Lesson 6: Adam and Eve Lived the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Primary 6: Old Testament, (1996), 23–26

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Purpose

To help the children understand that the gospel of Jesus Christ is eternal and is based on truths that will help us gain exaltation.

Preparation

1. 1. 
   Prayerfully study:
   • •  Moses 5:58–59—The gospel was preached to Adam by angels.
   • •  Moses 6:1—Adam obeyed God and called upon his sons to repent.
   • •  Moses 6:48–63—Adam was taught the plan of salvation.
   • •  Moses 6:64–68—Adam was baptized and received the Holy Ghost and the priesthood.
2. 2. 
   Additional reading:
   • •  2 Nephi 31:5, 9–12, 15–21—Nephi teaches the same principles that were taught to Adam.
3. 3. 
   Study the lesson and decide how you want to teach the children the scripture account (see “Preparing Your Lessons,”p. vi, and “Teaching from the Scriptures,” p. vii). Select the discussion questions and enrichment activities that will best help the children achieve the purpose of the lesson.
4. 4. 
   Materials needed:
   1. a.  A Pearl of Great Price and a Book of Mormon for each child.
   2. b.  A Doctrine and Covenants.
   3. c.  A piece of bread or fruit and a rock, a picture of a rock, or a piece of metal that does not rust (see the attention activity).

Suggested Lesson Development

Invite a child to give the opening prayer.

Attention Activity

Show the children the piece of bread or fruit, and ask questions similar to the following ones:

• • Will this be different if I keep it a month? a year?
• • Will it change if the hot sun shines on it for a week?
• • Will it change if I keep it in water for a week?
• • Will it change if I step on it?

Show the children the rock, piece of metal, or picture, and ask the same questions about the object or the object in the picture.

Explain that some things around us change and some do not. Ask the children to think of other examples of things that change and things that do not.

• • Does the gospel of Jesus Christ change? Help the children understand that the gospel of Jesus Christ existed before the creation of the earth to give us the opportunity to become like Heavenly Father, and it is part of his plan for us (see Mosiah 3:17). The gospel that Adam and Eve received after they ate the forbidden fruit and became mortal is the same gospel we have today.

Scripture Account

Teach the children the account from Moses 5:58–59; 6:1, 48–68 of Adam and Eve being taught and then living the gospel. (For suggested ways to teach the scripture account, see “Teaching from the Scriptures,” p. vii.)

Discussion and Application Questions

Study the following questions and the scripture references as you prepare your lesson. Use the questions you feel will best help the children understand the scriptures and apply the principles in their lives. Reading and discussing the scriptures with the children in class will help them gain personal insights.

• • What did angels teach Adam and Eve? (Moses 5:58.) Why do you think we are taught the same gospel that Adam and Eve were taught? (The gospel is based on unchanging, eternal truths.)
• • Why did Adam and Eve need the gospel of Jesus Christ? (Moses 6:48–52, 57.) Why do we all need the gospel?
• • What are the first principles and ordinances of the gospel? (Articles of Faith 1:4.) What principles and ordinances were Adam and Eve taught? (Moses 6:52.) Point out that the first principles and ordinances of the gospel were the same in Adam’s day as they are today.
• • 
  What is the difference between a principle of the gospel and an ordinance?(A principle is a basic doctrine or law. An ordinance is a sacred ceremony with spiritual meaning that is performed by someone with priesthood authority.)
• 4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

• • What did Adam do that showed he had faith in Jesus Christ? (Moses 5:4–6.) Help the children understand that after Adam learned these teachings, he lived them. How do we show that we have faith in the Savior?
• • How do we know that Adam repented of his transgression in the Garden of Eden? (Moses 6:53.) How can we be forgiven for the wrong things we do? Why must we repent? (Moses 6:57.)
• • By what method was Adam baptized? (Moses 6:64.) Point out that “laid under the water” means being immersed in the water. How are we baptized?

President Reynolds, Timpanogos Temple President, discussed -- at a workers' prayer meeting on February 8, 2014 -- baptism.   See 2 Nephi 31 

          How do we become clean?
          What does baptism do?
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• • What was Adam taught about the Holy Ghost? (Moses 6:61; He is a Comforter, giver of peace, teacher of truth.) What did Adam receive after he was baptized? (Moses 6:65–66.) How do we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost? (D&C 20:41.) How can the Holy Ghost help you?
• • What is the difference between the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost? (The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead and a personage of spirit who can help anyone who is worthy. The gift of the Holy Ghost is the right we receive after baptism, when we are confirmed, to have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion if we keep our baptismal covenants.) “A person may be temporarily guided by the Holy Ghost without receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Gospel Principles, p. 138).
• • Why are the first principles and ordinances of the gospel important throughout our lives? Explain that we need to always have faith in Jesus Christ and obey his commandments. We need to repent daily. We renew our baptismal covenants each Sabbath day as we partake of the sacrament. We can be guided and blessed throughout our life by listening to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. We can eventually become like Heavenly Father.

