Update: Requests? Requests?

Easter Lily image courtesy creative-commons license flickr.com by photoholic1 April 2007

The Family is of God
2008 by Matthew Neeley

* Wrap up a family proclamation. Then put it in a bigger box. Wrap again. Do this a few times. As the children learn and sing the song invite one up to unwrap a layer. One of the greatest gifts that Heavenly Father has given us is family.

* Have a large photo album. As you notice doing a good job singing invite them up to take a picture of another primary friend they noticed was singing. Do this a few times. Tell the children that all the pictures they have taken are children of our Heavenly Father. We are all family members!

* Have a paper car. Have paper family members. See how many family members the children can get in the car by having them fill in the blanks. For example: Our father has a what? They say family. Or This is how He shares His love... what comes next? They say (or sing- you choose!) for the family is of God. Keep on going once all the family is in the car and move them along a dotted road on the chalkboard to a surprise destination! A temple!

* This activity is for when the children have learned the song. Have one child hold a picture of a family. Have another child hold a picture of Jesus. As they notice everyone singing, reverently but boldly, the child holding the family can walk to the child holding the Savior's picture. Will the primary family make it to Jesus? You bet!

He sent His Son
Children's Songbook pg. 34

* Dress up the children in simple outfits to depict different parts of the Savior's life that are in the song. 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.)

* 6 questions are asked in this song. You could invite 6 children up to hold a picture with a question mark. They sing the questions, then the primary sings the answers. Teachers and leaders sing only with the 6 children (If you have shy children).

* 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.

I Feel My Savior's Love
Children's Songbook pg. 74

* When I hear the word feel... I think tactile. What if you made a large tactile board or mystery boxes for the children to come up and feel. Different parts of the song would be represented in a way the children could actually touch. For a couple examples "In all the world around me" you could put leaves (And if you do a mystery box have them guess what they are feeling). "His spirit warms my soul" you could put hand warmers you get in the camping section of a store. "It's gentleness enfolds me" a soft cotton or silk cloth. Think of adding about 4 others things from the song they can feel. Have the children reach out into the air and feel with their hands. There is nothing there. Sometimes we feel with our hands and other times we feel with our heart. The Savior's Love is all around us and we can feel it with our hands and our hearts.

* Have children come up holding a visual to represent a phrase of the song. Mix up the children and have them quietly figure out what order they need to be in as the rest of the primary sings the song. Will they be able to get in the right order by the time the song is finished?

* Invite a few people from the branch/ward to play I feel My Savior's Love on different instruments. There are different ways to hear this song just like there are different ways to feel the Savior's love. Invite the children to pick an instrument and then sing with it.

* Have a 8x10 paper with an outline of a body on it for each child. (Or have a large poster board of a body outline at the front you could invite a child to point to as you sing) As you sing the song, they can point to the different parts of the body that the song talks about. A couple examples include "In everything I see" point to the eyes. "And when I kneel to pray" point to the knees. "He knows I will follow Him" point to the heart or feet. Ask the children what they could point to on certain phrases!

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam
Children's Songbook pg. 60

* I feel like such a killjoy but my Papou (grandpa) was a sheriff and I think I have issues with having to follow the rules always. Something in my blood. Who knows. But for the record: Sacrament Meeting Presentation/Program.... No, costumes should not be worn in sacrament meeting (see Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2, 290). Does that apply to sun hats? Follow your heart and the spirit!

* In sharing time, of course for singing you can have sun popsicle sticks they hold up on the word sunbeam.

*Invite a child to come up to be the sun and use their arms as rays or "sunbeams". If they have their arms all the way out extended them we sing boldly! If they draw them into their body, we sing softer. Children could also mirror the person in front with their bodies if you need to get some wiggles out.

* Have a yellow circle in front with a picture of Jesus in the middle. Have long strips of yellow paper to add the children's names to who are singing and most importantly smiling! Of course this will be everyone because all the primary children are so wonderful and bright!

* Have 2 gray clouds that 2 children can hold. Invite a child to come hold a flashlight with a sun on it. Every time they hear the word sun, have them shine through the clouds!

Jesus is Our Loving Friend
Children's Songbook pg. 58b

* Have the children draw a picture of them and the Savior. Choose different children to hold their pictures in the front as you sing.

* Have 2 magnets with separated pieces of a paper friendship locket on it, on separate sides of the black board. One can say Best the other Friends. Invite a child to come up and move the magnets together as you sing this song. Jesus truly is our best friend!

* Have the children brainstorm all the qualities of a loving friend. (Quality is a hard word for little children so you can ask what would a loving friend do? how does a loving friend act like?) List as many as you can on the chalkboard. Invite a child to come up and check mark a quality or 2 from the list that Jesus also has while you sing the song. After you sing it a few times all the qualities should be checked off!

* Briefly tell the children the footprints story. This is the story of a true and loving friend. Have a footprint path for a child to carefully walk on as the primary sings the song. See if they can step in rhythm! The primary children can also lift their feet in rhythm lightly as they sing as if they were following the footprints too. Jesus our loving friend has lifted us through the atonement, he cares for us more deeply than we can know now.

Did Jesus Really Live Again?
Children's Songbook pg. 64

* Linda Magleby, “Sharing Time: I Can Repent and Be Happy,” Friend, Apr 2006, 14–16 says "Song Presentation:“Did Jesus Really Live Again?” (p. 64). Verse one asks a question, answers it, and tells what Jesus did. Ask the children to listen and raise one finger when they hear the question, two fingers when they hear the answer, and three fingers when they hear what Jesus did. Sing the first verse of the song for the children. What is the question? What is the answer? Sing that much together. Show GAK 233 (Mary and the Resurrected Lord). Say, “The song tells us three things Jesus did when the third day came. As I sing, count them on your fingers as you hear them.” (1—“wakened,” 2—“left the tomb,” 3—“called Mary’s name.”) Review the three things, and sing and count together. Use the same technique for verse two. The third verse tells how the people knew it was Jesus. Sing the first half, and ask how the people recognized Him. Sing that much together. Now the song asks a question and gives a wonderful promise. Have the children listen for the question, hold up one finger when they hear it, and fold their arms when they hear the promise. Sing the rest of the verse for them; then sing it together. Testify of the Resurrection.

* Have an Easter basket with grass filled with items for this song. Invite children to come up and choose items and name the line it represents for the song. For a few examples- a nail for "nail prints in His side". A glove for "Did Jesus really live again?" to put on their hands to represent the reuniting of body and spirit for the resurrection. An empty Easter egg "He wakened and he left the tomb" Think of a few more.

* Have a poster board of the empty tomb (black square) and the rock rolled away. Invite a child to the front to add flowers to the tomb as the primary children sing reverently and with feeling. (Say they put up 5... wow! Let's have another person come up and see if we can earn 6!) The resurrection is a beautiful thing, just like their singing! If only you had a million flowers to add!

