Week 22: Chapter 22 - Alma's Mission to Ammonihah

Book of Mormon Stories
Chapter 22: Alma's Mission to Ammonihah

This is a V.E.R.Y long story. I have decided to break it up to go over two weeks. I don't know about your toddler, but mine has a problem staying still for one page of little pictures, so I am not going to push my luck.

I thought I would read the story up until Zeezrom becomes converted. A good theme from this story is "Following the Promptings of the Holy Ghost". Missionary work would also be a good fall back theme. There's nothing like marching around the room singing "I Hope They Call Me on a Mission" a couple of times to raise the spirit!! After much thought I also came up with perseverance, bearing your testimony and personal revelation.

• Amulek invited Alma back to his place for dinner. Invite the Elders over for dinner and have your toddler "help" make dinner. As you make dinner together, discuss how the Holy Ghost prompted Amulek to find Alma. Also point out that Alma was being a missionary by sharing the gospel.
• Sing Listen, Listen (Children's Songbook pg 107)
• An activity listed below from the August 2007 friend reminded me that LQ enjoys "helping" me sew. So I am going to attempt to have her help me sew a small quilt (a few squares maximum), reminding her as we do it that the Holy Ghost has many jobs including comforter.
• Hold your own testimony meeting. Invite your friends or just have you and your toddler practice bearing your testimony in front of the stuffed toys.
• Behold Your Little Ones - Nursery Manual has an entire lesson devoted to the Holy Ghost. It has one particular activity that involves gluing and cutting. I love all the suggestions in this lesson. Go have a look!

From the Friend

• August 2007 - A colouring activity perfect for explaining how the Holy Ghost is a comforter.
• May 2006 - LQ is a puzzle fiend and would really enjoy doing the puzzle on this page. If your toddler isn't so in to puzzles, why not try finding a similar picture and cut it into pieces you think he or she could handle?
• July 1997 - A simple colouring and folding activity tells how we can invite the Holy Ghost into our lives every day.

On a different note - I am so happy to be back doing this!

Taking a Break

Despite getting back into a normal routine recently, my posts here have been severely lacking.

I am apologising once again for the lack of posts, but this time I am also giving myself a break.

As I am sure you are well aware life changes quite often when living with a toddler and although I may have had the time and energy to keep this blog up weekly back when I started, that is just not the case now. As such I have decided to stop with the weekly posts.

I will try to get through the Book of Mormon Stories chapters still, but it will certainly be at my own pace. If any of you lovely readers feel that you would like to take on some posting duties (ie. we could switch off weeks) then I would love to hear from you!

Thank you so much for being my loyal readers. I have really enjoyed being able to help out and encourage other toddler mothers. More than anything this blog has helped me implement a great reading schedule for LQ and me.

Week 21: Chapter 21 - The Amlicites

Book of Mormon Stories
Chapter 21: The Amlicites


Again, these Nephites were blessed because of their righteousness. If you didn't get to use any of last week's suggestions, draw from that list. This week's list is pretty lame because I was really stumped with what I should focus on.

The themes that I came up with for this particular story were: voting, democracy, being blessed for being righteous, marking ourselves (tattoos, etc) is wrong.

So along with last week's suggestions here are a few more that you may think your toddler will enjoy.

• Vote for which doll/teddy bear/stuffed toy will be president of the room. If you really wanted to get into it, you could make your own ballot box and have the toys debate why each one is better than the other.
• Make newspaper swords (rolled up newpaper) and re-enact Alma and Amlici's fight.
• Explain that our body's are gifts from Heavenly Father and that we should treat them carefully (I'm not sure if you want to go into the whole tattoo thing, but if you think your child is ready, go for it).
• Sing "the Lord Gave Me a Temple" (Children's Songbook page 153)

Good luck with that eclectic list!

Moving Again

We are in the middle of moving and trying to set up internet connections. I will have a post up in a few days. Of course if I were organised, I would have already done the post BEFORE moving.

Oh, well... I am working on my organisation skills.

xx

An Indulgence

I hope you will forgive me as I am about to post something a little bit unrelated to toddlers.

I am currently going through the next story in the Book of Mormon Stories picture book, "The Amlicites" - Chapter 21.

