Primary Pianist... The Loniest Calling?

 Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by Maltagirl May 2006

 

Recently a good friend of mine told me that being a primary pianist was her least favorite calling ever.

I was flabbergasted.

Stunned!

Because I loved, loved, loved being a primary pianist.

I enjoyed watching and learning. Seeing what worked. What didn't.

I loved the children and when I wasn't playing the piano, I was sitting with them.

In fact, there was one rowdy lil' guy that I took under my wing and we were buddies.

 

I asked my friend why she didn't enjoy it and she said quote,

"It's a lonely calling. You're in the corner all by yourself."

 

Well friends. This is not a Three Dog Night music video.

This is real.

Mother Theresa once said, “The most terrible poverty is loneliness, and the feeling of being unloved.” 

And this needs to be fixed.

 

Solutions on the part of Choristers & Primary Presidency:

 

1. Don't just acknowledge the pianist, make them a rock star.

We're grateful for Sister D our pianist.... verses....What would we ever do without Sister D? She is the very best pianist in the world! We are so lucky to sing alongside her magic fingers!!! Did you just hear how fast she played!! Her fingers move faster than a super sonic jet plane! And yet so delicate at other times that you feel like you're listening to flowers dance!!

 

2. Have brief conversations & ask questions with your pianist while you're teaching.

Nephi crossed the ocean... Hey, Sister D have you ever crossed the ocean before? You have? Where did you go to? Oh my! A cruise to Tahiti sounds like so much fun, but didn't you get seasick? Wow. I didn't even know they made patches you can put on the back of your neck to avoid that... I bet Nephi and his family would have appreciated some of those!!!

 

3.While doing activities with balls, DO NOT hit the pianist.

We're going to toss the ball lightly into the bucket. PLEASE. Whatever you do... DO NOT!!!! I repeat DO NOT hit Sister D. We can not have her passed out on the floor because someone whacked her with the ball. If we don't have Sister D, we don't have music we have the scary sing out of tune with Sister Lykes (enter chorister) show.

 

4. Whisper your answer to the pianist!!

We're going to be singing Primary Colors.... Our primary friend is going to choose a color- red, yellow or blue. You stand on the color you think they chose!! Primary friend, please go tell Sister D what color you choose!

I want to get to know our primary friend better! Can you whisper to Sister D what your favorite animal is? OK primary friends, let's see if you can guess what it is!

 

5.Ask the pianist their opinion.

Sister D, are our children the very best singers in the entire world? Do you think that Heavenly Father and the angels are smiling right now because of the lovely way our primary friends sang?

Who's your favorite scripture prophet Sister D?

 

6. Thank the pianist FOR SPECIFICS.

Generics stink. I mean it's nice and better than nothing, but what do we want to teach our children. Let's teach them that beauty can be in the detail.

Thank you Sister D for that beautiful prelude music. You help invite the spirit every week and we are so grateful for your service.

Thank you Sister D for always playing so peppy. If the songs were too slow we'd fall asleep, but your lovely playing makes us want to sing even more!!

 

7. Thumbs up & silent cheers for the pianist!

Wow great singing everyone! Please give yourself a pat on the back and a kiss on the brain. And while we're at it, let's give Sister D 2 big thumbs up and a silent cheer for just being awesome and wearing such a beautiful skirt today. There is one modest babe! (Last sentence only to be used if your pianist is over 70)

 

Solutions on the part of the pianist themselves:

 

1. Have a great attitude!

Whether you wanted this calling or not, you've accepted and will be blessed for it. You might not ever be acknowledged for your hard work, practice and dilligence... but you know what, Heavenly Father knows and one day before the throngs of eternity you will be praised for your smiling face and fingers that helped his little ones grow and prosper.

 

2. Get involved and don't wait to be invited.

If you aren't needed at the piano, see what you can do. Are some kids chit chatty? Go sit by them and smile. How is their week going? Great! Let's listen to the lesson and after you can tell me all about it!

Kiddos need lots of love and attention. You could be that special person that Heavenly Father wants in their life. Don't be just a wall flower.

 

3. After singing, throw in your two cents!

Wow! I just had to say, when you sweet primary children sang I got the chills!! That was so neat to feel the spirit that strongly! Thank you!!

 

4. If children come visit you at the piano, talk to them!

Show them things. Teach them things. Have they ever heard of a treble cleff? What if you are the person that inspires them to become a concert musician? To read music you have to memorize a short phrase- see if you can remember- every good boy does fine! In one ward, I remember having about 10 kids come and visit me at the piano... I had to make sure that they knew it was OK, but only after primary!

 

5. Be there for those children with special needs!

Sometimes music can be soothing to children with special needs. Let them sit by you and watch your fingers move. Let them turn pages for you. Let them double check that you're on the right page. Pray and talk with the primary presidency and parents to see if this would be a good option. I remember one ward with a little girl in a wheelchair... she loved the pianist because she could see the wonderful possibilities one can do with their hands!

 

6. Know that you are NEVER alone.

Thank you MJ. Rest in peace.

Even though I'm sure he wasn't writing about Heavenly Father, his lyrics still ring true.

You are not alone.

 

 

What is the only cure for loneliness?

A good dose of Jesus.

 

"I believe that for most of us the best medicine for loneliness is work, service in behalf of others. I do not minimize your problems, but I do not hesitate to say that there are many others whose problems are more serious than are yours. Reach out to serve them, to help them, to encourage them."

 President Hinkley Ensign 1996 Women of The Church

September 2012 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps & Ideas

 

Charlton Heston, The 10 Commandments. An awesome movie? Yes indeed. 

If they ever did a remake, 2 words....President Uchtdorf.

 

 Monthly Theme: The Ten Commandments Teach Me to Love God and His Children
Monthly Scripture: "If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments" D&C 42:29

Week 1 We are blessed when we keep the commandments.  

 

* " We live at a time when many in the world have slipped from the safety found in keeping the commandments. It is a time when many people are breaking the laws of God. I am reminded of the words of the Lord found in the book of Ether in the Book of Mormon. Said the Lord, “Ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come” (Ether 2:25). The Lord has prepared us. If we heed His words and live the commandments, we will survive this time of wickedness—a time which can be compared with the waves and the winds and the floods that can destroy. He is ever mindful of us. He loves us and will bless us as we do what is right." (President Monson Oct. 2009 General Conference/The Friend Oct. 2011)
 

Give the children some paper and help them make simple origami boats. Instructions with pictures can be found HERE. Have them write a couple commandments on their boats! For younger children, teachers can write for them. Remember, as we keep the commandments, Heavenly Father will keep us safe!!

*  

"Many years ago I read a book titled The Way to the Western Sea by David S. Lavender. It provides a fascinating account of the journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark as they led their expedition across the North American continent to discover an overland route to the Pacific Ocean.
      Their trek was a nightmare of backbreaking toil, deep gorges which had to be crossed, and extensive travel by foot, carrying with them their supply-laden boats to find the next stream on which to make their way.
 

      As I read of their experiences, I mused, “If only there were modern bridges to span the gorges or the raging waters.” There came to my mind thoughts of magnificent bridges of our time which accomplish this task with ease: beautiful Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco fame; sturdy Sydney, Australia, Harbour Bridge; and others in many lands.

     In reality, we are all travelers—even explorers of mortality. We do not have the benefit of previous personal experience. We must pass over steep cliffs and turbulent waters in our own journey here on earth.

     Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was the supreme builder of bridges for you, for me, for all humankind. He has built the bridges over which we must cross if we are to reach our heavenly home.
     Jesus provided the Bridge of Obedience. He was an unfailing example of personal obedience as He kept the commandments of His Father." (President Monson April 2008 Liahona Three Bridges)

Have a blue sheet, our stormy waters, on the ground. Make a bridge by using small primary chairs (10??)... get one chair when the children answer questions about keeping the commandments or sing a song about the topic. Place over the blue sheet in a way that a child could walk across. At the end of the discussion, repeat that Jesus has built the bridge for us to return back to Heavenly Father. To walk across that bridge, we must keep the commandments and be obedient!! Invite one friend to carefully cross the bridge we've made!!

* "Be faithful to the commandments of the Lord, and He will open the windows of heaven and shower down blessings upon you..." (Gordon B. Hinckley, "Closing Remarks," Ensign, May 2005, 103 )
Have little paper raindrops scattered all over the room. Write down questions, scriptures or songs about the commandments on these raindrops. Have an open umbrella. Invite a child to hold the umbrella and choose a raindrop, return to the front and answer the question. Write the quote LARGE on the blackboard... invite the children to repeat the quote a few times throughout the lesson.

* Fix that story!! Have a few children come up front and dress them as Nephi & his brothers getting the brass plates. Tell them to act out what you say, but say it wrong, "Then Nephi decided, you know what, Laman & Lemuel are right... keeping the commandments is hard. I won't go. I won't do this."
Can the primary children help fix that story!!?!?

You could also act out Nephi building a boat.... you could say, "Nephi thought about it a long time. Boy! A boat!! I don't even have power tools or duct tape!! Keeping this commandment is too hard. I won't go and build a boat. I won't do it."

Another story Abraham & Isaac.... you could say, "Abraham led Isaac up the mountain. It was a steep mountain. Abraham thought it was pretty hot outside and that mountain was pretty big. Plus, Isaac wasn't such a bad son. He didn't play video games or ask to watch TV constantly. He was actually pretty awesome. Abraham decided, you know what, I don't think I'll do what Heavenly Father commanded me. I think I'll pass and won't go. Hey Isaac! Let's go get some root beer floats instead!"

After the stories are fixed, make sure to ask the children how these examples in the scriptures were blessed for their obedience in keeping the commandments!!

 

* What exactly are we commanded to do? Is it just the 10 commandments? This would probably work best with Senior Primary... break into groups and hand out paper. See which groups can find the most commandments in the scriptures. Make sure they write down scripture references.

 

"Although the world has changed, the laws of God remain constant. They have not changed; they will not change. The Ten Commandments are just that—commandments. They are not suggestions. They are every bit as requisite today as they were when God gave them to the children of Israel. ....Our code of conduct is definitive; it is not negotiable. It is found not only in the Ten Commandments but also in the Sermon on the Mount, given to us by the Savior when He walked upon the earth. It is found throughout His teachings. It is found in the words of modern revelation."

(Stand In Holy Places, Ensign October 2011 President Monson)

 

 

Week 2 I should respect and worship God.

