Yes, I Know Heavenly Father Loves Me

A true experience as related by Clara W. McMaster, composer of "My Heavenly Father Loves Me."

Sister McMasters is the composer of such well known favorites as "Reverently, Quietly" and "Teach Me to Walk in the Light." She is a gifted composer who has the ability to teach the simplicity of some of the great concepts of the Gospel.

Having been on the Primary General Board for a number of years, Sister Clara W. McMasters was asked to write a special song for the Primary theme for the year, which was "My Heavenly Father Loves Me." She felt that this would be a challenge, but one which would allow her to share her testimony in the language of children.

For the message of this special song to be engraved on the hearts of the children, it would need to come from Heavenly Father through inspiration. Sister McMasters felt that she would be the instrument for that inspiration, and prayed long and hard to receive what she needed to compose such a song.

As the time quickly passed and her deadline drew nearer, she felt somewhat discouraged, but her faith did not waiver. One day, as she sat down at her window, she heard a bird singing outside the window. She remembered how, as a young child, she would sit at her windowsill and listen to the birds singing outside on a nearby tree. But once again, her mind returned to the task at hand, composing the song which she had been assigned. She wondered why, if Heavenly Father loved her, she had not yet received the answer to her prayers for inspiration in her task.

Her mind once again drifted back to her youth, and how she loved to stand and look at the bright colors of the blue sky and feel the dewy roses with their velvet soft petals. Then the thought came to her mind, "Don't you know how I love you? Remember how it was when you were a child." Again, she remembered her childhood and the sweet fragrance of the lilac blossoms as she would walk by the lilac tree.

Once again, the thought entered her mind: "Don't you know how much I love you? Remember how you used to hear the rooster crow each morning, and the donkeys bray and horses neigh from the barnyard. Remember the strength of the wind as it scooped you up and blew you into a corner of the house. Remember how you would let the rain fall on your face because it felt so good to you? All of these things I gave to you, and you knew when you were a child that I loved you. You've known all your life that I love you."

It was at that moment that Clara McMasters knew what she would write to express the special love she felt from her Heavenly Father. All of these special memories of her childhood went into the words and feelings of the song which has become of favorite of both children and adults alike. This special song helps us all to express the love we feel from our Heavenly Father in the beautiful world he has given us to enjoy.

My Heavenly Father Loves Me

Whenever I hear the song of a bird or look at the blue, blue sky
Whenever I feel the rain on my face or the wind as it rushes by
Whenever I touch a velvet rose or walk by our lilac tree
I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world Heavenly Father created for me.

He gave me my eyes that I might see the color of butterfly wings
He gave me my ears that I might hear the magical sound of things
He gave me my life, my mind, my heart: I thank him reverently
For all his creations of which I'm a part. Yes, I know Heavenly Father loves me.

A Little Parable for Mothers

by Temple Bailey

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is the way long?" she asked. And her guide said, "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning.

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them and life was good, and the young mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

Then night came with a storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and col, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, "Oh, Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come." And the Mother said, "This is better than the brightness of day, for I have taught my children courage."

The morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary. The mother was weary, but at all times she said to the children, "A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and when they reached the top, they said, "We could not have done it without you, Mother." And the mother, when she lay down that night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the first, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday, I gave them courage, today I have given them strength."

The next day brought strange clouds which darkened the earth--clouds of war, hate, and evil, and the children groped and stumbled. The mother said, "Look up? Lift your eyes to the Light!" And it guided them and brought them beyond darkness. That night, the mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God."

The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years. The mother grew old, and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. When the way was hard, they helped their mother, and when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was light as a feather. At last they came to a hill and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide.

And the mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey, and now I know that the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them." Her children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."

They stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. They said, "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory; she is a living Presence."

Mother's Day Primary Ideas

Have the children fill out a quiz about their moms:

1. Where was your mother born?
2. When and where were your parents married?
3. How many brothers and sisters does your mother have?
4. What number child is she in her family?
5. When is her birthday?
6. What is her favorite color?
7. What color eyes does she have?
8. Where did she grow up?
9. What is her favorite hobby?
10. What household chore does she hate to do the most?
11. What's the thing that makes her the happiest?
12. My mother is the best at:

Send the quiz home so they can see how they did, and start a conversation for them to learn more about their mother.

Create a page for each child, starting with Dear Mom. Include lines so they can write a note to their mom, and a place for them to sign their name.

I Live in a Beautiful World

by Laurel Rohlfing

"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, who created the heavens and the earth.." (Doctrine & Covenants 14:9)

My Five Senses

I have two ears, which let me hear.

I have a nose, to smell.

I have  tongue to taste the food

I like to eat so well.

I have some skin--it covers me

And lets me feel and touch.

I have two eyes, which let me see

The world I love so much.

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ created our beautiful world for us. The prophet Nephi wrote: "The Lord hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it" (1 Nephi 17:36). We enjoy our world through our fives senses. We can enjoy a pretty flower by seeing it, smelling it, and touching it. We can hear the pleasant songs of birds and the thunder in a storm. We can taste vegetables and other good foods that grow in the earth. 

Instructions

Look at the pictures of things that Heavenly Father and Jesus made for us to enjoy in our beautiful world, then circle the sense that you would use to enjoy each one. When you have finished, count the number of times that you circled each sense, then color the pictures.

Obtain coloring book pictures of a bird, a flower, the rain, fruit, the sun, a cat, a butterfly, a tree, and a fish. Add each sense in a list next to each picture: seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching.

Primary Angel

by Charles E. Davis

"The word angel is also sometimes used to designate a human … who [does] God’s will." (See Bible Dictionary—Angels.) 

I once asked Dad if I would see an angel. He said that he didn’t know, but he hoped so. “They’re all around us, you know.”

Well, I saw one last Sunday, I think.

Before I tell you about it, though, I need to explain something. Sometimes Sundays are hard for me. I don’t understand much of what happens in sacrament meetings, and since my feet don’t touch the floor, my legs hurt from hanging over the bench. I think that parents ought to sit on giant chairs every week, dangling their legs above the ground while listening to someone speaking in a foreign language, so that they understand what it’s like.

Last Sunday was hard. Sacrament meeting had seemed extra long, and the baby behind us cried a lot. By the time I got to Sharing Time, I just wanted to go home to my pet caterpillar, Zipper. Jimmy Pasko and Fred Grey didn’t help, either. They kept talking to me about the movie they had seen on Saturday. It sounded a lot more interesting than Sharing Time.

I kept moving around on my chair, trying to get my legs to quit hurting. Finally I leaned my chair back against the wall and stretched my arms. It was an accident, but I hit the light switch, and all the lights turned off. A lot of the kids laughed. I quickly turned them back on. Then, for some reason, I flipped them off again—but that time it was on purpose.

That’s when the angel came,

I didn’t think she was an angel at first. She looked more like an upset Sister Eisen of the Primary presidency. She came from the front of the room, staring at me with wide blue eyes. She looked like Mom does when she has a headache and I’m pestering her.

Sister Eisen bent down and whispered, “Dan, let’s go outside for a moment.”

I thought that she would talk to me about being reverent and threaten to get my parents if I didn’t behave. But instead, after we left the room, she calmly asked, “Dan, how are you doing?”

I didn’t feel safe, so I shrugged my shoulders.

“Having a hard time today?” she asked then, still calm.

Feeling safer, I said, “I hate it in there. Sometimes I just hate Primary.” After I said it, I thought I had made a mistake. I was sure that she would talk to me about my attitude.

But she surprised me. She said, “Tell me why you hate it.”

I thought for a moment, then decided to tell her the complete truth. “My legs hurt from dangling over the seat in sacrament meeting, I didn’t understand what the speakers said, my chair is hard, it’s hot and noisy in the Primary room, I’m tired of sitting, Jimmy and Fred keep talking to me, and I wish I were somewhere else.”

Then she said, half smiling, “I know. Sometimes I wish that I were somewhere else too. So, what do you need to do, Dan?”

“I just need to walk around.”

“Do you need a drink?”

I thought for a second, then said, “No, not now. Just a walk.”

“How far?”

“Just to the end of the hall.”

She said, “OK. May I walk with you?”

“Sure,” I said. We started walking, but I stopped. I looked at her and said, “Sometimes you hate it here too?”

“Well,” she answered, “let’s say that sometimes I have a hard time being here.”

“Then why are you here? You’re a grown-up. No one makes you come.”

“Because,” she said, “it’s OK to do something we don’t like, especially when we know that it’s right.”

“What do you mean?”

She looked at me for a moment. “Dan, do you remember what happened at the end of Jesus’ life?”

“You mean when they nailed Him on the cross?”

“Yes. And even before that do you remember when He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and it was so painful that He bled from every pore?”

I told her I remembered that and also that they whipped Him and made fun of Him.

She then said, “You know, I don’t think that He liked doing any of those things. But He did it because He loved us and He knew that it was right. Did you know that He even asked Heavenly Father if there wasn’t another way?”

She paused, putting her hand on my shoulder. “So I figure that if He didn’t like doing hard things that were right, it’s OK if I don’t like doing hard things that are right. And it’s OK if you don’t like doing hard things, like being reverent in Sharing Time when you’re hot and tired.”

I noticed as she was talking that she kept putting her fingers on the side of her head. So I asked, “Is it hard for you today?”

“Yes,” she said. “I have a bad headache.”

I stood there for a moment, feeling very different than I had ever felt about Primary. I looked at Sister Eisen and said, “I don’t think I need to walk any farther. I can go back in now.”

She told me that she was glad, and we returned. Before we went in, she said, “You know, Dan, I really like you.”

I told her that most people did after they knew me.

She went to the front of the Primary room, and I sat down in my chair. After she sat down, she looked at me and smiled. Then she touched her fingers to both sides of her head, like Mom does when she has a headache, and winked.

Although my chair still felt hard, the room was still too hot, and Jimmy and Fred still kept trying to talk to me, I didn’t mind so much. I wondered as I watched Sister Eisen if Dad had been talking about her when he said that angels are all around us. I think I’ll tell him that I saw one last Sunday—and that she had a headache.

Standard Works Who's Who? Game

This could be played in teams or just as a group answering questions.

Attention Getter

Write "Old Testament," "New Testament," "Book of Mormon," Doctrine and Covenants," and "Pearl of Great Price" along the top of the chalkboard. Ask about and briefly discuss what each scriptural book contains. 

Old Testament - teachings from the Creation to just before Christ's birth

New Testament - teachings during Christ's mortal life and shortly thereafter

Book of Mormon - teachings of the people on the American Continent, the Nephites and the Lamanites 

Doctrine & Covenants - teachings for the Church in the last days, revelation generally given through Joseph Smith

Pearl of Great Price - further translations and revelations through Joseph Smith including teachings of Moses, Abraham, and Matthew, Joseph Smith's history, and the Articles of Faith

Game

1. Say a name of a scriptural character of author and ask in which of the standard works is the person best known.

2. Choose the first child to raise his/her hand.

3. Old children can write under the appropriate title. Younger children can say which is right.

4. Children could use their scriptures, if necessary.

Pick at random

Old Testament - Moses, Ruth, David, Noah, Daniel, Jonah, Job, Isaiah, Solomon, Ezekiel, Esther, Goliath, Samson, Adam, Eve, Abel, Cain, Abraham, Joshua, Joseph

New Testament - Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Jesus Christ, Mary, Joseph, John the Baptist, Paul, James, Peter, Judas Iscariot

Book of Mormon - Nephi, Lehi, Laman, Lemuel, Sam, Brother of Jared, King Laban, King Mosiah, King Noah, Alma, Ammon, Samuel the Lamanite, Ishmael, Mormon, Moroni, Helaman,, King Benjamin

Doctrine & Covenants - Joseph Smith, Peter Whitmer, Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris, Sidney Rigdon, Emma Smith

Pearl of Great Price - Abraham, Moses, Matthew, Joseph Smith

Discussion

As a name is place on the board, you may want to discuss who the person was and what he/she did.

Challenge

Challenge the children to really get to know these people through reading the scriptures.

Reverence Poem

Use the imagery in the poem to help the children remember to be reverent at church:

Quiet as a Flake of Snow

Quiet as a flake of snow
Quiet as the flowers grow
Quiet as a butterfly
Softly, softly, passing by
That's how quiet I will be
When I come to Primary

As Quiet As Can Be

As quiet as a mouse
As he eats his piece of cheese,
As quiet as a flag
Blowing gently in the breeze.
As quiet as a snail
As he crawls along the ground,
Or as quiet as a bubble
As it softly sails around.
As quiet as the smoke
As it twirls up out of sight,
Or as quiet as the stars
As they twinkle in the night.

This is how quiet I can be in Heavenly Father's house

Learning About the Savior

Objective

Each child will learn about the Savior by telling about an incident in His life and listing characteristics of the Savior.

Use pictures from the library depicting the Savior's life. Put children into small groups or split classes. The younger children might need help from their teacher. Briefly tell or have children in group tell about the events of the picture. Then talk about things you learn about the Savior. Such as: He loved people, He knelt to pray, He didn't get angry, He let everyone know the temple was a sacred place, etc. Have on of child stand with a picture, briefly tell the story to all the Primary children, and the things that he learned about Jesus Christ.

Some of the pictures you could use:

Jesus Stilling the Storm

Jesus Save Peter from Drowning

Feeding the Five Thousand

Jesus Washing the Disciples Feet

Jesus Blessing the Children

Jesus Visited the Temple

The Betrayal of Jesus

Jesus Praying in Gethsemane

Boy Jesus in the Temple

Jesus Blessing Jairus' Daughter

Jesus Raising Lazarus from the Dead 

The Love of a Mother

It takes a mother's love
To make a house a home,
A place to be remembered,
No matter where we roam.
It takes a mother's patience
To bring a child up right,
And her courage and her cheerfulness
To make a dark day bright.
It takes a mother's thoughtfulness
To mend the heart's deep "hurts,"
And her skill and her endurance
To mend little socks and shirts.

It takes a mother's kindness
To forgive us when we err,
To sympathize in trouble
And bow her head in prayer.
It takes a mother's wisdom
To recognize our needs,
And to give us reassurance
By her loving words and deeds.
It takes a mother's endless faith,
Her confidence and trust,
To guide us through the pitfalls
Of selfishness and lust.
And that is why in all this world
There could not be another
Who could fulfill God's purpose
As completely as a mother.

The Prophet's Love for His Parents

by Susan Arrington Madsen


The Prophet Joseph Smith knew his life was in danger. Angry mobs had followed him everywhere, threatening his life and the lives of his family. Then in the fall of 1838 he had been arrested again in Far West, Missouri.

As he was tied and pushed into a canvas-covered wagon, he asked for the privilege of saying good-bye to his mother, Lucy Mack Smith, who tearfully watched him being taken away. The officers refused to let the Prophet out of the wagon, so he called out to his mother to come closer. Searching frantically, Joseph found a rip in the canvas and reached out to touch his mother’s hand for one last good-bye. Just touching her hand seemed to be important to him as the wagon quickly pulled away and Joseph Smith was taken to the Liberty Jail. There he was confined to a dark, crowded dungeon for six months.

Joseph always felt a great love for both of his parents, and many stories tell of his concern for their welfare and his desire to honor them. One of these accounts tells of the time when Joseph was a young boy undergoing a leg operation. Rather than have his mother see or hear him suffer, he pleaded with her to leave the room during the painful ordeal. His other request was that he not be tied down, but that he be held in his father’s arms during the operation.

As Joseph grew older, he spent many days sitting at the bedside of his parents, nursing them back to health. Each time he moved his home to a new location he arranged for a house to be built near him for his parents to live in, so he would have them close by for their advice and company.

Joseph’s mother writes of the Prophet’s happiness when his father, Joseph Smith, Sr., was baptized in 1830: “… Joseph stood upon the shore, and taking his father by the hand, he exclaimed, with tears of joy, ‘Praise to my God! that I have lived to see my own father baptized into the true Church of Jesus Christ!’”

Another event that shows Joseph’s love and respect for his father happened one time after he had had a disagreement with his brother William. Joseph went to his father for advice and the dispute was settled when young Joseph obediently accepted his father’s counsel.

On one occasion Joseph testified what a blessing it was to have parents “whose mature years and experience [enable them to give] the most wholesome advice.”

As we remember the birthday of the Prophet Joseph on December 23rd, it is good to think about the great love and respect he had for his parents. And they, in return, loved and supported him. His mother and father were the first to hear and believe Joseph’s story of the appearance of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the Sacred Grove. Both the Prophet’s parents were present on April 6, 1830, the day the Church was organized. In 1833, his father was ordained the first patriarch in the Church, and a year later he became one of the assistant presidents.

So great was Joseph’s love for his parents that he wrote in his diary: “Blessed is my mother for her soul is ever filled with benevolence … and blessed is my father, for the hand of the Lord shall be over him.”

Friend to Friend by President Harold B. Lee

A family consisting of my grandmother, my mother, and two or three of the younger children were seated before an open door, watching the great display of nature’s fireworks as a severe thunderstorm raged near the mountain where our home was located. A flash of chain lightning followed by an immediate loud clap of thunder indicated that the lightning had struck very close.

I was standing in the doorway when suddenly and without warning my mother gave me a vigorous push that sent me sprawling on my back out of the doorway. At that instant, a bolt of lightning came down the chimney of the kitchen stove, out through the open doorway, and split a huge gash from top to bottom in a large tree immediately in front of the house. If I had remained in the door opening, I wouldn’t be writing this story today.

My mother could never explain her split-second decision. All I know is that my life was spared because of her impulsive, intuitive action.

Years later, when I saw the deep scar on that large tree at the old family home, I could only say from a grateful heart: Thank the Lord for that precious gift possessed in abundant measure by my own mother and by many other faithful mothers, through whom heaven can be very near in time of need.

During my young boyhood, there were many occasions when mother’s instructive and intuitive understanding prompted her to know that help was needed. Once on a stormy night she directed my father to go and search for me, only to find that my horse had stumbled and thrown me into a pool of half-frozen mud. My mother had known that help was needed.

Someone has coined a statement that has great significance: “God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.”

Within every child born into the world there is a heavenly gift. The Lord has revealed that this is the Light of Christ, or the Light of Truth. Even in early childhood, this gift gives to every person the ability to tell the difference between what is right and of the Lord and what is wrong and of the world. Sometimes we call this our conscience, or the voice of the Spirit of God within us.

Following baptism and as a blessing from the elders of the Church, we are given another gift—the gift of the Holy Ghost. As explained by the Master, this is to teach us that we may know the truth of all things, to bring all things to our remembrance, and to even show us things to come.

When one becomes a father or a mother, it is especially important that he or she prepares to receive, through these wonderful gifts from the Lord, the great gift of understanding necessary to raise children and make certain they are taught properly as commanded by the Lord. These heaven-sent instructions or warnings parents receive for their families might be called intuition or the voice of the Lord coming into their minds from heavenly sources to safeguard their homes. Parents have the responsibility of teaching and training in correct principles. Then when children are old enough and have the stability and responsibility to make mature judgments and right decisions, they will have received proper teaching from wise parents in the homes from which they have come.

From my experience, it would seem that faithful mothers have a special gift that we often refer to as mother’s intuition. Perhaps with the great blessing of motherhood, our Heavenly Father has endowed them with this quality, since fathers, busy in priesthood callings and with the work of earning a livelihood, never draw quite as close to heavenly beings in matters that relate to the more intimate details of bringing up children in the home. It might be described in this way: Father is the head, but Mother is the heart of the family home.

Pure Thoughts (Talk)

Introduction (picture of Jesus): Jesus wants us to become like Him. To be like Jesus we must have pure, clean thoughts in our minds.

Picture 1 (scriptures): Reading the scriptures and other good books will help us to think good thoughts and develop good character traits.

Picture 2 (The Friend): Choosing good magazines such as the Friend help us to keep our minds clean and encourage us to do good.

Picture 3 (Television): When we watch television, we should carefully choose wholesome programs. If there isn't anything on television that is uplifting, we should find other things to do like playing a game or reading a good book.

Picture 4 (Movies): We should attend only movies that encourage us to obey the Lord's commandments.

Closing: If we make careful choices about the things we read and watch, we can keep our minds clean and pure as Jesus would want us to.

Sunday Activities

Dear Family,

This is my Sunday Box. It will help me to find things to do on Sunday to keep the Sabbath day holy. I want to keep this commandment. Please help me cut out all the activities and fold them and put in them in my box. Then, I will choose a slip of paper from the box. If you will read it to me, I will know what I can do. I will put the paper back in the box to do another time. You can help me think up other good things to do on the Sabbath. Thank you for helping me and I love you!

Play a quiet game with someone in your family

Do a secret good deed for someone

Tell your family about your Primary lesson

Draw a picture of three of your blessings

Draw a picture of your family

Look at family pictures

Ask you mom or dad to tell you about when they were little

Visit a neighbor who is lonely or someone who is sick

Decorate a box or a jar to keep your tithing in

Listen to some soft music while you rest

Cut out some pictures and make an "I am thankful for . . ." picture

Look at books about the scriptures or have someone read you a scripture story

Draw a picture of a temple to remind you that you want to get married in the temple

Make a picture to send to a missionary. Have someone help you write a message on it

Have someone tell you about when you were a baby. Draw your baby picture or look at your baby pictures

Go on a nature walk with someone. When you come back, draw a picture of the beautiful creations you saw

Make a picture book about Jesus. Draw a picture of when he was born, when he was baptized, when he was at the Last Supper, and when he prayed in Gethsemane

Have someone help you make a list of all the things you can think of that you are grateful for

The Miraculous Story of Elijah

By Pat Graham

Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, …
And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. (D&C 2:1, 2.)

The promise the Lord made through his prophets was that a time would come when everyone, living or dead, would have the opportunity for baptism and temple blessings. About 900 years before Christ, Elijah had the keys, or authority, to use priesthood sealing powers on earth and in heaven. In the latter days his mission was to bring that authority back to earth so that genealogy and temple work could be done.

Illustrated by Beverly Glazier

Instructions: Read the statements about Elijah, then number the pictures to match the statements.

Illustrated by Beverly Glazier

1. Because the people were wicked, Elijah sealed the heavens so that it wouldn’t rain.
2. Ravens brought food to Elijah during the famine.
3. A widow shared her last flour and oil with Elijah and was promised her supply would last.
4. The widow’s son became sick and died. God answered Elijah’s prayers, and the boy lived again.
5. Elijah called down fire from heaven in a contest with the wicked priests of Baal, hoping the people would then believe in the true God.
6. Elijah divided the waters of the Jordan River by hitting the water with his mantle, or cloak.
7. Elijah did not die, but was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire.
8. About 400 B.C. the prophet Malachi prophesied that Elijah would return the power and keys for sealing to the earth.
9. On September 21, 1823, Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith. After telling Joseph about the golden plates, Moroni quoted Malachi and foretold Elijah’s coming.
10. On April 3, 1836, Elijah came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple in Ohio. Because the prophecy of Malachi was fulfilled, families can now be sealed for eternity, and genealogy and temple work is done for the dead.

Sharing Time Ideas

1. Enlarge pictures and have children hold them out of sequence. Tell story, and have children arrange pictures in correct order.
2. Plan a scripture chase to present entire story of Elijah. (Read particularly 1 Kgs. 17–18 and 2 Kgs. 2.)
3. Provide a copy of the page for each child. Discuss with them Elijah’s mission as they cut out pictures and glue them in correct order on colored paper.

Ways to Make Studying the Scriptures a Happy Primary Activity

Study the scriptures. This admonition is given to all of us. Primary is a great place to teach children about the scriptures, and hopefully, motivate them to want to learn more and develop their own reading habits. Here are some ideas that may help the children become familiar with the scriptures in a fun and exciting way.

Scriptures Blanks

Write out several scriptures ahead of time on a chalkboard or on large sheets of poster paper. Leave out several key words in each scripture. In place of the deleted words, leave numbered blanks. Now, have the children try to provide the correct missing words. Each person writes down and checks his own responses as the answers are read, or gives his responses orally. One variation of this activity is to have the deleted words printed on cards. The cards are passed out to the children and each person with a word card tries to fit his word into the correct blank position. 

Drama and Discussion

Assign character roles to some of the children. For example, one child might be Alma; another, King Benjamin; another, Paul; someone else, Moses; and so on. (Don't leave the girls out--they can be a Moses or an Alma as well). They can choose or you can assign other children to be their "aides." After the roles are assigned and "aides" or "teams" have been chosen, tell the children that at a designated time, Alma, King Benjamin, Paul, Moses, etc., and their aides will assemble for a discussion on repentance. The assignment will be for each child and aides to study the scriptures that are given to them to determine what the person he will portray said on the subject of repentance (or any subject of your choosing). Dressing up in simple makeshift costumes will add some excitement to this activity. 

