I am a Member of Heavenly Father's Family

Purpose:

To understand we are all members of Heavenly Father's family and can show love for one another and ourselves.

Prior Preparation:

Make a copy of "How I Am Like Others" for the entire Primary. Provide pencils for each child. Find out birthdays and number of siblings of Primary Board. Bring chalk and eraser or dry erase marker and cloth.

Greet the children as they come into Primary as "Hello Brother (last name)" and "Hello Sister (last name)". As Jr. Primary gives the opening exercises, present them as Brother . . . or Sister . . . In Sr. Primary, during singing time, have your music leader call on Brother . . . or Sister . . . as she chooses people.

As you being sharing time, ask the children why we are called Brother and Sister in the church. Explain we really are brothers and sisters and members of heavenly Father's family. Just as members in a family have things in common, we as members of Heavenly Father's family have things in common. Tell the children that today they'll find out some of those things.

Worksheet Activity: Use the worksheet "How I Am Like Others"

Suggestions for using the worksheet: Pair classes together to have adequate numbers of children in groups; i.e. Sunbeams and CTR 4. Give a worksheet and pencil to each child. Have children fill out the sheets by using other children in their group. After the time limit (3 or 4 minutes), have one child from each class stand and read what they've written. As the children read their papers, comment on things in common with the Primary presidency; i.e., our pianist has her birthday in that month as well!

Chalkboard Discussion:

How should we treat members of Heavenly Father's family? (love each other, be kind, etc.) Write down responses. Only take a few minutes.

Who are members of Heavenly Father's family? (Friends, parents, etc.) Continue asking for responses until someone says, "Me/You." Stop when you receive this response.

Conclusion:

Point out that to love other people, we need to love ourselves first. The scriptures say to "love thy neighbor as thyself" (Leviticus 19:18).

Worksheet:

How I Am Like Others

1. Someone whose hair is the same color as mine: __________________.

2. Someone whose birthday is the same month as mine ____________________.

3. Someone whose eyes are the same color as mine __________________.

4. Someone who has the same number of brothers as me ___________________.

5. Someone who has the same number of sisters as me __________________.