LDS Great to be 8 Night Ideas!!

 

So I quickly glanced over the handbook and couldn't find anything in regards to holding a baptism preview/preparation /Great to be 8 night. I did see this though,

"Bishops give special attention to 7-year-old children in the ward, ensuring that their parents, Primary leaders and teachers, and home teachers help them prepare for baptism and confirmation."

(Handbook 2: 20.3.1)

 

If you are a primary president, pray about it and counsel with your bishop.

 

I just wanted to share what we did the other night as a presidency.

 

It's an exciting time for 7 year olds as they prepare especially hard this year for baptism. Why not help them and families?

 

Our theme for the night was Alma 5:62 "Come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye also may be partakers of the fruit of the tree of life."

 

We wanted to keep things short and simple. We each spoke for about 5-7 minutes, using visuals, on the following:

What is baptism? (examples of baptism from the scriptures)

Why are we baptized? (covenants we make with Heavenly Father)

What can we do to prepare for baptism? (this whole life is a preparation to meet God again, introduction to Faith in God program and how it helps us to prepare to partake of the fruit of the tree of life, hand out booklets)

Holy Ghost, Comforter, and Friend

 

We made sure to ask questions and get everyone involved!

 

In between why we are baptized and what can we do to prepare for baptism, we had 3 children share some thoughts/testimony about their own baptisms. THIS WAS THE BEST PART OF THE NIGHT!!!!

Boy, those kiddos rocked it! They were super thoughtful!

 

We then invited the Ward Mission Leader to share some thoughts. He was wonderful and talked about the importance of writing down in a journal all about your baptism!

 

The bishop concluded with his testimony. He also talked about the baptism interview and how they didn't need to be nervous! We are so lucky to have great priesthood leaders in our ward who are engaging and enthusiastic!

 

Refreshments were based off that theme... fruity desserts! We had fruit pizza, fruit cookies, and strawberry shortcake.

 

mmmm...pioneer woman's frosting was lovely!! Just cream cheese and marshmallow creme!

 

 

It was simple, the spirit was felt. We had handouts for the kids, including

THIS

It's a great way to learn those covenants!! Practice at night or in the car to school!

THIS

Study guide to baptism! One thing to note is "Baptism must be preceded by repentance." Remember for children, baptism doesn't wash away sins because they don't have any. However, they can still make mistakes and say sorry!! I bring it up because I feel it's very important that children understand the type of God, our loving Father is.

THIS

I've used it with my daughter and it is a treasure. I'm so glad to have things documented so we can remember!! Plus it's been a big help to her to write down definitions to really understand the articles of faith. We printed these packets out and spiral bound them.

 

And then, for the grand finale... I need to tell you about Sister Dalton.

 

Sister Dalton is an amazing woman, who is possibly perfect in every way. I'm actually very surprised she hasn't been translated. She's the type of woman who can do ANYTHING. And do it well!!!

We were a little early to set up the room and she gracefully entered wearing an outfit modest, elegant, and utterly fabulous. She walks into a room and takes your breath away she is so beautiful!!

And it's not just because she is so put together, it's because you can feel her warm soul.

You know that she is there to help. You know she will be there for whatever you need.

 

I know the world is full of Sister Daltons. Hopefully you have one in your life too. To teach you. To love you. To inspire you. To bring you closer to Christ through their example.

 

Anyways. She sewed these amazing towels with CTR on them for the children.

They were just lovely and the kids were thrilled!

There used to be a rule that Presidency members couldn't give gifts to children, but I scanned the handbook and couldn't find anything that said that. PLEASE.... if someone knows something I don't and can show me a current documented source, PLEASE let me know!!

 

We attached a poem I found HERE

I saw quite a few poems, but that one was my favorite.

 

For a great tutorial on how to make them, one little green tree (her image below) has simple and easy directions!

HERE

 

The fruit of the tree of life is the love of God. I know that a merciful Father has made possible a plan for us to return to Him. Only through Christ can we be saved. They have given us commandments and we have the privilege to choose to follow or not. Baptism is glorious! And life with the Holy Ghost is the best!! I know this to be true. In the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

LDS Baptism & Holy Ghost Outline- Scripture Study Guide

 

We are having a Baptism Preview Night and my topic of discussion is: What can I do to prepare for baptism?

 

Well.... start by studying the scriptures of course!

 

I made an "in depth" study guide that is straight from Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual.

Yes. It's an institute manual.

 

But why shouldn't we set high expectations? The vocabulary isn't hard!!

