Talents Sharing Time

Sharing time- Becoming an Instrument in the Hands of God and Sharing Talents
November Week 3 theme- "I Am Thankful for Spiritual Blessings"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ssHsUE-CTg (If internet available, show and listen to one minute of the orchestra playing, “I am a Child of God”. So the children know what a symphony looks and sounds like). Recently, I was able to visit a live orchestra and was amazed that all these different musical instruments with their own unique sounds could produce together something so harmonious, so beautifully blended. The scriptures in Alma say, “…that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.” We are the Lord’s instruments or tools to help build up each other and the church. We use our talents or special gifts from God to create harmony and beauty in the world around us. This keyboard (show keyboard, or you could use a piano if needed) would like to play the last part of a primary song but needs some help finding the correct musical notes to play. I have placed some musical instruments around the room, like a symphony, that can help the piano find the musical notes it needs, its sheet music! We will discover what kind of talented instruments we can be and how we can create spiritual harmony. With each instrument, we will learn about talents and find a few musical notes to put on the board.

 

(Borrow some music instruments that may be found in a symphony and place around the room with labeled numbers 1-6 on small cards and place two or three music note sheets under or next to the instrument. You could also use instrument clipart from the internet, if instruments are not available.)

example:

Sorry I forgot to put a 3X5 card with the number order of the instrument. Use your imagination!

 

(Have Primary child find INSTRUMENT #1 in the room and show the children the instrument or even play it for a second.) clipart option: http://cdn.dailyclipart.net/wp-content/uploads/medium/clipart0162.jpg or http://www.clipartmojo.com/plugins/Clipart/ClipartStock1/piccolo%201.png

INSTRUMENT #1 - Piccolo or French horn

“Happily, we need not all be the same kind of instrument. Just as the instruments in an orchestra differ in size, shape, and sound, we too are different from one another. We have different talents and inclinations, but just as the Piccolo (or whatever instrument) cannot duplicate [or make the same] sound as a piano, neither is it necessary for us to all serve the Lord in exactly the same way.” http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/10/we-are-instruments-in-the-hands-of-god?lang=eng&query="piccolo"

(Have child help put the first three music notes, G(blue),A(orange),G(blue) on the chalkboard)

 (Have Primary child find INSTRUMENT # 2 in the room and show the instrument to the children or play it for a second.) clipart option: http://www.clipart.dk.co.uk/DKImages/arts/image_arts006.jpg

INSTRUMENT #2- Viola or Violin

“An orchestra composed of only violas (or Violins) lacks the depth, the variety, the power of a symphony complete with winds, brass, strings, and percussion. Together, all instruments make a wholeness.”  http://www.lds.org/ensign/1998/07/harmony-among-grown-children?lang=eng&query=symphony. I prefer the symphony more when there are many different instruments playing the song rather than having all violas (or violins). It is a blessing that we have all been given many different talents or spiritual gifts to help each other. It would be kind of boring if we all did the same thing always. We are all a different instrument playing an important part in strengthening each other.

(Have child help put the next two notes music notes, E(green),C(yellow) on the chalkboard)

(Have Primary child find INSTRUMENT # 3 in the room and show the instrument to the children or play it for a second.) clipart option: http://www.aperfectworld.org/clipart/Music/drum03.gif

INSTRUMENT #3- Drum or another instrument that can be passed around and played

So what are the different talents or gifts that we have? How are we different instruments? “Everyone has been blessed with special talents. They are gifts from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Sometimes you may think of music, art, or sports as the only talents that a person may have, but there are other talents that aren’t so obvious.” http://www.lds.org/friend/1989/06/sharing-time-i-have-talents?lang=eng&query="sharing+time%3ai+have+talents Many talents are spiritual talents. Maybe you are good at listening to others and the spirit, being compassionate and kind, being honest with others, trusting in people and God, understanding people, being calm and slow to get angry, etc. “Spiritual gifts are endless in number and infinite in variety” (taken from http://www.lds.org/ensign/2002/02/gifts-of-the-spirit?lang=eng) So what are some of your talents? (pass around the drum and have a few children play as they share a talent)

(Have child help put the next two notes music notes, G(blue), G(blue) on the chalkboard.)

(Have Primary child find INSTRUMENT # 4 in the room and show the instrument to the children or play it for a second.) clipart option; http://musicalmart.net/shop/images/DCL-400_Clarinet.jpg

INSTRUMENT #4 - Clarinet or any instrument

Once we have discovered our talents, we need to develop them. Practice them. What would happen if I had a clarinet and then hid it in my closet and never got it out? Would I get better at playing it? No! I have to practice often and then I would start to see my progress. We have to practice our physical and spiritual talents. “Our talents may only be small at first. But with hard work they can grow. Improving one talent often helps us develop other talents” http://www.lds.org/manual/the-latter-day-saint-woman-basic-manual-for-women-part-a/personal-and-family-development/lesson-27-developing-our-talents?lang=eng&query="developing+our+talents"  After we have discovered and developed our talents, the Lord expects us to use them. If we do not use them, we will lose them” http://www.lds.org/manual/the-latter-day-saint-woman-basic-manual-for-women-part-a/personal-and-family-development/lesson-27-developing-our-talents?lang=eng&query="developing+our+talents"

(Have child help put the next two notes music notes, E(green), A(orange) on the chalkboard.)

