Teaching Differently Abled Children

We all have certain people in life that we admire and love. People that emulate the Savior to a T. This little lady is one of them! While small to the eye, she is a spiritual giant and I hope one day to even be a smidgeon as wonderful and kind as she is. A while back she gave a beautiful presentation and was thoughtful enough to let me share with you. The following is written by Sister B...

"Kathie Snow said,
But what do apples have to do with disability?

One of the five apples is green.One American in five is a person with a disability.
(Which makes people with disabilities the largest minority group in the nation—and
it's the only group that anyone can join at any time!)

A green apple is more like red apples than different.

A person with a disability is more like people without disabilities than different.
Apples are natural . . . and having a disability is a "natural part of the human experience"
(as expressed in the U.S. Developmental Disabilities Act).
The sun shines equally on all the apples in the bowl,
and it's time for the light of inclusion, opportunity, freedom, and dignity
to shine equally on all people—including people with disabilities.

I was asked to share insights this evening in regards to inclusive education for children in our primary with disabilities. I have thought long and hard about this. In our home we are truly grateful for those who have taught, nurtured and included our family. I moved into our ward when I was 9 years old. My dad had died 2 years before, my mom was remarried to an awesome guy and we had moved here from Utah. There was a lot of transition in my life at that time. I was fortunate to have a wonderful primary teacher not long after we moved here by the name of Peter. Peter was a young man preparing to go on a mission. He did not make any special accommodations to help me be a part of the class but he did walk with me down the halls of the Prater Way Chapel to our classroom and he required the same of the other members of the class. He spoke to me with respect and most importantly, he helped me to feel loved and accepted. I needed that from him and from my peers. After receiving his mission call, Peter wrote letters to me ( He was a 19 yr old boy and he took time to write letters to me-a little 9 year old girl with cp.) It meant so much to me. I still have those letters as well as his wedding announcement to sweet, Laura. I still know that I can count on Peter over 30 years later. Every child in the church deserves to have a person like Peter in their lives.

My family is unique in that we all have diagnosed disabilities and health conditions. I even have concerns for our pug, Zeus because he has behavior issues that we cannot seem to extinguish no matter what we try.
I was born over 3 months prematurely and weighed 1lb13 oz at birth. As a result, I have cerebral palsy. My husband has bipolar disorder. Our oldest son, Denver has Asperger’s Syndrome (high functioning autism) Our second son, Jordan has celiac disease and our daughters whom we adopted from foster care both have the diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and other challenges related to their traumatic beginnings.

In thinking about what has worked for my children in attending church.
1. Greet the children by name

2. Establish rules for class
a. Routine (kids with autism need to know what to expect-difficult to be flexible
b. Role play
c. Responsibility
d. Revere-love
e. Room to move-just because a child is wiggling doesn’t mean they are not learning (rocking chair for Heather helped her to move without distracting others)
f. Reinforce positive behavior

3. When calling on children with disabilities, ask a typical peer the same question first-if the child with a disability repeats what is already said it is ok…always validate answers

4. Model respect

5. Sit child with disability near the teacher

6. Give positive prompts

7. Spotlight children in class-it helps them to feel important and helps the children to get to know one another, focus on commonalities

8. Get to Know you games

9. Expand a child’s social circle

10. Praise for sitting reverently even for 3 seconds

11. Focus on strengths

12. Praise improvements even if they are slight

13. Learn from children

(if a child uses sign language or a communication device, learn a song in sign language)

14. Find out what the children want

15. All kids can learn with the correct supports-have high expectations-they will rise to it

16. Teach behaviors using puppets, etc…

17. Pre-teach expectations, find out about children from their parents

My son Jordan has celiac disease. We are so grateful for our primary presidency and their efforts to ensure that he can eat what is served at activities. I appreciate the phone calls asking me to bring food items for him that are similar to what the other children are consuming.

Denver as a deacon passed the sacrament to the same rows every week. It was an accommodation made for him that no one even knew about. We did not have to draw attention to it but it was a way for him to participate without feeling uneasy. When Denver was in primary he was mortified to stand up and sing with the other kids for the primary program. It was not ideal but he would hold a picture in front of his face and sing. At least he was up there, right?

We cannot simplify children as just a boy in a wheelchair; he is a complete person with a disability. People with disabilities don’t just want to glue Popsicle sticks together, we want to learn to do math and to learn about history. We want to change history. We want to enjoy friendships, gain testimonies, serve missions, get married, have families, pets and jobs and have a sense of belonging.

Inclusion is best for every child. Inclusion is an easy thing to do poorly. When all children are included appropriately, everyone benefits. Teachers become better teachers by inclusion. We should constantly think of how each child can be included in all activities.

The Monument

God,
Before He Sent His children to earth
Gave each of them
A very carefully selected package of problems.

These,
He promised, smiling,
Are yours alone. No one
Else may have the blessings
These problems will bring you.

