Primary
Lesson 43: Moroni Teaches Faith in Jesus Christ

“Lesson 43: Moroni Teaches Faith in Jesus Christ,” Primary 4: Book of Mormon (1997), 152–55

“Lesson 43,” Primary 4, 152–55

Lesson 43

Moroni Teaches Faith in Jesus Christ

Purpose

To encourage each child to exercise faith in Jesus Christ.

Preparation

  1. Prayerfully study Ether 12:6–41 and Moroni 7:21–28, 33–34. Then study the lesson and decide how you want to teach the children the scripture account. (See “Preparing Your Lessons,” p. vi, and “Teaching from the Scriptures,” p. vii.)

  2. Select the discussion questions and enrichment activities that will involve the children and best help them achieve the purpose of the lesson.

  3. Prepare the following nine wordstrips (from Ether 12:6) for the attention activity:

    • Faith is

    • things

    • which

    • are

    • hoped

    • for

    • and

    • not

    • seen

  4. Materials needed:

    1. A Book of Mormon for each child.

    2. Picture 4-9, Jesus the Christ (Gospel Art Picture Kit 240; 62572.)

Suggested Lesson Development

Invite a child to give the opening prayer.

Attention Activity

Before class, place the wordstrip “Faith is” and the picture of Jesus Christ on the chalkboard or wall. Place each of the other eight wordstrips for the definition of faith under several of the children’s chairs.

Have the children find the wordstrips and bring them to the front of class and put them in order.

Read and discuss the completed scripture (Ether 12:6).

  • What things that you have not seen would you like to see? How do you know that they exist?

  • Even though we have not seen Jesus Christ with our own eyes, how do we know that he lives?

  • What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ? (To have a strong enough belief in Jesus Christ that we obey him and seek to become like him.)

  • What are some ways Jesus Christ can help you if you have faith in him? (He can give you comfort, direction, peace, strength, healing.)

Explain that the Book of Mormon teaches about many people who received great blessings and performed miracles because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

Scripture Account

Teach the children about Mormon’s and Moroni’s teachings on faith from Moroni 7:21–28, 33–34 and Ether 12:6–41. (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see “Teaching from the Scriptures,” p. vii.) Explain that Mormon and Moroni wrote about many people who had been blessed through their faith (see enrichment activity 2).

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 the references with the children in class will help them gain insights into the scriptures.

  • What did Jesus Christ say we will receive if we have faith in him? (Moroni 7:33.) (See enrichment activity 1.)

  • What did Moroni teach about how to receive a witness, or testimony, of the gospel? (Ether 12:6.) What does it mean to have a “trial of your faith”? (To have your faith tested in some way.)

  • Explain that everyone has weaknesses. In what ways can having faith in Jesus Christ help us overcome our weaknesses? (Ether 12:27.)

  • What are some things that faith in Jesus Christ will help us do? (Pray, receive answers to prayers, repent, be baptized, follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost, serve others, resist temptation, pay tithing, meet challenges, say “I’m sorry,” attend church, obey the Word of Wisdom, and so on.)

  • What promise about prayer does Heavenly Father give people who have faith? (Moroni 7:26.) How have your prayers been answered?

Allow time for the children to express their feelings about Jesus Christ. Explain that these feelings show that they have faith in him.

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. Put the names of each of the following people on separate pieces of paper in a container. Have the children take turns choosing a piece of paper and, using the appropriate picture, briefly recount the story of how the people named on the paper were blessed with power because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

    • Alma and Amulek caused the prison to tumble. (Alma 14:26–28.) Show picture 4-29, Alma and Amulek Walk out of the Fallen Prison.

    • Nephi and Lehi were imprisoned and were encircled by fire. (Helaman 5:44–52.) Show picture 4-41, Nephi and Lehi in Prison.

    • Ammon saved the flocks of King Lamoni. (Alma 17:29–18:3; 26:12.) Show picture 4-30, Ammon Defends the Flocks of King Lamoni (Gospel Art Picture Kit 310; 62535.)

    • The brother of Jared saw the spirit body of Jesus Christ and moved a mountain. (Ether 3; 12:30.) Show picture 4-52, The Brother of Jared Sees the Finger of the Lord (Gospel Art Picture Kit 318; 62478.)

