Easter idea

This is our family home evening lesson from last Easter. Samuel, our resident pinball, was touchingly attentive, especially while looking at the picture of Jesus on the cross.

Here is an idea for a teaching your family about Easter. I created this program years ago for a church women's group when I was the Enrichment leader. My goal was to have the sisters contemplate Jesus' life as they touched items the scriptures teach us Jesus also touched. I also added music and sound effects which are briefly mentioned in the outline. Yet the words are strong on their own, as the text comes directly from the scriptures. Adapt the length for your family's attention spans. There is a special role for the youngest child! 

Alternately, use the objects for a grab bag activity: Have children reach into bag and try to identify an item just by touch. Then read accompanying scriptures. I did a Primary singing time last Easter based on this idea. If you place items in bag one at a time, you can control the sequence.

Items needed:

Someone to read the program

Blindfolds for everyone else

• Straw or similar plant material

• Wooden block

• Fish net or piece of mesh

• Cup of water

• Spray bottle of water

• Scrap of cloth

• Thorns (if using rose bush trimmings, clip off sharp ends of thorns first; the thorn shape will still be identifiable)

• Large board (2 x 4, etc.)

• Large nail

• Rock

(For some of these items you may decide to have enough for each of your family members to hold; otherwise pass single items from person to person.)

For an added dimension: Have ready a recording of "Come Follow Me" to play in an adjacent room (within earshot of where you do the program). Place several pictures of Christ in this room. Recordings of hymns and Primary songs are available on www.lds.org.

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“Touch of the Master’s Hand” program

* lines indicate use of music and sound effects

ACTION INSTRUCTIONS INDICATED IN ALL CAPS

Read aloud scriptures.

BLINDFOLD FAMILY MEMBERS AND LEAD THEM INTO THE ROOM.

* Music begins -- "Away in a Manger" from Children's Songbook  -- let first verse play before narration

DELIVER STRAW

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”  Luke 2:7

COLLECT STRAW DURING *THIRD VERSE, DELIVER WOOD BLOCKS

* Music: "Jesus Once was a Little Child"

READ DURING *MUSIC INTRO: “Is not this the carpenter’s son?”  Matthew 13:55

“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon him.” Luke 2: 40

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Luke 2:52

PASS MESH NET, ALLOWING EACH PERSON TO TOUCH

“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

“And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”  Matthew 4:18-20

DELIVER CUPS OF WATER, DIPPING EACH PERSON'S FINGERS

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

SPRAY WATER BOTTLE IN EACH PERSON'S FACE

* Music: storm sound effects

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

“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?

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 

“And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

“And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”  Mark 4:37-41

DELIVER CLOTH 

“And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

“And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

“When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

“For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

“And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. . .

“. . . And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith had made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of the plague.”  Mark 5:25-28, 34

COLLECT CLOTH, THEN THIS NARRATION:

“While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, They daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

“But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole . . .

“. . . And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. . .

“. . .And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

“And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.” Luke 8:49-50, 52, 54-55 

GUIDE YOUR YOUNGEST CHILD TO GIVE HUGS TO EVERYONE 

“And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

“Verily I say unto you, Whosover shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” Luke 18:15-17

“And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.” Mark 14:32

“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down and prayed,

“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

“And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, stengthening him.

“And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:41-44

* Rooster sound effect

“And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.  And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny my thrice.

“And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.”  Luke 22:61-62

DELIVER THORNS

“And they cried out again, Crucify him.

“Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.

“And so Pilate, willing, to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. . .

“And the soldiers clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,

“And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!

“And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their kneed worshipped him.

“And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.”  Mark 15:13-15,17-20

PLACE BEAM ON EACH PERSON'S SHOULDER, SAY, “WILL YOU HELP CARRY THIS?”

“And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.” Matthew 27:32

DELIVER NAILS

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying . . . My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me? . . .  (pause)

“Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.” Matthew 27:46, 50

DELIVER ROCKS

“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

“And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for two angels of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. . .

“. . . And the angels answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for we know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 

“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said . . .” Matthew 28: 1-2, 5-6

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesis is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:31

ADDED DIMENSION: START "COME FOLLOW ME" RECORDING IN OTHER ROOM. GUIDE FAMILY MEMBERS TOWARD MUSIC. REMOVE BLINDFOLDS.

“And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone round about.”  D&C 76:19

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I am so grateful for my Savior. I wish everyone a joyous, meaningful Easter celebration.