And only you
Have the special talents and abilities
That will be needed
To make these problems
Your servants.

Now go down to your birth and to your forgetfulness.
Know that I love you beyond measure.
These problems that I give you
Are a symbol of the love.

The monument you make of your life
With the help of your problems
Will be a symbol of your Love for me,
Your Father. "

Thank you so much Sister B for sharing. (I love you and your sweet mother and family forever and always!) The Church has THIS PAGE to help and guide you, entitled Teaching All Children, Including Those with Disabilities. Food for thought people. Click around, they have especially helpful suggestions for teaching children with ADD and Autism. Hope this message from this amazing sister can be of help!

The Church of Jesus Christ Song Helps and Ideas (CS pg. 77)

Yellow Umbrella Image Courtesy Creative Commons License Flickr by //soliedether Aug. 11,2007

* Joseph Smith received this revelation on April 26, 1838 "That the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth." (D&C 115:6) Bring in a colorful rain poncho, umbrella and rain boots. Being members of our church helps protect us from the storms of life! How can we keep each other safe?? Let a child who is singing very nicely dress up in the rain attire and lead the song with the umbrella (make sure it's a small and short one!)

* Have the church logo nice and large on a piece of poster board. Cover it up with a bunch of other logos/brands. We live in a world telling us to buy that, be part of this, wear this, shop at that place... none of those brands or logos matter! Sheri Dew said, "But though we don't always see beyond our hair and the labels on our clothing, the Lord does. For he 'seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.' (1 Sam. 16:7)" ( No Doubt About It, Sheri Dew p.47) Like the song says, "I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ.... I know who I am!" Nothing else matters, except what is in our hearts... We love our Savior! As the children sing boldly, let them come up and take off the other brands to reveal what is really important!

* Have a picture Alma baptizing in the waters of Mormon, Christ and His apostles, and a sign that says YOU and I! What do they all have in common? We all belong to the same church! Though different times, it's the same gospel! Have different costumes from different times for the children to wear. This would also be a good time to review Article of Faith number 6!

In Gospel Principles it says, 'Christ is the head of His Church today, just as He was in ancient times. The Lord has said that it is 'the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased.' (D&C 1:30)" (p.111)

* Have a large sheet of butcher paper. Have a child come up front and lie down. Trace the child on it. Who are we? This song helps us realize important truths! On the outline of the child write lines from the song in different places- for example the I know phrases could be by the head, I'll follow phrases by the arms or legs, I will proclaim by the mouth... etc. And of course, I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ could be right by the heart!

Happy Monday!

Because what could be better than a singing pegasus/unicorn to brighten up your day! Have a wonderful super fantastic amazing week!!!!

"You have nothing in this world more precious than your children. When you grow old, when your hair turns white and your body grows weary, when you are prone to sit in a rocker and meditate on the things of your life, nothing will be so important as the question of how your children have turned out."
-President Hinckley

What can you do for your primary children today and this week?

April 2010 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

Image courtesy Primary Nursery Manual: Behold Your Little Ones

Woah. Am I behind the times or what! I didn't even know about this AWESOME RESOURCE that the church has!

Week 1 Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith.

* Here is a gathering of testimonies of Joseph Smith in different languages. Have a laptop handy and invite a couple children to choose different people from around the world and listen to those testimonies in the people's native language. Have a globe or a map with the numbers 1 through 12 posted in different areas. Attach questions, songs and scriptures having to do with the story of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appearing to Joseph Smith. All over the world, the truth is the same - the gospel is restored!!! Hooray! (Need help with questions, click here!)

* Here is a BEAUTIFUL multimedia presentation, with great pictures and short quotes! I didn't hear any music, but I think it would be a great way to start off primary by showing this and having the pianist play O How Lovely Was the Morning softly in the background as you read the quotes. (For some odd reason, there is a video at the very end but it's short and not really finished ??)

* President Uchtdorf shares his testimony of Joseph Smith and personal story when he was a boy. Click Here to read. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The First Vision,” Friend, Jun 2008, 2–3) Share the story and take the above picture from the Nursery Manual. With a pen, draw slanted lines to make it into a mosaic like stained glass. Make a copy for each child and have them color with lots of different colors and answer the questions in the magazine article.

* 3 cheers for Diane Nichols!! She shares Grrrrrrrrrrrreat activities found here!!! (Diane Nichols, “Sharing Time: Joseph Smith—Prophet of the Restoration,” Friend, Jul 2001, 14) Especially love this quote/idea from her, "Display a bouquet of four artificial flowers and one real flower. Ask how the flowers are different from one another. Point out that the main difference is that only one is a true flower. Explain that though there are many churches in the world today, only one of them is the true Church of Jesus Christ."

