Primary New Testament: Lesson 15: Jesus Christ Used His Priesthood Power to Bless Others

https://history.lds.org/exhibit/miracles-of-christ?lang=eng&cid=HP_FR_4-17-2015_dCHD_fCHSY_xLIDyL2-1_#healing-the-sick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef2xgL45qX4 Master, the Tempest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDuTALRGxu8 Master, the Tempest -- Anna Whitney

[Lesson 14: Jesus Christ and the Sabbath Day]

Lesson 15: Jesus Christ Used His Priesthood Power to Bless Others

Primary 7: New Testament, (1997), 50–53

Purpose

To help each child better understand the power of the priesthood.

Preparation

1. Prayerfully study Mark 4:35–41, 6:33–44, Luke 9:37–43,Matthew 14:23–33, Acts 10:38, and Doctrine and Covenants 13,27:12, 124:123. Then study the lesson and decide how you want to teach the children the scripture accounts. (See “Preparing Your Lessons,” p. vi, and “Teaching from the Scriptures,” p. vii.)

2. Additional readings: Matthew 8:23–27; John 6:1–14, 16–21; and Gospel Principles, chapter 13.
3. Select the discussion questions and enrichment activities that will involve the children and best help them achieve the purpose of the lesson.
4. Materials needed:
1. a. A Bible or a New Testament for each child.
2. b. Pictures 7-15, Stilling the Storm (Gospel Art Picture Kit 214; 62139); 7-16, Feeding the Five Thousand (62143); and 7-17, Jesus Walking on the Water.

Suggested Lesson Development

Invite a child to give the opening prayer.

Attention Activity

Turn off the light in the room, or turn on a flashlight. Ask what is needed to make the light work. (Power.) Have the children tell you some of the things we use that need power to work. What other kinds of power are there? Tell the children that today they are going to learn about a power that is the greatest power of all, greater even than the forces of nature. It is the power of God. We call it the priesthood.

Alternate Attention Activity

Show the children a magnet and some pieces of metal. Let the children use the magnet to pull the pieces of metal across the table. If you do not have a magnet, blow up a balloon and rub it on clothing to make it cling to the wall or to one of the children. You could also have a child run a comb through his or her hair several times and then use it to pick up small pieces of paper.

• What caused the magnet to attract the metal, the balloon to stick to the wall or clothing, or the comb to pick up the paper? (The magnet has power that causes the metal to be attracted to it. Static electricity holds the balloon to the wall or clothing and enables the comb to pick up the paper.)
• What other powers can you think of? (Lightning, electricity, wind, and so on.)

Explain to the children that they are going to learn about a power that is the greatest power of all. It is the power of God, the priesthood.

Scripture Accounts and Discussion and Application Questions

Using the pictures at appropriate times, teach the accounts about Jesus using his power. (For suggested ways to teach the scripture accounts, see “Teaching from the Scriptures,” p. vii.)

1. Stilling the Storm (Mark 4:35–41)

• How did Jesus’ disciples feel during the storm? (Mark 4:38.) Why did they think Jesus didn’t care about them? How do you know Heavenly Father cares about you?
• How did Jesus still the storm? (Mark 4:39.)
• What power did Jesus use to still the storm? (His power—the power of God.) What do we call the power and authority of God? (D&C 124:123. The priesthood.)
123 Verily I say unto you, I now give unto you the ^aofficers belonging to my Priesthood, that ye may hold the ^bkeys thereof, even the Priesthood which is after the order of Melchizedek, which is after the order of mine ^cOnly Begotten Son.
• After calming the storm, what did Jesus ask his disciples? (Mark 4:40.)
• How did the disciples feel about Jesus after he calmed the storm? (Matthew 8:27; Mark 4:41.)
Matthew 8: 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Mark 4: 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea,^aPeace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great ^bcalm.

40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so ^afearful? how is it that ye have no ^bfaith?

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Matthew 8: 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the ^asea obey him!

2. Feeding the Five Thousand (Mark 6:33–44)

• Why do you think the people followed Jesus into the wilderness? (Mark 6:33.) What did Jesus do before he performed the miracle of feeding the five thousand? (Matthew 14:14.) What power did Jesus use to heal the sick? (The power of the priesthood.) Who is the source of the power that blesses our lives? (Acts 10:38.)
• What power did Jesus use to provide enough food for everyone? What was miraculous about the amount of food that was left? (Mark 6:42–44; John 6:12–13.)

33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.

