The Second Coming, by Harry Anderson

May 22–28

Joseph Smith—Matthew 1; Matthew 24–25; Mark 12–13; Luke 21

“The Son of Man Shall Come”

Ponder what the children you teach need to learn from Joseph Smith—Matthew 1; Matthew 24–25; Mark 12–13; and Luke 21. Feel free to adapt the ideas for older children in this outline for younger children and vice versa.

Invite Sharing

Bring to class an object or picture related to one of the parables or stories in this week’s reading (such as oil to represent the ten virgins or coins to represent talents or the widow’s mites). Ask the children to share what they know about the parable or story.

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:31

Before Jesus comes again, the gospel will be preached in all the world.

One sign that Jesus will return soon is that His gospel is being preached throughout the world. The children can help fulfill this prophecy by sharing the gospel.

Possible Activities

• Show a map, globe, or picture of the earth (see Gospel Art Book, no. 3) and help the children say, “This Gospel … shall be preached in all the world” (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:31). Why does God want all of His children to hear His gospel?

• Invite the children to march in place as you sing together a song about sharing the gospel, such as “I Want to Be a Missionary Now” or “Called to Serve” (Children’s Songbook, 168, 174).

• Show the video “I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). As the children watch, help them count the ways they can share the gospel that they see in the video. What other ways to share the gospel can they think of?

The gospel will be preached in all the world. Photo Courtesy of NASA Johnson Space Center

Matthew 25:14–30

I can use the gifts God has given me.

Young children are discovering their gifts and abilities. Help them understand that these gifts and abilities come from Heavenly Father.

Possible Activities

• Bring several coins to use as you tell the parable of the talents, found in Matthew 25:14–30. You could ask three children to represent the three servants. Explain that in Jesus’s day, talents referred to money, but today talents can mean our gifts and abilities.

• Ask the children to name ways their parents, siblings, teachers, or friends have helped them. What talents do these people have that help them serve others?

• Write a small note to the children telling each of them about the gifts or abilities you notice in them. As you share with each of the children the gifts you see in them, encourage them to improve their gifts and use them to serve others.

Matthew 25:31–46

Jesus wants me to serve others.

We serve Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by serving people around us. Help the children consider ways they can serve others.

Possible Activities

• Summarize the parable in Matthew 25:34–46. Help the children understand that when we are serving others, we are serving Jesus.

• Hold up a picture of a child with a picture of Jesus hidden behind it. What can we do to serve this child? Remove the child’s picture and explain that when we serve each other, we are serving Jesus.

• Invite the children to draw pictures of themselves serving others in the ways the Savior describes in Matthew 25:35–36. Ask the other children to guess what they are drawing.

• Invite the children to share experiences when someone has shown Christlike service to them or their families.

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:31

Before Jesus comes again, the gospel will be preached in all the world.

The children you teach can help preach the gospel in all the world before the Savior’s Second Coming.

Possible Activities

• Invite the children to share blessings they have received or will receive because they are members of Christ’s Church. Read together Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:31, and ask the children how they feel the gospel will bless God’s children throughout the world.

• Show the children a map of the world or of your country, and help them identify some places where a family member or friend has preached the gospel on a mission.

• Invite a few children to come prepared to share how their family members or their ancestors were introduced to the gospel.

• Ask each child to write the name of someone he or she can talk to about Jesus Christ or invite to church. Also ask the children to list things they can do to be missionaries now.

Matthew 25:1–13

I am responsible for my own conversion to Jesus Christ.

The parable of the ten virgins teaches that we cannot borrow our conversion to the Savior from others. How can you help the children take responsibility for their own conversion?

Possible Activities

• Ask a child to come prepared to share how he or she learned about the parable of the ten virgins at home this week.

• Draw an oil lamp on the board, and label it testimony. Give each child a piece of paper shaped like a drop of oil, and ask each child to write on it something he or she will do to become more converted to the Savior. Attach their drops to the board around the lamp.

• Invite the children to help you make a list of things to do to prepare for a special visitor. How are these things similar to or different from ways we can spiritually prepare for the Savior’s Second Coming?

• On five strips of paper, write things that cannot be borrowed. On five other strips, write things that can be borrowed. Shuffle the strips, and ask the children to sort them into these two groups. Read together Matthew 25:1–13. Why is it important not to rely on others for our conversion to Jesus Christ?

Matthew 25:14–46

At the Final Judgment, we will give the Lord an account of our lives.

After the Resurrection, the Lord will judge us based on our obedience to His commandments and acceptance of His atoning sacrifice. The parable of the talents and the parable of the sheep and goats teach us about this Final Judgment.

Possible Activities

• Invite half of the class to read Matthew 25:14–30 and the other half to read Matthew 25:31–46. Ask the groups to act out the parables for the class. What is the Lord teaching us in these parables?

• Invite the children to read Matthew 25:35–36 in pairs and make a list of things they can do to show their love for Jesus Christ.

Encourage Learning at Home

Ask the children to share with their families ways they can be better missionaries and talk with their families about people they can share the gospel with.

Improving Our Teaching

Listen to or act out a story. Because children love stories, look for ways to involve them in the scripture stories you share. They can hold pictures or objects, draw pictures of the story, act out the story, or help tell the story. Repeat the stories to help them recognize important details and gospel teachings.