{Sharing Time} I Can Repent
Sharing Time Ideas from the 2015 Outline
Encourage Understanding and Application: Explain that because of Jesus Christ, when we do something wrong we can repent, which means we stop sinning and turn to God. Explain that repentance includes feeling sorry, asking for forgiveness, righting the wrong, and not repeating the wrong. Briefly discuss these steps, emphasizing how the Savior can help us. Divide the children into groups and give each group a case study. Have them read the case study and discuss what they would do to repent. For example, someone gets angry and hits his brother or sister. What should he do? Express gratitude for the opportunity Jesus Christ has given us to repent.
Sharing Time Ideas from Little LDS Ideas
Back in 2010 I saw the idea (below) posted as a comment on the Sharing Time page on Sugardoodle. I thought it was such a cute idea.
Here is the comment that I read on Sugardoodle:
Scripture: D&C 59:9 – ‘And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shat go to the house of prayer and offer up they sacraments upon my holy day.
Scripture: D&C 59:9 – ‘And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shat go to the house of prayer and offer up they sacraments upon my holy day.
“In primary, I had to try to teach the kids this scripture and the meaning of it during sharing time. Here’s how I did it and yes, it was a HUGE success in both Junior and Senior sharing time. First at home, I cut out about 30 circles good sized but not too big. (maybe 4 x size of quarter) Then I wrote things on them that would be considered a ‘spot’ or a ‘sin’ as the scripture refers to.
Some of them included: stole money from mom’s purse, told a lie to my teacher, cheated on a test at school, hit my brother, etc. That Sunday morning, before church, I put on a long skirt and top. I then proceeded to pin each of these circles to my skirt, shirt, hair, shoes etc. For the ones in my hair I had pulled my hair into a ponytail and wedged one or two in my hair. Then I went to church with all these spots on me. Make sure that the blank side is what everyone sees, not the written side) I got quite a few looks from others as I walked around but pretended to not see. This of course piqued all of the kid’s curiosity all through sacrament. If any of them asked what the circles were, I pretended not to see them and told them they were crazy! This of course would get giggles. By the time sharing time came around I read the scripture to them and we discussed what the scripture means when it talks about ‘spots’ and how they are really talking about our sins. Then the kids started to raise their hands and say that I had spots all over me and since I couldn’t see them I had them point one out and suddenly I could see that one (but only that one). So I removed the pin and read silently what it said. Acted surprised and horrified and said lets move on. The kids would never let me move on because they would HAVE TO KNOW what was on the other side of that spot and so after some reluctance I would read it out loud. All the kids were shocked that I had lied to my parents or stole money from my mom’s purse etc. Then someone else would point out another spot and another spot until slowly we read them all. Then we finished by discussing the scripture one more time and talking about repentance and how we can be forgiven of our sins and our spots can be removed if we repent. It was a BIG HIT. Then between the sharing times I would re pin all of them back to me to do it again with the next group. It was a memorable sharing time that really drove the message home.”
I thought that this idea would be great for this week’s Sharing Time. I’m not going to wear my spots to church, but I am planning on going down to the primary room about 10-15 minutes before Primary and begin pinning all of my ‘spots’ on me. As the children come in I will be sure to stand by the door to welcome them to Primary, hoping that they’ll notice the dots and question what they are. I will do as the sister did in the idea above.
To begin the Sharing Time you could read a scripture or discuss sin and compare it to spots.
Just like the idea above, discuss each of your ‘sin spots’. Explain that because of Jesus Christ, when we do something wrong we can repent, which means we stop sinning and turn to God. Explain that repentance includes feeling sorry, asking for forgiveness, righting the wrong, and not repeating the wrong. Briefly discuss these steps, emphasizing how the Savior can help us.
Since you will have spots all over, I thought this Mormonad would be great to show the primary children as you discuss the steps of repentance:
Some of them included: stole money from mom’s purse, told a lie to my teacher, cheated on a test at school, hit my brother, etc. That Sunday morning, before church, I put on a long skirt and top. I then proceeded to pin each of these circles to my skirt, shirt, hair, shoes etc. For the ones in my hair I had pulled my hair into a ponytail and wedged one or two in my hair. Then I went to church with all these spots on me. Make sure that the blank side is what everyone sees, not the written side) I got quite a few looks from others as I walked around but pretended to not see. This of course piqued all of the kid’s curiosity all through sacrament. If any of them asked what the circles were, I pretended not to see them and told them they were crazy! This of course would get giggles. By the time sharing time came around I read the scripture to them and we discussed what the scripture means when it talks about ‘spots’ and how they are really talking about our sins. Then the kids started to raise their hands and say that I had spots all over me and since I couldn’t see them I had them point one out and suddenly I could see that one (but only that one). So I removed the pin and read silently what it said. Acted surprised and horrified and said lets move on. The kids would never let me move on because they would HAVE TO KNOW what was on the other side of that spot and so after some reluctance I would read it out loud. All the kids were shocked that I had lied to my parents or stole money from my mom’s purse etc. Then someone else would point out another spot and another spot until slowly we read them all. Then we finished by discussing the scripture one more time and talking about repentance and how we can be forgiven of our sins and our spots can be removed if we repent. It was a BIG HIT. Then between the sharing times I would re pin all of them back to me to do it again with the next group. It was a memorable sharing time that really drove the message home.”
I thought that this idea would be great for this week’s Sharing Time. I’m not going to wear my spots to church, but I am planning on going down to the primary room about 10-15 minutes before Primary and begin pinning all of my ‘spots’ on me. As the children come in I will be sure to stand by the door to welcome them to Primary, hoping that they’ll notice the dots and question what they are. I will do as the sister did in the idea above.
To begin the Sharing Time you could read a scripture or discuss sin and compare it to spots.
Just like the idea above, discuss each of your ‘sin spots’. Explain that because of Jesus Christ, when we do something wrong we can repent, which means we stop sinning and turn to God. Explain that repentance includes feeling sorry, asking for forgiveness, righting the wrong, and not repeating the wrong. Briefly discuss these steps, emphasizing how the Savior can help us.
Since you will have spots all over, I thought this Mormonad would be great to show the primary children as you discuss the steps of repentance:
I also created a little handout to help the children remember the steps of repentance. They aren’t worded exactly like the steps in the outline, but the same idea. My husband actually used these steps while on his mission.
Just click the link below to print yours out.
Here is what they look like:
Need some other ideas? Here are some of my previous Sharing Time Ideas on repentance:
We Come Unto Christ by Repenting When We Make a Mistake.
Because of Christ’s Atonement I can Repent.
Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ I Can Repent & Be Forgiven.
As I Repent, I Can be Forgiven.
Thanks so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful day & a great Sharing Time!
