A Unique Opportunity

This is a season for giving and a time for gratitude. It is when we acknowledge our blessings and remember the birth of the Son of God.

This is a season of love. Love from a Father. Love from a Brother. Love for a Brother. Love of family. Love for all mankind.

It is also peace. The peace His birth brings us. Peace His gospel gives.

It is faith. Faith in God. Faith in our Savior. Faith in Him as our Redeemer.

The Christmas season is a beautiful way to kickoff next year’s Primary theme “I know my Savior Lives.” How might the Christmas Season prepare us for a year of learning that Jesus Christ lives?

Here are some ideas:

• Display a picture of Jesus Christ. Allow time each week for the children and teachers to share things they know about Him.
• Set up a Gratitude Tree with a box of ribbons and markers by it. Allow everyone to write something they are thankful for on the ribbon and then tie it to one of the tree branches.
• Have the children write messages on sticky notes and stick them around at home. The messages could be positive messages like “You are beautiful” or messages of encouragement “Keep up the good work” or messages of faith “You are a child of God.” 
• Encourage the children to give service anonymously in gratitude for the gifts they have received from God. 
• Share this music video that teaches how the symbols of Christmas tell the story of His birth and life mission. https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-12-19-our-christmas-story-tree?category=children/music-videos-friend&lang=eng

With each activity you can teach about the Savior and connect the activity to His life and to Christmas. You do not have to do any of these activities. These are just ideas for pondering how you might take advantage of this beautiful season to help increase the children’s knowledge, understanding and love of the Savior. As always, pray for your stewardship and let the spirit guide your preparations.

Thanks,
Elise Simbeck
Arlington Stake Primary
First counselor

Spiritual Light

"Placed around the world, temples have their own unique look and design on the outside, but inside they all contain the same eternal light, purpose, and truth. In 1 Corinthians 3:16 we read, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” We too … have been placed all around the world, like temples, and we each have our own unique look and outward design, like temples. We also have a spiritual light within us, like temples. This spiritual light is a reflection of the Savior’s light. Others will be attracted to this brightness."
—Neill F. Marriott, "Sharing Your Light"

Each week you shine brightly for all of the children to see. They are so blessed to have loving teachers and leaders who pray for them, love them and teach them the gospel. Our call to guide these young sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father is a big responsibility. Your unique talents, qualities, insights and even struggles are what is needed at "such a time as this." Let your light shine! It is so beautiful.

Thanks,
Elise Simbeck
Arlington Stake Primary
First Counselor

The Parable of the Spoon

The Parable of the Spoon:

One day a man said to God, “God, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.”

God showed the man two doors. Inside the first one, in the middle of the room, was a large round table with a large pot of stew. It smelled delicious and made the man’s mouth water, but the people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful, but because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. God said, "You have seen Hell."

Behind the second door, the room appeared exactly the same. There was the large round table with the large pot of wonderful stew that made the man's mouth water. The people had the same long-handled spoons, but they were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking.

The man said, "I don't understand."

God smiled. “It is simple,” He said, “Love only requires one skill. These people learned early to feed one another."

To paraphrase from at talk given today in Stake Conference: We should not seek for happiness, but seek to serve. Happiness is the byproduct of selfless service.

Elise Simbeck
Arlington Stake Primary
First Counselor