Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall inherit the earth. Whenever I hear this scripture I have a strong desire to be more of a peacemaker myself, and to invite that same feeling in my home with my children and family. This week's lesson invites all of us to reflect on how we are doing with contention, how we are being peacemakers, and how we can foster this trait in our families. It is a struggle sometimes, but with God we can have more peace in our lives and in our homes.
LESSON BUNDLE DOWNLOADS:
➤ L E S S O N
Open the lesson with a song and a prayer.
🎶 O P E N I N G S O N G : "Love One Another"
➤ P R E P A R A T I O N
You will need six eggs and an empty egg carton (you can place the other eggs to the side temporarily). Use a marker to draw a happy face on five of the eggs, then draw an angry face on the last egg.
➤ I N T R O D U C T I O N
Invite the children to gather around the empty egg carton. Explain that the eggs are getting ready to watch a “show,” and they are going to find their seats! Explain that the happy face eggs are “peacemakers,” and they are alway willing to give up their seat for someone else. The angry face egg is the “contention” egg, and always wants to take someone else’s seat!
Allow the children to take turns seating the “peacemaker” eggs first (choosing from the available “seats.”) Next, have the “contention” egg roam around and demand to sit in the “seats” that are already taken. But, each time the contention egg makes a new demand, have the “peacemaker” eggs quickly move to a different seat. Continue this exercise long enough to show that no matter what, the contention egg can’t cause contention by itself!
After you complete the activity, and ask the following questions:
1) What happened when the “contention” egg tried to take the other eggs' seats? (The “peacemaker” eggs just moved out of the way!)
2) What do you think would have happened if there were two contention eggs? (There would have been contention! And, it could have ended with a fight, and some broken eggs!)
3) What do you think would have happened if all six of the eggs were contention eggs? (Discuss.)
4) Do you think the “peacemaker” eggs got tired of moving around? (Yes!)
5) Why did the “peacemaker” eggs keep moving around even though they were tired? (They wanted to make peace!)
Explain: Jesus Christ has asked us to be peacemakers and to avoid contention. Sometimes we have to give up something we want in order to be a peacemaker. We can learn to be a peacemaker by following Jesus Christ’s example!
🎥 V I D E O : "A Tale of Two Trucks | A Story About Resolving Contention”"
Now we are going to watch a video about two truck drivers who want to use the same gas pump. Let’s watch and see if one of the truck drivers decides to be a peacemaker!
[Watch Video: “A Tale of Two Trucks | A Story About Resolving Contention"
Discuss the following questions after watching the video:
1) How did you feel in your heart when you were watching the truck drivers contending with one another? (Discuss feelings the children might have felt, like worry, concern, fear, and uneasiness.)
2) Do you think Heavenly Father wants us to feel this way? (No.)
3) What happened when the truck drivers both decided to be peacemakers? (They both got gas, none of their trucks were broken, and they were happy!)
4) What do you think would have happened if only one of the truck drivers decided to be a peacemaker? (There still would have been peace!)
➤ S C R I P T U R E
Read the following scriptures and discuss the questions that follow.
And lift up an ensign of peace, and make a proclamation of peace unto the ends of the earth;
1) What is an ensign? (It’s something you hold up to show what you believe, like a flag or a banner.)
2) How do you think we can show others how to be peacemakers? (Discuss.)
For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
1) Who is speaking in this verse? (Jesus Christ is speaking.)
2) Does Jesus Christ want us to contend with each other? (No.)
3) Why do you think Jesus Christ doesn’t want us to contend with each other? (Discuss what happens when we contend with each other.)
Thus did Alma teach his people, that every man should love his neighbor as himself, that there should be no contention among them.
1) What did Alma teach his people? (That they should love each other, and that there should be no contention among them.)
2) What can we do to help make no contention among us? (We can try to be a peacemaker!)
➤ A C T I V I T Y
Pass out the coloring page.
Invite the children to color the coloring page from the video. Invite them to practice being a peacemaker while they are coloring and sharing the crayons!
➤ T E S T I M O N Y
Bear testimony of the truths found in the scriptures.
This week's lesson is brought to you by KANGA TOYS!
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