(Have Primary child find INSTRUMENT # 5 in the room and show the instrument to the children or play it for a second.) clipart option: http://static.musiciansfriend.com/derivates/19/001/267/085/DV020_Jpg_Jumbo_491224.372_supernatural.jpg

INSTRUMENT #5- Tambourine (or other instrument)

“Symphony and orchestra members must listen to each other’s parts to blend their different instruments so that each part can be heard.” http://www.lds.org/ensign/1998/07/harmony-among-grown-children?lang=eng&query=symphony We, instruments in the hand of God, must listen and show respect other instruments of God, meaning our friends, peers, neighbors, etc. We must find ways to blend in harmony with each other, get along and let everyone be heard. We can also listen and help others discover talents or spiritual gifts, they didn’t know they had.

(Have child help put the next three notes music notes, G(blue), F(brown), E(green) on the chalkboard.)

(Have Primary child find INSTRUMENT # 6 in the room and show the instrument to the children or play it for a second.) clipart option: http://www.musicwithease.com/trumpet-2.gif

INSTRUMENT #6- Trumpet

“You can be powerful instruments in the hands of God to help bring about this great work. … You can do something for another person that no one else ever born can do”  President Faust taught  http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/10/becoming-instruments-in-the-hands-of-god?lang=eng&query="become+instruments Sound your trumpets, share your talents or gifts from God daily in the great symphony of life.

(Have child help put the last two notes music notes, D(purple), C(pink) on the chalkboard.)
 

CONCLUSION:

Now we have all the notes for the piano to finish playing the song. I need a friend to come share your talents with us and help us play the song. Wonder if you can guess what primary song it is? (The keyboard has the notes color coded to match the notes on the board. Quietly assist the child by calling out the colors for the child to play the last line of the song) The song is, “Fun to do” (I used a simplified version and color coded the notes to the best of my ability. Music is NOT my talent!) http://www.frontiernet.net/~vkbrown/fun_to_do.pdf

Sing, “Sharing our talents is fun to do, to do, to do, to do!!” Sharing our talents IS fun! I challenge you to become instruments in the hands of God and bless others with your spiritual gifts. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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

 

 

The Family is of God Sharing time

 

The Family is of God Sharing Time
July 2013 Week 1

 

As you prepare and teach this lesson, be sensitive regarding children from single parent homes

In 1995, The prophet, President Hinckley issued “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” proclaiming “that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.” Mothers and fathers have divine roles [or special jobs] and responsibilities in the rearing “of their children in love and righteousness.” “Fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.” Take this salad tool.

 

Imagine that this fork side (show fork side in one hand) represents a father and the spoon side (show spoon side in other hand) represents a mother. The fork side has its own special jobs that it is good at and the spoon, in turn, has jobs that it is better suited for. Each CAN certainly serve salad by themselves. But the fork and the spoon (assemble the fork and spoon side together) working together as equal partners can serve salad more successfully.  

So what are these special roles that mothers and fathers have and how does it help have happy homes and eternal families?  We are going to learn about the divine roles of parents and also how we can honor and help our parents.  I have a series of homes filled with love.

I used velcro dots to attach the hearts to the homes. You could use painter's tape. House taken from

http://www.freeldsart.com/images/clipart/love-at-home-c.gif

A Primary child will select a heart from a house and we will learn about a special responsibility that parents have based directly from the “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” and leaders of the church. Then we will place the heart in this happy home and help create an eternal family. Later we will discover what responsibilities children have to honor parents.

house came from http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Friend/img/
img01949.jpg?f=templates$fn=document-frame.htm$3.0
or try this link http://www.lds.org/friend/1996/06/sharing-time-love-at-home?lang=eng
It was more time consuming than anticipated to construct. There are many printable dollhouses out in internet land(see below for another) or use a toy doll house or create one?!

Additional information on the “Parent roles” hearts that are removed from the happy home-

1. “Parents have a sacred duty… to teach [children] to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live.” http://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng  

·         Parents teach love service and obedience to the country’s laws to their children. They keep the Ten Commandments and other commandments given by the prophets.  

2. “Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.” http://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng

·         “Families that regularly participate in wholesome activities together can feel greater love and harmony.” Wholesome activities include Family Home Evening, family service activities and one-on-one outings with mom or dad. Taken from http://www.lds.org/liahona/2011/09/small-and-simple-things/wholesome-family-activities?lang=eng&query="wholesome+activities" What is one of your favorite wholesome activities with a parent?

3. “By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.” http://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng

·         Fathers preside, provide and protect their families. To preside righteously means the father knows the principles of the gospel, loves God, his wife and self, works together with his wife, exercises priesthood keys, and teaches his children. Taken from http://www.lds.org/liahona/2004/02/presiding-righteously-in-the-home?lang=eng&query="fathers+preside" Fathers provide needs like shelter, clothing and food for their families. Fathers protect their families from danger and the evils of the world.