* This is an outline of songs and artwork telling the story of Joseph and His life. It would be great for older children who know the songs. Thanks for putting it together in one spot Sister Karen Robinson! (Kerri Robinson, “Sing a Song of Joseph,” Friend, May 2007, 4–6)

* Have different questions written on the chalkboard. What ocean can you find blue whales in? How do you make chocolate cake with buttercream frosting? What is the largest city in the world? Next, ask the children where or what they could do to find out the answers to these questions. Erase the questions and put up a final question, What is the true Church here on the earth today? What would they do to find the answer to this question? Help children memorize James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." by doing hand movements to the words. Also, the best way to help them memorize is not spending 10 minutes repeating over and over!! Throughout the lesson, say the scripture for them, whoever knows it- join in! Leave out certain words, let the children fill in the blank. Tell the children you have lots of questions that need to be answered! Have them check under their chairs for questions, then quietly walk around and talk to each other to find out the answer to their question. (Good opportunity for older children to help younger children with their questions!)

*Dress up a child simply and have them act out the words while you sing The Sacred Grove. (CS p.87) Have another child be a sun, another hold up a picture of God the Father and Jesus appearing to Joseph and lastly a child holding a big heart.

* Have the children hold up their pointer fingers. How are the fingers different, how are they the same? (On different hands, one might have a shorter nail, etc. Yet they are both fingers.) John 17:21, "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." We learn a very important truth from the first vision in that Heavenly Father and Jesus are separate, different bodies and persons, yet they are the same -Gods- and one in purpose.

“Yes, God does live. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are three separate personal beings, alike in form, in whose image man is made. In order that these basic fundamental truths, lost to the world through centuries of erroneous teachings, might again be available to people of our day, a new revelation was necessary, and this was given to the fourteen-year-old Joseph Smith in the form of the most glorious vision ever given to mortal man, so far as the records indicate—a vision in which Father and Son appeared simultaneously” (Joseph F. Merrill, in Conference Report, Oct. 1948, 59).

Week 2 Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God.

* Here is great reading from Chapter 5 of the Church History in the Fullness of Times manual. Highly recommend reading it and seeing where inspiration will take you!

* Here is a matching activity in the friend that would be great for older children to do in pairs. (Scroll down a little)

* Have a bunch of copies of the Book of Mormon in different languages. Ask the children to try to come up and read. Sometimes it's even hard enough in our own language that we know! Have different bookmarks in the Books with scriptures, songs and questions having to do with Joseph Smith and the translation of the Book of Mormon attached. Let the children come up and pick a book mark! If there is time, perhaps they can even make a book mark with Joseph Smith on it, and give to the missionaries to give to investigators!

* Have a blow dryer unplugged and invite a child to press the on button. What happens? Now plug it in and get the power going!(Make sure the adult does this, not the child...say no to pain and lawsuits) What happens? And so it is also by the power of God that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon.

* Sing The Books in the Book of Mormon. (CS pg. 119) Invite the children to turn to the Table of Contents in the Book of Mormon. Ask the children to share favorite stories from the Book of Mormon, then decide where you would find those stories. We only know those stories because Joseph Smith translated them by the power of God!

* I really liked the idea in the sharing time outline! I would expand it by dividing into groups and having different messages and codes for each group to figure out. Then have someone come to the front and share what their message was. All messages would be based on the week's theme. For example, "Joseph Smith had help translating from Oliver Cowdry." or "Joseph Smith used the Urim and Thummin to translate."

Week 3 Jesus Christ restored the gospel through Joseph Smith.

* This is a wonderful poem! Callie Buys, “Thank You, Brother Joseph,” Friend, May 2005, 7
You could divide a paper in half, have this poem on one side and have the children take home to illustrate a picture of Joseph Smith or event from his life.

Thank you, Brother Joseph,
For reading in James,
For translating plates,
For suffering pain.

Thank you, Brother Joseph,
For teaching the way,
For preaching the gospel,
For laughter and play.

Thank you, Brother Joseph,
For helping each hour,
For receiving restored
Priesthood power—

Power to hope
And help and heal.
Power to pray
And baptize and seal.

Power to preach
And translate and learn.
Power to teach
Of kingdoms to earn.

Thank you, Brother Joseph.

* For Senior Sharing Time, you can enlarge this crossword puzzle (click HERE) and do for sharing time.

* For Senior Sharing Time,click here for a time line activity for the children to do.

* Click here for a puzzle of the picture of Joseph Smith and highlights from his life.

“In many ways the gospel of Jesus Christ is like a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. When Joseph Smith came on the scene, perhaps 100 pieces were in place. Then Joseph Smith came along and put many of the other 900 pieces in place so that people could say, ‘Oh, now I understand where I came from, why I am here, and where I am going.’ As for Joseph Smith’s role in the Restoration, the Lord defined it clearly: ‘This generation shall have my word through you’ (D&C 5:10).” (Tad R. Callister, Joseph Smith-Propher of the Restoration, Ensign, Nov. 2009, 36)

* Have 3 cups. Put a ball under one cup and mix them up. Invite a child to guess where the ball is. Do again a couple times with different children. Heavenly Father would always know where the ball is because He is omnipotent (Big Word!!) He knows all things! And just as He knows all things, he carefully chose Joseph Smith to restore the gospel.