* Another word for respect is value. In Senior Primary you can have the children write out on a piece of paper a daily routine. How much time is spent on spiritual things? How much do we value the Lord?
Encourage the children to add something to their daily routine, that will show we value the Lord more. Even if it's only adding 2 minutes to a prayer to make it more meaningful, every bit of time added to the worship of God is a good thing!

John 4:23 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him."

* What is worship? Click HERE for more thoughts. There is actually a great scripture story that you could have the children act out. It's the story of Alma and Amulek talking to a group of people who were cast out from the synagogue and didn't know what to do to worship. See Alma 32 & Alma 34. Tell the story in your own words and then quote the scriptures having to do with worship like Alma 34:38 “worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth”. (Or whoever is acting the part of Amulek could have that on a strip of paper to read)

* EVERY MUSIC LEADER'S DREAM TALK!!! Except it's not a dream!!! It's completely real!! For those children who sit staring into the wide abyss instead of singing... perhaps this is the key??

Worship Through Music By Elder Oaks Nov. 1994

Favorite quotes (Emphasis added),
"When a congregation worships through singing, all present should participate."

"What are we saying, what are we thinking, when we fail to join in singing in our worship services?

I believe some of us in North America are getting neglectful in our worship, including the singing of hymns. I have observed that the Saints elsewhere are more diligent in doing this. We in the center stakes of Zion should renew our fervent participation in the singing of our hymns."

 

"We who have “felt to sing the song of redeeming love” (Alma 5:26) need to keep singing that we may draw ever closer to him who has inspired sacred music and commanded that it be used to worship him."

 

Have an all music Sunday! Worship through song!! Give each child a music note, invite them to write their favorite song on it and put in a box. Invite children to pull out the music notes, sing and even read a quote from this wonderful talk.

 

* Name that Idol charades! We live in a time where there are many things that people worship INSTEAD of the true of living God, Heavenly Father. Write down a bunch of things on small strips of paper and have a child pick one, then act it out. Let the primary guess. Let's say the child picked out "watching TV" follow up with the question- what can we do to worship Heavenly Father instead of watching TV? And don't forget to remind the children that watching appropriate TV isn't bad when we do so in moderation! Big word!

 

"To worship the Lord is to put first in our lives the things of his kingdom, to live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God, to center our whole hearts upon Christ and that salvation which comes because of him." (How To Worship Elder McConkie Dec. 1971 Ensign) Excellent talk that outlines what exactly worship is!

 

Week 3 I should honor my parents.

* Write a note to your parents or grandparents to tell them how much you love them and WHY!!

*Chapter 37 in Gospel Principles is Family Responsibilities. It outlines the responsibilities of children quite nicely:

"How do children help their parents build a happy home?

     Children share with their parents the responsibilities of building a happy home. They should obey the commandments and cooperate with other family members. The Lord is not pleased when children quarrel (see Mosiah 4:14).

     The Lord has commanded children to honor their parents. He said, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land” (Exodus 20:12). To honor parents means to love and respect them. It also means to obey them. The scriptures tell children to “obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1).

      President Spencer W. Kimball said that children should learn to work and to share responsibilities in the home and yard. They should be given assignments to keep the house neat and clean. (See Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 120.)"

 

Have a puzzle of a home. On the pieces have scriptures, songs, and questions having to do with honoring our parents. Let the children put together the puzzle and do what each piece says! Reiterate the quote "Children share with their parents the responsibilities of building a happy home."

 

* HERE is an awesome resource from the friend!! Great great ideas!!! You could also use the search and find by having a child say a way to honor their parents and then circle something that is hidden in the picture. For larger primaries, you'd have to do that in small groups or pairs. I also LOVE LOVE LOVE the mother, may I? idea! We'll definitely be doing that for FHE!

 

* Um yes, please... more wonderfulness from The Friend HERE. A great take home activity to do with parents!! Love it!!

 

* HERE is a great article with fantastic quotes like President Thomas S. Monson “Be honest with your mother and your father. … Communicate with them. Avoid the silent treatment” (“Be Thou An Example,” Ensign, May 2005, 112).There is also a good story that you could illustrate and glue on popsicle sticks and let the children hold while you tell the story in your own words.

 

* Naughty Naughty Children. Have pictures of some of the naughtier children from the scriptures. Examples could include Laman & Lemuel, Alma the Younger & The Sons of Mosiah, Joseph of Egypt's brothers, the children of Israel under the leadership of Moses, Satan (you can just write his name). Cover each picture and give clues about these wayward children. What primary friend can guess who it is? Some of these examples changed, and that's a good thing! We should always honor and respect our parents!! We never want our pictures to be hidden for a game like this!!!!!!

Week 4 I should respect others.

* Cut out the pictures in THIS link. Pass them out to some children. Let the children come up front and stand on the left if their picture is not respectful, and stand on the right if their picture shows respect. Have them tell the primary what is going on in the picture.

What is respect? In the topical guide under respect, other words include- esteem, family (love within), honor, honoring mother & father, obedience, reverence….

Isaiah 17:7 “At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.”

Have the children take a piece of paper and fold it into 4ths. Let them draw pictures of ways they can show respect for Heavenly Father and others.

* “Because He came to earth, we have a perfect example to follow. As we strive to become more like Him, we will have joy and happiness in our lives and peace each day of the year. It is His example which, if followed, stirs within us more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others.” (Because He Came, President Monson Christmas Devotional)

Have a bowl with a wooden spoon to stir. On top of the spoon have a picture of Christ.  Have questions, scriptures and songs about respect on strips of folded paper. Let a primary friend come up and stir up some kindness and respect, then choose a paper and answer the question or read the scripture, etc.

