Tag Archive: Jesus Christ

Loving Words

Lately, I have noticed an unfortunate trend in our society–-so many people are eager to say something cruel, harsh, negative, or controversial. They want to be the first to gossip about, make fun of, or criticize others and their decisions. Especially with the ability to hide behind a social media profile, people are saying anything that comes to their minds. It is definitely a trend that I do NOT want to be a part of.

When I think about the Savior, I think of all the good and kind things He had to say. He taught truth and lived truth. He kept His mouth shut at times, reprimanded in love at other times, but mostly told people how much He loved them and desired for them to return to live with Heavenly Father. Christ spoke with charity, setting an example for us to do the same.

Next time you are itching to post a negative comment on a friend’s status update, share your opinion about an outfit a certain person was wearing, or even speak with your children who may be frustrating you, remember the words of a familiar hymn: “Perhaps today there are loving words which Jesus would have me speak.”

You may never know how much good you will do by sharing a kind and loving word. But I can almost assure you that you won’t ever regret choosing loving words over unkind words.

Download here.

One Step at a Time

Grace to Grace
Doctrine and Covenants 93: 1-20 (Lesson 97 in Seminary Doctrine and Covenants Teacher Manual)
We have John’s testimony of how Christ became like His Father and received the fulness of His Father’s glory.
He became like His father, one step at a time, grace to grace
We, too, may become like our Heavenly Father, one step at a time, grace to grace.

To demonstrate this principle, I set up a ladder in our classroom and asked a student to climb to the top.
At first, the student was very willing, until I told him he could not use the steps.
We discussed how difficult this would be.
After some discussion, I had the students write on sticky notes the steps they need to take to receive the fulness of our Heavenly Father’s glory.
We discussed the things they wrote down and then they placed the notes on the steps of the ladder, emphasizing the importance of each step.
As part of the discussion, we read this quote from the Prophet Joseph Smith.
(this is where I got the idea to use a ladder rather than have them just come up to the chalkboard and write their answers)
If you dont have access to a ladder, a small step stool will work or you can place stepping stones on the floor and ask them to go from start to finish without stepping off the stones, etc.
The students can label the stones just as we labeled the steps on the ladder.
There are lots of adaptations.

The following statement by the Prophet Joseph Smith clarifies one aspect of growing from grace to grace until we receive a fulness:

It is not wisdom that we should have all knowledge at once presented before us; but that we should have a little at a time; then we can comprehend it. When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 268).

Happy Teaching!


{Sharing Time} Jesus Christ Was Resurrected, and I Will Be Too!

Sharing Time Ideas from the 2015 Primary Outline

Encourage understanding:Divide the children into groups and give each group a picture of an event related to the Resurrection (for example, you could use pictures of the Crucifixion, Christ’s burial, the empty tomb, Mary and the resurrected Lord, and Jesus showing His wounds to His disciples). Tell them not to let the other groups see their picture. Have each group give a few clues to help the other children guess what is happening in their picture. When they guess correctly, show the picture to the other groups. Explain that because Jesus Christ was resurrected, we will all be resurrected.

Sharing Time Ideas from Little LDS Ideas

For this Sharing Time I am getting a little help from a previous idea I have shared on the blog. I changed a few things up so that it would go with this week’s topic and the idea given in the outline. Enjoy!

For this Sharing Time you will be dressing up like a detective to ‘find out more’ about the Resurrection.  To look like an inspector or detective, wear a trench coat and carry a large magnifying glass.
Tell the children that you are looking for clues about the reality of the Resurrection/to learn more about the Resurrection.

You will hide different ‘clues’ around the Primary room. Each set of clues will represent one of the pictures listed in the Primary Outline.

To Prepare:

Before Primary find the pictures you will be using for this Sharing Time. Here are a few ideas to choose from:

Crucifixion

Christ’s Burial

The Empty Tomb

Mary and the Resurrected Lord

Jesus Showing His Wounds to His Disciples

You will also need to come up with a few clues for each picture. Write/type the clues onto a piece of paper. Place the clues inside of an envelope or small box. If you would like the children to find the pictures in a particular order you can label each box/envelope with a number (#1-4; or however many pictures you choose).

For Sharing Time

Have your clues hidden around the Primary room. At the front of the room have the pictures you have chosen posted on a bulletin board or chalkboard.

