When I Serve Others, I Serve God-Part 2

Yesterday was my husband's birthday and I had a rough time at church without him there, so I didn't see what the Primary did, but they are supposed to stretch this lesson out over last week and this week. It's also surprising how little I could find in researching ideas for toddlers on service, but I came across this one that I like!

Object Lesson:
Materials Needed
One large box filled with several heavy objects.

Procedure
Have a volunteer try to lift the box. (Ensure the volunteer does not get hurt.) Ask: Is it easy or difficult to lift the box? Is it heavy? Ask for two other people to help the first person lift the box. Together the task will be much easier. 

Explain that the box and its contents are like the burdens we might experience in life. Discuss what some of these burdens might be. As members of the Church we have the responsibility to help each other. Offering service helps to lighten one another’s loads.

****Maybe see if there are any ideas or situations your child(ren) can remember from last week how they can help lift someone's burdens

(Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, Object Lessons Made Easy, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2010], p. 85.)

Activity:
Write a family letter to distant relatives, friends, and/or missionaries.

When I Serve Others, I Serve God

SONG: https://www.lds.org/music/library/childrens-songbook/fun-to-do?lang=eng and you can sing the "helping a friend" part, or add things like "serving a friend," "cleaning the house," "helping my mom," "picking up trash," or "weeding the yard."

Remind your child that SERVICE is using your talents and gifts to help other people and bless their lives.

Next, have each family member trace and cut out their "helping hands." Explain that for a lot of service, we use our hands.

Then ask them (while holding up, and maybe acting out with their "helping hands") how they can use their helping hands in the following situations:

-You find out a neighbor is really sick. What can you do?
-You notice that your neighbor has a lot of weeds and overgrowth in their lawn. What can you do?
-Your friend tell you he's having a bad day. :(  What can you do?
-Somebody at school says something mean to you. What can you do?
-Your grandmother is getting old and lonely. What can you do?
-Another city in the world has a natural disaster (explain earthquake, fire, etc). What can you do?
-Your Primary teacher has a lot of things to carry in your room. What can you do?
-You see someone new at church. What can you do?
-There is a piece of trash on the ground where you are walking in the park. What can you do?
-Your brother or sister is having trouble figuring out a toy or puzzle. What can you do?
-Mommy is feeling sick. What can you do?
-You and your friend are really excited to eat a treat, but there is only one left. What can you do?

You can get a lot of laughs out of acting these out with your paper hands! Have fun!

Prophets and Apostles Show Us How to Serve

So in Primary the kids were supposed to play a guessing game of prophets and apostles and who did what acts of service. We were visiting a different ward and I'm not sure if they did it, but I think it would be a great reminder to do it again, because it is a great time for my son to learn what the word, SERVICE means.

SONG: http://www.lds.org/music/library/childrens-songbook/give-said-the-little-stream?lang=eng

WHAT DOES SERVICE MEAN?

Jesus is the best example of service and kids love Jesus, so we'll start out by explaining Jesus' while life was service. It's doing something nice for another person.

Let's talk about examples from the scriptures:

-President Monson gave another boy one of his favorite toys and visits people who are in the hospital who are sick (Ensign Dec. 1995 and No. 2006)

-Moses, though tired and hungry, helped the daughters of Midian get their sheep and give them water (Exodus 2:17)

-King Benjamin was a king, and could have ruled by taking money from the people to build things, but instead, he helped build things with his own hands (Mosiah 2:14)

-Joseph Smith was put in prison, he was beat up, and finally died to bring the gospel to us even though there was nothing to gain from it...well, you know what I mean :) (D&C 135:3)


******Sometimes when we talk directly to my son, he pays attention, and other times it is better to use props or activities. I think this time it might be good to have a picture of the prophets, but to just talk. If you want to play a matching game of sorts, Courtney from the Primary Place has some great cards. 

What are some nice things we can do for another person?

This week, someone I know was very sad, so I made them a basket with tissues and chocolate!
Daddy helps Mommy clean the house when she's tired.

Here's a list from Pergler's Primary Ideas

• Send a note of cheer or thanks in the email
• Do something for MOM today!!!!!
• Take in your neighbor's trash can, mail or newspapers
• Give someone a smile! it can go a long way!
• Wink!
• Visit the elderly or homebound
• Cook a meal
• Visit someone who is sick. Send them a "care" package
• Send flowers anonymously to cheer someone up
• Pray to someone in need
• Watch younger siblings with care
• Lend a listening ear and an understanding heart!
• Compliment someone
• Share a scripture
• Share a talent you have with someone, like giving karate tips to someone younger
• Give a call to someone
• Leave a note of appreciation on a doorstep, on a pillow, or in a lunchbox
• "Phantom" someone with goodies
• Take out the trash
• Rake leaves
• Keep an eye out for neighbors children
• Pray for someone
• Sit with an ill person
• Ask a temple recommend holder to put a name on the prayer roll that is sick
• Weed a neighbor's garden
• Share vegetables or flowers from your garden
• Help mom when she is tired
• Leave anonymous gifts, money, etc. for someone in need
• Speak well of others. Pass on only good information. Never gossip
• Stop to visit with someone
• Say "HI" to someone who looks like they need a friend
• Leave a note on someone's bed or pillow, or something to uplift them
• Make someone's bed
• Clean up after dinner for mom
• Read a story to a child or a younger sibling
• Do a family member's chores for them
• Put coins in expired parking meters for people so they don't get a ticket
• Clean the house while Mom is gone

There is an act of service we can do RIGHT NOW! We can brighten the prophet's day by sending him a letter and maybe a picture of you doing an act of service!

President Thomas S. Monson
The Office of the First Presidency
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
50 East North Temple Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84150

When my kids are older, I want to try this prophets and apostles Jeopardy idea from Little LDS Ideas!