September 2011 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

PlayMobils of the World Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by fdecomite 8/2007

Monthly Theme: The Gospel Will Be Preached in All the World

Monthly Scripture: "This gospel shall be preached unto every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." D&C 133:37

Week 1 The scriptures teach that the gospel will be preached in all the world.

*President Ezra Taft Benson taught: “We are commanded by God to take this gospel to all the world. That is the cause that must unite us today. Only the gospel will save the world from the calamity of its own self-destruction. Only the gospel will unite men of all races and nationalities in peace. Only the gospel will bring joy, happiness, and salvation to the human family” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 167).

Bring in a Jenga game. (A tower of blocks would work too!) Demonstrate with the children's help that the world is making mistake after mistake... take away some blocks. Sin and error make the world a shaky place and not very stable. However, if we are good missionaries and share the gospel, it's like putting the blocks back. We're helping others learn about truth, and like President Benson taught, only the gospel will save the world from it's own self destruction!!

* Have a picture of the tree of life displayed. Have the children tell you what they know about Lehi's and Nephi's Vision. Was the fruit of the tree only for people in Korea? Or perhaps only for people in Chile?

1 Nephi 8:30 "But, to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree."

These multitudes were ALL the different people of the world! Have different cut outs of apples with different flags of the countries around the world on them. Attach songs, scriptures and questions having to do with missionary work on them and let the children come and choose one at a time. The love of God is for everyone, so we need make sure we do our part to help others to the iron rod and press forward!!

* Divide into small groups of about 4-5 children. Give each group a blue balloon that you've added some construction paper continents to. You could easily sew some world bean bags (blue felt with a green felt continent on it) instead- that would guarantee less rowdiness than balloons. Introduce and write the topic of this week's lesson on the board, "The scriptures teach that the gospel will be preached in all the world." Have the children spend 3 minutes passing the balloon to each other and saying what the gospel is! What are different principles and things that have to do with our church? Have them freeze and start a new round. This time have them pass the balloon and share different ways we can share the gospel or personal experiences they've had being missionaries. Freeze again! Have them pass around and share different places they'd like to serve missions or where family members have served.

President Joseph F. Smith, “We have a mission in the world: each man, each woman, each child who has grown to understanding or to the years of accountability, ought . . . to be qualified to preach the truth, to bear testimony of the truth” (Gospel Doctrine, 13th ed. [1968], 251–52).

Bear your own testimony how it's important to preach the gospel, but we need to know what the gospel is!! You can send the children home with pages 5 &6 of Preach My Gospel. The section is entitled the Gospel of Christ and they can read it at home as families.

* Have a large jar filled with jelly beans. Let children write their names and guess how many jelly beans are in the jar on a small piece of paper. Collect their guesses. Would it be a good idea to go home and eat all the jelly beans in 30 seconds or less? What would happen to your teeth if you ate all the jelly beans? Would it be better to eat all the jelly beans by yourself or possibly share with someone?

What about with the gospel? Is it better to keep all the knowledge we have to ourselves or share? Continue on with your lesson about missionary work and end with giving the jelly beans to whoever got the closest guess. Have ziplock bags with 10 jelly beans for each child and the quote, "Sharing is caring!! President John Taylor has said, 'Our duty is to preach the gospel to all men. . . . This is what God expects of us" (The Gospel Kingdom, sel. G. Homer Durham [1943], 234–35).Tell the children they have the choice to go home and share their candy or eat it all by themselves, just like they have the choice to go and share the gospel or not!
Make sure to remind the winner of the jar of the special importance they've just received!! What a blessing to have so much and when you have so much you should.... GIVE!!! End with Because I Have Been Given Much (Hymn #219) 

* I just liked this quote and thought it was a great analogy found off of mormon.org, " Imagine you found a cure for cancer. How urgently would you spread the news of your discovery? Who would you tell? The gospel of Jesus Christ is the cure for so many of life's ills that Mormons want to share the good news of eternal life with the same urgency.

The Lord's Church has always been a missionary church. Jesus Christ's life was the perfect example of missionary work. During His ministry on earth, he taught the gospel at all times, in all places, and to all kinds of people. Jesus taught the educated men in the temple, the sinners, the faithful and the unbelieving. He also called apostles and other disciples to preach the gospel so more people could hear about the blessings of His gospel. Most of their preaching during Christ's life was to their own people, the Jews. After Jesus was resurrected, He visited His apostles and sent them to preach to the gentiles. He commanded them, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15)."

Week 2 Missionary work blesses everyone.

*" President Kimball has referred to missionary service as high adventure. He did so because the work is stirring and exciting. It is a bold undertaking, and it is one that requires the finest courage.

I once saw an advertisement of a movie that said, “Greatest adventure story of escape.” I thought to myself, “They don’t know what adventure is until they have tried to help someone escape from sin, or have pulled somebody back from the brink of a spiritual death, or have wrestled with evil forces, or have marched with the army of God.” There is no greater adventure, no more excitement, nothing more stirring than full-time service in the work of the Lord." Elder Carlos Asay (Ensign Oct. 1985) 

Have a large piece of paper with a book outline on it. Invite primary friends to create a book cover having to do with missionary work or what excites them about the gospel! What is the greatest adventure story? Certainly not the one that Elder Asay saw the movie preview for! The greatest story ever known is the life of Christ and when we know this story and share this story, all are blessed.

* From Preach My Gospel pg. 197 & 198 it says, "People need a reason to change their thoughts and actions. Promised blessings often provide powerful motivation to obey God. When the Lord gives a commandment, He often promises blessings for keeping that commandment (see D&C 130:20–21). As you prepare people to obey a specific commandment, teach them that:

• Living the commandments shows love for God and His Son.

• They demonstrate their trust in God as they obey His commandments.

• In return, they will receive blessings that He has promised.

As you testify of a commandment, talk about the blessings you have received from living that commandment. Promise those whom you teach that they can enjoy similar blessings. As people strive to keep a commitment, ask them to talk about the blessings that Heavenly Father has given them. Assure them that even though difficulties will enter their lives, His blessings will continue as they obey His will."

Have 2 children come to the front and be member missionaries. Have them draw out of a hat a gospel principle or commandment. Let them share what that principle means and how it's blessed their lives.
(For example, they draw out faith... Faith is believing in things you can't see. One time I was very sick but I had faith I could be healed. My dad gave me a blessing and I got better.)

*Bring in bowl of water. Have a child throw a small pebble into the bowl. What happens? What is a ripple? Is there any part of the water that doesn't move when the pebble is thrown in? Missionary Work is like a ripple. It spreads and touches all parts of the world and blesses everyone!! Or another analogy could be taking a glass and overfilling it with water... what just happened?? It spilled! It over-flowed!! President Kimball said that “the missionary work, like the tithing, will pour out blessings, as Malachi said, so many blessings that there’ll hardly be room enough to receive them. (See Mal. 3:10.)” (In Area Conference Report, Korea, Aug. 1975, p. 61.)

* Bring in a couple small costumes and act out the story of Alma and Abinadi. See Mosiah 17 and 18. All it took were the words of the prophet and one missionary willing to be an instrument of the Holy Ghost, and then  "... It came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever." (Mosiah 18:30)

* Print pictures of people who you feel would edify your lesson and share their stories with the children. This is a good opportunity to show children that members of the gospel come in all sorts of different colors, looks and places... but our belief in Christ is the same! Click HERE or HERE to see what some members have to say about blessings and missionary work.....