* Divide the room into 2 sections. One side will sing the question, the other side the response. Or you could do boys and girls or teachers and children or pretend missionaries and investigators (the ones who sing the question)... etc. Do you have anyone really brave? Have one come up and sing the questions (you could give them a hat and pad and pencil to pretend they were a news reporter) and another sing the answer. It is a fact- Jesus Christ lives!

Jesus Has Risen
Children's Songbook pg. 70

* The introduction of the song says "like chimes". Why not bring in a triangle or two and have a couple children play them lightly while you sing?

* Have the children stand when they sing the word "risen" then sit back down. Sing again and have them choose a body part to raise on that word!

* Bring in some bread dough and have a child add the yeast. The yeast is like the resurrection of Christ. Sing the song and see what happens to the dough at the end of primary.

* Have a paper balloon (hot air or a regular balloon) with a picture of Christ on it. Attach it to a string so it can move up and down on a poster board. Invite a child to come up and move the balloon up as the primary children sing joyfully!

* Have a small picture of Christ hidden on the ceiling. After you sing the song invite a child to look quietly for the picture for 20 seconds. Sing again and invite another to do so. Finally, sing the song and invite all the children to quietly walk around as they sing until they find the picture. Jesus has risen above!!

He Died That We Might Live Again
Children's Songbook pg. 65

* Have a bouquet of flowers in a vase. Attach different parts of the songs to different flowers. Have the children come up and choose flowers and arrange themselves in order of the song. Spring is a time of rebirth- the trees bud and flowers bloom- and Christ died that we might live again!

* Have a poster board with pictures of the children from primary. In the center a picture of the Resurrected Christ. Cover it up with paper puzzle pieces. Have them answer questions about the song to remove a puzzle piece. For example sing "He died that we might live again" what comes next? How many times do we sing the word rejoice and sing at the end? (2 and 3) What comes before "he showed his love for all mankind"? After all the puzzle pieces are removed testify that Christ died for each one of us and because of this we will be resurrected.

* Have the words Before and After written on the chalkboard. Have about 6 different Gospel Art Kit pictures up there also from the life of Christ. This song has a trickier-than-most melody. Invite a child who thinks they can clap the rhythm while you and the primary sing a part of the song. Tell them great job and let them choose a picture to put in the right spot, either before or after Christ died. Invite a few others to come up and do the same. The life of Christ was amazing and still is because even though He died, He lives again and so can we!

* Have a rock to pass around the room. This rock is like the rock moved in front of the empty tomb. Have the children sing or say the words of the song and pass the rock when they can't remember or just want to. For example the first child could sing/say "He died that we might", then he passes and the next child would need to sing/say "live again". Little ones might need an older one to whisper help in their ear. Some older ones might want to sing the whole song themselves. If you have a smaller primary, why not! They're awesome and have it memorized, kudos to them. For a larger primary have them say 5 words or less.

To think about Jesus
Children's Songbook pg. 71

* Have a bunch of different pictures of things that might distract us from thinking about Jesus. Like a TV, a radio, video games, books, toys, etc. Invite a child to come up who has been singing and trying to be reverent to choose a picture and crumple it up and toss in the garbage can. The song talks about "It shouldn't be hard" and isn't! We will think about Jesus!

* Have all the children stand while singing the song. When they hear the word "sit" have them sit down, then stand back up again. Have arms folded while singing. When they sing this song they will be teaching the adults about reverence and will be wonderful examples!!

* Have the words of the song or pictures in thought bubbles. Have children in the front hold these visuals by their heads.

*Have bean bags labeled wiggles, ants in my pants, talking to friends while teacher is talking, tapping feet, squirmy arms... While singing, toss out a couple bean bags to children who are being awesome. Have them come to the front and trade it for a picture of death and resurrection of Christ to put on the chalkboard.

Beautiful Savior
Children's Songbook pg. 62

* Have a little crusader holding a flag. Draw a path for him on the chalkboard to a picture of Christ. As they sing with zeal and emotion move him along the path!

* Crunch into a small position as you sing "Fair is the sunshine" then get a little bigger for "Fairer the moonlight and all the stars in heav'n above" and finally stand as tall as you can when you sing "Jesus shines brighter"...etc. You can do the same with the second verse.

* The scriptural reference for this song is D&C 43:34 "Hearken ye to these words. Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Treasure these things up in your hearts, and let the solemnities of eternity rest upon your minds." At the end of singing time give them a nestle treasure. The knowledge we have that Jesus Christ is our Savior is truly a treasure and so is the children's beautiful singing!!! (Again, this is a food issue so use the idea with discretion)

* Moroni had the title of liberty! Our primary has the Banner of the Beautiful Savior! Have a large white piece of fabric for the children to come up and write why they think the Savior is beautiful. Little children will need help! Have them sign their names. As you sing the song invite 3 children to hold up your banner. Each child holds it for a verse. Or maybe you'll need all 3 depending on how big it is!

******************************

I apologize for not posting visual aids, it's just not me. How easy it would be to click and print and be done. I have more faith in you. If you are like me, you might not be the next Van Gogh but how will we ever grow if we don't give our artistic side a chance. Plus, children are resilient - if they can survive the stomach flu and Disney's Bambi, they can survive our stick figures.

Also, I hope you don't mind but I took the first 10 requests and only did those.

And these ideas can EASILY be integrated into a FHE!! Good luck!!

Thank-you for your patience, your kindness, and all your requests! I hope these ideas can help a little! Much love to you always!!

Christos Anesti!

Happy Happy Easter!!

April 2009 Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

Photograph by Andy Caulfield/Getty Images O Cristo Redentor Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Monthly Theme: Jesus Christ made it possible for me to live with my Heavenly Father again.
Monthly Scripture: "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6

Also the * indicates an idea. All the ideas aren't meant to be used in one sharing time necessarily. Pick and choose as you are inspired.

Week 1 In the premortal life, I chose to follow Jesus Christ.

* You can't get much better than this. The key is adapting for a 15 minute time period!

* Hold up a picture of a dark cave and a picture of a meadow of flowers. Where would you choose to go, in the darkness or light? Hold up a picture of some junk foods and then a picture of a nice pasta bowl and big salad. Which would you choose for dinner? Some choices are better than others no matter how tempting. Following Christ and not Lucifer is the best choice we made and can continue to make!

Have the children fold a piece of paper in half. Have them draw or write about the choice we made to follow Jesus on one side and what happened to those who didn't on the other side.
You can make an example picture yourself beforehand to give them a start. Then have them share!!

* Call up 5 children at a time to stand up in front of the primary. Have those sitting quietly look at the faces of the children standing for 10ish seconds. Have those standing return to their seats. Invite 5 more to come up. Repeat as much as you like. Did everyone see the faces of each other?

Read Abraham 3:22-23 "Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones; And God saw these souls that they were good, and he stood in the midst of them, and he said: These I will make my rulers; for he stood among those that were spirits, and he saw that they were good; and he said unto me: Abraham, thou art one of them; thou wast chosen before thou wast born. "

Bear testimony that the children whose beautiful faces we looked at, and all the faces in this room are those noble and great ones who stood for Christ in the premortal world.

