (see also Guide to the Scriptures, “Zion,” Gospel Library). How can we be more like the people described in these verses?
Ask the children to look for words that describe Enoch’s people, also known as Zion, as they read Moses 7:18. Write these words as headings at the top of the board, and invite the children to write, under each heading, things they can do to be more like Enoch’s people. After they share, ask the children how they can make their homes more like Zion. They might find some ideas in 4 Nephi 1:15–18.
Help the children think of actions related to the phrase “one heart and one mind” (Moses 7:18). Explain that this phrase means that the people of Enoch loved and were kind to each other. Invite them to use this week’s activity page to draw a way they can show love.
Story: Enoch and his people built a city called Zion. The people in Zion were righteous and “were of one heart and one mind” (Moses 7:18). That means they loved and cared for each other. They didn’t fight or hurt each other.
Song: “Love at Home” (Hymns, no. 294)
Activity: Read Moses 7:19–21. Then build a city with blocks, stones, or sticks. As you build, talk about how you can make your family more like Zion. You can send pictures of your finished city to the Friend!
Sing a song about loving one another, such as “Love at Home” (Hymns, no. 294). Bring pictures that illustrate key phrases in the song to help the children learn the words. Ask the children to share ways they can show love to each other in Primary and in their homes. Then let them act out their ideas.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 38:24-25 What does it mean to esteem someone as yourself? We need to value others as much as we value ourselves. Have the children tell what different parts of the body does. Explain that each part of the body is important and needed. Just like our body parts are united, we need to be united as people [and help, support, and take care of each other.]
The Redwood trees are joined together as one.
“The giant redwood trees that grow in northern California [USA] … have a very shallow root system. But when they are surrounded by other redwood trees, the strongest, fiercest wind cannot blow them over. The roots of the giant redwood trees intertwine and strengthen each other. When a storm comes, they actually hold each other up” (Conference Report, Oct. 1994, p. 103; or Ensign, Nov. 1994, p. 78).
1. I know you, and you know me. We are as diff’rent as the sun and the sea I know you, and you know me, And that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
2. I help you, and you help me. We learn from problems, and we’re starting to see. I help you, and you help me, And that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
3. I love you, and you love me We reach together for the best we can be I love you, and you love me, And that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
To introduce Moses 7:32–33 to your children, you might talk to them about a choice they had to make recently. Then you could read the verses together to find out what Heavenly Father wants us to choose. What choices can we make to show that we choose Him? Perhaps your children could take turns acting out one of these choices while the others guess what the action represents.
Help the children think of things that make Heavenly Father happy. Read Moses 7:28 with the children, and explain that Heavenly Father was sad because the people were very wicked (see verses 32–33).
Invite the children to play a game in which they act out things they can do that make Heavenly Father happy. Ask the other children to guess what they are doing. Share with each of the children something you have seen them do that makes Heavenly Father happy.
In Moses 7:59, Enoch asks the Lord a question. Invite your children to find it, and then ask them to find the answer in verse 60. You might also talk with them about a time when they were expecting someone special to visit or return home. Ask them how they felt and what they did to prepare for the visit? What are some ways we can prepare for Jesus to come again?
Consider showing pictures of times when the Savior appeared to people (such as Gospel Art Book, nos. 60, 82, 83, and 84). What are the people doing in the pictures? How might the people have felt when they met Jesus?
You could also sing a song about the Savior’s Second Coming, such as “When He Comes Again” (Children’s Songbook, 82–83), and ask the children what they think it will be like when Jesus comes again. Let the children share how they feel about seeing Jesus when He comes again.
As your family reads Moses 7:59–67, try marking or noting things the Lord tells Enoch about the last days—for example, that God will “gather out [His] elect” (verse 62) and that there will be “great tribulations among the wicked” (verse 66). How can we have faith and hope despite the wickedness in the last days? As part of this discussion, consider reading these words from Elder Ronald A. Rasband: “Take heart, brothers and sisters. Yes, we live in perilous times, but as we stay on the covenant path, we need not fear. I bless you that as you do so, you will not be troubled by the times in which we live or the troubles that come your way. I bless you to choose to stand in holy places and be not moved. I bless you to believe in the promises of Jesus Christ, that He lives and that He is watching over us, caring for us and standing by us” (“Be Not Troubled,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 21).
“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.
“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.
“City of Enoch” (December 1994 Friend) Solve this code to figure out why the people in the city of Enoch were so righteous.
2. Enoch was a prophet; he taught what was good.People in his city did just what they should. When they were so righteous that there was no sin, Heav’nly Father took them up to live with him.
Genesis Chapter 5 The generations of Adam are Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch (who walked with God), Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah (who begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth).
Moses Chapter 6 Adam’s seed keep a book of remembrance—His righteous posterity preach repentance—God reveals Himself to Enoch—Enoch preaches the gospel—The plan of salvation was revealed to Adam—He received baptism and the priesthood.
Adam and Eve’s family kept a book of remembrance. They wrote their family history in the book. They wrote about how the Lord helped them.
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 5; Moses 6” Reading about the “book of remembrance” that Adam and Eve’s family kept may inspire your family to make your own book of remembrance. Discuss as a family what you would like to include. Maybe you have photos, stories, or documents from your family history. You might choose to include things that are happening in your family now. What will future generations find valuable? You could also discuss how the phrases “by the spirit of inspiration” (Moses 6:5) and “the pattern given by the finger of God” (Moses 6:46) could guide your efforts. Consider saving information from your book of remembrance on FamilySearch.org.
Story: Adam and Eve’s family made a “book of remembrance” (Moses 6:5). They wrote about Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father’s plan. This book was the beginning of the scriptures.
Song: “Love Is Spoken Here” (Children’s Songbook, 190–91)
Activity: You can make a book of remembrance too! Ask everyone in your family to write down their testimony of Jesus Christ. Then attach the pages together to make a book.
Ask the children to share a time when they were asked to do something that was hard or scary for them. Share the story of, or read together, Enoch’s call to be a prophet, found in Moses 6:27, 31–34 (see also “Enoch the Prophet” in Old Testament Stories).
When Enoch was called to preach the gospel, he worried that he would fail. But God helped him do great things. Why did Enoch feel that he couldn’t preach the gospel? (see Moses 6:31). How did God help Enoch? (see Moses 6:32–34; 7:13).
Enoch was not the only prophet who felt inadequate when the Lord called him. Read about Moses’s and Jeremiah’s reactions in Exodus 4:10–12 and Jeremiah 1:4–9.
Your children might enjoy sharing or acting out other examples of when God helped people do difficult things—for example, Noah building the ark, David fighting Goliath, Ammon defending the king’s flocks, or Samuel the Lamanite preaching. (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 7, 19, 78, 81). You could also share an experience of your own and let your children talk about how God helps them do hard things.
Invite the children to name some difficult things that children their age sometimes do (such as completing an assignment for school, being kind to someone who is unkind, or telling the truth when they have made a mistake). Help the children find phrases in Moses 6:32–34 that can help them. Ask the children to share a time when God helped them do something difficult. Share your own experiences too.
Friend August 2020 “Maddy’s Courage” Maddy didn’t want to start school because she was afraid. Her mom reminded her of sometimes we have to do brave and hard things, such as Daniel facing the lions, or Nephi crossing the ocean, or Esther talking to the king. And just like Heavenly Father helped all of those people, He would help her too.
Faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost prepare me to return to God.
Adam and Enoch taught their people the first principles and ordinances of the gospel: faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (see also Articles of Faith 1:4).
God taught Adam what we need to do to return to Him—have faith in Jesus Christ, repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Help your children find these principles in Moses 6:52, 57. Then you could help them write a short talk about one of the principles. Each talk could include a scripture from Moses 6, an experience, and a testimony. Let them share their talks with each other.
You could also display pictures that represent the first principles of the gospel (see the fourth article of faith). Place them in a line leading to a picture of Jesus Christ. As you read Moses 6:52, your children could stand next to the correct picture when they hear the words the picture represents.
Your children might enjoy singing songs that teach the principles in Moses 6:52, such as “Faith,” “When I Am Baptized,” and “The Holy Ghost” (Children’s Songbook, 96–97, 103, 105). Help them find these principles in Moses 6:52.
How would we answer Adam’s question found in Moses 6:53? What answers do we find in verses 57–62?
What does it mean to be “born again into the kingdom of heaven”? (Moses 6:59) (To have the Spirit of the Lord cause a mighty change in a person’s heart so that he has no more desire to do evil, but rather desires to seek the things of God. (Guide to the Scriptures, “Born Again, Born of God” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org) For additional information click on link.)
What can we do to continue to be born again throughout our lives?
From the time of Adam and Eve, parents have been commanded to teach their children the gospel. How can you encourage the children to listen to and follow the righteous teachings of their parents?
To encourage your children to support their parents in their role as gospel teachers, consider asking a child to read Moses 6:58 and identify the commandment God gave to parents. Then you could show a picture of Adam and Eve teaching their children (like the one at the end of this outline) and let your children talk about what they see in the picture. Your children could draw pictures of their families reading the scriptures together, praying together, or playing together. Ask the children what they can do to support their parents when they teach them the gospel.
Friend March 2019 “A Lesson From My Parents” Color the pictures and circle the things a parent or other family member has taught you. What else can you think of?
What are some of the things that “bear record of [Christ]”? (see also 2 Nephi 11:4). Consider inviting family members to share something that they see “in the heavens above” or “on the earth” that helps them learn about Jesus Christ. For example, how do trees, rocks, or the sun remind us of the Savior? What do the titles “living water” and “bread of life” teach us about Him? (John 4:10–14; 6:35). (Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 5; Moses 6” )
Enoch taught that after Adam was baptized, “the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man.” After this sacred experience, Adam heard a voice from heaven saying, “Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my sons.”
The title “son of God” now had two different meanings for Adam. Not only was he a literal spirit son of God created in His image, but Adam was also a son of God because he had been born again through Jesus Christ. Those who experience spiritual rebirth and receive the ordinances of the Savior’s gospel are also sometimes referred to as “children of Christ.” (Scripture Helps: Old Testament “Genesis 5, Moses 6: How does the Fall affect us?”)
Enoch taught that Adam asked God why all people must repent and be baptized. In response, God taught Adam important truths that clarified how the Fall would impact the posterity of Adam and Eve.
First, God made it clear not only that Adam and Eve were forgiven for their transgression in the Garden of Eden, but also that the consequences of their sins would not be passed down to their children. The Prophet Joseph Smith reiterated this truth when he taught, “We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.”
God also taught Adam that his posterity would be “conceived in sin” (or “born into a world of sin”). As mortal people living in a fallen world, we commit sin, which makes us unclean and separates us from God. While this experience gives us opportunity to “prize the good” after we “taste the bitter,” we also must be cleansed from our sins through Jesus Christ, for “no unclean thing can dwell” in God’s presence.
God commanded Adam to teach his children to repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Ghost so they could be sanctified from their sins through Jesus Christ. God declared, “This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten.”
The Garden of Eden was beautiful. But Adam and Eve needed something more than beautiful surroundings. They needed—and we all need—an opportunity to grow. Leaving the Garden of Eden was the necessary first step toward returning to God and eventually becoming like Him.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 3–4; Moses 4–5” If Adam and Eve had stayed in the Garden of Eden, they would not have had children and would not have progressed to become like Heavenly Father. We are grateful for their choice to partake of the fruit because this choice made possible our mortal life and our opportunity for eternal life.
To help your children better understand the Fall of Adam and Eve, you could copy the pictures from “Adam and Eve” (in Old Testament Stories, 13–16) and cut them out. Then you could work together to put the pictures in order as you discuss the experiences of Adam and Eve. As you do, talk about why it was important, in Heavenly Father’s plan, for Adam and Eve to leave the Garden of Eden.
Write two titles on the board: Because of Fall of Adam and Eve,(I…) and Because of Jesus Christ, (I…) Help the children identify the consequences of the Fall as you read together Moses 4:23-25; 6:48; Romans 5:12; 2 Nephi 2:22–23. Let them write what they learn under the first title. Then help them identify how Jesus Christ overcame sin and death as you read together Moses 5:8–11, 14–15; 6:59; Alma 11:42. Let them write what they learn under the second title. Why are we thankful for Jesus Christ? Your children can feel gratitude for the Atonement of Jesus Christ as they understand how He overcomes the effects of the Fall.
Ideas for under the title “Because of Fall of Adam and Eve” could include the following:
We could choose to be born on the earth.