34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:

36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundredpennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

42 And they did all eat, and were filled.

43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

3. Jesus Heals a Boy with an Unclean Spirit (Luke 9:37–43)

• What was wrong with the man’s son? (Luke 9:38–40.) What did the man ask Jesus to do?
• What was Jesus able to do for the boy? (Luke 9:42.) How did the people who were with Jesus react to this miracle? (Luke 9:43.)
• Who else had the man gone to for help? (Luke 9:40.) Why do you think the disciples couldn’t help the man and his son? Why did Jesus call his disciples “faithless”? (Luke 9:41.) Why do you think faith is necessary for the power of the priesthood to work?

37 ¶And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.

38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.

39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.

40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.

42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.

43 ¶And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
4. Walking on the Water (Matthew 14:22–33)

• Through what power did Jesus walk on the water to the boat where his disciples were? What did the disciples think when they first saw him? (Matthew 14:26.) What did Jesus say to them? (Matthew 14:27.)

22 ¶And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Summary Discussion and Application Questions

Explain that Jesus performed these four miracles through his power. He also performed many other miracles using the power of the priesthood. Jesus has shared his power with bearers of the priesthood today.

Peter, James, and John received the keys of the priesthood on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–9). These priesthood keys were given to Peter, James, and John so they would have the power of the priesthood when Jesus was gone. Peter was to be the President of the Church after Jesus was resurrected, and he needed the priesthood keys to carry on the work of the Church.

1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses andElias talking with him.

4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloudovershadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

•
What priesthood keys did Moses and Elijah give to Peter, James, and John? (Moses gave them the priesthood keys of the gathering of Israel; Elijah gave them the keys of the sealing power [see D&C 110:12–16].)

12 After this, Elias appeared, and committed thedispensation of the gospel of Abraham, saying that in us and our seed all generations after us should be blessed.

13 After this vision had closed, another great and glorious vision burst upon us; for Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said:

14 Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—

15 To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—

16 Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.

•
How do we use the keys of gathering today? (Articles of Faith 1:10. Missionary work.) How can you participate in missionary work now, and how can you prepare to serve a full-time mission?
•
Where do we use the sealing keys today? (In the temple.) How can you prepare to go to the temple?

Explain that after the death of Jesus and the Apostles, the blessings of the Church and the priesthood were taken away from the people on earth. It was necessary for the priesthood to be restored to the earth. Jesus restored his church and the priesthood through Joseph Smith so that all of us could receive the blessings of the priesthood in our lives today.

•
Why is it important for the Church to have the priesthood today? What are the two priesthoods? How was the Aaronic Priesthood restored? (D&C 13.) How was the Melchizedek Priesthood restored? (D&C 27:12.)

Help the children understand that worthy boys can receive the same priesthood when they are twelve that John the Baptist restored to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. Explain that when boys receive the Aaronic Priesthood, they are given the power to act in the name of God in blessing the members of their ward or branch. (See enrichment activity 5.)

•
What blessings do we receive through the power of the priesthood? (Naming and blessing of babies, baptism, confirmation, the sacrament, temple sealings, and so on.) What are some personal blessings we receive through thepriesthood? (Blessings when sick, father’s blessings, home teachers.)
•
How has the priesthood blessed your life?

Enrichment Activities

You may use one or more of the following activities any time during the lesson or as a review, summary, or challenge.

1.
On folded pieces of paper write Baptism and Confirmation, Blessing the Sick, A Father’s Blessing, Temple Marriage, and The Sacrament. Place the slips in a box or envelope labeled “Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings.” Ask a child to take out a slip and read it to the class. Discuss the role of the priesthood in the blessing or ordinance. Repeat with the other slips. Ask the children to share experiences they have had with these ordinances and blessings.
2.
Review the fifth article of faith, and help the children memorize it.
3.
Sing or read the words to (Hymns, “Master, the Tempest Is Raging”)no. 105.
4.
Show the videocassette “A Boy and the Power of God,” segment 3 of Primary Video Collection (53179).
5.
Explain that when a boy in the Church turns twelve, he can, if he is worthy, receive the Aaronic Priesthood and be ordained to the office of a deacon. Prepare the following wordstrips:

Passes the sacrament

Collects fast offerings

Acts as the bishop’s messenger

Takes care of the Lord’s property

Ask the children to name the duties of a deacon. As the children give a correct answer, display the appropriate wordstrip. Help them identify all of the duties by giving hints if necessary.

Conclusion

Testimony

Bear your testimony of the power of the priesthood that Jesus had. Also bear testimony that worthy men and boys in the Church have the same priesthood power today and that certain blessings are available to us only through the priesthood.