I am thankful for the priesthood,
and I am blessed by it


 

Call on various children to take turns doing actions such as the following with their hands:

• • Tie a knot in a piece of string.

• • Stack and unstack several objects.

• • Snap your fingers.

• • Write your name on the chalkboard.

• • Shake hands with the teacher.

• • Sit down and fold your hands in your lap.

Point out that every day we do many things with our hands. Explain that men and boys who hold the priesthood do additional important things with their hands.

• What are some important things priesthood holders do with their hands when they are using their priesthood power? (Answers may include give blessings, baptize, heal the sick, prepare and pass the sacrament, and confer [give] the gift of the Holy Ghost.)

• Can everyone do these things with their hands? (No. Explain that a man or boy must be ordained to the priesthood to do these things. If he has not been ordained, the Lord will not recognize any ordinances performed by him.)
 

Explain that the priesthood is the power of God. God shares his power with us through priesthood holders so we can receive the sacred ordinances (such as baptism) that will help us return to Heavenly Father’s presence. No man can give himself this power; it must be given to him by God. This is done through the laying on of hands by someone who has the proper authority. 

Borrow a uniform, jacket, hat, and badge (whatever you can) for a policeman or fireman.  Choose a child to come up put all of the stuff on him/her.  Do some kind of bogus ceremony and then say,  "you are now a police officer, go out and protect the citizens".

Ask the children, "What's missing?"

Say, "I do not have the authority to do this. It has to come from somebody that has the authority."
 
We're going to review together WHAT the priesthood is and learn more about how it is used.  (Download the questions here ~ pdf document ~ I included a blank badge at the bottom of the document in case you'd like to ask different questions).  Tape each badge to a straw and then tape to the edge of a table or podium, etc.  Make sure the badges are facing backwards so they can't see what it says.  Have a child draw a question and have them answer it the best they can.  Help them if needed.

Write on the chalkboard Priesthood power ________ ________ for sale, leaving two blanks between the words power and for. Tell the story of Simon, found in Acts 8:9–22.

Explain that Simon was a skillful magician, so the people believed he had the power of God. But when Simon became converted and was baptized into the Church, he realized he did not have the true power of God, the priesthood.  Have a child read aloud Acts 8:18–19 to explain how Simon tried to get the priesthood. Have another child read aloud from verse 20 the answer Simon received from Peter, one of Jesus’ Apostles.

Have one of the children write the words is not in the blank spaces on the chalkboard. Remind the children that the priesthood cannot be gained with money, but only through righteous living.

Game - Collect the following items and put them in a large container.  Call on one child at a time to relate how the item might relate to the priesthood.  For junior primary (or both) you could make it a matching game instead.  So, they pull out an item and match it with a GAK picture or one from the library that relates to that particular priesthood blessing.

Receiving a name and a blessing - any type of baby item
Being baptized - eight birthday candles tied together
Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost - small "gift" box
Receiving a blessing when sick - consecrated oil
Partaking of the sacrament - slice of bread
Serving a mission - missionary tag
Being married in the temple - a ring

When you have gone through all the items, cover them with a hand towel on the table.  Cover the items and carefully remove one item.  See if the Primary can guess which item you took away.

Video Clip (if time allows) - Family Home Evening Video Supplement - 'The Blessings of the Priesthood,' 7:07 min (Video Clip 12)  Check your church library to see if they have a copy of this video.

Activity - Have each child trace their hand and in each finger, have them draw/write a blessing of the priesthood.

Summary - Share with the children your testimony of the priesthood and that it blesses our lives in so many ways.