Short Attention Span Sunday School: Primary 5 Lesson 20 Joseph Smith Translates the Bible and Other Scriptures

PRIMARY 5 LESSON 20 JOSEPH SMITH TRANSLATES THE BIBLE AND OTHER SCRIPTURES

CLASSROOM PREP

Post up the 8th Article of Faith

Post this scripture in a very specific way:

“The words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do” 2 Nephi 32:3

• Have each word on its own piece of paper or index card
• Have the reference on its own paper or index card
• This is for a specific purpose for a game later

OPENING ACTIVITY

Start singing the 8th Article of Faith song without any intro, just start singing.

Have the Bible and Book of Mormon out as props and hold them up when you get to their parts in the song.

After you sing it through, sing it again and have them sing with you (they may already have been).

What have we talked about that:

• had parts changed
• had parts removed from it
• had parts added to it

What was it? The Bible

LESSON

The Lord commanded Joseph to translate the Bible to correct what was wrong.

Why would this be needed?

• 1 Nephi 13:26 --> "...they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away."
• Mistakes were made as it was copied/translated into other languages

• Words were left out, changed, or added
• The meaning of some of the scriptures was changed

After Jesus’ death, no prophets or apostles were left on the earth to correct these things.

While translating the Book of Mormon, Joseph learned that the Bible had been changed or parts had been lost.

Soon after translating the Book of Mormon, Joseph was commanded to study the Bible

He prayed for help understanding the Bible. He had a lot of questions!

In 1831, Joseph started translating the Bible and Sidney Rigdon was his scribe.

As a result of him translating the Bible, he grew even closer to the Holy Ghost as it blessed him to understand things.

In 1835 he met an Italian man who had ancient papyrus (paper made from plants) scrolls with Egyptian writing. This man had them for 15 years and hadn’t found anyone who could translate! With the Holy Ghost, Joseph was able to and learned things about Abraham! This is in the Pearl of Great Price.

Let’s find the Pearl of Great Price in our scriptures! This is where you would be able to read some of what was revealed to him as he was studying the Bible.

Let’s also find the Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew!

What set of scriptures is Matthew in? Start singing the Books of the New Testament Song

This is what Joseph Smith corrected within the New Testament Matthew.

He has other translations within the Bible that you can see below in the footnotes - it says JST for Joseph Smith Translation

SCRIPTURE STUDY SAM/SAMANTHA ACTIVITY

Adapted from lds.org here

https://www.lds.org/liahona/1996/03/sharing-time-the-words-of-christ?lang=eng

Have everyone draw their own Sam or Samantha on an index card

Put up each scripture below on a separate print-out or hand-written page on the board.

We’re going to help Sam/Samantha learn how to use the scriptures to help them in their daily life. Did you know that when we have questions in our lives, or we feel sad or scared, or we want to know what the Lord might want us to know...we can use our scriptures to find those answers? Reference 2 Nephi 32:3 on the board

I’m going to read a situation.

You’re going to silently try to find the scripture answer on the board.

If you think you know it, raise your Sam/Samantha card! Remember, no talking!

Either call on the first kid, on a random kid, or have them collectively say the answer. It depends on the competitiveness of your class.

Situations to read out loud:

1. You borrowed a game from a friend a long time ago and have not returned it.
2. Your brother tells you that he took some money from your drawer and that he is sorry.
3. You have two pieces of candy left, and you see someone with none.
4. Your parents won’t let you see a TV show you want to see.
5. You want to bear your testimony but are afraid.
6. You want to know if the Book of Mormon is true.
7. Someone you love is very sick. You wish that you could help.
8. Someone teases you because you go to church and keep the commandments.
9. You feel like yelling at your little brothers and sisters
10. You want to know what Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are like.

Scriptures to print out/write out to post on the board - the full scripture, not just the reference as it will take too long to look each one up. They are numbered so you can easily match up which situation it goes with.

1. Mosiah 4:28
2. 3 Nephi 13:14
3. 2 Corinthians 9:7
4. Colossians 3:20
5. 2 Timothy 1:8
6. Moroni 10:4
7. James 5:15
8. Matthew 5:10
9. Proverbs 21:23
10. D&C 130:22

PASS THE BIBLE MEMORIZATION GAME

Adapted from scripturelady.com

http://scripturelady.com/pass-the-bible-a-super-bible-school-activity-for-elementary-kids/

This will use the scripture that’s posted on the board.

Have everyone sit in a circle on the floor with a Bible from the library.

Have them study the scripture on the board and have them recite it together twice.

They start passing around Bible in the circle (make sure they treat it respectfully - no throwing, etc.)

After couple of times around, quickly flip one of the papers/cards over on the board and then say “Stop!”

Whichever kid is holding the Bible, they are the “guesser” and they have to guess (but hopefully know) which word was flipped over. They can ask a friend in the circle or you if they need help.

Continue on this way until the entire scripture is flipped, including reference, and they have it memorized!

PRACTICE THE S.O.A.P. METHOD FOR SCRIPTURE STUDY

Let's talk about how you can do really good scripture study at home.

Did you know there's a fun method called the S.O.A.P. method? Let's try it with the scripture we just memorized!

Show them the take-homes that you’ve created and use the method and discuss the 2 Nephi scripture

SPIRIT - Invite the Spirit “It is the Spirit which will bear record to your heart as you read the scriptures” - Elder Eyring

OBSERVATION - what stood out to you? What do you think about it? What can you learn from it?

APPLICATION - how does the scripture apply to you right now in your daily life?

PRAYER - pray about it and keep a prayer in your heart always about what you’ve learned

EXTRA TIME?

1/Sing the Old Testament and New Testament songs while following along in the Table of Contents.
2/Go to the index or topical guide and find a topic you want to study, talk about a dilemma or problem, and then find a scripture together that helps resolve it.

TAKE HOME

Hand out inexpensive bars of soap (or something related) with a S.O.A.P. method note attached