Week 10: Chapter 9 - A New Home in the Promised Land

Book of Mormon
Chapter 9: "A New Home in the Promised Land"

If you look at the scripture references for this chapter, you will notice that 2 Nephi is all summed up in this chapter. Lucky for LQ... she doesn't have to deal with Isaiah JUST yet.

Of course, this means that I can pick out some wonderful scriptures to read to LQ this week. One of those scriptures will be 1 Nephi 19:23

I encourage you to go through the last part of 1 Nephi, 2 Nephi and the first chapter of Jacob and pick out your favourite scriptures to read to your child. LQ really believes she is getting a special treat when I read to her from the scriptures. She isn't allowed to touch mummy's scriptures otherwise. It's nice that she has that excitement.

The story this week focuses on the Nephites setting up and the Lamanites being cursed. I thought of some fun activities that tie in with those themes.

• Plant some seeds and watch them grow (get that quick growing grass seed... toddlers attention span and all that)
• Set up a tent in your living room
• Tame wild beasts
• Search for gold and silver in the sandbox
• Build an altar with blocks (my favourite because it's so simple)
• Build a temple with blocks or recycled boxes
• Sing the second verse of "Love is Spoken Here" (Children's Songbook, pg 90)
• Talk about Lehi blessing his sons and then relate to your child the importance of the priesthood. This lesson from the new nursery manual has a colouring activity that explains how the priesthood is used.
• The Living Scriptures "Journey to the Promised Land" activity booklet has a few pages at the end that relate to arriving in the Promised Land.
• Talk about the different types of homes the Nephites lived in (tents, ship, houses) and then sing "Home" (Children's Songbook pg 192)

I know some of these are a stretch, but because the chapter spans such a huge amount of scripture, I really think you could slot in any subject you would like your toddler to learn. If you wanted to attempt Isaiah you could even talk about Christ's coming, etc.

If you have a particular problem or just need a sounding board for your own ideas for your toddler, send me a comment or an email. Hopefully I can help you out.

Week 9: Chapter 8 - Crossing the Sea

The Book of Mormon
Chapter 8: Crossing the Sea

"Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did ^apraise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions." 1 Nephi 18:16


There are a few scriptures in this weeks reading that I really enjoyed. One other that I just couldn't go past (which may or may not apply to me at the moment).... "And it came to pass that I ^aprayed unto the Lord; and after I had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm." verse 21. I need some calm in my life, could it be that I'm not praying enough?

This week, Laman and Lemuel are back at it. Why oh why did that family bother to bring those boys along? They were trouble from the start. They are just two big bullies. Can you imagine being stuck on a boat with them for too long? Although, being stuck in a small place with your entire extended family is going to make you do some crazy things. Maybe I have a little bit of sympathy for them.

I can see some water play happening with this weeks activities. Lots of water swooshing and maybe I can tie LQ to a pole for a few days, just so she knows how poor Nephi felt. Ok... just joking - but really, does anyone else blame me? The terrible twos are setting in. Other non restrictive activities include:

• Making our own boats and sailing them in the bath. Make a storm with fans, hands and watering cans.
• Packing a picnic lunch (packing the boat) and taking it to the park (the promised land)
• The Living Scriptures have a booklet "Journey to the Promised Land". I will be using some of the colouring pages

Ideas from the Friend:

• November 2000 - Journey to the Promised Land Game - a simplistic board game that I think LQ may enjoy for two minutes
• January 1996 - For older children another board game - Lehi's Journey to the Promised Land

There's not much more from the Friend (for this weeks ideas) that hasn't already been mentioned before on this blog. So go have a look at previous posts ... there should be a few links to the Friend that will correspond to this particular story.

I have been trying to think of an activity that involves the Liahona, but have been drawing a blank. If you have any ideas, please let me know, as I think the Liahona is a pivotal part of this story.

Week 6: Chapter 6 - Lehi's Dream

The Book of Mormon
Chapter 6: Lehi's Dream


Ok.... this one's going to be rough. I won't pretend that reading the story of Lehi's dream to a toddler excites me. It does in fact leave me sweating bullets.

I am considering just mumbling my way through this chapter, but I think I can make some pretty poignant points with this one.

