Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Reading, Listening and Looking at Things that are Pleasing to Heavenly Father Sharing Time


Reading, Listening and Looking at Things that are Pleasing to Heavenly Father Sharing Time

August 2012 Week 2
Wagon came from http://www.lds.org/images/Magazines/Friend/Archive/friendlp.nfo:o:152e.jpg and was enlarged and printed on construction paper. The hay is yellow construction paper in a shredder.

I would like to tell you a story by Elder David Sorensen who is a Seventy, a servant for the Lord. He shared this story in the 2001 April General Conference. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/04/you-can-t-pet-a-rattlesnake?lang=eng&query=rattlesnakes

“My mind raced back to the days of my youth on the farm. In the summertime one of our responsibilities was to haul hay from the fields into the barn for winter storage. My dad would pitch the hay onto a flatbed wagon. I would then tromp down the hay to get as much as possible on the wagon. One day, in one of the loose bundles pitched onto the wagon was a rattlesnake! When I looked at it, I was concerned, excited, and afraid. The snake was lying in the nice, cool hay. The sun was glistening on its diamond back. After a few moments the snake stopped rattling, became still, and I became very curious. I started to get closer and leaned over for a better look, when suddenly I heard a call from my father: "David, my boy, you can't pet a rattlesnake!”(picture that goes with story- May 2002 New Era, p. 45) http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/2002/May2002NewEra.pdf

            Why did David’s dad tell him that he couldn’t pet a rattlesnake? Certainly David has agency (the freedom to choose) whether to touch the snake or not. If someone was with him, he might have been dared to touch the snake. What might have happened if he made the wrong choice and touched the snake? We have to be careful around rattlesnakes because they can bite and can harm us with their poison.
Today we are talking about reading, listening and watching things that are pleasing to Heavenly Father.  The media (television, radio, movies, newspapers) is full of rattlesnakes (picture- Ensign, September 2011 or February New Era, 2005, p. 19 http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/2-2005-NewEra/Feb2005NewEra.pdf
  The media can help/benefit us greatly, but rattlesnakes in the media can harm and poison us if we aren’t careful. There are some rattlesnakes in this Primary room today that are going to help us learn how to be careful around the things we read, listen to and watch.  We are going to carefully, with these binoculars, (you can make binoculars out of two rolls of paper taped together) spot some rattlesnakes around the room. But don’t worry, they are construction paper snakes!  Each rattlesnake has a number on him that matches a rattlesnake picture on the board. BE CAREFUL NOT TO PET THE RATTLESNAKE. Then we will discuss the picture on the back.  Who would like to use the binoculars first?
Rattlesnake clipart came from http://www.clker.com/cliparts/6/0/y/5/Y/q/rattle-snake-md.png
RATTLESNAKES

RATTLESNAKE #1- INTERNET--(computer with spoon from New Era, March 2005, 36 http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/3-2005-NewEra/Mar2005NewEra.pdf , other computer clipart taken from Ensign, March 2012, 54,55 or February 2006 New Era, 39, http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/2-2006-NewEra/Feb2006NewEra.pdf or could just use the wordstrip “INTERNET”
The internet can be a great benefit to us. It can help us with wholesome research on a variety of topics, including our family history.  LDS,org is a wonderful blessing to be able to search a gospel topic and receive countless articles on it with just one click. But we also have to be careful with the internet because it can have poisons just like the rattlesnake. There are many inappropriate pictures, words, and articles that can be spooned into our minds with poison and be very damaging.
Say with me: DON’T PET THE RATTLESNAKE!!!!
Rattlesnake craft idea came from http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/mpaper-chain-snake.htm

RATTLESNAKE #2- MUSIC- (picture- “Some Music Can Hurt You” New Era, March 2005, 19 http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/3-2005-NewEra/Mar2005NewEra.pdf or just use the wordstrip, “MUSIC”
Some music can be uplifting (like this Primary song CD that we gave you at the beginning of the year!!).  It can be fun and fill our mind with good thoughts.  However, some music can hurt you, it may have lyrics (words) that can poison your spirit. We must choose carefully the music we listen to and change the station if it makes us feel uncomfortable.
Say with me: DON’T PET THE RATTLESNAKE!!!!!!

