April Sharing Time 2008

The prophet teaches me to read and pray about the Book of Mormon

(Moroni 10:3–4; Gordon B.Hinckley, “A Testimony Vibrant and True,”
Ensign, Aug. 2005, 2–6; GP, chapters 8, 10).

Have a large picture of the conference center (possible overhead projection?), make a list of questions based off of President Hinckley's talk and when the kids answer the questions correctly, they can move people into the conference center. See how many people can fit into the conference center.

Questions will of course be age appropriate and scriptures can be used to help.

Opening Activity: Pointing to the conference center, giving the following statistics.
The auditorium in the Conference Center seats 21,000, and a separate theater in the building seats an additional 850. The building is constructed of granite from the same quarry which provided the granite for the Salt Lake Temple.

Why does the conference center need to be so big? What is taught at the conference center and by who?

Today we are going to focus on how the prophet teaches me to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. (Make a sign to display your objective or write this on the board)

Senior Sharing Time questions (Tape a quote for the child to read under their chair) Tell the children that reverence, participation, thoughtfulness and helpfulness gets people to the conference center. Let's see how many people we can get there as a primary! Have one child designated as the person taper to the board. (A possible variation, they could draw stick figures around a picture of the pulpit and organ)

1. President Hinckley has said, "We often sing in our congregations a favorite hymn, “An Angel from on High,” whose words were written more than a century and a half ago by Parley P. Pratt They represent his declaration of the miraculous coming forth of a remarkable book. Exactly 176 years ago this fall that book was first being set in type and run on a press in Palmyra, New York."

So who wrote An Angel from on High and what was that book that inspired that song? (Parley P.Pratt and the Book of Mormon)

2. President Hinckley has said, "It is inspiring to learn how Parley Pratt came to know of the book about which he wrote the words of this hymn. In August of 1830, as a lay preacher, he was traveling from Ohio to eastern New York. At Newark, along the Erie Canal, he left the boat and walked 10 miles (16 km) into the country where he met a Baptist deacon by the name of Hamlin, who told him “of a book, a strange book, a VERY STRANGE BOOK! … This book, he said, purported to have been originally written on plates either of gold or brass, by a branch of the tribes of Israel; and to have been discovered and translated by a young man near Palmyra, in the State of New York, by the aid of visions, or the ministry of angels. I inquired of him how or where the book was to be obtained. He promised me the perusal of it, at his house the next day. … Next morning I called at his house, where, for the first time, my eyes beheld the ‘BOOK OF MORMON’—that book of books … which was the principal means, in the hands of God, of directing the entire course of my future life.
What material were the plates written on? How has the book changed the entire course of your future life?

3. Parley P. Pratt said, "I opened it with eagerness, and read its title page. I then read the testimony of several witnesses in relation to the manner of its being found and translated. After this I commenced its contents by course. I read all day; eating was a burden, I had no desire for food; sleep was a burden when the night came, for I preferred reading to sleep. As I read, the spirit of the Lord was upon me, and I knew and comprehended that the book was true, as plainly and manifestly as a man comprehends and knows that he exists.”

Have you ever had an experience like this with the scriptures? What about Harry Potter? What can we do to make our attitudes better, just like Brother Pratt?

4. President Hinckley has said, "Parley Pratt’s experience with the Book of Mormon was not unique. As the volumes of the first edition were circulated and read, strong men and women by the hundreds were so deeply touched that they gave up everything they owned, and in the years that followed not a few even gave their lives for the witness they carried in their hearts of the truth of this remarkable volume. Today, a century and three-quarters after its first publication, the Book of Mormon is more widely read than at any time in its history. Whereas there were 5,000 copies in that first edition, about 5,000,000 are currently distributed each year, and the book or selections from the book are available in 106 languages.

Can you name a language the Book of Mormon is written in? Have you ever handed out a Book of Mormon? What makes a good missionary?

5. President Hinckley has said, "Its appeal is as timeless as truth, as universal as mankind. It is the only book that contains within its covers a promise that by divine power the reader may know with certainty of its truth."

Where is this promise found in the Book of Mormon?

6. President Hinckley has said about the Book of Mormon, "Its origin is miraculous; when the story of that origin is first told to one unfamiliar with it, it is almost unbelievable. But the book is here to be felt and handled and read. No one can dispute its presence. All efforts to account for its origin, other than the account given by Joseph Smith, have been shown to lack substance. It is a record of ancient America. It is a scripture of the New World, as certainly as the Bible is the scripture of the Old. Each of these volumes of scripture speaks of the other. Each carries with it the spirit of inspiration, the power to convince and to convert. Together they become two witnesses, hand in hand, that Jesus is the Christ, the resurrected and living Son of the living God.
What was miraculous about the origin of the Book of Mormon? What experiences have you had to know that Joseph Smith is a true prophet?

7. President Hinckley has said, "The Book of Mormon narrative is a chronicle of nations long since gone. But in its descriptions of the problems of today’s society, it is as current as the morning newspaper and much more definitive, inspired, and inspiring concerning the solutions of those problems. I know of no other writing which sets forth with such clarity the tragic consequences to societies that follow courses contrary to the commandments of God. Its pages trace the stories of two distinct civilizations that flourished on the Western Hemisphere. Each began as a small nation, its people walking in the fear of the Lord. But with prosperity came growing evils. The people succumbed to the wiles of ambitious and scheming leaders who oppressed them with burdensome taxes, who lulled them with hollow promises, who countenanced and even encouraged loose and lascivious living. These evil schemers led the people into terrible wars that resulted in the death of millions and the final and total extinction of two great civilizations in two different eras."

Who were some evil schemers in the Book of Mormon?

8. President Hinckley has said, "No other written testament so clearly illustrates the fact that when men and nations walk in the fear of God and in obedience to His commandments, they prosper and grow, but when they disregard Him and His word, there comes a decay that, unless arrested by righteousness, leads to impotence and death. The Book of Mormon is an affirmation of the Old Testament proverb: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34)."

What else does the Book of Mormon reaffirm (or help prove true) in the bible?
Quote to help spark ideas:
"While the Book of Mormon speaks with power to the issues that affect our modern society, the great and stirring burden of its message is a testimony, vibrant and true, that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah, He who walked the dusty roads of Palestine healing the sick and teaching the doctrines of salvation; who died upon the cross of Calvary; who on the third day came forth from the tomb, appearing to many. Prior to His final Ascension, He visited the people of this Western Hemisphere, concerning whom He earlier had said, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (John 10:16)."

9. President Hinckley has said, "I offer a challenge to members of the Church throughout the

world and to our friends everywhere to read or reread the Book of Mormon. If you will read a bit more than one and one-half chapters a day, you will be able to finish the book before the end of this year. Very near the end of its 239 chapters, you will find a challenge issued by the prophet Moroni as he completed his record nearly 16 centuries ago. Said he:
“And I exhort you to remember these things; for the time speedily cometh that ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust? …
“And God shall show unto you, that that which I have written is true” (Moro. 10:27, 29).
Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God."

Will you accept this challenge? Will you dedicate yourselves to reading the Book of Mormon this year?

Closing Activity: See how many people you got to the conference center. Praise the children on their teamwork and just plain awesome spirits! As we listen to the words of the Prophet at conference and read our scriptures, may we be filled with the Holy Ghost and know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Jesus lives and is our Saviour. Bear Testimony.

Jr. Primary
Same Opening Activity
Prayerfully select quotes: I found the following sites to be extremely helpful.

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=f78b0e46d0bdb010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1
http://scriptures.lds.org/gs/b/35

Sharing Time:

Have Displayed 10 pictures of different Prophets and the Savior
Make 10 quotes of those prophets (in referencing the book of Mormon) and have them so they aren't showing. 1 quote is from the Savior Himself. See if the children can match the quote to the prophet. Make sure to explain a quote is something a person has said. On the quotes there can be hints to help them get to know that prophet better.

1. President Ezra Taft Benson, " How pleased I am to hear of your love for the Book of Mormon. I love it too, and Heavenly Father wants you to continue to learn from the Book of Mormon every day."