Repeat often the phrase of the quote throughout the lesson, “His example which, if followed, stirs within us more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others.”

* “I would encourage members of the Church wherever they may be to show kindness and respect for all people everywhere. The world in which we live is filled with diversity. We can and should demonstrate respect toward those whose beliefs differ from ours.” (April 2008 Ensign Looking Back and Moving Forward, President Monson)

No matter where we are from, no matter what our difference, we are all the same on the inside… we are all children of God. If possible, have some eggs… a brown and a white, perhaps a pink and a blue one dyed! Let a couple children come up and crack the eggs to see the same inside even with different colored shells.

As a primary, come up with 10 different ways to show respect for others!

*Ride The Respect Bus! Have a few chairs set up like a bus. Invite a few children to act out some things you might see on the bus:

a tired bus driver who drives around without any thanks, a mother and her fussy child, a man who is reading the newspaper, an old woman standing because there is no room to sit, a person in a wheelchair who is having a hard time getting through the door....

Now have friends from the primary ride the respect bus! Have one come up and choose what can be fixed on the bus and how we could show respect!

As President Thomas S. Monson has taught, “Let us learn respect for others. … None of us lives alone—in our city, our nation, or our world.” (In Quest of the Abundant Life,” Ensign, Mar. 1988)

Reverence Idea for Pioneer Songs

I have a cricket and seagull puppet and briefly told THIS story from The Friend. An interesting tidbit (that isn't in the story) are that the seagulls would eat so many crickets that they would throw up and then keep on eating! (Church History in The Fullness of Times Manual)

My daughter came up with a list of 7 interesting facts about crickets.

1. Crickets eat their own dead.

2. In Brazil, singing crickets means rain!

3. Crickets star in a lot of Disney movies.

4. Only male crickets sing.

5. Crickets do bite.

What are the other facts? I can't remember. Thank you senile self.

I brought in about 10 of these little crickets to visit our friends in primary. I was hoping they would sing for us, but those sneaky lil' guys wouldn't make a single chirp!

However, it was great because if we were getting too rowdy I'd hold up the crickets and it was completely silent as we waited to hear something! After about 5-10 seconds of listening and quiet, I'd transition us into our next song.

The children loved it and I invited any friends to come after church and find me if they wanted to see the crickets up close and longer. It was suggested by the children that next time we cover them up and perhaps they'd sing in the dark for us!

August 2012 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

Monthly Theme: I Choose to Fill My Life With Things That Invite The Spirit
Monthly Scripture: "If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things" Articles of Faith 1:13

Week 1 Having good friends will help me choose the right.

* HERE is an article from The Friend talking about our PERFECT friend, Jesus Christ. It has a nice handout on the ways Jesus is our friend. Give children a piece of paper and have them fold it into fourths. In each section they can draw a picture of a good friend and write what makes that person a good friend. For Senior Primary, they can draw a self portrait and list a couple things they can do to be better friends.

* Proverbs 18:24 "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Have a big picture/drawing up front of a friend wearing a white T-shirt. Invite children to stick a sticker on the T-shirt and tell a way to be a good friend or something they like about one of their friends. We have to stick together as friends always!!

* HERE is a whole section on friendship from For the Strength of Youth.

* "If we truly want to be tools in the hands of our Heavenly Father in bringing to pass His eternal purposes, we need only to be a friend."(Marlin K. Jensen General Conference April 1999)
Have a friendship tool kit. Attach scriptures, songs and questions about friendship to the tools and let children come up and choose one.

* Friends Are Fun (CS pg. 262) is a fun song to learn for this week!

* HERE is a great story about the power of a smile! After you briefly tell the story to the children, have some smiley faces hidden throughout the room. Invite a child to find one as you sing a song about friendship. Have them share how good friends help you choose the right!

*This is an idea for a larger primary. Play "Who's missing?!?" Invite 5 primary friends to come up front. Have them each say their name and something fun about themselves. Have everyone close their eyes as you hide one friend behind the a small table. Who is missing? This is a fun way to learn names and encourage friendship in the primary. Whoever guesses who is missing can also share a way to be a good friend! Repeat a few times!

* HERE is a nice poem from The Friend by Karen Hopkins. Make a primary "My Friends" poem! Let a child tell you something nice about a friend in primary, write it down on the blackboard and then invite that friend to say something nice about another friend in primary. If there are too many children, do the activity in small groups with their class members.

Week 2 I should read, listen to, and look at things that are pleasing to Heavenly Father.

* I really like the outline suggestion of having stations!! It's perfect!!

* "The lighthouse of the Lord sends forth signals readily recognized and never failing. These words of warning, these safety standards, are printed in a small booklet … entitled For the Strength of Youth.... Our Heavenly Father has counseled us to seek after “anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy” (Articles of Faith 1:13.) Whatever you read, listen to, or watch makes an impression on you. Don’t be afraid to walk out of a movie, turn off a television set, or change a radio station if what’s being presented does not meet your Heavenly Father’s standards. In short, if you have any question about whether a particular movie, book, or other form of entertainment is appropriate, don’t see it, don’t read it, don’t participate." President Monson (Oct. 2008 Ensign)

Have a picture of a lighthouse and bowl with some small boats floating in it. Let the children come and choose a boat. On the boats have different questions having to do with appropriate media on them.
For example: What should good movies have in them? What can make a book not so great? Would it be better to read scriptures for 1 hour or watch cartoons? Can you share something good you've read lately? Are video games that have lots of guns in them good to play?

