Articles of Faith: Ideas for Teaching Children

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the means by which children learn, grow, and progress so that they will return and live with Heavenly Father. As complex as the scriptures and doctrines of the Gospel can be, we should be grateful that we have been given a precise and succinct list of the basic principles of the Gospel--the Articles of Faith. If children are taught these principles and learn to love and apply them in their lives, they will become aware of great eternal truths, and their testimonies will grow. Because of this, the Primary curriculum begins teaching children to use these principles in their lives. It is hoped that each Primary leader and teacher will present the Articles of Faith in such a way that every child who advances from Primary will now them by heart and appreciate what they mean in her or her life.

The following ideas may be helpful to leaders in teaching children the Articles of Faith:

1. Use one sharing time a month to teach the children an Article of Faith (some Articles may require more than one month.)

2. Introduce learning the Articles of Faith by telling the children how they came to be, where they can be found, and how important it is to know them by heart.

3. Display a poster with the key words for Articles of Faith. Also display the Article of Faith to be learned that month on another poster or write it on the chalkboard.

4. Give each child a key with the key word printed on it as he learns the appropriate Article of Faith, recites it with his class, and learns the key word. Creation of the keys could be an activity day planned around the Articles of Faith.

5. Give a certificate to each child as he learns the appropriate Article of Faith.

6. Place a large jar in the Primary room. When a child learn an Article of Faith, let him drop a pom-pom in the jar. It's fun to watch it fill up.

7. Repeat the Article of Faith often during the month. Repetition is the key to learning.

8. Make learning the Articles of Faith fun and exciting by including a variety of teaching methods.

9. Encourage family involvement by sending a note to parents informing them of the Article of Faith being learned in Primary. Encourage the parents to teach the Article of Faith at home.

10. Include a message in the ward newsletter challenging all ward members to learn the Article of Faith being taught in Primary.

Suggested Ideas for Sharing Time and Quarterly Activity Days

Articles of Faith

First Article of Faith

Keyword: Godhead

1. Invite someone to dress as Joseph Smith and tell his own story of the First Vision.

2. Dramatize the First Vision and then have the children make a list of what important truths Joseph learned from his vision.

3. Have a buzz session concerning the Holy Ghost - what he is like, what his mission is, how we can recognize his promptings, etc. Discuss the many names he is known by throughout the scriptures.

Second Article of Faith

Keyword: Men

1. Assign children to discuss "punishment" and "transgression."

2. Discuss "free agency." Role play situations where we use our "free agency," having the children discuss the many choices they make every day.

3. Draw a picture of what the garden of Eden might have looked like, or make a model of the garden in a large box. Use twigs, bits of bushes, flowers, yarn, and paper, etc.

Third Article of Faith

Keyword: Atonement

1. Discuss what "laws" and "ordinances" are. Review the fall of Adam and why a Savior was needed.

2. Have a panel discussion on "obedience." Discuss why it is an important principle to learn in this life.

3. Have the children discuss how they were obedient during the week. The younger children could draw a picture showing they were obedient.

Fourth Article of Faith

Keyword: First Principles

1. Have a scripture chase using scriptures about principles and ordinances.

2. Have a buzz session concerning the importance of the first principles and ordinances. Find scripture stories of people who used these principles in their lives.

3. Make a word search using words concerned with the first principles and ordinances.

Fifth Article of Faith

Keyword: Hands

1. Invite the bishop to talk about prophesy and line of authority. Have him show his line of authority.

2. Have a team game using questions about the priesthood.

3. Tell stories about great men in the scriptures , and how they used their priesthood authority.

Sixth Article of Faith

Keyword: Organization

1. Discuss the duties and responsibilities of each office mentioned.

2. Match names of latter-day prophets with their pictures.

3. Make a concentration game using pictures of ancient and latter-day people and ordinances. Example: Apostle, prophet, missionaries, sacrament, baptism, temples, healings, laying on of hands, etc.

Seventh Article of Faith

Keyword: Gifts

1. Discuss what spiritual gifts are and who receives them. Wrap gift boxes with a spiritual gift written on paper inside. Let the children open and discuss.

2. Have a word search that includes spiritual gifts.

3. Talk about everyone having a gift. Let the children share what they think their gift might be.

Eighth Article of Faith

Keyword: Translate

1. Discuss what "translate" means and what happened because the Bible was translated so many times.

2. Have a question and answer game on how the Book of Mormon came to be.

3. Play a team game identifying what books belong to which of the standard works.

Ninth Article of Faith

Keyword: Revelation

1. Tell what "reveal" means and what "revelations" are.

2. Have a scripture chase finding scriptures about ancient and modern revelations.

3. Play a game matching prophets with revelations. Example: Moses - Ten Commandments, Noah - Flood, Lehi - Destruction of Jerusalem, Joseph Smith - Word of Wisdom, etc.

Tenth Article of Faith

Keyword: Ten Tribes

1. Tell or dramatize the story of Jacob and his 12 sons. Explain about the Tribes of Israel.

2. List the important words of this Article of Faith on a piece of paper. See how many words the children can define. Talk about the names of the 12 Tribes. Play a game to see how many the children can remember.

3. Have the older children write about what they think the earth will be like when it receives its paradisiacal glory and Christ reigns. Younger children could draw a picture.

Eleventh Article of Faith

Keyword: We claim

1. Tell what "worship" means to different people. Show pictures or tell about the many different ways people worship and in what places they worship.

2. Have a panel discussion on the many kinds of religions and different beliefs there are in the world.

3. Have the younger children pass a ball or bean bag to one another and then tell what they should do in Heavenly Father's house.

Twelfth Article of Faith

Keyword: Law

1. Have the children name and discuss leaders that we believe in believe in being subject to.

2. Have a panel discussion or buzz session on what it would be like to not have laws.

3. Divide into groups and suggest rules (laws) for Primary, school, or a new community.

Thirteenth Article of Faith

Keyword: The long one

1. Write each of the important words of this Article of Faith on cards and hide around the room. Have a treasure hunt to locate the words. Let each child who finds a word discuss its meaning with the group.

2. Write all 66 words of the Article of Faith on individual cards. Scramble the cards and give them to the children. Have the children arrange themselves so the Article of Faith reads correctly.

3. Play a game with the younger children passing a ball or bean bag to music. When the music stops, the child with the ball or bean bag tells something he does that is "praiseworthy."