May 13–19

Matthew 19–20; Mark 10; Luke 18

“What Lack I Yet?”

Read Matthew 19–20; Mark 10; and Luke 18, keeping the children you teach in mind. Record any promptings you receive. Your preparation will help you teach the children what they need to know from these chapters.

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

Invite the children to tell the class something they love about their family. You might even ask the children’s parents to provide pictures of their families for their children to share with the class.

Teach the Doctrine

Younger Children

Mark 10:6–8

Heavenly Father wants us to marry in the temple and have eternal families.

How can the children you teach benefit from learning about the doctrine of eternal marriage? It may be helpful to refer to “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 129).

Possible Activities

• Read Mark 10:6–8 to the children, and display a picture of a married couple. Ask the children to point to the man and the woman when they hear you read the words male and female. Explain that Heavenly Father intends for a man and woman to marry each other (see Genesis 1:27–28).

• Display pictures of a family and a temple. Explain that Heavenly Father wants us to be sealed to our families in the temple so we can be with them forever. Be sensitive to children whose parents are not yet sealed.

• Sing “A Happy Family,” Children’s Songbook, 198. Invite the children to point to themselves whenever they sing “I,” “me,” “us,” and “we.” This activity could be repeated several times. Invite the children to share fun things they have done with their families. Why are they thankful for their families?

• Sing a song about the temple or families, such as “I Love to See the Temple” or “Families Can Be Together Forever,” Children’s Songbook, 95, 188. Let the children hold pictures of temples or families, and invite them to hold up their pictures when they sing “temple” or “family.” Why is it important to get married in the temple?

Eternal marriage is part of God’s plan.

Mark 10:13–16

Jesus wants little children to come to Him so He can bless them.

This account provides an opportunity to help children feel how much Jesus loves them.

Possible Activities

• In your own words, share the account in Mark 10:13–16. You might also show the video “Suffer the Little Children to Come unto Me” (LDS.org). When have the children felt Jesus’s love for them? Bear your testimony to the children that Jesus loves them and wants to bless them.

• Display the picture Christ and the Children (Gospel Art Book, no. 47). Explain that if we want to be like the children sitting next to Jesus then we can follow His commandments and love Him and other people. What can the children do to be like the children sitting next to Jesus?

• Let the children draw pictures of themselves being blessed by Jesus (see Mark 10:16).

Mark 10:17–22

If we obey the commandments, we can receive eternal life.

Jesus taught the rich young man that to gain eternal life—a life like Heavenly Father has—he should obey the commandments.

Possible Activities

• Read the story of the rich young man in Mark 10:17–22 with the children. (See also “Chapter 42: The Rich Young Man,” New Testament Stories, 105–6, or the corresponding video on LDS.org.) Ask them to listen for what Jesus told the young man to do and how the young man responded.

• Tell one or more stories about children who ask for advice or direction from their parents but don’t follow or obey. What are some things Heavenly Father asks us to do? How do we feel when we obey His commandments?

• Share experiences when you received personal promptings to do something to be better.

Teach the Doctrine

Older Children

Mark 10:6–8

Heavenly Father wants us to marry in the temple and have eternal families.

The things Jesus taught about marriage can help the children when they face contradictory messages in the world.

Possible Activities

• Ask one of the children to read Mark 10:6–8 out loud. Explain that cleave means to “stick to” or “hold tight to” something. Why is it important that husbands and wives join together, love each other, and work as partners?

• Share the following statement from “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” and help the children understand what it means: “Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.”

• Ask the children to help you think of answers to questions like “Why are families important in the Church?” or “Why is it important for you to get married in the temple?” Sing together “Families Can Be Together Forever,” Children’s Songbook, 188. Share your testimony of eternal marriage and family with the children. Invite them to share their testimonies as well.

• Invite each of the children to read a scripture from this list: Mark 10:6–8; 1 Corinthians 11:11; D&C 42:22; 131:1–4; and Moses 3:18, 21–24. What do these scriptures teach about marriage?

Mark 10:17–22

Jesus can help me know what I need to do to progress.

The rich young man sought Jesus and received specific instruction that was meant especially for him. How can you inspire the children to seek similar guidance in their own lives?

Possible Activities

• Ask the children to find a verse in Mark 10:17–22 that describes the picture in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families. Explain that the counsel Jesus gave to the young man was personal, and we can all receive personal direction from the Lord through the Spirit.

• Read together Mark 10:17–22. Invite the children to write on the board the commandments that the Savior told the rich young man to obey (see verse 19). What else did he have to do? (see verse 21). Encourage the children to think about things they might need to begin doing or stop doing to better follow Jesus. What are some ways we can find out what Jesus wants us to do?

Encourage Learning at Home

Invite the children to tell their families why they are grateful for them, perhaps by writing a note to give to their parents or by sharing their testimony of families during family home evening.

Improving Our Teaching

Pay attention to the children. How are the children in your class responding to learning activities? If they don’t seem engaged, it may be time to try another activity or to take a short, reverent walk. On the other hand, if you notice that the children are engaged and learning from a certain portion of the lesson, don’t feel pressure to move on just to make sure that you cover all the lesson material.