1Start
When Jesus was twelve, his parents lost track of him for three days. They found him in the temple (Luke 2:42–46).
2Read Together
Families traveled to Jerusalem each year for the Passover. On the way home, Mary and Joseph thought Jesus was with relatives in the group and walked a full day before they missed him (Luke 2:41–44).
Luke 2:46–49 · King James Version
46And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
3What It Teaches
They found him “sitting in the midst of the doctors,” the teachers of the law (Luke 2:46). In the Joseph Smith Translation, the teachers were the ones listening to him and asking him questions. Everyone was “astonished at his understanding and answers” (Luke 2:47).
Mary said, “thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing” (Luke 2:48). Jesus answered, “wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:49). Wist means knew. At twelve he already knew who his Father was and what his work would be.
His Father’s business is the work of saving and blessing God’s children (Moses 1:39). Twelve-year-olds can do that business too, by serving, by learning, and by teaching others what they know.
Mary and Joseph did not understand his answer at first (Luke 2:50). Jesus went home with them and obeyed them, and his mother “kept all these sayings in her heart” (Luke 2:51).
4Talk About It
At twelve, Jesus was already doing his Father’s work. What part of Heavenly Father’s work can someone your age do right now?