Chapter 6: Lehi’s Dream

If you haven't read my initial post, read it here. It explains the scripture study plan in a little more detail and gives more information for how to teach it. 

Preparation

Song: The Iron Rod, Hymn Book p. 274, chorus

Hold to the rod, the iron rod; (pretend to hold on to a rod with one hand and then with the other – do this two times; video here)

‘Tis strong (hold up arm and flex muscle), and bright (open hand quickly), and true (nod head).

The iron rod (sign “iron rod” like the first line, video here) is the word of God (sign “book”);

‘Twill safely guide us through. (put hands together and weave left and right, like a snake)

Activities:

1. Activity Verse: Father Lehi, By Elizabeth Gile

Father Lehi had a dream

(Place palms together, put by cheek, and close eyes.)

and saw the tree of life.

(Stretch arms out to sides for tree branches.)

He beckoned to his family—

(With arms out in front, palms up, wave hands toward you.)

his daughters, sons, and wife.

(Pretend to hug family members.)

He wanted them to follow him

(With one arm out in front, palm up, wave hand toward you.)

and stand right where he stood.

(Put feet together and stand tall.)

He wanted them to be with him

(Point to yourself.)

and have all that is good.

(Stretch arms out to sides, palms up.)

2. Rebus Story, “Lehi’s Dream” 

Art/Craft: There are free activity books here that go along with a variety of scripture stories. You just need to create a free account. For this chapter, I downloaded the “The Tree of Life” book and used a few coloring pages from it.

UPDATE: Super cute Book of Mormon coloring book available on LDS.org - found HERE. For this lesson, I would use this page:

Scripture Study Outline

Again, if you haven't read my initial post, read it here. My outline is very brief, so this explains the scripture study plan in a little more detail and gives more information for how to teach it. 

1. Preview the chapter with a picture walk. (Explanation found here.) Introduce the song by listening to it a couple times and humming to the tune.

2. Read through the story from the manual. Ask questions and take time to look at the pictures as you read. Take as many days as needed to read the whole chapter.  End by listening to/singing the song.

3.  Have your child color one of the coloring pages quietly while you read sections of the story from the actual scriptures. (Find the passages you feel are most important and highlight them beforehand. Use the scriptural references found under the pictures in the manual as a guide.) Take as many days as needed to read through the passages. End each day by singing the song.

           

4. Choose and complete one of the activities. End by singing the song.

5. Watch the scripture story video for this chapter. End by reading your favorite verse from the story.

6. Choose and complete one of the activities (you can repeat the same activity chosen for step 4). Read your favorite verse and then have your child read part or all of it by repeating after you. Share your testimony. End by singing the song.

Toddler-Friendly Scripture Study: Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Traveling in the Wilderness


If you haven't read my initial post, read it here. It explains the scripture study plan in a little more detail and gives more information for how to teach it. 

Song: Review a song you have already taught. Keep the Commandments, Nephi’s Courage or Follow the Prophet would work well with this chapter. Follow the links to take you to the lesson plan where the songs were originally introduced for ideas on how to teach it.

Summary: The Liahona (adapted from lds.org)

1. Lehi objeyed God and took his family into the wilderness. One morning, he found a brass ball outside his tent. It was called the Liahona.

2. One day Nephi went to hunt for food and his bow broke. He couldn’t get any food for his family. Everyone complained, even Lehi.

3. Nephi made a new bow out of wood and asked Lehi where to hunt. Lehi prayed and the Liahona showed them where to go.

4. Nephi followed the directions and found food for his family. The Liahona only worked when Lehi and his family were faithful and obedient.

Art/Craft: Poke page, found here. Poke page explanation found here.

Liahona coloring page found here.

UPDATE: Super cute Book of Mormon coloring book available on LDS.org - found HERE. For this lesson, I would use this page:

Scripture Study Outline

Again, if you haven't read my initial post, read it here. My outline is very brief, so this explains the scripture study plan in a little more detail and gives more information for how to teach it. 

1. Preview the chapter with a picture walk. (Explanation found here.)

2. Read through the story in the manual. Ask questions and take time to look at the pictures as you read. Take as many days as needed to read the whole chapter.  End by singing the song.

3.  Choose one of the arts and crafts pages for your child to do while you read sections of the story from the actual scriptures. Take as many days as needed to read through the passages. End each day by singing the song.

4.  Choose one of the following activities: (After you complete the activity, spend a few minutes talking about how the Liahona is like the Holy Ghost. End by singing the song.)
a. Cut out the four squares that go along with the summary. Lay them near your child. Read each         sentence and have them point to the correct picture.
b. Read the summary while your child acts it out. 
c. Pre-School Age: Read the summary as you hold up each picture. Practice the story with your child. Then, mix them up and have your child put them in the right order. (Sequencing)

5. Watch the scripture story video for this chapter. End by reading your favorite verse from the story.

6. Choose another activity from step 4 or repeat the same one you did before. Ask what their favorite part of the story was. Read your favorite verse once and then let them have a turn to read it, repeating after you in small phrases. Bear your testimony about what you have read and end by singing the song. 

Toddler-Friendly Scripture Study: Chapter 4

Chapter 4: The Brass Plates
If you haven't read my initial post, read it here. It explains the scripture study plan in a little more detail and gives more information for how to teach it. 

