YOUTH CAN TEACH

JESUS LOVES ME

Fun Activities for CHURCH & HOME

“The Savior loves you and knows you personally.

He knows of your challenges.

He knows of your circumstances.

He knows the profoundest concerns of your souls.

He also knows your faith and your desire to serve Him.”

Gospel Living “A Message from President Russel M. Nelson: The Savior Loves You“

“The Lord knows you and loves you.

He is your Savior and your Redeemer.

He leads and guides His Church.

He will lead and guide you in your personal life if you will make time for Him in your life—each and every day.”

Russell M. Nelson "Jesus Christ Will Guide Your Life"

ACTIVITY:

This activity will help the children understand that Jesus Christ loves each one of them. With this mini-book, they can count-the-ways as each page spotlights what Jesus did to show His love to them.

Discuss other ways our heavenly father and Jesus show their love for us.

Ask each child how they can show their love for Jesus in return.  

ACTIVITY:

Ask children, "Have you ever created something special like an art project, a sand castle, something out of clay, or baked something yummy in the kitchen? Were you happy with your creation?" If so, you know a little about how Heavenly Father feels about creating YOU. Let's look at these hearts on a string to see how much they love you.

HEARTS-ON-A-STRING:

• Children can unclip a heart and read the love note from heaven. Ask, "What is it saying about YOU, Their creation?" Example: "Heavenly Father gave us a family."

• Children can tell ways to thank Them for creating YOU. Example, "Show love to my parents," or "Be kind to my brothers and sisters, or help someone in need."

During His earthly ministry, the Savior demonstrated great love for little children in particular (see Matthew 18:5, 10; Mark 10:13-16; and 3 Nephi 17:11-24). 

ACTIVITY:

This lesson helps children learn about the great love we have from our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus loved us so much He gave His life for us.

It can be difficult to understand this kind of love. Perhaps asking the children to express their feelings about their parents, a favorite pet, or a grandparent can help them begin to understand this kind of love. Help them understand the love Heavenly Father and Jesus have for us.

ACTIVITY:



Do you have a favorite blanket or quilt? How about your favorite slippers or PJs? These bring comfort. The SCRIPTURE John 15:10-12 reminds us, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” This scripture brings us comfort. It tells us we are LOVED by our Savior Jesus Christ. It reminds us we can feel a fullness of JOY as we love others. Serving others can fill us with the great love of our Savior Jesus Christ. It brings us joy!

Talk about sacrifice, how a person gives up something he has so another person could be helped. This is what Jesus did for us. He wanted to live, but He knew that the only way we could live forever is for Him to die on the cross, to become our Savior. Then, everyone could be resurrected like Jesus. On the third day He rose from the dead.

SACRIFICE can be difficult. For Example: - Giving up a bad habit for a good one. - Giving of your time or money can be hard too.

Our Savior gave up his life so that we can have the opportunity to return to the presence of our loving Heavenly Parents. This was a supreme act of LOVE. 

The statements on the wheel tell of the power and character of Jesus that helped Him do these things.

They can memorize 3 Nephi 11:14 on the front of the card and write their feelings and thoughts about Jesus Christ, on the back.

Sacrament Story. Janet's father suggested the family consider preparing for the sacrament before going to church. Janet pondered that and prayed asking Heavenly Father to help her see the sacrament differently. As the sacrament portion of the meeting began, Janet noticed the sacrament table. It was as if the body of Christ was under the beautiful white cloth - that it must symbolize purity.

Janet then opened her scriptures to D&C 20:77, 79 and read along with the priests as they blessed the bread and then the water. She noticed words like "sanctify," "willing," and "in remembrance." Also, the promise that she could, by keeping the commandments, "always have his Spirit" to be with her.

Janet felt that Jesus truly loved her enough to die for her. She felt renewed and ready to take upon herself His name. Looking at her father, she was thankful that he challenged her to prepare.

ACTIVITY:

This PRAYER MAIL box can be placed in the youth’s room or in a classroom to send out prayer mail (on postcards with a LOVE stamp). They don’t need to sign their name as Heavenly Father knows them and their hearts.



POSSIBLE DISCUSSION POINTS:

• We can have confidence that Heavenly Father hears all our sincere prayers.

• Heavenly Father answers our prayers according to His will and timing, not ours.

• Jesus Christ is our advocate with the Father. He pleads for us. We pray in His name.

• The four parts of prayer are: #1 Acknowledge Him "Dear Heavenly Father," #2 Thank Him, #3 Ask for what we need, and

#4 Close "in the name of Jesus Christ Amen."

ACTIVITY:



The lesson helps children feel that Jesus Christ loves and blesses all children. Prayerfully study Matthew 25:34, Mark 10:13-16, and 3 Nephi 17:11-25* where Jesus asks that the children come to Him. Jesus directs the people to ponder His words and pray for understanding; angels bless the *Nephite children.)

To Make: Print the poster. Cut out the center heart so the child can see their face reflected in the mirror.

ACTIVITY:



Using this STORIES OF JESUS Heart-to-heart Match Game the youth match hearts with hearts and get to know the Savior and His purpose for coming to earth.

The “2B” JESUS HEART tell how Jesus showed His love. Example: “Jesus showed His love by being baptized to show that everyone must be baptized.” This matches the “2A” SYMBOL HEART “John the Baptist asked Jesus, who had never sinned, why He wanted to be baptized.”

