Martin Handcart Co Bitter Creek Wyoming 1856 62554 Gospel Art Picture Kit 414

Lesson 42: The Pioneers Show Their Faith in Jesus Christ

Main 5: Doctrine and Covenants and Church History, (1997), 245–53

Purpose

To strengthen the children's faith in Jesus Christ by didactics them virtually the faith of the pioneers.

Training

1.
two.
Additional reading:Gospel Principles (31110), chapter xviii.
3.
Select the discussion questions and enrichment activities that will involve the children and best help them achieve the purpose of the lesson.
4.
Prepare to tell a story about a pioneer ancestor of yours or about a modern-24-hour interval pioneer (someone who was one of the first members of the Church in an area or family unit).
v.
Materials needed:
1. a.
2. b.
3. c.
  Picture 5-48, Jesus the Christ (Gospel Fine art Picture Kit 240; 62572); film five-49, Mary Fielding and Joseph F. Smith Crossing the Plains (Gospel Art Picture Kit 412; 62608); motion picture 5-50, Rest Stop at the Sweetwater.

Note to the teacher: This lesson may contain more historical accounts than yous tin employ in a single class period. Choose the accounts that will be virtually meaningful to the children in your class.

Suggested Lesson Development

Invite a child to requite the opening prayer.

Attention Activity

Play the following pioneer game with the children:

Enquire a child to leave the room (or close his or her optics) while you hide a thimble, rock, or other small object somewhere in the room. And then have the child return (or open his or her eyes) and look for the object. Take the other children aid past saying "hot" when the child is almost the object or moving toward it and "cold" when the child is far from the object or moving away from information technology.

When the child has found the object, tell the children that this lesson is about the faith of the pioneers. WriteFaith on the chalkboard.

•
What does information technology hateful to take faith?

Explain that to have faith is to believe and trust that something is existent and true even though we accept not seen information technology with our own eyes. Indicate out that the child who was looking for the hidden object had faith that information technology was in the room, fifty-fifty though he or she could not see it.

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In whom must we have religion?

Display the picture of Jesus Christ. Assist the children review the fourth article of faith. Indicate out that this article of organized religion says that faith in Jesus Christ is the starting time principle of the gospel.

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Why is it important to have organized religion in Jesus Christ?

Explain that we must believe that Jesus Christ is our Redeemer in order to believe that we can repent of our sins and live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ once again.

Point out that when we are willing to keep the commandments, even if it is hard for united states of america, we are showing faith in Jesus Christ. Obeying the commandments also helps us increment our religion. Assistance the children understand that when they attend Church meetings and make other right choices, they evidence that they are developing religion in Jesus Christ.

Historical Accounts

Teach the children about the pioneers' faith, equally illustrated by the following historical accounts. Relate equally many accounts as you lot have fourth dimension for, and ask the corresponding questions from the "Discussion and Awarding Questions" section. Aid the children run across how faith in Jesus Christ affected the choices of the people in each account. Bear witness the pictures at advisable times.

After the first pioneer company arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young began making preparations to help the rest of the Saints make the journey across the plains. Within a few months boosted companies of Saints began arriving. For many years (1847 to 1869), companies of Saints traveled across the plains to the Salt Lake Valley in wagons or handcarts. Some came across the bounding main from other lands before crossing the plains. It was a difficult journey for all the pioneers. Many people died along the way; others suffered great hardships. The pioneers left their homes and traveled west because of their religion in Jesus Christ and in the truthfulness of his restored gospel. This faith helped them through the hard times.

Mary Fielding Smith's Cattle Are Stolen

Afterwards Joseph Smith and his blood brother Hyrum were martyred, Hyrum's wife, Mary Fielding Smith, left Nauvoo and traveled to Wintertime Quarters with her children and several other people she and Hyrum had taken into their home.

While at Winter Quarters, Mary and some of her family unit traveled south into Missouri to get supplies for the journeying west. Bad weather made information technology difficult to travel, and the oxen had difficulty pulling the full, heavy wagons. The journey to Missouri took one calendar week, but the journey dorsum to Wintertime Quarters took much longer.

