Lesson 30: Adam-ondi-Ahman

Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants and Church History, (1997), 167–73

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Purpose

To help the children look forward to and prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ and the Millennium.

http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/adamondiahman/

http://www.lds.org/music/library/search?query=Adam+ondi+ahman&x=-669&y=-514&clang=eng&lang=eng#d

http://www.sugardoodle.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2993&Itemid=5

Preparation

1. 1.  Prayerfully study the historical accounts given in this lesson and Doctrine and Covenants 29:9–11; 43:20–23, 29–31; 45:32, 39–40, 44–45, 55–59; 101:22–34; 107:53–56; 115:7–10; and 116. Then study the lesson and decide how you 

D&C 45: 

1.  40 And they shall see signs and ^awonders, for they shall be shown forth in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath.
   
   
    44 And then they shall look for me, and, behold, I will come; and they shall see me in the ^aclouds of heaven, clothed with power and great ^bglory; with all the holy angels; and he that ^cwatches not for me shall be cut off.
    45 But before the arm of the Lord shall fall, an angel shall sound his ^atrump, and the ^bsaints that have slept shall ^ccome forth to meet me in the ^dcloud.
2. 
   
3. 
   
4. 101:
5. 
   
6.  26 And in that day the enmity of man, and the ^aenmity of beasts, yea, the ^benmity of all flesh, shall cease from before my face.
    27 And in that day ^awhatsoever any man shall ask, it shall be given unto him.
    28 And in that day ^aSatan shall not have power to tempt any man.
    29 And there shall be no ^asorrow because there is no death.
    30 In that day an ^ainfant shall not die until he is old; and his life shall be as the age of a tree;
    31 And when he dies he shall not sleep, that is to say in the earth, but shall be ^achanged in the twinkling of an eye, and shall be^bcaught up, and his rest shall be glorious.
    32 Yea, verily I say unto you, in that ^aday when the Lord shall come, he shall ^breveal all things—
    33 Things which have passed, and ^ahidden things which no man knew, things of the ^bearth, by which it was made, and the purpose and the end thereof—
    34 Things most precious, things that are above, and things that are beneath, things that are in the earth, and upon the earth, and in heaven.
7. 
   
8. 116:
9. Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, near Wight’s Ferry, at a place called Spring Hill, Daviess County, Missouri, May 19, 1838.
    1 Spring Hill is named by the Lord ^aAdam-ondi-Ahman, because, said he, it is the place where ^bAdam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel the prophet.
10. 
    
11. 
    
want to teach the children the scriptural and historical accounts. (See “Preparing Your Lessons,” pp. vi–vii, and“Teaching the Scriptural and Historical Accounts,” pp. vii–ix.)
12. 2. Additional reading: Matthew 24:36
13. 
    
14. 
    
15.  Matthew 24: 36 ¶But of that ^aday and ^bhour knoweth no man, no, not the^cangels of heaven, but my Father only.
16. 
    
17. ; Acts 1:9–11
18.  9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was ^ataken ^bup; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
     10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
     11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into ^aheaven? this same Jesus, which is ^btaken up from you into heaven, shall so ^ccome in like ^dmanner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
19. 
    
20. ; Doctrine and Covenants 49:7
21. 
    
22.  D&C 49: 7 I, the Lord God, have spoken it; but the hour and the ^aday no man knoweth, neither the angels in heaven, nor shall they know until he comes.
23. 
    
24. 
    
25. ; and Gospel Principles (31110), chapters 41, 43, and44.
26. 3. Select the discussion questions and enrichment activities that will involve the children and best help them achieve the purpose of the lesson.
27. 4. Make small wordstrips of the following words: first, wife, garden, fruit, cast out, mortal, children.
28. 5. Materials needed:
    1. a. A Doctrine and Covenants for each child.
    2. b. A Bible.
    3. c. 
       Map of Missouri and Surrounding Area, found at the end of the lesson.
       (click to view larger)
    4. d. 
       Picture 5-28, The Second Coming (Gospel Art Picture Kit 238; 62562).

Suggested Lesson Development

Invite a child to give the opening prayer.

Attention Activity

Write the name Adam on the chalkboard.

• • Who was Adam?

Have the children take turns choosing one of the small wordstrips you have prepared and telling what they know about Adam, using the words as reminders. Give help as needed.     first, wife, garden, fruit, cast out, mortal, children.