 

This is a great way for parents and children to study together and I love how each point pertaining to baptism and the Holy Ghost is so simply stated.

 

 

I'll be posting more later on the night and what we did.

If you would like a PDF copy of this study guide, please feel free to email me!

Or you can log into scribd.com for it...

 

LDS Baptism Handout Scripture Study for Parents and Children

FHE Idea based off of April 2014 General Conference Talk "Let's Not Take the Wrong Way" By Elder Claudio D. Zivic

Delicate Arch Image from NPS.ORG by Neil Herbert

 

HERE is the full talk by Elder Zivic,

all quotes mentioned come from it.

 

Prayer

 

Attention Activity:

Arch challenge!! Is there anyone in the family who can bend backwards into a perfect arch??? Show us!!

(Disclaimer: I cannot be held responsible should your husband break his back in attempting this)

 

Story:

"Several years ago I went to Arches National Park with my wife; our daughter, Evelin; and a family friend. One of the most famous arches there is called Delicate Arch. We decided to walk about 1.5 miles (2 km), climbing the mountain in order to reach the arch.

 

We started off on our pathway with great enthusiasm, but after walking a short stretch, the others needed to rest. Because of my desire to get there, I decided to continue on alone. Without paying attention to the path I ought to take, I followed a man in front of me who seemed to be moving forward with great surety. The pathway became more and more difficult, and I had to jump from one rock to another. Because of the difficulty, I was sure the women in my group would never make it. Suddenly I saw Delicate Arch, but to my great surprise, I saw that it was in an area inaccessible to me.

 

With great frustration, I decided to go back. I waited impatiently until we met up again. My immediate question was “Did you reach Delicate Arch?” They happily told me that they had. They explained that they had followed the signs showing the way, and with care and effort, they had reached their destination.

 

Unfortunately, I had taken the wrong way. What a great lesson I learned that day!"

 

Questions:
"How often do we make a mistake about the right way, letting ourselves be led along by the trends of the world? We need to continually ask ourselves if we are being doers of the words of Jesus Christ."

 

Can anyone think of an example of someone from the scriptures who did or didn't take the right path?

 

Song:
Choose the Right Way

Children's Songbook page 160

 

Activity:
Have 2-3 index cards per family member. Bring along a marker and have them share something we need to do in order to stay on the right path. Have them draw an arrow on the index card leading to a nearby spot. Move to that spot. (For example: Someone says read scriptures and study them consistently. Draw an arrow pointing to the kitchen. Go to kitchen. Next persons talks about sharing toys and draws an arrow to the stairs. Go to stairs) Have another family member share something different we need to do to stay on the path. Have them draw an arrow on the index card leading to a nearby spot. Move to that spot. Continue on. At the final spot post a picture of Delicate Arch. How did the women reach the arch? By following the signs! With care and effort!

 

Show a picture of Christ. Heavenly Father, Jesus, and our eternal families are our destination. When we do things that are right, we will reach our destination. Bear testimonies.

 

Scripture Memory Challenge for the Week:
John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

 

Closing Prayer

 

I don't usually do special treats for FHE because in all honesty, I'm just not that awesome.

However, these "arch cupcakes" seem pretty doable. Image from pinterest, no source attributed.

** Just as a side note. We usually try to incorporate as much singing with the little ones as we can. If they talk about something and we can think of a song that supports that idea, then we sing it!**

 

June 2014 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

For more pictures with quotes from General Conference click HERE

Monthly Theme: Priesthood Ordinances and Temple Work Bless My Family
Monthly Scripture: "Whatsoever shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven" Matthew 18:18

Week 1 Priesthood ordinances bless and strengthen my family.

*HERE is a lovely and simple felt board story (from The Friend, by Karen Lofgreen) about the priesthood and how it blessed the life of one family.

* Write in large letters on the chalkboard, "MINE IS A HOME WHERE EVERY HOUR, IS BLESSED BY THE STRENGTH OF PRIESTHOOD POWER". (CS 190 Love is Spoken Here)
Have a 8-10 paper clocks hidden throughout the room. Choose a reverent child to look for a clock while your pianist reverently plays that song. Have different stories, scriptures, and questions about priesthood ordinances for each clock. After they answer the question or share the story, they get to play a game to see if they can beat the clock! Have about 10 plastic cups and see if a child can stack them in a pyramid in less than a minute. For older children, try 30 seconds.
Some questions could include:
What are some examples of priesthood ordinances?
Why do you think Heavenly Father gave men the priesthood?
Can you remember a family in the scriptures who were blessed by the priesthood?
How does it make you feel knowing that one day you might have the priesthood?(For a boy)
How does it make you feel knowing that you can ask any righteous man in our ward to give you a blessing from heaven? (For a girl)

