February 2008

Theme: The scriptures teach me about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and how to return to Them.

Scripture: “For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth
them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children” (2 Nephi 4:15).

Song: “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” (CS, 57)

Sharing Time:

Opening Activity: On the black board write, What can we learn from Abinadi? Cover with a piece of paper with a question mark. Place the GAK picture up of him before King Noah. Ask if anyone knows who this is? Proceed to tell children we are doing a readers theatre and that a good audience is one who listens carefully. At the end, we’ll see who can answer our mystery question.
Jr. Sharing Time
Remember to ask thoughtful questions along the way. Encourage the kids to act out and say certain phrases. MAKE SURE TO HAVE SIMPLE COSTUMES.

Actors needed:
Abinadi, King Noah, Priests, Servants, Alma

Many years ago, in the land of the Americas, lived a wise prophet named Abinadi. He taught about Jesus and how we should be good people. He even taught about the plan of salvation or the plan of happiness!

But there was a wicked King named King Noah, who ruled a wicked people and this wicked King did not like what Abinadi was teaching. His wicked priests (who knows what a priest is?) said to kill abinadi! Poor Abinadi. There was only one priest who said, no don’t kill him. This was Alma.

When Alma said this, the king was very wroth. (what is wroth?) King Noah told his servants to go kill Alma! But Alma ran as fast as he could and found a spot to hide. The servants could not find Alma. He was hiding in a cave where we went to work writing down all the things Abinadi had taught.

What a wicked and bad king! King Noah was terrible and so were his priests. They talked to each other and decided to to put Abinadi to death. Thou art worthy of death said king noah! You said God himself should come down among the children of men. Take it back or die!
Well, Abinadi was telling the truth and wouldn’t take it back. He wouldn’t deny what he had said. After all, he was right! Jesus would come to earth and be born and live! So do you know what happened. That yucky King Noah and his evil priests killed Abinadi by fire. Abinadi wasn’t afraid though, he knew he was returning to his Heavenly Father and Jesus.

Alma decided to repent. That was a good choice! He started to teach people about the words of Abinadi, but he had to do it privately (What does this mean?) So he taught God himself should come down among the children of men! A lot of people believed Alma and Abinadi’s words! So Alma said, “Behold, here are the waters of Mormon and now (hold up blue sheet), as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light. Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn… (What does mourn mean? Can we act this out?) And comfort those in need of comfort and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God and numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life.”
So they got baptized! They promised Heavenly Father that they would serve Him, keep His commandments and then Heavenly Father would pour out His spirit more abundantly upon us! Hooray! They were then called the church of God or the church of Christ from that time forward! Everyone who was baptized thought the waters of Mormon was the most beautiful place ever because that’s where they came to know their Redeemer.
Thank you all you wonderful actors! Thank you wonderful audience! Go ahead, take a bow!



Sr. Sharing Time
Make sure to have simple costumes.

Reader’s Theatre
By Sofia Lykes

Narrator: Many years ago, in the land of the Americas, lived a wise prophet named Abinadi.
Abinadi: Hello! I’m Abinadi. I am wise.
Narrator: Abinadi taught about Jesus and how we should be good people.
Abinadi: I even taught about the plan of salvation!
Narrator: But some wicked Nephites didn’t like what he was teaching. The king said,
King: Put him to death!!
Narrator: And the priests of the king said
Priests: Kill him!! Kill him!! Kill him by fire!!
(Priests tie up Abinadi and put him by the fire)
Narrator: Poor Abinadi. But there was one priest whose name was Alma, he stood up for Abinadi.
Alma: I believe the words of Abinadi! We are not making good choices, we are full of iniquity!
Narrator: What is iniquity?
Alma: Hello! Iniquity is sin! Iniquity is making bad choices!!
Narrator: Oh right… thanks!
Alma: Anyways! King please don’t kill Abinadi Do not be angry with him, just let him leave in peace!
Narrator: But the king was even more wroth!
Priest #1: What is wroth?
Narrator: I don’t know… Do you know what wroth means? (Call on someone from the audience) Oh!! So the king was angry! The king was wroth. The king was angry. Thanks! The king was so angry he threw out Alma.
King: Servants! Go kill Alma!
Servants: We can’t find him? Where did he go?
Alma: Good thing I fled from them! I will hide myself for many days and write all the words down that Abinadi spoke!
Servants: Boy, the king is going to be mad at us!
Narrator: What a wicked king. He told his guards
King: Surround Abinadi and take him, bind him and cast him into prison. I’ll talk to my priests now.
(King and priests huddle)
King: Ok Abinadi, we have found an accusation against thee and THOU ART WORTHY OF DEATH! (in a loud and evil voice)
Priest #2: What is his accusation? Or what is the reason he is WORTHY OF DEATH!! (in a loud and evil voice)
Narrator: Abinadi had said
Abinadi: God himself should come down among the children of men.
King: And because you said this you will be put to death unless you take it back!
Abinadi: I will not take it back. I will not recall the words I’ve said.
Narrator: In the meantime, Alma who had fled from the servants of the King, whose name was
King: Noah. My name is Noah. Come to think of it. Call me King Noah, not just the king.
Narrator: Ok, sorry. King Noah.
King: That’s better. Now, kill Abinadi by fire.
Narrator: Abinadi died by fire.
Abinadi: But I don’t fear death, I know I will return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus.
Narrator: Now, Alma who fled and hid from the servants of KING NOAH repented of his sins and iniquities and started teaching the Nephite people the words of Abinadi…but he had to do so privately or kind of secretively.
Alma: (whispering) God himself should come down among the children of men!!
Narrator: Soon many more people wanted to hear what Alma was teaching.
Alma: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light. Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn…
Person #1: What is mourn?
Narrator: When you mourn, it means you are sad.
Person #1: Oh, thanks!
Alma: Yea and comfort those that stand in need of comfort and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things…
Person #2: At all times and in all things?
Narrator: At all times and in all things!
Alma: And in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God and numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life.
Person #3: That is so deep.
Alma : Who believes what I have said?
People: We do!!
Alma: So lets get baptized!! Where you are baptized in the name of the Lord you make a promise to him that you will serve him
Narrator: And keep his commandments
Person #1: And he will pour out his spirit more abundantly upon us!!
(The people clap!)
People: This is the desire of our hearts!!
Narrator: So they were baptized and called the church of God or the church of Christ from that time forward! Anyone who was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church. Would you like to join? (talking to a person from audience) Come on up!!
Person #2: Now all this was done in Mormon, by the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon.
Person #3: What a beautiful place! This is where I came to know my Redeemer.
People: We shall sing to his praise forever!!
Narrator: Thank you!! Lets all take a bow!! You can clap lightly for us!! What a wonderful audience!!

Closing Activity: Have a child take off the piece of paper and reveal the mystery question. Have children share what they have learned, if time permits write their answers.

Suggestions:
· For Jr. Primary hand out the play to kids the week before so they can be familiar (have an adult be the narrator depending on reading skill of students).
· Have simple costumes, make a couple poster boards to show locations (one can be the castle of king noah, the other the forest of mormon, you could even make a cave where Alma hid)
· Highlight parts for the children so it’s easier for them to see.
· I have found that during reader’s theatres it works best if you do singing time separately.

Songs I would recommend to reinforce what was taught are :
1. When I am Baptized 103
2. Book of Mormon Stories” (CS, 118–19,verse 4)
3. Choose the Right Way 160