Before You Teach
A prep snapshot before the full lesson flow.
Ezekiel was a prophet who lived far from home. The Lord called him to be "a watchman unto the house of Israel" (Ezekiel 3:17). A watchman stood on a tall wall, watched for danger, and called out to warn people. Our prophet today does the same thing for us.
Ezekiel and his people had been taken far away from Jerusalem to a land called Babylon. They missed home and felt sad. One day by a river, Ezekiel saw the glory of the Lord. The Lord told him not to be afraid and called him to be a watchman. In those days, a watchman stood high on a city wall. If he saw an enemy coming, he called out loudly so everyone could get safe. The Lord told Ezekiel to listen to His words and then tell the people, just as a watchman warns the city. Later, Ezekiel also saw a river flowing out of the temple. Everywhere it went, things came to life (Ezekiel 47:1, 9).
Little children understand a grown-up who sees farther than they can and says "Watch out!" Help them feel that Heavenly Father loves them so much that He gives them a prophet to help keep them safe. Keep it to one picture in their minds: a watchman up high who sees danger and calls out.
Full Lesson Flow
Use the sections below as a menu. Swap cards and activities to keep the class interactive.
Activity options
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Stand on a sturdy step or chair (or have a helper hold a child's hand while the child stands on the step). Say, "When I stand up high, I can see a long way! I can see the door. I can see the window." Then crouch down low. "Now I can't see as much!" Let each child stand up high for a moment and say one thing they see. Say: "Today we will learn about a man who stood up high to keep people safe. He was called a watchman."
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Stand on a sturdy step or chair (or have a helper hold a child's hand while the child stands on the step). Say, "When I stand up high, I can see a long way! I can see the door. I can see the window." Then crouch down low. "Now I can't see as much!" Let each child stand up high for a moment and say one thing they see. Say: "Today we will learn about a man who stood up high to keep people safe. He was called a watchman."
Point to your eyes, ears, and mouth, and have the children copy. Say, "Eyes to watch. Ears to hear. Mouth to tell." Repeat it a few times, faster and slower. "A watchman uses all three. Let's find out why."
Gather the children close. Have them do the actions with you.
"A long time ago there was a man named Ezekiel. He and his people were taken far, far away from their home." (Walk fingers across your lap slowly.) "They missed their home. How do you think they felt?" (Let children make sad faces.)
"One day Ezekiel was sitting by a river." (Wiggle hands like water.) "He saw something bright and wonderful. It was the glory of the Lord!" (Hands open wide, eyes big.) "Ezekiel bowed down." (Everyone bows.)
"The Lord told Ezekiel, 'Don't be afraid.' Then He gave Ezekiel a special job. He said Ezekiel would be a watchman."
Read slowly:
"Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel" (Ezekiel 3:17)
"Do you know what a watchman does? Long ago, cities had big tall walls." (Stretch arms up high.) "A watchman climbed up on top." (Climb in place.) "He looked far, far away." (Hand over eyes, look side to side.) "If he saw danger coming, he called out loud: 'Watch out! Get safe!'" (Cup hands by mouth.) "Then everyone ran inside where it was safe." (Hug yourself.)
"What do you think would happen if the watchman fell asleep?" (Let them answer.) "The people would not know danger was coming. A good watchman keeps watching and keeps telling."
"The Lord told Ezekiel to listen to His words with his ears" (touch ears) "and then tell the people with his mouth" (touch mouth). "Ezekiel was the Lord's watchman. He helped people stay close to Heavenly Father."
"Do we have a watchman today? Yes! We have a prophet. He listens to the Lord and tells us how to stay safe and follow Jesus."
The prophet is like a watchman. When I listen to him, I stay safe and follow Jesus.
Repeat it with actions all through class: eyes (watchman), ears (listen), feet marching (follow Jesus).
Activity options
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Materials: none (optional tape lines on the floor for a "river")
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Materials: none (optional tape lines on the floor for a "river")
Materials: a window or a picture of outdoors
Materials: none
Materials: paper, crayons
Show a current picture of the living prophet from churchofjesuschrist.org. If you have it, also show "The Prophet Ezekiel" by Lyle Beddes, the image in this week's Come, Follow Me lesson.
"Follow the Prophet" (Children's Songbook, 110)
Hold up the prophet picture. Say, "Heavenly Father and Jesus love us so much that they give us a prophet to watch out for us, like a watchman." Invite each child to finish this sentence: "I can listen to the prophet when I..." (pray, am kind, read scriptures, go to church). Help shy children with choices they can point to.
This week, ask your family, "What did the prophet say?" Then do one thing he said, like praying with your family.