4.  “Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.” http://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng

·         “To nurture is to teach, to foster development, to promote growth, to feed, and to nourish.” Susan W. Tanner, "My Soul Delighteth in the Things of the Lord," Ensign, May 2008, 82 “Another word for nurturing is homemaking. Homemaking includes cooking, washing clothes and dishes, and keeping an orderly home.” Daughters in my Kingdom, Chapter 9, “Guardians of the Hearth” http://www.lds.org/relief-society/daughters-in-my-kingdom/manual/guardians-of-the-hearth-establishing-nurturing-and-defending-the-family?lang=eng&query="motherhood+is+near+to+divinity.+it+is+the+highest+holiest+service

 5. “In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.”

·         “Regardless of their family situation, all Church members are entitled to receive all the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The structure and fellowship of the Church provide many people who are willing and ready to help parents and children and to strengthen them in the gospel.” http://www.lds.org/topics/single-parent-families?lang=eng&query="single+parents When needed, others can help fill the role of a father or mother (the salad fork or spoon) to help strengthen the family.

6. Listen to the second and third verse of “The Family is of God” and recall one role for each mother and father from the lyrics (MP3 found here or have Presidency/teachers sing the song to the children) http://www.lds.org/cm/display/0,17631,7206-1,00.html or have all the children sing the song using this flipchart http://c586449.r49.cf2.rackcdn.com/The%20Family%20Is%20of%20God.pdf

“Children share with their parents the responsibilities of building a happy home.” “The Lord has commanded children to honor their parents. He said, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land” (Exodus 20:12). To honor parents means to love and respect them. http://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-37-family-responsibilities?lang=eng&query="honor+parents"

Now we are going to add children to this happy, eternal home and discover some of your responsibilities in honoring parents. (Pick children “dolls” and read and discuss ways that the children can honor parents. After discussing, put child in the happy house.)

 

(On the back of the children clipart “dolls” or you could use small toy dolls. I don’t have dolls or dollhouses, I have three energetic boys!)
 

1.      Be obedient- The scriptures teach children “obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1).

2.      Be loyal to them by not saying unkind things about them or to them 

3.      Be more cheerful with all family members-

“Most of all, you can put your arms around your mother often and tell her you love her.” M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 110

4.      Be a good person myself

5.      Be more helpful at home

“You can pick up your toys when you are finished playing with them, and when you get a little older, you can make your bed, help with the dishes, and do other chores—without being asked.” M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 110

6.      Express appreciation and thanks

“You can say thank you more often when you finish a nice meal, when a story is read to you at bedtime, or when clean clothes are put in your drawers.” M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 110 

“No gift purchased from a store can begin to match in value to parents some simple, sincere words of appreciation. Nothing we could give them would be more prized than righteous living for each youngster” Spencer W. Kimball http://www.lds.org/manual/preparing-for-exaltation-teachers-manual/lesson-42-honor-thy-father-and-thy-mother?lang=eng

7.      Discuss your problems, plans, and goals with them

“Your parents can help you greatly if you will confide in them and accept their advice and counsel. They want you to be happy. Your successes are their successes. Your failures are their failures. They are sad when you are sad, and glad when you are glad. If you want to be really happy and successful, you will honor your father and mother” N. Eldon Tanner, “These Things I have Learned”, http://www.lds.org/new-era/1971/03/these-things-i-have-learned?lang=eng&query="parents+can+help"\

(Source for ways to honor parents: Young Women’s manual 1 http://www.lds.org/manual/young-women-manual-1/lesson-9-honoring-parents?lang=eng&query="honor+parents")

Conclusion:

“When we honor our parents, we bring happiness to them and we become better, happier people ourselves.” “To love and honor our parents is to love and honor God.” Ensign, July 1986 http://www.lds.org/ensign/1986/07/honoring-parents-and-being-honorable-parents?lang=eng&query="honor+parents  I hope that we will honor our parents today and prepare for the responsibilities we will receive as future parents someday. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Sources for clipart used:

House http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Friend/img/
img01949.jpg?f=templates$fn=document-frame.htm$3.0

or could use this printable that fits on a McDonalds happy meal box-

house box-  http://www.gretchenfleener.com/ShopPaperPatterns.html

father- http://www.ldsclipart.com/wp-content/uploads/bwbps/father4.jpg

mother- https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmhlibrarycutouts/home/Primary-Manual-1-Cutouts

girl with flowers-- https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmhlibrarycutouts/home/Set-1People

girl with church dress- https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmhlibrarycutouts/home/Primary-Manual-3-Cutouts

boy in suit- - https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmhlibrarycutouts/home/Primary-Manual-3-Cutouts

boy in white shirt- https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmhlibrarycutouts/home/Set-1People

baby- https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmhlibrarycutouts/home/Set-1People

sister with baby-  https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmhlibrarycutouts/home/Set-1People

boy in brown suit- https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmhlibrarycutouts/home/Primary-Manual-1-Cutouts

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