Hints: He was born on a farm in Idaho where he learned about hard work. He had a very important government job and helped the President of the United States, this job was Secretary of Agriculture. He helped missionary work expand in Eastern Europe.

2. President Gordon B.Hinkley, "I offer a challenge to members of the Church throughout the world and to our friends everywhere to read or reread the Book of Mormon...regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God."

Hints: He was the first Church President ever to travel to Spain, where in 1996 he broke ground for a temple in Madrid, and to Africa, where he met with thousands of Latter-day Saints in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. His wife's name was Marjorie and they had 5 children.

3. Joseph Smith: “ The Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

Hints: His first uttered prayer was answered by a visitation by Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in a grove of trees. He was tarred and feathered, even eventually murdered sealing his testimony with his blood.

4. Jesus Christ, "He [Joseph Smith] has translated the book, even that part which I have commanded him, and as your Lord and your God liveth it is true.” (D&C 17:6.)

Hint: He was God's only begotten. He atoned for our sins in Gethsemane. He was the first to be resurrected.

5. John Taylor, "“Do not trust in yourselves, but study the best books—the Bible and Book of Mormon—and get all the information you can, and then cleave to God and keep yourselves free from corruption and pollution of every kind, and the blessings of the Most High will be with you.”

Hint: Was born in England and late immigrated to Canada. Was wounded in Carthage, with Joseph Smith when he died. Was the third latter day prophet.

6. Joseph F.Smith, "“In relation to reading the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants, … no man can be an efficient missionary of this church unless he is familiar with these books. And the more familiar he is with them, the more capable will he be to discharge the duties of his ministry.”

Hint: His father was Hyrum Smith. Helped to build many church historical sites.

7. George Albert Smith, "“It fills my heart with joy to know that every man who will read it [the Book of Mormon] prayerfully, every man who will desire to know whether it be of God or not has the promise, not of Joseph Smith or any living being, but the promise of our Heavenly Father that they shall know of a surety that it is of God. … These two books [the Book of Mormon and the Bible] hand in hand teach us all where we came from, why we are here, where we may go, and they both contain the advice, the loving advice of our Heavenly Father intended to inspire us to do that which will enrich our lives here and prepare us for eternal happiness.”
Hint: Despite fragile health and impaired eyesight, he had a distinguished career as a Church leader. He organized the Church's massive welfare assistance to Europe following World War II. He also championed Scouting among Latter-day Saints

8. Spencer W. Kimball, "“May I tell you of a great adventure? As I traveled to a weekend assignment, I took with me an unusual book which was my constant companion. I could lay it down only to sleep, eat, and change trains. It fascinated me, captivated me, and held me spellbound with its irresistible charm and engaging interest. I have read it many times. As I finished it, I closed the book and sat back, absorbed as I relived its contents. Its pages held me, bound me, and my eyes were riveted to them. I knew the book was factual. … It is the word of God. It is a powerful second witness of Christ. … In the final chapter of the book is the never-failing promise that every person who will read the book with a sincere, prayerful desire to know of its divinity shall have the assurance. … My beloved friends, I give to you the Book of Mormon. May you read it prayerfully, study it carefully, and receive for yourselves the testimony of its divinity.”

Hint: He ran an insurance business.In the 12 years of his presidency, the number of operating temples doubled, the number of missionaries increased by 50 percent, and the priesthood was extended to all worthy male members.

9. Moroni, "And in the mouth of three witnesses shall these things be established; and the testimony of three, and this work, in the which shall be shown forth the power of God and also his word, of which the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost bear record—and all this shall stand as a testimony against the world at the last day. "

Hint: Ether 5:4

10. Isaiah, " And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust. "

Hint: Isaiah 29:4

11. Mormon, "For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them. "

Hint: Mormon 7:9

March 16, 2008 Sharing Time... I changed my mind

Change of plans! I felt like the other sharing time wasn't focused enough on the actual theme of the week, which is: Jesus Christ showed me how to do the will of Heavenly Father.

Opening Activity: Read John 13:15 "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done..." Introduce Forgetful Fred. He loves to go to Primary and learn about Jesus, but sometimes he has a hard time remembering things. We're going to help him answer 2 questions today. Do you think you can help him? The 2 questions are 1)What did Jesus do to show me the will of Heavenly Father? and 2) Can I do that?

Sharing Time: Using GAK pictures and scriptures, go over things that Jesus did in His life to show us how to do the will of the Father.

Matthew 4:2-4 Jesus fasted and endured temptations.

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 3:13-17 Jesus was baptized.

Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 8: 1-4 Jesus Healed the sick.

When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Matthew 12: 10-13 Jesus did well on the Sabbath Day.

And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

Matthew 12:36-37, 15:11 Jesus spoke kindness and perfection.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

Matthew 14: 19-20 Jesus fed people.

And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

Matthew 18:11 Jesus came to save those who were lost.

For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost .

Matthew 21: 12-13 Jesus treated the temple as the House of God.

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Matthew 22: 19-21 Jesus payed His taxes.

Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

Matthew 26: 36-39 Jesus atoned for our sins.

Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Matthew 27: 46, 50 Jesus was crucified and died to fufill all righteousness.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, saying father, it is finished, thy will is done, yielded up the ghost.

Closing Activity: Bear testimony of the life of Christ and that it was lived in perfection. Everything He did was to show us the will of the Father and how to return to them. Then ask the children what they think is the most important thing Forgetful Fred should remember from our sharing time.

March Sharing Time Reinforcement Handout

I did things a little differently this month. I felt prompted to search you tube and find church songs mixed with church artwork. The following videos are absolutely beautiful and bear powerful testimony of the Savior. With the Ensign this month and the new church website, I thought it appropriate to add a new source of media to our Primary family's attention. (I.E. the internet, youtube... of course, always using precaution!)

March 16th, 2008 Sharing Time : What did I learn today?
Jesus Christ is my Savior. “And we have seen and do
testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of
the world” (1 John 4:14).

Activities (to do with the family) to reinforce what was taught today.

1) Finger painting! Use your hands to create a work of art. Then brainstorm as a family all the things Jesus did with His hands. This is an online music video of "His Hands", showing beautiful artwork to go along with the song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5EOtUEWIDo&feature=related After watching the short video, share family testimonies of the obedience of the Savior and how we should be like Him.

2) Define the following words: extraordinary, awesome, powerful, kind, meek and perfect. Talk about people who can be described by some of these words. Look at pictures of these people. Then name the one person who can be described by all of those words. This is an online music video of "Jesus Was No Ordinary Man", showing beautiful artwork to go along with the song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOdatUaGen8&feature=related After watching the short video, share family testimonies of Jesus Christ as the Supreme Exemplar.

3) Read the following scriptures.
* Matthew 6: 5-7, 9
* Matthew 26: 36, 39, 41-42, 44, 53
* 3 Nephi 17: 15, 17-18, 21
* Luke 22: 32, 40-41, 44
Jesus Christ showed us the importance of prayer. This is an online music video of "A Child's Prayer", showing beautiful artwork to go along with the song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIuphB7nyVg&feature=related After watching the short video, share family testimonies of prayer.

4) Put together an Easter basket with all the fixin's! Peeps, Candy, Colorful Eggs, stuffed Bunny, Jelly Beans... Then tape a letter (or word) of the following sentence to the back of each item (I know that my Redeemer Lives) Explain, that while Easter Egg hunts are fun and eating chocolate from our baskets is great... Easter is more. This is an online video of the hymn " I know that My Redeemer Lives", showing beautiful artwork to go along with the song. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAJYMK0dy8M&feature=related After watching the short video, share family testimonies of Jesus Christ, our Savior who is resurrected.

