COME, FOLLOW ME Activities to Make Learning Fun!
Doctrine & Covenants LESSON 2
Here are Instant COME FOLLOW ME Activities for DECEMBER (week #2) Theme: “I Saw a Pillar of Light” Joseph Smith–History 1:1-26
You’ll find our popular SCRIPTURE SCHOLARS to get them reading.
Then scroll down to find COME FOLLOW ME lesson-match activities and song visuals for this week’s lesson theme. There are tons of fun lesson plans that even KIDS CAN TEACH.
It all starts here. Don’t miss the BUNDLES to save $ (HERE)
DOCTRINE & COVENANTS / Church History Lesson 2: Jan. 4-10, 2021 Joseph Smith–History 1:1-26 “I Saw a Pillar of Light”
Discussion Topics (activities below) ⇓
PRIMARY – HOME CLICK HERE FOR LESSON ⇒ • Joseph Smith was prepared to be a prophet of God. • Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers. • Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. • God can answer my questions through the scriptures. • Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith
Lesson 2 Scripture Scholars
Week’s Scripture Scholars BOOKMARKS & scripture POP-UP Includes:
• BOOKMARKS with Come, Follow Me scriptures to read and discuss topics for Primary and Individuals and Families. Also, for Sunday School (teens).
• POP-UP to glue in scripture binding next to scripture you underline.
EXTRA ITEMS (not included) … THERE’S MORE:
• STAMP. Award readers with a STAMP for the week’s scripture reading. See below to find matching STAMPS.
• STAMP KEEPER. These can be placed on the STAMP KEEPER (see below) where you can collect 50 stamps for the year.
Lessons 1-5 Scripture Scholars
January’s BUNDLE of BOOKMARKS, POP-UPs, and STAMPS. Glue STAMPS onto the STAMP KEEPER (below).
The January STAMPS and STAMP KEEPER are in the BUNDLE above and can be downloaded individually below.
January STAMPS
For JANUARY Lessons 1-5 (Doctrine and Covenants). STAMPS to award scripture readers for reading scriptures on the BOOKMARKS. Place these on the STAMP KEEPER (found below/right)
Doctrine and Covenants STAMP KEEPER
Here children and youth can collect 50 weekly STAMPS to place on the STAMP KEEPER. These STAMPS match the weekly scripture reading BOOKMARKS.
STAMPS for January Lessons 1-5 are included.
. . . 5 LESSONS & ACTIVITIES . . .
Step 1 CHOOSE LESSON
Step 2 CHOOSE ACTIVITY
Step 3 CLICK ON POSTER
Step 4 DOWNLOAD ACTIVITY
. . . JOSEPH SMITH – LATTER-DAY PROPHET . . .
Joseph Smith was prepared to be a prophet of God.
Learning about Joseph Smith’s youth could help the children relate to him and prepare to learn from his experiences. Perhaps you can help them see how Joseph’s experiences as a boy prepared him to be a prophet of God.
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Ask a child to hold a picture of Joseph Smith (see Gospel Art Book, no. 87) while you share some facts about Joseph found in Joseph Smith—History 1:3–14 (see also “Chapter 1: Joseph Smith and His Family,” Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 6–8, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Help them compare details about his family and his life to their own. Share your testimony that Joseph was chosen by God and prepared to be a prophet (see “Voices of the Restoration: Joseph Smith’s Family,” in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). If necessary, teach the children that a prophet is someone who speaks for God.
- Invite a young man in the ward to visit your class, pretending to be Joseph Smith. Prepare a few questions for the children to ask him that are answered in Joseph Smith—History 1:3–20 (you may want to share these questions with the young man in advance). Then invite the young man to read some of Joseph Smith’s own words about the First Vision (for example, Joseph Smith—History 1:25).
AGES 1-5
AGES 4-7
AGES 8-11
TEENS
Joseph was prayerful
ALL AGES
Joseph was honest
ALL AGES
Joseph grew
ALL AGES
ALL AGES
ALL AGES
. . . PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED . . .
Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers.
Joseph Smith’s experience can inspire the children to pray with faith that God will hear them.
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Tell the children about the questions Joseph Smith had (see Joseph Smith—History 1:10). What can we do when we have questions about God? Show the children a copy of the Bible, and explain that when Joseph read the Bible, he learned that he could “ask of God” (James 1:5; see also Gospel Art Book, no. 89). Bear your testimony that we can ask God questions through prayer. DOWNLOAD James 1:5 scripture poster/card set (HERE or below) Or, DOWNLOAD this scripture poster in the Puzzled About Prayer Post-and-Present Activity (HERE or below)
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Tell about an experience when you were confused, asked God for help, and received an answer. Help the children think of times when their prayers were answered. You could also share a story from the Church magazines about a child’s prayer being answered.
Heavenly Father hears and answers my prayers.
