You are a Child of Your Heavenly Father (Sharing Time Play)

Set Up: Signs around necks - REPORTER, SPIRIT, EARTHLY FAMILY. Signs on wall - PRE EARTH LIFE, EARTH LIFE.

Reporter:  (with microphone, pencil pad, and hat, talking to the audience): Good afternoon. I'm the Heavenly Roving Reporter covering interesting events across the universe. This looks like an interesting place.

PRE EARTH LIFE (sign above children)

Reporter:  Excuse me. Would you tell me where we are?

Child 1:  We are in the spirit world.

Reporter: I see. Then you must all be spirits?

Child 1: That's right! As you can see, we do not have bodies of flesh and bones, but our spirit bodies look similar to the physical bodies we will have on earth.

Reporter: Is everyone here like you?

Child 2: Well, our Heavenly Father has a body of flesh and bones.

Reporter: Is he really your father?

Child 2: Yes, He is our father. We are His spirit children. We look like Him, just as we will look like our earthly parents. He loves us and we obey Him because we love and respect Him.

Reporter: Does everyone always obey your Heavenly Father?

Child 3: No. We had a brother named Lucifer who rebelled against our Father. Lucifer or the devil refused to follow our Heavenly Father. Many of our brothers and sisters followed him.

Reporter: Were they punished?

Child 3: Yes. Because of their actions, they had to leave this beautiful place and they cannot receive a body like the rest of us.

Reporter: Is it important to receive a body?

Child 4: Oh, yes! We have worked very hard to prepare to go to earth. There is much we must learn and do.

Child 5: We want to do our best so wee can return again to live with our Heavenly Father.

Reporter: Do you think it will be hard to live as you should on earth?

Child 5: Yes, but our oldest brother Jesus will prepare a way for us to return to our Father in Heaven and the Holy Ghost will help guide us.

Reporter: You look like you are going someplace special. Can you tell me where?

Child 4: I am on my way to earth. I am a little frightened, but I know I am a child of God and that He love me very much. Goodbye everybody! (takes sign from around neck then moves over to sign EARTH LIFE. He/she could join a family with a sign - EARTHLY FAMILY.)

Reporter: There you have it viewers. ________________ is on her way to earth where I hope she will find a very special family. We will return now to our regularly scheduled program -- Sing along with Sister ____________________.

Everyone: Sings "I am a Child of God"

Possible Discussion Questions:

Where did we live before we came to earth?
Who is the Father of your spirits?
Who is the brother who rebelled?
Who is our oldest brother?
What kind of bodies did we have in the spirit world?
What kind of body does our Heavenly Father have?
Why do we want to return to live with our Father in Heaven?
Who came to earth to prepare a way for us to return to Heavenly Father?
Who will help guide us while we are on the earth?

Summary:

In the Pearl of Great Price, we learn that long before we came to this earth, we lived as spirit children with our Father in Heaven. We were told that our Heavenly Father would make it possible for our spirits to come to earth and receive physical bodies of flesh and bone. We were so happy with our Father's plan that we "shouted for joy".

It should be easy to love, honor, and respect ourselves when we remember why we came to earth and in whose image we are formed. Remember, Heavenly Father wants us to succeed in our earth life and looks forward to our return to be with Him.