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2009 Outline for Sharing Time and the Children’s Sacrament Meeting Presentation: My Eternal Family

My Eternal Family

“My Eternal Family,” 2009 Outline for Sharing Time and the Children’s Sacrament Meeting Presentation: My Eternal Family, (2008),3–10

“Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” paragraph 7).

Objective: To help children understand the eternal nature of families and to teach them how they can strengthen their families now as well as prepare to be fathers and mothers in the future.

Outline for Sharing Time

The monthly themes in this outline have accompanying scriptures that the children could memorize. The weekly gospel principles should be taught during sharing times and opening or closing exercises that month. Normally, only one gospel principle is taught each week. Some of the weekly gospel principles are followed by a suggested sharing time idea. All have references to other sources that may help you plan your sharing time. Occasionally there may be a need in your Primary, such as a temple dedication or a priesthood leader’s focus, that calls for a special emphasis in sharing time.

January Theme

I am a spirit child of Heavenly Father. “All of you are children of the most High” (Psalm 82:6).

§ “I Lived in Heaven” (CS, 4) or “The Family Is Ordained of God” (Friend or Liahona, Oct. 2008)

Weekly Gospel Principles

  • 1. Heavenly Father loves me and has a plan for me (Alma 12:30; Abraham 2:11; 3:22–27).

    • Before Primary, hide a picture of a family in the room. Help the children locate it by reading them three clues, each clue taking them closer to the picture. Point out that they needed instructions to help them find the picture. Liken this to Heavenly Father’s plan, which gives us instructions to help us find our way back to Him. Sing “I Will Follow God’s Plan” (CS, 164), stopping periodically to discuss the meaning of the words. For older children, use Abraham 3:22–24, Moses 6:52, 1 Nephi 11:25, and Deuteronomy 10:12 to briefly discuss the words to the song. Sing the whole song and bear testimony of God’s plan.

  • 2. I lived with Heavenly Father before I came to earth (Jeremiah 1:5; D&C 138:56; Preach My Gospel, 48; GP, chapter 2).

  • 3. I am created in the image of God. My body is a temple (Genesis 1:27; 1 Corinthians 3:16–17; D&C 89; David A. Bednar, “Ye Are the Temple of God,”  Ensign, Sept. 2001, 14–21).

    • Tell the children you want to show them two temples. Show first a picture of a temple. Next hold up a mirror and let the children look into it. Have them look up “Temple” in the Bible Dictionary (pages 780–81), and help them find that a temple is literally a house of the Lord—a place where the Lord may come. Read 1 Corinthians 3:16 and help the children understand why the Lord refers to our bodies as temples. Discuss the following questions: What do I take into my temple? What do I put on my temple? What do I do to my temple? What do I do with my temple? Give each child a word or picture that would answer one of these questions, such as nutritious food, modest clothing, sleep and grooming, and acts of service. Let each child match his or her picture to one of the questions. Also discuss the Word of Wisdom and things that are not pleasing to the Lord, such as tattoos, drug abuse, and so on. Sing “The Lord Gave Me a Temple” (CS, 153), and bear testimony of the sacred nature of the body.

  • 4. The family is ordained of God and is central to His plan (“Proclamation,”  paragraphs 1, 7; Genesis 1:28; GP, chapter 36; Family Guidebook, 1–3).

February Theme

I came to earth as part of a family. “The family is ordained of God” (“Proclamation,” paragraph 7).

§ “How Firm a Foundation” (Hymns, no. 85, verses 1 and 3)

Weekly Gospel Principles

  • 1. Adam and Eve were the first family (2 Nephi 2:19–20; Moses 3:15–24; 4:12; 5:1–2, 12, 58).

