Teaching The Plan of Salvation to Primary Age Children
“In the pre-mortal existence, Heavenly Father introduced a plan to enable us to become like Him and obtain immortality and eternal life (see Moses 1:39). The scriptures refer to this plan as the plan of salvation, the great plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, and the plan of mercy.
The plan of salvation includes the Creation, the Fall, the
Atonement of Jesus Christ, and all of the laws, ordinances, and doctrines of
the gospel. Moral agency—the ability to choose and act for ourselves—is also
essential in Heavenly Father’s plan (see 2 Nephi
2:27). Because of this plan, we can be perfected through the
Atonement, receive a fulness of joy, and live forever in the presence of God
(see 3 Nephi
12:48). Our family
relationships can last throughout the eternities.
Premortal Life
Before
we were born on the earth, we lived in the presence of our Heavenly Father as
His spirit children (see Abraham
3:22–23).
In this premortal existence we participated in a council with Heavenly Father’s
other spirit children. During that council, Heavenly Father presented His plan
and the premortal Jesus Christ covenanted to be the Savior.
We used our agency to follow Heavenly Father’s
plan. We prepared to come to earth, where we could continue to progress.
Those who followed
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were permitted to come to the earth to
experience mortality and progress toward eternal life. Lucifer, another spirit
son of God, rebelled against the plan. He became Satan, and he and his
followers were cast out of heaven and denied the privileges of receiving a
physical body and experiencing mortality.
The Creation
Jesus
Christ created the heavens and the earth under the direction of the Father. The
earth was not created from nothing; it was organized from existing matter.
Jesus Christ has created worlds without number (see D&C
76:22–24).
The Creation of the earth was essential to God’s
plan. It provided a place where we could gain a physical body, be tested and
tried, and develop divine attributes.
We
are to use the earth’s resources with wisdom, judgment, and thanksgiving (see D&C
78:19).
Adam was the first man created on the earth. God created Adam and Eve in His
own image. All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God
(see Genesis
1:26–27).
The Fall
In the Garden of Eden,
God commanded Adam and Eve not to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge
of good and evil; the consequence of doing so would be spiritual and physical
death. Spiritual death is separation from God. Physical death is the separation
of the spirit from the mortal body. Because Adam and Eve transgressed God’s
command, they were cast out from His presence and became mortal. Adam and Eve’s
transgression and the resultant changes they experienced, including spiritual
and physical death, are called the Fall.
As
a result of the Fall, Adam and Eve and their posterity could experience joy and
sorrow, know good and evil, and have children (see 2 Nephi
2:25).
As descendants of Adam and Eve, we inherit a fallen condition during mortality.
We are separated from the presence of the Lord and subject to physical death.
We are also tested by the difficulties of life and the temptations of the
adversary. (See Mosiah
3:19.)
The Fall is an integral part of Heavenly
Father’s plan of salvation. It has a twofold direction—downward yet forward. In
addition to introducing physical and spiritual death, it gave us the
opportunity to be born on the earth and to learn and progress.
Mortal Life
Mortal
life is a time of learning when we can prepare for eternal life and prove that
we will use our agency to do all that the Lord has commanded. During this
mortal life, we are to love and serve others (see Mosiah
2:17; Moroni
7:45, 47–48).
In
mortality, our spirits are united with our physical bodies, giving us
opportunities to grow and develop in ways that were not possible in the
premortal life. Our bodies are an important part of the plan of salvation and
should be respected as a gift from our Heavenly Father (see 1 Corinthians
6:19–20).
Life after Death
When
we die, our spirits enter the spirit world and await the Resurrection. The spirits of the
righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise.
Many of the faithful will preach the gospel to those in spirit prison.
Spirit
prison is a temporary place in the postmortal world for those who die without
knowledge of the truth and for those who are disobedient in mortality. There,
spirits are taught the gospel and have the opportunity to repent and accept
ordinances of salvation that are performed for them in temples (see 1 Peter
4:6).
Those who accept the gospel will dwell in paradise until the Resurrection.