* HERE is the BEST BEST BEST BEST BEST BEST BEST visual ever for this week's lesson! I'm going to definitely use it in a Family Home Evening! You could actually make a red light and green light, take the words of the lights and put them on word strips and then let the children decide whether it goes on green or red. You can send them home with this as a handout and like it says, have them put it by their TV to help remind them what they have learned.

* "I have a grandson who once asked me to go with him to a popular but inappropriate movie. I told him I wasn’t old enough to see that film. He was puzzled until his grandmother explained to him that the rating system by age didn’t apply to Grandpa. He came back to me and said, “I get it now, Grandpa. You’re never going to be old enough to see that movie, are you?” And he was right!"
Elder Robert D. Hales Our Duty To God April 2010 Ensign

Ask the primary children - what is Elder Hales talking about?!?! What is Elder Hales teaching his grandson and us about standards??

* "Choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

Week 3 & 4 I should do things on the Sabbath that will help me stay close to Heavenly Father.

* HERE is a story from President Monson about a friend who chose to keep the Sabbath holy. After briefly reading the story to the children, have a basketball and a basket for them to shoot it in from a distance. In order to get to shoot, they must read a scripture or tell a way to keep the Sabbath holy. We'll call this game Sabbath hoops!

* Help the children make their own stationary! HERE is an easy link on how to do so. Encourage the children to keep the Sabbath holy by writing letters and drawing pictures to help others be happy. You can invite parents of missionaries serving from the ward to come in and talk about their missionary and how important letters are to them!

* HERE is a great story about staying close through prayer! But we also stay close to Heavenly Father by keeping the Sabbath day holy too! After briefly telling the children the story, have different sea shells for the children to come up and pick. Have questions, scriptures and songs about the Sabbath taped on the sea shells for them to answer.

*What would we ever do without The Friend? HERE is another beauty! Have a little toy cow and invite a primary friend to share a way to keep the Sabbath day holy. Have 3 cups on the table and invite the friend to hide the cow under a cup. Invite another friend up front to guess where the cow is and share another way to keep the Sabbath holy. You can also ask them questions about people in the scriptures who kept the Sabbath holy, etc.

* HERE is a great article about teaching our children to keep the Sabbath holy!

* Have pictures of the following things italicized, "To hunt and fish on the Lord’s day is not keeping it holy. To plant or cultivate or harvest crops on the Sabbath is not keeping holy the Lord’s day. To go into the canyons for picnics, to attend games or rodeos or races or shows or other amusements on that day is not to keep it in holy remembrance." (Chapter 16 of Teachings of President Spencer W. Kimball)

These are things we shouldn't do on Sunday! Have the children divide into groups and draw pictures of things we SHOULD do on Sunday! Then invite them up front to take down a picture of the DON'T and replace with the DO.

End with this quote (also from Chapter 16)
"There is no criticism of... recreation—sports, picnics, plays, and motion pictures... and the Church as an organization actively sponsors such activities. But there is a proper time and place for all worthwhile things—a time for work, a time for play, a time for worship. …"

Pioneer Song Ideas

Here is a lovely article from The Friend, A Quilt That Tells A Story. It says, "Did you know that you can “read” a quilt? Pioneer quilters used patterns instead of words to tell stories."

You could either use the beautiful visual from this article and cut out the different squares OR make your own quilting squares (on paper) for the primary children to choose. Of course, you have a song assigned to that square and have them guess the story of the pattern. You won't have time for all these songs so perhaps only choose 8-10!!

Here is a list of the details of the above quilt and in ( ) a song you could sing:

Log Cabin—four cornerstones of the gospel: Jesus Christ, the restoration of the gospel, the Book of Mormon, and the priesthood (The Golden Plates CS pg.86)

Four Winds—the scriptures, which show us which way to go to return to Heavenly Father

(Search, Ponder & Pray CS pg.109)

Sunbeam—the glorious love of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ (Jesus Wants Me for A Sunbeam CS pg. 60)

Beautiful Star—becoming beautiful in mind and spirit by living the gospel and developing talents

(I Am Like A Star CS pg. 163)

Eight-Pointed Star—the covenants we make at baptism (When I Am Baptized CS pg.103)

Friendship Star—our love for others, which grows as we live the gospel (As I Have Loved You Hymns #308)

Joseph’s Coat—preparing for the priesthood, which was restored through Joseph Smith, a descendant of Joseph in the Old Testament (On A Golden Springtime Verse 3 CS pg. 88)

Love Ring—preparing to receive temple covenants someday (I Love To See The Temple CS pg.95)

Country Hearts—Primary teachers, who love and teach children to choose the right (Choose The Right Hymns #239)

Rising Sun—praising the Lord by singing Primary songs from morning till night. (Singing A Song is Fun To Do CS pg.253)

Jack in the Pulpit—giving talks and sharing testimonies in Primary (I Know My Father Lives pg.5) 

Jacob’s Ladder—learning the gospel one step at a time (I Am A Child of God CS pg.2)

Hands All around the Block—learning to serve others (When We're Helping CS pg.198)

Tree of Life—our faith in Heavenly Father, which grows as we keep the commandments (Keep The Commandments Hymns #303)

Steps to the Altar—being worthy for temple blessings (Families Can Be Together Forever CS pg.188)

King’s Crown—being worthy to be ordained to the priesthood (A Young Man Prepared CS pg. 166)

Hands with Hearts—building God’s kingdom with willing hearts and helping hands (A Happy Helper CS pg. 197)

LDS Pioneer Song Ideas

To Be A Pioneer- Illustrated and ready to use as a visual. Hooray for The Friend!