Be sure the following points are mentioned:

Adam was the first man God placed on the earth. Adam and his wife, Eve, lived in the Garden of Eden. After they partook of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they were cast out of the garden. They became mortal and were able to have children.

Explain that in this lesson the children will learn things about Adam that were revealed to Joseph Smith.

Scriptural and Historical Accounts

Teach the children about the growth of the Church in northern Missouri and the events that occurred at Adam-ondi-Ahman, as described in the following historical accounts and Doctrine and Covenants 107:53–56;115:7–10; and 116. Show the picture and map at appropriate times. Then teach the children what life will be like during the Millennium, as described in Doctrine and Covenants 45:55–59 and 101:22–34.

The Church Grows in Far West

Members of the Church had been driven out of Jackson County, Missouri, but in 1836 they received permission from government authorities to move to northern Missouri and begin a new county. This county was to have a six-mile strip of unsettled land around it so that Church members and nonmembers could remain separated. The Saints moved into this area and built a central city, called Far West, with other towns around it.

Back in Kirtland, Ohio, there were many problems, especially with former Church members who had become bitter enemies of the Prophet. In January 1838 Joseph Smith was warned that some men who wanted to take over the Church were planning to kill him. Joseph needed to leave Kirtland, and the Church in Far West needed help getting organized, so Joseph and Emma Smith moved to Far West.  (Some of the apostles on missions -- )

Joseph Smith’s enemies did not want him to leave Kirtland, so some friends helped Joseph sneak out of town. They hid him in a large box and put the box in an ox cart. Then they drove the cart out of town without the Prophet’s enemies knowing he was in the cart. When he was safely out of town, Joseph got out of the box, mounted his horse, and rode toward Far West with Sidney Rigdon. They traveled about sixty miles, waited for their families to join them, and then continued on. Their enemies, armed with guns, pursued them for more than two hundred miles but could not catch them. The Saints at Far West sent out wagons and supplies to meet the Prophet and his group and gratefully welcomed them to Far West.

A few months after Joseph Smith arrived in Far West, he received a revelation commanding the Saints to build a temple there. The Lord told the Saints to begin building the temple on 4 July 1838 (see D&C 115:8–10). On the morning of 4 July, the Mormon militia (a small local army), Church leaders, and Church members formed a great procession. Marching to music, they went to the temple site and formed a circle. Sidney Rigdon spoke, after which the crowd shouted “Hosanna” and Solomon Hancock sang a song composed for the occasion by Levi W. Hancock. The Prophet Joseph then supervised the laying of the four cornerstones for the temple.

Joseph Smith Receives Revelations about Adam-ondi-Ahman

One day in May 1838 the Prophet and some other men were looking for places to build other cities for the Saints to live in. They came to a place called Spring Hill, where Joseph received another revelation (D&C 116). The Lord told Joseph that his name for Spring Hill was Adam-ondi-Ahman. Orson Pratt later said this name means “Valley of God, where Adam dwelt” in “the original language spoken by Adam” (in Journal of Discourses,18:343).

Write Adam-ondi-Ahman on the chalkboard.

According to Joseph Smith, Adam-ondi-Ahman is where God talked with Adam and the place where Adam offered up sacrifices to the Lord. At Adam-ondi-Ahman, Adam called his family together before he died so he could bless them (see D&C 107:53–56).

Adam-ondi-Ahman will also be an important place in the future: near the time of Christ’s second coming, Adam will come again to Adam-ondi-Ahman and hold a great council. All the prophets who have held keys of priesthood authority upon the earth will come to this council to give a report of their work to Adam. Jesus Christ will then come to Adam-ondi-Ahman, and Adam will return the priesthood keys to him. Christ will then return to earth to begin the Millennium, the thousand years when Christ will live on and reign over the earth.

This information about Adam-ondi-Ahman was very exciting to members of the Church. Joseph Smith said the area should be a gathering place for the Saints who were moving to Missouri from Kirtland. Many Saints moved to Adam-ondi-Ahman during the summer of 1838. They considered it a great blessing to live where Adam had lived.

