A Child's Prayer
 

(Idea from February 2005 Friend) Teach this by asking questions to direct the children’s listening as you sing it. To teach the first verse, post GAK picture 216 (Christ and the Children), pictures 3-24 (boy praying) and 3-60 (girl praying) from Primary 3, and a drawing of the moon and stars (representing heaven). Sing the first two lines, and ask the children to listen for the questions the child has about Heavenly Father and prayer. Take their responses, have a child choose and hold a picture that represents those lines, and sing that much together. As you sing the next two lines, ask the children to listen for what the child has heard about heaven and then for a clue that the child may be receiving an answer to his or her questions. (“But I feel it close around me as I pray.”) Take responses, let a child choose another picture, and sing all four lines together. As you sing the next two lines, ask the children to listen for something the child remembers. Take responses and sing that much together. Take GAK picture 216 from the board, and discuss the story from the back of the picture (see Mark 10:13–16). When you sing the last two lines, ask the children what the child is going to do because he or she remembered the story of Jesus. Sing and take responses, have a child hold the last picture, and sing the whole first verse together. Repeat the verse, referring to the pictures and using other singing methods (for example, right side of the room sings first four lines, left side sings second four lines; sing parts louder or softer).
 

The second verse answers the child’s questions with a firm testimony of prayer. Have the children listen for what this person knows as you sing the second verse. Take responses and teach the blessing of testimony. Teach this verse in sections using visuals (GAK picture 605—Young Boy Praying, a mouth, a heart, GAK picture 608—Christ and Children from around the World), repetition, and by marking the beat. When the children have learned both verses well, sing them together as a duet.