September 2017 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps & Ideas

Monthly Theme: The 10 Commandments teach me how to love God and His children.

Monthly Scripture: "If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments" D&C 42:29

Week 1 We are blessed when we keep the commandments.

* HERE is a lovely video for Senior Primary. I think some of the words are a little advanced for Junior Primary (like sexual relations), but use your judgement and go by the spirit!!

* Are the commandments in the Bible or Book of Mormon? Tricky!! Both!! 

HERE is a small crossword puzzle that children can do in groups or take home to do with families.

* HERE is an excellent finger play to do with younger children about the 10 commandments!! After clicking the link, scroll down to find it.

* Commandment Catch! What are commandments? How do we get commandments? Should we keep the commandments or do we have to? Or both? Why is it important to keep the commandments?
       Invite 2 primary friends to the front of the room and have a bean bag. Have them answer a question, toss, then take a step back. The other child will answer the next question, toss, then take a step back. They can also do a couple tosses between questions to see how far back they can go. And no worries if you drop it or don't catch it, the game isn't Commandment Condemnation End of the World Judgement Day if you Drop. At least this Sunday. Maybe next Sunday. But for today, we're good.... relax!

       Plan plenty of questions or you can even have them read small quotes or scriptures!

* 1 Nephi 3:7, “And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."
     Have the children act out the story of Nephi getting the brass plates. Sometimes the things we are commanded to do are hard, but The Lord will always help us!!!
 

Week 2 I should respect and worship God.

* HERE is a must read to prepare for the week. Really thought provoking talk and food for the soul.

* Worship is an act of expressing reverence and respect for Heavenly Father. HERE is what True to The Faith says about worship.

* Psalms 95:6-7, "O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand."
      After discussing with the primary children what it means to worship and show respect, pass out some popcorn sheep!! Invite the children to form small groups of 3 or 4.
       Take 2 minutes to share in their groups things they have been blessed with this week, try to name a blessing for each piece of popcorn!!! It doesn't just have to be this last week either, there are some things that we are deeply grateful for and can share with group members. Gratitude and worship go hand in hand.
       Take another 2 minutes to talk about ways to improve our attitudes when we are grumpy. Sundays can often be long days, sometimes talks are boring.... how do we improve our thoughts to make church a place of worship? For each thought, have a piece of popcorn!
       Take a final 2 minutes to share how they will show respect this week for Heavenly Father and Jesus. What can we do?? How can we love our Shepherd with all our hearts this week?

 

* Alma’s companion Amulek encouraged a group of poor Zoramites to “worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth” (Alma 34:38). Go over this story with the children briefly.
    Bring in some pictures of different places: church, home living room, school, grocery store, the movie theater, car, park, temple, Disneyland. Whatsoever place!!!
     Invite a child to come up front and choose a place. What can we do to worship God in that place? You may have some quiet time while children think! Let them be creative! At the park, someone might fall down and you can go help them up. When you help others you are showing love for God's children and that is worship! When you are at Disneyland and waiting in a long line, you can think of a primary song and sing it in your head. Aren't you grateful to Heavenly Father to have the chance to go on such a fun vacation!!! We are blessed and when our hearts are full of this knowledge and love, it leads us to worship and respect God!

Week 3 I should honor my parents.

* Not everyone has a traditional happy happy joy family. And that's OK. We come to earth and are expected to just do the best we can! Sometimes our parents are wonderful examples, sometimes they are not. No matter what, we have loving Heavenly parents who will NEVER FAIL US!!!!

       With that said, for today's lesson you "youngsters" can focus on your mom or dad, or a grandma or grandpa, or an aunt or uncle, maybe even a teacher!! When someone shows us love, they are acting as angels for Heavenly Father and we can show them honor!
      Make a piece of artwork or letter for a parent, or someone else that is special, and let them know why you love them. Be specific!! "You are nice." Yes, but when? "You are nice when you cook me special pancakes and read my favorite book." Teachers can help you write!! Make it your best work!! Make sure to have plenty of paper and coloring supplies!!
       Take 5 minutes at the end to have a few primary friends share about the people they love.
      “If we truly honor [our parents], we will seek to emulate their best characteristics and to fulfill their highest aspirations for us. No gift purchased from a store can begin to match in value to parents some simple, sincere words of appreciation. Nothing we could give them would be more prized than righteous living for each youngster.” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, p. 348.)

