Lesson 18: Mosiah 11-17

May 4-19
Mosiah 11-17
"A light...that can never be darkened"

Materials: rope or tape, picture of Abinadi, scenario strips (see below)
Opening Song: "Stand for the Right" (Children's Songbook, )
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: Mosiah 15:1 "And now Abinadi said unto them: I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down and shall redeem His people."

Attention Activity:
Invite a family member to come up and bind their hands together with some rope or tape. Have them close their eyes and say to them: "Imagine that you had been captured and put in a jail cell. You have slept on a cold hard floor for several days and your body is sore and tired. Your captors have given you very little to eat and you stomach grips and twists with hunger. Your lips are chapped and your throat is dry from dehydration. Two soldiers come to get you and drag you into a loud room filled with laughing and boisterous people. The king is sitting in the room with many priests near him. The priests start to question you. They tell you, if you will say that there is no Christ, they will let you go. What do you do? Would you be able stand and bear testimony?"




Lesson:

Whose story did we just tell? That's right this is what happened to Abinadi. He was taken prisoner by the wicked King Noah for teaching that unless the Nephites repented, they would be destroyed. They bound Abinadi in chains and brought him before the king and his priests. There, he testified unto them. Abinadi spoke of the 10 commandments, the Savior's  atonement, and eternal life. Abinadi gave his testimony knowing that he would probably die for it, and he did. But Abinadi's words had touched the heart of one of the priests of King Noah. Do you remember the priest's name? Alma believed in Abinadi's words and tried to persuade the King to release him, but King Noah tried to Alma too.  

Abinadi before King Noah (Abinadi Appearing before King Noah), by Arnold Friberg (62042); GAK 308

How can we relate the story of Abinadi to our own lives? What can we learn from Abinadi's bold testimony? Sometimes it seems easier to give into the evils of this world and to let other people's opinions of right or wrong tump your own knowledge of the Truth. Abinadi did not allow his own suffering to lesson his testimony; he stood strong in his adversity. "His message was rejected fain and again. Yet Abinadi  never gave up." (Book of Mormon 2020: Come Follow Me for Indiviuals and Families, pg. 71)

Activity: Real Life Scenarios
print and cut out the scenarios below. Have each family member take turns picking a scenario and telling what they would do in that kind of a situation to "stand for the truth" like Abinadi. 

- You are at a friend's house and when you two are alone, he takes out his phone and starts showing you pictures or video of pornography.

- There is a girl at school who hears you are a "mormon." She starts to tell all of your friends that you don't believe in Christ and your religion is "dumb."

- During a date (after your 16), you're watching a movie together. The lights are off and the other couple just left to go home. 

- You forgot to do an assignment for school that was due today. Your teacher has warned you not to work with other students on the homework but your friend said you could copy his during lunch. 

- You snuck into your older sister's room while she was out and played with the toy she had just received for her birthday. You accidentally step on it and it breaks. 

- Your mom promised you a treat while you were shopping at the grocery store. But after you misbehave, she says you may no loner have one. You are angry and want a candy anyway so you stick one in your pocket. When you get to the car you feel guilty. 

Sometimes its hard to do the right thing. Sometimes we have to stand up for ourselves in front of people who don't like us, but more often we have to stand up for ourselves in front of people we care about like our friends and family. Bearing our testimony and standing for truth is hard, but the Holy Ghost will always help us through it. In the For Strength of Youth  it says, "God is mindful of you and will help you make good choices, even if your family and friends use their agency in ways that are not right. Have the moral courage to stand firm in obeying God’s will, even if you have to stand alone. As you do this, you set an example for others to follow."Just like Abinadi set a good example for Alma, we can also set good examples for those around us when we stand for the right. 

Optional Activity: "Abinadi testifies of Jesus Christ" Book of Mormon Video. (25 min.)

Closing Song: "Choose the right" (Hymnal, ) 
Closing Prayer:

Refreshment: