|
A testimony is a spiritual witness
given by the Holy Ghost
by Melanie Day
A testimony is gained little by little, just as a building is built brick by
brick. We can compare gaining a testimony to constructing a building. For
example, one brick could stand for having a testimony of the importance of
attending church; another brick, a testimony of the Book of Mormon; and yet
another brick, a testimony of prayer. Our testimonies are often
strengthened by our experiences.
Print out the following poster from the December 1991 Friend:
Click to View Larger Format
Illustrated by Brad Teare
Instructions:
Cut out the stones. Write a few words about testimony of
the thing referred to on each stone. A few stones have not been labeled.
Throughout this sharing time, add a stone, one-by-one. This will show
the children how a testimony gives you strength and protection. (Optional)
You can also sing the song listed on each stone.
ACTIVITY - Get a bag and two or three items to go in it. Place an
item in the bag, making sure the family does not see it. Invite a child to
come up and feel what is in the bag. Instruct him or her to describe to the
group what it feels like. The child should not tell what it is made of, only
how it feels. (Example: “It feels long. It feels hard. It feels cold.”) The
child may give the group only three clues, and then the group must guess
what it is. Usually they are unable to guess from just the description. Next
invite another child from the group to feel the same object. Ask the child
if he or she can tell what it is now. The child should be able to
easily identify the object. Emphasize that it is much easier to tell what
something is by feeling it yourself than by having it described to you.
Liken this to a testimony. Someone can describe his or her testimony
to you, but to really know what a testimony is you must feel it for
yourself. You must have your own testimony. Repeat the activity one or two
times.
(Idea from
Deseret Book's Website, by Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson,
Sharing
Time, Family Time, Anytime: Book Two
[Salt Lake
City: Bookcraft, 1994],
p.92.)
SONG -
Teach the children the song "Listen,
Listen".
GAME
- This idea is taken from the May 2000 Friend - “Who Am I?” On
slips of paper, write 5 clues about a person who had important experiences
with the Holy Ghost. For each person, have 5 children each read a different
clue aloud to the rest of the Primary. Let the children write down (or just
guess) the name of the person they think it is; have another child look up
the scripture(s) for any question that arises. Choose 5 new clue-readers for
each scripture person. Possibilities:
NEPHI
a. This person
built a temple (see
2 Ne. 5:16).
b. He saw the
same vision his father saw (see
1 Ne. 11).
c. He had three
older brothers (see
1 Ne. 2:5).
d. He built a
boat (see
1 Ne. 17:8;
1 Ne. 18:3–4).
e. He was tied up
by his brothers Laman and Lemuel (see
1 Ne. 18:10–11).
ALMA THE YOUNGER
a. When this
person was younger, he rebelled against the Church (see Alma 36:heading,
Alma 36:6).
b. His father
prayed for him (see
Mosiah 27:13–14).
c. He went on a
mission and worked hard to help people be baptized so that they could have
the Holy Ghost (see
Alma 13:27–28, 31).
d. He was
imprisoned while on his mission (see
Alma 14:1–4, 16–17).
e. Amulek was
told in a vision to invite this man into his (Amulek’s) house and feed him
(see
Alma 8:20–21).
ETHER
a. This prophet
lived in the days of Coriantumr, the king over all the land (see
Ether 12:2).
b. This man was a
Jaredite (see
Ether 1:6–32).
c. From morning
to evening he taught the people to believe in God (see
Ether 12:2–3).
d. The people
wouldn’t believe him because they could not see the things he prophesied
about (Ether
12:5).
e. He was so
filled with the Spirit that he couldn’t be kept from teaching (see
Ether 12:2).
NEPHI AND LEHI
a. These brothers
were great missionaries (see
Hel. 3:21;
Hel. 5:4, 17–19).
b. Their father’s
name was Helaman (see
Hel. 3:20–21).
c. He named them
after two great prophets in the Book of Mormon (see
Hel. 5:6).
d. While they
were on a mission, they baptized eight thousand Lamanites (see
Hel. 5:19).
e. They were
thrown into prison, but when the people came to kill them, the two brave
missionaries were protected by a circle of fire (see
Hel. 5:21–25).
JOSEPH SMITH
a. This man saw
an angel (a “messenger sent from … God”) (see
JS—H 1:30, 33).
b. He translated
an important book (see
D&C 17:5–6).
c. He was shot to
death while in prison (see
D&C 135:1).
d. He saw God the
Father and His Son, Jesus Christ (see
JS—H 1:17, heading).
e. He was the first
prophet and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
(see Doctrine and Covenants, Explanatory Introduction).
Summary - Our testimonies are special. They are built one
"brick" (experience) at a time. Share with the children how you
recognized you had a testimony.
Other optional ideas:
Discuss with the children the idea
given in the 1998 General Conference
talk by Susan L. Warner, then 2nd Counselor in the Primary
General Presidency. She talks about how her father taught her to bear her
testimony by using the fingers on her hand to remember the points she should
talk about
1. God is our loving Father in Heaven.
2. His Son, Jesus Christ, is our Savior and Redeemer.
3. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and he was the
instrument through which the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the
earth and the Book of Mormon was translated.
4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the
Lord’s Church on the earth today.
5. This Church is led by a living prophet who receives
revelation.
Object Lesson - Bring a hand weight to Primary.
Choose a volunteer that will probably be able to life the weight but struggle a
little. Ask the child if it was easy. (Thank them and have them go back to
their seat). Discuss how a testimony is a feeling given by the Holy Ghost
testifies of truth. This testimony does not stay the same, just like our
muscles.. It gets weaker if we do not nourish it. It grows as we do things that
help us gain a better understanding of gospel principles....again, just like our
muscles.
This idea is from the December 2003 Friend
- Help the children understand how they can develop stronger testimonies.
Before sharing time, make a puzzle. On one side of a large piece of paper,
write the word TESTIMONY. Cut the paper into eight puzzle pieces. On
the reverse of four pieces, write parts of a testimony, such as (1) I know
that Heavenly Father lives and that His Son, Jesus Christ, is my Savior; (2)
I know that Joseph Smith was the prophet who restored The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints; (3) I know that the Book of Mormon is the word
of God; (4) I know that we are led by a living prophet today, President
Gordon B. Hinckley. On the reverse of the other four pieces, write ways that
testimonies can be developed, such as (1) My testimony grows when I read the
scriptures; (2) My testimony grows when I pray and listen; (3) My testimony
grows when I keep the commandments; (4) My testimony grows when I share it.
Hide the puzzle pieces in the Primary room. Sing “I Want to Be a
Missionary Now” (p. 168). The song suggests that the children have
testimonies of their own. Discuss how a testimony is a feeling given by the
Holy Ghost that gospel principles are true. This testimony does not stay the
same. It gets weaker if we do not nourish it. It grows as we do things that
help us gain a better understanding of gospel principles. Have
children take turns finding puzzle pieces. Post the first one, and discuss
the principle or way in which children can help their testimonies grow. Sing
songs that reinforce the principles, such as “He Sent His Son” (pp. 34–35),
“The Church of Jesus Christ” (p. 77), “The Golden Plates” (p. 86), or
“Follow the Prophet” (pp. 110–11). For puzzle pieces about strengthening a
testimony, sing songs from the songs listed in the CS index under
“Testimony.” After all the pieces have been found, have some children
turn the pieces over and put the TESTIMONY side together. Bear your
testimony of gospel principles that have special meaning in your life.
|