* Mark 7:10.... just because sometimes you need to whip out a scripture when your kids complain about chores.

* "Young people, if you honor your parents, you will love them, respect them, confide in them, be considerate of them, express appreciation for them, and demonstrate all of these things by following their counsel in righteousness and by obeying the commandments of God." Elder Oaks April 1991 Honour Thy Father and Thy Mother
     MY PARENTS ARE A TREASURE!!! Have 6 different stations and divide into groups. At each station children can collect a paper jewel for their envelope that has written on it "My parents are a treasure!" The stations are as follows, you'll need a teacher to lead the discussion and help write for younger kids or they can draw their answer on the paper jewel:
1. I love my parents: When is a time that you have really loved your parents?
2. I respect my parents: What is something your parent does that you admire?
3. I can confide in my parents: What is something you'd like to tell your parents?
4. I can be considerate of my parents: What is something you can do for your parents this week?
5. I can express appreciation for my parents: What is something you'd like to thank your parents for?
6. I can be righteous and obey: Why do you choose to follow the commandments of Heavenly Father and be obedient?
    You have about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per station.

Week 4 I should respect others.

* " I love the people of this church, of all ages, of all races, and of many nations. I love the children. They are very much the same the world over. Regardless of the color of their skin and of the circumstances in which they live, they carry with them a beauty that comes of innocence and of the fact that it was not long ago that they lived with their Father in Heaven. How lovely you are, wherever you are, you precious children...We live in a world of diversity. We can and must be respectful..." President Hinkley April 1995 This is the Work of The Master
      Grab a bunch of old church magazines. Let children cut out pictures of all the different types of friends that are our brothers and sisters. Their is so much difference in the world, even in our own primary room!!! Differences are beautiful!! And in the end the most important knowledge is that we are all God's children and we should respect and love each other.
      Bring in paper, glue sticks and let the children make their beautiful collages!! Encourage them to cover the entire paper!!! If you have a large primary ask for magazine donations from families the week before!!

* There is beauty and goodness in different religions!! Do you know some converts or interesting facts about other religions?? Print out some pictures or bring in some objects from another faith. Share your positive experience with the children.
    For example, I have Greek icons that hang in my home. I don't worship or pray to them, but I love them as art. They remind me of my very faithful Yiaya (greek for grandmother). She is Greek Orthodox and I've been to church with her many times. I love how they light candles and the beautiful stained glass windows remind me of a few temples I've been too. In Greek Orthodoxy they believe in eternal marriages too!
      We can always find the good in other religions!! Pass out THIS article from The Friend and have children read it together in partners or small groups of three. We can always show respect for others!!

* Test time!! Pass out papers and pencils (you can number the papers for smaller children). HERE is the quiz on respect!! After the quiz, invite children to come up front to announce the right answer and read the quote mentioned in the quiz.
    When we are good communicators we show respect in our words!! And we can also do so in the things we do!! Bring in your cell phone if you have time and invite the children to call a person in the ward who serves a lot and leave a message of respect and gratitude. You can practice with them before hand what they might say on the message!! (Make sure you have a list of people and their numbers you could call before hand!)

September 2015 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps & Ideas

The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins detail 1838-42

Friedrich Wilhelm Schadow

Monthly Theme: I obey Jesus Christ because I love Him.
Monthly Scripture: “If ye love me, keep my commandments” John 14:15

 

Weeks 1 & 2

I show love for Jesus Christ when I keep the commandments.

