The foundation for this lesson comes from one of President Hinckley's last Conference addresses. An inspiring video clipfrom the newly restored widescreen DVD–Mormon & Moroni, story, lesson and actifivity will help "fill" your family with the desire and courage to listen to the spirit while doing their part in "Filling the Earth with the Gospel."
If you wish to print sheet music or have an online music file to accompany you click on the song link to visit: http://www.lds.org/churchmusic
SCRIPTURE
Doctrine and Covenant 65:2
2. The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth.
VIDEO CLIP
Watch chapters 11–12 from the Animated Complete Learning System, Mormon and Moroni DVD or CLICK FOR CLIP
LESSON SUMMARY
A lone witness.
Why do you think that Moroni’s life was spared? (Discuss ideas.)
Where can we find Moroni’s testimony? (In the Book of Mormon–Moroni 10:3-4.)
“Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Moroni 10:3–4.)
His gospel shall fill the whole earth.
How is Moroni’s testimony helping the gospel fill the whole earth? (Discuss ideas.)
Why is it important for us to gain our own testimonies? (Discuss ideas. Emphasize that it's hard to share the gospel if you don't have a testimony of your own.)
POINTS TO PONDER
Do you have to wait until you can serve a full time mission to help the gospel fill the earth? (No.)
What can our family do to help the gospel fill the earth? (Discuss ideas.)
Like Moroni and all the other ancient prophets, modern-day prophets and apostles bear witness of Jesus Christ and the restoration of His gospel (see The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles). President Hinckley was a wonderful example to the world. He always worked hard to do his part in helping the gospel fill the earth. President Monson is also a great example for us to follow. As the new President of the Church, we can be assured that he will continue to lead us in this great work.
“Do you know about God’s plan for you?” “Do you know where you’re going?” “Do you know where you’ve been?” “Do you know, you’re a child of God?”
These are some of the questions Debbie loves to ask and more importantly answer. She asked the lady standing next to her in the grocery store line, the parents of one of her day-care children, the neighbor down the street and even the phone repairman. When the Spirit whispers, Debbie listens and acts. Some will listen and some will not, but Debbie found something wonderful when she was a young girl and
the Spirit guides her in sharing it.
It all began when Debbie was in the first grade and she became friends with Becky Swenson.
“Do you want to go to primary with me after school on Wednesday?” Becky asked Debbie.
When Debbie was a little girl, Primary was held after school. Sunday school was held on Sunday morning and Sacrament meeting was held that evening.
“Primary? What’s Primary?” Debbie questioned.
This was the beginning of Debbie’s miracle. Not the kind of miracle that parts the Red Sea or turns water into wine, but the kind of miracle that can change a little girl’s life.
After getting permission from her mother, Debbie eagerly awaited Wednesday, when she and Becky would go to Primary together.
“We’re all Heavenly Father’s children,” Sister Brown told the class. “He loves us and wants us to return to live with Him someday.”
Debbie thought about what Sister Brown had taught her. Her Aunt Sarah had taught her to recite a prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep,” at night before she went to bed, but Debbie didn’t know that she was a child of God and that He loved her. “Oh, I love primary,” she thought.
When Debbie was in second grade her father passed away. The only job Debbie’s mother could find, to support her two young children, was tending bar in another town. The job didn’t pay much, but it came with a rent-free apartment above the tavern. So the family moved.
Debbie missed Becky. She missed going to primary. But she remembered the steps of prayer Sister Brown had taught her and she prayed for another miracle. Debbie didn’t become discouraged when it seemed like no one at her new school was ever going to play with “the girl who lives above the tavern,”
because she knew Heavenly Father loved her and would bless her. Then one day Debbie got her miracle.
“Do you want to go to Primary with me?” Mary Turner asked.
“Primary! I love Primary!” Debbie exclaimed.
The next day Debbie went to Primary with Mary. After Primary was over, Mary’s mother was helping her nine children into the family’s twelve-passenger van.
“Come on, Debbie. We’ll give you a ride home,” Mrs. Turner called.
Debbie was afraid that Mrs. Turner wouldn’t let Mary play with her if she knew she lived above the tavern. “Thank you, Mrs. Turner, but I can walk.”
“Don’t be silly. It’s too far for you to walk home alone,” Mrs. Turner said with a smile.
Becky didn’t even have to tell Mrs. Turner how to get to her apartment. She drove straight there.
