November 2009 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

The young man in the white shirt made my baby a blanket- blue with yellow ducks on it. He spent a lot of time making it. It was crafted with hard work and love. I, as a mother, was beyond grateful to be able to bury my child's body wrapped in the warmth of the Christ-like service of that young man. It wasn't just a blanket... it was safety, it was everything good in this world wrapped around my sweetheart Joe. This young man exemplified walking after the Messiah in true service. You never know how much the things you do will mean to another. And then, as if that wasn't enough, he came with the entire young men's and young women's to clean our backyard even though we weren't in that ward anymore. I would be remiss if I didn't take the opportunity to again thank all my brothers and sisters who have taken the time to serve my family by offering good deeds, words of sincerity, prayers and fasting. I pray every night that God will bless you for the loving kindness you've offered me in my hour of need.

Monthly Theme: My family and I can serve others.

Monthly Scripture: "By love serve one another" Galatians 5:13

Week 1 I am thankful for my family. I will serve them.

* The ward is our family too! Go to the Young Women or Young Men (or whatever auxillary you choose) and as a primary serenade them with beautiful songs. Singing and uplifting the soul is service. Designate one child to ask the young women if there is anything the primary can do to help serve them. If not, then tell them you love them and be on your way to spread more good cheer! Is that someone sitting on the couch in the hallway? Sing on Primary friends! When you get back, ask the children to describe how they felt singing and serving others.

*Teach the children "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel" (Hymns 252). Verse 2 says, "The Church has need of helping hands, And hearts that know and feel. The work to do is here for you;
Put your shoulder to the wheel." Have a string stretching tight across the primary room. Have 10 clothes pins attached to it with pictures of different wheels. Have questions, scriptures and songs pertaining to service on the backs. Let the children come up and pick the wheels.

If possible demonstrate the difference of something on wheels verses something without. For example a toy car with wheels will roll farther than a toy car that is missing wheels. Service is like a wheel because it makes the world go round! Service makes living easier and happier for people and just like the car with no wheels, without service you won't get anywhere in life!

* "We all enjoy giving and receiving presents. But there is a difference between presents and gifts. The true gifts may be part of ourselves--giving of the riches of the heart and mind--and therefore more enduring and of far greater worth than presents bought at the store." (President James E. Faust, "A Christmas with No Presents," Ensign, Dec.2001, 4) Bring in the wrapping paper, after Christmas clearance bows, tape and scissors. Have children write down some things they can do for their family to serve them. Put the ideas down in an envelope and LET THE CHILDREN wrap the envelope... be sure to have plenty of tape.

* Project WAVE. If you have a smaller primary take a walk outside and every person you see smile and WAVE to! (Set your expectations clearly before you leave- walking slowly, soft voices... etc) Mahtma Gandi said, "You must BE the change you wish to see in the world." (A personal all time favorite quote) Really the whole world is our family, we are all brothers and sisters. What are the small and simple things we can do to make a difference and serve them? Challenge the children when they are in the car running errands with mom or whoever... to try to smile and wave to other people driving! Thich Nhat Hanh once said, "Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile and sometimes your smile is the source of your joy."

Week 2 My family will serve others.

* Bring in a small lunch size milk carton, frosting, graham crackers, small candies to decorate... etc. Have little strips of paper with questions, scriptures and songs on service. As the children choose and do the things on the paper invite them to help build a home! Service makes life a little sweeter and my family will serve others!! Joshua 24:15 "Choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

* You be the Judge! Have a black sheet and little gavel for a primary child to dress up as a judge. Give different scenarios for the child to judge if that family (scripture or church history) did a good job serving. For example Nephi had to build a boat... what did his brothers do? Was that a good example of service? Why or Why not? Another example could include the people in the city of Enoch were so righteous they were taken to heaven. How were they a family and what do you think they did to serve each other? You'll need to prepare plenty of questions for the judge and the judge of course can get as much help as he needs from the jury (his primary friends!).

3 Nephi 27:13-15 "I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given you- that I came into the world to do the will of my Gather, because my Father sent me. And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be JUDGED OF THEIR WORKS, whether they be food or whether they be evil- And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be JUDGED ACCORDING TO THEIR WORKS." Judged of what? Our works! So my family WILL serve others!!

* You are loved! Help the children color and cut out a bunch of hearts and write the words, "You are loved" on them. Have them put into envelopes to give out to random people WITH their family throughout the next week.

* Elder Russel M. Nelson said, "Joy is a journey, not a destination...Today while we are able, we may turn our hearts to parents and predecessors and bless them with our love- AND LABOR."
(The Gateway We Call Death,1995, pg. 106)

Temple work is extremely important and while we as primary children aren't old enough to go inside we can help our parents or older siblings to prepare to attend. We serve our family and our family will serve others! Make little booklets for the children to draw spiritual pictures on. Type out some scriptures for them to cut and paste (or for the senior primary, encourage them to look up and copy scriptures that are meaningful to them) These booklets are for their family members to take to the temple and look at before they enter to help them feel the spirit

Week 3 I can be a good example for my family.

* "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (from Matthew 5:14-16) I was somewhere (of course I can't remember where) but I saw little tea light candles that were flameless. You could turn these little candles on and then hide them throughout the room with questions, songs or scriptures attatched about being good examples. Turn off the lights and let a child go find a candle.

* "Be thou an example of the believers" (1 Tim. 4:12) Have a piece of paper for the children to make poems (this fills a Faith in God requirement) Have them write the letters BELIEVER and incorporate the letters into phrases of HOW or WHY we should be good examples to our family. For example

Baking cookies for my father
Reading scripturEs every night
A good example Loves others
In Every day of their life
Obedience and Virtue
I will always try to show
To my family I love dearly
EteRnally we will grow.
(Sofia Lykes October 2009 Feel free to use this example ONLY after you've tried writing your own poem! :) Who knows, maybe you're the next Frost!! )

* Who are some great super heroes and what makes them great? I've always thought Superman was pretty fly for a guy wearing blue spandex and red underwear over it. I mean really, I wish my thighs looked that good. Super Heroes do good, setting an example for all to follow. Some Super Heroes are fake, but there are some that are very very real! Bring in a "Good Example" cape and gloves for children to wear during a role play situation. Make up different family situations where you can help "save the day" by being a good example. For example, you are at the store with your mother and little brother. You are bored and really want some gum but mother is saying no. What do you do good example you! (Have them pretend like they are pushing a shopping cart and invite another child to play the silent mother who will listen to what the good example has to say)

The greatest Hero of all times and the greatest example of all times is Jesus Christ. Invite a special guest to come to primary and sing "Never a Better Hero" (by Kenneth Cope)

* Make 3 dioramas out of shoe boxes. (Teaching No Greater Call pg. 165) Choose 3 stories from the life of Christ where He showed us His divine example. For example, you could depict the story of when Satan tempted Him after fasting for 40 days. However, leave little things out of the diorama for the children to find and put in and complete the story.

