Jesus Christ smiling while sitting with a smiling child

Perfect Love, by Del Parson

December 2–8

1–3 John; Jude

“God Is Love”

The Epistles of John and Jude teach about Heavenly Father’s love and light. As you study this week, ponder why the children you teach need His light and love in their lives. Remember to consider all of the activities in this outline, not just those listed under the age-group you teach.

Record Your Impressions

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Invite Sharing

Invite the children to share how they have felt Heavenly Father’s love or why they think Heavenly Father is like a light.

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Teach the Doctrine

Younger Children

1 John 1:5–7; 2:8–11

Following Jesus brings light to my life.

How can comparisons to physical light and darkness help you teach the children about the light that Heavenly Father brings into their lives?

Possible Activities

• Ask the children to name things that produce light. Help them understand the benefits of light, like helping plants grow, allowing us to see, and giving warmth. Invite the children to take turns shining a flashlight at a picture of Jesus Christ as they say, “God is light” (1 John 1:5). Testify that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ can bring light into our lives when we obey the commandments.

• Darken the classroom, and invite the children to suggest ways light could be brought into the room. Help them think of ways we can bring the light of Jesus Christ into our lives. As they share their answers, turn on flashlights or uncover a window to gradually add light to the room.

1 John 4:10–11, 20–21

I show my love for God when I show love to others.

Help the children see the connection between the love they feel for Heavenly Father and the love they show to His children.

Possible Activities

• Read 1 John 4:11 to the children, and sing a song about God’s love, such as “My Heavenly Father Loves Me” (Children’s Songbook, 228). Ask a few children to share how they know that Heavenly Father loves them. After each answer, invite the children to hug themselves and say, “God is love, and God loves me.”

• Read 1 John 4:21 to the children. Invite them to share or act out various ways they could show love toward a friend, such as giving a hug or making a card. How do these things make our friends feel? How does Heavenly Father feel when we do kind things for others?

1 John 2:3–5; 5:3

I show my love for God when I keep His commandments.

Children can learn at a young age that God’s “commandments are not grievous” and that following them are a way to express love to Him.

Possible Activities

• Read 1 John 5:3, and ask the children to listen for what this verse says about how we can show that we love God. Invite the children to name as many commandments as they can. How does Heavenly Father feel when we obey His commandments?

• Invite the children to draw a picture showing one way they can express their love for Heavenly Father. For example, they could draw a picture of themselves keeping one of the commandments. Sing together a song about obedience, such as “Choose the Right Way” (Children’s Songbook, 160). How do we feel when we obey?

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Teach the Doctrine

Older Children

1 John 2:8–11; 4:7–8, 20–21

I show my love for God when I show love to others.

How can you help the children understand that loving God involves loving those around us—even people who may be different from us or difficult to love?

Possible Activities

• Ask the children to imagine that someone new has begun attending their school or ward and does not yet know anyone there. How might this person feel? Invite a child to read 1 John 4:7–8. What does this verse suggest about how we should treat this person? Share similar scenarios, or ask the children to think of situations in which they might have opportunities to show love.

• Ask the children to read 1 John 4:7–8, 20–21, and invite them to each write one sentence to summarize what they think is the most important lesson in these verses. After they share their sentences, you might tell the story of Chy Johnson from Brother David L. Beck’s talk “Your Sacred Duty to Minister” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 55). How can the children follow the examples of the young men in the story who showed love for Chy? Invite the children to share other ways they can show love to those around them.

1 John 2:3–6; 4:17–18; 5:2–5

I show my love for God when I keep His commandments.

Obeying the commandments can be easier when we understand the truths taught in 1 John 5:3. How can you help the children see the commandments not as burdens but as opportunities to express their love for God?

Possible Activities

• Invite the children to list on the board ways they can show God that they love Him. Then read together 1 John 2:5–6; 5:2–5 for additional ideas. How does obeying the commandments show that we love Heavenly Father?

  a family kneeling together in prayer

  Even when it’s hard, we can choose to keep the commandments.

• Read 1 John 4:17, and explain to the children that to “have boldness in the day of judgment” means having confidence and peace when they stand before God to be judged. What does this verse teach that we need to do to have this confidence? What are some things we can do now to be confident before God?

Jude 1:18–22

I can be faithful even when others make fun of me.

Children may be mocked for their beliefs or the way they live as disciples of Jesus Christ. These verses contain Jude’s counsel on how to remain faithful in such situations.

Possible Activities

• Ask children to share times when they have been made fun of for doing what is right. Invite the children to read Jude 1:18–22 and look for how we can remain faithful when we are mocked or made fun of. Write what they find on the board, and discuss ways they can follow this advice.

• Summarize Lehi’s dream (see 1 Nephi 8:1–35), asking a few children to read verses from 1 Nephi 8:26–28, 33. Discuss how the people in the great and spacious building were like the mockers Jude talked about. What can we do to not be influenced by those who make fun of us or don’t agree with what we believe? (see 1 Nephi 8:30, 33).

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Encourage Learning at Home

Encourage the children to make a plan to do something to share their light with their families.

Improving Our Teaching

Children are active. At times you may feel that the children’s energy is a distraction from learning. But you can build on their active natures by inviting them to act out, draw, or sing about a gospel principle. (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 25–26.)

activity page: following Jesus brings light to my life