    • Ask children to hold word strips that identify events from Adam and Eve’s life, such as “lived in the Garden of Eden,” “were married,” “ate the forbidden fruit,” “had children,” and “taught the gospel.” Have the children stand in random order. Tell the story of Adam and Eve from the back of GAK 101 and from the scriptures. Ask the rest of the children to tell those holding the word strips where to stand so that the events are in the correct order. Emphasize that Adam and Eve were married and became a family. Invite a child to briefly tell the story again, using the word strips as an outline. Sing “A Happy Family” (CS, 198), and invite the children to substitute names of their own family members in the second verse. Bear testimony of the importance of families.

  • 2. Heavenly Father blesses righteous families in the scriptures (Genesis 18:1–16; 21:1–8; Alma 53:10–23; 56:45–56).

    • Divide children into three groups, and have them rotate among three stations (see “Stations,” TNGC, 179). At each station teach one of the following scripture stories that show how Heavenly Father blesses families.

    • Station 1: Noah’s family is protected from the flood (see Genesis 6–8; GAK 102).

    • Station 2: Lehi leaves Jerusalem with his family (see 1 Nephi 1–2; 2 Nephi 1:4; GAK 301).

    • Station 3: Heavenly Father warns Joseph to take Jesus and Mary and flee into Egypt (see Matthew 2:13–15, 19–20; GAK 204).

    • Sing the third and fourth verses of “Thanks to Our Father” (CS, 20), and bear testimony that Heavenly Father blesses righteous families.

  • 3. The priesthood blesses my family (James 5:14–15; D&C 121:36; GP, chapter 13; “Priesthood,” TTF, 124–28).

  • 4. God’s creations bless us (Genesis 1; D&C 59:16–20; Primary 6, lesson 3; GP, chapter 5).

March Theme

Family members have important responsibilities. “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God” (D&C 88:119).

§ “My Eternal Family” (page 11 of this outline)

Weekly Gospel Principles

  • 1. Fathers preside over, provide for, and protect the family with love (1 Nephi 8:12; “Proclamation,”  paragraph 7; GP, chapter 37).

  • 2. Mothers nurture the family (Alma 56:47–48; 57:21; “Proclamation,”  paragraph 7, GP, chapter 37).

    • Display the words “Mothers nurture the family.” Discuss what nurture means. Make a list of words that describe how mothers nurture the family (such as teach, feed, pray, comfort, and so on). Sing “Love Is Spoken Here” (CS, 190), and ask if any more words come to mind. Hand out pencils and copies of the poetry form below. Invite the children to write one word in each blank that describes how their mother nurtures them. (Younger children could draw pictures of ways their mothers nurture them.)

      Mother
      ____________ ____________
      ____________ ____________ ____________
      ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________
      Nurturer

    • Let some of the children share what they wrote or drew. Invite the children to give the poems or pictures to their mothers. Bear testimony of the importance of mothers and fathers in the plan of happiness.

  • 3. I will obey my parents (Exodus 20:12; Colossians 3:20; GP, chapter 37).

  • 4. I have many family members who can help me (“Proclamation,”  paragraph 7; 2 Nephi 4:3–12; FHE, 95–97).

    • Arrange to have a grandmother come to Primary and share ways her extended family members have supported her in her life. Let other children share what they like about an extended family member. Tell the story of Ruth and Naomi from the back of GAK 124 and point out the devotion Ruth had to an extended family member. Sing “I Have a Family Tree” (CS, 199). Hand out paper and pencils, and have the children write letters to an extended family member saying what they appreciate and respect about him or her. Younger children could draw pictures. (This satisfies a requirement in FIG, page 9.) Testify of the blessings of extended families.

April Theme

Jesus Christ made it possible for me to live with my Heavenly Father again. “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

§ Song of your choice about Jesus Christ from the Children’s Songbook, Hymns, Friend, or Liahona

Weekly Gospel Principles

  • 1. In the premortal life, I chose to follow Jesus Christ (Abraham 3:24–27; GP, chapter 2 and chapter 3).

  • 2. I have a testimony that Jesus Christ is my Savior (John 3:16; Alma 34:8–10).