    • The 2,000 warriors’ lives were spared in battle. (Alma 56:44–56.) Show picture 4-40, Two Thousand Young Warriors (Gospel Art Picture Kit 313; 62050).

    • Nephi obtained the brass plates. (1 Nephi 4:1–31.) Show picture 4-8, Nephi Returning to Lehi with the Brass Plates.

    • Lehi and his family were guided by the Liahona to the promised land. (1 Nephi 16:28–29; 1 Nephi 18:23.) Show picture 4-20, Lehi and His People Arrive in the Promised Land (Gospel Art Picture Kit 304; 62045).

    • Jesus Christ appeared to his disciples in great power. (Ether 12:31.) Show picture 4-45, Jesus Teaching in the Western Hemisphere (Gospel Art Picture Kit 316; 62380).

    • Abinadi was willing to die for his testimony of Jesus Christ. (Mosiah 17:7–20.) Show picture 4-22, Abinadi before King Noah (Gospel Art Picture Kit 308; 62042).

  2. Play the Who Am I? game with the children. Give them the following clues, and have them guess the person you are talking about.

    • I prayed all day and all night, using my faith in Jesus Christ. (Enos.)

    • Because of faith, an angel appeared to my son and the four sons of Mosiah to call them to repentance. (Alma.)

    • I used a special flag to encourage my people to have faith in Jesus Christ and to fight for their liberty and their families. (Captain Moroni.)

    • Because of my faith, I chose to take my family and go with Lehi and his family into the wilderness. (Ishmael.)

    • I had the faith to return to Jerusalem to get the brass plates. (Nephi.)

    • My faith in Jesus Christ let me see his finger and then his whole being. (Brother of Jared.)

    • Our faith in Jesus Christ, taught by our mothers, saved our lives in battle. (2,000 stripling warriors.)

    • My faith in Jesus Christ and my desire to preach his gospel helped me fight off a band of robbers who wanted to kill King Lamoni’s sheep. (Ammon.)

    • Our faith caused the prison to tumble. (Alma and Amulek.)

    • While imprisoned, we were encircled with fire because of our faith. (Nephi and Lehi.)

    • Because of our faith in Jesus Christ, we will not taste of death. (Three Nephites.)

    • We were guided by the Liahona to the promised land according to our faith in Jesus Christ. (Lehi and his family.)

  3. Discuss how the following activities can help us strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ:

    • Studying the scriptures: As you learn about Jesus Christ and what he did, you will develop greater love and faith in him.

    • Praying: We can ask Heavenly Father to help strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ.

    • Obeying Jesus Christ’s teachings: Obedience to his commandments brings happiness and peace.

  4. Discuss and memorize the fourth article of faith, emphasizing faith in Jesus Christ as the first principle of the gospel.

  5. Explain that faith comes from knowing and trusting. To develop faith in Jesus Christ we must come to know him. Have the children tell you things they know about Jesus Christ and how knowing each one helps them have faith in him. Write them on the chalkboard. Some possible answers might be that he is the Son of God, he lives, he loves us, he died for us, he is our Savior, he is forgiving, he has power over the elements of the earth, he knows what is best for us, he wants to help us return to his presence, he and Heavenly Father appeared to Joseph Smith.

  6. Prepare the wordstrip “We build our faith by obeying the Lord’s commandments” and put it on the chalkboard or wall.

    Invite the children to tell about times when they have obeyed the commandments. Help them understand that such choices show faith in Jesus Christ. Put pieces of blank paper on the chalkboard or wall on top of each other as if you were building a wall (or draw them on the chalkboard). Have the children label each piece with something they do that builds their faith in Jesus Christ, such as praying, reading the scriptures, paying tithing, being an example of righteous choices, obeying their parents, taking the sacrament, obeying Heavenly Father’s commandments, and so on.

  7. Sing or read the words to “Faith” (Children’s Songbook, p. 96), “The Church of Jesus Christ” (Children’s Songbook, p. 77), “The Fourth Article of Faith” (Children’s Songbook, p. 124), or “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” (Hymns, no. 136).

Conclusion

Testimony

Bear testimony of the reality of Jesus Christ and that through faith in him we gain the power to become like him. As we study, pray, and obey his commandments, our faith will be strengthened.

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.”

Suggested Home Reading

Suggest that the children study Ether 12:6–22, 41 at home as a review of this lesson.

Invite a child to give the closing prayer.