The Millennium

As you discuss with the children what life on earth will be like during the Millennium, explain the following points from Doctrine and Covenants 101:22–34 (you may want to have the children look up the verses in their own scriptures):

• Everyone will be able to see the Savior (v. 23).
• All the wicked will be destroyed (v. 24).
• People and animals will live in peace (v. 26).
• Satan will not have power to tempt anyone (v. 28).
• There will be neither sorrow nor death (v. 29).
• A person will grow old, then be changed suddenly from mortal to immortal life (vv. 30–31).
• The Lord will reveal all things about the earth and heaven, including how the earth was created and what will become of it (vv. 32–34).

Discussion and Application Questions

Study the following questions and the scripture references as you prepare your lesson. Use the questions you feel will best help the children understand the scriptures and apply the principles in their lives. Reading and discussing the scriptures with the children in class will help them gain personal insights.
• Why was the area known as Spring Hill so important? (D&C 107:53–56;116.) How do you think the members of the Church felt when they found out that Adam had lived there?
• What events occurred long ago at Adam-ondi-Ahman? (D&C 107:53–56; point out that Adam was 927 years old at the time he blessed his family and predicted what would happen to his posterity.) What future event will take place at Adam-ondi-Ahman? (Adam will come again;D&C 116.) Explain that Christ will also come to Adam-ondi-Ahman to receive the keys of priesthood authority back from Adam and the other prophets, in preparation for his second coming and the beginning of the Millennium.
• What do we mean by the second coming of Jesus Christ? Explain that when Jesus first came to live on the earth he came as a baby, but when he comes again he will be an adult. Remind the children that after his death and resurrection, Christ appeared to his Apostles and then ascended into heaven. Two angels appeared and told the Apostles that someday Jesus would return to earth the same way he left (see Acts 1:9–11; see also D&C 29:11; 45:44). Since that time people have been looking forward to the second coming of Jesus to the earth.
• When will the Second Coming take place? (D&C 29:9–11.) Explain that “the hour is nigh” means that it is coming soon, but no one except Heavenly Father knows exactly when it will be (see Matthew 24:36; D&C 49:7). Why is it good that we do not know when Jesus will come?
• How long will the Savior rule over the earth when he comes again? (D&C 29:11.) What will this thousand-year period be called? (D&C 43:30.)
• What will happen to righteous people when Jesus comes again? (D&C 45:45, 57–59.) Why should we look forward to the second coming of Jesus Christ and to the Millennium? (D&C 45:39, 44; explain that in verse 39 fear means a feeling of reverence.) Help the children realize that those who love and obey the Savior and are waiting for him to come will be blessed. How can we prepare ourselves for the Savior’s second coming? (D&C 43:20–23; 45:32, 57; see enrichment activity 1.)

Enrichment Activities

You may use one or more of the following activities any time during the lesson or as a review, summary, or challenge.

1. 1.  Prepare the following wordstrips describing ways we should prepare for the Second Coming and the Millennium (see D&C 43:20–23; 45:32, 57):
   Repent and be baptized.

   Stand in holy places.

   Receive the truth.

   Let the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) be your guide.

   Do not be deceived by Satan.
   Let a child choose a wordstrip, read it to the class, and display it on the chalkboard, table, or floor. Discuss with the children what the phrase on the wordstrip means and how they can prepare themselves in that way (for example, to “stand in holy places,” the children can live worthy to enter the temple, attend church, stay away from places with bad influences, and help keep a good feeling in their homes).
2. 2.  Write the following words or phrases on cards: Adam-ondi-Ahman, Second Coming, Millennium, Be Prepared. Turn the cards face down on the table or floor. Have the children take turns choosing a card and telling one thing they learned about that subject from the lesson. Have each child return the card and mix the cards up before the next child takes one. Continue until each child has had at least one turn and all the subjects have been discussed.
3. 3. 
   Make a copy of the drawings at the end of the lesson for each child, or draw similar illustrations on the chalkboard. Explain that each of these drawings represents one of the signs that will appear before the second coming of Jesus Christ.
   (click to view larger)
   Have each child look up one or more of the following scriptures and identify which drawing represents the sign mentioned in the scripture:
   D&C 29:14
   D&C 29:16
   D&C 29:18
   D&C 45:26–27
   D&C 45:32
   D&C 45:33
   Assure the children that if we are trying to live the gospel, we do not need to fear the Second Coming. We will be protected so that we can do the things Heavenly Father wants us to do for him, and we can look forward to being with Jesus Christ again.
4. 4. 
   Help the children memorize or review the tenth article of faith.
5. 5. 
   Sing or say the words to “When He Comes Again” (Children’s Songbook, p. 82).

