The Helps You Need to Teach Mosiah 1-3 "Filled with Love towards God and All Men" (April 13-19)
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This week we get to start the Book of Mosiah in Come, Follow Me Mosiah 1-3 "Filled with Love towards God and All Men" (April 13-19). The Book of Mosiah is definitely one of my favorites. You find heroes like Abinadi and Alma the Elder as well as follow the history of several different groups.
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Mosiah starts with King Benjamin appointing his son as the new king and giving his final words to his people. Chapters 2 & 3 are the words King Benjamin was given to speak by an angel (see Mosiah 4:1). Here are some key things we can learn from these chapters:
Scriptures bless our lives in many ways (Mosiah 1:1-7)
Preparation is required if we are to receive the word of God (Mosiah 2:1-9)
When we serve others, we are serving God (Mosiah 2:10-26)
We are eternally indebted to God (Mosiah 2:19-41)
Salvation comes only through Jesus Christ (Mosiah 3- have you noticed this recurring theme in the Book of Mormon?)
We can overcome the natural man through the Atonement of Jesus Christ (Mosiah 3:1-20)
Print a preview of Book of Mosiah to show your family as you dive into this great book. Knowing what’s coming can help give context as well as help us look forward to what we will be studying. You can color the images as you get to them, add the scripture verses around the characters as you come across each story, or hang it on your fridge as a reminder.
Videos
King Benjamin (about 3 minutes)- Illustrated scripture story
The Old Shoemaker (about 3 1/2 minutes)
The Coat (about 2 minutes)
My Favorite Scripture- Ashley (about 1 minute)
My Favorite Scripture- Alfredo (about 1 1/2 minutes)
Preparation of Gordon B. Hinckley: Forget Yourself and Go to Work (about 2 minutes)
Service Through Song (about 3 1/2 minutes)
Service (about 20 seconds)
The “Natural Man” (about 3 1/2 minutes)
Put Off the Natural Man (about 3 minutes)- Clip from President Henry B. Eyring
Articles and General Conference Talks
“‘Is Not This the Fast That I Have Chosen?’” by President Henry B. Eyring
“What I Have Done for Someone Today?” by President Thomas S. Monson
“Clean Hands and a Pure Heart” by Elder David A. Bednar
“The Word of God to His Children” by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“The Needs before Us” by Sister Bonnie L. Oscarson
“Ministering through General Conference” from Ensign April 2020
"The Joy of Service" by President Thomas S. Monson
"The Greatest among You" by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
"Unselfish Service" by Elder Dallin H. Oaks
"Finding Joy through Loving Service" by Elder M. Russell Ballard
"'I Was a Stranger'" by Sister Linda K. Burton
“How to Receive God’s Word” by Elder Neil L. Andersen
“The Blessings of General Conference” by Elder Paul V. Johnson
“General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony” by Elder Robert D. Hales
“General Conference- No Ordinary Blessing” by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“Put Off the Natural Man and Come Off Conqueror” by Elder Neal A. Maxwell
“Putting Off the Natural Man: How to Be ‘Spiritually Born of God’” by David W. Hellem
“Giving Our Spirits Control over Our Bodies” by President M. Russell Ballard
“What It Means to Be a Saint” by Brother Wm. Grant Bangerter
“Why Does King Benjamin Invite Us to Become like a Child?”- Ensign April 2020
Before you get started, review the list you made of King Benjamin a few ago when we studied the Words of Mormon. Since Mosiah 1 starts when King Benjamin is ready to hand the crown on to his son, it’s good to remember all he has already done.
Preparation to Receive the Word of God
Reflect back on General Conference. How did you prepare for this wonderful and historical meeting? Did you write down questions, decline other invitations, pray to be open to the messages and for the speakers, etc? Make a list of things that you did. Now reflect back on your normal Sunday routines. How do you prepare yourself for church on Sunday (whether we are still having it in our homes or attending in the chapel)? What do you do so you can be open to the words of God at church? Are you ready to discuss the week’s lesson? Do you pray to receive the messages you need? Do you come with questions to be answered? Discuss with your family why you do certain things and how it helps prepare you. What are some other things you might want to start or stop doing? How can you prepare better as a family?
Sometimes we put so much work into preparing for General Conference, we forget or are too tired to do the work that is required after General Conference. Take this time to go back through your notes from General Conference or read the talks you missed. As you do so, use my “I Will Go and Do” note page to write down some the things you are inspired to act upon (and other pages to help you review). Hang your action page somewhere you will see it often so you can remember to act on the promptings you have had as you have received the words of God.
How can you help others receive the word of God? Read “Ministering through General Conference” from Ensign April 2020 and contemplate some ways you can share the words of the prophets with your ministering families and friends.
Have you gone to church one week and had an incredible experience while another week you have felt like you got nothing out of it? What was the difference in your personal preparation? What can you do when you start to get off track with your preparation to receive messages from God?
What are some things you do before studying the scriptures? Why? How does it help with your study?