Unless you have a primary with 5 children, you can't bring in shoe boxes for every child to make dioramas of how they can be good examples to their family. However, the primary can make 3-d pop up scenes. Here is a link on how to make the pop-up paper, then just let them create an artwork of how they could be a good example to their family! Just as Jesus is an example to us, we can be examples to our family!

Week 4 I will prepare now to become a mother or father.

* Invite 3 mothers and fathers in from the ward. Divide up into groups and have the children be news reporters! They will interview those people on how and what it takes to be a good mother or father. Have paper microphones (toilet paper roll with a scrunched up paper balled taped on top) for each group to conduct the interview. Have them report their findings with the primary on what they learned. Then switch the tables, have the guest mothers and fathers ask the children on how they will prepare to become great mothers and fathers!

* Make a fake time capsule box. On the box have the quote by President Monson, "Parents, live your lives in such a way that your children will find you an example worthy of emulation."
( Constant Truths for Changing Times, Liahona, May 2005, 21) Talk about the quote and what it means. I'd be sure to bring up the point not everyone has the greatest parents "worthy of emulation", but YOU CAN BE!!! That's what really matters! What are things the children would put in the time capsule to help them be great parents in the future? Have a large pile of stuff for them to choose from.

With time capsules, you seal it up and bury it, then open in the future. But we're not going to do that today, we'll use the things we put in the capsule NOW to help us prepare to be great mothers and fathers!

* Prepare means to "plan in advance" according to Merriam-Websters Dictionary. Make a giant road map on the blackboard together as a primary. Start with a primary child stick figure at the beginning and have a "great" mother/father stick figure at the end. Have the children come up and draw simple things along the path they need to do to become that in the end.

Alma 7:19 "For I perceive that ye are in the paths of righteousness; I perceive that ye are in the path which leads to the kingdom of God; yea, I perceive that ye are making his paths straight."

* Have a bowl with all of the children's names folded on pieces of small paper. Tell them in the bowl are some of the names of the greatest mothers and fathers that will ever be!! Sing The Dearest Names (Children's Songbook pg. 208) Invite the children to come to the bowl and draw a name. Then have those 2 children play Name that mother! Name that Father! For example: What were the names of Nephi's parents? What can you learn from Lehi/Sariah to help you prepare to be a mother/father? And of course, have plenty of GAK pictures. I also think it would be appropriate to have the children name other primary friends who'd be good parents and why. Let's build each other up!!

Just as a side note, don't be afraid to ask children hard questions. For example, some parents can't have children... how can they be good mothers/fathers? Some people don't end up married, is that OK? Let them answer and think about these things.

Nursery 101 - How to Play With a Child

Image courtesy the Smithsonian American Art Museum Child Playing by Frances Foy 1964 Oil on Fiberboard Chicago, IL

Children can seem overwhelming to adults, which is funny because well... we used to be children. We need to get back to our roots. Back to the fun. Back to really living life and Nursery is just the place!

2 year olds are NOT alien life forms from Mars. Unless they are dripping green snot. Then you can promptly remind mom or dad of planet reality where Swine Flu is an epidemic. See ya'll next week and God bless Texas. 2 year olds can not be expected to play nicely by themselves for 2 hours while adults just sit around, chat and ignore them. Adults need to learn how to play with children. It's not too hard. It might feel unnatural at first, but practice makes perfect!! And your Sunday (and life) will be awesome if you choose to fully commit yourself to your calling.

How to Play with a Child

1. Sit on the ground not on chairs. I know some people have back problems, if this is the case fully ignore me and do yo' thang. Sitting on the ground makes it easier for them to climb/pounce on you. You will be at their level and they'll be more comfortable.

2. Ask silly questions. Are you wearing yellow socks? Let's see. Oh wow, they're black. If I had a real live horse, I'd get really big yellow socks and put it on him. If you had a horse what color socks would you give him? Have you ever had purple hair? I wonder if ducks ever wish their feathers were purple... what do you think?

3. Toy cars make great babies. You can put cars down for nap or burp them. You can sing to the cars if they happen to start crying or rock them until they calm down. Cars don't have to be cars. Cars can talk and dance and pretend they are elephants. Pretty cool, huh?

4. Books are fantastic. I repeat - books are fantastic. You don't have to read books word for word. You don't even really have to tell the same story, just look at the pictures and make it up as you go along. There is a catch to books though... if you read like a zombie no one will pay attention. Be peppy.

5. Burst into song. Yes. This is Ok. It is Ok to sing other than when the music leader comes in. If you can't sing on pitch, that's OK too. You can make up fake songs. The children won't judge you. And who cares what the adults think! You are the next American Idol, so sing it girl. My favorite is if a toy gets an ouchie singing Jacko's Heal the World. Rest in peace dear King of Pop.

6. Nothing is something. Air is magical. It can be transformed into a vacuum or a set of drums. It's crazy but true! Is someone shouting "MINE!!", flip through your air magazine and say "Can you keep it down... I'm reading a magazine that says children who use the word "mine" too much end up on the FOX TV show Cops. (Referring to tip 5... Whatcha gonna do when they come for you!!! You chuck it down yo' mother, you chuck it down yo' father... etc.)"

7. Match, sort, group different toys. The cars are getting in a line to go to Disneyland and the dolls are going to get in a circle to play ring around the rosies. All the toys with green need to get behind Juanito because he's wearing a green tie! Juanito's the leader, let's do the bunny hop little green toys!!

8. Mitchell the Rainbow fish has awesome manners. Sometimes Mitchell farts glitter but he ALWAYS says excuse me. Can you say excuse me little nursery child? Oh, it's snack time? Mitchell the Rainbow fish always says please and thank you... can you use your best manners too? Why are we arguing over this stuffed shark... Mitchell the Rainbow fish never argues and always tries to make others happy. There are lots of stories about good ol' Mitch that only take about 30 seconds to tell and it's amazing how the children will listen. He's just glitterific.

9. Praise the art! Praise the play! Praise the child! Praise the Lord! NOTICE. PAY ATTENTION. Look for every opportunity you can to tell the children how wonderful they are. It's their job to play and your job to notice how wonderful they are doing and SAY SO. Give high fives or one of my personal favorites (using a fist... gently) pound it!

10. Bring on the doctrine. Make at least 5 attempts to bring in Christ centered doctrine while you play. Playing puppets who are going to get baptized when they are 8. Trains that encounter a mountain and say I think I can!! Endure to the end... Persevere little trains!! Little people who are having Family Home Evening. How should dolly pray? Little bear, it's time to read scriptures and then go to the temple. Hi, meet Moses the mouse... he was named after the great prophet who parted the red sea. You can do it! The Lord will help you!!

If this seems overwhelming, just breathe. Breath again. Life is good. Choose one or two things to work on each week and you'll be pleasantly surprised how much fun this calling can be! Remember, children need fun but they also need structure. Once you've learned how to play, you'll need to work on setting up some sort of routine to follow. Check the manual and pray!! God will help.

Isaiah 55:8-9 The Miracle of Life

My little man, Joe, 7/15/09- 9/11/09

Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts"

I loved seminary. It was early though and I was a spastic teenager so I don't remember much of what I learned. It was only after I had my first daughter Christina that I decided to start learning my scriptures better. The above scripture was on our wall for the past month and we practiced it almost every night. That's not a coincidence.

