34594, Primary 4, 18: King Lamoni's Father Is Converted, Purpose, 60
To help each child understand that through the plan of redemption we can be forgiven for our sins.
1. Prayerfully study Alma 20:1-22:26 and Alma 23:1, Alma 23:4-5. Then study the lesson and decide how you want to teach the children the scripture account. (See "Preparing Your Lessons," p. vi, and "Teaching from the Scriptures," p. vii.)
2. Select the discussion questions and enrichment activities that will involve the children and best help them achieve the purpose of the lesson.
3. Prepare the following eight wordstrips (or you could plan to write the words on the chalkboard):
Creation
Adam and Eve-Fall
Sin
Physical Death
Jesus Christ-Atonement
Resurrection
Repentance
Plan of Redemption
4. Materials needed:
a. A Book of Mormon for each child.
b. Pictures 4-9, Jesus the Christ (Gospel Art Picture Kit 240; 62572); 4-31, Ammon and Lamoni Meet Lamoni's Father; and 4-32, Aaron Reading the Scriptures to Lamoni's Father.
Invite a child to give the opening prayer.
Ask the children to remember how they have felt when they have had a nightmare. Invite a child or two to share how they felt. Then ask them to remember what a relief it was to wake up and realize it was not real but just a dream.
Explain that disobeying Heavenly Father's commandments causes unhappiness, pain, and sorrow. Those who feel guilty for disobeying might wish they could "wake up" and find that their sins were gone. Forgiveness for sins is not that simple, but Heavenly Father has provided a way for us to be forgiven for our sins.
Display the following four wordstrips: "Creation," "Adam and Eve-Fall," "Sin," and "Physical Death." Briefly explain (plan on about two minutes) that before the earth was created we all lived as spirit children of our Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ, under the direction of Heavenly Father, created this world and everything on it. Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden, where they chose to partake of the fruit Heavenly Father had forbidden them to eat. Adam and Eve's disobedience in partaking of the fruit is called the Fall. Explain that we are grateful to Adam and Eve because they made it possible for us to be born on earth. The Fall was necessary, but it had two serious consequences for all of us:
We would all commit sin, making poor choices between good and evil.
We would all suffer physical death.
Explain that before the earth was created, Heavenly Father already had a plan that could redeem, or save, us if we repent. (Alma 12:22-25.) Explain that in this lesson the children will learn about a Lamanite king who realized he had committed serious sins and how he obtained forgiveness for his sins.
Teach the account of the conversion of King Lamoni's father recorded in Alma 20:1-22:26. Include in your discussion what King Lamoni's father learned about the plan of redemption. (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see "Teaching from the Scriptures," p. vii.) Use the pictures at appropriate times.
Study the following questions and the scripture references as you prepare your lesson. Use the questions you feel will best help the children understand the scriptures and apply the principles in their lives. Reading the references with the children in class will help them gain insights into the scriptures.
* Why did King Lamoni go with Ammon to the land of Middoni? (Alma 20:1-5.) Explain that Aaron was one of Ammon's imprisoned missionary brothers.
* How do we know that Lamoni's father was not ready to receive the gospel when he first met Ammon? (Alma 20:10, Alma 20:13-14.)
* What helped soften Lamoni's father's heart so that he would later receive the message of the gospel? (Alma 20:26-27.) How do you feel about people who show love to you? How can you show your love to others?
* How did Aaron know he was to visit Lamoni's father? (Alma 22:1.)
* What caused Lamoni's father to be troubled? (Alma 22:4-6.)
* Why do you think Lamoni's father became interested in the gospel when Ammon said: "If ye will repent ye shall be saved, and if ye will not repent, ye shall be cast off at the last day"? (Alma 22:6).
* What did Aaron use as he taught King Lamoni's father? (Alma 22:12.) How can reading the scriptures help us?
* What was the first thing Aaron discussed with Lamoni's father? (Alma 22:7-8.) Why is it so important to believe in Heavenly Father?
