The Brother of Jared – “What will ye that I should do?

PREPARATION – You’ll need an object to hide, bowl of water, a hard boiled egg, language
cards, Brother of Jared story, Game card for each member of the family, 8 barges for each
member, small clear glass stones (found in the floral department of most stores), game
cards.

OBJECTIVE – Our faith increases as we are obedient to gospel principles.

OPENING SONG – Choose the Right Way, pg. 160

OPENING PRAYER - (To be assigned)

SCRIPTURE(S) - Ether 2:23

DISCUSSION - Show the children an object covered by a piece of cloth. Do you believe
there is something under here? Why? Let the children guess what they think the object
might be. Then uncover the object. Point out that even though they could not see the
object, they believed it was there.

Explain that even though we have not seen Jesus Christ, we believe He is there. We see
evidence of His existence everywhere as we look at the world that He created. We see the
stars in the heavens, especially as we read the scriptures. We also have prophets who have
told us that they have seen Him.

STORY – Before you get started, do the following activity. Give each family member a
language card. Each phrase reads “Stand up, turn around, and sit quietly”. However, each
card has a different language on it. Without telling them what it says, ask your family to
follow the instructions on their papers without speaking.

FYI - MASTER KEY

German: Steh auf, dreh dich um, und sitz still.

Italian: Alzati, girati, siediti, e stai tranquillo.
Danish: Rejs dig op, vend dig omkring, sæt dig stille ned.
Swedish: Ställa upp, vänd dig omkring, sätt dig stilla ned.
French: Lève-toi, tourne-toi, et assieds-toi tranquillement.
Portuguese: Levante-se, vire-se, e sente-se silenciosamente!
Spanish: Ponte de pie, date una vuelta, y siéntate en silencio.
Greek: Η στάση επάνω, στροφή γύρω, και κάθεται ήσυχα

Question: Why are you not able to follow my instructions?

Jared and his family lived near the tower of Babel during a sinful time. Because the people
were wicked, the Lord confused their language so they could not understand each other. A

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faithful man, who is known in the Book of Mormon as the brother of Jared, prayed that the
language of his family and friends would not be changed.

Question: What would it be like if you were not able to understand the people around you?

Story: Read both stories from the Friend. (included in lesson)

So, the Jaredites made preparations to travel to their new land. The Lord showed them
how to build barges (round boats) so they could cross the sea to the Promised Land.
Heavenly Father loved the Brother of Jared and those that were with him. He taught them,
watched over and protected them.

Question: Do you think He does this for us as well? Can you think of a time when Heavenly
Father has taught, watched over or protected you?

Because the brother of Jared had so much faith, the Lord then showed not only His finger
but His whole self unto him.

Object Lesson: Use a bowl of water and a hard boiled egg to show the barge being tossed
around on the seas and how you would be totally lost as to what direction you were going if
you couldn’t see a compass or see outside.

Use the above object lesson to teach the family that the Lord brought the Jaredites safely
across the waters to the Promised Land. For a time, they kept the commandments, but
eventually, they became wicked. Then, because they would not repent, they fought until
they were completely destroyed off the face of the land. All that remained was a record of
a people who chose not to keep the commandments of God.

We don’t have to wander through life without direction. Heavenly Father has given us so
many tools to learn about Him.

Question: What do you think these tools are? (Scriptures, Prophet, Parents and Family,
Prayer, Teachers, etc.)

Big or small, we all have choices to make everyday. These choices will lead us farther away
or closer to our Savior. We will be happiest if we choose to follow our Savior and include
Him in our lives. Bear your testimony that Heavenly Father will hear and answer our prayers
when we ask in faith. Just like the brother of Jared, we must make a plan and then take it
to the Lord. (You might share a personal experience about having a prayer answered.)

ACTIVITY – Ready, Set, Go Game

CLOSING SONG – Keep the Commandments, pg. 146

CLOSING PRAYER – (To be assigned)

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 REFRESHMENT SUGGESTION – No bake thumbprint cookies (recipe enclosed)
Steh auf, dreh dich
Steh auf, dreh dich um, und sitz still.
Alzati, girati, siediti,
um, und sitz still. e stai tranquillo.

