Welcome to Primary Cards

For those of you who want an easy way welcome your new kids to primary and get their information, here are some cards you can use. Attach to a treat or just hand them out as is.

Access the pdf file here or download by clicking and saving each picture below.

Helping your children Gain a Healthy Self Worth

Growing up...especially going through school I noticed a number of different types of people. (Especially in school...we love to put people in categories). You had the druggies, the cowboys, the goody good kids, the good but cool kids, the popular kids...and on and on. There was a group or a stereotype for everyone. If we fell into a category that we liked or that meant others liked us...yay. I guess that means we are one of he lucky ones. Though many would assume we all want to be popular, there was one type of person that I truly admired in high school... and it wasn't cause they were "popular". It was the kids that actually provided one of the best and most genuine services I think you can at that age...(an into adulthood). It was those kids who had what I would call true self worth and confidence.
Let me just describe how this person would act. This person is kind and outreaching. They aren't shy or insecure...to make them kind. They aren't kind so you'll vote them prom queen. No...these people are kind when it isn't popular...and when it is. They are genuine and mature. I think they come across as so put together because they know who they are regardless of the labels people give them. They act friendly and nice because they base their self worth off of their savoir and heavenly father. In a world where labels are constantly being thrown every which way and there is no shortage of judgement, it is extremely refreshing to see someone who doesn't care what others think and can maintain their confidence because it comes from a knowledge that they of extreme worth in the eyes of our Heavenly Father and that they are doing what he would have them do.
These people are consistent in their character and moral. They may reject what is popular to do what is right. And though it may seem like an oxymoron, even in high school, it seems to me that these people are very well liked. Of course they are well liked...they make you feel good about yourself when you are around them...because someone who is truly confident in themselves knows they are of worth and so are you. It is easy for them to make others feel good, because they don't have to put others down to build themselves up. They get their confidence from another source. They don't have to talk bad about the popular kids, because they get their confidence from another source. They can freely admit that someone else has done something good and wonderful because they know that someone else's achievements don't diminish their own self worth.
    I was not this person in high school. Not really even in college. I was super shy and worried too much about what other people thought of me. Even as an adult I worry about this too much. How does an adult gain a relationship with our savoir to outweigh and overcome the world...and then how do we teach our children this invaluable lesson?

One of the first things we need to do to gain this confidence is gaining a personal relationship with our Father in heaven.

"President Thomas S. Monson has taught: “Your Heavenly Father loves you—each of you. That love never changes. It is not influenced by your appearance, by your possessions, or by the amount of money you have in your bank account. It is not changed by your talents and abilities. … God’s love is there for you whether or not you feel you deserve love. It is simply always there” (“We Never Walk Alone,” Ensign, Nov. 2013, 123–24)."

May I add it is not changed by what judgments others may pass upon...whether that comes from your peers, your teacher, parent, boss, or anyone else.

Another quote from this article states:
Following the Lord’s ways allows you to receive eternal blessings and to have the Holy Ghost with you, which can help you feel good about yourself more deeply and consistently than anything the world has to offer.

Another thing we can do is to be grateful for the blessing we have. 

Elder Quentin L Cook sayid
“Comparing blessings is almost certain to drive out joy,” says Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “We cannot be grateful and envious at the same time. If we truly want to have the Spirit of the Lord and experience joy and happiness, we should rejoice in our blessings and be grateful” (“Rejoice!”Ensign, Nov. 1996, 30).

Serving others...and focusing on their needs also brings about true self-worth
Here's another amazing quote from this talk:
Those who truly love themselves don’t rely on others’ attention and praise. They’re comfortable enough with their own worth that they can have good relationships with others and are able to serve them without ulterior motives. 

This article is also amazing: How to we define who we are?

So how as parents do we instill this self worth in our children.

From the February 2006 ensign it states
"It is important for parents (and leaders and teachers) to understand the powerful impact praise, acceptance, and encouragement have on a child’s sense of individual worth and confidence. Likewise, we need to be aware of how ridicule, rejection, and continual criticism can create personal doubt. Equally important, Latter-day Saint parents need to recognize how feeling Heavenly Father’s love, sensing the comfort and spiritual guidance that come with the Holy Ghost’s companionship, and gaining a personal testimony enhance a child’s sense of worth, personal confidence, and self-respect."

in this same talk it discusses a study that was done on high school students and the relationship between religious convictions and actions. 
They conclude that two things parents can do to benefit their children's self worth are "(1) strengthen the spiritual environment of the home, and (2) maintain a strong, loving relationship with each child."

The talk continues to explain how we can maintain a strong relationship with each child. I would highly recommend you read it. Helping children develop feelings of self worth.