    • Display on the chalkboard GAK 240 and a picture of a child. Read John 3:16 and help children understand that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love each one of us and want us to live with Them again someday. Explain that because we make mistakes, such as telling a lie or being unkind, we create a gulf between ourselves and Jesus. Draw a gulf between the picture of the child and the picture of the Savior. Use GAK 227 and 230 to give a simple explanation of the Atonement. Draw a bridge over the gulf and explain that the Savior’s Atonement is like a bridge that makes it possible for us to repent and return to Heavenly Father and Jesus. Sing or recite “The Third Article of Faith” (CS, 123), and testify of the blessings of the Atonement.

  • 3. My family and I will be resurrected (Luke 24; Alma 11:43; “Resurrection,” TTF, 139–40).

  • 4. By following Jesus Christ, we will be able to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus again (D&C 59:23; Articles of Faith 1:3).

    • Select pictures from GAK and Primary manuals that depict each of the basic requirements in FIG. These might include GAK 605 (pray daily), GAK 617 (read the scriptures), GAK 618 (live “My Gospel Standards”), 1-45 (honor parents), 3-26 (pay tithing), and 3-66 (attend Primary). Use a case study (see “Case Studies,” TNGC, 161–62) to illustrate each requirement. For example, you might say, “Your mother asks you to set the table for dinner, but you are playing with a friend. What would you do?” After presenting a case study, ask the children to choose one of the pictures that it matches. Invite children to share what they are doing to live that basic requirement and how it helps them follow Jesus Christ. Sing “I’ll Follow Him in Faith” (2007 Outline for Sharing Time, 11). Bear testimony of the blessings we receive when we follow Jesus Christ.

May Theme

Baptism and confirmation are ordinances that bless my family. “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).

§ “Baptism” (CS, 100) or “I Want to Be Baptized”  (Friend, July 2005, 45)

Weekly Gospel Principles

  • 1. Baptism is the first ordinance of the gospel (2 Nephi 31:17; Articles of Faith 1:4; “Baptism,” TTF, 21–26; GP, chapter 20).

  • 2. Jesus Christ was baptized (Matthew 3:13–17; 1 Nephi 11:27).

    • Display GAK 208 surrounded by the questions Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? Give each class one word and ask them to read Matthew 3:13–17 to find the answer to their question. Tell the story of Jesus’s baptism by asking each class to share the answer they found to their question. When discussing how Jesus was baptized, help the children understand the word immersion (see footnote 16a). Sing “Baptism” (CS, 100), pointing out that the questions can also be answered in the song. Testify of the importance of baptism.

  • 3. I will be baptized and confirmed (Mosiah 18:8–10; 3 Nephi 27:20; Articles of Faith 1:4; Primary 3, lesson 11; FHE, 120–23).

  • 4. My family is blessed as we follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost (2 Nephi 32:5; Moroni 10:5; D&C 130:22).

    • Ask a child to read D&C 130:22. Teach that the Holy Ghost is a “personage of Spirit.” Explain that even though we can’t see the Holy Ghost, we can recognize His influence. Display a basket of fruit and ask the children to identify the kind of tree that each fruit comes from. Have a child read Matthew 7:20. Explain that we can identify a fruit tree by the fruit that hangs on its branches. Have another child read Galatians 5:22. Tell the children that the Spirit is the Holy Ghost. Testify that we can know that we are feeling the Holy Ghost when we have these feelings. Have all of the children look up Galatians 5:22 and Mosiah 4:3. Invite the children to mark the words joy, peace, and faith, and explain that these are also fruits of the Spirit. Share a personal story of how the Holy Ghost has blessed your family. Sing “The Holy Ghost” (CS, 105), and remind the children that joy, peace, and faith are fruits of the Holy Ghost.

June Theme

Faith, prayer, repentance, and forgiveness strengthen me and my family. “Successful … families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, [and] forgiveness” (“Proclamation,” paragraph 7).

