Lesson 24: Alma 13-16

June 15-21
Alma 13-16
"Enter Into the Rest of the Lord"

Materials: priesthood cards (front and back) printed and cut out, scriptures
Opening Song: "Love is Spoken Here" (Children's Songbook, 190)
Opening Prayer: 
Scripture: Alma 13:11 Therefore they were called after this holy order, and were ^asanctified, and their ^bgarments were washed white through the blood of the Lamb.

Attention Activity:
Have the cards below printed and cut out (Backside below). Lay them out on the floor or the table scrambled. Have your family unscramble them to spell out "priesthood."

Lesson:
Today we are going to discuss truths Alma teaches about righteous men/priesthood holders. In Alma chapter 13, Alma shares that through their own righteousness, priesthood bearers are sanctified and enter into the rest of the Lord. 

Turn your attention back to the "priesthood" cards. On the back of each card is a verse from chapter 13 and a truth about the priesthood summarized from that verse. Have each family member take turns flipping over the cards and reading about the priesthood. 

Now that we know a little more about the priesthood, let's learn about the blessings promised to them. Keep in mind that these blessings are available to every worthy endowed member of the Church, male and female. Read Alma 13:10-12. 

Activity: 
Close your eyes and imagine you have just been outside and are now very dirty. Maybe you were working in the yard pulling weeds and your fingernails and hands are covered in dirt. Maybe you were playing in the yard after a rainstorm and now have itchy grass and mud over your legs and arms. You feel dirty and uncomfortable. Now imagine that you just stepped out of the bath or shower. Your hair smells like shampoo, and your skin is clean and fresh. Repentance is kind of like taking a shower after you're sweaty and dirty from being outside. How are these feelings similar to what we feel when we sin and then repent and become clean through the Savior's atonement? 

Through Christ's atonement we can repent and as Alma says be "sanctified", "be "washed white", and be "pure and spotless before God." When we are truly clean and ready to enter into the kingdom of God we will no long want to sin, but look at it with "abhorrence" (disgust). The blessing from becoming clean like this is that we can "enter into the rest of the Lord." Entering into His rest is another way of saying gaining celestial glory, exaltation, or everlasting life. 

Through the ordinances of the holy Melchezidek Priesthood, we are able to receive redemption through Jesus Christ and through our faithfulness we can become clean and enter into his rest.

Closing Song: "The Fifth Article of Faith" song (Children's Songbook, 125)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment:
Cinnamon and Sugar Soft Pretzels recipe here

Lesson 23: Alma 8-12

 June 8-14
Alma 8-12
"Jesus Christ Will Come to Redeem His People"

Materials: scriptures, pictures of carrot & egg, coloring page
Opening Song: "Choose the Right Way" (Children's Songbook, 160) 
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: Alma 12:10

Attention Activity:
        Sing "If You're Happy and You Know It" or "If You Chance To Meet a Frown" with your family. Happy people are easy to be around. A happy person has a good attitude. What does it mean to have a good attitude? (optimistic, doesn't complain, smiles, happy, cheerful, kind, open-minded) What does it mean to have a bad attitude? (grumpy, complains, pouts, angry, upset, pessimistic, closed off, stubborn, close-minded)

Lesson:

Read Alma 12: 10-11. What does it mean to "harden your heart?" Hardening your heart is like having a bad attitude about the gospel. This could be because they feel offended or maybe because they are angry when they are making wrong choices. Their hearts and minds become closed. 

What do you think happens to people who "harden their hearts?" It says in Alma that they "receive a lesser portion of the word, until they know nothing of his mysteries". When someone hardens their hearts, they ignore the Holy Ghost. They are cut off from the spirit. This leads to further sin or being "taken captive by the devil." 

So do we want to have hard heart or soft hearts? Show a picture of a carrot and a picture of an egg like the ones below. What happens when you boil a carrot? What happens when you boil an egg? If you were to put the carrot and the egg in the same boiling pot of water, one would get soft and the other would get hard. In this life, we have to face adversity and sin like the boiling water. We have a choice. Do we let or sins and trials harden our hearts and turn us away from the Lord. Or do we let our adversity soften our hearts, enabling us to become more humble and meek?

Verse 10 also says that if we don't harden our hearts, God will give us a "greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full."  This means that if we have soft hearts and open minds Heavenly Father promises to give us further light and knowledge about the gospel and personal revelation through the companionship of the Holy Ghost. 

