The Transfiguration, by Carl Heinrich Bloch

April 10–16

Matthew 15–17; Mark 7–9

“Thou Art the Christ”

As you ponder Matthew 15–17 and Mark 7–9, pay attention to spiritual promptings that can help you know what the children in your class need.

Invite Sharing

Invite the children to share why they are grateful for leaders in the Church, including the prophet and apostles and local leaders. What have we recently heard them teach?

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Matthew 16:13–17

I can gain a testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Consider how you can use Peter’s testimony and Jesus’s response to teach the children what a testimony is and inspire them to seek their own.

Possible Activities

• Ask the children to listen for what Peter said as you read Matthew 16:15–17. (See also “Chapter 32: Peter Testifies of Christ,” in New Testament Stories, 76–77, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.) Explain that Peter was bearing his testimony of Jesus Christ. Read the verses again. (Or show the video again.) This time ask the children to listen for who told Peter that Jesus Christ was the Son of God.

• Bear your testimony of Jesus Christ, and explain how you received it. Invite the children to seek their own testimonies from Heavenly Father.

Matthew 16:15–19

Jesus Christ gives prophets and apostles priesthood keys to lead His Church.

The Savior compared revelation to a rock and priesthood authority to keys. How can you use these comparisons to help the children have faith in those who lead His Church?

Possible Activities

• Show the children a rock as you read Matthew 16:18 with them. Repeat with them the phrase “upon this rock I will build my church,” adding actions to go along with the words. Explain that the Church is built upon the “rock” of revelation.

• Show the children some keys, and ask what we use keys for. Explain that Peter and the other Apostles received priesthood keys from Jesus. These keys “unlock” blessings for us and open the way to heaven. For example, priesthood keys allow us to be baptized and take the sacrament. Give the children paper keys, and have them write some blessings that priesthood keys “unlock.”

• Show a picture of the President of the Church, and bear your testimony that he holds all of the priesthood keys today, just as Peter did.

Priesthood keys are the authority to direct the use of the priesthood.

Matthew 17:19–20

My faith can work miracles.

When you read Jesus’s promise that faith like a grain of mustard seed can move a mountain, what impressions do you receive about the children you teach?

Possible Activities

• Read Matthew 17:19–20 with the children. Invite them to take turns drawing big mountains and small seeds on the board. Explain that the mountains are like things that are hard for us to do. What are some things that can feel like mountains to us? Use this week’s activity page to help the children think about how faith can help them do things that God wants them to do.

• Place a picture of a mountain on one side of the room. Ask the children to name some things they can do to gain more faith in Jesus Christ. Let each child who suggests something move the mountain closer to the other side of the room. Read Matthew 17:19–20, and testify of the power of faith in your life.

• Sing together a song about faith, such as “Faith” (Children’s Songbook, 96–97). Give each child a seed to take home. Invite them to plant the seed and put it somewhere where they can watch it grow to help them remember to have faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Matthew 16:13–17

A testimony of Jesus Christ comes through revelation.

How might Peter’s testimony in Matthew 16:13–17 help the children as they build their testimonies?

Possible Activities

• Ask the children what they would say if someone asked them, “Who is Jesus?” Invite the children to read Matthew 16:13–17 to find out how Peter answered that question. How did he gain his testimony of Jesus? What can we do to strengthen our testimonies?

• Help the children compare the way we know spiritual truths with the ways we know other truths. For example, how do we know how tall a person is or what the weather is like? How do we know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Tell the children how the Holy Ghost has testified to you of the Savior.

• Bear your testimony of Jesus Christ, and challenge the children to gain or strengthen their own testimonies of Him.

Matthew 16:15–19

The Church of Jesus Christ is led by those who hold priesthood keys.

Studying Matthew 16:15–19 can build the children’s faith that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a restoration of the same Church that Jesus established while He lived on the earth.

Possible Activities

• Write Matthew 16:19 on the board, leaving out a few words, including the word “keys.” Ask the children to find the missing words.

• Show the video “Where Are the Keys?” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), or review “Keys of the Priesthood” in Guide to the Scriptures (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What are priesthood keys? How are priesthood keys like real keys?

• Help the children list on the board some people who have priesthood keys. “Keys of the Priesthood” in Guide to the Scriptures (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org) has a list that can help them. Invite someone in your ward who holds priesthood keys to briefly share with the class why these keys are important.

• Hide several keys (or pictures of keys) around the room, and invite the children to find them. After each key is found, help the children think of blessings we enjoy because of priesthood keys (for example, eternal families, baptism, and the sacrament).

Matthew 17:1–9

Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

These verses describe one of the few times in the scriptures when the voice of God the Father was heard testifying of His Beloved Son. Studying this account with the children can build their faith in Jesus Christ.

Possible Activities

• Invite the children to draw pictures of the event described in Matthew 17:1–9. Ask them to explain their pictures to each other. (See “Chapter 33: Appearing in Glory: The Transfiguration,” in New Testament Stories, 78–79, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.)

• Give the children time to ponder what the account in Matthew 17:1–9 teaches them about Jesus Christ. Invite them to write their thoughts on the board. Invite the children to share how they know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Encourage Learning at Home

Invite the children to ask their parents or other family members how they gained their testimonies of Jesus Christ.

Improving Our Teaching

Use music. Primary songs and hymns can help children of all ages understand and remember gospel truths. Singing can also keep children actively engaged in learning. (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 22.)