ACTIVITY:



Youth can explain to the children that Jesus gave the sacrament (bread and drink) to His Apostles before He died on the cross (Luke 22:19-20) to help them remember Him and His sacrfice for them.

He also brought the sacrament to the Nephites (3 Nephi 18:1-11). Today we partake of the sacrament of water and bread after a prayer is said so we can think of and remember Jesus and keep His commandments.

Print or copy the activity and tell the children they can take this Jesus portrait with them to sacrament meeting to remind them to think about Jesus when they partake of the sacrament. This will help them remember Jesus and follow Him. Color image with pastel markers.

ACTIVITY:



Some great scriptures for this lesson are Matthew 18:5, 10; Mark 10:13-16; 3 Nephi 17:11-24.

Our Heavenly Parents love us and know we can only understand this great LOVE by our own experiences on earth. Part of this experience is to understand how much They love us and want us to love ourselves and others. The children can place their picture in the frame or a mirror (to peer into) to see themselves as our creators see us. 

ACTIVITY:

Youth can help others know that we can be safe from physical and spiritual dangers. As we (the sheep) keep the commandments, we can stay inside the fence (see commandments on the fence).

What are the dangers you see in the world today? How do you think we can be safe from these dangers? How do we get back inside the fence to safety?

The Holy Ghost helps us stay close to safety. Have you ever felt something you were doing was not quite right? That is the Holy Ghost nudging you to think about what you are doing and make corrections. It is about paying attention! STAYING INSIDE THE FENCE helps us to avoid Satan’s lies and temptations (2 Nephi 28:6, 8, 21-23, 29). 

ACTIVITY:

Have you ever been lost? Being in an unfamiliar place, around people you do not know can be frightening. When you were found, how did you feel?



Have you ever seen newborn lambs? They are excited to be alive and run everywhere. Sometimes they run too far away from their mothers and find themselves in a strange place and cannot see their mothers. They begin to cry "baa baa" for mama. Did you know each mother knows the exact sound her little lamb makes? When she hears it she runs to find her lost lamb. How do we ask for help?

The GOOD SHEPHERD, our Savior Jesus Christ, knows each one of us. Like the shepherds of sheep He knows our names and everything about us. He wants us safe. He wants us to know Him and follow Him.

ACTIVITY:



Ponder what it means to be willing to do something for someone else. Is it easy? Sometimes. Can it be hard? Yes. Talk about what it means to give your word to do something for someone who needs your help. 

Explain that in the premortal life Jesus Christ did that very thing. Our Heavenly Father's great plan needed a Savior who was willing to suffer and die for our sins so that as we repent we can return to Him. He asked, "Whom shall I send?" (Abraham 3:27) Jesus answered, "Send me." See also Moses 4:1-4.

Learning these scriptures will us feel a greater love and respect for Jesus Christ, our Savior.  

ACTIVITY:



Youth can use the bookmark to look up scriptures (on the topics written below each circle) that will help them find peace and happiness. They can use the poster to practice ways of living the gospel daily to feel their Savior's love. Scripture for "Love" Ephesians 5:2 "walk in love, as Christ also loved us ..." Scripture for "Obedience" D&C 130:20-21) is the first law of heaven where all blessings come from.

You will need six cotton balls or pom-poms (found at a craft store).



Warm Fuzzy Righteous Reminders. Youth can cut out a smiley sticker and glue the sticker on the pom-pom as a reward for practicing these goals.

ACTIVITY:

Youth can read the words to this hymn and discuss their meaning. 

As they talk about the words such as grace, rescue, rebellious, pride, love, mercy, redeeming, devotion, praise, and adore they can express how they feel about our Savior and His willingness to give His life for us. 

Youth can also lead a discussion about our responsibilities to our Savior for giving us this great gift of the Atonement.

Then talk about what our Savior need us to do? 

ACTIVITY:



Perhaps ask questions such as:

. What does being kind mean?

. What does sharing mean?

. Do you say please and thank you?

As you discuss kindness and sharing help them connect these attributes with Jesus. . How is Jesus kind?

. How does He share? (heals the sick, feeds people, teaches, blesses, loves)

Explain that as we follow Jesus, we are willing to share our blessings with others who are in need. Sharing is a way of thanking Heavenly Father for our blessings. Sharing is a way to make and keep friends too.   

ACTIVITY:



This song helps the children understand the great love of our Savior for them. When they sing, "I KNOW THAT MY SAVIOR LOVES ME," they can feel His love and be reminded of the time long ago when Jesus gathered the children around Him to bless and teach them. “Each saw the tears on His face, The love that He felt for His little ones,” and more. This will encourage them to learn the teachings of Jesus as they develop a great love for Him. Help them understand that someday they will again be with Jesus.

ACTIVITY:



This song can help others see people differently."Some are bright and happy and some are meek and mild."

Ask "WHAT ARE MY TALENTS AND GIFTS?"

. What has my Heavenly Father given us to share with others?

"SHINING" STORY.

Leah was quiet and shy, but she noticed that Shelly was quiet and shy. They met on the first day of school during lunch. Leah asked Shelly to sit with her.

Because Leah was brave enough to ask Shelly to sit with her, Shelly's first day at the new school was better than she thought it could be. They became fast friends.

Shelly understood from Leah's example that kindness can soften the most difficult days for others. Shelly began seeing ways to serve others in the same way.