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??

Activity Searching

Sare just left a comment on the previous post:

"How do you find all these resources? I want to know how you find the cool ideas you post. What kind of search do you do?"

Considering my lack of posting recently, I am sure that all of you are well ahead of me now in your scripture reading and I thought that it would be good idea to let you know how I find all my activities that I find each week. That way, you can carry on without me and I wont feel guilty every time I see that I am only up to chapter 19 and Sare is up to chapter 29!!!! (I am SO sorry Sare!)

First things first. See my list of Websites I Reference in the side bar there.... just under the long-winded blurb about the blog. Yep... the first website listed is the one I frequent most often. If you go to friend.lds.org you will see on the right side of the page there is an option to search The Friend.

I started at friend.lds.org mostly just searching through the sharing time ideas and then adapting them to fit a toddler's standard. This kind of fell dead a few posts ago when I couldn't find anything that I could adapt.

Then I figured I could type in the search box, "For Little Friends (and then my topic)". Then all I got was all the fun activities and stories specifically designed for littler people.

Some of my ideas also come from reading the stories in The Friend that are related to my topic. The idea of going on a picnic and letting your toddler carry the heavy bag, then lifting it to show how Heavenly Father lifts our burdens.... that idea came from a story that I read in The Friend.

Of course if you go to the Primary Manuals link you will find some wonderful ideas and activities particularly in the Nursery Manual. Although, I find that I only go to this resource if I have completely bled The Friend dry!

If your toddler is definitely into colouring then I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the LDS Family Fun (also known as Living Scriptures) website. I have mentioned before that they require a log in, but it is free to sign up and you get access to all their activity booklets. HOURS of colouring fun to be had there. If you can't find anything there, then the LDS Clipart link will have pretty much anything else you are looking for.

Two things that are important to remember:

1. I always try to adapt what we do in our every day play to incorporate a gospel message. Marching around banging instruments is definitely the flavour of the week for us. So singing as many marching Primary songs that go along with our theme works!
2. It helps to read the story and choose a theme before the week starts. That way you have a direction for your activities.

I hoped this has helped somewhat. Now you can all send me your wonderful ideas that you have been saving up to tell me!!

Week 19: Chapter 19 - The Sons of Mosiah Become Missionaries

Book of Mormon Stories
Chapter 19: The Sons of Mosiah Become Missionaries

As soon as I started reading this story I began humming "I Want to be a Missionary Now". And now I can't get it out of my head!! LQ and I spent the afternoon marching around the living room playing "instruments" and singing. I am thinking that I could do the same but sing "I Want to be a Missionary Now."

I love that just like young men today, the Sons of Mosiah gave up an opportunity that to the world would seem too good to give up - being King. Young men today give up so many opportunities to serve the Lord while on their mission... I think "sacrifice" would be a wonderful theme to go along with "being a Missionary" this week.

Aside from singing my missionary song, here are some other ideas.

• Make some cookies for the Elders in your ward
• Draw a picture for a missionary you may know that is serving. My brother is serving in Canada at the moment and I think he would appreciate something from his little niece!
• Sing "I Hope they Call Me on a Mission"
• There are two pages in the LDSFamilyFun booklet "Ammon, Missionary to the Lamanites" that are good colouring pages pertinent to this story. Remember you need to have a sign in (free to register) to access the activity books.
  

Friend Activities

• July 2008 - This page is full of goodness. It has a poem about the Son's of Mosiah with hand actions. It also has a colouring and pasting missionary activity. And a great little story about a missionary.
• September 2002 - Has a great poem about being different things when you grow up. Maybe you could say the poem while changing hats for the different occupations. Then give your toddler a missionary badge made from cardboard.
• July 1996 - A poem similar to the one above.