Lesson 30

HEAR THE SHEPHERD’S VOICE

Objective: To help train our ears to hear and obey our Shepherd’s voice

Lesson ideas:

* During the time of Jesus, shepherds often put several group of sheep together with one gate and let some shepherds rest.  In the morning when the shepherd came through the gate and called his sheep, his sheep came to him.

* Remember that the angel came to shepherds to tell them of the birth of Christ.

* When Christ came to the people who were still alive on the American continent, just after Christ’s resurrection, the people heard a voice but didn’t understand it.  The third time they did understand but they had to open their ears and eyes toward the sound.  So we need to keep our hearts open to receive the word of God. (3 Nephi 11: 3-8)

* Jesus was telling the Jews about other sheep but even though they heard the words, they did not understand.  Through the spirit we can not only hear but understand.  (3 Nephi 15: 23)

* When we listen to a prophet’s voice we are also hearing the voice of Jesus.  “Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” (D&C 1: 38)

* Both Mary and Peter from the Bible recognized Jesus’s voice. Peter by the sea and Mary by the tomb: Jesus saith unto her, “Mary.  She turned herself and saith unto him Rabboni”: which is to say, “Master” (John 20:16). Peter and other were fishing and caught nothing and Jesus appeared to them and said unto Peter, “It is the Lord.”  Peter recognized Jesus’s words. (John 21: 7)

Scriptures:

Bible

John 10:27 my sheep hear my voice

Luke 2: 8-12 angel came to shepherds.....bring great joy

Genesis 3:8 heard the voice of the Lord

LDS Scriptures

3 Nephi 15:17 other sheep.....They shall hear my voice

Alma 5:38 the good shepherd doth call you

D&C 1:38 whether by mine own voice

Activities:

* Sound of voice:  If you are meeting in a group that has at least two families in it, have all the children close their eyes. Have a parent ask the children to raise their hands if they are his children. Then have a parent of the other family do the same. Just as we know our parents, we will also know our Savior and know he is the good shepherd.

* Blind conductor from the Liahona July 2008

Conductor is blindfolded, the family circles around conductor.  The conductor indicates whether the group will go forward or backward and when he puts his hands in the air the group stops.  The conductor then points to someone and that someone makes a sound.  The conductor then tries to figure out who that person is. Do we know the voice of our family members?

* Sit in circle and whisper in the ear of the first person something like “Come Listen to a prophet’s voice” and then that person whispers the sentence to the next person. Go all the way around the circle and see if the last person heard the same “Come Listen to a prophet’s voice

* Obstacle course:  Have and obstacle course with someone blindfolded and someone trying to guide them through the course with words. Both words with good instructions and listening carefully, make it possible to succeed. One tries to say words easy to be understand and the other listens carefully to understand where to go.

Songs:

Hymns

# 270 I’ll Go Where You Want Me to Go

# 256 As Zion’s Youth in Latter Days

# 21 Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice

Children’s Songbook

# 107 Listen, Listen

# 106 The Still Small Voice

# 110 Follow the Prophet