I have always known my Heavenly Father. My testimony has not changed and is not stronger or weaker. My faith is the same. I have always known that Jesus Christ lives and that my family will be eternal. But now I do know 2 very important things.

1. God comforts his children

and 2. The importance of the gathering of Israel.

You have no idea what you have done. Thank-you is feeble. Thank-you is meager. The gratitude and love I feel in my heart can not possibly be expressed. I wish I could fly out and visit every single person who prayed, wrote, fasted for and thought about us - and bring some Costco chocolate cake and chill on your patio watching the sunset together. Then I would hug you and kiss you and get up in your personal space, holding your face and tell you I love you. I love you so very much. Every single word written by you has given me peace. I pray nightly that you will be blessed for the love you have shown us in our hour of need. It is truly overwhelming.

I have tasted of loss now. It is truly hard. It is unbearable. That's where Christ has come in. He has saved my soul. I have just the tiniest glimpse of the sorrow Heavenly Father feels when His children are lost. We need to help gather them. We need to ease our Father's sadness by living our lives in accordance to His will and doing our best to lift others, bringing them back to His fold.
Death is not the end. You know this. I know this.

We are broken, but we will be healed.

So let's just rock on 'til the resurrection.

Again. Thank-you. Thank-you so much for everything.

Please Pray for me My Brothers and Sisters

Hello my dearest dearest brothers and sisters. I know this is selfish but I utterly and desperately need your prayers for me and my family. My 2 month old child, my firstborn son, died yesterday. He is with Christ. I know this. But I need you to tell me you love me. That we can be one with Christ. Please mourn with me.

October 2009 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

Week 1 "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" is a modern day revelation.

* Have a small megaphone (you can make a simple one out of paper). Ask a child to come up and say "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" is a modern day revelation." in the megaphone. Did everyone hear? Now ask someone to go in the hall by the drinking fountain. Ask the child again to say "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" is a modern day revelation." Did that child hear that was out by the drinking fountain? Could a person in Egypt hear what they said? What about my Yaya in Greece? There are many different ways to talk to each other, but the only perfect way of communication is the form our Father in Heaven uses.... REVELATION. He can talk to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

* Ask for a volunteer. Have about 20 blocks in front and a Family Proclamation. Tell the child, "Ok. Go ahead. Just go and do." The child will be confused. Repeat yourself, "Just go ahead and do it." When the child starts building something, say, "No. No. That's not it. Try again." Ask them if they know what they are supposed to do? Of course NOT! You haven't told them! In the Bible Dictionary it says, "Without revelation, all would be guesswork, darkness, and confusion." Then ask them to build a frame out of the blocks to put the Proclamation in.

* Write Old VS. Modern Revelation on the Family. Have 2 children come up at a time and a red paper circle for them to tap. Give a clue and have the children guess which category (old or modern) the revelation on the family comes under. Some clues could include:
- picture of Nephi and the words, "Having been born of goodly parents." (or for older children to be able to answer the category they first must say what scripture this refers to)
- picture of Gordon B. Hinkley and the words "We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children."
- this family loved each other and traveled over the sea in very small boats lighted by stones
- "Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness"
- “Children are an heritage of the Lord" Psalm 127:3 (This one is a trick one! It's BOTH ancient and modern revelation!!)

For younger children, time can be a hard concept. This topic can help to clarify the difference between old and now. Make sure to use the scriptures so they can physically see the scriptures mean OLD and display a picture of the apostles so they can visualize NOW/modern.

* Choose 10 items to represent 10 parts/quotes of the Family Proclamation. Put them under 10 different blankets. What was once hidden can be revealed! Have them choose a blanket and then try to guess what part of the Proclamation it represents. Have the quotes displayed for them to choose from. (Since not all younger children can read, read to them 2 quotes and have them choose the right quote from the one you read.) For example have a picture frame of your family, "The family is ordained of God." or a wedding veil "Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan."

********************** I wanted to include this quote (I know it's a little long, but well worth the read) from President Hinckley( “We Look to Christ,” Liahona, Jul 2002, 101–2) to inspire and uplift you. It is a beautiful quote and it ends with the importance of modern day revelation. ****** *********************************

" Like the polar star in the heavens, regardless of what the future holds, there stands the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God, certain and sure as the anchor of our immortal lives. He is the rock of our salvation, our strength, our comfort, the very focus of our faith.
In sunshine and in shadow we look to Him, and He is there to assure and smile upon us.

He is the central focus of our worship. He is the Son of the living God, the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten in the flesh, who left the royal courts on high to be born as a mortal in the most humble of circumstances. Of the loneliness of His living He said, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” (Matt. 8:20). He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38).
He was a man of miracles. He reached out to those in distress. He healed the sick and raised the dead. Yet for all of the love He brought into the world, He was “despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: … he was despised,” and was esteemed not (Isa. 53:3).
We look upon His matchless life and say with the prophet Isaiah:
He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. …
“… He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:4–5).
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.

With some small understanding of that incomparable gift, that marvelous gift of redemption, we bow in reverent love before Him.
As a Church we have critics, many of them. They say we do not believe in the traditional Christ of Christianity. There is some substance to what they say. Our faith, our knowledge is not based on ancient tradition, the creeds which came of a finite understanding and out of the almost infinite discussions of men trying to arrive at a definition of the risen Christ. Our faith, our knowledge comes of the witness of a prophet in this dispensation who saw before him the great God of the universe and His Beloved Son, the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. They spoke to him. He spoke with Them. He testified openly, unequivocally, and unabashedly of that great vision. It was a vision of the Almighty and of the Redeemer of the world, glorious beyond our understanding but certain and unequivocating in the knowledge which it brought. It is out of that knowledge, rooted deep in the soil of modern revelation, that we, in the words of Nephi, “talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that [we and] our children may know to what source [we] may look for a remission of [our] sins” (2 Ne. 25:26)."

Week 2 "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" teaches me the importance of marriage.

* Bring in some peanut butter and jelly and bread. (PLEASE BE AWARE OF ANY ALLERGIES!) Some things in life just go together really well. Perfect together! Just like daddies and mommies! "We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God" ("The Family: A Proclamation to the World")

Another great quote to include, "One individual is complementary to the other. As Paul stated, ‘Neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord’ (1 Corinthians 11:11). Man and woman are His creations. Their duality is His design. Their complementary relationships and functions are fundamental to His purposes. One is incomplete without the other.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Women in Our Lives,” Ensign, Nov. 2004,84)

* Bring in a puzzle. To complete the puzzle you have to match the pieces up. If 2 pieces don't match, then you can't complete the puzzle. Those pieces just don't fit together. Marriage is between a man and a woman, that is how God planned it. "The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife." ("The Family: A Proclamation to the World") If it hadn't been that way, you or I probably wouldn't be here today!

* "Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan."("The Family: A Proclamation to the World") Put 4 chairs in the front of the room. Ask 4 children to come up and join you in your "car". Ask them what you need to do to drive to church. After you buckle, adjust your mirrors... what comes next? How do you turn on the car? Can you do it without a key? No!! It's essential to have that key!! Just like marriage is essential to Heavenly Father's plan!!

