Friday, April 23, 2010

Truly Amazing

Hello. For all those who still are looking at this blog, as unhelpful as it has been lately, thanks. April just ran away from me, and I haven't taken the time to sit down and post.

I felt strongly to share this with you today. I know the time is past for this song, but I hope it might help someone out there.

Last week I introduced the song to my primary. They are all familiar with it, so it was wonderful to really get into the words of the song and allow the spirit to bind it to their hearts. For the first time in a great while, I struggled knowing just how to present this to my primary. I walked into church that Sunday with only a brief attention getting activity (suggested in the Primary guide) and a prayer that Heavenly Father would direct me to help them learn what they needed to know.

I showed them a picture of Captain Moroni and briefly explained this title of liberty. I related this to our song by saying that just like the title of liberty stated who they were, what they believed in, and what they were going to do....so does our song. I took it line by line and had the children repeat sing the line back to me.

For Jr. Primary...I paused on the line "I know who I am". I asked them, "Who are you?". A little girl from the back of the room squared her shoulders and said boldly, "I am a Child of God." The spirit rushed in and I was over come. I was compelled to stop and bare testimony of this simple truth, and explain to the children the feelings they were having as well...for the entire primary was touched. I then had a red, yellow, and blue primary flag in my bag and had the children wave that as we sang it for a final time.

Later, in Sr. Primary as we were repeat singing the last line..."His Truth I will Proclaim" the thought came to my mind to remind them of Lehi's dream where he finally partakes of the fruit and is filled with the love of God. I asked them if they knew the first thing he desired to do. Again, a child said, "He wanted to share it." The spirit again flooded the room and filled our hearts to the brim. It was a powerful moment for all of us. So simple. So powerful. I then had them sing it again as they stood and moved down a chair for each "I" said in the song, which brought smiles to everyone's face and really was fun.

I have reflected this entire week on that experience. Heavenly Father wanted our Jr. Primary to know they were children of God, and he wanted to strengthen the Sr. primary in their resolve to share the Gospel in word and deed. I am so grateful that I had this experience because it has taught me truly to rely on the spirit in this calling. He has so much more to teach them than I ever could figure out on my own.

This week I am simply going to review the song with them using a game I've already posted before.. (not sure which one yet)....and work on a Mother's Day Song.

I hope you too can seek the Lord's help for inspiration for your primaries. He loves them and knows them and will help you teach them what they need to learn the most.

Your sister in the Gospel

-Melanie

13 comments:

Layne Bushell said...

what a sweet experience. thank you for sharing it with us. it brought a smile to my face today!

Valerie Lee said...

Great! I plan to use the Captain Moroni Picture too. Also moving each time they say I is a good movement idea! Last week when I taught we also talked about each line, I had similar experiences. I told them it was also like the national antham of our country, how proud we are to be citizens.
THANKS

Unknown said...

I did miss you I didn't know how to write to you to make sure you were OK. I am so grateful for you and your sweet spirit and all you do for me in my primary! THANK YOU!!!!

Kevin Abernethy said...

Thanks for sharing. Love Sundays like that. :)

The Wiser Side said...

You are so helpful-thank you for sharing this and reminding me that Heavenly Father is the one really in charge

Nan and Aaron said...

Thanks so much for sharing! I LOVE those moments. Don't we have the best calling in the world??

Eliza said...

I love the standing up and moving down a chair at "I" idea. I will have to use that in the future.

When reviewing this song with the kids, I had similar ideas of going through the meaning of the song and thought it was really successful. I divided the song up by concepts and had a different Primary song to sing for each concept: e.g., "I know who I am" ("I Am a Child of God") "I know God's plan" ("I Lived in Heaven") "I'll do what is right" ("Choose the Right Way") "His truth I will proclaim" ("We'll Bring the World His Truth"), etc. I had a song to correlate with each line.

For the juniors I had them draw from a hat (or do whatever game, I don't remember) and explained each thing, and for the seniors I had them pick the song, then guess which line of "I Belong" matched with the song. I felt that they really grasped the concepts and thought about what belonging to the Church really means.

Anyway just wanted to share, I have missed your blog over the past weeks but at the same time have found that I don't need to lean on someone else if I follow the Spirit, and we have had very successful music times. I still love your ideas and incorporate them when I can! Thank you!

Jeni said...

Hi, I have never commented before, but I found your blog through a Google search desperately looking for music time ideas.
I LOVE your blog and really appreciate your willingness to share your brilliant ideas with the world! Thank you!
I can't tell you how much easier it has made my life- I don't always do what you're doing exactly, but it gives me ideas and makes our music time amazing.

Again, thank you! And thank you for this lovely post about feeling the spirit. My favorite weeks have been the ones where I really sat down, prayed, and pondered about how I could best teach these kids. Keep up the good work!

Jeni

Melissa said...

Our ward has been re-aligned and I'm out of my favorite calling. I'm so totally sad. Sundays like the one you describe, where you aren't being silly, you don't have all sorts of gimicky things to help you, you just teach truths are my favorite (I love silly and gimicky too though-- which is why I love the calling so much, you get to have it all!)

Anyway, thanks for all of your ideas, I hope to be called as chorister again someday!

Angela said...

Hi, I'm a brand new chorister and know it is the best calling in the church! Thanks so much for all of your wonderful ideas. I saw your blog about teaching "Beautiful Savior" last year and I'm teaching it this Sunday. I really can't figure out how to download and burn the cd. Do you have any suggestions? I didn't know it would be so hard and I'm desperate. I really feel I should show that video...My e-mail address is luvmyman@hotmail.com.

Thanks!!!

Melanie said...

Angela,

I'm so sorry. So many people requested this same thing last year. I didn't download this onto a CD because I'm not talented at computer stuff either. I simply had my husband show it on projecter from his computer that day. It was an amazing spiritual thing. I hope it works out for you.

apple said...

I'm not sure where to post this, but here goes. I have noticed that May is a month that we can pick our own song to teach the children. Mother's Day songs are perfect but I am wondering what other songs choristers are teaching this month. We had a regional conference last week so this will be our first week of Primary for May. I am not sure what to teach. Would love to hear from everyone.

Shellie said...

Hello! Last December you mentioned you were going to teach in may "Choose the Right way." Are you still? Any quick thoughts on how you are introducing this? Teaching this? I am doing this also and could use some inspiration! Thank you! Shellie from Michigan