Song Helps: He Sent His Son (CS 34-35)

Light from the Heart Nebula
Credit & Copyright: Matt Russell

Explanation: What powers the Heart Nebula? The large emission nebula dubbed IC 1805human heart. The nebula glows brightly in red light emitted by its most prominent element:hydrogen. The red glow and the larger shape are all created by a small group of stars near the nebula's center. A close up spanning about 30 light years contains many of these stars is shown above. This open cluster of stars contains a few bright stars nearly 50 times the mass of our Sun, many dim stars only a fraction of the mass of our Sun, and an absent microquasar that was expelled millions of years ago. The Heart Nebula is located about 7,500 light years away toward the constellation of Cassiopeia.

He sent His Son
Children's Songbook pg. 34-35

* What is a holiday celebrated in February? Valentines! Why do we send valentines? To make each other happy. Because we love each other. How do you feel when you think about Heavenly Father sending Jesus to save us? Have a valentine's box/ mailbox decorated "Sent with Love". Add large hearts with visuals on the hearts (to learn the song) to the inside of the box. Let the children come up to the box and pick out a heart. As a review, weeks following, you can mix up the children holding hearts and as the primary sings, the children have to get in the right order.

* When the children sing a question, have them draw a large question mark in the air. When they answer, have them draw a large exclamation mark in the air. Younger children won't know what punctuation is, so draw it on the board and tell them it ends a sentence.

* Would you want to go into the jungle, with hungry tigers and darkness and deadly diseases without having a plan? Would you send a friend or family member into this jungle without giving something to help them? So it is with Heavenly Father. He knew life on earth could get dangerous and hard at times, but He Sent His Son and has a plan for us to follow so we can get back to him. Introduce the "knowledge" backpack - inside have things to visualize parts of the song. The knowledge we have about the Savior will help us always!! He didn't just toss us down to earth, He sent us prepared!

* Dress up the children in simple outfits to depict different parts of the Savior's life that are in the song. Have them step forward when their part is sung. I would do Mary holding a baby, a couple children dressed as the disciples Christ walked with, one angel and Mary Magdalene to help remember the resurrection, and then one child who can carry the scriptures and a picture of Christ. And remember we're not supposed to dress children up as Deity. (Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, 279.)

* As a review and to reinforce the lyrics, have a mystery word. 6 pieces of paper on the board with the letters SAVIOR separated on each piece. As they are able to recall the words (question and answer phrase of the song ) invite a child to come up and reveal a letter. Bear testimony that Heavenly Father did indeed send His perfect Son to be our Savior.

* Pass out envelopes to the children. Have them think about one of the most precious things they have in life and write it on the envelope. Have a mailbox in front. Tell the children you are going to tap the shoulders of those singing nicely to come up and deliver their envelope during the song. Would it be hard to send away one of the things you love most in life? Yet that is what Heavenly Father did, He sent His Son. And He did this because he loves us, so we must love Him too.