Invite a child to come to the front to help you find the first clue. You can hand them a magnifying glass and a hat if you’d like.

Once they find clue #1 have them open it up. Have them read the clues/statements aloud. Then have the child pick which picture they think the clues are describing.

Once the picture has been guess correctly, show the picture to the other children. Discuss what is happening in the picture.

Continue by inviting another child up to the front to help you find the next set of clues.

Conclude that the evidence is overwhelming that Jesus Christ was resurrected and that we will be too!

I really liked the ‘detective’ idea for this Sharing Time. It’s fun enough to catch/keep the children’s attention, but will be spiritual as well as you discuss each picture.

Another Idea

Here’s Another really cute idea that talks about Resurrection, that I found on lds.org {From The Friend; Sharing Time: He Lives!; April 2007}
Display three shoe boxes, and ask the children to raise their hands if they like to try on new shoes. Explain that you want them to imagine trying on some other people’s shoes, but more important you want them to imagine what it would be like to actually be that person.

One by one, take out a pair of shoes from each box. (You can also display pictures or drawings of shoes.)

Show a pair of boots to represent the soldiers who guarded Jesus’s tomb. Use detail to tell the story in such a way that the children can imagine being there when Jesus Christ was laid in the tomb.

Next, use a pair of sandals to tell the story of Mary Magdalene. Ask the children how it might have felt to have been at the garden tomb when the resurrected Savior appeared.

Last, show a pair of shoes that children in your area commonly wear. Ask how it feels to be a member of the Church and to have the knowledge that you will be resurrected because of the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Bear testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died and was resurrected.


 I hope you enjoy the ideas I have shared today. 
Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful day & a great Sharing Time!

{Sharing Time} Through The Atonement Of Jesus Christ, All Mankind May Be Saved. (Part 2)

Sharing Time Idea from the 2015 Outline

Encourage application:Invite the children to read Alma 7:11–12 and look for what Jesus has done for us. Ask a few children to share what they found. Tell the children that Jesus understands when we feel hurt, sad, afraid, or sick. He can help us overcome these things. Write the following statements on the board:
I am grateful for the Savior because ___________.

The Savior will help me to ___________.

Invite a few children to share how they would finish these sentences, or have all of the children share their answers with the person sitting next to them.

Encourage understanding:Tell the children that there are many stories in the scriptures of people who were blessed because of the Atonement. Share a few of these stories. Possible stories include Alma the Younger (see Alma 36:5–27), Paul (see Acts 8:1–3; 9:1–20), and Enos (see Enos 1:1–8). After telling a story, review it with the children. Toss a crumpled piece of paper to one child and ask him or her to say one thing about the story. Have the child toss the paper back to you. Continue until the children have mentioned most of the important details from the story. Share your testimony about the Atonement.

Sharing Time Idea from Little LDS Ideas

Weeks 2 & 3 in February share the same Sharing Time topic. I decided to split the idea given in the outline into 2 parts. To view my first Sharing Time idea (part 1) just click HERE. Today I am sharing Part 2.
For this Sharing Time idea I created a popsicle ‘pick’ game that I think the children will enjoy.


Sharing Time Preparation:
Before Primary download and cut out my popsicle stick toppers. There are 6 total (2 pages). On the front of each circle you will see the topic of the week:

“Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all mankind may be saved.”

On the back of the circles are the two phrases from the outline:

I am grateful for the Savior because ___________.

The Savior will help me to ___________.

and the 3 scriptures from the outline:

Alma the Younger (see Alma 36:5–27)

Paul (see Acts 8:1–3; 9:1–20)

Enos (see Enos 1:1–8)

{picture below}


 After you have cut out each circle you will attach them to a popsicle stick. Glue one popsicle stick to one of the backs of the circles and then place another circle on top.
  

Place each of the 6 popsicles sticks in a jar or container.
You will also need a picture from the Gospel Art Kit of each person that they will be learning about {Alma, Paul, Enos}.

And one more item….you will need to create a large die. A square box would be great. Just cover with paper and label each side with a number or dots (1-6).
You can always use a small die from a game, but the children always enjoy rolling a big one. :)


 Sharing Time:
Begin by asking if anyone remembers what they learned last week. You could recite the 3rdArticle of Faith again or just ask what they remember.
After you have discusses last week’s Sharing Time, read Alma 7:11-12. Invite the children to listen for what Jesus has done for us. Have them raise their hand, stand up, thumbs up, etc. when they hear an answer. Ask a few children to share what they found. You can write the answers on a chalkboard, to help the children remember.

