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.

Help from the Friend - August 2010

The following are just a few ways that The Friend can be used in Primary:

Faith in God - My Gospel Standards
     "Birthday Standards", p 4-5
     "Trying to Be Like Jesus: Skipping for Good", p 31 

Faith in God - Learning and Living the Gospel
     "Faith in God Challenge - A "Learning and Living the Gospel" Activity", p 23 Teaching, Activity Days for all Children, Activity Days for Girls
     "Investigating the Scriptures", p 13 

Primary 6, lesson 38
     "Queen Esther Saves Jehovah's People", p 14-15, "Coloring Page", p 46 

Primary 1, Lesson 7; Primary 2, Lesson 13
     "A Special Feeling of Peace", p 17 

Activity Days for Girls
     "Cooking Up Activity Day Fun", p 22-23 

Activity Days for all Children
     "Who Wants to "Play"?", p 24-27

11-year-old Scouts "A Scout is kind"
     "Trying to Be Like Jesus: A Good Goalie" p 31

Cub Scouts, 11-year-old Scouts, Activity Days for Girls (Gathering Activity)
     "Funstuff: Partial Pictures", p 43

Help from the Friend - July 2010

The following are examples of how this month’s Friend can be used in Primary:

Activity Days for Girls, Scouting

                “Funstuf”, p 17

                “A Quilt that Tells a Story”, p 24-25

                “Friends in the News: Westchester First Ward”, p 47

                “Possible Ideas for Family Home Evening”, p 48

Faith in God, My Gospel Standards

                “Courage”, p 16

                “He Told Me, No Way”, p 28-29

Example of Application of July Sharing Time Theme

                “Trying to Be Like Jesus”, p 30-31

Primary 1: I Am a Child of God, lesson 5 and 6

                “For Little Friends: Who is Jesus?”, p 32-33

Behold Your Little Ones, lesson 8

                “Brigham’s Right-Way Feet”, p 35

Primary 6: Old Testament, lesson 28

                “Coloring Page: David and Goliath”, p 46

Love - Not Judge

While counseling with my priesthood leader, he pointed out a message from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf in the Sunday session of the April 2010 General Conference that he hoped all of the stake’s Primary leaders and teachers would take to heart.  It discusses the need for us to not judge, but love every child.  It is easy to be put off by the behavior, dress, language, or cleanliness of a child, but we need to look past those and love that child as the Savior does.  We may be the only source of love and connection with gospel teachings that child may have during the week.  Here is part of the message from President Uchtdorf:

“I hope that we welcome and love all of God’s children, including those who might dress, look, speak, or just do things differently. It is not good to make others feel as though they are deficient. Let us lift those around us. Let us extend a welcoming hand. Let us bestow upon our brothers and sisters in the Church a special measure of humanity, compassion, and charity so that they feel, at long last, they have finally found home.

When we are tempted to judge, let us think of the Savior, who “loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. . . . “[And] he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, . . . [for] all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.” 2 Ne 26:24-25, 28, emphasis added. . . Christ knows how to minister to others perfectly. When the Savior stretches out His hands, those He touches are uplifted and become greater, stronger, and better people as a result.

If we are His hands, should we not do the same?”

President Uchtdorf continues with this promise:

“As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger. We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “‘You Are My Hands’,” Ensign, May 2010, 68–70, 75

Change to BSA Youth Protection Training Policy

The following is a portion of a letter dated June 1, 2010 from James Terry, Assistant Chief Scout Executive.  Be aware that this policy is now in effect.  All adults serving in positions in the Cub Scout Pack and the patrol of Eleven Year-old Boy Scouts, including the members of the Primary presidency serving on the Pack and Troop Committee need to complete or update this training.  A link to Youth Protection training is on the sidebar of this blog under the heading of Online Training. 

"Youth Safety is the No. 1 concern of the BSA.

To increase awareness of this societal problem and to create even greater barriers to abuse than already exist today in Scouting, the Boy Scouts of America is implementing several important changes to further enhance it Youth Protection Policies.

Effective June 1, 2010:

• Youth Protection training is required for all registered volunteers.
• New leaders are required to take Youth Protection training before they submit an application for registration.  The certificate of completion for this training must be submitted at the time application is made and before volunteer service with youth begins.
• Youth Protection training must be taken every two years.  If a volunteer's Youth Protection training record is not current at the time of recharter, the volunteer will not be re-registered." 

If additional information is needed on how to take this training or attaching the certificate to the registration form of newly called leaders, read the entire letter "Important Changes to the Boy Scouts of America's Youth Protection Training Policies"

Toys for Nursery - Age-Appropriate Choices

In general terms, children in the Primary Nursery go through two play stages, manipulation and imagination.  Children ages 18 months through 2 years are all about discovering the world and improving their own skills by manipulating themselves and objects; stacking, sorting, picking-up, throwing, pushing, and pulling.  Three-year-olds are exploring life through imagining and acting out the roles they observe in the world; mother, father, truck driver, policeman, fireman, farmer, and much more.  The following list will give you a general idea of how to select toys appropriate for the Primary Nursery.  Always keep in mind the safety and wash-ability of any toys that are used.  Gently used toys in good repair or new toys can be purchased with the approval of the Primary president using budget funds designated for the Primary. 

18 months to 2 years

Toys:

• Stacking and sorting
• Push or pull toys, especially those that make noises and have removable people
• Puzzles with a few large chunky pieces that are easy to grasp and fit into a specific space

Books:

• Books that improve vocabulary and awareness of the world without story-lines

Art Supplies: 

• A few basic colors of crayons (coloring will be in large strokes that frequently go off the paper)
• Chalk and a chalkboard
• Clay, such as Playdoh (if you choose to use this medium check-out the blog "Play Dough Play" for a recipe and suggestions to make this activity successful in the Primary Nursery.

3 years

Toys:

• Dress-up clothes and hats 
• Child size dishes, pans, and play food
• Tool sets
• Phones
• Dolls and clothing 
• Interlocking blocks that easily stack
• Simple puzzles with a few interlocking pieces to create a picture

Books:

• Books with a simple story-line especially with rhyming and/or words creating rhythm

Art Supplies:

• Glue sticks
• Colored paper
• Large beads for threading on pipe cleaners or laces

Keep toys with multiple parts together in baskets or bins and have a tote ready to take home toys that will need a trip through the dishwasher before the next nursery playtime.  Each Sunday a few toys (about two per child [example: four children = 6 to 8 toys]) should be made available at child-level on shelves or tables for the children to choose from.  Rotate the toys every few weeks to keep things interesting.  A few well selected toys will result in an organized environment where children are safe and happy.