Purpose
To help the children understand that they, like Peter, can develop a stronger testimony of Jesus Christ.
Preparation
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Prayerfully study Matthew 4:18–19; 14:22–33; 16:13–17; 17:1–9; Luke 22:31–34, 54–62; Acts 3:1–9; 4:6–20; 5:12–42; and Alma 32:21. Then study the lesson and decide how you want to teach the children the scripture account. (See “Preparing Your Lessons,” p. vi, and “Teaching from the Scriptures,” p. vii.)
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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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Materials needed: A Bible or a New Testament for each child.
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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Help the children understand that a testimony includes knowing the following:
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Heavenly Father lives and is the Father of our spirits.
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Jesus Christ is Heavenly Father’s Son and our Savior.
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Joseph Smith is the prophet through whom the Lord restored the gospel in the latter days.
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The Book of Mormon is the word of God and contains the fulness of the gospel.
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church.
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We are led by prophets and apostles today.
Discuss ways we can gain a testimony of these truths.
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Explain and help the children memorize the ninth article of faith.
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Have the children think of experiences Peter had with the Savior that increased his testimony of Jesus Christ. (Feeding the 5,000, healing the sick, raising Jairus’s daughter from the dead, and so on.) How can we know for ourselves that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? (By studying the scriptures, praying, obeying the commandments, and so on.)
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Have the children name some ways other people might try to get them to deny the Church or do something wrong. Then discuss how they can be strong enough to resist such temptations. Use the following examples, if necessary:
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Someone tries to get them to not attend Church meetings.
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Someone tries to get them to break the Word of Wisdom.
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Someone tries to get them to lie.
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Someone tries to get them to spend their tithing money.
Emphasize that we must gain a personal testimony of Jesus Christ to be strong like Peter.
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Tell the following story about what happened to President Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church, when he was a young man returning home from his mission:
“One day after Joseph F. Smith and his companions had traveled a short distance and made their camp, a company of drunken men rode into the camp on horseback, cursing and swearing and threatening to kill any Mormons that came within their path. Some of Joseph’s companions had gone down by the creek and out of sight when they heard the men coming. They waited there for this band of men to pass. Joseph F. Smith was a little distance from the camp, gathering wood for the fire as these men rode up. When he saw them, he said his first thought was to find someplace to hide. Then the thought came to him, ‘Why should I run from these fellows?’ With that thought in mind he boldly marched up to the campfire with his arms full of wood. One of the men pointed his gun at the young elder and demanded in a loud, angry voice, ‘Are you a “Mormon”?’
“Joseph F. Smith did not hesitate for a moment. He looked the man in the eye and answered, ‘Yes, siree; dyed in the wool; true blue, through and through.’
“He answered without any sign of fear and completely surprised the man. The man grasped Joseph F. Smith by the hand and said: ‘Well, you are the pleasantest man I ever met! Shake, young fellow, I am glad to see a man that stands up for his convictions’” (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Life of Joseph F. Smith, pp. 188–89).
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Help the children memorize Acts 5:29.
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Sing or read the words to “Testimony” (Hymns, no. 137), verses 1 and 2.
Conclusion
Invite a child to give the closing prayer.