We know good from evil.
We became separated from Heavenly Father.
We will someday die.
Ideas for under the title “Because of Jesus Christ” could include the following:
We will live again after we die
We can return to Heavenly Father if we will repent.
We have a perfect example to follow.
Show a video about the Savior’s Atonement, such as “Because of Him” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Invite the children to share how they feel about Jesus Christ.
Consider a simple object lesson to introduce the principle of agency: invite your children to color this week’s activity page, but give them only one color to use. Why would it be better to have choices? You could then read together Moses 4:1–4 and talk about why God wants us to be able to choose between right and wrong. How do Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ help us make good choices?
Help your children think of and draw pictures of good choices they can make to follow Jesus Christ. Or you could sing together a song about making good choices, such as “Choose the Right Way” (Children’s Songbook, 160–61). You might tell each other about a time when you made a good choice and talk about how you felt afterward.
When Adam and Eve had to leave the Garden of Eden, they couldn’t be with Heavenly Father anymore. Read Moses 5:4, 8 with your children, and help them find what Adam and Eve did to feel near to Him and hear Him.
Explain that we pray to Heavenly Father in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ (see Moses 5:8). What are some things we can say to Heavenly Father in our prayers?
Sing with the children a song about prayer, such as “A Child’s Prayer” (Children’s Songbook, 12–13).
Additional Resources
Lesson 4: The Fall of Adam and Eve,” Primary 6: Old Testament Place the picture of Adam and Eve next to the one of God the Father and Jesus Christ. Explain that when Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, they could walk and talk with Heavenly Father and Jesus. To help the children understand why the result of Adam and Eve’s choice is known as the Fall, take the picture of Adam and Eve and move it down below the picture of God the Father and Jesus Christ as you tell of Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit. Adam and Eve “fell” or were removed from the presence of God. Explain that because Adam and Eve could no longer freely associate with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, this is referred to as the Fall. Adam and Eve’s separation from Heavenly Father and Jesus began mortal life on earth.
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.
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)
• In the preexistence Satan had a plan to destroy the freedoms and agency of the people who came to earth. What did Satan hope to gain from implementing his plan? (Glory and power for himself)
(Possible activity to demonstrate life without agency) • What would life be like without agency? To help the children imagine what it might be like to live under Lucifer’s plan, tell them that for the next few minutes they must do exactly what you say and nothing else (make sure they know they cannot talk). Have them stand and remain standing perfectly still for a few seconds. Then tell each child where to sit. (Do not sit friends near each other.) Tell the children they must sit erect, feet flat to the floor, looking straight ahead, not moving or speaking. Have them hold the position until you tell them otherwise. After about thirty seconds, let them stand again and sit where they want. (Walk in His Ways pg 62)
Friend November 1996 “For Little Friends: Window Picture” (Print the picture of the earth and the picture of Jesus back to back.) Show the picture of the earth and ask who created it. Have the children hold it up to a light or window to check their answer or find the answer. Explain that the earth was created by Jesus under the direction of Heavenly Father. Question: Why did Heavenly Father want the earth created? (See Abraham 3:24-26 – For us to gain a body and be tried and tested to see if we would learn to exercise control over our bodies and keep the commandments.)
Help the children think of times when they made something by following another person’s directions. For example, maybe they have made a recipe with a parent or sibling guiding them. Write Who created the earth? on the board, and invite the children to find the answer in Moses 2:1. Testify that Jesus Christ created the earth under the direction of Heavenly Father.
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that to “create … does not mean to create out of nothing; it means to organize, the same as a man would organize materials and build a ship.”1 The Hebrew word for “create” means to shape, fashion, organize, and form (see Genesis 1:1; Abraham 3:24).
“The Earth, After It Was Formed, Was Empty and Desolate”The Prophet Joseph Smith indicated that the translation “without form, and void” (see Genesis 1:2 and Moses 2:2) should read “empty and desolate” (see Abraham 4:2;
Your children might also look at pictures of things Jesus created (see “The Creation of the Earth” in Old Testament Stories, 8–12). Then you and your children could talk about how you feel about Jesus Christ after reading about the Creation.
President Russell M. Nelson explained that “the physical Creation itself was staged through ordered periods of time,” not calendar days. Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that a day in the Creation accounts “is a specified time period; it is an age, an eon, a division of eternity; it is the time between two identifiable events. And each day, of whatever length, has the duration needed for its purposes. …
How will you make learning about the Creation fun for your children? You could take them on a search outside for the kinds of things that were made during each period of Creation.
Assign each child verses in Moses 2 related to one of the days of creation, and ask him or her to draw a picture of the things Heavenly Father and Jesus created on that day. Ask the children to hold their pictures and stand in the order of the days of Creation, and then invite each child to teach the rest of the children what happened on the day they were assigned. What do we learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ from the story of the Creation? (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 “Genesis 1–2; Moses 2–3; Abraham 4–5” )
Friend March 2002 “For Little Friends” Place the correct picture and label on the chart according to which “day” it took place in the creation (one square will get two pictures). Check your answers in Genesis 1:1-27, and move pieces to their correct position as needed (Visuals: Black and white game board. Note: Color cardstock can be used for the game boards.)
Consider singing a song together about our beautiful world, such as “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228–29). Maybe your children could add to the song other things God has created that help them feel His love.
One way to approach the Creation story is to invite your family to find how many times in Genesis 1 or Moses 2 God calls the things that he made “good.” What does this suggest about how we should treat God’s creations—including ourselves? What do we learn from the way these events are worded in Abraham 4?
Activity: Now play a game! The first person says, “I am thankful for …” and then says something Heavenly Father and Jesus created. The next person repeats it and then adds something new. Keep going around in a circle as long as you can.
Stewards over the Earth: Moses 2:28 explains that humankind was given dominion over all living things. President Russell M. Nelson said, “We should care for the earth, be wise stewards over it, and preserve it for future generations” (“The Creation,” Liahona, July 2000, 104).
Discussion: In what ways do Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ take care of us? How can we follow Their examples as we take care of the living things around us? In what ways can our actions show our gratitude for God’s creations? (Submitted by Mitzi Schoneman)
Your children can develop a sense of reverence and respect for their own and others’ bodies as they learn that we were all created in God’s image. To help them understand what this means, you could let your children look at their image in a mirror or picture while you read Moses 2:26–27 to them.
You could also show them how baby animals are often in the “likeness” of their parents (see the picture in this outline, for example). This could lead to a conversation about why it’s important to you to know that you are created in your Heavenly Father’s image.
You and your children might enjoy drawing a human body and cutting the drawings into puzzles. As your children put their puzzles together, they could talk about ways they can show Heavenly Father that they are thankful for their bodies. (or invite the children to choose a part of the body and write next to it why they are thankful for it.) Express your gratitude for your body, and testify that we were created in God’s image.
[Using the picture below, invite the children] to point to His eyes, mouth, and other parts of His body. Then invite them to stand and point to those same parts of their own bodies. Read from Doctrine and Covenants 130:22: “The Father has a body of flesh and bones … ; the Son also.” Testify that our bodies are like Heavenly Father’s and Jesus’s bodies.
LessonPix “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes” Song idea. Print the pictures, cut them apart into cards, and then use them to sing the song. To make the song more interesting, have the children mix up the pictures on the top two rows and/or the bottom two rows and then have them do the actions and sing the words in their mixed up order.
Read together Moses 2:26–27. What do these verses teach us about our bodies? Show the video “God’s Greatest Creation” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), or play the game “Your Body Is a Temple” (Friend, Aug. 2019, 24–25). You could also read together related quotations from President Russell M. Nelson’s message “Your Body: A Magnificent Gift to Cherish” (New Era, Aug. 2019, 2–7) that will help the children feel gratitude to Heavenly Father for their bodies.
Friend August 2019 “Your Body is a Temple” Activity comparing how the body is like a temple.
As you read Moses 3:2–3, ask your children to listen for what God did on the seventh day.
Help your children find or draw pictures of things they can do on Sunday to make it a holy day and different from other days. Share with each other why it is important to you to keep the Sabbath day holy.
Or,
Give the children a few minutes to write a list of as many things as they can think of that they can do to make the Sabbath a holy day. Invite the children to share their lists, and encourage them to add to their lists as others share suggestions they didn’t think of. Suggest that the children take the lists home with them and refer to them when they need ideas of good things to do on the Sabbath.
Children may have to explain to their friends why they treat Sunday different from other days. Help your children role-play explaining to a friend why they choose to do things on Sunday that honor Heavenly Father and Jesus. Suggest that they use Genesis 2:2–3 in their explanations. How does keeping the Sabbath day holy show our love and respect for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
A few days before class, invite one of the children and his or her parents to come prepared to share things they do in their family to keep the Sabbath day holy. Invite the other children to share what their families do.
Moses 1 God reveals Himself to Moses—Moses is transfigured—He is confronted by Satan—Moses sees many inhabited worlds—Worlds without number were created by the Son—God’s work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
Abraham 3 Abraham learns about the sun, moon, and stars by means of the Urim and Thummim—The Lord reveals to him the eternal nature of spirits—He learns of pre-earth life, foreordination, the Creation, the choosing of a Redeemer, and the second estate of man.
I Lived with Heavenly Father Before I Was Born.
I lived as a spirit before I was born on earth.
The term intelligences can be used to describe the spirit children of God. It can also describe “the spirit element that existed before we were begotten as spirit children.” Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught, “Prophets have revealed that we first existed as intelligences and that we were given form, or spirit bodies, by God, thus becoming His spirit children—sons and daughters of heavenly parents.” Scripture Helps: Old Testament “Moses 1; Abraham 3”
Knowing about our premortal life can inspire your children to make choices based on eternal truths. To help them learn about it, you could give them some key words and phrases to find in Abraham 3:22–28, like “before the world was,” “spirits,” “make an earth,” and “prove.” What do these verses teach us about why Heavenly Father sent us to earth?
A song like “I Will Follow God’s Plan” (Children’s Songbook, 164–65) could reinforce what Abraham 3 teaches. Maybe you could invite your children to draw pictures that go with the words.
Help your children think of situations in which they have to choose whether or not to do what God has asked them to (see Abraham 3:25; see also For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices). Let them practice possible responses to these situations. How can the Savior help us when we make a wrong choice?
After you read together God’s message to Moses in Moses 1:4, consider letting your children look at their reflection in a mirror and giving themselves a similar message: “I am a child of God.” Then they could give the same message to each other: “You are a child of God.”
Share with each other why you are glad to know you are children of God. How does this knowledge change the way you treat yourselves and others?
Friend May 2021 “A Birthday Crown” Wyatt wonders if he is special because he gets to wear a birthday crown on his birthday. His father tells him he is special because he is a child of God and that everyone else is too. When a girl was afraid to go down the slide, Wyatt remembered that everyone is special to Heavenly Father and he encouraged her and praised her.
You and your children could compare God’s message to Moses in Moses 1:4 with Satan’s message in verse 12. How can you help your children distinguish between God’s messages to them and Satan’s?
Sing “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2–3) with the children. Let them color this week’s activity page, and use it to review the truths this song teaches.
We lived in Heaven: (Click on the below picture. Print the picture, or show it on an electronic device.) Explain that before we were born on earth we lived in heaven with Heavenly Father.
We were spirits there. A spirit is what is inside of us that makes us alive. When we were spirits, we didn’t have flesh and bones like our bodies have now, but we looked the same.
(Use these puppets to demonstrate what it means to be a spirit. See here for assembly instructions.)
Show the first picture again and explain that Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, and we are his spirit children
Sing: I Am a Child of God.Tell the children they are going to sing the song “I Am a Child of God.” Explain that God is another name for Heavenly Father. (I like the Red Headed Hostess visual aids for the first verse of this song, but it does cost money. Jolly Jen has a flip chart that would work too, or you could use the below visual s from the Nursery Manual. Also see lds.org for the music)
Who is a child of God? Toss a beanbag or soft object to a child as you say the words “I know a child of God named_____ .” Have the child say his or her own name and give the beanbag back to you. Repeat the activity until everyone has had a turn.
Print and cut out this activity. Show the pictures one at a time and ask the following:
Is a policeman a child of God?
Is a grandmother or grandfather
Is a bishop
Is a soldier
Is a mailman or missionaries
Is a mom or dad
Is someone who doesn’t go to our church
Is someone who lives in a different country or culture
Have the children take turns posting each picture under the title “Child of God.” The title can be written on the board or in a file folder or display board. You can also bring up people they know such as a neighbor.