God knew Joseph Smith, and when Joseph prayed, God heard him. While the experiences of the children you teach may be different from Joseph’s, you can help them feel that God knows them and hears them when they pray.
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Invite a parent of one of the children to stand outside the classroom and answer questions from the children using methods such as sending a text message, making a phone call, writing a note, or sending a messenger. What are some of the ways Heavenly Father communicates with us? (see “Revelation,” Guide to the Scriptures, scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). According to Joseph Smith—History 1:16–19, how did Heavenly Father answer Joseph Smith’s prayer? How has He answered our prayers?
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Sing together “A Child’s Prayer” (Children’s Songbook, 12–13). DOWNLOAD A Child’s Prayer song visuals (HERE or below)
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ALL AGES
AGES 1-5
AGES 4-7
AGES 8-11
TEENS
ALL AGES
ALL AGES
ALL AGES
ALL AGES
. . . THE FIRST VISION . . .
Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
You can help the children lay the foundation for a strong testimony of Joseph Smith’s First Vision. Share with them how you gained your testimony of this important event.
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Show the picture of the First Vision in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families, and share in your own words what happened when Joseph prayed. Invite the children to draw their own pictures of the story.
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See “Chapter 2: Joseph Smith’s First Vision,” Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 9–12, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). SEE VIDEO (below)
- Read Joseph Smith—History 1:17, and point out to the children the words that Heavenly Father said to Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith—History 1:14–19, 25
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith.
Each of the children you teach needs a testimony of Joseph Smith’s experience in the Sacred Grove. How can you help them gain or strengthen their testimony?
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To review the account of the First Vision, write summaries of each verse from Joseph Smith—History 1:14–19 on separate slips of paper. Place the papers in a container, and invite the children to choose them one by one and place them on the board in the correct order.
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Invite the children to close their eyes and imagine what it would be like to be Joseph as you read selected parts of Joseph Smith—History 1:14–17. Ask them to share their thoughts and feelings about Joseph’s experience. DOWNLOAD the Post-and-Present Activity “First Vision Memory Match Game or Tell-the-Story Cards (illustrating the above scripture) (HERE or below)
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Show the video “Ask of God: Joseph Smith’s First Vision” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), and ask the children to share something they learn about Joseph’s vision of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. SEE VIDEO (below)
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Read together Joseph’s testimony in Joseph Smith—History 1:25. Ask the children to look for words and phrases that show Joseph’s faith. How can we remain faithful to God and our testimonies when other people disagree with us?
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Joseph Smith’s First Vision: 1820
Ask of God: Joseph Smith’s First Vision
ALL AGES
AGES 1-5
AGES 4-7
AGES 8-11
TEENS
ALL AGES
ALL AGES
ALL AGES
ALL AGES
. . . ANSWERS IN SCRIPTURES . . .
God can answer my questions through the scriptures.
Joseph Smith was inspired by a passage he read in the Bible, and this led to the First Vision and the Restoration of Christ’s Church. Help the children see how studying the scriptures can help them find answers to their spiritual questions.
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Show the children different books (like an encyclopedia or a cookbook), and help them think of questions these books could answer. Then show them a copy of the scriptures. What questions can these books answer? You might provide an example of a question that is answered in the scriptures. Read together Joseph Smith—History 1:10–11 to find out what questions Joseph Smith had and what answers he found in the scriptures.
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Help the children find words in verse 12 that describe how reading James 1:5 affected Joseph Smith. DOWNLOAD James 1:5 scripture poster/card set (HERE or below)
Share an experience you have had with the scriptures—for example, when you found an answer to one of your questions through reading the scriptures. Sing together “Search, Ponder, and Pray” (Children’s Songbook, 109). DOWNLOAD Search, Ponder, and Pray song visuals (HERE or below) DOWNLOAD The Iron Rod song visuals (HERE or below) Memorize words in the song, “The iron rod is the word of God; ’Twill safely guide us through.”
ALL AGES
AGES 1-5
AGES 4-7
AGES 8-11
TEENS
ALL AGES
ALL AGES
ALL AGES
ALL AGES
ALL AGES
. . . A FIRM TESTIMONY . . .
I can remain true to what I know, even if others reject me.
One of the blessings of the scriptures is that they contain inspiring examples of valiant men and women who faced challenges with faith in Jesus Christ. When Joseph Smith faced opposition because of his vision, he identified with the Apostle Paul, who was also persecuted for saying he had seen a vision. As you read Joseph’s account, what inspires you to remain true to your testimony? What other examples—from the scriptures or people you know—give you the courage to stay true to the spiritual experiences you have had?
ALL AGES
AGES 1-5
AGES 4-7
AGES 8-11
TEENS
ALL AGES
ALL AGES
ALL AGES
ALL AGES
ALL AGES
