AGES1-5 LESSON ACTIVITY. SCRIPTURE SPECS Help Me See My Way to Heaven scripture reading glasses. Children can peer with one eye through the Bible window and the Book of Mormon with the other eye to read the scriptures. Tell them that Jesus was born in one world where the Bible was written, then after He died He visited another part of the world where the Book of Mormon was written. These scriptures help us see our way back to heaven.
Great for NURSERY “Behold Your Little Ones” Lesson 23.
ALSO, USE FOR COME, FOLLOW ME lessons for Primary, Family Home Evening
Little LESSON LIFESAVERS
Scripture Specs help me see my way to heaven
OBJECTIVE: Tell children about the standard works. The scriptures tell us about Jesus and about Heavenly Father’s plan of happiness. They help us learn how we can return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus again someday.
The scriptures contain stories of people who obeyed Heavenly Father’s commandments.
Nephi said, “My soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them” (2 Nephi 4:15).
CRAFT ACTIVITY (Scripture Specs):
1. Print the activity (sized for children and teens/adults).
2. Create a pair of glasses—Scriptures Specs—that they can put on to read the scriptures. Cut out the book-eye pieces and place colored cellophane there or leave them open. Punch holes on the sides and tie a string to it to tie around the child’s head.
3. As children/teens/adults wear the specs, read John 5:39. Explain that “testify” means to tell and that the scriptures tell us about Jesus and Heavenly Father.
THOUGHT TREAT Open-Book Scripture wafer cookies. Display two frosting-filled wafer cookies next to each other glued together in the center with frosting. Open the scriptures and the cookie (in “V” shape), saying that this book should be opened each day to read about Jesus and His commandments (show the picture of Jesus).
LESSON IDEAS:
NURSERY: Nursery Lesson 23 – I Love the Scriptures in the Behold Your Little Ones manual. (SEE THIS LESSON BELOW)
AGE 3: Sunbeam Lesson 41 – Heavenly Father and Jesus Gave Us the Scriptures in Primary manual 1.
Two Jesus Stories. To go along with the above Scripture Specs Activity: You could show children the add a mini-portrait of Jesus (shown below or DOWNLOAD HERE). As you tell about Jesus living in Jerusalem (Bible) and then after He died and then visited the Nephites in ancient America (Book of Mormon). While showing the Jesus mini-portrait you could place him inside the glasses window as you talk about the two different books testifying of Jesus.
NURSERY LESSON 23 FROM CHURCH CURRICULUM
I Love the Scriptures
“Lesson 23: I Love the Scriptures,” Behold Your Little Ones: Nursery Manual (2008), 96–99
Introduction to the Teacher
To prepare yourself spiritually to teach this lesson, please read and ponder the following:
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints accepts the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price as scripture. The purpose of the scriptures is to testify of Jesus Christ, helping us come unto Him and receive eternal life (see 2 Nephi 25:26; Helaman 3:29–30). The scriptures also contain stories about people who were blessed for obeying Heavenly Father. Nephi expressed his love for the scriptures in this way: “My soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them” (2 Nephi 4:15).
Preparation
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Read Mark 10:13–16 and 1 Nephi 17:7–10; 18:1–4. Be prepared to summarize these stories briefly for the children.
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Bring your copy of the scriptures.
Prayer
Invite a child to give the opening prayer.
Doctrinal Instruction
Show the children your scriptures and tell them how much you love the scriptures. Invite the children to say “scriptures.” Tell them that we learn about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ from the scriptures; we learn that They love us and want us to be happy.
Scripture Stories
Display the picture of Jesus. Explain that the scriptures teach us about Jesus. Open the Bible and briefly summarize the story of Jesus blessing the children (see Mark 10:13–16). The following is an example:
Jesus loves children. One day some people brought their little children to Jesus (point to the children in the picture).He took them in His arms and blessed them.
Display the picture of Jesus. Explain that the scriptures tell us about people who were blessed when they obeyed Heavenly Father. Open the Book of Mormon and briefly summarize the story of Nephi building a ship (see 1 Nephi 17:7–10; 18:1–4). The following is an example:
This is Nephi (point to Nephi in the picture). The Lord told Nephi to build a ship. Nephi had never built a ship before, but he obeyed. The Lord showed him how to build the ship. (Have the children pretend to build a ship.)
Song
Sing or say the chorus to “Search, Ponder, and Pray” (Children’s Songbook, 109) and do the actions below. Invite the children to join you.
Search, (pretend to open the scriptures) ponder and pray (fold arms)
Are the things that I must do. (point to self)
The Spirit will guide, and, deep inside,
I’ll know the scriptures are true. (pretend to hold an open book)
Conclusion
Have the children repeat the phrase, “I love the scriptures.” Share your love for the scriptures and your testimony that they are true.