CHILDREN’S LESSON ACTIVITY. DARE TO DO RIGHT & BE TRUE CTR (Choose the Right) wristbands. Children can know from these bands that they can DARE to do right! DARE to be true! When temptation comes just to say, “no” and run!
Also, DOWNLOAD and practice singing “Dare to Do Right” using song visuals (HERE or below).
USE FOR: COME FOLLOW ME, Primary lessons, Home lessons, Family Home Evening, Activity Days, Sunday School, Bible Study
Little LESSON LIFESAVER Activity:
“Dare to Do Right – Dare to Be True” CTR wristbands
OBJECTIVE: The lesson helps children understand that they can choose the right as Jesus Christ did when Satan tried to tempt him.
ACTIVITY: CTR Wristbands
As children wear this wristband they can be reminded to resist or RUN away from temptation and DARE to do what is right. They will want to be true to gospel teachings as you challenge them to “DARE to do right,” and “DARE to be true.” As children are reminded that Heavenly Father wants them to return to Him, they will desire to keep His commandments.
TO PRINT LETTER SUGGESTED IN THE LESSON:
1. Print the “My Dear Friends” letter for children from Elder Rex D. Pinegar, General Authority for The Church since 1972. Click HERE to print the letter from the October 1974 Friend.
2. Write the child’s name on the letter and enclose it in an envelope.
3. To add the picture of Elder Rex D. Pinegar teaching children (shown above), right-click on the picture then “save picture as” into your picture directory.
SING Dare to Do Right in the Children’s Songbook p. 71-72
DOWNLOAD the “Dare to Do Right” song visuals (HERE or below)
THOUGHT TREAT: CTR Treasure Cupcakes. Before baking cupcakes, write “Dare to CTR” on slips of paper, wrap in foil, and drop into cupcake liner as you fill with batter. Surprise! Children find the treasured note baked inside.
EXTRA IDEAS – Review The Temptations of Christ by the Elder Howard W. Hunter (Apostles and Prophet), telling about Jesus’ temptations (as addressed in the lesson).
LESSON IDEAS (for the above activity):
• Present Lesson 14 – Primary 2 Manual – CTR-A: Dare to Choose the Right. Review the teacher presentation in the manual which the above activity illustrates (see below*).
Dare to Choose the Right
“Lesson 14: Dare to Choose the Right,” Primary 2: Choose the Right A (1995), 68–74
Purpose
To help the children understand that they can choose the right as Jesus Christ did when Satan tried to tempt him.
Preparation
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Prayerfully study Matthew 4:1–11.
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Make a simple crown out of construction paper or similar material, as shown:
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Trace or copy a “Choose the Right” game board (shown at the end of the lesson) onto stiff paper or cardboard.
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Write the questions for the game (pages 71–72) on separate pieces of paper, and put them in a small sack or other container.
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Prepare to sing or say the words to the first verse of “Dare to Do Right” (Children’s Songbook, p. 158). The words to this song are included at the back of the manual.
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Optional: Copy Elder Pinegar’s letter and put it in an envelope.
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Materials needed:
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Make the necessary preparations for any enrichment activities you want to use.
Suggested Lesson Development
Invite a child to give the opening prayer.
Follow up with the children if you encouraged them to do something during the week.
We Can Make Choices for Ourselves
Satan Wanted Jesus Christ to Make Wrong Choices
Scripture story
Tell the story of Jesus Christ being tempted in the wilderness, as found in Matthew 4:1–11. Explain that after Jesus was baptized, he wanted to be alone to fast and pray so he could feel closer to Heavenly Father. He fasted for forty days and forty nights. That means that he didn’t eat anything for forty days.
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How do you feel when you have not eaten anything for a long time?
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How do you think Jesus felt after fasting for forty days?
Explain that Satan thought this would be a good time to tempt Jesus because he would be very hungry and weak from not eating. Satan wanted to tempt Jesus to use his power in the wrong way.
Bring out the stones, the paper crown, and picture 2-22, Temple Used Anciently. Ask the children to listen carefully to see what these things have to do with the temptations Satan offered Jesus.
Hold up the stones. Read aloud Matthew 4:3. Explain that Satan first tried to get the Savior to turn the stones into bread. Jesus knew that it was not right to use his power to do this even though he was hungry. Instead he told Satan that food is not as important as doing what is right (see Matthew 4:4).
Hold up picture 2-22, Temple Used Anciently. Explain that Satan next tried to get the Savior to prove he was the Son of God by jumping off the temple. Satan told Jesus that if he jumped and angels saved him from getting hurt, that would prove he was the Son of God (see Matthew 4:6). Jesus refused to do what Satan dared him to do. He knew that it was not right to do foolish things and expect Heavenly Father to protect him (see Matthew 4:7).
Hold up the crown. Explain that Satan tried one more temptation. Satan said Jesus could have all the rich and powerful kingdoms of the world if he would fall down and worship Satan (see Matthew 4:8–9). Jesus knew that he should worship only Heavenly Father. He commanded Satan to leave.