March Primary Activity Day (Letter to Primary Teachers)

Dearest Teachers,
Thank you for being who you are! You are beyond wonderful and we are so thankful to have you in our Primary. We have a primary activity day planned for Saturday March 8, 2008 from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM. The theme for this activity day is, “Looking and finding the Savior, Jesus Christ. The true meaning of Easter.”
We are asking that you could please show up around 8:20 AM to help decorate and set up rooms. In these rooms will be members of the ward dressed up as people from the scriptures who “looked and found” the Savior. They will give a short 4-5 minute presentation/testimony as that person and then the children may ask a few questions. After all the rotations, we will meet in the cultural hall for a short skit given by these people, sing a song, have a resurrection from the tomb focused snack, prayer and clean up.
So… what are my responsibilities as a teacher for this day?
1. To help bring in and set up simple decorations for the room of _________________________. Ideas may include, but are certainly not limited to ______________________________________________________________________________


______________________________________________________________________________.
2. Take a small group of 4-5 children from each room to room. (Depending on how many children show up it may be a larger group with 2 teachers per group)
3. Keep track of time! Each group will be in that room no longer than 10 minutes! Ideally, each room will take 7-8 minutes.
4. Stay for 10 minutes afterwards to help take down decorations, clean up and make sure the church is in proper order.

Words cannot really express our gratitude for all you do to help insure our children are growing in the gospel. 1 John 4:14 says, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” We hope and pray that this activity can help our children to feel the spirit and know the Jesus Christ really lives. Thank you again!
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns!


Much love,
Sister Lykes

March Primary Activity Day (Letter to witnesses/actors)

Dearest Friend,
Thank-you for taking the time to serve the children of our ward. Our primary activity day will be March 8, 2008 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am. Our theme for this activity is “Looking and finding the Savior, Jesus Christ. The true meaning of Easter.”
I have chosen ___________________________________ for you to portray the part of. We will have a room decorated for you in that character’s time and place. Please prayerfully study about this person who looked and found the Savior. You are then asked to come up with a 4-5 minute presentation AS THIS PERSON, sharing your story/ testimony about the Savior. Remember, these are children. You DO NOT need to “dumb it down”, but keep your vocabulary on a level they will understand. Please come in costume and let us know if you NEED ANY HELP!! The costume can be as simple or extravagant as you like, the idea is just to help the children visualize that person.
Teachers will be escorting the children from room to room. There are 6 different people being portrayed. Depending on how many children show up, you could be doing your presentation 3 to 6 times. We are telling the children to feel free to ask any questions, after you have finished. The total time in each room will be 7-9 minutes and the teachers will keep track of this. We will have something for you to give the children and put in their Easter baskets to help them remember who you portrayed. That something is ____________________________________________________________.
After all of the rotations from room to room, person to person, we will meet in the cultural hall for one last story, told by all of the characters together. Attached to this letter is that story/readers theatre. We will then have a song, some Easter treats focused on the resurrection from the tomb, and a closing prayer. If you could please stay for an additional 10 minutes to help clean, take down decorations, and put away chairs, that would be very much appreciated.
Again, many thanks! 1 John 4:14 says, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world”. It is so very important that our children learn this, may the Spirit be with you as you prepare and teach our young ones. God bless you always!

Much Love,
Sister Lykes

March Primary Activity Day- The True Meaning of Easter

Looking and Finding the Savior, Jesus Christ.
The true meaning of Easter.

Sparks, NV 5th Ward Primary Activity Day

March 8, 2008

Ask the children to bring some sort of Easter basket. As they enter the foyer it will be decorated by the activity day girls and duty to God boys. On poster board they will make some sort of art piece depicting their view of what the true meaning of Easter is. (Possibly take pictures and send to the friend) They can choose an Easter egg from a large basket (this will determine what group they are in). We will say prayer, have a short introduction (explaining that toady we aren’t looking for Easter eggs but something much more important, the true meaning of Easter) sing a couple Easter songs and then divide into groups (4-5 kids per group).

I found the Savior rooms. (Using GAK pictures on outside of the room) Each child will hear a short presentation from the following. Then they will receive something from each room for their basket. Each room will also have a small handout with the GAK picture of that person, a short summary of how that person found Jesus Christ and a scripture to match.

· Simeon and Anna (GAK 201, 205, 206) (Nativity Popsicle Puppet Set)
· A Blind Man (GAK 213) (Play dough)
· Mary Magdalene GAK 233 (bags of yeast?? He is risen? Boxes of Raisins-crossing out the

a??)
· The Brother of Jared GAK 318 (Clear stones from Michael’s)
· Joseph Smith GAK 403 (A CD filled with Easter Songs and Songs about Joseph Smith

and the Restoration from the Children’s Songbook)
· Jeffery R. Holland (The following talk and a lily)

Jeffrey R. Holland, “Friend to Friend: The Cactus, the Cross, and Easter,” Friend, Apr 1980, 6
Probably all of us have had experiences when we really needed someone to help us. I remember once as a small boy I surely did. While playing on a mountainside near our home, I fell into the middle of a huge, prickly cactus plant. Oh, did it hurt! The prickly spines of the cactus went through my sneakers, through my stockings, through my trousers, through my shirt—they went through everything! I felt like a human dart board.
Immediately I let out a cry that was loud enough to shake the mountains. I couldn’t move up, down, in, or out. Every movement I made seemed to send those needles deeper and deeper into my skin. I just stayed there and howled.
I was five years old at the time and my older brother, who immediately rushed to my rescue, was eight. He was overwhelmed at the sight of me and the complexity of my plight. Nevertheless, he began to pull out some of the spines, but they seemed to hurt more coming out than going in and I howled even louder. Furthermore, the pin-size wounds bled so when the spines were removed that after a few minutes I looked like an advertisement for Red Cross donations.
Finally my brother saw that his feeble plucking was hopeless. There were dozens of spines yet to pull, and I was still screaming at the top of my lungs. He did the only thing an eight-year-old brother could do. He ran down the mountain, got his small red wagon, and labored painfully to get it up the side of the hill to where I was awaiting death—I thought. With some tugging and hauling and lifting—and plenty of noise from me—he got me out of the cactus and into the wagon. Then in some miraculous way, known only to children and Providence, he navigated me down off that steep mountain in his wagon.
The rest of the story is blurred in my memory. As I recall, my mother got me out of my clothes and the rest of the prickly spines out of me. What I do remember clearly and will never forget is the sight of my brother tugging that wagon and determinedly making his way toward me. He was so concerned that he worked wonderfully hard to get to me. If I live to be one hundred, I suppose no memory of my brother will be more vivid than the view I had of him that day. I needed him desperately. And there he was, coming to help!
Easter is always a special time for us (to me it is the very best day of the whole year), and we should all try to remember that we once faced a most difficult problem and needed someone to help us. It was a problem much worse than a lost pet or a broken toy or a fall into a cactus plant. Through a long history of experience, beginning with Adam and Eve and stretching down to our own lives, it was a problem that if unsolved, would have left us in the presence of Satan and his hateful followers. We could then never be united again with our family, with our friends, and with our Heavenly Father who loves us. We would have been in a prison forever.
But Jesus, our elder Brother, did not allow himself to be captured by Satan. He was still safely outside the prison gates. In a way that we may not fully understand, even when we are very old, Jesus set us free. It was as though He had the only key to the prison door and that only He had the strength to swing it open. In doing so, He saved our lives so our families can be kept together and so we can someday return to our heavenly home. But He paid a terrible price to do this for us, a price for which we must give Him honor and reverence by keeping His commandments. He suffered a horrible death on a cross. In that anguish of physical and spiritual pain Jesus, too, momentarily thought He was all alone and without help, and yet He did not turn away from helping us.
Jesus died for us, and only the mountains that trembled and the sun that darkened seemed to understand the gift that was being given. Then something wonderful happened! One who had died and was buried came to life again in a special way called resurrection.
In the peaceful setting of a spring garden, Jesus arose from His burial tomb to live again with our Heavenly Father. And in some wonderful, miraculous way, He gave us the same power and privilege. I do not know exactly how this will happen, but I know that we have, through Jesus, been given the opportunity to conquer all doubt and despair and death. That is what Easter means to me.
Each year at Easter time, I would like you to remember how much nicer all the beautiful spring flowers look (and feel) than do those prickly cactus plants I once fell into. And I would especially like you to remember our Brother Jesus Christ to whom we owe everything, for He came to heal our wounds, calm our fears, and bring us safely home when we really, really needed Him.