Help the children understand that everyone is a child of God even though we may be different in age, hair color, what we do, where we live, skin color, or the church we attend, we are all children of God.
We can be like Heavenly Father
(Print and cut out these images pdf.) Use the following questions with the images. They could also be made into a matching game.
What is a baby dog called?
What will that puppy grow up to be?
What is a baby chicken called?
What will that chick grow up to be?
Explain that just as animals grow up to be like their parents, we will grow up to be like our parents.
Friend January 2017 “Kylie’s Parents” Kylie is like her earthly parents, and she is also like her Heavenly Parents. PDF version
Heavenly Father is the father of our spirits, so we can grow to be like him. Heavenly Father is loving, good, and kind. When we are loving, good, and kind, we are being like Heavenly Father. We should try to become more like Heavenly Father every day.
Have children tell or act out ways they can be loving, good, or kind.
(The images for the activity “Who is a Child of God?” are from the Friend magazine. Soldier 6/16, Bishop 1/16, etc.The images for the animals are from Pixabay: Free Images)
Show the children pictures of some of Heavenly Father’s many creations. Read Moses 1:30, and explain that Moses asked God about the purpose of these creations. Help the children search in verse 39 to find God’s answer. Teach them that Heavenly Father’s work is to help us gain eternal life, which means becoming like Him and living with Him again.
Invite a parent to come to class and talk about how he or she feels when a child returns home after being away (for example, at school or on a mission), or share feelings you’ve had during these experiences. Use this example to teach the children how much Heavenly Father wants us to return to Him.
Summarize Moses’s experience in Moses 1:12–26 in your own words, or ask one of the children to do so (see also the video “I Am a Son of God” [ChurchofJesusChrist.org]). Invite the children to search these verses (verses 13, 15, 18, 20–22, 26) to learn how Moses was able to overcome Satan. (Remember you are a son or daughter of God, listen to the Spirit, think of Jesus, and pray for strength.)
It might be fun for them to act out things they can do to resist temptation (such as praying, walking away, or asking for help). Or bring a box of tools (or pictures of tools), and help them label each tool with a way we can resist temptation (such as praying, singing a hymn, reading the scriptures, or serving others). Let each child pick a tool and talk about a situation when the action written on that tool’s label could help us resist temptation. Read together verses 25–26, and testify that God will help us when we face temptation.
13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
As you read Moses 1:6 with your children, you might talk to them about the “work” God had for Moses. Consider using the Gospel Art Book, nos. 13–16, or Old Testament Stories, pages 64–84, to help your children see what Moses accomplished with Heavenly Father’s help. What is the work God has for us to do? (see, for example, Doctrine and Covenants 11:20).
“Foreordination does not guarantee that individuals will receive certain callings or responsibilities. Such opportunities come in this life as a result of the righteous exercise of agency, just as foreordination came as a result of righteousness in the premortal existence. …
“The doctrine of foreordination applies to all members of the Church, not just to the Savior and His prophets. Before the creation of the earth, faithful women were given certain responsibilities and faithful men were foreordained to certain priesthood duties. As people prove themselves worthy, they will be given opportunities to fulfill the assignments they then receive.”
Read and discuss Abraham 3:23 with the children. What kinds of things might we have been chosen to do on earth? Explain that we are free to choose what we will do in this life, but each of us has been foreordained to do an important work on the earth.
Tell the children that this year they will be studying the gospel mostly from the Old Testament and Pearl of Great Price. Show the children a copy of each of these books, or if they have their own set of scriptures, have them locate each of these books. Explain that the Old Testament is the history of God’s dealings with his people from the creation of the earth until about four hundred years before Jesus Christ was born. The Pearl of Great Price contains sacred writings by several prophets, including two Old Testament prophets, Moses and Abraham. They tell about our premortal life, the early history of the world, Heavenly Father’s plan for us, and the restoration of the gospel. Lesson 1: Heavenly Father’s Plan for Us,” Primary 6: Old Testament pg 1
The words and culture of the Old Testament may be difficult for children to understand, but you can help them see Jesus Christ in symbols and stories. Perhaps you and your children could look at the image below, The Prophet Isaiah Foretells Christ’s Birth. Let your children point out details they see. Draw their attention, in particular, to the baby Jesus. Then you could read with them what Isaiah wrote about the Savior’s birth in Isaiah 7:14; 9:6. Share with your children how you feel about looking for the Savior in the Old Testament this year.
You and your children could also read Psalm 23 or Isaiah 53:3–9 and find words that remind you of Jesus Christ. What do these words teach us about His life and Atonement?
Friend January 2026 “Scripture Hide and Seek” You can learn about Jesus Christ in the Old Testament! Cut out the cards and have one person hide them around the room. Then search for the hidden cards. When you find one, look up the scripture and read it together.
Red Crystal Distribute the pieces with scriptures for students to look up. Then let them match them to the pictures on the page. The scriptures’ shapes will go over the top of the pictures that they feel match.
Covenants are a major theme in the Old Testament. To introduce this theme to your children, you could talk with them about promises they make and keep with family or friends and why keeping these promises is important. You could then look at a picture of a baptism and talk about the promise, or covenant, we make with God when we are baptized (see Mosiah 18:10, 13). You could also show a picture of the temple and share your feelings about the covenants we make there.
Friend February 2019 “The Baptism Covenant” Cut out and mix up these cards. Then take turns matching cards that go together. With each match, talk about that part of the baptism covenant.
Keeping the covenants we make with Heavenly Father can also help keep us safe, spiritually and physically, and help us to become more like our Heavenly Father.
This week’s activity page could help your children be excited to make and keep covenants with Heavenly Father. You could also sing a song about making covenants, like “When I Am Baptized” (Children’s Songbook, 103).
Do your children know anyone who goes by different names in different settings? Perhaps a parent or teacher is addressed differently at work, at home, and at church. Talk about those names; then read Exodus 6:3 together and invite your children to find the names Jesus Christ was known by before He was born (see also the Joseph Smith Translation in footnote c).
3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob. I am the Lord God Almighty; the Lord Jehovah. And was not my name known unto them?
Friend May 2025 “Articles of Faith” What this means: When Jesus Christ lived on the earth, He organized His Church. He called apostles, prophets, teachers, missionaries, and others. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is organized now in the same way as it was back then!
Doctrine & Covenants Section 6 Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829. Oliver Cowdery began his labors as scribe in the translation of the Book of Mormon, April 7, 1829. He had already received a divine manifestation of the truth of the Prophet’s testimony respecting the plates on which was engraved the Book of Mormon record. The Prophet inquired of the Lord through the Urim and Thummim and received this response.
Doctrine & Covenants Section 7 Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet and Oliver Cowdery, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829, when they inquired through the Urim and Thummim as to whether John, the beloved disciple, tarried in the flesh or had died. The revelation is a translated version of the record made on parchment by John and hidden up by himself. 1–3, John the Beloved will live until the Lord comes; 4–8, Peter, James, and John hold gospel keys.
Doctrine & Covenants Section 8 Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Oliver Cowdery, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829. In the course of the translation of the Book of Mormon, Oliver, who continued to serve as scribe, writing at the Prophet’s dictation, desired to be endowed with the gift of translation. The Lord responded to his supplication by granting this revelation.
Doctrine & Covenants Section 9 Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Oliver Cowdery, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829. Oliver is admonished to be patient and is urged to be content to write, for the time being, at the dictation of the translator, rather than to attempt to translate.
Because of the lost 116 pages of manuscript, the angel Moroni took the gold plates and the Urim and Thummim away from Joseph Smith for a time (see lesson 6). After Joseph repented, these items were returned. As Joseph continued the translation, he found that he did not have time to take care of his family and farm and still translate as fast as he wanted to. The work of translation was also slowed because Joseph had no scribe to write for him as he translated. Martin Harris was no longer allowed to be Joseph’s scribe. Emma sometimes served as scribe, but she had other work to do also. Joseph knew that the translation was not going as fast as it needed to, so he prayed and asked Heavenly Father for help.
In the fall of 1828, a young schoolteacher named Oliver Cowdery took a teaching job in Manchester, New York, and stayed with the family of Lucy and Joseph Smith Sr. Oliver had heard about their son Joseph, who was now living in Harmony, Pennsylvania, and Oliver, who considered himself a seeker of truth, wanted to know more. The Smiths described visits from angels, an ancient record, and the gift to translate by the power of God. Oliver was fascinated. Could it be true? Lucy and Joseph Sr. gave him advice that applies to anyone seeking truth: pray and ask the Lord. Oliver did, and the Lord answered, speaking peace and reassurance to Oliver’s mind.
In spring 1829 Oliver Cowdery traveled to Harmony and volunteered to be Joseph Smith’s scribe as he translated the Book of Mormon.
The truths Oliver Cowdery learned about personal revelation can help your children as they develop their ability to recognize the Holy Ghost. You could use “Chapter 5: Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery” (in Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 22–25, or the corresponding video in Gospel Library) to teach them about Oliver and what he learned. Share with each other your favorite parts of the story. As you do, emphasize things the Lord taught Oliver about how to hear God’s voice, and read relevant verses, such as Doctrine and Covenants 6:23 or 9:7–9.
Invite the children to touch their heads and their chests as you read the words “mind” and “heart” in Doctrine and Covenants 8:2. Help them understand that Heavenly Father speaks to us through the Holy Ghost, who gives us thoughts and feelings.
“When she said that, I was so surprised. Just earlier, I had prayed and asked my Heavenly Father to help me hear the Holy Ghost. All my life I’d had thoughts that guided me to choose the right. Now I knew that those thoughts came from the Holy Ghost!
Sing together a song about the Holy Ghost, such as “The Holy Ghost” (Children’s Songbook, 105). What does the song teach about how the Spirit speaks to us?
With Oliver assisting, the translation of the Book of Mormon went faster. After working as scribe for some time, Oliver wanted to translate. He was given permission to translate but failed when he tried. Oliver thought that the ability to translate would be given to him by merely asking Heavenly Father for it, but he learned that it required great mental and spiritual effort. The ability to translate had to come through the inspiration of the Holy Ghost
God can give us answers to our questions through the Holy Ghost (see Doctrine and Covenants 6:23). Sometimes we need to really focus to understand the message. Get a flashlight and turn off the lights in a room. One person uses the flashlight to draw a picture or letters on the wall. The others try to guess what it is. How is the flashlight like the Holy Ghost?
Study the problem or question in your mind. Think about how you could solve the problem or answer the question.
Decide what you think you should do.
Ask Heavenly Father if your decision is right.
Listen with your heart and mind. If your decision is right, the Holy Ghost will give you a good feeling about it. If your decision is wrong, you will not feel good about it, and you need to make a different choice.
Friend January 2021 “The Party Problem” Luz felt uneasy about going to a graduation party. It didn’t sound like the kind of party where she’d be able to feel the Holy Ghost. She thought about it, made her choice not to go, and then asked Heavenly Father if that was the right choice. Afterwards she felt a wave of warmth and light and knew she had made the right choice.
How can you help your family understand that real “riches” are found in eternal life? (verse 7). You could invite family members to make pretend money and write or draw on it some of the many blessings your family has received because of the restored gospel.
Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery had many reasons to be afraid—persecution and poverty were just some of the challenges they faced. The Lord’s message to Joseph and Oliver can also encourage the children when they feel afraid.
The Lord told Joseph and Oliver, “Fear not, little flock” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:34). You might invite your children to repeat that phrase with you several times. They might also enjoy pretending to be a flock of frightened sheep. What might sheep be afraid of?
Then you and your children could look at a picture of the Savior as a shepherd (there’s one at the end of this outline) and talk about how He watches over us like a shepherd watches over His sheep.
Each person will write their name on a sheep. Take turns sharing something that makes us fearful. Either write/draw those fears on the back of the sheep or just share them out loud. After sharing, that person will place their sheep on the “I Will Encircle Thee in the Arms of My Love” picture of Jesus Christ. He loves us and can help us with our fears. Remind them that we are part of His flock. Every one of us is important to Him, and He wants to take care of us.
Color the outline of one of these people to look like yourself. Glue it onto the “I Will Encircle Thee in the Arms of My Love” page.
The children you teach may at times feel afraid to stand for the right. Doctrine and Covenants 6:33–37 can inspire them to be courageous, even in difficult circumstances.
Read together Doctrine and Covenants 6:33, and discuss why someone might fear to do good (see also verses 28–29). Help children find words or phrases in verses 33–37 that help give them the courage to do good.
