COME FOLLOW ME Doctrine and Covenants – MARCH Lesson 11 “Strengthen the Church” D&C 23-26 – Activities and Song Visuals for Primary and Home, family home evening (individual families), Sunday School, Seminary

Read to the children from Doctrine and Covenants 23:6, beginning with “you must pray.” Help them identify the different ways and places the Lord said we should pray. Invite them to draw a picture of themselves praying in one of those ways or places.
DOWNLOAD Heavenly Father Helps Me When I Pray dot-to-dot (HERE or below)

If needed, explain to the children how to pray.
DOWNLOAD Steps to Prayer puzzle and brainstorm (HERE or below)

A song about prayer, like “I Pray in Faith” (Children’s Songbook, 14), can help.
DOWNLOAD I Pray in Faith song visuals (HERE or below)

Read to the children, “Let your time be devoted to the studying of the scriptures” (Doctrine and Covenants 26:1). Tell them why you study the scriptures. Help them think of ways they can learn from the scriptures, even if they can’t read yet.
DOWNLOAD B.E.A.R.S. Be Enthusiastic About Reading Scriptures – scripture chase game (HERE or below)

Sing together “Search, Ponder, and Pray” (Children’s Songbook, 109) or another song about prayer and scripture study.
DOWNLOAD THESE SONG VISUALS to teach:
• Seek the Lord Early (HERE or below)
• Search, Ponder, and Pray (HERE or below)

Help the children discover the blessings promised in the song. Tell them about spiritual feelings you have had when praying and reading the scriptures.

Invite each child to share his or her favorite hymn or Church song, and sing some of them together. Read Doctrine and Covenants 25:12 to the children, and invite them to imagine how Heavenly Father and Jesus feel when They hear us sing these songs.

Teach the children a song about singing, such as “Lift Up Your Voice and Sing” (Children’s Songbook, 252), or a song about Jesus Christ, such as “He Sent His Son” (Children’s Songbook, 34–35). Invite them to sing the song with their families this week.
DOWNLOAD He Sent His Son song visuals (HERE or below)

DOWNLOAD Praise to the Man song visuals (HERE or below) telling children that the Lord (through the Prophet) commanded Joseph’s wife Emma to make a collection of hymns that the Saints could sing in their meetings (see D&C 25:11).

DOWNLOAD the Notable Hymns secret code message (HERE or below) where you will find the lesson Emma Smith Selects Sacred Hymns.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 25:13 to the children. Explain that the word “cleave” in this verse means to hold tightly to something. To help them understand, pass something solid, like a rock (or even an iron rod), around the room and invite the children to hold the object as tightly as they can. Explain that cleaving to our covenants means holding on to (or keeping) the promises we make with Heavenly Father and never letting go (or never giving up).
DOWNLOAD Baptism Promises Two-sided puzzle (HERE or below)

Use this week’s activity page to teach the children about the times when we make covenants with Heavenly Father. Read Doctrine and Covenants 25:15, and explain that the “crown of righteousness” represents the blessing of returning to live with God, our Heavenly King.
• DOWNLOAD Jewels in My Crown service list (HERE or below) showing youth ways to build up the kingdom of God (time & talents)

• DOWNLOAD Heaven’s Gate to Strait & Narrow path – covenants reminder (HERE or below)

Soon after Emma Smith was baptized, the Lord told her, “Cleave unto the covenants which thou hast made.” Consider how this counsel could bless the children you teach.

Ask the children to find every instance of the words “exhortation” and “exhort” in Doctrine and Covenants 23:3–7; 25:7. Help them define these words. How might exhorting someone strengthen them? Invite the children to role-play “exhorting” someone but doing so with love.

How can we do better in the work of strengthening other members of the Church? To illustrate this principle, give one child a task that requires many helpers. Then ask other children to help, and discuss how much easier the task became. Share an experience in which you were strengthened by the service of a fellow Church member.

Help the children list on the board some of the afflictions or challenges that Joseph Smith and other early Saints were facing (see “Chapter 11: More People Join the Church,” SEE VIDEO BELOW Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 46–47, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Then invite them to discover what the Lord said to Joseph about his afflictions in Doctrine and Covenants 24:1, 8. How can we seek the Savior’s help when we are having a difficult time?