* Have 3 couples come in. Couples who can share pictures from their temple weddings and talk about what they do to have happy marriages. Ask them if they have a copy of the proclamation hanging in their home?

* An idea from Sheila Wilson ("Sharing Time: My Family,” Friend, Feb 2004, 20):

"Briefly tell the children about Heavenly Father’s plan for us. Heavenly Father blessed us with families to help us return to live with Him. Give the children a copy of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” Tell the children that it contains the Lord’s teachings regarding the family. By following these teachings, we can strengthen and unify our families now and prepare to live as eternal families. As you read the first paragraph of the proclamation, have the children listen for what is at the center of His plan for His children (“The family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children”). Read together the first two lines of paragraph 7 (“The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan”). Help the children understand that “ordained of God” means Heavenly Father designed marriage and family not just as an earthly union, but one that will endure forever. Write the words from these sentences on pieces of paper, and cut out each word. On one side of the board, rearrange the words from paragraph 1. On the other side, rearrange the words from paragraph 7. Divide the children into two groups. Choose children to arrange the words in their correct order as their group repeats the sentences out loud. Scramble the words again, and see if they can do it without the groups repeating it. Encourage the children to keep their copies of the proclamation in their scriptures to use throughout the year. Suggest that they read the proclamation with their families in family home evening."

Week 3 "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" teaches my family how to be happy.

* Sing "A Happy Family" (CS pg.198a). What makes a happy family? LOVE!! An activity to follow is the ABC's of Love. Write A through Z on the blackboard and then have the children come up with ways/ideas to show love to your family starting with that letter of the alphabet. Check the proclamation too to see what fits where! (For example: Provide for family for P. Zip up little sister's coat for Z. Wash the dog for W! Don't forget pets are part of the family too!)

* "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ." ("The Family: A Proclamation to the World") Make the hymn "Love at Home" (pg. 294) into a book (Take a plain piece of paper, type the first line of the song on the bottom, etc. Have a picture of Christ for the last page for them to glue in on "Oh there's one who smiles on high, when there's love at home") where children can draw pictures to illustrate the words. For older children, they can write down times or examples from their own life that remind them of the words. (For example, "there is joy in every sound, when there's love at home... reminds me of rocking my children in the middle of the night. Their cries humbled me and even though I was tired, I never felt anything other than the privilege of being their mother and rocking them) Encourage the children to save their thoughts and put the book in their journals.

* D&C 6:32-37 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there will I be in the midst of them—even so am I in the midst of you. Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail. Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen."

The proclamation states, "Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work and wholesome recreational activities." Divide into groups and give them one of these principles to act out. They are acting as a family and can choose whatever situation they like to demonstrate their principle. When we do these good things, Christ is in our midst... what greater happiness can we have than that?

* Moroni 9: 6 "And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God."

Divide into groups or pairs and fill out job applications! (Little children can draw a picture of the family member while older children write down thoughts)

Job Description: Be a productive member of a happy family! Conquer the enemy of all righteousness through happy homes!
Job Title: Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, Aunt... etc. (Have one member of family written for each group or pair of children)
Job requirements: What does this person need to do to help the family be happy?
Job pay: (What blessings will the person receive?)
According to the Family Proclamation: (Have the children write anything they can find in the proclamation that applies to this family member)

* "The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave." ("The Family: A Proclamation to the World") Draw a road on the board with lane markers. Have a car with a family inside. After about 10 lane markers have a sign that says end of the road (have a little grave marker), but have the road continue to the celestial kingdom. Have the children answer questions, sing songs or read scriptures having to do with eternal life and families to move the car one lane marker at a time to the goal. Death is not the end! Have a picture of the resurrected Savior displayed.

Week 4 "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" teaches my family the importance of work.

* Lazy Lawanda: Have a drawing of a child (Lazy Lawanda) on posterboard. Have removable pictures of items like a TV remote control, a bag of popcorn, headphones, slippers... etc. Then have some pictures of more "work" friendly items like a mop, plate of cookies (service by baking), gardening hat...etc. Have them questions, read scriptures and songs about work attached to these. Let the children choose the work picture they like, do what it says on back and switch it out for one of the lazy items. Remind them things are fine in moderation but what will really count in the end? The 2 hours we spent watching a movie or the 5 minutes we spent helping/serving by sweeping?

* Service Crowns: King Mosiah says in Mosiah 2:14, 16-19

" And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne—and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day. Behold, I say unto you that because I said unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have only been in the service of God. And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God. Behold, ye have called me your king; and if I, whom ye call your king, do labor to serve you, then ought not ye to labor to serve one another? And behold also, if I, whom ye call your king, who has spent his days in your service, and yet has been in the service of God, do merit any thanks from you, O how you ought to thank your heavenly King!

Divide into groups or pairs (teachers will need to help and possibly write for the younger children!). Make a list of 50 things you can do to "labor and serve" your fellow beings! It can be things to do for your family or for the world- after all, we are all brothers and sisters! Turn in your list to get crowns to decorate. End with the following:

"When all is said and done, when all of history is examined, when the deepest depths of the human mind have been explored, nothing is so wonderful, so majestic, so tremendous as this act of grace when the Son of the Almighty, the Prince of His Father’s royal household, He who had once spoken as Jehovah, He who had condescended to come to earth as a babe born in Bethlehem, gave His life in ignominy and pain so that all of the sons and daughters of God of all generations of time, every one of whom must die, might walk again and live eternally. He did for us what none of us could do for ourselves. " (President Hinkley “The Atoning Sacrifice: Latter-day Prophets Testify,” Liahona, Dec 2001, 8)

* Role Reversals: "Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness... to teach them to love and serve one another..." (The Family: A Proclamation to the World) Bring simple dress up clothes. Have different situations for children to act out as parents. Have adults as the children. Examples of situations could be: Your child Brenda is not cleaning her room, what can you teach her? or Timmy is 15 and old enough for a job, what can you teach him about saving for a mission or about tithing?

* "Art-WORK gallery" Display pictures of the creation. Pictures of space, the earth, bodies, animals... have the children walk through like they would in a museum. Have them talk about the pictures or share thoughts. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ our brother went to a lot of WORK for us to create such beautiful things. Now have the children make a piece of art-WORK to show something they can do to follow our Perfect Family's example! And please, don't just throw them some crayons and a piece of paper. Have a variety of art tools for them to use. Have cut out frames to glue to their picture... make it special!

Simple Sabbath Day Fun

Image courtesy www.kinderteacher.com

On occasion I will be posting some simple ideas to help children (and ourselves) keep the Sabbath day holy at home. Or you could use it in a Family Home Evening.

* Have a small picture of Jesus. Play hide and seek, the person hiding taking the picture with them. Instead of counting sing the song "If with all your hearts" (Children's Songbook pg. 15) while they hide. Once you find them, name something you do to seek Heavenly Father and our Savior.

