For Little Friends

By Marianne Wilson McKnight

Gunnar’s Testimony

By Marianne Wilson McKnight

(Based on a true story)
I feel the Spirit start to grow within my heart (Children’s Songbook, page 109).

“Time for family home evening!” Dad called.

Gunnar came running. He loved home evenings. Climbing up on the sofa, he snuggled between Ryan and Mom.

After the opening song and prayer, Dad stood up. “We’re going to have a special home evening,” he said. “Tonight we are going to have a testimony meeting.”

Testimony? Gunnar couldn’t remember his Primary teacher ever talking about a testimony in nursery. “What’s a testimony, Daddy?” he asked.

Dad smiled at Gunnar. “A testimony is what you believe about Heavenly Father and Jesus and the Church. It’s what you feel inside about them,” Dad said. “And you want to share your testimony because it means so much to you.”

“Oh.”

Then Dad said, “I have a testimony that Jesus Christ lives. And He loves each one of us.”

Emily was next. “I know that the Book of Mormon is true.”

“I’m glad that we have prophets,” said Ryan. “I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet.”

Mom said, “I’m grateful that your father and I were married in the temple, so we can be a family forever.” She reached into her pocket for a tissue to wipe her eyes.

Everyone in the family had shared a testimony except Gunnar.

A testimony is something I believe. Something I feel inside, Gunnar thought. Now he knew what he could say. He scooted off the sofa, stood straight and tall, and said, “I am a child of God.” Then he sat down. Mom gave him a little squeeze, and she had to get out that tissue again.

Gunnar had a happy feeling inside.

[illustration] Illustrated by Elise Black

Cookie Flowers

By Reneé Roy Harding

For each flower, you will need: 2 large gumdrops, a bamboo skewer, a hard cookie with a hole in the center, and a 12″ (30.5 cm) length of narrow ribbon.

  1. 1.

    Push a gumdrop (rounded side down) onto the skewer, then the cookie, then the other gumdrop (rounded side up—see illustration).

  2. 2.

    Tie the ribbon to the skewer a little below the flower (see illustration). If you make a lot of flowers, you could put them into a clean vase.

Spring Colors

By Mary Anne Quick

(Color each illustrated item the same color mentioned in the poem.)

Spring is here! See the burst of colors everywhere. Spring is budding, blooming, booming all around.
Yellow is here! See the sun shining brightly on buttercups and daffodils. See the duckling swimming in the pond.
Red is here! See the tulips growing straight and tall. See the cardinals at the bird feeder.
Blue is here! Take a peek at the robin’s eggs in a nest. See the bluebirds flying in the sky.
Green is here! See the leaves and grass, new buds, and new plants everywhere. See the toad sitting on the lily pad.
Brown is here! The groundhog is out of his hole. And the bear is up from his long winter’s nap. The rain pours on the ground, and there are lots of mud puddles.
White is here! See the bunnies hopping and nibbling lilies under fluffy white clouds.
Orange is here! Carrots are being planted after the rain. Butterflies are flying. See the sunset.
Black is here! Night comes later, and baby skunks are born.
Purple is here! Lilacs and violets and irises are waiting to be picked for a spring bouquet.
Spring colors are bursting everywhere.
Coloring pages(click to view larger)

Illustrated by Elise Black