Symbols of the Tabernacle (Come Follow Me Lesson for Kids: April 27-May 3)
- latterdaykids
- 2 minutes ago
- 4 min read
The Israelites journeyed for 40 years searching for the promised land. During that time the Lord wanted them to be able to have a sacred space to learn more gospel truths and symbolism to enrich their understanding. Unable to build a permanent structure, God commanded them to build a tabernacle; or in other words a temple that was like a tent.
This week's lesson will teach kids about some of symbols within the tabernacle.
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➤ P R E P A R A T I O N
You will need a piece of green paper, a piece of red paper, two popsicle sticks, and some tape! Cut a tennis ball-sized circle from each sheet of colored paper and attach each circle to a popsicle stick. You are making signs that you can hold up to represent a green light and a red light. If you do not have popsicle sticks, you can also use pencils.
➤ 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 Love to See the Temple"
➤ I N T R O D U C T I O N
Play “Red Light, Green Light!” Have the children line up on one side of the room while a volunteer
stands on the other side holding the two “trac lights.” When the volunteer shows the green light,
the children may walk forward. When the red light is shown, they must stop. The first child to reach
the volunteer gets to be the new signal holder. Continue until everyone has had a turn, then discuss
the following questions:
1. How did you know when to go? (The green paper was held up in the air!)
2. How did you know when to stop? (The red paper was held up in the air!)
3. How did you know what the colors meant? (Discuss.)
Explain: “The green and red lights are symbols! Symbols can help us learn things, and they can help us
remember things. While the Israelites were traveling in the wilderness, God commanded them to
build a tabernacle. Many of the items inside the tabernacle were symbols meant to teach the
Israelites about the gospel! Today we are going to learn about some of those symbols!”
🎥 V I D E O : "Symbols of the Tabernacle | Animated Scripture Lesson for Kids"
Now we are going to watch a video about the symbols of the tabernacle! See if you can remember what some of the symbols mean!
Click HERE to download this video to your device.
Click the image below to watch for free on YouTube:
Discuss the following questions after watching the video:
1. When the smoke rose up in the air from the altar of incense, what did that symbol mean? (It represented the prayers of the people rising up to Heavenly Father.)
2. What did the candle lights on the lamp stand represent? (They represent the light of Christ, and the Holy Ghost.)
3. When the priests washed their hands and feet with the basin of water, what did that symbol mean? (It was a symbol for purity and cleanliness.)
4. When the priests made animal sacrifices on the altar of sacrifice, what did that symbol mean? (It was a symbol for when Jesus Christ would sacrifice Himself to save all of us.)
5. What was the mercy seat a symbol for (on top of the ark of the covenant)? (It was a symbol for the place where the Lord could come and dwell with His people.)
➤ S C R I P T U R E
Read the following scriptures and discuss the questions that follow.
8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
1. Who is talking in this verse? (The Lord.)
2. Who told the Israelites to build the tabernacle? (It was a commandment from God.)
42 According to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work.
43 And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.
1. Who told the Israelites how to build the tabernacle and everything inside it? (The Lord told them how to build everything.)
2. What did Moses and the Israelites do? (They did everything as the Lord had commanded them.)
3. Why do you think the Lord made so many symbols in the tabernacle? (To teach the Israelites, and to help them remember the things the Lord wanted to teach them.)
4. Can you think of some other symbols that the Lord uses to teach us things about the gospel? (Discuss symbols of baptism, the sacrament, the temple, and other symbols from the scriptures such as the tree of life.)
➤ A C T I V I T Y
Click HERE to download the activity pages
Invite the children to color the symbols of the Tabernacle. Use this time to talk about the symbols of
the tabernacle and their meanings.
➤ T E S T I M O N Y
Bear testimony of the truths found in the scriptures.
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'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.