Sharing Time March 2014 Week 2: Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ I can repent and be forgiven of my sins

Preparation:
Prayerfully study and think about what the specific needs of your primary are and how you can teach them this doctrine.

Identify the doctrine: Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ I can repent and be forgiven of my sins. Before hand place a picture of the Atonement which can be found here, inside of a box or gift bag. Wrap the box or put tissue paper in the bag.

Help the Children Understand the Doctrine: Before hand make preparations to read Luke 22:39-44 and D&C 19:16. See printables below.

Help them apply the doctrine in their lives: Prepare the Repentance Steps. See printables below. 

Example of what the board will look like:

Free Printables: (Printing Tip: Click on image to open and then save image to your computer.  You can then print the image from your computer.)

Sharing Time Instruction:

Begin, sharing time by showing a neatly wrapped box or gift bag(gift bag or a box that has been wrapped with a lid that just comes off might be easier if you have two sharing times.) Explain that in this box is a gift, a gift that has been given to everyone who has lived and will live on this earth. Ask the children to raise their hands when they know what the gift is.  Explain that this gift is a gift of love, a gift of sacrifice. Explain that this gift frees us from death and pays for our sins. Only a perfect being could give this gift to us, we could not do it ourselves. Ask the children if they know what the gift is? Call on someone who has been very reverent to give you the answer. Ask them to unwrap the box or bag and show every one the gift.  Have them hold up the picture of the atonement.  Explain that the atonement is the very special gift that has been given to us.

Ask a teacher to read Luke 22:39–44.  Explain that because Jesus was the only begotten he was able to suffer for all of the pains, all of the sorrows, and all of the sins of every person who would come to earth. The pain was so intense that an angel came to strengthen him. He was in so much agony that he bled from every pore.

Read   Doctrine and Covenants 19:16.  Ask the children what it says Jesus did and what our blessing is? Explain that Jesus suffered for all, so we would not have to suffer as he did.

If desire you could read or summarize this story: "Some years ago, President Gordon B. Hinckley told “something of a parable” about “a one-room schoolhouse in the mountains of Virginia where the boys were so rough no teacher had been able to handle them.

“Then one day an inexperienced young teacher applied. He was told that every teacher had received an awful beating, but the teacher accepted the risk. The first day of school, the teacher asked the boys to establish their own rules and the penalty for breaking the rules. The class came up with ten rules, which were written on the blackboard. Then the teacher asked, ‘What shall we do with one who breaks the rules?’

“‘Beat him across the back ten times without his coat on,’ came the response.

“A day or so later, the lunch of a big student, named Tom, was stolen. The thief was located—a little hungry fellow, about ten years old.

“As little Jim came up to take his licking, he pleaded to keep his coat on. ‘Take your coat off,’ the teacher said. ‘You helped make the rules!’

“The boy took off the coat. He had no shirt and revealed a bony little crippled body. As the teacher hesitated with the rod, big Tom jumped to his feet and volunteered to take the boy’s licking.

“‘Very well, there is a certain law that one can become a substitute for another. Are you all agreed?’ the teacher asked.

“After five strokes across Tom’s back, the rod broke. The class was sobbing. Little Jim had reached up and caught Tom with both arms around his neck. ‘Tom, I’m sorry that I stole your lunch, but I was awful hungry. Tom, I will love you till I die for taking my licking for me! Yes, I will love you forever!’

President Hinckley then quoted Isaiah:

“‘Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. …

“‘He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our [sins].’” (Isa. 53:4–5.)” (Come Listen to a Prophet’s Voice: The Savior’s Atonement by JAMES E. FAUST) 

Explain to the children that Jesus is like Tom in the story he stepped in to pay the price for our mistakes.

Explain that the atonement made it possible for us to repent and be forgiven. The price has already been paid we need to do our part now to be forgiven. Explain that you are going to discuss the steps or principles of repentance.

Have the word strips placed around the room.  Ask a child to go and find Step 1.  Have them place it on the board. Explain that the first step of repentance is to realize you did something wrong.  For instance Joe was playing in his front room with a ball and broke one of mom's pictures, when mom asked who did it, he lied and said it was not him.  Ask the children what the first thing or step that Joe would need to do in the repentance process? Answer should be something about Joe would need to realize that not telling mom the truth was wrong and not being obedient was wrong.

Ask another child to find Step 2. Have them place it on the board. Explain that the second step of repentance is to  feel sorrow for sin. Ask what the second step would be for Joe?  Answer should be that Joe would feel sad and sorry that he was not obedient and that he lied.

Ask another child to find Step 3. Have them place it on the board. Explain that the third step of repentance is to confess to Heavenly Father.  Ask the children what the third step would be for Joe?  Answer should be that Joe would need to pray to his Heavenly Father confess that he had lied and didn't obey and ask Heavenly Father for forgiveness.

Ask another child to find Step 4. Have them place it on the board. Explain that the fourth step of repentance is to right the wrong. Ask  the children what the fourth step would be for Joe?  Answer should be that Joe would need to tell his mother that he had lied. He would need to tell her that it was him who had been playing ball in the front room and he had broken the picture.  He would need to tell her sorry and ask her what he could do to make things right. And then follow through and make things right.

Ask another child to find Step 5. Have them place it on the board on top of step 4. Explain that the fifth step of repentance is to not do the sin again. Ask the children what the fifth step would be for Joe?  Answer should be that he would make a commitment to himself to not lie to his mom again and to be obedient and not play ball in the front room anymore.

Explain that when we follow the steps of repentance then we will be forgiven and our sin will be remembered no more. Explain that because of Christ's atonement, he knows all of our trials first hand. He has experienced them. He can help us when we are week and strengthen us. He understands our pain and will be their to walk along side us.

Bear your testimony about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and Repentance.

Click this link for past Sharing Time post: LDS Primary Sharing Time Ideas

***Basic ideas for this sharing time came from the 2014 Sharing Time Outline, you can find a link here

Other sources used when compiling this sharing time: Come Listen to a Prophet’s Voice: The Savior’s Atonement- JAMES E. FAUST and Sharing Time: Jesus Christ’s Atonement Is the Greatest Gift of Love
BY KAREN ASHTON.