Repentance FHE lesson by Lara Goold

Repentance by Lara Goold

Materials needed: Peanut butter (or chocolate frosting), wet wipe (or damp paper towel), scriptures

Purpose: Teach family members the concept, importance, and steps of repentance

Scripture: “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord

remember them no more.” Doctrine and Covenants 58:42

Songs: “Repentance”, Children’s Songbook page 98

“Help Me, Dear Father” (2nd

verse), Children’s Songbook, page 99

“The Time is Far Spent”, Hymns, page 266

Opening song and prayer:

Attention Activity: This is where you’ll need the peanut butter (or chocolate frosting), a spoon, and wet wipes or damp

paper towels for this activity.

Ben the Peanut Butter Boy: Read the enclosed story about Ben, smearing peanut butter or frosting on

his face whenever indicated. Then each time he goes through a step of repentance wipe a little peanut

butter (or frosting) away until his face is clean again. Lead the discussion into learning the steps of

repentance.

Lesson: Pencil (steps of repentance): Put out eraser and pencil tip. Read the scripture on the eraser and tell your

family that through repentance we can “erase” our sins and be worthy to live with Heavenly Father again.

One at a time, briefly discuss the steps of repentance, placing the pencil pieces down in order. After you

have discussed all of the steps, your pencil should be complete.

Alma the Younger repents: Tell the story of Alma the Younger using enclosed story (or your own

words) and flannel board figures. Be sure to point out the steps of repentance that Alma followed.

Closing song and prayer:

Refreshments: see recipe below

Dirt Dessert

1 pkg. (16-oz) Oreos

2 cups cold milk

1 pkg. (4 serving size) Jell-o chocolate instant pudding

1 tub (8-oz) Cool Whip, thawed

8-10 plastic or paper cups (8-oz. size)

gummy worms (optional)

Crush cookies. Pour milk into large bowl and add pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk for 2 minutes. Let stand for 5

minutes. Stir in whipped topping and ½ of the crushed cookies. Place 1 tablespoon crushed cookies into each cup. Fill

each cup about ¾ full with pudding mixture. Top with remaining crushed cookies. Refrigerate 1 hour or until ready to

serve. Place gummy worms into cups of “dirt”. Makes 8-10 servings.

Repentance FHE lesson by Lara Goold

Ben the Peanut Butter Boy Learns About Repentance—print onto heavy cardstock and laminate (since

you’ll be spreading peanut butter (or frosting) onto his face and then wiping it off, it is absolutely essential that

he be laminated)

Repentance FHE lesson by Lara Goold

Ben the Peanut Butter Boy Learns about Repentance

This is Ben. One day Ben’s mother told him to take the garbage cans out to the curb so the garbage man could empty

them, and to please remember to put the lids on tightly to make sure the dogs didn’t get into the trash. Ben took the cans

out, but ran off to play with his friends…never stopping to put the lids on tightly. Later, when Ben came home, he found

papers, rotten food, and other trash all over the yard. How do you think Ben felt?

Because he had disobeyed, Ben felt unhappy. He knew that by doing something wrong it was as if he had dirtied his

spirit. (Smear some peanut butter on the picture of Ben)

Ben tried to help his mother around the house and be nice to his brothers and sisters, but sometimes it was hard. One time

he and his brother both wanted to play with the same toy. They yelled at each other and hit each other. Ben won because

he was bigger, but he had hit his brother and hurt his arm. What did Ben do that was wrong?

What do you think happened to Ben’s spirit when he did this? (Smear some more peanut butter)

Ben left school late and as he was leaving he noticed how cold it was getting. He saw a scarf hanging by the door. He

knew it was not his, but it would sure keep him warm until he walked home, so he took the scarf thinking he would return

it the next day. What did Ben do that was wrong? How did he feel now? (Smear more peanut butter)

The next morning Ben was hurrying to school and forgot to take the scarf with him back to school. The teacher told the

class that a scarf that belonged to one of the children was missing and asked if anyone knew where it was. Ben felt bad

that he had taken the scarf and had forgotten to return it, but he did not say a word. After the other children left, the

teacher asked Ben if he had seen the scarf, but Ben did not want to anyone to know what he had done, so he told her he

had not seen it. How did Ben just make his problem bigger? How was he feeling now? (Smear more peanut butter)

Uh oh! Look at what a mess Ben is. He didn’t really mean to do all those wrong things. What should he do now?

Discuss their answers and relate it back to repentance.

