POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. REPENTANCE IS A CHANGE OF MIND AND HEART (bury-swords quiz). Youth can increase their desire to have a “new heart” and a “new spirit” (Ezekiel 36:26-27) when they read about the people of Ammon who buried their swords never to take them up again – for peace. Tell the story. Then, find the wrong-choice-swords to explain how to repent of that action (symbolizing burying their swords).
GREAT FOR CHILDREN & YOUTH – Come Follow Me Lessons for: Primary, family home evening, Sunday School, Seminary, Bible Study
POST & PRESENT ACTIVITY:
Repentance is a change of heart and mind. (burying swords quiz)
YOUTH can teach this lesson to children.
Objective: Help children/youth have a change of mind and heart like the people of Ammon (Alma 24), who called themselves Anti-Nephi-Lehies and buried their swords. This symbolized their repenting of their sins and not wanting to take up their swords again. These repentant people wanted to live with God again and knew if they did not repent this would not be possible.
TO MAKE Print, color, and cut out the Repentance sign and situation swords.
ACTIVITY:
Tape the swords around the room ahead of time.
Tell the story* of a group of people who had a mighty change of heart. As you read parts of Alma 24, encourage the children/youth to think of things they might wish to repent of that will make them and their families strong like the Anti-Nephi-Lehies (who were also called the people of Ammon).
*STORY in Alma 23-27: The sons of Mosiah (Ammon and his brothers) taught the gospel to the Lamanites in seven lands. Thousands learned the truth and joined the Church. All of these remained strong—firm in their faith in Jesus Christ. Because God forgave them for their many murders, they did not want to sin again. They would rather die than kill another, so they chose to bury their weapons of war for peace. Not wanting to be like the Lamanites, they changed their name to Anti-Nephi-Lehies (“anti” means “who of” meaning “he is of Nephi and Lehi”). See the video below. These were also called the people of Ammon. God blessed them, and their curse was taken from them, making their skin white like unto the Nephites’.
NOTE: These Lamanites had strong faith in the Lord and followed God’s commandments. They wanted a new name, so they called themselves Anti-Nephi-Lehies instead of Lamanites. The Anti-Nephi-Lehies changed because of their faith in God. They repented of the bad things they used to do.
STORY (continued)
Because the Lamanites were angry at the Anti-Nephi-Lehies’ conversion, they started to kill them with swords. The Anti-Nephi-Lehies did not fight back because they had buried their swords. Thousands were killed before the Lamanites stopped. They too repented and laid down their swords for peace. More Lamanites were converted to the gospel that day than the number of Lamanites who were killed.
Have children/youth take turns finding a sword and reading the situation, then have them explain what needs to be repented of. Tell them, “Like the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, when we make big or small mistakes, we need to have a change of heart and mind to follow Jesus. When we bury the sword, we are making a promise to choose the right (to not kill).” The youth can then bury the sword in a sack (to symbolize burying a sword for peace)
TESTIMONY SHARING: Ask children/youth to share their testimony on the following: Ideas: How can repentance help me every day? Jesus Christ suffered the penalty for our sins so that we can repent. Repentance is a change of heart and mind that brings us closer to God. It includes turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. It is motivated by love for God and a sincere desire to obey His commandments.
THOUGHT TREAT SWORD Celery. Provide youth with a stalk of celery they can pretend to use as a sword. Roleplay the Anti-Nephi-Lehies burying their swords. Then enjoy cheese or peanut butter inside celery after cutting swords into pieces. They can bury the swords in their mouths by eating them.
MORE LESSON IDEAS:
