Did you notice how they didn't mention food in primary in the new church handbook?
What am I thinking!
I should have started this off more properly, but I was just way too excited to delete a posting off my sidebar. Less "stuff" on the blog taking up room. I feel like I'm so wordy anyways, the less words the better.
Worldwide Training. Fan-tastic. The whole Ward Council dramatization could have used some pep or background music, or possibly been entirely sung... I admit... I'm horrible. I wish life was more Broadway like and that Dick Van Dyke was still young. Plus I have a hard time sitting in hard chairs for 2 hours on a Saturday morning with glorious sunshine seemingly whispering my name. Please don't get me wrong! I loved the training and it was a very spiritual experience for me, I just waned a little during that part. Anyways, new manuals nothing short of WOW. But that's what you get with Heavenly Father. Nothing short of perfection. I read the first 3 chapters like the brethren asked repeatedly and love the organization of it all. Love the words. Just love love love it. So clear. So concise.
Favorite thoughts: "People not programs"-Elder Bednar- as well as when he said something to the effect of he wishes the word "meeting" would be banished from our LDS vocabulary and changed to "revelatory experiences". Profound!
Also loved how Elder Holland kept patting his fellow Apostles hands, such loving small gestures. Truly he cherishes those he serves with.
President Packer said, "Many years ago, President J. Reuben Clark Jr., speaking for the First Presidency, made an inspired statement warning that too much regimentation in the Church would have the effect of nullifying revelation: “The work of the Church, in all fields, is standing in grave danger of being regimented down to the minutest detail. The result of that will be that not only will all initiative be crushed out but that all opportunity for the working of the spirit will be eliminated. The Church has not been built on that principle” (“Memorandum of Suggestions,” Mar. 29, 1940, 4)."
And lastly, I was sitting on the couch in the lobby listening to the broadcast (because there weren't enough chairs) and a male scout leader went with a boy into a room across from us to conduct an interview. He made sure to leave the door wide and completely open. Then, a lady in the vicinity got up to close the door because she could slightly hear them talking. Irony, anyone? Anyone? Fortunately he told her it was against church policy to do so and she politely apologized and sat down... to listen to the broadcast about following policy...
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Click Here to read the revised Handbook. Click Here to watch the whole meeting, and be honest... do you wish just a little bit that the Elders Quorum Pres. would have burst into song during the mock council? Also, any insiders know who were the people in the audience of it?
** UPDATE: A WONDERFUL BLOG friend just opened my eyes... there are no more Primary Quarterly Activities!!!!!!!!! Click HERE to see for yourself. Thanks for the link Hifam!!! If you have questions, check with your Stake Primary leaders!
A little sad though, we were going to have an awesome "Cooking in the Christmas Kitchen" activity.
** UPDATE: A WONDERFUL BLOG friend just opened my eyes... there are no more Primary Quarterly Activities!!!!!!!!! Click HERE to see for yourself. Thanks for the link Hifam!!! If you have questions, check with your Stake Primary leaders!
A little sad though, we were going to have an awesome "Cooking in the Christmas Kitchen" activity.
16 comments :
I like this FAQ section. I had a few questions that this helped answer (like no more quarterly activities). Thanks!
http://lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,7701-1,00.html
I love your blog and visit often, but don't usually comment. Thank you for some wonderful ideas!!
I agree about the 'ward counsel' part. I found myself looking at my neighbor wondering if she, too, thought some of the lines were a bit too scripted for such a long "meeting". She was totally into it, though. (boo for me :D)
I thought it was really interesting to hear that your meeting was totally full and people were in the hall listening. I currently live in a small branch and we all sat a tables, like a board meeting. There were 11 of us there that morning, and one of them was actually in a ward in Utah, but visiting family.
I like that the new handbook emphasizes that the purpose of the church is to strengthen individuals and families. Combing some of the meetings will help leaders eliminate wasted time and more effectively serve their ward members and spend more time with their own families as well.
Sister Hifam- GREAT link!! Thank you so much for sharing!! WOAH!!! I didn't even notice no more quarterly activities!!!!! Oh my goodness!!! I'm totally blown away!!!!!
!!!!!!
Sister Polly- First off. GREAT. NAME. So many rhyming capabilities.
Well said my friend.... "eliminate wasted time". Thanks for taking the time to comment and feel free to comment on anything. I love making friends via el blogospherio.
my stake primary president actually filled me in on the no quarterly activities. I had missed it originally. I would say that was the biggest change for me! I didn't notice the food either so thanks for pointing that one out. Very interesting.
One thing for my ward was we were trying to figure out how to change our primary schedule a couple weeks before the meeting. The way were doing just wasn't working anymore since our primary was rapidly growing. Anyway, what an answer to a prayer to see it all laid out for us in the handbook. I love the 10 min. breaks and we'll be stressing to teachers that this is when the kids should be using the restrooms and getting water. Too often the kids think it's fun to go in and out of class and sharing time to do this. This should really help with reverence.
Thanks!
Thanks to Hifam for the link :)
Sofia, this is a great post (and I have to say the Bishop deserved an award for being so fabulous....others, and you know who, not so much)
But seriously, if I were to write a post on the highlights, the things you wrote were exactly the same things I noticed, too. It really was a great meeting.
Now I have a FAQ of my own. In our ward we have sharing time with junior primary first, while senior is in their classes. Then, we switch.
In that FAQ it said there are no opening/closing exercises. To me, that means just no meet before/after all the other stuff listed above. But one of our counselors thought it meant not having children do talk/scripture/prayer, but that seems not right. Thoughts?
Here's the thing. On the website for Primary, it gives the outline for opening exercises, but then in the FAQ it says not to have them. I'm so confused!
Never mind. 11.4.2 answers my question.
Read the handbook! :D
The way I read it it was only refering to the Faith in God quarterly activities and not the whole primary's quarterly activities. I couldn't find clarification on this in the handbook. Any thoughts?
I agree with Julie...the FAQ pages says no more quarterly activity day programs, but it doesn't mention Primary Quarterly Activities.
it does say there is no longer primary ACTIVITY DAY quarterly activity. Does it really mean no 4th quarter activities?
When I met for my stake-level temple rec., I asked about the quarterly activity thing. His interpretation was Activity Days (8+ girls, 2x month; boys doing scouting) continue but quarterly Primary activities (all the kiddos, complete mayhem) are no longer requirements. I asked if that would be something the Stake would direct us on, and he said that was a ward matter because the handbook to him seemed clear.
Notice that it is directly under the Activity Days Program talking about Faith in God program.
# Faith in God Program
* Do we still hold activity days?
Where practical, the Primary may hold activity days for boys and girls ages 8 through 11. Counsel with your priesthood leader for direction. (See Handbook 2, 11.5.2.)
* Do we still have quarterly activity days?
No. They are no longer part of the program.
That has nothing to do with Primary Quarterly Activities. Only the Program.
I think you've misunderstood the no quarterly activities. In the link you provide, this information is listed under the Activity Days section and references the Faith in God book. It is not talking about the quarterly activity for the entire primary. It is only talking about Activity Day girls quarterly activities.
I was confused also, but in the Faith in God Booklet pg 18 it talks about including the younger children in a quarterly Activity Days. This would mean they also are no longer to be held.
Hifam!! - I know it was last year when you posted and you might not read this but THANK YOU for the link. We've been having issues finding the policy on food and that explains why!
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