April 2009 Sharing Time
Week 4: By following Jesus Christ, we will be able to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus again.
References: D&C 59:23; Articles of Faith 1:3
This sharing time will be a game and is a musical sharing time. If it’s used as a class presentation, the class can help to come up with questions, decorate the question cards, or run the game themselves.
At one end of the area, place a picture of the First Vision and one showing the resurrected Christ or a picture of heaven from one of the lesson packets. This is the end point, so be sure the children can see it. At the other end, choose a picture that represents earth life—the earth picture, or a picture of children playing. This is the starting point.
On the floor, tape squares of paper, equaling the number of questions and songs included in the game. The first child will sit by the earth picture. The last one will sit by the picture of Jesus, so spread them out accordingly.
Singing Time: Sing Armies of Helaman
Sharing Time: Ask the children to tell you how to get to a location very far away. For instance, if you live in New York, you might ask how to get to Disneyland. When children don’t know the exact directions, ask them how they could find out how to get there. Show a map and explain a map tells us how to get somewhere safe. (A GPS will work as well, if you have tech-savvy kids.)
Tell them we are all trying to get back to Heavenly Father. Would this map tell us how to get to Heaven? This kind of map isn’t helpful, but there are roadmaps to return to Heavenly Father. Show the children a box and tell them some of the maps you need to find Heavenly Father are in this box. Invite children to come up, choose an item, and explain how it can help. Items might include scriptures, a picture of the current prophet, a picture of a family, a picture of a Primary class, and a child praying.
Singing: Teach Me to Walk in the Light of His Love
Sharing Time: Begin the Game. After each question, there will be a song related to the question. To play the game, have the questions scattered around the room. Invite a child to find one clue and bring it to you. Read the question and let him answer it. He can ask for help if he needs it. If the correct answer is given (even if it takes a few tries) have the child sit on the floor on the next open square. Then choose a child to help lead the song. If the children sing in a spiritual, respectful way, that child takes the next square.
Prior to the first song, tell the children that Primary songs are sacred hymns. Ask them what sacred means. Tell them a Primary song, other than wiggle songs, are like testimonies. When children sing a Primary song, their voices go right to Heavenly Father, who can hear them. Would they ever yell at Heavenly Father? Would they talk to Him in a silly voice? Is it possible to sing loud enough to be heard without yelling? Ask them to sing in their most beautiful, spiritual voices, so Heavenly Father will be pleased. Tell them this isn’t a contest, but only beautifully sung songs count for the game.
Introduce the game by explaining that every day we take a test. If we pass the test, we can return to Heavenly Father. We pass the test when we follow Jesus Christ and keep the commandments.
If you need to make this longer, put all the songs on cards and post them. Let the children try to find a song to match the question.
Questions and Songs: (Add more or choose fewer depending on time or size of Primary.)
- A child at school can’t hear and uses sign language. Sometimes when she talks, her voice is hard to understand and some children tease her. What should I do when I hear her being teased? (If you have a child in this situation, choose a different disability.)
Song: I’ll Walk With You (140)
2. The new boy at school doesn’t have any friends. At lunch time, I see him sitting alone. What can I do?
Song: Kindness Begins With Me (145b)
3. Sometimes I get so busy I don’t have time to pray. Does it really matter if I pray every day?
Song: Let Us Gather in a Circle
4. I love the prophet, but some of the things he says I should do are too hard. I think I’m too young to follow the prophet all the time, don’t you?
Song: Follow the Prophet
5. Sometimes when I’m thinking about doing something wrong, I feel something in my heart saying not to do it. Is that just my imagination?
Song: The Holy Ghost
6. All my friends say bad words. Sometimes, because I hear them a lot, those words come into my mind. What should I do?
Song: Hum a Little Hymn
7. I really like telling people about the church. I can’t wait to go on a mission. What can I do right now to get ready?
Song: I Hope They Call Me on a Mission
8. When I’m feeling sad or tired or bored, I like to remember my favorite Book of Mormon stories. What is your favorite?
Song: Book of Mormon Stories
9. When I go to my friend’s house, they always offer me tea. Will it hurt if I break the Word of Wisdom just one time? Why?
Song: The Lord Gave Me a Temple
10. The gospel is just hard sometimes. My Primary teacher says when it seems hard or I’m scared to try, I should look in the scriptures for a hero who chose the right even when it’s hard. Can you suggest someone I could read about?
Song: Nephi’s Courage
