May 8–14

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.

Invite Sharing

Invite the children to share anything they remember from last week’s lesson. Show pictures to help them remember.

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 for you to review truths about marriage in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

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 wants a man and woman to marry each other (see Genesis 1:27–28).

• Display pictures of a family and a temple. Invite the children to talk about what they see in the pictures. 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 song about families, such as “A Happy Family” (Children’s Songbook, 198). Consider singing the song 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, 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.” Help the children think of reasons why is it important to get married in the temple.

Jesus loves children, for “of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14).

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” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Help the children think of times when they have 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). Help the children imagine what it might be like to be one of the children sitting next to Jesus in the picture. Invite the children to share how they feel about Jesus.

• Let the children draw pictures of themselves being blessed by Jesus (see Mark 10:16 and this week’s activity page).

Mark 10:17–22

If I obey the commandments, I 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

• Tell the story of the rich young man in Mark 10:17–22 to the children. (See also “Chapter 42: The Rich Young Man,” in New Testament Stories, 105–6, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.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 look forward to marrying in the temple and raising an eternal family.

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?

• 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?” Help them find answers in resources like Mark 10:6–8; 1 Corinthians 11:11; Doctrine and Covenants 42:22; 131:1–4; Moses 3:18, 21–24; and “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.”

• Sing together a song about families, such as “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.

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 Jesus ask him 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 show their families that they love them, perhaps by writing a note or doing a kind act of service.

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.