A pioneer adventure! This is just a little twist on Kathleen's AWESOME idea found HERE. Instead of a roller box, I printed out coloring pages of the different ways to sing. I'll be making a mini-pioneer singing adventure on the primary floor. The coloring pages will stand by paper clipping it to a plastic cup. I hot glued some popsicle sticks & paper to an old bus toy along with a string. Children can take turns pulling the wagon to our different adventure spots.

Another Great Primary Music Link

Wow. Another great resource!

http://iheartprimarymusic.blogspot.com/

I like easy. This wonderful site has tons of easy ideas that sound like a lot of fun! They aren't very wordy (unlike me, myself &I) and have great visuals. I'll be linking them to my side bar with Kathleen!

Music training camp? Yes. Please.
http://iheartprimarymusic.blogspot.com/2012/07/mini-summer-music-training-camp.html

Fun birthday ideas? Yes. For sure.
http://iheartprimarymusic.blogspot.com/search/label/Birthday

This list goes on and on! Just check out their archives. We will definitely be using some of these fabulous ideas!! Thanks so much ladies for sharing your expertise!!!

LDS Pioneer Song Helps & Ideas

Covered Wagons (CS #221)

These were made out of foam, hot glue & popsicle sticks.

We'll be learning the first 2 verses!

The Oxcart (CS #219)

At Costco, you can get large sheets of cardboard FOR FREE.

You just have to dig under the toilet paper. I know that sounds wrong. But really, I find the best quality cardboard under the toilet paper piles.

Oh the many uses we've found for them!!

Here's our ox. Did you know baby oxen are called steers until they are 3?

Also, they pierce the ox's nose to help direct them.

Supposedly it doesn't hurt them.

Cough. Cough.

Anyways, you can have 4 chairs in wagon formation behind the ox.

Invite a few "Positive Pioneers" to dress up in simple pioneer outfits and sit in the wagon.

They will look for good singers who are singing, then switch places and costumes with those singers for the next song.

Simple pioneer outfits could include hats, aprons and vests.

"I can't draw!!!" you might say.

Yes, you can.

If I can, you can.

God helped inspire people to invent erasers for a reason.

Click HERE for a 35 second youtube tutorial! It might even make a fun FHE.

July 2012 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

Image courtesy lds.org under abstract and patterns in multi-media library

Monthly Theme: I Choose the Right by Living Gospel Principles
Monthly Scripture: "Wherefore, let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord" 1 Nephi 3:16

Week 1 Fasting and prayer can strengthen my testimony

*4th of July Twist on this weeks theme:
During the American Revolution, the Continental Congress proclaimed July 20, 1775 as a national day of fasting and prayer in preparation for the war on independence.

Why would they need to fast and pray to get ready for war?

Ether 2:12 “Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written.”

What happened in response to their prayers and fasting?

Have about 15 different pictures having to do with America- bald eagle, flag, George Washington, Declaration of Independence…etc. Have some basic questions on fasting and prayer (about 6) intermingled with some NEAT American President spiritual quotes, scriptures and patriotic songs . Let the children come up and choose pictures and then do what it says! (I will always make a numbered list of my questions, songs, quotes and scriptures to correspond to what picture/number the children pick... it makes life very simple)

American Presidential Spiritual Quotes: (Be sure the kiddos don't confuse the American Presidents with our Prophet/President of the Church!)
"I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side."
-President Abraham Lincoln, December 1862
"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under. We are all God's handiwork, and it is appropriate for us as individuals and as a nation to call on Him in prayer.""
-President Ronald Reagan August 23, 1984
"The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded."
-President James Madison
"At this moment, I have in my heart a prayer. As I have assumed my heavy duties, I humbly pray, Almighty God, in the words of King Solomon: 'Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad, for who is able to judge this thy so great people?' I ask only to be a good and faithful servant of my LORD and my people."
-President Harry S. Truman
"Without God, there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first, the most basic expression of Americanism."
-President Dwight D. Einsenhower

Bear testimony that we live in a choice land, a land that will stay choice if we fast and pray often to Heavenly Father!

*D&C 59:14 "Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer." The tip in the Sharing Time Outline says to "remember that younger children do NOT need to fast". However, they sure can rejoice! Interestingly enough, REJOICE has 2 definitions: to feel joy and to give joy to.

Pass out some paper. Have the children fold it in half. On one side let them draw things that help them feel joy. On the other side how they can give joy! Bear testimony that sometimes fasting and going without food can be a little hard, but it is a principle we should rejoice about!

* THIS is SUCH A GREAT STORY!!!!!!! I would definitely read the story and have children act it out while you are reading. You can have simple props like a handkerchief, grasshoppers on a popsicle stick, seagulls on a popsicle stick.

