Navigating the New

By Brynn Wengler

Church Magazines

Here’s a fun object lesson you can teach your family or class during Come, Follow Me study this month.

When you try something new, you might feel like Nephi seeking the brass plates, “not knowing beforehand the things which [you] should do” (1 Nephi 4:6). But remember, you’re never alone, especially when you’re doing something God has commanded.

1. Not Knowing Beforehand

Give each person a piece of paper. But don’t tell them what it’s for. Instead, talk about how we often receive revelation from God one step at a time, like Nephi getting the brass plates (see 1 Nephi 3–4) or building a ship (see 1 Nephi 17–18).

2. Line upon Line

Now comes the fun part! Read these instructions aloud one at a time to help your group fold their own mystery masterpiece. (It’s hard without pictures! If they need extra help, let them peek a step at a time.)

3. Revelation: Led by the Spirit

Your family or class should now have a crisp new fleet of paper boats! Take a few minutes to talk about times when you’ve all needed God’s direction “line upon line.” You could even write or draw something on your boats to remember those times.

Now when life throws new things at you, don’t forget to seek revelation from God. Remember, He will always prepare a way for you to do what He has asked (see 1 Nephi 3:7).

Instructions

Hold the piece of paper with the short edge on top. Fold in half, top to bottom.
Fold in half again from left to right, then unfold the crease you just made.
With the folded edge at the top, take the top two corners and fold them down to the crease in the middle. It should look like a triangle with a rectangle at the bottom.
Take the small flap of paper at the bottom of your triangle and fold the top layer up. Flip it over and repeat with the flap on the other side.
Pull open the bottom part so it looks like a hat.
Keep pulling until the two ends meet and flatten into a diamond shape.
With the open end at the bottom, fold the first layer up to the top of the diamond. Flip and repeat on the other side. It should look like a triangle.
Pull open the bottom part and flatten it like you did in steps 5 and 6 into a diamond shape.
The top of your diamond should have two triangle flaps on the left and right. Pull those points outward and flatten them so you have an upside-down trapezoid. Then push out the sides to help it stand on its own.