Consider playing or singing a song about finding courage in Christ, such as “Dare to Do Right” (Children’s Songbook, 158) or “Let Us All Press On” (Hymns, no. 243). What does the song teach about how the Savior helps us not be afraid? Ask the children to find in the song some reasons why we should “fear not” (verse 36).
Come Follow Me Kid “D&C 6-9” Cut apart the following strips and spread them out far enough in a room so that the kids will need to hop from one strip to another. Make sure to keep them in the correct order. Have them stand by the first one and help them say the top line out loud. Explain what it means. Then have them jump to the next one and do the same thing until they’ve jumped on each of them, said them out loud, and discussed them one at a time. Then have them start back at the beginning and practice saying the phrases from D&C 6:33 in order while hopping from strip to strip again. Try going a little faster each time. Repeat as many times as wanted/needed.
After reading together Doctrine and Covenants 6:36, you and your children could make drawings to help you remember to “look unto [Jesus Christ] in every thought.” Share with each other your drawings, and help your children think of places they could put them so they will see them often.
Write on the board Without_______ you can do nothing; therefore ask in ________ . Invite the children to try to think of a word that fits in both blanks. Then read together Doctrine and Covenants 8:10 to find the answer. What are some things we can do if we have faith?
“When my husband was translating the Book of Mormon, I wrote a part of it, as he dictated each sentence, word for word, and when he came to proper names he could not pronounce, or long words, he spelled them out, and while I was writing them, if I made any mistake in spelling, he would stop me and correct my spelling although it was impossible for him to see how I was writing them down at the time. Even the word Sarah he could not pronounce at first, but had to spell it, and I would pronounce it for him.”4
“The plates often lay on the table without any attempt at concealment, wrapped in a small linen tablecloth, which I had given him to fold them in. I once felt of the plates, as they thus lay on the table, tracing their outline and shape. They seemed to be pliable like thick paper, and would rustle with a metallic sound when the edges were moved by the thumb, as one does sometimes thumb the edges of a book. …
“My belief is that the Book of Mormon is of divine authenticity—I have not the slightest doubt of it. I am satisfied that no man could have dictated the writing of the manuscripts unless he was inspired; for, when acting as his scribe, [Joseph] would dictate to me hour after hour; and when returning after meals, or after interruptions, he would at once begin where he had left off, without either seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him. This was a usual thing for him to do. It would have been improbable that a learned man could do this; and, for one so ignorant and unlearned as he was, it was simply impossible.”5
Doctrine and Covenants Section 3 Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, July 1828, relating to the loss of 116 pages of manuscript translated from the first part of the Book of Mormon, which was called the book of Lehi. The Prophet had reluctantly allowed these pages to pass from his custody to that of Martin Harris, who had served for a brief period as scribe in the translation of the Book of Mormon. The revelation was given through the Urim and Thummim. (See section 10.)
Doctrine and Covenants Section 4 Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to his father, Joseph Smith Sr., at Harmony, Pennsylvania, February 1829.Harris. 1–4, Valiant service saves the Lord’s ministers; 5–6, Godly attributes qualify them for the ministry; 7, The things of God must be sought after.
Doctrine and Covenants Section 5 Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, March 1829, at the request of Martin Harris. 1–10, This generation will receive the Lord’s word through Joseph Smith; 11–18, Three witnesses will testify of the Book of Mormon; 19–20, The word of the Lord will be verified as in previous times; 21–35, Martin Harris may repent and be one of the witnesses.
Once Joseph and Emma Smith were settled in Harmony, Pennsylvania, Joseph began to translate the gold plates. At first Joseph spent a lot of time becoming familiar with the plates and the language in which they were written.
Display the page “Book of Mormon Titles.” Ask the children if they can read any of the words or characters. Help the children identify each language.
Discuss the many languages used throughout the world, and explain that the word translate means to change writing or speech from one language to another.
What was the language of the writings on the gold plates? (Reformed Egyptian.)
Explain that usually translators need to understand both of the languages they work with. Joseph Smith, however, had had very little schooling and could not speak or read languages other than English. The reformed Egyptian characters on the plates were very strange to him. As he studied and prayed, the Urim and Thummim helped him understand the characters on the plates. Joseph learned that the process of translation requires faith, hard work, worthiness, patience, and obedience.
Martin Harris was a respected citizen of Palmyra and successful farmer who was one of only a few people in the area who believed Joseph Smith. Though almost twice his age, Martin was Joseph’s friend and gave him money so he could move to Harmony, Pennsylvania, to translate the Book of Mormon undisturbed. Martin also sacrificed to travel there himself and serve as scribe. As Joseph read out loud from the plates, Martin Harris wrote down the words Joseph read.
Martin’s wife, Lucy, was not supportive of his involvement with the Book of Mormon translation. Martin asked Joseph if he could show the first 116 pages of the translation to Lucy as evidence of their work. Joseph prayed about it twice and each time was told not to allow Martin to take the pages.
Joseph prayed a third time, and the Lord gave permission with strict conditions. Martin took the pages to Palmyra to show them to his wife.
Why do you think Joseph did not follow through with the first two responses he received from the Lord?
The day after Martin left, Emma Smith gave birth to her and Joseph’s first child, a son. Tragically, the infant lived only a few hours, and it seemed Emma might die too. Thankfully, Emma’s health started improving after a couple weeks. Though Joseph did not want to leave her side, Emma urged him to travel to Palmyra and inquire about the manuscript.
When Joseph arrived at his parents’ home, they invited Martin to join them for breakfast. Martin didn’t come for more than four hours. When he finally arrived and sat down, he mournfully exclaimed, “I have lost my soul!” He had not followed the strict guidelines and had lost the manuscript.
“Oh, my God, my God. All is lost!” Joseph said. “Must I return to my wife with such a tale? And how shall I appear before the Lord?”
After Joseph returned to Harmony, Moroni appeared and took the plates from him. (See Saints, 1:50–54.)
Shortly after this experience, the Lord spoke to Joseph Smith, chastising him and giving him words of comfort.
Below Video: An elderly Martin Harris tells a young man the story of the lost manuscript
Primary 5 Manual: Doctrine and Covenants “Lesson 6: Joseph Smith Begins to Translate the Gold Plates” Explain that even though Martin Harris lost the 116 pages of translation, he repented and went on to make important contributions to the Church. He was not permitted to assist Joseph further in the translation of the gold plates, but later he sold part of his farm to help pay for the printing of the Book of Mormon. He was one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon and testified of the truthfulness of the book throughout his life. Show the children “The Testimony of Three Witnesses,” printed at the front of the Book of Mormon.
Explain that the Lord told Joseph that Satan had influenced some wicked people to take the pages. These people intended to change the words so people would not believe the Book of Mormon (see D&C 10:10–19). Joseph was told not to retranslate the first portion of the plates (see D&C 10:30–31). Because the Lord knows all things, he knew that this incident would happen. He had therefore commanded the ancient prophet Mormon to write a similar account of what was included in the 116 pages in another part of the gold plates (see Words of Mormon 1:3–7). Joseph translated this part instead of retranslating the lost part (see D&C 10:38–42). Joseph learned that Satan and wicked people could not stop Heavenly Father’s work (see D&C 3:1; 10:43).
I can choose the right when others try to get me to do wrong.
To start a discussion about learning to trust Heavenly Father, you might want to review the story of the lost manuscript pages (see Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 18–21). Give the children time to think about a situation where a friend might try to get them to do something wrong. Invite them to find a passage in Doctrine and Covenants 3:5–8; 5:21–22 that could help them during those situations. Role-play a few examples.
Friend April 2019 “What’s on Your Mind” Fill in the the speaking bubbles with what you could say when someone tries to get you to do something that is not right. Try explaining why it’s important to you. Even if others don’t understand your reasons, ask them to be respectful.
Cole’s friends ask him if he will share his answers from a homework assignment they did not do.
Read these words from Doctrine and Covenants 3:8: “He would have extended his arm and supported you.” Invite the children to stand and extend their arms as you read the phrase again. Share with them some ways the Lord may extend His arm to help them when others try to get them to do wrong things. Let them take turns extending their arms as they tell about other ways the Lord extends His arm to help us.
Help From God Activity – If we’re faithful against pressures to disobey God, how will He help us? Read D&C 3:7-8 and listen for what He’ll do for us (He’ll extend His arm and support us against all the fiery darts of the adversary, and He’ll be with us in every time of trouble).
Talk about what some of the “fiery darts of the adversary” could be. How does Satan try to attack us? Take turns throwing something soft at family members (Nerf gun darts, crumpled papers that say some of the ways Satan tries to attack us, etc.). Whoever is throwing will share something Satan might do to try to attack us with temptations.
Another person will stretch out their arms and block the attacks toward that person. Relate this to how God will protect us and strengthen us if we’re faithful to Him.
Friend August 2020 “Choosing the Channel” Camille’s best friend told her about a TV show, but it had some bad words in it so she turned it off. Camille was afraid to tell her friend that she didn’t watch it. They were best friends that did everything together and liked the same things. She was afraid they wouldn’t be friends anymore. She prayed for help, and her friend was understanding and said they could find a show they both liked.
Primary 5 Manual: Doctrine and Covenants “Lesson 6: Joseph Smith Begins to Translate the Gold Plates” Write the following on the chalkboard: “When the Lord commands, do it.” Explain that Joseph Smith learned from his mistakes and challenges. Even though he faced despair when the 116 pages were lost, he learned the importance of obedience, repentance, and accepting the will of Heavenly Father. He learned to listen to the promptings of the Spirit and grew in his ability to use the Urim and Thummim. Later in life he was able to say, “I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, do it” (History of the Church, 2:170).
Though he had not yet associated himself with any organized religion, Joseph Smith Sr. believed what his son shared about his heavenly visions and supported him in his translation of the Book of Mormon. Joseph Sr. wanted to serve God but did not know what to do. In February 1829, he and his wife visited Joseph Jr. in Harmony, Pennsylvania. During that visit, the Prophet Joseph received Doctrine and Covenants 4 in answer to his father’s question. (Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual “Doctrine & Covenants 4”)
Joseph and Emma Smith lived on a little farm near Harmony, Pennsylvania. Joseph’s father came to visit them. They were happy to see him. Joseph’s father was a good man.
Jesus gave Joseph a revelation for his father. The revelation told how people could help Jesus. They should love Jesus. They should work hard to teach the gospel. They should love and help other people.
People who want to help Jesus should also pray and have faith. Jesus said people who help Him will be blessed.
Joseph’s father went home and tried to do the things Jesus had told him to do. He shared the gospel with many of his family members.
Each verse in Doctrine and Covenants 4 contains precious truths that can help your children learn about serving God. Here are some ideas to help them discover these truths:
1. You could read together Doctrine and Covenants 4:1 and show pictures that depict God’s “marvelous” latter-day work (such as missionaries, temples, and the Book of Mormon).
Blessings of the gospel Activity: Read the clues below (not the answer) and let the children pick which picture it is describing.
Prophet: Because of this blessing of the gospel we have the privilege to hear Gods words and direction about current issues and challenges we face. This gift is God’s living spokesman.
Book of Mormon: Because of this blessing of the gospel we know the purpose of life. We also know what we need to do to gain eternal salvation and how to live happy lives.
Temples: This blessing of the gospel allows us the opportunity to receive saving ordinances for ourselves and our dead. We can also be sealed to our family so that we can be with them forever.
Priesthood: Because of this blessing of the gospel we can receive healing blessings for the sick, blessings of comfort and guidance, and have authority to act in Gods name and perform saving ordinances, such as baptism.
Baptism Because this blessing of the gospel, when performed by proper priesthood authority, we can receive a remission of our sins and enter into the gate that leads to eternal life.
Holy Ghost Because of this blessing of the gospel we can receive personal revelation and guidance throughout our lives. We can also receive comfort during difficult times.
2. Your children could think of actions or draw pictures depicting the phrase “serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength” (Doctrine and Covenants 4:2).
(It might help to explain that our heart refers to our feelings and love and our mind refers to our thoughts.)
Friend June 2021 “One Peach at a Time” When Sister Eubanks was a child she went to a church farm to help pick peaches. Pretty soon she and her sister didn’t want to do it anymore because the peach fuzz was making their arms itch. Their mother explained that the peaches would be going to feed families who needed food. After that they stopped worrying about their itchy arms because they were helping to feed families who needed food! (They had a willing heart and mind.)
Imagine someone doing one of the following acts of service for you:
Talking to you to see how you are doing
Helping you with a task you have to do
Praying for you
How might it affect you if they served in the following ways? Why?