Other great talks on this topic are:
We are children of God
Our true identity

So what does all this mean to me. I think what it means is in high school and in college I was recognizing the characteristics of someone who has a deep relationship with their Father in Heaven. I want to be able to foster the type of environment that allows my children to draw closer to their father in heaven so that they can make better decisions in life.

June 2014 Sharing Time Week 4

Week 4: Family history work connects me to my ancestors.

Encourage understanding (singing a song and listening to a story): 

Tell the following story. Whenever you say "sing" or "singing", ask everyone to sing "Family History-I Am Doing It."(Cs, 94). Begin by singing just the first sentence, and add an additional sentence each time. 

One family loves music and singing. From their family history they learned that their ancestors, Mary Jones and her parents, also loved music and singing. The jones family also loved the Church. They were baptized in the counrty of wales and decided to move to Utah. Both Mary's parents died during the journey, and although she waas a little girl, Mary continued walking across the plains, carrying a wooden box filled with Church hymns her father had written. Mary later taught her children to love singing. today her great-great-great- grandchildren love to sing. Those children have connected with Mary and know that she passed down to them her love for the Church and for singing."

Encourage application (coloring): 

Give each child two pieces of paper, one labeled "Me" and the other labeled "My ancestor." Ask them to draw a picture of themselves on the paper labeled "Me." Then invite them to ask their parents at home to tell them about one of their ancestors so they can draw a picture of that ancestor on the other paper

_______________________________________________________________________________

Ideas

• Read one of these books; Who do you think you are? or Me and my family tree
• Here is a Free Family History notebook printables from notebooking nook.
• Show the kids your own Family History book or Journals. Maybe share a story of one of your ancestors.
• Play Family History ABC'S from the friend 
• Play Grandmas trunk game from the May 2006 friend
• Share this story from the July 2004 friend comparing preserving jam and temple sealings
• I also loved this idea from sugardoodle about chocolate object lesson.

Link idea

•  Cut up some paper strips with ways family history connects us with our ancestors. Have a child come pick one and explain what it means or how it helps us "become linked" with our ancestors. As you discuss each paper use them to form a paper link chain from a picture of us to a picture of our ancestors. Have the children fill out info about themselves and their ancestors and form their own paper link chain. 

Printables

Paper Link Chain Printables (includes word strips to form paper link chain, Picture of a family representing us or find one here, sheet for their own chain. Also Coloring sheet for them to draw a picture of them and then one to take home and learn about ancestor as described in original lesson plan.)

For ancestor pictures look here or here or here or use one of your own photos.

To download png files just click and save pictures...or download the pdf file here.

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June 2014 Sharing Time Week 3

Week 3: I can prepare now to be worthy to enter the temple.

Identify the doctrine (singing a song): Ask the children to listen for what their sacred duty is as they sing the first verse of “I Love to See the Temple” (CS, 95). Tell the children that they can prepare now to enter the temple when they are older.

Encourage understanding (discussing worthiness): Show a picture of a temple. Explain that because the temple is a holy place, only those who are worthy can enter. Tell the children that living the standards in For the Strength of Youth will prepare us to be worthy. Write some of the standards on separate wordstrips. Divide the children into groups, and give each group a wordstrip. Have each group stand and explain how living that standard will prepare them to be worthy to enter the temple.

Encourage application (playing a game): On separate pieces of paper, draw pictures of a mouth, eyes, ears, hands, and feet (sample drawings are available here). While the pianist plays “I Love to See the Temple,” have the children pass around the drawings. When the music stops, ask the children holding the pictures to tell one thing they can do with that body part to prepare to go to the temple (for example, they can pray, speak kindly, and tell the truth with their mouths). Repeat as time allows.

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Idea: I wanted to keep it pretty simple this week but still be able to demonstrate what we need to know. So basically follow the outline except for: After the children explain how living the standard helps them prepare to be worthy to enter the temple have them come place the word strip on the board creating a staircase to the temple. I would outline the staircase before hand with marker so they or you can easily just place the word strips where they go.  There are 20 total. 18 if you choose not to include sexual purity and dating.

Note: I included "Dating" and "Sexual Purity" on the word strips because they were categories in "The for Strength of Youth".  You may or may not want to include them in your lesson.

Preparation:  Print off Temple and word strip printables below. Cut up word strips. Print off eyes, ears, hands, and feet printables here, Cut up. 
In Primary draw stairs on the board leading up to where you will place the picture of the temple.

Printables
Download the pdf file here
Temple and For Strength of youth pdf file

You can also click and save each picture below to download.

