USE FOR Come Follow Me, Primary and Home, family home evening, Childen and Youth, homeschool

LESSON LIFESAVER Activity
Scriptures Guide Me – Straight and narrow arrow underlining ruler

ACTIVITY: Create a straight and narrow arrow scripture underlining ruler for each youth to mark their scriptures and motivate scripture reading.
      Read Alma 7:9 and help youth underline the scripture: “Repent ye, and prepare the way of the Lord, and walk in his paths, which are straight . . ..”

TO MAKE Print on cardstock, color and cut out the arrow for each youth. Fold and glue back-to-back Laminate for durability using clear contact paper.

THOUGHT TREAT: Ruler Wafer Cookie. Frost a wafer cookie to create ruler markings.

TESTIMONY: Bear testimony that studying the scriptures daily can help us solve our problems, overcome temptation, and stay on the strait and narrow path to return to our Father in Heaven and gain eternal life.

SCRIPTURE CHALLENGE CARD: 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 rings to connect cards.

Alma 37:44 “For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.”

DOWNLOAD the Liahona Leads the Way inspiration dial activity (HERE or below)

LESSON IDEAS (for the above activity):

• Review and present the Lesson: Alma Counsels His Sons Helaman and Shiblon (see details below).
• See the video for this subject (below).
• Present the lesson.
• Share the Straight and Narrow Arrow Ruler (shown above) as you present the Testimony and ideas (below).

LESSON 23

Alma Counsels His Sons Helaman and Shiblon

“Lesson 23: Alma Counsels His Sons Helaman and Shiblon,” Primary 4: Book of Mormon (1997), 78–82

Purpose

To teach the children that the scriptures were given to us as a source of joy in this life and as a guide for us to return to Heavenly Father and gain eternal life.

Preparation

1. Prayerfully study Alma 37–38. Then study the lesson and decide how you want to teach the children the scripture account. (See “Preparing Your Lessons,”vi, and “Teaching from the Scriptures,” p. vii.)
2. Select the discussion questions and enrichment activities that will involve the children and best help them achieve the purpose of the lesson.
3. Prepare a copy of the handout “The Scriptures” (at the end of the lesson) for each child. (Optional)
4. Prepare the wordstrip “Eternal Life.”
5. Materials needed:
   1. A Book of Mormonfor each child.
   2. A small picture of Jesus Christor the wordstrip “Jesus Christ.”
   3. Pictures 4-9, Jesus the Christ (Gospel Art Picture Kit 240; 62572), and 4-15, The Liahona (Gospel Art Picture Kit 302; 62041).

Suggested Lesson Development

Invite a child to give the opening prayer.

Attention Activity

Before class starts hide a small picture of Jesus Christ or the wordstrip “Jesus Christ” somewhere in the classroom. Display the wordstrip “Eternal Life.” Explain that as members of the Church we want to find joy in this life, return to our Heavenly Father, and obtain eternal life, which is to live forever as families in God’s presence. Help the children understand that eternal life is God’s greatest gift to his children. Heavenly Father wants all of us to be worthy to live with him forever. Tell the children that hidden some place in the room is a small picture (or wordstrip) of someone who wants to help them gain eternal life. Give the children about thirty seconds to search for the picture (or wordstrip). Remind them that Heavenly Father has given us a guide to lead us to eternal life. Give hints if necessary.

After the children find the hidden picture of Jesus (or wordstrip), show them the large picture of Christ and your scriptures. Explain that we have been given the scriptures as a guide to help us learn about Jesus Christ and become like him so we may return to our Father in Heaven.

Scripture Account

Using the suggested pictures, teach Alma’s counsel to his sons Helaman and Shiblon found in Alma 37–38. Emphasize Alma’s teachings about the scriptures and how they can be a guide in our lives. (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.

• Why was it important for the Book of Mormon prophets to keep and preserve the brass plates? (Alma 37:4, 8; see lesson 3.)
• Why was the Liahona given to Lehi? How did it work? (1 Nephi 16:10, 28.)
• How are the scriptures like the Liahona? (Alma 37:44–45.) How can the scriptures help us return to live with Heavenly Father?
• What did the scriptures teach the Lamanites that caused them to repent? (Alma 37:9.)
• What did Alma ask his son Helaman to teach the people? (Alma 37:32–34.) How can we overcome temptation?
• What did Alma mean when he counseled Helaman to “learn wisdom in thy youth”? (Alma 37:35.) Why is living the gospel in our youth so important?
• What did Alma teach Helaman about prayer? (Alma 37:36–37.) How and when should you pray? What does it mean to “be lifted up at the last day”? Help the children understand that this refers to the final judgment when all who have obeyed the commandments will enter into Heavenly Father’s presence and live with him forever.
• How had Alma’s son Shiblon brought him great joy? (Alma 38:2–4.) How has your obedience to the commandments brought joy to your parents?
• What is pride? (Alma 38:11. Not being humble or teachable. Proud people think they are more important than others. Proud people follow their own will rather than Heavenly Father’s will.) How does learning to admit and correct our mistakes bring us closer to Heavenly Father? What does it mean to boast?
• How did Alma know the things he taught his son? (Alma 38:6–8.) What must we do so the Holy Ghost can teach and help us as he did Alma? How has the Holy Ghost taught or helped you do what is right?
• What did Alma testify to Shiblon about Jesus Christ? (Alma 38:9.) How can we use the scriptures to help us gain a similar testimony? (Read and ponder them daily, seek the help of the Spirit to understand them, and liken them to our own experiences and situations.)

Read and discuss the eighth article of faith. Emphasize how the scriptures help us return to our Father in Heaven. You may want to use the Eighth Article of Faith chart.
DOWNLOAD the Scripture Poster/Card set for Article of Faith 1:8 (HERE or below)

Sing or read the words to “Search, Ponder, and Pray”(Children’s Songbook, 109), “Seek the Lord Early” (Children’s Songbook, p. 108), or “As I Search the Holy Scriptures” Hymns, no. 277).
DOWNLOAD the song visuals to teach the above songs:
• “Search, Ponder, and Pray” (HERE or below)
• “Seek the Lord Early” (HERE or below)
• “Book of Mormon Stories” (HERE or below)

Conclusion

Testimony

Bear testimony that studying the scriptures daily can help us solve our problems, overcome temptation, and stay on the strait and narrow path to return to our Father in Heaven and gain eternal life.

Give the children each a copy of the handout. Suggest that they put it inside their scriptures as a bookmark.

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