It brought to mind an email I sent to my Mother in Law last year after I had read Chapter 2 of Alma for my own personal study. I thought I would share that email with you.

A bit of background before you read: As you may have guessed (from my funny spelling) I am Australian. I am married to an American. I was intrigued with the amount of passion many Americans had toward the recent presidential election. I have no particular bias toward any political party because I have not lived in America long enough to know which party believes what. So please read the email knowing I am not saying that one political party is more like the Amlicites!!



Dear Mom,

I find it interesting that only a day after the American Presidential election I should be reading Alma 2. I was inspired to share with you my thoughts as Dal has mentioned you are concerned about the uncertain future that we face.

Chapter 2 of Alma starts with Amlici stirring up the hearts of those around him and gaining a great support from many of the Nephites who want to make him king. It then goes on to say that the righteous Nephites were ALARMED that they might actually be subject to Amlici because there were so many people who liked him. But as Mosiah had decreed that all things be done according to the "voice of the people", they all came to together to vote on whether Amlici should be King or not.

It is interesting to note that in verse five there is a cross reference, after the mentioning of "much dispute and wonderful contentions", to 3 Nephi 11:29. I can imagine the many presidential debates that went on during that time! But Heavenly Father wants us to know that we can have a democracy WITHOUT contention, because contention is of the devil.

To the Nephites relief, Amlici is voted out. But this doesn't stop him. He gathers his MANY supporters together and raises an army against the Nephites. They go to battle and it looks like the Nephites are going to lose, but in verse 17 and 18 we see that the Lord strengthens the Nephites because of their faithfulness. Again in verse 28 he strengthens them in their faithfulness and prayers and then in verse 30 and 31 we see that Alma was strengthened because of his faithfulness.

I think Heavenly Father wants us to know that regardless of who is leading us or what our current political status, he will protect those saints that are faithful and trust in Him. It seems that chapter two is only the beginning of a long history of battles and wars and there are many Nephites who do die (I don't think that will happen to any of us soon!).... BUT the main theme of chapter two in Alma seems to be that the faithful will conquer, even when we are in the minority.

What a lovely way to start a beautiful day, with words of encouragement from my loving Heavenly Father!

A Neat Suggestion

Emily from Productive Parenting sent me an email with a fantastic idea for reading and memorising scriptures:

"One idea I’ve done with my kids is to make a ‘heart chart.’ With a big piece of construction paper I cut the shape of a heart then we glued 8-10 envelopes to it and in each envelope we put a scripture passage. Each week one of the children picks a new verse from an envelope on the heart chart for us to focus on for the week. By the end of the week it is memorized simply by focusing on the verse and applying it to different situations that arise throughout the week! "

Not only did she come up with this great suggestion, Emily also has a website www.productiveparenting.com. I have signed up for the daily emails that give me activity suggestions specific to LQ's age. I love it! I think you would too if you had a look!

Week 20: Chapter 20 - Alma and Nehor

Book of Mormon Stories
Chapter 20: Alma and Nehor

My favourite scripture from this particular story is Alma 1:25. It talks of standing steadfast through trials. But I am sure my little toddler is not going to quite appreciate that sentiment yet.

This is a somewhat depressing story about Nehor, but right at the end we are told that the faithful saints continued to keep the commandments and look after each other. So I thought I would draw from that positive ending and try to find some activities that go with keeping the commandments.

• Of course the first thing you must do is sing "Keep the Commandments"
• We have been trying to teach LQ the importance of obeying, so I will reinforce that this week, placing emphasis on the fact that it is a commandment.
• Create happy and sad face puppets. Give examples that your toddler will understand of keeping and breaking the commandments. He/she can hold up the happy or sad face according to your examples.
• Sing "Nephi's Courage"
• Act out ways you can keep the commandments. For example - pretend to pray, pretend you are taking the sacrament, play out going to church, etc.

Activities from the Friend

• December 1997 - A little poem talks of keeping the Commandments. It has a suggested finger puppet activity to go along with it, but unfortunately does not provide the template for the puppet.
• April 2009 - Both sets of LQ's Grandparents own chickens. LQ LOVES chickens. I think this story will go down a treat with her. I may even print out a few pictures of chickens and chicks for LQ to colour.

I know you are all ahead of me now... so what are some of the things you did for this story??