* President Brigham Young taught, “The Priesthood … is [the] perfect order and system of government, and this alone can deliver the human family from all the evils which now afflict its members, and insure them happiness and felicity hereafter.” Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe (1954), 130.
Have about 6 children come up front and make a line. Then have them mix their order and sit down. Talk about a priesthood ordinance, show a picture, ask a few questions to the children. After, have another child come up front and try to put the 6 children in the original order they were in! Do this several times!!
Priesthood Ordinances to talk about:          

Baptism & Conferring of the gift of the Holy Ghost; also called confirmation

Conferring of the priesthood (for male members)

Temple endowment

Temple marriage and sealing for time and eternity

Blessing of the Sacrament          

Blessing and naming of children          

Blessing of the sick          

Special blessings          

Patriarchal blessing

D&C 132:8 "Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion." The Priesthood helps make sure our homes have order and happiness! Priesthood ordinances bless and strengthen families!

* Invite a few different people in to Primary to share "short" stories of how priesthood ordinances have blessed or strengthened their family! You could even invite the Elders Quorum President in to talk to the children about Home Teachers. Sometimes there is no priesthood in the home, and Heavenly Father knows that! But He always will provide a way for His beloved children to be blessed by the priesthood.

* HERE is one of the most beautiful stories ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's called The Right Key by Doris Monson (The Friend March 2000)
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this story because it makes a great point at the end!!! Do you have children in your primary who don't have the priesthood in their home?? We want to be sensitive and make sure they feel good at church. This story can do that!!
Share the story and then divide the primary into groups. Give each group a picture of a key with a priesthood ordinance written on it and a scripture to look up. Have them come up with a time where someone in the group or their family has been blessed by that priesthood ordinance. After 5 minutes, have someone from each group come to the front to share what they talked about in their group.

Week 2 Temples make it possible for families to be together forever.

* This was such a fun story from Conference:
        " Later, as I was about to graduate from the university, I fell in love with a beautiful young woman named Jeanene Watkins. I thought she was beginning to have some deep feelings for me also. One night when we were talking about the future, she carefully wove into the discussion a statement that changed my life forever. She said, “When I marry, it will be to a faithful returned missionary in the temple.”

         I hadn’t thought much about a mission before then. That night my motivation to consider missionary service changed dramatically. I went home, and I could think of nothing else. I was awake all night long. I was completely distracted from my studies the next day. After many prayers I made the decision to meet with my bishop and begin my missionary application.

Jeanene never asked me to serve a mission for her. She loved me enough to share her conviction and then gave me the opportunity to work out the direction of my own life. We both served missions and later were sealed in the temple. Jeanene’s courage and commitment to her faith have made all the difference in our lives together. I am certain we would not have found the happiness we enjoy without her strong faith in the principle" Elder Richard G. Scott (HERE is the full talk, April 2014)

        Have a picture of a temple on the chalkboard. Draw about 8-10 steps leading up to the temple. We need to set the worthy goal of going to the temple so that our families can be forever!! Have the children come up with steps/things we need to do to get to the temple. Have pictures and scriptures to go along with those steps too!

* In the October 2000 Friend (HERE is the link) Rachelle F.A. Dow writes a beautiful poem entitled What Lasts?:

 

"Ice cream melts,

Flowers wilt,

The leaves of autumn fall.

Sunsets fade,

Seasons change,

And children don’t stay small.

Balloons pop,

Snowfalls stop—

Do summers last? Never!

Weekends fly,

Today will die,

But …

FAMILIES

ARE

FOREVER!"

 

I would gather pictures to illustrate this WONDERFUL poem (ice cream, flower, leaves, sunset... etc.) and then have a picture of a temple on the back. Let a child pick one picture from the poem, then turn over the picture and answer a question or read a scripture or have the primary sing a song- having to do with temples and forever families.

Some examples of questions might include:
Has The Lord commanded that temples be built always, or just in latter days? Can you name some people that built temples in ancient times? (Nephi, Solomon, Children of Israel)

What do we need to do in our families to be worthy to go to the temple?

How can we prepare now to go to the temple?
What are some feelings you have when you are at the temple grounds?

Why do you think people wear white inside the temple?

What is something you would like to do with your forever family in the resurrection?

