“September 25–October 1. Galatians: ‘Walk in the Spirit,’” Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 (2022)
“September 25–October 1. Galatians,” Come, Follow Me—For Primary: 2023
The resurrected Savior visited Paul in prison (see Acts 23:11). Jesus Christ can free us from the “yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).
September 25–October 1
Galatians
“Walk in the Spirit”
As you read Galatians, what impressions do you have about what the children in your class need to learn?
Invite Sharing
Give the children a few minutes to draw something they have learned from a recent gospel discussion at home or at church. Let the children share what each drawing represents.
Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children
The Holy Ghost helps me feel love, joy, and peace.
Young children can recognize the fruit of the Spirit. This will prepare them to seek the influence of the Holy Ghost throughout their lives.
Possible Activities
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Display or show pictures of several kinds of fruit, and ask the children to describe how each fruit tastes. Explain that just as fruits have different flavors, we can feel the Holy Ghost in different ways, such as love and peace. Describe some of the ways you have felt the Holy Ghost in your life, and let the children share how the Holy Ghost feels to them.
Children of all ages can experience the “fruit of the Spirit.”
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Read Galatians 5:22–23 with the children, and explain words they may not be familiar with. Invite each child to select a fruit of the Spirit mentioned in these verses, and help them think of a time when he or she has experienced it. Invite the children to draw simple pictures of their experiences.
Jesus Christ wants me to help those in need.
The instruction in Galatians 6:2 is similar to Alma’s teaching in Mosiah 18:8 to people who were about to be baptized. Take this opportunity to help the children prepare for the covenants of baptism.
Possible Activities
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Show a picture of a child being baptized (such as Gospel Art Book, no. 104). Ask the children what the child is doing. Explain that when we are baptized, we make covenants, or promises. Read Galatians 6:2 or Mosiah 18:8 to help the children learn one of the things we promise to do: bear one another’s burdens. Invite the children to draw pictures of ways they can help others who are carrying burdens.
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Read to the children this phrase from Galatians 6:2: “Bear ye one another’s burdens.” To illustrate what this means, give one of the children something heavy to carry. Then ask for a volunteer to help the child carry the object. Explain to the children that many things can feel like a burden, such as being sick or feeling sad or lonely. What could we do to help a person with this kind of burden?
Our actions, both good and bad, have consequences.
By teaching that we reap what we sow, as explained in Galatians 6:7–9, you can teach the children to consider the consequences of their actions.
Possible Activities
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Display a seed and a vegetable. Read Galatians 6:7–9 to the children. Ask the children to pretend to plant a seed when they hear the word soweth. Ask them to pretend to pick a vegetable from a plant when they hear the word reap.
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Show the children several kinds of vegetables, and help them find the seeds in each. Put the seeds in a container, and let the children take turns choosing one and telling what vegetable will grow if they plant it. Help them see that just as the seeds we plant determine the vegetable we get, the choices we make determine the consequences and blessings we ultimately receive.
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Make a line on the floor with tape. Place a happy face and a sad face on opposite ends of the line. Invite a child to stand in the middle of the line, and help the other children think of choices that will lead to happiness or sadness. For each choice, ask the child in the middle to step toward the happy side or the sad side. Repeat the activity several times, and let other children take turns standing on the tape.
Teach the Doctrine: Older Children
Being baptized makes us “one in Christ.”
Paul taught the Galatian Saints that when they were baptized they would become “one in Christ Jesus.” How can you help the children strive for the unity described in Galatians 3:26–28?
Possible Activities
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Invite the children to read Galatians 3:26–28 with this question in mind: What happens when I am baptized? You might want to focus on phrases like “put on Christ” or “one in Christ.” What might these phrases mean? How is “putting on Christ” similar to taking His name upon ourselves? (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:75–79). What can we do to show others that we have taken His name upon ourselves?
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Read together Galatians 3:28, and identify some of the ways people identified themselves when they were baptized in Paul’s day. Help the children name some ways they identify themselves today. What is Paul trying to teach us about how we should see each other when we are baptized?
If I “walk in the Spirit,” I will receive the “fruit of the Spirit.”
When we are baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we can receive the fruit of the Spirit more in our lives. How will you help the children recognize this fruit in their lives?
Possible Activities
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Give each child a piece of paper (you could cut the paper into fruit shapes), and ask the children to find a “fruit of the Spirit” listed in Galatians 5:22–23. Invite them to write one of the fruits on one side of their paper and a word that means the opposite on the other side. (Help them understand words they aren’t familiar with.) Invite them to share their fruits with the class. What can we do to have the Holy Ghost with us always?
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Invite the children to read about the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23 and write about or draw a picture of a time when they felt one of those fruits. Ask them to share their story or picture with another person in the class. Why is fruit a good way to help us understand how the Spirit influences us?
Our actions, both good and bad, have consequences.
Help the children understand that consequences of our behavior sometimes come immediately and other times may come “in due season” (verse 9).
Possible Activities
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Read together Galatians 6:7–9. Provide a list of actions (or seeds we “sow”) and consequences (or fruit we “reap”). Ask the children to match the actions to their consequences.
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Invite the children to list some of the blessings they hope to receive from Heavenly Father. Help them think of the “seeds” they must sow in order to “reap” these blessings.
Encourage Learning at Home
Help the children look for ways the truths they learned today apply to their daily lives. For example, you could invite them to watch for the good consequences, or “fruit,” that come because of good decisions they make.
Improving Our Teaching
Modify activities for the age of the children. Give children opportunities to participate, but remember that their ability to do so will vary according to their age and maturity. Younger children may need more guidance and direction. As they mature, children can contribute more and may be better at sharing their thoughts. (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 25–26.)