Lesson 1: Introductory Pages of the Book of Mormon

December 30 - January 5
Introductory Pages of the Book of Mormon
"Another Testament of Jesus Christ"

Materials: whiteboard and marker (or piece of paper), Book of Mormon, dot to dot (see below)
Opening Song: Book of Mormon Stories (Children's Songbook, 118)
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: D&C 33:16 "And the Book of Mormon and the holy scriptures are given of me for your instruction; and the power of my Spirit quickeneth all things."

Attention Activity:
Hold up a copy of The Book of Mormon. What is this? On a whiteboard or large sheet of paper write down all the things your family knows about The Book of Mormon. 


Lesson:

This year we will be studying The Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is a very special book. On the front cover under the title, is a tagline that reads. "Another Testament of Jesus Christ." The Book of Mormon, like the Bible, testifies of Jesus Christ. D&C 42: 12 says, "this church shall ^bteach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the ^cBook of Mormon, in the which is the ^dfulness of the ^egospel." The Book of Mormon  contains a fulness of the gospel. What do you think that means? It clarifies and builds upon the doctrine found in the bible. For example, in the Bible we learn about baptism,  in the Book of Mormon we read that little children and babies don't need to be baptized until they are mature enough to be held accountable for their actions. Can you think of any other doctrines that the Book of Mormon clarifies? 

Have a family member read the following quote from Joseph Smith. "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” 

This week we will be reading the introductory pages to the Book of Mormon. In these we will   read the testimony of the witnesses of the Book of Mormon. 11 men were able to see the golden plates that the prophet, Joseph Smith, translated through the power of the priesthood. These 11 men signed their names as a witness that the golden plates were real and that the Book of Mormon was a sacred record from God. Even though we will not be able to see the golden plates, we can still be a witness to the truths and doctrines found in the Book of Mormon. How can we be witnesses to the Book of Mormon? 

Have your family complete the dot to dot below. When they are finished have them write, "I can be a witness to the Book of Mormon."  Invite your family members to share with their friends and loved ones inspiring things they learn from the Book of Mormon. A good way to start is by sharing your favorite verses on your social media pages. 

Bear your personal testimony of the Book of Mormon. 

Closing Song: "The Books of Mormon" (Children's Songbook, 119)
Closing Prayer:

Refreshment:

Pot of Gold Brownie Bites recipe here

Lesson 50: Revelation 12-22

December 23-29
Revelation 12-22
"He That Overcometh Shall Inherit All Things"

Materials: 4 pieces of paper, art supplies (crayons, colored pencils, etc.) Scriptures
Opening Song: "I am a child of God" (Children's Songbook, 2)
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: Revelation 21:7 He that ^aovercometh shall ^binherit ^call things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my ^dson.

Attention Activity:
What is a vision? Can you think of some famous visions or revelations? (i.e. The First vision, the Tree of Life, The Kingdoms of Glory [D&C 76]) 

Lesson:
We have been reading about John's Revelation about the World. Today we are going to talk more about John's vision and some of the specific things he saw. 
Divide your family into 4 groups (have parents help younger children). Give each group one of the sections to read below. Each group will draw a picture to depict what John saw in his vision and share the brief explanation provided.

Revelation 12: 7-11
"The dragon is a representation of Satan, who with his followers waged the War in Heaven against Heavenly Father and His faithful children. “The third part of the stars of heaven”  are that portion of the hosts of heaven who followed Satan in the premortal war in heaven and were cast out. Elder Bruce R. McConkie described the conflict that occurred in heaven: “What kind of war? The same kind that prevails on earth; the only kind Satan and spirit beings can wage—a war of words, a tumult of opinions, a conflict of ideologies; a war between truth and error, between light and darkness. … And the battle lines are still drawn. It is now on earth as it was then in heaven; every man must choose which general he will follow” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:518)." (New Testament Student Manual)

Revelation 13: 1-13

"John saw a beast rise out of the sea. The Joseph Smith Translation indicates that the beast is “in the likeness of the kingdoms of the earth” . The beast’s many heads, crowns, and horns suggest many different kingdoms and rulers with great power. The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) taught: “When God made use of the figure of a beast in visions to the prophets He did it to represent those kingdoms which had degenerated and become corrupt, savage and beast-like in their dispositions, even the degenerate kingdoms of the wicked world” (in History of the Church, 5:341).