*Read the following. “When the great War in Heaven was fought, Lucifer, the son of the morning, came forth with a plan that was rejected. The Father of us all, with love for us, His children, offered a better plan under which we would have freedom to choose the course of our lives. His Firstborn Son, our Elder Brother, was the key to that plan. Man would have his agency, and with that agency would go accountability. Man would walk the ways of the world and sin and stumble. But the Son of God would take upon Himself flesh and offer Himself a sacrifice to atone for the sins of all men. Through unspeakable suffering He would become the great Redeemer, the Savior of all mankind” (Gordon B. Hinckley, in Conference Report, Apr. 2002, 107; or Ensign, May 2002, 90).

Hide keys around the room. Attach questions or scriptures having to do with Christ or agency. We made a good choice in the premortal world and will continue to follow the key to Heavenly Father's plan...our Savior!

* These are ideas related to the premortal existence that might be of help. They are under Week 2 I lived with Heavenly Father before I came to earth in the post.

Week 2 I have a testimony that Jesus Christ is my Savior.

* In Teaching No Greater Call pg. 161 it says, "Buzz sessions are activities in which learners are divided into small discussion groups. The groups talk about assigned topics and then share their ideas with the others. You can use buzz sessions to give a large number of people the opportunity to participate in a lesson..." The manual also talks about how to conduct one, so dust it off and take a look.

Questions for a buzz session for this week's topic could include: What are the things I need to do daily to gain a testimony of Jesus Christ? Where are places I can go to strengthen my testimony of Jesus Christ? Who is a good example that helps me have a testimony of Jesus Christ and why? How can I help others strengthen their testimony of Jesus Christ? What is a testimony and how does it feel?

* Write down testimonies. Have them take it home to put in a journal or bind them together to make a book for your branch/ward missionaries to share with investigators. (This can also fill a faith in God requirement)

* Did anyone ever do the MTC training center where you volunteer to be investigators? Well why not bring it to primary! Have the branch/ward missionaries come in and briefly explain why a testimony of Christ is important on a mission and in life. Break up into small groups. Have some children be missionaries (no tags... that's in one of the handbooks) and the others investigators. Have a few questions for the investigators to ask and have the primary missionaries practice bearing testimony of our Savior. Then switch roles.

D&C 84:61-62 "For I will forgive you of your sins with this commandment—that you remain steadfast in your minds in solemnity and the spirit of prayer, in bearing testimony to all the world of those things which are communicated unto you. Therefore, go ye into all the world; and unto whatsoever place ye cannot go ye shall send, that the testimony may go from you into all the world unto every creature."

* "Personal testimony is confirmed to us initially and is reaffirmed and enlarged thereafter through a harmonious combining of both the intellect and the spirit." (Boyd K. Packer "Reverence Invites Revelation" Ensign November 1991, p.21) This quote makes me think of the visual of a sunrise. At dawn the sun peeks through the sky, we know it's there. Then the morning breaks and our eyes and bodies/senses can again confirm the sun is up, until finally at midday the sun fills the sky and there can be no question that the sun has lit up our lives completely.

Week 3 My family and I will be resurrected.

* Have a teacher or another adult come to the front to help. Tie their hands together. What does that feel like? Can they do as many things with their hands tied? Mosiah 15:20 "But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead." Cut the string. The teacher's hand is free now. How does that feel? The resurrection gives our families hope and happy feelings.

* Ezekiel 37:1-14 is a very visual scriptural story/reference on the resurrection. It would take a lot of preparation but this would make for a great felt board.

* Have pictures of a few different families displayed. One family tries their very hardest to do things that are right. One family only has children that go to church and read the scriptures. One family yells at each other and sometimes even push each other. Which family will be resurrected? 2 Nephi 9:22 "And he suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day." ALL the families will be resurrected.

* If you have a smaller primary, you could pass out wooden picture frames for the children to write scripture references about the resurrection. They could go home and put pictures of their family to remember that they will all be resurrected.

Alma 11:43-44 "The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt. Now, this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.

* Have something simple broken. Fix it with superglue. The resurrection will put the body and the spirit back together. Except it's something much stronger and more powerful than superglue because of who made it possible, Jesus Christ.

Week 4 By following Jesus Christ, we will be able to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus again.

* Have the children trace the outlines of their feet. On one foot they can draw and write ways in which they can follow Jesus Christ. On the second foot, give them a picture of Jesus to glue on. Have them glue both feet on a large piece of paper to take home with By following Jesus Christ, we will live with Heavenly Father and Jesus again.

1 Peter 2: 21 "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps

* What would it be like walking in the dark without a flash light all by yourself? Sing Teach Me to Walk in the Light (Hymns page 304). Have a large poster board with a picture of the Liahona and Alma 37:45 "And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise."

Cover the poster board with pieces of black paper. As the children answer questions based on following Jesus and sing songs that are related, etc.... turn off the lights, give them a flash light and let them remove a piece of black paper to discover the message.

* Pass out hymn books and turn to Lord, I Would Follow Thee (page 220) Have them come up with at least 8 different ways to follow the Lord listed in the song. As they find a way they earn a letter. Choose a smaller child who can't read to choose a letter so you can involve everyone. The letters will spell out DISCIPLE. Sing Love One Another (page 308) and listen for the word disciple.

Point out the scripture reference at the bottom of the Hymn 1 John 4:11 but continue to verse 12 also. "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us." We can get a little glimpse of what it would be like to live with Heavenly Father by following (being a disciple of) Christ and receiving His spirit.

* Bring in a basin, towel and soap. Have children come to the front to hold these items and a picture of Jesus washing His disciples feet. (GAK 226) Briefly tell this story and quote John 13: 13-17

"Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.

For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

We might not be called to actually clean one another's feet, but we can serve humbly with love. Bear testimony that Jesus Christ set a perfect example for us to follow and in doing so we will be happy and live with Him again.

* For the Senior Primary, in the Topical Guide (In the Bible) are many references with the word "Follow". Direct them to this section and give them 5 minutes to find something they'd like to share on the word follow. Then have them share.

Requests? Requests?

The Last Supper from the New Gospel Art Book See Here for more details

The month of April is, "Song of your choice about Jesus Christ from the Children's Songbook, Hymns, Friend or Liahona". (2009 Outline for Sharing Time and the Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation)

I've got some free time. And since sitting in front of a computer with my scriptures is easier than the cheapo exercise machine we bought at Sears- don't get me wrong, I blame myself not the machine. Well maybe I blame stores that sell $2 individual cake slabs called devil dogs a little bit too...really if it comes down to it... So I've decided to see what you might need help with! What song did you choose for this month? Would you like a couple different ideas to help with that song? Leave a comment and I'll say a prayer or two or three to see if any ideas come.

Update: Hello! I've gone ahead and taken the first 10 song requests of those who've commented. Hope to be of some help! Please pardon as 10 will keep me busy for a time and I will not be able to keep up with any further requests - at this time. Thank you for your patience!!

My Eternal Family Song Helps and Ideas

My Little but Great Eternal Family... still working on Nono and Yaya Sofia. Yaya Sofia says she will forever be Greek Orthodox, so I'll leave that one up to her and the Big Man upstairs.

