Use For: CHURCH and HOME children and youth activities and Come Follow Me lessons.
LESSON LIFESAVER Activity
Signs Can Strengthen My Testimony of Jesus
sign seeker show-and-tell
OBJECTIVE Teaches youth to have faith in prophecies and heavenly messengers and not to be seeking or asking for signs like Sherem, and Korihor in the Book of Mormon. The featured Laman and Lemuel did not ask for signs, but they ignored them. SEE DISCUSSION (below).
ACTIVITY—Sign Seeker Show-and-Tell
Explain that a sign is an event that shows the power of God.
Ask the youth to name unfaithful people they learned about in previous lessons who asked for or saw signs and discuss the effect signs had on their testimonies. Use the following examples if the youth help to SHOW-AND-TELL reading the matching cue cards and the suggested scriptures (posted on the back):
1. Laman and Lemuel saw an angel yet would not believe (1 Nephi 3:28–31; 17:45)
2. Sherem demanded a sign and was smitten of God (Jacob 7:13–20)
3. Korihor demanded a sign and was struck dumb (Alma 30:43–56)
See the videos below to further illustrate the stories.
TO MAKE Print in color or in black-and-white and color the sign seeker posters and cue cards for each youth or one set to present. Cut out and glue the matching cards to the back of the posters.
Review discussion and enrichment activity 1, for which the above activity illustrates.
SCRIPTURE CHALLENGE CARD: Help youth 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.
3 Nephi 1:20-21 “And it had come to pass, yea, all things, every whit, according to the words of the prophets. And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word.”
. . . DISCUSSION . . .
Help Youth Watch For Signs Through God’s Prophets
Follow these Questions to help youth search and ponder the scriptures.
• God loves us and wants us to return to Him someday. He has given us prophets to guide us. These prophets speak of signs to watch for.
What were some of the signs given to know Jesus Christ would be born? (a new star, an angel, a night with no darkness)
How can we know what signs to look for? (scriptures, words of the prophets)
• Samuel the Lamanite was a Book of Mormon Prophet who came to the Nephites telling them that the Savior would be born in five years. As that time came there were signs and miracles in the land. Many unbelievers said the time had passed and made fun of the believers.
• DOWNLOAD Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus song visuals (HERE).
• DOWNLOAD Samuel the Lamanite announces the birth of baby Jesus mobile ornament (HERE or below)
How do you think the believers felt when they heard the unbelievers? (They were sad but “did watch steadfastly for that day and that night and that day which should be as one day as if there were no night, that they might know that their faith had not been vain.” (3 Nephi 1:8)
What can we do when others do not believe what we believe? (be kind, be prayerful, and steadfast)
• It was about time for the Savior’s birth. Though signs and wonders abound, the wicked unbelievers planned to slay the righteous. This made Nephi sorrowful so he prayed “mightily” to God for guidance. Jesus told him “On the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.” (3 Nephi 1:9-13)
How do you think this made the believers feel?
Why do you think the unbelievers were afraid when they saw the sign?
What was the other sign they saw that was also seen in Bethlehem? (a new star)
• Satan continued to spread lies among the people but “the more part of the people did believe and were converted unto the Lord.” (3 Nephi 1:22).
What can you do when someone lies and tries to persuade you to not believe? (bear testimony, pray for them, ignore them)
• Other non-believers in the Book of Mormon asked for signs or saw signs but refused to believe.
Who were they? (Laman and Lemuel, Sherem, Korihor)
What happened to them? (see activity above)
Heavenly Father will fulfill all the prophecies that have been made by His prophets. There are also prophecies of the second coming of the Savior. We need to live righteous lives to prepare to meet Jesus when He comes again.
Nephi Prays for Laman and Lemuel | 1 Nephi 2:8–24
Sherem Denies Christ | Jacob 7
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE Other lesson activities on:
• SHEREM What Would Jesus Do? choices situation sack (illustrating the Book of Mormon Lesson 8 “The Prophet Jacob Is Confronted by Sherem” HERE).