Week 3 I can prepare now to serve a mission.

* HERE is a great sharing time from the Friend by Linda Christensen.

* HERE is a great sharing time and handout/search and find with things that will help prepare for missions.

* Captain Moroni was awesome! He had a tough job keeping the Lamanites from killing all the Nephites and keeping the Nephites from self-destruction! One of his jobs was to prepare cities for all the fighting. In Alma 50: 1-6 it talks about all he did. Put up a picture of Moroni and go over all his preparations. What might have happened if Moroni hadn't prepared? Would you rather live in one of his stronghold cities or one that wasn't prepared? Well, we have the choice to prepare ourselves nice and strong for missions or not. It's up to us to make that good choice!!

*Proverbs 30:25 "The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer" Obviously ants are not people, so what is this scripture talking about?  Why do ants work so hard to gather food in the summer? Have some paper ants on the board that the children can choose songs, scriptures and questions having to do with missionary work. Perhaps you can have a picture of a picnic basket with the word mission on it... play around with the idea.... Our time is now and we need to prepare for our missions!

* Hebrews 11:7 "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith."
Having faith and preparing go hand in hand! Have the children come up to the front and pantomime an animal action. Let others try to guess what animal they are pretending to be. After they do so, have them fill in the blank... Just as Noah was prepared for the flood, I can prepare for my mission by.............

Week 4 I can be a missionary now.

* HERE is a great sharing time from the Friend where you can make a little box to take home. It's by Sister Margaret Lifferth.

* HERE is another good sharing time from Sister Sydney Reynolds in the Friend.

* HERE is a sharing time talking about missionary and harvest work from the Friend by Pat Graham.

* Have a piece of paper that says, "I can be a missionary NOW & I can be a missionary LATER." Have children draw pictures or write sentences under NOW & LATER on what they can do to be good missionaries. Get some NOW & LATER candy and make a card for the missionaries in your ward. Give the candy and card to the missionaries pledging the primary's support to spreading the gospel NOW & LATER!! There is even a poem HERE  (Scroll down a little) about it!!

* What does an Apostle say about being a missionary now? See HERE. This would be a great handout to take home and read with families!

* You could break into small groups and have a some different adults summarize some missionary stories from the friend or make felt board stories. The following are links from The Friend to some great missionary NOW stories:
Me? A Missionary Now?
A Missionary Now
Teaching Tanner's Teacher
What Can I Do to Be a Missionary?

* Does anyone have an old November 1994 Friend Magazine? Because in it is a board game called "I Can Be a Missionary Now"... I bet that would be fun!

* Have the children pretend they don't know anything about the church. What would they want to know? Have them write down their questions and put in a jar. Now let's be member missionaries and draw questions out of the jar and answer them!!

August 2011 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

Let me preface, I drive a Granny Car, and am proud of it. My car is a little more dilapidated than this one I found on a google search. Mine has 2 broken windows that can't roll down... because well, they won't roll back up. The air conditioning is broke and I think I'm missing a couple hubcaps. Plus some paint is coming off in the back. Really? You might be thinking... you're proud to drive your Buick Roadmaster?? Yes. Yes I am. Because I don't have a car payment, so all the money that would go to a car payment can be spent on gas.

...

Point?

I'm glad our bodies aren't cars. Sure, cars are a lot like our bodies- but in the grand scheme of things, God is and always will be smarter than Ford. Or Buick. Take your pick.

Monthly Theme: My body is a temple of God.
Monthly Scripture: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? ...The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” 1 Corinthians 3:16–17

Week 1 My body is a temple.

* Personal reading for you about this week's theme... yes you. I'm talking to you. Not your dad. Click HERE. See. Aren't you glad you read that?

* Pres. Boyd K. Packer (I heart Boyd) says, “Our physical body is the instrument of our spirit” (Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled [1991], 211). Bring in a variety of different instruments. Divide into groups and let the children come up with a song or a chant. You can give groups topics like, "How do I treat my body like a temple." or "I love my body because...." or "Bodies are like temples because...." Let them play instruments during their songs.
This would be a good time to reinforce the concept that our bodies are merely tools and only work because of our spirits. Would an instrument work on the ground all by itself? No! It needs someone to play it!!
Just like instruments can play beautiful music, our bodies can be beautiful too if we treat them as the temple they are!!

* LOVE LOVE LOVE this sharing time by Sister Matsumori found HERE in the Friend.

* Time to whip out some old Ensign magazines and scour for temple pictures. Have the children draw pictures of themselves and then use the pictures of temples to cut out clothing for their bodies. Or you could just have the temple and they draw arms, legs and a head coming out from it. Obviously, this is not how we look!! But our bodies are just as sacred as the Holy Temple we do ordinance work in. Have the children write a few words down on why they love their bodies/temples.
Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."

* Have a bunch of different pictures of temples and people on the black board. Ask the children how all the pictures on the board are the same? They are all temples of God!! Attach scriptures, songs and questions having to do with the week's theme: My Body is a Temple, on the backs of the pictures. Let the children come up and choose a picture and then do what it says on back one at a time.

Week 2 Dressing modestly shows respect for Heavenly Father and myself.

* Word of caution. If you choose to bring in barbie dolls to teach this, it's your choice. But I'm willing to bet (It's the Nevadan in me) that at least 50% of LDS parents will not be comfortable with their lil' boys dressing a naked barbie. I would never bring in barbies personally because I just think it's odd, but to each his own. If you've prayed about it and feel good then do your thang... but be prepared, you might get a nasty talking to from some parents. I also WOULDN'T show examples of immodest clothing because I like to keep things positive. Let parents point out the saucy things in life, and teachers focus and emphasize the good. Again, this is just a word of caution.... personal ditty and opinion.

* Bring in a large laundry hamper full of modest clothes. Divide into groups and give each group a suitcase and an airplane ticket to one of the following: Canada, Hawaii, China, Russia/Siberia, etc. Write in large words on the chalkboard, "WHERE IN THE WORLD CAN WE BE MODEST?" Perhaps you can even have a map displayed. Have the children reverently choose one piece of clothing to pack in their group suitcase from the laundry hamper. No fighting over any clothes, or you won't be able to pack because then the clothes would be ripped and immodest!!! While in their groups have them come up with 3 ways to share with the Primary on how to be modest. Then have them share what they packed and why. Is it easier to be modest in a colder place than a hotter place? Have them answer the question on the board.... the answer should be EVERYWHERE in the world we can be modest!!!

* Have children make modest paper doll clothing!! For older children, they might be more into "Fashion Sketches". Have the children share their work with each other and invite the Bishop in to choose a design he really likes. Perhaps if there is someone in the ward who sews, they can turn that design into reality and give the finished product to the missionaries to give to an investigator.
* Put on a modesty Primary show! Invite reverent children (Or perhaps even a couple teachers!) to come up front and work it down a red carpet, do a turn and walk back to the front. Ham it up, have a toilet paper roll with foil balled on the end as a microphone. Wear a large hat and feather boa. Ask the children how each model is dressed modestly? You can have the pianist playing Dare to Do Right or Stand For the Right in the background as they walk. You can ask them questions like, How do you feel when you are obedient and dress modestly? Why is it important to dress modestly? How does dressing modestly show respect for Heavenly Father? Do you have to have fancy clothes to be modest? How important is cleanliness when it comes to modesty?
Question for YOU, yes you... not Rod Stewart: What if a child isn't dressed modestly? DON'T MAKE THEM FEEL BAD. Plain and simple.

* Again, bring in a bunch of old CHURCH magazines. Let the children cut and paste a "Modesty" collage on a 8 1/2 X 11 piece of paper. Have them label it with the week's theme. They can choose pictures of clothes or people who are modest and make some beautiful art for the kitchen refrigerator. It will be an excellent reminder to our family about this important gospel principle!!

* Have each letter of RESPECT on a piece of paper. On the back of each letter's paper, have a picture of a modest person. Invite the children to talk about why the person is modest and how it is respectful.
Psalms 119:6 "Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments."

Week 3 Living the Word of Wisdom shows respect for my body.

* Explain that we are going to have a cooking demonstration. Invite a child to come up front and cut bananas, another one do strawberries... have another child add some yogurt and yet another child add in some grapes. (Please no sharp knives and be mindful of food allergies) Have small cups for the children to sample. Was the fruit salad cooking demonstration something that is good for our bodies?
Have the children play win-win-draw with foods and other things having to do with the Word of Wisdom that are good for our bodies. (They come up to the blackboard and draw, for example, an apple... then someone from the Primary guesses what they have drawn)

* Sister Judy Edwards wrote a simple and great sharing time found HERE. I find that the more simple, the better!! So rock on Sister Edwards and thank you.

* Have the children act out the story of Daniel refusing the King's meat. HERE are details from the story.

* Break into groups and have them pass a healthy food around as you sing The Word of Wisdom. (CS #154) When the music stops, the person holding the healthy food has to name something that is good for our bodies. For older children you can make it a little more challenging by giving them a certain letter that the healthy food has to start with.

* Have a bunch of healthy recipes and let the children make a recipe book for their family!! Make copies of the recipes and let the children draw pictures of how they think the finished food will look like.... Always make a copy or example to show them/give them some starting ideas. Display a bunch of different cook books and let the children end Primary by sharing some recipes they think would be healthy for our bodies in those books. On the chalk board you can have the words written- A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS- THE WORD OF WISDOM!!!

Week 4 Reading, watching, and listening to wholesome things keeps my mind clean.

* Break into different stations: One with books, DVD's and CD's. Have a person at each station prepare a 4 minute ditty on some of their favorites having to do with that station. Invite the children to share some of their favorites.
"Two obligations face the saints where the matter of environment is concerned: 1. To create for themselves and their families the most wholesome and edifying environment possible, so there will be less chance of any member of the family circle being lost through transgression; and 2. To rise above every unwholesome environmental situation that may be encountered during the course of this mortal probation. …"Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966], p. 229).

When we fill our minds with the good, we'll be able to do what Elder McConkie says and rise above the unwholesome!!
* Put A B C D F on the board. Why do we get grades? Elder Marvin J. Ashton has said, "We have a tendency to rate or grade others, and they do the same to us. If our perspective is proper, we use these ratings or gradings to motivate us to reach high levels of achievement and self-discipline. The whole concept of ratings enables us to set high goals and provides the challenge to us to achieve them. In spite of this inborn desire to achieve, there remains an area where the attainment of high or good ratings seems to be ignored. I speak of the growing numbers of movies, books, magazines, theatrical productions, and television programs where efforts to glorify immorality or violence have become predominant. “Rated R”...has replaced the idealism of being “Rated A.” (Ensign Nov. 1977)

Come up with different case scenarios having to do with good or bad books, movies, and music. Have children rate whether it's an A or an F. We need to be good judges of the different positions we're put into and grade wisely!!

An example of a case scenario could be: Helen is at school and is looking through the library. She notices 2 boys reading a book with a scary skull on the front. Is it a pirate book? She's asks. The boys tell her it's a book that is so scary it will give her nightmares at night.... it's not about pirates, it's just about tons of different scary things.

Another example: Perry is walking home with some friends. They are listening to some popular music from the radio on their headphones. One of the songs talks about girls in immodest swimwear. Perry feels uncomfortable, even though he's not listening to the music. What should he do?

Or: Belinda and Tim can't wait to read the magic tree house #38!! They have read #'s 1 through 37 and have learned so much. From Mummies to Dolphins, this next one promises to teach them something new!
* This is a great lesson that can be adapted from the Aaronic Priesthood manual.

* This idea is from the Old Testament: Gospel Doctrine Manual:

"Have a volunteer stand at the front of the class with his or her hands held forward. Tie a strand of thread loosely around both of the class member’s wrists. Explain that this one thread represents an unclean thought. Then have the class member break the thread by pulling his or her hands sharply outward.

• What should we do when an unclean thought enters our mind? (We should dismiss it immediately.)
Ask the class member to hold out his or her hands again. Wrap the class member’s wrists with a few strands of thread—enough to make it more difficult to break them. Then ask the class member to try to break the strands of thread. Repeat this process using enough strands of thread to make it impossible to break free.
• What happens when we allow unclean thoughts to stay in our minds?
Free the class member’s hands by cutting the thread with the scissors. Explain that part of this lesson deals with the consequences of dwelling on unclean thoughts. The lesson also discusses ways to free ourselves from unclean thoughts."

*3 Nephi 12:8 "And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Would it make sense to say if you had a clean mind, you'd have a pure heart? Perhaps even clean hands? Have a table full of eye glasses with songs, scriptures and questions having to do with the week's theme. If we keep ourselves busy with wholesome things and do what is right, we'll one day see God like the scripture says... Joseph Smith sure did!!

July 2011 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

A picture I took from our recent vacation to the motherland aka California-

San Diego Temple

Monthly Theme: The Temple Is a House of God.

Monthly Scripture: “Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally” The Family: A Proclamation to the World, paragraph 3

Week 1  God has commanded His people to build temples.

* D&C 88: 119 "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God."

Divide into groups. Give each group an outline of a house and a word from the above scripture, e.g. fasting, faith, learning, glory, order. Have them draw a picture of what that word means or for older primary, have them list scriptures that can explain the term. Have them discuss and be ready to share with the whole primary how each of these words have to do with temples.

* D&C 97:15 "And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it;"

Bring in a construction hat and tool belt. Heavenly Father has commanded us to build temples. How do we build them? There is an article from the Ensign, Worthy to Enter By Elder Daryl H. Garn, where he talks about what is expected of the workers who actually build temples.

Have about 6 signs numbered 1-6 throughout the room. On the back of the paper, have a part of the Houston Temple (Just like they will be putting together a puzzle) All quotes come from the above talk. Choose a child to wear the hat and tool belt and choose a number. Read to them the following and have them answer a question to see what's on the back, and then build the temple picture. Tell the children that what we will be learning comes from a general authority who went to Houston to see how that temple would be built. He asked a lot of questions to the construction supervisor and this is what he learned.

1- "Contractors are told that there is to be no graffiti on the walls of the temple. Often, workers at construction sites will write inappropriate things on the walls. Brother Rowley shared an incident he had experienced a few days previously. He had noticed some inappropriate words written on a wall of the temple and reminded the contractor of their agreement. The following day, he noticed that the words had been painted over. He went to the contractor again and told him that the offensive words were still on the wall of the temple and needed to be removed. The next morning, the paint and the words were sanded off the temple wall." Now ask your primary friend- Why is it important that there is no graffiti in the temple?

