YOUTH LESSON ACTIVITY. “JESUS IS OUR LIGHT” suncatcher. Youth poke holes in this picture and hold it up to the sunlight as they ponder Jesus’ light so that we too can shine like Jesus as we follow His commandments.
Great for COME FOLLOW ME Primary and Family Home Evening, Sunday School, Bible Study, and Daily Scripture Devotionals, Young Women
Little LESSON LIFESAVER Activity
“Jesus Is Our Light” Sun-catcher
OBJECTIVE: Tell the youth that Jesus is Heavenly Father’s Only Begotten Son, sent to earth to become our light, to show us the way back to our heavenly home.
ACTIVITY: Create a sun-catcher poster that youth can place in their window (with holes punched) to let the light shine through, showing that “Jesus Is Our Light.”
Talk about the objective above and the following:
• Tell the youth, “By learning about Jesus and His teachings, we can return to our Heavenly Father someday.”
• Talk about our premortal life and how Jesus was chosen to be the Savior of all mankind.
• Ask children to tell you something they know about Jesus that is important to them.
• SHOWING THE SUN-CATCHER, tell children they can “catch” the spirit of the Savior’s love as they see the sun come through this sun-catcher. They can also catch the spirit of the Savior’s love as they read about him in the scriptures.
TO MAKE: Print and color the Sun-catcher that follows for each youth. Punch holes in the picture with a pin or tack to define the image of Jesus. Hold the picture up to the sun to reflect the light of Jesus. Also, picture yourself having the same light as Jesus as you keep His commandments.
THOUGHT TREAT (when appropriate): Light-of-My-Life Rolls. Serve a buttered roll with jam on it and say, “We would be in a ‘jam’ in life if we didn’t have Jesus to guide us.” Talk about the butter the yellow color representing light and how smooth it goes on the bread and it even melts on a hot roll (think the light Jesus brings into our lives and warms our heart).
SCRIPTURE CARDS: Help children 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 binder rings (at a craft store) to connect cards.
• Featured Scripture: Luke 1:30-32, 33
LESSON IDEAS (for the above activity):
• Jesus Christ Is the Son of Heavenly Father (Christmas), MORE Lesson Ideas – detailed below*.
• Teachings of Presidents – Chapter 40 (HERE)
The Father and the Son
Modern revelation teaches us great, eternal truths about our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus Christ.
Help children memorize D&C 11:28 to remind them to follow Jesus, that He is “the light of the world.” CLICK HERE or below to DOWNLOAD scripture poster/card set ⇓
The symbolism of light can help children understand the Savior and His gospel. How can you inspire children to seek the light of the Savior when the world seems dark? CLICK HERE or below to DOWNLOAD Activity ⇓
Sing with children “He Sent His Son” to learn that we need to “Live like his Son.” CLICK HERE or below to DOWNLOAD the song visuals ⇓
*Lesson 5 (Nursery)
Jesus Christ Is the Son of Heavenly Father
Purpose
To help each child understand that Jesus Christ is Heavenly Father’s son.
Preparation
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Prayerfully study Matthew 3:13–17 and Luke 1:26–35; 2:1–7, 41–52. See also Gospel Principles (31110), chapter 3.
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With the approval of your Primary president, invite the father of one of the children to come to class to talk about his child when he or she was a baby. Ask him to bring photos and a favorite toy, if possible. Encourage him to express love for his child.
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Materials needed:
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A Bible.
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Picture 1-16, The Nativity (Gospel Art Picture Kit 201; 62495); picture 1-17, Boy Jesus in the Temple (Gospel Art Picture Kit 205; 62500); picture 1-18, John the Baptist Baptizing Jesus (Gospel Art Picture Kit 208; 62133).
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Make the necessary preparations for any Enrichment Activities you want to use.
Note to the teacher: As you talk about fathers in this lesson, be sensitive to any children in your class who do not have fathers in their homes. Emphasize that we all have a Heavenly Father who loves us. If some of the children in your class have stepfathers, explain that stepfathers also love us and take care of us.