* Play "win-lose-or-draw" counting your blessing style. With a small dry erase board each person can take a turn drawing a blessing that they are thankful for. You could also learn the song "Thank Thee for Everything" (Children's Songbook pg.10) by drawing words from the song on the board and guessing which word it is.

* Make a coffee filter flower garden. Using water colors, paint the filters, add stems and put together as a family garden. Talk about the creation. Sing this fun song "Little Purple Pansies" (Children's Songbook pg.244). You could even give your flowers to someone in the ward who needs a pick-me-up.

* Take an old pair of glasses and pop out the lenses. Cover the eye part with tinfoil. Have the children pick out different objects to look at with their glasses. Can they see anything? Take off the tinfoil, Aha! So it is with the Holy Ghost, he helps us to see things clearly! (D&C 8:2 "Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart."

Addendum: These are not intended to be rip-roaring-good-times-fun, just calm and peaceful activities to help remember gospel principles. Again, I use the word "simple".

Consider the Lilies

El Vendedor de Alcatraces By Diego Rivera
(Image courtesy creative commons license www.diego-rivera-foundation.org)

D&C 84: 81-84 "Therefore, take ye no thought for the morrow, for what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, or wherewithal ye shall be clothed. For, consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin; and the kingdoms of the world, in all their glory, are not arrayed like one of these. For your Father, who is in heaven, knoweth that you have need of all these things. Therefore, let the morrow take thought for the things of itself."

I once was given a very special blessing that truly firmed my testimony in Divinity. I was studying this scripture and pondering it. The person giving me the blessing had no clue what I was reading in my personal scripture time, and yet Heavenly Father knew. The scripture was quoted and it's purpose expanded to me within the blessing.

I would like to pose 3 questions.
1. What can you do to increase your faith in Jesus Christ and our loving Father?
2. What can you do to make your attitude more Christ like?
3. Do you believe that we are indeed children of a loving Father?

This is a favorite piece of art that hangs in our home. Originally, Diego Rivera meant it as a more political piece symbolic of the burdens of the Mexican people. However, art is art. I appreciate it in a different sense. I see a woman with a tremendous load, yet it is a beautiful load. And she is not alone, she is never alone. Deity is behind her, helping her bear the load and lifting it. She has fallen to her knees and it is a good thing. I look at this picture everyday and am inspired. I hope you can be inspired by it also.

Often our callings can seem overwhelming. I didn't become a doctor for a reason, I don't do well with blood and guts. The same can be said about teaching yet here we are in an organization that asks us to do what we don't necessarily have confidence in. The burden however is beautiful and we need to recognize that. And we have support. If you feel overwhelmed about teaching Primary, take a step back. Did you have a lesson that just didn't go well? It's OK. Next week will be better! A person doesn't get to Carnegie Hall over night, it takes practice!

The time has come for preparing/writing Primary Sacrament Meeting Presentations. We are all entitled to revelation and help from above. Often I receive such nice and kind comments on how "my ideas" are wonderful. If only I could claim them as my own! The ideas are inspiration from above. Plain and simple. I find that if I pray sincerely, make sure my heart is in the right place and listen carefully... answers will come. The same can be true for you too! Don't get stressed out, you don't need to! Heavenly Father will help. Using the chocolate chip cookie analogy - A chocolate chip cookie is not a chocolate chip cookie with one chocolate chip. You need lots and lots and then another cup full. Pray often. The more the better.

If I had to boil down the message of this post into one thought, it'd be this: Have Hope!! Basically, if you were in the corner of the ring, I'm patting you on the back and chanting for you, you can do it! You can do it! You can do whatever you need to do in life because God is truly with us and mindful of our needs. Psalm 55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

Roseville, California 1st Ward... I Applaud You

I am always looking for ways to build a bridge between church and home. For Father's Day weekend we were visiting the greater Sacramento, California area and stayed at a hotel right by the temple.

It was a packed house! We had a lady in front of us who was a primary teacher welcome my children and was super friendly! Oh how I love people that don't ignore children! And a little girl held my daugther's hand so she could also sing to her daddy for Father's day. Thank you for being a ward full of awesome friendly people. We didn't stay for primary (which I was dying to do because I love learning and getting new ideas) however, there was a connection that I thought was brilliant.

On their Sacrament Meeting program, on the back, they put the primary monthly theme and scripture! Is that simple? Is that helpful? Is that wonderful? Is that a quick way to help parents reinforce the principles being taught on Sunday?

Kudos to you Roseville CA 1st Ward!!

September 2009 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

Month Theme: Prophets teach me how to strengthen my family.
Month Scripture: “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, . . . whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38)

Week 1 Bible prophets teach me how to strengthen my family (review biblical stories about righteous families such as Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, and Zacharias and Elisabeth).

* Make "book kits" for the children to put together as groups. Give them a few minutes to glue together, review and then come up and share that story. For example have 6 pages for a book with simple phrases/scriptures that review the story, let the children draw pictures to the story. Have a teacher help and supervise. Don’t forget to have the children say how that bible prophet teaches them how to strengthen their family!!

* I'm such a clutz! Put together scriptures, simple phrases and pictures to tell about the biblical families. Have them in small stacks. Accidentally trip and knock over all the papers, mixing them up! Have the children come up and pick up one paper/picture at a time and decide what story stack it goes to. (For an example of a simple phrase: They loved all the animals and took very good care of them. The plants and flowers were beautiful in the garden. - then ask - Where does this go? Kind of tricky. We know Noah loved animals... but did he live in a garden?) Don’t forget to have the children say how that bible prophet teaches them how to strengthen their family!!

* Have a large arrow with the words "AND THEN...." Bring in some pictures and prepare some questions to help the children tell the stories of these families. Invite 5 children to the front. Have the first start out the story and say whatever they can think of, then they pass the arrow to the next person and say "And then!!". Don’t forget to have the children say how that bible prophet teaches them how to strengthen their family!!

* Have adults come in dressed up as that prophet. Let the children ask them questions to figure out what prophet they are supposed to be! Have the adults prepare a short summary of who they are and read a scripture relating to that prophet. Don’t forget to have the children say how that bible prophet teaches them how to strengthen their family!!

* Have mini-crossword puzzles! On the black board have 3-5 words in crossword format, number properly, and have clues for the children. Clues can be pictures! Clues can be songs! Clues can be scriptures! With the mini-crossword format you can do a few bible families! For younger children who can't read and spell, say the letters out loud for them and then have them repeat with you. (It only takes a few seconds and helps with letter recognition, a key to reading!) For Senior Primary, assign them a scripture family and have them make up their own mini-crossword puzzle for the others to figure out!

* Have some really strong men from the ward come in and demonstrate their strength. They could do one handed push-ups. The could pick up their own child and toss them in the air. They could do a chin-up. It's important to be strong! Ask them to talk about their favorite prophet and why that prophet is their favorite. How has that prophet helped their spirit and their family be stronger?

* Sheila E. Wilson, pure genius, has this idea she shared in the October 2004 Friend "Sharing Time: Follow the Prophet”:

" Read aloud D&C 1:38. Prophets are servants of the Lord and speak for Him to guide and direct us. Share the story of the prophet Joshua from the Old Testament. The children of Israel had left their homes and wandered in the wilderness for more than 40 years. Through Joshua, the Lord promised the children of Israel that the city of Jericho would be theirs. He told Joshua what the people should do, and Joshua told the people.