Wholeheartedly or half-heartedly
Patiently or impatiently
Motivated by love for you or by something else
Friend December 2018 Match each sentence with a picture. In the blank spot, draw yourself helping at church.
Friend February 2025 “Come, Follow Me Activities” We can follow Jesus Christ with all our hearts (see Doctrine and Covenants 4:2). Cut out 10 small paper hearts. On each heart, write one way you can follow the Savior. Place the hearts overlapping each other in a circle and glue in place to make a wreath.
For younger children: Cut out a heart for your child to color. As they color, tell them how you try to follow Jesus Christ with all your heart.
What blessings do these verses contain for those who serve God with all their heart, might, mind, and strength?
May stand blameless before God at the last day. Vs 2
Bringeth salvation to his soul. Vs 4
After teaching about the blessings of serving God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength, the Lord listed multiple attributes that can help us as we serve. Jesus Christ possesses each of these attributes and invites us to develop them in our own lives. As we do so, we become more like Him and can serve as He serves.
3. Bring tools (or pictures of tools) that someone might use to work in a field. How do these tools help us? Then your children could find things in Doctrine and Covenants 4:5–6 that are like tools for doing God’s work.
Come Follow Me Kid The Lord’s Worker Hat – Talk about different jobs and what qualifies people to do those jobs (bakers need to know how to combine ingredients, mailmen need to know how to drive and where the different envelopes and packages go, etc.). What do people need to know about and be able to do if their job is to be a grocery store clerk? Doctor? Garbage man? Etc. The manual says, “Section 4 is often applied to full-time missionaries. However, it’s interesting to note that this revelation was given originally to Joseph Smith Sr., who wasn’t being called on a mission but still had ‘desires to serve God’ (verse 3). One way to read this section is to imagine it as a job description for someone who wants to do the Lord’s work. What are the qualifications? Why are these skills or characteristics necessary?”
Hat: Give them a “The Lord’s Worker” hat (on pages 3, 4, and 5 below) and tell them that the Lord has said He’s doing a “marvelous” work right now and we get to be his working helpers! While putting the hat together, discuss specific things we might to do to help the Lord with His work (be kind to others, stand up for what’s right, etc.).
What if our job was to do the Lord’s work? What kinds of things would we need to know? What would we need to be able to do? What kind of people should we be?
Stars: Glue the “job description” stars (on page 5 below) onto the hat while discussing each. Explain that we’re not expected to have all of these characteristics automatically. They take time to develop and improve. The student manual says, “The Lord does not require a person to be physically gifted or intellectually brilliant to help with His work. He asks that the person strive to develop Christlike attributes.”
Put the hat on and take turns sharing ways you can be a worker for the Lord at home, school, and with friends.
(In verse 4, the Lord compares wheat that is ready to harvest to people who are ready to receive the gospel. A sickle is a tool for harvesting.)
To teach your children about witnesses, you could ask them to imagine that a friend told them they saw a cat walking on its front legs. Would they believe it? What if another friend said the same thing? Talk about what a “witness” is and why witnesses are important.
Lucy Harris, the wife of Martin Harris, was upset about the time and money her husband was dedicating to the publication of the Book of Mormon. She filed a legal complaint against Joseph Smith and gathered several people who were willing to testify that he had lied about the existence of the plates. Martin was warned that if he did not join them in testifying against Joseph, Martin could also be sent to prison. Though Martin had previously been a scribe for Joseph, had shown characters from the plates to scholars to verify their antiquity, and had lost 116 pages of the original manuscript, Martin still sought a further witness of the reality of the gold plates. He traveled to Joseph Smith’s home, where Joseph inquired of the Lord and received the revelation in Doctrine and Covenants 5. Although Martin was not allowed to see the gold plates at that time, this revelation strengthened him in a way that enabled him to bear powerful testimony of the Prophet. (Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual “Doctrine & Covenants 5”)
2) Who could Joseph Smith show the gold plates to?
3 That you should not show them except to those persons to whom I commanded you;
11 And in addition to your testimony, the testimony of three of my servants, whom I shall call and ordain, unto whom I will show these things, and they shall go forth with my words that are given through you.
3) Why would seeing the plates probably not convince someone the Book of Mormon is true?
7 Behold, if they will not believe my words, they would not believe you, my servant Joseph, if it were possible that you should show them all these things which I have committed unto you.
“There is no other way to gain a testimony but through the witness of the Holy Ghost. You can rely on nothing else. … We have numerous scriptural examples of how pointless a physical manifestation can be without the accompanying receipt of the witness of the Holy Ghost. Conversion comes not by physical manifestations from heaven.” (Glenn L. Pace, “The Elusive Balance,” New Era, Mar. 1989, 49)
Martin Harris was promised that he could be one of the witnesses of the gold plates if he was faithful [and humbled himself]. We won’t see the plates like Martin did, but we can receive a spiritual witness of the Book of Mormon.
Friend June 2016 “Jason’s Study Buddy” Jason reads the entire Book of Mormon before his baptism. His testimony grows.
Friend August 2020 “Matt and Mandy” Mandy shares with her friend a time when she prayed about the Book of Mormon and felt it was true. She also shared that she is still praying and reading to help her faith grow stronger.
Have the children think of ways they can be witnesses of the Book of Mormon and its teachings. List their answers on the chalkboard. Have the children dramatize what they could do to be witnesses in particular situations, such as when someone asks them what their church believes or what the Book of Mormon says.
We have received the word of God through Joseph Smith.
Hide a picture of Joseph Smith somewhere in the room (see Gospel Art Book, no. 87). Read Doctrine and Covenants 5:10 “But this generation shall have my word through you,” and invite the children to look for the picture to find out who the word “you” is referring to. Show the children copies of the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. Explain that God gave us these scriptures through Joseph Smith.
Joseph Smith History 27-65 Moroni appears to Joseph Smith—Joseph’s name is to be known for good and evil among all nations—Moroni tells him of the Book of Mormon and of the coming judgments of the Lord and quotes many scriptures—The hiding place of the gold plates is revealed—Moroni continues to instruct the Prophet.(Verses 21–26.)Joseph Smith marries Emma Hale—He receives the gold plates from Moroni and translates some of the characters—Martin Harris shows the characters and translation to Professor Anthon, who says, “I cannot read a sealed book.” (Verses 55–65.)
Doctrine and Covenants 2 An extract from Joseph Smith’s history relating the words of the angel Moroni to Joseph Smith the Prophet, while in the house of the Prophet’s father at Manchester, New York, on the evening of September 21, 1823. Moroni was the last of a long line of historians who had made the record that is now before the world as the Book of Mormon. (Compare Malachi 4:5–6; also sections 27:9; 110:13–16; and 128:18.)
It had been three years since God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to Joseph Smith in the grove, but Joseph hadn’t received any additional revelations since then. He began to wonder about his standing before the Lord. Like all of us, he had made mistakes, and he felt condemned by them.
One night, after everyone was asleep, Joseph decided to pray. God had answered his prayers before, and Joseph knew He would answer them again.
While Joseph was praying, light filled the room. Joseph saw an angel standing in the air by his bed. The angel said that his name was Moroni. God had sent him. He said God had forgiven Joseph and had a work for him to do.
We all sometimes feel “condemned for [our] weakness and imperfections,” as Joseph Smith did. You and your children could study Joseph Smith—History 1:29 together, looking for what Joseph did when he felt that way. What can we learn from his example that can help us when we make mistakes? Why is it important to know that Joseph was called by God even though he was not perfect?
Moroni said there was a book made of gold pages or plates. It was buried in a hill near Joseph’s home. The book was about people who lived in the Americas long ago. They knew about Jesus Christ and His gospel. Moroni said God would help Joseph translate the book so people could read it.
Read with the children Joseph Smith—History 1:33–35, and ask them to listen for what Moroni wanted Joseph to know about the work Joseph was called to do. How we are blessed as a result. For example, how have we been blessed because Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon? How has his work helped us come closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? Invite the children to read the Book of Mormon regularly.
Draw students’ attention to Moroni’s prophecy about Joseph Smith’s name in Joseph Smith History—1:33. Why do you think there is so much opposition to the Prophet Joseph Smith? You could point out that Satan always opposes truth.
What are ways you can help fulfill Moroni’s prophecy to speak good of Joseph Smith?
Why do you think Moroni appeared to Joseph four times (three times during the night and once the next morning), giving him the same message each time?
You could ask a family member to read aloud part or all of Moroni’s message from Joseph Smith—History 1:33–42 four times (because Moroni repeated this message four times). Between each reading, ask the other family members to share what they remember from his message, without looking at the scriptures. Why might the Lord repeat important messages several times? What are some other ways the Lord teaches us through repetition?
(Another option would be to have some items covered on a tray that are related to Moroni’s message. Uncover the tray for a short time and then recover it. See if the children can remember what was on the tray. Do this three more times and see if they remember more each time. Afterwards, use the items on the tray to teach about the words Moroni spoke.)
Display a picture of Moroni visiting Joseph Smith (see Gospel Art Book, no. 91). Ask the children to point out things they notice in the picture. Summarize the account of Moroni’s visits to Joseph.
Your children might have fun pretending to be Joseph Smith as you tell the account of Moroni’s visits in Joseph Smith—History 1:27–54 or “Chapter 3: The Angel Moroni and the Gold Plates” (in Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 13–17, or the corresponding video in Gospel Library). For example, they could fold their arms like they are praying or pretend to climb the Hill Cumorah, and so on.
Or, invite the children to act out or draw pictures of events from Joseph Smith—History 1:30–54, such as Moroni appearing to Joseph (verses 30–47), Joseph talking to his father (verses 48–50), and Joseph finding the plates (verses 51–54). What do we learn from this account about the work Joseph was called to do?
Let the kids have fun showing how the angel came back twice more while Joseph was in bed, and then showing Joseph going back to Hill Cumorah each year.
“Receiving the Gold Plates” (June 2008 Liahona and May 2008 Friend) An illustrated retelling of the story of Joseph Smith receiving the plates from Moroni.
It’s one thing to believe that God had a work for Joseph Smith to do—we can look back on his life and clearly see what he accomplished. But have you ever considered that God has a work for you too?
Elder Gary E. Stevenson taught: “As we come unto Christ and help others do the same, we participate in God’s work of salvation and exaltation.
Tell the children that you would like them to help you prepare some things for the lesson. Give some of the children blank wordstrips and pens or pencils, and have them write the following words on the wordstrips: Joseph Smith, prayer, light, Moroni, message, four times. Have another child display the picture of Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith. Thank the children for helping you prepare.
Why is it important that we prepare for certain events, such as taking a test in school or giving a talk in Primary? What happens when we do not prepare? Using the wordstrips and the appropriate pictures, have the children help you review what they learned in lesson 3 about Moroni’s visits to Joseph Smith. Remind the children that Joseph was not allowed to take the plates the first time he saw them. Explain that Joseph had a great work to do, but he needed to be better prepared in order to do it.
Joseph was only 17 years old when he first saw the gold plates. They weren’t entrusted to his care, however, until four years later. Read Joseph Smith—History 1:48–60, looking for what happened in Joseph’s life during that time. How do you think these events prepared him for the work God called him to do? What experiences have you had that have prepared you to serve God and others? What are you currently experiencing that can help you prepare for future service?
What have Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ given us to help us prepare to serve them? (Answers may include scriptures, parents, prophets, teachers, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and Primary.) Write the children’s answers to this question under the heading Heavenly Father helps me prepare by:.
What is our responsibility to help prepare ourselves? Using the items listed on the chalkboard, discuss with the children what each of us needs to do with the things that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have given us (for example: scriptures—study them daily; parents—follow their counsel). Summarize their answers under the heading I can prepare myself by:.
What are we preparing to do? (Serve Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and others, in positions such as teacher, missionary, or parent.) How does this preparation help us now? How will it help us in the future? Help the children realize their responsibility to prepare themselves now to serve (See more at lesson link.)
Moroni told Joseph Smith that Elijah would come to “reveal … the Priesthood” (verse 1). This refers to the sealing power of the priesthood that allows families to be united eternally and enables us to receive ordinances for our ancestors in the temple.
Display a picture of a temple, and help the children name some of the things we do in temples. Explain that baptisms for the dead, eternal marriage, and sealing families in the temple are all possible because of the priesthood keys Elijah restored.
Perhaps you and your children would enjoy looking at some pictures of your family, possibly including a picture of your family at a temple (or see Gospel Art Book, no. 120).
