Lesson 1: We Are Responsible for Our Own Learning

Dec. 31- Jan. 6
Lesson 1: We Are Responsible for Our Own Learning

Opening Song: "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" (Hymnal pg. 304)
Opening Prayer: By invitation 
Scripture: D&C 93: 36 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.

Attention Activity:
Give children a list of interesting and unfamiliar words. I used ampersand, bamboozle, colossus, and digeridoo. Ask the children, "How do you find out what a word means when you don't know?" (look it up online, in the dictionary, ask an AI., ask someone else) Have the children define the words using one of the resources discussed.

When you don't understand something, you ask for help. You seek out answers. This is exactly what our Heavenly Father wants us to do. He wants us to gain knowledge, to learn, and get an education. In D&C 130: 19  it says, "And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come."

Lesson:

Elder Bednar taught, "as learners, you and I are to act and be doers of the word." That means that as we learn we need to practice what we learn. He also said, "Learning by faith requires spiritual, mental, and physical exertion and not just passive reception." This means that learning is not always easy. Sometimes we will have to work really hard to understand what we are being taught. 

Sometimes we have questions, not just about funny words, but about important things. When Joseph Smith was a boy, he was confused on which church he should join. He talked to a lot of people about his questions, but no one seemed to have a good answer. One day he was reading in the New Testament when he came across a verse that helped him. It said, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5) Joseph knew after reading that scripture that he needed to try praying to get an answer to his question. So he did, and that's when he received the First Vision where he saw Heavenly Father and Jesus. 

View Picture: Joseph Smith Seeks Wisdom in the Bible (Joseph Smith Seeks Wisdom from the Bible), by Dale Kilbourn; GAK 402; GAB 89; Primary manual 3-08; Primary manual 5-04; Joseph Smith—History 1:5–13


When we have questions we should do these three things 

1. Search for answers from good sources. (the Holy Ghost, the scriptures, prophets, apostles, parents)

2. Act in Faith. Answers might not always come right away. We need to be patient and have faith.

3. See the big picture. Try to see things like the Lord does. Remember the Plan of Salvation.


This year we will be learning from the New Testament. What do you know about the New Testament? The New Testament teaches us about Christ's life and the teachings of His apostles. Christ invites us all to "Come Follow Me." How can we follow the Savior? Learning from the Savior starts when we strive to understand what he taught. We can do this as we study the New Testament this year. 

View Picture: Light of the World, by Brent Borup

Activity: Come Follow Me Coloring Page 

Illustration by Apryl Stott

Closing Song: "Come Follow Me" (Hymnal pg. 116)

Closing Prayer: By Invitation

Refreshment: "Smart cookies"

3/4 c. Brown sugar

3/4 c. granulated sugar

1 small box vanilla pudding (1/2 c.)

1/2 c. shortening

1/2 c. butter

1 egg

2 T hot water

1/2 t. vanilla

2 1/4 c. flour

1 t baking soda

1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

1/2 c. nuts (optional)

3/4 pkg. chocolate chips

Vanilla ice cream (slightly softened)

Preheat oven at 350. Cream butter, shortening, sugars, and pudding mix. Add eggs cream for 3-4 min. more then add hot water. Cream 3 minutes then add vanilla. Combine dry ingredients with whisk then slowly add to mixture. When fully combined add nuts and chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 8-12 minutes. Cool then serve two cookies with ice cream in the middle to make a cookie ice cream sandwich a.k.a. "A Smart Cookie"