Lesson 11

I Can Tell Others about Jesus Christ

Purpose

To inspire each child to help others learn about Jesus Christ.

Preparation

1. Prayerfully study Alma 17–19, 23.

2. Prepare to sing or say the words to “I Hope They Call Me on a Mission” (Children’s Songbook, p. 169).

3. Materials needed:

   1. A Book of Mormon.

   2. CTR chart (see lesson 1).

   3. Picture 2-17, Four Sons of Mosiah Kneeling in Prayer; picture 2-18, Ammon Teaching King Lamoni.

4. Make the necessary preparations for any enrichment activities you want to use.

Suggested Lesson Development

Invite a child to give the opening prayer.

Follow up with the children if you encouraged them to do something during the week.

Review

Comment on the reverence of the children and on the language used in the prayer. Give a quick review of the previous lesson to emphasize the importance of prayer.

Missionaries Tell Others about Jesus Christ

Attention activity

Sing or say the words to “I Hope They Call Me on a Mission” with the children.

I hope they call me on a mission

When I have grown a foot or two.

I hope by then I will be ready

To teach and preach and work as missionaries do.

I hope that I can share the gospel

With those who want to know the truth.

I want to be a missionary

And serve and help the Lord while I am in my youth.

• Do you know any missionaries?

Let the children talk about missionaries they know, such as family members serving missions or the missionaries in your area.

• What do missionaries do?

Explain that in this lesson the children will learn about ways they can be missionaries while they are young.

Scripture story

Show the children the Book of Mormon and tell the story of the sons of Mosiah, as found in Alma 17:6–12. Explain that any of King Mosiah’s sons could have been the next king, but they all wanted to be missionaries instead. They wanted to teach the Lamanites, who were very wicked at this time. The sons of Mosiah wanted every person to have an opportunity to hear the gospel. Explain that because the Lamanites were so wicked, it was dangerous for the sons of Mosiah to go teach them.

• How do you think the sons of Mosiah prepared themselves before they went to teach the Lamanites?

Show picture 2-17, Four Sons of Mosiah Kneeling in Prayer.

Explain that the sons of Mosiah prayed and asked Heavenly Father to help them be good missionaries. Heavenly Father told them that he would watch over them and they would be able to teach many people (see Alma 17:10–11). Read aloud Alma 17:12. Point out that praying helped give the sons of Mosiah courage to go teach the Lamanites.

Scripture story

Explain that the sons of Mosiah all went to different areas to teach. Show picture 2-18, Ammon Teaching King Lamoni, and tell the story found in Alma 17:17–25. Explain that Ammon, one of the sons of Mosiah, volunteered to be a servant to the Lamanite king, King Lamoni. Ammon was assigned to tend the king’s sheep. Ammon was the best servant King Lamoni had. Ammon set such a good example that King Lamoni and his people wanted to learn about the gospel.

Explain that because of the work of Ammon and his brothers, thousands of the Lamanites joined the Church (see Alma 23:5).

Discussion

• Why did Ammon and his brothers risk their lives to teach the gospel to the Lamanites? (The gospel had brought them happiness, and they wanted to share it with other people.)

• What did Ammon do that helped him teach the Lamanites the gospel? (He prayed for help; he worked hard; he was a good example.)

We Can Be Missionaries

Explain that one way we can be missionaries is by telling others about Jesus Christ. It is important that everyone learn about Jesus and his church.

Story

Tell a story about a child who helped others learn about Jesus Christ and his church. You may want to use the following story:

Thad sometimes had a hard time listening in stake conference because it seemed to him that most of the talks were for grown-ups. But when Thad heard the stake president say, “Children, you can be missionaries too,” Thad listened, and he started thinking of ways he could be a missionary and tell others about Jesus.

The next morning at breakfast, Thad talked with his parents about inviting Mrs. Murphy, their next-door neighbor, to learn about the Church. Thad’s parents thought it was a good idea, so Thad went over to Mrs. Murphy’s house and asked her if she would like to learn about Jesus and his church. Mrs. Murphy said she would, and soon she was learning from the missionaries.

• What would have happened if Thad hadn’t asked Mrs. Murphy if she wanted to learn about Jesus and his church?

Thad’s mother and father began to follow Thad’s example. They talked about the Church with their friends and other people they met. Some people didn’t want to hear about the Church, but some did, and some were baptized. When Mrs. Murphy was baptized, she thanked Thad for helping her learn more about the Savior.

