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Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children
Bishops lead the ward as servants of God.
Paul taught Timothy and Titus about the importance of bishops. How can you teach the children what the bishop does? (A branch president is comparable to a bishop.)
Possible Activities
Draw a simple picture of your bishop on the board. Ask the children to name some things they know about the bishop. What is he like? What does he do? How does he bless the ward? (You can find some characteristics of a bishop in 1 Timothy 3:1–2 and Titus 1:7–9.) As the children share their ideas, write them on strips of paper and let the children place them on the board by the drawing.
Write the duties of a bishop on slips of paper—such as helping children and youth in the ward, accepting tithing and fast offerings, extending callings, interviewing members, and helping those in need. Place these slips in a bowl, and invite each child to pick one. Then help the child to role-play these duties with you. Share your testimony that your bishop is called of God.
The student can still act out each thing before placing the pieces.
Invite the children to draw a picture of the bishop serving ward members. Suggest that they give their drawings to him to thank him. What can we do to help him?
Here is a song "Our Bishop" from the children's song book.
I can be “an example of the believers.”
What can you do to inspire the children to be “example[s] of the believers”?
Possible Activities
Sing with the children “Do as I’m Doing” (Children’s Songbook, 276). Ask the children to follow your example by doing the actions you do. Let the children take turns leading the rest of the class in following their actions.
This video show pictures of different actions they can do, but if a child is leading the class, you can just let them watch the movie (on a phone or tablet) while everyone follows the students actions. Or you can just listen to the song while the student does it all(:
Read 1 Timothy 4:12, and ask the children what they can do to be good examples to others.
Click on the image to be taken to the church's website.
Share an experience when you tried to be a good example to someone or when someone was a good example to you (perhaps including the children in your class). Invite the children to be good examples to their family members and friends.
OBJECT LESSON
Turn the lights out, and give a flashlight to one student at a time to talk about how they were an example (or light)to someone in there lives, OR how someone is an example in their life. Then they can pass the flashlight to someone else to share. If you feel inspired you can take the last turn and share how each child in your class has been a light to you. Testify that light is from the Savior, and they are making good choices to be more like Him.
Click on the image to be taken to Etsy. You can purchase a set of these glow sticks at Dollar Tree. You could even attach this to a plate of cookies to give to someone in your neighborhood, ward, or ministering.
The scriptures will help me learn truth.
If you can help the children learn to love the scriptures, the teachings in the scriptures will bless their lives for years to come.
Possible Activities
Display a set of scriptures, and help the children become familiar with them by showing them the title pages of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Invite a child to hold these books as you read 2 Timothy 3:15–17. Tell the children why you love the scriptures, and let the children express their feelings.
*not sure
Ask the children to talk about their most prized possession. What do they do with it? How do they treat it? Let them take turns holding the scriptures and carefully turning the pages. What do we use the scriptures for? Why should we take good care of them? Testify that the scriptures contain truths that Heavenly Father wants us to know.
Help the children create actions to go with songs about the scriptures, such as “Search, Ponder, and Pray” (Children’s Songbook, 109).
Click on images to be taken to Etsy.
If your students are allergic to peanut butter.
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Teach the Doctrine: Older Children
I can be “an example of the believers.”
Timothy was young for a Church leader, but Paul wanted him to know that he could still be an example. You can inspire the children to set good examples for those around them.
Possible Activities
Read together 1 Timothy 4:12, and ask the children to find six ways Paul said we can be “an example of the believers.” Divide the children into pairs, and invite each pair to think of a situation in which they can be an example of the believers. Ask them to role-play their situation for the rest of the class.
Ask the children if they would like to share any experiences when they tried to be a good example to others. Tell them how they have been examples of the believers to you and how you have noticed them setting good examples for others.
Click on the image to be taken to the churches website.
OBJECT LESSON
Turn the lights out, and give a flashlight to one student at a time to talk about how they were an example (or light) to someone in there lives. OR how someone is an example in their life. Then they can pass the flashlight to someone else to share. If you feel inspired you can take the last turn and share how each child in your class has been a light to you. Testify that light is from the Savior, and they are making good choices to be more like Him.
Click on the image to be taken to Etsy. They sell these glow sticks in a pack at Dollar Tree.
It is a good idea to use it for ministering this month with a gift.
Eternal things are more valuable than money.
The world places high priority on money and the things money can buy. How can you help the children keep their focus and love centered on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
Possible Activities
Invite the children to talk about what they would buy if they had all the money in the world. Read 1 Timothy 6:7–12 with the children, and ask them to summarize what Paul taught Timothy about money. Then invite the children to read verses 11–12 again, searching for things Paul mentioned that are more valuable than money.
Lay out pictures of worldly things (such as money, toys, or entertainment) and eternal things (such as families or temples). Invite the children to sort the pictures into two piles—things that bring us closer to Christ and things that might distract us from Christ if we love them more than we love Him. Why is “the love of money … the root of all evil”? How does focusing on Jesus Christ make us happy?
Heavenly Father gave us scriptures to help us know truth from error.
As you teach the children about the scriptures, look for ways to encourage them to have their own powerful experiences with the word of God.
Possible Activities
Invite the children to read 2 Timothy 3:15–17. Display pictures depicting a story from each of the four standard works, and invite several children to pick a picture and tell the story. (You can find pictures in the Gospel Art Book and in Come, Follow Me materials.) Ask the children to share anything else they know about that book of scripture. How do the scriptures “make [us] wise unto salvation”?
Share a favorite scripture verse or an experience when the scriptures helped you build your faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Invite the children to share a favorite verse or experience of their own.
Ask a child to read Moroni 10:4–5. What did Moroni promise in these verses? Ask the children how they have gained a testimony that the scriptures are true. Invite them to read or listen to the scriptures regularly and to ask God if they are true.
