God has commanded His people to build temples: 1st Week Sharing Time idea for July

Sharing Time Idea from Primary Sharing Time Outline

IDENTIFY THE DOCTRINE (singing a song): Display a picture of a temple and write on the board "The temple is ___________________." Invite the children to sing the first verse of "I love to see the temple" (CS, 95). Tell them to signal when they sing the phrase that completes the sentence on the board by folding their arms. Ask them what the temple is (a house of God). Help the children look up "temple" in the Bible Dictionary (pages 780-81). Help them find statements explaining that a temple is literally a house of the Lord and that God has always comanded His people to build temples.

ENCOURAGE UNDERSTANDING (playing a guessing game): Prepare clues about the temples built by..
Moses (see Exodus 25:1-2, 8-9)
Nephi (see 2 Nephi 5:16)
Joseph Smith (see D&C 124:31)
...and their followers. For example, "Our temple was called a tabernacle, and we moved it as we traveled" (Moses) or "We built a temple after leaving Jerusalem and traveling across the sea" (Nephi). Choose three children to represent these prophets, and invite them to read their clues to the Primary. Invite the other children to guess whom each child is representing. After they guess correctly, show a picture of the prophet or the temple that he and his people built.
ENCOURAGE APPLICATION (discussing temples): Show a picture of the temple nearest to where you live. Discuss the following questions:
1 - Why do you think God commands us to build temples?
2 - What can you do to prepare to go to the temple someday?

Sharing Time Idea from Little LDS Ideas

For this week's Sharing Time I have an activity to share. I didn't type up an actual Sharing Time, but I think this activity will be really fun along with the ideas shared in the Outline. Hope you like it.

'Build a Temple' activity: Here is what you will need for this activity
-Several pictures of various temples: Find some pictures on lds.org or use the Gospel Art Kit . You will need 2 sets of each picture (one for the group and one to post at the front of the Primary room).
-Temple Facts Sheet: On the back of each picture or on a seperate piece of paper write several facts about each temple.
-'Building Supplies': play-doh, blocks, marshmallows and toothpicks, lincoln logs, etc.

Split the children into several groups and give each group a picture of a temple, a facts sheet, and their 'building supplies'. You will also need an adult for each group.
Give each group about 5 min. to construct their temple. The picture of the temple that they were given is the temple that they will be building. As they're building their temple have an adult read over the facts about their temple.
Have the pictures of each group's temple posted at the front of the Primary Room. After each group is done building their temple have them all sit and face the front of the Primary Room.
Invite the first group to come up and show the others their temple. Have the children read about their temple. Pick a child to come up and guess which temple that group built by choosing one of the pictures posted.
Continue until all groups have shown their temple.
Discuss that the temple is a house of God and the importance of temples. You could even close by singing 'I Love to See the Temple'. Bear your testimony.

I thought this would be a fun activity for the children and a great way to learn about the Temples.

So there's my idea...hope you like it. Have a wonderful weekend and a great Sharing Time!

The Holy Ghost comforts and guides me: 4th Week Sharing Time idea for June

Sharing Time Idea from Primary Outline

ENCOURAGE UNDERSTANDING (reading scriptures): Divide the children into groups, and give each group a piece of paper with the following scriptures:

• "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with ______________________." (Doctrine & Covenants 11:13)
• "If ye will enter in by the way [baptism], and receive the Holy Ghost, it will __________________ unto you all things what ye should do." (2 Nephi 32:5)
• "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost....., shall ______________ you all things, and bring all things to your ________________, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26)
• "Put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do ______________ - yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to ______________ __________________; and this is my Spirit." (D&C 11:12)
• "And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may _______________ ____________________ ________________ of all things." (Moroni 10:5)

Ask the children to look up the scriptures and fill in the blanks. Then have them discuss what these scriptures teach about how the Holy Ghost can help us. Invite them to share experiences when the Holy Ghost has helped them.
ENCOURAGE APPLICATION (singing a song): Tell the children that the Holy Ghost helps us in many ways. Sing, "The Holy Ghost" (CS, 105). Ask the children to raise their hands when they sing about a way the Holy Ghost can help them. Stop the song and discuss what they learned about the Holy Ghost. Continue singing and discussing. Share a time when the Holy Ghost has comforted or guided you.

