The Battle is the Lord’s – 1 Samuel 8-10; 13; 15-18

Gathered in this post are resources to help you teach your family not only the stories of the people in the Old Testament but also the doctrine and principles found in the study block for the Come, Follow Me reading of 1 Samuel 8-10; 13; 15-18. There are resources for children, youth, and adults. Every resource linked to is free! Most links are to church websites or websites approved for further gospel study. Choose on thing a day to do with your family or a couple to do for family home evening. Enjoy!

Everyone

Article – David and Goliath – Faith over Fear

Primary Children

Video – How to Draw David and Goliath | Come Create with Me—Drawing – In this simple drawing lesson, the artist tells us the classic Biblical story of David and Goliath found in the Old Testament and draws an image of their size and weapons. Gospel for Kids (18:24 minutes)

The Lord knows what is in my heart. 1 Samuel 16:1-13

Article – Jehovah Looks on the Heart – David showed that his heart was full of faith and courage.

Video – Young David – Old Testament Scripture Stories

Video – Young David – Old Testament Scripture Reader

Faith in Jesus Christ can help me have courage. Jesus Christ can help me overcome any challenge. 1 Samuel 17:10-54

Activity – Faith in Jesus Christ Can Help Me Have Courage – Make a pop-up scene.

Activity – Make a square on the ground with chalk or tape. Write the name “Goliath” inside. Stand back and toss pebbles into the square. Every time your pebble lands in the square, name a way Heavenly Father helps you overcome big challenges. From Come, Follow Me activities in the Friend.

Activity – Draw It! – Draw your own picture of David with his sling

Activity – David and Goliath – Search and Find

Lesson – David and Goliath – Old Testament Primary Manual

Video – David and Goliath – Old Testament Scripture Stories

Video – David and Goliath – Old Testament Scripture Reader

Good friends can be a blessing to me. 1 Samuel 18:1-4

Activity – All Aboard the Friend Ship! – We can follow Jesus’ example and be a good friend to others. Here’s a game you can play with friends.

Lesson – David and Jonathan – Old Testament Primary Manual

Story – A Blue-Ribbon Friend – Preston sees kids making fun of the drawings of a boy named in Jacob in his class. Preston’s asks for one of Jacob’s drawings and enters it into a contest. 

Those who serve in the Church are called by God. 1 Samuel 8:6; 9:15-17; 10:1-24; 16:1-13

Activity – Our Prophets and Apostles Today – Read about the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Then cut out the pictures and tape them in place on the chart.

Activity/Article – Called of God and Sustained by the People – Henry B. Eyring teaches about the importance of sustaining our leaders in their callings. Includes a simple activity and explanation for children.

Article – The True Church – Henry B. Eyring bears witness that men are called of God to serve in their callings.

Story – The Calling – A boy learns his father’s important calling is to draw a pattern for the oxen to be used in the Nauvoo Temple baptistry.

Sunday School – Youth and Adults

Video – Samuel the Prophet – Book of Mormon Central (14:46 minutes)

Video – Saul: From Humility to Pride – Book of Mormon Central (8:03 minutes)

Jesus Christ is my King. 1 Samuel 8

Article – “For This Cause Came I Into the World” – The symbol of Jesus and His place in our hearts must be a life given fully to His service, to loving and caring.

Video – Find Peace Through Jesus Christ – Jesus is the Son of God and our loving Savior. He lived to teach us, and He suffered and died to save us from sin and death. (2:09 minutes)

God calls people by prophecy to serve in His kingdom. 1 Samuel 9:15-17; 10:1-24; 16:1-13

Article – Called to Serve – It is not in the proper spirit for us to decide where we will serve or where we will not. We serve where we are called.

Video – A Personal Witness – Jeffrey R. Holland bears personal witness that those who are called to teach are called of God, and as such each one should seek to live the gospel that they teach. (3:20 minutes)

“To obey is better than sacrifice.” 1 Samuel 13:5-14; 15

Article – Agency: Essential to the Plan of Life – Whenever we choose to come unto Christ, take His name upon us, and follow His servants, we progress along the path to eternal life.