Scripture Order

Separate a long scripture into several parts with each part containing a statement or phrase. Write each statement or phrase on a different sheet of paper. Pass the papers out to the children. Now see if they can line themselves up in the correct order of the scriptures. If they are not successful, have the other children help.

Who Is It?

Each child finds a scripture that relates to a scriptural personality (or the person conducting may give him one--or, better still, assign the children their characters a week in advance and have them learn about their character during the week; this would take some follow-up calls). Now, give the children the scripture that goes with their assigned character. The scripture either tells about that person or includes words spoken by that person. The child does not tell anyone his chosen scripture. 

Example: The first child has the scripture Matthew 16:16 - "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art Christ, the Son of the Living God." The child gives out clues, one at a time, until the personality is discovered to be Peter. The first clue should attempt to place the character in time. "This man lived on earth when Jesus lived on earth." More clues follow. After someone identifies Peter, the child reads his scripture. (Be sure to explain the meaning of the scripture to the children.) The next child begins by taking his place next to the person already standing in front of the group. If his scripture personality lived on earth before Peter, he stands on the right side of Peter; and for his first clue he says, "This person lived on earth before Peter did." He then gives additional clues until someone can guess which scripture personality he represents, and the game continues.

Guess the Word

Print the scripture on a large sheet of poster paper or chalkboard. Cover each word with a separate blank card or piece of paper. If the scripture has 20 words, prepare 20 slips of paper numbered 1 through 20. Let the children draw the numbers out of a box, passing the box around until all slips of paper have been drawn. The child who has the slip of paper numbered 1 is first to ask that a word of the scripture be uncovered. He asks to see any one word. Then he tries to guess what the scripture might be by the one-word clue. The child with the number 2 is next to pick which word he wishes to uncover. Now he has two words upon which to base his guess. The game continues until the scripture has been guessed or all the words have been uncovered.

Discovery Discussion

Have several copies of the standard works available. Select a gospel topic and announce that there will be a discussion on that subject. Then ask the children to find supporting scriptures for the discussion by consulting the scriptures. Two or more groups might work in competition to see which group can find the most usable references in a given time limit. A variation of this activity is to divide the children into four groups, with each group being concerned with only one of the standard works. One group of person searches out and then discusses materials found in the Bible. The other three groups are working similarly with the three other standard works. After study and discussion time within groups, a spokesman from each group reports main ideas to the entire Primary. 

Proper Order

A good activity to introduce a new scripture. Pick the number of children to come to the front as there are words in the scripture. Let the children remaining try to put the children and the word that has been given to them in the proper order. After the scripture is in order, have each child holding a word concentrate on remembering only his word. After the scripture has been repeated several times by each person saying his word in turn, the person in charge asks if anyone thinks he can remember more than his own words. The first person to remember all the words to the scripture wins the scripture game.

Which Source?

Prepare several slips of paper on each of which is noted a verse from a story or activity in one of the standard words. Examples might be the Joseph Smith story, the Word of Wisdom, King Benjamin's oration, John the Baptist baptizing Jesus, John the Baptist conferring the priesthood of Aaron on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, Isaiah speaking of the birth of Christ, and the Lord creating worlds without end, etc. Fold these slips of paper so the writing cannot be seen and place them in a box from which they can be drawn. Prepare four signs, each of a different color: Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, Pearl of Great Price. Assign colors to each sign and make small squares of each of the four colors. To play this game, the children take turns drawing the prepared slips of paper from the box. Each person reads the slip he has drawn and then decides form which standard work this information comes. He walks to the corner of the room where the sign of his chosen standard work is located. If he makes a correct choice, then he picks up a colored square of paper next to the sign. The winner of the game is the child who first succeeds in gathering one colored square from each of the four standard words. Teams could also be chosen, and competition between the teams would add some excitement.

Match It

This is a good activity for younger children. Have the children match selected scriptures with appropriate pictures.

Draw the Story

This is a good activity for Junior Primary. Tell the children a scripture story, and have the children illustrate the story they have just heard. For example, tell the story of Noah. Now give the children some choices: "Would you like to draw a picture of Noah building the ark? Maybe drawing the animals would be fun. Or you can make a picture of the rains starting, etc." 

A E I OU Mystery

A scripture is printed without vowels on the chalkboard or poster board. Children will enjoy filling in the vowels to make the words complete and the main idea is introduced, reinforced, or reviewed. 

Puzzle Code

Assign a letter to each number of the alphabet that is used in the scripture (Ex: A=1, B=2, C=3, etc.) The children solve the puzzle by using the puzzle code to fill in the correct letters. Children solve the puzzle by using the puzzle code to fill in the correct letters. Children can work individually, in pairs, or as a team. If the puzzle is on the chalkboard or chart, children can take turns filling in the puzzle. 