Ställa upp, vänd

Rejs dig op, vend dig omkring, sätt
dig omkring, sæt dig stilla ned.
dig stille ned.

Lève-toi, tourne-toi, Levante-se, vire-se,

et assieds-toi e sente-se
tranquillement. silenciosamente!

Η στάση επάνω Ponte de pie, date

una vuelta, y
στροφή γύρω και siéntate en silencio
κάθεται ήσυχα
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“The Jaredites Leave Babel,” Friend, Apr 1990, 20

Jared and his brother were righteous men who lived in a place called Babel. They lived hundreds of years
before the Nephites. Ether 1:32–33; Gen. 11:9

Most of the people in Babel were wicked. They built a tower to try to get to heaven. The Lord was angry and
changed their language so they could not understand each other. Gen. 11:4–7

Jared asked his brother to pray and ask the Lord not to change the language of their families and friends.
Ether 1:34

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The brother of Jared prayed, and the Lord answered his prayer. So Jared, his brother, and their families and
friends could still understand each other. Ether 1:35–37

The Lord told the brother of Jared to gather his family and friends and leave the land. They were to take their
flocks and all kinds of seeds with them. Ether 1:40–41

The Lord said that he would lead the Jaredites to a promised land. Ether 1:42

The Jaredites caught birds and fish to take with them. Ether 2:2

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They took swarms of honeybees. Ether 2:3

The Jaredites traveled into the wilderness. The Lord spoke to them from a cloud and told them which way to
go. Ether 2:5

The Lord said that the people who live in the land of promise must serve God or be destroyed. Ether 2:6–8

When the Jaredites came to the seashore, they put up their tents. They stayed by the sea for four years. Ether
2:13

[illustrations] Illustrated by Robert T. Barrett

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“The Lord Leads the Jaredites to a Promised Land,” Friend, May 1990, 19

While the Jaredites camped by the sea, the brother of Jared forgot to pray. The Lord came in a cloud to tell
him to repent. Ether 2:14

The brother of Jared repented and prayed. The Lord said, “I will forgive thee … but thou shalt not sin any
more.” Ether 2:15

The Lord told the brother of Jared to build barges to take his people to the promised land. Ether 2:16

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The Lord told the brother of Jared how to build the barges. Ether 2:16–17

The barges were made so that they could float on the water. The barges were airtight so that no water could
get inside. Ether 2:17

The brother of Jared wondered how the people would have air to breathe in the barges. He asked the Lord
what to do. Ether 2:18–19

The Lord told him to make a hole in the top and bottom of each barge. The hole could be opened to let in air
and closed if water began to come in. Ether 2:20

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The brother of Jared told the Lord that the barges were dark inside. The Lord asked him to think of a way to
have light in the barges. Ether 2:22

The Lord said that the barges could not have windows because they would break. He said that they could not
take fire with them. Ether 2:23

The brother of Jared went to a mountain and smelted from a rock sixteen small stones that looked like clear
glass. He made two stones for each of the eight barges. Ether 3:1

The brother of Jared carried the sixteen stones to the top of the mountain. Then he prayed to the Lord. Ether
3:1

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The brother of Jared asked the Lord to touch the stones so that they would give light inside the barges. Ether
3:4

The Lord reached out and touched each stone with his finger. Ether 3:6

Because the brother of Jared had great faith, he saw the finger of the Lord. It looked like the finger of a man.
Ether 3:6

Then the Lord showed himself to the brother of Jared. Ether 3:9–13

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He said, “Behold, I am Jesus Christ.” Jesus then said that all who believe in him would have eternal life.
Ether 3:14

Jesus taught the brother of Jared many things. Jesus told him to write what he had seen and heard. Ether
3:25–27

The brother of Jared carried the stones down the mountain. He put one stone in each end of each barge. They
gave light inside the barges. Ether 6:2–3

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The Jaredites went into the barges with their animals and food. The Lord made a furious wind blow the
barges toward the promised land. Ether 6:4–5