I have decided that I will start to eat Maltesers in front of LQ and then explain that I will share them with her because I know that she will like them too. Then explain that's what Lehi did in his dream... except it was fruit.... and it was actually GOOD for his family (we will skip lightly past all that). So that may be my first day.... OR I may do it every single day this week.

Some other ideas I have had include:

• Following mummy around the room by holding on to the broomstick (iron rod, duh!)
• Sing the chorus of the hymn "The Iron Rod" while marching around the room.

Look to the Friend for some ideas:

• July 1998 - Joseph "Holds to the Iron Rod" - a flannel board story
• August 2006 - For Little Friends - a story and activity ideas
• August 2002 - The Lord's Temple - it's a stretch, but it's a poem with actions and talks about holding to the iron rod
• January 1996 - The Wonderful Fruit - cards to be printed out can be printed twice to make a match up game. You could also do the suggested activity if you have a child prodigy.

I am going to read 1 Nephi 8:10 to LQ each day.


While I love researching and planning LQ's scripture study, I would also love to hear if you have a successful day with your toddler or if there is something that your toddler particularly likes to do. I am eager to post your successes and ideas, so go ahead and email me at toddlerscripture[at]gmail.com

Week 3: Chapter 3 - Lehi Leaves Jerusalem

Book of Mormon
Chapter 3: Lehi Leaves Jerusalem


Instead of using our scripture picture book this week, I am going to download the story to Quicktime and have the computer tell us the story (you can follow this link which will give you several media options to watch the story). LQ enjoys sitting at the computer and just watching me play Mickey Mouse games for her, so I think this will have the same sort of appeal. As well as the excitement of a new medium, it is also someone else telling the story. This means that while the story is being told, I can point out in the pictures what is going on. I am excited to try out this new method.

As we continue on in the chronological order (Don't tempt me otherwise, DeNae!), I am really becoming eager to get to a story that has some ACTION! Until then, I will try and make the "lead up" stories seem as exciting.

Activities that go along with this story include:

• Build an altar out of blocks
• Erect a tent out of chairs and blankets
• Pretend to be in Lehi's family and pack only the most important things - The July 1995 Friend gives a good FHE activity idea that is perfect for this particular story. I thought to simplify it for LQ, I will have her pack her Tinkerbell suitcase with "important" items.
• LQ has a couple of different Fisher Price Little People sets including Noah's Ark. I am going to take the camels and Noah from that set; the farmer, horses and mule from the Farm set; and two other little people to create a scene of Lehi's family departing into the wilderness.

Once again, the living scriptures activity booklet has colouring pages as well as a connect-the-dots activity for older children.

Particular scriptures that I will read and discuss with LQ include 1 Nephi 2:2, 1 Nephi 2:3, 1 Nephi 2:7, 1 Nephi 2:16.

Week 2: Chapter 2 - Lehi Warns the People

Book of Mormon
Chapter 2 - Lehi Warns the People

I am really excited about the chapter this week. It is only one page and it only covers 20 verses of 1 Nephi chapter 1. My excitement stems from the fact that I may not "drown" in the story telling this week.

As far as posting goes, I have decided to do things a little differently this week. Because there is such a range in understanding among little children, I thought I would give you all my ideas for this week in this post. This means having a less rigid structure for each day and if there is something that works particularly well, you (or I) can do it maybe more than once during the week.

It's all about going with the flow and learning from our mistakes.

Here is what I have so far:

The living Scriptures (or LDSFamilyFun as I have found it to be called) has an activity booklet for "Nephi and the Brass Plates." The first few colouring pages cover Lehi warning the people. I think I will use those during the week.

The January 1996 Friend has a board game about Lehi and his travels. You could use this to introduce this story and the next in the book for children a little older. The linked page doesn't actually give you a diagram of the board game.... but it seems to me like it would be easy enough to make up (from reading the directions).

Role Play - Standing on a table (if mum allows it!) and preaching to the wicked people from Jerusalem (any stuffed toys that you have) should be a hit. I am also looking forward to pretending to be asleep and having a vision... that one should be fun!

Particular scriptures that I will read and explain include - 1 Nephi 1:1 (I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents), 1 Nephi 1:5, 1 Nephi 1:19 (over a few days), 1 Nephi 1:20 (again over a few different days)

I don't have any craft ideas for this week, but if you do, let me know!