May

Baptism and Confirmation Give Me Access to God’s Blessings

Do you remember the day you were baptized and confirmed? There’s something special about the moment we show, through those sacred ordinances, that we want to make a covenant with God. But maybe a more important question is this: Do you remember a day—perhaps today—when you did something to keep your baptismal covenant? Maybe you chose to resist a temptation. Or lighten someone’s burden. Or stand as a witness of God. All because you reminded yourself, “I’ve made a covenant.” Whether the children you teach have already made that covenant or are preparing to, help them see that they make the covenant of baptism on one special day, but they keep it for the rest of their lives.

See also Topics and Questions, “Baptism,” “Gift of the Holy Ghost,” Gospel Library.

Jesus Christ was baptized, and I can be too.

• At the end of this lesson is a drawing of Jesus being baptized. Maybe the children could look at that drawing while you read to them about Jesus’s baptism in Matthew 3:13–17 or “Jesus Is Baptized” (in New Testament Stories). Help the children find details in the drawing that are mentioned in the story. Then they could draw themselves being baptized the way Jesus was. Children could share either how they felt when they were baptized or why they are excited to do so.

  Jesus Is Baptized

When I am baptized, I make a covenant with God.

• To help your children learn about the covenant, or promise, they make when they are baptized, you could help them make two lists: “My Promises to God” and “God’s Promises to Me.” They could find the promises in Mosiah 18:10, 13 and Doctrine and Covenants 20:37 or in the song “My Baptism Promise” (Hymns for Home and Church, Gospel Library). (See also Dallin H. Oaks, “Your Baptism Covenant,” Friend, Feb. 2021, 2–3; “Sophia’s Baptism Promises” [video], Gospel Library.)

  Sophia's Baptism Promises

• How does our baptismal covenant affect our daily lives? Elder Ulisses Soares shared an example from his life in the video “A Visit with Elder Ulisses Soares” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). After watching the video, you and the children could talk about choices you made because you remembered your baptismal covenant.

  Activity/Animated Video: A Visit with Elder Ulisses Soares

When I am confirmed, I receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

• You could read Doctrine and Covenants 33:15 with the children. Ask them to listen for the special gift Heavenly Father gives us when we are baptized and confirmed. It might help to show the picture at the beginning of this lesson. To help them learn more about how the gift of the Holy Ghost will help them, you could review together John 14:26; 2 Nephi 32:5; 3 Nephi 27:20. To help the children recognize the influence of the Holy Ghost, you could remind them of a spiritual experience you may have had together. Share with each other how you felt, and help them connect those feelings with the Holy Ghost (reading Galatians 5:22–23 might help).

• Perhaps you could sing together a song like “The Holy Ghost” (Children’s Songbook, 105). What does the song teach about how the Holy Ghost can help us? Perhaps you and the children could share experiences when the Holy Ghost has helped you.