Lesson 8: The Church of Jesus Christ Has Prophets

to Teach Us

PURPOSE

• To help the children understand the importance of listening to and

obeying the teachings of the prophets.

Our Opening Prayer will be given by

(Enter Name Here)

Listen to the following story about a righteous king and prophet.

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•King Benjamin was a righteous Nephite king.

With the help of other righteous men, he brought peace to the land.

•King Benjamin became old and wanted to talk to his people.

•He needed to tell them that his son Mosiah would be the next king.

•The people came from all over the land and gathered near the temple. •They placed their tents so the

doors faced the temple.

King Benjamin spoke from a tower so the Nephites could hear him.

•He told his people that he had tried hard to serve them.

•He said the way to serve God is by serving one another.

King Benjamin told the people to obey God’s commandments.

Those who faithfully keep

the commandments

will be happy and someday live

with God.

•King Benjamin said Jesus Christ would soon be born on the earth. •His mother’s name would be

Mary.

• Jesus would perform miracles.

•He would heal the sick and bring the dead back to life. •He would make the blind see and the

deaf hear.

• Jesus would suffer and die for the sins of all people. •Those who repent and have faith in

Jesus will be forgiven of their sins.•Those who

repent and have faith in Jesus will be forgiven of their sins.

•King Benjamin told the Nephites that wicked men would whip Jesus.•Then they would crucify him.

•After three days Jesus would be resurrected.

•After King Benjamin spoke, the Nephites fell to the ground. •They were sorry for their sins

and wanted to repent.

•The people had faith in Jesus Christ, and they prayed to be forgiven.

•The Holy Ghost filled their hearts.

•They knew that God had forgiven them and that he loved them. •They felt peace and joy.

•King Benjamin told his people to believe in God.

•He wanted them to know that God had created all things and that he is wise and powerful.

•King Benjamin told the people to be humble and pray every day. •He wanted

his people to always remember God and be faithful.

He told the parents not to let their children fight or argue.

He told them to teach their children to be obedient and to

love and serve one another.

•He warned the people to be careful with what they thought, said, and did. •They were to be faithful and keep the

commandments for the rest of their lives.

•King Benjamin asked the people if they believed his teachings. •They all said they did.

•The Holy Ghost had changed them, and they no longer wanted to sin.

•They all covenanted, or promised, to keep God’s commandments.

•King Benjamin was pleased.

•King Benjamin gave his son Mosiah the right to be the new king.

•Three years later King Benjamin died.

•Mosiah was a righteous king. •He worked hard and served his

people, as his father had.

Scripture discussion

• Let’s read Luke • 70 As he spake by the mouth of

his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

• Sometimes the Lord teaches us by telling his prophets what we need to know, and the Church always has a prophet leading it. •Who was the first prophet on this

earth? •Adam.•Who was the first latter-day prophet? • Joseph Smith.

•Who is our prophet and President of the Church now? •Thomas S. Monson

•What Bible and Book of Mormon prophets can you name? •Can anyone choose to

be a prophet?

• In John 15:16 we read:• 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I

have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

• Explain that not everyone is called to be a prophet. • Jesus Christ himself

chooses who his prophet will be.

•When Jesus Christ chooses a prophet, he gives him all the authority he will need to preside over the Church. •This prophet is also

the President of the Church.

•When Jesus Christ chooses a prophet, he gives him all the authority he will need to preside over the Church.

• This prophet is also the President of the Church.

Heavenly Father Has Given Us Prophets to Lead and Bless Us

• Listen carefully to the following statements. • If they agree with the statement,

you should stand up. • If they disagree, you should sit

down.

• 1. We receive messages from our prophet at general conference. • Agree.• The prophet’s counselors and the

Twelve Apostles are also prophets.• 2. Our prophet will never tell us the

wrong things to do. • Agree. • We believe that what the prophet

tells us will always be the right thing to do.

• 3. President Thomas S. Monson is the prophet and President of the Church. • Agree.

• 4. Our prophet tells us the things that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to do so that we will be happy and be able to live with them again. • Agree

•The prophet gives us messages in the Church magazines, speaks in meetings, and directs and teaches other Church leaders. • Jesus Christ was the

greatest prophet who has lived on the earth. He taught the gospel and performed many miracles.

• Listen to the following story about President David O. McKay, one of the latter-day prophets.• Latter-day prophets are those who

have lived since Joseph Smith, or close to the time that we live.

When President David O. McKay was the prophet, he traveled throughout much of the world to meet and lead the members of the Church. Once when he was in Germany, he heard about a mother who was paralyzed and could not come to the conference to hear him speak.

This mother had two children, and she wanted them to go to the conference and see and hear the living prophet. With great faith she said, “I know if I send my children to shake hands with President McKay, and then they come home and take my hand—if I can hold their little hands in mine—I know that I shall get better.”

Arrangements were made so that her two children were able to go to the conference. The children were thrilled and excited as they traveled to see the prophet.

At the end of the conference, President McKay shook hands with many people who were there. He knew that these two children were coming, and when he saw them, he shook hands with them and said, “Will you take this handkerchief to your mother with my blessing?”

The children took the handkerchief back to their mother. She was very happy and thanked the Lord every day for the handkerchief and the blessing which President McKay sent through her two children. Immediately after the children came home, she began to get better, and she was soon able to move her body and take care of her children.

We Can Follow the Prophet

• Somewhere in this room is a message from the prophet of the Church to the members of this class. • See if you can find it.”

Enrichment Activity 1

•Everyone form a line behind me.• I want you to march quietly

around the room while singing the words to “Follow the Prophet”.

Enrichment Activity 1

• Follow the prophet, follow the prophet, Follow the prophet; don’t go astray. Follow the prophet, follow the prophet, Follow the prophet; he knows the way.

Enrichment Activity 1

• How will you, the leader, follow the teachings of the prophet.• The leader needs to move to the end and

the next classmate is the new leader.

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Enrichment Activity 2

• When we follow the prophet by doing what he asks us to do, we will be blessed and be able to return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. • Here is a maze. (Hand out)Mark the right

path to get back to Heavenly Father and Jesus.

Enrichment Activity 3

• What is the name of our Current Church President?• Thomas S. Monson

• Here are some facts about him.

Enrichment Activity 3

• He has been the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since February 3, 2008. • He had served as a Counselor in the First

Presidency of the Church since November 10, 1985. • He was set apart as First Counselor to

President Gordon B. Hinckley on March 12, 1995.

Enrichment Activity 3

• Prior to that, on June 5, 1994, he was called as Second Counselor to President Howard W. Hunter, • On November 10, 1985, as Second

Counselor to President Ezra Taft Benson. • He was sustained to the Quorum of the

Twelve Apostles on October 4, 1963, • He was ordained an Apostle on October

10, 1963, at the age of 36.

Enrichment Activity 3

• Born in Salt Lake City, on August 21, 1927.• He attended Salt Lake City public schools• He graduated from the University of Utah

in 1948.

Enrichment Activity 3

• He served in the United States Navy.• He married Frances Beverly Johnson on

October 7, 1948• He currently serves as chairman of the

LDS Church Board of Education and Board of Trustees.• Since 1969 President Monson has served

as a member of the National Executive Board of Boy Scouts of America.

TESTIMONY• I want to bear my testimony of the

blessings that have come to me through studying the teachings of the prophets in the scriptures and obeying the living prophet. • By following the prophets, it is

easier to stay on the straight and narrow path that leads back to Heavenly Father.

Our Closing Prayer will be given by

(Enter Name Here)

THE END

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