“August 24–30. Helaman 7–12: ‘Remember the Lord,’” Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 (2020)
“August 24–30. Helaman 7–12,” Come, Follow Me—For Primary: 2020
Illustration of Nephi in a garden tower by Jerry Thompson
August 24–30
Helaman 7–12
“Remember the Lord”
As you read Helaman 7–12, ponder how the stories and principles in these chapters can bless the children you teach. The ideas in this outline can supplement the inspiration you receive.
Record Your Impressions
Invite Sharing
Ask the children what they know about the prophet Nephi, the son of Helaman (see Helaman 7–12). If needed, explain the difference between this prophet named Nephi and the prophet named Nephi at the beginning of the Book of Mormon.
Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children
The Lord wants me to remember Him.
Nephi wondered how his people had turned away from God and forgotten Him. How can you help the children learn ways they can remember Heavenly Father and Jesus?
Possible Activities
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Share with the children an experience when you forgot something important. Ask them if they have ever forgotten something. Read to them Helaman 7:20, and explain that the Nephites had chosen to forget about God. The prophet Nephi wanted them to remember God. Bring pictures in a bag that represent ways the children can remember Heavenly Father and Jesus. Let the children take turns choosing a picture and sharing how we can remember God every day.
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Help the children complete this week’s activity page.
Prophets testify of Jesus Christ.
Nephi testified that Jesus Christ would come, and he invited his people to repent and follow Him. Use these chapters to teach the children that prophets testify of Jesus Christ.
Possible Activities
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Show a picture of Jesus Christ, and tell the children that prophets like Nephi invite us to follow Jesus. Read the following words about prophets from Helaman 8:22: “They have testified of the coming of Christ, and have looked forward, and have rejoiced in his day.” Share with the children something our living prophet has said about the Savior.
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Sing together a song about prophets, such as “Follow the Prophet” (Children’s Songbook, 110). Pick a key phrase from the song, and write one word from the phrase on each of several paper footprints. Lay the footprints on the floor leading to a picture of the Savior. Invite the children to follow the path of the footprints, and help them read the words.
I will obey Heavenly Father.
Nephi’s example of obedience can inspire the children you teach to obey the Lord.
Possible Activities
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Read Helaman 10:2, 11–12, and help the children understand that Nephi obeyed God. Invite the children to act out what Nephi did. For example, ask them to walk toward one side of the room (as if they are going home), stop, turn around, and walk toward the other side of the room (as if they are returning to teach the people). Help them see that Nephi wanted to obey the Lord even though he had to do something difficult.
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Help the children understand that sometimes Heavenly Father wants us to do something that is different from what we want to do, but we can obey Him like Nephi did. Share statements like “Sometimes I want to get angry, but Heavenly Father wants me to be … ,” and let the children finish the statements. Encourage the children to remember to stop and think about what Heavenly Father wants them to do and then do it.
Teach the Doctrine: Older Children
I will be spiritually safe as I follow the prophet.
President James E. Faust taught: “Our safety lies in paying heed to that which [the President of the Church] says and following his counsel” (“Continuous Revelation,” Ensign, Nov. 1989, 10).
Possible Activities
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Invite the children to make a list on the board of things a prophet does (see “Prophet,” Guide to the Scriptures, scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Help them search Helaman 7:1–2, 27–29; 8:22–23; and 10:3–4, 6–7 to see how Nephi did some of the things in their list. When have we seen our prophet today do these things? Bear your testimony of the living prophet. To illustrate the importance of prophets, show the first minute of the video “Watchman on the Tower” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
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Read together Helaman 11:3–7 (or review “Chapter 39: Nephi Receives Great Power,” Book of Mormon Stories, 108–10, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Ask the children to listen for what happened to the people who did not listen to the prophet. What can happen when we do not listen to the prophet? How are we blessed when we follow Him? Share something that our prophet has taught, and encourage the children to follow his teachings.
The Lord wants me to remember Him.
The children you teach will face distractions that could cause them to forget Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. How can you inspire the children to devote time to spiritual things?
Possible Activities
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Read together Helaman 7:20–21, and ask the children what they think it means to forget God. Explain that the word forget can also mean “to neglect” or “ignore.” Display a picture of the Savior, and invite the children to draw things they might spend too much time doing that could cause them to forget the Lord. Put their drawings in front of the picture of Jesus. Ask the children to think of things they can do each day to remember Heavenly Father and Jesus. As they share their thoughts, take away the drawings one by one until the picture of the Savior is revealed.
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Invite the children to complete this week’s activity page.
When I ponder the words of God, I can receive revelation.
Do the children you teach know what it means to ponder? Help them understand that Nephi was blessed with revelation when he pondered the things the Lord had shown him.
Possible Activities
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Help the children understand what it means to ponder (see “Ponder,” Guide to the Scriptures, scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Invite them to think of other words that describe what ponder means. Then ask them to read Helaman 10:1–3 and replace the word ponder with the words they thought of. What happened when Nephi pondered the scriptures? (see Helaman 10:3–7). Share a time when you received revelation after pondering a scripture or a modern-day revelation or a spiritual experience.
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Give the children time to read Helaman 10, or read it together, and encourage them to find a verse they would like to ponder during the coming week. Invite them to write the verse they chose on a paper or card and put it somewhere to remind them to ponder that verse during the upcoming week. In a future class, give them time to share what they learned as they pondered the verse.
Encourage Learning at Home
Encourage the children to share with their families what they plan to do to remember Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ every day. They could also invite their families to join them in their goal.
Improving Our Teaching
Extend invitations that respect agency. When you invite children to act on what you have taught them, think of ways to honor their agency as they apply what they learn. For example, after a lesson about the Savior, you could ask, “What will you do to remember the Savior this week?”