Resurrection
is the reuniting of our spirit bodies with our perfected physical bodies of
flesh and bones (see Luke
24:36–39).
After resurrection, the spirit and body will never again be separated and we
will be immortal. Every person born on earth will be resurrected because Jesus
Christ overcame death (see 1 Corinthians
15:20–22).
The righteous will be resurrected before the wicked and will come forth in the
First Resurrection.
The
Final Judgment will occur after the Resurrection. Jesus Christ will judge each
person to determine the eternal glory that he or she will receive. This
judgment will be based on each person’s obedience to God’s commands (see Revelation
20:12; Mosiah
4:30).
There
are three kingdoms of glory (see 1 Corinthians
15:40–42).
The highest of these is the celestial kingdom. Those who are valiant in the
testimony of Jesus and obedient to the principles of the gospel will dwell in
the celestial kingdom in the presence of God the Father and His Son, Jesus
Christ (see D&C
131:1–4).
The second of the three kingdoms of glory is the
terrestrial kingdom. Those who dwell in this kingdom will be the honorable men
and women of the earth who were not valiant in the testimony of Jesus.
The telestial kingdom is
the lowest of the three kingdoms of glory. Those who inherit this kingdom will
be those who chose wickedness rather than righteousness during their mortal
lives. These individuals will receive their glory after being redeemed from
spirit prison.
© 2009, 2013 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. English approval: 10/12.
Translation approval: 10/12. Translation of Basic Doctrines. Language. PD00010275 000
Lesson
#1 The Plan of Salvation: Baptismal Covenants are an Important Part of God’s
Plan
Preparations
for Parents
Pray:
Prayerfully review lesson material while considering the needs of your
children. Prepare any materials you will need.
Review: Read
the doctrinal Summary of The Plan of Salvation provided in the beginning of
this section.
Read or listen to: Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “The
Godhead and the Plan of Salvation” Ensign,
May 2017, p. 100.
President Dallin H. Oaks, "The Great Plan" Ensign, May 2020,
President Dallin H. Oaks, "The Great Plan" Ensign, May 2020,
Sing an
opening song: Children all Over the World, Primary
Children’s Songbook p.16.
Pray to
invite the Spirit into your lesson:
Show Artwork: Non-cartoon Illustration of the Angel
appearing to Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah/The Plan of Salvation:
Read: When we choose to become members of Christ’s Church we are accepted
through the ordinance of baptism. This ordinance and covenant allows Christ to
adopt us and he becomes the father of our salvation (see Mosiah 5:7). That
makes members of the Church brothers and sisters in Christ (see D&C 88:133).
Part of the Plan of
salvation is that we don’t need to be alone. We covenant to mourn
with those who mourn and comfort those who are in need of
comfort (see Mosiah 18:9). Sometimes we need the comfort and sometimes we need to comfort. We have the responsibility
to pray for those who struggle. Alma the Younger learned through an angel that the prayers of his father
and the faithful saints were heard and answered by God through his heavenly
visit (See Mosiah 27:14-30). Through this experience and coming to know the
awfulness of his sins Alma exercised faith, repented and was converted. Alma
was able to partake of the merciful plan of our Father in Heaven because people
loved him and prayed to God in faith for him. Your prayers and faith have power
too. Through you faith others can come to find their own faith.
Teaching Hint: Have an oil lamp or a picture of an oil
lamp like the kind that is used in the stories where there is a Genie
inside. Share how Genie’s grant wishes.
Have the children think of wishes that would be fun to have. Then tell them
that we do not pray like we are making wishes and God is a genie that will
grant them. This is a great opportunity to help children understand that
praying in the name of Jesus Christ means asking for the things that the Savior
would ask for, in other words praying for things that God is already willing to
grant but are made conditional upon our using our moral agency to ask.
Ask: Is there anyone in your school or at Church who needs some extra help right
now?
Who
do you think needs our prayers?
What
kind of help do they need?
