I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Objective: Because of the Atonement, I can repent and return to live with
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
Song: “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” (Hymns, #136)

Presidency Member: Introduce the theme and objective any way you want (or not). Then, point out that there are lots of different names we use for Jesus Christ. A couple of months ago we talked about how Heavenly Father calls Jesus Christ “My Beloved Son”. Tell them to listen for another name for Jesus Christ as they sing with Sis. Roberts. (2 min.)

Music Leader: Lead the children singing the first half of the first verse of “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” (Less than one min.)

Presidency Member: Ask what name for Jesus Christ was used in the song. (If they don’t get it tell them). Explain what the word Redeemer means (a Dictionary has some really good definitions). Use the following drawing to explain what it means for Christ to be our redeemer:

• Draw a line on the board with two large dips in it to represent a path with two pits.
• Draw a shining castle at the right end.
• Put a paper picture of a person (stick figures work) at the left end.
• Explain that the path you drew represents our life on earth. The paper person is each of them and the castle is where Heavenly Father lives.
• At the end of our lives we all want to be back with Heavenly Father but there are two pits that we fall in (walk the picture person down the path and show it falling in the first pit).
• First, we will all die (write the word Death or a picture of a grave under the first pit).
• We need someone to help us get out of the pit of death, so, Heavenly Father sent Jesus Christ to help us. (take a picture of Jesus Christ from a spot close to the castle and put it over the first pit).
• Because Jesus Christ was resurrected we will all be resurrected. (Display GAK #233. Draw a rope from the picture of Christ down in the pit to the paper person. The paper person is then lifted out of the pit.)
• Second, we all make bad choices (walk the picture person down the path and show it falling in the second pit).
• Bad choices are called sins (write the word sin or a picture representing sin under the second pit).
• We also need someone to help us get out of the pit of sin, so, Heavenly Father sent Jesus Christ to help us. (move the picture of Jesus Christ over the second pit).
• Jesus suffered for our sins so we can repent (Display GAK #227, 230).
• Read Luke 22:44 about Christ being in agony and sweating great drops of blood—this was the pain he suffered for our sins.
• Then read Doctrine & Covenants 19:16 to explain that Jesus Christ suffered these things for us so we can repent.
• Explain what it means to repent.
• Return to the picture and explain that we aren’t just lifted out of this pit—we have to choose to follow Jesus Christ. (draw a ladder with four rungs. Label the rungs of the ladder the four principles of the gospel or pictures representing them—faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost. Show the paper person going up the ladder and following the path to the shining castle).
• Share your testimony about Jesus Christ making it possible for you to repent. (5 min.)

Music Leader: Invite the children to sing the first half of the first verse again and this time imagine that Jesus Christ has just lifted them out of the pit of sin. (less than one minute)

Presidency Member: Explain that even though Jesus Christ has promised to redeem us we still have to do our part. Alma the younger found this out the hard way. Share the story of Alma the Younger and the four sons of Mosiah (Mosiah 27 and Alma 36). Emphasize that while Alma was first in the coma his soul was tormented (Mosiah 27:29) (but use the word hungered, explaining what that means, because it’s in the song) but after he asked for Jesus’s help (Alma 36:18) Alma was filled with love (vs. 19 & 20). Talk about how great Alma’s need was for Jesus’s help—and that Jesus blessed Alma in his time of need because he asked for help. With the older kids, if you have time, you can also share Doctrine and Covenants 38:4 (last half of the verse) about how Christ pleads for us to the Father. Tell the children that Heavenly Father loves them just as much as He loves Alma and that He has sent Jesus Christ to redeem them too. (4 min.)

Music Leader: Lead the children in singing the second half of the first verse and then all of the first verse. (1 min.)

(If you get the feeling like you're trying to cram too much into 30 min., like you couldn’t tell the story in only 3 min., take out one of the following stories. Still split up the two halves of the second verse and put the story in the middle.)

Presidency Member: Take out a blanket. Invite a child to come up and wrap it around them. Ask the child how that feels. Explain that sometimes blankets are called comforters because they are comfortable. Spread out the blanket and invite all the children to come sit on the blanket while they listen to a story from the friend. Here’s a challenge—as you tell the story try to use the following phrases and words from the first half of the second verse of “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”: rich supply, guide me with his eye, comfort, soul’s complaint (3 min.)

Music Leader: Sing the first half of the second verse acappella showing pictures. Sing it again inviting the pianist to play and the children to sing. Ask the children to go back to their seats and sing it again. Play the leave-out-the-last-word game. (5 min.)

Presidency Member: Share a comfort story from the Friend (3 min.)

Music Leader: Sing the second half of the second verse acappella showing pictures. Sing it again inviting the pianist to play and the children to sing. Sing it a few times with changes like stand up, or do a hand action while singing. Then, put together both halves of the second verse. (5 min.)