May: Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel Lead Me to Jesus Christ

"May: Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel Lead Me to Jesus Christ," 2010 Outline for Sharing Time and the Children’s Sacrament Meeting Presentation, (2009)


Identify the doctrine (learning an article of faith): Place a picture of Jesus Christ on the board. Draw a staircase with four steps leading up to the picture. Say together the fourth article of faith, and invite the children to name the first principles and ordinances of the gospel as you write them on the appropriate steps. Count on your fingers as you say each principle and ordinance. Consider ways to help the children memorize the fourth article of faith.

Encourage understanding (singing a song): Sing “Faith” (CS, 96–97). Make a wordstrip for each sentence in the second verse. Divide the children into four groups and give each group a wordstrip. Have each group stand and sing their line at the appropriate place in the song. Have the groups exchange wordstrips, and repeat until each group has sung each line. Invite the children to act out ways they can obey. (This could be done in their groups or with the whole Primary.) Share with the children an experience that has strengthened your faith in Jesus Christ.

Week 2: I can repent.

Encourage understanding and application (discussing case studies): Explain that because of Jesus Christ, when we do something wrong we can repent, which means we stop sinning and turn to God. Explain that repentance includes feeling sorry, asking for forgiveness, righting the wrong, and not repeating the wrong. Briefly discuss these steps, emphasizing how the Savior can help us. Divide the children into groups and give each group a case study. Have them read the case study and discuss what they would do to repent. For example, someone gets angry and hits his brother or sister. What should he do? Express gratitude for the opportunity Jesus Christ has given us to repent.


Identify the doctrine (learning about promises): To demonstrate what a promise is, invite two children to the front. Have the first child say, “I promise to _____ (lend you my book) if you will promise to ______ (return it).” Have the second child agree and link arms with the first child. Explain that a covenant is a two-way promise between us and God. Write on one side of the board “God Promises” and on the other side “We Promise.” Explain that when we are baptized, we make promises to God and He makes promises to us.

Encourage understanding (singing songs): Prepare in advance separate pieces of paper with the following promises and songs: Take upon us the name of Jesus Christ (“The Church of Jesus Christ” [CS, 77]); Always remember Him (“To Think about Jesus” [CS, 71]); Keep the commandments (“Keep the Commandments” [CS, 146–47]); Have His Spirit to be with us (“The Holy Ghost [CS, 105]); Return to live with Him (“I Am a Child of God,” verse 3 [CS, 2–3]). Put the pieces of paper into a container. Have a child draw out one paper and read the promise. Ask the children, “Who is making the promise, God or us?” Write the promise on the board under the correct heading. Have the children sing the song and pass the container until the song ends. Have the child holding the container when the song ends draw out another paper. Repeat with each of the songs. Review the promises and testify of the importance of the baptismal covenant.

Week 4: When I am confirmed I receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Identify the doctrine (seeing a picture and singing a song): Show a picture of a child being confirmed and ask the children what is happening. Ask, “What is the gift of the Holy Ghost?” Emphasize that the gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. Sing “The Holy Ghost” (CS, 105).

Encourage understanding (asking questions): Invite a Melchizedek Priesthood holder to come to Primary. Give several children questions to ask him, such as: What priesthood do you hold? How did you receive the priesthood? How do you confirm someone a member of the Church? What does “laying on of hands” mean? What does it mean to “receive the Holy Ghost”? How can the Holy Ghost help me? Invite children to share their experiences of how the Holy Ghost has helped them.