Learning Activities
Invite a child to give the opening prayer.
Attention Activity
Ask the children if they know who the visitor is. Invite the visitor’s child to introduce him to the class. Have the father tell the children about his child. Invite each child to tell something about his or her father, such as the color of his hair or his occupation.
Jesus Christ is the son of Heavenly Father
Tell the children that each of them has two fathers: an earthly father and a Heavenly Father. Our earthly father is the father of our physical bodies. Heavenly Father is the father of the spirits inside our bodies. Jesus has only one father, because Heavenly Father is the father of Jesus’ spirit and his physical body. That is why Jesus is called the Son of God.
Story
Show picture 1-16, The Nativity, and tell the story of the birth of Jesus, as found in Luke 1:26–35 and Luke 2:1–7. Emphasize that the angel told Mary her baby would be the Son of God. Refer to the picture as you ask the following questions:
Song
Have the children stand and sing or say the words to “Away in a Manger” (Children’s Songbook, p. 42). Improvise appropriate hand and arm movements as suggested by the words.
DOWNLOAD Away in a Manger song visuals (HERE or click poster below)
Away in a manger, no crib for his bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head;
The stars in the heavens looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.
Jesus loves Heavenly Father and obeys him
Story
Show picture 1-17, Boy Jesus in the Temple, and tell the story of Jesus in the temple, as found in Luke 2:41–52. Emphasize that Jesus went to the temple because he loved Heavenly Father and wanted to teach people about him.
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What is Jesus doing in the temple? (See Luke 2:46.)
Activity
Have the children stand and do the following activity verse several times:
Young Jesus went to the temple (walk in place)
Before he grew strong and tall (stretch arms up)
To do the work of his Father (hold hands out)
Because he loves us all (hug self).
Story
Show picture 1-18, John the Baptist Baptizing Jesus, and tell the story of Jesus’ baptism, as found in Matthew 3:13–17. Explain that Jesus was baptized because he loved Heavenly Father and wanted to obey him. Jesus also wanted to set a good example for us. Read aloud verse 17 (starting with This is my beloved Son), and explain that these are Heavenly Father’s words. Heavenly Father was pleased that Jesus was baptized.
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Have you seen someone be baptized?
Explain that one way the children can be obedient to Heavenly Father and show him they love him is by being baptized when they are eight years old.
Testimony
Bear your testimony that Jesus Christ is the son of Heavenly Father. Express your love for Jesus and the gratitude you feel for him.
Enrichment Activities
Choose some of these activities to use during the lesson.
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Put the three pictures from the lesson face down on your lap or on a table. Invite a child to choose one of the pictures, show it to the class, and tell the story illustrated by the picture. Do the same with the other two pictures.
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Have the children sing or say the words to the first verse of “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” (Children’s Songbook, p. 57).
DOWNLOAD Tell Me the Stories of Jesus song visuals (HERE or below).
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Have the children act out the story of the birth of Jesus, using simple props such as a doll, a shawl, and scarves.
Additional Activities for Younger Children
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Show picture 1-16, The Nativity, and ask the children who the baby in the picture is. Tell them about the birth of Jesus.
Explain that Jesus is not still a baby. He is grown up now, and he is Heavenly Father’s most important helper. Show picture 1-3, Jesus the Christ, and tell the children that Jesus loves us and helps us in many ways.
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Have the children stand and sing the following words to the tune of “Once There Was a Snowman” (Children’s Songbook, p. 249). Use crouching actions for the first verse and stretching actions for the second verse.
Once I was a baby, baby, baby,
Once I was a baby, small, small, small.
Now I’m growing bigger, bigger, bigger,
Now I’m growing bigger, tall, tall, tall!
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Talk to parents of your class members in advance to get photographs of class members as babies or small toys they used to play with. Show these to the class. Identify the baby in each picture or the owner of each toy. Explain that when they were babies, the children used to look like the photographs and play with the toys.