* What did Aaron teach Lamoni's father about the Creation? (Alma 22:10.)
* In whose image were we created? (Alma 22:12.) Why is it important for you to know you were created in the image of your Heavenly Father?
* What did Aaron teach Lamoni's father about the Fall and the Atonement? (Alma 22:12-14.)
Help the children understand that by suffering for our sins, giving his life for us, and being resurrected, Jesus Christ overcame the effects of the Fall. Put the wordstrip "Jesus Christ-Atonement" on top of the wordstrip "Adam and Eve-Fall."
Because of Jesus' resurrection all of us will be resurrected. Put the wordstrip "Resurrection" on top of the wordstrip "Physical Death."
Jesus suffered for our sins, making it possible for us to repent and be forgiven. Put the wordstrip "Repentance" on top of the wordstrip "Sin."
Put the wordstrip "Plan of Redemption" above the other wordstrips, and explain that this is Heavenly Father's plan to help us become like him.
* After Aaron explained the plan of redemption, what did Lamoni's father want to know? (Alma 22:15.)
* What did Aaron tell Lamoni's father to do? (Alma 22:16.) What must we do to receive forgiveness for our sins and be worthy of receiving eternal life?
* What did Lamoni's father do that showed he wanted to repent? (Alma 22:17-18.) What happened as a result of the king's conversion? (Alma 22:22-23, Alma 22:25-26; Alma 23:1, Alma 23:4-5.)
You may use one or more of the following activities any time during the lesson or as a review, summary, or challenge.
1. Invite the children to mark in their copies of the scriptures any passages they have read, such as the following, that they feel are especially important:
"If ye will repent ye shall be saved, and if ye will not repent, ye shall be cast off at the last day" (Alma 22:6).
"I will give away all my sins to know thee" (Alma 22:18).
2. Review the second and third articles of faith, and help the children understand and memorize them.
3. Draw a large square on the chalkboard or paper, and divide it into nine equal squares. Number the squares from one to nine as shown:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Divide the class into two teams. Assign each team a mark, such as X and O. Ask someone from the first team to choose a number from one to nine; then read the corresponding question below. Any member of the team may answer the question. If the team members answer the question correctly, they can put their team's mark in the square that has the same number as the question they answered. If they don't answer the question correctly, leave the square blank. Have the two teams alternate turns. The game is over when either team gets three marks in a row, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
1) What is Heavenly Father's great plan for us called? (The plan of salvation, the plan of redemption, or the plan of happiness.)
2) What does redeem mean? (Save us from the bondage of sin.)
3) Who created the earth? (Jesus Christ, under Heavenly Father's direction.)
4) Who were the first people on the earth? (Adam and Eve.)
5) What happened because Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit? (They were cast out of the Garden of Eden, they could have children, they became mortal, and they were able to choose between right and wrong [see Moses 5:11].)
6) Aaron taught the king from the scriptures or the brass plates. What are the four books of scripture we use to teach the gospel, or plan of redemption? (The Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price.)
7) What was the first thing Aaron taught King Lamoni's father? (There is a God.)
8) How did Jesus make it possible for us to return to live with him again? (He suffered and died for our sins.)
9) What must we do to be able to return to Heavenly Father? (Repent of our sins, keep our covenants, do good works.)
To play the game again, make up questions from the lesson.
4. Sing or read the words to "Families Can Be Together Forever" (Children's Songbook, p. 188), "He Sent His Son" (Children's Songbook, p. 34), or "I Am a Child of God" (Children's Songbook, p. 2).
Bear testimony that our Heavenly Father loves us and has provided a plan of redemption so we can repent of our sins and become like him.
Suggest that the children study Alma 22:1-16 at home as a review of this lesson.
Invite a child to give the closing prayer.
Note: If you choose to use enrichment activity 1 in next week's lesson, you will need to make the assignment one or two weeks in advance.