RATTLESNAKE #3- BOOKS-(picture taken from Friend January 2012, 4 or could just use the wordstrip, “BOOKS”)
“Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118). There are many wonderful books out there filled with knowledge, light as well as some with fantasy and fun. You know what the most correct book on earth is? The Prophet Joseph Smith declared that the Book of Mormon [is] the most correct book of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion.” He said that “a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” (History of the Church, 4:461.) There are books that can have bad poison, bad language, inappropriate content in them too.  We must be careful about the quality of books we choose to read. 
Say with me: DON’T PET THE RATTLESNAKE!

RATTLESNAKE #4- MAGAZINES http://www.clubrunner.ca/Data/5010/3191/Story/199465/Magazine-clip-art-591.jpg picture of girl reading magazine “labeled read me” or just use a wordstrip, “MAGAZINES” 
The Friend is a wonderful magazine to read and there are other good magazines that have wholesome stories, pictures, and are filled with uplifting material. However, there are magazines that can fill your mind with destructive poison. Satan would love us to view the pictures that don’t respect our bodies and ads that disobey the commandments of God.
Say with me: DON’T PET THE RATTLESNAKE!

RATTLESNAKE #5- TELEVISION--(picture from Friend, January 2011, 44 http://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/english/pdf/magazines/friend/2011/01/FR_2011_01_00___09661_000_000.pdf) or just use a wordstrip, “TELEVISION”
            Many television programs can bring the spirit into our homes. I love when General Conference comes on and I get to watch the prophet give us direction. However, President Hinckley counseled, “Stay away from television shows which lead to unclean thoughts and unclean language.” (“Converts and Young Men”, May 1997 http://www.lds.org/ensign/1997/05/converts-and-young-men?lang=eng&query="television")
Say with me: DON’T PET THE RATTLESNAKE!

RATTLESNAKE #6- MOVIES-(picture taken from Ensign, September 2011, 34 or http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/FR_2007_03_00__Complete_00663_eng_000.pdf) or just use a wordstrip, “MOVIES”
 Movies can be fun to watch and uplift and teach us. However, there are many movies that can bite us and fill our minds with poisons. Language and content that isn’t pleasing to Heavenly Father can creep their way into popular movies. We have been told by the prophet not to watch rated R movies, but also to walk away from any movie that makes us feel uncomfortable or drives away the spirit whether it be Rated  R or even PG.
Say with me: DON’T PET THE RATTLESNAKE!

RATTLESNAKE #7- VIDEO GAMES- - (picture glued together from Ensign, August 2009, 47,48 http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/EN_2009_08_00___04208_000_000.pdf  or New Era August 2005, p.26 http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/8-2005-NewEra/Aug2005NewEra.pdf,  or just use wordstrip, “VIDEO GAMES”
There are many video games that are clean, challenging, and fun, and some multiplayer games can be an enjoyable social activity. The Church is not against video games, but youth are urged to be smart in their selection of games and the amount of time they spend with them.” (http://www.lds.org/liahona/2011/07/to-the-point/is-the-church-against-all-video-games-or-just-violent-ones?lang=eng&query="video+games") Some video games have mature ratings and may be filled with violent poison.  Spending too much time playing video games is a poisonous addiction.
 Say with me: DON’T PET THE RATTLESNAKE!
I hope you will remember to make good choices about the things you read, listen to and watch only choose those things that would make Heavenly Father happy.  In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

   You can find a copy of the file named, "Rattlesnake temptations" at my Skydrive: https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=976904c8bfc9a79e&sc=documents&id=976904C8BFC9A79E%21105)








28 comments:

  1. I just wanted to thank you for having this great lesson for all to use. Not only that, but for posting it so far in advance! I really like to get my lessons done early and often have a hard time finding any additional ideas. Thanks again!!

