COME, FOLLOW ME Activities to Make Learning Fun!
Old Testament LESSON 42
Here are Instant COME FOLLOW ME Activities for OCTOBER (week #3) Theme: “Before I Formed Thee in the Belly I Knew Thee” Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20
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.
OLD TESTAMENT Jeremiah 1–3; 7; 16–18; 20
OCTOBER (week 3)
Lesson 42: October 10-16, 2022
“Before I Formed Thee in the Belly I Knew Thee”
Discussion Topics (activities below) ⇓
PRIMARY – HOME
CLICK HERE FOR THE LESSON (detailed below) ⇒
• Heavenly Father knew me before I was born.
• Prophets are called to speak the words of the Lord.
• I can help Heavenly Father’s children come back to Him.
• I can be part of the gathering of Israel.
INDIVIDUALS & FAMILIES
CLICK HERE FOR THE LESSON ⇒
• Prophets are called to speak the Lord’s word.
• God knew me before I was born.
• “They have forsaken me the fountain of living waters.”
• The Lord will gather His people.
TEENS
See our new SUNDAY SCHOOL interactive activities for this month RIGHT HERE
Lesson 42 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 yea
Lessons 40-44 Scripture Scholars
October’s BUNDLE of BOOKMARKS, POP-UPs, and STAMPS. Glue STAMPS onto the STAMP KEEPER (to download separately, below).
OCTOBER STAMPS $1.50
Stamps for weeks 1-5 Scripture Scholars Lessons 40-44 – Included in the BUNDLE
STAMP KEEPER (1-52 stamps) $3.00
This is included in the January BUNDLE (or, download it below)
. . . 4 LESSONS & 40 ACTIVITIES . . .
TO PURCHASE ACTIVITIES
• TO SELECT, click the “Buy Now” button
• TO PAY, click the shopping bag $2.50 minimum
• YOUR ORDER comes in a download link
. . . GOD SENT ME HERE FOR A PURPOSE . . .
Heavenly Father knew me before I was born.
Because we lived with God before we came to earth, He knows us, even if we can’t remember Him. How will you help the children you teach understand this important truth?
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Read to the children Jeremiah 1:5, and explain that God knew the prophet Jeremiah before he was born. Tell each child, individually, that Heavenly Father also knew him or her before he or she was born and that He sent each of us here for a purpose.
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Show the children a picture of a baby, and ask the children if they know where this baby lived before he or she was born. Sing together a song that teaches about our premortal life with God, such as “I Am a Child of God” or “I Lived in Heaven” (Children’s Songbook, 2–3, 4). Talk about the spiritual feelings the song brings. Bear your testimony that we all once lived with Heavenly Father and that He sent us here to earth.
DOWNLOAD the song visuals for these songs (below)
ACTIVITIES FOR:
Heavenly Father knew me before I was born.
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. CHOOSE THE RIGHT CONSEQUENCES: Build a True Prince and Princess puzzle. Youth can build the big puzzle step by step, by placing the feet at the bottom, Then, reading the feet cards, then hand and arm cards, working up until the puzzle is built. Tell them that Heavenly Father wishes to crown us with glory for our royal actions. READ MORE
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. LOVED FROM UP ABOVE Hearts-on-a-String. Youth can share how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ show Their love for us by allowing us to come to earth, giving us talents, gave us a family; Jesus suffered for our sins, suffered and died for us (and more). READ MORE
AGES 1-5. I AM A SPIRIT CHILD OF GOD poster or coloring page. Children can learn that they have a heavenly Father who knows them personally; that they lived with Him before coming to earth. The Home Activity prompts parents to ask them “how it feels to have a body of flesh and bones,” and how to keep their body and spirit happy. READ MORE
AGES 4-7 CRAFT. I AM A CHILD OF GOD heavenly family photo. Customize a child’s picture, glue their photo there, or use one of the girl/boy images to help a child know they are God’s spirit-child in heaven, sent to earth. This heavenly family photo helps them know they are part of God’s kingdom that God the Father is their heavenly father and God’s Son Jesus is their brother. READ MORE
AGES 8-11 TRIALS STRENGTHEN FAITH: Premortal Life/Earth Life quiz. Here youth learn about PREMORTAL LIFE (their first estate) and how they passed the first test by choosing to follow Jesus. EARTH LIFE (their second estate) gives them the opportunity to pass the test again – to follow Jesus (to reach their glory – Abraham 3:26). READ MORE
