“July 25–31. Esther: ‘Thou Art Come … for Such a Time as This’” Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Old Testament 2022 (2021)
“July 25–31. Esther,” Come, Follow Me—For Primary: 2022
Esther, by James Johnson
July 25–31
Esther
“Thou Art Come … for Such a Time as This”
All scriptures testify of Jesus Christ. Ponder how you will help the children see the influence of the Savior in the story of Esther.
Record Your Impressions
Invite Sharing
Pass around a picture of Esther (see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). As children hold the picture, invite them to share something they know about Esther’s story.
Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children
I can serve my family.
When Esther’s parents died, her cousin Mordecai took care of her. You can use their experience as an opportunity to talk about serving members of our families.
Possible Activities
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On the board, draw figures that represent Esther, her parents, and her cousin Mordecai. Explain that Esther’s parents died, so Esther needed someone to take care of her. Read Esther 2:7 to the children, and ask the children to listen for what Mordecai did. Help the children think of needs their family members might have that the children can help with.
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Invite some of the children to act out something kind they could do to serve someone in their families, and ask the other children to guess what they are doing. Invite them to talk about things they do to bless their families, and tell about some of the things you do.
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Sing a song about helping our families, such as “When We’re Helping” (Children’s Songbook, 198). Share your testimony that helping our families makes us happy.
I can be brave.
The children you teach will face situations when they need the Lord’s help to be brave. How will you help them learn from Esther’s example of courage?
Possible Activities
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Do the children you teach know what it means to be brave? Share a simple definition, such as “Being brave means doing what is right even when you are afraid.” Share the story of Esther (see “Queen Esther” in Old Testament Stories), and help the children see how Esther was brave. Let the children use the figures on this week’s activity page to retell the story.
2:44 -
Show a picture of Esther (see this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). Sing with the children a song about being brave, such as “I Will Be Valiant” (Children’s Songbook, 162). Point out words and phrases in the song that describe Esther, and testify that the Savior can help the children be brave.
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Tell the children about times when Jesus Christ was brave; for example, when He suffered for our sins, both in Gethsemane and on the cross (see Matthew 26:36–39; 27:33–35). Ask the children to tell about a time when they were brave (consider contacting their families in advance to ask them for some examples). What helped them be brave? Tell the children how the Lord has helped you be brave when you were afraid.
Esther before the King, by Minerva K. Teichert
Teach the Doctrine: Older Children
I can be an instrument in God’s hands.
When Esther was fearful, Mordecai encouraged her by teaching her that perhaps the Lord had made her the queen “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Ponder how the Lord is preparing the children you teach for their opportunities to bless others.
Possible Activities
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Invite someone to play a song for the children on a musical instrument, or display a picture of someone playing an instrument. Talk about what it means to be an instrument in God’s hands. Review the story of Esther with the children (see “Queen Esther” in Old Testament Stories), and invite them to talk about how Esther was an instrument for the Lord to accomplish His purposes. How can we be instruments for the Lord?
2:44 -
After reviewing the story of Esther, attach a card with the name of one of the characters from the story on the back of each child. Invite the children to try to find out whose name is on their backs by asking other children questions like “Was this person righteous?” or “Was this person a woman?” Then discuss how Mordecai and Esther were instruments for the Lord to save the Jews.
Heavenly Father helps me have courage when I am afraid.
When have you seen the children you teach be courageous? What experiences can you share when you needed the Lord’s help to be brave?
Possible Activities
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Write on the board Mordecai showed courage by … and Esther showed courage by … Invite some of the children to read Esther 3:1–11 and others to read Esther 4:10–17. Ask them to use what they read to complete the sentences on the board. Then write I will show courage by … and invite the children to list things Heavenly Father wants them to do that require courage. How can we be like Mordecai and Esther?
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Invite the children to think of situations they face in which it might be hard to do the right thing. Write on the board Esther’s courageous words “So will I go in unto the king, … and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). Help the children apply Esther’s words to themselves by replacing “go in unto the king” with a righteous but difficult choice they might have to make. Then invite them to replace “perish” with something unpleasant that might come from doing what is right. Why is it better to do the right thing, even if there are difficult consequences?
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Show the video “Choose the Harder Right” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org), and invite the children to decide on a “harder right” in their lives that they will choose. Discuss how Jesus Christ is an example of this principle.
0:24
Fasting can help me and bless others.
During a time of need, Esther and the Jews fasted. How can you help the children you teach understand the spiritual blessings of fasting?
Possible Activities
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Invite the children to make a list of things they could fast for (if needed, they could look at “Fasting and Fast Offerings” in True to the Faith, 66–69). Then ask them to read Esther 4:1–3, 10–17 to find out why the Jews and Esther fasted. Encourage the children to think of a reason they might need special help from the Lord, and suggest they make that reason part of their fast during the next fast Sunday.
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Invite the children to pretend they are explaining to a friend why they fast. What would they say? Point them to Guide to the Scriptures, “Fast, Fasting” (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org) if they need help. Share an experience when you fasted to receive the Lord’s help. Invite the children to share experiences they have had with fasting.
Encourage Learning at Home
Sing a song together about a principle you learned in class today (see the topic index in the Children’s Songbook for ideas). Invite the children to sing the song with their families.
Improving Our Teaching
Live what you teach. Your teaching will be more powerful if you can testify from personal experience about the blessings of living the gospel. As you select principles to teach the children, ponder how you can live those principles more fully. (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 13–14.)