2- "Contractors are told that all the rooms in the temple will be finished and painted. That day in the temple, every room was painted white. Even the storage rooms and mechanical rooms were white. There were no dark places in the temple." Why do you think the color white is so important in the temple?
3- "How blessed we are to have temples! The holy temple is “the place of [the Lord’s] throne” on the earth (Ezekiel 43:7). President Gordon B. Hinckley has told Church members: “Until you have received the sacred [temple] ordinances of the gospel, you have not received all of the wonderful blessings which this Church has to offer. The great and crowning blessings of membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are those blessings which come to us in the house of the Lord." How is the temple the Lord's throne?
And thank you very much, you are lovable and capable. You can come up with 3 other quotes and questions from the article :) Si? Si!!

* On the chalk board have a picture of the temple and the week's theme written, "God has commanded His people to build temples."
Have 5 chairs up front. Invite 5 children to come up and play Reverent Chairs. Each chair will be numbered and they will walk around the chairs while the primary sings songs having to do with commandments (Look up commandments in the topics section in the back of the Children's Songbook, there are about 10) Once the music stops, they sit in a chair. Have another primary friend come up and draw from a hat a number and from another hat a question having to do with temples. The person sitting in that number chair gets to answer the question and if they need help, they can choose another number to help them. After each question, choose another 5 friends to come up.

* Um, yeah.... This is another GREAT one from the Friend by Judy Edwards. Click HERE.

Week 2 Families are blessed through sacred temple ordinances.

* Sing My Eternal Family as a primary. How does a person build their family? Could we build a family if we didn't have temple ordinances? Have a bag of dress up clothes and build a family in primary! Choose children one at a time to come up front and represent mom, dad, brother, sister, grandma, etc. To earn clothes for dad the primary will have to answer a couple questions or read a scripture about temples. Next, we move on to mom, to earn clothes we'll have to sing I Love to See the Temple.... You'll need to come up with other questions and scriptures for the rest of the family members. Have each family member stay in the front as you build them. Have a picture of the temple on the chalkboard and end your lesson by singing My Eternal Family one more time.

* I LOVE this sharing time from the Friend. Click HERE. I would definitely use the gum drop idea and just tweak it by having a primary friend come to the front and name 2 or 3 things about temples or how to have eternal families to earn a gumdrop temple to place on a map. Read Pat's introduction about the hymn- The Spirit of God and then end your lesson by having the children sing it.

* Play Mystery Families. You'll need to get about 10 different pictures of different primary friend's families at the temple. When you call the families on the phone, ask them to share with you a special experience they've had at the temple, or just some thoughts they have on the temple (for your clues for the sharing time). Have the pictures covered with something with a big question mark. Tell the children today we're going to learn about temples and how they bless families. We have some pictures of some mystery families and you're going to share some clues with the primary to see if they can guess who that family is!

* Sing Families Can Be Together Forever (CS 188) Have an 11X17 piece of paper for each of the children. Use an 8 1/2 X 11 for them to draw a picture of their family.  Then have a smaller picture of a local temple in your area (you can actually have a photo made for about 8-10 cents each). Have the children glue their family picture and temple picture on the larger sheet of paper. Then have a small square of paper to put under the temple picture where they can write (or a teacher can write for them) something they know to be true about temples. It will be a masterpiece they can hang in their home to remind their families the importance of temples and blessings!!

* HERE is a nice handout/activity children can do at home to reiterate this week's lesson. Make sure to print out the article of course as well as the cut out figures.

Week 3 The pioneers worked hard and sacrificed to build temples.

* HERE is a wonderful sharing time from the Friend entitled Pioneers and Temples by Vicki F. Matsumori

* In regards to the Kirtland temple (like the Sharing Time Outline says)... "In addition to their great personal efforts, the Saints spent from forty to sixty thousand dollars on the temple. Because they were so willing to sacrifice in building the temple, the Lord poured out great blessings upon them. From 21 January to 1 May 1836 probably more Latter-day Saints beheld visions and witnessed other unusual spiritual manifestations than during any other era in the history of the Church. Members of the Church saw heavenly messengers in at least ten different meetings, and at five of these gatherings different individuals testified that they had beheld the Savior Himself. Many experienced visions, some prophesied, and others spoke in tongues." (pg. 164 Church History in the Fullness of Times Student Manuel)

On the black board have a path of 10 squares leading to the Kirtland Temple- it could be as simple as drawing them in chalk. Have a paper pioneer you can move to each square. Read THIS, yes... all of it, and especially carefully the part "Building the Lord's House". Come up with 10 things you'd like to share with the children on the early saints and the construction of the Kirtland Temple. Have a primary friend come to the front while you share something and then answer a simple question or 2 about what you've said to move the pioneer closer to the temple...for example (Quote taken from above link)
"But the Saints were so poor, an early member recalled, that "there was not a scraper and hardly a plow that could be obtained among the Saints". Nevertheless, "unity, harmony and charity abounded to strengthen" them to fulfill the commandment to build the temple." Why do you think they needed a plow? Has there ever been a time in your life where you worked peacefully with another person that you'd like to share?

* THIS is the most awesome pioneer story ever. You could easily turn it into a felt story or have a couple children come to the front to dress up and act it out while you tell the children. I would start off asking the children if they've ever heard of a name that is a little strange. Well, you have the best story about a wonderful pioneer child named GOBO FANGO!!! But just as a side note, the article is incorrect. Gobo was a slave. He was also denied the priesthood and while I wouldn't delve into this complex subject with the primary children, I think our testimonies can be strengthened by the extreme hardships faced by early Black pioneers and their faith that was equal to that of Job's.

 

Week 4 I can prepare to be worthy to go to the temple.

*I know I said a Reader's Theater would be coming soon... but that didn't happen. Instead I went dental. I don't know whether I've been spending too much time downtown for our local Reno's festivities in Art, however, the amount of meth mouth is staggering. Also, the sheer quantity of men that wear shorts shorter than I do is disturbing. Ahh... the different flavors of life. I digress.

 We've had this game for ages and it's a favorite.

Introduction Activity (1 minute): What do we do before we go to the dentist? Meet Anastassatos Alligator. He has teeth, we have teeth. We need to take care of our teeth and prepare for the dentist! Just like the dentist, there are certain things we need to do to prepare for the temple!

Activity: Using the chalkboard, make a path/curvy line to Jesus with small marks. Have a primary friend (boy or girl) magnet you can move along the path. Using Anastassatos Alligator, count each # it takes before he chomps you. If you’re able to answer the question correctly, then you can move our primary friend closer to the picture of Jesus. Make sure to have lots of temple pictures displayed.

Questions:
*What are temples? (houses of the Lord)
*Why can’t everyone go in the temple?
*What is the most important purpose or reason we go to the temple?
(The principle purpose is to provide ordinances necessary for the children of God to enable them to return to dwell with Him)
* How have you felt when you’ve been to a temple?
* What does endowment mean?
(Gift-The endowment focuses on the Savior, His role in Heavenly Father's plan, and the personal commitment of each member to follow Him.)
* What are other temple ordinances?
* Please read Isaiah 2:2-3
* Why should you want to go to the temple?
* What is written over the doors of the temple?
(Holiness to the Lord)
* Why are temples dedicated?
* How would you explain to a friend about baptisms for the dead done in temples?
* Are the things we do in the temple secret or sacred?
* Why do you think people wear white in the temple?
* How do you feel about paying tithing and why is that important for temple worship?
*How often should we go to the temple?
*What are the best things you can do to prepare now to go to the temple?

