Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children
There was a war in heaven.
Before the world was created, Heavenly Father chose Jesus Christ to be our Savior. Isaiah 14:12–14 describes the pride that Satan showed in the premortal Council in Heaven.
Possible Activities
Use “Introduction: Our Heavenly Father’s Plan” (in New Testament Stories, 1–3) or the song “I Lived in Heaven”
(Click on the picture to be taken to the churches website to watch this.)
(Children’s Songbook, 4) to tell the children about the War in Heaven before we were born. (As you do, include phrases from Isaiah 14:12–14 that describe Satan.) Then invite the children to take turns telling the story back to you. Emphasize that Jesus Christ followed Heavenly Father’s plan and became our Savior.
On the board, draw a heart with the word Satan and a sad face inside it. Explain that Satan said in his heart, “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God” (Isaiah 14:13), which means that he wanted to be better than Heavenly Father. Invite a child to draw another heart, this one with the word Jesus and a happy face inside it. Help the children understand that Jesus wanted to do what Heavenly Father asked Him to do (see Moses 4:1–2). How can we follow Jesus’s example?
“He will swallow up death in victory” (Isaiah 25:8).
Jesus Christ was resurrected.
Jesus Christ can comfort the sorrow we feel about death. Because He gained victory over death, we will all be resurrected too.
Possible Activities
Show a picture of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and ask the children to share what they know about the picture. If needed, share with them the story of Jesus being resurrected (see “Jesus Is Risen,” in New Testament Stories, 139–44). Play or sing a song about the Resurrection, such as “Jesus Has Risen” (Children’s Songbook, 70), and invite the children to share how it makes them feel to know that Jesus rose from the dead.
Here is a resurrection mitten, can help with visual and discussion. Just click on the image to take you to the page to print it.
Last week we had a Christmas lesson, this week it's Easter, How fun!
(Just click on the image)
If you want to do more with Easter, here is an Easter lesson, to give you more ideas. (Just click on the image).
If you are going to do this with little kids, have them tell you their testimony while you write it, and they can sign their name at the bottom.
Tell the children about someone you know who has died. How do we feel when someone we love dies? Invite the children to draw a face of someone crying. Then read Isaiah 25:8 to them. What will Jesus do to our tears when we miss someone who has died? Invite the children to draw a happy face. Bear your testimony that because Jesus Christ was resurrected, we can feel comforted when someone dies and know that we will all be resurrected one day.
Cover page in laminate or packaging tape. Have the child draw in the heart someone who has died that they love. Have them draw tears on the cheeks/face (with dry erase maker).Read the scripture and have the children wipe the tears away. Draw a happy mouth.
You can print these in black and white and have the children individualized their pictures. Then just add some tape around the eyes and mouth, so you can add the tears and wipe them off.
The Lord restored His Church through Joseph Smith.
The Restoration of the gospel is “a marvellous work and a wonder” (Isaiah 29:14). Share with the children some of the marvelous things the Lord did—and continues to do—to restore His gospel in our day.
Possible Activities
Invite the children to tell you what they know about Joseph Smith. If needed, share with them “Joseph Smith’s First Vision” (in Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 9–12). Read Isaiah 29:12, and explain that even though Joseph Smith was not considered “learned” by many people, Jesus Christ restored the gospel through him.
(Click on the picture to be taken to the churches website to watch this)
Read Isaiah 29:14 to the children, and share with them other words that mean the same thing as “marvellous” and “wonder.” Display items that represent some of the Lord’s marvelous works during the latter days, such as a picture of the First Vision or of Joseph Smith receiving the priesthood (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 90, 93, 94) or a copy of the Book of Mormon. Invite the children to choose an item and share why it is marvelous to them.
Mitzi at comefollowmekid.com wrote the words to this coloring book.
Teach the Doctrine: Older Children
Apostasy means turning away from the Lord and His prophets.
Reading Isaiah’s warnings about the dangers of apostasy can help the children resolve to stay true to the Lord and follow His prophets.
Possible Activities
Write the word apostasy on the board. Invite the children to find a definition in “Apostasy” in the Guide to the Scriptures (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Invite them to read Isaiah 24:5; 30:9–11 and make a list of things people were doing in Isaiah’s time that led them to apostasy. Then invite the children to change the items in the list to things we can do to stay true to the Lord.
Divide the class into pairs, and assign each pair to read one of the following passages: Isaiah 24:3–5; Isaiah 29:7–10; or Isaiah 30:8–14. Invite them to draw pictures that represent what they read. As they share their drawings, help them discuss what Isaiah’s words teach about why we should stay true to the Lord.
Cut these out and attach them to cups.
These videos show you how to teach the cups lesson.
Second video, where the magic happens!
If you would like a printable version for teaching purposes. Here is this:
(It is not my intent to offend anyone, go by the spirit and teach this your way you feel is best).
The Restoration of the gospel is a “marvellous work.”
How can you help the children understand that they are part of the Lord’s “marvellous work” (Isaiah 29:14) of the latter days?
Possible Activities
Show pictures of some of the marvelous events that happened as the gospel was restored (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 90–95, or this week’s activity page). Read together Isaiah 29:14, 18, 24, and invite the children to find words and phrases that relate to the events in the pictures. Ask the children how they can help with the Lord’s “marvellous work” (verse 14).
Share a brief experience to help the children understand what restoration means. For example, talk about something that was lost and how you found it. Help the children compare this to the Restoration of the gospel. According to Isaiah 29:13–15, why do we need the Restoration? What marvelous works did the Lord do to restore His gospel?
Before class hide your keys, or something important in the classroom. Ask your children to help you find them. After they have found them, tell them thank you for "restoring" them to you. Ask them if they know what that word means "restore." Ask them what would happen if you never found the keys, what kinds of problems would that cause? How does that apply to the church being restored to the Earth?
(click on the image)
Isaiah’s teachings point me to Jesus Christ.
Isaiah’s teachings can point the children you teach to the Savior and help them remember the things He has done for them.
Possible Activities
Write the following scripture references on separate pieces of paper: Isaiah 14:3; Isaiah 25:8; Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 11:28–30; 1 Corinthians 15:53–57; Helaman 5:12. Give the papers to the children, and invite them to write on the papers the truths they learn from the verses and work together to match the verses that teach similar truths. According to these verses, what great things has the Lord done for us?
Ask the children to choose a phrase from Isaiah 14:3; 25:8; or 28:16 that reminds them of Jesus Christ. Invite them to write the phrase on a piece of paper and draw a picture of the Savior that they can display in their homes.
Thank you so much for these ideas and files! Just fyi, the black and white print option for the picture of Jesus and Satan (with the brad spot) is coming up with the file for the finger puppets. - I'm looking forward to using this with my class. : )