Thursday, September 29, 2016

Primary 4 Lesson 35: Jesus Christ Heals the Sick and Blesses the Children


LESSON 35 JESUS CHRIST HEALS THE SICK AND BLESSES THE CHILDREN




CLASSROOM PREP
ON BOARD - “My joy is full” 3 Nephi 17:20

OPENING ACTIVITY
Sit in circle on the floor (get out water bottle, spoon, towel, empty cup)
  • What do you think “my joy is full” means?
  • take turns naming blessings and putting spoonfuls in water until full
  • discuss now what “my joy is full” might mean
  • put water back in bottle

LESSON
3 Nephi 17 - read all 25 verses still sitting in a circle (see bottom for lesson notes/discussion)

WATCH MY JOY IS FULL VIDEO (4 MINUTES)

What types of struggles do people have in their lives where they would need the Savior’s love in their life?

What does the word “REFUGEE” mean? There are people across the world who have had to leave their homes because they aren’t the same religion or they don’t believe in the bad governments in their country.
People without a home, who have to leave their home and their country or area because otherwise they will probably be killed by people who are not following the Spirit and who are doing evil things.

There is a serious video the Church put out about how Jesus Christ  was a refugee too.
Soon after he was born, Mary and Joseph took baby Jesus to Egypt to escape the bad leader Herod.
Our Church is following his commandment to love one another.
We’re helping the refugees with time and money. That’s what He would have us do.

WATCH REFUGEE VIDEO (5 MINUTES)

So what would He want us to do in our daily lives to show the same kind of love that he showed the Nephites?
Think of your answer…

PAINTING:
HAND OUT PAPER AND WHITE CRAYONS
DRAW HEART
WRITE IN WHITE CRAYON WHAT YOU’LL DO THIS WEEK
PAINT WITH WATERCOLOR

HANDOUT
Conference reminder and lemonade juice box



LESSON QUESTIONS/DISCUSSION BELOW
1-3 it’s time to leave / you can’t understand / go home, ponder, pray for understanding and i’ll return tomorrow

What does it mean to ponder? (thoughtfully consider, deeply think)

Ponder is a word used often in the scriptures
How do you prepare your mind for an important lesson such as a school assignment? You read and learn about the subject, you ponder on (or think about) what you have been taught in order to understand it more thoroughly, and you may even ask for help from a parent to help you understand it further.
What happens if you don’t prepare for an assignment by doing these things? (You may not properly understand the material.)
For the gospel we also have to think about what we have been taught, study it, ask Heavenly Father for help.
What difference does it make when we prepare our minds for such learning opportunities?

4 i’m going to visit others
5 everyone was in tears and looked at him as if asking if he would stay longer
6 he feels sorry for them
7 is anyone sick, lame, blind, etc. bring them to me and i will heal them, i feel mercy and compassion towards you
8 i feel that you want to see miracles like i performed in jerusalem and i see that you have enough faith for me to show you miracles of healing
9 those who were sick and afflicted were  brought one by one and healed

Are there ways you’re afflicted?
What would you ask the Savior to heal if he were to bless you personally?
Even though He’s not here personally, his power to bless and heal is available through the priesthood.
He will help us if we ask for help.
Someone who loves us will be there for us when we have problems and difficulties.

10 everyone bowed and worshipped him
11 he called for the little children
13 he told them to kneel
14 he prayed
17 so amazing what he prayed, we can’t speak of it
18 he asked everyone to arise
20 he told everyone “blessed are ye because of your faith, my joy is full”
Why do you think his joy was full?
How can our joy be full too? (listen to the spirit, follow commandments)

21 he wept and blessed all the little children
22 he wept again
23-24 he told everyone to look and they say angels coming down and circling around the children

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Primary 4 Lesson 34: Jesus Teaches the Nephites the Beatitudes




LESSON 34: JESUS CHRIST TEACHES THE BEATITUDES


CLASSROOM PREP
Put a battery-operated candle on table
Wrote "Let Your Light So Shine" on the chalkboard