Enrichment Activities

You may use one or more of the following activities any time during the lesson or as a review, summary, or challenge.

1. 1.  Display the plan of salvation cutouts used in lesson 1.
   • •  Where are we in this plan right now?
   Remove all the cutouts except Birth, Earth Life, Death, andCelestial Kingdom. Explain that we are all trying to go from Earth Life to the Celestial Kingdom. Point out that there are certain things we must do in order to achieve this goal. Have each child look up one or more of the following scriptures to find these key words:
   • 2 Nephi 31:19—Faith in Christ
   • 2 Nephi 31:11—Repentance
   • 2 Nephi 31:5—Baptism
   • 2 Nephi 31:12—Receiving the Holy Ghost
   • 2 Nephi 31:15—Enduring to the end
   Discuss the information in 2 Nephi 31:17–21 to help the children understand what we must do throughout our lives to reach the celestial kingdom. Help them realize the importance of our life here on earth.
2. 2.  Read statements similar to the following to emphasize how the gospel of Jesus Christ does not change. Have the children stand if the statement is true.
   • •  Jesus Christ was baptized by immersion, so we are to be baptized by immersion. (True)
   • •  My parents were taught to dress modestly and appropriately, but I should be able to dress any way I want. (False)
   • •  Adam and Eve prayed to Heavenly Father, and I pray to Heavenly Father. (True)
   • •  Adam and Eve were taught the same principles and ordinances of the gospel as we have in the fourth article of faith. (True)
   • •  The Holy Ghost helped only those people who lived long ago. (False)
   • •  The people we read about in the scriptures were taught to have faith in Jesus Christ, and I am taught to have faith in Jesus Christ. (True)
   • •  Adam and Eve repented of their transgressions, so I don’t have to repent when I do wrong. (False)
   • •  We read about paying tithing in the scriptures, but that law was only for people who lived long ago. (False)
   • •  Jesus Christ taught people to love and serve others, and I have been taught to love and serve others. (True)
3. 3.  Discuss the meaning of faith in Jesus Christ. It is a strong belief in Jesus that inspires us to obey his teachings. Help the children understand that when we have faith in Jesus Christ, we not only believe in him but we also do what he wants us to do.
4. 4.  Discuss the meaning of repentance. “Repentance is the way provided for us to become free from our sins and to receiveforgiveness for them.” To repent, we must feel sincere sorrow for our sins. We must stop sinning and begin keeping the commandments. (See Gospel Principles, pp. 123–25.)
5. 5.  Share your feelings about your baptism, and let the children tell what they remember about their baptisms.

D&C 39: 10 But, behold, the days of thy ^adeliverance are come, if thou wilt ^bhearken to my voice, which saith unto thee: Arise and be baptized, and ^cwash away your sins, calling on my name, and you shall receive my Spirit, and a blessing so great as you never have known.

 Moses 6:59 That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the ^aspirit, which I have made, and so became of ^bdust a living soul, even so ye must be ^cborn again into the kingdom of heaven, of ^dwater, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and ^eenjoy the ^fwords of ^geternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal ^hglory;

 60 For by the ^awater ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are ^bjustified, and by the ^cblood ye are ^dsanctified;

• •
  “Baptism is a sign to God, to angels, and to heaven that we do the will of God, and there is no other way beneath the heavens whereby God hath ordained for man to come to Him to be saved, and enter into the Kingdom of God, except faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and baptism for the remission of sins, and any other course is in vain; then you have the promise of the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Smith, Teachings, 198).

1. 6.  Help the children understand the importance of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Share an experience you have had or someone you know has had of being helped by the Holy Ghost. Invite the children to share experiences they have had.
2. 7.  Explain what it means to “endure to the end.” Help the children understand that baptism into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is just the beginning. We endure to the end and receive eternal life by obeying the commandments for the rest of our lives. Give the children each a piece of paper and have them write down things they can do throughout their lives, such as pray, pay tithing, attend church, read the scriptures, and so on, that will help them endure to the end. Encourage the children to take these papers home and discuss with their families how they can help each other endure to the end.
3. 8.  Sing or read the words to “Faith” (Children’s Songbook, p. 96),“When I Am Baptized” (Children’s Songbook, p. 103), or “The Holy Ghost” (Children’s Songbook, p. 105).

Conclusion

Testimony

Express your feelings about Jesus Christ and what he has done for you. Emphasize the importance of developing faith in him and living his gospel, which includes repenting of our sins, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end by obeying his commandments.

Suggested Family Sharing

Encourage the children to share with their families a specific part of the lesson, such as a story, question, or activity, or to read with their families the “Suggested Home Reading.”

Suggested Home Reading

Suggest that the children study Moses 6:52, 64–68 and 2 Nephi 31:15–21 at home as a review of this lesson.

Invite a child to give the closing prayer.