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.

An Apology

I am so sorry that I haven't had this blog up to date recently. If you would like some excuses, you can click here, or here, here and here.

But if you aren't interested in excuses, please know that I am back on track and I will definitely do my best to go back to posting once a week.

Week 18: Chapter 18 - Alma the Younger Repents

Book of Mormon Stories
Chapter 18: Alma the Younger Repents

This is one of my favourite stories in the Book of Mormon. I guess I have a bit of a soft spot for wayward children, having been one myself. I know that Heavenly Father looked out for me during that difficult period of my life. I can only imagine the pain I put my parents through, but I am so grateful that regardless of what I did, my mum would always be ready with a hug.

So to read of Alma, King Mosiah and the many people who were being persecuted actually praying for those wayward boys just warms my heart. But enough about me... let's talk about:

• Forgiveness
• Repentance
• Prayer and Fasting
• Heavenly Father's Love for ALL His children

All good things to talk about to your toddler as you read this story to him/her. Some activities to go along with these themes include:

• Create flashcards of things Heavenly Father has blessed us with (ie. house, family, etc). As you show each card say "Heavenly Father loves you. He has given you a ..." If possible have your child name what is on the card.
• The lesson from the Nursery Manual "Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ Love Me" has some very good activities to reinforce this particular topic.
• Explain that when Alma the Younger repented he said "I'm Sorry". Practice saying "I am Sorry"
• Sing "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" (Children's Songbook pg 228)
• Sing "I Pray in Faith" (Children's Songbook pg 14)

Activities from the Friend

• January 2009 - Make the bookmark provided for the sharing time.

Any suggestions? I have a bad case of vacation brain and would love some help!

Week 17: Chapter 17 - Alma and His People Escape

Book of Mormon Stories
Chapter 17: Alma and His People Escape

Another great escape. As mentioned in my previous post, this story is similar to King Limhi and his people escaping. The big difference being that Alma's people were already doing the right thing to begin with. They also didn't have to get the Lamanites drunk - they just fell asleep!

I love the scriptures in this story that tell how the people prayed in their hearts and Heavenly Father made their burdens light. I gotta tell you, I know that feeling of having my burdens made light - it's a nice feeling. Because I particularly like those verses, I will read with LQ Mosiah 24:10-15.

Another verse in Mosiah 24 mentions that after the Lord delivered Alma and His People from bondage everyone who could, lifted up their voice in praise and thanksgiving. Giving thanks could definitely be a good theme for the week. So I have thought of and found activities that will go along with the theme of giving thanks.

• Sing "Children All Over The World" (Children's Songbook pg #16)
• Sing "Thanks to Our Father" (Children's Songbook pg #20)
• Behold Your Little Ones: Nursery Manual has a lesson on Thankfulness - there is a great colouring activity that we will definitely be using this week.
• Go on a picnic and pack a backpack for your toddler. Make it heavy enough for them to realise when you lift it a little bit. Explain to them as you are lifting it that you are easing their burden just like Heavenly Father eased the burdens of the People of Alma.
• During dinner each day this week have each family member tell what they are grateful for.
• You can use last week's suggestions for the prayer part of the story
• Go for a walk and point out all the things you are thankful for.

The Friend Activities:

• November 2008 - Has a WONDERFUL matching game for things we are thankful for. The Sharing Time suggestions recommend that you discuss why you are thankful for the particular blessing when it is matched (you know I LOVE, love, LOVE matching games).

I just wanted to point out that whatever activity you choose to do, make sure that while you are doing it point out the similarities between what you are doing and the story that you read each day. It is through these small "chats" that your toddler will learn that he/she can learn important lessons from reading scriptures and that it is not just a boring thing to do.



On a different note, I have had some wonderful emails and comments recently and I just wanted to thank you for them. I have recently been in a blogging slump (if you haven't noticed) and it is the comments and emails that have kept me going. THANK YOU!!

Week 16: Chapter 16 - King Limhi and His People Escape

Book of Mormon Stories
Chapter 16: King Limhi and His People Escape


Ah.... those Lamanites. I had a sneak peek at next week's story - Alma and his people escape. It turns out the same group of Lamanites hosted the great escapes of both Limhi and his people AND Alma and his people. I just don't think they were ready to be leaders...!

This story is a good example of praying in faith, obeying the commandments and repenting of wickedness. Any activities that you can think of that will help your toddler to remember to choose the right, listen to the prophets or that teaches him/her to pray will go along nicely with the story. The activity involving the current apostles and flashcards I suggested two weeks ago would also go well with this story.

Specific activities I have thought of:

• Sing "I Pray in Faith" (Children's Songbook pg 14)
• Sing "I Need My Heavenly Father" (Children's Songbook pg 18)
• Show a picture of Jesus Christ and tell your toddler that he wants us to obey
• The Nursery Manual has two great lessons on obeying and praying
• Pretend to sneak past the guards at the door. If you have someone who's willing - why not post them at the door, get them drunk enough to pass out and then sneak past.

Activities from The Friend

• May 2001 - A colouring activity to hang on your wall
• May 2003 - If you are ambitious you could try creating this mobile with your toddler
• September 2008 - This activity is probably too much for a toddler, but I just had to show it to you. I think it is a GREAT idea for older children.
• June 1985 - You could use the little cards in this sharing time idea for a match up game.

Thank you for bearing with me and my tardy posts. I can't wait to review next week's story!!