Read Alma 10: 5-6. Amulek had hardened his heart and rebelled against God. He admits that he refused to "hear" Him. Then in verse 7-10 Amulek describes how he appears to him and tells him that a holy man will come to his house and he should feed him. Amulek softens  his heart and chooses to believe the angels words. He kindly feeds the holy man, Alma. Because Amulek softens his heart he is blessed by the Lord and becomes Alma's missionary companion. It says in Alma 8: 30-31, "And they were filled with the Holy Ghost. And they had ^apower given unto them, insomuch that they could not be confined in dungeons; neither was it possible that any man could slay them; nevertheless they did not exercise their ^bpower until they were bound in bands and cast into prison. Now, this was done that the Lord might show forth his power in them."

We all have times in our lives where we have a bad attitude. How can we keep our struggles and bad days from hardening our hearts? Share the following quote from President Monson from "Living the Abundant Life," Ensign. Jan. 2012. 

Activity: "Choose Happy" Coloring Page click here

Closing Song: "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam" Verse 2 (Children's Songbook, 60)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment:
Carrot Cake Blondies recipe here 

Lesson 22: Alma 5-7

June 1-7
Alma 5-7
"Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?" 

Materials: Whiteboard, marker, printout cut into strips (see below), tape, poster, art supplies
Opening Song: "I Will Follow God's Plan" (Children's Songbook, 164)
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: Alma 5:28 Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand

Attention Activity:
Have a whiteboard or piece of paper ready. Show the picture below. What materials do you need to go camping? Can you just get in the car and go or do you have to prepare? How do you prepare? (pack food, cooking equipment, pack sleeping bags and tents, reserve a camping spot, etc.) 

Lesson:
We have always heard it is important to "be prepared." That motto has been used by the Boy Scouts of America for decades and even used by the wicked lion, Scar in The Lion King. 

Why is it important to be prepared? What has the Lord asked us to prepare for? When Alma was teaching, he asked them a bunch of questions. These questions were meant to help his people to think about whether or not they were prepared to meet God. 

Cut the printout below into strips and place into a bowl. Have family members take turns reading the questions Alma asked his people in chapter 5:14-33. Tape the questions to the whiteboard. When finished read aloud the questions in the blue parenthesis ( ). 

Some of these questions might look familiar some of you. Raise your hand if you've ever had an interview for a temple recommend. A lot of these questions are similar to those the bishop and member of the stake presidency ask you before you are able to enter the holy temple. 
Read your family the temple interview questions (from Closing Remarks, President Nelson, October 2019). 

1. Do you have faith in and a testimony of God, the Eternal Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost?
2. Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and of His role as your Savior and Redeemer?
3. Do you have a testimony of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
4. Do you sustain the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the prophet, seer, and revelator and as the only person on the earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys?
   Do you sustain the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators?
   Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local leaders of the Church?
5. The Lord has said that all things are to be “done in cleanliness” before Him (Doctrine and Covenants 42:41).
   Do you strive for moral cleanliness in your thoughts and behavior?
   Do you obey the law of chastity?
6. Do you follow the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ in your private and public behavior with members of your family and others?
7. Do you support or promote any teachings, practices, or doctrine contrary to those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
8. Do you strive to keep the Sabbath day holy, both at home and at church; attend your meetings; prepare for and worthily partake of the sacrament; and live your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?
9. Do you strive to be honest in all that you do?
10. Are you a full-tithe payer?
11. Do you understand and obey the Word of Wisdom?
12. Do you have any financial or other obligations to a former spouse or to children?
    If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?
13. Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple, including wearing the temple garment as instructed in the endowment?
14. Are there serious sins in your life that need to be resolved with priesthood authorities as part of your repentance?
15. Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord’s house and participate in temple ordinances?

So how do you know if you are prepared to meet God? It's rather simple. If you can give honestly answer the questions above and are found worthy to receive a temple recommend, you are on the right track. Elder Cornish of the seventy said, "As with my own experience, our members often ask, 'Am I good enough as a person?' or 'Will I really make it to the celestial kingdom?' ...Let me be direct and clear. The answers to the questions 'Am I good enough?' and 'Will I make it?' are 'Yes! You are going to be good enough' and 'Yes, you are going to make it as long as you keep repenting and do not rationalize or rebel.'" ("Am I Good Enough? Will I Make it?" General Conference, October 2016). 

Activity: Be Prepared Poster

Using a poster board and art supplies, have your family come up with poster/ad using the words "Be Prepared." You could show your family some MormonAds for some inspiration. The poster can have bold lettering, pictures, taglines, scripture captions, it's up to you. Display the poster in your home through the week as a reminder to always be prepared to meet God. 


