If I Listen with My Heart

If I Listen with My Heart
I began with the second verse because it was so applicable around General Conference. I started by asking the children who assigned (or told) the speakers at General Conference what topic/subject to speak on. There were several answers, but they were all surprised that the Lord told them what to speak about. Speakers fasted and prayed to know God's will. It was now up to us to prepare ourselves to hear not only with our ears but with our hearts to know what Heavenly Father wants us to hear.

Sing the first phrase and clap the rhythm as you sing. Ask the children if they could hear a pattern in the rhythm. (fast fast slow slow slow slow, fast fast slow slow slow, fast fast slow slow slow, fast fast s-l-o-w) Sing it again and have them clap with you. Then have them sing it with you. (I like to have them sing it 3 times.) To vary the repetition here are some different ways to sing:

• soft
• loud
• face east
• face west, etc.
• stand up
• face your neighbor
• close your eyes

Sing the second phrase and ask if the music is the same or different from the first phrase. (The rhythm is the same, the music is the same except for the last 3 notes.) Have the children sing this phrase 3 times so they are familiar with the words. Then sing both phrases 3 times. Vary as follows:

• boys only
• girls only
• boys sing 1st phrase, girls sing 2nd phrase then switch
• teachers sing one phrase, children sing other phrase
• one side of the room sings one phrase, other side of the room sings other phrase
• you sing one, they sing one

Sing the last phrase and see if they can hear the rhythm repetition. Help them by clapping. Have them sing it 3 times with variation. Now sing the last phrase. Tell them that they sing this line at the end of each verse. When you teach the 3rd verse, tell them that you hold out each note/word as you sing the last phrase to emphasis the importance of the message.

I teach one verse a week so I have time to sing a few familiar songs during sharing time. Children love to sing something that they know well.