§ “Seek the Lord Early” (CS, 108)

Weekly Gospel Principles

  • 1. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ strengthens me and my family (Alma 32:21; Ether 12:6; “Faith,” TTF, 54–56; GP, chapter 18).

  • 2. Prayer strengthens me and my family (James 1:5; Alma 37:37; Primary 3, lesson 19; “Prayer,” TTF, 118–23).

  • 3. Repentance helps me return to Heavenly Father (3 Nephi 9:22; D&C 58:42).

    • Make white footprints to represent the path to eternal life. Ask the children to suggest things we need to do to return to Heavenly Father (such as be baptized and confirmed, pay tithing, and so on), and write these things on the footprints. Place the footprints in a path and allow several children to walk along the path. Add several dark-colored footprints that are labeled with things such as “drugs,” “immodesty,” and “dishonesty.” Place these footprints so that they veer off the path to eternal life. Ask the children what a person can do to return to the path. Read D&C 58:42 and explain that we can repent and return when we are not on the correct path. Help the children draw their own footprints. Help them write, “Repentance helps me return to Heavenly Father” on the footprint. Sing “Smiles” (CS, 267), explaining that when we repent we exchange our frowning faces (sadness) for smiling faces (joy). Testify of the reality of repentance.

  • 4. As I forgive, I will be forgiven (Genesis 37:5–35; 45:1–15; Matthew 6:14; D&C 64:9–10).

    • Have children dramatize the story of Joseph being sold into Egypt by his brothers and then forgiving them (see “Dramatizations,” TNGC, 165–66; Primary 6, lesson 15 and lesson 17). As the children act out the story, stop them to ask questions such as “How do you suppose Joseph felt?” “Why were the brothers afraid?” and “How do you feel when someone forgives you?” Display words from Matthew 6:14 in random order. Have the children put the words in the correct order and then look up the scripture to check their answer. Point out the word if and explain that the promise of forgiveness is conditional. You may need to explain conditional with a few “if-then” statements, such as “If you keep the commandments, then you will be blessed.” Sing “Help Me, Dear Father” (CS, 99) and bear your testimony of forgiveness.

July Theme

I will strengthen my family. “And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably” (Mosiah 4:13).

§ Song of your choice about Jesus Christ from the Children’s Songbook, Hymns, Friend, or Liahona

Weekly Gospel Principles

  • 1. Family prayer strengthens my family (Alma 17:3; 3 Nephi 18:21).

    • Ask the music leader to lead the children in singing “Family Prayer” (CS, 189) while you draw a circle on the chalkboard and write “The family that prays together stays together” around the circle. Explain that President Thomas S. Monson likes to quote this phrase (see “How Firm a Foundation,”  Ensign, Nov. 2006, 67). Discuss what it means. Display GAK 606 inside the circle. Have the children form a circle and pass a ball from one child to the next while they sing “Family Prayer.” When the music stops, ask the child holding the ball to name a blessing that his family might express thanks for or ask for in a prayer. Write the blessings on the outside of the circle you have drawn on the chalkboard. Testify of the blessings of family prayer.

  • 2. Reading the scriptures strengthens my family (John 5:39; 2 Nephi 4:15; “Scriptures,” TTF, 155–59; FHE, 17–19).

  • 3. Family home evening strengthens my family (3 Nephi 17:3; 22:13; “Family Home Evening,” TTF, 65–66; Family Guidebook, 7–9).

  • 4. Reverence and keeping the Sabbath day holy strengthen my family (Exodus 20:8–11; GP, chapter 24).

    • Display a large weekly calendar that has Sunday marked or highlighted. Ask the children why Sunday is special. Discuss the history and importance of the Sabbath day. Help the children memorize Exodus 20:8 (see “Memorization,” TNGC, 171–72). Play a sorting game. Prepare a list of Sabbath activities and then add a few other activities that would not be suitable for the Sabbath. Invite a child to read one idea and place it on an appropriate day on the calendar. If the activity honors the Sabbath, be sure that it is placed on Sunday. Repeat for each activity. Testify of the blessings of keeping the Sabbath day holy.

