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Apr 2010 Issue
By Alison Palmer
Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 5:10
Song: “The Sacred Grove,” Children’s Songbook, 87
Preparation: Gather a 1000 piece puzzle (smaller if your family is very young). Separate out a handful of pieces. Make sure you have a clear work space big enough to work on the puzzle.
Prayerfully read “Joseph Smith—Prophet of the Restoration,” Elder Tad R. Callister, Ensign, November 2009, 35-37 and consider which thoughts and passages you would like to share with your family.
Lesson: Without showing the box, give the family the puzzle pieces you separated out and ask them to put the puzzle together. When they are unable to, ask them why. Can they make a guess at what the puzzle picture shows from the pieces that they have?
Explain the difference between the church Jesus Christ established and that which began to appear after His death.
Have the family help you recount the story of the first vision.
Share Elder Callister’s comparison from page 36 between the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a jigsaw puzzle. Explain that the restoration of the gospel through Joseph Smith allows us to see more of Christ’s commandments and purposes for our lives. Discuss some of the gospel truths we now have because of Joseph Smith’s role in restoring the gospel and how our lives might be different without this knowledge. Be sure to include the four main points Elder Callister includes in his address:
• God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, are two separate, distinct beings.
• The Father and Son have glorified bodies of flesh and bones.
• God still speaks to man.
• The full and complete gospel of Jesus Christ was not then on the earth.
As each new area is brought up, add a few more pieces to those available to the family. Finally, show the box and let the family see what the completed puzzle is supposed to look like.
Explain that it is still our personal responsibility to understand what the pieces of the puzzle are and how they fit, but we can know what the end result and reward are for our efforts.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is much the same. Because of Joseph Smith we have the restored truths. We know the answers to life’s most important questions, what we need to do to become like Jesus and return to live with Heavenly Father. But, it is still up to us individually to learn, understand, and fit each of those pieces into our hearts and lives. As we learn and grow in the gospel we gain access to more and more tools, or puzzle pieces, that we need to build a happy life and complete Heavenly Father’s vision for us. Express gratitude for Joseph Smith’s role in giving you access to the blessings of a complete “puzzle” and the keys needed to find ourselves at the end Heavenly Father desires for us.
Discuss the blessing it was that Joseph Smith was willing to learn, ask, and follow through with each new piece of knowledge he received. His calling didn’t make him less human or less prone to trials, but his righteous choices blessed many lives. Challenge each person to find a way to be more like him in their integrity and willingness to stand by their beliefs.
Activity:
Young Children: Draw pictures of your favorite aspects of the gospel, cover them with clear contact paper, then cut them into individual puzzles.
Older Children: Work together to complete the puzzle used in your lesson.
Treat:
Johnny Cakes or other treat from the time period of Joseph Smith’s life.
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