By Alison Palmer
Scripture:John 3:5
Song:“Baptism,” Children’s Songbook, 100
Preparation:Find a picture of Jesus Christ’s baptism. If one is not available use a picture of a family member’s baptism.

Lesson:

Play a simple game of follow the leader. Then, ask your family to name some of the people that they should follow in real life. Answers might include a parent, teacher, the prophet or other respected individual. Discuss the reasons why they are good examples and the types of things they do which make someone want to follow them. Remind the family that of all the people they could want to follow and be like, Jesus Christ will always be our perfect example. We can look to him no matter what kind of trials we come across in our lives.

Tell the family that today you will discuss one important thing we do when we want to follow Christ. Read Matthew 3:13-15 together as a family. Show your picture and discuss what you know about the story of Jesus Christ’s baptism. Remind the family that one of the reasons Jesus was baptized was to give us an example of something we needed to do. Ask the family to share their thoughts on why baptism is necessary for Heavenly Father’s children. Share thoughts and impressions that have come to your family as different members have followed Christ’s example and been baptized.

Remind the family that baptism is a time when we make promises to Heavenly Father that we will look to Jesus Christ as our example in all things. We express our desire to be like Him and stand as a witness for His gospel no matter where we are. Discuss the blessings that come from making the promises of baptism. It allows us to obtain the full blessing of the Holy Ghost and starts our pathway of covenants that will lead us back to Heavenly Father and enable us to live with Him as an eternal family.

Help the family understand that when we make the choice to be baptized it is a great blessing to the person being baptized; but, it is also a blessing to their family and others that they associate with. Ask the family to share their thoughts on why this might be.

Share Mosiah 18:8-10 with the family. Alma lists several aspects of the baptismal covenant and what it can mean for the individual and those around them. Identify items, such as: come into the fold of God, bear one another’s burdens, mourn with those that mourn and standing as a witness. Discuss ways that following these actions can help you be closer as a family. Remind each member that the commitment to be baptized means that we are trying our best to be Christ-like and to help those around us do the same. We need to follow His example and help strengthen our family as well as being an example when others might need our help. It means being aware of the needs and feelings of other family members and working together to establish patterns of peace and happiness. This allows the Holy Ghost to be in the home and with each family member.

Remind the family that when this challenge was extended to the people at the waters of Mormon they clapped for joy because they knew making these covenants would bring them lasting happiness. Testify that using the promises we made at baptism and listening to the promptings of the Spirit will bring the same happiness to your family. Challenge each family member to watch for ways they can try to meet the challenges Alma gave in conjunction with baptism and see what difference it makes in the family.

Activity:

Play water games like: water balloon toss or water hose limbo.

Refreshments:

Strawberries and white chocolate fondue.

While dunking your strawberries, talk about meaning and purposes behind baptism by immersion and the atonement’s ability to turn even our deepest sins into something pure and clean again. (Isaiah 1:18)