August Theme

Temple blessings unite families. “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).

§ “Families Can Be Together Forever” (CS, 188)

Weekly Gospel Principles

  • 1. The temple is the house of God (D&C 88:119; 124:40; “Why Symbols?”  Ensign, Feb. 2007, 12–17).

    • Teach that the temple is God’s house here on earth. Use information from the booklet Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple (item 36793) and the Ensign article to teach about the purpose of the temple and to answer questions the children may have. Show the pictures of the inside of the temple, pointing out how beautiful and clean the house of God is. Sing “I Love to See the Temple” (CS, 95). Bear your testimony about the importance of the temple.

  • 2. I will prepare now to go to the temple (Alma 34:32; 37:35; “Worthiness to Enter the Temple,” TTF, 172; Russell M. Nelson, “Prepare for Blessings of the Temple,”  Ensign, March 2002, 17–23).

  • 3. My family can be together forever through the ordinances of the temple (D&C 138:47–48; GP, chapter 36; Primary 3, lesson 35).

  • 4. Family history and temple work bless all the generations of my family (Malachi 4:5–6; Abraham 1:31; GP, chapter 40; “Family History Work and Genealogy,” TTF, 61–64).

    • Share a story about a time when you were away from your family. Discuss how it feels to be separated from your family. Allow a few children to share similar stories. Ask one child to stand in the middle of the room. Have children stand on one side of him or her to represent his parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Have other children represent his or her posterity on the other side. Ask the children if they know how this family could be together forever. Explain that because of priesthood authority, no one needs to be separated from their families—our families can be together forever. Explain that the temple is the place where we can be sealed together. Help younger children complete a family tree (Primary 3, 196), and help older children work on a pedigree chart. Sing “Families Can Be Together Forever” (CS, 188), and bear your testimony about family history and temple work.

September Theme

Prophets teach me how to strengthen my family. “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, … whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38).

Weekly Gospel Principles

  • 1. Bible prophets teach me how to strengthen my family (review biblical stories about righteous families such as Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, and Zacharias and Elisabeth).

  • 2. Book of Mormon prophets teach me how to strengthen my family (Mosiah 4:14–15; 27:8–37).

    • Using simple puppets to portray Alma, Alma the Younger, the angel, and the sons of Mosiah (see “Puppets,” TNGC, 176–77), tell the story found in Mosiah 27:8–37, focusing on Alma’s faithful prayers for his son. Ask why the angel came in answer to Alma’s prayers. Sing verses 1 and 3 of “Book of Mormon Stories” (CS, 118–19). Emphasize that Heavenly Father answers prayers according to His will. Invite the children to teach this same lesson in family home evening. Testify that our prayers for our family will be answered.

  • 3. The prophet today teaches me how to strengthen my family (to meet the needs of the children in your Primary, select teachings from past general conferences as found in the Ensign or Liahona and in the section titled “Come Listen to a Prophet’s Voice” in the Friend; Articles of Faith 1:6; “Prophets,” TTF, 129–30; GP, chapter 9).

  • 4. I will hear the words of the prophets when I listen to general conference (Amos 3:7; D&C 21:4–5; GP, chapter 10).

    • Invite the children to think of ways our prophets and leaders have counseled us to strengthen our families (family prayer, scripture reading, family home evening, Sabbath worship, and so on). List these on the board. Give each child a card with a grid like the one below:

                       

    • Help the children write or draw something in each space that will help them remember the teachings listed on the board (one teaching per space). Encourage the children to use this card as they watch general conference. Each time a speaker teaches something on their card, the children could mark that space. Invite the children to choose with their family one of these teachings they will try to live more fully. Sing “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet” (Hymns, no. 19). Bear testimony of the living prophet.