*   "Brothers and sisters, we obey the commandments of God—out of love for Him...Dear brothers and sisters, living the gospel faithfully is not a burden. It is a joyful rehearsal—a preparation for inheriting the grand glory of the eternities. We seek to obey our Heavenly Father because our spirits will become more attuned to spiritual things." The Gift of Grace President Uchtdorf April 2015 General Conference
     Bring in a large backpack full of heavy books or rocks. Have a couple small children feel how heavy it is! The world would have us think that the commandments weigh us down, but obedience is just the opposite. Like President Uchtdorf has said, living the gospel faithfully is not a burden!  
      Have a 10-12 questions, scriptures, and songs having to do with obedience. Invite your piano player (if they have a good back!) to come up front and wear the heavy backpack, have them be a little dramatic about it. Oh so heavy!!! Invite children to answer the questions, then remove a rock/or book from the backpack.
     Bear testimony that sin is what weighs us down, obedience lightens our load. We obey the commandments because we love Heavenly Father and Jesus.    

* Deuteronomy 5:27, "Go thou near, and hear all that the Lord our God shall say: and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee; and we will hear it, and do it."
    Play a game, "Hear it, and do it". Come up with about 20 small strips of paper with instructions to be drawn out of a bag. (For example: jump on one foot 5 times then spin in a circle twice, pat your belly while make 7 kissing sounds, roll your shoulders while nodding your head for 15 seconds) In order to be able to choose something to hear and do, a child must be able to tell you a commandment (which you or another child can write on the chalkboard) Why do we keep the commandments? Why do we do all these things listed on the chalkboard? Because we love Jesus and Heavenly Father!!
     Challenge the children to listen to a conference talk. HEAR IT!!! And then choose something to do, from listening to that talk. DO IT!!!

* Pin the heart on the commandments. Yes. Very simple. Draw a set of stone tablets to represent the commandments, bring in some paper hearts (with tape) and a blindfold. Spin the child a couple times and let them pin it on the stone tablet commandments. In between each child have prepared questions, songs and scriptures having to do with obedience. Why do we keep the commandments? Because we love Heavenly Father and Jesus!

* Don't break my heart!! Have about 6 wooden clothespins and a few tissue paper hearts. Invite 6 primary friends to come up front and pass the paper heart with the clothespins WITHOUT ripping it!! Would Heavenly Father's heart be sad and broken if we didn't keep the commandments? Yes!! He loves us so very much and we show our love for Him and Jesus by being obedient to the commandments.
     In between each round of the game go over parts of the story of when Moses received the 10 commandments. Have questions prepared having to do with the week's theme.
      Jeremiah 24:7 " And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart."

Week 3 My love for Jesus Christ grows when I pray.

* Have about 10 numbered hearts on the ground. Invite 10 children to come up front and walk around the hearts while the primary pianist plays a song about prayer. When the music stops, draw a number from the bag and have that child on the heart that the number was called, answer a question or read a scripture about prayer. Why do we have all these hearts? Because our love for Jesus Christ grows when we pray!

* On the chalkboard, draw bingo squares and write simple physical activities inside each one. Things that make our heart strong!! (For example 5 push ups, 10 jumping jacks, jog in place 30 seconds, 10 lunges, punch the air in front of you 30 seconds, etc.) How do we keep our hearts and bodies healthy? One way is by doing good exercise!! But what about our spiritual hearts? How do we keep our spiritual heart healthy?
      One way is to pray!! My love for Jesus Christ grows when I pray. Have a child make an X on a bingo square. Have the primary do what that bingo square says. Have a question (or scripture) about prayer to answer after the exercise.
     HERE is a really GREAT talk about hearts and what happens in a heart transplant. I really like how one has to be diligent about taking care and not slacking in our efforts to make sure our hearts are right before God. He says, "Please consider the state of your changed heart. Do you detect any rejection setting in as a result of the tendency of the natural man to become casual? If so, find a place where you too can kneel."