On the way dorsum, Mary and her family camped near the Missouri River. Camping nearby were some men who were driving a herd of cattle to market. Mary's son, Joseph F., and his uncle normally unyoked their oxen at night so the oxen could eat and rest more than hands, simply because they were so close to the other herd of cattle they left the yokes on the oxen. That manner the oxen would be easy to observe if they got mixed in with the other animals.

The side by side morn some of the oxen were missing. Joseph F. and his uncle spent all morning looking for them, merely they could not notice them. As Joseph F. returned to the camp, tired and discouraged, he saw his mother kneeling in prayer. He heard her request the Lord to help them find the lost oxen so they could keep their journey in prophylactic.

When Mary finished her prayer, she had a smiling on her face. Although her brother said the cattle were surely gone for good, Mary said she would get out and wait for a while. Her blood brother tried to convince her that he and Joseph F. had searched everywhere and information technology was useless for her to search also, but she went anyway.

Every bit Mary walked away from her camp, ane of the men taking the cattle to market chosen out, "Madam, I saw your oxen over in that management this morning time almost daybreak." Although the man was pointing in the reverse direction, Mary continued walking toward the river. Joseph F. was watching her, and he came running when she beckoned to him. When he came well-nigh her, he saw their oxen tied to a clump of willows. Someone had hidden them, probably with the intention of stealing them. With their oxen establish, Mary Fielding Smith and her family unit were able to continue their journey. (Run into Don Cecil Corbett,Mary Fielding Smith: Daughter of Britain, pp. 209–13.)

Mary Fielding Smith and Her Family Cross the Plains

When the time came for Mary Fielding Smith and her group to go west, many of her animals had died from severe winter weather. Mary prepared for the journey equally best she could; nonetheless, she had to attach two wagons together because she did not have enough oxen and drivers, and instead of sturdy ox teams for each carriage, she had wild steers, cows, and young oxen pulling her wagons. These animals had not been trained to work together and were hard to control.

The captain of the company told Mary information technology would be foolish for her to go west considering she was not prepared. He said she would never brand it to the Salt Lake Valley and would be a brunt on the rest of the visitor. He told her to render to Winter Quarters and expect to come to the Salt Lake Valley until she could become more assistance. Mary calmly told the captain that she did non need his help. Furthermore, she said, she would enter the valley before he did!

Friends provided several more oxen, which were a bully blessing to Mary and her family, and every bit they progressed across the plains, the untrained oxen learned to piece of work together well. All the children helped on the journey. Martha, the youngest, gathered wood and brush for fires and helped herd the loose cattle (the cattle that were not pulling wagons). Joseph F., who was nine years sometime, drove a squad of oxen, as did his older brother, John. Jerusha and Sarah helped with the daily chores and cared for the loose cattle. All the children walked barefoot nigh of the way.

Every bit the company was crossing Wyoming 1 day, one of Mary's oxen of a sudden lay down as if poisoned. It appeared the ox would dice, and Mary had no spare ox with which to replace him. Every bit the ox began to stiffen, the company captain exclaimed, "He is dead, there is no apply working with him, nosotros'll have to prepare up some fashion to accept the Widow [Mary] along. I told her she would be a brunt on the company."

Mary said zippo, but she took a canteen of consecrated oil from her wagon and asked her blood brother, Joseph Fielding, and another man to administer to her ox. "It was a solemn moment at that place under the open sky. A hush savage over the scene. The men removed their hats. All bowed their heads as Joseph Fielding … laid his hands on the caput of the [dying] ox, and prayed over information technology. The great beast lay stretched out and very nevertheless. Its glassy eyes looked nowhere. A moment later the assistants the animate being stirred. Its huge, hind legs commenced to get together under it. Its haunches started to rise. The forelegs strengthened. The ox stood and, without urging, started off equally if nothing had happened." Soon another ox fell ill and was administered to, and information technology besides recovered.

The day before the company was to enter the Salt Lake Valley, several of Mary's oxen were missing again. She knelt in prayer, asking Heavenly Father'southward help in finding them. She was sure that Heavenly Father would help her.

The captain and the rest of the company started off while Mary and her family were still searching for their oxen. Suddenly a storm deject appeared, thunder rolled, lightning flashed, and rain poured downwardly. Everyone was forced to wait. Sixteen-year-former John was able to find the lost animals during the tempest and had them hitched upwardly ready to go as the storm cleared. Mary's family unit left while the others were however gathering up their teams. They entered the valley hours before the helm and the rest of the company. (See Corbett, pp. 223–49.)

