{Sharing Time} Forgiveness Brings Peace
Identify the doctrine(seeing an object lesson): Ask the children how they might feel if someone pushed or hit them. Hold up a big rock and tell the children that it represents those hurt feelings. Place the rock in a long sock. Invite a child to come to the front of the room, and tie the sock to his or her ankle. Ask the child to walk around. Discuss how hanging on to bad feelings will drag us down. Explain that when we forgive people who hurt us, we let those bad feelings go. Let the child untie the sock. Ask the children to say, “Forgiveness brings peace.”
Encourage understanding(hearing scripture stories): Several days in advance, ask leaders or teachers to be prepared to share one of the following scripture stories about forgiveness:
1. Jesus forgives on the cross (see Luke 23:13–34).
2. Nephi forgives his brothers (see 1 Nephi 7:6–21).
3. Joseph forgives his brothers (see Genesis 37; 41–45).
Divide the children into three groups. Send each group to a different part of the room (see “Stations,” TNGC, 179), where a leader or teacher will briefly discuss the scripture story he or she prepared to share. After each group has visited each station, sing the first verse of “Help Me, Dear Father” (CS, 99).
Sharing Time Idea from Little LDS Ideas
Today I am sharing a Thanksgiving themed idea, hope you don’t mind.
For this sharing time idea you will be using my ‘Tom the Turkey’ printable.
First you will need to Print out a ‘Tom‘ (printable found HERE) and cut out some feathers. I just used some scrapbook paper and cut out some feathers.
On each of Tom’s feathers write one of the scripture stories from the scripture references given in the outline. If you have more than 3 feathers you could write down different scripture references that talk about forgiveness and/or scenarios that the children can answer what they would do in that situation:
“Your brother called you a name and it really hurt your feelings.”
“Your friend said that she didn’t like you anymore.”
Something like that.
I LOVE the ‘Identify the Doctrine’ activity found in the outline, so I would use that as your opening. After you have done the activity and discussed forgiveness…show the children ‘Tom’ and tell them that today Tom is going to help during Sharing Time.
Tell the children that on the back of Tom’s feathers are different scripture stories, scriptures, scenarios, etc. They are going to take turns ‘plucking’ a feather from Tom and discussing whatever is on the back of each feather.
A Different Way to Play:
Who Am I:For this idea you will need to come up with 3-4 clues for each scripture story. Have the clues written/typed on separate pieces of paper.
The child that ‘plucks’ a feather will be giving the remaining primary children clues to get them to guess who the person is.
On the back of each feather have one of the names from the scripture stories in the outline (Nephi, Joseph, Jesus Christ). Have the child show you which name they picked and then have them read the clues one at a time. Have the children raise their hand when they think they know who the person is.
After the children have guessed correctly discuss the scripture story.
And that’s it! Two easy ideas for you to pick from for your Sharing Time this Sunday.
Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day & a great Sharing Time!