Children will spend 10 minutes at each person’s room. I’d like to have rooms decorated (according to the time and setting of that witness to Christ) and witnesses in costume. Primary teachers will guide each group, room to room. The children will then be ushered into the overflow area again. The witnesses of Christ will do a concluding presentation. (as follows)

Easter Story (Adapted)
Marita Schugk, “Easter Story,” Friend, Apr 1992, 8

Simeon: What is the true meaning of Easter?
Anna: Jesus was a child, just like you. He had a body with arms and legs. Like you, He grew up too. The Bible says that He “grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom” (Luke 2:40).
Simeon: Jesus loves you. He has always loved little children.The Bible says that He “took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them” (Mark 10:16).
Blind Man: One day Jesus told His friends that He was going away. He told them to remember Him and to love everyone.He said, “Yet a little while I am with you. … I say to you … love one another; as I have loved you.” (John 13:33–34.)
Mary Magdalene: We take the sacrament bread and water to help us remember Him. Jesus took the sacrament with His disciples to show us that it is important. He said, “This do in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). Jesus knew what was going to happen to Him.
Blind Man: He told His disciples (people who believed in Him) that on the third day after wicked men had Him killed, He would live again and never die anymore.
Mary Magdalene: He said, “All things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man [Jesus] shall be accomplished. … They shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.” (Luke 18:31, 33.)
The Brother of Jared: In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus suffered and bled for the sins of all people. Those who repent and who believe in Him shall have eternal life.
Joseph Smith: The Bible says, “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44).Later, wicked men had Jesus whipped and ordered Him to be nailed to a wooden cross.
The Brother of Jared: In the Bible, it says, “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called … Golgotha: Where they crucified him” (John 19:17–18). Jesus hung on the cross a long time. And even though it wasn’t night yet, it became very dark.
Joseph Smith: The Bible says, “There was a darkness over all the earth. … And the sun was darkened.” (Luke 23:44–45.) Jesus died. His spirit left His body. The Bible tells us that Jesus said, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
Jeffery R. Holland: Joseph, one of Jesus’ friends, had His body taken from the cross and wrapped in fine cloth. Then His body was put into a tomb, and the entrance to the tomb was closed with a big rock. The Bible says, “And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door” (Matt. 27:59–60).
Joseph Smith: On Sunday morning, an angel rolled the big stone away from the door. When Mary and Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that it was empty, they were afraid.
Jeffery R. Holland: The angel told them, “Fear not. … For he is risen, as he said.” (Matt. 28:5, 6.) Jesus was resurrected. He was alive. His spirit and His body were together again. But Mary Magdalene did not yet understand this. She went back to the tomb later and cried.
Mary Magdalene: I wept, I stooped down, and looked into the [tomb]” and “I turned myself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.”Jesus called me by my name. He talked to me. I recognized His voice and knew then that He really had risen from the dead.
Simeon: Jesus showed Himself to others. They saw and touched His resurrected body. The Bible tells us that He told them: “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have” (Luke 24:39).
The Blind Man: Because of Jesus’ suffering for us, and because He was resurrected, after we die, we will be resurrected too. The Apostle Paul says, “For as … all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22).
Anna: This is the true meaning of Easter and why we celebrate it.
All : Jesus lives!!
The Brother of Jared: And because of His sacrifice, we will all live again and can be forgiven of our sins if we repent and believe in Him.

Sing an Easter Song and Have a closing prayer/blessing on the snacks.

SNACKS (Like a short cooking demonstration. Have the cookies baked before hand)
EASTER STORY COOKIES:

1c. Whole Pecans

1 tsp. Vinegar

1c. Sugar

Zipper Baggie

3 Egg Whites

Tape

Wooden Spoon

Pinch Salt

Bible
Preheat oven to 300° (This is important-- Do it now!) Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. (John 19:1-3.) Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. (John 19:28-30.) Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. (John 10:10-11.) Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. (Luke 23:27.) So far the ingredients are not appetizing. Add 1c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. (Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.) Beat with a mixer for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. (Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.) Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. (Matt. 27:57-60.) Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. (Matt. 27:65-66.) GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. (John 16:20 and 22.) On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. (Matt. 28:1-9.)

March Sharing Time

March 16 Sharing Time 2008 Jesus Christ is my Savior.
Jesus Christ showed me how to do the will of
Heavenly Father.

Scripture: “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world” (1 John 4:14).

Song: “If the Savior Stood Beside Me”

Opening Activity: Hide a small picture of the Savior. Using very specific instructions, the child will go and find the picture according to your directions. Explain that obedience is listening and following the right way, which leads to the Savior.

Sharing Time: Pass out happy face and frowny face popsicle sticks to all the children. (For Jr.Primary) Using a variety of different stories (all having to do with obedience or the lack of) present to the children with as many pictures as possible. As you go through the stories, ask children questions, they can respond using their sticks. (E.G. Do you think the dog was obedient? Is this dress modest? Is paying your tithing showing obedience?) With Sr. primary, try to ask questions that provide opportunities for them to think about their own obedience. (E.G. When do you feel the spirit most strongly? What have you done to show obedience to Heavenly Father? How can you be like the Savior?) Have a child help you with each story, putting up the flannel figures as you talk. Seperate each story, with flannet figures, into large plastic bags for easiest organization.

Closing Activity: Playing the song “He Sent His Son” (CS 34) on a CD, flip through pictures for the children to look at of the Savior showing His obedience.

Possible Songs to Incorporate:

Fun To Do p, 253 Using activities that encourage obedience or service to sing about
The Third Article of Faith p. 123
Do As I’m Doing p.276 Using actions that encourage obedience or service to sing about
Baptism p.100
If The Savior Stood Beside Me
Quickly I’ll Obey p. 197 (All 3 verses)

Stories to present to the Children:
1. Marvin J. Ashton, “Friend to Friend: On the Path,” Friend, Aug 1972, 10
Flannel Board Pictures Needed:
1. Marvin J. Ashton 2.Dog 3. Mountain Lion 4. Deer 5. Rabbit 6. Chipmunks 7.Bird and Nest

I once had a friend who was a mountain lion hunter. He loved to saddle up his favorite horse, tie on the saddle bags, and make sure his gun was cleaned and ready for instant firing. One day while I was visiting him, I noticed he had a full-grown hunting dog tied to one of the sheds. “Isn’t he a beauty!” I commented. “He’s got to go,” my friend replied. “I can’t be bothered with him.” “Why? What’s the problem?” I asked in surprise. My lion-tracking friend explained that ever since the dog was a pup it had been trained to track lions. “He knows what I expect,” the man continued, “but the last time we were on a three-day hunt he took off after a deer and then a coyote and finally some rabbits, and was gone the best part of a full day. He knows he must stay on the trail of the lion to be one of my helpers. Our business is mountain lions, and this dog is bad for business. Now he’s for sale pretty cheap.” I felt sorry for that beautiful, healthy, yet disobedient dog. He couldn’t stay on the path that would keep a place with his master for him.
When I look back over my life to when I was just a small boy, I remember how hard it sometimes was for me to do as my parents asked. Baseball and basketball were more fun than practicing the saxophone, and there were times when I didn’t see the value of going to every Church meeting. I am grateful my parents helped me stay on the path of the Master until I was mature enough to choose the right for myself. Our Heavenly Father has explained to us how important it is to be obedient. “And my people must needs be chastened until they learn obedience, if it must needs be, by the thing which they suffer” (D&C 105:6). Our mothers, fathers, teachers, and our friends often scold us. Or we may have to do something we really don’t like to do (suffer) in order that we might become the mature and obedient citizens the Lord wants us to be.
All around us nature shows the value of doing what is right. If chipmunks do not store food in the summer, they will starve in the winter. If birds do not build proper nests before eggs are laid, the baby birds will die. As children of a loving Heavenly Father, we know that if we keep His commandments, we will receive the rewards He has for us. If we obey our parents, we will be blessed with the power to make right decisions, and someday we too might become good and loving parents and teach our children the right. I am grateful that loved ones, good teachers, and friends did not allow me to stray from the path of truth and right, the path of obedience.

2. Display Picture of Jesus Being Baptized
Jesus came to John the Baptist to be baptized in the Jordan River. John knew that Jesus was without sin, and so he thought Jesus did not need baptism. When Jesus explained that even the Savior must be baptized, John went down into the water and baptized Him. When Jesus came out of the water, John saw the Holy Ghost come to the Savior and heard Heavenly Father's voice bearing witness of His Beloved Son.

