Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children
Jesus suffered for me because He loves me.
Consider how you can help the children feel Jesus’s love for them as you discuss the account of His suffering in Gethsemane.
Possible Activities
Tell the story of Luke 22:39–46 to the children, perhaps by using “Chapter 51: Jesus Suffers in the Garden of Gethsemane” (in New Testament Stories, 129–32, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Explain that Jesus felt all the pain and sadness that everyone has ever felt. Ask the children what might make a person feel sad, hurt, or upset. Testify that Jesus can help us feel better when we feel these ways.
Pass out these pieces to each of the children, read the words to the children, (explain their meanings) and discuss the pain and sadness Jesus felt. Give each child has a turn placing the shape on the picture as you move along.
Pass around a picture of the Savior in Gethsemane (such as the one in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families).
You can tape the shapes on the first picture, so you don't have to worry about finding another picture.
As each child holds the picture, say, “Jesus suffered because He loves [child’s name].” Invite the children to repeat these words with you.
Here is a coloring page.
Sing a song with the children about Jesus’s love for us, such as “I Feel My Savior’s Love” (Children’s Songbook, 74–75). Help them think of ways they have felt Jesus’s love.
Click on image to be taken to Etsy.
I found this frame at Dollar Tree. Just click on the image to be taken to Etsy.
I can pray when I need help.
When Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, an angel appeared to strengthen Him. How can you help the children you teach understand that they too can pray to Heavenly Father for strength?
Possible Activities
Summarize Luke 22:41–43 for the children. Share an experience in which you prayed for help and Heavenly Father strengthened you through the Holy Ghost or by sending someone to help you.
Click on image to be taken to the story on the churches website.
On strips of paper, write some things we might say in a prayer, such as “Heavenly Father,” “I thank thee,” “I ask thee,” and “in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” Put the strips on the floor in random order, and help the children put them in the order in which we might say them in a prayer. What can we thank Heavenly Father for? What else can we say to Him? Testify that the children can pray to Heavenly Father anywhere and anytime.
Sorry only in color, but you can select B&W setting when you print. If you want more movement with your children, after discussing this with your children, lay it out in the correct order and have the children hop to the side of each piece and say the order of the prayer.
This also comes in the colors of Dad's root beer. Just click on the image. You can look through the pictures on the listing to see the different labels available.
Here is the outside of a Father's day card.
Here is the inside:
Click on the image to be taken to Etsy.
Teach the Doctrine: Older Children
In Gethsemane, Jesus Christ took upon Himself my sin and pain.
Knowing about what Jesus did for us in Gethsemane can help the children repent of their sins and turn to the Savior when they experience difficult trials.
Possible Activities
Invite the children to read Luke 22:39–46, looking for words or phrases that describe how Jesus felt in Gethsemane. What was Jesus experiencing that caused Him to feel this way? (see Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–19). Give the children the opportunity to share their feelings about Jesus and His sacrifice for us.
Invite the children to share a time when they were sad or in pain. Ask them if they know anyone who has felt the same thing. Invite them to read Alma 7:11–12. What do these verses teach us about Jesus Christ and His suffering for us?
If you didn't use this two weeks ago(:
Here is a story about being brave through pain like Joesph Smith, but you can easily apply that to our savior and the pain he went through. Click on the image to be taken to The Friend magazine.
Love this object lesson:
Give a child a stick that is longer than the width of the classroom doorway, and ask him or her to hold it horizontally and try to walk through the door. Explain that the stick represents our sins, which keep us from entering God’s kingdom. Take the stick away to demonstrate that Jesus took upon Himself our sins so that we can be forgiven when we repent.
This is an easy, fun craft for older primary age children to do.
I can follow Jesus’s example by being obedient to Heavenly Father.
Jesus showed obedience to the Father when He said, “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). How can you help the children learn from Jesus’s example?
There is an obedient activity in last weeks lesson, if you haven't see it, it would be good to look at. Click on the image.
Possible Activities
Help the children memorize the phrase “Not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42) and discuss what it means. What can we do to obey Heavenly Father’s will?
Take shapes and put them in this order:
Not My thine Will but be done thy mine Ask the kids if this sounds like something that Jesus would say. Why not?
Have them look up the scripture Luke 22:42 and check to see what Jesus really said.
Then give them the words Thine and Mine and put them in the right spot.
Talk about why we should be obedient and trust Heavenly Father just like Jesus did.
Help the children identify some reasons it is sometimes hard to do what Heavenly Father wants. What blessings have we received by being obedient to Heavenly Father, even when it was hard?
Jesus loved His enemies.
Learning how to be a peacemaker is not easy, especially when others are not kind to us. How can the account in Luke 22:50–51 inspire the children you teach to be kind in all circumstances?
Possible Activities
Invite the children to read Luke 22:50–51. What do we learn about Jesus from this account? During the week, ask some of the children’s parents to tell you about times when their children showed kindness, even when it was difficult. Share those stories with the class. (Remind the children that being kind doesn’t mean allowing others to hurt them; they should talk to their parents or another trusted adult if someone is hurting them.)
This is from the churches website, you can click on the image to take you there.
Sing a song about being kind, such as “Kindness Begins with Me” (Children’s Songbook, 145). What does this song teach about kindness? How can we show kindness to others like the Savior did?
Encourage Learning at Home
Invite the children to share their testimonies of the Savior with their families. They could also ask their family members to share their testimonies of Him.
Thank you so much for your willingness to share your talents and help me prepare my primary lessons :)
You are so talented! Thank you so much for your hard work every week! I love your lesson ideas. It makes teaching go so smoothly with the kids. You are so appreciated❤️
Thank you so much for offering these helps! I teach the 4 year olds and needed some activities to teach about the Atonement, they struggle to Sit through lessons and these ideas were a great help!!
Thank you so much for all of your efforts. I teach the oldest Primary class and I think they will really like and be involved with the Gethsemane puzzle. I'm going to use the first one. Love it.❤️