Samuel that Lamanite was always such a fun story for as a kid. Now as an adult, it is such a striking story about how the Lord can protect and bless us when we are faithful. We hope your family will glean new insights and that faith will be strengthened during this week's study of Samuel the Lamanite.
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➤ 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 : "If I Listen With My Heart"
➤ P R E P A R A T I O N
You will need to fill a clear glass container with water (such as a vase, a glass cup, or a glass pitcher). You will also need to draw an arrow with thick lines on a small sheet of paper.
➤ I N T R O D U C T I O N
Place the clear glass container on a table or raised surface so that it is even with the children’s eye level. Point the arrow to the right and hold it directly behind the glass container against the glass, so that the children can see the arrow through the water.
Explain: “The scriptures have warned us that in our day, many would call evil good and good evil. But, Heavenly Father has given us prophets, and He has given us the Holy Ghost to help us see the truth. If we seek the Holy Ghost and follow God’s prophets, then we will be able to see clearly. But, if we move our hearts away from the Holy Ghost and if we reject the words of the prophet, something happens...we can’t see the truth any more!”
Now, slowly move the arrow further away from the glass, but instruct the children to keep looking at the arrow through the glass. After a certain distance, the arrow will appear to reverse its direction, and the children will perceive the arrow pointing the opposite way!
After you complete the activity, discuss the following questions:
1) Which way was the arrow really pointing? (To the right.)
2) Did the arrow ever change directions? (No.)
3) What changed? (Our sight changed. We couldn’t see the truth any more.)
Explain: “God’s truth does not change. But, our hearts do. If we try to follow Jesus Christ, and if we invite the Holy Ghost to teach us, then God will change our hearts, and we will be able to see the truth we will understand and believe it.”
🎥 V I D E O : "Samuel the Lamanite / Animated Scripture Lesson for Kids"
Say: “Now we are going to watch a video about Samuel the Lamanite! God told Samuel to go to the Nephites and tell them to repent and have faith in Jesus Christ. Let’s watch and see if the Nephites’ hearts will change so they can see the truth, or if they will see it backwards.”
Discuss the following questions after watching the video:
1) What did Samuel the Lamanite say to the Nephites? (He told them to repent, and to have faith in Jesus Christ and to believe in Him.)
2) Were the Nephites able to see the truth? Did they believe it? (Some of them believed and went to be baptized, but others did not believe it and were angry.)
3) Why do you think some of the people were angry? (Because they did not like what Samuel the Lamanite was telling, them and they couldn’t see the truth.)
➤ S C R I P T U R E
Read the following scriptures together with the children. Have a volunteer hold the paper arrow. Tell the volunteer to move the paper close to the glass container when the Nephites believe, and tell them to move the paper away from the glass container when the Nephites don’t believe and become angry.
“And now, it came to pass that there were many who heard the words of Samuel, the Lamanite, which he spake upon the walls of the city. And as many as believed on his word went forth and sought for Nephi; and when they had come forth and found him they confessed unto him their sins and denied not, desiring that they might be baptized unto the Lord.
2 But as many as there were who did not believe in the words of Samuel were angry with him; and they cast stones at him upon the wall, and also many shot arrows at him as he stood upon the wall; but the Spirit of the Lord was with him, insomuch that they could not hit him with their stones neither with their arrows.
After reading the scriptures, discuss the following questions:
1) What has Heavenly Father given us to help us to see the truth? (Prophets, and the Holy Ghost.)
2) What are some things we can do to invite the Holy Ghost into our hearts? (Discuss.)
3) What are some things that the prophet has asked us to do? (Discuss.)
➤ C O L O R I N G P A G E
Pass out the coloring page.
Invite the children to color the coloring page of Samuel the Lamanite. Use this time to discuss the importance of inviting the Holy Ghost into our hearts. Invite the children to consider how they will respond to God’s Prophets.
➤ T E S T I M O N Y
Bear testimony of the truths found in the scriptures.
'Come, Follow Me' is a resource offered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is designed to be used in the home to support personal and family scripture study to build faith in Heavenly Father and His plan of salvation and in the Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Come, Follow Me is self-contained and adequate, when used properly. Products and materials designed to supplement this resource, though they may be helpful in some instances, are not necessary for a successful home study program.