Gospel Application Lessons for Small Children

I have been on the search for lessons for small children. I was just jotting down ideas I found in books and on websites when I realized I had come up with quite a list. I wasn't keeping track of where the ideas came from, so hopefully my sharing this list will be fine.




4 levels of learning:
Knowledge --Teaching the story
Understanding -- Role playing, repeat it back, give a lesson, ask ?'s
Internalizing -- Asking questions that help them see it applies to them
Application -- What can we do to apply this to our life?




Faith -- Plant a seed, care for the seed. Matt. 17:20, some easy seeds for kids to grow;
            Vegetables: Beans, Corn, Radishes, Pumpkins, Zucchini, Cucumbers

            Annual Flowers: Sunflowers, Marigolds, Zinnia, Cosmos

Prayer -- Make some pretzels. According to wikipedia "in 610 AD ...an Italian monk invents pretzels as a reward to children who learn their prayers. He calls the strips of baked dough, folded to resemble arms crossing the chest, 'pretiola' ("little rewards")".  Ask if they have ever seen a broken pretzel, explain that we too loose our shape when we don't pray always. 3 Nephi 18:21


Repentance -- Mix some salt and pepper together, talking about how the pepper represents sin. Get a plastic spoon and rub it to make it static. Talk about repentance. Now pass it over the salt and pepper, the pepper will attract to the spoon. Isaiah 1:18


Fasting -- get a screwdriver and a drill, some screws and a block of wood. First have children or parent screw a screw with the screwdriver. After awhile get out the drill, screw a screw with the drill. Explain that the drill is a power tool, fasting is a powerful tool like a drill.  Isaiah 58:6-11


Holy Ghost -- Get a compass and explain that it always points north, like the Holy Ghost will always witness of the truth. John 14:26


Obedience -- Play Simon Says. OR get a hula hoop and have the child/children stand inside.  Bring out a spray bottle or squirt gun, tell them when they obey it is like being in the hula hoop, they are safe. When they choose to go outside they will get wet.  Ephesians 6:1-3


Creation -- get some foam balls and trace a rough outline of the continents, have the children paint the land and ocean. Then take a walk and look at God's creations. Genesis 1


Armor of God -- Print the Child's picture and draw some armor for them to glue over it or visit this link Helmet of Salvation, Shield of Faith, Sword of the Spirit, Breastplate of Righteousness, Loins Girt with Truth, Feet Shod with Preparation of the Gospel. Ephesians 6:11-18 


Missionary Work -- take the family fishing or set up a carnival style fishing activity. Matt 4:19, Mark 1:17


Be in the world not of the world -- Get a quart jar and fill about 1/3 full with water, explain that this is the world. Now get some oil and fill about another 1/3, explain that this is each of us. 1 John 2:15-17. Put in some food coloring and stir or shake. Read or summarize D&C 63:47


Organization -- The Lord is organized, talk about symbiosis and also the organization of the church. Have small children sort some objects by color, have older children organize a bin or drawer. 
D&C 88:119


Iron Rod -- Set up a course to follow made of yarn, it could be inside or out. Blindfold children and have them follow the yarn to a treat at the end. If you want the treat could be pears. 1 Nephi 8


Priesthood -- Keys to open different locks



Acting on Promptings -- Show a hanger and talk about other uses it may have. Roasting marshmallows, cleaning a drain, unlocking a door etc. Explain that the Lord doesn't want us to just hang around D&C 60:2, 82:18


Gifts of God to build his Kingdom -- get a toolbox and look at the tools. Explain that God uses a variety of unique people and gifts to build his Church. D&C 46: 10-12


Fortifying Families -- build a building/tower out of blocks that can be easily broken, allow a child to knock it down. Talk about fortifying and how to strengthen the building. Maybe better materials could be used etc. Now build a building or tower out of Legos or something similar. Then talk about how your family can be fortified and ways you will achieve that. i.e. reading the scriptures together, having family prayer etc. Alma 56: 47-48 The Family: A Proclamation to the World


Controlling Anger -- Play the freeze game, have a word that you say and when you say it everyone must freeze. When done playing, explain that when we get angry we should freeze and think before we act. We may need to count to ten, say we are sorry, go for a walk or run, etc. 3 things we can do: learn to take a deep breath and count to ten,100 or 1000, go for a walk. Channel the energy into something like chopping wood, bowling. Have a sense of humor, sing your argument, so you can return your emotions to a controlled state. Matt 5: 38-39, 44


Obedience -- Samuel the Lamanite, read Helaman 16:1-3. Have someone be Samuel and throw marshmallows at that person.


Follow the Prophet / Holy Ghost-- Get a compass and a magnet, explain that when we follow the prophet it is like following the compass, we know what is right. Get the magnet and show how the compass doesn't work properly. Explain that the magnet is like evil forces tempting us to stray, when we allow those forces to be with us we are unable to tell what is right. 3 Nephi 20:24


Humility/Freedom -- Handcuff someone to a chair or other object, give them a key and let them try to get out. Explain that when we try ourselves it is hard to get out. Now have them ask for help. Have someone help them. Explain that when we as the Lord for help he will help us/ deliver us. D&C112:10,  104:80


Equality -- Have enough candy bars for everyone of varying sizes, pass them out largest to smallest. Ask how it feels to have the smallest candy bar. Ask what it would feel like if someone were always treated differently. Take back the different sized candy bars and pass out a candy that is all the same size. Ask how it feels when you receive equal parts. Mosiah 27:3


Word Of Wisdom -- Make a batch of cookies with salt, they make look good but they are not tasty. Sometimes doing things contrary to the word of wisdom may seem enticing but we will not benefit. D&C 89