Time Line of the Savior's Life Activity

Preparation

1. Obtain from the library at least twelve pictures depicting different times during the Savior's life.
2. One 12-foot clothesline, light rope, or heavy yarn (strong enough to hold up the pictures).
3. Clothespins--one for each of the pictures chosen of the Savior.

Procedure

Have two children hold the ends of the clothesline. Have the pictures of the Savior hanging on the bulletin board or wall out of order. Call on a child to come up and put one of the pictures of the Savior on the clothesline. The pictures are to be put on the clothesline in the order that they happened. As the pictures are chosen, they may be discussed, or for the Junior Primary, a summary of the Savior's life may be given before the children begin choosing the pictures. When all of the pictures are hung in order on the clothesline, the children should have a better understanding of the Savior's life. 

Make Your Own Scriptures - Art Activity

Preparation: Give each child a "booklet" (8-10 pieces of paper) and crayons

Help younger children make their own scriptures. Tell them a scripture story (ideas below) and pause during the story to let them draw what is happening.

Genesis 6, 7, 8 - Noah's Ark

Mosiah 27 - The conversion of Alma the Younger

1 Nephi 3, 4 - Nephi and the Brass Plates

Ether 2, 3:1-16 - Brother of Jared and Sixteen Stones

Joseph Smith History 1 - Joseph Smith's First Vision

Daniel 6 - Daniel in the den of lions

Summary: Retell the story as they look at their pictures.

Challenge: Challenge them to tell the story or stories to their family, using their "scriptures."

Who Is It? Scripture Guessing Game

Attention Getter

Tell the children you are thinking of someone in the room, then describe this person (hair color, boy or girl, sibling, etc.) Have the children guess who it is.

Game

List characteristics of a scriptural character and have the children guess who it is. Note: This activity might be best used as a review. 

Ideas

Jesus Christ - Called people to repentance, baptized by John the Baptist, healed people, gave the Sermon on the Mount, told parables, was crucified, son of Mary and Joseph, born in Bethlehem

Moses - Performed miracles, brought water from a rock, grew up in Egypt, spoke with God, sent plagues upon Egypt, parted the Red Sea

Abraham - Father of many nations, married to Sarah, father of Isaac

Jacob - Was a twin, worked for many years in order to marry his wives, Israel was his other name, had 12 sons

Nephi - Recorded events of his time, taught his brothers, obtained brass plates from King Laban, son of Lehi

King Lamoni - Unrighteous before converted, killed shepherds, freed Ammon's brothers, converted by Ammon

Brother of Jared - Large and mighty man, asked the Lord not to confound his people's language, built barges, prepared stones to light the barges

Moroni - Recorded much of his father's teachings, one of only 24 remaining Nephites, appeared to Joseph Smith, delivered plates to Joseph Smith

Mormon - Kept records, a general, refused to lead the Nephite armies because of wickedness, killed by Lamanites, Moroni's father

Noah - Ordained to the Priesthood when he was 10, his was only righteous family on earth, obeyed God's commandments, was persecuted, built an ark

Adam - Known as the Ancient of Days, had a pure and perfect language, also known as Michael, Cain and Abel's father, first man on earth

Helaman - Military commander, preserved Urim and Thummim, led sons of the Ammonites in battle (also known as the 2,000 stripling warriors)

Alma - Nephite prophet, founder of the Church, judged and regulated the Church, son was an unbeliever until struck helpless and dumb, baptized Limhi and his people

Joseph Smith - Leader of the Church, used the Urim and Thummim, persecuted and slain for his beliefs, visited by Moroni, translator of the Book of Mormon

How Well Do We Know the Scriptures?

Help your family to enjoy an evening of activities that test what they know about the scriptures, increase their knowledge of the scriptures, and give them a desire to know more.

Suggestions for Family Involvement

Choose from the suggested games and activities those which are best suited for your family. You may wish to do each game or activity without keeping score, or you may wish to give each family member a piece of paper upon which to write his score for each activity. Each one may add his score at the end of the evening. Younger children will need help in keeping and adding their scores. Arouse interest in this home evening by asking older family members to make copies of the activities when a copy is needed for each person.

Games and Activities

Matches from the scriptures

Every family member should have a copy of the following four sets of activities. Follow the instructions that are given above each set of matches. To score, after each set allow one point for each correct answer. Allow young children, who will make matches, five points for each correct match.

Set 1: 

Write the name of the correct father in the space provided by the name of each son. 

Fathers:

Abraham __________

Adam __________

David __________

Lehi __________

Isaac __________

Jacob __________

Jesse __________

Joseph __________

Saul __________

Mormon __________

Zacharias __________

Zebedee __________

Sons: 

David

Jacob

Moroni

Isaac

James

Jonathan

John the Baptist

Cain

Joseph

Absalom

Nephi

Ephraim

Answers: 

Jesse-David

Jacob-Isaac

Mormon-Moroni

Abraham-Isaac

Zebedee-James

Saul-Jonathan

Zacharias-John the Baptist

Adam-Cain

Jacob-Joseph

David-Absalom

Lehi-Nephi

Joseph-Ephraim

Set 2

Draw a line from the name of the husband to the name of the wife.

