I promise to follow
Jesus Christ in Faith
by Melanie Day


 

President Harold B. Lee once said that “faith and a knowledge of the scriptures can help us meet the challenges of today” (Children’s Sacrament Meeting Presentation 1984). Reading about faithful, courageous men and women in the scriptures can help us to develop the faith and courage we need to make difficult decisions in our own lives. And observing how faithful people today solve their problems can also help our faith to grow.  Faith is like a seed that grows until it bears fruit. Some of the fruits of our faith are the blessings, courage, and strength we receive when we are prayerful and faithful in doing what is right.

GAME: Fruits of Faith - Read scripture references on tree one at a time. Decide what person the story is about and write that person’s name below the reference. Cut out apples not on tree and match each blessing with the person receiving it.  On the blank apple, use the story of the Anti Nephi Lehies.

Click here for tree clipart and click here for apple clipart.

After the game is complete, tell the children that the Book of Mormon tells us about a special group of people who were honest and true to their faith. They were Lamanites who heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, had faith in Him, repented of their sins, and were baptized members of His Church. They called themselves Anti-Nephi-Lehies. Because they learned that it was wrong to fight, they buried their weapons of war in the ground and made a covenant with Heavenly Father that they “never would use weapons again” (Alma 24:18). They kept this covenant and all the commandments so faithfully that they were known for being “perfectly honest and upright in all things” (Alma 27:27).

SING:  I will follow God's plan for me

If you have time, retell the story about the Anti Nephi Lehi's and how they made a covenant to not fight again and buried their weapons. (You could have some of the children come up, use props and act out the story as you tell it).
 

The people of Ammon were Lamanites who made a special covenant. They had been a wicked, lazy people who killed Nephites and rebelled against God. Then Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni taught them the gospel. When they were converted, they buried their weapons and made a covenant that they would never again shed blood, “that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands”.

Other Lamanites and their allies hated the people of Ammon for their righteousness and came to battle against them. But the Anti-Nephi-Lehies, as the people of Ammon called themselves, kept their covenant. Rather than fight back, they went out to meet their enemies and fell upon the ground in prayer. The Lamanites killed 1,005 of them, then stopped to think about what they were doing. Many of these Lamanites repented, threw down their weapons, and were converted and joined the people of Ammon.  How courageous the people of Ammon were! It is hard enough to stand up for what we believe and keep our word when we are ridiculed for it, or when we know that we will be punished if we admit we did something wrong. But to die rather than break our word? That is how much the Anti-Nephi-Lehies loved God.

Ask the children, "Do you think it was easy for them to not use their weapons again and fight back?  How did this experience increase their faith in their Father in Heaven?"  Although you won't have this same experience, there will be times in your life when you have opportunities to grow.  What choice will you make? 

Give each child a copy of this sword.  If possible try and print it on cardstock to make it more sturdy.  If not, it's okay.  Have each child write or draw something they want to "bury" for the New Year and never do again. This could be any habit they want to stop.  Tell them that Heavenly Father will help them with their new commitment if they pray for His help.  Then take all the children's "weapons" and bury them.  You could either bring in a large tupperware container full of sand and bury the weapons.  Or you could go outside and bury them. Or you could just put them in the garbage.  Whatever works! 

SING: “I’ll Follow Him in Faith” (Friend, Jan. 2003, 24–25),
 

SUMMARY: These young Anti-Nephi-Lehies became famous as “Helaman’s stripling warriors.”  Because of their honesty and their spiritual strength, they were a great help to their people.  You can be like the army of Helaman. You can follow the example of the righteous Lamanites and be honest and true.  You can follow the Savior in all you do.  Share your testimony of following the Savior.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Coloring Sheet
Door hanger - Place the hanger on a doorknob to help you remember to choose the right each day. If you have made a good choice sometime during the day, turn the hanger over to show that you have shown your faith to choose the right.
 

SOURCES:
“Sharing Time: I’ll Follow Him in Faith,” Friend, June 2005, 15
“The Honest People of Ammon,” Friend, Oct. 1996, 48