This section provides answers to some frequently asked questions. Leaders who have other questions or need other information or direction should study chapter 11 of Handbook 2: Administering the Church (2010) and consult with their local priesthood leaders. The new handbook overrides all previous Primary publications.

Activity Days

• Faith in God Program
• Do we still hold activity days?
  Where practical, the Primary may hold activity days for boys and girls ages 8 through 11. Counsel with your priesthood leader for direction. (See Handbook 2, 11.5.2.)



• Do we still have quarterly activity days?
  No. They are no longer part of the program. The quarterly activity days referred to on page 18 in the Faith in God guidebooks are no longer a part of the program.



• What recognition and awards do children receive for the Faith in God program?
  "At least twice a year, a Primary activity day (or a Cub Scout Pack meeting) should include opportunities for the children to share what they have learned and accomplished."
  
  "When all required activities are completed, the Primary president and the bishop or branch president sign the Faith in God Award certificate on the last page of this [Faith in God] guidebook. A member of the bishopric, branch presidency, or Primary presidency recognizes the child’s accomplishment in Primary."
  
  "Parents and leaders should help the children understand that the joy of living the gospel is the most important reward." (Faith in God guidebook [2003], 19.)



• Who keeps track of the requirements for the Faith in God program?
  The children with the help of their parents (see Faith in God for Boys, 19; Faith in God for Girls, 18).



• Who oversees the Faith in God program?
  The Primary presidency ensures the program is running correctly. Under their direction, a Primary teacher or other worthy adult serves as the activity days leader. (See Faith in God guidebook, 18.)



• Can the Faith in God program be completed in one year?
  No. Children need to complete two activities in each of the three areas listed in the Faith in God guidebook each year. The Faith in God Award is given after the child turns 11 years old and has completed all the requirements in the Faith in God guidebook. (See Faith in God guidebook, 4–5, 6, 8, 10, 12.)



• Can girls have an overnight activity for activity days?
  It is not recommended. Counsel with your priesthood leaders for direction. Note that the Church's Scouting Handbook states, "No Scout-sponsored overnight camping should be planned for boys under age eleven" (p. 4; 1997 edition).

• Quarterly Activity Days
• Do we still have quarterly activity days?
  No. They are no longer part of the program.

• Scouting (United States and Canada)
• Can a Webelos Cub Scout earn the Arrow of Light Award without an overnight camp?
  Yes. The Cub Scout Webelos Handbook states that one of the Arrow of Light Award requirements is to "participate in a Webelos overnight campout or day hike" (64; italics added).

Certificate of Advancement

• Do we still use the Certificate of Advancement?
  Yes. Children advance from Primary when they reach age 12. Leaders may give them a certificate of advancement (see Handbook 2, 11.4.3).

Classes and Teachers

• When children turn 12 years old, what class should they attend?
  The Primary schedule should be arranged so sharing time is held at the same time as Young Women classes and Aaronic Priesthood quorum meetings. During sharing time, new 12-year-olds attend their Aaronic Priesthood quorum meeting or Young Women class.
  
  During Primary class time, new 12-year-olds normally attend their Valiant 11 Primary class until the end of the year. However, the bishop and the presidents of the Primary, Young Men, Young Women, and Sunday School may counsel together to determine if these 12-year-olds would benefit more from attending the Sunday School class for 12- and 13-year-olds. (See Handbook 2, 11.4.3.)



• What are the guidelines for a man serving in Primary?
  "At least two teachers should be called for each nursery class. If the teachers are not husband and wife, they should be the same gender. Both teachers should be in the class during the entire Primary time" (Primary 1 [2000], ix).
  
  When men are assigned to teach children, at least two responsible adults should be present at all times. The two adults could be two men, a husband and wife, or two members of the same family. In small branches, if it is not practical to have two teachers in a classroom, a member of the Primary presidency frequently visits and monitors each class that a man teaches alone. (See Handbook 2, 11.8.1.)



• We have only two girls and one boy in our 11-year-old class. Can we combine them with the 10-year-old class?
  Yes, since they are taught from the same lesson manual.



• What Primary manuals should we use for the year?
  They are listed in "Instructions for Curriculum 2011." You may obtain a copy from your stake or ward clerk.

Food in Primary

• What is the policy for food in Primary?
  Counsel with your priesthood leader for direction.

Primary Leadership Meetings

• How often do we hold stake Primary leadership meeting?
  Once a year (see Handbook 2, 11.3.4 and 18.3.11).



• Do we still hold ward Primary leadership meetings?
  No.

Outline for Sharing Time

Copies of the 2011 Outline for Sharing Time: I Know the Scriptures Are True were mailed to priesthood leaders in July 2010 and are available through the online Church distribution center and your local distribution center.

The 2011 Outline for Sharing Time: I Know the Scriptures Are True will be on new.lds.org soon.

• What do we do for sharing time for the fifth Sunday of the month?
  “When there is a fifth Sunday, use this time to review previous lessons” (2011 Outline for Sharing Time, inside front cover).



• How should we divide up sharing time and singing time?
  Fifteen minutes should be for gospel teaching and twenty minutes for teaching music (see 2011 Outline for Sharing Time, 1).



• Can we use pictures in the sacrament meeting presentation?
  “Visuals, costumes, and media presentations are not appropriate for sacrament meeting” (see 2011 Outline for Sharing Time, 1; see also Handbook 2, 11.5.4).



• The outline indicates curriculum for 2011 is either "General Curriculum" or "Basic Curriculum" (2011 Outline for Sharing Time, 1). What is the difference?
  Basic curriculum is used where the Church has been recently organized or where general curriculum materials are not available. General curriculum is used where the Church is well established.

Portrayal of Deity

• What is the policy on the portrayal of Deity?
  God the Father and the Holy Ghost are not to be portrayed in any way. The Savior should not be portrayed by children except in a nativity scene. (See Handbook 2, 11.8.5; see also 13.6.15.)

Priesthood Preview

• Do we still hold Priesthood Preview?
  Yes. A meeting called Priesthood Preview is held each year for 11-year-old boys and their parents. The purpose of this meeting is to help boys understand the priesthood and strengthen their commitment to prepare to receive it. (See Handbook 2, 11.5.5; see also Faith in God for Boys, 18-19.)

Primary Materials

• Can supplemental books and pictures from bookstores and the Internet be used in Primary?
  Counsel with your priesthood leader.

Primary Schedule

• How has the Primary schedule changed?
  Sunday Primary is normally held for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Children in the nursery stay in their nursery class for the entire time. The other children attend two sessions. In one session, children meet together for 50 minutes for sharing time. In the other session, they divide into smaller classes for 40-minute lessons taught by their Primary teachers. The children and teachers who attend sharing time and classes have a 10-minute break between the two sessions. (See Handbook 2, 11.4.1 and 11.4.2.)

Restroom Needs

• What is the policy regarding taking children to the restroom?
  The nursery manual, Behold Your Little Ones, states: "Take care of your child’s restroom and feeding needs before taking him or her to the nursery class. A child who needs a diaper change will be taken to a parent" (7). Counsel with your priesthood leader for guidelines in taking other children to the restroom.

Testimony Meeting in Primary

• Can the Primary hold a testimony meeting?
  Testimony meetings are discouraged in Primary (see Handbook 2, 11.8.3).