Opening Song: Follow the Prophet #110 {verse 7 for Jonah}
Opening Prayer:
Lesson:
Watch Jonah Old Testament Video - lds.org
or Share the story of Jonah. {Jonah 1-4}
Story below from October 2010 Friend Magazine.
Jehovah had told the prophet Jonah to go on a mission to Nineveh, but Jonah did not want to go. The wicked people of Nineveh were enemies of the Jews.
Jonah decided to run away. He went down to the sea to find a boat going to Tarshish—the opposite direction from Nineveh. Then he went inside the ship to rest. The ship sailed out to sea.
While Jonah slept, Jehovah sent a great wind. Huge waves crashed all around. The sailors woke up Jonah and asked him to pray for their safety.
Jonah realized that he was the reason the sea was so rough. “Cast me forth into the sea,” he said. The sailors tried to row the ship back to shore, but the wind was too fierce. At last, they threw Jonah over the side of the ship. Suddenly the sea was calm again.
Waves swirled over Jonah as he sank down into the water. But Jehovah had prepared a great fish to be near the ship, and the fish swallowed Jonah whole.
In the dark belly of the huge fish, Jonah prayed humbly for three days and three nights. He repented of trying to run away from serving people he did not like.
Finally, Jehovah spoke to the fish, and the fish spat Jonah out onto dry ground.
Once again, Jehovah told Jonah to go to Nineveh to preach repentance. This time Jonah did just as Jehovah asked.
Jonah told the people if they did not repent, the huge city of Nineveh would be destroyed. The people listened.
Even the king of Nineveh listened to Jonah. He told the people to turn away from evil and violence.
Because of Jonah’s missionary work, thousands of people in Nineveh repented. Nineveh was not destroyed. And Jonah realized that Jehovah loves everyone on earth, no matter where they live or what they have done.
Jehovah is another name for Jesus Christ. He is Heavenly Father’s oldest son. Heavenly Father asked Him to create the world and to help people return to Heavenly Father’s presence. When Jehovah speaks to people, He is usually representing Heavenly Father. In the Old Testament, Jehovah is usually referred to as Lord. After He was born in Bethlehem, He was known as Jesus Christ.
God, our Heavenly Father, is the father of our spirits. He loves and watches over us always. We worship Him and pray to Him. Hundreds of years later, Jesus explained that just as Jonah was inside the fish for three days, Jesus would be buried for three days and then live again (see Matthew 12:40).
Activities:
Using a blue blanket {or anything you can think of to be a whale!} have one child be the whale/fish and swallow up Jonah. {We may have had each child have to be the whale, and each child Jonah - thus taking 20 mins up! Physical lessons are favourite here} Then after an amount of time have the fish push out "jonah'.
Discuss how we can be like Jonah before { when he was scared, running away, disobedient}
and Jonah After {Repent, try to right our wrongs, humble ourselves, help others}
Jonah Maze - Friend Magazine February 1998
Jonah Printable characters - Friend Magazine October 1990
Jonah Colouring Sheet - Friend Magazine April 1998
Closing Song: Dare to do Right #158
Closing Prayer:
Treat:
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