My God, My Heavenly Father.....

I pray Heavenly Father will bless me with the spirit to guide me in what I say, feel, and think. Because all these things lead me to know.

One day, my kids' kids are going to go to church and are going to be bored. Another day they are going to run across something in the church's history, and it's not going to make sense. One time they might have a close LDS friend who decides to leave the church. Another time they may just feel utterly and completely lost. One time someone might die. Or divorce might happen. Maybe they will lose a library book, and pray for a miracle and have faith to find it... but they just don't find it. $20 bucks later man.... $20 bucks later....

Life can be a giant boulder that is launched at you and completely smashes you under it's weight. And while you are underneath- your legs broken, lungs crushed, and liver in organ failure.... sometimes all you can do is say, "Well shoot. This is janky."

This is what I know. While you are under that boulder, there is going to be a man who helps you. He loves you. He loves me. You might feel Him close by, you might not.... but no matter what, He is right by your side. He will not leave you.

Some people say there is no God.

They can believe what they want. There is a God and He is great. He is good and kind. He is fair and loving. He has created a beautiful world for us, put angels nearby to lift us up, given us guides to help us along the way, and just wants us to be happy.

People make their choices. Their choices don't make them bad people. All people are good, sometimes their choices are just "janky". And you know what, you don't need to worry about their choices. Love the person, hate the sin? Naw. Don't even go there. Let Heavenly Father deal with sins. You worry about your own. You know what you need to do? Love. Love some more. Then love some more.

We are in good hands. Even though times may seem like "rocks gone wild", no matter how broken you feel, you can be healed by The Master. You may be bleeding out, but hang in there. In the end, everything is going to work out. In the mean time, just do your best and know that God is over all.

March 2014 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

Christ and Child by Carl Bloch 1873

 

Monthly Theme: Jesus Christ is Our Savior.

Monthly Scripture: "We have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." 1 John 4:14

Week 1 I can gain a testimony of Jesus Christ.

* "In conferences we can receive the word of the Lord meant just for us.... On a computer, phone, or other electronic device, we can read, listen to, watch, and share the teachings of the prophets. Anytime, anywhere, we can enlarge our knowledge, strengthen our faith and testimony..." Elder Robert D. Hales Oct. 2013 General Conference "General Conference: Strengthening Faith and Testimony"
     This quote was very recent. If we want to strengthen our faith and testimony of Jesus Christ, we should study the words of General Conference!! Divide into groups and give them stories to read from the talks in conference. You can give them highlighted portions of the talk. How do these words help us to believe in Jesus?
Some great stories include:
       Brother Moses Mahlangu HERE (He wasn't able to attend church because of the laws of the country, but still listened by the windows outside. How did he strengthen his testimony in Jesus?)
       Elder Dube HERE (He had to pull weeds with his mother and she told him to always look forward to what needs to be done. He also made a comparison with the Saints when they left Nauvoo. What does faith have to do with testimony of Jesus?)
       Elder Neilson HERE (A little boy thinks the prophet has called on the phone! What has the prophet called us to do in life? How can we develop our testimony with missionary work?)
      Thumb through the talks and pray for the spirit to guide you!

* HERE is a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!!! article from lds.org by Mindy Raye Friedman. I especially like her section where she talks about a large fire comes from small kindling (she has a great picture too). Of course, you'd have to preface your lesson that WE NEVER PLAY WITH MATCHES!!!!!! As a visual though, you can bring in some small sticks and let the children add them to a pile (maybe ask some scouts about a good wood formation to start a fire!) As they add a stick they have to say something they can do to gain a testimony of Jesus. They can also add sticks by reading scriptures about testimony or singing a song as a primary about testimony. We want a bright burning testimony always in our hearts of The Savior, and it's the little things we do in life that will add to the flame!
     And just for you teachers, a good reminder with this fire theme, ""Keep the fire of your testimony of the restored gospel and your witness of our redeemer burning so brightly that our children can warm their hands by the fire or your faith." Boyd K. Packer (Ensign, May 2003, pp. 84)

