Help from the Friend – March 2010

The following are a few of the ways you could use this month's Friend in your primary:

 
Op/Cl Exercises, Message from the Presidency
     "A Lesson in Reverence", p 2-3

Music – Idea for teaching the song, Follow the Prophet, CS, 110-11
     "Follow the Prophet", p 24-25

Activity Days for Girls, Teaching, Activity Days for all Children
    "Scripture Marking", p 12
     "Scripture Cookies", p 13
     "Decorating Scripture Pencils", p 13 

Activity Days for Girls, Scouting 
     "Sharing Time: God Speaks through Prophets", p 40 (remember that the learning activity for Sunday Sharing Time comes from the 2010 Outline for Sharing Time and this page is a supplement for the children). 

Activity Days for Girls, Scouting – Gathering Activity
     "An Eternal Truth", p 17

Preparing 11-year-olds * Visits

During the year you may have girls and boys who will have their twelfth birthday.  The primary president helps coordinate the preparation and transition of these children into Young Women and the Aaronic Priesthood.  Twelve year-olds will continue to attend the classes in primary, but will not attend sharing time or op/closing exercise.  One of the preparation activities is a visit from the presidency of the Beehive presidency (or member of the Young Women presidency) or the Deacon’s Quorum presidency.  Below are resources for these visits:

Faith in God for Girls guidebook:   “Preparing for Young Women,”  p12

•Talk with the Beehive class presidency or a member of the Young Women presidency about the purpose and importance of the Young Women program.

Faith in God for Boys guidebook:  “Preparing for the Priesthood,”  p12

• Talk with the deacons quorum presidency about the role of the deacons quorum.

Aaronic Priesthood Manual 2, from “To the Adviser” section (the same information is in each of the Aaronic Priesthood manuals): 

Deacons Presidency Visits to Primary Class

The deacons quorum presidency has a responsibility to prepare other young men to receive the priesthood. Encourage the presidency to make a few short presentations to the Primary class these younger boys attend. These presentations should have a threefold purpose:

1.       To give the deacons quorum presidency the experience of instructing younger boys.

2.       To help younger boys who are preparing to receive the priesthood realize the duties and blessings of the Aaronic Priesthood. The quorum presidency should also emphasize the joy and satisfaction that come through service and the importance of being a good example.

3.       To help the younger boys realize that they will be welcome in the quorum.

The presidency might give presentations similar to the two suggested below:

A Deacon Serves Others

The deacons quorum presidency might prepare a twenty-minute presentation that explains how deacons serve others by performing their priesthood duties and share the joy and satisfaction that come through this service. The quorum presidency could explain how passing the sacrament and gathering fast offerings blesses the lives of ward members; they could also report on specific service projects.

Be an Example

The deacons quorum presidency might prepare a twenty-minute presentation about the importance of being a good example as a priesthood bearer who represents Jesus Christ. The quorum presidency could explain the importance of setting a good example in dress and conduct, particularly when passing the sacrament and gathering fast offerings.

You and the deacons quorum presidency should meet with the Primary teacher to plan the presentations before the presidency gives them. Visits to Primary classes should be coordinated with the Primary president.

The visit from the Beehive presidency or member of the Young Women presidency could follow a similar format.

Safeguarding Children and Youth

In a letter from the First Presidency, dated February 23, 2006, we were reminded of our responsibility to protect children. "Our Heavenly Father has entrusted parents, leaders, and teachers to care for and protect the children and youth of the Church". Included in this letter are church policies to help "teach, care for, and protect" them. http://www.lds.org/pa/ym/SafeguardingChildrenLtr.pdf

One of the policies states, "All adult leaders participating in Scouting are to be registered through local Boy Scout Councils (see Church Scouting Handbook, 4-5) and comply with guidelines in the Guide to Safe Scouting.

President Boyd K. Packard said, "Never allow a Scout leader to function in any position in a (Scout) unit sponsored by the Church in the United States until he has been registered with the Boy Scouts of America." (from a letter to Stake Presidents, January 2, 1997) http://www.ldsbsa.org/pdf/resources/SCOUT%20LEADER%20REGISTRATION%20and%20CHURCH%20POLICY.pdf

The following are BSA guidelines for Youth Protection and Safety. The highlighted words help focus on our responsibilities:

• "The adult application requests background information that should be checked by the unit committee or the chartered organization before accepting an applicant for unit leadership. To provide the safest possible experience for our members, a criminal background check is conducted on all new adult volunteers. The information required to conduct the check is taken from the adult application". http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/46-221.pdf
  
• "All volunteers are expected to complete Youth Protection training. It is available online on the website www.scouting.org . . . you are expected to complete the training within 90 days of assuming a leadership position". (Boy Scouts of America Adult Application, cover page)
  
• Youth Protection Training must be renewed every two years. (Training Certificate from completing online course.)
  
• How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide" is a tear-out booklet bound in with BSA youth books. It is designed for parents or guardians and young people to use together for youth protection training.
  
• The BSA has bilingual, age-appropriate videos for all youth age groups to address the problems of sexual abuse.
  • It Happened to Me/A Mí Me Pasó (No. AV-09DVD11) should be used annually by Cub Scout packs or dens, but only for Cub Scouts accompanied by a parent or other adult family member.
    
  • The video for Boy Scouts, A Time to Tell/Hora de Contarlo (No. AV-09DVD04), introduces the "three R's" of Youth Protection, and should be viewed by troops annually.
    
  • Personal Safety Awareness/Concientización Sobre la Seguridad Personal (No. AV-09DVD27) is the video for Venturing-age young people. http://scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/toc.aspx
    
• In addition to Youth Protection, the Guide to Safe Scouting is the leader's guide to current policies and procedures. The purpose of the Guide to Safe Scouting is to prepare adult leaders to conduct Scouting activities in a safe and prudent manner. The policies and guidelines have been established because of the real need to protect members from known hazards that have been identified through 90-plus years of experience. Limitations on certain activities should not be viewed as stumbling blocks; rather, policies and guidelines are best described as stepping-stones toward safe and enjoyable adventures. The online version is available at http://scouting.org/scoutsource/HealthandSafety/GSS/toc.aspx

Help from the Friend - February 2010

The following are a few ideas of how this month's Friend can be used in Primary:

Activity Days for Girls and Scouting
    "A Banner of Faithfulness" p 2-3
    "Bulletin Board" p 12
    "Funstuff: Seeking Service", p 26
    "Cease From Anger", p 28 - relate to My Gospel Standards

Lesson Supplement - "Heavenly Father and Jehovah Created the World", p 14-15
    Behold Your Little Ones, Lesson 7
    Primary 1: I Am a Child of God, Lessons 8-14
    Primary 6: The Old Testament, Lesson 3

Lesson Supplement - "For Little Friends: Tithing the Best Choice", p 32-35 - especially helpful for adapting lesson for younger children on tithing.
    Primary 2: Choose the Right A, Lesson 33

Cub Scouts
    "The Best", p 20-21 (relate to the Cub Scout motto, "Do Your Best")

Activity Days for all Children
    "Secret Servers to the Rescue", p 22

"Sharing Time: Jesus Christ Is My Savior and Redeemer"

Remember that this resource is for the children to use on their own or in an Activity Day NOT during Sharing Time on Sunday. Follow the lessons provided in 2010 Outline for Sharing Time: I Know My Savior Lives for the Gospel Instruction portion of Sharing Time.