Lesson Plan: “Thy Servant Heareth” - LDSFamilyFun.com Servant Heareth.pdf · Powerfully Teaching Your Children Gospel Principles Each lesson contains 5 timed activities: (Choose

Powerfully TeachingYour Children

Gospel Principles

Each lesson contains 5 timed activities:(Choose the activities that fit your family’s schedule.

Additional resources are provided as extra time may be available.)

Reverence Time: Song, prayer, scripture and video clip Lesson Time: Lesson summary and points to ponder Story Time: Story Activity Time: Object lesson or activity Treat Time: Prayer, theme related recipe & music video

Objectives:

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Reinforces Principle of:

Emphasize that we need to listen and obey the promptings of the Spirit. Talk about how to prepare to receive personal revelation.

Listening to the SpiritPersonal Revelation

Lesson Plan: “Thy Servant Heareth”


Sing Together:

Prayer:

Scripture Time:

Video Clip:

Approximate Time: 5 minutes

Children’s Songbook #106 “The Still Small Voice.” If you wish to have an online music file to accompany you visit: http://www.lds.org/cm(Note: Navigate to the Interactive Church Music Player where you can listen to and print Church hymns and children’s songs.)

1 Samuel 3:10

10. And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

Watch chapter 8–9 from the animated Complete Learning System, Samuel DVD. (Video clip is also provided for viewing online.)


(For younger children, it may be helpful to summarize the following ideas):Lesson Summary:

Samuel’s mother, Hannah, promised to dedicate her son’s life to the Lord. To keep her promise she took Samuel to the tabernacle to serve with Eli the High Priest. When the Lord first called to Samuel, he did not recognize His voice. Eli, aside of his mistakes, was wise enough to tell Samuel to listen, and answer, when the Lord called to him. (1 Sam 3:9)

How does the Lord speak to us? (Discuss ideas.)

After Jesus’ resurrection, on the Day of Pentecost, God bestowed a nother gift: that His Holy Spirit would dwell in the hearts of all thos who accept Him as Lord. (Acts 2:14-33) In this way he also speaks to our hearts and we can have Him with us always.

“Messages are more commonly manifested by the still, small voice, which speaks to all of us through the scriptures, modern prophets, and personal revelation.” James E. Faust, Liahona, May 2004 © Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

What do we need to do to keep the Holy Ghost with us always? (Discuss ideas.)

“... If we live righteously and remain worthy, we are promised His constant companionship; He will guide our lives, teach us truths, and testify to us that Jesus is the Christ.” Sheldon F. Child, Ensign, Nov 2003 © Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Why did the Lord speak to Samuel about Eli and his sons’ wickedness? (Discuss ideas.)

Eli’s wicked sons would inherit the High Priest position on Eli’s death. After the Lord warned Eli, he spoke to his sons, but they were unrepentant. Therefore Eli;s preistly rule and family line would be cut off so that He could raise a new righteous priest, Samuel.

“The Lord told Samuel that because Eli’s sons were disobedient and because Eli did not control them, they would be punished and Samuel would become the new prophet. Because of his diligence and obedience, Samuel continued to learn and grow. The Lord was with him, and all Israel knew that Samuel had been called to be a prophet of the Lord.” Friend, May 1983 © Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Though Eli did not correct his sons, he taught Samuel in the ways of the Lord and accepted the Lord’s judgement when Samuel told him of his vision. (Sam 3:17–18)



Points toPonder:

Quote:

How did Samuel’s choice to listen and obey the words of the Lord affect his life? (Discuss ideas.)

“And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.” (1 Samuel 3:19)

“The Lord called Samuel to be both prophet and judge over all Israel. During Samuel’s ministry, the ark of God, once lost in battle to the Philistines, was returned to the tabernacle and the Lord subdued their enemies.” Peggy Furniss Lee, Ensign, Jun 2002 © Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

How did Eli’s choice to not listen to the Lord and remove his sons from working in the tabernacle affect his life? (Discuss ideas.)

“A messenger was sent to Shiloh ... ‘What is there done, my son?’ Eli asked the messenger. ‘Thy two sons … are dead,’ the messenger replied. (1 Sam 4:18)” Paulo R. Grahl, Ensign, Jun 2002 © Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

How will listening to the Lord affect our lives? (Discuss ideas.)

Why is it important to listen when the Lord speaks to us through the Holy Ghost and/or our church leaders? (Discuss ideas.)

“How important it is ... that we do not do anything to lose the Holy Ghost’s gentle persuasions, comfort, peace, and direction. These impressions will help us make the correct choices in life in order to weather the storms and bring us closer to God’s ways.” Robert D. Hales, Ensign, Sept 2003 © Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

How can Samuel’s example help us learn to listen to the Spirit? (Discuss ideas.)

“The Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand. Rather it whispers. It caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all. ... if we do not heed the gentle feeling, the Spirit will withdraw and wait until we come seeking and listening and say in our manner and expression, like Samuel of ancient times, ‘Speak [Lord], for thy servant heareth’ (1 Sam. 3:10.)” Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Jan. 1983 © Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

“Serious consequences result whenever we miss important messages, especially if these messages are from God. ... God gives us messages of instruction or encouragement to enable us to do His will. Often this is to prepare us for a specific task. ... We must strive to be worthy so that we do not miss the profound messages that come from God.” James E. Faust, Ensign, May 2004 © Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.