Today we’re going to be learning about perfection and happiness
→ what does it mean to be perfect? is it possible in this life? no, but we must try.
Jesus gave a sermon on how He wants everyone to live to be happy and how to try to achieve perfection


OPENING ACTIVITY
Everyone stands on one side of the classroom or the gym --> that represents where you are right now in your life in your quest for perfection
Then end of classroom or gym etc = perfection → Take one step
Have you reached perfection yet?
  • Is the step wasted because it did not get you all the way to perfection?
  • How will you ever reach perfection?
  • We must continue one step at a time if we are ever going to reach final goal of perfection


BACK IN THE CLASSROOM, PUT UP PICTURE OF A LADDER
“When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation.”


In Jerusalem, Jesus taught his disciples The Sermon on the Mount to encourage them to try hard to follow the commandments. When he was resurrected, he taught the same sermon to the Nephites. This is right after the destruction, days of darkness, the voice they heard, then he appeared to them.
First he chose 12 disciples amongst the Nephites.
Do we have 12 disciples today?


His sermon began with the Beatitudes.
→ beatitudes = to be fortunate, to be happy, to be blessed
→ statements that start with “blessed are…”
---> when we live the way he teaches in the Beatitudes, we can be happy!


SCRIPTURES/LESSON → 3 Nephi 12/13
  • Go through all descriptions (below)
  • Post up around the room
  • Kids get blank paper and draw a book of Beatitude depictions, as many as they can. 
  • They get to snack on salted popcorn during their drawing (salt because of "the salt of the earth")

Then they get a handout (let your light so shine + glow stick taped on the back):

Descriptions used are from this site:
http://teachldschildren.com/tag/beatitudes/

POOR IN SPIRIT
A person who realizes they need spiritual assistance. To be poor in spirit means that a person realizes they are spiritually in need (they need help strengthening their spirit and making the things of God a priority in their life), and they are humble enough to turn to Heavenly Father for help.
How can we show Heavenly Father that we realize we are in need of his help to develop spiritually? Pray, study his words in the scriptures, go to church.
Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

THEY THAT MOURN
Feelings of deep sorrow and regret for the sins they have committed. Blessed are they that mourn for the sins they have committed because godly sorrow worketh repentance. (2 Cor. 7:10)
How do we show that we feel sorry for the sins we have committed? Pray and ask for forgiveness, right the wrong, do not do it again.
They shall be comforted. Repentance brings comforting forgiveness.

MEEK
Someone who is gentle, kind, and patient. To be meek is to be gentle and kind. It is also someone who has self-control and is not quick to become provoked or angry.
In what ways can we demonstrate meekness? We can be patient with family members and friends. We can be kind to those who wrong us.
They shall inherit the earth. The earth will someday be sanctified and celestialized (D&C 88:18), so those who inherit the earth will be those who are worthy to inherit the celestial kingdom.

THEY WHO DO HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS A person who desires to fill their life with goodness. We should have a desire to fill our lives with the things of God like we desire to fill our bodies with food and water.
In what ways can we fill our lives with righteousness? Learn gospel principles by studying the scriptures and by listening to our teachers and leaders. Keep the commandments. Avoid evil and temptation.
They shall be filled with the Holy Ghost. When we do good and righteous things, the Holy Ghost can be our constant companion.

MERCIFUL Someone who is compassionate and forgiving.
In what situations can we show mercy?
They shall obtain mercy. They shall receive mercy in the Day of Judgment (when we are judged according to the deeds we did on earth).


PURE IN HEART Someone who is genuinely clean and good in thought and action.
What are some examples of good thoughts and actions?
They shall see God. In order to be with our Heavenly Father we must be pure of heart, for no unclean can enter into the kingdom of heaven.


PEACEMAKERS Those who encourage harmony and peace. Peacemakers look for ways to help solve problems peacefully.
What are some other situations that you can be a peacemaker?
They shall be called the children of God. Those who are troublemakers, quarrelsome, or contentious, and those who go against law and order are following paths opposite those who choose to be obedient to their covenants to take upon themselves the name of Christ.