Rather than attempting to specify an exact identity of the beast, it may be more profitable to note the following general characteristics about the beast: It had power over many nations ; it opposed God and blasphemed against Him; the power it wielded was like the power that predatory animals have over their prey; Satan gave it power; people of the world worshipped or followed the beast; and it was able to overpower many, including the Saints. It could be said that any kingdom or government that exhibits these characteristics manifests the spirit of the beast." (New Testament Student Manual)

Revelation 19: 11-16

"In his vision of the Second Coming, John saw the Savior riding “a white horse” . The white horse is symbolic of conquest and victory, as horses were used almost exclusively for war in John’s time. John also saw that the Savior would return to earth wearing “a vesture dipped in blood,” meaning that His garments will be the color of blood. This color calls to mind the Savior’s suffering in Gethsemane, when His atoning blood was pressed from His body just as juice is pressed from grapes in a winepress.

Commenting on the Savior’s red robes, Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated: “Having bled at every pore, how red His raiment must have been in Gethsemane, how crimson that cloak! No wonder, when Christ comes in power and glory, that He will come in reminding red attire (see D&C 133:48), signifying not only the winepress of wrath, but also to bring to our remembrance how He suffered for each of us in Gethsemane and on Calvary!” (“Overcome … Even as I Also Overcame,”Ensign, May 1987, 72).

The red apparel may also symbolize the destruction of the wicked at the Lord’s coming (see Isaiah 63:1–4; D&C 133:46–51). When Jesus comes again to the earth, He will bring justice against the wicked." (New Testament Student Manual)

Revelation 21: 10-25

"John saw in vision “the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down” to earth, symbolizing God’s presence among His people. The city was depicted as an enormous cube, which recalls the Holy of Holies in Solomon’s temple, also representative of God’s dwelling place. The symbolic elements John saw that compose the city—clear glass, precious stones, pearls, and gold_—share the traits of reflecting light; resisting decaying or tarnishing; and symbolizing purity, beauty, and refinement. The walls of the city were made with all manner of precious stones. Precious stones often represent the Lord’s followers who have been refined and made holy.

The gates of the city were made of pearls and the streets of gold. Both pearls and gold can be seen as symbols of refinement: oysters produce pearls through pain and adversity, and gold requires fire to burn out impurities. The exalted will likewise have been refined through adversity.

There is no need of temples in the Holy City because all of the celestial kingdom will be as a temple; God Himself and Jesus Christ dwell there. There is no need of the sun there, for “the Lamb is the light thereof." (New Testament Student Manual)

Have each group share their picture and read or summarize the explanation from the New Testament Student Manual. Hang the pictures up somewhere in your home so that you can refer back to them as your family reads this week. 

The tagline for this lesson is "He That Overcometh Shall Inherit All Things." Sometimes the world seems like bleak place. It is sometimes hard to remember that there will be an end to all the pain and suffering in the world, but eventually good will conquer evil. The righteous will receive glory and all of the blessings of Heaven. If we remain true and faithful to our covenants, we will be able to receive the fullness of Heavenly Father's blessings. 

Closing Song: "I lived in Heaven" (Children's Songbook, 4)
Closing Prayer:

Refreshment:

Rolled Yummy Cookies (aka mom's sugar cookies)

1 c. shortening
1 c. sour cream
1 egg
2 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla
5 1/2 c. flour
4 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt

Cream shortening, sugar, egg. Add sour cream and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients. Stir in creamed mixture. Roll out and cut. Place on ungreased sheet. Bake at 400 for 7 minutes. Frost and decorate as desired. 

Frosting Tip: crush up cinnamon imperils candy and add to cream cheese frosting. Ice the cookies with the frosting and then decorate with store-bought icing tubes or sprinkles. 

Lesson 49: Christmas

December 16-22
Christmas
"Good Tidings of Great Joy"

*Every family has their own Christmas traditions this time of year. So, instead of giving a word for word lesson, I'm encouraging you to celebrate the birth of our Savior in your own unique way. Page 196 of the CFM manual gives some amazing examples of Christ- centered family activities. Below I will also link to some other helpful things you might like to share with your family. 

"Teach The Children"-- A story where Santa teaches how all the symbols of Christmas are centered in Christ.

"Luke II"-- This is an older nativity video produced by the church. I grew up on this one and I love it.

