Joseph Smith: Restoration of the True Church
By: Deborah Pace Rowley
Object Lesson: Magic Banana
Prepare ahead for this object lesson by getting a banana and
a small needle at least as long as the diameter of the banana. Poke the needle
into the banana along a seam and push it far enough to reach to the other side
but don’t push it through. Without rupturing the entry point, move the needle
back and forth creating a clean slice inside the banana. When you are satisfied
that the banana has been cut all the way through, remove the needle and move
down a ½ inch along the seam and do this again. Make enough slices so that your
whole family can have a piece using this method. During family home evening
show the family the banana and tell them that this banana has already been sliced
so each person can have a piece. They won’t believe you. Let them examine the
banana. Then peel the banana to reveal the slices and pass them out to the
family. How did this magic happen? It should have been impossible. Show the
family the trick that you have used to cut the banana. The needle made this
impossible thing possible. Tell the family that Joseph Smith restored something
to the earth like the needle. It made many impossible things possible.
Challenge the family to guess what this one thing is in the next activity.
Activity: Take Away Truth
Copy the words strips below and cut them apart. Lay out the
word strips for the family so they can see them. Tell the family that without
this one thing there wouldn’t be temples. There wouldn’t be Bishops and
Prophets etc. Continue to take away each word strip, one at a time. Save
Eternal Families and the Earth as the last two things you remove. See if the
family can guess what this one essential thing is. The one thing that is
necessary for all the other things is the priesthood. Without the priesthood,
the church wouldn’t exist. It would be impossible to be baptized or confirmed.
Missionaries couldn’t teach. It would be impossible for families to be sealed
together forever. We are resurrected after we die by the power of the
priesthood. Even the earth was created by the power of the priesthood. Without
the priesthood none of these things would be possible. The Priesthood is the
power of God on earth. Men who hold the priesthood have the power to act in God’s
name. Because God restored the priesthood to the earth through Joseph Smith we
have all these blessings.
Liken the Scriptures:
Read Joseph’s account of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood
found in Joseph Smith History 1: 68-73. Point out to the family that the
restoration of the priesthood came after Joseph asked about baptism. This is
often how Heavenly Father reveals things, line upon line, as we come seeking
more light and knowledge. He didn’t hand Joseph everything all at once without
work and preparation on Joseph’s part. This is true in our lives also.
Game: Restoration Categories
Prepare ahead by writing these letters of the alphabet on
small pieces of paper and placing them in a bowl: B, C, D, E, F, G, H, L, M N,
P, S, T. To play the game, you will need a piece of paper, a pencil and a
timer. Have one family member draw a letter out of the bowl without looking.
Place the letter on the table so everyone can see it. When you say Go, begin to
time the family for 60 seconds. The family then calls out all the things that
they can think of that Joseph Smith taught or restored to the earth that starts
with that letter. One member of the family writes them all down. For example
for the letter B you could write down Baptism, Bishops, bread for the
sacrament, Book of Mormon, and Blessing. For D you could write down Doctrine
and Covenants, Degrees of Glory, baptisms for the Dead, divine nature of man,
discernment, dedication of
buildings, and the devil. If you are really stumped on one letter, you could
have someone flip to the topic guide or index in the scriptures for ideas. Play
with as many letters as you would like. Try to beat your record for the most
words in one minute. When you have finished, count the total of all the words
that you came up with. Isn’t it amazing to think of all the things that we know
and understand because of Joseph Smith?
Testimony:
Express your testimony that Joseph Smith restored the true
church of Jesus Christ to the earth with the priesthood power and all the
principles and ordinances necessary for salvation. Have family members share
what the gospel and the priesthood means to them.
Treat: Banana Cream Pie
Use some of the magic bananas to make a simple banana cream
pie. Layer sliced bananas on the bottom and sides of the prepared pie crust.
Family members could help cut the bananas with the needle if they want to try
this magic trick. Remind them that the priesthood is a true miracle because it
makes impossible things possible. Mix up instant banana pudding and spoon over
bananas. Top with whipped cream.
Print the Take Away Truth Strips HERE
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