Prophets teach me that blessings are
promised when I strengthen my family
by Melanie Day

 

On six cards print the letters F, A, M, I, L, and Y. Tape the letters under the seats of six chairs before Primary begins. Ask the children to locate the letters. Have those who find the letters come up front and hold them up. Ask the rest of the children to help unscramble the letters by giving directions to the children in front, such as, “John, please move between Susan and Michael.” Instruct the children holding the letters not to move unless the person giving the direction says “please.” Explain that one way we can show kindness to one another is by the way we speak to each other.

ACTIVITY: Cut out these 12 pictures; then cut 12 strips of paper to match the width of the pictures. Think about what principle or action each picture might represent and how it could strengthen your family.  Glue or tape each picture to a strip of paper, and form a paper chain from the strips. (Chain will be used later in the sharing time)

MUSIC: Sing “Love Is Spoken Here” (pp. 190–191). Explain that we can have happy homes by being kind to our families and to our friends.

(Type up the following words and show each one as you read them) Banay, aiga, perhe, famiglia, rodina, fjölskylda, familia, család—these words may look different, but they all mean the same thing—FAMILY! All families are different. Some families have many children, and some have a few children, or one child, or no children. Some families have children, parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles all living together. Some children have two parents, and some have one. Some children live with their grandparents or other adults; these adults make up their family.  Heavenly Father planned for us to come to earth and live in a family. He wants the best things for us and wants us to return to live with Him one day. He gave us parents to teach us and help us make wise decisions.

GAME IDEAS:

"I Will!" Game
I have family and friends game
Prophet Matchup - All these prophets have said important things about families.  Give your pianist a few songs from the Primary Children's Songbook that have to do with families (A Happy Family, Families Can Be Together Forever, Quickly I'll Obey, etc.)  Tell the children that they need to watch you because as soon as your hand is raised, the pianist will stop.  Tell them, "Which ever person can raise their hand and tell me the next word in the song can come up front and make a match".  Have each of the cards cut up and placed in a clean milk jug with the top cut off.  Write on the plastic with a Sharpie marker, "Families are important because..." Have the children choose one of  the papers with the sayings about families.  Have them read it (or help them if needed).  Each quote says who it is by.  Have them match the prophet with his picture.  Post the quote under the picture it corresponds to.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: 1. Invite a family consisting of a father, mother, and baby to Primary. Ask the father to be prepared to briefly teach the children about pre-earth life and Heavenly Father’s plan for us to come to a family. Ask the mother to explain what parents do for a baby and what the baby will need to learn to return to Heavenly Father. Play the following game to show that everyone in the family can teach the baby. Copy Primary packet picture 1-7 (a family), and cut it into six puzzle pieces. Write on the back of each piece one of the following names: Grandpa, Grandma, Father, Mother, Brother, Sister. Pass the puzzle pieces from child to child as the pianist plays “music clues” as to what the baby must learn (examples: “I Know My Father Lives,” p. 5; “I Pray in Faith,” p. 14; “Baptism,” pp. 100–101; “Follow the Prophet,” pp. 110–11). When the music stops, have the children identify the song and the principle taught. Ask each child holding a puzzle piece to tell one thing that the family member on the puzzle piece can do to teach that principle to the baby or to his or her own family. Have one child put his or her puzzle piece in place after each song, beginning with “Grandpa.” Continue until the puzzle is complete. Sing and review “I Will Follow God’s Plan” (pp. 164–65).

OBJECT LESSON: Use following object lesson to show importance of helping and supporting family for friends. Ask child to lift chair by one of its legs, using only one hand. Then have him ask three friends to help, each lifting different leg of chair. When all work together, chair is easy to lift.  When we work together as a family, we lift each other up.

SENIOR PRIMARY: Give each child a worksheet to help him learn more about his parents and grandparents. Questions might include: What are your mother’s and father’s full names? Where did they live when they were your age? What are the names of your grandparents? What do (or did) they do when grown? What is one thing your father, mother, grandfather, grandmother has taught you? Have the children answer the questions they can during Sharing Time, then complete them at home.

HANDOUT IDEA: “Strengthen the Family,” Friend, May 2000, 45

SUMMARY: ....Show the paper chain that was made at the beginning of the sharing time.  Hold it up and say, "A chain is a something that is connected one after the other, passing through one another.  All these links together can be an incredible strength  .Heavenly Father has established families to bring us happiness, allow us to learn correct principles in a loving atmosphere, and prepare us for eternal life."  Share your personal testimony about how you strengthen your family.