* Display GAK pictures:
102 of Noah building the ark
206 childhood of Jesus
304 Lehi and His People Arrive in the Promised Land

Ask the children what was built in each picture and who built it? Will we ever be asked to build an ark? How can we use our hands as Christ did? Nephi built a ship and we can build something that is just as important... our family!

* On a piece of poster board have a picture of a family and a picture of the temple. Attach the family to a string and as the children sing, you can pull the family closer to the temple.

* Have 13 building blocks. Attach the letters ETERNAL FAMILY, one per block. As the children learn the words, sing valiantly and try their best they can earn blocks to build a word tower. Put L on the bottom and then build up to E. Next tower Y on bottom to F.

* Issue a challenge!! See if there are any volunteers who can learn this song by memory WITH their family to sing in Primary next week!! Take one volunteer per week and follow up with their family before Sunday. Have copies of the music that you can send home with the volunteer.

* Bring in a heavy metal chain. Have 2 primary children try to pull it apart. This is pretty strong, could anything ever break this chain? Even stronger and sturdier than this chain is the sealing power of the priesthood. The more we do to make our family eternal and happy, the more impossible it is to ever break. The words in this song help remind us what we need to do to build our family and be closer to Christ.

* Come into primary wearing a tool belt and hard hat. Tell the children you are a builder, not a construction worker... but a builder. You don't work on houses, you work on homes. Eternal homes! Show them some of your tools: a whisk and a book of Mormon (You feed your family both physically and spiritually), lip gloss (that you wear on your lips that always use kind and loving words to build others up), knee pads (you are constantly on your knees praying and seeking the Lord in prayer), hard hat (keeps bad TV and music out of my head and home) etc. Another important tool is this song, "My Eternal Family" because the words bring me closer to Christ.

* Hold up a good size stone. Ask the children to raise their hand if they remember what happened to Christ before he died. Who condemned and wanted Jesus to die? The Pharisees and Sadducees built many things- buildings, laws, their own pockets full of money, hateful rumors... but Peter told them, " This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner." (Acts 4:11) Ask the children who they think Peter was calling the stone. Are we like those type of builders? With our eternal families we must always build upon the rock of Christ.

Because it's just the right thing to do...

I've noticed that ideas from my blog here are sprouting up all over the place/internet. I'm glad these ideas can help! But please quote properly your source if you are publishing these ideas somewhere else on the web or on paper.

http://www.sofiasprimaryideas.blogspot.com/

My source is inspiration from Heavenly Father after much prayer and searching. If you are going to publish these ideas as your own then my integrity comes into question.... I've clearly stated I always give proper credit, so please just do your part. :) Thanks!

My 4 year old is giving a talk....

Sister Memmott was wondering if I had any suggestions for a 4 year old giving a talk. (Hope your son's experience was a good one!!)

Personally, I think that most children are fully capable by age 4 of "writing" their own talks. You give them the topic and guide them with questions. Write down what they say, and voila... a masterpiece. It doesn't have to be long in length!!!

My daughter wrote this herself and she is 4 years old. I was a little skeptical about one part, but who am I to edit, and she's right... the service she gave me helps our family to be eternal. Also, her 2 year old sister Maria learned the talk and enjoyed practicing. I think in the video you can hear her repeating parts!

" Families can be together forever. You need to be nice and kind. You can help your sister up if she falls down and if mommy has a baby, what do you do? You give her the garbage can when she barfs. These things make your family happy. I love Jesus. I worship Him. Families can be forever if you give hugs and kisses and follow Jesus. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
- Christina Naomi

We spent the entire week practicing so she could have it memorized, 5 minutes each night. We made it fun and had a pretend pulpit with stuffed animals listening. I put pictures to her words so it was easier to learn. It looks like she is reading, but she isn't. She's just associated the words with the pictures. We also said many prayers that she would have the spirit with her as she gave her talk and that in doing so we'd all come closer to Christ. She did a wonderful job and I know it's not just because I'm partial. I really could feel the spirit as she spoke. I made sure to ask her what she felt after church. When we review early on with our children we make it easier for them to recognize what the spirit feels like.

March 2009 Primary Sharing Time Thoughts and Ideas

Gospel Art Kit (GAK) 616 Family Togetherness

March Theme : Family members have important responsibilities.

March Scripture: "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God" D&C 88:119

I love love love our Primary theme for the year My Eternal Family. Please be sensitive to your children. Know them, talk to them. In our day and age many families are broken and tattered. Please be aware of each child's home situation and pray heavily over these lessons you prepare.

Week 1 Fathers preside over, provide for, and protect the family with love.

* Name that Father! Write the words preside over, provide for and protect the family with love at the top of 3 columns. Underneath have point values like 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 for each category. Do not make it into a competition, just see how many points the primary can earn together. Unity!! And please.... no buzzers. Have children choose a category and point value. Have different scriptural or examples of fathers in your ward/branch for the point values. And you can easily integrate songs about fatherhood by assigning the songs to a point value.
For example: Preside over 300... Try to name this father. He was a righteous prophet who lived in a very wicked Jerusalem. He presided over and LED his family to safety in the wilderness. Some of his children thought he was a visionary man, his other children believed his words and were brought closer to Christ because of him. Lehi!!!
Another example: Provide for 100... Try to name this father. He works very hard saving the lives of people who are in immediate danger. Sometimes work can get very very hot, but he knows that he needs to make sure his family is taken care of. He not only provides food for his family, but makes sure FHE and family scripture study and prayer are regular in his home. That's right... it's Brooke's dad!! What an awesome fireman and dad he is!
Another example: Preside over 200... Aha! You've picked a wonderful song I know My Father Lives!!! Let's earn those 200 points by singing like the tabernacle choir!
(And please be sensitive... if there are children who don't have fathers in the home then I wouldn't do examples of primary children's fathers... I would just stick to the scriptures, modern apostles stories)

* Have a drawing of a body on the chalkboard. Invite a child to come up and erase the head. What would happen to the body without the head? President Hinckley has said, "I plead with fathers to resume their role as head of their homes. Fathers have the basic and inescapable responsibility to stand as head of the family." (Standing for Something pg. 175)

* Have GAK picture 201 (The Nativity) and GAK picture 403 (The First Vision) displayed.
Ask the question, who was the Father of Jesus Christ? How did Heavenly Father and Joseph (as in Mary's husband) preside over (lead/direct), provide for and protect Jesus their son with love?
* Mystery Person. Have this mystery person stand outside the closed door. Give hints and see if the children can guess who it is. The hints would include: This person holds the priesthood. If you have a nightmare, this person can say a prayer with you so you wont be scared. This person works very hard. This person loves his children and loves Jesus Christ. Our primary friends Matt, Newton and Larry can be like this mystery person when they've grown up, served a mission and married in the temple. Our mystery person is..... a father!!!!! Invite the father in to share his testimony of fatherhood.

Week 2 Mothers nurture the family.