Margaret McNeil Helps Her Family Cross the Plains

Margaret McNeil and her family joined the Church in Scotland. They immigrated to Utah when Margaret was ten years quondam. Margaret walked all the way across the plains, often with her four-twelvemonth-former brother James on her back. Margaret's mother was sick on the journeying, so Margaret helped her as much as she could.

Margaret fabricated breakfast and dinner for the family each solar day, and she too cared for the family cow. The cow had to be well fed and so she could provide plenty milk for the family. Every morning time Margaret would have the cow out ahead of the residuum of the visitor and let the moo-cow eat grass until the wagons had all passed past. Then Margaret and the moo-cow would hurry to catch upwards with the rest of the visitor again. When they came to a river, Margaret wrapped the cow's long tail around her hand and she and the cow swam beyond.

The food the McNeils had brought with them ran out on the journey, so the family ate milk and wild rose berries. They finally arrived in Utah and were very grateful to Heavenly Male parent for helping them go far safely. (See Margaret McNeil Ballard, "I Walked Every Footstep of the Way," pp. ten–eleven; see too Susan Arrington Madsen,I Walked to Zion, pp. 125–26.)

Jedediah K. Grant Is Comforted

Jedediah M. Grant was a member of the First Council of the Lxx and helm of one of the pioneer companies. He was also the father of Heber J. Grant, who became the seventh President of the Church. While the Grant family was crossing the plains, Jedediah's married woman and infant daughter became sick with cholera, a disease many people defenseless on the way to the Salt Lake Valley. Equally she was dying, Jedediah's wife asked that she and the baby exist buried in the Table salt Lake Valley. Withal, the infant died first and had to exist buried in a shallow grave in Wyoming. Jedediah's wife died nearly the stop of the journey and was buried in the Salt Lake Valley. On a later trip dorsum to Wyoming, Jedediah visited the babe'southward grave, only to find that wolves had dug the grave up.

Information technology must have been difficult for Brother Grant to lose his wife and child, simply he continued to follow the Church leaders. Several years later he was permitted to see a vision of the spirit world. He saw his wife with their picayune girl in her arms. She showed the child to Brother Grant and said, "Here is little Margaret." Brother Grant saw that although the kid had died on the plains and the grave had been disturbed past wolves, his girl was safe in the spirit world with her female parent. (SeeChurch History in the Fulness of Times, pp. 337–38.)

Lydia Knight Helps Others Cross the Plains

Afterwards the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the Newel and Lydia Knight family began moving west with the rest of the Saints. One winter night, however, Newel became very sick and died. Lydia was left with vii children and another before long to exist born. She had no one to aid or protect her. She moved back to Winter Quarters, where President Brigham Young advised her not to outset on the difficult journeying to the Salt Lake Valley with a new babe. He did ask, however, if she could lend her oxen and wagons to help someone else make the journey. Without hesitation, Lydia gave them. Two years later Lydia was able to gather more equipment and make the journey to the Common salt Lake Valley with her children. (See Susa Immature Gates,Lydia Knight'due south History, pp. 64–76, 84–89.)

Louisa Wells Drives an Ox Team across the Plains

When twenty-two-twelvemonth-old Louisa Wells crossed the plains with her family, she was given the task of driving one of her father's teams of oxen as well as caring for her younger brother and sister.

After packing their possessions in the carriage, Louisa bravely started on her manner. She had a large sunbonnet on her head and a parasol (sunshade) in one manus. In her other hand she carried an ox whip to assistance her control the animals. Things went well for a short time, because Louisa had never driven a team of oxen earlier, but shortly it began to rain. Her parasol and sunbonnet quickly became soaked and useless, and before night she was dirty and soaking wet all over.

Despite this discouraging offset, Louisa faithfully kept going. When the visitor arrived at the Sweetwater River, Louisa's all-time yoke of oxen died from drinking bad water, so she had to use ii cows in their place. The cows were not accustomed to pulling wagons, so Louisa had to pull and coax them along for the residuum of the journey. A woman in the company became ill, and Louisa was assigned to help care for her. For three weeks she walked at the side of her wagon all solar day and nursed the sick woman during the dark. Fortunately Louisa was able to stay salubrious and safely guide her team and wagon into the valley with the rest of the company.

