This lesson, fun activity and story will teach your children to be Latter-day warriors, help them find the same kind of courage in their fight against evil that Helaman's stripling warriors had and strive to be obedient to "every word of command..." (Alma 57:21)
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/cm
SCRIPTURE
Alma 57:21
21. Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with
exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.
VIDEO
Watch chapter 8 from the animated Complete Learning System, Helaman's Stripling Warriors DVD or CLICK FOR CLIP
LESSON SUMMARY
For younger children, it may be helpful to summarize the following ideas:
What does the word “stripling” mean? (A boy in his teenage years, who has not yet grown to his full size.)
Why was Helaman’s army made up of teenage boys instead of grown men? (Discuss ideas. See Alma 56:5-8.)
Why were these young men successful in battle? (Discuss ideas.)
“And it came to pass that there were two hundred, out of my two thousand and sixty, who had fainted because of the loss of blood; nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to our great astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds.
And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe—that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.” (Alma 57:25-26)
Why were the stripling warriors true to their Heavenly Father? (Discuss ideas.)
“Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon
the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by
their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our
mothers knew it.” (Alma 56:44–48.)
What are some of the things you have been taught by your mother to help you become a latter-day stripling warrior? (Discuss ideas.)
Jason followed along in his Book of Mormon as Father read, “Now behold, there were two thousand of those young men, who entered into this covenant and took their weapons of war to defend their country.” (Alma 53:18).
After family scripture study, Jason marched down the hall to get ready for school, “Follow me, my sons,” he shouted to his three younger brothers, “We can’t let Ammoron’s army catch us.”
After school the four brothers continued their play in the backyard. “I need a volunteer to go spy on Ammoron’s army,” Jason whispered.
“I’m Gid,” Jeremy said. “I’ll go, Helaman.” Getting down on his hands and knees, Jeremy crawled across the lawn towards the hedge that divided their yard and the Hansen’s yard. When he peeked through the bushes, he saw Hunter jumping on his trampoline. Jeremy quickly crawled back to where his brothers had set up camp. “Ammoron’s coming, sir,” he reported.
“Full march, my sons,” Jason whispered. “We can’t let Ammoron overtake us.”
“We don’t have any weapons, “ Philip stated. “How are we going to fight Ammoron?”
Jason ran over to the pile of tree limbs that Father had trimmed off the cherry tree. “We can make spears with these,” he said. “Let’s go see if Mom will help us.”
Mother dried her hands on a dish towel. “When I was little, my Aunt June helped me and my cousin Nancy make princess wands out of sticks, cardboard and aluminum foil. We can make some spears and swords the same way.”
“And shields, too?” Andrew asked. “We need shields to help protect us!”
Mother smiled. “And shields, too, Andy!” she said as she rubbed her youngest son’s head.
The boys drew spear heads, swords and shields onto the cardboard Mother had found in the garage and Mother cut them out. “Now cover these with this foil so they look like they’re made of steel,” she told the boys. After the foil was on they tied the spear heads to the sticks the boys had found with yarn. When the weapons were finished the boys each gave Mother a hug.
“Thanks, Mom. You’re the greatest!” Jason shouted.
“You’re welcome,” Mother answered. “Now, before you go to battle there are some rules we need to discuss,” she said, “So that none of my sons get hurt.”
Jason grinned. “Just like the stripling warriors’ mothers taught them!” he exclaimed.
In a medium bowl, mix together the molasses, brown sugar, water and butter until smooth. Combine the flour, baking soda, allspice, ginger, cloves and cinnamon, stir them into the wet mixture until all of the dry is absorbed. Cover the dough and chill for at least 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness on a lightly floured surface. Cut out with a gingerbread boy cutter. Place 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from the cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.
Treat Time :
Help children decorate cookies with icing to resemble “Stripling Warriors.”
Ingredients:
3/4 cup molasses
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup water
1/8 cup butter, softened
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
ACTIVITY
Activity: Younger children will need help from an older sibling or parent.
1. Explain: When the sons of Helaman fought their battle they were armed with weapons of war, but that wasn’t all they were armed with. (Tape words to weapons as you read them.) “And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also
for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.
“Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.” (Alma 53:20-21)
3. Ask: What are some of the spiritual battles children are waging today? (Discuss ideas. Emphasize: Battling lying, cheating, disobedience and stealing while you are young will help prepare you to fight more serious sins as you grow older.)
4 Play “I Will Be a Latter-day Warrior” game (artwork included with this lesson).
What you need:
A copy of the “I Will Be a Latter-day Warrior” activity (artwork included with this lesson), cardboard, magic marker, scissors, aluminum foil, glue, tape, stick, cardstock and yarn.
Preparation:
1. Tape sword handle pattern to sword blade pattern.
2. Trace pattern pieces onto cardboard. Cut out pattern pieces.
3. Wrap foil around sword blade, spear head, knife and shield.
4. Tape shield handle to inside of shield. Decorate shield with magic marker.
5. Tie spear head to stick with yarn.
6. Put glue on sword and knife handles. Wrap yarn around handle (or color handle
with marker).
7. Glue targets to cardstock. Hang targets up with yarn.
1. Watch chapter 8 from The Complete Learning System Helaman’s Stripling Warriors DVD.
2. Sing: Children’s Songbook #172, “We’ll Bring the World His Truth”
3. Read: Alma 57:21
“Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.”
4. What does the word “stripling” mean? (A boy in his teenage years, who has not yet grown to his full size.)
5. Why was Helaman’s army made up of teenage boys instead of grown men? (Discuss ideas. See Alma 56:5-8.)
6. Why were these young men successful in battle? (Discuss ideas.)
10. Why were the stripling warriors true to their Heavenly Father? (Discuss ideas.)
“Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.” (Alma 56:44–48.)
11. How can we be true to our Heavenly Father? (Discuss ideas.)
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