“We would love to have you come to Sunday School and Sacrament Meeting with us on Sunday,” Mrs. Turner told Debbie. “Would you like that?”
Debbie eagerly nodded her head, “Yes.” Mrs. Turner then marched right into the tavern to talk to Debbie’s mother. A tear trickled down Debbie’s mother’s cheek. She gave permission for Debbie to go to Church and then thanked Mrs. Turner for being so kind to her daughter.
Debbie and Mary soon became best friends. Every Sunday morning and Sunday evening, for five years, the Turner’s drove across town, with their nine children, to take Debbie to church with them. Debbie loved the feeling she had when she was in church and she longed to have that feeling forever.
“That’s the Holy Ghost,” Mary explained, “and you can always have Him with you.”
Soon arrangements were made for Debbie to receive the missionary lessons. Mary loved the things the missionaries taught her and she loved reading the Book of Mormon.
“Sometimes I feel like I’ve heard this all before. Like in a dream or something,” Debbie told the elders.
“You have heard this before, Mary,” Elder Thompson said. “You heard God’s plan when you lived with Him before you were born. All of us who accepted His plan came to earth to gain a body...”
Debbie was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on her thirteenth
birthday. When she was twenty-one she served a full time mission and after she returned home she was married in the temple.
Today Debbie has eight children of her own and she makes it a point to follow the Turner’s example. Debbie listens to the spirit, shares her testimony and invites others to come to church with her family.
“Do you know families can be together forever?” “Do you know that Christ’s Church has been restored to the earth?” “Do you know there is a living prophet on the earth today?”
Pour into 2 jelly roll pans that have been lined with
plastic wrap. To prevent plastic wrap from falling into fruit mixture, wet sides of pan before lining.
Bake at 170 degrees F. for 4-5 hours or until surface feels leathery.
Let cool completely.
Cut into
3 x 9 inch strips.
Remove plastic wrap.
Brush lightly with powdered sugar.
Ingredients:
2 (29 oz.) can peaches
1 banana
(For a faster alternative, use commercially available fruit rolls.)
Treat Time: (Short on time? Use store bought fruit leather.)
For each family member, fold strips accordion style into 1.5 x 3 inch folds. Cut out “Fruit Leather Children” by placing pattern with the back on the solid folded side and the front on the side with the two open ends. Cut along dotted lines with kitchen shears. Carefully unfold. If fruit leather tears while unfolding you can easily press it back together again.
ACTIVITY
Younger children will need help from an older sibling or parent.
Activity:
1. Since the early days of the Restoration, church leaders have worked at the task of the Gospel filling the earth. As early as 1837, missionaries served in foreign missions. The work continues today with over 52,000 full time missionaries throughout the world.
2. How many members were there when the Church was organized in 1830? (Six.)
3. How many members are there today? (Over 14 million.)
5. Heavenly Father loves all his children and wants them all to have the opportunity to accept the Gospel and return to live with Him someday.
6. Give each family member a folded children chain (unfold as you discuss each topic).
a. Sharing our testimonies will help others gain and strengthen their testimonies.
b. Sharing copies of the Book of Mormon with people not of our faith will help the Gospel grow by giving more people the opportunity to read it and gain a testimony of it.
c. The missionaries have a greater chance of being invited into homes to teach the Gospel when members refer names of interested people to them.
d. Setting a good example for family members, neighbors, and friends is a reflection of the church to people not of our faith. Your example can influence others to join the church.
e. Inviting others to Church activities, meetings, and firesides, where they can feel of the spirit and love of our Heavenly Father can help them want the Gospel in their lives. f. Inviting others to family home evening can help them learn Gospel principles in a loving family atmosphere.
7. Just like this chain of children grew, each of us can help the gospel grow and fill the earth.
What you need:
A copy of Page 2 of the “Filling the Earth” activity (artwork included with this lesson) for each child and scissors.
Preparation:
1. Print out the artwork.
2. Cut along dotted lines.
3. Fold each group of children, accordion style, along solid black lines.
4. Cut around the figure, careful not to cut along the folds where the hands touch (this can be done before or after the activity).
1. Watch chapter 11-12 from The Complete Learning System Mormon and Moroni DVD.
2. Read: Doctrine and Covenants 65:2
“The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth.”
4. Where can we find Moroni’s testimony? (In the Book of Mormon–Moroni 10:3-4.)
“Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.”
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above for full screen) 