 

* HERE is THE BEST story!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Definitely a good one for sharing time or family home evening!!! Before reading the story (with lots of enthusiasm), have a canning jar to show the children. Have a bunch of red pom poms too. Ask the children, what does jam have to do with the temple? This story has some great ideas to answer that question!!
     After you read the story, play a game of toss the berry into the jar- the pom poms being the berries. Different jars could be worth different points. Work together and see how many points you can get!! But in order to toss a berry, you have to answer a question or read a scripture about temples and/or families.

* HERE (July 2011 The Temple is a House of God) is a fun look and find about families that are getting ready to go to the temple. Make copies and divide the children into pairs or groups of 3. Have them do the activity and come up with 1 thing they'd like to share with the primary about temples.

* I have a HUGE list of ideas under the label to the left - Temples. It's a lot of scrolling, but there are plenty of ideas if you are willing to look. The one with the fake camera picture made me chuckle. 10 points for you if you can find that idea!!

Week 3 I can prepare now to be worthy to enter the temple.

* HERE is a bingo like game from The Friend. If it had visuals it'd be perfect. It might just be my browser, but I don't see pictures. However, that doesn't mean you can't make your own version on power point. How do you play bingo with 100 kids? Give each class a board and have them take turns putting on a marker.

* HERE is a beautiful temple box children can make!! It also has ways they can prepare to go to the temple to put inside their creation.

* HERE is another game from The Friend. Excellent for Junior Primary! I like how in the story it talks about even if your family isn't sealed, someday you can go to the temple!

* HERE is a story about a preparing for the temple by being kind in our family. Share the story with the children. Sometimes telling it in your own words will help the children pay better attention. In the story the little girl decides to share her crayons and help her brother with a puzzle. Have hidden crayons and puzzle pieces throughout the room and invite children to find one while you sing I love to See the Temple. When they find one, have them share a way they can prepare to be worthy to go to the temple.

Week 4 Family history work connects me to my ancestors.

 

* Invite your ward Family History specialist to come in and talk with the children! Or even a Young Woman or Young Man who like to do family file work. Have them talk a little about why they enjoy it and share their testimony.

 

* HERE is a Family History ABC game. AWESOME!!!! The Friend really does make life so easy!! GOD BLESS YOU ALL WHO DO WHAT YOU DO FOR THE FRIEND MAGAZINE!!!!!!!
HERE are the pictures to go along with the game, just look on the left for Family History ABC's... click, and then since it's a PDF file, you'll have to click the arrow on the bar to 25 to get that page also. The bar at the top will look like this

 

 

* HERE is another blessed link from The Friend with a Family History Scripture Word Find. I bet the Senior Primary would love to do this!! You could have them race and see who could find the most words in 2 minutes!! Then have another sheet of paper (graphing paper works nicely so it's neat and tidy) where they make a word find with names from their own family history!!

* HERE Elder Bednar talks about WHY family history is important. Have a pair of silly glasses that the children can wear to "seek after" (as Joseph Smith said!!!) the reasons that Elder Bednar gives. There are 8 after you read the first one to the children, although one is technically an invitation. You can put his sentences on hearts and hide them throughout the room.

Simple Mother's Day Activity and Not So Simple, but still doable, Mother's Day Gift

I'm pretty big on "time". I love things that encourage me to spend time with my kids. With that said, I decided on sending the kids home with a roll the dice game, flower version... "Dear Mother All Flowers Remind Me of You" (CS #202).

If you've never played a roll the dice drawing game, it's pretty simple. On the first roll, depending on what number you roll, you'll draw the center of the flower. You'll also need to see what you need to talk about depending on the number rolled! You do this 4 times until your flower is complete. Do as many flowers as you'd like together!!

We'll also have the children plant a little flower for their mother/special lady in a cup. If anyone would like a PDF of the game (courtesy expressivemonkey.com, thank you thank you!!) and the instruction handout I made, please feel free to email me. I'll try to get back to you as quickly as I can.

 

Another gift I was toying around with... but just don't have the "umph" to put together for 80+ kids is based off a quote by Elder Holland. If I had less kids or was an Activity Day Leader it might be more doable!

"Often the greatest challenge of all for a young mother is simply fatigue. Through these years, mothers go longer on less sleep and give more to others with less personal renewal for themselves than any other group I know at any other time in life. It is not surprising when the shadows under their eyes sometimes vaguely resemble the state of Rhode Island.

Do the best you can through these years, but whatever else you do, cherish that role that is so uniquely yours and for which heaven itself sends angels to watch over you and your little ones."

