POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. PRAYERS ARE ALWAYS ANSWERED – Bless the Faithful puzzle match. These three stories show answered prayers of the faithful: The City of Enoch Is Taken to Heaven; Daniel and the Lions’ Den; and Pioneers Reach Their New Home. Glue parts of the stories to the backs of each individual puzzle. Read the story from mixed-up puzzle pieces (with puzzle facedown) putting it together faceup. Or, read the clues putting all three puzzles together at the same time.
USE FOR: COME FOLLOW ME, Primary and Home (family home evening), Activity Days, Sunday School, Bible Study
POST-AND-PRESENT Activity
Prayers Are Always Answered –
Bless the Faithful (puzzle match)
OBJECTIVE: Youth learn about three great stories in the scriptures where those who were faithful and who prayed were blessed as their prayers were answered.
PUZZLE STORIES FEATURED: The City of Enoch Is Taken to Heaven, Daniel in the Lions’ Den, and Pioneers Reach Their New Home
TO MAKE Print and cut out two sets of pictures 1-3, and the stories and puzzle clues. Save the first set of three pictures to show youth and cut up the second (identical) set of three pictures into seven puzzle pieces. Then write or mount the clues on the backs of each set of matching puzzle pieces. Laminate the puzzle pieces so you can place tape on the backs. Place the puzzle pieces in a container to draw from. You’ll need three half-size posters (laminated) to mount and tape puzzle pieces on.
TO PRESENT:
- Tell children/youth, “We often ask Heavenly Father to send us a blessing. Sometimes we get hurt and need to be healed; sometimes we are sad and need to feel happy. There are many reasons why we need to pray. Heavenly Father has promised us that He will always answer our prayers. In the scriptures, we read of many who had faith and prayed to Heavenly Father. Let’s learn about some of these stories and how their prayers were answered.
- Have children/youth listen to the stories 1-3 and show the pictures as you tell the stories.
Story-Puzzle #1 Daniel and the Lions’ Den (Daniel 5-6)
Story-Puzzle #2 City of Enoch Lifted up to Heaven (Moses 6-7)
Story-Puzzle #3 Pioneer Saints Came to The Salt Lake Valley (D&C 136)
- Mount the three pictures to the top of the board with a blank poster below to mount puzzle pieces.
- Ask children/youth one at a time to come up and draw a puzzle clue, read it, and then match the puzzle piece to the right story 1-3 (matching pictures shown above). Put the puzzle pieces together as you review clues.
LESSON IDEAS (teach the theme using the concepts below and the above activity):
- I can pray to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, using proper prayer language (Primary 2, lesson 10; Gospel Principles, chapter 8).
- Heavenly Father heard the prayers of His children in the scriptures (Daniel 6; Primary 6, lesson 42)
- Heavenly Father heard the prayers of the pioneers (Primary 5, lessons 41, 42; or other pioneer stories).
- Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers (FHE Manual, lesson 7; Dennis E. Simmons, “But If Not . . .” Ensign, May 2004, 73-75; personal experiences of Primary leaders and children).
Story-puzzle 1: Daniel and the Lions’ Den
The Babylon King Darius chose men to help him. Daniel was chosen as their leader, but the men did not like Daniel or want him to be their leader. The men knew Daniel prayed to God, so they went to the king and asked him to pass a new law that the people could not pray to God. The king made the law that if they prayed they would be put into a lions’ den and the lions would eat them.
Daniel prayed three times a day and the wicked men saw him praying and told the king. The king knew Daniel must be put into the lions’ den. The king was sad and tried to think of a way to save Daniel. But the law could not be changed. The king told his servants to put Daniel in the lions’ den. King Darius told Daniel that God would save him.
The king could not sleep and he fasted all night for Daniel. In the morning he went to the lions’ den and called to Daniel. Daniel answered—the lions did not hurt him. He said God had shut the lions’ mouths. This made the king very happy. Daniel had prayed that God would save him and his prayers were answered.
Glue on Back of Puzzle 1 Piece:
| Was servant to a Babylon king | He prayed three times a day | King had him put in a den to die | The animals did not eat him |
| Was chosen to lead the king’ servants | King made a law that no one could pray | King fasted for him |
Story-puzzle 2: City of Enoch Lifted up to Heaven
Enoch was a prophet and a righteous man filled with the Holy Ghost. Most of the people on the earth were wicked, which made God sad. Enoch prayed to God to know what to do. God talked to Enoch and asked him to teach the people to repent and obey God’s commandments. God said He would bless Enoch and give him power.