* Psalms 92:1-2 " It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night..."
      Have a bouquet of fake flowers. On each flower have a question, song, or scripture attached about prayer. Just like a seed grows into a flower, as we pray, our love for Jesus Christ grows bigger! Let a child choose a flower, answer the question then choose 2 primary friends. Now it's time to play a simple game of grow the flower.
      To play "grow the flower" have each child sit back to back. They link elbows and then try to stand up working together! This will get a lot of primary friends out of their chairs and moving. Just remember, you can't hear a flower grow.... so not too loud! End with encouraging the children to look for flowers this week and maybe each time they see a flower they really like they can say a prayer to grow their love for Jesus! (Girls in dresses might have a hard time playing this and being lady like, just a thought!!)

Week 4 My love for Jesus Christ grows when I study the scriptures.

* Alma 32:34, 41 " And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit...
      But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life."     Build a tree! Bring in a paper trunk, paper branches, paper fruit, paper grass for the bottom, a paper bird and nest, etc. Have a paper sack with questions about scripture study in it. Invite a primary friend to come up front, choose a question and answer it. Then have them pick a paper part of the tree to put on the chalkboard with a magnet.
     We can nourish our love for Jesus Christ when we study the scriptures. Like the scripture in Alma says, "If we nourish the word... behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life."

* Here is a little Reader's Theater I wrote up. All scriptures are quoted. You can have very simple costumes, a pair of glasses as a prop. Kids can share a few copies of the script or you can make 11 and highlight, it's up to you. Choose your readers carefully!! Longer parts should go to children who can read fluently. The dog would be an easy part for a Sunbeam! This was written for non-commercial purposes. Please do not use other than for home or church purposes. (UPDATE!! I accidentally wrote the WRONG scripture reference... it's 3 Nephi 23:1,5,13,14.... My apologies!!)



* A cute handout for the week could be this saying with small crystal light packet attached.

"Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high."
Elder Richard G. Scott Oct. 2011 The Power of Scripture

February 2013 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps & Ideas

Earth image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by Beth Scupham July 2012

Monthly Theme: The Earth Was Created for Heavenly Father’s Children

Monthly Scripture: "We will make an earth whereon these may dwell; and we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them" Abraham 3:24–25

Week 1 Jesus Christ created the earth under the direction of Heavenly Father.

* Matt & Mandy are a favorite part of The Friend at our home. HERE is one of their cartoons that talks about the creation and how it is a miracle. It would be a nice attention activity to introduce the week's sharing time theme.

* HERE is a felt board of the creation. It's from The Friend and entitled, "The Creation, Each Day a Gift". You could have 6 boxes wrapped nicely with a felt piece in each one. Ask children to talk about how each part of the creation was a gift.

*After you go over the account of the creation, play a game of charades! A primary friend has to act out one of their favorite creations while the others raise their hand and then guess!

* This could be a good follow up after you've gone over the account of the creation for SENIOR PRIMARY. I based all questions off of Chapter 7 of Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual.

Creation Quiz by chulbakera

*Break out some play dough and let children share what their favorite part of the creation is.

* Invite a couple members to sing "For the Beauty of the Earth,” Hymns, no. 92. After they sing, have them share a photo of something The Lord has created that they are very grateful for.

* There is a TV commercial (that I would never show the primary, but I would discuss) that has a man in nature. He is breathing the fresh air and climbing a mountain with the city in the back. He smiles and asks, "What more could I need?" Then he thinks about a certain TV show, and another one, and another one... pretty soon he is running back to the city where the ending shot is him super happy on his couch with a remote control in hand.
Ask the primary children the following questions. First off, what do you think about this type of commercial? How does it make you feel? Why would it be more important to enjoy the creations of Heavenly Father rather than watching TV?

Since the world thinks TV is more important than nature, take a posterboard and draw an outline of a TV. Cut out the middle so a child's face can be seen behind it. Divide the children into groups and ask the children to come up with commercials to teach the world about the creation and why we should enjoy it!


Week 2 The Fall was part of God’s plan.

