three women standing outside the temple

October 28–November 3

1 and 2 Timothy; Titus; Philemon

“Be Thou an Example of the Believers”

Prayerfully study 1 and 2 Timothy; Titus; and Philemon to learn how you can use these epistles to instruct the children in righteousness (see 2 Timothy 3:16).

Record Your Impressions

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Invite Sharing

Ask the children to talk about someone who is a good “example of the believers” to them. What are they doing to be good examples to others?

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Teach the Doctrine

Younger Children

1 Timothy 3:1–2; Titus 1:7–9

Bishops lead the ward as servants of God.

Paul taught Timothy and Titus about the importance of bishops. How can you teach the children what the bishop does? (A branch president is comparable to a bishop.)

Possible Activities

• Draw a simple picture of your bishop on the board. Ask the children to name some things they know about the bishop. What is he like? What does he do? How does he bless the ward? (You can find some characteristics of a bishop in 1 Timothy 3:1–2 and Titus 1:7–9.) As the children share their ideas, write them on strips of paper and let the children place them on the board by the drawing.

  bishop in his office talking to a young man

  Bishops are called to provide spiritual guidance to ward members.

• Write the duties of a bishop on slips of paper—such as accepting tithing and fast offerings, extending callings, interviewing members, helping the poor and needy, and praying for others. Place these slips in a bowl, and invite each child to pick one. Then help the child to role-play these duties with you. Share your testimony that your bishop is called of God.

• Invite the children to draw a picture of the bishop serving ward members. Suggest that they give their drawings to him to thank him. What can we do to help him?

1 Timothy 4:12

I can be “an example of the believers.”

What can you do to inspire the children to be confident in their ability to be “example[s] of the believers”?

Possible Activities

• Sing with the children “Do as I’m Doing” (Children’s Songbook, 276). Ask the children to follow your example by doing the actions you do. Let the children take turns leading the rest of the class in following their actions. Read 1 Timothy 4:12, and ask the children what they can do to be good examples to others.

• Share an experience when you tried to be a good example to someone or when someone was a good example to you. Help the children understand that when they are good examples, they can help their family members and friends.

2 Timothy 3:14–17

The scriptures will help me learn truth.

If you can help the children learn to love the scriptures, you will bless their lives for years to come.

Possible Activities

• Display a set of scriptures, and help the children become familiar with them by showing them the title pages of the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Invite a child to hold these books as you read 2 Timothy 3:15–17. Explain that Heavenly Father has commanded prophets throughout history to write the truths that He reveals to them. We can learn these truths as we read the scriptures.

• Ask the children to talk about their most prized possession. What do they do with it? Let them take turns holding the scriptures and carefully turning the pages. What do we use the scriptures for? Why should we take good care of them? Help the children create actions to go with songs about the scriptures, such as “Search, Ponder, and Pray” or “Book of Mormon Stories” (Children’s Songbook, 109, 118).

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Teach the Doctrine

Older Children

1 Timothy 4:12

I can be “an example of the believers.”

Timothy was relatively young for a Church leader, but Paul wanted him to know that he could still be an example. You can help the children you teach feel confident in their ability to set a good example.

Possible Activities

• Read together 1 Timothy 4:12, and ask the children to find six ways Paul said we can be “an example of the believers.” Divide the children into pairs, and invite each pair to think of a situation in which they can be an example of the believers. Ask them to role-play their situation for the rest of the class.

• Ask the children if they would like to share any experiences when they tried to be a good example to others. Tell them how they have been examples of the believers to you and how you have noticed them setting good examples for others.

1 Timothy 6:7–12

I should love eternal things more than money.

In a world that is becoming more and more materialistic, how can you help the children keep their focus and love centered on Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

Possible Activities

• Invite the children to talk about what they would buy if they had all the money in the world. Invite a child to read 1 Timothy 6:7–12, and ask the other children to summarize what Paul taught Timothy about money. Then invite the children to read the verses again, searching for things Paul mentioned that are more valuable than money.

• Lay out pictures of worldly things (such as money, toys, or entertainment) and eternal things (such as families or temples). Invite the children to sort the pictures into two piles—things that bring us closer to Christ and things that might distract us from Christ if we love them more than we love Him. Why is “the love of money … the root of all evil”?

2 Timothy 3:14–17

Heavenly Father gave us scriptures to help us know truth from error.

Children can experience the blessings of reading the scriptures. As you teach the children about the scriptures, look for ways to encourage them to have their own powerful experiences with the word of God.

Possible Activities

• Invite the children to read 2 Timothy 3:15–17. Bring a picture depicting a story from each of the four standard works, and put the pictures in a covered box. Invite several children to pick a picture and tell the story. Ask the children if they can share something else about that book of scripture. How are the scriptures “able to make [us] wise unto salvation”?

• Invite the children to share their favorite scripture verse or an experience when a truth in the scriptures has helped them. You may want to share your own verse or experience.

• Ask a child to read Moroni 10:4–5. What did Moroni promise in these verses? Ask the children what they have done to gain a testimony that the scriptures are true. Invite them to read or listen to the scriptures regularly.

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Encourage Learning at Home

Invite the children to share with their families what they learned about the scriptures and to find one verse of scripture that they can share with the class next week (with help from their parents, if needed).

Improving Our Teaching

Adapt activities to meet needs. Instead of viewing these outlines as instructions you must follow, use them as a source of ideas to spark your own inspiration as you ponder the needs of the children you teach. You can adapt activities to teach children of any age.

activity page: the scriptures teach us truth