Article – A Matter of a Few Degrees – The difference between happiness and misery … often comes down to an error of only a few degrees.

Video – King Saul Offers Sacrifice – Book of Mormon Central (3:38 minutes)

Video – Obedience Brings Blessings – Thomas S. Monson talks on blessings of obedience. (3:26 minutes)

“The Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Article – The Savior’s Abiding Compassion – The expression of compassion for others is the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Article – Standing Spotless Before the Lord – Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can all stand spotless, pure, and white before the Lord.

Article – Labels – Like the labels on paintings are the outward appearances of some men—often misleading.

Video – God Chooses David Over Saul – Book of Mormon Central (8:27 minutes)

With the help of the Lord, I can overcome any challenge. 1 Samuel 17

Article – Overpowering the Goliaths in Our Lives – There are Goliaths all around you, hulking giants with evil intent to destroy you. These are not nine-foot-tall men, but they are men and institutions that control attractive but evil things that may challenge and weaken and destroy you.

Article – 3 Lessons from David’s Fight with Goliath – We all have “Goliaths” to face. We can defeat them with the Lord’s help.

Article – Facing Our Goliaths – And how we can help others do the same.

Video – David and Goliath – Book of Mormon Central (5:01 minutes)

Video- David Defeats Goliath – The story of David and Goliath is a great example of how God uses small and simple means to cause great things to come to pass. God has used small and simple people in the ancient scriptures and in our church’s history to bring to pass his gospel. There’s a lot about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that may seem unconventional or simple. As members of the church in an increasingly hostile and polarizing world, it can sometimes seem like we are facing a Goliath of our own. Yet despite feeling outmanned and out armed, we can place our confidence in a God who works through small and simple means. Book of Mormon Central (4:27 minutes)

Adults

Article – Return with Honor – Most of the time it is not total disobedience that gets us into trouble. It is, rather, that we are selectively obedient. Selective obedience is when we push the limits of what we know to be right. We may recognize what we must do to be obedient, yet we selectively do only part of what we are commanded to do.

Article – Preparing Our Hearts – BYU Religious Studies Center

Podcast – Follow Him: 1 Samuel 8-10; 13; 15-18 part 1 (video link) – Why do the Israelites demand a king? Dr. Daniel Peterson explores the rise and downfall of Saul, Saul’s complicated relationship with David, and how pride often comes before a spiritual fall. Find the audio of this episode here.

Podcast – Follow Him: 1 Samuel 8-10; 13; 15-18 part 2 (video link) – Dr. Peterson continues and discusses the fall of Saul, David and Goliath, and his personal testimony of Jesus Christ. Find the audio of this episode here.

Video – Discussions on the Old Testament: 1 Samuel 1-15 Samuel and Saul – Professors from BYU’s Department of Ancient Scripture discuss the themes found in 1 Samuel, including the need for gratitude for the blessings of the Lord, the blessings of covenant-keeping, and the power of righteous leadership. BYUtv (27:44 minutes)

Video – Discussion on the Old Testament: 1 Samuel 16-31 Saul and David – Professors from BYU’s Department of Ancient Scripture discuss the ongoing battles between the Israelites and the Philistines, the prophet Samuel’s wicked sons, and Israelites unquenchable desire to have a king. BYUtv (27:44 minutes)

Video – Come Follow Up: 1 Samuel 8-10; 13; 15-18 – Come Follow Up host Ben Lomu meets with Old Testament scholar James Goldberg as well as special guests Kim Clark, BYU NAC Professor of Business Management, and Dr. Ben Erwin, LDS Family Services counseling program manager, to discuss a part of 1 Samuel in the Old Testament. Also discussed are lessons from the rise and fall of Saul and how the Lord looketh on the heart. BYUtv (55 mintues)

Video – Come Follow Me Insights: 1 Samuel 8-18 – Taylor and Tyler explore the story of David and Goliath as well as the lesser known story of Jonathan and his armor bearer conquering the Philistines. Book of Mormon Central (1:19:36 minutes)