I know that my Redeemer lives

 



Flipchart done by Jolly Jen (pdf file)
 



Invite the children to look up D&C 76:22. Preface the scripture by explaining that Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon had a vision. Read the scripture together. Point out the exclamation point at the end. Ask the children to read the scripture again and say the last two words with enthusiasm, "he lives!" Tell them that those two words are in a beautiful hymn. Ask them to count how many times you sing "he lives." Teach the chorus first. Divide the Primary into four groups. Have each group sing one phrase that begins with "He lives." Combine the four groups into two groups and then finally into one group.
 

To teach the first verse, tell the children that in the first sentence they will find out who the "He" is ("my Redeemer"). Sing the second sentence, and ask them what sentence brings comfort ("I know that my Redeemer lives" or "He lives"). Before singing the third sentence, ask, "Who was dead?" (Jesus Christ). After singing the fourth sentence, ask why Jesus is called "Head" (explain that He is the head of our Church; we belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Sing the whole hymn. Tell the children that this hymn is a testimony of Church members just as D&C 76:22 is the testimony of Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon. Bear your testimony, and then invite the children to bear their testimonies with you by singing "I Know That My Redeemer Lives." (Suggestion taken from the April 2007 Friend Magazine)
 



Song Helps shared by Joy Kortas

 



I remember someone's idea of taking pictures of the kids with props, so they didn't have to bring the props out every time. I tried this idea with "I Know That My Redeemer Lives," and took pictures of my kids with different props/pictures. Here's what I've done for the first verse:

I know that my Redeemer lives - child standing at pulpit with picture of Christ (GAK239) (like they're bearing their testimony)

what comfort this sweet sentence gives - child wrapped up in warm, fuzzy blanket, holding a lollipop

He lives, He lives who once was dead - child holding picture of Christ leaving tomb (from an Ensign magazine)

He lives, my ever living head - child holding picture of Christ right next to their head (GAK240)

He lives to bless me with his love - child with hearts taped all over them, holding picture of Christ and children (GAK608)

He lives to plead for me above - child holding picture of Christ in Gethsemane (GAK227)

He lives my hungry soul to feed - child sitting at table, knife and fork in hands, with scriptures open on plate

He lives to bless in time of need - child holding clock

Since this song is so pointedly about the Savior, I wanted to use pictures of Christ, but my kids also enjoy looking at themselves.  This way, we get both! (by Christie Afualo)
 



I am still trying to iron out the details, but I am going to play a memory game with the kids. On a tray I will have 10 items. Each one is related to the first verse of the song.

1. Picture of Jesus  (I know that my Redeemer lives)
2. Small blanket (comfort)
3. Piece of candy (sweet)
4. Dried rose (dead)
5. Head attachment from a mister potato head game (Head)
6. Heart shaped plastic ring (love)
7. Statue of boy praying (plead for me above)
8. Plastic pizza slice (feed)
9. Watch (time)
10. Penny (need)

You walk around the room letting the children look for a few seconds each, then put it out of sight. Then ask the kids what they remember seeing on the tray. Each time they give an answer, I will give the corresponding line to the song or something like that. (Credit Unknown)

 



You could add a long rolled up piece of paper with "He Lives" written on it 27 times and then un-roll if for effect. This is a part of the idea Sister Ricks shared at the Primary Open House. Here is the entire idea for your reference.  "Sister Ricks began by stating that this song sings "I know that my Redeemer lives!" 27 time in this song. She asked, "Will this be a boring song? Was the author not creative? No, it is the most glorious phrase we can say. Why?"  Then she took a roll of adding machine paper (a small, long, narrow strip of paper, rolled up) and had the children unroll it. She had HE LIVES written 27 times (in different handwriting and colors for variety). It went all around the front of the room. She sang the first verse and had the children sing "He Lives!" with her, cuing them by pointing at them when it was time for them to sing the phrase. In reference to the Junior Primary, she said it would be very cool (my words) if that was all they sang (whether it was while they were learning the song, or even during the program) and that it would be sufficient because that was the important message of the song."  (by Cindee Alexander)
 



(by Melanie Edwards / ga04062007)  Melanie says: "I can't take complete credit for it, because I used bits and pieces from many ideas that were shared to come up with this lesson plan.  I hope that it will be helpful to someone."

