Lesson 24

BEAR ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS

Objective:  Find ways we can lift other’s burdens.

Visual aid:  Bears (Bear one another’s burdens) or balloons for lifting burdens.

Lesson ideas:

* What is the greatest commandment? (“Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy mind.” The second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  (Matthew 22: 36-39)

* Bearing one another’s burdens is a perfect example of charity.

* When we are baptized we are asked to bear one another’s burdens that they may be light.  Also to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort and to stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things. (Mosiah 18: 8, 9)

* Because each of us goes through different learning stages we might see that someone is having a hard time with things they are trying to learn.  We can help lift that burden through prayer, fasting, patience, encouragement and help where we can.

* Christ is always there for us to relieve our burdens.

* Review the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do to you.

* Retell the story of “The Good Samaritan” (Luke 10: 30-37)

* Alma and his people:  Burdens were made light.  Yea the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord. (Mosiah 24: 15)

* A battle was in progress and when Moses lifted his hands Israel prevailed but when his hands went down Amalek prevailed.  Aaron and Hur stayed up his hand one on one side and the other on the other side helping to ease his burden. (Exodus 17: 8-12)

Scriptures:

Bible

Galatians 6:2 bear burdens –fulfill the law

Matthew 22:36-39 love thy neighbor as thyself

Matthew 7: 12 whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them

LDS Scriptures

Mosiah 18: 8-10 willing to bear burdens

Alma 33:23 God grant - your burdens light

D&C 42:29 lovest me…serve me

3 Nephi 12:44 love your enemies do good

Activities:

* Find a service project to ease someone’s burdens like yard work, tending, dishes, making beds, reading to someone, visiting the sick or lonely. (Could be in secret or planned.)  At the end of the week, report back to the family so all can be edified.

* Hand out dust clothes, put the timer on for two minutes and have the family find tables, chairs, baseboards, door knobs etc., and dust what they can in the two minutes.

* Have someone hold a book, when it starts to get heavy have someone else help hold the book up to help relieve the burden.

* Obtain a jar and some cotton balls or pom poms and as you do something to help others put a cotton ball in the jar.  As a family, see how fast you can fill the jar.

* Scouts use the theme of doing a good turn daily. If you know a scout you can invite him to tell some of the things the scouts are doing to do that good turn daily.

* Care Bear:  If you have access to a Care Bear, you can put the Bear up as a reminder to care for others. Sing the song: “The Bear Went over the Mountain…To see what he could see.”  After the song see what things you can do to care for someone.

The Bear Went over the Mountain

The Bear Went over the Mountain

The Bear Went over the Mountain

To See what He Could See

And All that He Could See

And All That He Could See

Was the Other Side of the Mountain

The Other Side of the Mountain

The Other Side of the Mountain

Was all that He Could See

* Writing letters to missionaries, service people, grandparent or others that could us a pick-me-up.  Phone calls can also be nice.

Songs:

Hymns

# 252 Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel

# 223 Have I Done Any Good

# 224 I Have Work Enough to Do

# 228 You Can Make the Pathway Bright

Children’s Songbook

# 308 Love One Another

# 198 A Happy Helper

# 207 Mother I Love you

# 78 I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus

Treats:  

* Bear Crackers or Bear Gummy’s for Bear One Another’s Burdens

* Outside: Wheelbarrow filled with ice and drinks for outdoor service projects.

* Hersey’s candy hugs and kisses to show your love.