Conclusion: Just like we have to brush our teeth and floss and be consistent and constant in maintaining our dental health, we need to be diligent in our spiritual health! We need to prepare now to go to the temple!! Bear testimony.

You'll notice I didn't focus a lot on the things we need to do to prepare, which is the lesson theme. I just felt like there are a lot of basics that children don't understand about the temple. They know what they need to do, but sometimes the temple can be a little mysterious. These questions provided a basic framework. Of course, you can use whatever questions you are inspired to ask!

I also had some extra toothpaste and toothbrushes that I handed out to some reverent superstars. If you have My Gospel Standards posters to pass out to the children, that would be wonderful too!

June 2011 LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com byjlk Nov. 2009

Monthly Theme: The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel Make It Possible for Me to Live with God Again.

Monthly Scripture: “We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Articles of Faith 1:4).

Week 1 Faith in Jesus Christ leads us to love Him, trust Him, and keep His commandments.

* Whip out your Faith in God books! In it, it says, "An important part of faith in God is keeping your baptismal covenant and staying spiritually strong. To help you develop faith and resist temptation, do the following things:

• Pray daily to Heavenly Father.
• Read the scriptures regularly.
• Keep the commandments and live “My Gospel Standards” (see back cover).
• Honor your parents and be kind to your family.
• Pay your tithing and attend tithing settlement.
• Attend sacrament meetings and Primary regularly. "
Play a game of charades, acting out these things that our Faith in God books encourage us to do to build our faith! Under the learning and living the gospel section of the book, it has an activity to complete, "Tell a story from the Book of Mormon that teaches about faith in Jesus Christ. Share your testimony of the Savior." Have the children divide into small groups or pairs and do so!

* Bring in a fruit by the foot. Can we just eat this? If someone says yes, try stuffing it in your mouth with the wrapper. Doesn't work. What do you have to do to eat it? Unwrap it, unroll it, break it into pieces or roll around your finger or wad it into a ball, then of course throw out the trash.... Faith isn't just something that happens and bam, sweetness and yumminess! You have to work on faith. You have to open up your heart to faith, just like we opened the wrapper.... and you have to unravel it and work on it. Along the way of faith you will find love, trust and a desire to keep the commandments. Try to somehow hang the fruit by the foot up on the board. At the end of it, have a picture of Christ. Have the children brainstorm different ways to strengthen their faith and write it on the board, getting closer and closer to Christ. Ask the children if they can think of any stories from the scriptures that have faithful people in it. Always close your lesson with your brief testimony of what you have taught.

* I know I'm going to have some whack job tell me this idea is nuts, but here's what I have to say- If you don't like it, don't use it. I pray over everything I write, but I am not a prophet nor claim to be one. I don't have inspiration about what exactly you should do to teach your group of spectacular children. :) With that said, get out the transformer toys!! This will catch the children's attention. What do transformers do? They change from big hairy robots into cars. It almost seems impossible that a robot as tall as a building could change into a small little Camero, but it does. We know transformers aren't real. It's just a movie. But what we'll talk about today is very real. It is something that helps to change a person too.... does anyone have any ideas?? What helps change us?? (Remember, be supportive of all ideas given, even if it's not what you are looking for. For example, someone might say Baptism... to which you can reply, "You are absolutely right! Baptism does change people, what are some other ideas?") In general conference last year, Elder Scott said, "When faith is properly understood and used, it has dramatically far-reaching effects. Such faith can transform an individual’s life..." Then have questions, scriptures (Look at such examples like Alma the younger and Paul), and songs about faith attached to about 10 different transformer toys. Let the children come up and choose one. End with this quote by Elder Hales, "The first step to finding faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is to let His word—spoken by the mouth of His servants, the prophets—touch your heart. But it is not enough merely to let those words wash over you, as if they alone could transform you. We must do our part. Or as the Savior Himself said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” In other words, hearing requires an active effort. “Faith without works is dead.”

* Watch part of Finding Faith in Christ, HERE is a link to it. The whole video is 30 minutes. It's a really good one. I especially like the beginning, because Jesus just wakes up and calms the storm... He doesn't complain, or say give me 5 more minutes, He just up and does it.

* Here is a Bible Crossword Puzzle (from The Friend) of people of great faith.

* Here is a great sharing time from the Friend focusing on Alma 32:21.

Week 2 Repentance brings forgiveness.

* Pass out some hearts to the children and let them make a quick note to the Bishop. Have them bring up to a box. Tell the children you are going to wrap it now. Do a really bad job, put the bow on your head!! Is this gift wrap worthy to be given to the Bishop? He deserves better right? And so it is with us and Heavenly Father. We don't want our lives to be messy and full of sin, we want to be neat and clean when we present ourselves to him.... and the way to do this is by repentance!! Read 3 Nephi 27:19 "And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end." Have a child unwrap the messy paper. Have 6 pictures of people in the scriptures who were good examples of repentance and forgiveness... invite a child to come up and tell the story, then help wrap a part of the present. And of course, have a couple children deliver the present to the Bishop after church!

* Have a child come up to the front and hold a "Can Not Enter" sign. Tell the primary you are going to whisper a special word in their ear. Happiness, heaven, and progress is to the right side of them. They can't let anybody past them unless they come up with that special word. Invite a few children to come up and say a word. Each time the child holding the sign can say, Sorry, that's not the word.
"Every principle and ordinance of the gospel of Jesus Christ is significant and important in contributing to the progress, happiness, and eternal life of man; but there is none more essential to the salvation of the human family than the divine and eternally operative principle, repentance. Without it, no one can be saved. Without it, no one can even progress." (President David O. McKay, Man may know for Himself: Teachings of President David O. McKay, 43)

* Never underestimate children. You can ask them hard questions and often be edified by their wisdom.
Why do we need to repent? Why can't we just repent right before we die? Why can't we repent after we die and just make sure someone has our name to do temple work for us? What does it take, what do we need to do to repent?

A quote I've often used to show how important our bodies truly are is this, "It is my judgement that any man or woman can do more to conform to the laws of God in one year in this life than they could in ten years when they are dead. The spirit only can repent and change, and then the battle has to go forward with the flesh afterwards. It is much easier to overcome and serve the Lord when both flesh and spirit are combined as one. This is the time when men are more pliable and susceptible. When clay is pliable, it is much easier to change than when it gets hard and sets." (Elder Ballard, in Bryant Hinckley's Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin Joseph Ballard, 241) Give the children some play dough and let them create something for a few minutes.Then invite some children forward to share their creation and say something they know about repentance.

* "God is good. He is eager to forgive. He wants us to perfect ourselves and maintain control of ourselves. He does not want Satan and others to control our lives." (Spencer W.Kimball, The Gospel of Repentance, Ensign, Oct. 1982, 2) Have a picture of a remote control car cut into a 8 pieces. On the pieces have 8 questions, songs and scriptures having to do with repentance. As the children take down pieces of the controlled car, have the words "I WILL REPENT!!!" written, so it will be slowly revealed.

* Here is a rollerbox story about repentance you can prepare and share from the Friend.

* Here is the story of Miriam and her process of repentance. You could easily have a few children act it out. I always like to use fruit leather as edible leper spots.

Week 3 When I am baptized, I make a covenant with God.

(These have been recycled from a previous post)

*What is a covenant? A binding agreement or promise between God and a person or group of people.