* Have a guest come in and sing the 3rd verse of O My Father (Hymns p. 292) Have them listen for the different family members mentioned and to share what they heard.

* "Wives and mothers are the anchors of the family." President Hinckley Standing for Something pg. 176 Have a boat with a family on it on top of the chalkboard. Have a picture of an anchor tied to some string. As the children read scriptures, sing songs and answer questions on motherhood they can move the anchor farther down/deeper in the water.

* Bring in a plant. What does the plant need to live? What will happen if the plant is not taken care of? How do you nurture a plant and help it grow? Invite the children to put some soil in it, put it by a window and add water. We are like plants. Who nurtures and loves us dearly? Our mothers/grandmothers! Send the children home with seed packets to plant with their mothers.

* Dress up a few little girls. While you tell the stories, have the girls act out the stories of Ruth and Naomi, Mary Mother of Jesus and Hannah. Also, I would be sure to mention how when Jesus was on the cross one of the last things he spoke was that John was to take care of his mother. (John 19:26-27)

Week 3 I will obey my parents.

* Lesson 14 in the Nursery Manual Behold Your Little Ones is a great resource for this week's theme. See HERE.

* Blindfold a child. Have one chair and a small table in their pathway. Explain that the primary friend will have to listen very carefully and do exactly as you say so they can safely get across the pathway. We need to listen and do what our parents tell us. Especially be obedient to Heavenly Father's commandments and we will find safety!

* Divide into groups. Pass out different scenarios where a child could make a choice to obey or not obey their parent. What would be the consequences of their choices? Have them come up and act out their situations. You can use examples from the scriptures for them to act out also, for example Alma the Younger rebelled and was visited by an angel. If Alma had obeyed his father then he wouldn't have had the pains of hell. (Alma 36:12)

* Linda Christensen, “I Have a Family Here on Earth,” Friend, May 2008, 14–16 had a wonderful times infinity sharing time activity that could easily be adapted to this theme. On the streamers write ways you can be obedient to your parents. See HERE for this awesome idea of Linda's.

* Sing a Quickly I'll Obey (CS p.197) but change a couple words and ask them to tell you what you sang wrong. For example sing, "When my mother calls me, slowly I won't listen." Sing the right way together. Or "When my father calls me, I wont do that fast." How silly it is if we don't obey our parents!

Week 4 I have many family members who can help me.

* I personally would stick to what was written in the outline for week 4 because it fills a Faith in God requirement!!!

* Bring in a doll. Have children pick other dolls out of a box to see the different members of a family and ward family that can help her. Have questions, songs and scriptures attached to these other dolls. (This could be adapted with paper sack puppets)

* Have a picture of a large family. Ask the children if they have a family like this. What if a person doesn't have a large family? Who would help them? Take a trip with the primary (if you have 100 children in your primary... this probably wont work, sorry) to the gospel doctrine class. Ask the gospel doctrine class by raise of hands if they are family to our primary children and would be willing to help them with whatever they needed. Thank them and be on your way.

* Have some ingredients to make cookies. All these different ingredients help make delicious cookies. So it is with many family members, we can all come together and help each other to make life happy.

Push Me Pull Me

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by rustman may 2007

I had to go in with our CTR 6 class, about 7 children for 15 minutes unawares that I would have to do so with my 2 year old. I didn't have any pictures, any chalk, paper, crayons, or manuals.... but I did have chairs, bodies and God's love/mercy.

A simple thought came to my mind and we turned it into a wonderful CTR lesson and then family home evening for our 4 and 2 year old.

Song: I'm trying to Be Like Jesus (CS 78-79)
Attention Activity: Pull the girls away from a picture of Christ, on a chair. (Or a pillow would work!) Push them closer to Christ. Ask them what is happening?
Activity: Using the GAK pictures, choose 10 pictures and ask questions as to whether this choice brings us closer or farther away from Jesus. For example, GAK 114 is a picture of Daniel refusing the King's meat and wine. Does drinking alcohol push us to or pull us away from Christ? Ask the children to use their hands to show the action of pulling or pushing. Or have daddy push or pull the girls to also show whether the choice brings us closer or farther away from Jesus.
Scripture: D&C 66: 11 "Keep these sayings, for they are true and faithful; and thou shalt magnify thine office, and push many people to Zion with songs of everlasting joy upon their heads." Explain the word Zion and emphasize PUSH.
Bear Testimony

2009 February Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

GAK (Gospel Art Kit Picture) 119

FEBRUARY THEME
I came to earth as part of a family. “The family is ordained of God” (“Proclamation,” paragraph 7).

Week 1 Adam and Eve were the first family.

* Have a simple family tree to show the children. Explain that the trunk of the whole human family would be Adam and Eve, we are all branches from them. Make a large tree visual with lots of leaves. On the back of the leaves write questions, scriptures and songs for the children to come up and choose.

* Take a little vote. Ask the children to raise their hand if they have ever been sick, sad, ashamed, scared... Hold up an apple. How did a piece of fruit make it so that we would feel these things? Before they answer, ask the children if they have ever been healthy, happy, proud, brave.... Hold up the apple again. How did a piece of fruit make it so we could feel so many opposites? Have cut up apples to share with the children.... Food is only allowed in Primary when it has to do with the lesson, so be prayerful about this!

* From Mariam Joyce Grisham, “Garden of Eden,” Friend, Sept. 2006, 32–33
Finger puppet time!!! Make these great little puppets (scroll down a little on this link!!) and then have the children wiggle their fingers as you tell them the story of Adam and Eve.

* "Leaf" it to Adam and Eve! Divide the primary into groups and a teacher over each group. Give them large green paper leaves. Ask them to come up with as many ideas and facts that they know about Adam and Eve. They can also write down scriptures or songs that have to do with them. Then share what the children have come up with!

Week 2 Heavenly Father blesses righteous families in the scriptures.

* Wrap up nicely a piece of garbage or an empty cereal box with a half eaten banana inside. Someone did something nice for you, so this is what you are going to give in return. YUCK!!!
When we follow the commandments, what does Heavenly Father do?
Matt. 7: 11 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

Have one more present wrapped, a picture of Christ.
James 1: 17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above" Bear testimony that the greatest gift given to all families on earth was the life and atonement of Jesus Christ.

* Have a stuffed dog on a leash. Have a child come up and walk the dog. Take the leash off. What happens to the dog?
D&C 82: 10 "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."
Righteous families in the scriptures were led and blessed by the Lord because they did what He said.

*Proverbs 11:6 "The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness." Have 4 words written on the board: righteous, naughty, blessings, consequences. Talk about different scriptural families and fill in the blanks. For example Jacob's Family: Joseph and Jacob were very righteous, Joseph's 11 brothers were a little naughty when they threw him in the pit, Joseph was a ruler in Egypt, Joseph's 11 brothers felt guilty and sad. Make sure to find pictures of the families if you can.

* Have a mystery phrase/scripture for the kids to figure out by the end of the lesson. Write on the black board John 14: 15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (I would take out the words love and commandments and substitute big question marks) Did all the righteous scripture families love God? Did they keep His commandments? Then what do we need to do....