* "How does one gain what we call a testimony? The first step in gaining any kind of knowledge is to really desire to know. In the case of spiritual knowledge, the next step is to ask God in sincere prayer...
      As we desire and seek, we should remember that acquiring a testimony is not a passive thing but a process in which we are expected to do something...
      Another way to seek a testimony seems astonishing when compared with the methods of obtaining other knowledge. We gain or strengthen a testimony by bearing it...
      A personal testimony is fundamental to our faith. Consequently, the things we must do to acquire, strengthen, and retain a testimony are vital to our spiritual life. In addition to those already stated, we need to partake of the sacrament each week (see D&C 59:9) to qualify for the precious promise that we will “always have his Spirit to be with [us]” D&C 20:77. Of course, that Spirit is the source of our testimonies."  Elder Dallin H. Oaks Testimony May 2008 Ensign
      This is a good visual to draw on the board. At the bottom we write a question mark, then we draw steps to Testimony of Jesus at the top. You'll need 5 steps. Use scripture stories or personal stories and ask the children to share any thoughts as you go over each step he mentioned: desire to know, pray, do something, bear testimony, partake of the sacrament each week.

Week 2 Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ I can repent and be forgiven of my sins.

* Everyone LOVES Matt and Mandy!! HERE is a great illustration of Mom doing wash. Read it to the children and show them the pictures. In the third box, you're going to have to briefly "expound" on when mom says, "When we're baptized our sins are washed away." This is absolutely true when a person is baptized after age 8. Before age 8, children DO NOT have sins that are washed away by baptism. After 8, because of baptism, their sins can be washed away! Click HERE for more information.
     With that out of the way, continue on to the beautiful analogy of the Atonement being the only way possible to live life and do our wash!!
     You could make a washing machine on a piece of paper with a cut out for children to insert a dirty shirt. Make a small whirring noise and shake the paper a little. Do you feel goofy doing this? Get over it, be a fun person! Smile! Hold a clean shirt up behind the washing machine and let the child reach in and get the clean paper shirt. Each time you do it repeat the weekly theme, "Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ I can repent and be forgiven of my sins!"
     Do this about 10 times and have the children answer questions about The Atonement and repentance. Some questions could include:
     Where did The Atonement take place? (The prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the final Sacrifice on the cross... have pictures!)
     Why do you think Heavenly Father and Jesus went through with The Atonement?
     What do we need to do to repent?
     Will we be forgiven if we truly repent?

* Ben Davis was a brave little boy! His story, HERE, was featured in The Friend. You could share this with the children. Have a white paper snowman and let a couple children tear it a few times, maybe into 8 pieces. We ALL make mistakes!!The Atonement makes repentance possible. When we repent, we are forgiven.
The little boy couldn't give back the snowman, but he did what he could to make it right again. Have a small/mini candy bar (IF THE SPIRIT PROMPTS YOU THAT IT IS OK, and please be aware of allergies!!!! I don't believe in sugaring up kids, it just goes with his story. We're using the sense of taste to reinforce the teaching.) for each of the children. Invite them to come up and choose a piece of the torn snowman to give to you and answer a question about The Atonement or repentance. Tell them not to eat the candy bar until after a special song. After the 8 children have gotten a candy bar, sing Repentance (CS pg.98). Tell the children you're watching for good singing and reverent manners... then pass out the rest of the candy bars so every child can have one. Now they can eat and reverently throw out wrappers.
     When everyone is back in their chairs, bear testimony of The Atonement, repentance, and forgiveness.

 

 

* This is a little visual I made taking examples from the Book of Mormon. Bad choices were made, but because of The Atonement and their willingness to repent, they were able to then make good choices and be forgiven. Have the children tell you what these choices were.

    After looking in depth at these examples, going over the stories with the children, what does The Atonement mean for me? We all make mistakes. Is it better to stay away from sin so we don't make serious mistakes? Can anyone think of examples from the scriptures of people who didn't understand the Atonement and repent.... what happened to them?

Week 3 Jesus Christ was resurrected, and I will be too!

* HERE is a reader's theater I wrote for OLDER children.

* HERE is the Bible Video for Jesus is Resurrected.

* HERE is the scripture story of Jesus Resurrected. It has 12 parts/pictures. If you feel like the children in your primary do NOT know the story or need it reviewed, then you can cut up the 12 parts and put them in numbered envelopes under chairs. Have the children come up front and bring their part when their number is called.

* HERE is a visual children can make of the different witnesses of Christ when He was resurrected.

