A Christmas Lesson

By Sofia Lykes Dec. 2012

Characters:
Teacher Student 1 Student 2 Student 3 Student 4 Student 5 *Other students Samuel the Lamanite *Song Helpers to hold up signs or act out different parts of the song President Hinckley
*These parts are for children who might not want a speaking part, but still want their own special part. These are good for primaries who have a lot of children participating. Have the stage divided in half. On one side, a classroom. On the other, Zarahemla. Have simple props accordingly and costumes! A wall for Samuel could also include 3 chairs turned back, covered by paper that is drawn to look like its bricks. Choose your parts wisely!! Samuel and Pres. Hinckley are roles needed to be played by strong and confident children!! Songs in Play: Book of Mormon Stories #118CS The Books in The Book of Mormon #119CS Sing: Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus #36CS Sing He Sent His Son #34 CS

Teacher: Welcome to class everyone! Student 1: Were so happy to be here and learn! Students: Yeah!!!! Teacher: Well we all know what time of the year it is. Christmas is so very special. Student 2: I love reading the Bible and the Nativity story. Student 3: Me too!! Student 4: I love acting it out with my family and playing the part of the shepherd! Teacher: The story of the birth of Jesus here on is wonderful!! Is the Bible the only place that the story is found? Student 5: I know! I know!! The story is also in the Book of Mormon. Teacher: Thats very good! Lets sing a song to start out our learning. Sing : Book of Mormon Stories #118CS (You could have some song helpers lined up in a row doing hand motions while singing) Teacher: And now with the story! Please make sure to help me tell it! Student 1: Picture the land of Zarahemla. Its a beautiful land, a land of promise! However, the Nephites are full of wickedness, constantly fighting and doing evil. Student 2: Its 6 years before Christ is to be born. Not far away live the Lamanites. They follow the law of Moses and seek to keep the commandments of Heavenly Father. Student 3: Are you sure? I thought it was the other way around!?!! Student 1: You might be thinking of the beginning or ending of the Book of Mormon. This story is found in Helaman. Sing The Books in The Book of Mormon #119CS (You could have some song helpers holding up signs of the different names in the Book of Mormon when they are sung) Teacher: Thats right! In Helaman we start with a Lamanite prophet named Samuel. He had preached to many days about repentance to the Nephites and they kicked him out of their city! He was about to return to his own land, when the Lord told him to go back and tell the Nephites the things that came into his heart.

Student 4: But they wouldnt let him back into Zarahemla! Student 5: He was like a real life spiderman! Only even better! Samuel the Lamanite was truly a super hero! He climbed the city wall and cried with a loud voice and prophesied unto the people whatsoever things the Lord put into his heart.1 Samuel the Lamanite: Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, do speak the words of the Lord which he doth put into my heart; and behold he hath put it into my heart to say unto this people that the sword of justice hangeth over this people... and it surely cometh unto this people, and nothing can save this people save it be repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ, who surely shall come into the world, and shall suffer many things and shall be slain for his people.2 Student 1: Like all other prophets, Im glad Samuel the Lamanite preached repentance! Samuel the Lamanite: But if ye will repent and return unto the Lord your God I will turn away mine anger, saith the Lord; yea, thus saith the Lord, blessed are they who will repent and turn unto me, but wo unto him that repenteth not.3 Student 2: Like all other prophets, Im glad Samuel the Lamanite taught us about Christ. Student 3: And what was his message about Christ to the Lamanites? Sing: Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus #36CS (Have Samuel acting it out with helpers that have pictures, all lined up in a row. For example Samuel holds up hand for 5 years. 2 children hold a picture of a sun and a moon, on the night will be as day, the sun picture steps in front of the moon picture. On and baby Jesus will be born have a woman dressed as Mary holding a doll, in a land far far away have a child holding a Bible.) Samuel the Lamanite: And ye shall hear my words, for, for this intent have I come up upon the walls of this city. that ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent that ye might believe on his name!! And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits. 4 Teacher: At Christmas, sometimes we can get distracted by things that are fun, but not quite as important.

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Helaman 13:4 Helaman 13:5-6 3 Helaman 13:11 4 Helaman 14:11-13

Student 4: Like getting presents. Presents are great and exciting. But they arent what is most important. Student 1: Like cookies, cake and goodies! They are sweet and yummy, but they arent what is most important! Student 5: Samuel the Lamanite teaches us, as well as other prophets, that the most important part of Christmas and LIFE!!! is knowing The Savior. Teacher: Thats right. Class, thank you so much for your help! What a wonderful Christmas lesson we have had. Let us end with a thought from a modern day prophet. President Hinckley also has some important words to share. President Hinckley: He was the lowly babe who came to earth in the meridian of time and brought to us the gift of Christmas. He was the Resurrection and the Life, who brought to us the wonder of Easter. There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal, Living God. None so great has ever walked the earth. None other has made a comparable sacrifice or granted a comparable blessing. He is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world. I believe in Him. I declare His divinity without equivocation or compromise. I love Him. I speak His name in reverence and wonder. I worship Him as I worship His Father, in spirit and in truth. I thank Him and kneel before His Beloved Son who reached out long ago and said to each of us, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).5 Sing He Sent His Son #34 CS

A Glorious Season By President Gordon B. Hinckley Dec. 2007 Ensign