September 9: The Plan of Salvation

These ideas are from the following blog: http://kristysawtelle.com

Chapter 3, Lesson #2:  “The Plan of Salvation”

Opening song: "I Lived in Heaven" (Primary songbook), "Families Can Be Together Forever" (Primary Songbook)


Discussion: (from pg. 48) So many people in the world today wonder, "Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are we going?" As members of the church we have the Plan of Salvation to provide us with all of those answers. We know so much about life before this earth, what our purpose here is, and what happens after we die. This knowledge could help everyone in the world to find more peace. If we hope to be able to share it with others, we should have a pretty good understanding ourselves. Let's find out how much we know about the “Plan of Salvation.”

Activity: Enlarge and cut out the principle pictures from the following link (or create your own): http://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/gospel-library/magazine/fr08jan16_sharing.jpg?lang=eng 

Let everyone pick out a picture and using masking tape put them up on a blank wall or chalkboard and tell what they know about that picture as part of the plan of salvation. Let others add what information they know or ask questions about each picture.
Here are some scriptures that kids may be able to understand on each topic. Be sure to cover:
The pre-earth life (pg. 48), Abraham 3:25-26
Earth life (pg. 49-52), 2 Nephi 2:27
The spirit world (pg. 52) Alma 40:11-14
The resurrection, judgment and immortality (pg. 53) Mosiah 4:30, Alma 34: 33-35
and the Kingdoms of Glory (pg. 53) D&C Section 76 (introduction) D&C 14:7


Activity #2: Make cutout “children” or print from the following link:

 http://lds.about.com/library/bl/primary/primary_children_all_over_world.pdf  

On each child write a question that a non-member might have about life after death, pre-earth life, judgment or the resurrection. Hide the cutout children around the house and have family members search out and find all of the lost children. Point out that this is similar to how our missionaries search for Heavenly Father's lost children who don't know about the gospel. Don't give up on finding the lost children even if some of them are difficult (point out that some missions are difficult and Heavenly Father NEVER gives up on any of his children). When all of the cut out children have been found begin reading and answering the questions. I have included some examples of questions you might use for younger and older children (or create your own). 

Younger Children
If someone I love dies will I ever see them again? What are they doing?
What happens to people who died but never joined the church?
What happens to little children who die?
What happens after the second coming? Who is on the earth during the millennium?
Is everyone resurrected? When will I be resurrected? 

Older Children
Why do bad things happen to good people?
When am I judged from my actions on this earth?
What is the difference between who goes to the celestial kingdom and who goes to the other two?
If someone dies before they get married in the temple when will they be able to be sealed eternally?
Isn't the terrestrial kingdom good enough? Why or why not?
If I marry a non-member and I'm really good can I be sealed to my kids someday?

Commit: Discuss a challenge your family might take learning about the plan of salvation. Challenge as desired.