5th Sunday, Primary lesson, Free LDS primary lesson helps
- redwallace
- 23 hours ago
- 13 min read
Because this Sunday is the fifth Sunday of the month, Primary teachers are encouraged to use learning activities in “Appendix B: Preparing Children for a Lifetime on God’s Covenant Path.”
ATTENTION: I HAVE UPDATED THE 5TH SUNDAY LESSON TO NOW HAVE THE TEMPLE SECTION THAT THE CHURCH JUST ADDED. IT IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.
Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
The doctrine of Christ teaches us how to return to God.
When Jesus Christ appeared to the people in the Americas, He taught them His doctrine. He said that we can enter the kingdom of God if we have faith, repent, are baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end (see 3 Nephi 11:31–40; Doctrine and Covenants 20:29). The activities below can help you teach the children that these principles and ordinances will help us draw closer to the Savior throughout our lives.
To learn more about the doctrine of Christ, see 2 Nephi 31.
Possible Activities
Give the children pictures that represent faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, and confirmation (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 1, 111, 103, and 105). Read or recite with the children the fourth article of faith, and ask them to hold up their pictures when that principle or ordinance is mentioned. Help the children understand how each of these principles and ordinances helps us become more like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Put a large picture of Jesus Christ up. Still do the activity of the children holding up the pictures, then at the end have the children lay them on the ground and practice taking steps to become more like Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ (with the large picture of Jesus at the end).
How can you help the children understand that faith, repentance, baptism, and confirmation are not one-time events but influence our spiritual growth throughout our lives? For instance, you could show them a picture of a seed and a large tree (or draw these things on the board). Help them think of things that help the seed grow into a large tree, such as water, soil, and sunlight. Help them see that these are like the things we do to grow closer to God throughout our lives—building our faith in Jesus Christ, repenting each day, living our baptismal covenants, and listening to the Holy Ghost.
I made a coloring book to help teach this. It is in my store.
The video is also HERE.
Share with the children the story about the firecracker from Elder Dale G. Renlund’s message “How Can Repenting Help Me Feel Happy?” (Friend, Dec. 2017, 12–13, or Liahona, Dec. 2017, 70–71; see also the video “Repentance: A Joyful Choice” [Gospel Library]).
At various points during the story, invite the children to think about how Elder Renlund might have felt. Why do we feel joy when we repent? Share with the children the joy and love you have felt when you have asked Heavenly Father to forgive you.
Baptism
Jesus Christ set an example for me when He was baptized.
Even though Jesus was without sin, He was baptized to set a perfect example of obedience to Heavenly Father (see 2 Nephi 31:6–10).
To learn more about baptism, see Doctrine and Covenants 20:37; Gospel Topics, “Baptism,” Gospel Library.
Possible Activities
Show a picture of the Savior’s baptism and another person’s baptism (or see Gospel Art Book, no. 35 and either no. 103 or no. 104). Ask the children to share what is different and what is the same between the two pictures. Read together Matthew 3:13–17 or “Chapter 10: Jesus Is Baptized” in New Testament Stories, 26–29, or watch the corresponding video on Gospel Library.
This is a fun cup activity.
Let the children point to things in the pictures that are mentioned in the reading or the video. Tell the children about your love for the Savior and your desire to follow Him.
Listen to or sing a song about baptism, such as “When Jesus Christ Was Baptized” (Children’s Songbook, 102). What do we learn about baptism from the song? Read 2 Nephi 31:9–10, and invite the children to listen for why Jesus Christ was baptized. Invite them to draw a picture of themselves on their baptism day.
I can choose to make a covenant with God and be baptized.
Preparing for baptism means much more than preparing for an event. It means preparing to make a covenant and then keeping that covenant for a lifetime. Ponder how you can help the children understand the covenant they will make with Heavenly Father when they are baptized, which includes the promises He makes to them and the promises they make to Him.
Possible Activities
Explain that a covenant is a promise between a person and Heavenly Father. As we strive to keep our promises to God, God promises to bless us. Write on the board My Promises to God and God’s Promises to Me.
Read together Mosiah 18:10, 13 and Doctrine and Covenants 20:37, and help the children make a list of the promises they find under the appropriate headings (see also Dallin H. Oaks, “Your Baptism Covenant,” Friend, Feb. 2021, 2–3). Share how Heavenly Father has blessed you as you strive to keep your baptismal covenant.
Show the children pictures of things Jesus Christ did during His ministry (for some examples, see Gospel Art Book, nos. 33–49). Let the children talk about what Jesus is doing in each picture. Read Mosiah 18:8–10, 13, and invite the children to listen for things they promise to do when they are baptized (see also “The Baptism Covenant,” Friend, Feb. 2019, 7; Liahona, Feb. 2019, F3). How will these promises influence our actions every day?