* What do you personally know about The Fall?? HERE is a good read for preparation this week! Also from Preach My Gospel is the suggestion:
"When first teaching this doctrine, do not teach everything you know about it. Explain very simply that God chose two of His children, Adam and Eve, to become the first parents on earth. After their transgression they were subject to both sin and death. By themselves they could not return to live with Heavenly Father. The Lord spoke to Adam and taught him the plan of salvation and redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ. By following that plan, Adam and his family could have joy in this life and return to live with God (see Alma 18:36; 22:12–14)." (Lesson 2)

* Do you have a child that belongs to you in primary? Invite your own child to fall back and you catch them. What would happen if you weren't there to catch them? Heavenly Father knew that Adam would fall and He provided Jesus to be our Savior.

* HERE is a wonderful visual. It's an article by Sister Esplin and an account from President Hinkley. After sharing with the children, give them 10 strips of paper. Have them work in partners to come up with 10 facts about The Fall. If they need help, send them to the Bible Dictionary!!! Afterwards, they can glue stick the strips together to make a chain!

* Ask a primary friend how they got into the primary room. Did they walk through the doorway? Who else in the room did so? Could we get into the room without the door? (Someone is going to bring up the windows... they just are. Be prepared. Counter back with, who would want to break a window to God's house and get hurt!!) Just like it was necessary for us to walk through the door to get to primary, The Fall was a necessary and very important part of God's plan!!

* Bring in a basket of things that give you lots of joy!! Have questions, songs and scriptures having to do with the fall attached to the items. Invite a primary friend to come up and choose one of your favorite things. Explain that the only reason we are able to have these things that make us happy, is because of Jesus Christ. He is our Savior! Invite the children to draw a picture of one of their favorite things and copy the scripture below it!!
“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” (2 Ne. 2:25).

Week 3 I have been sent to earth to gain a body and to be tested.

* Bring in some measuring tools. Does anyone know how long a piece of paper is? What about the length of a primary friend's nose? We need a ruler, right?!?! How do we measure flour for a recipe? Is it important to measure? A little bit of a deeper question is, how do we measure knowledge? We cant put knowledge in a glass cup? If you are taught all about foxes and read 20 books about them.... how would a teacher measure how much you learned? A test!!! Heavenly Father sent us to earth to gain our body and measure how much we would learn and be obedient! In the pre mortal world we listened and prepared, now is our time to measure up!!

*  Display a picture of a human heart: "Have you ever thought to be thankful for your heart? Look at the job it’s doing. It’s pumping enough fluid every day to fill a railroad tank car, about 2,000 gallons (7,570 liters). Inside the heart are four sets of valves that open and close 100,000 times a day, more than 36 million times a year, and they don’t break. No man-made material—paper, plastic, metal, or steel—can open and close that many times, with that frequency, without breaking. Every organ in the body is so well designed and so marvelous in its function" Elder Russell M. Nelson Focus on Values Liahona Feb.2013
    Have about 15 paper hearts. On the back put different "tests" we might face in life. Invite a child to come up and pick a heart. They will have to say one thing they are grateful for about their body and then act out what they would do in that "test". For example: You are at school. A bully is picking on another student. What would you do?
    Our bodies are a miracle. Let's make sure we use them the best we can so we can return to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus.

* What is earth life all about? This is more for Senior Primary. Have a picture of the earth cut up in 7 different puzzle type pieces. Have the following scriptures from Preach My Gospel, one on each piece:

2 Nephi 2:21
2 Nephi 9:27
Mosiah 3:19
Alma 12:21–24
Alma 34:31–35
Alma 42:2–10
Abraham 3:25–26

Give a puzzle piece or two to each class. Once they have looked it up together, invite a primary friend to explain what their scripture talked about and put their piece on the board, trying to fit the puzzle together.

* Play a game of "My body can do that!" Of course, be sensitive to your primary needs!!! If you have a friend in a wheelchair or other special needs, DON'T PLAY THIS GAME. You don't want them to ever feel bad for something they don't have control over. Life is hard enough without common sense of teachers!!!
     With that said, the game is pretty simple.

----Can your body stand on one leg and put it's ring finger on the top of it's left ear?

----Can your body click it's heels 3 times, knees 3 times, elbows 3 times and nod 5 times?

----Can you roll your hands then quickly put them behind your back touching your pointer fingers?

