Purpose
To help the children understand that Jesus Christ’s church was taken from the earth because of apostasy and had to be restored to the earth.
Preparation
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Prayerfully study the following references about aspects of Jesus Christ’s church: Matthew 16:17 (ongoing revelation), Luke 9:1–2 and John 15:16 (priesthood authority), Amos 3:7 and Ephesians 2:20 (living prophets and apostles), Matthew 3:16 and Acts 2:38 (ordinances performed as Jesus taught), and Acts 7:55–56 (Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are three separate personages). Also study Doctrine and Covenants 1:1–6, 15–23, 30 and the historical account given in this lesson. Then study the lesson and decide how you want to teach the children the scriptural and historical accounts. (See “Preparing Your Lessons,” pp. vi–vii, and “Teaching the Scriptural and Historical Accounts,” pp. vii–ix.)
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Additional reading: Amos 8:11–12, 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3, and 2 Timothy 4:3–4 (prophecies about the Apostasy) and Gospel Principles (31110), chapters 16 and 17.
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Select the discussion questions and enrichment activities that will involve the children and best help them achieve the purpose of the lesson.
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Prepare the following wordstrips:
Set 1
Set 2
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Materials needed:
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A Doctrine and Covenants for each child.
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A Bible.
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Two glasses of clean water, some dirt or debris, and a spoon or stick for stirring.
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Picture 5-6, The First Vision (Gospel Art Picture Kit 403; 62470).
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Suggested Lesson Development
Invite a child to give the opening prayer.
Enrichment Activities
You may use one or more of the following activities any time during the lesson or as a review, summary, or challenge.
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Write on a piece of paper The Word of the Lord. Before class, hide the paper somewhere the children will not be able to find it, such as in your pocket or shoe. Tell the children that there is something written on a piece of paper in the room that you would like them to try to find. Ask them to do so quietly. When they have thoroughly searched, take out the paper.
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What were you looking for but unable to find?
Have the children read aloud the words on the paper.
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Where was the word of the Lord during the Apostasy? (Some of it was in the Bible, but many teachings had been taken from the earth.) Where can you find the word of the Lord today? (In the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price, and messages from the latter-day prophets and apostles.) Explain that the word of the Lord is revelation.
Have a child read Amos 8:11–12 aloud.
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What did Amos say would happen?
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What is a famine?
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What did Amos mean by “a famine … of hearing the words of the Lord”?
Explain that before the Church was restored by Jesus Christ through the Prophet Joseph Smith, many people looked for the true word of the Lord but could not find it. There were no Church leaders with authority to receive revelation from the Lord. When the Church was restored, the Lord began to again give revelation to his chosen leaders.
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A week in advance, ask three children to present the information about John Wycliffe, Martin Luther, and Roger Williams. Give each child a copy of the applicable information from the lesson.
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Help the children memorize the ninth article of faith.
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Explain to the children that before the Prophet Joseph Smith’s birth, Asael Smith, Joseph’s grandfather, had a strong feeling that one of his descendants would be “a great benefit to mankind” (quoted in Church History in the Fulness of Times [Church Educational System manual (32502), 1993], p. 17; see also History of the Church, 2:443). Discuss how Joseph Smith, Asael’s grandson, did provide a great benefit to the world by helping Jesus Christ restore His church to the earth.
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Have the children sing or say the words to the first verse of “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet,” (Hymns, no. 19).
Conclusion
Invite a child to give the closing prayer.