Preparation

Song: Nephi’s Courage, p. 120, chorus

“I will go; I will do (punch air upward with fist for “go” and “do”)

the thing the Lord commands. (ASL for “commands”)

I know (point to head) the Lord provides a way; (hold both hands out, parallel with palms facing each other, then push out in front of you like you are making a path)

He wants me to obey.” (salute)

Repeat, but fold arms for last “obey”

Art/Craft:

1. There are free activity books here that go along with a variety of scripture stories. You just need to create a free account (super easy). For this chapter, I used a few coloring pages from the “Nephi and the Brass Plates” activity book.
UPDATE: Super cute Book of Mormon coloring book available on LDS.org - found HERE. For this lesson, I would use this page:

AND/OR For older toddlers, print and cut out brass plates for size sort.

2. Printable figures for retelling

OR you could read the summary while your child acts it out 

Scripture Study Outline

This chapter is a big one, so plan on it taking at least a week!

1. Preview the chapter with a picture walk. (Explanation found here.)

2. Read through the story. Ask questions and take time to look at the pictures as you read. Take as many days as needed to read the whole chapter.  End by listening to/singing the song. (Teach hand actions before you try to teach words.)

3.  Have child color one of the coloring pages quietly and/or do the brass plates sort while you read sections of the story from the actual scriptures. Find the passages you feel are most important to share and highlight them beforehand for an easier read. Take as many days as needed to read through the passages. End by listening to/singing the song. 

4. (Cut out printable figures in advance. Tape them to straws/popsicle sticks or attach them to magnets and display on the fridge, cookie sheet, etc.) Share the summary as you hold up the printable figures. Repeat but have your child hold the figures as you read. After they have heard the summary a couple times, ask questions about each figure. (i.e. “Who is this?”, “Why do Laman and Lemuel have grumpy faces?”, “Who is holding the plates?”) OR you could have your child act out the summary instead of having printable figures. End by singing the song. 

5. Watch the scripture storyvideo for this chapter. End by reading your favorite verse from the story. (It may be typical, but I love 1 Nephi 3:7) Read it one time and then have your child read part of it or all of it by repeating after you.

6. Have child try to retell the story using the figures, helping them as needed. Ask what their favorite part of the story was. Tell your favorite part and then read another favorite verse from the scripture passages. Share your testimony about having faith and following God, like Nephi. End by singing the song together.

Toddler-Friendly Scripture Study: Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Lehi Leaves Jerusalem
If you haven't read my initial post, read it here. It explains the scripture study plan in a little more detail and gives more information for how to teach it. 

Song: Keep the Commandments, p. 146

Keep the commandments, keep the commandments!

In this there is safety; in this there is peace.

He will send blessings; He will sending blessings.

Words of a prophet: Keep the commandments.

In this there is safety and peace.

Teaching idea: Move your hands/arms to the music like the waves of the ocean, with palms down, arms rocking back and forth. As the song gets quieter/ louder the waves get smaller/higher. Watch first few seconds of this video.

Dramatization: God spoke to Lehi in a dream (pretend to be asleep). He told him to leave Jerusalem with his family (wake up). Lehi had a wife, Sariah, and four sons, Laman, Lemuel, Sam and Nephi (hold up four fingers and point to each as you say names of sons). Lehi’s family packed up food and tents and traveled into the wilderness (pretend to pack up a bag and begin walking). Laman and Lemuel thought their dad was foolish (make grumpy face and fold arms). They did not believe Lehi (shake head, “no”). They did not want to leave their home and money. Nephi wanted to understand what Lehi saw in his dream. He prayed to God (kneel down and fold arms). Jesus came and visited Nephi. He told Nephi that what his dad said was true. Nephi believed (nod head). The Lord said he would bless Nephi because of his faith.

Art/Craft: There are free activity books here that go along with a variety of scripture stories. You just need to create a free account (super easy). For this chapter, I downloaded the “Nephi and the Brass Plates” book and used pages 7, 9 and 10.

1. Preview the chapter with a picture walk. (Explanation found here.)

2. Read through the story. Ask questions and take time to look at the pictures as you read. Take as many days as needed to read the whole chapter.  End by listening to/singing the song. (Teach how to move arms like waves.)

3.  Have child color one of the coloring pages quietly while you read sections of the story from the actual scriptures. Find the passages you feel are most important to share and highlight them beforehand for an easier read. If needed, summarize between passages to make up for any disconnect. Take as many days as needed to read through the passages. End by listening to/singing the song.

           

Passages: 1 Nephi 2

            2 – whole verse

            4 – whole verse

            5 – “…and he did travel…Laman, Lemuel and Sam.”

            6 – whole verse

            7 – whole verse

            8 – “And it came… the river Laman”

            9 – whole verse

            10 – whole verse

            11 – “Now this he spake… against their father”

            12 – “…And they did murmur… had created them.”

            13 – “Neither did they… of the prophets.”

            16 – whole verse

            17 – “And I spake unto Sam”, “And it came to pass that he believed in my words”

            18 – whole verse

            19 – whole verse

            20 – whole verse

            22 – whole verse

4. Dramatization: act out the chapter as outlined. Then, while they color another coloring page, read a few of your favorite verses from the scripture passages. 

5. Watch the scripture story video for this chapter. Then act out the chapter with your child.

6. Have child act out dramatization on his/her own while you read the outline (try having older toddler do it without any help). Ask what their favorite part of the story was. Read 1 Nephi 2:20, first sentence: “And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise.” Share your testimony about how we can be blessed when we obey and keep the commandments, like Lehi and Nephi. End by singing the song.