Parable Activities, Games, Lesson Ideas & Printables for Kids
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The righteous find the truth and do whatever it takes to gather to it.
Because the blessings of the gospel are of eternal value, they are worth any sacrifice
Activities Quick-Glance List
[Click each image below to jump to that section of the page.]
The Greatest Treasure Lesson
Oreo Object Lesson
Digging for Treasure Activity
Hidden Treasure & Pearl Parable Play Mat Folder Game
Parables Coloring Page and Pearl Crown Craft
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Give kids some construction paper and crayons. Ask them to draw a picture of their favorite things then ask them to share what they drew. The things that you drew today are like treasure. Treasure is something that is of great value to those that find it. What is the most important thing in the whole world to you? What do you think God thinks is the most important thing in the whole world?
Extension for older kids: Show a picture of a million dollars. Is this pretty important in the world today? Is this something people want more than anything and many will do anything to get lots of? When you see something like a million dollars, you might think that is the best thing in the world, but the scriptures teaches us that the greatest treasure is the blessings that come from the gospel of Jesus Christ. And Heaven and those blessings are better than the best thing that you can imagine on this Earth.
(Read Matthew 13:44 - "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”)
What did Jesus say the Kingdom of Heaven was like in that scripture? (A treasure hidden in a field.)
And when the man found the treasure, what did he do? (He sold everything he had so he could buy the field and get the treasure.)
(Read Matthew 13:45-46.)
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”
What else did Jesus say the Kingdom of Heaven is like? (A very expensive pearl.)
When the man found the pearl, what did he do? (He sold everything he had so he could buy the pearl.)
So, Jesus says that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure or a very expensive pearl and that both the man who wanted to buy the treasure and the man who wanted to buy the pearl had to sell everything else that they had to get the treasure and the pearl. There are many things in life that we treasure, but the scriptures teach us that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the greatest treasure that there is on this Earth, and that it is worth any price, even all that we have. You don't have to answer this yet but I want you to think about it: What might we have to give up to be part of God’s Kingdom? What might we have to give up as a follower of Jesus? What things do we get when we are part of God's Kingdom?
Talk about how some things we treasure aren't necessarily bad (i.e. favorite blanket, books, etc.) and it's ok to have favorite things, but we shouldn't make anything more important or put anything before God & His gospel. Ex: Do we give all our free time to our friends or our video games? Do we give any of that to God, His gospel and serving?
What is the Kingdom of Heaven? Being in the Kingdom of Heaven means accepting Jesus's gospel, believing in and serving God. Living for God and going to be with Him in Heaven is worth everything. It’s the most important thing there is.
Give each child something they really like or have wanted. Then ask if they would be willing to trade their item for a Book of Mormon (represents the Kingdom of Heaven). (Related to things they want/get now vs. things they can have later and temporal vs. spiritual desires).
Also share stories about the early saints and how much they sacrificed to be part of Jesus church. Share specific stories or this general statement: In the countries of Latin America, it is not unusual for a member of a family to be disowned or ostracized after leaving the traditional church to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have seen people lose their friends, be excluded and persecuted by neighbors, and lose employment because they have embraced the restored gospel, their treasure and pearl. They have had to pay the price in full measure. (Parables and Prophecies in Our Day - church website)
Sometimes God won't ask us to give up everything and sometimes He does. The world has different standards and views from what the gospel teaches. Are you willing to skip out on movies, music and activities that are spiritually damaging, even if popular? Are you willing to give up being popular with your friends to be true to Jesus gospel? Are you willing to be disliked and even hated by people because you remain true to Jesus and His gospel? Are you willing to give up your sins? The things that keep you away from Jesus (cigarette, pornography, tendencies, etc. - fit to age and appropriateness of kids)... We have to give up our sin, the wrong things that we do. We have to show that being in the Kingdom of Heaven is most important to us by giving up the wrong things we do and make Him first in our lives. We have to show that being in the Kingdom of Heaven is more important that what our friends think, what anyone else thinks, how much money we have, how popular we are..... If we show that we believe in God by making Him first in our lives and live His gospel, then we’ll be part of God’s Kingdom and will go to Heaven to be with Him one day.
Put together the Jesus & Idol figures and talk about temporal vs spiritual desires/goals - see pics below.
Remind your kids that the man who wanted the treasure and the man who wanted the pearl traded everything they had to get them, just like we have to be willing to give up everything to make God the most important thing to us and become a part of His kingdom. Watch THE PEARL Living Scripture song (4:53-8:30, video below).
Ask your kids if they are willing to sell you the thing you gave them for the Book of Mormon (i.e. "Kingdom of Heaven")... "Sell" them the Book of Mormon, if they will, in exchange for the item you gave them at the start. Emphasize though it may not always be easy but it will be worth it... Talk about the eternal blessings that come from the treasure/pearl (i.e. "Kingdom of Heaven"). Ex: Give kids cookies and get them to sell them back...don't tell them they get the cookies back yet. At the end of the lesson, say that because they sacrificed to have the gospel and live it, now we can all celebrate in Heaven together and Heavenly Father rewards us hundreds-fold with blessings for our righteousness (i.e. give them cookie back plus more ;), or something to that effect).