The Lord protected them in the rough sea. They thanked the Lord and sang praises to him day and night.
Ether 6:6–10

After 344 days on the water, the barges landed on the shore of the promised land. Ether 6:11–12

When the Jaredites came out of the barges, they knelt down before the Lord and cried tears of joy. Ether 6:12

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The Jaredites made homes and planted crops in the promised land. They taught their children to listen to the
Lord and obey his words. Ether 6:13, 16–18

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 Ready, Set, Go (Game instruction)

Give each player a game card. Make a pile of stones and barges in the middle of the table. Put
questions cards in a pile face down on the table. The first person draws a question. As
answers are given correctly, they earn the barges or stones indicated. Each card specifies
what they need if they answer the question correctly. It doesn’t matter the order they
receive them. If you get two stones and no barge . . . just wait until you get a barge and place
it under the stones. Restack the cards and start over with the questions if you need to.
Repetition is good! The first person to complete their game board (8 barges with two stones
on top of each barge) is the winner.

Print enough barges (8) and game boards (1) for each person.

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 The Brother of Jared
How many stones T/F: When you have a T/F: We don’t need to is the leader of the
were in each barge? problem, you can talk follow the prophet ________________
to Heavenly Father, when he tells us to do people.
just like the Brother something.
This card is of Jared.
worth 1 barge. This card is worth 1 This card is worth 1
This card is barge. barge and 1 stone.
worth 1 stone.

The people at the Building the tower of

What is the name of The Brother of Jared tower of Babel Babel made Heavenly
the tower that was first saw the ______ thought they could get Father __________.
destroyed? of the Lord. to ____________ if
they built a tall
enough tower. This card is worth 1
This card is This card is worth 1 barge and 1 stone.
worth 2 stones. barge and 1 stone. This card is
worth 2 barges.

The Brother of Jared

had a problem. He T/F: The Brother of
Who appeared in the The Brother of Jared knew he could Jared and his people
shape of a cloud? was instructed to _________ and talk to were wicked men.
build…what? his Heavenly Father.
This card is This card is
worth 1 barge. This card is worth This card is worth 1 worth 1 barge.
1 barge and 1 stone. barge and 2 stones.

How many stones Jesus Christ showed After he was The Lord told the
total did the Lord His finger to the instructed to build Brother of Jared to
touch with His finger? Brother of Jared. He barges, why did the make a _______ in
then revealed more Brother of Jared need the top and bottom of
This card is than just His finger. to speak with the the barge so they
worth 2 stones. What did He reveal? Lord? could breathe.

This is worth 2 barges This card is This card is

and 2 stones. worth 2 barges. worth 1 barge.

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 Lose a turn. Lose a turn. Lose a turn. Because of your faith,
Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! you get TWO turns!

T/F: The Brother of The people at the

Jared prayed and tower of Babel How many total
How did they get asked him to let his thought they barges were
light in the barge? friends and family could get closer to there total?
speak the same ____________ if they
language so they built a tall enough
This card is could understand tower. This card is worth 1
worth 2 stones. each other. barge and 1 stone.
This card is
This is worth 1 barge. worth 2 barges.

Jesus Christ appeared

T/F: The Brother of to the Brother You can ask any BONUS QUESTION
Jared forgot to pray of Jared in: member of the
for a long time and it game for one of If you know what the
made Heavenly a) fire their stones. Lucky Brother of Jared’s
Father very unhappy. b) a cloud you! If no one has real name, you get 2
c) a chariot stones yet, you’re not barges and 2 stones!
This card is very lucky. Sorry! Wahoo!!!
worth 1 barge. This card is worth
1 barge and 1 stone.

BONUS QUESTION
Yes or No - Was the T/F: The Brother of T/F: The story of the
Brother of Jared Jared is an example of Brother of Jared You get to ask any
considered a prophet? faith and humility. doesn’t apply to us team member a
today. question about the
This card is This card is lesson. If they get
worth 1 barge. worth 2 barges. This card is it wrong, you get 2
worth 2 stones stones. If they get
it right, they get
2 stones.

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