Primary 4 Lesson 31: Samuel the Lamanite

PRIMARY 4 LESSON 31: SAMUEL THE LAMANITE

Classroom prep:

• Write on board “prophets foretold the life and mission of jesus christ”
• Lego Samuel and rice krispie treats wall on table
• Gospel Art Book of Samuel on display

Who noticed some mini miracles this week?

1/ Songbook 36 samuel tells of the baby jesus / with words

• Who is this song about?

2a/lesson (below)

2b/What are the arrows in your life that are temptations to not choose the right?

Write on paper to post on the board

Distractions, boredom, taking the easy way out, selfishness, dishonesty, lowering standards, swearing, drugs/alcohol, bad music, swearing, bad tv shows/movies

3/Split up into pairs and make lego walls with samuel

Hand out lego bag with minifigure

Hand out blank paper and pens

Each pair comes up with ways they can dodge those temptations

• Have faith
• Have courage
• Be brave
• Do the hard things
• Stand up for what’s right
• quit wasting time on phones and computers
• do more productive things
• quit making excuses
• quit putting the unimportant things ahead of the important things, etc

LESSON

Remember how Nephi had been really righteous but his people had not and they were humbled with a famine that Nephi used Priesthood Power to happen to them.

The Nephites were righteous for awhile, but within a few years they began to be wicked again….within about 10 years after the famine, they needed to be humbled again and were doomed to be destroyed if they didn’t repent.

OPEN SCRIPTURES TO HELAMAN 13

What message was Samuel the Lamanite sent to reveal to the Nephites? (Helaman 13:6–7.)
Explain that “glad tidings” means “good news,” or the gospel.
Why is the gospel of Jesus Christ good news for us?
We can repent and be forgiven of our sins.

Why is it important to have the Spirit with us? Why is it important not to put off repentance? (Helaman 13:38.)

Each time the Nephites returned to wickedness they were guilty of committing the same sins they had committed before. What were those sins? (Helaman 13:22)
(Forgetting the Lord and his blessings, ingratitude, heart set on riches, boasting, envying     
           (jealousy) strifes (fighting) malice (hate) murders and persecution)

Who were the Nephites following instead of the prophets? (Helaman 13:27–29.) Samuel called these false prophets blind guides. What “foolish and blind guides” are leading people today?  Samuel the Lamanite went to the Nephites and told them they needed to repent. The people were angry at his message, and they threw him out of the land. As Samuel was returning to his own land, the voice of the Lord came to him and told him to do what? (Helman 13:3) (to return and tell the people whatsoever thing that came into his heart.)

What does that mean? Samuel would receive revelation from God concerning what to say.

Samuel returned to Zarahemla, but the people would not allow him to enter into the city. Samuel needed to deliver the message from the Lord. What did he do so he could accomplish this?
He went and got up on the city wall and cried with a loud voice and prophesied what the Lord put into his heart. He prophesied heavy destruction upon the people if they did not repent.

He also delivered another message, a message of glad tidings (which means good news).

• What do you think his message of glad tidings was? Remember Samuel lived in a special time period. He lived during the time period when Jesus Christ, the son of God would come to the earth. His message of glad tidings was that Jesus Christ, the redeemer, would be born on the earth in five years. (Helaman 14:2)

• Why is this good news? Because Jesus would make an atonement for our sins and redeem all who believe on his name.

• Samuel also prophesied concerning the death of Jesus. According to Samuel why did Jesus have to die? (Helaman 14:15-18) Samuel explained that Jesus must die to redeem all mankind from spiritual death and to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead.
POST SIGNS OF BIRTH AND DEATH

How did the people react to Samuel's words? Some believed and went to find Nephi to confess their sins and be baptized (take off the small group of people), but the majority of the people were angry with Samuel.

Why did the people reject Samuel’s teachings? (Helaman 14:10.)

What did Samuel teach about the Atonement? (Helaman 14:15–18.) What responsibility do we have when we understand the Atonement? (Helaman 14:19.) What responsibility do we have for our actions? (Helaman 14:30–31.)

What did the Nephites who believed Samuel do after he finished preaching? (Helaman 16:1.) What did those who did not believe him do? (Helaman 16:6.) Why do you think people choose not to believe the prophets? What can we do to strengthen our testimonies of the prophets?

What did the people attempt to do to Samuel because of their anger? Slay him. They cast stones at him on the wall and shot arrows at him. But they could not hit him with their stones or arrows.

Why do they think people who were familiar with using a bow and arrow and the people who were throwing rocks couldn’t hit Samuel. (Because the Spirit of the Lord was with him.) (Helaman 16:2)

When the people saw that Samuel was miraculously protected did they believe his words then? Some believed, but the more part of the people did not believe the words of Samuel, and they went forth to lay their hands upon Samuel. He cast himself down from the wall and did flee out of their lands to preach among his own people.