“It was decreed in the counsels of eternity, long before the foundations of the earth were laid, that he, Joseph Smith, should be the man, in the last dispensation of this world, to bring forth the word of God to the people, and receive the fulness of the keys and power of the Priesthood of the Son of God. The Lord had his eyes upon him, and upon his father, and upon his father’s father, and upon their progenitors clear back to Abraham, and from Abraham to the flood, from the flood to Enoch, and from Enoch to Adam. He has watched that family and that blood as it has circulated from its fountain to the birth of that man. He was fore-ordained in eternity to preside over this last dispensation” (Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, 108).

* Invite someone to leave the room. They are gone, now send someone to bring that person back. So it is with the restoration, The Church of Jesus Christ had left the world and Joseph Smith brought it back, restored it by the power of God!

* The Restoration DVD might be appropriate to show! I haven't seen it in a while and am not sure how easy to understand for children it is. So keyword then is "might".

Personal Sacrament Meeting Talk Jan. 2010

Pardon the interruption. This doesn't have to do with Primary but I do want it on record one day for my little chickies pictured above.

Brothers and Sisters, it’s a pleasure to be here with you this Sabbath day. I want to tell my parents I love them and thank you for always being there for us. I’m just going to come right out and say it, it might be a little sacrilege, it might be a little un-American but it’s who I am. I dislike hotdogs. I don’t even remember the last time I had a hotdog. I refuse to cook hotdogs for any of my family and whenever a family member eats a hotdog, I make sure to give looks of horror and disapproval, if not vocal gagging sounds. When someone told me what was in a hot dog, they changed my life. They proclaimed truth. They proclaimed knowledge of very important value. It’s changed the way I eat and live. It may sound like I’m babbling, but I do have message to share this day, and it’s my prayer that the spirit will be with us and that we can grow closer to God by it’s divine power.

A person spoke up and told me about hot dogs. It changed me. How often do we share messages that can change the lives of others? The Bishop asked my husband and I to speak on “Proclaiming the Gospel”. The word “proclaim” is situated in an interesting spot in the topical guide, coincidence- I think not- between the words “proceed” and “procrastination”. Do we proceed and go forward sharing our testimonies often, or do we procrastinate sharing our beliefs?

I was born and raised in Sparks. Home means NV to me. My husband and I met at BYU. It was at the Black Student Union and my roommate and I were debating whether I should go after Joe- who was gaunt and starving looking or another guy who was meatier but had different sized eyes. The choice was fairly easy. I was 200 pounds lighter with a dashing personality he couldn’t refuse and snagged him right up. I had dated quite a bit but Joe was the first guy I met that just could not talk about anything other than his mission. He was obsessed. He served in Dallas TX… God bless Texas! Spanish and English speaking. He talked about the different families they taught, he talked about his love of Mexican food, he talked about the weather and dogs trying to kill him in the ghettos, he talked and talked and talked… and I actually listened. I’m pretty attention deficit and bore easily, yet his love for the gospel enthralled me. He even continued his mission a few months after his 2 years were up, because he loved proclaiming God’s truth to others. Besides his stunning good looks and rock hard biceps this was what attracted me most to him. He was a man of God. He was worthy of the sacred priesthood he held. He made the world a better place by proclaiming the gospel. And he does so to this day!

I want to break up the word “proclaim” into 3 parts. Declare, Preach, and Publish as found in the topical guide.

First, Declare. We have a popular phrase we like to quote in our house. It’s by the Godfather of Soul, Mr. James Brown himself and is slightly modified. “Girl…Say it loud, say it proud.” Declare. State it - whether it’s in your home, school, testimony meeting, the grocery store or King’s Chinese Buffet. Abinadi didn’t shrink before King Noah, he told it like it was. Mosiah 12:33 “I know if ye keep the commandments of God ye shall be saved.” Same chapter 12 verses 25 and 26 “Have ye taught this people that they should observe to do all these things for to keep these commandments? I say unto you Nay; for if ye had, the Lord would not have caused me to come forth and to prophesy evil concerning this people.” He declared this most important truth in Mosiah 15:1 “I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people.” The modern day apostles don’t beat around the bush either, in the document The Living Christ they say “We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.”

Now there is a small clause with this that should make sense, D&C 11:21 “Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.” What is your testimony? What do you know to be true? Do you have to be a scriptorian and know the family histories line by line in the book of Numbers? This scripture isn’t meant to scare anyone off, but just before you go declaring the word of God make sure you know who Joseph Smith is and that we don’t go boozing around town as part of the word of wisdom, young adults aren’t forced to go to BYU, etc. Except for my girls, you will bleed blue.

