The Scriptures teach me that the Nephites
were guided when they had faith. 
When I have faith, I can be guided and receive courage to choose the right.

by Melanie Day
 

The scriptures teach me that the Nephites were guided when they had faith. When I have faith, I can be guided and receive courage to choose the right (Primary 4, lesson 5; GP, chapter 21).

Suppose that one day your father told you and your family that you were going on a journey. However, he did not know how long you would be gone or where you would be going. You would take only food and tents, and you would have no map to guide you. Would you be willing to follow your father? It would take great faith for you to agree to do what your father asked. Faith is one of the first principles of the gospel.  There are many examples of faith in the scriptures.  Let’s see if you remember some examples which required great faith and courage.  However, they used that courage to choose the right.

GAME:  Divide Primary in half.  Write each example (see below) on an index card.  Each class is given an index card and together they come up with three words to describe their example of faith without using any of the words on the card.  Each class takes a turn and everyone else guesses (you could have the class come to the front of the room or stand).  Once it is guessed correctly, have one child from that class put a picture (GAK or one from the library) up on the chalkboard.

Junior Primary: (Have them guess who each person is-depending on your Junior Primary, you may need to show a picture of the event to have them guess it)
 

1.  Noah
2.  David and Goliath
3.  Daniel
4.  Nephi
5.  Moses
6.  Brother of Jared
7.  Joseph Smith

Senior Primary: (To make it a little harder, have them guess the person and event)

1.  Noah and the ark
2.  David defeats Goliath
3.  Daniel and the Lions Den
4.  Nephi builds a boat
5.  Moses receives the ten commandments
6.  Brother of Jared sees finger of the Lord
7.  Joseph Smith sees Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ

OPTIONAL:  Instead of the above activity, you could print the word FAITH on the board (see example) and do this crossword puzzle as a group.  Have one child from each class write answer in as it is discovered. 

What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ? To have faith in Jesus Christ means that although we have not seen Him, we believe that He lives and loves us and that we trust Him. When we read the scriptures, we can learn about Him. When we listen to the prophets, we can understand what we can do to follow Him. When we pray in faith for help to choose the right, we can know that our prayers will be answered. When we listen to the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, we can feel Him close to us and know that He loves us.

OBJECT LESSON: An activity to compare how easily children believe in things they can not see to show how they can believe in an unseen God.  Do you believe?


SING:  “I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ” (pg. 77)

DISCUSSION:

Write on the chalkboard, “Just as the Nephites I can follow Him in Faith”

Then have the children list on one half of the chalkboard the things we believe or know: “who I am”; “God’s plan”; “the Savior, Jesus Christ.” Discuss and list other things we might know as part of our testimonies (e.g., the Book of Mormon is true, Heavenly Father answers prayers, we have a prophet today).
 

On the other half of the chalkboard, list the things we can do to develop our testimonies: “follow Him in faith,” “honor His name,” “do what is right,” “follow His light,” “proclaim His truth.” Have the children suggest specific things we can do to follow in faith, honor His name, etc. (pay tithing, keep the Sabbath Day holy, read the scriptures, obey the Word of Wisdom). Explain that the singing of hymns can be a way to express our testimonies, and have them re-sing “The Church of Jesus Christ” as a testimony.

CHOOSE OTHER ACTIVITY OPTIONS:

Fruits of the Spirit - Pat Graham, “Sharing Time: The Fruits of Faith,” Friend, May 1984, 39

Memorize the fourth article of faith [Articles of Faith 1:4]. Discuss how faith is a very important part of the gospel.

Faith Cookies
 
HANDOUT idea #1: Faith to choose the right door hanger

HANDOUT idea #2: Faith Book - make a book to remind you that the word of God is like a seed.  Cut out the four large panels, and punch or cut holes where indicated. Arrange the pages so that the seed is planted and grows into a tree. Fasten the pages together with yarn or string or brad.  To watch the seed grow, cut out the long panels and the heart box. Cut along the broken lines in the heart. Form one long strip by gluing the long panels together where indicated. Thread the strip up through the bottom slit in the heart and down through the top slit. Pull the strip through the heart, and watch the seed grow. (Sydney S. Reynolds, “Sharing Time: Faith in Jesus Christ,” Friend, Jan. 1999, 14)

HANDOUT idea #3: Faith Seed Pouch

ACTIVITY IDEA - Tell the children to sit anywhere in the Primary room. Explain that the room is like a sheepfold and their teacher is their “shepherd.” If they will listen and follow their shepherd’s voice, they will learn a lot this year. Have each shepherd call out his/her class by each child’s name. Then have the children follow their shepherd along a path of “danger spots,” such as pictures of cliffs, swift water, a desert, a ravine, wild animals, a wrong path, poisonous weeds. At each spot, ask them to name and discuss a danger spot in their lives today, or list a problem on the reverse side of each picture. Examples: dishonesty, Word of Wisdom problems, lack of reverence for sacred things, violence, profanity, problems in the media. When everyone has completed the path, discuss John 10:1–18. (Sydney S. Reynolds, “Sharing Time: Faith in Jesus Christ,” Friend, Jan. 1999, 14)

SUMMARY - I would talk about how each of our heroes from the scriptures had faith in Heavenly Father first.  For example, Nephi believed the words of his father.  After faith, came the opportunity to “know”.  Nephi was given knowledge instead of faith.  They, too, can know of truth.  However, they have to have "faith" first.  Share with the children a time when you trusted in Heavenly Father to help you accomplish something difficult. Bear testimony of the importance of doing all we can and then placing our trust in Heavenly Father. Challenge the children to think about Nephi during the coming week and try to be more like him when problems arise.
 

 SOURCES

-  Primary 4, lesson 5
- Scriptures
- Sharing Time: Compass of Faith, Friend, June 1987, 12
- Sharing Time: Faith Helps Us Choose the Right, Friend, Oct. 2002, 33
- Teaching, No Greater Call