Play Wheel of Covenants! Bring in a spinner with different values and earn points as a primary! Phrases to be solved: (Take out 2-3 words or have them fill in the word or guess a letter….) Have pictures to accompany the phrases once solved!
Take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ
Stand as a witness for God
Keep the Commandments
The Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands
Enter into the Kingdom of God
Have children come up at the end and hold the pictures. Bear testimony if we do these things like take upon us the name of Jesus, keep the commandments and stand as a witness for God by being baptized then He will keep up His part of the covenant and bless us with the Holy Ghost and let us enter into His kingdom.

* Bring in a large blue shower curtain (Dollar store!) or large piece of blue butcher paper or old blue sheet. Have tape!!, glue sticks, coloring crayons and plenty of sheets of paper. Make a primary mural depicting the story of Alma and the Waters of Mormon! (Mosiah 18) Show GAK picture 309 and BRIEFLY tell the story of what happened there. Invite the children to share what they know about the story. Children can draw people being baptized, Alma, plants, flowers, clouds…. Invite older children to find out…. Things We Covenant: and Things Heavenly Father Covenants when We are Baptized: (Gospel Principles outlines these perfectly… have them write down and add to the mural!) And voila! You have a great visual to use for other lessons on baptism!!

*Here is a great resource with ideas from Cheryl Esplin! The kids could do the mazes together in partners for Senior Sharing time.

*Here is a flannel board baptism story from the friend magazine.

* Here is a wonderful roller box presentation on covenants with additional ideas from Ann Jamison from the friend magazine.

* Here is a super duper board game you can enlarge and play called “Keeping My Baptismal Covenants” by Jennifer Rose and Beth M. Whittaker.

Week 4 The Holy Ghost comforts and guides me.

* "The gift of the Holy Ghost operates equally with men, women, and even little children. It is within this wondrous gift and power that the spiritual remedy to any problem can be found. 'And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned' (Alma 32:23)." Boyd K. Packer, "Prayer and Promptings," Ensign, Nov. 2009, 45

Have a first aid kit. Invite the children to come up and choose items from the kit that have questions, songs and scriptures about the Holy Ghost on them.

* Have the word “Holy Ghost” written in about 10 different languages on the board.
“In every language, the Spirit of God—the Holy Ghost—guides, or can guide, every member of the Church.” Boyd K. Packer, "The Cloven Tongues of Fire,” Ensign, May 2000, 7

Have a globe with small numbers attached. Invite a child to come up and spin the globe, using their finger to stop it. Have the numbers correspond to questions, songs and scriptures having to do with the Holy Ghost.

* Hold up a blankie. Does anyone have a special blankie that they love, that gives them happiness and comfort? After Jesus was crucified, the apostles were very sad. Do you think Heavenly Father dropped blankies from the sky to help them feel better? Read John 14:26, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

* Has anyone ever stayed at a hotel when they've gone on vacation? What was it like? There is a hotel called The Comfort Inn... do you think if you stayed there forever you would have comfort forever? Maybe, maybe not. There is only one real way to have comfort all the time, and that is by having the Holy Ghost with you. He is the true comforter!!  Have a hotel drawn on the board with the words, The Holy Ghost Comforter Inn. Have different pieces of furniture the children can add to the hotel with questions, scriptures and songs about the Holy Ghost.

Book of Mormon Reader's Theater/ Mini-Musical

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by Travis S. 2008

The Book of Mormon is Another Testament of Jesus Christ

By Sofia Lykes

(Feel free to use and distribute in church or private family setting. Please just don't sell to a publishing company as your own work because it's like big hair bangs of the 80's... Just. Plain. Wrong.)

Characters
Narrator 1                Narrator 2
Teacher                    Student 1, 2, 3 ( A couple more to sit around, even though they don’t talk)
Joseph Smith            Moroni

Props
Book of Mormon
Simple Costumes
Picture of Christ
Chair for the Teacher with children sitting around him/her - remember, no backs to the audience though!

****

(With piano playing softly in the background Book of Mormon Stories CS 118)

Narrator 1: In 82 different languages, the Book of Mormon can be understood. In 82 different languages, the Book of Mormon testifies that Jesus is the Christ.

Narrator 2: Over 150 million Books of Mormon have been printed since Joseph Smith translated it. 150 million chances have been given to others as a testimony that Jesus is the Christ.

(Piano stops)

Teacher: Hello class! I’m so glad you all could make it to church! Today we will be learning about the Book of Mormon. Can someone please read from the Introduction of the Book of Mormon! Thanks!

Student 1: “The Book of Mormon is a volume of holy scripture”

Student 2: “The book was written by many ancient prophets”

Student 3: “The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after his resurrection. It puts forth the doctrines of the gospel, outlines the plan of salvation, and tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life and eternal salvation in the life to come.”

Teacher: Thank you students! Let's all sing about Jesus coming to the Nephites in the song This is My Beloved Son.

(Primary Sings Verse 2 of This is My Beloved Son CS 76)

Narrator 1: Ancient Prophets were faithful in writing down the words of the Lord.

Narrator 2: Joseph Smith was faithful in translating the words of the Lord.

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

Student 1: I am so grateful for all the work of Nephi, Jacob, Alma and many others who shared their life and knowledge with us.

Student 2: I know! Where would we be if we didn’t have the Book of Mormon?

Student 3: Joseph Smith was a true servant to Father in heaven. We are very blessed because he was a humble person willing to do whatever God asked him to do.

Teacher: Being obedient is a principle that is taught a lot in the Book of Mormon. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of doing everything Heavenly Father asks.

Student 1: I want to be obedient and do His will too! Teacher, can we please sing a song about following God’s plan because I sure do love to sing!!

Teacher: Of course!

(Primary Sings I Will Follow God’s Plan CS 164)

Narrator 1: There is so much to learn from the Book of Mormon. Family and teachers can tell us all about it!

Narrator 2: We need to read our scriptures every day! Others can tell us all about Christ, but we need to learn for ourselves who He is.

(Piano plays softly in the background while Moroni speaks Search Ponder and Pray CS 109)

Moroni: “ Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”

(Piano stops)

Teacher: In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.


** All quotes are taken directly from the Book of Mormon Introduction and Moroni 10:3-5. Also, the beginning # facts are from HERE, a newsroom release from LDS.org.

TIPS

Choose your readers carefully!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go over what a good reader does (before starting)- speaks clearly and loudly!! Especially because in this reader's theater the piano will be playing while you speak, and everyone needs to hear what you are saying!!!

Have the primary listen carefully because the teacher will be asking for help and singing!!

You can invite children from the audience to hold up props or pictures for the songs you sing in the reader's theater. Then they can sit back down.

Have fun!!

Resurrection Eggs

Image courtesy creative commons image license flickr.com by kanspice 2000

You can buy these online for $14 or make them for $1 or less. There are lots of ideas out there, but this was the first one I googled and liked from teachkidsthebible.com. (I don't support or endorse this website, I know nothing about it, just citing where I got the info) This is a great activity for FHE or to give as simple gifts to a special child.

First, number your plastic eggs with permanent marker. Then fill with the items listed and hide. Let children find and go over the story of Jesus and His resurrection.

Egg Number 1

Message: Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people waved palm branches.

Passage: Matthew 21:1-11.

Item: A small plastic leaf or a piece of a palm branch or a blade of grass.

Egg Number 2

Message: Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet.

Passage: John 12:2-8.

Item: Cotton ball with perfume on it.

