Friday, December 28, 2012

LDS Goal Setting/ New Year's Resolutions Family Home Evening

Paper Football Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by sniggitysnags 2011

Opening Prayer
 
Opening Scripture:
"It is necessary to prepare and to plan so that we don’t fritter away our lives. Without a goal, there can be no real success.... Someone has said the trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never cross the goal line." President Monson (Treasure of Eternal Value Ensign April 2008)
 
Volunteer Activity:
Ask for 2 volunteers.
The first volunteer will need to run in a circle 10 times, do 15 jumping jacks, 2 push ups, stand on a kitchen chair and then flap their arms like wings for 30 seconds, then run to the front door.
Now, the second volunteer will need to just run to the front door.
Which was easier? Who got to the door faster?
 
Read the quote from President Monson one more time. Without goals we can really waste a lot of time!! Good goals are the BEST way to be successful, they help us see and do clearly and accomplish things without "frittering" away!
 
What does frittering mean? Would the first volunteer like to show us again? It's wasting time little by little!
 
Have small strips of paper, about 3 per family member. Invite family members to come up with good goals for the upcoming year and write a goal on each paper. Take turns sharing goals and folding them up in a triangle shape. Have one family member hold up fingers like a goal post and play paper football! This year we are going to reach our goals and score! Gather up all the family goals and afterwards type them on a piece of paper to put somewhere where everyone can see often!
 
What is our ultimate goal?
Closing Scripture:
"Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be?’ asked the Master, and he answered, ‘Verily I say unto you, even as I am." 3 Ne. 27:27
 
Closing Prayer
 
Treats
If you're an overachiever Apple Fritter Cake
If you are a mellow yellow, quite right slick... buy some Apple Fritters at your local Donut Bistro


Other Great Resources On Goals:
Absolute MUST READ Chapter 3 Setting Goals of The Gospel & The Productive Life Student Manual
The Best Is Yet To Be- President Holland
Pursuit of Excellence Goal Setting

"I am a great believer that what you and I think about will ultimately come to pass....I believe if we think about what it takes to be successful long enough and if we are willing to discipline ourselves to the principle of success, we will experience success. Yes, I am a great believer that “as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7)." Elder Ballard (Go For It!!! New Era March 2004)

"As we reflect on the value of resolving to do better, let us determine to discipline ourselves to carefully select the resolutions we make, to consider the purpose for making them, and finally to make commitments for keeping them and not letting any obstacle stop us." Elder Tanner (Today I will... New Era March 2003)

I Am A Child of God Song Helps & Ideas LDS Hymns 301


Free I Am A Child of God Printable by NatSprat click HERE for her website link


* Who Am I?
Have about 5 interesting facts per child. After you sing a verse of the song tell your primary friends that you have a mystery child of God. Tell the 5 facts. See if they can guess who it is! Invite that friend and whoever guesses correctly to come up front and help you lead.

* Have a picture of children from all over the world. Make it into a puzzle and turn the pieces so the picture can't be seen. As you learn the words to the song, primary children can earn a chance to turn around a puzzle piece. We are all so different! Yet we are all brothers and sisters. We are all children of Heavenly Father who loves us dearly.

* Psalms 82:6 says "All of you are children of the most High." Write it on the chalk board. Have a picture of Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ appearing to Joseph Smith. As far as I know, that is the only gospel picture of Heavenly Father... except for smaller illustrations in the scripture story books. Put that picture as high as possible on the chalk board. Have paper signs that you can write class names on like Sunbeams, CTR 4, etc. Look for classes that have everyone singing in them! Invite a child to come put their class post it as high as possible on the chalk board... you might have to have them stand on a chair or lift them! And of course, make it positive... this isn't a competition! All classes should be able to move their post it to the top!! For example, "Wow. Sunbeams!! That was amazing. Come move your post it Annie for your class. Every single one of you were singing! Let's try verse two and see who else we can move!! I'm so proud of you children of the most High!!"

* Videos almost always catch children's attention. HERE is a Mormon message video to I am A Child of God that you could share with your primary. I really like it. It's peppy and fun. But my favorite part is that around 1 min. 32 seconds there is a guy and he's holding something that looks like a black snake with it's mouth open.

* A while back, I had an interesting discussion with a friend who wasn't a member of our church. Actually, it wasn't that interesting. It was frustrating. What one of his hang ups with the gospel was the fact that we know we have the possibility to become like God. I tried to make it as simple as possible, and thinking back it'd actually be a good introduction to learning this song.
Show a picture of a baby sheep. Does this little lamb have a cow for a father? Show a picture of a baby horse? Does this foal have an elephant for a mother? What about an apple? Does an apple come from an orange tree? We are children of Heavenly Father. We were created in His image. He has a body and we have a body. He loves us more than we can know. The universe didn't just explode and humans were created. We are children of God and we need to try our best to return to Him and be like Him!!

* GOOD TO KNOW: " When “I Am a Child of God” was first written in English one of the lines read: “Teach me all that I must know to live with Him someday.” However, Sister Randall changed the words because of a suggestion made by President Kimball.
 
Several years ago, before Spencer W. Kimball became president of the Church, he was visiting a conference in California where Primary children sang this song. Later, he said to a visiting Primary general board member, “I love the children’s song, but there is one word that bothers me. Would Sister Randall mind if the word know were changed to the word do?”
 
The change was made, for President Kimball had pointed out a very important truth—that while it is important to know what is right, it is more important to do what is right. Only in this way can we be sure of returning someday to our heavenly home to live always with our Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and our loved ones. Great joy comes to us when we understand the full meaning of the words “I Am a Child of God!
 
 

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Christmas Singing Time Journey

Meet Eli the Elf. He's a sweetheart. He knows all about Santa, presents, trees, goodies... but he wants to learn more about the REAL meaning of Christmas.

We're going to take him on a Christmas Singing Time Journey.
I attach Eli's picture with tape to a little string along bus we have, that way the children can pull him where he needs to go.
If you haven't "elfed" yourself this Christmas, I highly recommend you do so!! You just need a picture of your head and lots of paper, scissors and glue!
 
 
These pictures will be all over the room. Children pull Eli the Elf along and choose one picture. We then sing a Christmas song, according to the picture. Have the child "briefly" tell what the picture has to do with Christmas.
 
Pictures include:
 
Shepherd
 follow the leader (child chooses an action to do while singing and we follow along)
 
Wreath
Heavenly Father & Jesus have no beginning and no end, the are the same always!
Sing while making arm circles to the side or if you have a smaller primary, sing in a circle holding hands
 
Star
Sing with a couple children holding flashlights & lights off
 
3 Wisemen
Hide Baby Jesus and invite 3 children to search for it while you sing
 
Samuel The Lamanite
Lead with a bow & arrow
My daughter got this for her birthday and I'm going to let 2 primary children take a couple shots trying to hit me on a chair (It's a Z Curve Bow & foam arrow set... I think my husband and I have just as much fun as her playing with it!
 
Farm Animals
Sing with a "Baaaaa Baaaa"
I'm going to use this only on "funner" songs like Christmas Bells or Once There Was A Snowmen
 
 
Angels
Add an "oooo oooo" on the off beat
For example,  Silent Night "ooo ooo" Holy Night "ooo ooo" All is calm "ooo" All is bright "ooo"
 
Manger
Whisper sing!
 
No Room at the Inn Sign
Have a primary class come up front and squeeze together while we sing

LDS Picture A Christmas Song Help/Idea

Product Image
While singing Picture a Christmas I let a primary friend come up to the front and watch for a couple other friends who are singing SUPER!!!
 
I let them use my camera and show them the zoom and button to take the picture.
 
Since it's a digital camera, right after they take the picture and after we sing I can show the primary who they took a picture of that was singing so AWESOME!
 
I delete and we sing again & have another primary friend take a couple more pictures!!
 
I like to end by choosing the best singers in the whole primary & taking a picture of them. I take a picture of ALL the children and show them!!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

December 2012 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

Free coloring page from honkingdonkey.com. If you print it out on watercolor paper, it makes for a beautiful art project at home with children!

Monthly Theme: Jesus Christ Is the Son of God
Monthly Scripture: "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I am the life and the light of the world" D&C 11:28
 
I loved all the sharing time ideas from the Primary Outline for the month! They are the best!!

Week 1 Heavenly Father sent His Son to earth.
* Have your lovely Primary Pianist play He Sent His Son. Have a bean bag and let the children pass it around. When the music stops, have the children tell something about the birth of The Savior. Have plenty of pictures to put on the board to go along with what they say.

* Have a bunch of gospel art pictures lined up on the chalk board in order of what happened for Christ's birth. Heavenly Father "sent"  His Son to earth and we're going to "send" someone out of the room. Have a primary child choose a picture to take off the board. When the primary friend who was "sent" out comes back in they have to guess what picture is missing. Then, after they guess, they can tell what they know about that picture. Of course it's important to know that Heavenly Father sent His son to earth, but then what? We need to receive Christ!! Have the children discuss what the following scripture means and ways we can receive Him who was sent to us!!

Matthew 10:40 "He that receiveth you recieveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."
  
* Isaiah 19:20 "...And he shall send them a Saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them."
How many primary friends have recieved Christmas letters in the mail? Do you ever SEND Christmas cards? Can you tell us about a favorite Christmas card you've recieved?
       Have some beautiful Christmas cards and on each one on the inside 1 scriptures, quotes, questions or song having to do with the week's theme. Let primary children come up front to choose a card and do what it says.
        If there is time left over:  Just as Heavenly Father sent His son to earth to DELIVER us, we'll make some Christmas cards all about the birth of Christ to send to others!
 
* If there is a doctor in your ward have them come in briefly to answer a question. If not, bring in a simple dress up doctor outfit for a child to wear. Ask this question to the doctor: If someone was sick, would you try to save and help the person or just let them be sick and say sorry man, I condemn you! You're guilty of being sick and will be sick forever!! I wouldn't help you if you paid me a bazillion gazillion dollars!!
       Why do we think Heavenly Father sent Jesus to earth? Have the primary children share their answers and then let's double check our scriptures. Whenever we have a question we should turn to them!! John 3:17 "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
Have items hid throughout the room that you would find in a first aid kit. Sing He Sent His Son and let a primary friend look and find something. When they do, have them share something they love about Christmas and something they love about the Savior.

Week 2 Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.
* Isaiah 53:2 "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground."
How does a plant grow? Have a primary children pretend they are seeds and then demonstrate. We know how plants grow, so who is this scripture talking about?
       Just like most plants don't grow overnight, Jesus had a childhood! He had years to learn and develop. He used His time wisely! Have 4 different plants with labels- Jesus grew in wisdom. Jesus grew in stature. Jesus grew in favor with God. Jesus grew in favor with men.
       Invite a primary friend to come up front and ask them a question or make a statement. They will then have to stand by the plant they think that question or statement has to do with. If it has to do with more than one, they can invite another friend up and tell them where to stand.
For example: Jesus, at 12 years old, taught in the temple. Many of the wise men and women there marveled at His knowledge and teaching.
(A primary friend could stand at wisdom and invite 2 more friends for favor with God and favor with man)
Jesus listened to and obeyed His mother when she asked him to help out at a friend's wedding. What did Jesus do?
(He turned water into wine- they could stand on favor with man)
Remember a lot of answers will overlap, don't be rigid if a child chooses an answer you weren't looking for. Like in the above example, if they choose to stand by the plant with grew in wisdom, then run with it and make it work!

*Is there any primary friends that take piano? Invite a beginner piano student to come up front. Have a complicated piece of music and ask them to play it. Why can't they do it? Have a really large book.
     Is there a primary friend who loves to read? Can they read this book within 1 day? Most of the time, talents don't happen overnight! We have to practice and grow and get better and better!
Jesus was always perfect, yet he still was able to grow and learn little by little!
       Sometimes we might want everything right now. We want answers, we want to be able to do, we want to be able to see... but the scriptures say, " Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you; And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours."
D&C 78:17-18
       Have a bunch of pictures from the life of Christ. Invite a child to come up front and talk about what is happening in that picture and lead the primary along in knowledge! We're not going to be perfect in this lifetime, however, we're told to be of good cheer! Isn't it wonderful to know Christ will lead us along!! He'll help us grow little by little!!

* Ask anyone if they've ever been up really really early in the morning. Was it dark outside? What happened after it was dark? Did the sun pop out into the middle of the sky and BAM! It was noonday bright as bright sun?
     Show a picture of a sunrise. It's something that is gradual. It gets brighter a little bit at a time until we stretch and rise and wake up and kneel by our windowsill to say our morning prayer.
      Jesus grew a little bit at a time just like we do! Day after day. Sunrise after sunrise. We can follow His perfect example and do as He did to grow. He is our light.
D&C 50:24 "That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day."
     Have a big paper sun. Attatch strips of paper as rays of sunlight. On the rays have children come up with ideas on how Jesus grew and what we can to do grow in His light. This would be a good tie in to the next week!


Week 3 Jesus Christ is the light and the life of the world.
* Have the children write down their testimonies of Christ and His gospel. Just as Christ is a light to us, let us share the light we have with others. Invite them to give their testimony to a friend in a Christmas card.

* Have a box of 10-15 glowsticks. Have a child peek in the box and ask if they are pretty bright. Do they light up the box? What is the brightest type of light? A lamp, a star, a sun or what? Those are all great answers!! The brightest and most wonderful light of all is Jesus Christ. He is the light and life of the world. Have questions, songs and scriptures having to do with this week's theme attached to the glowsticks. Let on primary friend come up at a time to choose and do what it says.

* HERE is a wonderful talk for you to prepare for this week's theme. Highly recommend!! I especially like Elder Oaks quote, "Jesus Christ is also the light of the world because his example and his teachings illuminate the path we should walk to return to the presence of our Father in Heaven."
You could have a bunch of tea lights, battery opperated. Invite children to share examples from Jesus' life where we could follow His example. Let them make a path of the tea lights to a picture of Him.

 
Week 4 Joseph Smith saw and testified of Jesus Christ.
 
* Act out the story of the first vision! Of course, you can't have children role play the part of Heavenly Father and Jesus, but you can have them hold up a picture!
 
* HERE is a link to the lds.org where you can find different artistic depictions of The First Vision. (Make sure to scroll down) They are beautiful!  Have the children draw their own artwork of that glorious event and share!
 
* HERE is a link for cutouts that children can color to retell for Family Home Evening about Joseph Smith's First Vision.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Thanksgiving Gift of Gratitude- Possible Family Home Evening Idea

Thanksgiving

This month I wanted to do something special for my children.

Take a small gift and wrap it. Add an index card with a reason why you are grateful for them. Wrap another layer. Add another index car with another reason why you are grateful for that person. Repeat as many days as you want that person to unwrap!!

This could make for a fun Family Home Evening if you drew names of family members and did it in secret! On the last wrapping paper layer and index card you could reveal who was writing all the kind messages of gratitude!

The free clip art turkey image was courtesy Lita Lita 2012 http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Lita-Lita
I wrote the small poem in the middle. Please do not use this idea for comercial purposes.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Thanksgiving Family Home Evening Idea


Share the following message from General Conference Oct. 2012:
Each family member can read one of the paragraphs spotlighted below.

"We shouldn’t wait to be happy until we reach some future point, only to discover that happiness was already available—all the time! Life is not meant to be appreciated only in retrospect. “This is the day which the Lord hath made … ,” the Psalmist wrote. “Rejoice and be glad in it.”

Brothers and sisters, no matter our circumstances, no matter our challenges or trials, there is something in each day to embrace and cherish. There is something in each day that can bring gratitude and joy if only we will see and appreciate it.

Perhaps we should be looking less with our eyes and more with our hearts. I love the quote: “One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.”

We are commanded “to give thanks in all things.” So isn’t it better to see with our eyes and hearts even the small things we can be thankful for, rather than magnifying the negative in our current condition?

The Lord has promised, “He who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold.”

Brothers and sisters, with the bountiful blessings of our Heavenly Father, His generous plan of salvation, the supernal truths of the restored gospel, and the many beauties of this mortal journey, “have we not reason to rejoice?” Let us resolve to be happy, regardless of our circumstances."

Activity: Play a game of I SPY with heart sunglasses! A person in the room puts on the sunglasses, chooses something in the room or home to "spy" and the rest of the family tries to guess what they are thinking of. Family members can ask questions that have a yes or no answer. (For example: Is the item red? Yes. Do we wear it to church? No. Etc.) Once the item is guessed, everyone has to name a reason how that item blesses them or why they are grateful for it.

For example: I spy…. a light! I am grateful for the light because without it, it’d be super dark at night! I spy… a carpet! Carpet blesses me because it’s soft on my feet, comfortable and cleaner than dirt!!
 
This could also be easily adapted for Primary Singing time!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

LDS Christmas Plays for Children

I'm so excited for the upcoming holiday season. While the Christmas decorations before Halloween at Michael's drive me nuts, I really shouldn't say anything because here I am posting Christmas plays before Thanksgiving. However, if children want to prepare and memorize, they do need plenty of time!

The first play is one I wrote. I'm sorry, there are a couple things that I meant to italicize that didn't get italicized. Adapt as you feel the need... just don't sell it as your own por favor. Also, if you do perform it, I'd love to hear how it went!! It is based off A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

The second play is from The Friend, Dec. 1984 by Pat Graham and Alicia Morrey Bailey. I retyped it for a little easier read. This is a fantastic little play!!!

The 3rd play is a lesson learned from the teachings of Samuel the Lamanite. Again, please no selling as your own. :)

A Christmas Carol Play
Sharing Time a Nativity Presentation A Christmas Lesson

Monday, October 29, 2012

November 2012 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

Image from one talented lady! http://melonheadsldsillustrating.blogspot.com/

Monthly Theme: I Can Choose to Be a Missionary Now
Monthly Scripture: "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15
 
An idea to incorporate General Conference this month is invite the Elders into primary to answer a couple questions from the children each week. Elder Russell M. Nelson gave a wonderful talk - Ask the Missionaries! They Can Help You!

Week 1 I can be a missionary by serving others.

From Preach My Gospel "Your faith to find people to teach is demonstrated through your actions. During His mortal ministry, the Savior "took upon him the form of a servant"(Philippians 2:7). He went about "doing good"(Acts 10:38) and "preaching the gospel"(Matthew 4:23). As you follow this example, you will find those who will recieve you.

Through service, you and those who are prepared for the restored gospel come together in a powerful, inspiring way. Your good works will help people recognize you as a servant of God and will lead to opportunities to teach the restored gospel." (page 168)

* Write some notes and draw some pictures to brighten up someone's day at a local rest home.

* Have the children make birthday cards to give to the Relief Society President for sisters who have upcoming birthdays!

* Prepare lots of paper hearts! Invite the children to write or draw something kind on the hearts. Take a little field trip, make sure the teachers come so there is plenty of supervision and put hearts on all the cars outside!!!

Galations 5:13 "...But by love serve one another."

* Do the missionaries have a car or a bike? Brighten their day by putting some balloons, streamers and notes from the children on them! (Again... another field trip!) 




Week 2 I can be a missionary by setting a good example.

* Elder Nelson talks about 6 ways we can be missionaries now, found HERE. You can figure out small objects to represent the 6 things he talks about. Ask children questions about each object and about what he says.

For example have a flashlight- "The light of the Lord can beam from your eyes." Does this mean we should attach flashlights to our glasses? Sing A Smile is Like the Sunshine (CS 267) How can we make our eyes twinkle? By smiling, yes! If we are happy, does it show in our eyes? What about if we are sad?

* HERE is an article from Elder Cook. He talks about 4 different ways we can be a good example. Divide into groups. Have 4 guest speakers come prepared with a story from their life that fits one of the different ways to be a good example. Have the children rotate to hear each guest. The guests could even be children themselves who you call the week before, or parents who tell a story of  something their child did to be a good example.

* Whip out some puppets! Let the children come up with short scenes to have the puppets act out and demonstrate how to be a good missionary by being a good example! They might need help coming up with a setting, so you can have them draw papers from a bag like school, family home evening, at the park, on a road trip, at a museum... etc.

* Learn THIS fabulous song, I want to be a missionary now (CS pg.168). While you are learning it, have small hidden paper clocks all around the room. Invite a child to fill in the blank... you sing a part of that song and leave out one word- if they can get the word, they can go search for a clock. On the clocks have questions and scriptures having to do with missionary work and being a good example. When is the best time to be a missionary? NOW & ALWAYS!!!

~And time to stand on a soapbox. I'll just get it over with. I get so annoyed when a child gives an answer and the leader says, "no that's not it" or "not really" or plain and simple, "No. Does anybody else know?". The children are putting themselves out there and now they feel rejected. Don't believe me? Look at their faces. Am I trying to suggest we breed a generation of wimps who can't handle the truth when they're wrong? Absolutely not. I'm saying, take a step back and look at the whole picture. They are disciples of Christ and the world is going to constantly tell them they are wrong and that their answers are "not it". Let's try to phrase things so that these children can feel confident when they participate. For example, we can say, "Oh my!! You are so smart! That is so close!! or Yes! What a great answer, it is a lot like... or Very good! Excellent thinking! Thank you so much for sharing. And then move on. Adults can be such killjoys sometimes. And really, if a child says prayer, even if that's not the answer you're looking for... it really is the right answer. Validate our primary friends!!! And I'm stepping off the soapbox... momentarily.~


Week 3 I can teach my friends about Jesus Christ and His Church.

* Have the children create Family Home Evening lesson plans on Jesus Christ and His church. Challenge the children to invite a friend over to their home to participate in the lesson they just made!

* Before you teach, you must know what you are teaching! So what do our primary friends know about Jesus Christ and His Church? Let the children make little books all about what they know about The Savior and His Church. Invite them to give their book to a friend or if they feel shy, the missionaries who can pass it along to someone they are teaching.

* "There are 2 ways to spell bear. Bear means to carry... There's another spelling to the word (and I wonder if we don't use the wrong one). Bare means to expose or reveal or make known. So we may carry a testimony but not reveal it! Teach our young people to bear their testimonies instead of saying they have testimonies and then not saying what they are. Teach them to bear direct witness." President Boyd K. Packer (Memorable Stories With a Message pg. 111)

Have children partner up in small groups and come up with 1 or 2 things that people can bear direct witness of. Have them come up front and share their answers with the whole primary after a minute or so. Is fast and testimony meeting the only place and time that we can bear testimony? Challenge the children to talk to a friend this week about something they know to be true.

You could also have a drawing of Testimony Timmy. You can write down suggestions from the children about things you say during a testimony. Examples could include, "I'd like to bear my testimony. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen. I know that..."

*Briefly have the children act out the story of Ammon and the sons of Mosiah. Basically, they taught the gospel to not friends, but enemies!! What would be harder?

Alma 26:2-3, " And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us? Can ye tell? Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work."

Have a basketful of instruments. Demonstrate how the instrument is just the tool, and nothing without the master musician! Let children come up front and choose and instrument, then say a way they can teach their friends about Christ and His Church.

Week 4 I can prepare now to serve a full-time mission.

* Make a mini-MTC experience!! Have a big picture of what MTC's look like. Have a few different stations:
1. Learn to say I know the church is true in a different language! from someone who has served a foreign speaking mission. Let that person tell a little bit about where they served.
2. Exercise Station. At the MTC exercise is important! Have a trash can they can throw a ball in. Have them do 10 jumping jacks.
3. Service Station. At the MTC they have weekly service opportunities to clean. Have the children take a reverent walk down the hall to see if there is any trash that needs to be picked up.
4. Cafeteria food! Have a little snack for the primary friends to enjoy. Remember, at the MTC, you're away from your family and you might miss your mom's cooking!!
5. Preach My Gospel Station. Perhaps you can have a ward missionary talk about how important this book is and one of their favorite parts!

HERE is a fun poster you could send home with the children.
 
* Great week to learn We'll Bring The World His Truth (CS pg. 172)!!

* "Missionaries need to understand the doctrine, and they need to know how to share it. You can’t take water out of an empty bucket. When missionaries know the gospel and how to teach it, they don’t want to do anything else. They know they can teach anybody, anywhere, anytime, under any circumstances, using their own words accompanied by the power of the Spirit. They have self-confidence and inner strength. There’s great power in that kind of preparation." Elder Ballard March 2007 Ensign How To Prepare to Be A Good Missionary It's a great read!!!

Have a large bucket. Invite children to fill the bucket up with water by saying ways they can prepare now to serve a full time mission.

* HERE is a chapter in the Missionary Preparation Student Manual. It was interesting to note "rigorous and demanding" were used a lot in regards to missionary work. You could have 10 steps to a better mission! Let's start today!
Have a path of stone pictures and on the back, something from the chapter that will help children prepare to be better missionaries along with a picture of that idea. A couple ideas could include:
"A steady diet of high-calorie fast foods, carbonated drinks, and high-sugartreats should not be the norm. A balanced diet that includes the basic food groups, where possible, is preferred.
" Flexibility—These exercises stretch muscles, tendons, and ligaments and should be done daily."
" Teeth should be brushed and flossed daily. Prospective missionaries who are not already involved in a regular dental care program should see a dentist as soon as possible..."

* HERE is a short video clip about the importance of preparing to serve a mission. President Monson has a great quote, "“Missionaries are marvelous. They’re called of God by prophecy. . . . They represent the fruits of all that is good within the Latter-day Saint family.”

Make a real fruit salad! Invite children to come up and add the fruit. As they do so, have them talk about ways they can prepare to serve a mission. Enjoy a healthy treat!!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

LDS Thanksgiving Song


This is a beautiful song for the upcoming month of November. It's found in the Nov. 1979 Friend by Rock E. Oakeson.

The Lyrics are:
Verse 1
Heavenly Father, I’m thankful to Thee
For life and its wonders, the earth and the sea,
For fam’ly who love me and help me to be
The kind of a child who’ll again live with Thee.
Verse 2
Each day I’m grateful for friends who are kind
And teachers who help me develop my mind.
The Lord in His goodness helps me ev’ry day.
I’ll show Him I’m thankful by living His way.

Click HERE for link.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Draw A Pumpkin Singing Time or FHE

Roll a Pumpkin
 
I came across some fun roll the dice art games and thought I'd make one for primary.
 
Start by singing a song. Any primary friend who is singing boldly, being reverent, or is just plain awesome will be picked to roll the dice.
 
On the first roll, they draw a body for the pumpkin depending on what they roll. If it's a 1, then they draw the long oval. If it's a 2, then the fat circle.... etc. You can use the chalkboard, a large piece of butcher paper. Make sure to have them draw big so everyone can see! The shapes are simple enough that even Sunbeams can draw.
 
Choose another friend to roll for eyes & noses. Then another for mouths and finally, a fourth friend to draw the stuff on top! Choose another primary friend to name our pumpkin creation!
 
By the time you sing some songs you'll have a unique primary pumpkin patch!
 
This could also work for Family Home Evening. You could sing songs or have gospel trivia questions. Once the question is answered, the family member rolls the dice.
 
Or you could just play it for fun!!!
 
I plan on doing a few more of these. If you are disgruntled by my lack of artistic skill, I'm with you 82.4%. But here's the thing. It doesn't matter because the elections will be done soooooooooon!!!!!
Hooray!!! I'm so over all the nastiness already!!
Aren't you!?!?!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Reviewing General Conference with My Children and Making it Meaningful

I have this 3 drawer plastic thing I found at a garage sale years ago. It sits in our closet housing junk. I was munching on some pumpkin cookies- you know the type you just take a box mix and add a can of pumpkin and a bag of chocolate chips? YUM!, staring at the local senate debate...GROSS! And then it clicked! Why don't I use the drawer thing to put activities in to make some of the conference talks fresh in our minds.

In each drawer I plan on having a laminated sheet with quotes from talks that stood out to me personally. Yes, I have a lamination addiction. I could get over it possibly, but there are no support groups and in my heart of hearts, I know I'd just come back to it even if there were.

Along with each set of quotes, I'll have the following activities. My only condition is that before we do the activity or during the activity, the quotes from the talk are read by someone:

1. Elder M. Russel Ballard, Be Anxiously Engaged
Honey Bee Tree -  I-Play Outdoors - Toys"R"Us
Our Honey Bee Tree Game

2. Sister Ann M. Dibb
T-Shirts with permanent markers to color & design on

3. Elder Russel M. Nelson
Stationary, Stickers & Envelopes to write the missionaries! Do we have any questions? Let's ask them!!

I'll probably rotate them out within the next 3 months for another 3 talks from this wonderful session!
I just really feel like, as much as I enjoy conference, I can never remember the specifics. Hopefully these activities I do with the munchkins will help my mind focus better!

I'm attempting to share the quotes I made for each drawer. Hopefully it will work! Feel free to print out and use if ya' like.

LDS General Conference October 2012

Sacrament Meeting Program Time!!

Because I have a gazillion links on the side I'm sure no one really clicks, I decided to repost some thoughts on Primary Sacrament Meeting Programs. Who knows, maybe it might help? Maybe it might not. Do you need tips on where to start writing or what to do for a practice?

Click HERE to see!

If you feel frustrated for spending 7-8 minutes reading to what I just referred you to, I'm sorry. Let me make it up to you by sending you to a Ryan Gosling quote "hey-girl obsessed Mormons" site HERE. It will make you smile. Maybe they could do a "Hey girl, I really appreciate the Christ like way you helped that child back to his seat after he jumped off the stands during the Primary Program."

BEST NEWS EVER!!!!!!



Ok. I don't even know where to start. I feel beyond excited. The possibilities are endless.
 
I guess this came out in January of 2012 and I vaguely remember seeing it and thinking, that's nice.
Fast forward to this month and WOW. Let me explain.
 
LDS.ORG has a link

Do you have a beginning reader?
All The Friend rebus stories are HERE (Easy readers with pictures to substitute words)!!!!!!!

Do you want to make a baptism book for your child to study before they are baptized?

Click HERE for a bunch of great resources from The Friend... from a filling the font activity to a video of Christ being baptized. Fabulous!!

Do you want a nightly scripture to recite with the kiddos, maybe something to hang up on their wall until the next one??

Look no further!!! Click HERE for scriptures with beautiful artwork from The Friend!!!

Man... I need something quick to DO for Family Home Evening...

CRAFTS!!!!!!!!! Gospel Inspired.

Need help preparing for General Conference?
 
HERE are quotes from past conferences and HERE are words from the apostles!!!
 
For the young pianist!!! ALL the easy to play arrangements!!!!
 
Click HERE to start!!!
 
Whoever put all the resources together for this section of LDS.ORG, my deepest and most sincerest gratitude!!!!
 
Do you see friends? Do you SEE?!?!?! 
Baby shower gifts! Quick FHE's! Sunday Activities!!! Church bag materials!!
Knowledge!
Power!!!!!
 
