Mormon Abridging the Plates, by Tom Lovell

March

Heavenly Father’s Prophets Write His Words in Scripture

Many children love the stories in the scriptures—an ark full of animals, a den of lions, stones that shine in the darkness. You can help them understand why we love the scriptures. It’s not just because the stories are interesting or exciting. It’s because they are messages from God, given to us through His servants, the prophets. Children who learn to love the scriptures and words of prophets while they’re young will have a way to feel close to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Tell the children how the Lord has spoken to you through the scriptures and the words of His prophets. Then help them have their own experiences with His holy word.

Prophets share God’s word and testify of Jesus Christ.

A simple guessing game could help the children learn about how Heavenly Father blesses us through prophets. Give the children clues like the following. Let them guess which prophets they refer to. (You could also choose other clues about other prophets the children might know.)

• God gave him ten commandments to give to the people (Moses; see Exodus 20:1–17; Gospel Art Book, no. 14).

• He saw a vision of a tree that represents the love of God (Lehi; see 1 Nephi 8; Gospel Art Book, no. 69).

• He stood on a wall to tell everyone that Jesus Christ would come (Samuel; see Helaman 13:4; 14:2; Gospel Art Book, no. 81).

• He saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, translated the Book of Mormon, and restored Jesus Christ’s Church (Joseph Smith; see Joseph Smith—History 1:17; Gospel Art Book, no. 90).

• He is our living prophet and President of the Church today. (Share with each other some things the current President of the Church has taught. Talk about how you have been blessed by following his counsel.)

Studying the scriptures brings God’s power into my life.

• When the Lord invites us to read the scriptures, He often uses words that are more descriptive and inspiring than simply “read.” You could help the children find those words in the following scriptures, along with the blessings He promises for accepting the invitation.

Scripture	Invitation	Promised blessing
Scripture 1 Nephi 15:23–24	Invitation	Promised blessing
Scripture 2 Nephi 32:3	Invitation	Promised blessing
Scripture Doctrine and Covenants 84:85	Invitation	Promised blessing

• Other blessings from the scriptures are listed in the song “Scripture Power” (music.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Consider singing it with the children. Perhaps they could hold up a copy of the scriptures every time they sing “scripture” or when they sing about a blessing of scripture study. Tell the children about the power the Lord has given you as you study the scriptures.

Jesus loved the scriptures, and so can I.

• To teach your children how knowing and loving the scriptures helped Jesus overcome Satan, you could read together Matthew 4:1–11 (or “Satan Tempts Jesus,” in New Testament Stories). What do we learn from the way Jesus used the scriptures when He was tempted? You might share with each other why you love the scriptures.

  Satan Tempts Jesus

• The children might also enjoy learning about two young girls who loved the scriptures so much that they risked their lives for them (see “Mary and Caroline Rollins,” in Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 94–99). How can we show that we love the scriptures?

  Mary and Carolline Rollins