Introduction for the teacher: Before preparing a lesson, take a moment to prepare yourself spiritually. For example, you can read the introduction at the beginning of the lesson, including the scriptures listed. Studying the doctrines in the lesson can help you be receptive to the promptings of the Spirit as you prepare the lesson and as you teach it to the children. (See Teaching, No Greater Call, 14 .)

A prophet is a man who has been called by God to speak for Him. Prophets receive God’s word by revelation and are then commanded to preach to the people (see Amos 3:7 ; 1 Nephi 22:2 ; D&C 1:38 ; Bible Dictionary, “Prophet,” 754). We are blessed to be led by living prophets. Like the prophets of old, prophets today testify of Jesus Christ and teach His gospel. Their teachings are the mind and will of the Lord.

To prepare yourself spiritually to teach this lesson, please read and ponder the following:

Learning Activities

Begin with a gathering activity. For ideas, see page 3.

Prayer Invite a child to give the opening prayer.

Game Invite the children to play “follow the leader” with you. Choose a child to walk, clap, or do some other action. Tell the other children to follow the first child, doing what he or she does. Continue until each child who wants a turn to be the leader has had one. Ask the children to follow you to the lesson area, and have them sit down.

Doctrinal Instruction Tell the children that we have a special leader to follow, our prophet. Explain that a prophet is a man who speaks with God﻿—God tells the prophet what we should do. Tell the children that if we follow the prophet, we will be happy and Heavenly Father will bless us. Explain that to follow the prophet means to do the things he tells us to do.

Pictures Show the picture of Joseph Smith (page 102). Say, “This is the Prophet Joseph Smith. Heavenly Father and Jesus talked to Joseph Smith.” Hand the picture to a child to hold. Tell the children one thing the Prophet Joseph Smith taught us to do, such as read the scriptures. Have the children pretend to read the scriptures, and invite them to say, “Follow the prophet.” Hand the picture to another child and repeat the activity, acting out something else the Prophet taught, such as praying, eating good foods, and so on. After each action, have the children say, “Follow the prophet.” Continue until each child has had a chance to hold the picture. Show a picture of the current President of the Church, if available. Tell the children his name and some of the things he has taught us to do. Explain that when we do these things, we will be blessed.

Role Play Invite the children to act out ways we can follow the prophet.

Song Invite the children to march around the room with you as you sing or say the words to the chorus of “Follow the Prophet” (Children’s Songbook, 111): Follow the prophet, follow the prophet, Follow the prophet; don’t go astray. Follow the prophet, follow the prophet, Follow the prophet; he knows the way. Invite the children to sing with you. Repeat, allowing the children to take turns leading the marching. Explain that to go astray means to do wrong things.

Conclusion Tell the children that you know that when we follow the prophet, we will be blessed. Have the children say, “I will follow the prophet,” a few words at a time.