Article of Faith # 12

Purpose: To help family members understand the importance of obeying the law.


Opening Song: Keep the Commandments
Scripture: We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, magistrates and in obeying honoring and sustaining the law. A of F 1:12

Attention Activity:
Give the children pieces of salt dough or playdough and have each one shape a farm animal. Display all the animals on the table or floor. Explain that farmers must take very good care of their animals and give them food, water, and protection. If the animals wander away, they might get lost or injured. Ask, “What could we do to keep these animals from wandering away?” (Build a fence.) Roll a piece of dough between the palms of your hands and the table to form a long rope. Encircle the animals with it to form a fence. Explain that fences are good because they help keep animals safe. Explain that we have things that keep us safe too. These things are called laws and rules. Laws and rules are like fences because they stop us from doing things that are dangerous or that might make us or other people unhappy. When we obey laws and rules, they help keep us safe and happy.

Discussion:
What are some rules in your home? Have each child tell a rule such as “Put the toys away when you are finished playing.” As each child mentions a rule, ask: How does this rule help you? When each child has told a family rule, point out that we have rules in other places besides our homes. What are some of the rules at school? in Primary? How do these rules help you?
Explain that just as we have rules at home, at school, and in Primary, we have rules for our town and country. These rules are called laws. Laws help and protect us just like our home, school, and Primary rules do.

Tell the following story:


Jerry had always wanted a dog of his own, so he was excited when he was given a beautiful puppy for his birthday. He named the dog Pal. Jerry and Pal had a lot of fun together. Jerry’s city had a law that said all dogs must be on leashes when they were not in a fenced yard. One day Jerry decided to take Pal with him to a friend’s house. He could not find Pal’s leash, and his friend only lived a few houses away, so Jerry decided to take Pal without the leash. As they walked down the street, Pal saw a cat on the other side of the road. Before Jerry realized what was happening, Pal ran into the road and was hit by a car. With tears in his eyes, Jerry picked up the dog and carried him home. Jerry’s mother took them to the veterinarian, who took care of Pal’s broken leg. When they got home, Jerry’s mother told him that Pal could have been killed. Jerry realized that if he had obeyed the law and kept his dog on a leash, Pal would not have been hurt. Jerry realized that the law was there to protect him and his dog, and he decided he would never disobey that law again.




Ask: Why do you think Jerry’s city had a law about keeping dogs on leashes? How could Pal’s accident have been prevented? Why do we have laws and rules that we must follow?




Game: Print out the game situations located below and place them and a bowl or basket of numbers 1-4 on a table or the floor. Tell the children that they can now play the “Obeying the Law” game. Then sit back and wait a moment or two. If no one responds, ask: “Why isn’t anyone playing the game?” (No one knows the rules.) If the children have tried to make sense of the situation, perhaps by putting the numbered papers in order, compliment them for trying, and then ask, “Are you playing the “Obeying the Law” game? Why not?” Point out that rules and laws help guide us and give us direction. Play the game, letting each child pick a number from the bowl or basket. Read to each child the situation that corresponds with his or her number.






Obeying the Law Game Situations
1. You are almost late for school. If you cross the street in the middle of the block instead of at the crosswalk, you will get there sooner. What will you do if you obey the law?

2. You are shopping with your father and ask for a candy bar. Your father says no, but while he is busy paying for the groceries; you see that you could slip the candy into your pocket without anyone noticing. What will you do if you obey the law?

3. You are taking your dog for a walk on a leash. You come to a park and want to stop and play, but there is a sign saying “No Dogs Allowed.” You don’t see any grown-ups around, and you could tie the dog’s leash to a tree while you play. What will you do if you obey the law?

4. You are crossing the street at a corner that has a traffic light. No cars are coming, and no one is around. But your light says to wait. What will you do if you obey the law?

5. You are at the library and have found a book you want to check out, but you left your library card at home. The librarian is not at the front desk and would not see you leave with the book. What will you do if you obey the law?


Alternate Situations for Teenagers
1. You are riding with some older teenagers. The driver is exceeding the speed limit or offers to let you drive the car even though you do not have a driver’s license.

2. A government official is addressing the student body of your school. A group of students who object to his presentation are disrupting the assembly by shouting and stomping their feet.

3. You are in a large department store. You notice one of your friends slipping a shirt under her coat.

4. A young man on the street hands you a brochure that criticizes the government of your country. You do not know if the criticism is valid.








Closing Song: The Star Spangled Banner (Hymn 340)




This Lesson was created by Nicole Crawley ~ Thank you Nicole!