DISCUSSION: Choose eight children to help you
with the following activity. What better way to teach the children about
the story of Alma than to use the scriptures itself? Print out the
following scriptures (see below) and cut into strips (Mosiah 24:8-15).
Relate each verse and then have the eight participants act it out with or
without words. Discuss each verse well before going on to the next one.
Verse 8: And now it came to pass that Amulon began to exercise
authority over Alma and his brethren, and began to persecute him, and cause
that his children should persecute their children.
Verse 9: For Amulon knew Alma, that he
had been
one
of the king’s priests, and that it was he that believed the words of
Abinadi and was driven out before the king, and therefore he was wroth
with him; for he was subject to king Laman, yet he exercised authority
over them, and put
tasks
upon them, and put
task-masters
over them.
Verse 10: And it came to pass that so great were their
afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.
Verse 11: And Amulon commanded them that they should stop
their cries; and he
put
guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling
upon God should be put to death.
Verse 12: And Alma and his people did
not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their
hearts
to him; and he did know the
thoughts
of their hearts.
Verse 13: And it
came
to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions,
saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the
covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people
and deliver them out of bondage.
Verse 14: And I will also ease the
burdens
which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon
your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may
stand as
witnesses
for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God,
do visit my people in their
afflictions.
Verse 15: And now it came to pass that the
burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea,
the Lord did
strengthen
them that they could bear up their
burdens
with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with
patience
to all the will of the Lord.
SONG:
The Lord Will Watch Over Me - Alma and
those with him were faithful even under extremely hard conditions.
Heavenly Father watched over Alma and his followers because they were humble
and had faith. (Spend a few minutes teaching them the first verse to
this song).
ACTIVITY: Write the following words and
definitions on the chalkboard or a poster. Explain that the children are going
to learn some important words from the scripture account. Let the children
volunteer to say a word and choose its definition.
|
Adversity |
a. A load or sorrow difficult to bear |
|
Bondage |
b. Willing to learn; lack of pride |
|
Humility |
c. Misfortune, suffering, or difficulty |
|
Persecution |
d. Lack of freedom; slavery |
|
Faith |
e. Harassment, affliction, or attack |
|
Burden |
f. Believing without seeing |
Answers: adversity: c; bondage: d;
humility: b; persecution: e; faith: f; burden: a
DISCUSSION:
Using each of the words from above (adversity, bondage, humility,
persecution, faith, and burden) relate each one to Alma and how hard it must
have been. Perhaps give modern day examples that the children could
relate to and what they can do. I.e. "When is a time you might feel in
bondage?" (when we've made a poor choice and have to face the
consequence) What can we do to free ourselves? (etc.)
OBJECT LESSON: Comfort through Trials
Materials Needed: balls, several plastic cups, small box to put the cups
into (represents God surrounding us (cups) with protection)
First, set-up several plastic cups in the bowling triangle. Then ask the
children what will happen to the cups if they rolled a small ball or a large
ball at the cups (They will fall over). Roll both balls at the cups to show
that the kids were right. Then ask everyone what will happen if they
placed the cups inside of a box. (They might say that they will still
fall.) Then try this method and see what happens. The cups are still
standing. This object lesson can be related to the people of Alma. Amulon
was very mean to them; however, Heavenly Father gave them strength because
they listened to Him and had great faith.
QUESTIONS:
Has
someone ever been mean to you?
How did
it make you feel?
Is it
easy to be nice back?
What would Jesus do?
OTHER OPTIONAL IDEAS:
GUEST: Have a guest (Primary teacher, member of the bishopric/branch
presidency) share with the children an experience in which they followed God’s
plan, especially when things were difficult and how it made them feel.
HANDOUT IDEA:
When I Pray Booklet. Use this
book to teach them that when we have trials come our way that we can pray to
Heavenly Father to help us.
SUMMARY: Testify that Heavenly Father loves us. Each of us
is asked to bear different burdens. Through these burdens, we need to
learn to be like Alma. Just like in our example with the cups, when we
have Heavenly Father's help you will not be bowled over by the world, but we
can can stand strong in His protection.
MY SOURCES:
-
Primary 4, 13: The People of King Limhi and the
People of Alma, Purpose, 44
-
Scriptures
-
Teaching, No Greater Call
