Sacrament Meeting Program Worksheet ~ 2011

This is a worksheet that allows leaders to let Primary children “write” the Sacrament Meeting Program themselves.  Each child/class is given a topic (see below) and invited to share his or her feelings about the topic, with some guidance by leaders and teachers.  A leader then types up the program and gives a copy to each leader and teacher.  Individual parts are given to parents of children to practice at home.  

Those children giving “talks” may need more time or prefer to write their talks at home.

HOW TO USE THIS WORKSHEET: Print out two copies of this document.  Cut one up and assign the scriptures, talks, and short speaking assignments out to the children in your Primary.  Add or remove topics as needed.  Some younger children may simply restate the topic, and that's fine.  You may wish to assign older children the discussion-style questions.  

The leader that came up with this method held 2 classes behind each Sunday after opening exercises for 10 minutes and let them work on their parts (reminding teachers in advance).  In that way, working on the program didn’t take time away from Sharing Time and was minimally intrusive on class time.  You can have the same child or an adult leader read all the scriptures. You might also have someone hold up a sign that has the monthly theme on it before each new section.

This is the method shared with me by J. Larsen.  She provided a copy of her 2005 version, and I have adapted it for this year's theme.  ~ Jenny Smith

I KNOW THE SCRIPTURES ARE TRUE

The primary children sit quietly and hum If I Listen with My Heart
as the leaders stand at the podium together saying each of their parts.

Primary Leader: This year the children in our Primary had the opportunity to study the scriptures. scriptures are the word of God. As your children have prayerfully read the scriptures and applied the principles taught in them – both at church and at home -- they have learned about Heavenly Father’s plan, the mission of Jesus Christ, the role of prophets, the Restoration of the Church, and the blessings of the temple. They are learning to feel the influence of the Holy Ghost. That influence will help every Primary child be able to say, “I know the scriptures are true.”

Primary Leader: To prepare for this sacrament presentation, each child has been given a topic from this year's theme, “I know the scriptures are true.”  Our children's answers to those questions will be as unique as we are.  Some might share a personal experience while others of us a direct response in our own words.  We invite you to ponder these questions and the messages about the scriptures in what we say and sing today.

*: “If I Listen with Heart” (page 28 CSMP)

Scripture Reading: “Feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things ye should do” (2 Nephi 32:3).

Speaker:  Because I know the are the word of God I ______________.

Speaker: We should feast upon the words of Christ.  This means ____________.

Speaker:  words of Christ will tell us all things we should do.  I obey Christ's word in the scriptures by _______________.

Talk:  “How I know the scriptures are true”

Song: “I Will Follow God’s Plan” ( , –65)

Scripture Reading: “For behold, this is my work and my glory―to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).

Speaker: Father has a plan for me.  This makes me feel _________.

Speaker: Christ created the earth for me.  My favorite creation Jesus made is ___________.

Talk:  are central to Heavenly Father’s plan.  My family wants to live together with Heavenly Father.  We are working to follow God's plan for us by _______(list some things you do together, like scripture reading, family home evening, prayer, etc)_____.  Each member of family is special to me because ________________.  

Song: “Stand for the Right” ( , )

Scripture Reading: I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, . . . whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38).

Speaker:  Prophets speak for Heavenly Father.  I can read/hear the prophet's words when I _________.

Talk:  “My favorite prophet”

Speaker:  are led by a living prophet today.  His name is ______________.  I like it when the prophet ________________.

Speaker:  is safety in following the prophet.  ____(list a commandment the child follows)_____ me to be safe.

Scripture Reading: “We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by
obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel” (Articles of Faith 1:3).

Speaker:  Christ was chosen to be our Savior. A savior is ____________________.

Speaker: Christ is the perfect example for me.  I love the story when Jesus _________________.

Speaker:  the Atonement of Christ all mankind may be saved.  I am grateful for the Atonement because ______________.

Talk:  Christ was resurrected, and I will be too.  This makes me feel ____________.

Talk:  “What I've learned about Jesus Christ by studying the scriptures”

Song: “Praise to the Man,” verses 1 and 3 ( , . 27)

Scripture  reading: “I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the ― is My Beloved Son. Hear Him! ” ( Joseph Smith―History 1:17).

Talk: The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored.  [Child briefly describes what he knows about the Restoration.]

Speaker:  Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration.  I know Joseph Smith is a prophet because __________________.

Speaker: The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.  My favorite Book of Mormon story is __________________________.

[11-year old boy] Speaker: The priesthood has been restored.  I am preparing to receive the priesthood myself by __________________________.

Scripture reading: “We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Articles of Faith 1:4).

Speaker: Faith in Jesus Christ leads us to love Him, trust Him, and keep His commandments.  

Speaker:  Repentance brings forgiveness.  It is important to repent because ___________.  It is important to forgive others because ______________.

[baptized child] Speaker: When I am baptized, I make a covenant with God..  That covenant is ____________.  I try to keep that covenant by ________________.

[baptized child] Talk:  “A time the Holy Ghost comforted or guided me”

Song: “I Love to See the Temple” ( , 95)

Scripture reading: “Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” paragraph 3).

Speaker: God has commanded His people to build temples.  Today we are blessed to have temples around the world.  I would like to visit the _________________________ temple(s).

Speaker:  My family has been blessed through sacred temple ordinances, because __________.

Speaker: The pioneers worked hard and sacrificed to build temples.  A pioneer story I like is when _________________.

[eldest Primary girl] Talk: “I am preparing to go to the temple by”

Song: “The Lord Gave Me a Temple” ( , 153)

Scripture Reading: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? . . . The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Corinthians 3:16–17).

Speaker: My body is a temple.  This means ____________.

[girl] Speaker: Dressing modestly shows respect for Heavenly Father and myself.  I will dress modestly by ________________.

Speaker: Living the Word of Wisdom shows respect for my body.  I will live the Word of Wisdom by _____________________.

Speaker: Reading, watching, and listening to wholesome things keeps my mind clean. I will keep my my mind clean by ________________________.

Closing remarks: by Bishopric, Branch Presidency, or Primary Presidency.