PERSECUTED FOR MY NAME'S SAKE Someone who stands up for the right despite opposition. “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute (tease, make fun of, or torment), and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake (because of the  desire to follow Jesus and obey the commandments,); For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.”
In what ways can we stand up for our beliefs in Jesus Christ and his gospel? Be obedient to the commandments even when others are not choosing the right. Let others know what your beliefs are.
Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.


SALT OF THE EARTH Someone who influences and enhances people’s lives for good. Just as salt enhances food and makes it taste better, we should influence people for good. It also preserves food from spoiling.
Through contamination, salt loses its desirable taste and flavor. If we contaminate our lives with the dirt and evil of the world, then we could become a negative influence on others, and we could cause great spiritual harm.
How can we be a good influence and example to others? Why must we be pure in order to influence others for good?
When we keep our covenants with the Lord, how are we able to help preserve others from spiritual “spoilage”?


“Salt will not lose its savor with age. Savor is lost through mixture and contamination. … Flavor and quality flee a man when he contaminates his mind with unclean thoughts, desecrates his mouth by speaking less than the truth, and misapplies his strength in performing evil acts”


A small amount of salt can make a difference. A small number of righteous people can also make a big difference. Have the children discuss how they can make a difference by living righteously.


LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE
How can the lives of Latter-day Saints can be like light for others?


What eventually happens to the flame on a candle if the candle is covered?


How might we intentionally or unintentionally hide our light?


How can we “let [our] light so shine” without being prideful?
Glorify your Father in Heaven.  Glorify means to worship and praise. People seeing your good works will have a desire to worship God and follow his commandments.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Primary 4, Lesson 33: The Savior Appears to the Nephites



PRIMARY 4, LESSON 33: THE SAVIOR APPEARS TO THE NEPHITES

CLASSROOM DECOR:
I put this scripture up on the board along with some Gospel Art of the Savior visiting the Nephites
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/john/10.16?lang=eng


OPENING ACTIVITY: 
Handed out a Word Scramble that I found on this site:
http://www.ayearoffhe.net/2011/01/week-04-jesus-visits-nephites.html

The kids really enjoyed and it set the tone while I unpacked my bag, etc.

ATTENTION GETTER:
I had brought treats for my son's birthday, and I packed them in a container that you couldn't see inside unless you opened it.

What I did:

  • asked him to peek in without letting anyone else see
  • had him tell everyone what it is
  • asked him if he thought it was something everyone would want/like? (yes)
  • asked everyone else “do you know what’s in the box?” (yes)
  • "how do you know?" (because he saw it and knows what it is and told us)
  • "how can we know of Jesus and that he was resurrected and lives today if we haven’t had personal contact with him?" (we can read the scriptures of those who have seen him, etc.)
  • "what’s recorded in the scriptures are meant to help us know of things we haven’t witnessed for ourselves"
  • "Those who know have a desire to share with others so they can be happy."
  • "As we read the scriptures about Jesus we can gain a witness of their truth through the Holy Ghost."


SCRIPTURE LESSON
We went through 3 Nephi 8-11 and pulled out all of the important parts. I told them they were going to need to prepare a newscast! So they needed to take notes as we read through the chapters. After, they split up and prepared a really cute news cast. Someone was in the "news studio" and we had two field reporters interviewing two people who were on the scene. They chose the time of destruction to report on. It was cute. One was sad that he lost all of his sheep except 2 (out of the two thousand he had). The other was relieved he and his cow survived the whirlwinds.

I think they came away from this lesson understanding the gravity and miracle of the happenings right before the Savior came and after he came too!