* This idea is from Sister Elizabeth Ricks (April 2007 Friend) "Display three shoe boxes, and ask the children to raise their hands if they like to try on new shoes. Explain that you want them to imagine trying on some other people’s shoes, but more important you want them to imagine what it would be like to actually be that person. One by one, take out a pair of shoes from each box. (You can also display pictures or drawings of shoes.) Show a pair of boots to represent the soldiers who guarded Jesus’s tomb. Use detail to tell the story in such a way that the children can imagine being there when Jesus Christ was laid in the tomb. Next, use a pair of sandals to tell the story of Mary Magdalene. Ask the children how it might have felt to have been at the garden tomb when the resurrected Savior appeared. Last, show a pair of shoes that children in your area commonly wear. Ask how it feels to be a member of the Church and to have the knowledge that you will be resurrected because of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ."

       Sing “Did Jesus Really Live Again?”‍ (p. 64), and bear testimony that the Easter story is the most glorious story in the world. Testify that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died and was resurrected.

 

Recycled Ideas from previous posts:

* Have a picture of a sign "Dead End". What does this mean? Have a plastic toy bulldozer. How is Jesus Christ like a bulldozer? To some it may seem like when we die, there is no where else to go. But we know that there is more beyond the grave and Jesus has cleared the way because of His atonement and resurrection! Have the bulldozer run over the dead end sign!

* Have a teacher or another adult come to the front to help. Tie their hands together. What does that feel like? Can they do as many things with their hands tied? Mosiah 15:20 "But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead." Cut the string. The teacher's hand is free now. How does that feel?
How does it feel to know that we aren't tied down to sickness, pain, and sorrow that comes from this earth life? Can you feel the spirit bearing truth, it's a peaceful happy feeling, that we are free! We will live again!!

Week 4 I can show respect for The Savior by being reverent.

* THIS is a must read in preparation for the week's topic. I'm going to highlight the part "What is my demeanor during a sports event?" and send it to my hubby. Sometimes he gets a little riled when it comes to his Seahawks. And can we all get an AMEN to , "Many problems with reverence can be defused with a well-prepared lesson in which the students participate."

* HERE is an article/activity from The Friend. They have a reverence jar that you could easily adapt to a sharing time. You'd be surprised, but sometimes simple things make a big impact and can be fun. They have a list of reverent things you can do to show respect. Cut those into strips and then make a list of about 10 things that are NOT reverent and cut those also into strips. Have children choose from a bag and decide whether it should go in the reverent jar... if it's not reverent, then it's not showing respect for Jesus! Have the child crumple up the paper and shoot it like a basketball into the garbage!

* "It is not enough to understand the gospel and value it. Reverence is an active, not a passive, feeling. It is not a mere “Shush!” It requires that we become thoughtfully and spiritually involved in our worship services, recognizing the importance of the Savior’s sacrifice in our behalf. " (Children Can Learn Reverence Ensign Feb. 1984 HERE)
     Play a game of "SHUSH!!!!" Invite a primary friend to come up front to answer a question or read a scripture about reverence. Then have them turn around and cover their eyes. Tap 4 friends in the primary to stand up, one of the friends you tap hold your finger to your mouth. They are the friend that will go "SHUSH!!!". Then the one who is up front turns around and gets to guess who said, "SHUSH!!!" Have about 10-12 questions on reverence prepared.
      Some questions could include:
     Why is walking in the hallways of church, even on a weekday, important and showing respect for The Savior?
     What are some ways you can show reverence during Family Home Evening?
     What does it mean to be "spiritually involved in our worship services"?
     How would you describe the reverent feeling you get at the temple?
     Why is dressing modestly showing reverence?
     Can you name someone in the scriptures who showed reverence?

* "The more one loves God, the deeper will be his reverence for Him." (President Romney Ensign Sept. 1982)
    Have a bunch of paper hearts! A lot! A lot! A lot!! Let children have as many as they want to write down reasons why they love Jesus. Some examples could include: He died for me, He created fish, He healed people, He helps me, He gave me my family, He sacrificed.... Have a big bucket to put the hearts in.
     Have green squares with paper clips. On these green squares you can have quotes, questions, scriptures or songs about reverence. When we love Jesus, we have reverence there too!! Love and reverence go hand in hand!! Invite a friend to fish out a reverence square and do what it says. Invite them to also choose a heart to read. Keep on repeating the quote, "The more one loves God, the deeper will be his reverence for Him." Sometimes leave out words and see if the children can fill in the blank!! For a fishing stick, just have a good magnet on the end of the string to pick up the paper clipped squares.