Photo Courtesy of Muchmore Photography

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Father's Day Quotes

Father's Day is coming up. In our house we like to keep it pretty simple...but here are some cute sayings I couldn't help but make. They are 8x10. You can download them by either clicking each picture and save as or by downloading the pdf file here:

Father's Day Printable Quotes

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June 2014 Visiting Teaching Printables

June's VT printables are here.  If you would like to read the visiting teaching message you can find it here: The Divine Mission of Jesus Christ: Minister. You can download 2 quotes from the message. Including the basic vt message and "From our History". To download click the picture, then save as. These are designed to be 5x7.

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I love to see the temple Flip Chart

I Love to see the temple Flip Chart. I think these make learning songs so much easier. 

I have all the slides below. If you would like to download the image file you can do so by clicking each picture and save as...or download the pdf by clicking here. 

I Love to see the Temple

Words and music by Janice Kapp Perry
Children's songbook pg. 95

All pictures used are either created by me, clipart, or directly from lds.org

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Sharing Time June 2014 Week 2

Sharing Time June 2014 Week 2

IDENTIFY THE DOCTRINE (singing a song): Show the children a picture of the temple nearest where you live. Invite them to sing the first verse of “I Love to See the Temple” (CS, 95). Point out the phrase “I’m going there someday,” and ask the children to listen for why Church members go to the temple as you sing together the second verse of the song. Discuss their answers and emphasize that temple ordinances make it possible for families to be together forever.

ENCOURAGE APPLICATION (drawing a picture): Give each child a piece of paper with a simple drawing of a temple on it (click here for temple drawing). Invite the children to draw their family members holding hands near the temple. Encourage them to share their pictures with their families at home.

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Ideas

Idea 1:

Use a flip chart (printables provided below) to go through the words of "I love to see the temple" Help the children identify how the song teaches us families can be together forever

IDENTIFY THE DOCTRINE (singing a song): Show the children a picture of the temple nearest where you live. Invite them to sing the first verse of “I Love to See the Temple” (CS, 95). 

Point out the phrase “I’m going there someday,” and ask the children to listen for why Church members go to the temple as you sing together the song. 

Show them each line on the flipchart as you discuss that portion of the song. Talk about each portion of the song specifically the following.

• To feel the holy spirit to listen and to pray:  
• ask them what this line tells us about the temple. (perhaps that we must be reverent so we can be close to our father in heaven)
• I'll covenant with my father, I"ll promise to obey:
• Ask the children what a covenant is. (explain that a handshake represents a covenant because it is a symbol that we agree to do something)
• Ask the children what we are promising... (to obey heavenly fathers commandments)
• For the temple is a holy place, where we are sealed together:
• Ask the children what being sealed together means or how we are sealed. (explain that because we are sealed through priesthood authority and this binds us together for eternity... perhaps compare sealing to a lock or the binding on a book that holds the pages together.)
• As a child of god, I've learned this truth, a family is forever:
• Ask the children what truth we've learned. (finish up by explaining that because we are sealed in the temple our families are forever.)

ENCOURAGE APPLICATION (drawing a picture): Give each child a piece of paper with a simple drawing of a temple on it (click here for temple drawing). Invite the children to draw their family members holding hands near the temple. Encourage them to share their pictures with their families at home.

Idea 2

Hide puzzle pieces  of a temple around the room. Have the children find the pieces. One by one have the children bring the pieces to the front and read a way the temple helps our family be eternal. (Printables below)

preparation: print off puzzle printable and write clues on the back of each piece. (clues below) Hide around the primary room. Print off coloring sheet. (also can print off the flipchart if your kids don't "I love to see the temple)

IDENTIFY THE DOCTRINE: Begin by either having the children look under their chairs for a paper or by choosing a child one at a time to look around the room and find a puzzle piece.  Have them come up to the front of the room and read what is on the back of the puzzle piece. (the following is what is on the back)

• I go here to feel the holy spirit
• I go here to Listen to my Heavenly Father
• I go here to pray
• This is the house of God
• This is a place of love and beauty
• I need to prepare my self while I'm young to enter here.
• I will one day make covenants with my father here
• This is a very holy place
• In this place we are sealed together
• Because we have these our families can be forever

As they bring up each puzzle piece discuss what they each mean. Once the puzzle is finished explain how each statement relates to the temple and forever families.

Invite them to sing the first verse of “I Love to See the Temple” (CS, 95). Point out the phrase “I’m going there someday,” and ask the children to listen for why Church members go to the temple as you sing together the second verse of the song. Discuss their answers and emphasize that temple ordinances make it possible for families to be together forever.

ENCOURAGE APPLICATION (drawing a picture): Give each child a piece of paper with a simple drawing of a temple on it (click here for temple drawing). Invite the children to draw their family members holding hands near the temple. Encourage them to share their pictures with their families at home.

Printables

To download pdfs click below:

Temple puzzle

I love to see the temple flipchart

Coloring sheet

If you would like the png file just click the pictures, right click, save as.

*pictures come from lds.org media library

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