Learning About the Articles of Faith Jeopardy game -Learning and Living the Gospel Lesson: The Articles of Faith By Karen Lofgreen I Believe in the Articles of Faith All things are possible to him that believeth (Mark 9:23). The Articles of Faith Have you ever wondered what you would say if someone asked you what you believed as a member of the Church? The scriptures tell us about the beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Articles of Faith are part of the scriptures. They are found in the Pearl of Great Price. Our prophets have told us how important it is that we read the scriptures and that we understand what they say. President Thomas S. Monson told a story about a man from the east who was traveling by bus to San Francisco. In Salt Lake City a Primary girl got on the bus and sat next to the man. As they started talking, he asked her if she was a Mormon. She answered yes. He asked her what Mormons believe. It was a big question for such a young girl. What would you have said? Imagine the look on the man’s face as she recited and explained the Articles of Faith. He couldn’t believe it! After she got off the bus, the man thought about her courage and knowledge. As soon as he arrived in San Francisco, he looked in the telephone directory for the Church’s phone number, then called the local mission president and asked questions about the Church. The mission president sent missionaries to see him, and later the man’s entire family was baptized—all because a Primary girl knew and understood the Articles of Faith and had the courage to share them. (See Ensign, April 1994, pages 67–68.) Where did the Articles of Faith come from? In March 1842 the Prophet Joseph Smith received a letter from Mr. Wentworth, a newspaper publisher in Chicago, Illinois, asking questions about the Church. As Joseph answered the letter, he was inspired to write thirteen statements that contain many of the beliefs of the Church. These statements became our Articles of Faith. Later, in 1880, members at the October general conference of the Church voted to accept the Articles of Faith as scripture. Articles of Faith What are the Articles of Faith? Thirteen statements of LDS beliefs. Who wrote the Articles of Faith? Joseph Smith Why were the Articles of Faith written? To answer questions about LDS beliefs. Where do we find the Articles of Faith? In the Pearl of Great Price. When did the Articles of Faith become scripture? At general conference, October 1880. How did the Articles of Faith become scripture? Church members voted for them. Sharing Time Ideas 1. Make a mural that shows how the Articles of Faith came to be. Divide a long roll of large paper into six sections. In each section, write one of the following questions: What are the Articles of Faith? Who wrote the Articles of Faith? Why do we have the Articles of Faith? Where can we find the Articles of Faith? When did the Articles of Faith become scripture? How did the Articles of Faith become scripture? Using the activity on pages 36–37 as a guide, divide the children into six groups and have each group draw the answer to one of the questions and explain it to the other groups. It is suggested that each group have a mixture of ages for learning and variety. 2. Invite the missionaries to testify about the Articles of Faith. If they have missionary cards with the Articles of Faith on them, ask them to share an experience they had when they used their cards. Children could participate in a missionary discussion about the Articles of Faith, with the missionaries serving as discussion leaders. 3. Sing “Faith” (Children’s Songbook, page 96). Focus on the words that talk about what faith is (knowing that the sun will rise, that the Lord will hear my prayers, that I will know in my heart when I do what is right, that I lived with God before I came to this earth, etc.). Use pictures and help children to discuss their feelings when they think of the word faith and when they know that something is true. 4. Dramatize the Articles of Faith story. The first week, have children write the script, which should include people asking questions about Mormon beliefs; Mr. Wentworth writing his letter to Joseph Smith; Joseph Smith pondering, then writing his reply; and the Articles of Faith becoming scripture. The second week, provide simple props and have them act out their script. 5. Using the Sharing Time activity on pages 36–37 as a guide, divide the older children into groups and assign each group one or more of the what, who, why, where, when, and how questions to write about and/or illustrate as a column in Mr. Wentworth’s newspaper. Activity: Print out all four of these images for your Jeopardy Game they are in order top to bottom left to right 100-700 points. write the points down on each before cutting them up so you don't get confused I used markers and used a different color for each category. Word Scramble Cut these out and place each one entire article in a plastic bag. Label the bags 100-700 the girls will earn points by unscrambling the articles and putting the pieces of paper in correct order. 4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. 6.We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. 7.We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth. 8.We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. 9.We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. 11.We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may. 12.We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. 13.We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. Jeopardy Game Instructions and Answers The answers are as follows: True or False 100) false 200) false 300) true 400) false 500) false 600) true 700) false Fill In The Blanks 100) eternal 200) magistrates 300) sins 400) saved 500) translated 600) yet 700) virtuous Define A Word 100) reign 200) immersion 300) Zion 400) repentance 500) believe 600) apostles 700) benevolent Unscramble (Make sure they put the Article Of Faith In The Correct Order) Name that Number 100) 7 200) 5 300) 3 400) 11 500) 10 600) 6 700) 13 General Questions 100) Joseph Smith 200) 13 300) Church Members Voted Them In 400) October 1880 500) To answer questions about LDS beliefs 600) The Pearl Of Great Price 700) 13 brief statements of some of the beliefs of the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Name that Number 100)4 200) 2 300) 13 400) 6 500) 5 600) 12 700) 7 Layout: Here is what your game should look like once you lay it all out. I taped mine to the wall so it was visible to the whole room. Note: scramble is supposed to be little zip lock baggies filled with the cut up articles of faith. And now for the rules. I separated all of the kids in to two separate groups. Try to make them as even as possible age and maturity wise. Then I explained to them how were going to play. I set two chairs in the center of the room in the back, the team mates sat on either side of these chairs. The person representing the team sat in the chair. (We traded of people each questions) Then in the front of the room on a table we sat a buzzer. The first team got to pick the question. I then read what was on the back. The two teams could talk and tell the person representing them what the answer was. That person would then run to the front and hit the buzzer. The first team to hit the buzzer got to go. If they answered correctly they received the points and chose the next question. If they got it wrong, the question went to the other team. If that team got it right, they got the points. If they got it wrong, we dropped the points to half and the teams could use their scriptures to find the answer. The first team to hit the buzzer could answer. If no one got it this round we dropped the question. It is important to explain to everyone that once the person representing the team left their chair to hit the buzzer the team could no longer help them. So it was important they knew the answer before they took of running. Because if they got it wrong, they got negative points and the other team had a chance to steal them. As far as the Unscramble column goes, the two people representing both of the teams came up and I handed them the bags. They ran back to their teams and unscrambled the article and then ran back up to hit the buzzer. I then went and checked to see if it was correct. And that was that. If I'm missing anything please let me know so I can answer your questions!!! We had a fun night, and I think all the kids really enjoyed it. This activity lasted 1 hour and 1/2 for us! Which was just right! For the sake of time I only did 6 categories instead of the original 7. Even with only 6 categories we ran out of time to finish. So make sure you make the lesson part quick if possible! This game originated from:http://shannonmakesstuff.blogspot.com/2012/06/faith-in-god-jeopardy-articles-of-faith.html I have just made a few modifications.