* Exodus 3:4-5 "And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground"

    Have a picture of Moses and the burning bush. Have paper footprints scattered throughout the room. In this sacred occasion, Moses was standing on holy ground. We don't always stand on holy ground and we don't always have to take off our shoes to show reverence. But as we look at this example from the scriptures, we need to remember that when The Lord asks us to do something, we listen and show Him respect and love by being reverence.

     On the paper footprints throughout the room you can have examples of people from the scriptures or stories of primary friends showing reverence!

     For example: Enos knelt in prayer all day and all night. How does kneeling during prayer show reverence? Can someone tell me a little more about what he did?

    Daniel refused to eat the King's meat and wine. He showed obedience. How does obedience help a person to be reverent? Later in life he refused to pray to other gods and was thrown into the lion's den. How does reverence protect us?

     Suzy gave a great talk on faith last week. She showed reverence by being prepared and ready to teach by the spirit. She showed reverence by having a smiling face while she spoke- because reverence invites happiness!

     Harold is always respectful of people's space. He doesn't poke others and keeps his feet to himself. More importantly, he is always listening and paying attention. You can tell he loves to learn about the gospel. Reverence is more than quietly sitting, it's thinking of Father above!!

       If you do decide to do examples out of the primary children, PLEASE PREFACE and make it positive! Tell the children that you are going to highlight some great reverence you've seen in primary, but everyone needs to know how special EVERY PERSON in primary is!! If they aren't on the footstep, that's OK, come to me after primary and I'll tell you a time that was noticed when you were being reverent. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful primary with children who show love and respect for The Savior by being reverent!!

December 2013 LDS Primary Sharing Time Ideas & Helps

La Vierge Au Lys by Bouguerau

Monthly Theme: I know that Jesus Christ will come again.
Monthly Scripture: "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." Job 19:25

Week 1 The Prophets foretold that Jesus Christ would come to earth.

* HERE is a Primary 6 lesson with lots of scripture references for this weekly theme. There is also a nice coloring page to go along!

* HERE is a link with lots of resources for teaching children about the prophecies of Christ. The Christmas in the America (under stories) link would be a great/easy felt board story!

* Have a child come up front and guess what is in a paper bag with a bow. We can guess all we like. We could even guess what would happen tomorrow. But it's different with prophets. When it's the will of Heavenly Father, He speaks through prophets to "foretell" what will happen. What is the difference between guessing and a prophet "foretelling"?
Have the child open the bag to show a picture of baby Jesus. Prophets foretold that Jesus Christ would come to earth.

* Do you have a toy bow and arrow set? They sell them at the Dollar store. Invite a child to come up and share the story of Samuel the Lamanite. Samuel prophesied and foretold that Jesus Christ would come to earth. Have 10-12 different questions, songs, and scriptures about the birth of Christ on strips of paper for children to choose. Once they answer the question correctly, they can shoot the arrow at a paper circle on the blackboard. We'd never shoot at Samuel, but our answers to questions are always right on the mark!

* Have a sleeping bag and pillow. Invite a child to put on a Nephi's slippers and cozy robe and fall asleep. In 1 Nephi 11 we learn all about Nephi's vision of when Jesus would come to earth. Have little paper thought/dream bubbles (about 6-8) with pictures about the life of Christ from his vision. Read scripture excerpts and then invite a child to come choose which dream bubble it's talking about. Then invite another Nephi to fall asleep... etc. You'll have a lot of children coming up this way.

* Bring in a copy of the week's weather report for where you live. Ask the children if they have ever seen the weather man predict snow and then there was no snow? Is it pretty hard to guess what the weather will be like?? Heavenly Father did not want people to be confused when it came to Jesus coming to earth. He spoke to prophets and prophets foretold the coming of The Savior. It wasn't like the weather... what the prophets spoke happened!!

Have a small umbrella with strips of paper inside. On the papers have questions, scriptures, and songs having to do with the weeks theme. Let a child come up front and spin the umbrella to mix up the papers and then choose one. Weather changes, but the prophecies of Christ do not!!

Week 2 Jesus Christ will come to the earth again.

