I Can Pray to Heavenly Father Sharing time

Sharing time
I Can Pray to Heavenly Father!

August 2013 Week 1

 

Here is a link to help with instructions to make a roller box. I used paper towel rolls instead of PVC pipes and turned the box the other direction to accomodate the pictures. The rabbit ears are tin foil around a wire coat hanger. see bottom for instructions
http://www.sugardoodle.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5250&Itemid=200068

Show Primary picture 4-46 https://sites.google.com/site/ldsmeetinghouselibrarypictures/Home"One day Alma and Amulek went to the Zoramites. Among other things, the Zoramites had forgotten how to pray reverently. They had built synagogues, or churches, and in the middle of each was a tall stand[called a Rameumptom], the top of which was high above the congregation...One day each week, the people took turns climbing to the top of the Rameumptom." Each person [at the top], would raise his hands toward heaven and in a loud voice repeat a boastful prayer...exactly the same prayer. Then [he]climbed down, went home, and never prayed or thought about God during the rest of the week."

"Alma and Amulek taught the Zoramites... that they could pray anytime, anywhere, that they could pray silently in their hearts, or out loud, and that they should not wait until they went to church on Sunday to pray. Amulek taught them that they could pray to Heavenly Father about everything and that they should not just repeat the same words over and over again. He said that they should thank Heavenly Father for all the good things He had given them, that they should ask for the help and strength they needed, and that they should pray for others. He knew that if they did this, they would feel more reverent toward Heavenly Father." taken from "Sharing time: Alma and Amulek Teach the Zoramites to Pray", Friend, February, 1992 http://www.lds.org/friend/1992/02/sharing-time-alma-and-amulek-teach-the-zoramites-to-pray?lang=eng

"Like the Zoramites who listened to Alma and Amulek, we need to learn how to pray reverently."

If you can see pictures in your mind, they can help you to think of the words that you want to say. We are going to discuss some of the things that you can say during a prayer. Even though prayers have a structure, they should be different. I have a TV here to help us with ideas. It is set on the "Prayer Network."  Source: Pat Graham, “Sharing Time: What Shall I Say When I Pray?” Friend, June 1985, 45

 

Step 1 of a prayer is -We begin by addressing Heavenly Father kind of like if you were writing a letter, "Dear _________"

Step 2: We thank thee or I thank thee…(show 1st channel on the TV) Saying “Thee” is a way of addressing and showing respect to Heavenly Father when we pray to him.

1. Picture of world
Primary packet picture 1-1 
Discuss all the things on the earth that you can thank Heavenly Father for. Trees, animals, water, house to live in, food to eat, clothes to wear, beauty of our world. We thank thee for all things on earth. This includes anything on this earth that we enjoy.
(change channel by turning the rollers on the box the same direction. Have a child tune the rabbit ears and another use the remote to change it.) ***ideas for holding attention: Talk really loud and ask a child to turn you down and then whisper and have them turn you up to keep attention. Or start talking in another language and have to switch to english mode. Tune the rabbit ears, etc.

 

2. Picture of church-
 Primary packet picture 3-66
 We thank thee for this church building. We thank thee that there are more and more buildings being built around the world. We thank thee for the opportunity of come to church and Primary. We thank thee for the law of tithing that helps buildings be built. We thank thee that we can take the sacrament at church each week to remind us of Jesus.
(change channel by turning the rollers on the box the same direction. Have a child tune the rabbit ears and use the remote to change it.)

3. Picture of temple-
taken from "Temples", Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but could use any up and down temple picture
We thank thee for temples. We thank thee for the work that is done in temples. We thank thee that families can be sealed in the temple. We are thankful that our temple is a few minutes away.
(change channel by turning the rollers on the box the same direction. Have a child tune the rabbit ears and use the remote to change it.)

4. Picture of prophet.
taken from Ensign, July 2008, p.4 could use http://www.thomassmonson.org/monson/_assets/images/photos/recent-st.jpg
We thank thee for the prophet that guides this church. We thank thee for General Conference that lets us hear thy words. We thank thee for past prophets like Joseph Smith.
(change channel by turning the rollers on the box the same direction. Have a child tune the rabbit ears and use the remote to change it.)

