Pioneer Heritage

I found this little article on lds.org and thought it fitting for this week.

More than a century has passed since tens of thousands of pioneers sailed across oceans to heed a prophet’s call to gather to Zion. They left family and friends; they pulled handcarts across the plains; they grew a city out of a desert. Most important, the pioneers left a legacy of perseverance, faith, and sacrifice.

Today most members are not asked to make the same physical sacrifices as the pioneers, but Saints in every nation can be “pioneers all,” President Thomas S. Monson has said, as they meet suffering with courage, inspire faith in others, and do hard things that are necessary to gain eternal salvation and build the kingdom of God on earth (“Pioneers All,” Ensign, May 1997, 93).

In a conference address titled “Modern Pioneers,” Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles paid tribute to the “rank and file” members of the Church who “face hardships, overcome obstacles, and follow the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ as valiantly as the pioneers of any age.”

Thank you Sisters for being pioneers and teaching the sweet children of our Stake, they will learn to be pioneers through your example.

Happy Pioneer Day!

Michelle Nieman

1st Counselor

Arlington Stake Primary

Weekly Teaching moment: Teaching children the Doctrine

Here is a quote that I love from Sister Wixom

“The world will teach our children if we do not, and children are capable of learning all the world will teach them at a very young age. What we want them to know five years from now needs to be part of our conversation with them today. Teach them in every circumstance; let every dilemma, every consequence, every trial that they may face provide an opportunity to teach them how to hold on to gospel truths.”

—Rosemary M. Wixom, “Stay on the Path,” October 2010 general conference

I found this page on lds.org when looking for information on how to best teach children the gospel. I thought it was wonderful and gives great ideas to reach every learner and help them put the gospel into practice in their own lives.

Ideas  to Help Children Identify the Doctrine

IDEA	EXPLANATION
State It	Ask the children to state the doctrine.
Write It	Write the doctrine on the chalkboard.
Scramble It	Scramble the words of the doctrine. Ask the children to arrange the words so they make sense.

Ideas to Help Children Understand the Doctrine

IDEA	EXPLANATION
Discuss the Doctrine	Have children search scripture passages or quotations of latter-day prophets and discuss what they learn about the doctrine.
Look for Answers	Invite the children to look in the scriptures and teachings of latter-day prophets for answers to questions about the doctrine.
Make a List	Have children search the scriptures and teachings of latter-day prophets and then make a list of what they have learned about the doctrine.

Ideas to Help Children Share the Doctrine

IDEA	EXPLANATION
Music Games	Have the children pass an object around the room as they sing. Randomly stop the music. Whoever is holding the object shares an application. This will keep everyone thinking of an application they might share.
Dramatizations	Have some of the children role-play an application of the doctrine, and the rest of the children guess what they are doing.
Visual Reminders	Make a paper chain. Make road signs. Make class banners. Make salt dough figures. Draw a picture. Make bookmarks.

Thank you sisters for all you and your teachers do to love and serve the sweet children of our Stake.

Michelle Nieman

1st. Counselor 

Arlington Stake Primary