* Ask the primary children to raise their hand if they enjoy reading a good book. Go ahead and raise their hands again if they ever get to the end and wish there was more! Sometimes books continue and have sequels!! If we were thinking about the life of Christ like a book, what would be His sequel??? What would come after His chapter when He was resurrected? It's a pretty tricky question!! Was He resurrected and that was just it?? Jesus Christ will come to the earth again!!

Go over a couple scriptures of what the 2nd coming will be like. Focus on the positive!! Need help finding scriptures... click HERE for great information from Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual.

Have a piece of paper with a clip art open book on it for each child. Invite children to draw an image of Jesus' life on the left hand side. On the other side they can draw His sequel!!! The next chapter/book is the glorious 2nd coming.

 



* Is this idea possible? I really don't know. Hang about 6-7 envelopes from a string from the ceiling. When the children walk in they will all be looking up. When it's time to start tell the children you noticed a bunch of them looking up. Why would they be looking up, that's kind of weird? Is there something... oh, there is something up there!! Just as we were looking up, a long time ago so were the apostles!! Show a picture of the Ascension.
      “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” Acts 1:11   
       What does this scripture tell us? What goes up must come down!! Have children choose an envelope and answer questions, scriptures, and sing songs about Jesus Christ's 2nd coming.

* HERE is a lesson from the Primary 7 manual. It has a good matching handout for older children

* Have children draw a picture of what it will be like in the Millennium! All the animals will be peaceful, Christ will be our King, Satan will be bound! It's an exciting time to look forward too!

Week 3 I will prepare to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again.

* HERE is an awesome sharing time from The Friend having to do with the parable of the 10 Virgins.

* Invite a doctor into primary. Yes, a real doctor if you have one. Or a nurse. Ask them if they were able to just start healing people when they decided they wanted to become a doctor. What did they have to do to become a doctor? It takes a lot of hard work and preparation! And they don't just stop preparing, they are constantly learning and striving to do better to help others. It's the same with Eternal Life. We can prepare to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again.
     After the doctor leaves, have a medical bag with things like a band aid, Neosporin, stethoscope, tongue depressor... etc. Invite children to come choose things from the doctor's bag and name ways we can prepare to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus again. Just like a person prepares to be a doctor, we must prepare for Eternal Life and help others along the way!

* Have an attention activity of guess the letter. Just like hangman, but we don't draw a man hanging we just get 4 X's. You'll need 7 blanks for the word prepare.
Have someone read D&C 1:12 "Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh"
    Break into groups and have the children guess letters again within their group. You'll need teachers to help. Give them each papers with blanks for the following phrases-
Study Scriptures Often
Pray Daily
Get Baptized
Go to the temple
Make good choices
Serve others faithfully
     After a few minutes, invite a child from each group to share a way in which we can prepare to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus again! If there is still time, have a primary friend share another way to you and put blanks on the chalkboard for others to guess!

* Bring in some items from your food storage supply. Ask the children if they have food storage at home. Invite a primary friend to share what food storage is and why the prophets have asked us to have some extra food at home.
    Is it good to be prepared? Have some questions, scriptures, and songs attached to different food storage items for the children to choose and do.
     End with a brief recap of the story of the brother of Jared. Show a picture. The Lord told him that they would cross many deep waters. The Brother of Jared was worried because they wouldn't have light. The Lord said, "And behold, I prepare you against these things; for 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. Therefore what will ye that I should prepare for you that ye may have light when ye are swallowed up in the depths of the sea?" (Ether 2:25) We know that the Brother of Jared then got some stones and The Lord touched them and they were able to cross the sea with light.
     The Lord will help prepare His children! And we need to prepare ourselves, with His help, to return to Him!! He'll never leave us in the dark if we turn to Him.

* Alma 34:32-33 "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. 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."
    According to that scripture, when are we supposed to prepare to meet God? When we're 50? Only on the years that end in a 3? Every other day? Why is preparing to meet Heavenly Father and Jesus something we must do always?
     I will choose one primary friend to sit on the end of a row. They will think of something we must do so we can prepare to meet Heavenly Father and Jesus. They will then whisper it to the friend next to them, who will whisper it to the next friend until we reach the end of the row. Let's see how much time it will take! Continue for the next row, and the next. Record each time. Wow! Time flies when we are thinking and doing the things that will bring us closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus!
     "Brothers and sisters, we have to stay with it. We don’t acquire eternal life in a sprint—this is a race of endurance. We have to apply and reapply the divine gospel principles. Day after day we need to make them part of our normal life." Elder Uchtdorf The Way of the Disciple Apr. 2009

Week 4 I have a testimony that I am a child of God.

