Matt. 16-17; Mark 9 & Luke 9 (April 1st-14th)

Whom Say Ye That I Am?

The object of this lesson is to discuss how Peter developed his testimony and how we can develop strengthen our own through revelation. We will also discuss keys of the priesthood, mount of transfiguration and the faith as a mustard seed parable.

Invite Sharing:

Ask the children to share something they heard or saw during conference last weekend.

Teach the Doctrine:

Brian and I are at an advantage this year that we are teaching children 7-8 year olds which means that we can really pick and choose activities from both the "younger children" and the "older children" sections.

Beforehand, gather together:

 1. Make the "Who am I" Game based on your students.
2. Download the movie, "Thou Art the Christ" linked in activity 1
3. Write the 2 definitions of "Redeem" on the board.
4.Tape keys around the room (with or without the blessings already written on them).
5. Make treat- we just put mustard flavored pretzels in ziplock baggies.

Some Activities We Plan to Do:

1. "Who Am I?" Game

Beforehand, we will write on cards some fun facts about each child in our class and we will pick a card and read the fun facts to the children and have them try to guess who the mystery person could me. We'll probably sneak a card about Brian and myself in there to try to throw them off. 

Example:

- This person's favorite food is mashed potatoes.

- This person visited Chile last Summer.

- This person plays Soccer.

- This person has green eyes.

Who Am I?

Afterwards we will ask the kids, "What would you say if someone asked you, "Who is Jesus?" Watch the movie, "Thou Art the Christ" to see how Peter answered. How did he gain his testimony? Watch the movie again and this time ask them to pay attention to when Jesus tells Peter how he knew he was the Savior. 

2. Redeem.

Christ is our redeemer now and he was back then, but not in the way the pharisees and sadducees expected or hoped for. Beforehand write the 2 definitions of Redeem on the board.

#1- regain possession of something in exchange for payment.

#2- compensate for the fault of something (or someone).

The pharisees and sadducees did not accept Jesus as their Savior. They constantly asked him to "prove it" or "show them a sign". No matter how many people he healed, saved or rose from the dead. No matter how many miracles he seemed to do for them-- it never seemed "good enough" for the pharisees. 

Ask the children, "Have you ever wondered why that was?"

The Jewish people had been persecuted and mistreated for a VERY LONG TIME. They were enslaved, beaten, driven from their homes multiple times. No one seemed to want them around- and it was for no reason. So whenever they would try to start someplace new... the cycle would happen again and again. The Jewish people were exhausted, they were confused and they were angry that this was happening to them. They read in the scriptures (the old testament) that one day a Savior would come to redeem them. In their minds, they held true to the first definition (refer to the board) of redeem. They wanted someone to come down from heaven and get them vengeance and justice. They wanted a Savior who would come down and teach everyone who had ever done them wrong a lesson- scare them into never messing with them ever again.

So when Jesus came and he was meek and kind and a peacemaker. The pharisees and sadducees were confused and probably a little disappointed. They wanted Justice. They wanted revenge-- and that's just not the way Jesus was going to do things. The scriptures said redeemer, but they were referring to the second definition (refer to the board). They had hoped that the Savior would come down and redeem them physically-- and Jesus did perform miracles for them physically-- by healing them, blessing the sick, causing the blind to see, rising people up from the dead. But that's not what he was sent here to do. He did that because he loved the people and didn't want to see them suffer. However, in reality, the savior was strictly here to redeem them spiritually through performing the atonement for us all. Everything else was just a "bonus" or because he planned on using the miracle as a teaching tool for others.

3. Developing & Strengthening our Testimonies.

Read Mark 9:17-27 to them. Ask them to tell you what they understood or got from the story. Remind them that the Father had every right to believe that Jesus would not be able to heal his son- he had already asked the disciples and although they had tried, they were unable to do it. But Jesus asked him to exercise the faith that he had and the man said, "Lord, I believe. Help thou mine unbelief." 

In the last conference, President Nelson said to start with the faith you DO have. Try not to focus o the faith you don't have.

Remind the children of their upcoming baptisms. 

Ask them to think in their minds the answers to these questions:

Do you want to be baptized?

Why do you want to be baptized?

What will it mean to you to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?

Tell them if they don't know the answers to one or more of these questions, they should really think about it. Encourage them to seek a testimony of Jesus Christ before they're baptized. Remind them they are being baptized for themselves and for Christ- not for anyone else. So it should be something they are really committed to doing. Remind them their testimony doesn't need to be a BIG, UNSHAKEABLE, PROPHET-SIZED TESTIMONY- but they should at least have the beginning stages of one. Remind them that Jesus said, 

"If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

If we have that small, mustard seed testimony... what can we do to strengthen it?

Share with the children how you gained your testimony and ways that you try to strengthen it everyday. Remind the children that gaining a testimony is a journey- not a competition. Everyone's journey will be different. There is no right way or wrong way. Heavenly Father and Jesus are happy with you for even wanting to have a testimony and the harder you work to obtain one for yourself- the prouder they will be of you.

4. Mount of Transfiguration.

Before the children enter the room, tape keys around the room. We made 8 -- However, you could do more or less dependent on class size or time. Recount to the children the story of the Mount of Transfiguration. Tell them this was an important event as it enabled the apostles to have priesthood keys. Priesthood keys allow ordinary men to use Godly power in his name, if and when called upon. Ask them to find a key around the room and share with the class a blessing that we can have because of priesthood keys- you could also modify it by writing a blessing on each key and ask them to choose a key and talk about how that is a blessing to them.

Examples:

Eternal Families. Baptism. Sacrament. Priesthood Blessings. Healing the sick and afflicted. Revelation. Gift of the Holy Ghost. Creation of the world.

5. Treat & Handout.

I highly doubt that we will have enough time for them to color the handout that we made, but we drew up a little picture of a person holding up a mustard seed in front of a mountain range. 

As our treat, we will give the children ziplock baggies filled with mustard flavored pretzels- some kids might hate it- but I actually really like them haha! I also figure if the children are hungry enough--- they'll probably eat them, lol! 

Encourage them to ponder the questions you asked them today:

1. Do you want to be baptized?

2. Why do you want to be baptized?

3. What will it mean to you to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?

Ask them to think of something they could do to try to strengthen the faith they already have in Jesus Christ. Maybe this week, their faith is like a mustard seed... but maybe next week their faith will be like a watermelon seed. That's improvement! 

I hope this has been helpful to you. See you next week!