Approximate Time: 2 minutesFather took the “Old Testament Stories” down from the bookshelf and handed it to Devin. “Let’s see,” he said, thumbing through his Bible, “Where are we?”

“Samuel,” Devin replied. “We’re reading about ‘Samuel the Boy Prophet.’”

“Well, well. Looky here!” Father exclaimed opening his “Bible” to the bookmarked place. “We are, indeed, on Samuel! When did you get so smart?” he asked Devin.

“I peeked last night after we read ‘Ruth,’” Devin explained. “I’m not so smart. I just have a good memory.”

“Then I won’t have to remind you to brush your teeth anymore. Will I?” Father said with a wink.

“Ah, Dad. I can’t remember everything!” Devin giggled.

Devin loved nightly scripture study with Father. First Devin would read a paragraph from the “Old Testament Stories” to Father and then Father would read the scripture that accompanied it to Devin.

“Hannah asked God to let her have a baby boy,” Devin read. “Momma asked Heavenly Father to let her have a baby. Just like Hannah. Didn’t she, Dad?” Devin asked.

Father smiled at Devin as a tear spilled down his cheek. “She did,” Father confirmed, “And just like Hannah, Heavenly Father blessed Momma with a beautiful baby boy.”

“That’s me!” Devin exclaimed. “Was Momma happy, like Hannah?”

“It was the happiest day of both of our lives,” Father answered.

Devin and Father continued to read, “1 Samuel 3:10, ‘And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.’”

“Dad, Samuel was just a little boy and Heavenly Father talked to him. Do you think He will ever talk to me?”

Father smiled. “He does talk to you Devin. Through the Holy Ghost, the scriptures and the words of church leaders, but you have to learn how to hear Him,” Father explained. “Close your eyes and listen with your heart and your mind. Can you hear what He’s saying?” Father reverently asked.

Devin closed his eyes and prayed, “Heavenly Father what do You want to tell me?” After a while, Devin felt a warm feeling in his heart and an impression came to his mind. “Oh, Dad!” Devin exclaimed. “Heavenly Father wants me to be good like Samuel and keep the commandments. And Dad, He told me that’s what Momma wants, too!”

by Margie Nauta Lee


What you need: A copy of the “Prepare to Listen to the Spirit” activity ( If desired, print a copy for each of your children), X-acto knife, glue and cardstock. Optional: self laminating sheet.

Preparation 1. Print out the artwork. 2. Optional: Laminate. 3. Glue all artwork to cardstock. 4. Have an adult cut out puzzle pieces with an exacto knife. 5. Glue board to an additional piece of cardstock.

Activity: (Younger children will need help from an older sibling or parent.) 1. Explain: When we listen to the Spirit we are receiving personal revelation. “Receiving personal revelation is not a passive process. ... The Savior spoke of this principle of preparing to receive personal revelation. He shed light on the things that we must do to properly prepare: “It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins [repents] and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name [prays], and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments [obeys], shall see my face and know that I am” (D&C 93:1). To properly prepare to receive personal revelation, we must repent, ask through prayer, be obedient, search the scriptures, fast, think pure thoughts, and develop a spirit of reverence.” L. Lionel Kendrick, Ensign, Sept 1999 © Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. Children’s Songbook #108 “Seek the Lord Early.” If you wish to have an online music file to accompany you visit: http://www.lds.org/cm

3. Ask: Did Samuel seek the Lord early? How did Samuel prepare to listen to the Spirit? (Discuss ideas.)

4. Ask: Why is it important to listen to the Spirit? Why is it important to obey what the Spirit tells us? (Discuss ideas.)

5. While you put the puzzle together discuss why doing each of these things prepares us to listen to the Spirit and receive personal revelation.

6. Relate and bear testimony of receiving personal revelation and how the Spirit has helped you in your life.

Approximate time: 15 minutes


Purethoughts!

Develop aSpirit of Reverence

Ask through Fasting & PrayerRepent

Keep the Commandments

Search the Scriptures

Think Pure Thoughts

Receive Personal Revelation

Prepareto Listento theSpirit



Prep Time: 10 minutesChill Time: 10–20 minutesBake Time: 8-10 minutes

“H ‘ear’ and Obey Cookies”

1 C. butter 1 1/2 C. sugar 1 Large egg 2 Tbsp. dark corn syrup or molasses 1 Tbsp. water 3 1/4 C. flour 2 tsp. baking soda 2 tsp. cinnamon 1 tsp. ground ginger 1/2 tsp. ground cloves

Cream the butter and sugar until light. Add the egg, corn syrup and water blending well. Sift the dry ingredients together and add to the butter mixture. Chill the dough for approximately 10-20 minutes.

Treat Time: Give each child a two 1 inch balls of dough. Roll balls of dough in sugar and then form into the shape of ears (see diagram). Bake, on ungreased cookie sheets, in a preheated 350 degree F. oven for 8 to 10 minutes.

While the cookies bake read and discuss 1 Samuel 11-14. Emphasize that it is not only important to learn to hear the Lord, but that we need to obey. Eli heard the Lord’s warning, but did not obey and was punished for his disobedience. Samuel listened and obeyed the Lord and was blessed.

Closing Prayer and blessing on the food.

Lesson Plan: “Thy Servant Heareth” - LDSFamilyFun.com Servant Heareth.pdf · Powerfully Teaching Your Children Gospel Principles Each lesson contains 5 timed activities: (Choose

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