Lesson 43: Jeremiah 30-33; 36; Lamentations 1; 3

October 17-23
Jeremiah 30-33; 36; Lamentations 1; 3
"I will turn their mourning into joy"

Materials: video clips, quotes, gathering of Israel maze
Opening Song: "The Tenth Article of Faith" (Children's Songbook, 128b)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity: Watch "Home Alone: Kevin's night wish" from Youtube (2:57)

Kevin broke the rules and didn't listen to his mom. He wished to be seperated from his family. Kevin's wish to "live alone" comes true the next day. He wakes up to find his house empty, his family gone. But after a few days home alone, Kevin begins to miss his family. 

Watch, "Home Alone- Kevin just wants his family for Christmas" from Youtube (:51) 

Lesson: 

During the time of Jeremiah, The Israelites were scattered, just like Kevin was separated from his family in Home Alone. They had rebelled; they thought living a life of "ease" without the covenants and commandments would make them happy. But eventually, they came to see that they messed up. They wanted to be gathered again. 

Jeremiah assures the Israelites, the Lord will bring Israel out of captivity and gather them. "He that scattered Israel, will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock" (Jer. 31:10). He tells them they will one day be allowed back into their homeland and they will also receive a new and everlasting covenant. Have a family member read Jer. 31:31, 33. 

The new and everlasting covenant is the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It begins with faith in Christ and culiminates in enduring to the end after making sacred covenants and receiving ordinances in the holy temple. "It is new every time it is revealed anew following a period of apostasy. It is everlasting in the sense that it is God's covenant and has been enjoyed in every gospel dispensation were people have been willing to receive it" (Come Follow Me For Individuals and Families 2022, page 189). 

The gathering of Israel is taking place today. Share the following quote from President Nelson. 

What are some things that we can do to help gather Israel? (serve a mission, share the gospel with friends, bare your testimony, perform baptisms for the dead, attend the temple, teach your children the gospel, teach primary/sunday school, become an ordinance worker, do family history work, fellowship inactive members, etc.)

Share the quote below. 

Activity: Gathering of Israel maze 

Watch "Home alone- Kevin and mom "hug scene" from YouTube (2:21)

Just like the McAllisters at the end of Home Alone, Israel will one day be gathered all together again. Bear your testimony of the gathering of Israel. How have you helped gather Israel? How has that blessed your life?

Closing Song: "Israel, Israel, God is Calling" (Hymns, 7)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Pumpkin caramel cookies recipe here

Lesson 42: Jeremiah 1-3; 7; 16-18; 20

October 10-16
Jeremiah 1-3; 7; 16-18; 20
"Before I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee"

Materials: video, quote papers printed, paper and pencils
Opening Song: "I lived in heaven" (Children's Songbook, 4)
Opening Prayer:

Attention Activity:

Watch the video "Jeremiah the Prophet" from the church website. 

Lesson:

Jeremiah was a prophet in the years before Jerusalem was destroyed and Israel was taken captive by the Babylonians, during the reign of the kings Josiah, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah. When Jeremiah was first called to be a prophet, he was a young man and he did not feel capable of such an important work. (Display the two papers below.) The Lord told him, "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." 

(Hold up the first have of the quote again.) God knew each of us before we were born. Before we came to earth, we knew Heavenly Father and He explained His plan for us. Our opening song today spoke was about our time in the pre-existence. 

I lived in heaven a long time ago, it is true.
Lived there and loved there with people I know; so did you.
Then, Heavenly Father presented a beautiful plan, 
All about earth and eternal salvation for man. 

We also sing another song all the time that mentions the Heavenly Father's plan for us. 

I am a child of God,
and He has sent me here, 
has given me an earthly home, 
with parents kind and dear. 

How does the knowledge that Heavenly Father knew you before you were born make you feel? The knowledge that Heavenly Father knows us personally can help us get through troubling times in our lives. It can give us the confidence to do what He needs us to do. Jeremiah didn't feel like he was qualified enough to be a prophet but the Lord knew Jeremiah was capable. 

(Hold up the second half of the quote and read it again.) In the pre-mortal life, Heavenly Father chose certain people to fulfill certain roles here on earth. This is called foreordination. For example, Jesus was fore-ordained to carry out the atonement. Prophets like Abraham, Joseph Smith, and Jeremiah were also foreordained to fulfill specific duties on the earth according to their faithfulness. 

"The doctrine of foreordination applies to all members of the Church, not just to the Savior and His prophets. Before the creation of the earth, faithful women were given certain responsibilities and faithful men were foreordained to certain priesthood duties. As people prove themselves worthy, they will be given opportunities to fulfill the assignments they then received" ("Foreordination," Gospel Topics, ChurchofJesusChrist.org). 

One way to find out what plan Heavenly Father has in store for you personally is to receive your patriarchal blessing. 

Activity: Pass out paper and pencils to your family and have them take the True or False quiz from the website below and then go over the answers. 

Patriarchal Blessing Quiz 

Jeremiah might have felt inadequate in the beginning, but he went on to be a great prophet. He counseled the king, taught the people, and prophesied of the gathering of Israel. Through his, faithfulness, he fulfilled the mission God had given him to do before he was born. Heavenly Father knows each of us personally. He's known us since before man came to earth. He has a unique role and mission for us to fulfill. We probably won't be called to be prophets, but we each have an important work He wants us to do to build His kingdom. 

Bear your testimony of Heavenly Father's plan for you. 

Closing Song: "The Family is of God" ("Additional Songs for children" Gospel Music App)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: caramel apple bark recipe here