Our theme for Ward Conferences this year is "Think Celestial" from President Nelson's October 2023 General Conference address. For Primary, the stake Primary presidency takes over singing time. We wondered if the children knew the significance of the Celestial kingdom and why they should "Think Celestial"? Because we started so soon in the new year, I wrote the following and asked my counselors to prepare to give each part with minimal reading, then lead the song with prompts or pictures of their choosing. Each part should take about 5 minutes, including the song.
I also made this poster to refer to throughout the presentation. They were printed on 11x17" paper (at Staples) and then mounted on 1/2 of a poster board. We left a copy at each ward building for the children to continue to refer to.
Part 1. Where did you come from?
You came from heaven, where you lived with your Heavenly Parents as a spirit child. In the spirit world, you learned of Heavenly Father’s plan for the earth to be created, so you could be born and have a physical body, like Him. You could not become like Him if you didn’t.
Knowing that we would sin and make mistakes, Heavenly Father asked for a savior—someone to atone for us. Lucifer said that he would come but didn’t want us to be able to make our own choices and he wanted all the glory to be his instead of Heavenly Father. Jesus Christ said that He would be our Savior, and wanted the glory to go to the Father. Jesus was chosen and He followed Heavenly Father’s plan: He created the earth for us. He organized His church. He suffered in Gethsemane and on the cross for our sins. Then He was resurrected so that you can be resurrected too. Resurrection is when your body and spirit are reunited.
Heavenly Father gave you the choice to accept or reject His plan of happiness. You are here today because you chose to follow His plan. The happiness He wants for you is eternal life. It is the greatest of all His gifts. He did all this because He loves you.
Sing: “I Lived in Heaven” CSB-4
Used this Flip Chart by The Primary Pad
2. Where will you go when your life on Earth is over?
When your body dies, your spirit will continue to live, and it will go to the spirit world. The spirit world is a wonderful place where you will be reunited with your family members who have also passed away. You will wait there until the time of resurrection and judgment. Heavenly Father will judge us according to our faith in Him and how we lived on earth.
In heaven there are three separate kingdoms, or places of glory—the telestial (lowest), the terrestrial (middle), and the celestial (highest) kingdoms.
The people who are not righteous on earth, don’t believe in Jesus or the prophets and don’t obey God’s commandments will go to the telestial kingdom. Angels will visit them, and the Holy Ghost will teach them, but they will not see Jesus or Heavenly Father.
People who go to the terrestrial kingdom are good people on earth, but they do not have faith in Jesus and don’t obey all of the commandments. These people may see Jesus, but they cannot live with Him or Heavenly Father.
If you valiantly keep the commandments, you will go to the celestial kingdom to enjoy eternal life with your family, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. And everything that They have, you will have too.
Sing: “Families Can Be Together Forever” CSB-188
Used the Melody Chart by Primary Singing
3. Why are you here on earth?
You came to earth to gain a body and to show that you can keep Heavenly Father’s commandments and learn to live like Jesus.
Heavenly Father gave us commandments to help us become like Jesus Christ. To follow God’s plan, we need to repent when we do something wrong, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost to guide us every day.
Show 1 min. video of Pres. Nelson (I downloaded and edited the video with the following quotes. I showed it from my tablet with an external speaker.)
"The Savior suffered “pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind”2 so that He can comfort us, heal us, rescue us in times of need.
Because of Jesus Christ’s infinite Atonement, our Heavenly Father’s plan is a perfect plan!
It allows each of us to choose how we will live here on earth and where we will live forever.
Thus, if we unwisely choose to live telestial laws now, we are choosing to be resurrected with a telestial body. We are choosing not to live with our families forever.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, how and where and with whom do you want to live forever? You get to choose."
Heavenly Father’s plan is a plan of happiness. He wants us to return with our families to live with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ in the celestial kingdom. So, Think Celestial! (Have the children say it with you.) As you think celestial, you will view trials and opposition in a new light.
- When you have a difficult choice to make, think about the answer that will get you to the celestial kingdom. Think celestial!
- When tested by temptation - think celestial!
- When someone is mean to you - think celestial!
- When you’re having a bad day - think celestial!
Sing: “I Will Follow God’s Plan” CSB-164
Used this Flip Chart by me, Tina Strong: Download
We then gave keychains for each class to the teachers to pass out after class. They all loved them!
Primary Presidency Meeting & Gift:
During class time we met with the Primary Presidency and gave them each this gift from A Thousand Phases.
"At first glance it is easy to look at a towel as a most ordinary object. Have you ever stopped to think that for thousands of years, the towel has been used for many wonderful purposes? For example, the mother who wipes the tears of a child, the physician who binds the wounds of a patient, or the woman in her home wiping her hands as she moves from task to task.
Perhaps the most significant use of the towel happened over two thousand years ago when our Savior, only hours before He hung on the cross, took an ordinary towel in His loving hands and dried the feet of His disciples. This simple, loving act personifies the selflessness and loving service we seek to give during our lives. It illustrates that an ordinary thing like a towel, in the right hands, and with a giving heart, can lighten another’s load. As with every action performed by the Savior on this Earth, His act of service reminds us that simple day-to-day-kindnesses are the Savior’s way to bless and comfort.
This towel is given with love and with the hope you will do works of goodness with it as the Savior did so many years ago."
All downloadable files by Tina Strong are licensed under CC BY-NC-ND
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