Go. Get a file box!
Turn on the purple cow laminator.
Coscto Color Ink Refills- $15 right?
And don't forget to say a prayer to bless those who have worked so hard to put that website together.
 
I feel like we should all gather in a close circle, put our hands together, shout "Let's get closer to Heavenly Father!", break, hands in the air followed by a loud YEAY!!!!
 
I would be "LIKE #486", however I'm not on facebook. Can we just pretend? I am LIKE #486!!!
 
Please excuse all the exclamation marks. I can't contain myself! I hope you are excited as I am!!

Monday, October 1, 2012

President Monson Jeopardy... Round 2!!


I did a FHE jeopardy a while back that my kiddos loved. Everything came from his biography, To The Rescue, by Heidi Swinton.

You can see that jeopardy HERE.

I found some other fun facts as I finished the book, so I thought I'd do a round 2!! Double Jeopardy as you will.

Jeopardy Categories include:
Favorite Foods
All Over the World
Many Miracles
Who'd have thought!

Favorite Foods
100 What does President Monson like to eat in the mornings, a habit that he's had since childhood?
(Wheaties)

200 What flavor yogurt does President Monson favor?
(Lime)

300 President Monson likes to go to a coffee shop called the Little America Hotel, owned by one of his friends. He loves a certain menu item there for lunch, what is it?
(cream soups - especially tomato)

400 What does President Monson like to drink with his meals?
(Milk)

All Over the World
100 President Monson was called to preside over what mission at the age of 31?
(The Canadian Mission)

200 The first time, as an apostle, that President Monson attended a temple dedication was where?
(The Oakland California Temple)

300 President Monson was assigned to supervise the South Pacific Area. Often he would visit the islands for 3 to 5 weeks at a time! While he was there, how would he correspond with people back home in America?
(By letter... which was very slow to arrive!)

400 In this place, there was a severe drought. When President Monson arrived the first people he met were the stake presidents, President Rivers and President Waters. He thought this was amusing and told his traveling companion. His traveling companion introduced himself- Elder Brooks. The missionaries who met them at the airport included an Elder Rainey. Even at the hotel, the receptionist couldn't find the reservation until she check Thomas S. Monsoon!! Where was this place?
(Australia)

Many Miracles
100 President Monson often helped the members of East Germany. It was a war torn country and the government was very strict. One day, he was talking to President Kimball remarking how he wished they could have a copy of a a certain church handbook for the saints there. There was no way the government would let a copy in. President Monson was asked to memorize the very LONG book and then type it out while there. He sat down and started... he got through 30 pages when he was prompted to look up. It was a miracle. What did he see?
(A copy of the handbook completed and in the right language, no one knows to this day how it got there on a shelf above him)

200 One time when President Monson was on a plane, the pilot announced they wouldn't be able to land because of fog. President Monson was on a tight schedule, so he said a prayer. What happened next?
(Seconds later, the pilot said there was a momentary clearing and they would be able to land)

300 At a stake meeting, President Monson had a feeling to invite a former stake president forward to bear testimony and join him in setting apart the new stake president. The man said, "That would be the highlight of my life." The man was extremely happy to be able to do so and give thanks to the men and women of the stake whom he had served. The next morning President Monson received a call from the man's son. What had happened?
(The man had passed away, but before he did so, he said that yesterday was the happiest day of his life. It was a miracle.)

400  In Great Britain, President Monson was visiting a printing press that was printing new editions of the LDS bible. Feeling prompted he said to pull a sheet from that being printed, he knew there was an error. The pressman said, "Not possible, we've read this 12 times!!" President Monson said, "Well, you've missed it 12 times." Sure, enough, there was a small error. President Monson thanked who afterwards?
(Heavenly Father for His hand in all things)


Who'd have thought!!
100 When this football team plays, President Monson dons the maize and blue as a true fan. He records football scores, wins and losses, in his journal on New Year's Day. What college team is this?
(Michigan- A coach, Bo Schembechler made favorable comments about LaVell Edwards and the Church and President Monson has been a long time fan!)

200 President Monson met this American President and had a fun time discussing dogs and breeding. The American President showed him to his kennel and asked him which one he would choose. President Monson chose a pup with strong legs. The American President named the pup Ranger and when he visited Salt Lake City, he updated President Monson on quote, "their dog". Who was the American President?
(President George Bush, 1989)

300 President Monson rarely did this chore in his home. His wife did it for years!!
(Change the lightbulbs!)

400 The first time President Monson was away from home was on a scout camping trip. It was freezing and the first part of the trip the boys threw snowballs at each other. Everyone was shivering, wet and homesick. The next day President Monson's parents brought something over to comfort the boys. President Monson wanted it to be chili, but instead it was what?
(Ice cream!!)

Final Jeopardy Question: We are led by a living prophet today. Through these questions and stories we have learned a lot. What is something you appreciate and love about our dear President Monson?

And a quick thank you to Heavenly Father! I had an idea of what I wanted to do for the trivia questions, but always wanted to double check the material to make sure I've written it right. So out of 500+ pages I just "happened" to turn to the pages with the trivia information I needed at least 5 times. God loves us.

Friday, September 28, 2012

October 2012 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas


Priesthood Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by Photo Dean March 2012

Monthly Theme: Blessings of the Priesthood are available to all.
Monthly Scripture: "And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord" D&C 84:35

* Really great tip from the outline: Be sensitive to the family situations of the children. Emphasize that the priesthood blesses everyone, regardless of gender, and that children who do not have a priest-hood holder in their home can be blessed through home teachers, extended family, and Church leaders.

Week 1 Worthy young men receive the priesthood when they are 12.

* Have a small panel of some worthy priesthood holders for a question & answer session. Let the children ask them questions having to do with the priesthood. Have a small basket with questions and let children draw out questions to ask, in case they can't think of any on their own.
Questions could include:
What is the Priesthood?
What do you have to do to be worthy of the Priesthood?
How does the Priesthood make you feel?
Why do you need the Priesthood?
Who can hold the Priesthood?
Where can you use the Priesthood?
When has the Priesthood blessed your life?
 

