I'm skipping around the primary manual this week. Something that was suggested for older children, I'm totally doing with my sunbeams, because I really, really love it. I love the message and I love how the primary manual and scriptures expresses the power and purpose of the priesthood. It is all about going home and being prepared to see our Heavenly Father again.
Priesthood ordinances help me prepare to live with Heavenly Father again.
As they get older, the children you teach will be able to participate in more priesthood ordinances, including baptisms and confirmations for the dead in the temple. How can you help them understand the purposes and power of priesthood ordinances?
Invite the children to list the priesthood ordinances they have participated in or witnessed, such as baptism, confirmation, priesthood blessings, or the sacrament. Ask them to share their experiences with these ordinances. Read Doctrine and Covenants 84:20 together (help them understand unfamiliar words). Why does the Lord invite us to participate in ordinances? How does the priesthood help us return to Heavenly Father?
Do you love it? Here is the activity:
Attach the boy on the second page to some yarn and string it into the two holes. Cut out the rectangles from the second page and hand them out to the children. Starting with baptism, have the children match the pictures of the ordinance to the words, one by one as you talk about their experiences with that ordinance. After each priesthood ordinance is discussed move the boy up the stairs. At the end, show how these priesthood ordinances have brought him closer to our Heavenly Father and better prepared to live with him again. Read D&C 84:20 and bear your testimony.
I am Jesus’s friend when I follow Him.
How can you help the children know that the Savior loves us even more than a dear friend does?
Possible Activities
Display a picture of the Savior as you read Doctrine and Covenants 84:77. Invite the children to point to the picture of the Savior every time they hear the word “friends.” Explain that when we try to keep the commandments, we show Jesus that we love Him. Share what it means to you to have Jesus as your friend.
Help the children list some things they can do to show their friends that they love them. What did Jesus do to show us that He is our friend? What can we do to show the Savior that we are His friends? Sing together a song about Jesus, such as “Jesus Is Our Loving Friend” (Children’s Songbook, 58).
LOVE this song and video.
1. Before the lesson, laminate the page with the picture of Jesus, and the questions. Then attach the pieces of papers over the top of the page. Cover up the bottom question "What did Jesus Do to show us that He is Our Friend?"
2. During the lesson have everyone answer the question “What can I do to show my friends I love them?” Write their answers on each of the pieces of paper. Then uncover the question at the bottom. “What did Jesus do to show us that he is our friend?” with each of their answers that are similar remove the piece of paper. For example if someone wrote “caring” discuss how Jesus cared enough for use to Atone or die for us. Then remove the paper. After all the papers are removed discuss and answer the question What can we do to show the Savior that we are His friend? I would recommend reading the scripture D&C 84:77, and show the children that we show Him we love Him by keeping the commandments.
It's so confusing, bear with me, it will be worth it! Here is some pictures that might help.
(Can print on colored card stock)
Heavenly Father helps His missionaries.
The idea of being a missionary someday can be exciting but also intimidating for some children. Doctrine and Covenants 84:88 can teach them how Heavenly Father helps those He sends forth to preach His gospel.
Possible Activities
Help the children think of missionaries they know. Tell them that Heavenly Father has made a special promise to missionaries. Read Doctrine and Covenants 84:88, and help the children think of actions that go with the promises in this verse. Tell about a time when you were serving the Lord and felt that He was with you, as described in verse 88.
Share the story of the four-year-old boy in Elder Takashi Wada’s message “Feasting upon the Words of Christ” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 38–40). Help each child think of something they could say to share their testimony with someone—such as sharing an article of faith. Ask each child to pretend to share the gospel with a friend. Testify that Heavenly Father helps us know what to say when we talk with others about the gospel.
Here is an Article of Faith that goes with this weeks lesson.
Teach the Doctrine: Older Children
Priesthood ordinances help me prepare to live with Heavenly Father again.
As they get older, the children you teach will be able to participate in more priesthood ordinances, including baptisms and confirmations for the dead in the temple. How can you help them understand the purposes and power of priesthood ordinances?
Possible Activities
Write Aaronic Priesthood and Melchizedek Priesthood on the board. Read together Doctrine and Covenants 84:18, 26–28, 30, and help the children list truths they learn about the Aaronic Priesthood from these verses. Then read together Doctrine and Covenants 84:18–25, and list truths about the Melchizedek Priesthood.
Invite the children to list the priesthood ordinances they have participated in or witnessed, such as baptism, confirmation, priesthood blessings, or the sacrament. Ask them to share their experiences with these ordinances. Read Doctrine and Covenants 84:20 together (help them understand unfamiliar words). Why does the Lord invite us to participate in ordinances? How does the priesthood help us return to Heavenly Father?
This is similar to my other idea, but for those of you who like to use the church's resources and also have it big enough for a large group, you can do this on a chalk board or dry erase board.
Here is a boy and girl that you can print off and stick to the board, if that helps.
Create a puzzle out of a picture of a temple. Read with the children Doctrine and Covenants 84:5, and ask them to listen for what the Lord commanded the Saints to build. Give each child a piece of the puzzle, and ask them to share something they can do to prepare to enter the temple.
The Lord protects and empowers missionaries.
These verses contain promises the Lord made to those He called to preach the gospel. These promises can also inspire the children as they share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.
Possible Activities
Group the children into pairs, and give each pair a few verses to read from Doctrine and Covenants 84:64–72, 81–88. Invite them to search for promises the Lord gives to those who share the gospel. Ask them to share what they learned with the class. Help the children think of people they know, or people in the scriptures, who received the Lord’s help when preaching the gospel (such as Samuel the Lamanite [see Helaman 13:2–4; 16:6–7] or Ammon [see Alma 17:32–38]). Share an experience when you felt the Lord’s support while you were serving Him.
That's all, hope you have a great week.
Love, Crystal