Invite Sharing
Draw on the board pictures of things that are mentioned in the book of Proverbs, such as a heart, a light, or a path. Help the children read Proverbs 3:5; 4:18, 26, and invite them to share something they’ve learned about these things from the scriptures.
Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children
I can trust in the Lord with all my heart.
When we trust in the Lord with all our hearts, we have faith in Him and know that He will help us.
Possible Activities
Let one of the children hold a picture of the Savior as you read Proverbs 3:5. Tell the children what trusting in the Lord means to you. Invite the children to make a heart with their hands or hold their hands over their hearts while repeating the phrase “trust in the Lord with all thine heart” several times.
Cut this out and put it over the top of the picture of Jesus (before class). Read it together, several times as a class, then remove a piece and see if the the children can still say the scripture, then remove another piece and see if they still can say it, they will start see see the picture of Jesus, and get excited. Tell them to finish saying the scripture, so you can remove all the pieces. Then let the children hold the picture, while you explain what trusting in the Lord means.
Draw a large heart on the board, and help the children think of things they can do to show that they trust the Lord. Invite them to draw their ideas inside the heart or on a piece of paper. Encourage them to share their ideas with their families.
Make a necklace with the tags, have the children draw (or write) on the tags “things they can do to show that they trust the Lord.” May add beads, or fruit cereal.
Here is a story from the Friend about trusting, I think it applies really well.
I made these heart suckers with a plastic baking mold, but you could just tie it to some sweetarts or something. This is just the art/ gift tag for sale.
Children can give “a soft answer” by using kind words (Proverbs 15:1).
I can use kind words.
In tense or frustrating situations, we may be tempted to respond with anger. Proverbs 15:1, 18 teaches us how we can turn away anger.
Possible Activities
Read Proverbs 15:1 to the children, and explain any words or phrases that might be unfamiliar to them. Share a few examples of situations in which a child might feel angry (such as an argument with a brother or sister). Help them think of “soft answers,” or kind words, they could use instead of angry words. Help them practice saying these things softly or in a calm voice.
Sing a song about kindness, such as “Kindness Begins with Me” (Children’s Songbook, 145). What does the song teach us about being kind?
To help the children understand what it means to be “slow to anger” (Proverbs 15:18), tell a personal story about when you (or someone you know) felt angry but chose to be kind. Let the children share their own experiences too. Help the children think of things they can do instead of becoming angry. For example, they could think about Jesus, ask Heavenly Father to help them, sing a Primary song to themselves, or, if possible, just walk away.
I can share what I have with others.
Young children can learn to help people around them who are in need. How can you inspire them to share what they have with others?
Possible Activities
Show the children several pictures of others serving or helping people in need, including pictures of the Savior (such as Gospel Art Book, nos. 42, 44, 46). Ask the children to tell you what is happening in each picture. Read to the children Proverbs 22:9. Explain that one way we can serve is by giving “bread to the poor,” but there are many other ways to help those in need. Invite the children to draw a picture of themselves helping someone.
Bring to class several objects that you can share with the children, such as pictures or crayons. As you give one to each child, say, “I will share with [child’s name].” Let the children take turns sharing the objects with each other. What are some other things we can share with others?
Sing together a song about service, such as “‘Give,’ Said the Little Stream” (Children’s Songbook, 236). Or show the video “Gordon Hinckley: Lessons I Learned as a Boy” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Ask the children how they feel when they help others.
Teach the Doctrine: Older Children
To “fear God” means to love and obey Him.
One of the important messages in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes is to “fear God, and keep his commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Ponder how you can help the children understand what it means to fear God.
Possible Activities
Invite the children to list some things that people might fear. Then ask them to read Proverbs 1:7 and Ecclesiastes 12:13. What does it mean to fear God? To help answer this question, ask a child to read the verses again, replacing the word “fear” with the word “reverence.” Repeat this activity with words like “love,” “obedience,” or “obey.” How does this change our understanding of what it means to fear God?
Invite each child to choose one of the following verses to read, looking for the word “fear”: Proverbs 1:7; 2:5; 15:33; 16:6. Ask the children to share what their verse teaches about blessings that come when we fear the Lord, which means that we show reverence and respect toward Him (see also Proverbs 14:26–27). How can we show the Lord that we love and respect Him?
Cut the pieces out, put the scripture references on the board, then hand out the smaller pieces of paper. Have them figure out which which reference their phrase goes under.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.”
Read together Proverbs 3:5–7, and invite the children to list the things these verses say we should do and should not do. Ask them what they feel each of these things might mean. What qualities do we find in people we trust? What qualities does the Lord have that help us trust Him?
To show what it means to “lean not unto thine own understanding,” let the children try leaning a stick or a pencil against various objects, such as a book or a piece of paper. Which objects worked best? Why is it important to “trust in the Lord” and not lean on our “own understanding”?
Before stabbing the pencils in talk to the children about what could happen. After talk about not trusting in our understanding, but in God's...who have see the whole picture.
This is beautiful!
You can make heart shaped cookies, or just attach it to sweetart candy.
“A soft answer turneth away wrath.”
Speaking in anger often makes a tense situation even worse. These verses teach that our words and our attitudes can turn away wrath or anger.
Possible Activities
Write the words wrath and strife on the board, and share an example of an argument that children might have. Then ask the children to read Proverbs 15:1, 18; 16:32 and find advice they could give to the children who are arguing. Each time the children share an idea, invite them to erase part of the words on the board. Invite them to replace those words with others describing Christlike attributes that bring peace.
Help the children think of accounts in the scriptures when the Savior exemplified what is taught in Proverbs 15:1, 18; 16:32. For ideas, they could look in John 8:1–11; 18:1–11. Sing together a song about the Savior’s example, such as “I’m Trying to Be like Jesus” (Children’s Songbook, 78–79). How can we follow Jesus’s example as we interact with family members, friends, and others?
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