Santa and the Christ Child  by Nicholas Bakewell-- Children's book where Santa visits the nativity 

Lesson 48: Revelation 1-11

December 9-15
Revelation 1-11
"Glory, and Power, Be unto... the Lamb for Ever"

Materials: plan of salvation diagram, coloring page
Opening Song: "I will follow God's plan" (Children's Songbook, )
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: Rev. 5: 12

Attention Activity:
Ask your family if the remember what they dreamed about last night? Dreams can be strange. Some things that happen in our dreams would not or could not happen in real life. Sometimes things in our dreams represent something real. For example, if you were running from a dragon in your dreams, maybe that could mean you are trying to avoid something scary in real life like a big test coming up or a trial you've been facing. 

In the Book of Revelation, the author uses lots of symbols. Symbols are objects that represent something else. (i.e. the heart shape often represents love) John uses these symbols to talk about the Plan of Salvation.

Lesson:
What is the Plan of Salvation? The Plan of Salvation is Heavenly Father's Plan for us in order to return to His presence and receive His glory. Show a diagram like one of the ones below and have a family member briefly talk about each of the elements in the Plan of Salvation. The Plan of Salvation is also called Heavenly Father's Plan, The Plan of Happiness, and The Plan of Redemption. 


The book of Revelation was written by John the beloved, the apostle of Jesus Christ. John had a dream that depicted the Plan of Salvation. In his vision, an angel shows John different events on the earth. "The message of Revelation is the same as that of all scripture: there will be an eventual triumph on this earth of God over the devil; a permanent victory of good over evil, of the saints over their persecutors, of the kingdom of God over the kingdoms of men and Satan... [It speaks] of a day of victory that would come, and that the end would be better (i.e. more glorious) than the beginning. The victory would be achieved through Jesus Christ." (Bible Dictionary "Revelation of John") 

Revelation discusses how the Plan was only possible because of Jesus Christ. A good portion of Revelation is about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ or the Millennium. We talked about the second coming when we studied Mathew 25. Do you remember what some of the signs of the second coming are? Even though the second coming can seem scary, there is no need to be afraid if you are trying to choose the right. As we read Revelations, we will hear a lot about the destruction of the wicked during the second coming. We will also read about how the righteous shall be saved and glorified through Jesus Christ. When Christ comes again everyone will know that He is the savior. Read Rev. 5:11-13. 

Heavenly Father's plan is to give us a way to receive eternal life. He wants us to return to Him so He sent His son, Jesus, to atone for our sins and redeem us. That is why another name for the Plan of Salvation is The Plan of Redemption. 

* The New Testament Institute Manual is a great tool for understanding Revelation.

Activity: Coloring Page "To Prepare for the Second Coming, I Will Follow Jesus Christ"

Closing Song: "The Spirit of God" (Hymnal, 2)
Closing Prayer:

Refreshment: 

Carmelitas

50 caramels
1/2 c. evaporated milk
2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1 c. margarin (softened)
1 t. baking soda
2 c. oats
6 oz. chocolate chips

dissolve caramels with milk in top of double boiler. Mix flour, brown sugar, margarin, and baking soda then add oats. Pat 1/2 inches 9x13 pan and bake at 350 for 10 min. Cool slightly and then sprinkle chocolate chips. Drip caramel mix over and cover with remaining crumbs. Pat slightly. Bake for 10-15 min.

Lesson 47: 1-3 John; Jude

December 2-8
1-3 John; Jude
"God is Love"

Materials: bicycle video (link below), handout, scriptures, scorpion video (link below)
Opening Song: "Choose the Right Way" verse 2 (Children's Songbook, 160)
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 

Attention Activity:
Watch "The Shiny Bicycle" video found on churchofjesuschrist.org.. What mistake did the boy make? What did he have to do to make it right? The boy in this video had to confess to his parents in order to make things better. Then he had to do hard work and fix up his bike to make it all shiny again. When we make mistakes, we have to confess them to our Heavenly Father. With the help of Jesus Christ, we can repent and our mistakes will be like they never happened. 

Lesson:
Today, we are going to talk about repentance. What does it mean to repent? Show the handout below. 

(**For young children have them hold up the appropriate number of fingers for every step of repentance.)  
The first thing you have to do to repent is have faith in Jesus Christ. Faith is the first principle of the gospel. Belief in Christ and His atonement enables you to start the repentance process. 

