Use For: CHURCH and HOME children and youth activities and Come Follow Me lessons.
LESSON LIFESAVER Activity
What Would Jesus Do? Choices situation sack
OBJECTIVE: This lesson helps to strengthen the youth’s testimonies of Jesus Christ so they will have the power to withstand evil influences.
See the enrichment activity #1 in the lesson (shown below* or HERE for which this activity was created from the Primary 4 Book of Mormon lesson 8 The Prophet Jacob Is Confronted by Sherem). See the “Sherem Denies Christ” / Jacob 7 VIDEO below.
ACTIVITY: What Would Jesus Do? Choice Situation Sack
Tell the youth, “Our testimony of Jesus Christ helps us make the right choices. He showed us how to live God’s commandments. In any situation, we will know what to do if we first ask, “What would Jesus do?”
Have youth reach into their sack to find things they can do and say to follow Jesus. Then have them share ways to follow Jesus. See the Treat below.
Situation cards (in the sack) read: (1) When someone asks me to steal, I say, “No deal!” (2) When asked to taste beer or wine, I decline. (3) Whenever temptation is near, I choose the right and am of good cheer. (4) I pay my tenth before my money is spent. (5) When T.V. has a bad show, I turn it off and go! (6) Telling a lie bothers me, so I’m as honest as I can be. (7) A bad word for me will not be heard. (8) If someone wants to pick a fight, I turn and quickly get out of sight!
TO MAKE Using cardstock, print or copy, color, and cut out the What Would Jesus Do? sack labels and cards for each youth. Place labels and cards in a plastic bag. Place peppermint candies inside the bag (as follows).
THOUGHT TREAT Starlight Mints. Place eight mints in each youth’s bag. Youth can choose a situation from the bag while they eat their mint and think about what Jesus would do in that situation.
SCRIPTURE CHALLENGE CARD: Help youth Search and Ponder this scripture card by filling in the blanks. PRINT this 5 x 7 scripture card from the pdf included with the above activity. You can punch the two holes on the left and tie a ribbon to attach cards or use two metal rings to connect cards.
Jacob 7:12 “And this is not all—it has been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen; and it also has been made manifest unto me by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost.”
DISCUSSION IDEAS
Help Youth Understand A Strong Testimony Will Help Them Resist Evil Influences.
Follow these Questions to help youth search and ponder the scriptures.
• Show the youth a piece of string and how easily it can be broken. Show them a piece of rope and ask them to try and break it. Our testimonies are like many pieces of string and can become strong enough like this rope to withstand the challenges of life.
How can we strengthen our testimonies? (bearing them, resisting temptation, serving others, reading scriptures, prayer)
• A man named Sherem came into the land of Nephi. He began to preach to the people that there was no Christ. He used much flattery (dishonest excessive praise) leading many away from the Church. He wanted to destroy the Church. He was under the influence of Satan. He knew Jacob had faith in Christ and that He should come. He wanted to argue with Jacob and try to shake his faith. Jacob was a faithful disciple of Christ who had revelations, had seen angels, had even heard the voice of the Lord so he could not be shaken in his testimony of Christ. Jacob spoke with such power he confounded Sherem.
Who was Jacob?
How did Jacob know about Jesus Christ? (Jacob 7:5, 10-12)
What did Sherem do to lead the people away from the Church? (Jacob 7:2-4)
Why did Sherem want to destroy the Church?
• Sherem demanded Jacob show him a sign, then he would believe. Jacob knew Sherem was under Satan’s influence and that it was wrong to show signs to unbelievers. He understood that “signs follow those that believe.” (D&C 63:9) He knew signs and wonders come after the trial of our faith. He also knew Sherem knew the truth but Satan’s influence was strong. Jacob said, “Nevertheless, not my will be done; but if God shall smite thee, let that be a sign unto thee that he has power.” (Jacob 7:14) Sherem was struck down to the earth.
How do you think Jacob felt about Sherem?
What did Sherem demand from Jacob?
What did Jacob mean when he said, “What am I that I should tempt God to show unto thee a sign…?” (Jacob 7:14)
Why couldn’t Jacob’s faith in Christ be shaken?
Why do we need strong testimonies of our Savior?
What are some ways you can share your testimony with others?
• Sherem, when he regained his strength, confessed to the people that he had been deceived by Satan. He confessed the power of Christ, the Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels. After he had done this he died. The people heard this and were overcome with the Spirit and fell to the earth. This pleased Jacob to see the love of God restored to his people. (Jacob 7:17-23)
• Promised signs and wonders may be sought for, like the Star at the birth of the Savior, but to seek for signs is not of God. Remember Laman and Lemuel saw signs but still did not believe. Our faith and obedience brings forth a strong testimony and possible signs and miracles from God as it did for Jacob.
What can we learn from this experience recorded in the Book of Mormon?
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE Other lesson activities on:
• SHEREM Signs Can Strengthen My Testimony of Jesus sign seeker show-and-tell (illustrating the Sherem noted in the Book of Mormon Lesson 32 “Signs in America of Jesus Christ’s Birth” HERE).
*LESSON 8
The Prophet Jacob Is Confronted by Sherem
“Lesson 8: The Prophet Jacob Is Confronted by Sherem,” Primary 4: Book of Mormon (1997), 25–27
Purpose
To strengthen the children’s testimonies of Jesus Christ so they will have power to withstand evil influences.