    Why are we here on earth? Call on a primary friend who is REVERENTLY (it's OK to giggle, but it's not OK to be falling to the ground like a laughing hyena!) playing the game to look through the room for hidden papers about our life on earth. Once they read the paper, and answer a simple question about it, have them come up with something for My body can do that! Topics for the pieces of paper can be found from Preach My Gospel:
" - Our purpose in life is to find lasting peace, joy, and happiness as families and to prepare to return to live with God.
- We came to the earth to be tested (see Abraham 3:24–25).
- We gain a body of flesh and bones, but we are subject to physical death.
- God gives commandments. If we obey, we are blessed. If we disobey, we sin and receive the consequences.
- All sin must be paid for, either by ourselves or by Christ (see D&C 19:15–20).
- We make choices, and we all commit sin (see Romans 3:23).
- We have experiences that bring us happiness and also sorrow.
- We cannot overcome either physical or spiritual death without Christ."
Ask simple questions after they read the paper. (If they can't read, you say it and they repeat it!)
For example, Our purpose in life is to find lasting peace... what does that mean? What is something we can do to prepare to return to live with God?

* "Wow! That's amazing!! Game" Give everyone in primary a fascinating fact about the body. Give them about 3 minutes to reverently walk around the room and share their fact with others. If a primary friend can't read, walk up to someone who can!!! Invite friends to return to their seat and share a few amazing facts!!

Did you know the brain doesn't feel pain? Sneezes are faster than 100 MPH?!?!

Click HERE for more facts.

Wow! That's amazing!!!!! It's also amazing that Heavenly Father and Jesus love us so much. Invite primary friends to share times in their life when they've been "tested" and have succeeded with the help of Heavenly Father. To get thoughts started... has anyone ever had a rough day at school or had a time at home when they were tempted to do something and chose the right? Wow! That's amazing!! As children share, repeat some of the things they've said. Make sure everyone is listening while another child speaks!

Week 4 If I keep the commandments, I can live with Heavenly Father again.

*    From Gospel Principles Chapter 35, " When Jesus was on the earth, a lawyer asked Him a question:      “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Matthew 22:36–40).From these scriptures we learn how important it is for us to love the Lord and our neighbors. But how do we show our love for the Lord? Jesus answered this question when He said, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father” (John 14:21)." 

     Divide the primary into small groups. Give each group a heart. Have them come up with a way to show love for Heavenly Father and write down on the heart what commandment they are keeping. Have them come up with a way to act it out and have the primary then guess what commandment is on the heart. For example: A group of children kneel down in a circle together. On their heart they put family prayer!

* Similar to the Sharing Time Outline: What are some rules you have at home? School? What about traffic rules... is it good to drive through red lights? Did you know Joseph Smith had a rule?

    The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “I made this my rule: When the Lord commands, do it” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 160) 

    Have a couple paper bag puppets of examples from the scriptures who kept the commandments and some who didn't. Have children choose a puppet, put it on and briefly tell how that person did or didn't keep the commandments. What was their rule- The Lord commanded and I did it or I choose the wrong? Have paper bags for the children to make into themselves. Does anyone have a story they can share with their own puppet of a time they kept the commandments? Have them share. Bear testimony that if we follow the wise counsel of Joseph Smith's rule.... does anyone remember? That's right... when the Lord commands, do it! Then we will be able to live with Heavenly Father again.

* Have little envelopes with bows or if you want to be fancy, wrapped boxes. You'll need 11 total. In each box you will need to put one letter of the words ETERNAL LIFE. Invite children to come up and talk about different commandments The Lord has given us. Let them unwrap and put the letter on the blackboard. Invite the children to figure out the right order of the letters to find out what we can have if we keep the commandments!!

The Lord counsels us, “If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7)

* Invite 2 children up front. Tie one of their feet together, like a 3 legged race. Have them work together and walk across the room. When you tied their legs together did the other person HAVE to move their foot when the other person moved their foot?

D&C 82: 10 "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."

When we keep the commandments we're bound to get to heaven!!!

