Short Attention Span Sunday School: Primary 6 Lesson 2 Jesus Christ Was Chosen to be Our Savior

PRIMARY 6 LESSON 2 JESUS CHRIST WAS CHOSEN TO BE OUR SAVIOR

CLASSROOM PREP

Post up the Third Article of Faith

We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved,

by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

Also post two quotations on the board (below)

Write on the board above the quotations: Who said it? Spider-Man or Moroni

“For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil;
wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good,

and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ;

wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.”

“Whatever comes our way, whatever battle we have raging inside us, we always have a choice.

It’s the choices that make us who we are, and we can always choose to do what’s right.”

(first is in Moroni 7, second is Spider-Man)

OPENING ACTIVITY

Get out a domino set (mostly to be used later)

Today we’re going to be talking about the Savior’s part in the Plan of Salvation

and about our choices.

Choices…

set up a quick domino path of regular dominos (not the ones you have marked for later)

and then dramatically make them all fall

…are really important.

And one particular choice that we all already made is really important.

We'll come back to the dominoes a bit later.

LESSON

Adapted from http://www.lifesjourneytoperfection.net/2016/03/2016-lds-sharing-time-
ideas-for-april.html

Following the example from the website, print out or draw (or draw on the board)

Path A and Path B.

At the top of one path name it A and draw a big sun and at the top of the other name it B.  

So here we have a choice to make.

Path A and Path B

You’re going to have to choose which path you want to follow and I’m going to describe each one.

Are you ready to listen?

If you choose Path A, it is not going to be easy.

There are going to be some hills you’ll have to climb, but as you climb them you’ll get stronger.

There will also be a lot of beauty along the path.

And some spots that aren’t as beautiful.

There will be choices to make on that path, and because there are choices it’s possible that
not everyone will make it to the destination.

But guess what, you will be able to experience this path with your family.

And at the end of the path is a place of so much happiness and so much beauty.

There will be a place on this path that you won’t be able to cross.

You’ll need to have some help to continue.

There will be someone so pure and so perfect that will come.

That person will sacrifice to build a bridge for you so you will be able to continue on the path.

This person is willing to do this just because He loves you (and you and you...point to each kid).

He does not want any glory.

And if you endure allllllll of the difficulties along the path and use the bridge, you will be blessed.

You will be with your families forever and you will gain a great reward.

Okay, ready to hear about Path B?

If you choose Path B, it will be easy.

Your choices won’t matter because everyone will make it to the destination.

But because there are no choices and no accountability, there can be no growth, and no happiness.

This path is led by a person who is known as "the father of lies.”

He is one who cannot be trusted.

He seeks to have all of the power and glory and will take away your agency to get it.

So to review, Path A - there will be someone perfect to follow.

He will build the bridges needed to help you continue on your path.

Path B - you will not be allowed to have your agency, to make choices.

You will be led by someone who is not looking out for you, just looking out for his own power
and glory.

Does this sound familiar?

When was there a time where you were presented with two plans and had to make a choice?  

Read Moses 4:1-4 together.

Last week we talked about the Plan of Salvation, and today we’re going to talk about what
happened when Heavenly Father presented his plan to us during the Grand Council.

What did Heavenly Father say that Jesus, his Only Begotten was? Chosen from the beginning

Jesus was chosen by Heavenly Father from the very beginning to be an essential part of His plan!

We also chose Jesus when we chose to follow our Heavenly Father’s plan.

Jesus Christ was chosen to be our Savior - what does it mean to be a savior?

What does Jesus save us from? Both spiritual and physical death

We are able to repent, which saves us from spiritual death

We are also be resurrected, which saves us from a physical death

Why did Heavenly Father choose Jesus over Lucifer?

How did Lucifer want to change Heavenly Father’s plan? (verses 1-2)

So after this plan was presented, one third of the spirits chose to go with Lucifer’s plan.

They had agency.

The rest, the other two-thirds, chose the Savior’s plan.

They had agency.

There was what we call a war in heaven.

It says in the Bible that there was a war in heaven and those who followed Lucifer were cast out.

Doesn’t this mean they never came to earth and received a body? Yes

It says that Satan/Lucifer/adversary/devil rebelled against God.

He sought to destroy the agency of man.

Satan was allowed to do this because he himself had what? Agency

It says that I the Lord God had given him that agency.

What is Satan and what are his followers doing now?

In verse 4 it says that he is the father of all lies, he now deceives and blinds men, he leads
them captive.

He and his followers are spirits only and they are constantly tempting the children of God to
do wrong.

What are some things that our gospel teaches us to avoid? Addictions

When we are addicted to substances, we are literally captive to them. We have lost a lot of
our agency.