Preach on sister. No really, the second part of my talk is about just that “Preaching”. First we declare, then we preach and further expound. How important is it to preach? Jonah 3:2 “Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee…” And Jonah didn’t and he was swallowed by a whale and had to live inside it for 3 days. The apostle Paul probably echoed Jonah’s sentiments when he stated “…Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.” 1 Corinthians 9:16 We have been told by President Spencer W. Kimball, “Every member a missionary.” We have resources all around us to help. The scriptures, modern day revelation, prayer… to be used often, daily, not sparingly…even a book called “Preach my Gospel.” One scripture that is a theme within this book is D&C 112:28 “But purify your hearts before me; and then go ye into all the world, and preach my gospel unto every creature who has not received it.” Do we as members take the place of missionaries? Absolutely not!!!! We don’t have discussions on our own and baptize in the pond in the backyard. Missionaries have been called and set apart by God to specifically preach the gospel as ordained servants. But we can sure open our mouths to our neighbors and friends or complete strangers and teach and testify. Opening mouths is only one part, we need to remember actions speak louder than words. Follow Christ, do as He did.

Thirdly, I chose to focus on the word publish. When is the last time you wrote down your testimony? Will generations to come have a record of what you believed in? Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” I never served a mission. I wanted to, but my husband said if I left he wouldn’t wait for me. I’m smart, I thought Ok, we’ll just serve one together! So while I’ve never had that official experience I have published my testimony and through the miracles of God and the internet, people in 208 different countries can witness that I know that Jesus Christ lives. From Ireland to Nigeria to the Cayman Islands, Sofia Lykes has said it loud and said it proud. I bring this up not to toot my own horn,because really... I am nothing!!... but to just state that if we wish to share and humbly ask God for help, He will help!

I know my daughters Christina and Maria know this – Mommy loves you very much. You are my angels. You are perfection. You are heaven here on this earth. We share our testimonies together weekly in Family Home Evening. I also know that one day I’m going to be on the other side of the veil and I don’t want there to ever be a question to their children or the world for that matter that I know Heavenly Father loves us all. That Jesus Christ atoned for our sins and sicknesses. I declare, preach, publish. I proclaim we will one glorious day be resurrected and stand before our maker.

My son is also proclaiming the gospel. I am often asked how many children I have. I have 3. I don’t skirt around the question, even though I know sometimes it makes others uncomfortable. Our son died of SIDS almost 5 months ago now. His life and death serve a very important purpose and God’s will always be done. We don’t see it as a trial or great tragedy, it’s part of the plan and we’ll be reunited in the resurrection. Besides, I know his sweet perfect spirit is very close by me each day. The veil is thin. I would really be remiss if I didn’t thank you all for the wonderful support and charity you have shown us in our hour of need. Words will never do justice for the gratitude that is in my heart. Food, prayers, visits, hugs, listening ears, Kleenex, an outstanding and amazing visiting teacher, a home teacher who shoveled our snow… you name it, it was given. And we are eternally grateful. May you be blessed with heaven’s highest blessings for mourning with those that mourn. We are very humbled to be part of such an outstanding ward family. And to be led by such fine priesthood leaders like the bishopric. (Small insert to blog readers- you too are wonderful, I don't know where I'd be without all your prayers and love so THANK YOU!!!)

I’ve been told often that now I really have a reason to work hard since my son is waiting for me, but this is absolutely false. I valued being sealed to him when he was alive just as much as now. I’ve always had a reason to work hard and that is because I love my Savior. I love my God. I desire nothing more than to enter into Their presence and have Them say, “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” What are the desires of our heart? Do we desire others to have a part of this glorious gospel and happiness?

Don’t be discouraged, we may not convert by the 1,000’s every week and that’s OK. In Isaiah 27 verses 12 and 13 “…ye shall be gathered one by one… they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the Lord in the holy mount at Jerusalem.” Never judge a person, just share. Listen to the Holy Ghost. President Lee says it much more eloquently- “The Gospel of Jesus Christ was not intended just for a continent or a segment of the earth. The gospel is intended for every soul that walks the earth, they are all children of God… Our responsibility is to bring to the world the message of truth, to show the world that within the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ are to be found the solutions to very problem that afflicts mankind… No matter where they live, whether they are rich or poor, no matter what their station in life, their color or their background, they are loved by us and we desire to help them to achieve their highest expectations…”

We never know when we will be called to proclaim the gospel. I bear solemn testimony we must be ready at all times to witness the divinity of Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the true church on this earth, this day. We must declare, we must preach and we must publish. Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need? We must proclaim the change that the world needs. We must help gather His children and keep them safe. All things are possible with God through the Atonement of His Son. Of this I bear testimony of, in the name of my Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ Amen.