* HERE is a coloring page for younger children. It's always a great idea to review stories from the scriptures. Primary friends could easily act out the different ways Nephi kept the commandments!

September 2012 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps & Ideas

 

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

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

 

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

Week 1 We are blessed when we keep the commandments.  

 

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

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

*  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

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

 

 

Week 2 I should respect and worship God.

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

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

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

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

Worship Through Music By Elder Oaks Nov. 1994

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Week 3 I should honor my parents.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Week 4 I should respect others.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

September 2010 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

Image of Mother Teresa, one of God's greatest examples of love and obedience.

Monthly Theme: I Obey Jesus Christ Because I Love Him
Monthly Scripture: "If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15

Weeks 1 and 2: I show love for Jesus Christ when I keep the commandments.

* Have a child hold GAK picture 303. Ask the primary children to share what they know about Nephi. Did he love the Lord? Sing Nephi's Courage (CS pg. 120). What did Nephi do and what can I do? Have swords cut out of posterboard (or cardboard... something sturdy!) and let the children wrap with aluminum foil. Have sharpies or permanent markers out for them to write on their swords, "I show love for Jesus Christ when I...." Of course little one's can draw pictures of what they do to show their love.

* Bring in puppets! Have the children use the puppets to act out different scenarios on how to keep the commandments and show their love for Jesus. Some different scenarios could include:

-A friend really wants a toy from the store. She doesn't have enough money. It is one awesome toy and she really really wants it, what should she do?
-A friend watches TV every single day for 5 hours straight. It's so entertaining and easy to just plop down after school and zone away! Plus, those Ninja turtles are kung fu masters! Is this friend breaking the commandment about idols? What can they do to keep the commandment and show love for Jesus Christ?

* Ask the children if they could get a gift for Heavenly Father and Jesus, what would they give them? A horse, a toy, a book, a sweater?? A wise man once said, "Your life is a gift from God, what you do with that life is your gift to God." (Leo Buscaglia) Invite a child to come to the front, someone who can stand very still. You'll need wrapping paper, tape, scissors and a bow. Have questions, scriptures and songs having to do with keeping the commandments. As the children answer the questions and participate, invite them up to wrap the primary friend! (For example a child answer's a question, so they get to cut the paper. Another child answers another question and gets to tape. Another child reads a scripture and gets to tape some more, etc...) Bear testimony that as we keep the commandments, we truly give Jesus all our love and you can't get a better gift than that!

* What are different ways we show love? Have the children give themselves hugs, blow kisses, high five each other, softly cheering hooray... can we show our love for Jesus these ways? In heaven, but not right now... so then how do we show our love for Jesus now? Break into groups and give a large sheet of butcher paper. Let them brainstorm and write/draw ways we keep the commandments. Let them come up with scriptures and songs that have to do with the topic and add to their papers. Have a member from each group share a few ideas they came up with to the whole primary.
3 Nephi 11:9 "And Nephi arose and went forth, and bowed himself before the Lord and did kiss his feet."

While we can't show Jesus our love for him with kisses and hugs yet, we can do so by keeping the commandments.

Pass out ziploc baggies with Hershey's Hugs and Kisses and a piece of paper with 1o squares on it. Challenge the children to do 10 things this week to follow the commandments and show their love for Christ, as they do so they can check a box.

(This is food in primary, yes, I realize... but it does have to do with the lesson, so feel free to use your personal discretion)

* Make a board game entitled "To Prosper or Not To Prosper". How do we show love for Christ? By keeping the commandments! And what do we get in return... more than we really deserve! "And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep His commandments; and he has promised you if ye would keep his commandments ye would prosper...." Mosiah 2:22

Have a dice, some sort of child figure with a heart to move on the spaces and little cards with questions, scriptures and songs on keeping the commandments for the children to choose when they land on a spot. Where is the final destination on the board game? Right by the Savior of course!! (You could have also little cards that say something to the effect of, "We're all human! Today you sinned... you will not prosper, move back 1 space.")

