2016 LDS Sharing Time Ideas for August Week 3: Living the Word of Wisdom shows respect for my body.

2016 Sharing Time Outline Theme: "I Know the Scriptures Are True"

August 2016 Sharing Time Topic: My Body Is a Temple of God

August 2016 Scripture: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? … The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Corinthians 3:16–17).

August 2016 Song:  “The Lord Gave Me a Temple” (CS, 153)

August Week 3 Topic: Living the Word of Wisdom shows respect for my body.

Preparation:

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

Sharing Time Instruction:

Begin Sharing Time, by showing the primary children the month's theme poster and invite them to repeat, "Living the Word of Wisdom shows respect for my body. Ask the primary children if any of them can tell you what the Word of Wisdom is?  Read the following quote,

The Word of Wisdom is a law of health revealed by the Lord for the physical and spiritual benefit of His children. On February 27, 1833, as recorded in section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord revealed which foods are good for us to eat and which substances are not good for the human body. He also promised health, protection, knowledge, and wisdom to those who obey the Word of Wisdom. (lds.org Gospel topics, Word of Wisdom)

Explain that in the Word of Wisdom are both Commandments and there are Promises. If we follow the commandments then we will receive the promises that go with them.

Place on the board the word strips "Commandments"  and "Promises".

Divide the primary into eight groups. Give each group a piece of paper that has a scripture at the top (see free printable download, above). Explain that you would like each group to read their scripture, decide if it is a commandment or a promise. If it is a commandment have them write commandment at the bottom of the page. If it is a promise have them write promise at the bottom of the page. Then invite them to draw a picture of what either the commandment is asking that we do, or what the promise is saying we will be able to do or receive. For example if they received the scripture D&C 89:7–9, they would draw a picture of coffee, tobacco and alcohol with a circle around it and a line through it. Showing that it is something we should not partake of.  

When all of the groups have finished their pictures invite them one at a time to come up. Read their scripture and then invite them to tell the rest of the primary if their scripture was a commandment or a promise. Invite them to tell what their scripture was about. Then have them place their picture under either "Commandments" or "Promises".  Continue with each picture discussing each one.

*** For smaller primaries you may want to just do this as a group. Read the scripture and invite a primary child to draw a picture for that scripture. ***

When you are finished ask the primary children how living the Word of Wisdom can help them show respect for their bodies?  Explain that the Word of Wisdom helps us take care of our bodies. Our bodies are sacred and house our spirits, we only want to put into them the things that will help them be healthy and be good homes to our spirits.  What other ways can they respect their bodies and keep them healthy? Answers could include, get enough rest at night, exercise, etc.

Invite the primary children to always strive to live the Word of Wisdom and take care of their bodies.

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Here is a list of the scriptures and the commandment or promises that go with them:

A great resource for explanation of the Word of Wisdom is: Gospel Topics: Word of Wisdom

D&C 89:7–9:   Do not partake of  the following harmful substances (Alcohol, Tobacco, Hot Drinks aka Coffee and Tea, also included in latter-day revelation are illegal drugs, even the abuse of prescription drugs)  (Commandment)

D&C 89:12:  Flesh of beast and foul (aka. meat) to be eaten with thanksgiving, but sparingly (Commandment)

D&C 89:14: Grain is ordained for the use of man and is the "Staff of Life" (Commandment)

D&C 89:16: Fruits and Vegetables are good to eat (Commandment)

D&C 89:18: If we obey the commandments found in the Word of Wisdom we will have "health in their navel and marrow to their bones". To me this means health and strength. (Promise) 

D&C 89:19: "Shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures." As we live the Word of Wisdom the Holy Ghost will be able to more fully be with us and help us gain wisdom and understand things by the spirit. (Promise)

D&C 89:20:  "Shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint." It makes sense that as we partake of the right foods and take care of our bodies will be able to have the energy to accomplish what Heavenly Father needs us to do. (Promise)

D&C 89:21: "The Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them." I take this in two ways. First as we live the Word of Wisdom we will avoid the awful effects of heading to the adversary. And second, as we have a healthy lifestyle and live the Word of Wisdom we will be free from some of the illness and sickness that can take our lives.

What else have the primary children learned this month? Here are links to this month's past sharing times:

1. 2016 LDS Sharing Time Ideas for August Week 1: My body is a temple.
2. 2016 LDS Sharing Time Ideas for August Week 2: Dressing modestly shows respect for Heavenly Father and myself.

Want more ideas:

• For the Health of the Saints
• The Blessing of Commandments
• Family Home Evening on Heavenly Blesses Us When We Live the Word of Wisdom (Faith in God Activity)
• Family Home Evening- My Gospel Standards- I will keep my mind and body sacred and pure, and I will not partake of things that are harmful to me.
• Word of Wisdom

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

***Basic ideas for this sharing time came from the 2016 Outline for Sharing Time, you can find a link here: 2016 Outline for Sharing Time