* Count Their Many Blessings - Have 3 or 4 different scripture families and a really large piece of butcher paper. See how many blessings you can come up with for all the families and if you can fill up the entire paper.

Week 3 The priesthood blesses my family.

* Invite some worthy priesthood holders into sharing time. Have the children ask them any questions they would like to about the priesthood. Ask the men to bear testimony about the priesthood and how it blesses their families or ward family.

* A few days before Sunday, call up a few children to share an experience of when priesthood has blessed their family. Have them bring in a picture if they can of the person who righteously held the priesthood.

* Bring in a cell phone and a ward phone list. Stress the italicized words.
Alma 13:8 "Now they were ordained after this manner—being called with a holy calling, and ordained with a holy ordinance, and taking upon them the high priesthood of the holy order, which calling, and ordinance, and high priesthood, is without beginning or end"
The priesthood is only a call away!!! There are many worthy priesthood holders who can come to your home and extend the blessings of heaven to you. Hold up the cell phone and ward phone list.

* Have a picture of a baby, or have a mother come in with her baby. How would we treat this baby? What makes this baby special? What are some words to describe this baby? There are things in this life that are precious beyond description. A baby is precious. Today we will talk about something that is just as precious and special.

"What is the priesthood? It is nothing more nor less than the power of God delegated to man by which man can act in the earth for the salvation of the human family..." Joseph F. Smith Gospel Doctrine, 139-140

* Have the 5th article of faith divided up into segments. Invite a child up to put the segments in order. The pianist can play the song The Fifth Article of Faith (Children's Songbook pg.125) and when it's over, their turn is over. Read what they put together. Do this a few times, sunbeams can guess too! Talk about the laying on of hands and why this is important to the priesthood. Glue a bunch of paper hands to popcicle sticks. Let the children come up and choose hands. On the back of the hands have questions, scriptures and songs pertaining to how the priesthood blesses our families and ward family.

Week 4 God’s creations bless us.

* Have a a bunch of blessing boxes. Put in the boxes pictures or mementos of Heavenly Father's creations. For example, one box can have a flower, a ziploc bag of sand, water bottle, bird feathers, piece of leather.... Divide the primary into groups and have them talk about the things in the boxes. Have they had a special experience at a beach? What do they feel when they look at a beautiful flower? Can the spirit be felt in water? Have them rotate boxes between groups and then share their ideas in closing.

* Nature art. Either gather things from nature they can make a collage out of or go outside and let them draw what they see or feel.

* Have 2 rows of chairs facing each other so the children can partner chat. Give each child a picture or memento of God's creation. Give them about 1 minute each to share what they like about it, how it's blessed their life or a special experience they've had with that thing. Have 1 row move down a seat. Have one row pass their picture to the left and the other row pass their picture to the right.

Conclude with "The whole object of the creation of this world is to exalt the intelligences that are placed upon it, that they may live, endure, and increase for ever and ever" Brigham Young Discourses of Brigham Young, 57
or "As they completed this magnificent creation, they looked it over and pronounced it 'good, very good'.... and that's the way the Lord organized it. This wasn't an experiment. he knew what he was doing." Spencer W. Kimball "The Blessings and Responsibilities of Womanhood", Ensign Mar. 1976, 71

Song Helps for How Firm A Foundation Hymns pg. 85

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by telstar logistics march 2008

What telstar has to say about this picture, " A Strong Foundation is not a Metaphor : This is a semi-regular thing to see in San Francisco... an old house getting a new foundation. Many old foundations were built with brick masonry, which is bad in earthquakes. Or, even worse, they were built with concrete that used sand from Ocean Beach. All the impurities in the beach sand eventually cause the foundation to crumble. (That's what happened at our house.)Anyway, this is how it's done: You don't actually raise the house... you just shore it in place, remove the old foundation, then rebuild.South Van Ness at 20th Street, San Francisco"

* Sister Webb recently commented and I loved the idea. It comes from Sister Tripp (They are part of a military branch from Seoul, South Korea). It is as follows, "Something interesting that our singing time lady did was she brought a cup of jello and turned it upside down on a plate so that the jello stayed in the shape of the cup. Then she tried to build a house on it using little building blocks. When that didn't work she took out something square and firm wrapped in brown paper, then built a house on it. Of course that worked. So she had one of the kids come up and unwrap the firm foundation and it was a hardback copy of the Book of Mormon." This would also make a great family home evening and I look forward to doing so! Thanks ladies for sharing!!

* Have a large box and wrap it neatly in brown paper. This is our foundation. Add black paper cracks all over. As the children learn the song, they can take away cracks.


* JENGA Time. If you have the wooden JENGA block game at home, bring it in. Ask a child to come up and take all the bottom blocks out. What happens? A foundation needs to be firm, solid and immovable. Just like Jesus!

* Bring in a little doll house. (I would use our fisher price little people doll house) Tape a picture of Christ to the home and say Christ is the foundation of this home. As they sing, watch for children who are making an effort to sing. Then invite them up to use a blow dryer to try to blow the house down.


Reference the scripture Helaman 5:12, "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."


* Have a pebble and rocks of different sizes. Again, reference Helaman 5:12 but stress "rock". As they learn the song, invite children up to choose a rock based on their singing. The best singing gets the biggest rock. Once the song is learned, give them each a rock to remember what a wonderful job they did learning the song. Also to remember, when we learn the hymns we strengthen our personal testimonies and build stronger foundations based on Christ.


* Hide 6 bricks throughout the room. As the children make an effort to sing and learn the words, invite them to find bricks and bring up to make a foundation.


* A great idea from the friend by Laurel Rohlfing:
“Sharing Time: Build upon My Rock,” Friend, Feb 1991, 44
"Demonstrate how a house on a rock remains standing. Make two simple houses out of lightweight cardboard. In a large dishpan, put one house on a pile of sand and securely tape the other house to a rock. Pour a “flood” of water into the pan and show that the water will wash away the sand but that the house on the rock will be safe."
Reference 3 Nephi 14:24-27 and stress Jesus as our rock and foundation.

January Week 4 Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

Week 4 The family is ordained of God and is central to His plan.

First, let's define ordained : to invest officially (as by the laying on of hands) with ministerial or priestly authority2 a: to establish or order by appointment, decree, or law : enact , from Late Latin ordinare, from Latin, to put in order, appoint, from ordin-, ordo order (Thank you merriam-webster.com)

See here for more direction on how to have a successful reader's theatre during sharing time.

Really... if you've never done this before, read the tips! If you don't have strong readers in your Junior Primary read the narrator parts and President Hinckley yourself. Nephi has a simple part and the words between Narrator 2 and Little brother are also easier to read. Have littler children come up as you need them to act out different parts.

A Family First Loved

By Sofia Lykes

Characters:
Narrator 1
Narrator 2
Narrator 3
Nephi
President Hinckley
Little Brother
Helpers to act things out as the narrators speak

Props:
Think Simple
GAK picture of Nephi and President Hinckley for children to hold
Scriptures

Narrator 1: There are many families in the scriptures. There are many families on earth today. There will be many families in the years to come.

