Freedom to Choose

Opening Song: “Choose the Right Way”, Children’s Songbook, pg 160
Scripture: Moses 3:17 – “Thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee.”

Agency is a gift from God.

Review this part of last week’s lesson:
In the premortal life, Jesus and Satan both wanted to be our Savior.

Jesus, like Heavenly Father, wanted us to choose whether we would obey Heavenly Father’s commandments. Jesus said, “Father, they will be done, and the glory be thine forever.”

Satan also came saying, “Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.” Satan wanted to force us all to do his will. Under his plan, we would not be allowed to choose and he wanted all of the honor for himself.

Heavenly Father chose Jesus to be our Savior because he knew that we had to make our own choices on earth to be able to return to live with him.

The ability to make choices is a gift from Heavenly Father. It is called agency. Using our agency is an important part of Heavenly Father’s plan for us.


All choices have consequences.
Even though we are free to choose, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.

A consequence is the natural result of any choice we make, good or bad.

Examples:
If you choose not to eat, you will be hungry.
If you choose to touch a hot stove, you will get burned.
When you choose to read the scriptures, you can learn Heavenly Father’s words.
When you draw near to Heavenly Father in prayer, He will hear you and will draw near to you and listen.

When we make good choices, we become closer to Heavenly Father and we will be happy. Heavenly Father blesses us when we make good choices.

When you lived in heaven, you made a choice to follow Heavenly Father’s plan. The consequence of making that right choice was the blessing of coming to earth and obtaining a body. Now that you are on earth, Heavenly Father wants you to continue to make right choices so that you can receive more blessings and be happy.

Activity: (Friend, March 1997, Sharing Time: My Choices Have Consequences)
Choosing to keep the commandments can make you feel good inside. It can make you smile. Give each child a sheet of paper with a circle drawn on it to represent a face and have them draw the eyes, nose, and hair for the face. Give each child a colored, crescent-shaped piece of paper that could be put on the face to represent a smile or a frown. Have them place the mouth on the face according to how they would feel in the following situations:

You choose to clean up your toys when your mother asks you to.
You choose to draw a picture and give it to a friend.
You choose to eat some of your sister’s candy without asking her.
You choose to go to Primary.
You choose to keep your eyes open during the prayer.
You choose to whisper to your friend during the sacrament.
You choose to share your toys with your sister.

Make up more situations specific for your family.

Conclusion:
Bear your testimony that making good choices makes you happy and that Heavenly Father blesses you when you choose the right.

Coloring page:

Jesus Christ, Our Chosen Leader and Savior

Display a picture of Christ for the lesson. Click on pic for link:

Opening Song: “I Lived in Heaven” (all verses); “I’m Trying to be Like Jesus”

Scripture: John 6:38, 40 When Jesus lived on earth, He taught: “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me…And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Review the story/pictures from last week’s lesson about premortal life, you could use the following to explain more in detail:

Jesus Christ Became Our Chosen Leader and Savior
We needed a Savior to pay for our sins and teach us how to return to our Heavenly Father. Our Father said, “Whom shall I send?” Jesus Christ said, “Here am I, send me.”

Jesus, like Heavenly Father, wanted us to choose whether we would obey Heavenly Father’s commandments. Jesus said, “Father, they will be done, and the glory be thine forever.”

Satan also came saying, “Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.” Satan wanted to force us all to do his will. Under his plan, we would not be allowed to choose and he wanted all the honor for himself.

After hearing both sons speak, Heavenly Father said, “I will send the first.”

(The lesson next week is all about the freedom to choose, so we won’t discuss it here)
Discuss the following questions:

Who were the two people who wanted to be chosen to be our Savior? (Jesus Christ and Lucifer)
Who did Heavenly Father choose? (Jesus)

The War in Heaven
Because our Heavenly Father chose Jesus Christ to be our Savior, Satan became angry. There was a war in heaven. Many people chose to follow Satan. Satan along with his followers were sent away from the presence of God and out of heaven. They were not allowed to receive a body.

Because we are on earth and have a body, we know that we chose to follow Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father. We must continue to follow Jesus Christ here on earth. Only by following Him can we return to our heavenly home.

Who did we choose to follow in heaven? (Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father)
How do we know that we chose to follow them? (We are on earth and have a body)
What can we do now on earth to follow Jesus Christ? (Choose the right, be kind, be baptized, etc.)

Our Heavenly Family

Opening Song: “I Lived in Heaven”
Scripture: Romans 8:16- We are children of our Heavenly Father

After singing this song, ask and discuss these questions about the song:

Where did we live before we came to earth? In the Spirit World (Heaven)

Who was there with us? Everyone, Heavenly Father, Jesus

What did we do in the spirit world? D&C 138:56

How come we don’t remember it?
Explain to the children that when each of us was born on the earth, we forgot our life with Heavenly Father. This allowed us to develop faith in him and in Jesus Christ. We can do this through believing the prophets, studying the scriptures, praying, and following the guidance of the Holy Ghost.

In the song it talks about Heavenly Father presenting a beautiful plan.
What was that plan?

Use the story and pictures found here to explain Heavenly Father’s plan.

Conclusion:
If we make good choices while we are on earth, then we can return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus in Heaven.

Our Father in Heaven

Recite Article of Faith 1

There is a God. Read Alma 30:44. Many people in the world today try to teach us that there is not a God. Prophets have taught us that there is a God and that He is the almighty ruler of the universe.

What do we know about our Heavenly Father?
(For older children, look up and read the scriptures. For younger children, use pictures and teach each principle.)

1. God dwells in heaven (D&C 20:17)
2. God created all things (Mosiah 4:9, Moses 2:1)
3. God has a body that looks like ours (D&C 130:22, Moses 6:9) (God’s body however is perfected and glorified, with a glory beyond all description)
4. God knows all things (Abraham 3:18-19, Alma 26:35)
5. God loves his children (John 3:16)
6. God is unchanging (Mormon 9:9)
7. God has all power (Alma 26:35)
8. God hears our prayers (Alma 37:37),
9. Everything good comes from God (Alma 5:40)
10. Everything that he does is to help his children become like him (Moses 1:39)

Why is knowing God so important? The more we know God, the more we love him and keep his commandments (1 John 2:3). By keeping his commandments we can become like him. When we become like him, we can have eternal life and live with him.


**I am still learning! Can anyone tell me how I can add a link of the pictures that I am going to use so that I don't have to post them all??