Study Journal: What did your learn about the Plan of
Salvation today? A good goal to set at this time is to have children look for
people who they can pray for.
Closing Testimony and Invitation for
Children to Bear Testimony: I
know that Jesus adopts us when we are baptized and members of the church become
brothers and sisters by covenant. In the Name of Jesus Christ amen.
This
is an appropriate time for children to share their thoughts and feelings about
what they have learned. As you seek the Spirit you can be directed as to the
time when it is appropriate to invite your children to testify. Possible
invitations are as follows:
Will
you share your testimony now or later?
Will
you share your testimony about Jesus Christ?
Closing Prayer: Express gratitude that the Spirit of the
Lord has been present, and for what you have learned.
Adaptions for small
children (0-3/non-verbal)
Sing the opening song: Children all Over the World, Primary
Children’s Songbook p.16.
Say
a simple prayer: Pray to
invite the Spirit to teach you and your children the truths God desires for
you.
Statements
of true doctrinal principals:
Heavenly Father has a plan for us. His plan includes helping others. Your prayers have power. You can
help people when you pray for them.
Testify: I know that God helps us through the
prayers of others. I know that we can help others with our prayers.
Teaching
Hint: Use the teaching
hint included for the older children if
you feel that your children could begin to understand the concept of
prayer not being like a genie and wish granting. Think of someone in your
family or circle of friends who could use your prayers. Help them say a prayer
for them or if they cannot speak then just say a pray out loud for someone you
know who needs help.
Ask: Do you believe Jesus can heal you?
Do you believe you can heal?
Study
Journal: Write their
responses to the question or spirit that you felt as you taught. A good goal to
help young children is mentioning that you are praying for others and invite
them to pray with you.
Closing
Testimony and Invitation for Children to Bear Testimony: I know God has a plan for us and that our
prayers help people. In the Name of Jesus Christ amen.
This is an appropriate time for children
to share their thoughts and feelings about what they have learned. As you
encourage the sharing of their thoughts and feelings they are being prepared to
share their testimony. Confirm the truthfulness of what they have said and that
learning these things by the power of the Holy Ghost is the beginning of
gaining a testimony.
Closing
Prayer: Express
gratitude that the Spirit of the Lord has been present, and for what you have
learned.
Lesson
#2 The Plan of Salvation: Scriptures Help Us Understand God’s Plan
Preparations
for Parents
Pray:
Prayerfully review lesson material while considering the needs of your
children. Prepare any materials you will need.
Review: Read
the doctrinal Summary of The Plan of Salvation provided in the beginning of
this section.
Read or
listen to: Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Safety for the Soul,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, p 88.
Sing an
opening song: Scripture Power by,
Clive Romney Friend Oct 1987.
Pray to invite the Spirit into your
lesson:
Show Artwork: Non-cartoon Illustration of a touching
farewell of Mormon and Moroni next to a picture of an older Moroni burying the
plates/The Plan of Salvation:
Read: God commands that his children keep records. Prophets recorded
their words on metal plates in order to preserve their words and keep God’s
commandments. Words recorded by prophets filled with the spirit of revelation
are called scripture. Through the scriptures the Lord teaches his children of
the plan of salvation. We come to know the Savior Jesus Christ who is the
central figure in the plan of our father. We learn that it is part of God’s
plan to speak through prophets. Mormon was the prophet responsible for
compiling the records by inspiration. He entrusted the records to Moroni who
buried the records in the Hill Cumorah (see Moroni 10). These records became
the Book of Mormon and the Book of Mormon teaches us great truths and helps to
bring God’s children to the knowledge of the truth. One such truth was when
Christ appeared to those in America after his resurrection (see 3 Nephi 11). God
has a plan for all people as well as all of us individually. All people on Earth are important to Jesus. Part
of how God extends his love to his children is through the teachings of the
scriptures. The scriptures are powerful in showing us the way to live by faith.