* The Sharing Time Outline suggested having the children review "My Gospel Standards". Here is a link from The Friend magazine for printable cards the children can take home to practice with their family.

* Here are a couple different ideas from The Friend magazine by Karen Lofgreen on obedience. I really like the button idea and will be trying that at Family Home Evening!

* Here are some ideas on how obedience makes us happy by Sheila Wilson. There is a great little book for the children to make on the beatitudes.

Week 3: My love for Jesus Christ grows when I pray.

* Bring in a tape measure. Have about 5 different stories (with a picture for each) from the scriptures on prayer. Ask the children to tell you the stories and after each one ask, "How did their love grow for Jesus Christ when they prayed?" Then invite them to stretch the measuring tape a couple feet after each story. Try to get the measuring tape to stretch across the whole room (you'll have to use the special button to make it not retract) and bear testimony that you know your love for Jesus Christ will grow even longer and more than what we see on the measuring tape when we pray!

* Bring in a watering can and a paper flower. Have about 10, 2" strips of green paper than can be the stem. Have the children come to the front and answer questions, scriptures and songs on prayer. As they do so, let them water the flower and add a stem to see it grow. Our love for Jesus Christ grows when we pray!! (As a little twist, you could actually bring in a pot, soil, seeds and watering can and plant a real flower as they answer questions, sing songs and read scriptures on prayer... then perhaps have someone take it to a friend who wasn't in primary)

* Bring in a manual air pump and beach ball. When we pray our love for Christ grows. Let the children come up and take turns pumping. Notice how we have to keep doing it often and work hard at it!! Mosiah 4:12 "And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of Him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true."

* Have a gigantic paper ice cream sundae bowl on the blackboard. Let the children have scoops of ice cream and write (or draw) different things they can pray for on the scoops. Senior Sharing time can also add scriptures about prayers, or examples from their own life about times they've prayed. Add all the scoops to the Sundae! Wow!! Just as this sundae went from an empty bowl to completely full, so will our love of Christ grow as we pray.

* Bring in a lock and a couple different keys to try to open it. Have a child try the different keys and figure out which one works. "Learn to pray. Pray often. Pray in your mind, in your heart. Pray on your knees. Prayer is your personal key to heaven. The lock is on your side of the veil. And I have learned to conclude all my prayers with ‘Thy will be done’ (Matthew 6:10; see also Luke 11:2; 3 Nephi 13:10).”Boyd K. Packer, “Prayer and Promptings,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 46 Hand out different hearts with questions on prayer and keys with answers. Let the children walk around and find the matches, then have them share with the Primary.

Week 4: My love for Jesus Christ grows when I study the scriptures.

 

* Tailor the above ideas with scriptures instead of prayer.

 

*Half an hour each morning privately studying, pondering, and communicating with your Heavenly Father can make an amazing difference in your lives. It will give increased success in your daily activities. It will bring increased alertness to your minds. It will give you comfort and rock-steady assurance when the storms of life descend upon you." (M. Russell Ballard, "Be Strong in the Lord, and in the Power of His Might" (CES fireside for young adults, March 3, 2002), 3–4)

Let the children find different numbered rocks (1-10) throughout the room. Have 10 questions, songs and scriptures (total) on scripture study for the children to answer and do. Let's study the scriptures and get that rock steady testimony! As we do so our love for Christ will grow!

 

* Bring in 2 mirrors. Have a couple children help. Hold up a Book of Mormon and Bible in between the 2 mirrors. What do the children see?

"My works are without end, and . . . my words . . . never cease" Moses1:4

 

* Do you find our primary children don't know where the different books in the scriptures belong? Do you wonder why? Wonder no longer, it's because they are children and we need to teach them. Take the time to learn the names of the books (Thanks Children's Songbook for making this easy!! Pages 119,116,114) and the different stories that go in the books. As we do so our love for Christ will grow!!! If you have graph paper, you can have senior sharing time choose 3 books in the scriptures and have them make a mini-cross word puzzle. Have them switch with other children and let a couple children share clever clues with all the primary.