God speaks to us

We have the opportunity to sustain a new prophet and two new apostles April 1, 2018.  What a great event!

This is a good time to review the words to "If the Savior Stood Beside Me."  We have been given a prophet to guide us and help us live as if the Savior were beside us.

Share with the children your testimony, especially with Easter being next week.  The third verse tells us how Christ is always there for us, how he "dearly" loves us and watches over us.

Remind the children that God uses his prophet and apostles to give us His message.  So, If we want to know what the Savior wants us to know today, listen to General Conference and we can all know.

*Note:
There are ideas for Easter activities in earlier posts if you need more ideas.

Kite Review

Using different and fun visuals put pizzazz into reviewing songs.

• cut several (6 - 8) kite shapes out of various colored paper (diamond shape works quite well) You can use more kites depending on how many words and/or phrases you want to have.  Different sizes and shapes are also fun.
• tape a piece of string or yarn on the end for a tail (8 to 10 inches long)
• Put key words from the phrases of the song you would like to review
• "If the Savior Stood Beside Me"
• commandments
• example
• righteously
• say
• do
• near me
• words
• gospel
• reverently
• kind of person
• watchful

Depending on the amount of time you have, ask one or two children to put a kite in the "air" (on the board) and sing the song.  Ask the children to stand or raise their hand when they sing the word or words on the kite.  continue until all the kites are flying.

You may want to divide the kites by verses so you sing one verse at a time.

If the Savior Stood Beside Me

"If the Savior Stood Beside Me"

In March of 2013, I wrote the following post to teach this song.  It has been used in the 2008 Primary Sacrament Program as well.  I am re-publishing it for those of you have not been serving in primary for 5 years or more.  

Using a set of pictures from the scriptures one week and the set in the program , p. 28, the next week, can help the children see how the message in this song are eternal and apply to all of us at any time in history.

"If the Savior Stood Beside Me" is the song for March.  The music is printed in the 2013 Sacrament Meeting Program.  It was used in the 2008 Sacrament Meeting Program, as well.  There is a great idea on page 26 for teaching this song.  On the church website, the entire song is printed out with a question mark in the back ground.  I love the pictures that were chosen to go with the questions, however, I couldn't find them all.  Instead of using modern day pictures, I am using pictures from the scriptures such as for the phrase, "would I do the things I do," the picture of Nephi subduing his rebellious brothers or the conversion of Alma the Younger, would be appropriate and a little more difficult to match.  I like to have easy pictures that match the words for the younger children and pictures that the older ones need to think about.

Place the words in order on the board.  Put the pictures on the sides of the board.  Sing the first phrase and have the children find the picture that goes with the phrase.  If they choose the "wrong" picture, put it under the question anyway and go to the next phrase.  Hopefully they will see the mistake as more pictures are chosen.  Be sure to sing the phrases several times.

This activity may take the entire singing time.  You could teach the second and third verse the next 2 weeks the same way.  Be sure to sprinkle in an active song such as "Do as I'm Doing," "Fun to Do," "Popcorn Popping...," etc. help with keeping wiggles under control.