At the Age of Eight, We are Accountable to Heavenly Father

Chalkboard Discussion

Tell the children that being accountable means that they are responsible for what they do.

Print the word accountable on the chalkboard, and say the word aloud. Have the children repeat it. Explain that when they are eight years old, Heavenly Father considers them old enough to be accountable for their actions.

Explain that this word will help them understand more about the importance of being eight years old and the responsibilities that come with baptism.

Situation

Relate the following situation (you may wish to have a child go through the actions):

Suppose your mother sends you to the store with some money and says, "Please buy a loaf of bread, and bring me back the money that is left over."

You go to the store, choose a loaf of bread, give the money to the clerk, and he gives you some change.

When you take the bread home, you put it on the table. Your mother asks, "Did you bring the loaf of bread? Did you bring back the change?"

You answer her, "Yes, the bread is on the table." You give her the change.

When your mother gives you money and sends you on an errand it means you are old enough to be responsible for going to the store and to be accountable to her for what you do with the money and the bread.

Discussion

Have you ever returned home from Primary, from a friend's house, or from school and had one of your parent say, "Tell me what you did today?"

Point out that when they report to their parents and tell their parents what they have done, the children are accounting for their actions. Parents love their children. This is why they want to know what their children do at home, school, and play.

Article of faith

Our Heavenly Father loves us also, and like our parents, He wants us to report or be accountable to Him for the good things we do and for the mistakes we make. Sometimes our mistakes are sins. Have the class repeat the second Article of Faith together.

"We believe that men will be punished for their owns sins, and not for Adam's transgression."

Discussion

Point to the word accountable on the chalkboard, and ask the children to say the word aloud. Tell them that they are able to account to their parents and to Heavenly Father.

Write CTR on the chalkboard. Have the children tell you what these letters stand for. Explain that the children all know what is right and wrong and are becoming responsible for their actions.

Activity

Give a child the book. Tell him he is responsible to take care of it. Explain that this child will be accountable for that book. If it gets lost, torn, drawn in, or otherwise damaged, he will have to answer to you. He will be accountable to you for the book.

Give another child the ball. Explain that he will be responsible for this ball just as the other child is responsible for the book.

If this ball disturbs the class or breaks a window, who would be accountable?

Give the third child the bag of candy. Be sure to choose a child that you feel will handle this well. Tell the child he is to share the bag of candy with the entire class after the closing prayer (or at the end of sharing time). He is to responsible for keeping the candy safe until it is time to share it.

Explain that this is similar to life. Heavenly Father's plan gives us choices. We may choose right or wrong, wisely or foolishly. We are responsible for our choices and the results.

Tell the children that you will ask some questions to help them determine what they are accountable for and what others must account for. Have the children answer the questions together.

1. Who is accountable for preparing your meals? (Accept any answer.)
2. Who is accountable for washing your hands? (I am.)
3. Who is accountable for taking care of your toys? (I am.)
4. Who is accountable for teaching you to read and write? (My teacher/parents.)
5. Who is accountable for the way you read and write? (I am.)
6. Who is accountable for teaching you to pray? (My parents.)
7. Who is accountable for saying your prayers? (I am.)
8. Who is accountable for teaching you the lessons in Primary? (My teacher.)
9. Who is accountable for learning what your teacher teaches? (I am.)
10. Who is accountable for the way you act in Primary? (I am.)
11. Who is accountable for what Heavenly Father and Jesus want you to do? (I am.)
12. Who is accountable for keeping your baptismal covenant? (I am.)

Give each child the opportunity to tell another way he is accountable. This could include being kind to friends, telling the truth, cleaning his room, or keeping the promises he has made.

Have the children with the book and ball account to you for their actions with those objects. Have them return the items to you, and praise them if they have done well.

Conclude by telling them that this is an important time in the children's lives, but they are not alone. They have parents and leaders to guide and help them. They also have Heavenly Father and Jesus to love them and guide them. After baptism, they have the Holy Ghost to prompt them. More and more, they will be able to show everyone that they are old enough to be responsible and to account for what they do and that Heavenly Father, Jesus, and others are right in having confidence in them.

Have the child with the candy account to you for his actions with the candy. Then have him give on to each child.