YOUTH LESSON ACTIVITY. “PEACE, BE STILL.” Jesus calming the sea ship scene. Remind youth of the scene where Jesus used His priesthood powers (Mark 4:39) to calm the sea. Use the handle on the back of the scene to move the boat back and forth.
For CHURCH & HOME Primary, Sunday School, scripture study, and COME FOLLOW ME
Little LESSON LIFESAVERS
“The Priesthood Can Help Me”
“Peace, be still.”
Calming the Seas (moving ship scene)
OBJECTIVE: The lesson activity helps children understand how the priesthood can help us find peace.
ACTIVITY: Calming the Seas Moving Ship Scene
Use the moving ship scene to talk about and remind children of the story in Mark 4:39 where Jesus calmed the storm. Show the video* below.
Tell children that Jesus helps and blesses us through the power of the priesthood. Hold onto the handle on the back of the scene with one hand and with the other, use the stick to move the boat back and forth. To simulate a rough sea, move the handle fast; to show a calm sea, move the handle slowly.
TO MAKE:
1. Print or copy, color, and cut out the ship scene, boat, and handle.
2. Mount the top-half of a wooden craft stick to the back of the boat with glue and tape.
3. Cut a slit in the scene where indicated (in the water).
4. Place the boat in the scene by inserting the stick into the slit, allowing you to rock the boat back and forth.
5. Fan-fold the handle (shown on the pattern page) and glue or tape the handle to the back of the scene just above the slit; to hold onto the page with one hand as you move the boat with the other hand holding the bottom of the wooden craft stick.
THOUGHT TREAT: Banana Boat with Cheese Sails. Cut a banana in half crosswise and lengthwise and insert a slice of cheese with a toothpick for the sail. As you eat, talk about the story from Mark 4:35–41, showing the ship scene (above).
YOUTH CAN TEACH using this LESSON 17 The Priesthood Helps Me from the Primary 2 CTR-A manual.
Review the Scripture story in the Manual for which the above LESSON LIFESAVER Activity was created.
*Scripture story
Tell the children that this lesson is about another kind of power—a power even greater than electricity. Invite the children to listen to the following story and to think about what kind of power is being used. Tell the story found in Mark 4:35–41.
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How would you feel if you were on a boat during a bad storm?
Explain that the disciples woke Jesus Christ because they were frightened of the storm. Read aloud what the disciples asked Jesus in the last part of Mark 4:38 (from Master). The disciples were afraid that the storm would sink the boat and they would all die.
Show picture 2-28, Stilling the Storm, and read aloud Mark 4:39 to see what Jesus did. Have the children repeat Jesus’ words: “Peace, be still.”
DOWNLOAD the matching “Peace, be still” activity above.
Explain that the disciples were amazed that the storm was calmed so quickly. Read aloud from Mark 4:41 what they asked each other: “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Jesus’ disciples were surprised that he had the power to control the wind and the waves.
DOWNLOAD the song visuals for the song “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” (HERE or right) Song illustrates the above lesson activity of Jesus calming the sea in the third verse:
“Tell me, in accents of wonder, how rolled the sea,
Tossing the boat in a tempest on Galilee!
And how the Master, ready and kind,
Chided the billows and hushed the wind.”
More Learning Activities:
• PRIESTHOOD POWER – TAKE HOME ACTIVITY (REPORT THIS WEEK): As the lesson details: Talk about the blessings that come from the priesthood by sharing with children the Priesthood Power Blessings Journal (shown) that you can DOWNLOAD from this website. Ask children to write on these their feelings about each priesthood blessing.
*SHOW VIDEO “Calming the Tempest” (Mark 4:37-40) that follows ⇓
MORE IDEAS FOR TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT THIS ACTIVITY:
Jesus has power and authority from Heavenly Father. We can have faith in Him and trust Him when we are afraid.
Scriptures to use
Mark 4:35–41 — Jesus calms the storm.
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Verse 39: Jesus says, “Peace, be still.”
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Verse 40: Jesus asks, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?”
Matthew 8:23–27 — Another account of the same event.
Doctrine and Covenants 121:36 — Teaches about priesthood authority:
“The powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.”
Doctrine and Covenants 84:19–20 — Teaches that the power of godliness is manifest through priesthood ordinances.
For very young children, you probably don’t need to explain priesthood authority in a complicated way. You could simply say:
“Priesthood authority is God’s authority given to His servants to act in His name.”
Simple object lesson
Bring a bowl or clear container of water.
Have the children gently make waves with their hands.
Say:
“Imagine you were in a boat and the waves were this big. How would you feel?”
Ask:
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“Would you be scared?”
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“What would you do?”
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“Who could you ask for help?”
Then tell the story from Mark 4:35–41.
When you get to Jesus saying “Peace, be still,” have everyone freeze their hands and make the water completely still.
Then say:
“Jesus had power and authority from Heavenly Father. He could command the wind and the sea, and they obeyed Him.”
Questions and answers
You can keep the discussion very simple:
Q: Who was in the boat with Jesus?
A: His disciples.
Q: What happened while they were sailing?
A: A big storm came.
Q: How did the disciples feel?
A: They were afraid.
Q: What was Jesus doing?
A: He was sleeping.
Q: What did Jesus do when they woke Him?
A: He commanded the wind and sea to be still.
Q: What happened?
A: The storm stopped.
Q: Where did Jesus get His power and authority?
A: From Heavenly Father.
Q: What can we do when we’re afraid?
A: Pray, have faith in Jesus, and ask Heavenly Father for help.
Q: Does having faith mean nothing difficult will ever happen?
A: No. It means we can trust Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ even when difficult things happen.
Connect it to their lives
Ask:
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“What are some things that can feel like a storm to a child?”
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“What might make you feel worried or afraid?”
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“What can you do when you feel afraid?”
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“How can prayer help?”
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“How can remembering Jesus help us?”
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“Who are people Heavenly Father has given priesthood authority to?”
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“How can priesthood blessings help us?”
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“Have you ever felt peace after praying?”
You could explain that Jesus doesn’t always make our problems disappear immediately, but He can give us peace, strength, guidance, and help through the storm.
A simple “storm” activity
Give each child a paper boat. Write or let them draw something that can make them feel worried on the boat—for example:
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Being afraid of the dark
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Starting school
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Being sick
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Having an argument
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Missing someone
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Feeling lonely
Then have them write or draw a heart, prayer hands, or the words “Jesus Christ” on the other side.
Teach:
“When life’s storms come, we can turn toward Jesus Christ. We can pray to Heavenly Father, follow Jesus, and seek help from people He has authorized to serve us.”
Song idea
You could sing “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” or “I’m Trying to Be like Jesus.”
After singing, ask:
“What does this song teach us about Jesus?”
One sentence for the children to remember
Have everyone repeat:
“Jesus has power from Heavenly Father, and I can trust Him when I am afraid.”
For the very youngest children, shorten it to:
“Jesus can help me feel peace.”