You are teaching many classes. You can pass out pages like this to each class. For example: the Valiant A class all received the picture of the Good Samaritan (copied), they can all draw their individual pictures AFTER they talk about the story. Encourage the classes to choose one spoke person from their class to explain their drawings and their ideas on how they can serve like Jesus.
If this is too small for you group, you can do the same thing with large gospel art found in the library, and a blank piece of paper.
Close with the scriptures learned today, that we promise to do the things when we are baptized.
Invite the children to draw a picture of themselves helping someone the way Jesus would. Or you could make the children a simple badge to wear with the Savior’s name on it.
This is in my store. Click on the image.
Confirmation
When I am confirmed, I become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Becoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints brings many blessings, including opportunities for the children to be active participants in God’s work.
To learn more about confirmation and the gift of the Holy Ghost, see Gary E. Stevenson, “How Does the Holy Ghost Help You?,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 117–20; Topics and Questions, “Holy Ghost,” Gospel Library.
Possible Activities
Invite someone who was recently baptized and confirmed to come to class and share what it was like to be confirmed. Ask this person to talk about what it means to him or her to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Help the children think of ways they can keep their baptismal covenant as members of the Church (such as serving others, inviting others to learn more about Jesus, saying prayers in meetings, and so on). Share how doing these things has helped you feel the joy of being a member of Christ’s Church.
Show a picture of the people at the Waters of Mormon (see Gospel Art Book, no. 76), and ask the children to describe what they see in the picture. Tell the story of Alma and his people being baptized there (see Mosiah 18:1–17; “Chapter 15: Alma Teaches and Baptizes,” in Book of Mormon Stories, 43–44, or the corresponding video in Gospel Library). Review Mosiah 18:8–9 and invite the children to do actions to help them remember the things the people were willing to do as members of Christ’s Church. For example, how can we help others “take a step toward making covenants with God”?
Pass out these pictures to different groups of children in the class. Then have someone read Mosiah 18:8–9 , if the students hear their picture mentioned, have them raise it high in the air. After, have them come up front (with their picture) and review our baptismal covenants.
Honestly this is the image that comes into my mind, but make sure they understand this isn't just Missionaries, it's everyone.
(Russell M. Nelson, “Hope of Israel” [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], Gospel Library). Share an experience of when you have witnessed members of the Church serving in these ways.
When I am confirmed, I receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
When we are baptized and confirmed, Heavenly Father promises that we “may always have his Spirit to be with [us]” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:77). This wonderful gift from God is called the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Possible Activities
Read Doctrine and Covenants 33:15, and ask the children to listen for the special gift that Heavenly Father gives us when we are baptized and confirmed. To help them learn more about how the gift of the Holy Ghost will help them, review together John 14:26; Galatians 5:22–23; 2 Nephi 32:5; 3 Nephi 27:20. You could also review the article “The Holy Ghost Is …” (Friend, June 2019, 24–25, or Liahona, June 2019, F12–F13).
Before class, ask the parents of one or more of the children to share how they have been blessed because they have the gift of the Holy Ghost. How does He help them? How do they hear His voice?
Sing together a song about the Holy Ghost, such as “The Holy Ghost” (Children’s Songbook, 105). Help the children understand what the song teaches us about how the Holy Ghost can help us.
Since most 5th Sundays are with a very large group, I made the 1st article of faith puzzle very big. (Read above object lesson, you will need it for that)
The Holy Ghost can speak to me in many ways.
Children who can recognize the voice of the Spirit will be prepared to receive personal revelation to guide them throughout their lives. Help them understand that there are many ways the Holy Ghost can speak to us.
Possible Activities
Help the children think of different ways we could talk to a friend who lives far away, such as writing a letter, sending an email, or talking on the phone. Teach them that Heavenly Father can speak to us in different ways through the Holy Ghost. Use President Dallin H. Oaks’s message “How Does Heavenly Father Speak to Us?” to help the children understand the different ways the Holy Ghost can speak to our minds and hearts (Friend, Mar. 2020, 2–3, or Liahona, Mar. 2020, F2–F3).
Share an experience when the Holy Ghost communicated with you, either through thoughts in your mind or through a feeling in your heart (see Doctrine and Covenants 6:22–23; 8:2–3; see also Henry B. Eyring, “Open Your Heart to the Holy Ghost,” Friend, Aug. 2019, 2–3, or Liahona, Aug. 2019, F2–F3). Testify to the children that the Holy Ghost can help them in similar ways.
Another Holy Ghost object lesson:
Help the children recognize times when they are feeling the Spirit—for example, when singing a song about the Savior or when doing something kind for others. Help them recognize the spiritual feelings that the Holy Ghost brings, especially His promptings to act. Why do you think the Holy Ghost gives us these feelings? Help the children think of things that we need to do to hear the Holy Ghost speak to us. Talk about what you do to hear the Spirit more clearly.
In the temple, we make covenants with God.