TEENS GIFTS OF RESURRECTION & ETERNAL LIFE gift package. Prophets foretold of Jesus Christ coming to bring these gifts. Create these gift packages to hold treats: #1 Gift of Resurrection (a free gift given to all men). #2 Gift of Eternal Life to live with God again (a gift we must earn through living God’s commandments). READ MORE
SCRIPTURE ACTIVITY. WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD Romans 8:16 scripture poster/card set. Youth can memorize Romans 8:16: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Talk about how we first lived in heaven with God the Father. He is the father of our spirits. We are each a child of God as He made it possible for us to come to earth to gain a body like His. READ MORE
YOUTH LESSON ACTIVITY. PLAN OF SALVATION storyboard and quiz. Youth can learn they are spirit children of heavenly Father who sent us here to earth to learn how to be like Him so we can return*. Storyboard figures take us from Premortal life to Earth Life to Death, Spirit World, Resurrection, Final Judgement, and then to one of the kingdoms STAR, MOON, or SUN (*Celestial place where God lives). READ MORE
SINGING TIME. “I AM A CHILD OF GOD” song visuals. Youth know from singing this that we are each “a child of God sent here” to this “earthly home” where God can lead and guide and teach us to again “live with him someday.” There are “Rich blessings in store” where if we “learn to do his will” we can “live with him once more” to have “Celestial glory” if we “endure.” Write words on cue cards. READ MORE
SINGING TIME. “I LIVED IN HEAVEN” song visuals. Youth can know that we lived in heaven before we came here, as our Heavenly Father’s spirit children. There the Father chose His Son Jesus who “had enough love To give his life so we all could return there above.” He would come to conquer “evil and death” “giving us hope of a wonderful life yet to be Home in that heaven where Father is waiting for me.” READ MORE
. . . “WE LISTEN TO A PROPHET’S VOICE” . . .
Prophets are called to speak the words of the Lord.
The calling of Jeremiah shows what the Lord asks prophets to do. How can you help the children you teach strengthen their desire to follow the living prophet?
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Show the children a picture of the living prophet, and invite them to share what they know about him. What do prophets do? Read to the children what the Lord said to another prophet, Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 1:7. Invite the children to walk in place when you read “go to all that I shall send thee” and to pretend to speak when you read “whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.” Share your testimony that prophets do and say what the Lord commands.
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Show pictures of prophets from the scriptures (see the Gospel Art Book, Church magazines, and Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). Let the children tell you what they know about these prophets. Briefly tell the children about something each one did to help with God’s work. Bear your testimony that prophets are called of God to speak His words and serve His people.
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How can you help the children strengthen their faith in and understanding of the role of prophets in God’s kingdom?
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Select a few key verses from Jeremiah 1 that teach important truths about prophets, such as verses 5, 7, 10, and 19. Invite each child to pick one of the verses, read it, and share something he or she learns about prophets from the verse. Invite a few children to share their testimonies of following the prophet.
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Show a picture of the living prophet, and sing together a song about prophets, such as “We Listen to a Prophet’s Voice” (Hymns, no. 22).
DOWNLOAD We Listen to a Prophet’s Voice song visuals (HERE or below).Help the children make a list of things the living prophet has asked us to do. Select a recent conference message from the prophet, and help the children find counsel in his message. How are we following the prophet? Discuss how counsel from the prophets helps us follow Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ better.
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Show the video “Why Do We Have Prophets?” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), and ask the children how they would explain to a friend why it’s a blessing to have a living prophet (see Articles of Faith 1:6, 9). Invite the children to share their feelings about the living prophet.
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ACTIVITIES FOR:
Prophets are called to speak the words of the Lord.
