King Benjamin's Conference
 

Introduction - Imagine that you are standing on the top of a very tall building or a high mountain and are looking down on the city or valley below. The view from such a high spot is different from the one you would see if you were down below, isn’t it?  From below, you see only the things that are near to you. But when you are up high, you can see many things that are not visible from below.
 

Through the ages, Heavenly Father has given His children “watchmen.” These watchmen are called prophets and apostles. They have been called by Heavenly Father to watch over His children. They are given a better view of the dangers that lie ahead of us. They warn us about how we can be prepared and defend ourselves against those dangers, including those that are sometimes hard to recognize, such as temptations and evil influences.

Lesson - My husband portrayed King Benjamin. He wore a simple costume over his clothes.  This helped the children visualize the event better.  I used a refrigerator box and painted it (best I could), then put a bar stool inside of the box for him to stand on. 

You can have the family sit on a blanket or make a tent using a blanket and some chairs.  Have the rest of the family sit in the tent and listen to "King Benjamin" address your family. 

He told our family:

- Who King Benjamin was (a righteous Book of Mormon king who worked hard and taught his people to obey God’s commandments and to serve one another)
- When he lived
- Who his people were (see Mosiah 2–5).

He explained that the tower King Benjamin was built so that he could speak to all his people before he died.  He taught the family a few of the principles that King Benjamin taught.  

Discuss that King Benjamin's address to his people is very similar to what we experience today with General Conference with our modern prophet.  Ask the children what makes them happy.  Discuss short term versus long term happiness.  Help the children recognize that the spirit testifies of truth even if we don’t understand what is being said. 

Family Challenge - Help the family understand and memorize the last phrase of Mosiah 2:17: “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”

Activity - Build a tower together.  Depending on the size of your family, this could be a relay or a team effort.  Use whatever supplies you have on hand...that could mean building blocks, straws, or even rice krispie treats.  For younger children like mine, you could use toothpicks and mini marshmallows to build your tower.

Summarize - In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are led by a prophet who is the President of the Church, and his two counselors in the First Presidency of the Church. We also have twelve Apostles whom we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators. They are our watchmen today. While they don’t stand on a tower, they do receive direction and inspiration from Heavenly Father to know what dangers, problems, and challenges await us. They teach us how to prepare to face them as we try to keep our covenants and the commandments. If we listen to and obey their words, we can be prepared. We hear their counsel during general conference. We can also read their words in church magazines. The prophets and apostles are our watchmen on the tower today. If we heed their words, we will be safe.  Share your testimony.
 

Other Optional Ideas -

Prophets Teach and Warn
King Benjamin's Tower (crossword puzzle)
Go on a treasure hunt - Use the following review questions (taken from the Book Primary Manual).  If they get the first review question correct then instruct them where to find the next clue, etc. until the hunt is completed.

• • Why did King Benjamin call his people together? (Mosiah 1:10.) How did the people of Zarahemla respond to the call to gather at the temple to hear their prophet and king? (Mosiah 2:1–6.) How do we hear or receive the words of the living prophets? (General conference, Church publications, Church meetings, and so on.) How can we prepare ourselves to listen to the words of our leaders? (Mosiah 2:9.)

• • How did King Benjamin serve his people? (Mosiah 2:12–15.) How did King Benjamin say we can serve Heavenly Father? (Mosiah 2:16–19.) How do you think serving others shows our gratitude and love for Heavenly Father?

• • What are we promised if we obey Heavenly Father’s commandments? (Mosiah 2:22.)

• • What did King Benjamin teach the people about Jesus Christ? (Mosiah 3:5–7, 9–10.) What great act of service did Christ perform for each of us? (Mosiah 3:11–13.) Explain that Jesus Christ suffered and died that we might repent of our sins, be baptized, be resurrected, and live with Heavenly Father forever. His sacrifice for us is called the Atonement.

• • Why is it important for us to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ? (Mosiah 3:17.) What does Jesus Christ ask us to do in order to take upon ourselves his name? (2 Nephi 31:5–12; Mosiah 2:22. Be baptized and keep the commandments. Mosiah 3:19. Submit our will to the Savior’s will.)

• • What commandments did King Benjamin tell his people they should obey? (Mosiah 3:21; 4:11–15; 5:5. You might use the wordstrips in enrichment activity 1 as part of your discussion.) What did King Benjamin say would happen if we keep the commandments? (Mosiah 2:41.)

• • How did the people respond to King Benjamin’s teachings? (Mosiah 5:2.) What can we do to experience this mighty change? (Mosiah 3:19.)

• • What did King Benjamin’s people covenant to do? (Mosiah 5:5–9.)

Sources -

Watchmen on the Tower