You could then read Doctrine and Covenants 2 and share with each other your thoughts about why we have temples and why Heavenly Father wants families to be together forever.
Consider singing together “Families Can Be Together Forever” (Children’s Songbook, 188). What does this song say we can do to be with our family forever?
Ask the children to read or listen to the prophecy in Doctrine and Covenants 2:1. Ask them to look for who the Lord would send in the last days and what this person would reveal. Display a picture of Elijah in the Kirtland Temple (see Gospel Art Book, no. 95), and talk about how this prophecy was fulfilled 13 years after Moroni’s visit (see Doctrine and Covenants 110:13–15).
Explain that Elijah restored priesthood keys that allow families to be sealed together eternally. Show some objects that could help the children understand what it means to seal something, such as a can of food or a plastic storage bag with a zipper lock. How do these objects help us understand what it means for a family to be sealed?
Friend April 2020 “Alonso’s Forever Family” Alonso learned that because of Jesus’s resurrection people who have died will live again. He also learned about being sealed to his family. His parents had both died and he was living with his grandma. He couldn’t wait to go to the temple and be sealed to his parents. He saved any money he got so he and his grandma could make the trip to the temple. He was so grateful that families can be together forever
Children can become excited about and feel the joy of family history. To help them, you could share stories or pictures of your ancestors. Talk with your children about what life was like for their ancestors when they were children. Your children could also enjoy some of the family history activities on FamilySearch.org/discovery.
Friend July 2018 “Find the people in your family tree who were pioneers, such as the first person to join the church or the first to graduate from college.
How have you felt your heart turn toward your ancestors? Think of ways you can experience such feelings more often. Perhaps you could ask a relative to share a story with you about one of your ancestors—even better, you could record it. Or you could invite [a family member] to learn about an ancestor and to share what they learn with the rest of the family.
Maybe you could identify a deceased ancestor who never received gospel ordinances and then have a family member perform that work in the temple.
Friend August 2018 “Temple Tracker” Some of your ancestors might need ordinances done for them in the temple. Use the chart below to keep track.
Why does the Lord want us to learn about our family members and perform temple ordinances for them?
Most of Heavenly Father’s children don’t know about His plan. They don’t know about Jesus Christ. They don’t know they can be baptized or sealed to their families. Heavenly Father wants us to help gather His children so they can come home to Him. And you can help, starting with your ancestors. (Friend October 2022 “Gathering Heavenly Father’s Children”)
Cut out paper hearts. Write a family member’s name on each one. Take turns holding up the hearts and sharing stories about each person. You could ask your parents to tell stories about their parents or grandparents.
How are we blessed when we participate in family history and temple work?
When we learn more about our ancestors, we feel closer to them and to Heavenly Father (see Doctrine and Covenants 2). Ask a family member to tell you a story from their life or from the life of one of your ancestors. Then recreate the story as a play or drawing!
For younger children: To teach your little ones about family history, teach them the name of someone in your family that they didn’t know before.
Church History Topics “Martin Harris’s Consultations with Scholars” This article tells the story and has pictures of Martin Harris and Professor Anthon.
What did Professor Anthon say when Martin Harris first showed him a copy of some of the Book of Mormon writings? (JS—H 1:64.) Why do you think Professor Anthon tore up the certificate when he learned that an angel had shown Joseph Smith where to find the gold plates? (JS—H 1:65.
Friend December 1988 “Do You Know” Joseph is visited by Moroni. Story and question.
On the way home Joseph passed out. When he came to, Moroni was there calling his name. The angel repeated what he’d told Joseph the night before; he also told Joseph to do something then. What did Moroni tell Joseph to do? Do you know?
A. Joseph was to tell his father everything that Moroni had told him.
B. Joseph was to go home to bed until he felt strong enough to work with his father again.
C. Joseph was to go immediately to where the gold plates were hidden and dig them up.
D. Joseph was to get his five brothers to help him get the gold plates and translate them.
Joseph Smith—History Chapter 1 Joseph Smith tells of his ancestry, family members, and their early abodes—An unusual excitement about religion prevails in western New York—He determines to seek wisdom as directed by James—The Father and the Son appear, and Joseph is called to his prophetic ministry. (Verses 1–20.)
Joseph Smith’s Childhood
Joseph Smith was prepared to be a prophet of God.
The home life and nurture provided by Joseph Smith’s parents and siblings shaped much of Joseph’s early prophetic work. His attention to prayer and Bible study owed much to his parents’ religious commitments. (Church History Topics: Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family)
Learning about Joseph Smith’s youth could help your children relate to him as they learn from his experiences. Maybe they could hold a picture of Joseph Smith and share what they know about him. If needed, you might add some facts about him from Joseph Smith—History 1:3–14 (see also “Chapter 1: Joseph Smith and His Family,” in Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 6–8, or the corresponding video in Gospel Library). What did Joseph experience that helped prepare him to become a prophet? What might God be preparing us to do?
Joseph Smith was born in 1805 in the state of Vermont in the United States of America. He was the fourth of nine children. When Joseph was ten years old, he and his family moved to the state of New York, settling near the town of Palmyra (point out this area on the map). The Smith family was poor, and all the members of the family had to work hard to provide food and other necessities for the family. The family had moved many times before settling near Palmyra, where they found farmland on which crops would grow well.
Joseph did not have much opportunity to attend school, so he learned only the basics of reading, writing, and simple arithmetic. Joseph’s mother said that he seemed just like other boys his age until the time of his vision. She said he was quiet and well-mannered and liked to study and think about important things. He was a tall, athletic, cheerful boy who seldom got angry.
Ask a child to leave the room for a moment. Show the two containers to the rest of the class without letting them see inside. Divide the class into two groups and give each a container. Tell the children in each group that when the child who left the room returns, they are to try to persuade him or her to choose their container. Invite the child to return to the room and choose one of the containers. Ask the child who chose the container questions such as the following:
Why did you choose that container?
How did you feel when others were trying to tell you what to do?
Explain that when Joseph Smith was fourteen years old, he was confused about a choice he needed to make. He was trying to decide which church he should join. Other people tried to help him choose a church, but he only became more confused. He felt that he needed more information to make a wise decision: he wanted to know which church was true. Joseph’s situation was similar to that of the child who had to choose between the two containers. Everyone wanted him to choose their church, but he did not know which church was the right choice.
Why was Joseph confused about which church he should join? (JS—H 1:5–10.)
Consider showing your children a variety of books, (like an encyclopedia or a cookbook), and help them think of questions these books could answer. Then show them a copy of the scriptures. What questions can these books answer? Then you could read together Joseph Smith—History 1:10–11 to find out what questions Joseph Smith had and what answers he found in the scriptures.
Your children might be able to find words in verse 12 that describe how reading James 1:5 affected Joseph. Then you could share experiences with each other in which a passage of scripture had a powerful influence on you.
Come Follow Me Kid Hop from one scripture line to another and read it out loud and then discuss what it means. For memorizing the scripture have them do it again and say the phrases, and maybe a little faster each time.
To start a discussion about how we communicate with Heavenly Father, perhaps you and your children could ask each other questions using various communication methods, like a text message, a phone call, or a handwritten note.
How do we ask questions to Heavenly Father? How do we show Him that we love and honor Him in our prayers? Read together Joseph Smith—History 1:16–19 and discuss how Heavenly Father answered Joseph Smith’s prayer. You and your children could then share experiences when you asked God for help and received an answer.
Young children might enjoy standing with outstretched arms pretending to be trees in the Sacred Grove while you tell them about the First Vision. Ask the children to sway as if being blown by the wind while you talk about Joseph praying. Then ask them to stand very still and quiet when you tell them Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared to Joseph.
Older children might enjoy using one or more of the pictures in this outline to tell you what they know about the First Vision. Encourage them to refer to Joseph Smith—History 1:14–17 and to share their thoughts and feelings about Joseph’s experience (see also “Chapter 2: Joseph Smith’s First Vision,” in Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 9–12, or the corresponding video in Gospel Library).
To review the account of the First Vision, write summaries of each verse from Joseph Smith—History 1:14–19 on separate slips of paper. Place the papers in a container, and invite the children to choose them one by one and place them on the board in the correct order.
Invite the children to color this week’s activity page and use it to tell the story of the First Vision.
Read together Joseph’s testimony in Joseph Smith—History 1:25. Ask the children to look for words and phrases that show Joseph’s faith. How can we remain faithful to God and our testimonies when other people disagree with us?
Friend November 2019 “Jesus is Real” Everyone at Ismay’s table at school were excitedly talking about Christmas and their favorite traditions such as going to a church service. Suddenly Charlotte spoke up and said, “Jesus isn’t even real.” Ismay was sad to hear this and she quietly bore her testimony to Charlotte that Jesus was real, and that she felt it in her heart. She was glad she had spoken up and planted a seed about Jesus.
Additional Resources
More resources about the First Vision can be found here
Doctrine and Covenants “Section 1” Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, on November 1, 1831, during a special conference of elders of the Church, held at Hiram, Ohio. Many revelations had been received from the Lord prior to this time, and the compilation of these for publication in book form was one of the principal subjects passed upon at the conference. This section constitutes the Lord’s preface to the doctrines, covenants, and commandments given in this dispensation.
Friend March 2021 “Getting to Know the Doctrine and Covenants” Jesus gave Joseph Smith special messages, called revelations, to help set up His Church. These messages were written down so people could remember them. Then Church leaders put these messages together in a book. That’s how we got the Doctrine and Covenants! (Match each scripture to the special message taught in the Doctrine and Covenants.)
Family members will quickly look through the beginning of the Doctrine and Covenants to count the number of references they can find to Christ. Start in the introduction and end with section 9.
After the time is up, give additional time for each person to choose one of these verses that is especially meaningful to them. Take turns sharing.
Secretly assign each family member a number: (1) Bible, (2) Book of Mormon, or (3) Doctrine and Covenants.
Each person will find a meaningful verse in that book which has the “tender and firm voice” of the Lord teaching or explaining principles to us.
Without revealing scripture references, take turns sharing verses out loud. Others will hold up either 1, 2, or 3 fingers to guess which book of scriptures each verse came from.
Discussion: How do scriptures from ancient times work together with modern revelations found in the Doctrine and Covenants to help us learn more of Christ and hear His voice?
Title Page
“This title which the Lord gave when they got out this edition—let me refer to the title page: ‘The Doctrine and Covenants of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’—is very significant and tells the story of what this book actually is. It contains the doctrine of the Church; it contains the covenants the Lord will make with the Church, if we are willing to receive them.” (Joseph Fielding Smith Doctrines of Salvation, volume 3, page 198)
For the Strength of Youth January 2021 “Hear, Hearken, and Heed” “The very first word in the Doctrine and Covenants is hearken (see Doctrine and Covenants 1:1). It means “to listen with the intent to obey.” To hearken means to “hear Him”—to hear what the Savior says and then to heed His counsel. Where can we go to hear Him? We can go to the scriptures. We also hear Him more clearly as we refine our ability to recognize the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. And, finally, we hear Him as we heed the words of prophets, seers, and revelators.”(President Russell M. Nelson)
Prior to the printing of the Book of Commandments, which later became part of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Prophet Joseph Smith petitioned the Lord for a preface to the book. In response, the Lord revealed what is now Doctrine and Covenants section 1 as an introduction of the revelations to the world. This lesson can help students understand why the Lord gives warnings to the world.
Through His prophets, the Lord warns me of spiritual danger.
To start a discussion about warnings from the Lord, you could talk about warnings we receive from other people about dangers we cannot see. Some examples might include a slippery floor, a coming storm, or an approaching car. Maybe you and your children could look at examples of warning signs and compare these warnings to the warnings the Lord gives us. Testify that He warns us because He loves us and wants us to be safe (see also this week’s activity page).
According to Doctrine and Covenants 1:4, 37–39, how does the Lord warn us? What has He warned us about recently? Perhaps you could watch or read parts of recent general conference messages and look for examples of God’s “voice of warning.” Talk about how you are following the prophet’s counsel.
Let the children hold pictures of warning signs—such as traffic hazards, bad weather, or poison—and talk about how they warn us of danger. Or tell a story about a time when you obeyed a warning. Compare these warnings to the warnings the Lord gives us through His prophets.
Imagine that a friend is making a decision that will lead to negative consequences. (Invite students to share realistic examples of what this decision could be. Some examples might be lying to parents, breaking the Word of Wisdom, cheating in school, or leaving the Church.)