Elder Jeffry R. Holland

Because She is A Mother April 1997

I made a coupon book, and thought that the children could make a simple relaxing sugar scrub.

 

You'd need some sort of small container, sugar, and dawn dish soap. The children could easily mix together the ingredients.

(Picture and Instructions found HERE, onegoodthingbyjillee.com, essential oil not really essential)

 

Also, a nice eye mask that that older children could make (out of duct tape!!) and add a ribbon to.

(Picture and Instructions found HERE jacolynmurphy.com)

 

Put everything together in a small plastic bag and there you have it!

FHE Idea Based off April 2014 General Conference Talk "Spiritual Whirlwinds" by Elder Neil A. Anderson

Image and whirlwind play idea from housingaforest.com found HERE

I recommend reading the full article because I guess streamers can get caught in hair!

 

For this family home evening you can go big, attach a hula hoop to a ceiling fan with a ton of streamers. Or you can go simple and have a glass bowl and blow dryer.

 

HERE is Elder Neil A. Anderson's talk from Conference.

All quotes mentioned in this post are from it!

 

Prayer

 

Story:

"Many years ago while we were visiting our family in Florida, a tornado touched down not too far from us. One woman living in a mobile home went into her bathroom for safety. The mobile home began to shake. A few moments passed. Then she heard her neighbor’s voice: “I am here in the front room.” Coming out of the bathroom, to her great astonishment, she discovered that the tornado had lifted and carried her mobile home through the air, landing it perfectly upright on the top of her neighbor’s mobile home."

 

Point of the story:

"Spiritual whirlwinds.. can uproot you from your spiritual foundations and land your spirit in places you never imagined possible, sometimes with your barely noticing that you have been moved."

 

Questions:

What are whirlwinds in our life? (temptations, challenges, tests, distractions)
What can calm these life whirlwinds? (repentance, patience)

 

Analogy:

" In nature, trees that grow up in a windy environment become stronger. As winds whip around a young sapling, forces inside the tree do two things. First, they stimulate the roots to grow faster and spread farther. Second, the forces in the tree start creating cell structures that actually make the trunk and branches thicker and more flexible to the pressure of the wind. These stronger roots and branches protect the tree from winds that are sure to return.

You are infinitely more precious to God than a tree. You are His son or His daughter. He made your spirit strong and capable of being resilient to the whirlwinds of life. The whirlwinds in your youth, like the wind against a young tree, can increase your spiritual strength, preparing you for the years ahead."

 

Activity:
If you choose to hang streamers on your fan, attach numbers to the bottom of 6-8 streamers.

Turn on the fan and let a family member try to get a streamer with a number.

Have them answer the questions, read scriptures and quotes as follows... or add your own!

 

 

If you choose to do the glass bowl and blow dryer, have 6-8 small pieces of paper numbered inside the glass bowl.

Have a family member turn on the blow dryer and point in the bowl. Have another family member try to catch a piece of paper that will go flying. Lots of papers will fly out, just have them choose one and put the rest back... or others can help pick them up too!

Have them answer the questions, read scriptures and quotes as follows... or add your own!

 

Questions, Scriptures, Song to be used for activity:

 

1. What is the foundation we should build on to be strong against the whirlwinds?
Read Helaman 5:12

 

2. If others do not believe what you do, how can you stand for the right in a loving Christ like way?

Read quote from article, "The Prophet Joseph Smith warned us to “beware of self-righteousness” and to enlarge our hearts toward all men and women until we feel “to take them upon our shoulders.” In the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is no place for ridicule, bullying, or bigotry."

 

3. Sing the Wise Man & The Foolish Man (as a family)

(CS pg. 281 found HERE) but change the words a little-

The winds blew right and the winds blew left....

And the house on the sand blew away!!!!

 

4. How is the Book of Mormon a protection from whirlwinds?

What is your favorite Book of Mormon story that teaches us about Christ?

 

5. Why is going to the temple an important goal?

"The Lord has given you another way to stand firm, a spiritual gift more powerful than the whirlwinds of the adversary! He said, “Stand … in holy places, and be not moved...

Have you ever stood in the temple, dressed in white, waiting to do baptisms? How did you feel? There is a tangible feeling of holiness in the temple. The peace of the Savior subdues the swirling whirlwinds of the world. The way you feel in the temple is a pattern for how you want to feel in your life"

 

6. What can you do this week to "Treasure more completely His incomparable life and teachings"?

 

7. "Build more firmly your foundation upon the rock of your Redeemer"

Name 5 things we can do to make Christ the center of our lives.

