2 Nephi 1–5

February 8–14

“We Lived after the Manner of Happiness”

Preparing to Teach in Primary

Begin your preparation to teach by reading 2 Nephi 1–5 before studying any supplemental material. Prepare your teaching plan, and record your thoughts and impressions. You might also use some of the ideas on the next page or in Come, Follow Me for individuals and families.

Encourage Sharing

• How can you encourage the children to share the feelings and experiences they had as they studied these scriptures individually and with their families? How can you also involve children who may not have read in advance?

Teach the Doctrine

• As you teach the doctrine found in this week’s scriptures, what verses, quotations, experiences, questions, and other resources might you share with the children? How might you use these resources to help children learn gospel principles? How can you encourage children to act on the truths they learn in class?

Encourage Sharing and Learning at Home

• What can the children share at home with their families? How can you encourage them to continue to learn about the Book of Mormon at home?

My Teaching Plan

Improving Our Teaching

Help children recognize the influence of the Spirit.

Teach children that the feelings of peace, love, and happiness they have when they talk or sing about Jesus Christ and His gospel come from the Holy Ghost. Help them understand that these feelings are part of a testimony.

Additional Ideas

Use one or more of the activities below to help children know how they can make choices that will bring them joy. You may also use your own activities to teach other truths you find in these chapters.

2 Nephi 1:20. I am blessed when I obey.

• How can you help the children understand Lehi’s teachings in 2 Nephi 1:20 about prospering? It might help them to see a visual image, such as a healthy plant and a leaf or branch that has been cut off from the plant. You could discuss the difference between a leaf that is on the plant and one that has been cut off. How are we like the leaf on the plant when we obey? You and the children could also share experiences when you have obeyed the commandments and been blessed.

2 Nephi 2:27. God gave me the freedom to choose.

• How can you help the children understand the meaning of 2 Nephi 2:27? You could share Elder Robert D. Hales’s story about painting himself into a corner (see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me for individuals and families). You could also play a game that illustrates the importance of making choices. What other ideas from Come, Follow Me for individuals and families could you use to teach your class about agency? What did Lehi want his children to understand about the power of their choices?

2 Nephi 3:6–24. Prophets are called of God to help His children.

• Lehi’s teachings to his son Joseph can help the children gain a stronger testimony of the mission of Joseph Smith. How can you help them understand these teachings? One idea is to invite the children to draw or color a picture of Joseph Smith (see that coloring page in Come, Follow Me for individuals and families) and write some of the reasons they are thankful for the Prophet. What words from 2 Nephi 3 could they depict in their drawing?

See also the video “A Seer Will I Raise Up” (LDS.org).

Sharing Time

Singing Time

Help the children learn the gospel through music.

• The children could sing “Keep the Commandments” or “Choose the Right Way” (Children’s Songbook, 146 and 160).

Sharing by Children

Create opportunities for children to share how they are learning and living the gospel.

• Children could share experiences they have had with choosing the right. They could play a matching game by matching a commandment with the blessings promised to those who obey that commandment.