Egg Number 3

Message: Jesus ate the Last Supper with His disciples.

Passage: Matthew 26:17-19.

Item: A small piece of cracker to represent the passover bread.

Egg Number 4

Message: Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver.

Passage: Matthew 27:3.

Item: Three dimes

Egg Number 5

Message: Jesus carried His cross.

Passage: John 19:17.

Item: A toothpick that is cut and glued in the form of a cross. (Or twist a pipecleaner)

Egg Number 6

Message: Soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus' head.

Passage: John 19:2.

Item: A small thorny branch or a single large thorn

Egg Number 7

Message: Soldiers parted Jesus' garments and cast lots for His coat.

Passage: John 19:23.

Item: Miniature dice

Egg Number 8

Message: Jesus was nailed to a cross and pierced in His side.

Passage: John 19:18,37 and John 20:25-29.

Item: A nail or push pin

Egg Number 9

Message: They gave Jesus vinegar mixed with gall on a sponge to drink.

Passage: Matthew 27:34.

Item: A q-tip or small sponge

Egg Number 10

Message: Spices to prepare Jesus for burial.

Passage: John 19:40.

Item: a few whole cloves or other whole spices. (I used a tea bag)

Egg Number 11

Message: The stone covering Jesus' tomb was rolled away.

Passage: John 20:1.

Item: A small rock.

Egg Number 12

Message: The tomb is empty. He has risen!

Passage: Luke 24:6.

Item: Nothing

May LDS Primary Sharing Time Helps and Ideas

Image Courtesy Creative Commons License Flickr.com by themanfromutah June 2006

Monthly Theme: The Church of Jesus Christ Has Been Restored.
Monthly Scripture: “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! ”  Joseph Smith—History 1:17

Week 1 The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored.

* What does the dictionary define restored as? Ask a child to come and help you demonstrate. Give them a book or a toy. Now have them give it back and return it to you. Key words: "Give back and Return". Now have the child hold a picture of the earth. Have a sign that says "TRUTH". Have the child with the earth picture hold the truth sign, then you take it away. (Apostasy!!) Return the truth or restore it back.

* Have a large basket of rocks. On the rocks attach questions, songs, and scriptures having to do with Joseph Smith, the 6th Article of Faith and the Restoration. Try to have the children come up and choose rocks that get bigger in size.

"The restored gospel is the kingdom of God on earth, the stone cut out of the mountain without hands that would become a great mountain and fill the whole earth, as seen by Daniel (Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45). It is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which was organized 6 April 1830 in preparation for the Second Coming of the Savior." (Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manuel pg. 61)

* Have a few guests come to sharing time dressed up as ancient apostles who prophesied and foretold of the Restoration of the gospel in the dispensation of the fulness of times. (Such examples could include Isaiah 29:14, Peter Acts 3, Micah 4:2, Daniel 2:44, Paul Ephesians 1:10)

* "God knows the end from the beginning and is the author of the grand design of human history. He directed the affairs of history so that America was appropriately fertile soil for the seed of the restored gospel to be planted and tended by His chosen seer, Joseph Smith." (Church History in the Fulness of Times Student Manuel pg. 12)

Go through the events that led up to the Restoration backwards!!! God knows everything whether its the beginning or the end. Have a piece of tape from the back of the room to the front. Have envelopes evenly spaced on the side of the tape. Choose a child to start from the back of the room and walk backwards to the front, but they stop at an envelope. Have them open the envelope which has different events that led up to the Restoration. Of course have pictures also to correspond with the envelopes.

A timeline could include the following: (Again taken from the Church History in the Fulness of Times Student Manuel pg.1)
34-100 Apostles lead New Testament Church
60-70 Peter and Paul Martyred
1300-1500 European Renaissance (Exploration/Sailing, Religious Art, Martin Luther translates Bible into German making it easier for more people to read)
1438 Gutenberg refined movable type
1492 Columbus made first voyage to Americas
1620 Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth
1775 American Revolutionary War (Freedom of Worship!)
1789 American Constitution established
1790-1830 2nd Great Awakening (A religious revival in America that was big on missionary work!)
April 6, 1830 The Church is Restored!!

* Here is a roller box idea from the Friend.

Week 2 Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration.

* Joseph Smith and Restoration Jeopardy!!
Categories and ?'s :
He was  a child too!!
100 When Joseph was small (7 years old) he had to have surgery on this part of his body. He wouldn't drink alcohol to ease the pain and held his father's hand while enduring the hurt. His leg
200 What month was Joseph Smith born? December (right before Christmas, the 23rd!)
300 How many brothers and sisters did Joseph have? 10
400 What was the name of Joseph's mother? Lucy
500 True or False: Joseph had to work hard as a child on the family farm. True!

The Early Church
100 Sing the 6th Article of Faith Song
200 After the church was organized on April 6, a miracle happened! The Prophet Joseph met a man named Newel who was possessed of a devil. Acting on Newel's faith as well as his own, Joseph cast out the devil in this name? Jesus Christ
300 At the first conference of the church, the sustained leaders by doing what we do today. What do we do? We raise our right hand to the square in support.
400 Emma Smith, Joseph's wife was called "An Elect Lady" of the Lord. She was commanded to do something special and put together this book. A hint: It's often green! The first hymn book.
500 True or False: When Brigham Young was introduced to the church he immediately joined. False!! He studied and pondered the church for 2 years before joining.

Truth Restored!100 Read 2 Nephi 3:24
200 True or False: The church started in 1830. False!! The church started with Adam and was restored many times, including the last dispensation with Joseph Smith.
300 Sing the Priesthood is Restored (CS pg. 89)
400 Name a witness of the Book of Mormon. Answers can include the 8 witnesses from the beginning of the Book of Mormon, to prophets to even children who have a testimony it's true.
500 True or False: All truth has been revealed!! False: Much truth has been revealed, but there is a lot more that is yet to come!

Final Jeopardy Question: What is something you've learned about Joseph Smith or the Restoration?

* A good talk to read and personally study in preparation for this week's sharing time is Joseph Smith- Prophet of the Restoration by Tad Callister.

* Who was the greatest prophet sent to earth?  
"The scriptures record that throughout history, on occasions of exceptional importance, God the Father’s voice has been heard. On repeated occasions Jesus Christ has personally appeared to select individuals. Yet there is only one supernal, singular instance of which we have knowledge that God the Father Himself appeared in person. This was done with His precious Holy Son, Jesus Christ, to an audience of one. That one was young Joseph Smith Jr., an extraordinary spirit prepared before the foundation of the earth. He would become the greatest prophet sent to earth." Truth Restored, Richard G. Scott, October 2005 General Conference

* Divide into small groups. Give each group a story about Joseph Smith (a teacher can read it to them) and have them draw a picture to share with the primary along with a brief summary of the story.

* Here is an idea from the Friend with an early church for the children to make.

Week 3 The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.

* Click HERE for a Reader's Theater.

Week 4 The Priesthood has been restored.



* Here is an awesome sharing time from the Friend. You could easily attach questions, scriptures and songs about the priesthood to the puzzle pictures and have the children come to the front to answer and put together.

* Here is an awesome diorama idea from the Friend. You'd need lots of shoe boxes!! But it would be fun and memorable for the children!