Nephi 31:7 “Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.”

3. Rex D. Pinegar, “Peace in Obedience,” Friend, Apr 1994, inside front cover
(Adapted from an October 1991 conference address. See Ensign, November 1991, page 41.)

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy (Ex. 20:8).
Flannel Board Pictures Needed: 1.Sea World Picture 2. Beach 3.Church Meeting House

4.Movie w/large R 5.Hymn Book 6.Immodest Dress2

One day I received a phone call from my grandson Joel. He had been invited to go with a group of schoolmates to Sea Camp in San Diego, California. There would be behind-the-scene experiences at Sea World—watching the trainers and helping to feed the sea animals. His dilemma was that the camp would be on a weekend, with scuba diving and beach exploring on Sunday. His parents had not wanted him to go but had allowed him to make his own choice. He had assured them that although he couldn’t attend church on Sunday, he would not swim. He said, “I can sit on the beach and be surrounded by God’s creations. Heavenly Father couldn’t feel bad about that, could He?” Joel wanted to know what I thought he should do. I answered with a question: “Joel, what do you think Jesus would want you to do?” His voice was a little choked up as he answered, “Grandpa, I don’t think He would be very happy with me if I do that on Sunday.” He decided not to go. It hadn’t been an easy decision to make, but it was the right one. We all have many difficult choices to make. There are many exciting things that, if we choose to do them, will lead us away from Christ. The movies and videos we choose to watch, the fun times we seek, the music we listen to, the clothes we wear, and the things we say are all influenced by the strength of our desire to follow Christ. In making our decisions, we may feel it is too hard to be left out or to miss out on what the world thinks is OK. When we do follow Christ, however, we will feel the peace and assurance that comes from making right choices. He will provide the courage necessary for those times when we have to stand alone.

4. Athos M. Amorim, “Obedience and Service,” Friend, Jun 1999, inside front cover
(Adapted from an October 1998 general conference address. See Ensign, November 1998, page 30.)

Flannel Board: 1.Soldier 2.Brazil Flag 3.Tithing Slip 4.Scriptures 5.Flower 6.Jesus in garden of GethsemaneAnd

If ye love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15).
In an outside wall of the Brazilian Army Academy, cadets can read the words “You will command. So learn to obey!” Early in life I learned that obedience is essential to our progress. I am not talking about blind obedience but the obedience that allows us to reach a higher and more spiritual level in life, using our agency to do the will of the Lord. The prophet Joseph Smith taught that “when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (D&C 130:21). Something else I learned in the army is that soldiers in my country do not use the verb to work when they talk about their assignments. Rather, they use the verb to serve, helping them always remember their commitment to our people and our country. In Church service, this definition is enlarged to include service to Heavenly Father’s children wherever they may live.
Many times the most beautiful examples of obedience and service are given by ordinary people who live close to us. Sister Ana Rita de Jesus, an elderly widow, lived in Anápolis, Brazil. She could not read or write. The missionaries would go to her home every week to read the scriptures to her. She was loving and kind. Every Sunday she asked the missionaries to help her fill out a tithing slip. Sometimes her tithing and offerings were not more than a few cents, but she knew the law and wanted to obey it. After paying her tithing, she would walk into the room where the sacrament meeting was held in a rented house and would place a flower on the pulpit. In doing so, she served her brothers and sisters, bringing beauty to the place where we worshiped the Lord. That sister, in a very simple way, taught us obedience and service. She knew that obeying the commandments is the best preparation to serve. The greatest example of obedience and service was given by the Lord Jesus Christ when He said, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).

Sacrament Meeting Talk Feb. 08, 2008

Dearest brothers and sisters, may I just tell you of my deep respect and love for all of you. Being in this ward is such a pleasure and I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to each member for being who you are. Our ward has strong people, solid in the gospel of Jesus Christ, my admiration for you runs deeper than words and the same goes for my wonderful parents and children.

And I’m not forgetting my sweet Joe. I’d like to tell you a little something about my husband. It’s not much of a secret. He is pretty amazing. Every night, he takes out the trash. I don’t ever have to ask him. It could be a full pile or even just a couple diapers, no matter what though- when he’s home from work, the garbage is gone. This miracle and blessing in my life, in reference to both by husband and the fact that the garbage is taken out regularly, has lead to our home being cleaner and smelling pleasant. He never puts it off. He doesn’t wait until the next day and I never have to worry about the garbage being taken down to the street. Our home is not cluttered, messy with debris, instead it is orderly and neat, again I mention there is no rank odor. May I compare this to a scripture,” Alma 34:32–33;also Alma 13:27 “This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God. … Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance.” May we all throw out the ways of sin daily from our lives, and prepare and get our lives and homes in order.

As I was reading in Alma chapter 5 I pondered on the words, “Have ye sufficiently retained in remembrance?” What has each day in our lives cost others? For many of the veterans of war, they have fought brutal battles and seen death in it’s ugliest forms. All this so WE could worship, have freedom of speech, so we could have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. For the prophet Joseph and the many early saints they faced persecution, hot tar and feathers, mobs who instilled fear with fire and brute, all so WE could have the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel here on earth, the church nurtured and cultivated. For our dear Father in Heaven and His only Begotten, infinite and eternal sacrifice. With blood and tears shed during prayer at the foot of an olive tree, Jesus the Christ bore the sicknesses and sins of the world and made intercession so each day and each moment WE could have a way and a path whereby to follow and return to those who so dearly love us. Have we sufficiently retained in remembrance what a true gift each day truly is?

We have 24 hours each day. No more no less and there is nothing we can do to change that. The sun rises and it sets. What exactly are we doing with those hours? I love Luila Langberg. She grew up in Wyoming with her 9 brothers and sisters. Each morning their mom would cook them breakfast and they would leave to go play in the woods and fields. When the sun set they’d come home and mother would cook them dinner, give bath and put them to bed. How I envy that time! How much richer a childhood than many of today’s youth. Exploring the world God created, breathing fresh air, filling one’s soul with the goodness of the earth. Joseph Smith taught, “The heavens declare the glory of a God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork; and a moment’s reflection is sufficient to teach every man of common intelligence, that all these are not the mere productions of chance, nor could they be supported by any power less than an Almighty hand.” Do we look around us, really look and see the goodness and glory of His creation? I love strollers. One fall morning, my girls and I went out to get the morning paper and as I looked up in the sky, the clouds were just so big and majestic as they moved slowly across the sky. The air gently burned my nose as I walked. I could feel my heart beating. I felt such reverence for the world. I felt reverence for being alive and to be able to see and hear and feel what was going on around me. I felt reverence for my life and for the day that was so lovingly granted to me. Have you ever had a moment like that? Hopefully, you have many moments like that which inspire you to lead your life to the fullest possible.

Did you know that the word gospel means good tidings or good news? So when we say the gospel of Jesus Christ we could say the good tidings of Christ. There are so many scriptures that talk about the love our Savior and Heavenly father have for all of us. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” Matthew 7:7, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you” John 15:9, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:7-10 “And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings.” 3 Nephi 10:5

The word of God declares that we are his and that he loves us. Why then with all this good news, good tidings, happiness and calm assurances are we scared? In the same breath, Alma the younger in chapter 13 says, “Now is the time to repent, for the day of salvation draweth nigh.” Then “By the mouth of angels,(he) doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy.” Why then does the thought of repentance seem so heavy. Perhaps it’s because we know that we are human. That the flesh is weak and temptations do easily beset us. We sin. Our sins are scarlet. We are unclean before our maker. I pondered a quote by Bruce R. McConkie, “The uttermost depth of superhuman woe seems to be revealed by His cry, “My God, My God why hast Thou forsaken Me? To this we add, if we interpret the holy word aright, that all of the anguish, all of the sorrow, and all of the suffering of Gethsemane recurred during the final three hours on the cross, the hours when darkness covered the land. Truly there was no sorrow like unto his sorrow, and no anguish and pain like unto that which bore in with such intensity upon him.” Because we are fallen, we need the Atonement. Because there was an Atonement made for us, we need to repent.

