Making and Keeping Covenants

Chris Bender -

Purpose

Learn about keeping your baptismal covenant.

Description

Begin with a brief discussion about the covenants we make at baptism and the blessings we receive. Explain that when we are older, we can go to the temple to make more covenants and receive more blessings. Teach that the sacrament helps us repent and keep our covenants.
Create a “Keeping Covenants” board game. Explain to the children that this game will help them think about how they can keep their covenant to follow Jesus Christ and obey His commandments through their daily choices.

You will need:

  • A board with a path and spaces to move along the path.
  • A piece for each child to travel the path with.
  • Cards to draw from to progress along the path. On each card, include a
    situation and a selection of choices. The better the choice, the more spaces the child gets to move forward. For example:
    • Your friend wants you to steal some candy from a store. Do you (1) Do it and hope you don’t get caught [go back one space]; (2) Say, “No way!” but let your friend steal the candy [move forward one space]; or (3) Say no and try to convince your friend to do something else [move forward two spaces]
    • You are playing a game, and your little sister wants to play. Do you (1) Yell at her to go away [go back one space]; (2) Try to help her find something else she can play with [move forward one space]; or (3) Find a way to involve her in your game [move forward two spaces]?
  • If a child makes a choice that sends them back one space, they can choose to draw a “Repentance” card and explain how they could repent. Then they can move forward two spaces.
  • Play the game until everyone has finished. People who finish first can help those who are still playing the game to make good decisions. Remind the children that living the gospel is not a race and that we should help each other along the covenant path.

If you have enough room, you can make the board game life-size, with the path and spaces marked on the floor and the children moving along the path. Please adapt activities as necessary to ensure all individuals are able to participate, belong, and contribute.

Discussion Idea

Why is it important for me to keep my baptismal covenants?
How does the sacrament help me keep my covenant to follow Jesus Christ?