Conclusion

Testimony

Express your love and gratitude for the Savior, and explain how wonderful it will be when he comes to live on the earth once more. Encourage the children to prepare themselves for the Second Coming and the Millennium by following Jesus Christ and obeying his commandments.

Suggested Home Reading

Suggest that the children study Doctrine and Covenants 29:10–11 and107:53–56 at home as a review of this lesson.

Suggested Family Sharing

Encourage the children to share with their families a specific part of the lesson, such as a story, question, or activity, or to read with their families the “Suggested Home Reading.”

Invite a child to give the closing prayer.

Lesson 29: Missionaries Go to Other Nations

Primary 5: Doctrine and Covenants and Church History, (1997), 159–66

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Purpose

To increase each child’s desire to be a missionary and share the gospel with others.

maps: http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-map-image.html

http://www.jimapco.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/USA-placemat-Front-VERSION-21.jpg

Today's Prophets and Apostles:  http://www.lds.org/prophets-and-apostles/what-are-prophets?lang=eng

Elder  Aaron Tholl  Chile
Elder Matthew Johnson  Indonesia Jakarta
Elder Daniel Brown    Germany
Elder Jacob Eskelsen  North Carolina
Sister Katherine Palacio  Peru
John and Jan McKinney  Brazil
Sister Ariel Miller -- Dominican Republic

Preparation

1. 1. 
   Prayerfully study Doctrine and Covenants 107:23, 33, 35;112:section heading, 19–22, 28, 30–34 (the responsibilities of the Twelve Apostles); and the historical accounts given in this lesson. Then study the lesson and decide how you want to teach the children the scriptural and historical accounts. (See “Preparing Your Lessons,” pp. vi–vii, and “Teaching the Scriptural and Historical Accounts,” pp. vii–ix.)
2. 2. 
   Additional reading: Doctrine and Covenants 11:21, 18:26–28, and 112:4–10.
3. 3. 
   Select the discussion questions and enrichment activities that will involve the children and best help them achieve the purpose of the lesson.
4. 4. 
   Write on separate pieces of paper important terms or phrases from the lesson. Prepare as many pieces of paper as there are children in your class. (If your class is small, you may want to prepare two papers for each child.) Use terms or phrases such as the following:
   Twelve Apostles

   “Truth will prevail”

   $87.00

   1,800 people

   Race to be baptized

   Special witnesses of Jesus Christ

   Constable

   “Hurrah, hurrah for Israel.”
   
   Heber C. Kimball
   
   1837
   
   1839
   
   Brigham  Young
   
   Wilford Woodruff 
   
   
5. 5. 
   Materials needed:
   1. a. 
      A Doctrine and Covenants for each child.
   2. b. 
      Map of the world, found at the end of the lesson.
      (click to view larger)

Suggested Lesson Development

Invite a child to give the opening prayer.

Attention Activity

• • Have you ever gone on a trip or vacation? How far away from your home did you travel?

Invite the children to tell of anyone in their families who has traveled to another part of the world.

Display the map of the world. Help the children point out places where they or their family members have traveled or lived.

• • Where have some of the missionaries you know been called to serve? (If the children cannot answer, you may want to point out places where you, your friends, or your family members have served missions or where missionaries from your ward or branch are currently serving.)

Explain that missionary work has always been an important part of the church of Jesus Christ. As the Church grew stronger in Ohio and Missouri, the Lord called missionaries to preach the gospel in other parts of the world.

Scriptural and Historical Accounts

Give each child one of the pieces of paper you have prepared. Ask the children to listen for their term or phrase as you teach the lesson. When a term or phrase is mentioned, have the child bring the paper to the front of the class and display it on the chalkboard or table.

Teach the children about the responsibility of the Twelve Apostles to be special witnesses of Christ and direct missionary work, as described in the scriptures listed in the “Preparation” section and the historical account “The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Is Organized,” below. Then teach the children about the efforts of early missionaries to preach the gospel to other nations, as described in the other historical accounts. Point out places on the map as you discuss them.