 

8. Read John 14:18

Whirlwinds are pretty scary, but what does Heavenly Father promise us?

 

Bear Testimonies

 

Prayer

Happy Easter!!

My sweet bunny!!

Photo by Alicia Lyman

 

Hello all!! Just wanted to re-post some Easter ideas!!

 

Easter Reading Chart... you can get it HERE on scribd.com or just email me and I'll send you the pdf version.

 

 

He Is Risen Trivia Game... you can get it HERE on scribd.com or again, you can email me!

HERE is a link to see the questions better hopefully.

 

Also, an idea for a fun Easter Singing Time....

 

Easter Tree Singing Time Activity

Have child choose a numbered egg hanging from the tree. Sing a song a certain way, according to number.

Ways to Sing

1.     Sing with 2 fingers bent like bunny ears behind your head.

2.     Sing with arms out front, fingers intertwined, like you are holding a giant Easter egg

3.     Uh-oh! Spring pollen is making you sneeze! Hold your nose and sing.

4.     Cheep! Cheep! Cheep! Instead of words, sing with a cheep!

5.     Make a butterfly. Link arms with a neighbor, use the other arm to flap your wing while you sing.

6.     Hidden egg… sing loud or soft to direct friend to find an egg.

7.     Flower pointer… primary friend uses flower to point to what side of room will sing.

8.     Sing while moving your cottontail.

9.     Sing while moving a pretend basket in your hand to the rhythm of the song.

10. Have a person up front painting an Easter egg in the air with their pointer finger. Children mirror how that person paints. So if they do zigzags, so do you! If they do dots, so do you!!

May 2014 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

This picture is from The Friend October 2012 by the talented Oakley.

HERE is the talk by Elder Scott, it's one of my all time favorites.

Monthly Theme: Families are Blessed When They Follow The Prophet
Monthly Scripture: "Be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets."
2 Peter 3:2

 

Week 1 God speaks to us through prophets.

*Grab an erasable white board and marker, a Gospel Art Book, and get ready for a game! A reverent child will be called on to come up front. They can choose any ancient or modern day prophet they can think of! They will whisper the name to you and you will write down the name of the prophet on the white board and then the primary children have to guess who the prophet is by asking YES or NO questions. They can't guess the prophet's name until AT LEAST 4 questions ABOUT the prophet have been asked!! After the prophet is guessed, see if anyone can tell us what that prophet taught!

* HERE is a link from the Liahonna (by Sandra Tanner and Cristina Franco). It has pictures of prophets and scriptures to match. You could print this off for small groups to match!!

* Beat the Teachers!! Using the chalkboard, draw 6 short lines to a picture of Jesus and then 6 lines on the other side of the picture. The primary children will get a question about the week's theme and if they get it right they can make an X on the line. Then the teacher's turn and on the other side if they get it right, they can make an X on the line. Basically it's a race to the middle, The Savior!! And of course the children can get help from other children, teachers from other teachers.
       Some questions for the kiddos could include:
Name 5 prophets from the Book of Mormon.
Name 2 things that were taught, in detail, at General Conference.
If a prophet speaks as a prophet, is it the same as The Lord saying it?
Who is your favorite prophet and why?
How do you feel knowing that God still speaks to us today? Can you name 3 ancient prophets that haven't been mentioned and 3 modern day apostles/prophets?
What does it mean to sustain the prophet?
      Some questions for the teachers could include (remember to make them a little harder!!):
What is the scripture reference for this scripture: "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7)
Can you say the 5th Article of Faith out loud from memory? What does that AOF have to do with Prophets?
What President of the Church said, "I say to Israel, the Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as president of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the program. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so he will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty.” (Wilford Woodruff)
Can you name all the current apostles/prophets?
What is one of your favorite teachings from the prophets?
What is something Hababkkuk taught?

A couple Recycled ideas from previous posts:

* We have a little girl in our primary who wants to become a movie director. Bring in a church film. Has anyone seen this movie? What are the credits at the end? Does anyone know the difference between a movie producer and a movie director? Basically, a movie producer is in charge of and directs EVERYTHING but will always need help dealing with the actors/people. That's where the director comes in. A movie director guides the actors under the producers supervision.
How does this compare to Jesus Christ and prophets? Make a paper action sign and have the children act out charades of different things or stories that were taught during our last conference!

* Have a list of cleaning chores around the home. Dusting, washing dishes, vacuuming, laundry, etc. Can mom do these all by herself? Sure! Would it be better if she had helpers? Heavenly Father could clean the world all by Himself, but He has prophets as His special helpers.