Tell the children that Jesus understands when we feel hurt, sad, afraid, or sick. He can help us overcome these things.

Show the children your container of popsicle sticks. Explain to the children that on the back of each stick is a question or a scripture reference. They will be rolling a die to determine which popsicle stick they will choose.

Invite the first child up to the front and have them roll the die. Then have them pick the appropriate stick that matches the number on the die. The #6 popsicle stick can say ‘Roll Again’ or ‘Your Choice’ or some other fun phrase for the children to do.

If the child lands on one of the ‘finish the phrase’… Invite him/her to share how they would finish the sentence.

If they land on one with a scripture reference have them hold the picture and read the story/scripture about that particular person.

Another idea:You could also give them a few clues to read aloud. Have the other children guess who it is. Once the person has been guessed correctly read the scripture story.

To go along with the outline: After telling the story, review it with the children. Toss a bean bag or a small ball (you could even toss a ‘smartie’ and call them ‘scripture smarties’) to one child and ask him or her to say one thing about the story. Have the child toss the ball/bean bag back to you.

Continue until all the popsicles sticks have been chosen.

Share your testimony about the Atonement.



And that’s it!
I hope you enjoy this week’s Sharing Time Idea.

I would love to hear if you use my ‘Popsicle Toppers’ for your Sharing Time and how it went. 

Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful day & a great Sharing Time!

To view the other Sharing Time I shared for this same topic (part 1), Click HERE!

{Sharing Time} Jesus Christ Is My Savior & Redeemer

Sharing Time Ideas from 2015 Primary Outline

ENCOURAGE UNDERSTANDING: Place pictures of the Last Supper, Christ in Gethsemane, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection around the room. Point to the pictures and tell the children that these are events from the last week of the Savior’s life. Tell the children you are going to read a scripture that goes with one of the pictures. Ask them to silently think about which picture matches the scripture. Read Luke 22:13–14, 19–20. Have everyone stand and face the matching picture. Discuss what is happening in the picture. Repeat with the other pictures (Gethsemane: Luke 22:39–44; Crucifixion: Luke 23:33–34, 46; Resurrection: John 20:11–18). Sing a song such as “He Sent His Son” (CS, 34–35) or “To Think about Jesus” (CS, 71). Testify that Jesus died for us so that we can live with Heavenly Father again.

 Sharing Time Ideas from Little LDS Ideas

I found this from a previous post. I thought it would be a great way to begin your Sharing Time.

Ask the children these questions:

-What did your parents (or other family members) do for you when you were a baby that you could not do for yourself?

– What do your parents (or other family members) do for you now that you cannot do for yourself?

– Why do they do these things for you?

Explain that our parents and other family members are happy to do things for us that we cannot do for ourselves because they love us and want to help us.

Someone else loves us very much and was willing to do something for us that we could not do for ourselves. Before we came to this earth, Jesus Christ offered to be our Savior. That meant he was willing to die and be resurrected so that we could live again and return to our Father in Heaven. Jesus was the only person

with the power to do this for us. We could not do it for ourselves.



I decided to change up this week’s lesson just a little bit. It is very similar to the outline though. I hope you like it.
Activity
At the front of the room have a picture of Christ. Around the picture have my “Jesus Christ is my Savior & Redeemer” circles {pictured above}. On the back of each of the circles write each of the scriptures from the outline: {Luke 22:13-14, 19-20; Luke 22:39-44; Luke 23:33-34, 46; John 20:11-18}.
You will also need to place pictures of the Last Supper, Christ in Gethsemane, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection around the room.

Invite a child up to the front and have them choose one of the circles. Have them read the scripture reference on the back. Read the scripture aloud and then have them walk to the picture that the scripture describes. When the correct picture is chosen have the child bring it to the front. Discuss what is happening in the picture.

Repeat until all pictures have been chosen.

Testifythat Jesus died for us so that we can live with Heavenly Father again.


If you don’t fee like printing out my circles you could simply write each scripture reference on a piece of paper and place them around the picture of Christ. But if you would like to use my circles, click the link below!


I hope you enjoy this week’s idea. Sorry it was so late! I would love to hear if you use my idea and how it went, so be sure to leave me a comment.
Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful day & a great Sharing Time!

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