(Hold up some Oreos). Who likes these? A lot of people do. These are one of the most popular cookies in the world. There’s no wrong way to eat an Oreo, but lots of people like to unscrew the top of the cookie and eat the round, creamy center first. The creamy center of an Oreo, round and white, resembles a pearl. Pearls are quite valuable - far more valuable than a simple Oreo. Today’s parable is about a pearl, and that pearl represents something far more valuable than any cookie or any pearl.
READ MATTHEW 13:45-46
The man in this story found a pearl that he wanted so badly, he gave up everything he had to acquire that pearl: his house, his clothes, his business, everything he had... all so he could get the pearl. I can’t imagine anyone giving up everything they had for a pearl, much less an Oreo, but Jesus isn’t talking about gemstones. He’s talking about himself. Jesus and His gospel is the pearl. He is the way back into the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus wants us all to go to Heaven, and if we give our hearts to Jesus, we will be able to return to Him again!
Is God going to ask you to give up some things? Sure he will. God wants to take away everything in our lives that keeps us away from Him. But when we consider what God has given us (Jesus/atonement, plan of salvation, eternal families, etc. - blessings of gospel), we will realize there is no price we could ever pay to equal that gift. God wants us to know that the kingdom of Heaven is worth any price we must pay. It’s worth more than money, more than popularity, more than power. God wants us to have the kingdom of Heaven. And he wants us all to be willing to do anything to receive it.
Next time you crack open an Oreo to eat that creamy center, take a moment to look at the round, white shape inside. Remember the pearl of priceless value, and remember what God has given us through Jesus. Let’s thank God for sending Jesus to be our Savior.
Digging For Treasure
WHAT YOU NEED:
Bin(s) with rice and fake jewels in the rice
Paper strips with things we can do to remain faithful and true to God written on each.
To remind children that they must continually be working towards Heaven, have children search for their own buried treasure.
HOW TO PLAY:
Fill a sensory table with rice and hide costume jewelry in the rice. Let kids take turns digging for the buried treasure. Remind the kids that the man in the parable was so happy when he found the buried treasure that he sold everything that he had to buy the treasure and the field where it was buried. We have to put in the work of keeping our testimonies strong and live the gospel so we can have treasures in heaven someday. (For each jewel found, read one of the strips or ask each person with a jewel to name some way they can stay faithful and truth to Jesus and His gospel).
Use along with "The Greatest Treasure" lesson above.
Field: Put together then kids lift the flaps and try to find the "treasure" in the field. Talk about earthly vs. heavenly treasures/temporal vs spiritual treasures, i.e. "Kingdom of God" treasures... (pearl folder portion) and things we might need to give up to obtain the "treasure" (i.e. things written on the other jewels) - share additional stories of pioneers, people who have had to sacrifice much to have the gospel. Ask: What are we willing to sacrifice for Jesus? To endure & be faithful?
Read Mosiah 2:41 - "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out cfaithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."
Pearl: Let kids add a pearl on the pearl clam page as you talk about blessings we receive from being part of the "Kingdom of God." Add additional ideas to the empty pearls.
Hide pictures of a treasure chest and a pearl in the room, and let the children find them. Use the pictures to teach about the parables in Matthew 13:44–46. Talk about why someone might give up everything they have for a beautiful pearl or a treasure in a field. Explain that sometimes we give up something good for something even better.* Tell the children why the gospel is valuable to you.
Place in a box or chest several objects or pictures that represent “treasures” in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, such as the Savior, temples, or the Book of Mormon. Ask each child to choose an object or picture and talk about why it is a treasure.
Sing together “The Church of Jesus Christ” (Children’s Songbook, 77), and ask the children to talk about reasons they’re thankful for the Savior’s Church. Testify of the blessings you’ve experienced because of your membership in the Church.
(Older Primary)
Invite the children to read Matthew 13:44–46 to themselves and share the parables in their own words with another class member.
Cut out several circles to represent coins, and put them in a treasure box. (GET FREE coins printable in the printables library - login/register below). Invite the children to pick a coin and draw or write on it one thing they love about being a member of the Church. Ask the children to share what they put on their coin.
Invite a ward member to share his or her conversion story with the children and tell what he or she sacrificed to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Or ask the children to talk about sacrifices they make for the Lord and His Church.
(FAMILY)
What do the two men in these parables have in common? Are there additional things we should be doing as individuals and as a family to put the kingdom of God first in our lives? (See Jesus/Idols craft and Temporal/Spiritual Folder Game for some fun activities you can use to teach this concept).
“He who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.” (D&C 88:22.) The law of sacrifice is that we are willing to sacrifice all that we have for the truth’s sake—our character and reputation; our honor and applause; our good name among men; our houses, lands, and families: all things, even our very lives if need be. Joseph Smith said, “A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary [to lead] unto life and salvation.” (Lectures on Faith, p. 58.) - https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1975/04/obedience-consecration-and-sacrifice?lang=eng
