Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children
God’s word is like a light.
The children you teach are on the path back to Heavenly Father. The word of God can help keep them on that path now and throughout their lives.
Possible Activities
Show pictures of the things mentioned in Psalm 119:105, and invite the children to put the pictures in order as you read the verse. Ask the children to repeat phrases from the verse with you as you point to the pictures.
Just read all that up there, that is sooo visual. I love the primary manual!
Invite the children to talk about what it feels like to be in the dark. What are things that are hard to do in the dark? You might invite a child to try to do something with their eyes closed, like drawing a picture. Why are these things easier to do when there is light? Help the children understand how the word of God, as found in the scriptures and the words of living prophets, lights our way back to Heavenly Father.
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know me and love me.
Throughout our lives, we need to be reminded that Heavenly Father and Jesus know us personally. Psalm 139 can help you teach the children that They know them and love them.
Possible Activities
Make short lists of things you know about each child. As you read the lists one at a time, ask the children to guess who you are describing. Read Psalm 139:1–3, and help the children understand words they might not know. Testify that Heavenly Father and Jesus know them very well—They know their names, what makes them happy and sad, and things they do well.
You can have the children complete these and then gather them and read them asking them to guess who that child is.
Read Psalm 139:23, and invite the children to put their hands on their hearts when you say “heart” and to touch their heads when you say “thoughts.” Share a time when you felt God knew your heart and your thoughts.
I can praise the Lord.
To praise the Lord means to express our gratitude and love for Him. Help the children learn that we are praising Him when we do things like sing, pray, and obey His teachings.
Possible Activities
Invite the children to share experiences when someone praised them or told them they did a good job. Share some of the good things from Psalm 146:6–9 that the Lord has done, and invite the children to talk about other things He does for us. Help them think of ways they can praise Him for those things.
This is from a couple weeks ago, but I think this is a good idea from the friend to have the children write their own poem or song, about the things God has done for them.
Also, check out this new fantastic resource https://teachldschildren.com/
These are very white, it would be great to decorate them with stickers and makers.
I spelled homemade wrong on the paper, but you will just be cutting it off(:
Sing together a song of praise, such as “Beauty Everywhere” (Children’s Songbook, 232–33). Explain that for the Israelites long ago, the Psalms were like the songs we sing today to worship and praise God.
Some videos you can play while the children shake their instruments:
Teach the Doctrine: Older Children
The Lord offers me comfort and hope.
God is aware of our trials and sorrows, and He wants to comfort and encourage us. Help the children build their faith in Him so they will turn to Him in times of need.
Possible Activities
Ask one of the children to read Psalm 102:1–2. How can the Lord help us during our times of trouble? How do we ask for His help? Share an experience in which you felt that God heard your prayers when you were in need, and invite the children to share their experiences and testimonies.
Invite the children to find words of comfort and hope in Psalm 103. How could these words help people facing challenges? Encourage the children to write down phrases they found meaningful to remind them that the Lord can help them when they have trials.
God’s word helps me follow His path.
Although the world may seem dark at times, God’s word can illuminate our path and help us return to Him.
Possible Activities
Draw on the board a picture of a light (such as a lamp) and a picture of the scriptures. Invite the children to read Psalm 119:105. How does light help us? How does the word of God help us? Ask the children to write their answers on the board next to the pictures. How is the word of God like a light? How does it help us stay on the path that leads back to Heavenly Father?
Turn the lights out, and possibly cover windows so there is little light. Pass out the scriptures and have the children look them up with flashlights. After have them take turns holding a light and bearing their testimony about with they learned.
Divide the children into pairs, and give each pair one of the following scripture passages: Psalm 119:47–48; Psalm 119:105; 1 Nephi 11:25; 2 Nephi 31:20. Invite them to read the passages and look for what Heavenly Father has given us to help us stay on the path back to Him. Invite the children to ponder and share what they feel inspired to do because of what they have learned.
Sing together a song about following God’s path, such as “I Will Walk with Jesus” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What do we learn from this song about how to stay on the right path?
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can help me know how to improve.
Psalm 139 teaches that God knows everything about us, including our strengths and weaknesses. If we turn to Him, He can teach us what we need to do to become more like Him.
Possible Activities
Write the words of Psalm 139:23–24 on the board, and invite the children to underline words that describe things God can do for us. Why would we want God to do these things? How can we invite Him to “lead [us] in the way everlasting”?
Encourage the children to “search” their own lives for ways they can improve in the four areas of focus in the Children and Youth program—spiritual, social, physical, and intellectual. Remind them that the Lord knows how they can improve in each of these areas, and encourage them to seek His guidance.
(Click on the image)
If you want a free one, you can print this:
Sing a song about how Heavenly Father can help us improve, such as the second verse of “Help Me, Dear Father” (Children’s Songbook, 99). Share how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have helped you improve.