Sacred Grove, by Brent Borup

September 12–18

Isaiah 13–14; 24–30; 35

“A Marvellous Work and a Wonder”

After prayerfully studying Isaiah 13–14; 24–30; 35, plan activities to help the children learn. The activity ideas below can be adapted for any age-group.

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

Invite the children to stand if they want to share something they recently learned about the gospel at home or at church. Give each child the opportunity to share.

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Isaiah 14:12–14

There was a war in heaven.

Before the world was created, Heavenly Father chose Jesus Christ to be our Savior. Isaiah 14:12–14 describes the pride that Satan showed in the premortal Council in Heaven.

Possible Activities

• Use “Introduction: Our Heavenly Father’s Plan” (in New Testament Stories, 1–3) or the song “I Lived in Heaven” (Children’s Songbook, 4) to tell the children about the War in Heaven before we were born. (As you do, include phrases from Isaiah 14:12–14 that describe Satan.) Then invite the children to take turns telling the story back to you. Emphasize that Jesus Christ followed Heavenly Father’s plan and became our Savior.

• On the board, draw a heart with the word Satan and a sad face inside it. Explain that Satan said in his heart, “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God” (Isaiah 14:13), which means that he wanted to be better than Heavenly Father. Invite a child to draw another heart, this one with the word Jesus and a happy face inside it. Help the children understand that Jesus wanted to do what Heavenly Father asked Him to do (see Moses 4:1–2). How can we follow Jesus’s example?

“He will swallow up death in victory” (Isaiah 25:8).

Isaiah 25:8

Jesus Christ was resurrected.

Jesus Christ can comfort the sorrow we feel about death. Because He gained victory over death, we will all be resurrected too.

Possible Activities

• Show a picture of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and ask the children to share what they know about the picture. If needed, share with them the story of Jesus being resurrected (see “Jesus Is Risen,” in New Testament Stories, 139–44). Play or sing a song about the Resurrection, such as “Jesus Has Risen” (Children’s Songbook, 70), and invite the children to share how it makes them feel to know that Jesus rose from the dead.

• Tell the children about someone you know who has died. How do we feel when someone we love dies? Invite the children to draw a face of someone crying. Then read Isaiah 25:8 to them. What will Jesus do to our tears when we miss someone who has died? Invite the children to draw a happy face. Bear your testimony that because Jesus Christ was resurrected, we can feel comforted when someone dies and know that we will all be resurrected one day.

Isaiah 29:12, 14

The Lord restored His Church through Joseph Smith.

The Restoration of the gospel is “a marvellous work and a wonder” (Isaiah 29:14). Share with the children some of the marvelous things the Lord did—and continues to do—to restore His gospel in our day.

Possible Activities

• Invite the children to tell you what they know about Joseph Smith. If needed, share with them “Joseph Smith’s First Vision” (in Doctrine and Covenants Stories, 9–12). Read Isaiah 29:12, and explain that even though Joseph Smith was not considered “learned” by many people, Jesus Christ restored the gospel through him.

• Read Isaiah 29:14 to the children, and share with them other words that mean the same thing as “marvellous” and “wonder.” Display items that represent some of the Lord’s marvelous works during the latter days, such as a picture of the First Vision or of Joseph Smith receiving the priesthood (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 90, 93, 94) or a copy of the Book of Mormon. Invite the children to choose an item and share why it is marvelous to them.

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Isaiah 24:3–5; 29:7–10; 30:8–14

Apostasy means turning away from the Lord and His prophets.

Reading Isaiah’s warnings about the dangers of apostasy can help the children resolve to stay true to the Lord and follow His prophets.

Possible Activities

• Write the word apostasy on the board. Invite the children to find a definition in “Apostasy” in the Guide to the Scriptures (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Invite them to read Isaiah 24:5; 30:9–11 and make a list of things people were doing in Isaiah’s time that led them to apostasy. Then invite the children to change the items in the list to things we can do to stay true to the Lord.

• Divide the class into pairs, and assign each pair to read one of the following passages: Isaiah 24:3–5; Isaiah 29:7–10; or Isaiah 30:8–14. Invite them to draw pictures that represent what they read. As they share their drawings, help them discuss what Isaiah’s words teach about why we should stay true to the Lord.

Isaiah 29:13–15, 18, 24

The Restoration of the gospel is a “marvellous work.”

How can you help the children understand that they are part of the Lord’s “marvellous work” (Isaiah 29:14) of the latter days?

Possible Activities

• Show pictures of some of the marvelous events that happened as the gospel was restored (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 90–95, or this week’s activity page). Read together Isaiah 29:14, 18, 24, and invite the children to find words and phrases that relate to the events in the pictures. Ask the children how they can help with the Lord’s “marvellous work” (verse 14).

• Share a brief experience to help the children understand what restoration means. For example, talk about something that was lost and how you found it. Help the children compare this to the Restoration of the gospel. According to Isaiah 29:13–15, why do we need the Restoration? What marvelous works did the Lord do to restore His gospel?

Isaiah 14:3; 25:8; 28:16

Isaiah’s teachings point me to Jesus Christ.

Isaiah’s teachings can point the children you teach to the Savior and help them remember the things He has done for them.

Possible Activities

• Write the following scripture references on separate pieces of paper: Isaiah 14:3; Isaiah 25:8; Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 11:28–30; 1 Corinthians 15:53–57; Helaman 5:12. Give the papers to the children, and invite them to write on the papers the truths they learn from the verses and work together to match the verses that teach similar truths. According to these verses, what great things has the Lord done for us?

• Ask the children to choose a phrase from Isaiah 14:3; 25:8; or 28:16 that reminds them of Jesus Christ. Invite them to write the phrase on a piece of paper and draw a picture of the Savior that they can display in their homes.

Encourage Learning at Home

Invite the children to write a note about or draw a picture of something they have learned in class today. Encourage them to share it with their families or a member of the class who didn’t attend Primary today.

Improving Our Teaching

Adapt activities to accommodate children with disabilities. Small adaptations to activities can ensure that all children can learn. For instance, if an activity suggests showing a picture, you could sing a song instead to include children with visual impairments.