* Have children write down their testimonies or draw a picture of something they know is true about the gospel.

* Have a primary friend come up front and volunteer to do as many push ups as they can. Wow! That's amazing. Would our arms be weaker or stronger in the long run if we practiced doing push ups?
    How about a testimony? Would our testimony be strong if we shared it once or many times?
Have strips of paper with different questions, scriptures, and songs about testimony on them. Invite a child to come up front and do a push up with a piece of tape on their nose to pick up the paper.
     If you have girls volunteering, make sure their skirts are not facing anyone!!

* Have large paper hearts. Invite children to fill in the heart with ways they know that Heavenly Father loves them. What has He given you that you can know how much He loves you? Have children share their different answers.

* Invite a few different ward members in to share a time when they gained a testimony that they were a child of God. Ask the children to remember that they can pray sincerely and know the truth of all things. Joseph Smith's first prayer was answered!! Our prayers will be answered too!!

October 2013 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps And Ideas

Missionary Image from LDS Gospel Image Library

Monthly Theme: I will share the Gospel with all of God's children.
Monthly Scripture: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

Weeks 1 and 2 Living the Gospel helps me to be a missionary now.

* Plan in advance to get some pictures of ward members as children, maybe some grandparent pictures, maybe even a current picture of the Bishop. Ask these members to share a fun missionary story they have from their life. Invite a child to guess who a picture is of and then share the story. Sing I want to Be A Missionary Now (CS 168) We have missionary experiences ALL the years of our life!
     “Regardless of our age, experience, or station in life, we are all missionaries.” Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Becoming a Missionary,” Ensign, Nov. 2005, 44.

* Have 5 numbered chairs in the front of the room in a row. Invite 5 children at a time to come up front. Sing a missionary song and have the children walk reverently around the chairs. When the music stops, they sit and have someone in the primary draw a number. You'll need a cup with the numbers 1 through 5. Ask the child whose number was called to share a way they can be a missionary now! If they need help, HERE is a great article from The Friend with ways listed!! You could cut them up and put in a cup for the child to draw out... again if they needed help!

* HERE  is a fun game from The Friend. You could make a few copies and divide into groups to play. After you play, invite a few children up front to share ways to be a missionary now!

* Bring in some flags of places people serve missions. Can we guess the countries of the flags? Everyone in primary is going to make a wonderful full-time missionary one day. We aren't sent to different countries right NOW, but there are still plenty of places to be good missionaries NOW!! Make some paper flags with pictures like school, home, grocery store, soccer game, church, friend's house... etc. Hide the flags and invite children to come find them as you sing Missionary songs. Once found, have them share several ways they can be a missionary NOW at that place!

* Have some paper for the children to draw on. Give them a simple step by step drawing of something. You will be up front modeling the steps of the drawing on the chalkboard. For example, the sun and beach... draw a circle, add lines for the sunshine. Add a straight line in the middle to separate the water and beach.... etc. Was it pretty easy when you had someone up front as an example to show what to draw? We need examples in life to show us the way! Living the gospel makes us examples and helps us to be missionaries NOW!!!
1 Timothy 4:12 " Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."
     Have a couple other examples of things to draw, then invite a couple friends to share ways to be a missionary NOW in between each simple drawing example!

*For a simple handout idea- Now&Later Candy with the message "I can be a missionary NOW AND LATER!!" I'm not all about sugaring up our sweet children... but in moderation and with a good point, it can be fun.

Week 3 I can share the Gospel with my family and friends.

* HERE is an activity from The Friend that encourages Primary children to be missionaries now! They will draw pictures in the windows, cut out and glue to make a Gospel Sharing Home!

* Does anyone ever get a little nervous about sharing the gospel? Sometimes I feel like I might not know the right thing to say. Can we practice?? You bet!! Whether it's family or friends... I can share the gospel!!
Mark 16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
     Bring in about 10 different stuffed animals. These are our practice creatures! Have a post it attached to each creature with a different gospel subject. We're going to pretend that they want to know more about something in the gospel.... what would you say? For example- a stuffed bunny has the post-it "Prophets". What can we tell someone who wants to learn more about prophets? Have plenty of children share their ideas about that topic!! Next, a stuffed alligator has the post-it "Holy Ghost". What can we tell someone who doesn't know anything about the Holy Ghost??