Narrator 2: Why are families so important?

Narrator 3: How will families help me come closer to Christ?

Nephi: "I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents..." 1 Nephi 1:1

Narrator 1: Yeah, Nephi had great parents, even a great brother named Sam....

Narrator 2: But that Laman and Lemuel were T-R-O-U-B-L-E, trouble!!

Narrator 3: And don't forget Jacob and Joseph who were born in the wilderness!

Nephi: "I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell." 2 Nephi 33:6

Narrator 1: How could Nephi stay so happy and true to God, when he suffered so much because of his brothers?

Narrator 2: Yeah, didn't they beat him with a rod and refuse to help him build the ship that would take them to the promised land?

Narrator 3: You guys, don't you see! Families aren't always perfect, but we can learn from our experiences within the home how to be closer to Christ.

President Hinckley: "It is within families that truth is best learned, integrity is cultivated, self-discipline is instilled, and love is nurtured. It is at home that we learn the values and the standards to which we guide our lives. It is at home that we come to determine what we will stand for." (Standing for Something p.195)

Narrator 2: Wow. President Hinckley is so awesome.

Narrator 3: We have families here on earth, but our ward is also a family. Actually, the whole world is my family.

Narrator 1: You mean my teacher at school is my brother or my sister?

Narrator 2: Sure! After all, don't we only have one father who created our spirits?

Narrator 3: Heavenly Father! Psalms 82:6 says, "All of you are children of the most High."

President Hinckley: "Faith... is a fact of life. Faith can become the very wellspring of purposeful living...We are children of God, that God expects us to do something with our lives, and that He will give us help when help is sought." (Standing for Something p. 128)

Narrator 3: All families are different.

Narrator 2: Perhaps your family is far from perfect. When there are mistakes made, there is the chance of forgiveness and love.

Narrator 1: When Laman and Lemuel had tied up Nephi with chords, Nephi prayed and the bands were loosed. Laman and Lemuel were really mad and wanted to kill Nephi! But then they realized they were wrong and bowed down before Nephi, pleading for forgiveness.

Narrator 2: Boy, that sure makes me grateful for my little brother! He grabs my toys sometimes, but that is way better than wanting to take away my life!

Nephi: "And it came to pass that I did frankly forgive them all that they had done, and I did exhort them that they would pray unto the Lord their God for forgiveness." (1 Nephi 7:21)

Narrator 3: What does frankly mean?

Narrator 1: Frankly means being free and sincere... according to the dictionary.

Little Brother: Frankly, I'm sorry for grabbing your toys.

Narrator 2: I love you!! No worries!! I'm not perfect and make mistakes too, so I hope you'll forgive me.

Little Brother: I'm sure lucky to have you in my family.

Narrator 1: This is what it's all about. I bet you guys are making Nephi and President Hinckley really happy!

(Nephi and President Hinckley shake heads yes)

Narrator 3: And I bet our Father in Heaven is pleased also. After all the family is central to God's plan. (hold up proclamation) It has been since before we were born.

Narrator 2: "We love him, because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19

*And please forgive me, on weeks that I do reader's theatre I don't post other ideas.

**But... I did have one thought. You could tape a circle on the floor and have the word family inside. Then tape 2 larger circles around it. Have a bean bag and let children come up and try to toss on the central circle that says family. (Remember to define... "central" is center or of utmost importance!) If it lands on the family you can sing a song or read a scripture. If it lands within the other 2 circles they can answer questions on how to strengthen the family. The same can be done with a dart board... but please, be careful because blood is never fun. You could earn points for where the beanbag/dart is thrown, but I would never make it into a competition. I would always see how many points they can earn together as a primary! Encourage unity!

2009 LDS Primary Themed Activity Day Ideas

Image courtest creative commons license flickr.com by the justified sinner 8/2008

Our Primary colors are one, two, three-

Red, yellow, and blue.

Each one has a message for you and me.

Each is a symbol true!

Red is for courage to do what is right,

Yellow for service from morning till night.

Blue is for truth in our thought and our deed.

We will be happy when this is our creed.

Our Primary Colors Children's Songbook pg. 258

The following are basic ideas for Primary Activity Days based on the monthly outline themes.

Not to be confused with Activity Day Girls- this is for everyone! If you have any questions about a specific idea and need a little more, feel free to email me.

February - I came to earth as part of a family.

* Families all over the world luncheon. Have about 7 different (more or less on depending on how many are in your primary of course) stations, each focusing on a different area of the world featuring that cuisine. Some sit at tables, some sit on the floor. Some families use forks, others chopsticks. We came to earth to be part of a family and the earth is filled with many different families. This activity takes the time to focus on unity of families throughout the world... and the importance of eating together!

* Our Getting to Know You Ward Family Ice Cream Social. Not everyone has a happy home and family to live with. But we do have another family who would do anything to help us, the ward family! Have representatives from the Bishopric, Relief Society, Young Mens, Young Womens (and primary!), High Priests, Elders Quorum... etc. Am I forgetting anyone?? come! Let them share some of their responsibilities and things they do to help primary children. Have anyone come actually. I love it when the elderly get to interact with the children. Make sure all the adults answer one important question- why do you love our ward family?

March- Family Members have important responsibilities.

* Family Job Fair. Have booths set up for fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, pets, aunts.... you get the point? Everyone that's part of a family!!! Have fliers for all the booths with informed adult (or young women/young men) attendants who can answer questions and give a little presentation on what they do as that member of the family. You could have clipboards (I'm thinking cardboard with a clothespin glue-gunned on) for the children as they walk around to take notes and add their fliers to.

* Family Responsibility Olympics. Separate into groups. Have games based on family responsibilities and healthy snacks. Such games could include daddy's lawnmower and weeding race- run up and down the grass area wheel barrow style then dig through a trash bag of shredded yellow paper for tiny paper flowers. Or Mommy's dish washing triumph- set up a bunch of water tubs, see how many dishes can be washed and dried. Etc. Try to make it not so much a competition, but hand out medals to everyone for cooperation and working together.

April- Jesus Christ made it possible for me to live with my Heavenly Father again.

* I am the Resurrection and the Life. Have different role play stations where children can dress up and act out scenes from the life of Christ. Corresponding songs can be sung at stations also! You could video tape the children at different stations and come together to watch their marvelous acting skills and enjoy popcorn after. BUT PLEASE!! I AM NOT SURE IF THERE IS CHURCH POLICY SAYING WE CAN'T VIDEO TAPE CHILDREN!!! SO CHECK ON THAT!!!

* The Real Meaning of Easter. Click here for an activity we did last year based on Christ.

May- Baptism and confirmation are ordinances that bless my family.

* Water Activity Day. Based on good weather, have slip and slides, sprinklers, etc. Discuss the importance of water and it's significance pertaining to baptism. I know. It's a stretch.

* Baptism Books. Have the children put together books to help them remember their baptism day.

June- Faith, prayer, repentance and forgiveness strengthen me and my family.

