Article of Faith # 6

Opening Song: The Church of Jesus Christ

Scripture: Article of Faith 1:6
We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church, namely apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists and so forth.

Discussion: What would happen if you went to church on Sunday and no one was there to greet you? There was no one to conduct Primary and no one to help you song the songs. When you went to your class, no teacher was there to give you a lesson. In Sacrament meeting, there were no members of the bishopric on the stand, no one to bless the sacrament and to pass it, and no one to give a spiritual message. Without people to help, everything would be confused and disorganized, and few people would learn about Jesus and Heavenly Father.
Jesus organized his Church so that we could receive important ordinances and learn to live the gospel; He asks people to help him. Through the authority of priesthood leaders, members are called to serve in Church positions.
The primitive church, or the Church as Jesus organized it when He lived on the earth, had apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, and evangelists to lead and serve the people. Today the Church is organized in the same way. Some of the names for priesthood offices that we have today are different from the names that were used in Jesus’ time but the responsibilities are much the same. For example, a pastor can be compared to a bishop or a stake president, an evangelist to a patriarch. One way to tell the true Church of Jesus Christ is to compare it to the primitive Church that Jesus organized.

Activity: Have the children sit in a circle holding a string with a button. Have the children pass the button around and around the circle until the leader says “stop.” The person holding the button names a calling in the church. Continue as the children’s attention permits. Then let each child make a thank you card for someone who serve in your ward, such as the bishop, a teacher, a librarian, or an auxiliary leader.

Discussion: Joseph Smith received two important revelations in April 1830 concerning how the Church should be organized. These revelations, published now as Doctrine and Covenants 20 & 21, told Joseph to organize the Church as Jesus Christ had organized his church when he lived on the earth.

Activity: Split the family into two groups, giving one group the sign: “Jesus Christ’s church when he was on the earth” along with a Bible, and the other group the sign: “Jesus Christ’s restored church – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints” along with a Doctrine and Covenants. Also give each group their respective scripture references:
Matthew 3:13 & 16/ D&C 20:72-74
Ephesians 2:19-20/ D&C 21:1
Amos 3:7/D&C 21:5
Luke 22:19-20/D&C 20:75
Have the groups read aloud one of the scriptures assigned to their group. Discuss what these references say about the church of Jesus Christ. Point out that our church today is organized the same way that Jesus organized his church when he was on the earth.

Closing Song: The Sixth Article of Faith (pg 126 Childrens Songbook)

Additional Activities

1. Prophet Activity: Every group or organization needs someone to be a leader. In our church we have a living prophet. We also have twelve apostles. Heavenly Father chooses who these men should be. The man who has served as an Apostle the longest is the prophet and the President of the Church. This is how the Lord chooses the prophet. Joseph Smith was the first prophet in the Latter Days. Since the death of Joseph Smith, fourteen other prophets have served as president of the Church. Sing the Latter-Day Prophets (CS 134) to learn the names of all these men.

2. Apostle Activity: We have twelve Apostles now, just as Jesus Christ had in the primitive Church. They are special witnesses of the Savior. (Before FHE hide the Apostles pictures around the house.) Have the children go on a treasure hunt to find them (give clues to help them). As you find each one, read the testimony on the back. When all the apostles have been found explain that as we listen to the testimonies of the Apostles, our own testimonies will be strengthened. There is no greater treasure than to know that Jesus Christ is our Savior.

3. Leader Says: Play “Leader Says.” The children are to do only things prefaced by “Leader Says” (e.g. “Leader says, Stand up.”) If they do what they are told to do without having been told “Leader Says, they must sit down. Play until nearly everyone is sitting. Explain that many people will try to tell us what to do. We can trust some of them but not others. Heavenly Father has promised that we can trust the prophet and the apostles to always tell us right things, things he wants us to know.

4. Apostle Match: Print apostle cards at the link and play a Matching game with the names and pictures of the Apostles. Put the pictures of the Apostles in the order in which they were ordained.


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