Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children
I can be a witness of the Lord.
The Lord reminded the Israelites that they had witnessed many great things that He had done for them. He wanted them (and all of us) to be His witnesses, helping others know of His power and goodness.
Possible Activities
Tell the children about something you have witnessed. Help them think of things they have experienced that they can tell each other about or be a “witness” of—for example, a delicious food they have tasted, a place they have visited, or a person they know. Read to the children from Isaiah 43:10: “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen.” Tell the children that when we are baptized we promise to be a witness of Jesus Christ (see Mosiah 18:9). What does it mean to be the Lord’s witness?
I usually sit on the ground with my class, to do puzzles like this. To enlarge, instead of printing, download and send (email) to your local copy center. You always have my permission to enlarge my materials.
This is from the website teachldschildren.com clicking on the picture will take you to her testimony page, full of great stories about testifying and being a witness.
Friend August 2015 – Elder Cook’s brother shares his testimony with him. After that he wanted his own witness from the Holy Ghost.
Ask the children to share what they know about Jesus Christ and His gospel. Show them pictures to give them ideas (for example, pictures of the Savior’s Resurrection, the Book of Mormon, the temple, and the living prophet). Invite them to talk about what they could share with others as witnesses of the Lord.
Have the children pull a picture out of a bowl. Ask them what they know about it. Maybe prompt them with questions like (Jesus by the tomb)"What is happening in the picture? Did you know that Jesus came alive after death?" Then have them say what they know. As they do blow up a balloon. Then say what else do you know? They can choose a new picture out if they want to. But kept blowing up the balloon as they say what they know. Tell them that their testimony will grown as they bear witness of Jesus Christ and His church.
“Beside me there is no saviour.”
Jesus Christ is the only one who can save us from sin and death. Ponder how you will inspire the children to put their trust in Him.
Possible Activities
Invite the children to imagine a situation in which they might need help (such as being sick or caught in a storm). Show several objects (or pictures of objects), some that would help them in the situation and others that would not. For example, an umbrella would help in a storm, but a glass of water and a pencil would not. Ask the children to pick the object that would help in that situation. Show pictures of the Savior to help the children talk about how He helps us.
Read to the children Isaiah 43:11, and ask them to point to a picture of Jesus when they hear the word “saviour.” Testify that because Jesus Christ suffered and died for us and was resurrected, He is the only one who can save us from our sins and from death.
We can have “righteousness as the waves of the sea” (Isaiah 48:18).
Keeping God’s commandments brings peace.
The Lord promises peace like “a river” and righteousness like “the waves of the sea” to those who keep His commandments.
Possible Activities
Read to the children Isaiah 48:18. Invite them to move their hands and arms like a river and waves. Talk about how keeping God’s commandments has helped you feel peaceful like a river or strong like a wave.
Draw a river on the board. Help the children think of commandments God has given us. Write those commandments on pieces of paper (or draw simple pictures of them), and let the children take turns attaching the commandments to the river on the board. Help the children learn how keeping the commandments brings peace.
Object lesson showing how the commandments bring us peace because we are protected by them.
Sing together a song about commandments, such as “Keep the Commandments” (Children’s Songbook, 146–47). What does this song teach about why we should keep God’s commandments?
I noticed that this lesson begins with focus on baptism. It would be neat to end with that also, since Keeping the Commandments is one of the covenants we make at baptism. If you take the time to print and assemble something like this, don't through it away, I always recycle my lessons, and this is a great one to have on hand.
Of course you have to have a Kit Kat in there somewhere(:
Teach the Doctrine: Older Children
I can help prepare “the way of the Lord.”
We help fulfill the prophecy in Isaiah 40:3–5 by helping others receive the Lord in their lives.
Possible Activities
Ask one child to read Isaiah 40:3 while the other children each read one of the following passages and look for similar words and phrases: Mark 1:3–4 (John the Baptist); Alma 7:9 (Alma); Doctrine and Covenants 33:10–11 (latter-day missionaries). Help them identify who is preparing “the way of the Lord” in each passage. How did these people prepare the way of the Lord? What can we do to help?
Draw a path on the board, and read with the children Isaiah 40:3–5. Ask the children to list obstacles that might prevent people from following the Savior, and invite them to draw obstacles on the path. Let them erase the obstacles as you talk about ways we can help people overcome them.
The Lord is with me in my trials.
When we make covenants with the Lord, He makes promises to be with us—even during our trials. Help the children see themselves as part of the Lord’s covenant people and as recipients of His promises.
Possible Activities
Write on the board I am … and I will … Invite the children to read Isaiah 41:10 and Isaiah 43:1–5 to find out who the Lord says He is and what He says He will do. What other phrases are repeated in these verses? How might these messages give us comfort and hope during hard times?
Read together Isaiah 48:10, and talk about what a furnace is and different ways it is used. Explain that metals are purified in a furnace. Why is a furnace a good way to describe affliction? How can our afflictions purify us? (see Alma 62:41).
Watch this before hand to see if it's not too much for your age of children. You can just focus on the process of the metals going into the fire and being stretched and molded to become something beautiful. Then let the children tell you how that applies to our life and our trials.
The Lord will never forget me.
When we feel distant from the Lord because of sin, trials, or any other reason, the message of Isaiah 49:14–16 can bring comfort.
Possible Activities
Ask the children to read Isaiah 49:14. What might make people feel forgotten or forsaken? How can we help others know that the Lord has not forgotten them? How do we know He has not forgotten us?
Invite the children to talk about someone they know who they will never forget, like a family member or friend. Discuss how a loving mother feels about her children and how the Lord feels about us. Then ask the children to read Isaiah 49:15–16. According to these verses, why will the Lord never forget us? Invite the children to share their feelings about Jesus Christ.
I can't tell you how much I appreciate your site. I come here every week as I prepare to teach my sunbeams and you make the lessons so fun, engaging and spiritual. THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!
This is such a wonderful site. I love it for my primary lessons!