It will take faith to follow the Plan of Salvation. Scriptures help build our
faith and give us the strength to follow God through life’s difficulties (see
Psalm 119:105). We can know the scriptures are true through prayer and by
living the teachings we find in them. The Holy Ghost will confirm the
truthfulness of the scriptures to our hearts and mind (see D&C 9:8-9).
Testify: Share your testimony of the scriptures
and how you believe that they are the word of God.
Teaching Hint: Show your children a copy of one of your
journals. Read a memory you wrote about them. If you don’t have a journal at
this time begin with a story about them and tell them how you want to work on
keeping a journal. Encourage them to really make their study journals special. Invite
them to help you remember to write in your journal. (Many children love to help
and this may give you just the opportunity you need to write a little more
often.) This is a great time to share with your children your favorite
scripture and what the scripture has meant to you. Encourage your child
to listen to the scriptures and tell you when he or she finds a favorite verse.
Ask: Why do we need scriptures?
Who
writes the scriptures?
Who
are Mormon and Moroni?
How
can we know that the scriptures are true?
Study Journal: Write what you learned about the plan
of salvation today? A wonderful goal to set with children for this
lesson is to add to their bedtime routine the reading of the Book of Mormon.
Just a few verses every night can have great and eternal impact.
Closing Testimony and Invitation for
Children to Bear Testimony: I
know that prophets and scriptures help us understand God’s plan of salvation.
In the Name of Jesus Christ amen.
This
is an appropriate time for children to share their thoughts and feelings about
what they have learned. As you seek the Spirit you can be directed as to the
time when it is appropriate to invite your children to testify. Possible
invitations are as follows:
Will
you share your testimony now or later?
Will
you share your testimony about Jesus Christ?
Closing Prayer: Express gratitude that the Spirit of the
Lord has been present, and for what you have learned.
Adaptions for small children
(0-3/non-verbal)
Sing
the opening song: Sing an opening song:
Scripture Power by,
Clive Romney Friend Oct 1987.
Say
a simple prayer: Pray to
invite the Spirit to teach you and your children the truths God desires for
you.
Statements
of true doctrinal principals:
Prophets and scriptures help us understand God’s plan. Reading scriptures everyday
helps us feel God’s love. When we have hard days we can look in the scriptures
for help and answers to our problems.
Testify: I know the scriptures are true and help
us feel God’s love.
Teaching
Hint: Think of someone
in your family or circle of friends who could use your help being happy. Help
them make a card or do an act of service for that person.
Ask: Have you ever felt God’s love when you
listen to the scriptures? If so what did that love feel like? Write their
responses to the question or spirit that you felt as you taught. A good goal to
add to the previous classes goal of reading scripture can now include reading
scripture and evaluating if we can feel the spirit as we read.
Study
Journal: What did you
learn about the plan of salvation today? A good goal would be to repeat the
teaching hint with this lesson. It is always a good idea to help children
express gratitude and love in service and help those who may be sad.
Closing
Testimony and Invitation for Children to Bear Testimony: I know that prophets and scriptures help
us understand God’s plan of salvation. I have felt comfort from the scriptures
when I was sad. In the Name of Jesus Christ amen. This is an appropriate time
for children to share their thoughts and feelings about what they have learned.
As you encourage the sharing of their thoughts and feelings they are being
prepared to share their testimony. Confirm the truthfulness of what they have
said and that learning these things by the power of the Holy Ghost is the
beginning of gaining a testimony.
Closing Prayer: Express gratitude that the Spirit of the
Lord has been present, and for what you have learned.
Lesson
#3 The Plan of Salvation: Families are Part of God’s Plan
Preparations
for Parents
Pray:
Prayerfully review lesson material while considering the needs of your
children. Prepare any materials you will need.
Review: Read
the doctrinal Summary of The Plan of Salvation provided in the beginning of
this section.
Read or
listen to: President Dieter F. Uchtdorf “Oh How Great, the Plan of Our God” Ensign,
Nov. 2016 p. 19.
Sing an
opening song: Choose Him Again by
Shawna Edwards 2016 or I Lived in Heaven
Primary Children’s Songbook p.4.
