True Armor
Basic Doctrinal Lessons
to Arm Children with Spiritual Power
2017©
“True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and
behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior
quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior” (Elder Boyd K.
Packer, “Little Children” October 1986, p. 17).
Introduction
If your children fight with each other,
lie, talk back to you, or exhibit other obstinate behaviors, teach them the
doctrine of Christ.
If you have children that are in need of healing
physically, emotionally, and mentally, teach them the doctrine of Christ.
If you have children who can’t
stand-up to their friends and choose the right, then teach them the doctrine of Christ.
If children can’t find the drive to be
who they really are as children of God, teach them the doctrine of Christ.
Parents are the first line of defense
against the adversary for their children and they need to be armed with time
proven teaching methodology that is as simple as opening this book. For parents
who desire to assist their children in learning the
doctrine of Christ this book provides a simple teaching format for
primary-age children.
This author is a firm believer that, “True
doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the
doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior
will improve behavior” (Elder Boyd K. Packer, “Little Children” October
1986, p. 17). If parents are willing to add to their Christ-like discipline a
patient focus on their child’s doctrinal needs, they will find that Elder Packer
was right.
My blog contain lessons that focuses on nine basic doctrines
of the Church eliminating the guesswork of what doctrines parents should teach.
All of these nine basic doctrines will work in removing the misunderstandings
prevalent in our fallen world. Daily
gospel instruction as taught in this book will create improved doctrinal understanding
in children and will allow them to take their place in this world as valiant children
of God.
Each one of these basic
doctrines is fundamentally important and when teaching these doctrines
according to a child’s understanding the effects are profound and life changing.
In a fun way these lessons help parents focus on the most important testimony-building principles that
children need to fortify them against the daily attacks of the world and the Adversary.
These lessons follows inspired direction as taught here, “Jesus
chooses not to inoculate, but to indoctrinate. His method employs no vaccine;
it utilizes the teaching of divine doctrine—a governing “eye within”—to protect
the eternal spirits of his children” (April 1995, “Children of the
Covenant” Elder Russell M. Nelson). The adversary is unrelenting and parents
need daily support in their parental educational responsibilities. These lessons provides that support. Teaching tools provided here allow parents to teach as
well as a profession religious educator with minimal preparation. “It’s never
too early and it’s never too late” (Elder Bradely D. Foster, “It’s Never too
Early and it’s Never too Late” Oct 2015, 53). Although it is impossible to
develop curriculum that surpasses truths taught in scripture and general
conference addresses, it is possible to design curriculum to encourage the
truths in scripture and general conference to come alive in the hearts of
youth.
This curriculum will help parents teach
primary-age children powerfully. Adaptions for younger children 0-3, or
children who are
non-verbal, are provided, making this book user friendly for families with
children of all ages. In addition as
parents desire to further develop their own teaching skills, a “How to” section
is provided and explains the purpose to each prompt given to parents as well as
ways to adapt and personal lessons as parents repeat them. This “How to”
section follows the counsel of prophets and apostles given in General
Conference as well as employing time-tested
teaching methods used in Seminaries and Institutes of the Church and by other professional
religious educators in the Church. These lessons are intended to increase a parent’s confidence as
they practice teaching doctrinal lessons and they will gain skills as well as
greater confidence in follow the
promptings of the Spirit.
These lessons are organized into nine chapters.
Each chapter expounds one of nine basic doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. To assist you in teaching your children, each chapter
contains three lesson plans complete with parent preparation resources, opening
songs, doctrinal paragraph with scriptural support, testimony prompts, teaching
hints, questions to facilitate learning, study journal entry prompts. and an
invitation for parents and children to bear testimony to help parents teach the
doctrine. The following nine essential doctrines will be addressed in these lessons:
Following the lessons there is a “how to”
section that explains how to utilize each section of the lesson. If at any
point in your preparation you would like a little more help on how to best
approach these doctrinal lessons there a helpful explanation given for why each
prompt is included in the lesson. You will also find suggestions on how to
adapt the doctrinal teachings to meet your children’s needs as you teach and repeat
the lessons. Repetition is an important part of spiritual learning and parents
are welcome to repeat the book as often as needed to help solidify the basic
doctrinal concepts in their children’s hearts and minds. Lessons are simple enough that older children
could use them to teach a family home evening. As children teach the lessons
themselves the retention of doctrinal knowledge will increase and they will be
better prepared for future lessons in their youth programs at church and in
seminary.