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. FOLLOW THE LATTER-DAY PROPHETS puzzle match. Youth can learn that Heavenly Father has prophets in these latter-days to help Jesus Christ’s Church grow strong and be preached to all nations. This activity tells what different prophets have said to guide us, e.g, George Albert Smith taught the members to “be a friend to the friendless.” READ MORE
POST-AND-PRESENT. DO AS I’M DOING – Serve Like a Prophet Guessing Game. Here youth can follow the examples of prophets regarding service. These prophets show us how and how important it is to serve the Lord. SPOTLIGHT IS ON: Moses, King Benjamin, Joseph Smith, Thomas S. Monson, and Russell M. Nelson. Simply match up the arrow word strips with the prophet. READ MORE
AGES 1-5 FOLLOW THE PROPHET poster or coloring page. Children can learn blessings come from obeying the prophet. Prophets like Noah (who built a boat to save his family), Moses (who prayed on a high mountain and Jesus gave him the 10 commandments), and Joseph Smith (who found the gold plates that became the Book of Mormon. The Home Activity prompts parents to help children know about our prophet today. READ MORE
JESUS CHRIST Is Also a Prophet
AGES 4-7 FAITH IN JESUS Growing Testimony seed planter. Children can know that the seeds of testimony can grow in our hearts. It starts as a small seed planted (they can grow in a cup with the label “My faith in Jesus Christ can grow! …). As they watch their plant grow they can also think about how their testimony and their faith in Jesus are growing. READ MORE
AGES 8-11 LEARNING & LIVING THE GOSPEL Follow the Prophet games and door hanger goal planner. Youth can play the Prophet Ponder Guessing Game by asking 20 questions to figure out what the prophet wants us to do, giving yes or no answers; then name blessings that come from obeying the prophet. They can play a Match Game. They can write on the Door Hanger what they will do to follow the prophet after reading a conference address. READ MORE
TEENS PROPHET PONDER journal. Youth will be inspired to write the prophet’s message and to ponder and pray about his words with this page. They can first hear these messages in the April and October general conferences (reading a month later in the Church magazines). The prophet’s words are God’s words to us, a treasure to be treasured. READ MORE
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. THE PROPHET IS OUR COACH Heavenly Home-Run Baseball. Youth can learn to win from this (game of life) that Heavenly Father has sent us the prophet as our coach. They may learn from playing this game that in life they may have a base hit, a foul ball, or strike out. The important thing is that they eventually have a HOME RUN to return to live with Heavenly Father again. READ MORE
POST-AND-PRESENT. PROPHETS SPEAK – Conference Sweet Words Buzz Session. Youth can ponder and share messages from the Lord’s prophets and apostles. Find them in general conferences listening to talks and reading messages in the Church magazines. READ MORE
SCRIPTURE TO MEMORIZE. GOD SPEAKS D&C 1:38 scripture poster/card set. Youth can memorize Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, . . . whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” READ MORE
SINGING TIME. “WE LISTEN TO A PROPHET’S VOICE” song visuals. Youth can know from this that when they “listen to a prophet’s voice” they “hear the Savior too.” This song will help them know that they are called to “preach the word of God.” The prophet “holds the keys of priesthood” power “today.” Write the words on the cue cards to place on the backs of the visuals. READ MORE
. . . BE A FISHER OF MEN . . .
I can help Heavenly Father’s children come back to Him.
Citing Jeremiah 16:16, President Russell M. Nelson said, “Our missionaries have searched for those of scattered Israel; they have hunted for them ‘out of the holes of the rocks’; and they have fished for them as in ancient days” (“The Gathering of Scattered Israel,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 81).
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While you read Jeremiah 16:16, invite the children to pretend to fish or hunt. Explain that the fishers and hunters in this verse can represent missionaries. Invite the children to pretend to be missionaries. What do missionaries do? How can we help them?
DOWNLOAD “Fishers of Men” Missionary Fish-ionary Fish Find (HERE or below) -
Create a matching game using this week’s activity page. When a child finds matching pictures, talk about what that picture shows we can do to help Heavenly Father’s children return to Him.
• DOWNLOAD I can BEAR my testimony! secret message poster (HERE or below) 8-11
ACTIVITIES FOR:
I can help Heavenly Father’s children come back to Him.
