***Note: Please read the post called “10 Lesson Helps” found under “Primary Lesson Listings” before reviewing any of my Sunbeam lesson plan ideas.

“Children are believing. They believe what you say. They are receptive to the truth. You have an obligation to teach them correct doctrine simply and clearly, with language and examples that they can understand” (Teaching, No Greater Call, p. 108).

Materials needed: pictures of past prophets and the current one, a blanket, a Christmas box or present you can open, the coloring page listed below and crayons, an ipad or tablet.

Have each child come up and face the class. Look at her/his face. Do you recognize who they are? What is his/her name? Have a little fun and tease them with “Is this_______(another child’s name)? Why not? How can you tell?

Show a picture of the prophet. Here is a face of another person? What is his name? When have you seen his face recently (discuss General Conference and how he speaks in person and how the children can watch him on t.v.). What does a prophet do that is special? (He speaks for Heavenly Father and we follow him).

Play the game: Follow the leader. Let each child have a turn to come forward and be the leader.

When you are finished, ask the children who are some leaders we follow? (parents, teachers). There is another special leader who is very important to us all. Our parents follow this leader and we do too. (hold us his picture again). Who is he?

We have had many prophets that have lived on the earth. Most prophets lived a long time ago. Sometimes they lived in tents because they didn’t have houses in the desert. Let’s build a tent and sit inside while I tell you stories about special things they did. (put a blanket over a table and invite children inside). Show pictures of prophets and tell stories about them.

If we follow the prophet, we will be happy. He is our leader. If we follow the prophet we will be safe.  Sing the chorus to, “Follow the Prophet” (Children’s Songbook, p. 110) while everyone stands and marches. The second time, have the children sit down and count how many times you sing the words “follow the prophet.” The next time, have the children sing the words “follow the prophet” with you. Ask them, “What does ‘Don’t go astray’ mean?” and “What does ‘He knows the way” mean?” Finally, have them sing the chorus together with these actions:

Follow the prophet (raise one finger), follow the prophet (raise another finger)

follow the prophet (raise another finger), don’t go astray (shake head and frown).

Follow the prophet (raise another finger), follow the prophet (raise another finger)

follow the prophet (raise another finger), he knows the way! (shake head with a smile). Repeat again if children desire.

Show “What Shall We Give?” under Mormon Messages on the internet to show what our prophet today is leading us to do. http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages?v=911029452001 After it is over, ask the children, “What was President Monson telling us to do at Christmastime?”

Sit in a circle on the floor. One child at a time will open the lid to the present and take out a word on a paper to draw out.  The papers will say, “Mom” ” Dad” “Neighbor” “Friend “Sister” Brother” etc. Ask them, “What  can you do that is nice for _____________to follow our prophet?”

Give away the Prophet page from the Friend magazine. https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/magazines/friend/2012/03/fr12mar27-coloring-page.pdf?lang=eng