* Here is a crossword puzzle about the priesthood. (Scroll past the bug search and find)

* Here is a sharing time on how the priesthood blesses our lives with a flannel board story.
* In my humble opinion, a lot of children don't understand what the priesthood is. Let every child draw a short fact about the priesthood from a brown paper bag. Have the room set up with 2 lines of chairs facing each other. Have younger children sit on one side and older children on the other. Each child may tell his/her fact to his/her partner and talk about it for 30 seconds. Then the younger children get up and move one chair to the right while the older ones stay seated. Repeat! Have pictures to go along with some of the facts. For senior sharing time, see if they can come up with their own facts to share about the priesthood! A good reference is HERE, Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual Chapter 25.

* Play musical chairs reverently. Have them in a circle with #'s taped to the back. It's actually more like a cake walk where you draw numbers and whoever is sitting on that number gets to answer a question or read a scripture about the priesthood.... don't take away chairs! Have them sing songs about the priesthood as they walk around the circle.

* Good scripture to know in case you're ever in the Bible belt and some "friend" wants to tell you there is absolutely no biblical scriptural fact to support the concept of the Melchizedek priesthood. Psalms 110:4, "The Lord has sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek" Am I in any way suggesting you argue back and be cantankerous? Absolutely not. I'm not even saying to stress the words FOR EVER, hence why I didn't use bold or italics on those extremely obvious words. A simple "Boo-Yah" will do.

Praise to the Man Song Helps (Verses 1 &3)

Image courtesy creative commons license flickr.com by origamidon June 2004

Hymns #27

Can we get any more difficult and harder words in a song? The following is a list from the song that are just plain big words. I'm not a pessimist in any way shape or form, but a little bit of reality does seep in now and again. Most 4 year olds are not going to remember the definitions to these words.

communed

seer

dispensation

extol

revere

ascended

traitors

tyrants

vain

mingling

conquer

So what's the solution?? Only the Big Man knows. Ask Him. Sometimes it's not necessarily the words, but the feeling you get when you sing. So ask the children what they feel when you all sing.

A couple thoughts:

*Get a giant beach ball. Invite a child to come to the front and every time there is a big word they hold up the ball. Children in the primary can also hold up a big pretend ball. Enunciate and stress and sing a little slower on the big words. Do you ever notice we mumble? Articulate and help the children with proper pronunciation.

* You can have the junior primary hum the tune while the older children sing.

* Challenge the children and offer a small reward to anyone who can recite or sing the words by memory. Perhaps the reward could be the choir director coming in and giving them a music note with the words, "Note-able Singing Leader" that can pin or stick to their clothes. If anyone forgets a word, look to the note-able leaders for help!

* The melody reminds me of a parade. Invite 3 children to hold up pictures of Joseph Smith and 3 children to hold streamers or something of sort and march around the room as everyone sings. Parades usually are to celebrate something and this song celebrates Joseph Smith!

* Sometimes hero's get a medal of honor. Make a giant medal on a piece of posterboard with Joseph Smith written on it. Invite children who are singing boldly to come up to the front and add a little decoration to the medal -whether it's coloring or stickers. Also, you can sing a phrase leaving out a word and whoever can sing that word gets to come up and decorate.

* There's something about the priesthood singing. Invite a young men's quorum (Perhaps the 14 year olds??)  in to sing this song and introduce it to the children. Joseph Smith was 14 when he received the First Vision. Invite any of the young men to share their testimonies about Joseph Smith or singing.

Tracing Paper FHE

Image courtesy Might Art Demos.

Topic: Jesus set the perfect example for me to follow.

Introduction Activity: Hold up the movie Peter Pan. What songs are in this movie? Sing Following the Leader, stress the words, "Wherever he may go..." It's a nice song, but it depends on the leader. A bad leader could take you somewhere not safe. Now sing the song, "Come Follow Me." Jesus is our perfect leader and will never lead us astray.

Activity: Take different black and white coloring images of the savior, just search the friend archives online. Next put a piece of tracing paper (You can get a pad with 30 sheets for $1.60 at Michael's with a 40% off coupon) over the image.

Talk about tracing and following the lines. You need to do it carefully, not scattered. Just like when we follow Christ, we need to be exact- read our scriptures daily, go to church often, pray always.... not randomly here and there. Would it be hard to trace with a black piece of construction paper? The gospel of Jesus Christ makes it easier and clearer for us to follow the Savior.

Take turns tracing the image as a family. Each person gets 10 seconds to trace and has to share a favorite story about the Savior or a way to follow Him.

Scripture: John 10:27 "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me."

End with Jesus is our perfect leader. He's NEVER going to lead us astray. He set the perfect example for us to follow. He is our shepherd who loves us. Bear testimonies.

It's that Time Again!!

Did you miss April 6th? Celebrating the day the church was organized? Don't feel bad, I missed it too! But tomorrow is close enough so I know what I'm doing for Family Home Evening!!

Click to see!!
http://sofiasprimaryideas.blogspot.com/2010/04/april-6th-restoration-party.html

Adapting Regular Teaching Ideas to Fit Gospel Teaching

Image courtesy The Mailbox.Com teaching site

This is an activity where children learning the different value and combinations of coins place real coins on the different sections of the umbrella.

How could we adapt this to teach different gospel principles? Let's challenge your brain because in all honesty watching Shedding for the Wedding isn't. (I am really entertained that there is a Wiki page for that)

My thoughts:

* At the top of each umbrella have the titles of different books of scriptures. Have the children write in the different sections of the umbrella the books within that book. (E.G. BOOK OF MORMON - 1 Nephi, 2 Nephi, Jacob, Enos... do you know your song??) There is safety from the storm in reading our scriptures.

* We have general conference in the spring.  At the top of each umbrella, have a picture of an apostle. Then have different facts about that apostle. Quiz each other and try to guess what apostle's umbrella you have.

* Scripture mastery as a family!! Make a giant umbrella on posterboard. At the top put what book you'll focus on. Then divide it into sections and list the different scripture mastery scripture references as well as a short summary of the scripture. Have children draw a picture next to it. (E.G. BOOK OF MORMON- Alma 37:35 Learn Wisdom in Thy Youth, then lil' Mo draws a picture of a child reading the Bible)

* Have a topic on each umbrella. Use the topical guide to find different references, then share. Or family members can just share a story from the scriptures that relates. Write down each family member's thoughts on the different sections of the umbrella. I would use umbrellas with words that relate to umbrellas, like safety, shelter, protect, wind, storm, sanctuary, rain, water...

A thought from Primary 4 Manuel:

"Show the children an umbrella (or pretend to have an umbrella) and a Book of Mormon. Ask how the two items might be similar. Help the children understand that an umbrella will not protect us from rain unless we open it and stand under it. Similarly, the Book of Mormon cannot increase our faith in Jesus Christ until we open it, prayerfully study it, and live its teachings."

A thought from General Conference 1999:

"The word righteousness is a most interesting and unique word. It is an umbrella word that spreads out and covers all the attributes of God. A person, then, who is righteous is Godly or Godlike." William R. Bradford
So then, under the umbrella write all the words that are attributes of God.

An umbrella is something to be creative with... it even says so in the friend HERE!!

Just take 2 minutes... see what you can think of. Our minds are meant to be used.

"But I'm not creative" you might say.

Get over it.

Try.

I am a tiger mother blogger who won't let you have any water or food until you come up with an idea.

Ok. I'm sorry. I will give you water.

And crackers.

I guess I'm not as tiger as I thought.

How can you use paper umbrellas to teach gospel principles?

There's no right or wrong answer!!

Feel free to share in comments.