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. “FISHERS OF MEN” – MISSIONARY FISH-IONARY FISH FIND. Youth can go fishing to learn how to be good missionaries. We can tell others about Jesus Christ’s Church, to do as Jesus asked His Apostles to be “fishers of men.” READ MORE
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. BUILD-A-MISSIONARY teaching puzzle and scripture chase game. Youth can roll a die for a puzzle piece to teach about a gospel subject. Or, say “Scripture Chase!” to find scripture on the gospel subject. Subject Ideas: Word of Wisdom, temples, baptism, plan of salvation, faith, testimony, fasting, prayer. READ MORE
AGES 1-5 I CAN “BEE” A FRIEND poster or coloring page. With this children can learn to be a friend, e.g. say please and thank you, to be kind at church and at home. Know that Jesus is their loving friend. The Home Activity prompts parents to help them: name their friends, help them be kind, share, and say please and thank you. READ MORE
AGES 4-7 I WILL “BEAR” MY TESTIMONY OF TRUTH slideshow doorknob hanger. Children can review testimony topics with this picture display, giving them the confidence to share their feelings about the gospel. This also reminds them of topics to learn and pray about to gain testimony. READ MORE
AGES 8-11 or TEENS. I can BEAR my testimony! secret message poster. To learn messages to share in their testimony, youth can fill in the blank words found in the text: “I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true!” For example, I know the Book of Mormon is the Word of God. READ MORE
TEENS/YOUTH ACTIVITY: MISSIONARY PREPARATION mirror motivators. Youth can post these skill-making reminders to prepare to teach the gospel: “It’s No Bologna You Must Build Your Testimony!” “It’s Quite a Thrill to Have a Skill!” “When You Know You Glow!” They can write desired skills in the journal spaces. READ MORE
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. INVITE ALL TO COME UNTO CHRIST build a missionary puzzle. Youth can focus on these eight ways to prepare to help others “Come unto Christ.” They can even compete to find puzzle pieces and be the first to find scripture on the subject. Use your imagination to build your team’s missionary puzzle (girls against boys), etc. READ MORE
CHARACTER BE – A MOTIVATOR. BE A MISSIONARY – “Bee” like Christ trait. Youth can post the poster, and the doorknob hanger, or give a card or share these. THIS ONE READS: “There are lives to brighten. There are hearts to touch. There are souls to save.” – Thomas S. Monson READ MORE
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. DON’T BOTTLE-UP YOUR TESTIMONY Share it! spin-the-bottle. Youth can learn how to build a strong belief in the gospel and testify of truth. They can spin to find the topic and then share their beliefs on the topic. ALSO GREAT FOR: Discussion Starters; Scripture Chase; and Table Talk. READ MORE
SINGING FUN. “I WANT TO BE A MISSIONARY NOW” song visuals. Youth will want to let their friends and family know they have a testimony of their own. They can do this now, not wait until they are mission-age. As their testimony makes them happy they can bear it, e.g., “the gospel was restored,” “the Book of Mormon came to be” and more. Write the words on the cue cards to place on the back of the visuals. READ MORE
. . . HELP GOD GATHER ISRAEL . . .
I can be part of the gathering of Israel.
The message about the gathering of Israel found in Jeremiah 16:14–15 can provide a great opportunity to talk to the children about missionary and family history work. This is one way that we “stand as witnesses of God” (Mosiah 18:9).
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Read together Jeremiah 16:14, and ask the children to share details they remember about how “the Lord … brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt” (see Exodus 14). Invite them to read Jeremiah 16:15 to find out what event Jeremiah said would be even more memorable than that. Explain that Israel was scattered throughout the earth, but God promised to gather them back to Him and His Church. This is called the gathering of Israel. How is this similar to delivering people out of captivity?
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Share this statement from President Russell M. Nelson: “Anytime you do anything that helps anyone—on either side of the veil—take a step toward making covenants with God and receiving their essential baptismal and temple ordinances, you are helping to gather Israel” (Russell M. Nelson and Wendy W. Nelson, “Hope of Israel” [worldwide youth devotional, June 3, 2018], supplement to the New Era and Ensign, Aug. 2018, 15, ChurchofJesusChrist.org). How can we help gather Israel?
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Sing together a song about missionary work, such as “I Hope They Call Me on a Mission” or “Called to Serve” (Children’s Songbook, 169, 174), or show the video “Your Day for a Mission” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Ask the children what they learn from the song or the video about why someone would choose to serve a mission.