Melvin J. Ballard has said, “It is my judgment that any man or woman can do more to conform to the laws of God in one year in this life than they could in ten years when they are dead. The spirit only can repent and change, and the battle has to go forward with the flesh afterwards. It is much easier to overcome and serve the Lord when both flesh and spirit are combined as one. This is the time when men are more pliable and susceptible. When clay is pliable it is much easier to change than when it gets hard and sets.” Again, I come to the words of Alma, “Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you. And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.” Adding to this, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland talks about the timing of repentance, which can seem overwhelming, “You can change anything you want to change and you can do it very fast. That’s another Satanic sucker-punch- that it takes years and years and eons of eternity to repent. It takes exactly as long to repent as it takes you to say I’ll change and mean it. Of course there will be problems to work out and restitutions to make. You may well spend- indeed you had better spend- the rest of your life proving your repentance by its permanence. But change, growth, renewal, repentance can come for you as instantaneously as it did for Alma and the Sons of Mosiah.”

What needs to be fixed in our lives? What are we doing that is wrong? Or perhaps, it’s what more do we need to be doing?

We need to remember what has been sacrificed for our time here on this earth. We need to look around us and acknowledge Heavenly Father as our God. We need to know of the love of Jesus Christ, our Savior. And we need to repent and come unto Him, not tomorrow or the next day. But today.

I think that I could sufficiently end here but I had called brother Chapin and he said to be sure to include thoughts about my scripture study. I humbly bare testimony that I never knew the power of God until I feasted upon His word. Indeed, it is an iron rod, immovable and constant, leading to the fruit which is sweeter than any other.

The story is said of a donkey who fell into a well. The farmer knew there was no way to get him out and as the well needed to be filled anyways, he grabbed his shovel and started putting dirt in. The donkey was screaming, but scoop after scoop the noise resided. More and more dirt went in and then miraculously, the donkey walked out of the well. You see the donkey realized if he could just step up on and over the dirt he could slowly climb out of the well.

Life is going to throw lots of dirt at us. How will we rise above? How do we move and step up? May I suggest it’s by filling ourselves with the Holy Word and pressing onward and upward. I say filling, not reading, but filling. Not on some days of the week, but everyday. May I compare it to Dairy Queen. If you go to DQ every day and get a buster bar (chocolate fudge, ice cream, peanuts then covered in a delicious chocolate shell) you are going to be 500 lbs. And you are going to be happy. Blissfully happy. Our spirits need fattening up. Besides the scriptures, I love the Ensign, I love the Friend, Primary Teaching Manuals, books by the Apostles and Church Published Scripture helps. Study helps like Doctrines of The Gospel Student Manual (Religion 430) and all the student manuals for the different books of scripture are dilly bars, blizzards and frozen soft serve cakes. If you partake, you will be complete. On a more serious note, these are the words that will help us through each day no matter what happens. These are the books that will help us to see clearly through the mud and help cleanse our souls.

I think that as we study the scriptures it can be very overwhelming. There is so much to know, so much to understand- but I bear testimony that as we set and strive to reach our righteous goals, our Father in Heaven will pour out blessings we can scarce contain. For me, I found it easiest to go through the pronunciation guide and find out everything possible I could about each entry. Doing this led me to so many questions. As I searched for answers to my questions I realized quite a marvelous thing in my life. I felt peace, strength, quiet resolve. It led me to look for more service and missionary opportunities. I remember one time just touching my Bible and feeling an overpowering feeling that this book was true, but not just that, I felt a physical sensation of my heart being stronger and my blood flowing faster than if I were exercising. I bear testimony that truly searching the word of God will not lead at a dead end or empty hole. It will lead us back to our Father and Jesus Christ and give us happiness that cannot be described.

I repeat. What needs to be fixed in our lives? What are we doing that is wrong? Or perhaps, it’s what more do we need to be doing?

May I humbly suggest that happiness lies in knowing God. To know God is to know His words. Today is the day to find happiness. Of this I bear testimony, in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

February: Family Helps to Reinforce

Family Time! Things to do with your family to reinforce what was taught this week in Primary! (These ideas, this month, have been taken directly from the Friend Magazine)

1. Have your family sit on the floor in the middle of the room. Sing the first verse of “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” (Children’s Songbook, p. 281). Explain that the rock they are singing about is the Savior, His teachings, and His commandments, which we find in the scriptures (see Matt. 7:24–27). When the people in the scriptures followed the Savior and kept His commandments, they were blessed. When they sinned and would not repent or keep the commandments, they were not blessed and were often destroyed. Have your children stand. Say that if the people in the story you will tell them were blessed by the Lord, they should hold their hands high. If the people were wicked and were destroyed, the children should sit on the floor. Alternate singing the verses to the song “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” with telling stories from the scriptures. Possible stories are: City of Enoch (Moses 7), Noah’s family (Gen. 6–8:16), Daniel (Dan. 1–6), Israel crosses the Red Sea (Ex. 14), Pharaoh’s army (Ex. 14), Ammonihah (Alma 14–16).
2. Explain that one of the joys of scripture study is coming to know the prophets who have lived on the earth. Prepare a set of cards, with names of prophets from the scriptures on paper of one color, and a description of something each prophet did on paper of another color. Mix the cards, then place them face down on the ground. By turning over one card each turn, of each color, try to match the name of prophet with the description of what he did. Some possible prophets: Nephi—returned to Jerusalem to obtain the brass plates from Laban (see 1 Ne. 3), Noah—built the ark (see Gen. 6), Moroni—hid the gold plates in the ground and delivered them to Joseph Smith (see JS—H 1:30–60), Samuel the Lamanite—stood on a wall to tell the people about the coming birth of the Savior (see Hel. 14:1–5), Daniel—spent an evening in a den of lions (see Dan. 6); Joseph Smith—in the Sacred Grove, saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ (see JS—H 1:15–17).
3. Color the picture of “Scripture-Study Sam” and the picture strips. Cut out along all the heavy black lines. Carefully cut out the windows above Sam’s shoulder. Then fold along the dotted line and glue or tape the edge to the back of Sam, forming a flattened tube. Glue or tape end to end the long picture strips containing the situations and the scripture references. Slip the resulting strip inside the tube. As you move the strip, a difficult situation will appear in the large window and a helpful scripture reference will appear in the small window. Be sure to look up the reference to see how the scripture can help Sam resolve each difficult situation he faces.
4. Show GAK 517 (Spencer W. Kimball), and explain that when President Kimball was called to be an Apostle he turned to the scriptures for comfort and support. Recount President Kimball’s experience from “Gospel Classics: The Breaking of the Day Has Found Me on My Knees” (Ensign, Feb. 2004, 50–53). In the section “Comfort in the Scriptures,” President Kimball says that 1 Nephi 3:7 gave him comfort. Have the children look up the scripture and read the words of Nephi. Sing “Nephi’s Courage” (pp. 120–21). Tell the children that you want them to find some of the other promises taught in the scriptures that give us comfort when we face hard things. Read the following scriptures: John 14:26 (the Holy Ghost), D&C 108:8 (the Lord will bless us and deliver us), and 1 John 2:25 (eternal life). What were the promises? Testify to the children that they can find comfort and courage in the scriptures just as President Kimball did.
5. Paula J. Lewis, “Scripture Puzzle Cards,” Friend, Nov. 2000, 35
· You will need a plain 3″ x 5″ (8 cm x 13 cm) card for each scripture you wish to learn. On the left half of the card, write a scripture you wish to remember from your daily scripture study. On the right side of the card, draw or paste a picture that helps you remember what that scripture is about.
· Draw a curvy or zigzag line down the middle of the card between the scripture and the picture. Cut the card in half along the line. The two halves now form a puzzle. Make several cards, then mix them up and match them to help you remember the scriptures you have chosen. Keep the cards in a resealable plastic bag. Add more cards as you find additional scriptures you want to remember.
· You may want to use different colors of cards for scriptures from each volume of scripture—Book of Mormon, Old Testament, New Testament, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. You could also create a separate set of cards for each book of scriptures.

February 2008

Theme: The scriptures teach me about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and how to return to Them.

Scripture: “For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth
them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children” (2 Nephi 4:15).