* This would be an AWESOME visual if you could bring in some pictures of redwoods and a small sapling tree.
From The Friend Dec. 2008 :
" Sometimes young people tell me, “I don’t really know if I have a testimony.” They are looking for a great, grand, glorious experience that’s like a lightning bolt. I ask them, “Have you ever seen a giant redwood tree?” It’s a magnificent tree. Redwoods are thousands of years old. They are gigantic. They are large enough that someone could carve a tunnel in one and drive a car through it. Some young people believe that their testimony is not a testimony at all if it isn’t like that giant redwood tree.

     On the other hand, I also ask them, “Have you seen a baby tree, a little sapling, only five inches tall?” It’s a tree too. Some testimonies are big like a giant redwood; some are small like a sapling. But big or small, they are both testimonies. If you are wondering if you have a testimony, I would ask you—Do you believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet? Do you pray? Do you feel peace when you do? Do you believe the Book of Mormon is true? Do you believe you have a Father in Heaven? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God? If you say yes to any of these questions, then you have received a witness of the truth. You have a testimony. Just nurture it!

      Our testimonies are nurtured and grown in simple ways. When you get out of bed in the morning, pray on your knees to your Father in Heaven, and listen. When you get up off your knees, go about the events of the day trying to live the gospel and be good to others. When the day ends, have another word of prayer, express love to Heavenly Father, thank Him, and ask for His help. Sometime between those two prayers, take time each day to read and think about the scriptures. Be sure to fast on fast Sunday and attend church every week.

      If you’ll just live like that, in time your testimony will grow from a little sapling to an eight-foot-tall tree to a giant redwood. That is how a testimony is nurtured and grown."

Week 2 Being kind is doing and saying nice things to others.

* KIND-DO! Just fancy for Kindness Jeopardy. It's easiest if you just use the chalkboard and chalk. I made a visual because we'll play it at home for a FHE. A lot of the squares you can use to fill in with SHORT personal stories of the children being kind! You can call up parents the week before to get the stories! (For example: This primary friend always helps clean up the playroom without being asked.... Who is it? Suzie!!) I never turn games into competitions, because I'm weird like that. Instead I'd tell the kiddos that we're working together as a Primary and let's see how many points we can earn together! Children can cross off the square they choose. HERE is the fantastic talk I quoted Elder Wirthlin. It's a must read! It is honestly one of the very BEST talks I've ever read in my life.

K
100 Personal Primary Friend Story
200 Personal Primary Friend Story
300 Personal Primary Friend Story
400 Sing I Want To Be Kind To Everyone (CS #145b)
500 How can we be kind to mother earth?
I
100 How can you show kindness to elderly people?
200 Personal Primary Friend Story
300 Personal Primary Friend Story
400 Name 2 kind people from the scriptures and what they did to be kind.
500 Please say something nice about someone in the room.
N
100 Personal Primary Friend Story
200 How can we show kindness to animals?
300 Please DO something kind for someone in the room. (Stumped?? How about a high five or a smile!)
400 Personal Primary Friend Story
500 Personal Primary Friend Story
D
100 Name 2 kind people from the scriptures and what they did to be kind.
200 How can we show kindness to teachers?
300 Please say something kind about someone in the room.
400 Name 2 kind people from the scriptures and what they did to be kind.
500 Please read this quotes, "Kind words not only lift our spirits in the moment they are given, but they can linger with us over the years." Elder Wirthlin (Ensign April 2005)
DO!
100 Sing I Want To Be Kind To Everyone (CS #145b) Repetition is a good thing!!!
200 Please say something kind about someone in the room.
300 Please read 3 Nephi 22:10 " For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."
400 Personal Primary Friend Story
500 Please read this quotes, "Kindness is the essence of a celestial life. Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others. Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes." Elder Wirthlin (Ensign April 2005)

Week 3 Reverence is deep respect and love toward God

* What is the key to reverence?
Have about 6 different keys hidden throughout the room. Attach the following to the keys. After we gather all the keys together perhaps we can figure out what the key to reverence is! Let one child at a time find a key and answer the question. If they need help, let them call on another primary friend.
1. How can I show reverence at Family Home Evening?
2. When I read my scriptures with my family, how am I showing reverence?
3. Why should I bear testimony at Family Home Evening?
4. How can I help the Holy Ghost be a constant companion of my family?
5. What do I do at home to show love to Heavenly Father?
6. Sing Love at Home (Hymn #294)
7. Why should I be reverent? What will I get in return to being obedient to this commandment?

"The home is the key to reverence, as it is to every other godlike virtue." Spencer W. Kimball, We Should Be a Reverent People, 4–5 When we are reverent, we turn the key to happiness!

Ideas are recycled from a previous post:
* Make a giant Venn diagram (2 circles overlapping in the middle) On one side brainstorm all the different ways to show love and on the other side ways to show respect. Ideas that are the same for both go in the middle!

* Million Dollar Question Minus the Million Dollars.... When was the only time we see Jesus get really upset in the scriptures? When people weren't showing REVERENCE for His Father's house, the temple! Have 6 children come to the front. Ask the children questions having to do with the story, when they answer correctly hand them a fake million dollar bill. BUT... is money everything? What do we learn from the story?!?! Let them crumple up their bill and try to toss it in the garbage can naming a blessing that comes from being reverent. (E.g. Peace, Happiness, Eternal Life, Holy Ghost will be close...)