Sharing Time Idea from Little LDS Ideas

After I posted the Sharing Time idea for this week's Sharing Time I decided I'd better take a look at next week's (4th week of June). I really like when the children have to read from the scriptures, so I didn't want to change too much from the outline, but I wanted to add a little something to help keep the smaller children's  attention. I think they'll have fun and learn about the Holy Ghost at the same time. Take a look and see what you think. You can use the same idea for Sr. Primary or do a Crossword puzzle.

I also had an idea of how you could open your Sharing time by using a big warm blanket. I think it's a wonderful way of letting children know what the Spirit feels like and letting them know that the Holy Ghost can 'comfort' us.

Click Here to view my Sharing Time Idea

I hope you like it. Have a great Sharing Time!!

Father's Day Goodie Box

I don't have an actual picture of the finished product, but I thought I'd better at least share my idea.

When I found out that I was going to be in charge of Sharing Time on Father's Day I began looking around for ideas. I needed something pretty easy, since I don't have alot of time on my hands right now :).

I saw a snack table idea on Sugardoodle that I really liked, but then my Mother-in-law had the idea of doing goodie boxes.

 We had a ward activity and bought some of these take-out boxes and ended up not using them, so that is what I will be using.

Just picture this box filled with yummy treats. What man wouldn't like that?

I sent a sign-up around last week in Primary and Relief Society for anyone that would like to make some treats. I told them that they could be home-made treats (cookies, brownies, etc.) or something bought from the store (candy, chips, etc.). I think I'm going to buy some little baggies and fill them with some popcorn and then attach a little note that says '#1 Pop'.

We will have tables set up with the treats and the children will get to pick the treats for their Dad. I made up a little poem to go along with the goodie boxes. I'm going to glue the poem to some cute scrapbook paper and then we'll attach the poem to the boxes (probably glue it to the top of the box) and tie a ribbon around it. And if I can find some Father's Day stickers (or some manly stickers, haha) I will let the children decorate the boxes with those.

We are making enough boxes for all the men in the ward. And since some of the men don't have any children in Primary I have included a poem for them too.


Click Here to view my Father's Day Goodie Box Poem

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

When I am Baptized, I make a covenant with God: 3rd week Sharing Time idea for June

Sharing Time Idea from Primary Outline

ENCOURAGE UNDERSTANDING (seeing an object lesson): Ask a child to come to the front of the room and hold his or her arms out. Then place a book in each hand. Read Mosiah 18:7-11. Explain that one of the covenants we make when we are baptized is to "bear one another's burdens, that they may be light." Ask the child holding the books if his or her arms are getting tired. Have two other children help hold up his or her arms. Discuss some burdens children might have, such as being teased, being sick, feeling alone, or struggling in school. Ask the children how they can help make each other's burdens light.

ENCOURAGE APPLICATION (playing a game): Tell the children that baptism is the gate that leads to the path of eternal life (see 2 Nephi 31:17). On one side of the room place a picture of a child being baptized. On the other side of the room place a picture of the Savior, and explain that in this activity this picture represents eternal life. Tell the children that we stay on the pathto eternal life when we keep our baptismal covenants (remembering Jesus Christ, obeying the commandments and helping others). Give each child a paper with a CTR shield drawn on it. Have the children write on their paper a commandment that will help them keep their baptismal covenants (they may draw pictures to represent the commandment they choose). Invite a child to place his or her paper on the floor between the two pictures. If possible, help the children find the commandment in their scriptures and read it together. Repeat until the children have made a path between the pictures.

Sharing Time Ideas from Little LDS Ideas

Here is an idea that I had for this week's Sharing Time. I shared an activity for Jr. Primary and one for Sr. Primary. The activity for Jr. Primary actually comes from a previous Friend article that I saw; I'm calling it 'Fill the Font'. Just make a little baptismal font on a poster-board. Then on strips of blue paper write different scenarios that have to do with our baptismal covenant. If a good scenario is chosen they can add it to the font, but if a bad scenario is chosen they can't add it. The goal is to try to 'fill the font'.

For Sr. Primary they will be playing 'Covenant Match'. You will have the baptismal covenants posted on the board. You will also have some covenant cards with different scenarios on each. The children will choose a card and read the scenario and then will have to post it under the covenant it goes with.

Just a few quick ideas that I had, I hope you like them.

And hopefully I'll get my Father's day idea up later this evening. We're doing goodie boxes this year.

So here's my idea. Have a wonderful Sharing Time.

Click Here to view my Sharing Time idea for this week.

