Jonah on the Beach at Nineveh, by Daniel A. Lewis

November 21–27

Jonah; Micah

“He Delighteth in Mercy”

Search for important principles in Jonah and Micah that will bless the children you teach. Ponder ways you can help the children learn these principles. The ideas in this outline can help.

Record Your Impressions

Invite Sharing

To help the children remember the story of Jonah or other truths they may have learned at home, sing a song together, such as verse 7 of “Follow the Prophet” (Children’s Songbook, 110–11).

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Jonah 1:4–17; 3:3–5

The Lord blesses me when I obey Him.

When the Lord asked Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh, Jonah did not obey. Help the children understand that we are blessed when we obey the Lord.

Possible Activities

• Show pictures of the story of Jonah, and invite the children to tell what they know about the story (see “Jonah the Prophet” in Old Testament Stories; this week’s activity page; or this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). Ask questions like these: What happened when Jonah didn’t obey the Lord? (see Jonah 1:4–17). What happened when he did obey? (see Jonah 3:3–5). Share your testimony that the Lord will bless us when we obey Him.

• Sing together a song about obeying the Lord, such as “Quickly I’ll Obey” (Children’s Songbook, 197). Talk about how it would have been best for Jonah to obey the first time. Help the children think of things God wants them to do and then act out how they can obey quickly.

Heavenly Father wants everyone to hear the gospel.

Jonah 3

The gospel is for everyone.

The people of Nineveh repented when Jonah shared the Lord’s message with them. What opportunities do the children have to share the gospel?

Possible Activities

• Act out parts of Jonah 3:3–8 with the children, such as walking to the city of Nineveh, sharing the Lord’s message, and writing a decree from the king to his people. Show a picture of missionaries (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 109, 110). What do missionaries do? How was Jonah a missionary? Help the children think of ways they can share the gospel with others, such as sharing an article of faith or bearing their testimony of Jesus Christ.

• Tell of an experience when you shared the gospel of Jesus Christ. Or, a few days before class, invite someone to visit your class and tell the children about a time when he or she shared the gospel or when someone shared the gospel with him or her. Encourage the person to show pictures, if possible. Help the children think of ways they can be missionaries now.

Micah 5:2

Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem.

Micah prophesied that a future “ruler in Israel” would be born in Bethlehem. You can help the children know that the birth of Jesus Christ fulfilled this prophecy.

Possible Activities

• Display pictures of events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 28, 29, 30, 31). Invite the children to talk about what is happening in each picture. Read Micah 5:2, and invite the children to stand up when they hear the word “Beth-lehem.” Testify that Jesus’s birth was so important that prophets knew about it before He was born.

• Invite the children to draw a picture of Jesus’s birth. As they show their pictures, ask them to share why they are thankful for Jesus Christ.

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Jonah 1:10–12; 2:1–4, 9; 3:1–5

Repentance includes recognizing my sins and asking for forgiveness.

Jonah’s example can inspire the children to turn to the Lord when they have sinned.

Possible Activities

• Help the children make a list on the board of some of the basic elements of repentance (see Guide to the Scriptures, “Repent, Repentance,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Review together the story of Jonah, and invite the children to identify evidence that Jonah was repenting (see, for example, Jonah 1:10–12; 2:1–4, 9; 3:1–5). How can we show the Lord that our repentance is sincere?

• Sing a song about repentance, such as “Repentance” (Children’s Songbook, 98). Ask the children what words or phrases from the song they would share with Jonah to help him repent.

Jonah 2:7–10; 3:10; 4:2; Micah 7:18–19

The Lord is merciful to all who turn to Him.

When the children understand that the Lord is merciful and kind, they will turn to Him when they need mercy.

Possible Activities

• Invite the children to find a definition of the word mercy in a dictionary or in Guide to the Scriptures (scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Why did Jonah need mercy? Why did the people of Nineveh need mercy? (see Jonah 1:1–3). Ask the children to imagine that they could interview Jonah. What evidence might Jonah give to show that the Lord is merciful? (see, for example, Jonah 2:7–10; 3:10; 4:2). How has the Lord shown us mercy?

• Ask the children to make a list on the board of things that they “delight” in, such as hobbies, blessings from the Lord, and so on. Invite them to read Micah 7:18–19 to discover one thing the Lord delights in. What truths in these verses would help a person who is afraid to repent?

• Help the children think of examples when the Savior showed mercy to others, such as Mark 2:3–12; Luke 23:33–34; and John 8:1–11. Show pictures of these events, if possible. Help the children think of opportunities they have to be merciful and kind to others.

Micah 6:8

The Lord wants me to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.

Micah 6:8 provides a pattern for living righteously. How can you help the children discover and live the teachings in this verse?

Possible Activities

• Read together Micah 6:8, and help the children understand what these phrases mean: “do justly,” “love mercy,” and “walk humbly with thy God.” Invite the children to draw a picture of themselves doing something related to one of the phrases.

• Write on the board “What doth the Lord require of thee?” Invite them to find the answer in Micah 6:8. How does obeying the Lord’s commandments help us fulfill what the Lord requires of us in this verse?

Encourage Learning at Home

Write on a slip of paper for each child a key phrase from one of the scriptures you discussed as a class. Invite the children to try to memorize the phrase and to ask a family member to share his or her thoughts about it.

Improving Our Teaching

Pay attention to the children. How are the children in your class responding to learning activities? If they seem restless, it may be time to try another kind of activity. On the other hand, if you notice that the children are engaged in an activity, don’t feel pressure to move on because you haven’t covered all the lesson material.