As the coming of Christ to the Americas drew near, Mormon noted the wickedness of the people and how slow they were to remember the Lord. In this Book of Mormon FHE lesson, we learn about why we should remember Christ, what can distract us from doing so, and daily ways we can keep the Savior in our minds.
Scripture
And thus we see that except the Lord doth his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not him.
Hymn
Count Your Blessings | Hymn #241
1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
[Chorus]
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.
2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.
Count your many blessings; money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.
4. So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Lesson
FOR CHILDREN
Begin the lesson with the following activity. Give each child a blank piece of paper and a pencil (or another monochromatic marker) and ask them to draw a rainbow. Then, show them a wide array of colorful markers and crayons. Ask them to say something they remember about Jesus Christ. Each time they say something new, they get a new color. Ask them to draw a rainbow again.
Read aloud: When we remember the Lord, we will find our lives are more beautiful. Just like our rainbows were sad and dull with just one color, we can find ourselves in dark places if we forget Jesus Christ.
In the Book of Mormon, a prophet named Nephi and his brother Lehi saw their people were forgetting the Lord. It made their hearts hurt. The people became wicked. Because the people were wicked and refuse to remember the Lord, the Lord wasn’t able to bless them and take care of them.
Ask: Why does Jesus want us to remember Him?
Read aloud: We can remember Jesus by keeping the commandments, serving others, praying, and taking time each day to think about Jesus. Sometimes, our lives get really busy and noisy, so it is hard to think about the Lord. We need to take time each day to think about Jesus and what He has done for us.
Ask: How do you feel when you think about Jesus.
Makes plans as a family to have pondering time each day to think about Jesus. Address any specific issues your family or group may have, such as a lot of sibling fighting or too much screen time, that may be holding you back from this precious quiet time. Finish with your testimony.
FOR TEENS & ADULTS
Begin the lesson by watching the following video. Before pressing play, ask everyone to think about what this video teaches us about remembering the Lord.
Ask: What does this video teach us about remembering the Lord?
Read aloud: Throughout the scriptures, the prophets have taught us to remember the Lord in all we do. When we remember the Lord, we are more readily able to accept His will and follow His teachings. When we forget the Lord, we may experience despair, confusion, and lose some of the protection the Lord can provide us.
In the Book of Mormon, a prophet named Nephi mourned his people because of their wickedness. Mormon, in reviewing Nephi’s story, took the time to write down what he thought of Nephi’s people and what we can learn from them.
As a group, read together Helaman 12:1-3. Before reading, ask everyone to think about why it can be hard to remember the Lord in their lives.
Ask: Why didn’t the people of Nephi remember the Lord? Why don’t we always remember the Lord today?
Share a personal experience about when you were able to remember the Lord and how it made a difference in your life. Invite the group to share personal experiences as they feel comfortable.
Ask: What are some ways we can remember the Lord daily?
Finish the lesson with your testimony.
Featured Products
FREE Book of Mormon Come, Follow Me Coloring Page
Treat
Treat
Peanut Butter Pretzels
Ingredients:
1 12-oz bag white chocolate chips
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
2-3 cups mini pretzels
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, for drizzling OR
2 TBSP chocolate jimmies, for sprinkling
Directions:
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Place white chocolate chips in a glass or ceramic bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Add 1/3 cup peanut butter to the bowl and microwave for an additional 30 seconds. Stir until smooth.
- Drop 1 mini pretzel at a time into peanut butter mixture. Turn to coat. You can dip using a fork, but I prefer using a chocolate dipping fork. Makes it even easier! Tap fork on the side of the bowl to help excess drip off. Transfer coated pretzel to the parchment-lined pan.
- Repeat process with remaining pretzels. Let cool on the pan until set.
- Place semi-sweet chocolate chips in a sandwich-sized bag. Microwave for 1 minute. Cut a corner of the bag and drizzle melted chocolate on pretzels. Let cool to set.(Or, as an alternative, online semi-sweet chocolate drizzle & sprinkle with chocolate jimmies instead.)
- Store in an airtight container on the countertop & try to not eat them all at once!
(Courtesy of butterwithasideofbread.com)
Activity
Fun Memory Games
Play a fun memory game as a family. Gather up a number of objects from your home. The more objects you gather, the harder it will be. Place the objects underneath a towel or blanket. Remove the towel for 5-10 seconds. Then, cover the objects back up again. Everyone has to write down as many objects as they can remember. For an added level, have the group try to remember where the objects were placed.
