(Credit Unknown) In our Primary Singing time we learned the words to "The Sacred Grove" by acting it out. I ask for trees and select a few hands (how many trees you will need will depend upon how big you want your grove!) Then, I ask for a morning sun.  (I select one of the children)  Next, I ask who will be Joseph. ( At first when learning the song, I had a boy come up to the class and kneel down, but it works out better for us to have a child hold up a picture of Joseph Smith. (boy or girl)  As we sing the song I point to the grove. (children who have their hands in the air like they are trees) I point to the Morning Sun (a child with his/her hands in a circle above head) Then, I point to Joseph (child with picture) I point to the ground when we sing "upon the sacred ground"  They learned this song so quickly, and they look forward to participating. It is a beautiful song.
 

This song can be taught by using pictures from the Gospel Art Kit or the ward library, or by making simple drawings, mounting them on heavy paper, and attaching them to craft sticks that the children can hold up. Divide the song into phrases, and practice while holding up an appropriate picture: “The Sacred Grove was green and fresh,”/ picture of the Sacred Grove; “The morning sun shone bright around,”/ picture of the sun; “As Joseph knelt in fervent prayer,” (sing twice) / picture of Joseph praying in the Sacred Grove; “Upon that sacred ground.”/ picture of the ground or of the Sacred Grove and point to the ground; “The Father and the Son appeared,”/ picture of the First Vision; “They spoke to him as with one voice,”/ picture of Joseph Smith; “Their message answered all his fears,” (sing twice)/ word FEARS; “And made his heart rejoice.”/ picture of a heart.  Select four children to help with the first verse, and four different children to help with the second verse. Ask questions such as “What happened in the Sacred Grove?” and “Why do we think of the ground as sacred?” Help the children understand the significance of what occurred when the Father and the Son appeared to Joseph Smith. Bear your testimony of the restoration of the gospel and of the Prophet Joseph Smith. (Idea from July 2001 Friend)
 

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