Have a bucket full of cleaning supplies. Invite children to come up and choose items. On the cleaning items have questions, scriptures and songs having to do with Prophets speak for Heavenly Father.
D&C 88:74 "...Yea, purify your hearts, and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean"

* Debate time! Have 2 children come up front and explain what a debate is. They have 30 seconds each to tell their side... what is the best flavor of ice cream and why? Who in the primary agrees and why? What about when it comes to Gospel topics? Is there a debate over those?

Sister Elaine A. Cannon, who has devoted much of her life to guiding and teaching young people, bore this witness of the living prophet: “Now, as he speaks to us … it is as if the Lord Jesus Christ himself were addressing us. … Christ made this very clear when he said to others of his children a time ago, ‘Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these … whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you’ (3 Nephi 12:1). … Your course should become clear, your priorities ought to be known to you. … Personal opinions vary. Eternal principles never do. When the prophet speaks … the debate is over” (“If We Want to Go Up, We Have to Go On,” New Era, Jan.–Feb. 1979, pp. 40–41).

Week 2 The prophets in the scriptures are examples to my family.

* Have some "special guests" come to primary! Invite a few adults to dress up as certain prophets in the scriptures and share their story. Ask the children how these prophets are examples to each of us and our families?

* President Harold B. Lee taught, “The most important of the Lord’s work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own homes” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee [2000], 134). Draw a large home on the chalkboard. Get about 10 different color paint sample cards from Wal-Mart. Ooooo, pretty! Have different scripture references of different prophets on the back of each of the cards. Divide into groups and hand out the paint cards. Give the groups a few questions about the prophet too. Let them discuss 3-4 minutes.  An extra attentive primary child can have the reverent stick (a free paint stick/stirrer) and call on children to come share what they discussed in groups. Just like paint makes our walls at home beautiful, the prophets in the scriptures make our families and homes a more lovely place because of their examples and teachings.

* James 5:10 "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience."
     Families are NEVER perfect!!! We all make mistakes, and fortunately because of Jesus, we can repent!!
     Dioramas are mentioned in Teaching, No Greater Call HERE. However, I don't think I've ever seen them utilized. This would be a great week to make 3-4 dioramas. I would choose Job, Lehi, and Jacob/Israel and his 12 sons to really hit home the mentioned scripture. Family life requires patience and the life of the prophets in the scriptures are wonderful examples for us!!

* Grab your sunglasses and feather boa. Put them on dramatically and introduce yourself as the latest and greatest movie star/rock star/athlete. Crumple a piece of paper and throw it in the garbage can... to demonstrate your great athletic ability. You are super famous and everyone in the world knows your name. Because so many people know who you are.... you must be a good example right? You are a super star!!!!! Nothing you do could be wrong!!! Wait and see what the children say. There are a lot of nice people in the world who are famous for different talents they have, but it doesn't mean they are good examples. Remember, we are not "worldly" people.
      1 John 2:15 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
    Have a picture of a magazine, a TV, a movie screen, a book, a basketball, a football... etc, things to represent where the world might look for an example. Have large red X's to cover those pictures. Have scripture stories of the prophets for each picture. Have a child choose a picture (let's say it's the magazine one, and of course they can feel free to wear your boa or sunglasses) and briefly explain how that prophet set a good example for our families. Have them X out the magazine picture and put a picture of the prophet above it. And of course, people in church magazines we can look to for a good example... but not really the magazines we see by the grocery check out!
     And of course, make sure to say that THERE ARE A LOT of good famous people out there!! A person doesn't have to be a member of The Church to be a good example!! Look at Abraham Lincoln or Mother Theresa or Martin Luther King Jr. We just need to be careful who we look to for examples. Ultimately, our greatest example is Our Savior!!

* Family Home Run Evening!!! Tell the children that what you do today in sharing time, they can easily do at home!!! Grab a roll of wrapping paper and a balloon, or some sort of soft ball. You, the pitcher, are going to have some questions about prophets and the examples they set for families. A child is at bat at the front of the room and can throw the balloon themselves and try to hit it, then they reverently walk to a corner of the room. If they give a really good answer they can go to 2nd base. Super good answer, 3rd base. WOW!!! Can't believe you know that... home reverent walk/run! Anyone in the primary can steal the base if they catch the balloon.... SITTING DOWN. If they are standing at all or jump up, it's not a steal. Stealing the base means switching corners with the child that is there. See how many home runs/ reverent walks you can get as a primary!!!
    Clarification: So if a child answers a question they go to first base, next child comes up and answers a question and the first child moves to second base, second child moves to first base. Basically, just move the kiddos along!!