Read together and role-play (see TNGC,p. 178) the account in Josh. 6:6–16, 20. You will need children to portray Joshua, the seven priests (with rolled-up paper for ram’s horns), and the children of Israel. Rather than shout, sing a song or hymn while the children stand and represent the wall around Jericho. Have the children sit down to represent the wall falling down. Give a choral reading (see TNGC,p. 163). Have “Joshua” say, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15). Have everyone respond with a choral reading of Josh. 24:24. Bear testimony that our homes will be blessed and our families will be strengthened as we choose to obey the prophets and serve the Lord."

Week 2 Book of Mormon prophets teach me how to strengthen my family.

* All the ideas from Week 1 can be adjusted to fit this weeks theme.

Week 3 The prophet today teaches me how to strengthen my family.

* Do you have any books by President Monson? Gather as many as you can find! Print out talks, articles from the Ensign and other church magazines. Let the Senior Primary go through the books and see if they can find quotes from the prophet on how to strengthen the family. Give them post it notes to hold pages and spots, then have them share!

* Here is a link to the Friend. It is a wonderful article from President Monson on how to build strong testimonies. Strong testimonies lead to strong families. You could easily help the children build a road by asking them questions from the article.

* Here is another wonderful link to the Friend. It could make a great flannel board activity of the teachings of President Monson. It's important to remember that the whole world is our family. We are all brothers and sisters.

* How much do our children know about the first presidency? Have their pictures displayed and a bunch of clues to match. See if the children can guess which member the clue is about! Here is a link with some simple facts about them. Add in a couple quotes that each member has said about strengthening families and have the children guess who it belongs to! At the end of the lesson have some primary friends share something new they've learned about the members of the first presidency!

* This is a great story that President Monson told. Make paper canaries and have questions, scriptures and songs posted on the back of the birds. Our families don't have to be driving the fanciest cars or have super big homes with lots of toys, our families should have peace and inner beauty like the canary with the best song.

* President Monson talks about 3 pieces of a treasure map in a friend article found here. Make up your own treasure map to find a hidden treasure within the primary room. For the children to move to the next spot on the treasure map, they must answer questions: What have I learned from my family in the past? How can I prepare for a family in the future? How do I help with my family now? These questions can correspond to a compass (So the child will pick N, S, E or W. You could spin them and have them point... be creative) You could also have a song assigned to a point on the compass. The treasure is a picture of the temple! Families can be together forever when I listen to the prophet today and help strengthen them!

Week 4 I will hear the words of the prophets when I listen to general conference.

* Print out a bunch of different clip art black and white images children can cut out and glue stick to make a coloring book. (Take a piece of construction paper, fold in half... fill with white paper and staple... this would be the book they can add images too) As they go to conference they can take their book and listen to hear if anyone talks about the different things they are coloring! Have pictures of the apostles themselves for them to glue in too! What apostle will they get to hear?! Older children of course can make this more of a journal to write what they are thinking.

* Show short video clips (2-3 minutes each) from a past general conference. Give the children paper ears glued on popsicle sticks and paper hearts glued on popsicle sticks. When the hear something that is interesting have them raise their ear and share what they've heard. When they have felt something, have them raise their heart and share what they've felt. They can also share in partners if a lot of friends want to participate!

* Linda Olsen, “Conference Reverence Tent,” Friend, Oct 2008, 36–38... classic! Thanks Sister Olsen!

Make a large sheet tent for the children to sit under as you have someone role play King Benjamin. Encourage the children to do this at home, with the help of their parents as they listen to next month's general conference!

Candyland The Spiritual Version?: Family Home Evening Idea

My little ladies LOVE to play candyland. So I decided to make a "special" version, one that is sweetness for the soul. I used one sheet of posterboard and markers. I also drew on a few of our candyland cards for the "special" cards and will use the color cards and people markers when we play. (I was going to attach our faces to the people markers if I can find small enough pictures, to make it more personal!)

I started out with the pre-mortal existence and a sign with an earth and baby on it that says "birth".

The "special" cards of the game include:

* CTR (which when chosen you SING Choose the Right) There is a special fruit and CTR shield tree with the scripture 3 Nephi 14:20 "Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them."

* Temptation Tower (Lose a turn! Yuck!) There is a tower with windows with things that tempt us. The scripture is 2 Nephi 4:27 "And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?"

* Baptism by Water (SING Baptism)
* Baptism by Fire
The scripture that goes along with these 2 are Mormon 7:10 "...If it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment. Amen."

* Heart (SING I love to see the Temple) There is a picture of a temple.

There is a "prophet's path" that if you land on a certain spot will skip you forward lots of spaces. (If landed on SING Follow the Prophet)

Before you can receive eternal life you have to choose a red card twice (because the last 2 spaces are red). This is to help us remember the atonement of Christ is the reason we can have eternal life.

Talk throughout the game! Ask questions! Let the children say whatever they are thinking about! Have fun!

The game isn't complete until the entire family has eternal life!!

Fear Not: Family Home Evening Idea

(Sorry the picture's a little blurry! Having too much fun to pose for the camera!)

Scripture: Isaiah 41:10, 13 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."

Song: 2nd Verse of How Firm a Foundation

Activity: Role play the 3 Billy Goats Gruff. Video tape your performance!

What are things we are afraid of? Should we be afraid though?

Point: Just like the Big Billy Goat's brother saved his family, so will our elder brother Jesus Christ save us! We never have to be afraid because He is with us.

Additional Scriptures:

* Psalms 34:4 "I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

* Luke 12:32 "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

* Deut. 31:6 "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

* 1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear..."

Aren't familiar with this story? Trip Trap Here and read the Norway version.

Stick to the Basics

(Am I saying going out and buy this to use for primary? ABSOLUTELY not. Read on Brothers and Sisters. Read on.)

Recently I received a comment (in response to June sharing time helps week 1):

Anonymous said...
"be careful bringing something commercial, the Fisher Price Noah's Ark set into Primary...we need to use materials provided and approved by the Church...just something to consider, not reprimanding, just stick with the basics"
June 13, 2009 11:47 AM

Exactly! We need to stick to the basics. I think sometimes we can get "too into" the presentation and set-up of a lesson instead of sticking to the basics. So what are those basics?

These are 3 questions I ask myself when thinking up "starting points" for other people to expand upon. I want you to know that I pray... a lot. I have a simple prayer and that is to be able to make a difference in children's lives and help whoever I can, myself included, be closer to our Father and Jesus Christ.

1. Is the lesson Christ centered?

2. Will this lesson set up an atmosphere for the Holy Ghost to teach and testify?

3. Do these follow church rules and do I feel correct in posting them?

Again, I go to President Boyd K. Packer. "We all have the right to inspiration and revelation, and oh, how we need it in this world, especially in the great challenge of raising a family... I've always felt that the ultimate end of all of the activities and programs of the Church rests in a man and a woman and their family being happy at home." (Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting Building Up a Righteous Posterity 2/9/08 pages 4-9)

That is basic! And couldn't be more well put! But yet he continues so profoundly (emphasis added), "All of the activities of the Church are calculated to strengthen the family... Sometimes we may move a little away from our position of supporting families to having the families responsible to support the church."