* Briefly have the children act out the following stories about the Priesthood:

1. "As the Prophet Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, he found mention of baptism for the remission of sins. On May 15, 1829, he and his scribe Oliver Cowdery went into the woods to inquire of the Lord concerning baptism. As they prayed, “a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light.” This messenger was John the Baptist, the prophet who had baptized Jesus Christ centuries earlier. John the Baptist, now a resurrected being, laid his hands on Joseph and on Oliver and conferred upon each of them the Aaronic Priesthood, which had been taken from the earth during the Great Apostasy. With this authority, Joseph and Oliver were able to baptize one another. (See Joseph Smith—History 1:68-72.)"

2. Acts8:14-20

3. From General Conference (April 2012) President Monson told this story, " During World War II, in the early part of 1944, an experience involving the priesthood took place as United States marines were taking Kwajalein Atoll, part of the Marshall Islands and located in the Pacific Ocean about midway between Australia and Hawaii. What took place in this regard was related by a correspondent—not a member of the Church—who worked for a newspaper in Hawaii. In the 1944 newspaper article he wrote following the experience, he explained that he and other correspondents were in the second wave behind the marines at Kwajalein Atoll. As they advanced, they noticed a young marine floating face down in the water, obviously badly wounded. The shallow water around him was red with his blood. And then they noticed another marine moving toward his wounded comrade. The second marine was also wounded, with his left arm hanging helplessly by his side. He lifted up the head of the one who was floating in the water in order to keep him from drowning. In a panicky voice he called for help. The correspondents looked again at the boy he was supporting and called back, “Son, there is nothing we can do for this boy.”
“Then,” wrote the correspondent, “I saw something that I had never seen before.” This boy, badly wounded himself, made his way to the shore with the seemingly lifeless body of his fellow marine. He “put the head of his companion on his knee. … What a picture that was—these two mortally wounded boys—both … clean, wonderful-looking young men, even in their distressing situation. And the one boy bowed his head over the other and said, ‘I command you, in the name of Jesus Christ and by the power of the priesthood, to remain alive until I can get medical help.’” The correspondent concluded his article: “The three of us [the two marines and I] are here in the hospital. The doctors don’t know [how they made it alive], but I know.” (From Willing and Worthy to Serve)

End with your testimony and this quote, again from President Monson from the above article, "Miracles are everywhere to be found when the priesthood is understood, its power is honored and used properly, and faith is exerted."

* Sister Esplin writes, "Have the children look up “Priesthood, Qualifying for” in the Topical Guide. Ask them to work in pairs to choose a scripture and find qualities that men need to qualify for the priesthood. Have them or their teachers write each quality on a piece of paper. Have the children choose a quality and tell what a Primary boy could do now to work on that quality." (Friend Feb. 2009)


Week 2 We receive the ordinances of salvation through the priesthood.


* Divide the primary into groups. Give each group 3 minutes to look up a scripture and come up with a way to act it out for the primary. Let them come up front, friends raising their hand can guess what ordinance they are acting out!
Ordinances include:
administration to the sick (James 5:14–15)
blessing the sacrament (D&C 20:77, 79)
baptism by immersion (Matt. 3:16; D&C 20:72–74)
blessing of children (D&C 20:70)
conferring the Holy Ghost (D&C 20:68; 33:15)
conferring the priesthood (D&C 84:6–16; 107:41–52)
temple ordinances (D&C 124:39)
marriage in the new and everlasting covenant (D&C 132:19–20).

* Have 8 numbered index cards on the ground in a circle. Have the wonderful primary pianist play A Young Man Prepared (pg. 166 of Children's Songbook) Invite 8 children to come up front and walk around the circle of cards while the music plays. When it stops, have them stop on the number they are closest to. Invite another primary friend to draw a number from a bag that has an ordinance (just look at the above idea for the 8 ordinances) on it. Whoever is on that number can talk about what that ordinance is or a special experience they have had with that ordinance. Have the children sit down, take out the number pulled and invite 7 more children to come up front. It will get a little funny by the time you are down to 2 numbers and then 1!

* “… He never will institute an ordinance or give a commandment to His people that is not calculated in its nature to promote that happiness which He has designed” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 255–56).
Have the children draw a picture of a time an ordinance helped them to be happy or perhaps a picture of an ordinance in the future that might give them happiness! Have a few children come up afterwards and share!


Week 3 I can receive strengthening power through priesthood blessings.

* This is a great lesson on Elijah, found HERE. He was an excellent example of strength and power through the Priesthood.

* This is another GREAT lesson about Priesthood Blessings found HERE. (Primary 3: Choose the Right B)

* This is a great idea from the Primary 6 Manual:

Make the room as dark as possible. Then tell the children the story of a group of tourists who went into a deep, dark cave. Once inside the cave the guide turned off the lights, waited for a few minutes, and then asked each person to point in the direction of the exit. When the lights came back on, people were pointing in all different directions.
Make your classroom light again, and share the following quotation from Elder Robert D. Hales: “If the power of the priesthood were not upon the earth, the adversary would have freedom to roam and reign without restraint. There would be no gift of the Holy Ghost to direct and enlighten us; no prophets to speak in the name of the Lord; no temples where we could make sacred, eternal covenants; no authority to bless or baptize, to heal or comfort. … There would be no light, no hope—only darkness” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, p. 40; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, p. 32).

* "The priesthood is the eternal power and authority of God. Through the priesthood He created and governs the heavens and the earth. By this power the universe is kept in perfect order."
Gospel Principles Manual Chapter 13

Have pictures of space and the universe. If Heavenly Father uses the Priesthood to keep the universe in perfect order, how important is the Priesthood? Have a small spaceship of 4 chairs up front. Invite 4 primary friends to fly through space with you as we learn about the Priesthood and how we can be strengthened by priesthood blessings. Come up with questions, stories, scriptures or short quotes about priesthood blessings. Rotate each group of space cadets after each thing you teach. Keep on referring back to the fact that through the Priesthood Heavenly Father keeps the universe in perfect order.

 
Week 4 I can go to the temple to receive ordinances for my ancestors when I am older.

* HERE is a great talk by President Uchtdorf. It talks about foundation stones of temples. There is a very nice handout. You could also have the children fold a piece of paper like a fan and attach a temple at the top. On the steps (folds) you can have them write things they can do to get to the temple when they are older.