What can Ben do to repent for disobeying his mother? (discuss and remove some of the peanut butter)

What can Ben do to repent for being unkind to his brother? (discuss and remove more peanut butter)

How can Ben repent for borrowing the scarf without asking? (discuss and remove more peanut butter)

What should Ben do to repent for not telling the truth? (discuss and remove the rest of the peanut butter)

Wow! Look at him now. He’s all clean. How do you think he feels inside? How does his spirit look?

Use this opportunity to tell your family about what a wonderful gift we’ve been given from our Savior to be able to

repent. Through his atonement we can truly be forgiven of our sins and help us to be “clean” and happy again. Express

your gratitude for Christ’s atonement and lead them into learning the proper steps of repentance part of the lesson (the

pencil activity).

Repentance FHE lesson by Lara Goold

Steps of Repentance (pencil and eraser): print onto heavy cardstock (67-lb. paper or higher), cut out, laminate, cut out

again, mount with magnets or Velcro (or just lie it down on the floor). PART 1

Repentance FHE lesson by Lara Goold

Steps of Repentance (pencil and eraser): print onto heavy cardstock (67-lb. paper or higher), cut out, laminate, cut out again, mount with magnets or Velcro (or just lie it down on the floor). PART 2

Repentance FHE lesson by Lara Goold

Steps of Repentance (pencil and eraser): print onto heavy cardstock (67-lb. paper or higher), cut out, laminate, cut out

again, mount with magnets or Velcro (or just lie it down on the floor). PART 3

Repentance FHE lesson by Lara Goold

Alma the Younger flannel board figures—print onto heavy cardstock (67-lb. paper or higher), cut out, laminate, cut out

again, mount with popsicle sticks, magnets, or Velcro. PART 1

Alma the Younger ↑↑↑↑ Alma the Father ↑↑↑↑

Repentance FHE lesson by Lara Goold

Alma the Younger flannel board figures—print onto heavy cardstock (67-lb. paper or higher), cut out, laminate, cut out

again, mount with popsicle sticks, magnets, or Velcro. PART 2

Angel

Alma

baptizing

many

people

Repentance FHE lesson by Lara Goold

Alma the Younger flannel board figures—print onto heavy cardstock (67-lb. paper or higher), cut out, laminate, cut out

again, mount with popsicle sticks, magnets, or Velcro. PART 3

Alma praying for his son. ↑↑↑

Repentance FHE lesson by Lara Goold

Alma the Younger Repents—Mosiah 27

Read straight from the scriptures, use this summary, or retell in your own words using the flannel board figures when appropriate. Make sure you point out the steps of

repentance that they went through along the way. You may also want to point out that most of us will not have angels come tell us when we need to repent, but that we

will feel in our hearts when we need to make changes and repent.

King Mosiah made Alma the leader of the church in Zarahemla. Alma then chose other men to help him teach

the Nephites. Alma and King Mosiah worried because unbelievers were making Church member suffer because

of their beliefs. Alma had a son named Alma. Alma the Younger did not believe the teachings of his father and

became a wicked man. Alma the Younger and the four sons of King Mosiah fought against the Church. They

persuaded many people to leave the Church and become wicked. Alma prayed that his son would learn the

truth and repent.

Alma the Younger and the sons of King Mosiah continued trying to destroy the Church. One day an angel

appeared to them. The angel spoke in a loud voice that shook the ground. The five young men were so

frightened that they fell down. At first they could not understand what the angel was saying. The angel had

come in answer to the prayers of the Church members. The angel asked Alma the Younger why he was fighting

against the Church. The ground shook as the angel told Alma the Younger to stop trying to destroy the Church.

Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah fell down again. They had seen an angel and they knew th power of

God had shaken the ground. Alma the Younger was so astonished that he could not speak. He became so weak

that he could not even move his hands.

The sons of Mosiah carried Alma the Younger to his father and told him what had happened to them. Alma was

happy. He knew that God had answered his prayers. Alma called many people together to see what the Lord

had done for his son and for the sons of Mosiah. Alma, along with other Church leader, fasted and prayed and

asked God to help Alma the Younger become strong again.

After two days and nights, Alma the Younger was able to speak and move again. He told the people he had

repented of his sins and God had forgiven him. He taught everyone must become righteous in order to enter

God’s kingdom. He also told of the great pain he had suffered because of his sins.

Alma the Younger was happy because he had repented and God had forgiven him. He knew God loved him.

Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah began to teach the truth throughout the land, telling everyone what

they had seen and heard. They tried to undo the wrong they had done. They explained the scriptures to the

people and taught them about Jesus Christ. God blessed Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah as they

taught the gospel. Many people listened to them and were baptized.