Anonymous has a very good point about "being careful... using materials provided and approved by the church". Veggin' out to Veggie Tales during sharing time is not the best use of time. If there is any question about visual aids, GO TO YOUR PRIESTHOOD LEADER. That's what all the leadership manuals say.

At the same time the manuals also say use a VARIETY of teaching methods. A 3-D object that you have lying around the home or (know someone who does) is perfectly fine to use, in my opinion... as long as focus is kept on the weekly principle from the sharing time outline. In one manual (full link found here) it says, "What ordinary objects can you use to help class members better understand gospel principles?"

We will always have to work with people whose opinions differ. When we stick to the basic principle of what the organization of primary is for... to strengthen families (I heart Boyd) then these differences won't matter much. When we align our wills to that of the Father everything will turn out OK. He will inspire us. He will guide us. (Of course, we need to be doing all that He asks to be doing... REGULAR scriptures, prayer, temple attendance...) Don't sweat the small stuff. Don't nit pick... especially each other and the children. Love your God and love the children. That is sticking to the basics.

** Also, just as a personal philosophy in life. If you're going to say something (And I quote James Brown) "Say it loud, I'm black and I'm proud." Speak your mind, say who you are and let the record stand. Can I get an amen? Happy Juneteenth a little early everyone! **

August 2009 Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

The Road to Eternity image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by dkzoffy March 2008

Month Theme: Temple blessings unite families.
Month Scripture: “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever
thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).

Week 1 The temple is the house of God.

* There are flannel board cut outs you can order here or get from your library. There are different homes. Talk about the people that live in the different homes, where the homes are located, what people do in their homes, etc. Then of course have the Temple which is the house God.

*Panel Discussion. Invite a few Young Men and Young Women to come in and share an experience of when they've been to the temple to do baptisms. Let the children ask them questions. Ask the panel members to describe what the temple is like and how it made them feel to enter.

* Make a path on the chalkboard with the temple at the end. Have a paper child that can move a space on the path according to the roll of a large paper made dice (with numbers 1-6). Have another paper dice with sides like ?, song, scripture, compliment a primary friend, stretch!!... etc. It's like a big board game. They have to roll the dice and do what it says to move the child to the temple. Make up questions, songs and scriptures having to do with the weeks theme.

*Just as an added suggestion to what they have listed in the sharing time outline for this week I would have children draw pictures of what they think the inside of a temple might look like.

Week 2 I will prepare now to go to the temple.

* Have the Bishop come in if he has time and share with the children some of the questions he asks for people to get their temple recommend."Every member who wants to go to the temple, regardless of age, needs to prepare for this sacred experience." Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "See the End from the Beginning," Ensign, May 2006, 44

* Put your temple recommend in a package of sorts. Have the children try to guess what is inside. Hints could include: It's something money can't buy and more precious than anything money could buy. It's smaller than my shoe. I need it as much as I need water. I have to prepare diligently to receive it. Once they guess, read the following:
"I urge our people everywhere … to live worthy to hold a temple recommend, to secure one and regard it as a precious asset, and to make a greater effort to go to the house of the Lord and partake of the spirit and the blessings to be had therein” (Gordon B. Hinkley“Of Missions, Temples, and Stewardship,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 53).

* Have a bunch of paper stand up figures (teaching no great call page. 176). Make figures that you would take preparing for a camping trip and on the backside pictures of how to prepare for the temple. Just like we wouldn't go out into the wilderness unprepared we don't go into the temple unprepared! For example... On one paper stand up figure you could have a picture of the tent. Turn it around and have a picture of the church. The shelter of the church and security of the sacrament and attending our meetings helps us prepare for the temple. On another have a picture of a campfire or matches and on the other have the words HOLY GHOST. We need a campfire to stay warm and we need the Holy Ghost to burn inside us and strengthen our testimonies of the temple. Also, don't feel like you need to explain everything... have the children come up with analogies of why they think that picture would be on the back or why you'd need that for camping.

* President Boyd K. Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:"The ordinances and ceremonies of the temple are simple. They are beautiful. They are sacred. They are kept confidential lest they be given to those who are unprepared. Curiosity is not a preparation. Deep interest itself is not a preparation. Preparation for the ordinances includes preliminary steps: faith, repentance, baptism, confirmation, worthiness, a maturity and dignity worthy of one who comes invited as a guest into the house of the Lord” (“The Holy Temple,” Tambuli, June 1992, 17). **As a side note, I heart Boyd. He is my absolute favorite and if you haven't read The Holy Temple... go! Do!**

Have stepping stones with the words faith, repentance, baptism, confirmation, worthiness, dignity - leading to a picture of a temple. Make up case studies of children preparing for the temple and then invite a child to come and point to what stepping stone the case study focuses on.

* Invite a child to come up to the front. Give them a copy of the book War and Peace (Or some big book) Tell them you'd like them to give a 10 minute book report about this book. They can't do it? Neither could I! If we aren't prepared then things are NOT going to happen! We need to prepare for the temple so that it is the best experience of our lives!

*Good coloring handout to take home for this week found HERE. Scroll to the very bottom!

Week 3 My family can be together forever through the ordinances of the temple.

* Have a child come up to the front and invite them to take a picture of the primary. What? They don't have a camera? Take a fake picture then. Click. Next. Invite another child to come up and take a picture, this time using a real camera. Show the children how the camera has taken a picture (I assume everyone has digital these days...) The ordinances of the temple are like having a camera, it's real and makes it so our family can be forever. Everything else and other thoughts/rituals of men are fake and will produce nothing because they don't have the camera! They don't have the ordinances of the temple.

* Have family, together forever, ordinances and temple scrambled on the board. Have the pianist play Families Can Be Together Forever while they come up and unscramble the words. Little ones can do this with the help of older children! Divide the primary into groups and have the groups come up with other words that have to do with temples. Invite them to come up to the front and write their word scrambled for the other groups to figure out. Have plenty of pictures to display in case they go along with the word the group chose.

* This is an enrichment activity from the Primary 1 manual (Lesson 26: Families Can Be Together Forever,” 84)

"Help the children understand that forever is a long time. You might tell them that it is longer than the time they have to wait until their birthday or the next holiday; it is longer than the time the oldest person they know has been alive; it is longer than back to the time when Adam and Eve were alive. Explain that forever means that something will never end.

Help the children do the actions to the following verse as you say the words:
How Long Is Forever?
How long is forever (point to head, as if thinking)?

It’s longer than a year (put fist under chin, rest elbow on other hand).
It’s longer than the time it takes (put other fist under chin, rest elbow on hand)

For Christmas to be here.
How long is forever (point to head, as if thinking)?

It’s not too long to spend (shake finger back and forth)

With families that you love (hug self), For it will never, ever end!"