The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Is Organized

An important part of the restoration of Jesus Christ’s church was the organization of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In February 1835 twelve men were called and ordained to be Apostles. The Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith the duties of the Twelve Apostles, and the Prophet taught the Apostles what they were to do. The Apostles were to be “special witnesses of the name of Christ” and go to all the world to preach the gospel and teach people about Jesus Christ (see D&C 107:23, 33, 35; see also 18:28). The current Twelve Apostles have these same responsibilities, although they fulfill them differently than the first latter-day Apostles did.

These first Twelve Apostles traveled hundreds of miles doing missionary work and strengthening and instructing members of the Church. Although they were responsible for the missionary work of the Church, they were not the only people who served as missionaries. Joseph Smith himself went on many short missions to states near Ohio and to Canada, and other men were called to be missionaries to areas around Kirtland, Ohio, to teach about the restoration of Jesus Christ’s true church. Most missionaries would go to teach for a few weeks or months, return home for a short time, and then go on another mission. The wives and children of these missionaries remained at home and took care of the homes and farms while the men served missions. Soon missionaries began to travel farther and serve for longer periods of time to preach the gospel to people all over the world.

Heber C. Kimball Goes to England

In June 1837 Joseph Smith came to Heber C. Kimball, one of the Twelve Apostles, in the Kirtland Temple and told him, “Brother Heber, the Spirit of the Lord has whispered to me: ‘Let my servant Heber go to England and proclaim my Gospel, and open the door of salvation to that nation’” (quoted in Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball,pp. 103–4; see also History of the Church, 2:490). Elder Kimball was poor, and he worried about his ability to serve a mission, but he accepted the call and prayed that he would be a good missionary.

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/doctrine-and-covenants/section-40-section-84?lang=eng#2010-07-058-the-heart-and-a-willing-mind

Elder Kimball and six companions sailed to Liverpool, England. After they had been in Liverpool for a few days, the Spirit of the Lord told them to go to Preston, a town about thirty miles away. When they arrived in Preston, the streets were filled with people because it was election day. The missionaries saw a large banner with the motto “Truth will prevail.” They hoped this was a sign that they would be successful missionaries in this country, and said, “Amen. So let it be” (quoted in Stanley B. Kimball, Heber C. Kimball: Mormon Patriarch and Pioneer, p. 45).

The next day the missionaries were invited by a local minister to preach to his congregation. Some of the people in the congregation had seen the missionaries in dreams before the missionaries came to England. The missionaries also preached to people in homes and on street corners. Within a week, some people were ready to be baptized.

The morning of the day the first baptisms in England were to take place, the missionaries felt the presence of evil spirits in their room. They realized that Satan was trying to stop the spreading of the gospel in England. The missionaries prayed fervently, and the Lord cast the evil spirits out. The baptisms took place as planned. Some people were so eager to be baptized that they raced down to the river where Elder Kimball was waiting. George D. Watt won the race and became England’s first baptized convert. Within eight months the elders had taught and baptized over two thousand people in England. Heber C. Kimball returned home to Kirtland in May 1838 after being gone almost a year.

The Twelve Apostles Go to England

Malaria
The members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles were commanded to go to England in 1839 to continue preaching the gospel. When the time came to depart, many Apostles and their families were ill with malaria. The Apostles decided to leave, even though they were sick, and trust that the Lord would take care of them.

Hurrah
The Apostles’ wives, many of whom were also sick, knew life would be difficult without their husbands at home, but they supported their husbands in their calls to serve as missionaries. Though weak with sickness, Heber C. Kimball and Brigham Young gave their wives a cheer as they drove off in a wagon. They swung their hats over their heads three times and shouted, “Hurrah, hurrah for Israel.” Their wives came to the door and called back, “Goodbye, God bless you” (quoted in Whitney, p. 266).

Money
Elder Young and Elder Kimball had very little money for their journey to England. Between them they had $13.50, which had been given to them by friends. They traveled from Missouri to Kirtland by stagecoach and expected to ride only a short way before their money was gone, but when Elder Young went to his trunk to get the money to pay for the first part of their journey, he found they had enough money left to continue farther. The same thing happened the next time, and so it continued until they reached Kirtland. They had traveled four hundred miles by stagecoach and had spent $87.00, even though they had only $13.50 when they started. Elder Young and Elder Kimball felt that the extra money must have been placed in the trunk by a heavenly messenger who knew they needed help.