DOWNLOAD the above song visuals (below)
DOWNLOAD MATCHING ACTIVITIES below.
or, see FAMILY HISTORY (HERE)
or, see MISSIONARY SERVICE (HERE)
ACTIVITIES FOR:
I can be part of the gathering of Israel.
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. I “BEE” LIEVE SWEET TESTIMONY SHARING. Share with youth that they can gain a testimony through the Holy Ghost as they study and pray. Then, BEAR THEIR TESTIMONY spontaneously about the gospel: Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon, Temples (forever families), Joseph Smith, the True Church, the Living Prophet, and the Priesthood. READ MORE
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY: TURN THE HEARTS OF THE CHILDREN OF TO THE FATHERS concentration game. Youth can be inspired to do temple work as they match temple workers with those on the other side waiting to have their work done. READ MORE
AGES 1-5. FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER poster or coloring page. Children can find comfort in knowing that families can be sealed in the temple in this sacred place, God’s temple. The HOME ACTIVITY helps children talk to their parents about temples and forever families. READ MORE
AGES 4-7 LET’S BE TOGETHER FOREVER! temple eternity wheel. Children can prepare to enter God’s temple where families can be sealed together forever. TURN THE WHEEL: Obey the commandments, Love one another, Obey the Word of Wisdom, Pay their tithing, Attend church, and Be honest. READ MORE
Jeremiah 16:14–15 GATHERING OF ISRAEL
AGES 8-11. EGYPTIAN PLAGUES crossword puzzle. Youth can learn the 10 plagues the Lord sent through Moses to inflict on the Egyptians for not letting the Israelites go. They will know from this that Moses used his priesthood, the power of God to create these warnings to the slavers. Plagues were: turning water to blood, hail and fire, lice, frogs, darkness, flies, boils, locust, and death of firstborn. READ MORE
Jeremiah 16:15 GATHERING FAMILIES
TEENS EXTENDED FAMILY CLOSENESS: Be a Friend checklist and postcard. Youth can send this “You’re a STAR of the family!” postcard to an extended family member with a note of admiration and friendship. Then, use the FAMILY CLOSENESS CHECKLIST for ideas to gather that family member closer. READ MORE
SCRIPTURE ACTIVITY. Doctrine and Covenants 133:37 scripture poster/card set. Youth can memorize D&C 133:37: “And this gospel shall be preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” This is part of the gathering of Israel in the latter-days to prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus. READ MORE
SINGING TIME. “CALLED TO SERVE” song visuals. Youth can know that we are all “Called to serve Him, heav’nly King of glory, to be a “witness for his name” to tell others of God the Father and His Son who love us and will be our strength. To go “Far and wide” to proclaim their love. Write the words on the cue cards to place on the back. READ MORE
SINGING TIME. “I HOPE THEY CALL ME ON A MISSION” song visuals. Youth will know that from the time they are very young they are on the Lord’s errand to “teach and preach and work as missionaries do.” By singing this song they will want to “share the gospel with those who want to know the truth.” Write the words on the cue cards to place on the back. READ MORE
SONG VISUALS “FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER” song visuals. Youth learn that, yes, their families can be sealed in the temple through priesthood power; so after they die they can be with their families again. Write the words on the cue cards (in your language) to place on the back. For example, CHORUS “Fam’lies can be together forever Through Heav’nly Father’s plan.” READ MORE
SUMMARY OF SUBJECTS FOR:
OLD TESTAMENT
Jeremiah 1-3; 7 17-18; 20
OCTOBER (week 3)
Lesson 42: October 10-16, 2022
“Before I Formed Thee in the Belly I Knew Thee”
#ComeFollowMe #OldTestament #Primary #FamilyHomeEvening #SundaySchool #ChurchofJesusChrist #GospelGrabBag #LessonActivities #SongVisuals #BeforeIFormedTheeintheBellyIKnewThee #HeavenlyFatherKnewMeBeforeIWasBorn #PlanofSalvation #PlanofHappiness #ProphetsAreCalledoftheLord #FollowtheProphet #HelpHeavenlyFathersChildrenComeBack #MissionaryWork #GatheringofIsrael
