November 7–13

Hosea 1–6; 10–14; Joel

“I Will Love Them Freely”

As you study the scriptures and prepare to teach, seek inspiration from the Holy Ghost. What do you feel prompted to focus on during class this week?

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

Show a picture of the Savior, and invite the children to share something they know or learned about Him this week. Let them take turns holding the picture as they share.

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Hosea 10:12

I can seek the Lord.

Hosea 10:12 uses the images of sowing, reaping, time, and rain to invite us to seek the Lord. As you read this verse, what creative ideas come to mind that could inspire the children to seek Him?

Possible Activities

• Read Hosea 10:12 to the children, and invite them to do simple actions to help them understand the verse, such as pretending to plant seeds, pick vegetables from a plant, or stand in the rain. Or show pictures of seeds, plants, and rain. Help the children compare planting a seed and reaping good food to living righteously and receiving the Lord’s blessings. Testify of the blessings the Lord has rained upon you as you have tried to seek Him.

• Draw a clock on the board, and ask the children to share ways we can seek the Lord at different times of the day. Invite the children to repeat with you the phrase “It is time to seek the Lord” (Hosea 10:12). Help them understand that it is always time to seek the Lord. Share what you do to remember Him all the time.

Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer.

Hosea 13:4, 14

Jesus Christ is my Savior.

As you teach about the Savior and His Atonement, bear testimony of His love for each of the children.

Possible Activities

• Show pictures of several people, including Jesus, and ask the children to find which of these people is our Savior. Read Hosea 13:4, and emphasize that there is no Savior except Jesus Christ. Testify that because of Jesus Christ’s Atonement, we can return to live with Heavenly Father again.

• Let the children take turns holding a picture of Jesus on the cross or in the tomb and a picture of Jesus outside the empty tomb. Invite the children to talk about what the pictures show. Read from Hosea 13:14 the phrase “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death.” Testify that Jesus Christ saved us from death and that we can be resurrected. Sing together a song about the Resurrection, such as “Did Jesus Really Live Again?” (Children’s Songbook, 64). Help the children recognize the Spirit as they sing.

Joel 2:28

The Holy Ghost can guide me.

As you teach about Joel’s prophecy in Joel 2:28, consider how you can help the children prepare to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost after they are baptized.

Possible Activities

• Read Joel 2:28 to the children, and explain that the words “all flesh” mean everyone, including “sons” and “daughters” like them. Invite the children to draw pictures of the people referred to in this verse (sons and daughters, old and young men, old and young women), including themselves. Explain that one way Heavenly Father pours out His Spirit is by giving us the gift of the Holy Ghost when we are baptized.

• Invite the children to share what they know about the Holy Ghost. Help them understand that the Holy Ghost can teach us about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and can help us to know what is true (see John 14:26; Doctrine and Covenants 42:17). Share experiences to help the children understand the ways the Spirit can help us.

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Hosea 2:19–20

I can faithfully keep my covenants.

In the book of Hosea, the Lord compared His covenants with the Israelites to a marriage. Despite the Israelites’ unfaithfulness, He still loved them and wanted them to return. This comparison can help you teach the children about the importance of keeping our covenants with the Lord.

Possible Activities

• Tell the children that in the book of Hosea, the Lord compared His covenants with Israel to a marriage. Show the children a picture of a bride and groom. How does Heavenly Father want a husband and wife to treat each other? How can we show the Lord that we love Him and will be faithful to Him?

• Help the children understand that the covenants we make with the Lord are meant to last forever. Invite one of the children to read Hosea 2:19–20, looking for words that describe how the Lord feels about His covenants with us. What do we covenant to do when we are baptized? How can we keep this covenant we have made with the Lord?

Hosea 13:4, 14

Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer.

How can you use Hosea’s words to strengthen the children’s testimonies of their Savior and Redeemer? As you teach, help the children feel the joy and love of Jesus Christ’s Atonement.

Possible Activities

• Invite the children to read Hosea 13:4, 14, looking for words or phrases that describe Jesus Christ. What do these words teach us about Him? Invite the children to use the Topical Guide or Guide to the Scriptures to find and share other scriptures that teach about Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer. Share your testimony of the Savior, and give the children the opportunity to do the same.

• To help the children understand how the Savior ransoms or redeems us from death, show the video “Handel’s Messiah: Debtor’s Prison” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). What do we learn from this video that helps us understand what the Savior has done for us?

Joel 2:28–29

The Holy Ghost can guide me.

Many of the children you teach have likely been baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost. How can you use these scriptures to help them understand the power and blessings that come from hearing the voice of the Spirit?

Possible Activities

• Invite the children to read together Joel 2:28–29, inserting each other’s names in place of the phrases “your sons” and “your daughters.” Write on the board a sentence like The Holy Ghost can … and invite the children to take turns completing the sentence. Encourage them to include things they learn from John 14:16; Moroni 10:5; Doctrine and Covenants 42:17, and other scriptures.

• Place an object in a bowl, and let the children take turns pouring water over it. Explain that the object represents us, and the water represents the Holy Ghost. When we are baptized, we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which is one way the Lord fulfills His promise to “pour out [His] spirit.” What must we do to receive the Holy Ghost? Invite the children to share times when they have felt the influence of the Spirit.

Encourage Learning at Home

Help the children identify something they learned about Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Ghost today in class. Encourage them to share this with their families.

Improving Our Teaching

Seek revelation daily. As you prepare to teach, pray and ponder the scriptures throughout the week. Ideas and impressions about how to teach can come to you anytime and anywhere. (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 12.)