Second, your must realize you did something wrong. Paul describes this as godly sorrow. "For godly sorrow worth repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." ( 2 Corinthians 7:10)This mean you have to feel bad for what you did not because your being punished or because you go caught. You have to feel sorry because you know in your heart that you did something wrong. Steps to repentance. Paul also says, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive [or lie] to ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)

The third thing we do when we repent is confess our sins--saying sorry. Who should we sorry to? We need to say sorry for anyone we hurt or disrespected when we made our wrong choice. We also need to say sorry to our Heavenly Father in our prayers. We have to beg for our forgiveness. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) If the sin is very serious, sometimes we also need to confess our sins our bishop so he can help us through the repentance process.

We must also stop making the same wrong choice again. Sometimes this is easy because it was a one time mistake. Other times, it is much harder when we have developed a bad habit. What are some examples of bad habits you might have a hard time stopping after you've confessed? (back talking, swearing, substance abuse, pornography, gossip) Read the JST of 1 John 3:6-9 below. 
"6 Whosoever abideth in him ^asinneth not: ^bwhosoever continueth in sin hath not seen him, neither ^cknown him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that continueth in sin is of the devil; for the devil ^csinnethfrom the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the ^ddevil.
9 Whosoever is ^aborn of God ^bdoth not continue in sin; for the Spirit of God remaineth in him: and he cannot continue in sin, because he is born of God, having received that holy Spirit of promise."

We must try our very best not to continue to make the same wrong choice again. If you do slip up and make the same wrong choice, remember that the Lord knows your heart, he knows your sincerity. He will always forgive those who are willing to come unto Him. 

The other thing we have to do when we make a mistake is to try and correct it. If you were to steal a candy bar from the store, you have to go back and pay for it to make restitution. If you hit your brother, giving a hug to try and make them feel better would show that you are trying to make it right. It is important to note that some sins like murder and adultery cannot be made right. This is why these sins are so serious. 

The last thing we must do is to try to live a righteous life. We should NOT live by the mantra "it's easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission" or "have fun today and repent tomorrow." We need to consciously try to be choosing the right and seeking good. 

Remember the video at the beginning of the lesson? Did the boy in the video go through all the steps of repentance? The boy realized he did something wrong when the paint would not stick to the bike; he confessed to his parents; and he made it right by cleaning the bike to make it look shiny again. 

Have your family watch the following video "The Sting of the Scorpion" (found on churchofjesuschrist.org)

Bear your testimony of repentance and the joy and peace the repentance process has brought to you in your life. 

Closing Song: "Help me, Dear Father" both verses (Children's Songbook,  99)
Closing Prayer:

Refreshment:
Chunky Monkey Bits recipe here (Peanut butter could be substituted with cookie butter or caramel)

Lesson 46: 1 & 2 Peter

November 25- December 1
1 and 2 Peter
"Rejoice with Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory" 

Materials: Picture of Christ, pencils and paper, coloring page, scriptures. 
Opening Song: "I'm trying to be like Jesus" (Children's Songbook, 78)
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: 2 Peter 1:4 "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious ^apromises: that by these ye might be ^bpartakers of the ^cdivine^dnature..."

Attention Activity:
Show a picture of Jesus Christ like the one below. Throughout this year, we have learned a lot about Christ. What are some words we could use to describe Christ? These are all Christlike attributes. 


Lesson:
Jesus is not only our Savior, He is our elder brother. We are all Heavenly Father's children. This means that we have a divine nature. As spirit children of our Heavenly Father, we come from divine royal parentage. Read 2 Peter 1: 4. 

The scriptures tell us that if we are faithful, we will be joint heirs with Jesus Christ inheriting all that Heavenly Father has. Our inheritance will not come easy however. In order to receive all of the blessings Heavenly Father has in store for us, we have to become perfect. Or in other words, we have to become like Jesus Christ. 

Ask one of your family members to enact their favorite dance move or action (rolling hands, the disco point, the floss etc.) As I read the next set of scriptures, I want you to do your dance move every time I read christlike attribute. Read 2 Peter 1: 5-7. So Peter lists diligence, faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance (self control), patience, godliness (reverence), brotherly kindness, and charity. How are you doing on this list? Are you patient? Kind? Do you practice reverence and self control? 

Peter also said that all these characteristics "add" to one another. That means as you have practice your brotherly kindness, you'll also develop your charity. Elder Hales taught, "The attributes of the Savior... are interwoven characteristics, added one to another, which develop in us in interactive ways. In other words, we cannot obtain one Christlike characteristic with also obtaining and influencing others. As one characteristic becomes strong, so do many more" ("Becoming a Disciple of Our Lord, Jesus Christ" April 2017). 

