January 20-26 1 Nephi 11-15

“Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God”

1. Jesus Pictures (God Sent Jesus Christ as an Expression of His Love) – Show Nephi’s Vision of Mary picture (above). Explain that Nephi lived many years before Christ was born, but he had a vision about Christ and learned about some of the things Jesus would do when He was on the earth. Have them look at the pictures on the page below while you read 1 Nephi 11:20, 24, 27, 31, and 33 and have them point to which picture each verse is describing. Discuss how each thing Jesus did can help us know that Jesus and Heavenly Father love us.

2. Scripture/Song – Read/discuss John 3:16 and watch/sing “He Sent His Son” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrRg-5f58VA .

3. More Precious than Diamonds or Rubies Story – Tell them we’re going to read a story about a gift the prophet

(President Nelson) gave to a king. If you met a king, what kind of present would you give to him? Have them listen carefully to what gift was given and how much it was appreciated while you read the story (below).

Jewel Stickers: (idea from Adrienne Everitt) Get some small jewel stickers (like these ones from the dollar store https://www.dollartree.com/jot-shiny-gem-stickers-315ct-packs/220251). Family members share some of their favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon and mark them with the jewel stickers. Keep some sheets of stickers by the scriptures and throughout the year, family members can place stickers by scriptures that are especially meaningful to them as we read each day. You can either give each kid their own Book of Mormon to do this with or just have one family Book of Mormon to mark “jewel scriptures” in.

4. The Precious Book of Mormon – Ask if they remember what the iron rod represents. Remind them that it’s the

word of God, and it can help us to feel the love of Jesus and Heavenly Father. One way we can hold to the word of God is to read the scriptures. Read/discuss President Nelson’s message in The Friend https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/friend/2020/01/the-precious-book-of-mormon?lang=eng .

5. Book of Mormon Promises Necklace- Cut apart the pieces below to make a necklace with the promises of blessings the prophet has said we’ll receive if we read the Book of Mormon each day. Spend time discussing each of these promises while coloring and stringing onto yarn to make a necklace.

6. Show and Tell Book of Mormon Edition – Read/discuss 1 Nephi 15:24. Share these examples from The Friend of kids reading the Book of Mormon: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/magazines/friend/2020/01/january-2020-friend-magazine-jesus-christ_2309832.pdf

Make our own picture or something to submit to The Friend about reading the Book of Mormon https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/friend/2020/01/stop-and-flip?lang=eng

7. Marshmallow Jewels (The Book of Mormon Teaches Precious Truths)– Dip marshmallows (we’re going to use mini marshmallows) into water and then put sprinkles on them to make them look like sparkly jewels. Put them in a bowl next to the Bible while discussing “precious things” that are in the Bible. Read/summarize 1 Nephi 13; 26-29, 35-36, 40 and summarize how some of these “plain and precious things in the Bible got taken out/lost. Take some of the “jewels” out of the bowl. Explain that Heavenly Father didn’t want those things to be lost forever, so He gave us the Book of Mormon. Discuss how the Book of Mormon brings those things back and place the jewels that were taken out of the Bible bowl into another bowl next to a Book of Mormon. Talk about some of the “plain and precious things” that were lost from the Bible but were brought back in the Book of Mormon. While eating, talk about how our lives are blessed because of these plain and precious things. You could also have a discussion about ways we can “internalize” the precious word of God as we study it. (marshmallow instructions found here: https://thedecoratedcookie.com/new-years-eve-marshmallows/) *If you have older kids with longer attention spans than mine have, this is an awesome talk from President Nelson that you could read with them: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/10/the-book-of-mormon-what-would-your-life-be-like-without-it?lang=eng

Additional Ideas: Gospel Treasure Box: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/friend/2013/04/jesus-christ-restored-his-church-in-the-latter-days?lang=eng (could write treasures of things we learn from Book of Mormon as we read) The Restoration and Me Matching Game from The Friend: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/magazines/friend/2018/04/april-2018-friend-magazine-mormon_2060580.pdf More great ideas: www.theredcrystal.org Support Articles and Activities from The Ensign: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/01/come-follow-me-book-of-mormon-support-articles-and-activities/1-nephi-11-15?lang=eng

Jesus Pictures (God Sent Jesus Christ as an Expression of His Love) –Explain that Nephi lived many years before Christ was born, but he had a vision about Christ and learned about some of the things Jesus would do while He was on the earth. Have them look at the pictures below while you read 1 Nephi 11:20, 24, 27, 31, and 33 and have them point to which picture each verse is describing. Talk about how each thing Jesus did can help us know that Jesus and Heavenly Father love us.

The Birth of Jesus by

Carl Heinrich Bloch

John Baptizing Jesus by

Harry Anderson

The Sermon on the Mount by

Carl Heinrich Bloch

Christ Healing the Sick at Bethesda by

Carl Heinrich Bloch The Crucifixion by Harry Anderson

(from “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like Without It?” by President Russell M. Nelson)

Book of Mormon Promises Necklace- Cut apart the pieces below to make a necklace with the promises of blessings the prophet has said we’ll receive if we read the Book of Mormon each day. Spend time discussing each of these promises while coloring and stringing onto yarn to make a necklace. (copies for 2 necklaces on this page) Created by Crystal from www.theredcrystal.org