LDS Sharing Time May 2014 Week 2: The prophets in the scriptures are examples to my family.

May 2014 Sharing Time Topic: Families Are Blessed When They Follow the Prophet

May 2014 Scripture: “Be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets” (2 Peter 3:2). 

May 2014 Week 2 Topic:  The prophets in the scriptures are examples to my family. 

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:  Before primary invite one kid from each class to be your "Reverent Helper", give them the badge to wear. See printable below (print on card stock, cut out and attach with a safety pin. Explain to them that to be the "Reverent Helper" they will need to be an example to the rest of the kids in their class. They will need to sit reverently and follow their class and primary rules. Ask them if they are willing to do so? Also explain to them that you will invite them up to the front to be an example of reverence. 
Print out poster, see printable below.


Help the Children Understand the Doctrine: Print out scripture cards, see printable below. Gather pictures of prophets, see the links:  John the Baptist, Alma the Younger,  Joshua, King Benjamin,  Lehi, Nephi,   Brother of Jared.

Help them apply the doctrine in their lives: Prepare to discuss with them the examples the prophets were and how that example can bless their lives.

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:

Before primary invite one child from each class to be your "Reverent Helpers", give them the badge to wear. Explain to them that to be the "Reverent Helper" they will need to be an example to the rest of the kids in their class. They will need to sit reverently and follow their class and primary rules. Ask them if they are willing to do so?  Thank them.  

When it is time for Sharing Time Instruction, invite the "Reverent Helpers" up to the front of the room. Explain to the primary children that these children standing up in front were asked to be, "Reverent Helpers". This means that they were asked to act reverently.  Ask the rest of the children if they can imitate the reverent actions the "Reverent Helpers" are doing.  Thank everyone for their participation.  Explain that the Reverent Helpers are being an example to the rest of us.  Invite the Reverent Helpers to sit with their classes. Explain that we have many examples in our lives that we can follow, some of these good examples are the prophets that are in the scriptures.  Put the poster, "The prophets in the scriptures are examples to my family" on the board. Ask the children to repeat the sentence with you.

Explain to the children that we are going to read some scriptures and talk about some of these prophets and that you would like them to listen to what each prophet did to be an example.  

Show the picture of John the Baptist tell the children that it is a picture of John the Baptist, have a teacher read:  D&C 84:27–28. Ask the children what John did to be an example to us and our families? Answer: He was baptized. Discuss how important it was for John to be an example and how baptism blesses our lives and our family.

Show the picture of Alma the Younger, tell the children that this is a picture of Alma the Younger, have a teacher read: Mosiah 27: 23-24. Ask the children what Alma did to be an example to us and our families? Answer: He Repented. Discuss how important it was for Alma to be an example of repentance and how repenting of the things we do wrong can bless our lives and our families.

Show the picture of Joshua, tell the children that this is a picture of Joshua, have a teacher read:  Joshua 24:15. Ask the children what Joshua did to be an example to us and our families? Answer: He Served the Lord. Discuss how important it was for Joshua to be an example of serving the Lord and how serving the Lord will bless our lives and our families.  
Show the picture of King Benjamin, tell the children that this is a picture of King Benjamin,  have a teacher read:  Mosiah 2:17–18. Ask the children what King Benjamin did to be an example to us and our families? Answer: He served others. Discuss how important it was for King Benjamin to be an example of serving other and how when we serve others we are blessed and happy.

Show the picture of Lehi, tell the children that this is a picture of Lehi,  have a teacher read: 1 Nephi 1:5. Ask the children what Lehi did to be an example to us and our families? Answer: He Prayed to Heavenly Father. Discuss how important it was for Lehi to be an example of praying to Heavenly Father and how prayer can bless our lives and our families. 

Show the picture of  Nephi, tell the children that this is a picture of Nephi,  have a teacher read:  1 Nephi 3:7. Ask the children what Nephi did to be an example to us and our families? Answer: He Kept the Commandments. Discuss how important it was for Nephi to be an example of Keeping the commandments and how our lives are blessed when we keep the commandments. 

I did not do a scripture card for Brother of Jared.  This is one that you could read, if there is time.  Show the picture of the Brother of Jared, tell the children that this is a picture of The Brother of Jared, then read:  Ether 3:9 ("And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger. Sawest thou more than this?") Ask the children what The Brother of Jared did to be an example to us and our families? Answer: He had faith. Discuss how important it was for The Brother of Jared to be an example of faith and how having faith can bless our lives and our families. 

Conclude by bearing your testimony about God speaking to us through prophets.  If time allows, sing, "Nephi's Courage", Children's Songbook pg. 120.

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: 2014 Sharing Time Outline.