A few minutes ago we sang, "I'm trying to be like Jesus." The purpose of our time here on Earth is to become like Jesus. Perfection seems like an impossible task at times. In the Book of Mormon, Moroni invites us to "come unto Christ, and be perfected in him." (Moroni 10:32) This means if we try to be like Christ, He will help us through His grace, become perfect. 

As we strive to be more Christlike, we will develop our divine nature. The Family Proclamation to the World affirms that our time on earth is to“gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life.”

Give each family member a peace of paper and pencil. Have them write down one the attributes that Peter listed to work on developing this week. 

Activity: Coloring Page "Jesus Says, Come Follow Me" 

Closing Song: "I am a child of God" (Hymnal, 301)
Closing Prayer:

Refreshment:
White Chocolate Raspberry Bars

1 box yellow cake mix
1/3 c. oil
2 eggs
Seedless raspberry jam
1 bag white chocolate chips

Combine cake mix, oil, and eggs. Press 1/2 of mixture into bottom of 9x13 pan. Spread jam over crust and sprinkle with chocolate chips. Press sections of remaining cake mixture in hand and set on top till covered. Bake at 350 for 28 minutes. (mom's oven cook at 340 for 23 minutes)

Lesson 45: James

November 18-24
James
"Be Ye Doers of the Word, and Not Hearers Only"

Materials: Oobleck (corn starch and water; prepared in advance; see below), video of Joseph Smith's first vision (link below), 
Opening Song: "Faith" (Children's Songbook, )
Opening Prayer:
Scriptures: James 1:5-6 If any of ye lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and unbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering..."

Attention Activity:
****BEFORE THIS LESSON: Make Oobleck. 2 parts cornstarch, 1 part water, and food coloring. Make enough for each family member. I estimated about 1 cup of corn starch and a 1/2 cup water per person. I would do this activity on the kitchen or a surface that can get messy. For a good tutorial on how to make oobleck click here.

Have each family member play with the oobleck. Ask them what it feels like. When the oobleck is being worked by your hands it's a solid but if it's not being worked it goes into a liquid state. 

Playing with the oobleck can help you to think about faith. We have faith and as we work on it our faith can become stronger. But if we do nothing, our faith can slip away. This is like oobleck, you have to really work at your faith to help to keep it strong, just like you have to work the oobleck to keep it solid. Have your family wash their hands.

  Lesson:
Read James 2:17. What do we mean when we say "faith without works is dead?" Our faith requires action. We have to choose the right, keep the commandments, and act on our faith in Christ. Read James 1:22. So how can we be "doers" and not just "hearers"? What are some things we have to do in order to show our faith in Christ? (give service, act on our promptings from the Holy Ghost, ministering to one another, scriptures, prayers, etc.)

Can you think of any prophets who demonstrated their faith in Christ by taking action? Show the following video about Joseph Smith's first vision here.  What question did Joseph have? Did he have faith? He did he take action on his faith? Read James 1:5-6. Joseph Smith had a lot of faith, but he felt he "lacked wisdom" so he made a plan and used his faith. He believed that if he prayed, the Lord would tell him which church to join. We are reaping the blessing of Joseph's faith and actions as members of the restored Gospel. 

The First Vision, by Del Parson (62470); GAK 403; Primary manual 1-04; Primary manual 2-38; Primary manual 3-10; Primary manual 5-06; Primary manual 6-40; Primary manual 7-40; Joseph Smith—History 1:14–20

This week, I want you to focus on truly living your faith. Think of one thing you can do this week to take action on your faith. Try to follow promptings when they come to you, and show Heavenly Father your faith in him through your actions and choices. 


Closing Song: "The Spirit of God" (Hymnal, 2)
Closing Prayer:

Refreshment:

Lesson 44: Hebrews 7-13

November 11-17
Hebrews 7-13
"An High Priest go Good Things to Come"

Materials: "Melchizedek Priesthood Restoration" picture (link below) printed out, Priesthood Puzzle, the border pieces to a small puzzle
Opening Song: "The Fifth Article of Faith" (Children's Songbook, 125)
Opening Prayer:
Scriptures: Article of Faith #5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

Attention Activity:
Give your family a small puzzle to complete, but only give them the border/edge pieces. Can you complete the puzzle? Why not? The edge pieces are important; they are the start of the puzzle. However, you cannot see the whole picture or complete the puzzle with just some of the pieces. This is like how some churches, like the Hebrews, had some of the truths of the gospel, but not all--until Christ came and established his Church. 

