Jacob 1–4

March 14–20

“I Must Do According to the Strict Commands of God”

Preparing to Teach in Primary

Begin your preparation to teach by reading Jacob 1–4 before studying any supplemental material. Prepare your teaching plan and record your thoughts and impressions. You might also use some of the ideas on the next page or in Come, Follow Me for individuals and families.

Encourage Sharing

• How can you encourage the children to share the feelings and experiences they had as they studied these scriptures individually and with their families? How can you also involve children who may not have read in advance?

Teach the Doctrine

• As you teach the doctrine found in this week’s scriptures, what verses, quotations, experiences, questions, and other resources might you share with the children? How might you use these resources to help children learn gospel principles? How can you encourage children to act on the truths they learn in class?

Encourage Sharing and Learning at Home

• What can the children share at home with their families? How can you encourage them to continue to learn about the Book of Mormon at home?

My Teaching Plan

Improving Our Teaching

Children like to share what they are learning.

Although they are young, children can strengthen family members. Encourage them to go home and share with their family members something they learned in Primary.

Additional Ideas

Use one or more of the activities below to help children understand some of the things that Jacob taught his people. You may also use your own activities to teach other truths you find in these chapters.

Jacob 1:6–8, 15–19; 2:1–11. God calls Church leaders to guide me.

• What can you do to help the children love and sustain the leaders of the Church? For instance, you could read phrases in Jacob 1:6–8, 15–19; 2:1–11 that describe Jacob’s calling and how he served, such as “errand from the Lord” (Jacob 1:17), “labored diligently” (Jacob 1:7), and “teach them the word of God” (Jacob 1:19). How could these phrases help the children feel love for their leaders? With permission from the bishop, you could invite a ward leader to talk to the class about receiving a call to serve and how he or she receives God’s help. What can you do to help the children show love for their leaders?

Jacob 2:12–21. I can help others feel happy by sharing with them.

• There are many ways in which you might help children understand Jacob’s teachings about sharing the things God has given us. Children might enjoy silently acting out phrases from Jacob 2:17–19 (such as “feed the hungry” or “administer relief to the sick”) while the other children guess what they are doing. Children could also role-play sharing their talents, time, and other things God has given them in different situations.

Jacob 4:4–13. I can strengthen my faith in Jesus Christ.

• Jacob’s faith in Jesus Christ became unshaken as he searched the words of prophets and received his own witness (see Jacob 4:6). What might help the children understand what it means to have unshaken faith? You could compare faith to things that become firm and secure over time, such as a large tree. What did Jacob do to make his faith unshaken? (see Jacob 4:6, 10–11). What can the children do to strengthen their faith?

Sharing Time

Singing Time

Help the children learn the gospel through music.

• Consider singing “Faith” or “‘Give,’ Said the Little Stream” (Children’s Songbook, 96 and 236).

Sharing by Children

Create opportunities for children to share how they are learning and living the gospel.

• Children could talk about times when someone shared something with them and made them feel happy. They could also share how they can make their faith in Jesus Christ stronger.