Heavenly Father loves me and has a plan for me
Scriptures: Alma 12:30, Abraham 2:11, 3:22-27
Note: The bulk of this sharing time is given to the chorister in order to teach the month’s song.
Chorister: Teach First verse of I Lived in Heaven. Make sure the children understand the meaning of this verse. To teach the song, you may want to have children do the following:
First line: Child holds Premortal life picture
Second line: Two children who are good friends stand arm in arm
Third: Child holds picture of Savior or perhaps of the First Vision.
Fourth: Child holds picture of earth. (GAK 600, The World)
Sharing Time Teacher:
Use the chart found in this article: Linda Christensen, “My Life Is a Gift; My Life Has a Plan,” Friend, Jan 2008, 16–18 (Sharing Time)
Make each part as a separate sign. Then invite children to put the steps in order. Leave out the three degrees of glory. To get the signs in order, hand each of the signs to children to hold. Then call up a child to find the sign that should be first and put it in the correct position in the line. Continue until all the signs are in order. Thank the children and help them place them in the correct order wherever you plan to display them during the Sharing Time.
Ask the children to tell you about the first step in the plan, which is premortal life. You’ll cover this next week, so don’t spend much time on it. Refer them back to the verse of the song they just learned for ideas. There is a picture in many of the Primary packets of premortal life. You may want to show one of them at this time, placing it under the timeline of the plan.
Now ask them to tell you about the second part of the plan. Add a picture of a family to the second part of the timeline. This is birth. Who did they come to when they came to earth? They came to a family. (If some children don’t live with birth parents, you can explain that every child comes to a family, but sometimes children then go to a different family that will take care of them. What is important is that someone is looking after them while they grow up.)
Focus on the third part a bit longer. This is earth life. Place a picture of the earth next in line. The first picture in the Sunbeam packet is of the earth and there is one in the gospel art kit. Ask children to tell you what is different about life on earth and life in the premortal life.
Remind children they didn’t have a body in the premortal life and they do here.
Introduce this simple game:
Show pictures of, or tell things that children could do. If it could only be done in the premortal life, stand up. If it could only be done on earth, sit down. If it could be done in both places, put your hands on your head.
Sample items might be:
Learn about Heavenly Father.
Go swimming.
Have dinner.
Make friends.
Go and talk to Heavenly Father in person.
Get a haircut.
You might want the children to do some things that would be appropriate for Sunday and won’t get them overly excited that show what their bodies can do, such as clapping in rhythm.
Chorister: Teach second verse of song.
Sharing Time Continues:
Briefly cover the last two items on the timeline, adding pictures as they’re mentioned. Refer back to the verse the children just learned. Ask them who the person was who wanted to help us get back to Heavenly Father. It was Jesus. Put Jesus’ picture atop the other two timelines.
Why do you think Heavenly Father made such a wonderful plan for us? Why do you think Jesus wanted to come to earth to help us? (Love.)
The whole plan is all about love. Heavenly Father and Jesus love us so much they want us to be very happy, and to be just like them. Every day we can look around and find things that prove how much Heavenly Father and Jesus love us. Ask the children to name some of those things. If your Primary is small enough and you have time, you can ask each child to stand as he names something. When everyone is standing, point out how many blessings you thought of.
Chorister: Teach third verse.
Sharing Time Concludes:
Give each child a paper heart. Invite children to draw a picture of something that shows them how much Heavenly Father and Jesus love them. You may want to display these around the room this month.
Additional Resources:
Robert D. Hales, “Friend to Friend: I Am a Child of God,” Friend, Mar 1978, 7
Karen Lofgreen, “Sharing Time: Heavenly Father’s Plan,” Friend, Apr 1995, 36
Vicki F. Matsumori, “Sharing Time: I Know God’s Plan,” Friend, Jun 2003, 33
Other Songs that mention premortal life:
Faith,”96–97 (Second verse)
I Will Follow God’s Plan,” Children’s Songbook, 164–65
Continue to Week 2, I Lived With Heavenly Father