New Testament Stories

The 2011 manual for the children ages 8-11 (Valiant 8, 9, 10, and 11) is Primary 7: New Testament.  One of the resources available to teachers of these classes is New Testament Stories.  This book is available from the church distribution center.  The stories are illustrated and the narrative is written especially for children.  Beginning readers can easily read and understand these scripture stories.  Additionally, this book can be viewed or downloaded at New Testament Stories.  The book is available in pdf, MP3 or several video formats where the pictures in each chapter have been animated and the narrative read.  These approved presentations of the scriptures help children understand the story without adding additional information not found in the scriptures. 

Helping children learn and apply scriptures is one of our goals in Primary.   There is a radio program, “Scripture Stories.” that is broadcast each week on the Mormon Channel that highlights music, discussion and reading from New Testament Stories.  Listening to some of these archived programs can improve you own ability to guide children through the process of making scriptures part of what is happening in their own lives.

We can use this wonderful resource of New Testament Stories, in its many presentation formats, to help children “feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do” (2 Nephi 32:3).

Tell Me the Stories of Jesus

In the April 2010 General Conference, Elder Neil L. Andersen spoke of the importance of children hearing the stories of Jesus to build their personal testimonies. (Tell Me the Stories of Jesus)  He said:

“The stories of Jesus can be like a rushing wind across the embers of faith in the hearts of our children. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  The stories of Jesus shared over and over bring faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and strength to the foundation of testimony. Can you think of a more valuable gift for our children?

Are the life and teachings of Jesus Christ embedded in the minds and souls of our children? Do they think about the Savior’s life when they wonder what to do in their own lives? This will be more and more important in the years ahead”.

He included this promise:

“As you reverently speak about the Savior . . . the Spirit of the Lord will accompany your words.

As you do your best, the testimony of Jesus will gently distill upon your children’s hearts. They will go to their Heavenly Father in humble prayer and feel His influence through the power of the Holy Ghost. A stronger personal faith in Jesus Christ will prepare them for the challenges they will most surely face”.

We have the opportunity to share the stories of Jesus in every aspect of Primary; nursery, Sunday classes, sharing time, music, closing exercises, Activity Days for Girls, Cub Scouts, patrol of 11-year-old Boy Scouts, and Activity Days for All Children.  As we faithfully endeavor to bear witness of the Savior by telling the children stories about Him, they will be strengthened for a lifetime.

Using the Scriptures in Primary - "Look For"

A teaching tip on the June page of the 2010 Outline for Sharing Time, p 12, states, "It is important for children to learn gospel truths from the scriptures. Help the children focus and listen when scriptures are read.

Even young children can listen for a specific word or two as you read a verse".  More information on this teaching technique can be found in Teaching No Greater Call, p 55.  The section is "Teaching From the Scriptures: Use "Look for" and "Listen for" Approaches".  Having children focused on a specific idea as a scripture is read involves both the reader and the listener.  Before a scripture is read, ask the children to "Look for" or "Listen for" an answer to a question.  Younger children may be directed to listen for factual details while older children can look for conceptual or application connections.  

This "Look for" method of teaching from the scriptures can be used throughout Primary; during classes, sharing time gospel instruction, and sharing time music.  Engaging the students in the scriptures by asking "Look for" and "Listen for" questions will not only improve learning, but also teach children a life-long skill of looking for answers as they read the scriptures.  

One more scripture use tip:  Children, and many adults, have difficulty finding a scripture when only given the standard reference such as Deuteronomy 6:6-7.  Give enough information to make finding the scripture easy, especially the page number.  Example giving specific information and waiting until everyone is ready before the next direction is given:  

• Let's get the Bible and look in the Old Testament.  That is in the first part of the book. 
• Now let's look in Deuteronomy, chapter 6.  That is on page 263.  
• While you read verse 6 look for what should be in your heart.  . . .(discuss answer) 
• Now, turn the page and read verse 7 looking for who we should share this with. (Just in case you want to do it even easier while you are reading this post go to http://scriptures.lds.org/en/deut/6).  

With four standard works containing 87 books plus sections, chapters, declarations, introductions, title pages, study helps, etc. it is no wonder we feel fear when we hear the words, "Let's turn in the scriptures to . . . . ."

"Inviting children to learn from the scriptures will help them develop a lifelong love for the word of God.  Plan ways each week to invite the children to use and learn from their scriptures"  2010 Outline for Sharing Time, Introduction.

