Dove Tailing

“Timeless values, fun and meaningful activities, and a gospel focus.  That’s what LDS scouting is all about….. By dove tailing Scouts with the Faith in God Program, not only will you prepare the cubs for Boy Scouts, you will also help them prepare to receive and honor the priesthood of God and some day to become strong missionaries and righteous husbands and fathers.  The Faith in God Program is not just one more thing to do; rather it is an important part of your calling.  To help these young boys become all that Heavenly Father wants them to become…..As you strive to fulfill you precious calling, you will see the boys’ testimonies grow and you will gain your own testimony of Faith in God and Scouting.”

      I love the scouting program!!  Even when my boys are grown, I want to be a part of it.  It is an inspired program and I am so grateful it is has been incorporated into our Primary.  It is a wonderful way to teach the boys many skills like how to build a bird feeder or how to cook outdoors, but it is also beautiful way to teach and instill confidence in our boys along with values like honesty or compassion.  It’s what I love most about the Cub Scout Program- that the boys have fun and without realizing, they are learning the gospel!  If you have ever struggled to “dove tail” the Faith in God Program with the scouting program, watch this short broadcast on Faith in God and Scouting….a must for each and every Cub Scout leader!!

Short on time; just watch the “Leading a Gospel Centered Scout Activity” part of this broadcast!!

Elise Simbeck

Arlington Stake Primary

Second Counselor

http://broadcast.lds.org/eLearning/pth/faith-i-god-and-scouting-training-module/load.html

A Great Work

President James E. Faust said, “The Lord has a great work for each of us to do.  You may wonder how this can be.  You may feel that there is nothing special or superior about you or your ability…...The Lord can do remarkable miracles with a person of ordinary ability who is humble, faithful, and diligent in serving the Lord and seeks to improve himself.  This is because God is the ultimate source of power."

Every small task you complete, each lesson you teach, each child you reach out to contributes to the remarkable miracles that occur in primary each week…each month...each year!  You are doing a "great work".

Elise Simbeck

Arlington Stake Primary

Second Counselor

Idea for Singing Time

For a fun singing time idea and as a way to motivate the children to sing their best, this fun hat is worn by the teacher of the class that sings the song the best. 

This idea brought to you by the Arlington 1st Ward.

Seek to Understand Those You Teach

Seek to understand those you teach.  As you do, you will be better able to teach lessons that meet individual needs.  Reach out to each individual in your class, remembering that “the worth of souls is great in the sight of God” (D&C 18:10)

            I remember as a young Sunbeam teacher, I had a challenging boy in my class.  I had read the teaching hints in the lesson book and even asked my mom for advice. I was told to just “love the children”.  So, I set out to find something that I could love about him.  I didn't love the way he ran around the room and screamed.  I didn't love the way he hopped from chair to chair.  I didn't love the way he scribbled on other’s papers.  I didn't love how he hid under my skirt.  I didn't love how he threw all of my pictures and notes around the room. I didn't love how he would volunteer to say prayer and then when all the children had their arms folded he start to sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” at the top of his lungs.  I did eventually focus on his eyes.  He had beautiful blue eyes with a lively spark in them.   Every time I wanted to scream, I just looked into his blue eyes and thought “you have beautiful eyes”.  Soon, I found that he had an impish grin that made me smile too and little by little I was able to see into his heart.  By the end of the year, he was sitting in his chair, coloring only his papers and saying prayer.  The best part was he always gave me a hug and told me he loved me before he left to go back to his parents.  At the time, I didn't realize that this boy was really the one serving me and taught me how to love even when it was really hard to do so.

Elise Simbeck

Arlington Stake Primary

Second Counselor

http://www.lds.org/service/teaching-the-gospel/principles-and-methods-of-teaching/love-those-you-teach?lang=eng

WEEKLY TEACHING MOMENT: Teach with Love

“A gospel teacher should always teach with love for the students….love of God and love of His children is the highest reason for service.              Those who teach out of love will be magnified as instruments in the hands of Him whom they serve.”

                          Dallin H. Oaks, “Gospel Teaching,”Oct. 1999 general conference

I have found that when I had the hardest time fulfilling my callings, it was because I was not filled with love.

Attitude has a lot to do with love. When we seek to find the good inside, we will find it. When we seek to find the bad inside, we will find it too.

Humility has a lot to do with attitude. When we are humble, our attitudes are better. When we are prideful, our attitudes reflect that.

Fulfilling my calling has always been easier when I have checked my pride and attitude aside and just let God’s love guide me.

The pressure, the burdens, the excuses and the difficulties seem to vanish and somehow everything, at home and at church, gets done.

 

 

Elise Simbeck

Arlington Stake Primary

Second Counselor