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  2. Thank you for this wonderful idea! I'm a new reader to your blog and it's really helpful for someone new to teaching Sharing Time (me). So thank you :)

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  3. love everything you do!!! thank you so much you are a BIG help to me!

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  4. Thank you Thank you! This is fantastic, the kids are going to LOVE it! I am teaching this lesson this Sunday, we are ahead one weak and it is nice to have your ideas in advance since we are ahead of schedule...

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  5. This is a great lesson, especially for the Jr. Primary which I struggle with. Also, I appreciate how early it is up to prepare in time. You have a new follower.

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  6. I am teaching my first sharing time this sunday and this is SUCH a huge help! I had such a fabulous primary presidency when I was little and I really want to bring the kids a similar experience. I love all of your ideas! Thank you so much for sharing them! xo

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  7. Thank you for sharing your talents. I have been doing sharing times for many years off and on, and I am so grateful when I get new ideas and helps.

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  8. Thank you so much for this idea, it is wonderful! Your lessons are truly a blessing. Where did you get the cool snake that is in the wagon?

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  9. Awesome!! I'm doing this on Sunday

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  10. I am new to my calling in Primary and your ideas for sharing time are making me look really good ;) haha, thanks so much for sharing your ideas. I absolutely love them!

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  11. Thanks!! (an answer to my prayers)!

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  12. I need to say thank you as well! I love your ideas, you are very talented. Thanks for being willing to share them. :)

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  13. you are just wonderful! i have taught two lessons from your advice and the children have loved them! i will be teaching this one on sunday.

    www.wewouldlovetoadopt.blogspot.com

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  14. Thank you SO much for putting this together and providing all the links and references so I could find everything!! I can't wait to share this with my primary kids.

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  15. Ok so I am preparing this for Sharing Time tomorrow and it has taken me a few hours, and YOU did all the work! I can't imagine the time it took you to write this post, I am so very very very grateful. Thanks for the wonderful and fun idea. I would be lost for Sharing Time without Gals like you out there! Thanks again:)

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  16. I loved the idea with the snake. Yes! That is so cute and will get their attention. We have both Senior and Junior Primary so I can fit this very easily into all of their needs.

    Thank you for taking the time to do this,
    Raylene

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  17. Thanks you so much for the time and effort you put into posting and preparing all of this, I am so excited to try it all out tomorrow!

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  18. Agreed, this is an answer to my prayers! Just got asked this morning to take over for the other councelor and I had NO idea what to do so this is great! THANK YOU!

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  19. Wonderful...thank you so much.

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  20. Thank you! Using this tomorrow!!!!

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  21. Thank you so much for taking the time to really make the lessons so easy to use for all the kids!! I love these!! aloha from hawaii>>>

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  22. I had a GREAT time doing this sharing time! The kids loved it and I took all the time doing it too :) Thank you so much for all the links and pictures and the total preparation already done for me!

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  23. I used your "hidden" snake idea. I changed a few things, and it was great. I have also shared this idea with a few co-workers that want to use it in their primaries too.

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  24. I love this idea, thank you so much for all the great primary ideas! You are a life saver. :)

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  25. I loved your idea with the rattlesnakes. For week 3 I showed the video "the Test" on the FHE Video Supplement 2 disc. The Kids loved it! This week I am using the rattlesnakes again to talk about the temptations we face when trying to keep the Sabbath day holy. It is nice having a theme for the whole month to implement and build upon the previous weeks topic. Thanks for the great idea!!

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  26. This is great, thank you! I used these snakes just because they took less time. Wanted to share: https://mrprintables.com/snake-finger-puppets/

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  27. Excellent story, engagement, visuals, and message! Thank you.

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