Why would you want to warn your friend about this decision?
The Savior also gives a “voice of warning” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:4). Ponder the following questions:
Sing together a song about prophets, such as the last verse of “Follow the Prophet” (Children’s Songbook, 111). Share your testimony that the prophet speaks the word of God.
The Lord knew the challenges we would face. The Restoration helps me face the challenges of the latter days.
To encourage discussion about Doctrine and Covenants 1:17, you and your children could imagine you are preparing for a trip. What would you pack? If you knew ahead of time that it would rain or that your car or bus would get a flat tire, how would that affect the way you prepared for the trip?
Help the children think of some of the problems in the world today. Review Doctrine and Covenants 1:15–16 with them, and help them identify some of the problems that the Lord prophesied would occur.
Invite them to discover in verses 17 and 30 what the Lord has done to help us face the challenges of our time. If necessary, explain that a “calamity” is a disaster or terrible thing.) How do God’s commandments help us deal with the challenges of our time?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s “true and living church.”
What does it mean to say that the Church is “true and living”? To get your children thinking about this question, perhaps you could show them living and nonliving things—such as a live plant and a dead plant. How do we know something is living? Then you could read Doctrine and Covenants 1:30 and talk about what it might mean for the Church to be “true and living.”
Liahona January 2025 “The Restored Church of Jesus Christ: Come, Follow Me Family Fun” If possible, have your children help you pick a leaf or small branch from a tree or vegetation nearby. Discuss what will happen to it now that it’s not connected to the tree. Why will the leaf or branch die? Read John 15:4, where the Savior compares Himself to a vine and His followers to the branches. How else might the Church of Jesus Christ be considered a living church?
The Church is guided by Jesus Christ, who reveals His will in our day to living prophets and other inspired leaders. Continuing revelation from the Savior allows the Church to be aligned with heaven and also to grow and progress—to be both a true and a living church. All living things grow and change. (Topics and Questions “The Only True and Living Church”)
Display a picture, such as a painting of the Savior, and ask the children to describe it with the lights in the room turned off. Use this activity to help the children see that for many people, the Savior’s true Church is in “obscurity” and “darkness.” How can we help others learn about the Church?
For the Strength of Youth January 2021 “To the Point” The Lord Himself said to Joseph Smith that this Church is “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.(Doctrine and Covenants 1:30). This statement certainly does not mean that we’re better than anyone else. But it does mean that this is Jesus Christ’s Church. He leads it, He restored it, and He gave it His authority. Because of this, there are certain things that only this Church can offer, such as prophets and apostles, temple ordinances and covenants, and the Book of Mormon. We’re grateful for these things, and we want to share them with others out of genuine love—not because we want to “be right” or “grow the Church.”
While we can boldly and confidently testify of the Church, we should never be arrogant toward others or disrespect their beliefs. The Prophet Joseph Smith once said, “We don’t ask any people to throw away any good they have got; we only ask them to come and get more” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 155).
To learn about the role of Joseph Smith in restoring the Savior’s gospel, you and your children could look at a picture of the Savior and a picture of Joseph Smith (see the pictures in this outline) and talk about what the Savior gave us through Joseph Smith. Your children could look for examples in Doctrine and Covenants 1:17, 29. Tell your children how you know that God “called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven” (verse 17).
The children you teach may have heard the President of the Church speak, but they may not realize that his words come from God.
Play a simple game by giving instructions to one child and asking him or her to repeat the instructions for the other children. Help them see that following the child’s instructions is the same as following your instructions and that following the prophet is the same as following the Lord. Read to them the last line of Doctrine and Covenants 1:38: “Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”
Help the children compare things that are temporary, like a bubble or a snowflake, with things that seem permanent, like a mountain or the sun. Ask them to find in verses 37–38 something that the Lord said is permanent. Why is it a blessing to know that God’s word “shall not pass away”?
Help the children understand that the “voice of my servants” includes the voices of our apostles and prophets. Help the children find “prophecies and promises” in a recent general conference address by one of the Lord’s servants. Bear your testimony that these words are inspired by the Lord and “shall all be fulfilled.”
Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual “The Great Apostasy” Jesus Christ established His Church during His mortal ministry. Following His death and Resurrection, the Savior commissioned His Apostles to guide the Church with His priesthood authority and keys. Due to intense persecution and the death of the Apostles, people were left without divine direction from living prophets. Jesus Christ’s teachings and doctrine were altered, resulting in a period called the Great Apostasy. This lesson can help students understand the need for a restoration of Jesus Christ’s true Church in the latter days.
Restoration Proclamation
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Doctrine and Covenants 2025 “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ” How do you commemorate the 200th anniversary of an event that changed the world? That’s the question the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles pondered as April 2020 approached, marking 200 years since Joseph Smith’s First Vision. “We wondered if a monument should be erected,” President Russell M. Nelson recalled. “But as we considered the unique historic and international impact of that First Vision, we felt impressed to create a monument not of granite or stone but of words … , not to be carved in ‘tables of stone’ but rather to be etched in the ‘fleshy tables’ of our hearts [2 Corinthians 3:3]” (“Hear Him,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 90).
The monument of words they created is titled “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World.” It’s a monument not just to the First Vision but also to everything Jesus Christ has done—and is still doing—since then. The Restoration of His gospel started when one person turned to God and heard Him. It continues that same way: one heart, one sacred experience at a time—including yours.
As you read parts of the Restoration proclamation with your children (or watch the video of President Nelson reading it), help them find sentences that begin with phrases like “we proclaim,” “we declare,” or “we testify.” What truths are our prophets and apostles declaring? Perhaps you and your children could share your own testimonies of some of these same truths.
It might be interesting to your children to explore some of the questions Joseph Smith had that led to the Restoration of the Savior’s gospel. Help them find some examples in Joseph Smith—History 1:10, 29, 68. How are we blessed today because God answered Joseph Smith’s questions?
You might also give your children a chance to talk about questions they have. What do we learn from Joseph Smith about how to find answers? (see Joseph Smith—History 1:8–17; see also verses 3 and 4 of “This Is My Beloved Son,” Children’s Songbook, 76).
Who were the “heavenly messengers [who] came to instruct Joseph”? Your children might enjoy looking for pictures of them in the Gospel Art Book (see nos. 91, 93, 94, 95). How did each of these messengers help “re-establish the Church of Jesus Christ”? The scriptures suggested in this week’s activity page can help your children answer this question.
How might you help your children understand what it means for the Savior’s Church to be restored? Maybe they could build a simple tower with blocks or cups and “restore,” or rebuild, it. Or, if your children have ever had to replace something because it was lost or damaged, you could compare that experience to the Savior restoring His Church. Help them find specific things mentioned in the Restoration proclamation that the Savior restored.
Friend December 2015 “The Restoration Puzzle” Story about how to teach restoration using a puzzle.
To restore something means to put it back together. Read “The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World” in Gospel Library to learn more about how the Church was restored. Then play a restoration game! Find or draw a picture and cut it into puzzle pieces. Trade puzzles with a family member and restore each other’s pictures. Why was it important that Joseph Smith restored Jesus Christ’s gospel?
To illustrate what the phrase “the heavens are open” means, maybe you could share a message with your children, first behind a closed door and then through an open door. Let them take turns sharing a message too. What messages does Jesus Christ have for us? What experiences have helped us know that the heavens are open to us?
Moroni Chapter 10 A testimony of the Book of Mormon comes by the power of the Holy Ghost—The gifts of the Spirit are dispensed to the faithful—Spiritual gifts always accompany faith—Moroni’s words speak from the dust—Come unto Christ, be perfected in Him, and sanctify your souls. About A.D. 421.
Gold Plates/ Book of Mormon
Moroni Burying Plates Video – Explain that we’re studying the last chapter of the Book of Mormon today! This chapter has Moroni’s last words that he wrote before he buried the golden plates. (Come Follow Me Kid– more lesson ideas at link)
Use this activity to talk more about Moroni 10:18 (“every good gift cometh of Christ”).
Ahead of time, wrap a Book of Mormon with many layers of wrapping paper or colored cellophane. Tell your family you’ll share clues about what’s inside this gift.
As you share each clue (for example, “This teaches us about Jesus Christ”), invite a family member to take off a layer of paper and guess what’s inside.
If someone guesses correctly, continue unwrapping and take turns sharing truths about the Book of Mormon.
Discussion: Once the book is unwrapped, end by reading Moroni 10:18 together. What can your family do to share the gift of the gospel with others?
I can know for myself that the Book of Mormon is true.
How can you help your children accept Moroni’s invitation to ask God if the Book of Mormon is true? Consider giving them slips of paper with the words Read, Remember, Ponder, and Ask written on them. Your children could find these words in Moroni 10:3–4. What should we read, remember, ponder, and ask to gain or strengthen our testimonies of the Book of Mormon? Your children could also look for similarities between these verses and the song “Search, Ponder, and Pray” (Children’s Songbook, 109)
Your children could use the picture at the end of this outline to talk about Moroni burying the gold plates (see also “Chapter 54: The Promise of the Book of Mormon,” Book of Mormon Stories, 156). Younger children may enjoy pretending to be Moroni writing on the plates and burying them. Share with each other your testimonies of the Book of Mormon.
Show a picture of Moroni burying the golden plates (see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families), and ask the children to describe what they see. Invite them to point to the plates, and explain that on these plates were written the words that we now read in the Book of Mormon. Sing together “The Golden Plates” (Children’s Songbook, 86).
Help the children remember some of the experiences you have had together learning from the Book of Mormon. Share your feelings about the Book of Mormon, including how you have gained or strengthened your testimony that it is true. Invite the children to share their feelings and testimonies.
The Book of Mormon is full of stories that teach us about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the people who follow Them (see Moroni 10:3–4). Take turns acting out your favorite Book of Mormon stories! See if your family can guess what the story is.
Read Moroni 10:5 together and help your little ones say, “The Holy Ghost helps me know what is true.” Some children mistakenly think the Holy Ghost is a spooky ghost. Explain that the Holy Ghost is a real person, like Heavenly Father and Jesus. He helps us have comforting, warm, happy feelings. Families: You could cuddle up together in a blanket and watch the sing-along video for “The Holy Ghost” at children.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Show the Book of Mormon, and read Moroni 10:4. Emphasize that we can ask God if the Book of Mormon is true, and He will send the Holy Ghost to testify to us. Help the children understand what a witness from the Spirit feels like. Tell about a time when the Holy Ghost bore witness to you about something. Describe how you felt and how you knew it was the Holy Ghost.
A feeling that Jesus loves us and that the gospel is true
A comforting feeling
A happy feeling
A good feeling
A peaceful feeling
Friend December 2020 “How I Know” Before bed, Damon’s father reads to the boys about Moroni’s promise and then he tells the boys how he prayed and gained his testimony of the Book of Mormon. That night, Damon prays to know if the Book of Mormon is true and he feels warm and good inside.
Spiritual gifts can be defined as “blessings or abilities given by God to His children through the power of the Holy Ghost. Gifts of the Spirit are given to bless and benefit those who love the Lord and seek to keep His commandments. (See Doctrine and Covenants 46:9.)” (Gospel Topics, “Spiritual Gifts,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
President George Q. Cannon (1827–1901) of the First Presidency shared one way we can seek after spiritual gifts:
If any of us are imperfect, it is our duty to pray for the gift that will make us perfect. … No man ought to say, “Oh, I cannot help this; it is my nature.” He is not justified in it, for the reason that God has promised … to give gifts that will eradicate [our weaknesses]. (George Q. Cannon, “Seeking Spiritual Gifts,” Ensign or Liahona, Apr. 2016, 80
To teach your children about spiritual gifts, you could write the numbers 9 through 16 on separate pieces of paper and wrap each paper like a gift. Your children could take turns unwrapping the gifts, reading verses from Moroni 10:9–16 that correspond with the numbers, and identifying each spiritual gift. You could talk about how Heavenly Father wants us to use these gifts to bless His children.
The Red Crystal has black and white copies that the children could fill out.
Book of Mormon Seminary Student Manual (2024) It may be helpful to know that teaching “the word of wisdom” (verse 9) could refer to the ability to help others use good judgment or apply their knowledge; teaching the “word of knowledge” (verse 10) could refer to the ability to help others come to a knowledge of God and His laws; and “all kinds of tongues” (verse 15) could refer to the ability to speak in foreign or unknown languages.
You could also help your children notice the gifts that Heavenly Father has given them. (Explain that these are gifts Heavenly Father gives His children so we can help each other and do His work.)
