"By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for the families."
What You'll Need
Scriptures, working flashlight with batteries, GAK 208: John the Baptist Baptizing Jesus, GAK 407: John the Baptist Conferring the Aaronic Priesthood, printed Bitty Books, scissors, staples and coloring tools.
Quote
President Thomas S. Monson
"May [the Priesthood] bless our lives and may we use it to bless the lives of others."
Hymn
1. The priesthood is restored,
The truth made known to man,
That God has spoken to the earth,
His pow’r is here again.
The truth made known to man,
That God has spoken to the earth,
His pow’r is here again.
Lesson
(Take the batteries out of your flashlight before starting the lesson, but keep them nearby)
1. Show children the flashlight.
- What is this flash light used for?
(to show us the way, protect us, help us know what's ahead of us, etc.)
2. Have a child try to turn the flashlight on. When it doesn't come on, examine it and eventually find out that there are no batteries.
- The flashlight isn't working because it needs power.
3. Produce the batteries. Place them in the flashlight and have a child turn it on. Explain that now that the flashlight has power, we can use it guide and protect us.
4. Heavenly Father has great power. He wants to use it to guide and protect us, to show us the way and to make our lives better. The batteries in this flashlight are like the power of God. They are like his power. But we also need a flashlight, something he can give his power to to use for good. The power of God is called the PRIESTHOOD.
5. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ give the priesthood to worthy men in the Church. When these men are directed by Heavenly Father, they can use the priesthood to help us and bless us. The Priesthood is a power that can only be used to help others and make them happy.
1. Show children the flashlight.
- What is this flash light used for?
(to show us the way, protect us, help us know what's ahead of us, etc.)
2. Have a child try to turn the flashlight on. When it doesn't come on, examine it and eventually find out that there are no batteries.
- The flashlight isn't working because it needs power.
3. Produce the batteries. Place them in the flashlight and have a child turn it on. Explain that now that the flashlight has power, we can use it guide and protect us.
4. Heavenly Father has great power. He wants to use it to guide and protect us, to show us the way and to make our lives better. The batteries in this flashlight are like the power of God. They are like his power. But we also need a flashlight, something he can give his power to to use for good. The power of God is called the PRIESTHOOD.
5. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ give the priesthood to worthy men in the Church. When these men are directed by Heavenly Father, they can use the priesthood to help us and bless us. The Priesthood is a power that can only be used to help others and make them happy.
6. Show the children the picture GAK 208: John the Baptist Baptizing Jesus.
John the Baptist had the Priesthood. That is why Jesus went to him to be baptized.
7. When the Church of Jesus Christ was being restored on the earth by Joseph Smith, the same John the Baptist gave Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdry the Priesthood Power.
8. Show the children GAK 407: John the Baptist Conferring the Aaronic Priesthood
9. The Melchizedek Priesthood was also restored to Joseph Smith. With the Priesthood worthy men can use it to do many great things. Baptized and Confirm, heal the sick, marry families for eternity in the Temple, give special father's blessings, blessing a baby, blessing the sacrament and many other great things.
10. Tell your children the following story:
"I want to tell you a story about a girl who was blessed by the priesthood when she had a problem...
Susanne was getting ready for the first day of school. She had been excited about beginning school, but now that the first day had finally come she was frightened. Susanne was quiet all morning. Her mother had made her favorite breakfast, but Susanne did not smile when she saw it. She tried to eat, but she could not.
Susanne told her mother that she felt sick. Her mother felt her head to see if she had a fever. She looked in her throat, but it was not red. Susanne’s mother asked her where she felt sick. Susanne said she just felt funny inside. Susanne’s father said she probably felt funny inside because it was the first day of school. She was a little frightened because she would be away from home all day and didn’t know what to expect. Susanne’s father explained that he had the same feeling when he started his new job.
Susanne’s father offered to give her a blessing before she went to school. The blessing would help take away the frightened, funny feeling Susanne had. Susanne’s father placed his hands on her head and gave her a special blessing. When Susanne came home that afternoon, she was happy. She told her mother that she liked school and her teacher was nice. Susanne was glad her father gave her a special blessing to help her feel better at school.
11. This kind of blessing is often called a father’s blessing. If our fathers are not able to give us blessings, we can ask other men who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood, such as our home teachers, other family members, or the bishop or branch president, to give us blessings when we need them.
The Priesthood is a wonderful gift from God and one that can bless the lives of everyone.
Bear your testimony about the Priesthood. Share an experience when the priesthood enriched your life and/or showed you the way to go. Bear testimony that the Priesthood is restored within the LDS church.
Activity
2- Play Body English.
Treat
Crazy Cucumber SnakesServe your kids this cool treat in honor of Eat Your Vegetables Day (June 17). Arrange the cucumber slices as shown, then add an olive eye, a red pepper tongue, and a snake pit of hummus or dip. 