Closing Song: "Come, Come Ye Saints" (Hymnal, 30)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: 
Brownie Truffles recipe here

Lesson 21: Mosiah 29- Alma 4

May 25-31

Mosiah 29- Alma 4
"They were steadfast and immovable"

Materials: scriptures, coloring page 
Opening Song: Keep the Commandments (Children's Songbook, 146)
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: Alma 1: 30 And thus, in their ^aprosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were ^bnaked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon ^criches; therefore they were ^dliberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no ^erespect to persons as to those who stood in need.

Attention Activity:
Who has ever gotten a birthday card, maybe from Grandma or Grandpa? Have you ever opened it to see money inside the card? How do we usually get money? We usually have to work to get money. Is having a lot of money a good thing or a bad thing? We need to have enough money to pay for the essentials of living like our homes and our food. But, it is important to remember that all the money and the success receive are blessings from our Heavenly Father.




Lesson:

We are going to learn today about the Nephites and the effects that money had on them and their standing with the Lord. Read Alma 4:6-9. How were the Nephites doing at this moment? They were wealthy but they were also living is sin. They were spending their wealth on gold, silver, and "precious things". What kind of clothes were they buying? (Fine silks, fine-twined linen, costly apparel). We hear the term "costly apparel" often in The Book of Mormon just like we hear the term "precious things" often. The Nephites' priorities were all mixed up. They were too focused on things. 

In the book series The Lord of the Rings, there is a character named Gollum. While out fishing, Gollum finds a beautiful shiny gold ring. Overtime, he becomes possessive and greedy. He pushes all others away and the ring consumes him until he becomes a grotesque creature. He calls the ring his "precious" and even commits murder to possess it. His love for a worldly possession ruins his whole life and even leads to his death. 

Photographs were copyright free images taken from pixabay.com

Let us learn from Gollum's mistakes. Although it is nice to have material things, true joy and happiness can only come through living the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Split your family into two groups have half our your family read Alma 4:12-14 and the other read Alma 1:27-31. How does the righteous spend their wealth? What differences could you see between what we just read in our groups and what we read before? It is not sinful to earn a lot of money as long as you use that money to help others. In fact, it is made quite clear in Alma 1 that Heavenly Father blesses the righteous with success and wealth so they can use it to help others.

Read Alma 1: 27 again. What kind of clothing did the righteous Nephites wear? (not costly, but neat and comely) This doesn't mean that we can't get dressed up or wear nice clothes, but rather that our clothes should not be the center of our attention. In the For Strength of Youth pamphlet it says, "Prophets of God have continually counseled His children to dress modestly. When you are well groomed and modestly dressed, you invite the companionship of the Spirit and you can be a good influence on others. Your dress and grooming influence the way you and others act." (pg. 6) What does it mean to dress modestly? It is important that you practice dressing modestly now, because later you will make a covenant to do so when you attend the temple to receive your endowment. 

The Nephites have a complicated relationship with wealth and pride. We will talk about this even more in later chapters when we study the pride cycle. Jesus Christ and the prophets of the Lord have made it clear that our priorities should not revolve around money or "stuff". We should use our blessings to help those around us and build up the kingdom of God. 

Activity: Coloring Page (link here) and Service Activity
The next time you go to the grocery store have every member of your family choose one can of food to purchase and drop off at the local food bank. 


Closing Song: "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" (Children's Songbook, 78)
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment: Banana Carmel Ice Cream Pie Recipe here

Lesson 20: Mosiah 25-28

May 18-24
Mosiah 25-28
"They were called the people of God"

Materials: video (link below, coloring page)
Opening Song: "Keep the Commandments" (Children's Songbook, 146)
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: Mosiah 27: 25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be ^aborn again; yea, ^bborn of God, ^cchanged from their carnal and ^dfallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his ^esons and daughters;

Attention Activity:
Last week we talked about the baptismal covenant. Did you know that all baptismal fonts are  below ground? This is symbolic of spiritual rebirth. Today, we are going to talk about spiritual rebirth as we learn about the life of Alma the Younger, Alma's son. 

Conversion of Alma the Younger (The Conversion of Alma), by Gary L. Kapp

Lesson:
Have your family watch the Book of Mormon video "Alma the Younger Is Converted unto the Lord" from thechurchofjesuschrist.org (about 12 min.) Alma tried to lead people away from the church. What changed Alma's mind about God? Most of us do not get to see angels like Alma or Paul. But like Alma the Younger, we all need to become truly converted to the gospel. Read Mosiah 27: 25. Being born again is a term that means being converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are born again when we are baptized and take upon ourselves the name of Christ. We renew our covenant to be "born again" every time we take the sacrament. 

