Alma the Younger Preaching, by Gary L. Kapp

May 25–31

Mosiah 29–Alma 4

“They Were Steadfast and Immovable”

The children you teach can learn a lot in your class, but they’ll learn even more if they develop a habit of studying the scriptures at home. Consider how you can encourage and support gospel learning in the home.

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

Invite the children to sit on the floor in a circle, and roll a ball to one of them. Ask that child to share something he or she has learned recently about the gospel at home or in Primary. Then invite the child to roll the ball to someone else. Repeat until every child has had a chance to share something.

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Alma 1:2–9, 26–30

As a member of the Church, I should love and serve others.

You may not choose to tell the children much about Nehor’s teachings, but they might benefit from knowing that in the Church we serve because we love others, not because we want to become rich or popular.

Possible Activities

• Share with the children, in simple terms, the story of Alma and Nehor (see Alma 1; “Chapter 20: Alma and Nehor,” Book of Mormon Stories, 54–55, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Emphasize that even though Nehor’s followers were mean to the Church members, many of the Church members remained kind and loving.

• Read Alma 1:30 to the children, and help them understand that the people of the Church shared what they had with people who needed help. Help the children think of things they could share and people they could share them with. Encourage the children to draw pictures of their plans.

• Sing together a song about love and service, such as “Kindness Begins with Me” (Children’s Songbook, 145), and help the children think of actions that could go with the song.

Alma 2:28–30

God will answer my prayers.

When Alma and the Nephites felt “much fear” (Alma 2:23), they prayed for help and were strengthened. Help the children learn from their example.

Possible Activities

• Using pictures in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families or in “Chapter 21: The Amlicites” (Book of Mormon Stories, 56–57, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org), tell the children how the Nephites gained strength to defeat the Amlicites. Ask the children about things that are scary or hard for them, and testify that they can pray to Heavenly Father for help with these things.

• Share an experience when God helped you after you prayed to Him. Invite the children to share experiences they have had with prayer.

Alma 4:19

My testimony can strengthen others.

Often the “pure testimony” (Alma 4:19) of a child can have a strong influence on others. How can you help the children find ways to share their testimonies?

Possible Activities

• Open the scriptures to Alma 4:19, and explain that when Alma saw how wicked the people were, he decided the best way to help them was to bear “pure testimony” to them. Use this week’s activity page to teach the children what a testimony is and what it includes. Encourage them to share their testimonies.

• Pour some clean water into a clear glass, and explain that the water is like our testimonies because we can share it with others. Pour the glass of water into a small cup for each child, and tell the children that when we share our testimonies, we help others have stronger testimonies too.

• If the children would like to, let them practice bearing their testimonies. Suggest several ways they can show they know the gospel is true, including through their actions.

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Alma 1:2–9

I can learn to recognize false teachings.

At some point in our lives, we all have to face people like Nehor—those who try to deceive us with messages that sound appealing but are false and harmful. Sharing the account in Alma 1:2–9 could help the children prepare for such encounters in their lives.

Possible Activities

• Help the children read Alma 1:2–4 to review some of the things that Nehor, a false teacher, taught. Help them create a true-or-false quiz using statements from these verses. Why does Satan sometimes combine truths with falsehoods? Help the children think of some examples.

• After reviewing Alma 1:2–9 together, ask each of the children to read one of the following scriptures: Matthew 7:21–23; 2 Nephi 26:29–31; Mosiah 18:24–26; and Helaman 12:23–26. How do these scriptures refute Nehor’s teachings? How can we use the scriptures to fortify our own testimonies of the gospel?

Alma 1:26–30; 4:6–13

As a member of the Church, I should love and serve others.

Sometimes the Church members in Alma’s day were generous and giving, and other times they were unkind and prideful. Help the children you teach learn from their experiences.

Possible Activities

• Help the children read Alma 4:6–13, and define words like “scornful,” “persecute,” and “despising” (use a dictionary if necessary). How do we feel when people treat us in these ways? Invite the children to find words in Alma 1:26–30 that describe how Heavenly Father wants us to treat each other.

• Ask the children to read Alma 1:27, 30 and make a list of the kinds of people Church members helped. Invite the children to think of people in their neighborhoods or schools who might “[stand] in need” (Alma 1:30) of their love and help. To reinforce this principle, sing together a song about kindness, such as “I’ll Walk with You” (Children’s Songbook, 140–41).

Alma 4:8–20

My testimony can strengthen others.

Alma gave up his position as chief judge so he could spend more time sharing his testimony and helping people repent. His example might inspire the children to share their testimonies more often.

Possible Activities

• Read Alma 4:8–12, 15 with the children, and ask them to identify the problems that were happening in the Church, as described in these verses. Invite the children to suggest some things Alma could do to solve these problems. Help them find out, in Alma 4:16–20, what Alma decided to do. Why is testimony so powerful?

• To help the children understand what a testimony is and what it includes, show the video “Apostle Testimony Montage” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org); sing together a song about the topic, such as “Testimony” (Hymns, no. 137); or use this week’s activity page. Ask the children to share what they learn about testimonies from these resources.

Encourage Learning at Home

Help the children think of someone they can share their testimonies with next week. Encourage them to write a plan to help them accomplish their goal.

Improving Our Teaching

Ask questions that invite testimony. “Asking questions that encourage learners to bear testimony of the principles being taught can be a powerful way to invite the Spirit” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 32). To invite children to bear testimony, ask questions that prompt them to think about and share how they feel about the Savior or His gospel. You could also ask about experiences they have had with prayer, service, ordinances such as baptism, or feeling the influence of the Holy Ghost.