These are some ways that Satan can tempt us to make wrong choices and be miserable like him.

But sometimes, can't it be hard to know what's right and what's wrong?

PAPER OBJECT LESSON

Adapted from blog.jessicasprague.com

Place two patterned papers on the floor side by side with the patterned side facing up.

Have the truth/lie papers on the back as shown on the side.

From the top they should look identical.

Yes, sometimes it can be really hard to decide what the right choice is.

Just like these papers - they look the same.

How can you tell?

Let’s read some scriptures to figure it out: Moroni 7:15-19

Focus on → seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge which light is the light of Christ

What does it mean to search in the light of Christ?

Have you ever had the power go out in your house and you light a candle or use a flashlight?

What about when you’re camping and you use a headlamp?

Sometimes you are literally searching with a light and you really count on that light to help you.

When we’re trying to find the truth and to know how to choose the right, we need the light of
Christ.

Turn off the light and pull out a flashlight

Hold a flashlight through the back of each paper

Read each message

Which is the right choice?

It’s very easy with the light to tell which one.

When we use Jesus as our example, as our light, when we are deciding whether something is
right or not, then just like shining that light, we can easily tell right from wrong.

DOMINOS

Adapted from LDS Living

So let’s talk about choices.

Get out about a dozen dominos that you’ve brought.

Have one already labeled as “choice”

Have about 10 more each labeled as “consequence”

So let’s talk about this domino (the choice one)

It represents a choice that you would make, the choices in our life that we face.

It seems kind of small, but it can have many consequences.

Let’s talk about the choice to tell a lie.

What are all the consequences for telling a lie?

Feeling guilty, others finding out the truth, losing the Spirit, losing people’s trust, etc.

Stand up a consequence domino for each idea they give and place them closely together

Place the choice domino at the beginning and push on it!

One small choice can have many consequences!

What are the consequences of telling the truth?

Feeling good inside, people trust you more, you may get extra privileges

Let’s think of some other choices and consequences. (ideas from the manual)

Good examples: Pray, attend church, being cheerful at home, kind to a new neighbor,
reverent in church

Bad examples: Steal or cheat, grouchy at home, not keeping the Word of Wisdom

LEMONADE OBJECT LESSON

Adapted from kimathome.com

Choice isn’t only just what am I going to do today, should I watch that TV show with the bad
words or not, should I tease my friend when I know their feelings will be hurt, etc.

Choice sometimes is also how we think about something, our attitude, our thoughts, our feelings.

Let’s think of some really sour/icky things that can happen to you in a week.
Examples: Your car won’t start, a friend makes fun of you, you spill spaghetti sauce all
over your church clothes, you get a low grade on a test at school, etc.

Those are some pretty icky and sour things, right?

I brought something else that’s pretty sour - lemon juice! Get out a little bottle of
lemon juice that’s unopened (so it doesn’t need to be refrigerated yet).

Who wants to try a little lemon juice? Give a little squirt into separate plastic spoons
for those interested.

See how sour it is?

Every day there might be hard and really icky sour things that happen to us.

It doesn’t feel good just like this lemon juice doesn’t taste good.

In order to make that lemon juice not so icky, you need to add some sugar, right?

How would you describe sugar? Nice, sweet, amazing, etc.

The love of our Savior is like the sweet sugar.*

If we recognize the Savior in our life and the love He has for us, it can help us to
have a good attitude, so even on hard days our attitude can help bring sweetness to our day.
Thanks to the Savior!
*thanks to reader Kathleen G. for this approach/idea

So while I didn’t bring sugar, I do have lemonade for everyone to taste what a good attitude can do.

Pass out cups and pour some lemonade.

TAKE HOME/TESTIMONY

My testimony is very strong about the importance of the role of our Savior in the Plan of Salvation.

We made the choice to come to this earth, to follow His plan, and to have a chance to return
back to him.

The choices we make each day help us stay close to Him and continuing to make those choices.

How grateful I am for His sacrifice for us, for His part in the plan.

Some thoughts below adapted from Carolyn J. Rasmus:

Choices can be really hard. Sometimes the choices you make will be made fun of.

Your friends will want you to swear like they do, or tease others, or cheat.

They may want you to drink coffee or even try drugs.

You might be afraid or lonely.

It will take courage to keep choosing the right, but the Lord will help guide you and direct you.

He will give you strength!

You will also feel more confident in yourself as you make those choices.

And then the right kind of friends will want to be around you.

Send them home with small juice boxes of lemonade with a note or scripture about the
choosing the right, having a good attitude, sweetness of the gospel, etc.
Perhaps 2 Nephi 31:20 about having a perfect brightness of hope.