By President Diane Burgoon, Stake Primary
Wow! Lots of exciting changes in the church! Many have affected the Primary program. With less than one hour now available in Primary each week for music and gospel instruction, it is critical that more time is spent at home teaching gospel principles to our children. This can be a wonderful opportunity for all of us, not just the parents. Perhaps “play dates” can be arranged for families to meet to learn together. Ministering brothers and sisters can help share in this opportunity to teach the children. All members of the ward can be looking for opportunities to help support families as they work to make the gospel more home-centered.
The children’s sacrament meeting presentation will still occur each year. In fact, singing time now makes up the majority of Primary. Twenty-five minutes are allotted each week to music instruction. As the Primary General Presidency emphasized, “As children sing about gospel principles, the Holy Ghost will testify of their truthfulness. The words and music will stay in the children’s minds and hearts throughout their lives.” I can testify to this. I did not join the church until I was an adult. But, because of the years that I have spent in Primary as a teacher or a leader, I have been able to learn these songs. They are sometimes the first thing that comes to my mind in times of trouble or in times of joy. Many Sundays I go home with the last song in Primary “stuck in my head.” That’s a good thing!
We’re not done with changes as others have been announced. In particular, the changes to youth and children’s activities. We are anxiously awaiting to learn what will take the place of scouting and activity day girls along with the Faith in God program. For now until 2020 it is business as usual with the current programs. For scouting, each unit is automatically rechartered for 2019. Any leadership changes are still required to be properly registered and trained.
Last year we asked the cub scouts and activity day girls from each ward and branch to make pet toys and pet beds out of fleece for donation to animal shelters. Everyone completed their projects and they were delivered to the humane societies for each of the counties in our stake. (We are still working on getting them to Ashland.) Each delivery was met with a warm thank you. Little octopus dolls were also made for patients at Children’s Hospital. Thanks to the leaders and children for participating.
Akron Ohio Stake News 