After wearing out three pairs of shoes on the journey, Louisa sewed rags around her feet to protect them, but the rags would wear out in a few hours. Frequently Louisa'due south cut anxiety left bloody tracks on the trail. (Run across Edward Due west. Tullidge,The Women of Mormondom, pp. 336–37.)

Jane Allgood Is Given Encouragement

Fifteen-year-old Jane Allgood and her parents came from England in 1864 and crossed the plains to the Salt Lake Valley. Jane later told her granddaughter how tiring the journey was. The young people in the company had to walk the entire way. Their only food was flour, beans, and dried peaches. Ane day Jane and her friend Emma were and so tired from walking that they sabbatum down to remainder. They watched the wagons go on without them, but their feet were so sore that they did not care about beingness left behind. They felt they just could not go any farther. Jane said, "While sitting at that place so tired, a swain came to the states on a horse. Nosotros didn't come across where he came from nor after talking to u.s.a., where he went. Only he talked to u.s.a. very nice and encouraged us to proceed. He promised us if we would try we would arrive alright, and would not exist harmed." Jane said they were so tired at that signal that "nosotros didn't care whether nosotros died or lived," but the man was kind and encouraged them to continue the journey. The two girls began to experience ameliorate and stronger, and they got upwardly and went on. It was later dark when they caught up with the railroad vehicle train. (Encounter Julie A. Dockstader, "Children Entered Valley with 'Hearts All Aglow,'" pp. eight–9.)

Modern-24-hour interval Pioneers Build the Church

Remind the children that a pioneer is someone who prepares the way for others who will follow. Explicate that many members of the Church are modernistic-twenty-four hours pioneers. Tell the children a story from your family history or a story of a modern-solar day pioneer who was the first of his or her family or surface area to join the Church. Emphasize the need for new members to testify religion in Jesus Christ as they join the Church.

Give-and-take and Awarding Questions

Report the following questions and the scripture references as y'all prepare your lesson. Employ the questions y'all feel will best help the children understand the scriptures and use the principles in their lives. Reading and discussing the scriptures with the children in class will help them gain personal insights.

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How did Mary Fielding Smith'due south religion in Jesus Christ assist her find her missing oxen? Explain that Heavenly Male parent and Jesus Christ know all things, and we tin can receive guidance from them when nosotros pray in faith (encounter D&C eight:10). Bespeak out that Mary prayed for help, and then she and her family did their part by searching for the cattle.
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How was Mary Fielding Smith's faith in the power of the priesthood a blessing to her and her family? Remind the children that the priesthood is the ability and authority to act in the proper noun of God. When we exercise faith in the power of the priesthood, we are showing faith in Jesus Christ.
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How exercise y'all think a ten-year-old girl found the strength to exercise what Margaret McNeil did? (Moroni 7:33.) What would take been hard for yous if you had been in her state of affairs?
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How was Jedediah K. Grant'south faith rewarded? How does obeying the prophet and other Church leaders show organized religion in Jesus Christ?
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Why might it have been hard for Lydia Knight to give up her oxen and wagons? How did doing this show Lydia's faith?
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Why exercise yous think Louisa Wells continued the journey even when information technology became difficult? Share a personal experience when y'all had to suffer bug and inconveniences for the gospel's sake.
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How did Heavenly Male parent assist Jane Allgood and her friend Emma discover the forcefulness they needed to continue their journey? Why is it of import not to give up when we become tired or discouraged? How tin our religion in Jesus Christ assistance united states at such times? (See enrichment action three.)
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Why did each of these pioneers make the necessary sacrifices to cross the plains? (Answers may include to exist with other members of the Church, to escape persecution, and to be obedient to Church leaders.) Explain that in the early days of the Church, Church members scattered throughout the world had little or no communication with Church leaders or other members of the Church. They came to the Table salt Lake Valley to exist with other members and learn from the leaders. Today communication has improved, and while many areas of the world still have only a few Church members, we are now encouraged to stay in our own countries and help build up the Church where nosotros live.
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How did each of these pioneers strengthen his or her faith in Jesus Christ and the restored gospel? What must we do to strengthen our faith? (See enrichment activity 4.)
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What would have been difficult for you if you had been a pioneer? How do yous retrieve you lot would have handled these situations? What difficulties do yous accept in life that the pioneers did not have? How can your faith in Jesus Christ help you lot handle such situations? (See enrichment activity 3.)
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What hardships would you exist willing to endure in order to be with other members of the Church and to worship Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? When might yous be asked to endure hardships for the gospel? (Answers may include when serving a mission or sacrificing to help someone else serve a mission, or when there are only a few members of the Church building in your school or community.) How could your faith in Jesus Christ help you lot in such circumstances? (Moroni 7:33.)
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When have you chosen to do the correct thing even though it was difficult? Why did y'all choose to practise correct? Explicate that when nosotros choose to obey the commandments, we are showing our faith in Jesus Christ. Explain that to take faith in Jesus Christ ways to have such trust in him that nosotros obey whatever he commands.
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What difference can our faith in Jesus Christ make in the way we live each day?
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How tin can our faith in Jesus Christ help us when we are sad or have problems? (Encounter enrichment activity 3.)