*Bring in 2 mirrors for children to hold. Line them up so the mirrors face each other. Does the reflection ever end? Neither does our family because of the ordinances of the temple. You might need to define ordinance! In the Primary 3 Manuel (“Lesson 35: Temples and Eternal Families,” Primary 3: Choose the Right B, (1994),171) an additional verse to “A Happy Family.” is given. Very fun! "I love Jesus, He loves me. He loves families, yes sirree. We build temples, so you see, We can be together eternally."

*Vicki F. Matsumori (Is she stellar, or is she stellar!), “Sharing Time: Together Forever,” Liahona, Feb 2002, 4–5 is a great link to check out.

Week 4 Family history and temple work bless all the generations of my family.

*Invite a child to come up to the front to give you a hug. Show a picture of someone who has died that you have done temple work for. Just as surely as the primary friend has given you a hug, so will your deceased ancestor give you a hug when you are reunited in heaven!

* Talk about what happens when you throw a rock into a pond. The water ripples on and on and on. Family History and temple work have the same effect of blessing our families. Have a large box of small rocks. Invite the children to come and get 5 each to keep. Have them talk in pairs or groups about family members they love and 5 ways to show love for them. Have questions and scriptures prepared for each group to talk about also.

* Vicki F. Matsumori (Seriously, I wonder if she would ever consider being my best friend.) “Sharing Time: ‘The Heart of the Children’,” Friend, Aug 2002, 36. This has the absolute best ideas ever! Especially #2!! How clever is that to do a pedigree of a scripture family.

* Whisper something into someones ear and then have them repeat it to the next person. See what the message is by the end of 12 primary children. If you had written the message down and passed it around would the message have been confused? Hold up a journal!

LDS Primary Bulletin Board Ideas 2009

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by erstwhile ungulate 2/9/07

I received a very nice email and thought I'd share.

" I love LOVE your blog. Thank you so much for all the help and ideas. I was wondering if maybe you could add a section for bulletin board ideas? I find myself in a slump and can't always come up with cute ideas for each monthly theme. Thanks so much for considering." -Sister Bessey, Primary Secretary, Sequim Washington

Wow! How blessed to have a bulletin board! My first thoughts in creating a bulletin board are these:

1. Will this bulletin board strengthen someones testimony in Christ?

2. Think about the children's needs. If you have a child that is ADD and the board is covered in neon patchwork with rotating pinwheels... you probably won't have them singing during singing time... And that's not their fault.

3. Will the bulletin board be an effective teaching tool?

Since the year is almost out, I'll just post a few ideas for July on out and anything extra that comes to mind. I love to see children's work and am not artistic hence most of the ideas rely upon the children. Post scriptures! Be creative! These are just starting points. Pray for help and guidance... it will come!

-July- I will strengthen my family.

* Call up the children and write down their answers to How can I strengthen my family? Type up their answers large enough to read. Post GAK pictures to go along with their answers.

* Have a large milk carton with the letter I on it. Next to it write "Do my family good!" Have milk glasses with responses from the children how they help strengthen their family. Scriptures and pictures of Christ can be put on additional glasses.

* Have different pictures of individuals from the scriptures that strengthened their family. Number them. Have the words Who can strengthen their family? posted. Have a pocket with slips of paper for the children to fill out who they think the individuals are. Also have an 8X10 piece of foil that will show their reflection (or simple hanging mirror)... because they too can strengthen their family!

-August- Temple blessings unite families.

* Have pictures of different parents who were sealed in the temple. (Be careful, you don't want to make any children feel bad!!) Or you could just do pictures of the different primary teachers and presidency members that were sealed there. Have each person pictured write a short testimony statement of how temple blessings have united their families.

* Have some of the older children do FOREVER poems. (Fills a Faith in God requirement) Give them a sheet of paper with the letters FOREVER and they have to start each line of the poem with that letter. (For example... F-Families can be sealed in temples. O-Our Heavenly Father is very happy when we make the choice to go to His temple. R- Reno, Nevada's temple is awesome and the best! Etc.) Post different pictures of different temples.

* Have different members of a family holding a paper chain. Post different scriptures on temples. Have a challenge sign up sheet for the children to sign. The challenge is for them to look up all the scriptures and memorize one!

-September- Prophets teach me how to strengthen my family.

* Have the children draw pictures of their favorite prophet and why!

* Have the children write letters to President Monson on why they love him and what a prophet is. Display the letters and a large picture of President Monson. Then send the letters to him! (For younger children, write what they say and let them sign/scribble their name!)

* Mystery Prophets. Do 2 a week! Cover their picture, read a short blurb/quote on something they have said about families and then reveal during opening/closing exercises.

* Make paper children and write your primary children's name on them. Put a little paper clip on the back. Have them all accessible for the children to interact with. Take a small pole with a paper prophet attached (Like a fishing pole) with a small magnet on back. Have a small path for the prophet to lead the child to a family and temple. While waiting to start primary, children who are being reverent can do this one at a time. Great way to encourage reverence! Of course have the theme and scripture posted too.

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

* Talk to the activity days leader. Have the activity days girls do a simple flower origami project. Display all their flowers and a proclamation. Post the words "Different flowers, Different families... One truth."

* Try to make the proclamation readable to little children! Post the words and pictures for words so the little ones can try! (For example in the May 2009 Friend there is a story on page 37 Jesus Christ teaches at the temple... it's a story but some pictures substitute the words) There is a technical term for this type of reading, but it's not coming to mind. Anyone? Anyone?

* Have a pumpkin family with the theme displayed. Have little pumpkins with quotes from the children about why they love their family.

-November- My family and I can serve others.

* Have a giant turkey. On the feathers write down the children's ideas on how their family can serve others.

* Don't forget the ward family! Have pictures from different auxiliary service projects!! Have a member from that auxiliary write a short blurb on what they did and send you something to put up!

* Make a giant illustration of King Benjamin and a few of his words on service and being children of Christ. Have children who are reverent come up and color the bulletin board while you are waiting to start.

* Have a large paper rake. Make paper leaves and put the children's ideas on different ways their family can serve. Have a paper family that can play in the leaves.

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

* Post a variety of pictures of Christ in a neat and orderly way. Post the theme. Simple.

* Have a picture of a child and a LARGE thought bubble. Children that are being reverent can come up and draw or write different ways to remember Jesus in the thought bubble.

* Have the words posted, "Heavenly Father's gift to us. Jesus Christ." then the theme. Have a LARGE picture of Christ. Make square gifts to put up along quotes from the children and children's family on how they remember Christ and blessings that have come from the gospel.

Extra Just for Fun:

* Post pictures and testimony statements from the children on things they've learned from Primary Activity Days.

* Have the children draw pictures to teach the song of the month!!

* Have some older primary children come up with an idea and make the bulletin board to fulfill a Faith in God service or talent requirement.

* Have the articles of faith posted and let the children (And primary workers) who can recite them sign their names by that article! Invite the Bishopric in to see if they can sign by any of the articles of faith.

* Have all the words to the song "I am like a star" posted. Then add stars with the children's pictures on them.

* HERE is a link to sugardoodle for 2009 bulletin board ideas.