5. Picture of priesthood blessings-
Primary packet picture- 1-40
We thank thee that the priesthood is on the earth. We thank thee that we can have priesthood blessings given when we need them. We thank thee that babies can be blessed, we can be baptized, confirmed, get married by proper authority.
(change channel by turning the rollers on the box the same direction. Have a child tune the rabbit ears and use the remote to change it.)

6. Picture of Bishop-
Gospel Art Kit 611
We thank thee for the bishop. We thank thee for the leaders of this church.
(change channel by turning the rollers on the box the same direction. Have a child tune the rabbit ears and use the remote to change it.)

7. Picture of children-
Primary packet picture-2-70
We thank thee for our Primary and the children in this ward. We thank thee for our Primary teachers and their time they spend on their lessons.

8. Picture of Book of Mormon-
taken from Ensign, March 2009, p. 32 or http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/EN_2009_03_00___04203_000_000.pdf

We thank thee for the Book of Mormon. We thank thee for the other books of scripture, the Bible, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price. We thank thee for the words and lessons in the books.


Now if we rewind our television program we can do step 3(We ask).

We ask Heavenly Father for things we need help with.  We ask thee______ or please bless______(Show the "We ask thee" station)
(turn the rollers on the TV the other direction and revisit the pictures)



8. Picture of Book of Mormon- taken from Ensign, March 2009, p. 32 or http://www.lds.org/churchmagazines/EN_2009_03_00___04203_000_000.pdf
We ask thee to help us understand the scriptures more. Please help find more time to read the scriptures. Please bless us remember the things that we have read.
(Have a child help rewind the prayer program)

7. Picture of children-Primary packet picture-2-70
We ask thee or please bless the Primary children and the teachers. Bless the teachers that they may be able to teach the lesson they prepared. Use lesson topic in prayer. Please bless us that we can pray more often and feel more comfortable saying our prayers.
6. Picture of Bishop-Gospel Art Kit 611
 Please bless the bishop that he may be able to do his calling. We ask thee to bless him with inspiration to lead our ward.
5. Picture of priesthood blessings- Primary packet picture- 1-40
We ask thee to bless those that are sick or afflicted that they may be comforted. Please bless ____________ that he might get well. Please bless ________ that he might feel happier.
4. Picture of Prophet- taken from Ensign, July 2008, p.4 could use http://www.thomassmonson.org/monson/_assets/images/photos/recent-st.jpg
Please bless the prophet with the health and strength he needs to lead this church. Please bless the counselors and the other leaders of this church.
3. Picture of temple- taken from "Temples", Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but could use any up and down temple picture
We ask to help us be worthy to attend the temple someday. We ask thee for more temples to be built around the world. We ask thee to help us find information about our ancestors so they can have their temple work done. Please bless those that work in the temples.
2. Picture of church. Primary packet picture 3-66
 Please bless that we will have a good day at church and that we may learn something. Please bless those that have not yet arrived at church may come safely. Please bless that those that were not here this Sunday will come next week. We ask thee to help missionaries find more people to teach and bring to church.
1. Picture of earth- Primary packet picture 1-1 
Please bless our homes that they may be safe. We ask a blessing on this food we are about to eat that it may strengthen us. Please bless our cars that they may work and get us home safely.

Then we end our prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.(show a picture of Jesus Christ, Primary packet picture 1-3)
There are LOTS of pictures we think in our mind when it is our turn to say a prayer to thank and ask help with from Heavenly Father that were not seen on our television program today.
I hope we will all have more reverent and meaningful prayers, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

*Singing Time adaptation-Pass the remote and sing "I Pray in Faith" CS, 14 and stop singing and the person holding the remote says another picture that could have been on our TV., ideas may include:We thank thee for…  parents and family, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost or the spirit during the meeting, sacrament, reverence, missionaries, etc.

Assembling the cardboard TV-

TV without pictures

Put the pictures in sheet protectors
(So you don't ruin them) and then tape them
in a long strand with strong tape. Tape the first
picture to the center of top roll.

Tape the last picture to the bottom
roll and then roll the top pictures
and bottom pictures. Roll the tubes
together for picture to turn.