Song: “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus” (CS, 57)

Sharing Time:

Opening Activity: On the black board write, What can we learn from Abinadi? Cover with a piece of paper with a question mark. Place the GAK picture up of him before King Noah. Ask if anyone knows who this is? Proceed to tell children we are doing a readers theatre and that a good audience is one who listens carefully. At the end, we’ll see who can answer our mystery question.
Jr. Sharing Time
Remember to ask thoughtful questions along the way. Encourage the kids to act out and say certain phrases. MAKE SURE TO HAVE SIMPLE COSTUMES.

Actors needed:
Abinadi, King Noah, Priests, Servants, Alma

Many years ago, in the land of the Americas, lived a wise prophet named Abinadi. He taught about Jesus and how we should be good people. He even taught about the plan of salvation or the plan of happiness!

But there was a wicked King named King Noah, who ruled a wicked people and this wicked King did not like what Abinadi was teaching. His wicked priests (who knows what a priest is?) said to kill abinadi! Poor Abinadi. There was only one priest who said, no don’t kill him. This was Alma.

When Alma said this, the king was very wroth. (what is wroth?) King Noah told his servants to go kill Alma! But Alma ran as fast as he could and found a spot to hide. The servants could not find Alma. He was hiding in a cave where we went to work writing down all the things Abinadi had taught.

What a wicked and bad king! King Noah was terrible and so were his priests. They talked to each other and decided to to put Abinadi to death. Thou art worthy of death said king noah! You said God himself should come down among the children of men. Take it back or die!
Well, Abinadi was telling the truth and wouldn’t take it back. He wouldn’t deny what he had said. After all, he was right! Jesus would come to earth and be born and live! So do you know what happened. That yucky King Noah and his evil priests killed Abinadi by fire. Abinadi wasn’t afraid though, he knew he was returning to his Heavenly Father and Jesus.

Alma decided to repent. That was a good choice! He started to teach people about the words of Abinadi, but he had to do it privately (What does this mean?) So he taught God himself should come down among the children of men! A lot of people believed Alma and Abinadi’s words! So Alma said, “Behold, here are the waters of Mormon and now (hold up blue sheet), as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light. Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn… (What does mourn mean? Can we act this out?) And comfort those in need of comfort and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God and numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life.”
So they got baptized! They promised Heavenly Father that they would serve Him, keep His commandments and then Heavenly Father would pour out His spirit more abundantly upon us! Hooray! They were then called the church of God or the church of Christ from that time forward! Everyone who was baptized thought the waters of Mormon was the most beautiful place ever because that’s where they came to know their Redeemer.
Thank you all you wonderful actors! Thank you wonderful audience! Go ahead, take a bow!



Sr. Sharing Time
Make sure to have simple costumes.

Reader’s Theatre
By Sofia Lykes

Narrator: Many years ago, in the land of the Americas, lived a wise prophet named Abinadi.
Abinadi: Hello! I’m Abinadi. I am wise.
Narrator: Abinadi taught about Jesus and how we should be good people.
Abinadi: I even taught about the plan of salvation!
Narrator: But some wicked Nephites didn’t like what he was teaching. The king said,
King: Put him to death!!
Narrator: And the priests of the king said
Priests: Kill him!! Kill him!! Kill him by fire!!
(Priests tie up Abinadi and put him by the fire)
Narrator: Poor Abinadi. But there was one priest whose name was Alma, he stood up for Abinadi.
Alma: I believe the words of Abinadi! We are not making good choices, we are full of iniquity!
Narrator: What is iniquity?
Alma: Hello! Iniquity is sin! Iniquity is making bad choices!!
Narrator: Oh right… thanks!
Alma: Anyways! King please don’t kill Abinadi Do not be angry with him, just let him leave in peace!
Narrator: But the king was even more wroth!
Priest #1: What is wroth?
Narrator: I don’t know… Do you know what wroth means? (Call on someone from the audience) Oh!! So the king was angry! The king was wroth. The king was angry. Thanks! The king was so angry he threw out Alma.
King: Servants! Go kill Alma!
Servants: We can’t find him? Where did he go?
Alma: Good thing I fled from them! I will hide myself for many days and write all the words down that Abinadi spoke!
Servants: Boy, the king is going to be mad at us!
Narrator: What a wicked king. He told his guards
King: Surround Abinadi and take him, bind him and cast him into prison. I’ll talk to my priests now.
(King and priests huddle)
King: Ok Abinadi, we have found an accusation against thee and THOU ART WORTHY OF DEATH! (in a loud and evil voice)
Priest #2: What is his accusation? Or what is the reason he is WORTHY OF DEATH!! (in a loud and evil voice)
Narrator: Abinadi had said
Abinadi: God himself should come down among the children of men.
King: And because you said this you will be put to death unless you take it back!
Abinadi: I will not take it back. I will not recall the words I’ve said.
Narrator: In the meantime, Alma who had fled from the servants of the King, whose name was
King: Noah. My name is Noah. Come to think of it. Call me King Noah, not just the king.
Narrator: Ok, sorry. King Noah.
King: That’s better. Now, kill Abinadi by fire.
Narrator: Abinadi died by fire.
Abinadi: But I don’t fear death, I know I will return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus.
Narrator: Now, Alma who fled and hid from the servants of KING NOAH repented of his sins and iniquities and started teaching the Nephite people the words of Abinadi…but he had to do so privately or kind of secretively.
Alma: (whispering) God himself should come down among the children of men!!
Narrator: Soon many more people wanted to hear what Alma was teaching.
Alma: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light. Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn…
Person #1: What is mourn?
Narrator: When you mourn, it means you are sad.
Person #1: Oh, thanks!
Alma: Yea and comfort those that stand in need of comfort and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things…
Person #2: At all times and in all things?
Narrator: At all times and in all things!
Alma: And in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God and numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life.
Person #3: That is so deep.
Alma : Who believes what I have said?
People: We do!!
Alma: So lets get baptized!! Where you are baptized in the name of the Lord you make a promise to him that you will serve him
Narrator: And keep his commandments
Person #1: And he will pour out his spirit more abundantly upon us!!
(The people clap!)
People: This is the desire of our hearts!!
Narrator: So they were baptized and called the church of God or the church of Christ from that time forward! Anyone who was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church. Would you like to join? (talking to a person from audience) Come on up!!
Person #2: Now all this was done in Mormon, by the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon.
Person #3: What a beautiful place! This is where I came to know my Redeemer.
People: We shall sing to his praise forever!!
Narrator: Thank you!! Lets all take a bow!! You can clap lightly for us!! What a wonderful audience!!

Closing Activity: Have a child take off the piece of paper and reveal the mystery question. Have children share what they have learned, if time permits write their answers.

Suggestions:
· For Jr. Primary hand out the play to kids the week before so they can be familiar (have an adult be the narrator depending on reading skill of students).
· Have simple costumes, make a couple poster boards to show locations (one can be the castle of king noah, the other the forest of mormon, you could even make a cave where Alma hid)
· Highlight parts for the children so it’s easier for them to see.
· I have found that during reader’s theatres it works best if you do singing time separately.

Songs I would recommend to reinforce what was taught are :
1. When I am Baptized 103
2. Book of Mormon Stories” (CS, 118–19,verse 4)
3. Choose the Right Way 160

January 2008

Theme: I am a child of God, and He has a plan for me.

Scripture: “All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature
and destiny” (“Proclamation,” paragraph 2).

Song: “I Am a Child of God” (CS, 2–3; Hymns, no. 301)

Sharing Time:

Opening Activity:
Have the children sit in a circle. Explain that “opposition in all things” means that we have choices. Give examples of opposites: hot—cold, happy—sad, good—evil, light—dark, honest—dishonest, etc. As music is played, have the children pass two different-colored beanbags around the circle. When the music stops, the child holding one beanbag gives a word that has an opposite; the child holding the other bag guesses what it is. Explain that one of the greatest blessings that Heavenly Father has given us is agency, which means that we are free to choose from the opposites and varieties in life. Explain that when we choose the right, Heavenly Father blesses us.

