Help from The Friend - February 2011

The Friend February 2011

Faith in God

• "Looking Different", inside front cover
• "Faith in God Challenge", p 13
• "Article of Faith 2", p 22

Activity Days for Girls, Scouting

• "We'll Carry You!: We Served Too", p 3
• "One in a Million", p 7
• "Bulletin Board:  Box of Love", p 12
• "Funstuf: Family History Fun", p 21 
• "Sharing Love with Families Far Away", p 24-25
• "Funstuf: Word Puzzles", p 26
• "Beautiful", p 44-45
• "Friends in the News: Winchester Hills First Ward", p 47
• "Friends in the News: Rochester Second Ward", p 47
• "Bringing Primary Home: The Scriptures Teach of Heavenly Father's Plan", p 40-41 - Remember that these pages do not replace the Outline for Sharing Time.  This article could be used for the girls to prepare a lesson to share in their families for FHE in their own homes. 

 My Gospel Standards

• "Choosing to Choose the Right", p 4-5 

 Music Leaders

• "One in a Million", p 7  
• "I Will Follow God's Plan", p 11 

 Lesson 11: Baptism," Primary 3: Choose the Right 

Lesson 6: The Baptism of Jesus Christ," Primary 7: New Testament

• "Jesus Is Baptized", p 14-15

President Thomas S. Monson Speaks About Scouting

In a video, "The Strengths of Scouting", on lds.org, President Monson discusses the value of Scouting in the Church.  He tells of the experience of his 11-year-old nephew who used the skills he learned in Scouting to save the life of his younger brother.  The swimming and first aid skills required to attain the rank of First Class during Primary prepared this Scout to do something extraordinary.  I am sure his parents were grateful for the time the Scout leaders had sacrificed to make this 11-year-old’s Scouting experience successful. 

President Monson includes this statement, “I believe in Scouting.  I believe in the goals of the organization.  I believe in the power of Scouting to bless and enrich lives for good”. 

In addition to the video, there are links to other articles on Scouting.  One quotes President Monson, “If ever there were a time when the principles of Scouting were vitally needed—that time is now. If ever there were a generation who would benefit by keeping physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight—that generation is the present generation.”  President Thomas S. Monson, “Called to Serve,” Ensign, Nov. 1991, 47.

Now is the time to take the time to help every 11-yer-old boy “Be Prepared” and “Do a Good Turn Daily”.  You may help save a life and you will definitely save a boy.

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).

Help from the Friend - January 2011

Check out the “What’s online this month?” on the back cover.  Depending on your electronic interests, there are several options that might want to try such as mobile applications, Facebook and Twitter.

Primary 7: New Testament
     Lesson 5: The Childhood of Jesus Christ – “Jesus as a Child”, p 6-7

Sharing Time – Gospel Instruction

     January – “Bringing Primary Home:  The Scriptures Are the Word of God”, p 40-4
          “Coloring Page:  The scriptures are the word of God” p 46 
     September – “Where Is Isabelle?” p 8-9

Sharing Time – Music Time
     “If I listen With My Heart”, p 24-25

Sharing Time – Opening
     “Sammy’s Scriptures”, p 36

Activity Days for Girls
     “Bulletin Board:  Time Capsule”, p 12
     “Bulletin Board:  Understanding the Scriptures”, p 13
     “Bulletin Board:  Run, Jump, Play!” p 13
     "Little Women from Massachusetts”, p 18-19

Activity Days for all Children (just a note – these activities are not mentioned in the new handbook, but the guidelines are contained the Faith in God guidebooks, p 18)
     “Friends in the News:  Barrigada Branch”, p 47

Faith in God
     Serving Others - “Going the Extra Mile”, 20-21
     Articles of Faith – “Article of Faith 1”, p 22 
          (also note online – “Play Articles of Faith Memory Quest at friend.lds.org!” 
     My Gospel Standards “Listen for His Voice”, p 2-3 “The Cookie Solution”, p 4-5
     Learning and Living the Gospel – “Guide to the Friend:  Possible Ideas for Family Home Evening, #1”, p 48

Pre-opening activity for Cub Scouts, Patrol of 11-year-old Scouts, Activity Days for Girls
     “Funstuf: Say What?” p 43

Cub Scouts – “Friends by Mail:  How the Friend Helped Me”, inside front cover

Victory Tunnel

Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, Primary General President, included the following experience and insight in her talk in General Conference:

“Last spring my husband and I attended a soccer game of our four-year-old grandson. You could feel the excitement on the field as the players ran in every direction chasing the soccer ball. When the final whistle blew, the players were unaware of who won or who lost. They had simply played the game. The coaches directed the players to shake hands with the opposing team members. Then I observed something quite remarkable. The coach called for a victory tunnel. All the parents, grandparents, and any spectators who had come to observe the game stood up and formed two lines facing each other, and by raising their arms they formed an arch. The children squealed as they ran through the cheering adults and down the path formed by the spectators. Soon the children from the opposing team joined the fun as all the players—the winners and the losers—were cheered on by the adults as they ran the path of the victory tunnel.

In my mind’s eye, I had another picture. I had the feeling I was seeing children living the plan, the plan Heavenly Father has created for each individual child. They were running the strait and narrow path through the arms of the spectators who love them, each one feeling the joy of being on the path".    Rosemary M. Wixom, Primary General President, “Stay on the Path”

Isn’t it wonderful to be a one of those “spectators” who are marking the path for these children to follow.   Give yourself and the children a cheer!

Help from the Friend - October 2010

Use the "Topical Index to this Issue of the Friend" on p 48 to find ways you can use this month's Friend in Primary.  Below are a few ideas:

 

Faith in God - Activity Days, Cub Scouts, 11-year-old Boy Scouts

"A Gift for Billy", 2-3

"Meeting the Challenge", 4-5

"Bulletin Board", 12-13

"Temple Facts Challenge", 16-17 (Gathering activity)

"No Matter Our Differences", 22-23

"Important Trait", 26 (Gathering activity)

"Invite All to Come unto Christ", 40-41

"No Matter Our Differences", Friend, Oct. 2010, 22-23

My Gospel Standards, Cub Scout Core Value-Compassion, Boy Scout Slogan

"Grandpa's Garbage", Friend, Oct. 2010, 8-9

My Gospel Standards

"Run Away!", 44-45

Primary 6: Old Testament, Lesson 43, Jonah and the People of Nineveh

"Jehovah Sends Jonah on a Mission", 14-15