Enrichment Activities

You lot may use 1 or more of the post-obit activities whatsoever time during the lesson or as a review, summary, or claiming.

Write on the chalkboard or on separate wordstrips the headingReligionand the scripture references beneath. Take each child (or pair of children, if your class is large) expect up 1 of the scriptures and read it to the class. Hash out as a group what each scripture teaches about faith, and write on the chalkboard (or post a wordstrip) under each reference a argument explaining what that scripture teaches virtually faith.

Alma 32:21	Faith is believing in what is true, even if nosotros cannot meet it.
Alma 37:33	Faith in Jesus Christ tin can assist us resist temptation.
Moroni seven:33	If we have organized religion in Jesus Christ, nosotros will receive power to do whatever he asks us to do.
Moroni x:iv	We must take organized religion in Jesus Christ in club to receive a testimony.
D&C 20:29	We must have religion in Jesus Christ to be able to endure to the finish and proceeds eternal life.
D&C 29:six	When we pray, we have faith that Heavenly Father will hear and answer our prayers.
Articles of Faith 1:iv	Faith in Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel.

ii.
Brand for each child a re-create of the worksheet found at the end of the lesson. Accept the children depict a line connecting each problem in the first cavalcade with the appropriate solution in the second column. (Answers: ane-b; ii-g; 3-a; 4-e; 5-d; half-dozen-c; vii-f.) If it is not viable to brand a copy for each child, you could put the phrases on separate wordstrips and let the children piece of work together to match them. Discuss with the children why having organized religion in Jesus Christ can assistance in these situations.
3.
Discuss with the children how having religion in Jesus Christ tin help them bargain with situations such equally serious illness, the decease of a loved one, moving to a new ward or school, feeling left out, or feeling discouraged nearly a problem. Remind the children that having religion includes doing all we can do ourselves, such as praying, fasting, studying the scriptures for answers, and obeying the commandments; asking for the Lord'south aid; and accepting the Lord'south will in each situation.
4.
Show the children a small plant or sprouted seed. Explain that faith can exist compared to a seed because it also starts small-scale and grows as it is fed and nurtured.
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  What practise plants need to help them grow and be strong?
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  What "feeds" our faith and keeps it strong? (Obeying the commandments.)
Help the children think of specific commandments, such equally praying and attention Church meetings, that help them strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ.
5.
Have the children dramatize i or more of the stories in the lesson, using simple costumes and props.
half-dozen.
Help the children review or memorize the 4th article of faith. Discuss the importance of organized religion in Jesus Christ.
7.
Sing or say the words to "Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked"(Children's Songbook, p. 214). Point out that the pioneers were able to sing and be happy on their difficult journey because they had faith in the Savior. They knew that they would be blessed, either in this life or the next, for following the Savior and the leaders of his church.

Conclusion

Testimony

Bear your testimony of the importance of having faith in Jesus Christ. You may wish to tell about a time when y'all were blessed past having organized religion in the Savior and obeying the commandments. Encourage the children to strengthen their faith past obeying the commandments and learning more than well-nigh the gospel.

Suggested Family Sharing

Encourage the children to share with their families a specific part of the lesson, such as a story, question, or activeness, or to read with their families the "Suggested Home Reading."

Invite a child to requite the endmost prayer.

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