Scripture
Read aloud from Matthew 4:10 what Jesus said to Satan: “Get thee hence, Satan.” Have the children stand and repeat these words.
Explain that Jesus always chose the right because he loved the right and had promised to obey all of Heavenly Father’s commandments.
We Can Choose the Right As Jesus Did
CTR chart
Display the CTR chart and have the children repeat the words on the chart. Explain that we become more like Jesus by always trying to make right choices. Heavenly Father will help us if we try to choose the right.
Review game
Help the children play the “Choose the Right” game. Tell the children the game will help them remember how Jesus Christ always chose the right and how they can also choose the right.
Divide the class into two teams and give each team a button or other small object as a marker. Have each team place its marker on the space on the game board labeled “Go.” Have the children on each team take turns choosing questions from the papers you have prepared (the questions may be used more than once). Read each question and let the team members answer it together. If they answer correctly, they move their marker the number of spaces indicated after the question. If they answer a question incorrectly, they must leave their marker on the same square.
If a team lands on a “CTR” square, they climb up the ladder to the square above. If they land on a “WC” (wrong choice) square, they slide down to the square below.
Questions for the Game
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Why did young Rex Pinegar run in front of a car? (Move ahead two spaces.)
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Was Elder Pinegar glad or sad that he took the dare? (Move ahead one space.)
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How many days did Jesus Christ fast and pray in the wilderness? (Move ahead two spaces.)
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Who tried to tempt Jesus? (Move ahead three spaces.)
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What does it mean to fast? (Move ahead five spaces.)
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How many different ways did Satan try to tempt Jesus? (Move ahead two spaces.)
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What did Satan want Jesus to do with the stones? (Move ahead four spaces.)
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What did Satan want Jesus to do from the top of the temple? (Move ahead three spaces.)
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What did Satan promise Jesus if he would fall down and worship him? (Move ahead five spaces.)
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Did Jesus do what Satan wanted him to do? (Move ahead three spaces.)
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What do Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to do when someone dares us to do something wrong or foolish? (Move ahead five spaces.)
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What should we do when we have a choice to make? (Move ahead six spaces.)
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What is a temptation? (Move ahead six spaces.)
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Will we be happy or unhappy if we make wrong choices? (Move ahead one space.)
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When someone dares you to do something, do you have to do it? (Move ahead two spaces.)
Answers to Questions
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He accepted his friend’s dare to do it.
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Sad.
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Forty.
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Satan.
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Not eat or drink anything.
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Three.
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Change them to bread.
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Jump off to prove he was the Son of Heavenly Father.
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All the kingdoms of the world and their power.
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No.
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Choose the right.
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Choose the right.
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A dare to do something wrong.
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Unhappy.
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No.
Summary
Teacher presentation
Explain that even though Jesus Christ was tempted, he always chose the right. Remind the children that when they need to make choices they can ask themselves, “What would Heavenly Father and Jesus want me to do?” They can also sing “Dare to Do Right” (or “Choose the Right”) and look at their CTR rings. These things will remind them to choose the right.
CTR chart
Have the children again say the words on the CTR chart.
Testimony
Testify to the children that choosing the right will make them happy. You may want to tell about a time when someone dared you to make a foolish choice. Explain the choice you made and how you felt about it afterward.
Encourage the children to choose the right when someone dares them to do something foolish.
Invite a child to give the closing prayer.
Enrichment Activities
Choose from the following activities those that will work best for the children in your class. You can use them in the lesson itself or as a review or summary. For additional guidance, see “Class Time” in “Helps for the Teacher.”
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Help the children say the following words or sing them to the tune of “If You’re Happy” (Children’s Songbook, p. 266), using the actions indicated:
To show I choose the right I tell the truth (pat lips [or clap hands] and turn around).
To show I choose the right I tell the truth (pat lips and turn around).
I know the Savior’s way and it shows in what I say;
To show I choose the right, I tell the truth (pat lips and turn around).
You may want to sing or say the song several more times, replacing “I tell the truth” with other phrases such as “I will be kind” or “I say my prayers.”
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Help the children act out how they would dare to do right in situations where they have a choice to make. Use the situations below or create some of your own:
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A friend dares you to steal some candy from the store.
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Other children in your Primary class are teasing a new boy about the way he is dressed.
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Your little sister breaks your favorite toy.
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Your mother has just asked you to do several chores for her when your friend comes to the door and asks you to come outside and play.
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Your friends dare you to run into the busy street to get the ball they were playing with.
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A stranger offers you candy.
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Show picture 2-38, The First Vision, and briefly tell the story of the First Vision, as found in Joseph Smith—History 1:14–20. Explain that when Joseph Smith told other people that he had seen Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, many people didn’t believe him. They made fun of him and called him names. They wanted him to say the vision wasn’t real (see JS—H 1:21–26). But Joseph Smith dared to do right—he did the things that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ wanted him to do.
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Give each child a copy of the CTR shield (found at the front of the manual) and crayons or pencils. Let the children color their shields. Explain to the children that daring to do right can be like a shield and protect them from the consequences of foolish choices. Ask the children to put their shields somewhere in their homes where they will remind the children to choose the right.