Preparation
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Prayerfully study Jacob 7:1–23. Then study the lesson and decide how you want to teach the children the scripture account. (See “Preparing Your Lessons,”> p. vi, and “Teaching from the Scriptures,” p. vii.)
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Additional reading: 1 Nephi 18:7, 2 Nephi 2:1–4, 2 Nephi 11:2–3, Jacob 1:17–19, and Book of Mormon Index: Jacob—son of Lehi.
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Select the discussion questions and enrichment activities that will involve the children and best help them achieve the purpose of the lesson.
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Materials needed:
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A Book of Mormon for each child.
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A breakable piece of string about two feet (60 cm) long and a two-foot-long piece of strong rope.
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A piece of paper and pencil for each child.
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Picture 4-9, Jesus the Christ (Gospel Art Picture Kit 240; 62572).
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Suggested Lesson Development
Invite a child to give the opening prayer.
Attention Activity
Give a child the two-foot piece of string. Tell him or her to break the string. Then have the child try to break the rope. Let a few of the other children try to break the rope. Explain that our testimonies start like single pieces of string but can be strengthened until they become unbreakable. We can all develop strong testimonies that will help us when others try to challenge us and our beliefs or try to deceive us. Tell the children that this lesson is about Jacob, whose testimony was unbreakable.
Scripture Account
Tell the story of Jacob and Sherem from Jacob 7:1–23. Use the picture at an appropriate time. (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see “Teaching from the Scriptures,” p. vii.)
Discussion and Application Questions
Study the following questions and the scripture references as you prepare your lesson. Use the questions you feel will best help the children understand the scriptures and apply the principles in their lives. Reading the references with the children in class will help them gain insights into the scriptures.
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Who was Jacob? (One of Nephi’s younger brothers.) About how many years before Christ’s birth did Jacob and Sherem live? (See the bottom of the page in Jacob 7.)
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How did Jacob know about Jesus Christ, who had not been born yet? (Jacob 7:5, 10–12.)
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What did Sherem do to try to convince the people that Jesus Christ would not come? (Jacob 7:2–4.) What does it mean to use flattery? (To give insincere or excessive praise, a form of dishonesty.)
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Who influenced Sherem? (Jacob 7:4, 18.) How does Satan try to influence us?
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What were some of Sherem’s lies? (Jacob 7:7, 9–10, 19.)
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Why was Jacob able to withstand the evil influence of Sherem? (Jacob 7:5, 8, 10–12.) Although we may not see angels or hear God’s voice, what can we do to be strong when people tempt us to do wrong? Share an experience, or invite a child to share one when he or she has withstood someone’s evil influence.
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Why didn’t Jacob want to show Sherem a sign? (Jacob 7:13–14.) Why isn’t seeking signs a good way to gain a testimony of Christ? (D&C 63:7–12.) Explain that signs may come after we demonstrate faith and obedience, but we should not seek them. Review from past lessons Laman and Lemuel’s lack of faith even though they had seen signs. (Teacher review: 1 Nephi 3:29–31; 1 Nephi 16:39; 1 Nephi 17:45; 1 Nephi 18:20.)
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What effect did Sherem’s confession and death have on the people? (Jacob 7:21–23.)
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Why do we need to have strong testimonies of Jesus Christ? How can we gain and strengthen our testimonies of the Savior? (See enrichment activity 2.) How can we share our testimonies with others? Why do our testimonies grow stronger when we bear them to others?
Enrichment Activities
You may use one or more of the following activities at any time during the lesson or as a review, summary, or challenge.
The following #1 Enrichment Activity is illustrated in the above activity
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Write on slips of paper situations in which someone tries to convince a child to do something wrong and a reference to a corresponding commandment from the scriptures. For example, your friend goes with you into a store and tries to get you to steal some candy (Exodus 20:15 or Mosiah 13:22), someone offers you a taste of an alcoholic beverage (D&C 89:7), or you are tempted to stay home and not go to church (D&C 59:9). Have the children look up and read each scripture. Discuss how knowing what the scriptures teach strengthens our testimonies of Jesus Christ and helps us resist evil influences.
You might want to have the children pantomime these situations and have the other children guess what is being pantomimed.
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Divide the class into two groups. Assign Alma 5:46 to one group and Alma 37:35 to the other group. Have the children find in these scriptures ways they can strengthen their testimonies of Jesus Christ. Summarize their responses on the chalkboard.
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Sing or read the words to “I Will Be Valiant” (Children’s Songbook, p. 162) or “Dare to Do Right” (Children’s Songbook, p. 158). DOWNLOAD song visuals as follows to teach the song (click on the poster below).
Conclusion
Testimony
Tell the children how important it is to gain and strengthen our testimonies of Jesus Christ so that we can withstand the evil influences around us. Bear your testimony of the Savior’s divinity. Challenge the children to choose one way to strengthen their testimonies and write it on a piece of paper as a reminder to take home and work on during the week.
Suggested Family Sharing
Encourage the children to share with their families a specific part of the lesson, such as a story, question, or activity, or to read with their families the “Suggested Home Reading.”
Suggested Home Reading
Suggest that the children study Jacob 7:1–23 at home as a review of this lesson.
