Story: Learning is Important

This is a story about John Adams:

"When I was a boy I had to study Latin grammar; but it was dull, and I hated it. My father was very anxious to send me to college, and so I studied the grammar until I couldn't stand it any longer; and going to my father, I told him I did not like to study, and asked for some other employment. It was against his wishes, and he was quick in his answer, "Well, John, if Latin grammar does not suit you, you may try digging ditches. Put your Latin aside and try that!"

This seemed a delightful change, and to the meadow I went. But I soon found digging ditches harder than Latin, and the first morning was the longest I ever experienced. That day I was glad when night came on. That night I made some comparisons between Latin grammar and digging ditches, but said not a word about it. I dug the next day, and wanted to return to Latin at dinner; but it was humiliating, and I would not do it. At night, work conquered pride; and though it was one of the severest trials I have ever had in my life, I told my father that, if he chose, I would go back to Latin grammar. He was glad of it; and if I have since gained any distinction, it has been owing to those two days working in that abominable ditch."

Rick Walton and Fern Oviatt, Stories for Mormons, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1983] p.60

The Holy Ghost: Wilford Woodruff

The following story is about President Wilford Woodruff, the fourth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints:

"One night while President Woodruff, his wife, and their four children were on a journey, they stopped to sleep at a friend's house. Three of the children slept in the house while President Woodruff, his wife, and one child slept outside in the carriage.

President Woodruff said, "I had been in bed but a short time when a voice sait to me, 'Get up and move your carriage.' It was not thunder, lightning or an earthquake, but the still, small voice of the Spirit of God--the Holy Ghost . . . I got up and moved my carriage . . . and set it by the side of the house. As I was returning to bed the same Spirit said to me, 'Go and move your mules away from that oak tree.' . . . I moved them to a young hickory grove and tied them up. I then went to bed. In thirty minutes a whirlwind caught the tree to which my mules had been fastened, broke it off near the ground, and carried it one hundred yards, sweeping away two fences in its course, and laid it . . . where my carriage [had] stood. . . . By obeying the revelation of the Spirit of God to me I save my life and the lives of my wife and child, as well as my animals"

("Leaves from My Journal," Millennial Star, 12 Dec. 1881, pp. 790-791).

The Holy Ghost: Harold B. Lee

The following is a story about young Harold B. Lee, who became the eleventh President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints:

"I was probably about eight years of age, or younger, when I was taken by my father to a farm some distance away. While he worked I tried to busy myself with things that a young boy would. The day was hot and dusty and I played about until I was tired. Over the fence there was a broken-down shed that looked very interesting to me. In my mind I thought of this broken-down shed as a castle that I would like to explore, so I went to the fence and started to climb through to go over to that shed. There came a voice to me that said this very significant thing, 'Harold, don't go over there.' I looked about to see who was speaking my name. My father was way up at the other end of the field. He could not see what I was doing. There was no speaker in sight. Then I realized that someone that I could not see was warning me not to go over there. What was over there, I shall never know, but I learned early that there are those beyond our sight that could talk to us" (in Conference Report, Mexico City Mexico Area Conference 1972, pp. 48-49).

Sometimes the Holy Ghost whispers out loud, like he did to President Lee, but often he just gives us a feeling about what we should or should not do.

Heavenly Father Knows Me: an action rhyme

Heavenly Father knows me (point to self)
And what I like to do.
He knows my name and where I live (make a roof by touching fingers of both hands).
I know He loves me, too (cross arms and put hands on shoulders in hug).

He knows what makes me happy (put fingers on smiling mouth).
He knows what makes me sad (put fingers on down-turned mouth).
I know he wants to help me (point to self),
And that's what makes me glad!

Little Baby Moses: action rhyme

Little Baby Moses had a boat for his bed (cup one hand and place forefinger of other hand in it).
His loving sister watched him through the grasses where she hid (peek through fingers of hand held across eyes).
One day a princess found him (lean forward, looking down) and took him in her arms (pretend to lift a baby);
She said, "I'll take this baby and keep him from all harm" (pretend to rock baby in arms).

From Fascinating Finger Fun by Eleanor Doan c 1951. Used by permission.

Jesus Love Little Children: action rhyme

Some children ran down a dusty street (run in place),
Hurrying fast on their little feet (point to feet),
Through the crowd to find a place (pretend to push through a crowd)
Close to Jesus, to see his face (stand on tiptoe and look around).
Some grown-ups said, "Send them away" (hold hand out as if saying "stop").
"He is too busy for children today" (frown and shake head).
But Jesus said, "Let them come unto me" (beckon with hands).
"They are important and are loved by me" (hug self).

Adapted from Margaretta Harmon in Bible Story Finger Plays and Action Rhymes [Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing, 1964], p.27

The Creation: Young Child actions

I'm sure I got this out of a Primary manual, but I will look up the reference later. Right now I just want to "file" this on the blog so I can clean out some of my hard files!

Help the children act out each day of the Creation while you remind them of what was created each day (see Genesis 1):

Day 1: Pretend to be asleep and then wake up, to indicate the night and day.

Day 2: Stand, look up, and spread arms wide to indicate the sky.

Day 3: Bend over to pick a flower and then smell the flower.

Day 4: Make a large circle with your arms for the sun and a smaller circle with your hands for the moon, and then wiggle your fingers while moving your arms to represent the twinkling stars.

Day 5: Pretend to be a bird flying around the room or a fish swimming in the sea.

Day 6: Pretend to be an animal. Walk around the room several times imitating that animal. Then stand in a line and each say, "My name is (child's own name). I am a child of God."

Have the children sit down quietly.

Tell the children that on the seventh day, Heavenly Father and Jesus rested. They called this day of rest the Sabbath.