* Physical Fitness Activities. Divide rooms into fitness stations. One room could include Repentacize- step aerobics. Another room Reach for Forgiveness- chin ups, small weights, arm exercises. Constant Prayer Room... jump roping for 10 minutes. See the correlation between these things strengthening us and also the physical activities strengthening us. Invite families to come too! Make sweat headbands for everyone. Have a room on nutrition and what we put into our bodies, include the idea of nourishing the soul through faith, prayer, etc.

July- I will strengthen my family.

* Dr. Feel TV Show. And no, I don't watch Dr.Phil, but from what I hear he's OK. Set up with cardboard cameras, lighting, a stage... etc. Have the children participate as Dr. Feel and guests on the show. Have the host ask questions on strengthening the family. Perhaps the guests could include scripture families. Feel free to open up questions from the audience. Have commercial breaks and children come up to do so... picture a little girl sad, then a brother comes up and gives her a band aid- they hold up a box of band aids, smile and say Love band aids heal our family!

August- Temple blessings unite families.

* Temple trip time!!!

* Family History Workshop. Do family tree crafts, journal entries, invite the ward family history specialist, etc.

September - Prophets teach me how to strengthen my family.

* General Conference Mania. Have a variety of TV game show games based off the teachings of the prophets. E.G. Jeopardy - categories: name that apostle, families are for..., love is spoken here, Tabernacle Trivia. Another game could be prophet pyramid. Or Family Feud Not So Feuding.

* Latter Day Prophets are Number One! Have people from the ward come dressed up as Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Pres. Hinckley... etc. Have them share, as the prophet, quotes on importance of family and stories of their own lives and families.

October- "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" teaches me about families.

* A Family Carnival. We know from the proclamation that a family is CENTRAL to Heavenly Father's plan. Have carnival style games where the family is the center of the game. Like darts- family is the bulls eye, pin happiness on the family, family picture booth, find the forever family in the haystack, bobbing for apples- if it weren't for the partaking of forbidden fruit we wouldn't have families!! Etc.

November- My family and I can serve others.

* Go out and serve!!! Invite families to participate in a service activity!!

* Veteran's Day is November 11. What a wonderful opportunity to invite some of your local veterans to a lunch and primary program of sorts. The children could serve the food to them, sing, dance, do a skit....

December- My family is blessed when we remember Jesus Christ.

* Make family home evening kits based off the devotionals from here.

If you teach Primary, you might want to invest in this...

This is an institute of religion manual that you can buy or read online here. This is one of the most helpful and wonderful books ever written!!! Yes!!! Three exclamation marks my friends!!!

!!!
Doctrines of the Gospel Religion 430 and 431 published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Salt Lake City, Utah.
!!!

I am teaching the second week, this upcoming beautiful Sunday, and will highly quote and base questions off of the teachings found in chapter 6 of this diamond here!!!

Sticks and Stones

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by Chad Fust March 2007

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

Another dear sister (Laura) of mine has raised an important question:
"Do you have any suggestions on what to do when children are completely disrespectful or mean to other children? As a presidency we want to maintain a positive environment as we address this issue but feel that it needs to be addressed as there has been problems both in and outside primary. We have about 120 children between junior and senior primary."

I am going to outline pages 84-87 of Teaching No Greater Call in response. Every single word was written from the source quoted.

"As President Hinckley observed, little problems will inevitably occur. Whether you are teaching in the home or at church, your lessons may at times be disrupted by the behavior of those you teach. In your efforts to help those who become disruptive, remember that you should not simply try to correct inappropriate behavior or make sure everyone is quiet; you should help learners become better disciples of the Savior. The following information will help you handle disruptions in a Christlike way.

1. Remember the worth of souls.
2. Seek to understand those you teach.
*consider all possible reasons for their behavior
3. Evaluate your own efforts.
* When those you teach behave disruptively, it is easy to focus on their conduct and fail to review your own.
* In your efforts to solve problems with disruptions, first consider whether the real source of the problem is something you are doing.
4. Evaluate your motives.
* Only those who are motivated by love will have a positive, powerful influence on those they teach. Pray to be filled with Christlike love toward every person you teach, especially those who sometimes behave inappropriately.
5. Help all class members contribute to a learning atmosphere.
* In a learning atmosphere, we (1) edify each other through our participation, (2) love and help each other, and (3) desire to search for truth together. Quote page 77.
*Elder Henry B. Eyering relates to the love we should feel when we meet to learn the gospel: " Our Heavenly Father wants our hearts to be knit together. That union in love is not simply an ideal, It is a necessity." Quote page 77.
* To teach family members or class members to contribute to a learning atmosphere, consider conducting a discussion using the following suggestions:

- Express your feelings about the gospel, and explain that you want to help others learn gospel truths.

-Discuss the responsibility we have to help one another learn the gospel.

- Talk about the importance of participating in lessons.

- Ask those present to suggest things they can do to help create a learning atmosphere. Quote page 78.

6. Respond in simple ways to occasional disturbances.

7. Make special efforts to help those who persistently cause disruptions.

*If someone is seriously disrupting the learning of others, you should neither ignore the problem nor act in an unkind way.

* D&C 121:41-44 In applying this counsel, it is helpful to understand the words betimes and sharpness. Betimes means promptly or in good time. In this passage, sharpness refers to the need to give clear, well-defined instructions.

*You should be gentle and meek when giving correction. note that reproving should be done only "when moved upon by the Holy Ghost" and should be followed by an increase of love.

* The following suggestions may help you if someone you teach becomes persistently disruptive.

- Speak privately with the person. You should do so tactfully and with love.

Describe the conduct that is disruptive while at the

same time making clear that you love and respect the person.

Ask for the person's support, and try to find solutions together.

Then do all you can to show increased love.

- Seek help from others. Your leaders want to help you with your teaching challenges. You can benefit from their ideas and assistance.

For example, they might ask someone to help with certain activities or sit

next to a child who is misbehaving.

If a child or youth has a pattern of disruptive behavior, seek the help of his or her parents.

If the person causing the disruptions has special needs, learn

what you can do to help him or her learn more effectively and behave more

appropriately.

-Be patient. Remember change takes time. Be consistently positive in your approach to the person. Do not be discouraged in he or she has a negative attitude in class."

Being mean and using unkind words is disruptive. Very much so and should not EVER be tolerated in your safe and loving primary environment. I feel strongly prompted not to share anything else except for what I have outlined from Teaching No Greater Call. Each primary is different and Heavenly Father will help you to know what to do for His little ones in your care.

On that same, but completely different note, I wish to just state why I do not do full outlines of sharing times. I did when I first started this blog, but now I don't. I feel strongly prompted that I shouldn't have detailed lesson plans on this site. When Elder Packer gave the challenge to use blogs in a Christlike manner to share the gospel, I prayed and prayed. I decided I'd do my very best to help little ones come closer to Christ. It's my only desire. I have a harder time having a pure love for adults and freely admit my grievous fault. But with children, there has never been a single one that I haven't adored. Primary fills my heart and soul.