LDS Primary Follow the Prophet Song Helps and Ideas (CS p.110-11)

GAK 506

* School of the Prophets - Make a large poster board school. Have neat rows of different pictures of prophets. Maybe 10? Have children come up and choose a prophet to either sing a certain verse or have a "way" attached on how to sing. (Like an opera singer, super soft, sing while moving your arms in small circles, etc.)

* Choose a friend to be the prophet at the front. He/she does motions and everyone follows them while singing.

* Have a poster board. Cut 2 slits, one at the bottom and one on top. Have a picture of Enoch the prophet and the City of Zion, attach on a ribbon, thread the ribbon through the slits and tape the ribbon ends together. Make it so Enoch can move up and down. As the children sing robustly, have Enoch rise up to heaven! See where singing can get you!!

* Have a large sack and picture of Nephi. For each verse the children learn, put an arrow in the sack. Every time you see a child trying really hard or singing nicely, put an arrow in the sack! See how many arrows you can get! On the bottom of your picture have the words, “I will go, I will sing!!!”

* Make necklaces for the children. Have little papers with pictures to help remind them of the different prophets they are singing about. For example, you can have a picture of different plants for Adam, an Ark for Noah, a penny for Enoch because there was no poor in Zion, an ear for Samuel because he heard God speak his name… etc.

* Encourage older children to think of another prophet and write a verse for that prophet to share with the primary. This can fulfill a faith in God requirement under Developing Talents.

March 2010 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by Michael Dawes 9/2009
All time favorite prophet: Jonah. Because really. He was swallowed by a whale. How about you??

Monthly Theme: God speaks through Prophets.
Monthly Scripture: Luke 1:70 "He spake by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began."

Week 1 Prophets are called by God.

* When a phone rings, what can you do? You can answer or ignore. Have someone (like the bishop) call you on your cell phone and have a child answer. What would have happened if you ignored the call? Heavenly Father doesn’t use cell phones to call His prophets, He uses His voice, the Holy Ghost and sometimes angels! The Lord called many prophets to leave what they were doing and then follow him.

Have a presidency member outside the primary room door. Throughout primary, have them call your cell phone and let a child answer. They will give the child hints about a certain prophet. Have the child share the hints with the primary and then guess what prophet the call is about!

* On the chalk board have the words PROPHET, MY JOB, and MY CALL. Have a bag for the children to draw a word out of to describe the names and different jobs of the prophets (ancient AND modern) and act it out. Then have the primary come up with the responsibilities/ duties/how the prophet was called to list under MY CALL.

For example: Amos- Amos 7:14-16 “Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycamore fruit; And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel. Now therefore hear thou the word of the Lord…”

Act out: Picking fruit

* “Role Call” -Take role call and have the children answer you when you say their name. Have them think about what they would say if the Savior called them by name. Put up a picture of Christ and have them share. Prophets were often called by name, by the Savior. Have 6 different prophets and their names written largely on strips of paper. Have speaking bubbles (like the ones in cartoons) with the prophet’s response. Try to have pictures of the prophets if possible. Have the children match the names and responses of the prophets up front on the chalkboard.

If there is time, have the children draw a cartoon of the story of one of their favorite prophets. There are also lots of cartoon prophet examples found in the Friend magazine!!

* “Calling On…” This is a game of finishing the story. Children will pass around a cell phone. You start off the story of a prophet by saying how He was called, then pass the cell phone to another child and have them add whatever they know about that prophet. They pass it on to another friend who can add and so on. No one should have the phone for more than 1 minute, thus giving lots of children the chance to participate. Ask the children what prophets they would like to talk about! Have a GAK close by!

* Learn the 5^th Article of Faith song SPARKLE style. This is for SENIOR PRIMARY. To play sparkle each person will have to say one word in the article of faith, if they don’t know the word, then they are out. Then the last person says, SPARKLE! You keep on going until everyone is out except for 2 people, then they are the article of faith sparkle stars!!

Have the article of faith posted on the board and let them practice a couple of times with the words up. Go to each child up and down each row. Then take it down!! Have the children stand, if they can’t think of a word they sit and are out. So first child says, We… second child says believe… 3^rd child says that… 4^th child says a… 5^th child says Bubba Gump, he/she got it wrong so they sit and the 6^th child says man… If other children shout out, they have to sit. Always encourage good listening and good manners.

Week 2 Prophets testify of Jesus Christ.

* Reader’s theatre posted HERE.

Week 3 There is safety in following the prophet.

* Prophet Safety Jeopardy

Personal opinion: I never (yes…never) had competitions in Primary. I never did teams or boys vs. girls. I always had the primary work as a family of friends, getting as many points as we could alll together. The world has too many divisions. I’m for being unified and working together. But to each his own, just food for thought. I’ll step off the soapbox and encourage you to alter the following any way you like. DON’T BE LAZY. DON’T CUT AND PASTE this unless you are going to study the questions, prepare, ponder and pray if this is what the Lord wants for your primary this week.