Discussion

Using Thad as an example, point out that children can be missionaries and tell others about Jesus Christ and his church.

• Who could you tell about Jesus?

Help the children think of people they could tell about Jesus, such as friends, neighbors, and relatives who are not members of the Church or who do not attend church.

Explain that each of us can also be a missionary by being a good example, by being kind and thoughtful to others, and by living the gospel. Remind the children that one of the ways Ammon was a good missionary was by setting a good example.

Story

In your own words, tell the following story about children who were missionaries:

One day two missionaries knocked on the door of a home. A woman named Mrs. James opened the door. The missionaries told her they were from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mrs. James invited the missionaries in and told them she would like to learn more about the Church. This made the missionaries very happy.

Mrs. James told the missionaries that she used to live next door to a family that belonged to the Church. She said the children in that family were always very polite and kind. They played fairly with everyone and treated other people’s property with respect. Mrs. James said she would like to learn about a church that taught those children to be such nice neighbors.

• How were the children who lived next to Mrs. James missionaries?

• How could you be a good example to your neighbors and friends?

Dramatization activity

Explain to the children that they are going to act out several situations in which they could be missionaries by being kind and thoughtful.

Have the children listen to a situation, and then select children to act out what they would do in that situation. Give each child a chance to participate in at least one situation. Use the following examples or create your own:

Situation 1 (three children needed)

Two of you are walking down the street. You see a small child starting to climb a very big tree. You know it is dangerous for the child to do this.

• What would you do?

Situation 2 (two children needed)

You see a neighbor with an armload of groceries. One of the grocery sacks breaks, and oranges roll all over the ground.

• What would you do?

Situation 3 (three or more children needed)

You are playing with your friends. A child who has just moved in nearby wants to join you.

• What would you do?

Situation 4 (four or more children needed)

A new family moves into your neighborhood. They are not members of the Church. You think the children might enjoy coming to the Primary activity next week.

• What would you do?

After the dramatization activity, thank the children for being good missionaries.

Summary

CTR chart

Point to the CTR chart or have the children look at their CTR rings. Tell the children that by being missionaries they are choosing the right and following Jesus Christ. Have the children repeat the words on the chart (or tell what the initials on their rings stand for).

Testimony

Compliment the children for wanting to be good missionaries. Bear testimony about the importance of teaching every person about Jesus Christ and his church. Learning about Jesus and his church makes us happy.

Help each child think of one way he or she can be a missionary in the coming week. These ideas do not have to be complicated or extensive. Remind the children that they can be missionaries by being friendly and helping others as well as by inviting people to learn about the Church.

Encourage the children to talk with their families about ways to be a missionary.

Invite a child to give the closing prayer.

Enrichment Activities

Choose from the following activities those that will work best for the children in your class. You can use them in the lesson itself or as a review or summary. For additional guidance, see “Class Time” in “Helps for the Teacher.”

1. With the approval of your Primary president, invite the missionaries serving in your area or a recently returned missionary to attend the last few minutes of class and talk to the children about what they can do to be missionaries now.

2. Tell the children about a time when missionaries helped you or when you were able to help someone else learn about Jesus Christ and his church. Tell them how this experience made you feel.

3. Have the children draw pictures of themselves as missionaries. Label each picture the following way:

   (Child’s Name)

   Missionary

   The Church of Jesus Christ

   of Latter-day Saints

4. Sing or say the words to the first verse of “I Want to Be a Missionary Now” (Children’s Songbook, p. 168), “The Things I Do” (Children’s Songbook, p. 170), or “We’ll Bring the World His Truth” (Children’s Songbook, p. 172).

   I Want to Be a Missionary Now

   I want to be a missionary now.

   I don’t want to wait until I’m grown.

   I want to share the gospel while I’m young,

   For I have a testimony of my own.

   The Things I Do

   I’m much too young to go abroad

   To teach and preach the word of God,

   But I can show I know it’s true,

   Quite simply, by the things I do.

   We’ll Bring the World His Truth

   We have been born, as Nephi of old,

   To goodly parents who love the Lord.

   We have been taught, and we understand,

   That we must do as the Lord commands.

   Chorus:

   We are as the army of Helaman.

   We have been taught in our youth.

   And we will be the Lord’s missionaries

   To bring the world his truth.

   (© 1983 by Janice Kapp Perry. Used by permission.)