*D&C 71:1 "...The time has verily come that it is necessary and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in proclaiming my gospel..."
     Have a poster board drawing of a giant head with a bid wide open mouth. The mouth will actually need to be cut out so it's a hole! Have a bag attached behind the mouth that primary friends can reach into and grab questions, scriptures, and songs about missionary work!
   Let's open our mouths this week and share the gospel with our family and friends!!

* Have children write their testimonies to give with a Book of Mormon to a friend or family member this week!

Week 4 My testimony is strengthened when I share the Gospel.

* HERE is a link to The Friend with a fun activity called a "Testimony Glove".

* Have a 7 piece puzzle of a paper flower. (You could have 1 stem, 2 leaves, 4 flower petals) Invite children to come up and put a piece of the puzzle together on the board. For each piece share a paragraph of this poem by Karen Kimball (The Friend Oct. 2007):

 

A Testimony to Share

 

I have a testimony

That has begun to grow.

Gospel truths I once believed

Now I can say, “I know.”

 

When I feel inside my heart

The Holy Spirit’s there,

I can help bless others and

My testimony share.

 

I testify of Jesus Christ,

Of Heavenly Father’s plan,

The power of the Atonement,

And eternal life for man.

 

I testify of Joseph Smith,

And priesthood power restored,

The fulness of the gospel

On earth forevermore.

 

I testify of the prophet

And Twelve Apostles too,

Living in these latter days

To lead us safely through.

 

I testify of lessons learned

Through study and through prayer,

Truths in the Book of Mormon,

That I’ve discovered there.

 

I share my testimony,

Then reverently I end

Like a sacred prayer that’s said,

In Jesus’s name, amen.

Invite the children to draw a flower of their own and write down things they know are true! Make a book of these flowers for the missionaries to share with those who they are teaching!

 

* HERE is a bible video to share with the primary friends. It's very short. In it, Jesus asks who men say that He is? Peter shares His testimony. We learn from Jesus that a testimony comes from Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost.

     Have the children find a partner. They'll have 15 seconds to share who Jesus is to them! Have them switch partners and do the same, about 5 times! After everyone is sitting back down, invite primary friends to come up front and share something another partner had said!

    One of the most important parts of our testimony is know who Jesus is! When we share the gospel our testimonies are strengthened!

 

* Bring in a little toy bulldozer. Share the following story from President Monson:

     "In 1959, I met N. Eldon Tanner (1898–1982), who later would be a counselor to four Presidents of the Church. President Tanner was president of the Canada Calgary Stake. We discussed the cold Canadian winters, where temperatures can linger well below freezing and icy winds lower those temperatures even further.

     I asked President Tanner why the roads in western Canada remained intact during such winters, showing little or no signs of cracking or breaking, while road surfaces in many areas where winters are less cold and less severe developed cracks and breaks and potholes.

Said he, “The answer is in the depth of the base of the paving materials. In order for them to remain strong and unbroken, it is necessary to go very deep with the foundation layers. When the foundations are not deep enough, the surfaces cannot withstand the extremes of weather.”

     Challenges and difficulties can break us if our foundations of faith, our testimonies of truth, are not deeply embedded within us." (The Friend May 2009 3 Ways to Build a Strong Testimony)

     Have other construction type toys for the children to come up front and choose. Attach questions, scriptures and songs about testimony and missionary work on them. After each friend, have the children pretend like they are digging! They are making their testimonies deeper as we learn from this lesson!

 

* Tell the children you are going to sing a song and add some words that DO NOT belong in the song! After the song, have them share what was WRONG!!

Sing "I think my Father lives, and loves me too. The spirit whispers this to me and I think that it is true. I think that it is true." (CS 5 I Know My Father Lives)

What is the difference between think and know? When the spirit tells us something, should we listen?

     A testimony is "Knowledge and a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost. A testimony can also be an official or legal declaration of what a person perceives as truth." (Guide to the scriptures)

     Have a couple children act out the story of Job. Even though he had a lot of hard things happen in life, he had a strong testimony.

     Job 19:25-26 "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God"

    We have many things that happen to us in life but what makes us stay strong? The gospel! When we share the gospel with others our testimony is strengthened. We no longer "think" things are true... but KNOW. When the spirit whispers to us, we listen and follow!