We Are Serving God When We Serve Others
Service is probably the first thing we think of when it comes to King Benjamin’s speech (that and a tower). There are so many different ways to serve, help your family learn how to see the needs of those around them by becoming Secret Service Agents. Your free printable includes two pages of training exercises followed by a mission report they can fill out after performing an act of service. It can be your own secret service journal. After the training is complete, present each with their own agent badge.
Adjust the training exercises for the ages you need. If you have younger children, instead of finding someone who looks lonely help your child understand what that might look like. Take turns using visual clues and having your child guess what you are feeling. Then ask what they can do to help. I bet they have some pretty great ideas.
Have a teen that isn’t going to want to wear the Secret Service Agent badge? No big deal. They may roll their eyes at the Training Guide but you can turn the Training Warm-up into a competition with friends or other family members. There are lots of blank spaces for you to add additional challenges unique to your area and situation. See how many they can do within a set time frame or set benchmarks and things they can earn as they reach those goals.
Is Church still canceled? See if the parents of your class would be willing to do the service training exercises (just email the link to this page). Then they can loop you in when each child has finished the training and you can make an official badge presentation. Remember to play some ceremonial music!
Having home church? Why not ask someone to share their testimony of service this week.
Note: You can make your own folder or use the printable folder included. There are labels you can use to add to the folder as well as to each mission completed.
As you figure out the best way to serve others, you can use this Service Survey from The Friend (March 2019)
Create a puppet show for these chapters! You can print out some characters from The Friend (June 1992). Of course, you could act out the whole thing yourself and build your own safe tower and tents too.
Some questions you can use as you discuss this topic of service: How do you make serving others a way of life? How has other's service blessed you? How has service brought you happiness? How can you and your family reach out and serve this week, next week, etc.? What blessings has Church service brought into your life? How does this attitude of service change the way you approach your calling? What opportunities for service did you see this week? How did you respond to each one? What ills of yours have been cured through service? What distracts or holds us back from serving? Do we recognize the small things we do as service? How can we recognize those in need of service? What keeps us from asking for help? Why is service something the Lord requires of us?
Sing, "Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" then discuss what that song means and how we can be rays of sunlight each day no matter our circumstances. You can even send someone a box of sunshine!
This week’s Family Study Fun found every month in the Ensign, is my idea. It’s called “Gratitude Tower of Service” and helps you appreciate other’s service as well as share the acts you have done.
What are some acts of service we can do while we are at church? Here’s a short story from The Friend (December 2018) that you can read with your family as you ponder this question.
There are a lot more great free printables under the topic of Service in the children’s resource section of ChurchofJesusChrist.org if you need more.
We Can Overcome the Natural Man through the Atonement of Jesus Christ
Show your family how they can put off the natural man with this fun paper craft! Each cone doll has two parts. The top layer represents the natural man. Discuss what the natural man is and how we sometimes give in to those feelings and temptations. Then talk about how we can put off the natural man and become a saint as you remove the top layer.
Use the extra white space on the cones to write down some examples of the natural man versus a Saint. Why do you want to be a Saint?
Have little ones? Attach a stick to the Saint cone and place it inside a plastic cup. You’ll need to poke a hole for the stick to go through at the bottom. Then you can play peek-a-boo with the paper doll. It hides inside the cup like a natural man hides his light. Then pops out as you push the stick up to share with the world like a Saint would.
Have older kids? Ask them to design their own cones instead. How would they represent the natural man. Why? What do they envision a Saint to look like? You don’t have to make cones either, use whatever art form your family likes- paint, clay, sketches, etc.
What does it mean to be a Saint? Study Elder Quentin L. Cook’s talk, “Are You a Saint?” and find the answer along with your study of Mosiah 3. If you need something simpler for younger children, here’s a great summary of Elder Cook’s talk from The Friend (September 2008).
Review the name of our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What do you think that last part means- “Latter-day Saints”? Why do you think it is apart of the Church’s name? How has using the proper name of the Church helped you remember who you are?
Miscellaneous Ideas for Mosiah 1-3
In Mosiah 1:1-7, we’re reminded why it’s so important to have written scriptures. How have the scriptures blessed your life? You may want to read “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?” by President Russell M. Nelson as you ponder that question.
In Mosiah 2:19-41, Mosiah reminds us that we are always indebted to God for everything we have. Write a list of about 5-10 blessings you are especially grateful for then read Mosiah 2:19-24. How many things on your list are also in these verses? Anything else you want to add to your list? How can you show your gratitude to the Lord?
- If you are looking for more helps, I highly recommend MeckMom's Creative Teaching for Come, Follow Me. She has brillant object lessons that will help your family not only enjoy the lessons but also remember the principles taught. I find most of her ideas are best for Senior Primary through teens although I'm sure the younger ones can still have fun with them.
- The Red Headed Hostess always has great lesson packets for all ages as well. You'll find collectible cards, teaching activities, and more.
- Love, Pray, Teach has great lesson packets as well if you are looking for something different.
- If your family loves videos, check out Drawn In with David Bowman. Use my affiliate promo code CKN10 for 10% off. You can check out some of his free videos first to make sure you like his style.
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