* Have a mother bring in a young baby if possible. When we see a beautiful baby who is sleeping, how should we act around it? Are we loud? Do we jump up and down and poke the baby? Ask the children what we do with young babies and how do we show them love? There are some things in life where we just slow down, are a little more soft, a little more quiet and little more peaceful. Just like we show love and respect for a young baby with gentleness we can do so with Heavenly Father. Have 6 different items for the children to choose and show how we treat that item with respect and love. For example, you could have scriptures. We don't throw them or rip the pages. When we treat our scriptures right are we showing reverence for Heavenly Father? Another example could be a picture of the temple. Have the primary child show whether we walk or run around the temple grounds. More items could include: hymn books, a paper doll with modest clothes on, sacrament cup, a primary chair, a Family Home Evening packet, a country's flag.

* Reverence races!! Invite 4 children to come up front. Who can be the most reverent? Invite them to go to the other side of the room... Speed is not the key to winning the race! Once they cross the finish line, invite them to share a reason why they love their Heavenly Father. Invite a couple teachers to race too!

Week 4 Honesty is telling the truth regardless of the consequences

All quotes following come from the 2nd chapter of President Gordon B. Hinkley's Standing For Something. If you haven't read it, it's quite an amazing and inspiring book!

*What is the very first principle mentioned in the 13th article of faith? Being HONEST!!!

This is a rock formation in Bolivia that has been eroded by wind through time.

President Gordon B. Hinkley has said, "Leadership- of the family, an organization, our society, or even the nation- ERODES AND EVENTUALLY FALLS APART WITHOUT HONESTY & INTEGRITY."

Could you imagine this rock being your family? Lies chip away at it until eventually it will crumble and be nothing.

* Do you have a set of trains? We have a small set that attach by magnets. If you have about 7-8 trains this would be the time to use it and bring to primary.

" Why is honesty so vital? Because where honesty and integrity are present, other virtues follow."

(President Hinckley)

Have the children talk about being honest. What are some experiences they've had about telling the truth. How did it feel? The first train, our engine will be honesty. What will follow when we're honest? Let children label the following trains (a simple post it note would do) and attach them to the honest engine.

Gratitude. Will mom be happy when she can trust you'll do what you say?

Happiness. Is life easy when everyone tells the truth? How would you like it if your Grandparents said Hey! We're going to Disneyland! and then took you to Battle Mountain, Nevada. Not that there is anything wrong with Battle Mountain. I know I've referred to it as BM before but that's just because I'm a snot. And I need to repent. Have I missed the point because of my snootiness in preference of Disneyland over other I-80 gas stops?

Obedience. Do honest people do what the scriptures say?

Love. Would you rather be friends with a person who is up front or someone who talks behind your back and gossips?

Pray and figure out other virtues that follow! At the conclusion of the lesson, sing I Believe in Being Honest (CS #149) and let the children reverently drive the train to the person sitting next to them as you sing. Make sure everyone gets a chance to drive the train just a little bit, so if you need to sing the song a few times, all the better!

* Have a bag of oreos on a small table in front. Make sure you have the children's attention and carefully take a couple out and put them on a small plate. Invite a small child to come up front. You need to go outside the door for a second, will the child watch the oreos and not eat them please? Leave briefly. Come back. Did the child eat the oreos with everyone watching? What do you think would happen if you left for a longer time? Thank the child. Tell them the following story. It's not exactly a plate of oreos, but about the importance of doing what we say. Having honor in our words.

"Karl G. Maeser, an educator from Germany, served as the first president of Brigham Young University (gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cougars!!! personal insert,not part of the quote....), now the largest private church owned university in the United States. More than a century ago, he said this to his students: "I have been asked what I mean by 'word of honor'. I will tell you. Place me behind prison walls- walls of stone ever so high, ever so thick, reaching ever so far into the ground- there is a possibility that in some way or another I might be able to escape; but stand me on the floor and draw a chalk line around me and have me give my word of honor never to cross it. Can I get out of that circle? No, never! I'd die first." And of course, pass out the oreos to all our honest primary friends.... which is everyone!

*Have a couple children act out this brief story as you read. (bring in a couple simple props) Honesty will not only bless your life but others too.

"   An older boy and his young companion were walking along a road that led through a field. They saw an old coat and a badly worn pair of men's shoes by the roadside, and, in the distance, they saw the owner working in the field. The younger boy suggested that they hide the shoes, conceal themselves, and watch the perplexity on the owner's face when he returned. The older boy, a benevolent lad, thought that would not be so good. he said the owner must be a very poor man. After discussing the matter, they concluded to try another experiment. Instead of hiding the shoes, they would put a silver dollar in each one and, concealing themselves, see what the owner did when he discovered the money.

     Soon the man returned from the field, put on his coat, slipped one foot into a shoe, felt something hard, took it out, and found a silver dollar. Wonder and surprise showed in his face. He looked at the dollar again and again, turned around and could see nobody, then proceeded to put on the other shoe where, to his great surprise, he found another dollar. his feelings overcame him and he knelt down and offered aloud a prater of thanksgiving, in which he spoke of his wife being sick and helpless and his children without bread. Then he fervently thanked the Lord for this bounty from unknown hands and evoked the blessing of heaven upon those who had given him this needed help. The boys remained concealed until he had gone. Then they quietly walked along the lane and one said to the other, "Don't you have a good feeling? Aren't you glad we didn't try to deceive him?"