Prophets teach me that blessings are
promised when I love and serve others
by Melanie Day


 

As you begin the lesson, “accidentally” spill some crayons, papers, or other materials onto the floor. Wait a moment before picking the items up to give the children a chance to help you. (If no children volunteer, ask the children to help.)
 

Thank the children for helping you and compliment them for taking an opportunity to serve. Explain that when we help others without asking for something in return, it is called service. Have the children repeat the word service with you.  Today we are going to talk about a king who gave an incredible example of service.  Unlike most kings, who lead privileged lives with servants attending to their every need, Benjamin worked in his own fields to grow his own food. Neither did he collect heavy taxes from his “subjects,” because he loved them as brothers and sisters. He chose to rule by setting an example in humility, righteous living, and service; and he strove always to teach his people how to live Heavenly Father’s commandments.

Have a child dress up as King Benjamin.  Put the rest of the children into small groups and have them make their own tents with chairs and blankets.  Have them huddle together in their tent as a class while King Benjamin stands on a chair and reads his message to the people. As an alternative to this activity you could show, the segment about King Benjamin from the Book of Mormon Reader video (check your church library for this video or something similar).  Before the movie starts, pass out slips of paper for the senior primary. These children were asked to write, while watching the video, two things that King Benjamin taught or did (here are some examples below):
 

JUNIOR PRIMARY: Divide up into classes or groups. Give each teacher a reference from King Benjamin’s talk (see squares above). Have each class look up the scripture and read it together.  Have them discuss as a class what they can do to follow this teaching.

Then have them stand behind “King Benjamin” (the child that dressed as King Benjamin) and sing the chorus of “Follow the Prophet”. Repeat until the entire Primary has had a chance to “follow the prophet.” Testify that blessings come into our lives when we do what the prophets have asked us to do.

SENIOR PRIMARY: Give the children and teacher a square piece of poster board and have them construct their own King Benjamin tower with gum drops and toothpicks using the card board as a base.

MUSIC: The following song is sung to "I have two little hands" by Lonnette Stoddard

I have two willing hands, which are waiting to give,
They will labor and serve all the days that I live.
During all the long hours 'til daylight is through
May the Lord trust these two hands His own work to do.

I have two willing hands that are ready to serve,
Though they may not be skillful, they'll labor with love,
As I follow God's promptings and try to be true,
He'll send plenty of work for my two hands to do.

Kind Father, I thank Thee for two helping hands
And I ask Thee to bless me that I'll understand
That true love and peace only come when I give
As I follow my Savior and live as He lived.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Let the children discuss or act out what they would do in each of the following situations if they were trying to serve others (adapt the situations as necessary to make them appropriate for the children in your class):

•     You are on your way to a soccer game. You are in a hurry, but as you walk down the street to the playing field you see an elderly woman drop a bag of groceries.

•     You have been at a friend’s house playing. You are very tired. As you walk into the yard you see your father working in the garden.

•     As you come into the kitchen to get a drink, you see your brother washing the dinner dishes.

•     You are walking home with some friends. You see that a dog has knocked over a trash can in a neighbor’s yard and has scattered the trash around. The neighbor is away and won’t be back for a few days.

•     You see a new girl in school and introduce yourself. The new girl asks you where you eat lunch. You had planned to eat lunch with your friends.

•     Your family is getting ready to go to church. Your father has already left because he had a meeting to attend. You have several little brothers and sisters who need help getting ready.

Put objects in a basket or container that suggest ways children can serve others, and have younger children guess what each object stands for. Examples: Hoe—gardening; plate—setting the table; book—reading to another. Children could use charades to express ways in which they could serve others.

Make three small paper hearts for each child. Tell the children that you want to start a “Service in Secret Club.” Encourage the children to take these hearts home and do secret acts of service for their family members, leaving a heart in each place they did an act of service. For example, they could make a brother or sister’s bed and leave a heart on the pillow. Ask the children to report back next week on the feelings they had when they served others in secret.

Use the following key to color-by-number the picture on page 19:

SUMMARY: Prophets want to help people return to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Knowing that people will be happy if they live the gospel, prophets do everything they can to help people understand the gospel and live it.  We come to love those we serve.  Is it any wonder why Benjamin loved his people so much?  The greatest example of obedience and service was given by the Lord Jesus Christ when He said, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”  Share your testimony of service.
 

MY SOURCES:

-  Be a Righteous Leader,” Friend, Aug. 1988, 36
- “Benjamin the Prophet King,” Friend, June 1988, 48
-  Scriptures
- June 1988 Friend Magazine
- Primary 2 Manual, 39: I Can Follow Jesus Christ by Serving Others, Purpose, 212

- “Prophets Teach and Warn,” Friend, Aug. 2001, 18