President Russell M. Nelson taught, “Jesus Christ invites us to take the covenant path back home to our Heavenly Parents and be with those we love” (“Come, Follow Me,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 91). Help the children understand that the covenant path includes baptism, confirmation, and the temple endowment and sealing.
Possible Activities
Ask the children to help you review the covenant that we make with God when we are baptized and that we renew when we partake of the sacrament (see Mosiah 18:10; Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79). Show a picture of the temple, and explain that Heavenly Father has more blessings He wants to give us in the temple.
Draw a gate leading to a path. Ask the children why they think it is helpful to have a path to walk on. Read together 2 Nephi 31:17–20, where Nephi compares the covenant of baptism to a gate and invites us to continue on the path after baptism. There are more covenants to make after baptism, including covenants made in the temple. Explain that President Nelson has called this path the “covenant path.”
The Temple and the Plan of Happiness
The temple is the house of the Lord.
Temples are a part of Heavenly Father’s plan for His children. In temples, we make sacred covenants with Him, are endowed with priesthood power, receive revelation, perform ordinances for our deceased ancestors, and are sealed to our families for eternity. All of this is possible because of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice.
How can you help the children you teach recognize the sacredness of the Lord’s house and prepare themselves to be worthy to participate in temple ordinances? Consider reviewing these resources: Doctrine and Covenants 97:15–17; Russell M. Nelson, “Closing Remarks,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2019, 120–22; “Why Latter-day Saints Build Temples,” temples.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Possible Activities
Display one or more pictures of temples. Ask the children what makes the temple a special place. Point out that on each temple is this inscription: “Holiness to the Lord—The House of the Lord.” Ask the children what they think “Holiness to the Lord” might mean. Why is the temple called the house of the Lord? What does this teach us about the temple? If any of the children have been to a temple, they could also share how they felt when they were there. If you have been to the temple, share how you have felt the Lord’s presence there, and talk about why the temple is a sacred place to you.
You can use this giant puzzle to help introduce this topic, pass a piece to each class and have them decide together where if goes on the chalkboard (with magnets).
It will look like this when it's completed:
Read together Doctrine and Covenants 97:15–17. Ask the children to look for what the Lord expects of people who enter His holy house. Why do we need to be worthy to enter His house? As part of this conversation, talk to the children about temple recommends, including how to receive one. You could invite a member of the bishopric to share with them what a temple recommend interview is like and the questions that are asked in one.
In the temple, we make covenants with God.
President Russell M. Nelson taught, “Jesus Christ invites us to take the covenant path back home to our Heavenly Parents and be with those we love” (“Come, Follow Me,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 91). Help the children understand that the covenant path includes baptism, confirmation, and the temple endowment and sealing.
Possible Activities
Ask the children to help you review the covenant that we make with God when we are baptized and that we renew when we partake of the sacrament (see Mosiah 18:10; Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79). Show a picture of the temple, and explain that Heavenly Father has more blessings He wants to give us in the temple.
Draw a gate leading to a path. Ask the children why they think it is helpful to have a path to walk on. Read together 2 Nephi 31:17–20, where Nephi compares the covenant of baptism to a gate and invites us to continue on the path after baptism. There are more covenants to make after baptism, including covenants made in the temple. Explain that President Nelson has called this path the “covenant path.”
Here is a coloring page for the students after this discussion.
In the temple, we can be baptized and confirmed for ancestors who have died.
The gospel of Jesus Christ makes it possible for all of God’s children to return to live with Him, even if they die without knowing the gospel. In the temple, we can be baptized and confirmed members of the Church of Jesus Christ on their behalf.
Possible Activities
Talk about a time when someone did something for you that you could not do for yourself. Invite the children to share similar experiences. Explain that when we go to the temple, we can receive sacred ordinances such as baptism for others who have died. How are we being like Jesus when we are doing work for the dead? What has He done for us that we couldn’t do for ourselves?
Invite one or more youth who have been baptized for their ancestors to share their experience. Ask them what it was like in the temple. Encourage them to share how they felt doing this work for their ancestors.
Draw a tree on the board, including the roots and branches. Ask the children to think of how a family is like a tree. Label the roots Ancestors, label the branches Descendants, and label the trunk of the tree You. Read together this sentence from Doctrine and Covenants 128:18: “For we without them [our ancestors] cannot be made perfect; neither can they without us be made perfect.” Ask questions like the following: “Why do we need our ancestors? Why do our ancestors need us? How have our parents, grandparents, and other ancestors helped us?” Invite the children to search the rest of Doctrine and Covenants 128:18 for a phrase that describes how we can help our ancestors.
Here is a coloring/ activity page you can pass out after your discussion:
Consider working with the parents of each child to find the name of an ancestor who needs ordinances in the temple (see FamilySearch.org).
Here is a coloring activity book that the students can use to record their own family history. This is in my store, you can click on the picture to go there.
Here is a video that shows you how to assemble the coloring book, not the same coloring book, but you will easily get the idea.
There are also these Temple gift tags and printable in my store, just click on the images below.
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