It is often the opposition in our lives, that we all are not too found of, that end up being the very things that change us forever. If we let it, the opposition can shape us into a more complete and holy person, more like our Father in Heaven. How do we teach our children that opposition, as tough as it can be, is essential for them? The lesson this week will expand their understanding of this truth.
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➤ L E S S O N
Open the lesson with a song and a prayer.
🎶 O P E N I N G S O N G : "I Am a Child of God"
➤ I N T R O D U C T I O N
Ask children to call out the opposite of each of these words after you say them: “Up” (down), “hot” (cold), “big” (small), “fast” (slow), “darkness” (light).
Explain that Heavenly Father wants us to have opposites because they teach us a lot and help us to grow!
Invite children to lie down on the ground. Explain that gravity is a force that is pulling them down to the earth. Invite them to lie there for a minute and feel the power of gravity holding them down - their arms, their legs, their head, etc.
Now ask the children:
Are you stronger than the gravity? Are you strong enough to stand up, even when gravity is trying to pull you down?
Invite the children to show their strength by slowly standing up!
Now discuss the following questions:
1) What power was pulling you down? (Gravity)
2) What power did you use to stand up? (Muscles)
3) What would happen if you tried to stand up in outer space where there is no gravity? (Nothing. You would just be kicking your legs while you were floating around!)
Explain: We need gravity to stand up! Gravity has to pull us down first, and then can we learn to stand up!
🎥 V I D E O : "Opposition in All Things: Kids Family Home Evening Lesson"
Say: “We are going to watch a video about Anna and her new kite. Watch and see how she uses opposites to get her kite to fly!”
Discuss the following questions after watching the video:
1) What was pulling the kite away? (The wind.)
2) What was pulling the kite back? (Anna/the string.)
3) Were these things pulling the kite the same way? Or opposite ways? (Opposite.)
4) What is the opposite of bad? (Good)
5) What is the opposite of sad? (Happy)
6) Can bad or sad things help us grow? (Discuss)
7) Can bad or sad things help us learn to be happy? (Discuss)
➤ S C R I P T U R E
Read the following scriptures together and discuss the questions that follow.
1) Nephi says we need opposition. Why? (So that there could be righteous and wickedness, holiness and misery, good and bad. We need to know what bad feels like to know what good feels like. We need to know what hot feels like to know what cold feels like!)
Ask your children or class:
1) Have you ever been sick?
2) When you were sick did you realize how much you missed feeling good?
3 ) Did you think about what a blessing it was to be healthy BEFORE you got sick?
4) Do you still think about what a blessing it is to be healthy today?
Explain that opposition (or sickness) brought to your heart and mind the blessing of being healthy. The two opposite feelings made it possible for you to appreciate good health. Before you got sick you might have not have ever realized how amazing it is to have a healthy body.
Hard things in our lives are sometimes like being sick. They remind us of what matters most. They can help us see the good in our lives and that the good things come from our Heavenly Father.
➤ A C T I V I T Y
Have each child design and color their own kite. If the time and supplies are available children can also cut out their kites and add their own string or ribbon. If they wish to do so, it would work best to print the kites on a tick piece of card stock.
➤ T E S T I M O N Y
Bear testimony of the truths found in the scriptures.
'Come, Follow Me' is a resource offered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is designed to be used in the home to support personal and family scripture study to build faith in Heavenly Father and His plan of salvation and in the Savior Jesus Christ and His Atonement. Come, Follow Me is self-contained and adequate, when used properly. Products and materials designed to supplement this resource, though they may be helpful in some instances, are not necessary for a successful home study program.