Primary sharing time lesson: Reverence

Years ago I got the idea for the following sharing time lesson on REVERENCE from a primary related website that no longer exists.  I wish I could credit the woman who got my thoughts going on how to tailor this to the primary groups I've taught.  I did find a similar lesson idea at Sugardoodle.  This lesson has become one of my favorites to present when the kids need to be reminded why we come to church and how reverence fits into our Sunday worship.

REVERENCE

Preparation:  

• Picture of an ancient temple (GAK #118)
• Assignments of people and animals possibly found at the temple Christ visited (see Matt. 21: 12-13).  Examples: moneychangers, doves, birds, donkeys, merchants, etc.  Either write names of roles on paper and tape under chairs for the kids to find or simply make class assignments.  I put coins in mason jars for the kids who played moneychangers to shake.
  
• Bible with Matt. 21: 12-13 marked
• Book of Mormon with Moroni 6: 5,6 & 9 marked

Lesson:

Begin by showing GAK #118.  

This temple represents a temple that may have existed in Jesus' day. How is it similar to our temples today?  What does it look like they used to build their temple?  Why did they use such costly materials?  Why do we go to great efforts today to make our temples beautiful?  What is the inscription outside our temple?  "Holiness to the Lord.  House of the Lord." What does that mean to you?

 Jesus visited a temple after his triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  What did he find at the temple?  Assign kids their roles, have them practice making the sounds of the animals, shaking the jars of coins loudly, etc.  Make sure your doors are shut and let it get pretty loud.  I told the kids that while my hand was open they were to play their role loudly, but when I made a fist, that meant STOP.  We practiced a few times.

Read  (or have a child read) Matt. 21: 12-13.

Why was Jesus angry?  What did Jesus call the temple?  What does "house of prayer mean to you?"

What is the purpose of our chapel?  Read & discuss Moroni: 6: 5,6 & 9.  What is the difference between being quiet and being reverent?

Sing "To Think about Jesus," Children's Songbook #71.

A question to ask the children to think about: If Christ were to come to our primary how would that effect my behavior?  Would I feel the need to quiet down?  Would I be more attentive?

Bear testimony.  I promised the children that each Sunday they would have the opportunity to feel and learn by the Spirit.  They will always have teachers who prayerfully prepare lessons, and it will be up to each of us to seek to learn by the Spirit in Primary.  We are being true friends when we save our chit-chat for before and/or after Primary so our friends can get the most from church as well.