Attention Activity - Ask one of your children to leave the room (or close his or her eyes) while you hide a rock or other small object somewhere in the room. Then have the child return (or open his or her eyes) and look for the object. Have the family help by saying “hot” when the child is near the object or moving toward it and “cold” when the child is far from the object or moving away from it.  When the child has found the object, tell the children that this lesson is about the faith of the pioneers.

• • What does it mean to have faith?

Explain that to have faith is to believe and trust that something is real and true even though we have not seen it with our own eyes. Point out that the child who was looking for the hidden object had faith that it was in the room, even though he or she could not see it.

• • In whom must we have faith?

Help the children review the fourth article of faith. Point out that this article of faith says that faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel.

• • Why is it important to have faith in Jesus Christ?

Pictures of Mary Fielding Smith to print and show during the following story.

Story - After Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were martyred, Hyrum’s wife, Mary Fielding Smith, left Nauvoo and traveled to Winter Quarters.  On the way back, Mary and her family camped near the Missouri River. Camping nearby were some men who were driving a herd of cattle to market. Mary’s son, Joseph F., and his uncle usually unyoked their oxen at night so the oxen could eat and rest more easily, but because they were so close to the other herd of cattle they left the yokes on the oxen. That way the oxen would be easy to find if they got mixed in with the other animals.
 

The next morning some of the oxen were missing. Joseph F. and his uncle spent all morning looking for them, but they could not find them. As Joseph F. returned to the camp, tired and discouraged, he saw his mother kneeling in prayer. He heard her asking the Lord to help them find the lost oxen so they could continue their journey in safety.
 

When Mary finished her prayer, she had a smile on her face. Although her brother said the cattle were surely gone for good, Mary said she would go out and look for a while. Her brother tried to convince her that he and Joseph F. had searched everywhere and it was useless for her to search also, but she went anyway.   As Mary walked away from her camp, one of the men taking the cattle to market called out, “Madam, I saw your oxen over in that direction this morning about daybreak.” Although the man was pointing in the opposite direction, Mary continued walking toward the river. Joseph F. was watching her, and he came running when she beckoned to him. When he came near her, he saw their oxen tied to a clump of willows. Someone had hidden them, probably with the intention of stealing them. With their oxen found, Mary Fielding Smith and her family were able to continue their journey. (See Don Cecil Corbett, Mary Fielding Smith: Daughter of Britain, pp. 209–13.)

How was Mary Fielding Smith’s faith in the power of the priesthood a blessing to her and her family?  Remind your family that the priesthood is the power and authority to act in the name of God. When we exercise faith in the power of the priesthood, we are showing faith in Jesus Christ.  Just like the pioneers, how can our faith in Jesus Christ help us when we are sad or have problems? 

Song - Pioneer Children

Activity - Pioneer Treasure Hunt
 

Now that we've learned more about the pioneers and their faith, let me ask you some questions:

What would have been difficult for you if you had been a pioneer?
How do you think you would have handled these situations?
What difficulties do you have in life that the pioneers did not have?
How can your faith in Jesus Christ help you handle such situations?

Summary - Share your testimony of the pioneers, faith and the importance of staying close to Heavenly Father through trying times. 

Treat - Make Marshmallow Covered Wagons (from the July 2007 Friend Magazine (pg. 36-37)