The Savior's Earthly Ministry and Atonement (PMG Lesson 1 Principle 4)

The Savior's Earthly Ministry and Atonement (PMG Lesson 1 Principle 4)

Do you remember what we talked about last week?  (Heavenly Father reveals His gospel in every dispensation.)  Well, guess what happened AFTER all those old testament prophets we talked about last week.  Do you think the people continued to live the gospel?  Or did they go astray?

A few hundred years before Jesus was born on earth, people again fell into apostasy and the truths of the gospel were ignored, then forgotten.  But when Jesus Christ came to earth, He again established His Church on the earth. It was the beginning of the dispensation of Jesus Christ.  He taught His gospel.  He called apostles and gave them priesthood authority. Before His death and resurrection, Christ gave His apostles authority to teach the gospel, perform ordinances, and establish His church in the world.

This was one of the reasons Christ came to earth, but there are other reasons as well.  We are going to sing "He Sent His Son" (CS p.34)  As we sing, I want you to listen for reasons God sent His Son to earth. (If your family doesn't know this song, you may want to follow a more detailed lesson plan for it, found here.)

Reasons: to tell the world of love and tenderness; to show the pathway we should go (to give us a perfect example to follow; to teach the true gospel once again); to save us from sin through His atoning sacrifice; to save us from death through His resurrection

Our scripture this week also explains why God sent His Son to earth:
 John 3:16-17 (printable)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

Bear testimony of the Savior's earthly ministry and atonement.


THIS WEEK FOR FAMILY SCRIPTURE STUDY:
--Sing He Sent His Son
--Recite John 3:16-17
--Assign a family member one of the following:

1.  Read, recite, or sing the sixth article of faith.  What is meant by "the primitive church"?  Why is this important to understand?  Bear testimony of the Savior's earthly ministry and atonement.

2.  Sing "I Believe in Christ" (Hymn #134) verses 1-3.  What do the lyrics tell you about His earthly ministry and mission?  Bear testimony of the Savior.

3.  Sing "Help Us, O God, to Understand" (CS p.73).  Verse 1: What did He do for us because He loves us?  Verse 2:  What will His teachings do?  Bear testimony of Christ.

4.  Read 3 Nephi 27:21.  Rephrase it in your own words.  How does this relate to the Savior's earthly ministry?  Bear testimony of the Savior.

5. (could be done by a younger child)  Sing "I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus" (CS p. 78).  Read John 13:15.  Bear testimony of Christ's earthly ministry.

6.  Sing the first verse of "Come Follow Me" (Hymn #116).  What does it mean to tread in His footsteps?  Read 2 Nephi 31:10-12.  Bear testimony of the Savior's earthly ministry and example.

7. Read 2 Nephi 25:26.  What does this mean?  Bear testimony of the Savior.

8.  Read Mark 12:1-9.  How does this parable relate to prophets and dispensation?  How does it relate to the dispensation of Jesus Christ?  How does it prophesy of the great apostasy?  Bear testimony of these things.

*9.  (for a younger child) Tell a favorite story of when Christ was on the earth.  Use a GAK picture to help you tell the story.  Bear testimony of Jesus. (here is a link to some stories you could use)

*this could be done multiple times throughout the week with different stories