Lesson Plan: I Will Be With Thee

Powerfully Teaching Your Children Gospel Principles Lesson Plan: I Will Be With Thee Objectives: Emphasize that the Lord knows His people. Talk about how the Lord used Moses, even in his weaknesses, to accomplish His plan. Reinforces Principle of: God s Mercy and Grace Obedience Each lesson contains 5 timed activities: (Choose the activities that fit your family s schedule. Additional resources are provided as extra time may be available.) Reverence Time: Song, prayer, scripture and video clip Lesson Time: Lesson summary and points to ponder Story Time: Story Activity Time: Object lesson or activity Treat Time: Prayer, theme related recipe & music video

Approximate Time: 5 minutes Sing Together: Children s Songbook #176 Tell Me, Dear Lord. If you wish to have an online music file to accompany you visit: http://www.lds.org/cm (Note: Navigate to the Interactive Church Music Player where you can listen to and print Church hymns and children s songs.) Prayer: Scripture Time: Exodus 3:10-12 10. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. 11. And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? 12. And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. Video Clip: Watch chapter 11 from the animated Complete Learning System Moses DVD. (Video clip is also provided for viewing online.)

Approximate Time: 10 minutes (For younger children, it may be helpful to summarize the following ideas): Lesson Summary: How did Moses find out what the LORD wanted him to do? (Discuss ideas.) God called unto him out of the midst of the bush... (Exodus 3:4) What did the LORD tell Moses He wanted him to do? (Discuss ideas.) God told Moses to tell Pharaoh to release the children of Israel. Moses said, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh... (Exodus 3:11) How did Moses react to the LORD s request? (Discuss ideas.) Moses complained of being slow of speech and was reluctant to perform the mission God had called him to do. (Exodus 4:10) President Hinckley taught, It is not always easy to be obedient to the voice of the Lord. We may feel inadequate, but we can draw comfort from the conversation Moses had with Jehovah, who called him to lead Israel out of Egypt... Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say (Ex. 4:12). Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Jul 1995 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Have you ever had feelings of inadequacy when you ve been asked to do something? (Discuss ideas.) How can the story of Moses conversation with the LORD help us overcome our feelings of inadequacy? (Discuss ideas.) God gives us messages of instruction or encouragement to enable us to do His will. Often this is to prepare us for a specific task. This was the case with Moses in the message of the burning bush. We should keep our lives in order so that when we receive a burning bush type of message telling us what the Lord wants us to do we will be able to respond. James E. Faust, Liahona, May 2004 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Points to Ponder: How can we know what the Lord wants us to do? (Discuss ideas. Emphasize: through prayer, the Holy Spirit, reading the scriptures, patriarchal blessings, church leaders and our parents.) May we learn what we should learn, do what we should do, and be what we should be. By so doing, the blessings of heaven will attend and we will know that we are not alone. A kind Heavenly Father will help us in our quest. Thomas S. Monson, Liahona, Nov 2008 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Why is it important to do what the Lord asks us to even if we are afraid? (Discuss ideas) If we will try with faith and prayer and resolution, we can accomplish great good, especially for our own souls. May we be willing and obedient, that we may eat the good of the land. (Isa. 1:19) May we place our trust in our Father in Heaven, to go forth with willing, subdued hearts, that we may be worthy of his blessings. Gordon B. Hinckley, Liahona, Jun 1995 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Quote: Earth s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God; And only he who sees takes off his shoes; by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Approximate Time: 2 minutes Emily sat at the kitchen table enjoying a plate of cookies and a glass of milk while Mother ironed her temple dress. Mom, how come you go to the temple? Emily asked. Oh, there are lots and lots of reasons, Mother answered. The first time was to receive my temple blessings and to be sealed to Daddy. Now, Mother continued, I go as a proxy for women who didn t have the chance to go to the temple when they were living. One of my favorite things to do in the temple, though, is talk to the Lord. Emily s eyes grew big. You talk to Heavenly Father when you re in the temple? I do, Mother said. Just last Saturday I asked Him how I was going to get a job to support myself and my children when I haven t worked outside the home in over fifteen years. Emily tried to blink away her tears. She missed Daddy and she didn t want Mommy to go to work. Mother put the iron in its cradle and sat down next to Emily. We miss Daddy, don t we? Mother said with tears falling down her own cheeks. But, because Daddy and I were married in the temple our family has the opportunity to be together forever. If we stay close to the Lord, we ll see him again! I know, Emily sniffled. That s what Daddy told me before he went back to live with Heavenly Father. And Daddy was a good man, Mother added, He wouldn t lie to his princess. Are you scared to go back to work? Emily asked. I was, Mother confided. Until last week when I talked to Heavenly Father in the temple. Emily face shone with excitement. What did He tell you, Mommy? I bet He has the sweetest voice, Emily continued before Mother could respond, Like Grandpa s when he tells me bedtime stories. Mother smiled. Grandpa does have a sweet voice. Doesn t he? But, I can t hear the Lord s voice like Moses or the Brother of Jared did. When He speaks to me, an idea comes into my mind. Then after I pray about it, if it s right, I feel a sweet feeling in here, Mother said, patting her chest. I ve had that feeling, Emily proudly stated, Heavenly Father talks to me, too! Remember last year when I was afraid to go to kindergarten? I remember, Mother said. Daddy told me to pray about it, Emily explained. I did and I got the sweetest feeling inside. I just knew Heavenly Father would be with me and help me not be afraid. Do you think? Mother whispered in Emily s ear, Heavenly Father s voice is just as sweet as that feeling! by Margie Nauta Lee