Categories and questions:

Warning!!! Danger up ahead!!!

100 This prophet warned the people and they didn’t listen. He and his family were kept safe in an arc while the earth was completely flooded.

200 Read Mosiah 17:9-10 Abinadi warned this evil King, but was stilled burned by fire. He sealed his testimony with his own blood.

300 How does following the word of wisdom, revelation given to Joseph Smith, keep us from danger?

400 Jacob warned the Nephites of “… every kind of sin, telling them the awful consequences of them.” (Jacob 3:12) Name 3 sins and the results that can happen from making those bad choices.

Hear my Words, Learn of Christ

100 Sing Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus (CS p.36)

200 Show GAK The Prophet Isaiah Foretells Christ’s Birth. Who is this prophet?

300 Spencer W. Kimball said this quote. Fill in the blank “ The ……… prophets, from Adam to Malachi are testifying of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ was the God of the ………, and it was He who conversed with Abraham and Moses.” (Ensign, May 1977, p.76) (Answer: Old Testament)

400 What does the prophet Nephi teach you about Christ? (Encourage Senior Primary to find actual scriptures!)

Stay on the Path

100 This prophet saw a strait and narrow path leading to the tree of life. Who is the prophet or prophets and what can you do to stay on the path?

200 Sing We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet (Hymns p.19)

300 Read Mosiah 2:36-37 What can we do to have the Holy Ghost with us to guide us in wisdom’s paths?

400 DOUBLE JEOPARDY! DOUBLE POINTS!!! Name your favorite prophet and something that prophet has taught you to keep you safe.

Buckle Up with Modern Day Apostles

100 President Eyring has said, “Now, here is my counsel to children. The Lord gave you a commandment with a promise: “Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” It is the only one of the Ten Commandments with a promise.”(Ensign Nov. 2009 p.72) How can you show honor to your parents or adults in your life?

200 Show a picture of the first presidency. Name these 3 men.

300 Where do we read the words of modern day apostles?

400 Sing last verse of Follow the Prophet. (CS p. 111)

Final Jeopardy Category: Safety in Following the Prophets

Final Jeopardy Question: What is something you learned today and/or can bear testimony of?

* Bring in an umbrella stroller with a seat belt. Have a demonstration where a stuffed animal is placed inside without the safety belt and pushed. Try again with the safety belt on. Prophets keep us safe by securing us in the knowledge that Christ lives and strapping us in the strength of His revelations.

* Have a large paper drawing of a child. Hang it up and add things to make it safe like a helmet, knee pads, band aids, a coat, sunscreen, sunglasses… etc. On each of the safety items have questions, songs and scriptures having to do with prophets.

Week 4 God speaks through prophets.

* Bring in 4 pictures, 2 copies of each picture. Have the children match the pictures. Are the matches the same? Read D&C 1:38, “What I the Lord have spoken I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, IT IS THE SAME.” Now have a sign “voice of the Lord” and “voice of my servants”… according to the scripture are these 2 a match and the same?

* Have a large world map or globe. Have a bunch of small pictures (I would do 10-15) of different prophets. Let the children come up, name and tell different things about that prophet and then place him on the map. Maybe get some pictures of modern day prophets and where they served their missions.

Have there been prophets in every single country on earth?

Can most places today hear the words of prophets and if so how?

What do the prophets of old and of today say?

If the children could go anywhere in the world, where would they go and what would they say about prophets?

* Ask for a volunteer. Whisper something into the child’s ear and then have them tell it to the primary. Invite another child to come up and do the same. Just as you spoke through your primary friends, God speaks through prophets. Read Jeremiah 1:5-7, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.”

* Sing Latter-day Prophets (CS p.134) and give each child (in their chairs) a picture from the GAK. When they hear their prophet they stand then sit down! Collect the pictures and try again with different friends!

March 2010 Primary Sharing Time LDS Reader's Theater

March 2010 Week 2: Prophets testify of Jesus Christ.

Tips for a successful readers theater:

* choose your readers carefully!!!!, remember most Sunbeams can't read so don't get upset if you hand them the part and they're holding it upside down looking at you oddly

* Have plenty of scripts!! At least one for each part. Highlight the parts according to each script so it's easier for the children to follow and know when they're speaking.

* Give them a few minutes to look over their part, sing some songs while doing so.

* Bring in SIMPLE props or costumes. Ties for the modern day apostles. Shawl for Anna. Just go easy, you want their attention focused on the message and doctrine of the play!!!

* Have a script for yourself to follow to help prompt. Be familiar with it so you can direct the children in what they need to do, especially the non-speaking parts.