Pray to invite the Spirit into your
lesson:
Show Artwork: Non-cartoon Illustration of Adam and
Eve/The Plan of Salvation: Heavenly
Father’s plan included creating an earth where we could go to be tested.
Read: Jesus Christ created the earth under the direction of his Father.
Jesus is the creator of the heavens and earth and everything that dwells in it.
Adam and Eve were the first family that lived on the Earth (Genesis 2:7-8, 20-24). In addition, Adam
became the father of Earth’s first
dispensation, meaning he was the Prophet in which God revealed the knowledge of
covenants and ordinances to establish his church on the earth. (Bible
Dictionary Adam, D&C 107:41-42) Adam and Eve were the first father and
mother on the Earth and
all the people of the world are their descendants (See Bible Dictionary Eve and
Genesis 3:20). We too have the responsibility to prepare to be parents and
learn the gospel so that we know the way in which God desires to teach and
train our children. (See D&C 68:25-29). We can learn how to be good parents
by understanding what God is like as a parent and learning what he wants us to
do in our families.
Testify: The Plan of Salvation provides a way for
families to be together forever.
Teaching Hint: Have the children draw a large circle on
a piece of paper have them either draw or cut pictures out of an old magazine
of things they love about our world. Give them enough time to find enough
pictures. Suggest if they do not think of it on their own to draw a picture of
their family. Help them recognize that everything they love about the world
comes because of God blessing us himself or blessing us through the talents of
His children.
Ask: Who are Adam and Eve?
What
important things did they do for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?
What
jobs do we have now in our families that are similar to the jobs that Adam and
Eve had?
What
can you do to learn more about Adam and Eve?
Why
would learning about Adam and Eve be important to gaining your personal testimony?
Study Journal: Write what you have learned about the
Plan of Salvation today. Follow
up on the goal you set last time. If children are prepared for a new goal have
them write down what Heavenly Father teaches makes a good mom and a good dad.
Closing Testimony and Invitation for
Children to Bear Testimony: I
know Jesus created this earth for us to come to. On earth we have opportunities
to follow God’s plan like Adam and Eve. In the Name of Jesus Christ amen.
This
is an appropriate time for children to share their thoughts and feelings about
what they have learned. As you seek the Spirit you can be directed as to the
time when it is appropriate to invite your children to testify. Possible
invitations are as follows:
Will
you share your testimony now or later?
Will
you share your testimony about Jesus Christ?
Closing Prayer: Express gratitude that the Spirit of the
Lord has been present, and for what you have learned.
Adaptions for small
children (0-3/non-verbal)
Sing
the opening song: Choose Him Again by Shawna Edwards 2016 or I Lived in Heaven Primary Children’s Songbook p.4.
Say
a simple prayer: Pray to
invite the Spirit to teach you and your children the truths God desires for
you.
Statements
of true doctrinal principals:
Jesus created the Earth
and provided a place where we could learn to be like our Heavenly Father.
Testify: I know that Jesus created this
beautiful world.
Teaching
Hint: Talk about trees, flowers, and water. When
possible, let children touch the trees, flowers, and water. Help them
understand that God made all of these things.
Ask:
Who created the Earth?
Do you believe we are on Earth to learn how to become
like Heavenly Father?
Study
Journal: Write their
responses to the question or the Spirit that you felt as you taught. A good
goal for young children is while you are working through the day to consciously
acknowledge what you do as a parent and how you prepared, or needed to prepare
more, for that responsibility.
Closing
Testimony and Invitation for Children to Bear Testimony: I know Jesus created this earth and learn
to be like Heavenly Father. In the Name of Jesus Christ amen.
This is an appropriate time for children
to share their thoughts and feelings about what they have learned. As you
encourage the sharing of their thoughts and feelings they are being prepared to
share their testimony. Confirm the truthfulness of what they have said and that
learning these things by the power of the Holy Ghost is the beginning of
gaining a testimony.
Closing
Prayer: Express
gratitude that the Spirit of the Lord has been present, and for what you have
learned.
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