Sunday, September 4, 2016

Primary 4 Lesson 32: Signs in America of Jesus Christ's Birth


LESSON 32: SIGNS IN AMERICA OF JESUS CHRIST’S BIRTH
Classroom prep:
  • Have nephite/jerusalem image taped up
  • Red cloths and candle

PICTIONARY (5 MINUTES): star (draw big and do this one last so it stays up on the board), shepherd, lamb, angel, baby

This lesson is about a place far from Jerusalem where people watched for the signs of the birth of the Savior and saw a star.

Remember Samuel the Lamanite prophesied many signs would occur before and after the time of two important events.
What was the star a sign of?
What were the other signs we talked about? (list)
Why were these signs revealed to the Nephites? (Helaman 14:12-13, 28) So they would know of His coming, so they might believe in Christ and repent.

For the faithful, these signs confirmed/strengthened their faith
For the unfaithful, these signs gave them warning/opportunity to change

GLAD TIDINGS VIDEO (5 MINUTES)

LESSON
1/Type up Illustrated Scriptures summary, one caption from the book per page printed out, and have the class try to put it in order
2/Everyone grabs however many pages for the # of people
3/Go through each w/questions (below) and read the rest of Chapter 1 ourselves w/questions
4/Time left? Look at 3 Nephi 1:30 and how we can have negative or righteous influences on others. Someone writes on the board ways we can have a positive influence on the faith of our family, ward, and community

STEADFAST OBJECT LESSON (below)

PASS THE PARCEL (wrapped up wooden stars in many layers and played a Primary Christmas song, when it stopped they opened a layer, and so on until the gift was displayed)

O COME EMMANUEL VIDEO (5 MINUTES)

What were some of the people saying about Samuel the Lamanite’s prophecies? (3 Nephi 1:5–6.)

How did the believers react to the unbelievers? (3 Nephi 1:7.)

What sign were they looking for? (3 Nephi 1:8.) What does their steadfastness teach us about their faith?

What threat did the unbelievers make to those who believed? (3 Nephi 1:9.) Why do you think some people get angry with those who believe in God?

What did Nephi do when he saw the wickedness of the people? (3 Nephi 1:12.)

What was the answer to Nephi’s prayer? (3 Nephi 1:13–14.) Why did Jesus Christ say he was coming into the world?

How was the prophecy fulfilled? (3 Nephi 1:15)

Why were the unbelievers so afraid when they saw the signs that the prophecy was fulfilled? (3 Nephi 1:18.) How would you have felt if you had been there?

What sign did the Nephites see that was also seen in Bethlehem? (3 Nephi 1:21.)

What did Satan do to try to keep the people from believing the signs? (3 Nephi 1:22.)

How did the people show their belief in the Lord? (3 Nephi 1:22–23.)

What happened that caused the people’s faith and righteousness to decrease? (3 Nephi 1:29–30.) Why is it important to follow the righteous example and teachings of our parents? How have you been blessed by obeying your parents?

What do you think the world will be like when Jesus Christ comes again? What kind of a person do you want to be when he comes? What can we do now to prepare for the Second Coming?
Demonstration of a weak believer vs steadfast believer
Two students
One close eyes and stand on one foot. → This represents someone who knows the truth but is not exercising faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and is not diligent in living the gospel.
Second student represents influences that can lead someone to fall away from the truth.
Ask the second student to push gently on the arm of the first student until the first student loses his or her balance or becomes unsteady.

When a person is not striving to live the gospel, he or she is more likely to be deceived by the lies and temptations of Satan.
What does the first student need to do in order to stay steady? (The student should open his or her eyes and stand on both feet.)

Instruct the first student to open his or her eyes and stand with both feet shoulder-width apart. Explain that this student now represents someone who is “firm and steadfast in the faith”

Then ask the second student to push gently on the arm of the first student again. Point out that when a person is striving to study the gospel and keep God’s commandments, he or she stays steady even when opposition comes.

Have the two students return to their seats. Explain that a few years after the signs of Jesus Christ’s birth, Satan continued to attempt to make people doubt the truthfulness of the gospel. Signs of Christ’s Birth: Great lights in heaven A day and a night and a day as if there were no night A new star Many signs and wonders in heaven