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Draw the following illustration on the chalkboard as you talk to the children:

Tell the children that a father and his married son lived on opposite sides of a very large mountain.  How could this father and son communicate without going to the other side of the mountain?  Draw illustrations such as the following to show the children’s suggestions:
 

Radio

Carrier pigeon

Letters or E-mail
 

•     Why is it important for the father and son to communicate with each other? (To keep from being lonely, to show love, to receive and give help, to share ideas.)

•     What would happen if they did not communicate with each other? (They would not feel as close to each other and their love might decrease. They could not help each other.)

Explain that just as we can communicate with each other on earth when separated by great distance, we can also communicate with our Heavenly Father.

•     How do we communicate with our Heavenly Father? (Through prayer.)

•     Why is it important to communicate with our Heavenly Father? (To thank him for our blessings, to show faith in him, to ask for and receive his help and blessings, to increase our love for him.)

Sing - Have the children sing or say the words to “Nephi’s Courage” (Children’s Songbook, p. 120)
 

Story - In the October 1988 general conference, Sister Grassli, the Primary general president, reported: “Nine-year-old Matt spoke in church about something he had learned from the scriptures that brought him peace. He said, ‘When my father told our family that we would be moving from Denver to Wisconsin, my mother reminded us of Lehi’s family. Like them, I was leaving the only home I had known, all my friends, my school, my ward. Luckily we were able to bring all our possessions with us, though they were in storage for three months and we missed having a house and our “precious things.”
 

“ ‘My mother reminded us of how Nephi accepted this challenge—willingly—knowing that the Lord would “prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.” (See 1 Ne. 3:7.)  ‘I have learned that I can do without things, but not without my family. My brothers and sisters and I have tried to be more like Nephi than his complaining brothers. I am grateful for the things that the Book of Mormon teaches us.’ ”
 

Matt was comforted by the story of Lehi’s family from the Book of Mormon. As you read or listen to stories from the scriptures, which stories bring you peace?
 

Activity - Play the following game to help the children understand why it was important for Lehi’s family to take the brass plates, which contained a written record of the commandments, with them to the promised land. The object of the game is to show how the words of the scriptures can be confused if they are not written down.
 

Have the children sit in a circle. Whisper to the child on your right, “I will obey Heavenly Father’s commandments.” Then have that child whisper what he or she heard to the person on his or her right. Continue passing the message on until everyone in the circle has heard it. Have the last child stand up and repeat the words he or she heard. The child probably will not repeat the original message correctly. (If the message is the same, you might compliment the children on how well they did. Then try another message of two or three sentences.) Tell the children the message you began with.  Explain that it is easy to forget or confuse stories or messages that are not written down. The prophets wrote down Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s teachings so they would not be forgotten. These teachings are in our scriptures.

Lehi’s family needed the brass plates so they would remember the commandments and obey them.

Sing - “Search, Ponder, and Pray” (Children’s Songbook, p. 109)
 

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An idea for JUNIOR PRIMARY:

Recite the short scripture (see below)  beginning with the words "Jesus said... "   Toss beanbag to child and have him repeat scripture. Keep tossing beanbag to children until scripture is memorized; then begin another one.
 

Jesus said....

1. “Ye must repent, and be baptized in my name” (3 Nephi 11:38)

2. Thous shalt love the Lord  thy God with all thy heart” (Matthew 22:37)

3. “Love one another; as I have loved you” (John 13:34)

4. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)

5. “Let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works” (3 Nephi 12:16)

6. “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15)

7. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (3 Nephi 13:21)
 

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An idea for SENIOR PRIMARY: “Gospel Scholar" Activity
 

Jesus said, “Study my word” (D&C 11:22). The prophets have asked you to read the Book of Mormon and memorize passages from it. If you can’t read, ask a parent or an older brother or sister to read the scriptures to you. When your family reads the scriptures together, you can all become scripture scholars!  (You'll need a pencil for each child.)  Give them a copy of this questionnaire to better understand how to navigate the scriptures.

OPTIONAL GAME:  Say the name of a book from the standard works, and have the children identify whether it comes from the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, or the Pearl of Great Price. (The classes may work with their teachers for the correct answers.)

SUMMARY: The scriptures contain the most exciting stories ever written. And the best part of all is that these stories are true! Once you start reading the scriptures, you will want to continue your study of them the rest of your life.  Together with prayer, you will develop a wonderful relationship with your Father in Heaven and better understand His will for you.  Bear your testimony.
 

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SOURCES:

Primary 3, 19: Heavenly Father Helps Us When We Pray, Purpose, 89
“Sharing Time: Getting into the Scriptures,” Friend, Feb. 1998, 36
“Sharing Time: The Scriptures,” Friend, Aug. 1995, 36