Five years after Samuel delivered his message to the Nephites, great signs, wonders, and miracles began to occur. The words of the prophets began to be fulfilled. Did the nonbelievers start to believe when they began to see the prophesied signs and wonders occurring? The most part of the people grew more wicked and did harden their hearts. (Helaman 16:22-23) They contrived foolish excuses to not believe.

Conclusion

All the prophets taught of Jesus. Latter-day prophets also testify and teach of Jesus. Our faith and belief in the Savior can be strengthened as we read the prophets’ words in the scriptures and as we listen to and read the words of the latter-day prophets concerning Christ

Primary 4 Lesson 30: Nephi Receives Great Power

LESSON 30 NEPHI RECEIVES GREAT POWER

ON THE BOARD

THE LORD ENTRUSTS US WITH BLESSINGS AND RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN WE…

OUTLINE FOR TODAY'S LESSON

• Flashlight activity
• Read Helaman 10
• Jeopardy game
• Origami notes

Show the flashlight.

- What is this flashlight used for? (to show us the way, protect us, help us know what's ahead of us, etc.)

Have a child try to turn the flashlight on.

When it doesn't come on, examine it and eventually find out that there are no batteries.  

- The flashlight isn't working because it needs power.

Produce the batteries. Place them in the flashlight and have a child turn it on.  

Explain that now that the flashlight has power, we can use it guide and protect us.  

Heavenly Father has great power. He wants to use it to guide and protect us, to show us the way and to make our lives better.  The batteries in this flashlight are like the power of God.  They are like his power.  But we also need a flashlight, something he can give his power to to use for good. The power of God is called the PRIESTHOOD.

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ give the priesthood to worthy men in the Church. When these men are directed by Heavenly Father, they can use the priesthood to help us and bless us.  The Priesthood is a power that can only be used to help others and make them happy.

READ HELAMAN 10 - take turns

• As Nephi went his way toward his own house, what was he doing? (Helaman 10:2–3.) What does it mean to ponder? (To think about or consider deeply.) What should we ponder or think about?
• Why had Nephi become discouraged as he labored to proclaim the gospel to the Nephites? (Helaman 10:3.)
• What was there about Nephi that pleased Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? (Helaman 10:4.) How can we please them?
• What blessings did Jesus Christ promise Nephi? (Helaman 10:5.) What does it mean that Nephi would not pray for anything that was “contrary to [Christ’s] will”? How can we learn to follow Jesus Christ’s will?
• Looking at verses 4 and 5, why did the Lord trust Nephi with great blessings and responsibilities?
• What was Nephi given power to do? (Helaman 10:6–10.)
• What is the sealing power Nephi was given? (Helaman 10:7; see also D&C 132:7.) How can this sealing power of the priesthood bless us today? (In the temple our families can be sealed together forever.) How does it make you feel to know your family can live together forever? The sealing power binds and looses on earth and in heaven.
• What did the Lord command Nephi to say to the people? (Helaman 10:11.) How did Nephi show his obedience when the Lord finished speaking to him? (Helaman 10:12.) In what ways does the Lord speak to us? How can we show obedience?
• Why didn’t Nephi’s revelation of the murder of the chief judge change the lives of the Nephites? (Helaman 10:13.)
• How was Nephi protected as he declared the word of God to these people? (Helaman 10:15–17.) What do you think it means that “the power of God was with” Nephi? How can the priesthood bless and protect us today?
• What effect did Nephi’s teachings have on these people? (Helaman 10:18.)
• How have you and your family been blessed by the power of the priesthood?

Because of Nephi’s faithfulness, the Lord protected him and blessed him with great power.
Nephi was determined to fulfill the mission the Lord had given him.

How can you show your determination to serve the Lord?
FINISH THE SAYING ON THE BOARD: ...WHEN WE PUT HIS WILL BEFORE OUR OWN JEOPARDY (game below) ORIGAMI (make origami shirts with collars and write thank you's on them for the bishop)

JEOPARDY Scripture Chase
100 James 5:14. “Let them pray over him, _______________ him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
Answer: What is anointing?

200 D&C 13. “The Priesthood holds the keys of the ministering of __________.”
Answer: What are angels?

300 D&C 84:33. Part of the oath and covenant of the priesthood is to ____________ your calling.
Answer: What is magnify?

400 D&C 107:19. Worthily receiving and exercising the priesthood brings you closer to the ___________ of God.
Answer: What is presence?

Quorums
100 The Stake President presides over a quorum of ___________ _____________.
Answer: What are high priests?