* Pace yourself. You only have 15ish minutes, don't try to squeeze too much in too little time.
* Italicized words are NOT TO BE READ

* Some preventative preparation: Pray, pray, pray... and pray some more that it will go smoothly and that the spirit will be there (throughout the week before)

Lunch With The Prophets: A Reader's Theater

By Sofia Lykes

List of Characters

Narrator 1

Narrator 2

Narrator 3

Waiter

Nephi

Jacob

Anna

Joseph Smith

President Hinckley & 12 Apostles

President Monson

Props

Table and Chairs, table cloth, vase, scriptures on plates for each narrator

3 Menus

Simple costumes and/or name signs for the prophets

A towel for the waiter to put on his arm

Doll for Anna

Picture of Jesus Living Christ Document

>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Narrator 1: Boy, I sure am hungry!

Narrator 2: Me too! A big juicy hamburger, french fries and a fruit salad sounds sooooooooooooooo good right about now.

Narrator 3: No way, try pizza with a big glob of ranch to dip it in. That’s what really sounds good!

Narrator 1: You guys, I’m not talking about food hungry! I’m talking about spirit hungry!!

Narrator 2: Huh?

Narrator 3: What?

Narrator 1: My spirit needs a good feeding by the Holy Ghost. I came to church today to learn about Jesus Christ, and I’m really excited!!

Waiter: (Brings narrators to a table that is set nicely with a tablecloth and vase of flowers, gives them their plates with scriptures) Why hello good friends, welcome and have a seat. Today we will be serving lunch with the prophets! (passes out menus) Go ahead and take a look at your menu and when you’re ready to choose a prophet, let me know!!

Narrator 1: This is awesome!!

Narrator 2: My menu says “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”i

Waiter: Why yes my friend, that’s from the bible… Amos Chapter 3 Verse 7.

Narrator 3: Oh man! There isn’t any pizza on this menu!

Narrator 1: No pizza, but Nephi sounds way more awesome than that!

Waiter: Nephi it is!!

Nephi: “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.”ii

Narrator 2: What does remission mean? That’s a really big word!

Waiter: Can anyone in the primary answer? (call on someone in the audience) That’s right! It’s like getting your sins forgiven.

Narrator 3: Who is Nephi talking about when he says we… we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ….

Narrator 1: He is talking about the prophets! Prophets testify of Jesus Christ. Hmmmm… Jacob sounds good right about now!

Waiter: Jacob, Nephi’s younger brother it is!

(Jacob and Nephi high five, then they high five someone in the audience)

Jacob: “For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us."iii

Narrator 2: All the holy prophets before you!?!?

Jacob: “Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name." iv

Narrator 3: That’s deep man.

Narrator 1: My spirit is being filled! I was hungry and I’m being fed! I’m so happy to be at church! I’m so grateful for the prophets. How would we know anything without them and their words?

Waiter: We wouldn’t! Their words are super important! It says in D&C Chapter 1 Verse 38, “Whether by mine own voice of the voice of my servants, it is the same.”v

Narrator 2: So the words of the prophets are the same as Heavenly Fathers?

Narrator 1: You got it! Woah… a girl prophet? What is this on the menu… Anna?

Waiter: Can all the girls raise their hands? Yes!! Thank you!! Hands down. The prophetess Anna it is! She was very old and a widow and did not depart from the temple. She served God with fastings and prayers night and day! Her story is in Luke chapter 2. vi

Anna: (Waves. Holds up 2 fingers.)

Waiter: Well, when Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus to the temple, Anna the prophetess was there and she said of Jesus….

Anna: (maybe holding up a baby doll) “of Him to all…that look for redemption in Jerusalem.”

Narrator 2: Boy! There are just so many prophets to choose from! We could be here all day getting fed!

Narrator 1: From ancient prophets, to modern day prophets… Prophets teach us about…

(hold up a picture of Jesus and have primary children answer)

Waiter: The prophets make it quite simple and quite clear. From Joseph Smith –

Joseph Smith: “When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other – This is my beloved Son, Hear Him!" vii

Waiter: To President Hinckley and the 12 apostles…

President Hinckley and 12 Apostles: (Holding up The Living Christ document) He lives!!

Narrator 1: To President Monson, our current Prophet…

President Monson: “How grateful we are that the heavens are indeed open, that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored, and that the Church is founded on the rock of revelation. We are a blessed people, with apostles and prophets upon the earth today… I bear testimony to you that this work is true, that our Savior lives, and that He guides and directs His Church here upon the earth. I leave with you my witness and my testimony that God our Eternal Father lives and loves us. He is indeed our Father, and He is personal and real." viii

ALL: Prophets testify of Jesus Christ!!!

i Amos 3:7

ii 2 Nephi 25:26

iii Jacob 4:4

iv Jacob 4:5

v D&C 1:38

vi Luke 2:36-38

vii Joseph Smith History 1:17

viii Nov. 2009 Ensign, Closing Remarks, Monson, pg. 110