"Just as a cucumber is transformed into a pickle as it is immersed in and saturated with salt brine, so you and I are born again as we are absorbed by and in the gospel of Jesus Christ...And after we come out of the waters of baptism, our souls need to be continuously immersed in and saturated with the truth and the light of the Savior’s gospel" (Elder David A. Bednar, "Ye Must Be Born Again" April General Conference, 2007). In other wards being "born again" is an ongoing process. We must try everyday to immerse ourselves in the gospel, trying to live a disciples of Christ. 

Alma had an amazing spiritual experience that helped strengthen his testimony. Elder Neil L. Anderson said in April 2020 General Conference, "Along with the peaceful direction we receive from the Holy Ghost, from time to time, God powerfully and very personally assures each of us that He knows us and loves us and that He is blessing us specifically and openly." We all have had spiritual experiences that have helped to develop our faith. What experiences have you had that have helped you to see that God is real and that he loves you? Read Mosiah 27: 16 . The angel told Alma the younger to remember all the things that God has done for his people. "What 'great things' has the Lord done for you or your family that you should 'remember'?" (CFMFIAF Manual) 

Elder Anderson went on to say, "Embrace your sacred memories. Believe them. Write them down. Share them with your family. Trust that they come to you from your Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son. Let them bring patience to your doubts and understanding to your difficulties. I promise you that as you willingly acknowledge and carefully treasure the spiritually defining events in your life, more and more will come to you. "

We will have times in our lives where we will have to draw from our testimony and our spiritually defining memories. These times will be easier for us to cope with, if we are able to do as Elder Bednar directs and immerse ourself in the gospel--to constantly choose to be born again every week as we partake of the sacrament. Bear your own testimony. 

Activity: Alma the Younger Coloring page 


Closing Song: "Book of Mormon Stories" verse 3 (Children's Songbook, 118)

Alma was rebellious, and he fought against the right.

Then one day an angel came to turn him to the light.

Struck before his brethren, Alma learned humility.

Then he taught in the land righteously.

Closing Prayer:

Refreshment:
Perfect Fried Pickle recipe here 

Lesson 19: Mosiah 18-24

May 11-17
Mosiah 18-24
"We have entered into a covenant with Him"

Materials: Bear pictures, baptism paper craft printout (link below), scissors, construction paper, brads, glue, crayons. 
Opening Song: "When Jesus Christ was baptized" (Children's Songbook, )
Opening Prayer:
Scripture: Mosiah 18:13

Attention Activity:
Have two family members come to the front. Tell your family you're going to give them a clue the pair will have to act out like charades. The word is "baptism."

Lesson:
Alma was a priest of wicked King Noah who fled when Noah tried to kill him. Alma had believed the words of Abinadi and repented of his sins. He went secretly among the people teaching them the words of Abinadi about Christ, the redemption, and the resurrection. Alma and his followers came to a beautiful place called the "Waters of Mormon" and Alma taught the people there. Alma taught that in order to become "into the fold of God," they needed to be willing to do certain things. 


Alma Baptizes in the Waters of Mormon, by Arnold Friberg (62332); GAK 309

Show bear picture below. The first thing they needed to do was to be willing to take upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ and "be called His people." When we become members of the church we covenant to bear His name. This means that we are representatives of Him and His gospel. We need to act like His disciples.
 
The next thing that Alma said they needed to do was to "bear one another's burdens, that may be light." This means that we need to be willing to help others. We need to be compassionate and kind, "willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort." As a member of the church we covenant to do these things. A good question to ask yourself regularly is how you are doing on this topic. Are you nice to your fellow men? Do you treat your family with kindness? Do you compassionately minister to those around you?

The last thing that Alma said the people needed to do was to "stand as a witnesses of God at all times, and in all things, and in all places." This means that we need to bear testimony of the gospel to others and to stand for the right like we talked about last week. 


Read Mosiah 18:10. Alma said that if we are willing to bear the name of Jesus Christ, bear one another's burdens, and bear testimony, we should be baptized members of the Church. Alma's followers desired to be baptized and he baptized 204 people in the waters of Mormon. 

Ask your family members who have been baptized to raise their hands. When you were baptized you covenanted with him to do the things that Alma described. Invite your family members to share about their baptisms or how keeping their baptismal covenants have helped them. 

Activity: 
Baptism paper craft. Link here.  Directions: print out and cut the pieces to of the paper craft. Have your family color the pieces. Glue the background with clouds to the construction paper. Make two vertical slits on the lines on the background. Take a brad and attach the Jesus and John piece to the background. Take the water piece and stick the ends into the vertical slits in the background and glue. When assembled, Jesus and John should be able to look like the are going in and out of the water.

Closing Song: "When I am baptized" (Children's Songbook, )
Closing Prayer:
Refreshment:
Blueberry Pie Bars Recipe Here

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: