SUNDAY SCHOOL Come Follow Me Interactive Activities – DECEMBER (week 3) Old Testament “I Have Loved You, Saith the Lord” (Malachi)

• To encourage class members to share what they learned about offerings from Malachi 1:6–14, you could invite them to review these verses silently and discuss with another class member something that the Israelite priests did not understand about offerings. Why does the Lord ask for the best from us? Class members could make a list of offerings, or sacrifices, that we make to the Lord today. For each item on the list, they could discuss what might make it a “polluted” offering or a “pure” offering (Malachi 1:7, 11).

• You could begin a discussion about Malachi 3–4 by pointing out that Moroni shared verses from these chapters when he appeared to Joseph Smith (see Joseph Smith—History 1:36–39). See PARABLE TARES (below). What truths in these chapters do class members feel might have been especially important for Joseph—and us—to know? Class members could get into small groups and list as many truths as they can. Encourage groups to share their lists and discuss why these truths are important in the latter days.

• The tares bound and burned are the evil ones separated out and cast into fires (punishment) at judgment.  SOURCE NOTE (see activity below) notes from SOURCE

  The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

  “Section 86, The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares,” Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual (2002), 189–92

  Historical Background

  The Savior often used parables to teach the people during His mortal ministry. On one occasion when He was on the shore of Galilee, the people pressed so close that He stepped into a boat and from there preached to the crowd. One of the messages He taught was the parable of the wheat and the tares. Later, when Jesus was alone with His Apostles, He explained the parable to them (see Matthew 13:24–30).

  On 6 December 1832, while Joseph Smith was working on the revision of the New Testament, he received an explanation of the parable of the wheat and the tares, “a more complete interpretation than [Jesus] gave to his apostles as recorded by Matthew. The reason for this may be accounted for in the fact that it is to be in these last days that the harvest is gathered and the tares are to be burned.” (Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:353.)

Malachi 3:8–12

The Lord opens the windows of heaven when we pay our tithing.

. . . HEARTS OF CHILDREN TURN TO OUR FATHERS . . .

• Class members might gain helpful insights about Malachi 4:5–6 by comparing these verses to the way Moroni quoted them to Joseph Smith in Joseph Smith—History 1:38–39. (It might help to have someone write each version side by side on the board.) What does Moroni’s wording add to our understanding of the verses in Malachi? You might also discuss questions like these: Who are “the fathers”? (see Deuteronomy 29:13). How do our hearts turn to our fathers, and how do their hearts turn to us? To help your class understand how Malachi’s prophecy was fulfilled, they could read about when Elijah committed the sealing keys to Joseph Smith (see Doctrine and Covenants 110:13–16). Why are class members grateful these keys have been restored?

• Malachi 4:5–6 provides a great opportunity to talk about temple and family history work. Perhaps class members could share experiences they have had while doing this work and how those experiences have helped them turn their hearts to their fathers. What can we do to help future generations turn their hearts toward us?