Approximate time: 15 minutes What you need: Preparation Activity: A copy of the Burning Bush activity, scriptures, tape and scissors. 1. Print out the artwork. 2. Cut out. 3. Tape the four sections of the bush together by overlapping edges to match. (Younger children will need help from an older sibling or parent.) 1. Ask: How did the Lord appear to Moses? ( In a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush [Ex. 3:2]) 2. Ask: What was the first thing the Lord said to Moses? (He called him by name. Moses, Moses. [Exodus 3:4]) 3. Explain: Through this experience Moses learned of his relationship to God and heard the words Behold, thou art my son. (Moses 1:4) Imagine the shock and amazement that Moses, this man raised in the pagan environment of Pharaoh s court, must have experienced when he learned from God Himself that he was a son of God. Richard C. Edgley, Ensign, Jan 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. 4. Ask: Do you think the Lord knows your name? (Discuss ideas. Emphasize that the Lord knows and loves each of His children. [John 10:3]) 5. Explain: When the Lord told Moses that he was to go to Egypt and free the children of Israel, Moses expressed his feelings of inadequacy. He told the Lord that he was slow of speech... [Ex. 4:10] 6. Ask: How did the Lord respond to Moses fears? (Discuss ideas. See Ex. 4:11-16) 7. Explain: Like Moses, the Lord loves us and will be with us to help us accomplish the things that He calls us to do. 8. (Show bush illustration without flames.) Ask: What is missing from this burning bush? (Flames.) 9. Take turns answering questions. Tape a flame on the bush for each question answered correctly.

Why did the Lord tell Moses to take off his shoes? And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. (Exodus 3:5) Where did the Lord want Moses to go? Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. (Exodus 3:10) Where can we go that we need to take off our shoes because it is holy ground? (The temple.) Tell about a time when the Lord has helped you. Who did the Lord say would talk to the children of Israel for Moses? ( And he [Aaron, thy brother] shall be thy spokesman unto the people: [Exodus 3:14-16]) True or False? The Lord told Moses to tell the children of Israel that I Am sent him to them. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (Exodus 3:14) Who did the Heavenly Father send to earth to help us return to Him? ( Thus saith the Lord; for I am God, and have sent mine Only Begotten Son [Jesus Christ] into the world for the redemption of the world, and have decreed that he that receiveth him shall be saved... [D&C 49:5]) The Lord told Moses His name was I Am [Exodus 3:14] Give another name He is known by. ( One of the roles of the Book of Mormon is to add to the Old Testament many precious insights into the great plan, particularly concerning [Jesus] Christ, who is Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament (see 1 Ne. 17:30). Gary J. Coleman, Ensign, Jan 2002 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. True or False? The Lord came down to help His people build better cities for Pharaoh. And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. (Exodus 3:8) The Lord spoke to Moses in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. (Exodus 3:2.) What is one way that the Lord speaks to us? (Accept any appropriate answer such as; prophets, scriptures, Holy Ghost, patriarchal blessings, etc.)

What did the Lord tell Moses to cast on the ground? ( And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground. [Exodus 4:2 3]) What did the rod Moses cast on the ground turn into? (... and it became a serpent; [Exodus 4:3]) True or False? When Moses took his hand out of his shirt it was black as coal. ( And the Lord said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. [Exodus 4:6]) What should you do if the Lord calls you to do something that you aren t good at? ( I am a child of God... Like Moses, I can do this with the Lord s help. Richard C. Edgley, Ensign, Jan 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.) True or False? When Moses picked up the serpent it bit him. ( And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: [Exodus 4:4]) Why was Moses saved from Pharaoh s orders to kill all baby boys? ( Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. [Exodus 3:10]) True or False? All baptized members of the church have been called to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ and to keep His commandments (...that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments... [Moro. 4:3].) True or False? The Lord told Moses the water in the river would turn to blood. ( and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land. [Exodus 4:9]) Whose afflictions and cries did the Lord tell Moses he had seen? ( And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people [children of Israel] which are in Egypt... [Exodus 3:10]) The Lord knew that the children of Israel were suffering and sent Moses to help them. Do you think the Lord knows and cares when we are suffering and He will he help us? ( Christ suffered all that any of us will ever have to suffer that He might know how to succor us. [Alma 7:11 12.]Keith R. Edwards, Liahona, Nov 2006 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Approximate Time: 5 minutes Prep Time: 3 minutes Cook Time: 2 minutes No Bake Burning Bush Cookies 1/2 cup milk 2 cups sugar 1 cube butter or margarine 1/4 cup baking cocoa 1 t. vanilla 3 cups chow mein noodles 1 cup candy corn Combine milk, sugar, butter and cocoa in medium sauce pan. Cook on medium until mixture boils; stirring continually. Continue stirring while mixture boils for two minutes. Remove from heat. Add vanilla. Stir in chow mein noodles until completely covered with chocolate mixture. Drop tablespoonsful of the mixture onto large sheet of wax paper to form chocolate bushes. Treat Time: Give each family member a chocolate bush. Press leaf flames (candy corn) onto your bushes to create your Burning Bush cookie. Closing Prayer and blessing on the food.