Place GAK 239 (The Resurrected Jesus Christ) at the front of the Primary room. Prepare six large paper circles. Cut each circle in half. On six of the half-circles, write one covenant (tithing, baptism, sacrament, Sabbath day, Word of Wisdom, temple marriage). On each of the other half-circles, write one scripture reference that tells a way to keep a covenant (Mal. 3:10; Mosiah 18:10; Moro. 4:3; D&C 59:9–13; D&C 89:5–21; D&C 131:2). Place the half-circles in two columns on the chalkboard or bulletin board. Have the children take turns looking up one of the scriptures and reading it aloud. Then ask the group to identify the covenant it matches. Choose a child to represent all of us when we come to earth. Have the child stand at the back of the Primary room. As a match is made, connect the two halves of the circle and place it on the floor, making a pathway for the child to walk on. The path leads back to the Savior. As we make and keep our covenants, we can return to live with Him. If time permits, sing songs to reinforce each covenant.

** Jr. Primary Adjustment: Children will be able to match the circles by their color. I will read the scripture then we will repeat the scripture.

Closing:
Taking out the bean bag again, have the children name the opposites of sad and bad. Explain that what we do will lead us to Heavenly Father. If we will make good choices we can return to our Heavenly Father.

Songs: Prelude during bean bag game Choose the Right Way p.160
During the Return to Heavenly Father Choice Game:Order of Songs-
I’m Glad to Pay a Tithing (p. 150 2nd Verse)
This is My Beloved Son (1st Verse Only)
I Stand All Amazed (I’d like to have each line sung a capella and then have the children repeat, one child will stand at the front holding a picture of the Savior in Gethsemane)
The Chapel Doors p.156
The Word of Wisdom P. 154 1st Verse
I love to see the Temple (p.95)
I am a Child of God (p.2)

Activities to reinforce what was taught this week AS A FAMILY:

1. In the scriptures, we learn how individuals in the same story made different choices. Read the following stories and talk about the choices each of the people made. Make a list of those people who used their agency correctly. (1) King Noah and his priests listen to Abinadi. Read Mosiah 17:1–4, 11–12. (2) Cain and Abel make sacrifices to the Lord. Read Moses 5:16–21, 29–35. (3) Nephi and his brothers go back to Jerusalem to get the plates. Read 1 Ne. 3:1–7, 11–15, 28–31. (4) Alma’s sons Shiblon and Corianton go on missions. Read Alma 38:Preface, Alma 38:2–4; Alma 39:Preface, Alma 39:1–4

2. Read the following as a family: Joseph B. Wirthlin, “The Strait and Narrow Way,” Friend, May 1991 Safety is of the Lord (Prov. 21:31).
“While traveling along a mountain road one night in a driving rainstorm punctuated with claps of thunder and flashes of lightning, Sister Wirthlin and I could barely see the road. I watched the white lines on that road more intently than ever before. Staying within the lines kept us from going into the deep canyon on one side and helped us avoid a head-on collision on the other. To wander over either line could have meant disaster. That mountain road is so like life. If we stay within the lines that God has marked, he will protect us and we can arrive safely at our destination. The Savior said, “For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation” (D&C 132:22). How can we keep ourselves on the Lord’s way? He has given the answer over and over again. We must learn the word of God by studying the scriptures and applying His word, by praying daily and serving our fellowmen. If we do all we can to stay within the lines in the midst of storms and temptations, we will overcome all challenges and enjoy eternal life with our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son.
Make a “Strait and Narrow” way using tape across your living room floor. Write locations on small individual pieces of paper (e.g. Home, church, school, the grocery store, the gym, the park, in the car) and place them in a jar. Have each person draw a location out of the jar. In order to advance on the strait and narrow, that person has to say one good choice for each step that a person can make at that location. (e.g. The person draws out Home from the jar. I choose to help mom make dinner (step) I choose to do my chores without complaining (step) I choose to listen to my sister talk about her day and compliment her (step) I choose to not kick the cat (step) ) If the person gets stuck, make sure as a family to help!! After all, what are families for!

3. Read the following as a family: L. Tom Perry, “Choose the Right,” Friend, Mar 1995 Choose you this day whom ye will serve (Josh. 24:15).
“On a recent trip to New Zealand, I met with a mission president who wore a beautiful tie tack with the inspiring CTR, or “Choose the Right,” emblem. “When I was a bishop,” he explained, “[I] had an interview with a good-looking young man who was to receive the Aaronic Priesthood. He told me a special story. He related to me how one day after school, he and some of his friends found a package of cigarettes. They decided to go down on the cliff alongside some large boulders and smoke them. They lit up, and the young man said that as he was looking down at the smoldering cigarette that he held between his fingers, he saw his CTR ring. He quickly put the cigarette out and made a very wise choice—to never, ever do such a thing again. He chose to choose the right, as he remembered what the emblem stood for. From this story I gained a special love for the CTR emblem.” “Now, here in New Zealand,” the mission president said, “the last thing I do every morning as I dress for this great calling is pin my tie tack with this beautiful CTR emblem on my tie. I love it! It helps me make the right choices through the day.” There is power in a tie tack or a ring if we associate them with our desires for purity and righteousness. Even more important than physical reminders is having the conviction deep in our hearts to live the kind of life that will cause us to make the right choices, not only for peace and happiness in the world right now but also for peace and happiness eternally. I promise you that you will receive everlasting happiness if you consistently choose to do what is right.”
Sing the following songs as a family : Choose the right way (Children’s Songbook 160), I will be Valiant (Children’s Songbook 162), I’ll walk with you (Children’s Songbook 140), Nephi’s Courage (Children’s Songbook 120), and last I will follow God’s Plan (Children’s Songbook 164). Pray as a family about someone you can give a CTR ring to and then do it.

4. Read the following as a family: Gordon B. Hinckley, “We Have a Work to Do,” Friend, Aug 1997 Thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord (D&C 3:9).
“I love you children. You are very much the same the world over. Regardless of the color of your skin and of the circumstances in which you live, you carry with you a beauty that comes of innocence and of the fact that it was not long ago that you lived with your Father in Heaven. How lovely you are, wherever you are, you precious children! I look back to my own youth. Neither young men nor young women were doing much scripture reading at that time. What a marvelous change has been wrought. A new generation is arising who are familiar with the word of the Lord. Growing up in a world that is full of immorality and filth of every kind, you, for the most part, are meeting the challenge of living in the world without partaking of the evils in it. Now is a time to do what is right, regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those who need help. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another. In other words, to become more Christlike. Each of us can do a little better than we have been doing. We can be a little more kind. We can be a little more merciful. We can be a little more forgiving. We can live with respect and appreciation for those not of our faith. We can improve the world about us, in our homes and in our social activities. We can do it, if we will be prayerful and faithful. We can spend a little less time in idleness, in watching some worthless television programs. That time can be put to better advantage, and the consequences will be wonderful. Of that I do not hesitate to assure you. The Church needs your strength. It also needs your love and loyalty and devotion. May we go forward with determination to try a little harder to be a little better.”
Make a LARGE poster with the words “We choose to try a little harder and be a little better.” written at the top. Each person writes a statement on what they are going to try to be better at for the week. Make sure there is plenty of space around each statement so that family members can write POSITIVE feedback nearby. (e.g. Naomi: I choose to speak kinder words, then Pablo writes nearby: Today Naomi told me I looked really handsome in my corduroy pants even though they weren’t ironed.) Review it at the end of the week, did you succeed?

5. Read the following as a family: Making the Right Choices,” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 37; and “Making the Right Decisions,” Ensign, May 1991, 34–35.Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shares some of his thoughts on this subject.
“Place the Savior, His teachings, and His Church at the center of your life. Make sure that all decisions comply with this standard. Be surrounded by true friends who accept you the way you are and leave you better because of their association. Work at keeping your thoughts clean by thinking of something good. Your righteous decisions determine who you are and what is important to you. They make doing the right things easier. You can live in a world of turmoil and great challenge and be at peace. You will be inspired to know what to do and to have the power or capacity to do it.”

Play a game of darts as a family. Make the analogy that to win you need to make as many hits to the middle as possible because that’s where the highest points are. When we put Christ in the center of our lives we can then make winning choices.