As the members of the Quorum of the Twelve arrived in England, they split up and went to different areas of the country. Wilford Woodruff went south to the area of Herefordshire, where he found many people eager to accept the gospel. Elder Woodruff sometimes had over a thousand people attend the meetings where he was teaching. Once a constable (law enforcement officer) came into the meeting where Elder Woodruff was teaching. The constable said he had been sent by the minister of the local church to arrest Elder Woodruff for preaching. Elder Woodruff explained that he had a legal license to preach, and he asked the constable to sit down. He promised he would talk to him after the meeting. The constable listened to Elder Woodruff teach the principles of the gospel for over an hour. At the end of the meeting seven people wanted to be baptized, including four preachers from other churches and the constable who had come to arrest Elder Woodruff. The constable returned to the minister who had sent him and told the minister he would not arrest Elder Woodruff, for he had heard Elder Woodruff preach “the only true gospel sermon he had ever listened to in his life.” The minister sent two clerks to spy on another meeting to find out what Elder Woodruff preached. The two clerks were also converted and baptized. (See Matthias F. Cowley, Wilford Woodruff: History of His Life and Labors,p. 118.) Through the efforts of Wilford Woodruff and his companions, over eighteen hundred people in southern England became members of the Church.

The other Apostles also had great success preaching the gospel in England. By the time they returned to the United States in the spring of 1841, thousands of people had joined the Church. Many of these converts came to the United States to live. The faith and support of the Saints from England were a great blessing to the Church.

Missionaries Go to Other Parts of the World

When the Twelve Apostles returned to Nauvoo, Illinois, where the headquarters of the Church was then located, they directed missionary work around the world. Elder Orson Hyde had already preached the gospel for a short time in Germany and the Netherlands and had gone to Jerusalem to dedicate the Holy Land, where Jesus had lived when he was on the earth. Missionaries were soon called to go to the islands in the Pacific Ocean. Through the Twelve Apostles, the word of the Lord had begun to spread to all the nations of the earth.

Discussion and Application Questions

Study the following questions and the scripture references as you prepare your lesson. Use the questions you feel will best help the children understand the scriptures and apply the principles in their lives. Reading and discussing the scriptures with the children in class will help them gain personal insights.

• • What is the main responsibility of the Twelve Apostles? (D&C 107:23.) What does it mean to be a witness of the name of Christ? (To teach people about Christ and testify that he is our Savior.) To whom are the Twelve Apostles to be special witnesses of Jesus Christ?
• • In addition to being witnesses of Jesus Christ, what are the Twelve Apostles called to do? Explain that the Twelve Apostles supervise missionary work (D&C 18:26–28; 112:21–22) and other Church business (D&C 107:33). They also jointly hold all the keys of the priesthood (D&C 107:35; 112:30–32).
• • How did the Lord promise to bless the Twelve Apostles and the other missionaries sent to preach the gospel in other nations? (D&C 112:19, 21.) What did the missionaries have to do to receive this blessing? (D&C 112:10, 22, 28; see also D&C 11:21.) How can this blessing apply to us? What can we do to receive this blessing?
• • How did the people of England react to the message of the missionaries? Why do you think evil spirits came to Elder Kimball and his companions? Why does Satan want to stop missionary work?
• • How did the wives and children of the Twelve Apostles and other missionaries contribute to missionary work? How were the missionaries and their families blessed as the missionaries taught the gospel? How are missionaries and their families blessed today? (You may want to share a personal experience of a time when you or your family members were blessed for serving a mission or supporting a missionary.)
• • Why do Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ want us to share the gospel with others? What are some of the blessings we enjoy and want others to have also? (Answers may include the knowledge of Heavenly Father’s plan and his love for us, the happiness that comes as we obey the commandments, and the ordinances that will allow us to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus again someday if we are worthy.)
• • How can you be a missionary now? (See enrichment activity 1.) How can you prepare to be a full-time missionary someday? (See enrichment activity 2.) How does being a missionary help us get closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Enrichment Activities

You may use one or more of the following activities any time during the lesson or as a review, summary, or challenge.