Lesson:
Last week, we started talking about the epistle to the Hebrews. The Hebrews had the Aaronic Priesthood or the Levitical Priesthood. When Christ organized his church and called his apostles, he gave them the Melchizedek Priesthood. The Church offered the fullness of the gospel and all of the priesthood ordinances. Hebrews 7 talks about how the Melchizedek Priesthood differs from the Levitical or Aaronic Priesthood. 

Activity: Priesthood Puzzle

Print and cut out the puzzle pieces below. Scotch tape the puzzle to the picture of the "Melchizedek Priesthood Restoration" link here. Have family member take turns taking off the puzzle pieces to reveal the picture underneath. As they take each piece off, read the statements about the Melchizedek Priesthood found in Hebrews 7. 

What are some differences between the Aaronic Priesthood and the Melchizedek Priesthood? What blessings have you received through the Melchizedek Priesthood? 

Even though the Jewish people had the Levitical/Aaronic priesthood, it was only one piece of the puzzle. The Melchizedek Priesthood offers a complete picture. In the latter days, the Melchizedek Priesthood was restored to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery by Peter, James, and John. (JSH 1:72) Now President Nelson holds the priesthood keys and millions of members are ordained to and receive the blessings of the Melchizedek Priesthood. 

Share how the Melchizedek Priesthood has blessing your life. 

Closing Song: "Love is Spoken Here" (Children's Songbook, 190)
Closing Prayer:

Refreshment: Cookie Butter Popcorn Recipe Here

Lesson 43: Hebrews 1-6

November 4-10
Hebrews 1-6
Jesus Christ, "The Author of Eternal Salvation"

Materials: Crossword, scriptures, coloring page, family photos
Opening Song: "He Sent His Son" (Children's Songbook, 34)
Opening Prayer:
Scriptures: 2 Nephi 25: 19 For according to the words of the prophets, the ^aMessiahcometh in ^bsix hundred years from the time that my father left Jerusalem; and according to the words of the prophets, and also the word of the ^cangel of God, his ^dname shall be Jesus Christ, the ^eSon of God.

Attention Activity:
Show some family photos including pictures of adults when they were children. Talk about how families tend to look alike. Remark on which traits the children received from their parents. Just like we receive physical traits from our parents, Jesus looks a lot like His father, our Father in Heaven. Read Hebrews 1:3. Explain when Paul says Jesus is the "express image of his person" it means that Jesus looks like Heavenly Father. 

Lesson:
Paul wrote his next epistle to the Hebrews. Who were the Hebrews? The Hebrews are also called the Jews or the Isrealites. Paul's epistle was addressed to Hebrew converts to the Church. Jewish people believed in the Messiah. In Paul's epistle, he reemphasizes the Jesus is the Son of God--the Messiah. "Many Jews found it difficult to accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The Epistle to the Hebrews teaches that everything about Jesus testifies of and exemplifies His Father" (Come Follow Me--For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2019, 171).
 

Activity: Hebrews Crossword 
Print and cut out the scripture passages below and place them into a bowl. Then print a copy of the crossword. Have each family members take turns reading each passage that describes Jesus Christ. Explain what each passage means and what it teaches about the Savior. Then use the passage as a clue to fill out the crossword. (For older children, do not print the passages but have them read in their scriptures to find the answers to the crossword.)

Heir of all things (1:2)

Made the worlds (1:2)

Express image of God’s body (1:3)

Upholding all things by the word of his power (1:3)

By himself purged our sins (1:3)

Right hand of the Majesty on high (1:3)

Loved righteousness (1:9)

Anointed with oil of gladness (1:9)

All things are put under him (2:8)

Should taste death for every man (2:9)

Captain of their salvation (2:10)

A merciful and faithful high priest (2:17)

As we read in Hebrews, we will learn more about the Savior and His divinity. Jefferey R. Holland said, "Jesus … came to improve man’s view of God and to plead with them to love their Heavenly Father as He has always and will always love them. … So feeding the hungry, healing the sick, rebuking hypocrisy, pleading for faith—this was Christ showing us the way of the Father” (“The Grandeur of God,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2003, 72).

Optional Activity: "Jesus Christ created the Earth for me" coloring page

Closing Song: "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" (Hymnal, 136)
Closing Prayer:

Refreshment: Banana Pudding Recipe Click Here