The Holy Ghost helped Enoch teach in many places, telling the people they were wicked and that they should repent. He told them God would punish them if they did not repent. Because Enoch spoke with the power of God, the people were afraid. He told them that Jesus would come to the earth and suffer for the sins of the people. If they were righteous and baptized, they could live in heaven again.
Some of the people repented and Enoch baptized them. God blessed these righteous people. Enoch led them and they built a city they named Zion. In Zion people loved each other and took care of each other. There were no poor or unhappy. Everyone in Zion were willing to give their hearts to God. They obeyed all of Heavenly Father’s commandments. Because they were so righteous, Jesus came and lived with them. Then God took the people of Zion to heaven to live with Him. Enoch’s prayers were answered.
Glue on Back of Puzzle 2 Pieces:
| Prophet prayed to help the wicked | Told jesus would come to suffer for their sins | Build a city named zion | These people gave their hearts to god |
| They were told they would be punished if they didn’t repent | People were so righteous that no one was unhappy or poor | God took the whole city to heaven |
Story-puzzle 3: Pioneer Saints Came to the Salt Lake Valley
After Joseph Smith died, Brigham Young became the new prophet of the Church. They built a camp called Winter Quarters. While there, Brigham Young prayed and received revelation to leave and travel west. The Lord told Brigham to divide them into groups and travel in wagons across the plains. Each group had its own wagons and food, and people knew how to fix the wagons, build houses, plant crops, and build bridges.Story-puzzle 2: Pioneer Saints Came to the Salt Lake Valley
The Lord told the Saints other things they should do. They were to keep all of Heavenly Father’s commandments and keep their promises to each other. They should be kind to one another and be honest and give back things they borrowed. The Lord wanted the pioneers to be happy and not be afraid. He told them they would have troubles, but that He would help them. He said their troubles would make them a better people and that they would be blessed.
They took what they would need to build a new city in the mountains. Everyone had a job to do on the way. Women took care of the children and cooked the food. The men had guns to hunt with and protect the people from the animals. They traveled all day, and at night they camped, putting their wagons in a circle. They kept the animals and people inside. They built fires and cooked their food. They sang songs. One was “Come, Come, Ye Saints.” It helped the people feel better.
A man blew a bugle when it was time to go to bed. The pioneers said their prayers and went to sleep. They traveled a long way across the plains. They traveled for four months. Many suffered and many died while crossing the planes. At last the pioneers came over the mountains. It was hard to travel there. Brigham Young got sick and told the men to go ahead and plant crops. When Brigham Young and the pioneers who came with him got to the valley, he looked from his wagon and knew it was the place where the Lord wanted the Saints to live. He said, “This is the right place. Drive on.”
Because of Brigham Young’s faith and prayers and the Saints keeping the commandments of God, they were led to a safe place called Utah, where many live today.
Glue on Back of Puzzle #3 Pieces:
| Prophet prayed to help the saints find a safe place to live | Everyone had a job to do along the way | They put their wagons in a circle for protection | The prophet said, “This is the right place.” |
| Pioneers build a camp called winter quarters | They were told to divide into groups and take their wagons | The prophet got sick just before they got to the valley |
$3.50 Allows You to Download (the following activity*):
*The activity above reflects this lesson:
YOUTH DOCTRINAL CLASS Lesson AUGUST “How Can We Face Adversity with Faith”
Quorum or class members can learn how to faithfully endure adversity by studying some of these examples (see some in “Supporting Resources”). They could each choose one of the scripture passages and summarize that person’s experience for the quorum or class. What insights do we gain about why we have adversity? What do we learn about how to faithfully endure adversity?
*MORE LESSON IDEAS (to teach the theme using the concepts below and the above activity):
. I can pray to Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, using proper prayer language (Primary 2, lesson 10; Gospel Principles, chapter 8).
. Heavenly Father heard the prayers of His children in the scriptures (Daniel 6; Primary 6, lesson 42).
. Heavenly Father heard the prayers of the pioneers (Primary 5 lessons 41, 42; or other pioneer stories).
. Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayer (Family Home Evening Manual, lesson 7; Dennis E. Simmons, “But If Not …” Ensign, May 2004 73-75; personal experiences of Primary leaders and children).
