Week 18: Chapter 18 - Alma the Younger Repents

Book of Mormon Stories
Chapter 18: Alma the Younger Repents

This is one of my favourite stories in the Book of Mormon. I guess I have a bit of a soft spot for wayward children, having been one myself. I know that Heavenly Father looked out for me during that difficult period of my life. I can only imagine the pain I put my parents through, but I am so grateful that regardless of what I did, my mum would always be ready with a hug.

So to read of Alma, King Mosiah and the many people who were being persecuted actually praying for those wayward boys just warms my heart. But enough about me... let's talk about:

• Forgiveness
• Repentance
• Prayer and Fasting
• Heavenly Father's Love for ALL His children

All good things to talk about to your toddler as you read this story to him/her. Some activities to go along with these themes include:

• Create flashcards of things Heavenly Father has blessed us with (ie. house, family, etc). As you show each card say "Heavenly Father loves you. He has given you a ..." If possible have your child name what is on the card.
• The lesson from the Nursery Manual "Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ Love Me" has some very good activities to reinforce this particular topic.
• Explain that when Alma the Younger repented he said "I'm Sorry". Practice saying "I am Sorry"
• Sing "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" (Children's Songbook pg 228)
• Sing "I Pray in Faith" (Children's Songbook pg 14)

Activities from the Friend

• January 2009 - Make the bookmark provided for the sharing time.

Any suggestions? I have a bad case of vacation brain and would love some help!

Week 17: Chapter 17 - Alma and His People Escape

Book of Mormon Stories
Chapter 17: Alma and His People Escape

Another great escape. As mentioned in my previous post, this story is similar to King Limhi and his people escaping. The big difference being that Alma's people were already doing the right thing to begin with. They also didn't have to get the Lamanites drunk - they just fell asleep!

I love the scriptures in this story that tell how the people prayed in their hearts and Heavenly Father made their burdens light. I gotta tell you, I know that feeling of having my burdens made light - it's a nice feeling. Because I particularly like those verses, I will read with LQ Mosiah 24:10-15.

Another verse in Mosiah 24 mentions that after the Lord delivered Alma and His People from bondage everyone who could, lifted up their voice in praise and thanksgiving. Giving thanks could definitely be a good theme for the week. So I have thought of and found activities that will go along with the theme of giving thanks.

• Sing "Children All Over The World" (Children's Songbook pg #16)
• Sing "Thanks to Our Father" (Children's Songbook pg #20)
• Behold Your Little Ones: Nursery Manual has a lesson on Thankfulness - there is a great colouring activity that we will definitely be using this week.
• Go on a picnic and pack a backpack for your toddler. Make it heavy enough for them to realise when you lift it a little bit. Explain to them as you are lifting it that you are easing their burden just like Heavenly Father eased the burdens of the People of Alma.
• During dinner each day this week have each family member tell what they are grateful for.
• You can use last week's suggestions for the prayer part of the story
• Go for a walk and point out all the things you are thankful for.

The Friend Activities:

• November 2008 - Has a WONDERFUL matching game for things we are thankful for. The Sharing Time suggestions recommend that you discuss why you are thankful for the particular blessing when it is matched (you know I LOVE, love, LOVE matching games).

I just wanted to point out that whatever activity you choose to do, make sure that while you are doing it point out the similarities between what you are doing and the story that you read each day. It is through these small "chats" that your toddler will learn that he/she can learn important lessons from reading scriptures and that it is not just a boring thing to do.



On a different note, I have had some wonderful emails and comments recently and I just wanted to thank you for them. I have recently been in a blogging slump (if you haven't noticed) and it is the comments and emails that have kept me going. THANK YOU!!

Week 16: Chapter 16 - King Limhi and His People Escape

Book of Mormon Stories
Chapter 16: King Limhi and His People Escape


Ah.... those Lamanites. I had a sneak peek at next week's story - Alma and his people escape. It turns out the same group of Lamanites hosted the great escapes of both Limhi and his people AND Alma and his people. I just don't think they were ready to be leaders...!

This story is a good example of praying in faith, obeying the commandments and repenting of wickedness. Any activities that you can think of that will help your toddler to remember to choose the right, listen to the prophets or that teaches him/her to pray will go along nicely with the story. The activity involving the current apostles and flashcards I suggested two weeks ago would also go well with this story.

Specific activities I have thought of:

• Sing "I Pray in Faith" (Children's Songbook pg 14)
• Sing "I Need My Heavenly Father" (Children's Songbook pg 18)
• Show a picture of Jesus Christ and tell your toddler that he wants us to obey
• The Nursery Manual has two great lessons on obeying and praying
• Pretend to sneak past the guards at the door. If you have someone who's willing - why not post them at the door, get them drunk enough to pass out and then sneak past.

Activities from The Friend

• May 2001 - A colouring activity to hang on your wall
• May 2003 - If you are ambitious you could try creating this mobile with your toddler
• September 2008 - This activity is probably too much for a toddler, but I just had to show it to you. I think it is a GREAT idea for older children.
• June 1985 - You could use the little cards in this sharing time idea for a match up game.

Thank you for bearing with me and my tardy posts. I can't wait to review next week's story!!

Week 13: Chapter 13 - Zeniff

Book of Mormon
Chapter 13: Zeniff



Things I have learned from the Zeniff story:

1. Zeniff was a spy who learned to love the land he had spent so much time in. It seems he had also learned to love the people within that land.
2. Even though we may live in a different land to the majority of saints, the Lord still delights in giving us blessings and protecting us.
3. Fasting and Prayer used in faith can work miracles (eg; you CAN beat the lamanite armies)

Activities that can be used when teaching these lessons from Zeniff:

• Spy on the neighbours
• Go for a walk to find things you wouldn't normally find
• The lesson, "I Can Pray to Heavenly Father", from the new Nursery Manual has a few ideas on teaching your child to pray.
• Learn about different cultures
• Show and talk about the GAK picture 608 - Christ and Children from around the world
• Sing "Children all over the World" - Childrens Songbook, page 16.
• Look at a map of the world and talk about the different people that live on the different continents.
• Move to a different country and fight the natives

Activities from the Friend:

• September 2000 - Sharing Time: Fasting and Prayer
• June 2005 - "For Little Friends" teaches little ones about fast Sunday, fasting and prayer.

My initial reaction when I first read over this chapter was one of despair. I couldn't think what I could do to create lessons from a story about Nephites that moved to a hostile land and fought the Lamanites. But once I delved further into the scriptures associated with the pictures I was able to see why Heavenly Father had wanted this particular story included in the scriptures.

I love doing this blog just for the mini lessons that I learn each week. I am sure that as you study out each lesson before you teach your little one, you too will start to benefit from your toddler's scripture study.

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