1. 1. 
   Before class, write instructions such as the following on individual pieces of paper (at least one for each child in your class), and put each piece of paper in a separate paper cup or other small container:
   
   
   • •  Repeat or explain your favorite scripture.
   • •  Repeat and explain an article of faith.
   • •  Name a Church activity you could invite a friend to attend.
   • •  Name a Church video you could show to a friend.
   • •  Name a Church magazine or book you could share with a friend.
   • •  Suggest how you could be a friend to someone at school who seems to be left out.
   • •  Name two ways you can be courteous to others.
   • •  Name two ways you can set a good example for others.
   • •  Sing or tell about your favorite Church hymn or song.
   • •  Tell why you appreciate Jesus Christ.
   • •  Share what you could write in a Book of Mormon to give to a friend.
   • •  Tell something you can do to help your testimony grow.
   • • Give someone a sincere compliment.
   • • Name your favorite person from the scriptures and the reason he or she is your favorite.
   Write I can be a missionary now on the chalkboard, and explain that you are going to ask the children to practice ways they can be missionaries now. Group the paper cups or containers close together on the floor, and give a child a small stone or button. Have the child toss the stone or button into a cup, remove the cup from the group, take out the paper, and follow the instruction on the paper. Repeat with another child, and continue until all the children have had at least one turn and the instructions have all been demonstrated.
   Following the activity, you may wish to give the children pencils and paper and have them each write down a specific way they will try to be a missionary during the week. Let the children take these papers home to remind them to be missionaries now.
2. Charades 
3. 2.  List on separate pieces of paper skills the children could learn or activities they could do to prepare to be full-time missionaries in the future. Put these pieces of paper in a container. Have each child draw a paper from the container and pantomime (or draw on the chalkboard) clues to help the other children guess the skill or activity.
   Use the following ideas or create some of your own (you could also invite the children to think of their own skills or activities to pantomime):
   • •  Read the scriptures.
   • •  Write in your journal.
   • •  Save money.
   • •  Introduce yourself to others.
   • •  Iron a shirt or blouse.
   • •  Sew on a button.
   • •  Tie a tie.
   • •  Cook a meal.
   • •  Fix a tire on your bicycle.
4. 3.  Ask the children how many of them are members of the Church because of missionary work. Help the children realize that all of them are members because missionaries taught the gospel to them, their parents, or other family members. Share a personal experience of how you or your family members were taught the gospel. Allow the children to share similar experiences. Encourage the children to ask their parents how the first Church members in their families learned about the gospel.
5. 
   
6. 4.  Write on the chalkboard Have I been a missionary today?
   Have a child read the following quotation from Spencer W. Kimball, twelfth President of the Church:
   “Every man, woman, and child—every young person and every little boy and girl—should serve a mission. This does not mean that they must serve abroad or even be formally called and set apart as full-time missionaries. But it does mean that each of us is responsible to bear witness [testimony] of the gospel truths that we have been given. We all have relatives, neighbors, friends, and fellow workmen, and it is our responsibility to pass the truths of the gospel on to them, by example as well as by precept [teachings]” (“‘It Becometh Every Man,’” Ensign, Oct. 1977, p. 3).
   • •  What did President Kimball mean when he said we should teach the gospel by example? How can we do as President Kimball said and be missionaries now? What have you done that might help someone want to know more about the Church?
7. 5.  Help the children memorize or review the tenth article of faith. Explain that the gathering of Israel refers to bringing people into Jesus Christ’s church. This is done through missionary work as people are taught the gospel throughout the world.

 10 We believe in the literal ^agathering of Israel and in the restoration of the ^bTen Tribes; that ^cZion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will ^dreign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be ^erenewed and receive its ^fparadisiacal ^gglory.

1. 6.  Sing or say the words to “I Want to Be a Missionary Now”(Children’s Songbook, p. 168) or “I Hope They Call Me on a Mission” (Children’s Songbook, p. 169).

http://www.lds.org/music/library/search?query=I+want+to+be+a+missionary+now&x=-615&y=-514&clang=eng&lang=eng#d

Conclusion

Testimony

Express your gratitude for the restoration of the gospel and for the missionaries who proclaim the gospel to the world. Encourage the children to follow the examples of the early missionaries of the Church and develop the desire to share the gospel with others.

Suggested Home Reading

Suggest that the children study Doctrine and Covenants 107:23 and112:10, 19 at home as a review of this lesson.

Suggested Family Sharing

Encourage the children to share with their families a specific part of the lesson, such as a story, question, or activity, or to read with their families the “Suggested Home Reading.”

Invite a child to give the closing prayer.