LESSON PLAN: I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES

Verses 1 and 4

MAIN POINTS TO TEACH: My faith in Jesus Christ grows when I know that He is my Savior and Redeemer. Through the Atonement Jesus became our Savior and Redeemer. Jesus lives today. He has been resurrected.

PREPARATION: Make 11 pages with HE LIVES. 4 red, 4 yellow and 3 blue.  Make 3 pages with I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES. 1 each color.  Make 3 flags: 1 red, 1 yellow, 1 blue (I found a very cool clothes line package at the school supply store it has two lines, a bunch of clothes pegs that are red, yellow and blue and some fasteners that adhere to the walls that you can hang the line on. I'm excited to try it out.)

SUPPLIES: Treasure box, clothes line and clothes pegs, Pictures from GAK: 240 Jesus the Christ, 608 Christ and Children, 233 Mary and Resurrected Lord, Photo of Church leadership, 215 Jesus and Jairus daughter, 227, Gesthemane, 219 Mary & Martha, 214 Stilling the storm, 238 the Second Coming, 316 Jesus in the Americas, 317 Jesus Healing the Nephites, 239 The Resurrected Christ,

Before singing time put clothes line across the front of the room. Place the GAK pictures on the clothes line with a space for the HE Lives cards and the I KNOW cards.

Introduce the Song – Attention Getter: Show Treasure Box.

How many of you have a Treasure? Do you keep it in a box like this one? Do you know what my greatest treasure is?  It is my testimony of Jesus Christ. That he loves me; that he suffered for my sins so that I can repent and be forgiven; that He was Resurrected and that HE LIVES. Joseph Smith had a testimony that Jesus Lives too, here is what he said:
D&C 76:22 And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

There is a beautiful song in our Hymn book that is a testimony in song about Jesus and all the wonderful things he does for us each day.

In this song there is a phrase that is repeated many times. Can you listen as I sing this song and count how many times I sing the phrase HE LIVES. Put the He Lives cards on the clothes lines.

There is another phrase that I sing 3 times. Can you listen and tell me what that phrase is? Put the I Know cards on the clothes line.

Divide the children in 3 groups. Give each group a colored flag. When you see your colored card you stand and sing. Sing the song through a couple of times then switch colors of flags.

Bear Testimony.  The Atonement is the supreme expression of our Heavenly Father’s love for us (see John 3:16). It is also the greatest expression of the Savior’s love for the Father and for us (see John 14:28–31; 15:9–13; 1 John 3:16; D&C 34:3; 138:1–4).

Here are the pictures with the phrases.

VERSE 1

I know that My Redeemer lives - GAK 240 Red Robe
What comfort... - GAK 608 Christ and children
He lives who once was dead - GAK 233 Mary & Resurrected Lord
my ever living Head - photo of church leadership (I took this picture on a trip to Palmayra, I have downloaded it to the photos section).
bless me with love - GAK 215 Jesus & Jairus daughter
plead for me above - GAK 227 Gesthemane
hungry soul to feed - GAK 219 Mary & Martha
bless in time of need - GAK 214 Stilling the Storm
VERSE 4

All glory to his name - GAK 238 The Second Coming
My Savior still the same - GAK 316 Christ in the Americas
sweet the joy... - GAK 317 Jesus healing the Nephites
I know that My Redeemer lives - GAK 239 The Resurrected Christ
(This verse repeats these phrases so you can use the pictures twice or just put in the HE LIVES cards).


 

This page was  last  updated: 
March 22, 2007

 

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