I will serve in my family


 

Write the family names of some of the children in your Primary on the chalkboard. Ask the children to explain why they have these names.

• What does being a (use family name) mean to you?
 

Explain that when we are born into a family, we take upon ourselves a family name. This name may represent many important things, such as our heritage, our beliefs, the way we do things, and so on. When we are baptized, we become members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. When we take the name of Jesus Christ upon us, we are declaring our belief in him and our willingness to follow his teachings. Explain that King Benjamin was a prophet who taught the importance of taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ.

Teach the children the account of King Benjamin teaching his people from Mosiah 2:1–22; 3:2–19; 4:11–16; 5:5–8, 13–16. (Show the following picture of King Benjamin Addressing his people Picture 4-21 (Gospel Art Picture Kit 307; 62298).  You could even use simple costumes or props, dramatizing King Benjamin’s words to his people. The children could arrange their chairs in the outline of a tent with an opening toward the front of the room.  Or you could have each class sit on a large blanket facing the front.  The person acting out the part of King Benjamin could speak to them while standing on a chair at the front of the room. Have this child read King Benjamin’s words from Mosiah 2:17.

Just as King Benjamin taught, it is important to serve others.  When we serve others, especially our family, we are serving God.

Song - Sing the first verse of  “When We’re Helping” (p. 198)

Prior to your sharing time, have a couple of your other Primary Presidency members help with with this part.  Divide the Primary into three parts and have them rotate between the following three groups.  (Each one should only last a few minutes):
 

Group 1: One way we can show love and respect is by speaking kindly to family members. Have a stack of craft sticks (enough for four groups of children) and a garbage can or a paper bag labeled “garbage can.” Ask a child to break one of the sticks. Explain that using “garbage-can words”—words that are inappropriate or hurtful—in our homes can make our families weak like the single stick and more easily broken. We should not use words that hurt family members but should throw those words away. Throw away the broken stick in the garbage can. Explain that we should instead use words that build up and strengthen our families. Ask the children what words strengthen families (“Thank you,” “Please,” “You did great,” “May I help you?” and so on), and let them write them on the sticks. Give each of the children who suggested words or phrases a stick; then gather them up to create a bundle of sticks. Tie them securely together, and ask a child to try to break the bundle. Like the bundle, families are much stronger when family members build each other up by saying kind things to one another.
 

Group 2: Prepare several small heart cutouts, and write case studies (see TNGC,  161–62) on them that help children see how they can show kindness (for example, “You are leaving to play with a friend and notice your younger brother is crying. What could you do?”). Let the children choose a heart, read and answer the case study, and discuss it. Have the children look up and read John 13:34. Display a picture of a family (Primary 1-5 or 1-7). Each day we have many opportunities to show love and kindness in our families.

Share a personal experience of how showing love and kindness has blessed your family. Leave enough hearts blank so each child can take one home. Each child could draw or write on a heart one thing he or she will do to show love to his or her family during the week.
 

Group 3: This group will need a blackboard or large paper to draw on. Whisper to a child one way we can show love and compassion to a family member (for example, making your sister’s bed, sharing your toys, and so on). Give the child 30 seconds to draw the scene, and allow the group to guess what it is. Choose another child to draw and repeat.

Possible Handout Idea - Click here  You could even give it to them to take home and finish later.

Summary - Service can be very simple.  There are so many nice things we can do to help our family.  We bless ourselves as well as our family members when we make choices to help and love each other.  This will help create a happy home.  Share your testimony of how service in your family has made you happy.