No One Likes to Be Talked At

May I first start this out by thanking Liz, who commented on the August Sharing Time Helps post. It brought to my mind an experience I had and a few thoughts.

Let's just picture a primary where there are neon signs, guitar music and the kids are cheering! This is great! They are having a blast! The primary pianist can even rock out using her toes on the keys! They want more, they want to come to primary, they want to come to church and can feel.... Hmmm. What are they feeling?

Let's picture another primary. The sharing time teacher has prepared a lesson and on the board lies a make shift drawing of the temple and a pathway to it. She obviously isn't a Picasso, but we get the point, there are certain things we need to do to get to the temple. She starts to teach, asks questions, involves the kids physically and mentally, and is energetic and enthusiastic. She is using the scriptures, you can see them on the table when they aren't in her hands. What are the children feeling?

And finally, let's picture another primary. The kids are sitting perfectly still. As they ought to be, or the sharing time teacher will say, "Why aren't you being more reverent." She is talking, she telling about gospel truths and the kids are sitting there quiet as a mouse. One sunbeam stretches and says they miss their new puppy who is at home. The puppy's name is Gerald. The teacher proceeds, ignores the comment and continues with the lesson that has to be finished. What is that little one feeling?

I'm not an expert. Please don't ever think I am. I am, though, very aware of children. I love children!!

May I ask 2 questions: What type of Primary do we have? What type of Primary should we be striving for?

Our Church Handbook Book 2 Section 5 Primary (under sharing time p. 234) says, "This is an opportunity for them (members of the Primary Presidency) to INTERACT with the children and TEACH them gospel principles." It also uses words like, "ACTIVELY INVOLVE. BEAR TESTIMONY. PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES that allow STANDING and MOVEMENT."

Our Church Handbook Book 2 Section 16 Gospel Teaching and Leadership also gives 2 very important suggestions when teaching the gospel (pgs. 300-304)

1.TEACH BY THE SPIRIT.
2. FOLLOW THE SAVIOR'S EXAMPLE AS A TEACHER.

Liz said, "I agree Sofia that it shouldn't be flashing lights and all, but it does need to capture their attention. No child just wants to sit there and be taught and not be drawn in...Primary can be fun and reverent at the same time. Keep it up." Well said, and if I may Liz, add no child (or adult for that matter) wants to sit and be talked at.

I'll share an experience I had in a Primary where my husband and I were called to teach the 6 year olds. We loved those children! There were 4 total, 2 boys and 2 girls all coming from very solid homes where they were taught properly the gospel. They were smart. They were amazing! As all children really are.

One week the sharing time lesson was just not going well. The teacher was trying to get the kids to memorize the 13th article of faith. There were no pictures. There was no energy in her and she was actually getting upset when the kids weren't pronouncing the words right. This was after a 5 minute "talk to" the children about reverence and sitting quietly. This was after a 10 minute (no questions, no involvement) "talk to" the little ones about why we need to know our articles of faith. I zoned out. I just couldn't do it. And then, all of the sudden she was done with 15 minutes left for sharing time and the music leader was missing.

I made my way up to the front and said thank you sister. Who's ready to shake like Solomon! We shook our hands. Who's ready to move like Moroni! We wiggled our legs and wielded a pretend sword. Who's ready to... I invited a child to come on up and pick an action and see if we could think of a person that started with that letter from the scriptures.

I don't know what we did after. But I remember how livid I was.

NO ONE LIKES TO BE TALKED AT.

"Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?" Thank you Ben Stine.

This is primary!! It is my humble desire that we as Primary Teachers (this including the presidency, as we teach sharing times) will be prepared, prayerful and the gospel message presented with power.

May we find balance and harmony in our Primary atmosphere. May it be a place where the spirit is felt. May it be a place of learning. May our children have positive experiences with primary. May our children come closer to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ because of each Sunday in Primary.

I bear these thoughts humbly in the Name of my Master and Gracious Lord, Jesus Christ.

Here are a few scriptures as food for thought and the soul. How do these apply to what has been said above?

D&C 52: 15-17 " Wherefore he that prayeth, whose spirit is contrite, the same is accepted of me if he obey mine ordinances. He that speaketh, whose spirit is contrite, whose language is meek and edifieth, the same is of God if he obey mine ordinances. And again, he that trembleth under my power shall be made strong, and shall bring forth fruits of praise and wisdom, according to the revelations and truths which I have given you. "

John 5: 1-2 " Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."

Galations 4: 28-31 "Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free."