The Brother of Jared and his family faced great distress as they anticipated their journey across the ocean. His faith and diligence not only allowed him to solve a problem but see the Lord. This Book of Mormon FHE lesson focuses on the story of the Brother of Jared and how we can apply it to our lives.
Scripture
And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his . And the was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared before the Lord, for he was struck with .
Hymn
1. Lead, kindly Light, amid th’encircling gloom;
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene—one step enough for me.
2. I was not ever thus, nor pray’d that thou
Shouldst lead me on.
I loved to choose and see my path; but now,
Lead thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years.
3. So long thy pow’r hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone.
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!
Lesson
FOR CHILDREN
Begin the lesson by showing your children a tricky math problem. Ask them to solve it. When they cannot solve it, help them find the answer.
Ask: When we face problems in life that we can’t answer, who can we ask for help?
Read aloud: The Book of Mormon teaches us that Jesus Christ can help us solve the problems we face. A man named the Brother of Jared faced a long journey across the ocean with his family. He built barges, but they would be very dark. He prayed to the Lord to try and discover how they could have light on their journey. The Lord told Him to ponder and try to come up with the best solution he could. So, the Brother of Jared brought stones to the Lord. He asked the Lord to touch the stones with his finger to give them light.
Ask: Why did the Lord ask the Brother of Jared to do his best to solve the problem?
Read aloud: When we do our best to solve the problems in our life, we open our minds and our hearts to the Holy Ghost. We also grow more confident in our identity as children of God who can do anything when we trust in the Lord.
Hold up a picture of the Brother of Jared and see what the children remember about the story.
Ask: Why does the Brother of Jared look surprised?
Read aloud: Because of his faith, the Brother of Jared saw Jesus Christ. At first, he was fearful, but the Lord comforted him. We may not see the Lord like the Brother of Jared, but we can feel close to Jesus Christ. We can feel His love in powerful ways and receive answers to our prayers.
Ask: What are some of the problems in your life that you want to ask the Lord about?
Finish the lesson by helping direct the children on how to get answers from the Lord. Bear your testimony on the power of prayer and action.
FOR TEENS & ADULTS
Begin the lesson by watching the following video. Before pressing play, ask everyone to think about a time in their life when the Lord helped them through a distressing time.
Read aloud: The story of the Brother of Jared is one of faith in action. When faced with the daunting prospect of journeying across the ocean in darkness, the Brother of Jared could only turn to the Lord for help. The Lord’s response is very interesting.
Have someone read Ether 2:22-25 out loud.
Ask: What was the Lord’s response to the Brother of Jared asking for help? Why do you think He wanted the Brother of Jared to try and discover a solution on his own?
Read aloud: The Brother of Jared brought stones to the Lord and asked Him to touch them with His finger. He asked the Lord not to be angry with him because of the weakness of his idea. When the Lord reached out to touch the stones, the Brother of Jared saw the finger of the Lord. He then asked for the Lord to “show thyself” and was able to see the personage of Jesus Christ.
Ask: What does this experience teach us about the strength of our own faith? When has Christ shown himself to you during a distressing time?
Finish the lesson by sharing personal experiences. Bear your testimony.
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Treat
Treat
S’Mores Popcorn Balls
Ingredients
3-ounce bag natural microwave popcorn (8 cups popped popcorn)
1/4 cup butter
10-ounce bag mini marshmallows
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups Golden Grahams cereal
1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
- Pop popcorn according to package directions; set aside.
- In a large saucepan, melt butter.
- Continue cooking until butter begins to turn golden brown.
- Add marshmallows, and stir constantly until marshmallows have melted.
- Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla.
- Add popcorn and Golden Grahams, and fold into marshmallow mixture.
- When mixture is cool enough to handle, lightly spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray.
- Scoop about 1 cup of the popcorn mixture and smoosh it into a ball.
- Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips, and gently press them into the popcorn ball.
- Place on a sheet of waxed paper, parchment paper, or silicone baking mat to cool.
(Courtesy of ihearteating.com)
Activity
Glow-in-the-Dark Stones
Paint rocks and stones (that you find in your backyard or that you purchase from the store) with glow-in-the-dark paint. Take a permanent marker or paint to write moments of inspiration you want to remember. It could be a favorite scripture, a word that inspires you, or a goal you want to work on. They can inspire your family to remember how to find light in the darkness.