Repentance brings forgiveness: 2nd Week Sharing Time Idea for June

Sharing Time Idea from Primary Sharing Time Outline

IDENTIFY THE DOCTRINE (reading scriptures): Invite the children to open their scriptures and read Doctrine and Covenants 58:42-43. Ask them to identify what happens when we repent of our sins. (If possible, invite the children to mark these verses in their scriptures.) Briefly tell the children about Enos (see Enos 1:1-4), and have a child read Enos 1:5-8. Testify that the Atonement of Christ makes it possible for us to forgiven of our sins.

ENCOURAGE UNDERSTANDING (role-playing): Explain that people who have repented and have been forgiven of their sins have a desire to serve God. Divide the children into three groups, and give each group one of the following pictures and scripture references:
Alma baptizing in the waters of Mormon (Mosiah 17:2-4; 18:1-17)
Jonah (Jonah 1-3)
Anti-Nephi-Lehie's burying their swords (Alma 23:4-18; 24:6-19)

Explain that these stories tell about people who repented of their sins and served the Lord. Ask each group to review the scriptures and prepare and present a role play showing how these people repented and then served the Lord (by teaching the gospel, serving a mission and refusing to fight).

Sharing Time Ideas from Little LDS Ideas

To begin your Sharing Time I am going to use a little help from an idea shared on  Sugardoodle (from Mary Ellen Flake). Come into the room (or have another adult) with a chain/paper chain wrapped around you. Have pieces of paper with different 'sins' hanging from the chain. Show the children your 'sin' and read a few of the pieces of paper out loud.

Then go on to tell the children that it is so hard to move around with these 'sins' on you. If only you could do something to get rid of these chains/sins.

You could then have the children help you by discussing what you need to do (repent) OR I thought it might be kind of neat to have Enos come visit the children and help you out. Have Enos share his story and explain that he prayed and asked for forgiveness. Have Enos invite a child to read D&C 58:42-43 and have them tell you what happens when we repent of our sins.

Discuss what the scripture means and then take your chain off. As you take the chain off repeat the teaching that Repentance brings forgiveness.

Jr. Primary Activity: Have 3 boxes on a table, each one labeled 1,2, or 3. Inside each box have an item that has to do with one of the scripture stories from the Outline (Alma, Jona, & Anti-Nephi-Lehie's). You could have a bottle of water, a whale, a sword or something like that.

On 3 pieces of paper write the numbers 1, 2, & 3. Then attach each number underneath 3 chairs.

Invite the children to look under their chairs to see if they have one of the numbers. Invite the child with the #1 to come to the front and look inside box #1. Show the children the Gospel Art Kit picture that goes along with that story and ask if anyone knows the story. Then share the story and discuss it with the children.

After you have discussed the story move on to box #2 then box #3.

You could also have the objects on a table. Read a story and then have the children guess which item goes with that story.

Here's another idea from Sugardoodle reader Dawna: I will tell the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's. I plan to have a big tub full of package peanuts with the outside of the tub decorated to look like some kind of mound of earth. The peanuts will be the "dirt". I am then going to have cut out, laminated "weapons" like the Anti-Nehi-Lehi's would have used (small swords) that have names of things that we might need to repent of (ie, lying, swearing, saying unkind things etc). I will ask the children to come up and help "bury" these weapons and promise to never do them again.

Sr. Primary activity idea: You could play 'Guess Who'. Have the Gospel Art Kit pictures for each scripture story and 3-4 clues for each story. Have the GAK pictures attached to a chalkboard/bulletin board, etc and covered with a piece of paper and then labeled with numbers 1, 2, & 3. Below each picture have the clues.

Invite a child to pick a picture and then read the first clue. If anyone knows the story have him/her raise their hand.

You could even play this in teams. Invite a child from each team to come to the front of the room and have them sit at a table. In between the two children have a bell or buzzer. Read the clues one by one and as soon as they know who it is have them ring the bell or buzz. If they answer correctly award them with 1 point.

Skit/Charades: Split the Primary into 3 groups. Give each group one of the scripture stories listed in the Outline. Give each group about 5 minutes to discuss a short skit they can perform for the other children without giving away what they are acting out.

One by one invite each group to come to the front and perform their skit. Then have the other 2 groups guess what scripture story they are acting out.

You could make it fun by using costumes and props.

Alright, there are a few ideas for this week's Sharing Time. Sorry it's so late...we've been having internet issues (Satellite internet...not good) hehe. I hope these can be of some kind of help. Have a great week and a great Sharing Time!