Come Follow Me: Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 18 (June 10-16)

This week we are covering Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22, & John 18 during our Come Follow Me lessons.  All of the printables are in a free download at the end of this post.  The next few weeks we are covering the last few days of Christ's life and then his Resurrection. I've loved diving a little deeper with each event and I know my testimony has been strengthened. I do think some of these topics can be a little harder to teach younger children (even older children). My hope is you will find something that will help you teach your family about the great love our Heavenly Father and Savior have for us.  

The Last Supper:  This is a great time to teach about the sacrament.  We had a lesson last year on this topic and I thought a lot of the activities I made for that would be perfect for this week.  

Bible Video: Minute 2:20-3:24is . There are also two other great options in the primary manual.

 Cut apart and fold the words back so your kids can't see them. Read or tell the story of the last supper and when you get to the part about the bread pause and ask them if they know what it represents.  Do the same for the water.  After they answer the question you can unfold the paper and read that statement.  

This is also a good time to learn a few ways we can be more reverent during the Sacrament.  One way is to think of a favorite story about Jesus.  Take a few minutes and have the children draw a picture of their favorite story.  Then have everyone share their picture and story so we'll have lots of story ideas to think about during the Sacrament.  It would also be fun to compiled in a book that can be looked at during the Sacrament.

Older Kids may like to write down some stories, scriptures, or songs.  This printable and be cut and tucked inside their scriptures for easy reference. 

Reverence can be hard so here's a great way to review how we can be reverent during the sacrament.  Print out the Question page (the page with the boy) and print and cut the circles on the next page.  Place the circles in a bag and have the children take turns drawing them.  After ask if they have any ideas and write them on your page.

Here's another activity to teach more about being reverent during the Sacrament. Print and cut out the cards.  Take turns picking a card and decide if its something we should or should not think or do during the sacrament.  If it's something good have them give you a thumbs up or if its something we should do have them do a thumbs down or think of a different action like smiling and frowning. 

Mini coloring book with the lyrics to the song.  Print one for each child.  Cut the pages apart and bind either with staples or  hole punch the top corner and bind with a book ring or ribbon. They can color and make the book during the week and read during the Sacrament OR create the book now but let them color it during the Sacrament.

Primary suggestions: If you have an older class they can cut and staple the books together during class.  For younger classes I would have it ready ahead of time.  If you are like me and have a few kids that are not real interested in making one for themselves (this could also read as a couple of 8 year old boys that have no interest in any of my coloring activities haha)  encourage them to make one for their younger siblings. My hope is that they will bring this little book to church with them and look through it during Sacrament meeting.

Sacrament Puzzle: Print and cut into 5 puzzle pieces-make sure you have one question on each puzzle piece. Make sure you have one question per puzzle piece.  Place pieces on the table or hide around the room.  Answer the questions and put the puzzle together.  (B&W version also included)

A cute visual for the week :)

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Garden Of Gethsemane: Often we focus on our Savior suffering for our sins but he also suffered for all of our pain and saddness.  "Explain that Jesus, in some way that we do not fully understand, felt all the pain and sadness that everyone has ever felt. This means that He can help us feel better when we feel sad, hurt, or upset." (Primary Manual)I love the following two quotes:

Elder Bednar explain The Savior has suffered not just for our sins and iniquities—but also for our physical pains and anguish, our weaknesses and shortcomings, our fears and frustrations, our disappointments and discouragement, our regrets and remorse, our despair and desperation, the injustices and inequities we experience, and the emotional distresses that affected us.

There is no physical pain, no heartache, no infirmity or weakness you or I ever confront in mortality that the Savior did not experience first. In a moment of weakness we may cry out, “No one knows what it is like. No one understands.” But the Son of God perfectly knows and understands, for He has felt and borne our individual burdens. And because of His infinite and eternal sacrifice (see Alma 34:14), He has perfect empathy and can extend to us His arm of mercy. He can reach out, touch, succor, heal, and strengthen us to be more than we could ever be and help us to do that which we could never do relying only upon our own power. Indeed, His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

I love how sister Linda S. Reeves explained this-our Savior has taken upon Himself not only all our sins but also our pains and our suffering and afflictions so that He can know what we feel and how to comfort us.

Bible Video-found here.  For little ones this animated one is a good option.

Gethsemane song: This is one of my favorite Primary songs and a great way to talk about the events of the atonement.  I love this sweet version or this one from lds.org

I love the story President Hinckley shared years ago about a new teacher and two students named Tim and John.  He called it a modern day parable of sorts.  I think this story really helps illustrate what our Savior did for us.  He took our spot and "took our licking for us"  He did what we could not do for ourselves. 

Coloring Page: I felt my Savior's love coloring page.  There is a quote from the song "Gethsemane" and a spot to write or draw a picture about a time you felt the Savior's love.

I can follow the Savior's example game: Jesus provided the perfect example for us.  When asked to do a unimaginably hard thing the Savior did what Heavenly Father needed him to do.  There are times when we are asked to do hard things.  Things we may not want to do or are scared to do.  We can follow the Saviors example and respond with "Not my will but thine."  Another important part of this story is that Heavenly Father did not leave him but sent an angel to help strengthen him.  
After you share this part of the story you can play this fun game that also works as a great review.  Its simple.  On a players turn they can share one way they can or have follow the Saviors example.  After they answer they roll a dice and move the correct number of spaces.  Then its the next person turn.  The first person to make it to the finish line wins.  
To set up: print and tape the two pieces of the board together.  You will also need a game marker for each person (buttons or other game pieces work great) and a dice. 
If someone is having a hard time coming up a way they can follow the Christ's example remind them of some of the lessons we've had recently-how have they served someone, shown love to a neighbor, helped a stranger, blessed or helped someone, read the scriptures, shared the gospel, etc.

That's it for this week!  I hope you find something that works for your family or primary class.  As always if you have any questions or trouble downloading a file or find a mistake please let me know!  Thanks for stopping by :)

Download the Free Printables Here