200 The President of the Church and his counselors form the Quorum of the ____________ Presidency.
Answer: What is first?

300 The Twelve _____________ also form a quorum.
Answer: What are apostles?

400 Each ward or branch normally has quorums of Elders, Priests, Teachers, and ______________.
Answer: What are deacons?

Duties
100 I hold the Aaronic Priesthood. I have all the duties and powers of a deacon, and I prepare the bread and water for the sacrament. I may be assigned to be a home teacher. What am I? How old am I when I can be ordained? (Wordstrips: “Teacher,” “Fourteen”)

200 I have had the Aaronic Priesthood conferred on me. I pass the sacrament. I may serve as a messenger for priesthood leaders. I collect fast offerings. I help care for Church buildings and grounds. What am I? How old am I when I can be ordained? Deacon/12

300 I hold the Aaronic Priesthood. I have all the duties and powers of a deacon and teacher, and I can bless the sacrament. I have the authority to baptize, help with ordinations of other Aaronic Priesthood holders, and take charge of meetings when there are no Melchizedek Priesthood holders present. What am I? How old am I when I can be ordained? (Wordstrips: “Priest,” “Sixteen”)

400 I hold the Melchizedek Priesthood. I may serve a full-time mission. I am called to teach, expound, exhort, baptize, and watch over the Church. I may give the gift of the Holy Ghost, conduct meetings, bless children, administer to the sick, and bless family members. What am I? How old ? Elder 18

Keys
100 The ____________ holds priesthood keys that enable him to preside in his ward.
Answer: Who is the bishop?

200 He holds all the keys of the priesthood.
Answer: Who is Christ?

300 He holds the keys for governing the entire church.
Answer: Who is the President of the Church?

400 He holds the keys for operating the temple.
Answer: Who is the temple president?

Primary 4 Lesson 29: Nephi Prophesies

LESSON 29 NEPHI PROPHESIES

To teach the children that Heavenly Father sends prophets to teach us about the Savior, help us repent, and warn us of things to come.

LESSON

Truth Revealed puzzle from The Friend (amos 3:7)

We are going to talk about prophets!

Follow the prophet….don’t go astray...he knows the way

If we follow the prophet, we can know the truth and avoid being deceived

Our lesson today is about the prophet Nephi, the son of Helman.

We learned about him last week. He knew a murder had been committed and who the murderer was without being at the scene of the crime.

Tell story from illustrated scriptures

Questions to ask along the way:

Helaman 7:13-18

Why do you think he talked about repentance? What must we do to repent?

Helaman 7:29

How did Nephi know these things would happen?
What have other prophets said will happen to us if we do not repent? How can listening to the living prophet help us in our lives?

Helaman 8:7–9

How did some of the people defend Nephi?Why does it sometimes take courage to stand up for the truth? What can we do to sustain the living prophet?

Helaman 8:14–16.What have all the holy prophets testified of?

What can we do to strengthen our testimonies of the living prophet?

Helaman 9:39–41 What effect did Nephi’s revelation have on some of the people? How have you been blessed by following the prophets?

Treasure hunt → what is the treasure when we follow the prophet?

• Hand out footprints
• Someone designated to be the scripture looker-upper
• Final treasure is birthday cookies

Relief Society Room – D&C 25:3 Joseph Smith
Gym – D&C 89:20 Joseph Smith
Couch – Psalms 6:6 David
Library – D&C 109:7 Joseph Smith
Organ – Job 21:12 Job
Sacrament Table – D&C 59:9 Joseph Smith
Bishop’s Office – D&C 64:40 Joseph Smith
Tree – Alma 32:40 Alma
Building– D&C 115:8 Joseph Smith
Kitchen – Leviticus 24:5 the Lord through Moses

WHAT IS THE POINT?

How do we lay up treasures in heaven?

Where we spend our time and what we do each day are the treasures.

Are we spending time serving others?

Are we following the prophet?

Are we following our Bishop?

What about our Primary President?

What about our parents?

What about being kind?

Word of wisdom?

Staying clean and pure?

Being worthy of taking the sacrament?

Being modest and using good language?

If we lay up our treasures in worldly things, we aren’t building up our treasures in heaven.

Where your treasure is, there your heart be also.

THE LESSON OUTLINE

Nephi prophesied → prophets are true → follow the prophet → the prophet tells us how to live our lives

→ how to live our lives teaches us how to have eternal life/treasure in heaven

But behold, ye have rejected the truth, and rebelled against your holy God; and even at this time, instead of laying up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where nothing doth corrupt, and where nothing can come which is unclean, ye are heaping up for yourselves wrath against the day of judgment.

Helaman 8:25