Week 3 My family will be blessed as we follow the prophet.

* Multiple Choice Quiz Time!! The week before, choose 4 families from the ward that the children know well. Ask them for some examples in their life (about 3-4 short stories each) how following the prophet has blessed them. For sharing time, write A B C D on the board and under each letter the name of one of the families you got stories from. Tell the children you are going to have a multiple choice quiz!! Invite 3 children  up at a time, read them a story and have them stand under the letter/family they think the story is about. Have your primary pianist announce the correct answer!!

* Have a picture of a prophet. Have a picture of a family. Let a child pick a spot, any spot to put the picture of the prophet. See if the children can remember some of the stories from General Conference. Share some brief stories from Conference then ask the children what the message is of that story and how your family can be blessed by that principle. Whoever answers can take the picture of the family and put it by the prophet. Then another child comes up and moves the picture of the prophet. Share a conference story, move family.... continue on!! :)

* HERE is a great example of how President Hinckley's family was blessed by following the prophet. After reading it and going over the questions with the children. Have a few highlighted conference talks for the children to read in groups... the highlighted parts. Have them brainstorm ideas for a Family Home Evening based off following the teachings of that prophet/apostle, then share with the primary.

Week 4 The prophet speaks to us at General Conference.

* HERE is a must read to prepare for this week's topic. In October 2014, Elder Robert D. Hales spoke extensively on the topic of General Conference.

* HERE is a conference center tour found off LDS.org. If you are able to download, it's a short video about the conference center and what happens behind the scenes at conference! It's really wonderful and interesting!! It is about 2 1/2 minutes in length. HERE is the written message if you can't get the video... but the video is really awesome.

* HERE are some conference hidden pictures. My children LOVE these types of things. Why not turn it into a sharing time or Family Home Evening? Have strips of paper with scriptures, songs, and questions having to do with General Conference folded in a paper bag. A child comes up front and picks from the bag. Once the answer or read the scripture or lead the song, they get to see if they can color/find something from the look and find. Just have the look and find on the blackboard. If they need help, have them call on another primary friend to come up. Make copies for the primary children to take home after the lesson.

* LDS.org makes life so much easier!!! HERE are conference squares. Print off a sheet for each child or for small groups. Have 10-20 short quotes from Conference. Have them play conference squares as you or another good reader reads the quote.

* Sometimes we might think that Conference is a little long or that it's just for adults... but it's not!! The prophet speaks to US at General Conference. HERE is a story of a little girl who could testify to that truth!! Read the story, then have the children write their name on a post it and put it on the chalkboard, all seperate. Have them think of something they like to hear about during conference... whether it's faith or stories from the Book of Mormon or talks about the temple or even the singing!! Invite a child up front, blindfold them or have them close their eyes and choose a post it or 2  from the chalkboard. Whoever has their name chosen can say what they like to hear about at General Conference or one of their favorite messages from the last conference... Heavenly Father knows us each by name. He knows us better than we know ourselves and at Conference time, He speaks to us through His holy prophet!!

Book of Mormon, Book of MORMON writing prompts for children

In continuation of my Book of Mormon Writing Prompts for Children, here are some for the Book of Mormon.

Book of Mormon

Book of MORMON Writing Prompts

By Sofia Lykes 2014

1.    Create a “Good Bye Note” from the 3 Nephites to the people of the America’s during the time of Mormon. In the note include reasons why they have to go, any feelings they might have, and any words of wisdom to those they leave behind!

2.    Extra! Extra! Read all about it! In Mormon 4, the city Desolation is fought over. Write an article focused on the war for the newspaper “Desolation Daily”.

3.    Unfortunately, many sad things take place in this book of scripture because of the wickedness of the people. Mormon talks about how this sorrow could be avoided if the people would just repent! Make a list of 25 things that make you sad. On the other side make a list of 25 things that make you happy.

4.    Create a Venn Diagram and compare the destruction of the Nephites with that of the Jaredites. Try to include as many details as you can. Specifically look at Mormon 6, Mormon 8:2, Ether 14 & 15.

     5.    Poor Moroni sees a lot in his lifetime. At one point in
          Mormon 8 he is all alone. He’s witnessed the entire
          destruction of his people. Write a poem about true
          loneliness from his perspective.
 

6.     God is a God of Miracles because….

 
     7.   “Be wise in the days of your probation.” What are
            some wise choices you can make in your life
            daily and in the future?