Lesson 39: 3 Nephi 17-19

 September 28 - October 11
3 Nephi 17-19 
"Behold, My Joy is Full" 

Materials: a rock, bread, water, a grape vine, printouts (below)
Opening Song: "Reverently, Quietly" (Children's Songbook, 26)
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: 3 Nephi 18: 5:12

Attention Activity: Show the following items to your family: a rock, water, a grape vine, bread. What do all of these things have in common? These common objects are also names for the Savior used in the scriptures (the rock, the living water, the true vine, the bread of life). These everyday objects can remind us of the Savior and the role He has in our lives. Every week we get to remember the Savior in a special ordinance--the sacrament.

Lesson:

When Christ came to visit the Nephites, He showed them how to administer and partake of the sacrament just like He did at the last supper. He wanted everyone to know that this special ordinance was to be done often to remember His atonement. 

Read 3 Nephi 18:5-6 Jesus explained that the person who breaks, blesses, and administers the bread must be ordained--that is they must have the priesthood. This is important because the sacrament is a priesthood ordinance that reminds us of the atonement and renews the covenants we made with Heavenly Father when we were baptized. 

(Hold up the bread.) During the sacrament we take the bread first. What does the bread represent? Read 3 Nephi 18:7. The bread reminds us of the body of Christ. It is broken bread should remind us of all of the physical pains that the Savior went through for us to ensure the atonement. What were some of the things that happened to Jesus when He was crucified?

(Hold up the water.) What should the water remind us of? Read 3 Nephi 18:11. The water helps us to remember the blood that Christ shed for us in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. It should help us remember the Savior suffered to save of from out sins and weaknesses. You may need to remind your family that we drink water instead of wine because in D&C 27 the Lord revealed that water should be substituted to coincide with the Word of Wisdom. (Here's the church if they have more questions.)

In 3 Nephi it speaks of how the people were "filled" after they had partaken of the sacrament. This means they were spiritually filled. What do you think it means to be spiritually filled? When we partake of the sacrament, we can get a sense of completeness. We can feel more holy. 

The sacrament is a time when we try to be very reverent. We should try our best not to be distracted and focus on Jesus Christ. It is also a good time to reflect. We can ask ourselves questions like "How do I feel about the Savior's sacrifice for me?", "What can I do this week to become more Christlike?" "Am I acting like a disciple of Christ?" "What can I do to improve?" "Who can I serve this week?" You can also try to remember your baptism and the covenants you made. 

Have a family member read the following quote from President Eyring: “As you examine your life during the ordinance of the sacrament, I hope your thoughts center not only on things you have done wrong but also on things you have done right—moments when you have felt that Heavenly Father and the Savior were pleased with you. You may even take a moment during the sacrament to ask God to help you see these things. … When I have done this, the Spirit has reassured me that while I’m still far from perfect, I’m better today than I was yesterday. And this gives me confidence that, because of the Savior, I can be even better tomorrow” (“Always Remember Him,” Ensign, Feb. 2018, 5).

Print out the picture below. Encourage family members to put this in the scriptures or someplace they will be able to find it. Choose a question that you want to ask yourself this coming Sunday as you partake of the sacrament. Bear your testimony of the sacrament. 

Closing Song: "The Sacrament" (Children's Songbook, 72)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Cinnamon Apple Fritter Bread Recipe here

Lesson 38: 3 Nephi 12-16

 September 21-27
3 Nephi 12-16
"I Am the Law and the Light" 

Materials: Beattitude cards (below) printed and cut on yardstick, Law of Christ Matching printout. 
Opening Song: "Keep the Commandments" (Hymnal, 303)
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: 3 Nephi 12:48

Attention Activity:
Before FHE, print and cut out the cards onto card stock. Using the cards below, play the Beattitudes Matching game. Match the Beattitude to its blessing. Use 3 Nephi 12 or Matthew 5 for reference. 

Lesson:

During the Saviors mortal ministry in Israel, Jesus set up His church. He called twelve apostles and taught the people the gospel. What are some things Jesus taught while on the earth? Just like in Judea, when Jesus appears to the Nephites, He calls twelve apostles (disciples) and teaches the people the gospel. 

Do you remember leaning about the Sermon on the Mount? Well, in 3 Nephi 12, Jesus gives a similar sermon to the Nephites. He teaches them the beattitudes (point to the cards). He also teaches the Law of Christ. The Law of Christ is a kind of more advanced version of the 10 commandments and the Law of Moses. 

Activity: Law of Christ Matching

Print out the Matching sheet below. Have your family match the old mosaic laws to the new law of Christ taken from 3 Nephi 12. 

Read 3 Nephi 12: 47. Christ explains that the old laws, The Law of Moses, are done. The practice of sacrifice, which the Nephites had been doing is now fulfilled in Christ. Now people are to follow Christ's teachings. 

Read 3 Nephi 12: 48. Woah! Raise your hand if you are perfect. Uh oh! No one is raising their hand. Christ said that we need to be perfect like Heavenly Father and He is. So what now? Do we give up? In October Conference 2017, Elder Holland gave a marvelous talk on perfection called, "Be Ye Therefore Perfect--Eventually." (Have your family take turns reading the quotes from the talk below. You may also read or listen to the talk in it's entirety here.)

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"I also know that, as children of God, we should not demean or vilify ourselves, as if beating up on ourselves is somehow going to make us the person God wants us to become. No! With a willingness to repent and a desire for increased righteousness always in our hearts, I would hope we could pursue personal improvement in a way that doesn’t include getting ulcers or anorexia, feeling depressed or demolishing our self-esteem."

"As President Russell M. Nelson has taught, here in mortality perfection is still “pending.”

"From the beginning the gospel has been “for the perfecting of the saints, … till we … come … unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.”

Our only hope for true perfection is in receiving it as a gift from heaven_—we can’t “earn” it.

"It is not too much for Them to ask us to be a little more godlike in little things, that we speak and act, love and forgive, repent and improve..."

"So while in mortality let’s strive for steady improvement without obsessing over what behavioral scientists call “toxic perfectionism.”

"Brothers and sisters, every one of us aspires to a more Christlike life than we often succeed in living. If we admit that honestly and are trying to improve, we are not hypocrites; we are human."

"If we persevere, then somewhere in eternity our refinement will be finished and complete—which is the New Testament meaning of perfection."

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Obviously perfection is a tall order. It's impossible for us as mortal beings to be perfect. We make mistakes. But we can always try a little harder and do a little better. We can't do everything perfect all the time, but we can start with doing one small thing perfect right now. For example there's no such thing as a perfect child, but there is such a thing as a perfectly clean room. 

Read Moroni 10:32-33. Through Christ's atonement we are made perfect as we repent. After all when we repent Heavenly Father remembers our sins "no more." We obtain ultimate perfection as we receive celestial glory and everyday we can try to come a little closer to that goal by following the Savior's teachings.

Closing Song: "Love One Another" (Children's Songbook, 136).
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: S'mores cookies recipe here