Improving Opening/Closing Exercises

With Sacrament meeting first, the last 20 minutes of Primary should follow the agenda in the Primary Handbook, p 234, using the suggested order for closing exercises:

• Prelude music
  
• Quiet song
  
• Message by a member of the bishopric/branch presidency (as often as possible)
  
• Song
  
• Talks by children
  
• Song or two (as time allows)
  
• Summary message by a member of the primary presidency
  
• Scripture by one of the children (child's choice)
  
• Prayer song
  
• Closing prayer
  
• Postlude music 

This time should be structured with the messages and music contributing to a quiet listening time.

Closing exercises also provide an opportunity for the children to learn how to prepare and give talks. The following articles from the Ensign and Friend can give you ideas for helping children and their parents prepare and give more meaningful talks. The information in these articles could be used to plan:

    Activity for all children

    Activity Day for Girls and Scouting activities

    5^th Sunday lesson for parents and adults

    Relief Society mid-week class

    Simple instructions to be included in assignment reminders

    or another forum coordinated by the Primary presidency and/or ward council

Shirley M. Call, "Helping Children Learn to Give Talks," Ensign, Mar 1999, 44

Clarissa Whitney, "I Have a Question," Ensign, Mar. 1978, 20–22

Judy C. Olsen, "Speaking from the Heart," Ensign, Dec. 1984, 65

Vicki F. Matsumori, "Sharing Time: 'The Field Is White Already to Harvest'," Friend, Sep 2002, 28, Station C

"Family Home Evenings That Work: Learning to Give Talks," Ensign, Feb 2002, 21–25

Pat Graham, "Sharing Time: How to Prepare a Talk," Friend, Jul 1986, 36

 

These are the basic steps for children (and adults) to prepare talks, just remember I EAT:

    Introduce the gospel principle you will talk about.

    Explain the principle by using a scripture or scripture story.

    Apply the principle by giving an example of how it has been used in your life.

    Testify about the importance of this principle by telling how you feel about it.

 

Closing exercises can become an important part of preparing children for participating in sacrament meeting, giving talks, and being a missionary. 

Review of Stake Auxiliary Training  class – "Improving Closing Exercises"

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

Help from The Friend – January 2010

This month's Friend is packed with ideas for leaders and teachers in the Primary.
Here are a few:

1. The "Sharing Time" page (p 40-41) no longer provides teaching ideas for Sunday Sharing Time. See the following note from FAQ on lds.org/pa:
   
   
   "Will sharing time ideas still be in the Friend magazine?
   Starting with the January 2010 issue of the Friend magazine, the sharing time ideas for leaders will no longer be included. These ideas are incorporated into the outline for sharing time. The sharing time for children will still be in the magazine". http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,7701-1,00.html
   
   One possible way of using the "Sharing Time" pages this year could be in Activity Days for Girls and Scouting. Completing the Scripture Journal suggested for this year could be a great goal for Faith in God. This month focuses specifically on the first Article of Faith and its meaning.
   
   
2. "I Know that My Savior Loves Me", p 24-25 – Includes a teaching suggestion for Primary music leaders.
   
   
   
3. Primary is a time to prepare children to receive their first temple recommend. They will have the opportunity to do baptisms for the dead at age twelve. "A Year on Temple Square: The Salt Lake Temple", p 6-7 gives information about temples and provides a link to an online video that will show what it is like to go inside the temple to be baptized for the dead.
   
   
   
4. The Friend Magazine Resource page http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,8879-1,00.html is an index of "activities, songs, and stories . . . collected from the Friend magazine and arranged by topic. This resource can be used by Primary leaders, teachers, and parents as they plan sharing time, class lessons, and family home evening".
   

Using the Scriptures in Primary

“When you teach children, you should use the scriptures frequently and find ways to have the children become comfortable using the scriptures” (Teaching, No Greater Call, p 59).

A special thank you goes to all those who attended the New Albany Indiana Stake Auxiliary Training on August 27, 2009; especially those who attended the “Teaching Scriptures in Primary” session. There were five units represented and we discussed the best ways to teach the primary children to know and love the Savior through the scriptures. Most importantly, we discussed that teaching and using the scriptures is very possible, even for the young ones who are not yet readers. Through a few very entertaining role playing sessions, our class learned that teaching scriptures to primary children is very achievable as long as love, patience, and the Holy Spirit are present. Explaining the stories with age appropriate emphasis is key, along with child participation. While the older children may read the verses straight from the scriptures, the little ones may hold the scriptures for those who are reading. The teacher’s role is to invite the spirit and allow the scriptures to connect with the children. The Lord’s children will remember the scriptures taught in primary, even if they appear to not be paying attention! Thank you to the sweet sisters who attended the scripture teaching workshop on Thursday evening. You are doing much good in your primaries!

-Jennifer Yingling