Tell the children about spiritual gifts you have noticed that Heavenly Father has given them, such as the gifts of faith, wisdom, testimony, kindness, and the ability to learn. Let the children talk briefly about favorite gifts they have received.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that “spiritual gifts are endless in number and infinite in variety” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], 371).
Share with them some additional spiritual gifts mentioned by Elder Marvin J. Ashton: “The gift of asking; the gift of listening; … the gift of avoiding contention; … the gift of seeking that which is righteous; the gift of not passing judgment; the gift of looking to God for guidance; … the gift of caring for others; … the gift of offering prayer; the gift of bearing a mighty testimony” (“There Are Many Gifts,” Ensign, Nov. 1987, 20). Invite the children to talk about the spiritual gifts they see in each other. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “1 Corinthians 8–13” )
In the title page of the Book of Mormon, Moroni declared that the Book of Mormon was written to convince us that “Jesus is the Christ.”
We were sent to earth to learn and grow so that we can gain eternal life. To help us, Heavenly Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ. He has also called prophets to teach and testify of Jesus Christ. In the final verses of the Book of Mormon, Moroni invited all to follow the Savior. This lesson can help you “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him” (Moroni 10:32).
Do your children know what it means to “come unto Christ”? Maybe you could read Moroni 10:32 and invite them to repeat the phrase with you. (“Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him”) They could then close their eyes while you place a picture of Jesus somewhere in the room. Then let them open their eyes, find the picture, gather around it, and talk about ways that we can come unto Christ.
Write on the board a question like What does it mean to come unto Christ? Help the children search Moroni 10:32–33 to find possible answers. Work together to list what Christ wants us to do and what He promises to do for us. (see also Articles of Faith 1:3–4)
32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.
Maybe your children would enjoy making and decorating heart-shaped badges that say “I love God with all my might, mind, and strength” (see Moroni 10:32). As they do, talk with them about how we show God that we love Him.
Review with the children the Prophet Joseph Smith’s words from the introduction to the Book of Mormon: “A man would get nearer to God by abiding by [the Book of Mormon’s] precepts, than by any other book.” Bear your testimony about how this has happened in your life.
Read this chapter together, looking for every time Moroni used the word exhort. List or mark what Moroni is exhorting—or strongly encouraging—us to do. What can we do to follow his exhortations?
Moroni Chapter 7 An invitation is given to enter into the rest of the Lord—Pray with real intent—The Spirit of Christ enables men to know good from evil—Satan persuades men to deny Christ and do evil—The prophets manifest the coming of Christ—By faith, miracles are wrought and angels minister—Men should hope for eternal life and cleave unto charity. About A.D. 401–21.
Moroni Chapter 8 The baptism of little children is an evil abomination—Little children are alive in Christ because of the Atonement—Faith, repentance, meekness and lowliness of heart, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end lead to salvation. About A.D. 401–21.
Moroni Chapter 9 Both the Nephites and the Lamanites are depraved and degenerate—They torture and murder each other—Mormon prays that grace and goodness may rest upon Moroni forever. About A.D. 401.
Before Moroni concluded the record we know today as the Book of Mormon with his own final words, he shared three messages from his father, Mormon: an address to “the peaceable followers of Christ” (Moroni 7:3) and two letters that Mormon had written to Moroni. Perhaps Moroni included these messages in the Book of Mormon because he foresaw similarities between the perils of his day and ours.
Moroni 7
The light of Christ helps me judge between good and evil.
Many people wonder, “How can I know if an impression comes from God or from my own thoughts?” or “With so much deception today, how can I know what is right or wrong?” Mormon’s words in Moroni 7 give us several principles we can use to answer these questions. Look for them especially in verses 12–20.
How can Mormon’s counsel help us make good choices about how we spend our time and who we spend it with? You could invite family members to search your home and “lay hold upon” (Moroni 7:19), or hold on to, things that invite them “to do good, and to love God, and to serve him” (Moroni 7:13). Praise them for the good things they find.
Use the following or similar examples of choices that apply to your class. Have the children use Moroni 7:16 to help them choose good from evil.
You are playing ball with your friends when a child who does not play well wants to join your team. Your friends tell you if this person plays on your team you will lose the game. You consider telling the child not to play with you. Ask yourself, “Does this choice invite me to do good and to believe in Jesus Christ?”
You are watching a movie that has an immoral scene that lasts only a few seconds. You feel embarrassed to leave the movie. Ask yourself, “Does watching this movie invite me to do good and to believe in Jesus Christ?”
You are in a store when the clerk makes a mistake and doesn’t charge you the right amount for the item you are buying. You know that the item costs more than what you were charged, but the clerk made the error. Ask yourself, “Does paying the wrong price invite me to do good and to believe in Jesus Christ?”
Your bishop has asked you to read the Book of Mormon every day. Sometimes scripture words are hard for you to understand. Ask yourself, “Does reading the scriptures every day help me to do good and persuade me to believe in Christ?”
Mormon wanted the people to know that miracles did not stop when the Savior’s earthly ministry ended. As long as we have faith in Jesus Christ, we can, with His help, do anything He needs us to do—including miraculous things.
Consider looking at a few pictures together that show someone from the scriptures accomplishing something important (see, for example, Gospel Art Book, nos. 19, 70, 78, 81). How did having faith in Christ make a difference in these examples? You and your children could then read Moroni 7:33, looking for what we can do when we have faith in Jesus Christ. You could also share experiences with each other when God blessed you with power to do His will.
Help the children list on the board some of the “good thing[s]” that we receive through the gospel of Jesus Christ, such as having eternal families, returning to Heavenly Father, and being forgiven of our sins. Then invite the children to read Moroni 7:21–22 and 25, looking for how we can receive all of these good things. How can we show our faith in Jesus Christ and His promises?
21 And now I come to that faith, of which I said I would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing. 22 and in Christ there should come every good thing. 25 and by every word which proceeded forth out of the mouth of God, men began to exercise faith in Christ; and thus by faith, they did lay hold upon every good thing;
Read Moroni 7:33, and invite the children to stand up when they hear the word “faith.” Explain that we show our faith in Jesus Christ when we keep His commandments. Help the children make a list on the board of some things Jesus wants them to do, like obeying their parents or telling the truth. Testify that our faith in Jesus Christ can help us keep the commandments.
As you read Moroni 7:41 to your children, perhaps they could raise their hands when they hear something Mormon said we should hope for. Tell them about the hope you feel because of Jesus Christ.
One truth we can learn from Mormon is if we exercise faith in Jesus Christ, we can have hope through His Atonement to be raised to eternal life.
You and your children could also think of someone who may be having a hard time with something. Maybe your children could draw a picture for the person that can remind him or her to have hope in Jesus Christ.
After describing the wickedness he had seen, Mormon told his son not to grieve. What does it mean to you for Christ to “lift [you] up”? Moroni 9:25–26
Help the children list a few problems that might make people feel discouraged or hopeless. Invite the children to read Moroni 7:40–41 and 9:25–26, looking for something that might help someone who feels discouraged. Tell them how Jesus Christ and His gospel have helped you during difficult times.
Invite the children to write a message to someone who feels discouraged to help him or her find hope in Christ, as Mormon did for his son in Moroni 9:25–26. Encourage the children to use words and phrases from these verses in their messages.
To teach your children about hope in Jesus Christ, you could fill a clear container with water and drop two objects into it—one that floats and one that sinks. As you read together Moroni 7:40–41 and 9:25–26, your children could look for what hope does for us. Then they could compare the floating object to a person who has hope in Christ. How does He “lift [us] up” when we face difficult trials? Help your children think of ways they can keep the Savior and His encouraging teachings “in [their] mind forever.”
Life was hard for Moroni, but he stayed faithful. He wrote down what Mormon taught about charity, the pure love of Christ. Mormon said people should pray to God with all the energy of their hearts to get this love. He said God gives charity to those who truly follow Jesus.
Moroni loved the Lamanites even though some of them had killed everyone he knew and wanted to kill him. He wrote many things on the metal plates to help Lamanites in the future. He hoped they would read the record someday and believe in Jesus again.
Invite the children to share what they think the word “charity” means. Then invite one of the children to read Moroni 7:45. (If some of the words in this verse are hard to understand, help the children look them up in a dictionary.)
Explain the qualities of charity found in Moroni 7:45 using terms the children can understand. You could have the children match Moroni’s descriptions with your explanations.
Suffereth long: Is patient
Kind: Not cruel or mean, loving
Envieth not: Is not jealous
Not puffed up: Humble, not proud
Seeketh not her own: Is unselfish
Not easily provoked: Slow to anger, quick to forgive
Mormon taught that we “must needs have charity” (Moroni 7:44). Use this activity to talk about what charity means.
Show the picture of Jesus from page 193 of the Come, Follow Me manual for individuals and families.
Read Moroni 7:45–47 together. As you read, write down on slips of paper phrases that describe charity (for example, “is kind”).
Put the slips of paper around the picture of Christ. Talk about times He acted in those ways.
Now show a picture of your family. Talk about what your family can do to follow Christ’s examples of charity. As each idea is shared, move the corresponding paper from Christ’s picture to your family’s picture.
Discussion: Read and talk about Moroni 7:48. What can your family do to get ready to see the Savior again?
Ask the children to talk about people they know who are good examples of charity. Why is charity called “the pure love of Christ”? (Moroni 7:47). What does verse 48 teach us about how we can be filled with charity? Encourage each of the children to pray for charity this week and to look for ways to show charity to others.
Ask the children to write names of people they know on pieces of paper and place them in a small bag or container. Invite them to take their container home, select a name from it every day, and do something that shows love for that person. In a future lesson, invite them to share their experiences serving these people.
Jesus wants us to love each other (see Moroni 7:45–48). Have each family member write their name on a piece of paper and put it in a bowl. Then pick a name and secretly serve that person the next day to show your love. At the end of the day, guess who served you!
How can you inspire your children to seek and develop the pure love of Christ in their lives? Perhaps you could help them think of ways that Jesus showed charity (see, for example, Luke 23:34; John 8:1–11; Ether 12:33–34). How can we follow His example?
A song about love, such as “Love One Another” (Children’s Songbook, 136), may start a discussion about what charity is. You could read or summarize Moroni 7:47 and invite your children to draw pictures of themselves showing love to someone. Suggest that they put their picture where it will remind them to love others as Jesus does.
Ask the children to repeat this phrase with you: “Charity is the pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47). Who can we show love to as Jesus did? For an example, example, show the video “My Brother Hyrum” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
For younger children: Ask your child to draw a picture for someone they love.
Moroni had the pure love of Christ. Help the children find some of the following examples of Moroni’s charity, or use some of the following examples as you tell the children the story of Moroni.
Suffereth long: Moroni lived alone for over thirty-six years patiently keeping the records. (Mormon 8:5.)
Kind: Moroni prayed for us, and he loved his brethren. (Ether 12:36, 38.)
Envieth not: Moroni saw our day and counseled us to not be envious or proud. (Mormon 8:35–37.)
Not puffed up: Moroni was humble because of his weakness in writing. (Ether 12:23–25.)
Seeketh not her own: Moroni unselfishly worked and prayed for us that we would have a knowledge of Jesus Christ. (Mormon 9:36; Ether 12:41.)
Not easily provoked: Moroni forgave his enemies and worked hard to write things that he hoped would be of worth to them. (Moroni 1:4.)
Thinketh no evil: Moroni exhorted us to hold to good and touch not evil. (Moroni 10:30.)
Rejoiceth in truth: Moroni was honest. (Moroni 10:27.)
Beareth all things: Because Moroni would not deny Jesus Christ, he had to wander alone for his safety. (Moroni 1:2–3.)
Believeth all things: Moroni encouraged us to believe in Jesus Christ. (Mormon 9:21.) So great was Moroni’s faith that he was able to see Christ face to face. (Ether 12:39.)
Hopeth all things: Moroni understood the importance of hope. (Ether 12:32.)
Endureth all things: Moroni was faithful to the end. (Moroni 10:34.)
Moroni received a letter from his father when Moroni was first called to the ministry. As part of the letter Mormon expressed his love, appreciation, and concern for his son (see Moroni 8:2–3). Before class have a parent, or an adult relative or friend, of each of the children in your class write a letter of love and appreciation. Give these letters to the children as you explain the love that Mormon had for his son, Moroni. Point out that Moroni valued this letter; he carried it with him as he fled from his enemies. Suggest that the children save their letters as a reminder to continue to do good things which will please their parents and the Lord.
