2 Nephi 1-5

‘We lived after the manner of happiness”

Scripture:

2 Nephi 2:25-27

25 ^aAdam ^bfell that men might be; and men ^care, that they might have ^djoy.

26 And the ^aMessiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may ^bredeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are ^credeemed from the fall they have become ^dfree forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the ^elaw at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

27 Wherefore, men are ^afree according to the ^bflesh; and ^call things are ^dgiven them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to ^echoose ^fliberty and eternal ^glife, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be ^hmiserable like unto himself.

Activity #1:

“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have JOY” (2 Nephi 2:25)

I really like the support material on the church’s website. The title was ‘What Blessings Did the Fall Make Possible?’ (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/02/weekly-book-of-mormon-insights/what-blessings-did-the-fall-make-possible?lang=eng)

I love the scriptures and the blessings that were listed and I wanted for my kids to know from a young age that the fall brings us many blessings and that because of the fall we can have JOY. So I made a puzzle listing all of the blessings listed in the article on the word:JOY.

Here is the free printable:

Activity #2:

In 2 Nephi 2 we learn that we are free to choose. Elder D. Todd Christofferson said: “God intends that His children should act according to the moral agency He has given them. …It is His plan and His will that we have the principal decision-making role in our own life’s drama” (“Free Forever, to Act for Themselves,” Ensign, Nov. 2014). To emphasize this we are going to play a game of “Would you Rather.”

Play Would You Rather:

1. Would you rather meet Joseph Smith Jr. or President Russell M. Nelson?
2. Would you rather travel through the wilderness with Lehi or Moses?
3. Would you rather see the Liahona or the Urim and Thummim?
4. Would you rather travel across the ocean in Nephi’s boat or in the Brother of Jered’s barges?
5. Would you rather invite a friend to church or a church activity?
6. Would you rather fight with the 2000 stripling warriors or battle Goliath with David?
7. Would you rather part the red sea or walk on water?
8. Would you rather have leprosy and be blind?
9. Would you rather build a temple or construct an ark?
10. Would you rather hunt your food or fish for your food?
11. Would you rather serve a mission in Australia or Austria?
12. Would you rather sing in sacrament or give a talk in sacrament?
13. Would you rather live in the times of Joseph Smith Jr. or in Nephi’s time?
14. Would you rather read your scriptures in the morning or at night?

Then ask some would you rather questions that you will make them follow through with their choices (choices do have consequences).

1. Would you rather clean the toilet or the sink? (then have them do it!)

2. Would you rather eat cookies or chips? (then have them only eat their choice)

Talk about the blessing of agency thanks to the fall of Adam and Eve.

I really liked the games and questions from Oneshetwoshe.com:

LETS NAME A CHOICE AND THEN LIST THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT DECISION!

• You do not study for a spelling test so….
• You work really hard on your science fair project and even go the extra mile to create the perfect poster…
• You get caught stealing a toy from someones backpack at school…
• You decide not to wear your helmet when you ride your scooter down the street and you hit a big hole in the road that makes you crash…
• You bring your scriptures to church and the teacher calls on you to read a verse to the class…
• You invite the new kid at school to play with you at recess…
• And you can think of your own!

Then I want to talk to my kids that we are free to choose but we are not free to choose the consequences of our behaviors. Our choices have consequences.

I’m so grateful for Adam and Eve and for their brave decision to partake of the fruit. I’m also grateful for an all knowing God who set up a perfect plan and sent His Son, Jesus Christ, who makes it all possible.