October Theme

“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” teaches me about families. “The family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (“Proclamation,” paragraph 1).

Weekly Gospel Principles

  • 1. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” is modern-day revelation (D&C 68:4; Articles of Faith 1:9).

    • Prepare word strips that identify the revelations given to the prophets pictured in GAK 102, 107, 304, 416 and to the current President of the Church. Tape the word strips under some of the chairs. Challenge the children to solve a puzzle. On the board write:

    • We believe …
      1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (9) 10 11 12 13

    • If the children need a hint, point to the number 1 and begin reciting the first article of faith. The solution to the puzzle is the ninth article of faith. Ask for a volunteer to recite it. Display the pictures listed above, and invite the children to look under their chairs for the word strips. Help them match the word strips to the pictures. Explain that prophets have always received revelation. Display “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” Teach the children that it is an example of modern-day revelation. Sing “The Ninth Article of Faith” (CS, 128), and testify of the reality of modern-day revelation.

  • 2. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” teaches the importance of marriage (“Proclamation,”  paragraphs 1, 7; Genesis 2:24; GP, chapter 38; “Marriage,” TTF, 97–99).

  • 3. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” teaches my family how to be happy (“Proclamation,”  paragraph 7; John 15:12; “Happiness,” TTF, 79–80; Primary 2, lesson 6).

  • 4. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” teaches my family the importance of work (“Proclamation,”  paragraph 7; Exodus 20:9).

    • Read paragraph 7 of the family proclamation, and emphasize the word work. Ask children why work is so important. Explain that as we work together, we strengthen our family. Show a length of string or yarn. Invite a child to break it. Give each child a similar string. Explain that we are stronger when we work together. Have the children pair up and twist their strings together. Demonstrate that the combined strings are harder to break. Have each class twist their strings into a class string; then combine all the strings into a Primary rope. Demonstrate the strength of the rope. Sing “When We’re Helping” (CS, 198), and testify that our families are strengthened as we work together. With the help of the teachers, tie a small string around each child’s finger. Ask them to remove the string when they have completed a chore at home.

November Theme

My family and I can serve others. “By love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

Weekly Gospel Principles

  • 1. I am thankful for my family. I will serve them (Matthew 23:11; Mosiah 2:17; Primary 2, lesson 39; GP, chapter 28).

  • 2. My family will serve others (Matthew 25:34–40; Mosiah 2:17; 4:15).

    • Help the children memorize “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17) by adding simple actions for words such as service, fellow beings, and God. You could use sign language or make up your own actions. Ask each class to quietly decide how they could portray a family serving others, such as pretending to rake leaves or share a meal. Have the classes take turns pantomiming the acts of service they have chosen while the other children guess what they are doing. Recite Mosiah 2:17 between each pantomime. Sing “Fun to Do” (CS, 253), substituting phrases that describe the acts of service the children have pantomimed. Testify of the blessings of service.

  • 3. I can be a good example for my family (Matthew 5:16; 1 Timothy 4:12; Primary 3, lesson 45).

    • Teach that we help our families return to Heavenly Father by our righteous example. Explain that following “My Gospel Standards” helps us set a good example. Show the children the back of the Faith in God guidebook. Bring a bag with items inside that represent a few of these standards (for example, a Church video, a CD of uplifting music, a temple picture, modest clothing, and so on). Invite a child to choose an item, and teach the importance of living that standard. Sing “I’m Trying to Be like Jesus” (CS, 78–79). Invite the children to sing this song whenever they are tempted to make a wrong choice. Testify of the blessings of following “My Gospel Standards.”

  • 4. I will prepare now to become a mother or father (Titus 2:4–6; Mosiah 4:14–15; Alma 37:35; D&C 68:25; “My Gospel Standards”).

December Theme

My family is blessed when we remember Jesus Christ. “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:25).

Weekly Gospel Principles

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