* HERE is a great search and find on preparing to go to the temple. Have a list of about 15 (total) songs, scriptures and questions having to do with the temple. When a primary friend answers a question, they can come up front and find one hidden item in the picture. Let's see if we can find all the hidden items before sharing time is over!!

* HERE is a really nice video on temples. It has beautiful images on the inside of a temple and very straightforward information. It's a little long, so you might have to cut it short. It comes from THIS site which is really educational.

* Make up a news report for the children to fill out about one of their ancestors and send it home with them to interview their family. Questions on the report could be:
1. What is an ancestor?
2. Who is an ancestor that needs temple work done?
3. What do we know about that ancestor's life?
4. Draw a picture of a temple you would like to do work for ancestors in.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Matching Board

 
I made this board for a baby shower and find it quite useful. I hot glued wooden clothespins on a piece of dollar store corkboard and painted with some glitter nail polish... class-ay.
 
It's nice and easy for matching games. We used it for Family Home evening with scripture story names, then the person who finds the match tells the story of that scripture person.
 
The possibilities are many though. Hopefully it can help someone out there!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Primary Pianist... The Loniest Calling?


 Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by Maltagirl May 2006
 
Recently a good friend of mine told me that being a primary pianist was her least favorite calling ever.
I was flabbergasted.
Stunned!
Because I loved, loved, loved being a primary pianist.
I enjoyed watching and learning. Seeing what worked. What didn't.
I loved the children and when I wasn't playing the piano, I was sitting with them.
In fact, there was one rowdy lil' guy that I took under my wing and we were buddies.
 
I asked my friend why she didn't enjoy it and she said quote,
"It's a lonely calling. You're in the corner all by yourself."
 
Well friends. This is not a Three Dog Night music video.
This is real.
Mother Theresa once said, “The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.” 
And this needs to be fixed.
 
Solutions on the part of Choristers & Primary Presidency:
 
1. Don't just acknowledge the pianist, make them a rock star.
We're grateful for Sister D our pianist.... verses....What would we ever do without Sister D? She is the very best pianist in the world! We are so lucky to sing alongside her magic fingers!!! Did you just hear how fast she played!! Her fingers move faster than a super sonic jet plane! And yet so delicate at other times that you feel like you're listening to flowers dance!!
 
2. Have brief conversations & ask questions with your pianist while you're teaching.
Nephi crossed the ocean... Hey, Sister D have you ever crossed the ocean before? You have? Where did you go to? Oh my! A cruise to Tahiti sounds like so much fun, but didn't you get seasick? Wow. I didn't even know they made patches you can put on the back of your neck to avoid that... I bet Nephi and his family would have appreciated some of those!!!
 
3.While doing activities with balls, DO NOT hit the pianist.
We're going to toss the ball lightly into the bucket. PLEASE. Whatever you do... DO NOT!!!! I repeat DO NOT hit Sister D. We can not have her passed out on the floor because someone whacked her with the ball. If we don't have Sister D, we don't have music we have the scary sing out of tune with Sister Lykes (enter chorister) show.
 
4. Whisper your answer to the pianist!!
We're going to be singing Primary Colors.... Our primary friend is going to choose a color- red, yellow or blue. You stand on the color you think they chose!! Primary friend, please go tell Sister D what color you choose!
I want to get to know our primary friend better! Can you whisper to Sister D what your favorite animal is? OK primary friends, let's see if you can guess what it is!
 
5.Ask the pianist their opinion.
Sister D, are our children the very best singers in the entire world? Do you think that Heavenly Father and the angels are smiling right now because of the lovely way our primary friends sang?
Who's your favorite scripture prophet Sister D?
 
6. Thank the pianist FOR SPECIFICS.
Generics stink. I mean it's nice and better than nothing, but what do we want to teach our children. Let's teach them that beauty can be in the detail.
Thank you Sister D for that beautiful prelude music. You help invite the spirit every week and we are so grateful for your service.
Thank you Sister D for always playing so peppy. If the songs were too slow we'd fall asleep, but your lovely playing makes us want to sing even more!!
 
7. Thumbs up & silent cheers for the pianist!
Wow great singing everyone! Please give yourself a pat on the back and a kiss on the brain. And while we're at it, let's give Sister D 2 big thumbs up and a silent cheer for just being awesome and wearing such a beautiful skirt today. There is one modest babe! (Last sentence only to be used if your pianist is over 70)
 
Solutions on the part of the pianist themselves:
 
1. Have a great attitude!
Whether you wanted this calling or not, you've accepted and will be blessed for it. You might not ever be acknowledged for your hard work, practice and dilligence... but you know what, Heavenly Father knows and one day before the throngs of eternity you will be praised for your smiling face and fingers that helped his little ones grow and prosper.
 
2. Get involved and don't wait to be invited.
If you aren't needed at the piano, see what you can do. Are some kids chit chatty? Go sit by them and smile. How is their week going? Great! Let's listen to the lesson and after you can tell me all about it!
Kiddos need lots of love and attention. You could be that special person that Heavenly Father wants in their life. Don't be just a wall flower.
 
3. After singing, throw in your two cents!
Wow! I just had to say, when you sweet primary children sang I got the chills!! That was so neat to feel the spirit that strongly! Thank you!!
 
4. If children come visit you at the piano, talk to them!
Show them things. Teach them things. Have they ever heard of a treble cleff? What if you are the person that inspires them to become a concert musician? To read music you have to memorize a short phrase- see if you can remember- every good boy does fine! In one ward, I remember having about 10 kids come and visit me at the piano... I had to make sure that they knew it was OK, but only after primary!
 
5. Be there for those children with special needs!
Sometimes music can be soothing to children with special needs. Let them sit by you and watch your fingers move. Let them turn pages for you. Let them double check that you're on the right page. Pray and talk with the primary presidency and parents to see if this would be a good option. I remember one ward with a little girl in a wheelchair... she loved the pianist because she could see the wonderful possibilities one can do with their hands!
 
6. Know that you are NEVER alone.
Thank you MJ. Rest in peace.
Even though I'm sure he wasn't writing about Heavenly Father, his lyrics still ring true.
You are not alone.
 
 
What is the only cure for loneliness?
A good dose of Jesus.
 
"I believe that for most of us the best medicine for loneliness is work, service in behalf of others. I do not minimize your problems, but I do not hesitate to say that there are many others whose problems are more serious than are yours. Reach out to serve them, to help them, to encourage them."