Husbands:

Adam

Ahab

Boaz

Isaac

Joseph

Jacob

Zacharias

Lehi

Abraham

Wives:

Elisabeth

Sarah

Rush

Jezebel

Rebekah

Sariah

Rachel

Eve

Mary

Answers:

Adam-Eve

Ahab-Jezebel

Boaz-Ruth

Isaac-Rebekah

Joseph-Mary

Jacob-Rachel

Zacharias-Elisabeth

Lehi-Sariah

Abraham-Sarah

Set 3:

Write the name of the correct brother in the space provided.

Aaron __________

Abel __________

Andrew __________

Esau __________

Shem __________

James __________

Benjamin __________

Manasseh __________

Nephi __________

Solomon __________

Options: 

Ham

Laman

Ephraim

Joseph

John

Moses

Jacob

Peter

Cain

Absalom

Answers:

Aaron-Moses

Abel-Cain

Andrew-Peter

Esau-Jacob

Shem-Ham

James-John

Benjamin-Joseph

Manasseh-Ephraim

Nephi-Laman

Solomon-Absalom

Set 4:

Draw a line from the man to the object with which he is associated. You may wish to have family members briefly recall aloud the story related to each object.

Men:

Noah

Job

Benjamin

Samson

Jacob

Daniel

Joseph

David

Joshua

Judas

Laban

Answers:

coat of many colors

lions

harp

thirty pieces of silver

walls that fell

boils

brass plates

long hair

ladder 

ark

cup

Answers:

Noah-ark

Job-boils

Benjamin-cup

Samson-long hair

Jacob-ladder

Daniel-lions

Joseph-coat

David-harp

Joshua-walls

Judas-silver

Laban-brass plates

Putting the Books in Order

Cut slips of paper all the same size. On each slip, write the name of one of the books of the Book of Mormon. (See the list on the page opposite the first chapter of the Book of Mormon.) Hide the slips in plain sight. (Young children will enjoy finding these slips.)

Give each family member a point for each slip he finds and returns in good condition. Give him another point if he can name the book that goes before this book and another if he can also name the book that comes after. Arrange the books on the floor or on a table in their proper order. The game could be repeated if desired, using names from the Old Testament, New Testament, or the Pearl of Great Price. 

This game may be varied by beginning with the books placed in proper order and asking one person to leave the room. Then have someone hide one of the slips. When the person returns to the room, give him two points if he can look at the list and tell which book is missing and one more point if he can find the slip you have hidden in a given time. 

For another activity with the books of the scriptures, pass paper and pencil to each family member and have him write as many books as he can in order from each of the standard works, beginning with the first book of each volume. Allow one point for each book named in its correct order. 

Twenty Questions

Have one player leave the room while the others choose a person from the scriptures whose name he must guess by asking twenty questions. He must word each question so it can be answered by yes or no. Appoint one family member to keep a count of the number of questions asked. The person guessing must avoid asking "Is it (name)?" and giving a name until he is sure he is correct, or it is his last question. If he guesses wrong, he receives no score. If his answer is right, his score is determined by subtracting the number of questions he has asked from twenty. 

I Am Thinking of a Person

The person chosen to be the leader of this game things of a person from the scriptures and whispers the name to the one conducting. He then says, "I am thinking of a person who _____________," and tells one fact about this person. (He tries to give a fact that will not readily reveal the identity of the person of whom he is thinking.) Each member of the family, in turn, has a chance to guess who this person is. When a person correctly guesses the answer, he receives one point and becomes the leader.

If no one guesses correctly, the leader gives another fact about the person of whom he is thinking, and everyone has another turn to guess. This process continues until the right name is guessed.

Names from the Scriptures

Pass each person a piece of paper and ask him to make a list of names that he knows are found in the scriptures. Give each one point for each name (allow five points for young children). Now ask each one to make a list of names found in the scriptures which are not commonly used today and allow one point for each name. (Examples: Jehosephat, Habakuk, Bathsheba, Nebuchadnezzar, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego.) The family can have fun pronouncing these unusual names.

Fill in the Blanks

Ask family members to number from 1 to 10 down the left side of a piece of paper. Read the following scripture verses, saying "black" for every word omitted. Each person tries to write down each word omitted by the proper number. Each will receive one point for each correct word. If necessary, check the answers by looking up the scripture verses.

1. __________ is light, and in him is no __________ at all. (1 John 1:5)
2. If we walk in the light . . . we have __________ one with another. (1 John 1:7)
3. He that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth __________; and that __________ growth __________ and __________ until the perfect day. (Doctrine & Covenants 50:24)
4. I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in __________, but shall have the light of __________. (John 8:12)
5. Thy word is a __________ unto my feet, and a __________ unto my path. (Psalms 119:105)
6. I send thee to open their eyes and to turn them from __________ to __________, and from the power of Satan unto __________. (Acts 26:17, 18)
7. Walk as children of light. (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all __________ and __________ and __________.) (Ephesians 5:8, 9)