April 3–9

Easter

“O Grave, Where Is Thy Victory?”

Use your time with the children to help them see Easter as a season to rejoice in the Savior and deepen their gratitude for His sacrifice. The ideas in this outline can be adapted to help you teach children of any age.

Invite Sharing

Show pictures of the Savior in Gethsemane, on the cross, and after His Resurrection (see the picture in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families and Gospel Art Book, nos. 56–60). Ask the children to share what they know about the events shown in the pictures.

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Jesus Christ is my Savior.

As you read about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, ponder how you can help the children feel how much Jesus loves them.

Possible Activities

• Show a picture of Jesus, and ask the children to share what they know about what He did for us. Bear your testimony of the Savior’s love and His power to save us from sin. Hold up a mirror, and let the children take turns looking into it. As each child does, say, “Jesus loves [child’s name], and He can help [child’s name] live with Heavenly Father again.”

• Show the picture Jesus Praying in Gethsemane (Gospel Art Book, no. 56) as you tell the story of Jesus suffering in Gethsemane for the sins of the world (see Matthew 26:36–46; Luke 22:39–44). Testify that because of His suffering, we can be forgiven when we make a wrong choice. You could also use “Chapter 51: Jesus Suffers in the Garden of Gethsemane” (in New Testament Stories, 129–32, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

• Sing together a song about Jesus’s love for us, such as “I Feel My Savior’s Love” (Children’s Songbook, 74–75). Help the children identify words in the song that describe the Savior’s love. What helps us feel His love? How can we help others feel His love?

He Is Risen, by Greg Olsen

Because Jesus died and was resurrected, I will live again.

How can you help the children understand that because of Jesus Christ, we and our loved ones will be resurrected someday?

Possible Activities

• Teach the children the story of Easter using pictures of Christ in Gethsemane, on the cross, and after His Resurrection (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 56–60 and the full-page picture in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). Let a few children hold the pictures while you tell the story. Tell the children about a few of the people who saw Jesus after He was resurrected, such as Mary (see John 20:1–18) or Thomas (see John 20:24–29).

• Ask the children why we celebrate Easter. Explain that on Easter we celebrate the day Jesus Christ was resurrected. Ask if any children would like to share what their families do to remember Jesus Christ’s Resurrection.

• Explain that resurrected means to live again after we die. Bear your testimony that because of Jesus Christ, we will be resurrected—we will live again after we die, and we will never die again.

• Use a glove to teach the children that we all have a body (represented by the glove) and a spirit (represented by a hand). When we die, our spirits and bodies are separated. Our spirits continue to live, but our bodies do not. When we are resurrected, our spirits and bodies come together again. Let the children take turns putting the glove on and taking it off.

• Sing together an Easter song, such as “Did Jesus Really Live Again?” or “Jesus Has Risen” (Children’s Songbook, 64, 70), and show the children pictures of Jesus after He was resurrected (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 59–61).

• Display a picture of someone you know who has died. Share your testimony that he or she will be resurrected because of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

• Watch together the video “Jesus Is Resurrected” or “The Risen Lord Appears to the Apostles” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Or show another Easter video found at Easter.ComeuntoChrist.org.

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Jesus suffered for me in Gethsemane and on the cross.

As you study the scriptures this week, ponder how you can help the children build their faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement.

Possible Activities

• Read with the children Luke 22:39–44 and selected verses from Matthew 27:29–50. Invite them to look for words that help them understand what the Savior experienced in Gethsemane and on the cross.

• Help the children memorize the third article of faith. Bear your testimony that Jesus Christ has the power to save us from sin and from death.

• Help the children prepare short talks about the Atonement of Jesus Christ that they can share with others. Encourage them to include a scripture and their testimonies in their talks. If they need additional help, they could read “Atone, Atonement” in Guide to the Scriptures (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Because Jesus died and was resurrected, I will live again.

The children you teach will someday experience the death of a loved one if they haven’t already. Help them know that because Jesus Christ was resurrected, we will all be resurrected.

Possible Activities

• Display pictures nos. 57–59 in the Gospel Art Book, and ask the children to match the pictures with the following passages: Matthew 27:29–38, 59–60; John 20:10–18.

• Invite children to individually read “Resurrection” in Guide to the Scriptures (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org) and find something they would like to teach their families. Give the children time to share what they found.

• Help the children look in the topics index of the Children’s Songbook to find a song they would like to sing about Jesus Christ or the Resurrection. Sing the song together, and ask the children what they learn from this song.

• Show the video “Jesus Is Resurrected” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), and invite a few children to share their testimonies about the Savior’s Atonement and Resurrection. (You might ask these children to do this a few days before class so they can prepare.) Invite the children to write down their testimonies to share at home.

Encourage Learning at Home

To help the children share what they learned with their families, encourage them to sing a song about Jesus Christ at home this week.

Improving Our Teaching

Children benefit from repetition. Don’t be afraid to repeat activities multiple times, especially with younger children. Repetition will help the children remember what you teach.