Baptism

“Baptism” (CS, 100-101)
May 2009 gospel principle #2: Jesus Christ was baptized.
40 minutes

Modify this lesson plan to fit your personality. If you feel comfortable “hamming it up” you could create a Primary News Show. You could ask the pianist to play a little intro music before your news show. You could ask another presidency member to be the anchor of your news show sitting at a table to the side and introduce your story. Work with your Primary President and Bishopric member to make sure what you choose to do is approved by your leaders.

Presidency Member: (5 minutes)

Holding a microphone (pretend or real) explain that you are a news reporter today and have come to get the scoop on a great story.

• Explain that on the news they report on the six W’s in their stories and write up on the board the words What, Who, Where, When, How and Why in that order (in Senior Primary they might be able to help you come up with the six W’s). Circle the w in How so the children see it’s included in the W’s.
• Explain that in the important story that you want to report someone was baptized (write the word Baptism after the word What) and you want to get all the details.
• Explain that you need to interview some of them to get all the details. Tell the children to reach under their chairs to see if they have a picture they can comment on.
• Ask the child with picture number one to raise his/her hand and ask them about their picture (GAK #240). Recognize that Jesus Christ (write Jesus Christ after the word Who on the board) is involved in this important story and collect the picture.
• Explain that as a news reporter you need more details and ask for picture number two. Ask the child with picture number two about his/her picture (GAK # 207—you may have to have an older child or a teacher read the title on the back if they are unfamiliar with the picture).
• Collect the picture, sum up that Jesus Christ and another man named John (write John after Jesus Christ on the board) were involved in this important baptism, and hand both pictures over to the Music Leader.

Music Leader: (1 minute)

• Sing the first line of “Baptism” acappella holding up each picture as you sing the respective name.
• Attach the pictures to the board after the words they represent.
• Ask the pianist to play and the children to sing with you pointing to the pictures as you go.
• Look at the Presidency Member.

Presidency Member: (3 minutes)

• Explain that you still need more details. Ask for the child with picture number three to raise their hand. Ask the child about their picture (Picture 7-22—write the name Judea in large print on another piece of paper and attach it over the word Judea on the map).
• Collect the picture and write the word Judea on the board after the word Where.
• Ask the child with picture number four to raise their hand. Ask the child about their picture (I have NO idea how to picture the words “long ago”. Maybe you could use a picture of a calendar or a clock and the words “long ago” on it. If you have an idea please share in the comments.)
• Collect the picture, write the words Long Ago after When, and hand both pictures to the Music Leader.

Music Leader: (1 minute)

• Sing the second line of the first verse of “Baptism” acappella again holding up each picture as you sing.
• Again attach the pictures to the board and ask the pianist to play while you and the children sing.
• First sing just that line together, then sing the first two lines of the first verse.
• Look at the Presidency Member.

Presidency Member: (4 minutes)

Use the same techniques as before for introducing pictures number five and six.

• Picture five should represent immersion—maybe two drawings, one of something sticking out of the water with a crossed out circle over it and another with that same something all the way under the water
• You might want to explain for the little ones that when someone is baptized the come right up out of the water after they go all the way under.
• After you interview the child who has picture number five explain what immersion represents.
• Picture six should look like a river labeled Jordan.
• Collect the pictures, write the words Immersion and River Jordan on the board after How and Judea, and hand the pictures to the Music Leader.

Music Leader: (3 minutes)

• Sing the last two lines of the first verse acappella holding up the pictures as you sing.
• Attach the pictures to the board.
• Sing the last two lines with the pianist and children joining in and then review the whole first verse.
• Look at the Presidency Member.

Presidency Member: (2 minutes)

• Interview the child with picture seven.
• Instead of a picture for number seven, roll up a paper like a scroll with a ribbon tied around it.
• Let the child open the scroll and read the word law (or let them pick someone to read it for them).
• Explain this must be the why of this story. Jesus was baptized because of the law.
• Ask what law this would be—the law of man or the law of God.
• Collect the scroll, write the word Law next to Why on the board, and hand the scroll to the Music Leader.

Music Leader: (2 minutes)

• Sing the first two lines of the second verse acappella holding the scroll.
• Attach the scroll to the board.
• Ask the children to listen while you sing acappella again for who asked why.
• Sing and take answers.
• Invite the piano to play and the children to sing up to that point with you.
• Look at the Presidency Member.

Presidency Member: (2 minutes)

• Interview the child with picture eight (GAK #238. You might want to add a picture of a castle to represent a kingdom).
• When the child shows you the picture say something like, “That is what I imagined Heavenly Father’s kingdom to look like,” (Unless it’s not true).
• Ask if the child can tell you about the picture.
• Listen to what they have to say then turn to the Music Leader to see if she can tell you how this picture relates to the news story you’re reporting on.

Music Leader: (less than 1 minute) Sing acappella the last part of the second verse.

Presidency Member: (2 minutes)

• Recognize that this picture must also tell us why Jesus was baptized. Jesus was baptized so he could return to His father, our Heavenly Father, in His kingdom.
• Collect the picture and write the word Kingdom next to Law.
• Ask what we call Heavenly Father’s Kingdom. Take answers and explain that Heavenly Father lives in the Celestial Kingdom. Share your desire to live with Him there.
• Hand the picture to the Music Leader.

Music Leader: (3 minutes)

• Sing again the last part of the second verse acappella.
• Ask where the song says Heavenly Father’s Kingdom is.
• Take answers and invite the piano and children to sing just that last half of the second verse with you.
• Review the whole second verse.
• Look at the Presidency Member.

Presidency Member: (5 minutes)

Say that you’d like to interview one more person about baptism.

• Invite someone you’ve previously asked to come talk about their baptism in your microphone. You could ask a baptized child in Primary or possibly an adult who learned about the church and was baptized later in life. Specifically ask them to share why they were baptized.
• Thank them for sharing and invite them to take a seat.
• Turn to the Music Leader.

Music Leader: (6 minutes)

• Hold up Picture 3-13 while you sing the last verse acappella.
• Ask if this last verse is still talking about Jesus’ baptism. If they don’t know ask them to listen for whose baptism the last verse is about while you sing it again. Invite the piano to play while you sing and then take answers.
• Explain that there are two things we do when we show we are baptized as was Jesus Christ our Lord. Tell them to listen for those two things we show while you sing the verse again. This time invite the children to sing with you if they can. When you’re done singing ask again what two things we show when we are baptized as was Jesus Christ our Lord. Take answers and sing the verse one last time with the children.
• Review the whole song pointing to the pictures as you go.

Acknowledgments:

Thanks to Rachel Devore for helping me develop this lesson plan.