Sharing Time March 2014 Week 4: I can show respect for the Savior by being reverent.

Preparation:
Prayerfully study and think about what the specific needs of your primary are and how you can teach them this doctrine.

Identify the doctrine:  I can show respect for the Savior by being reverent. I would suggest that before preparing sharing time to read the topic "Reverence" on LDS.or here is the link: Reverence. Gather some pictures of the Savior. Here is a link: Pictures of the Savior. Make preparations to play the song, "Reverence is Love"

Help the Children Understand the Doctrine: Prepare the following word strips: RESPECT, Reverent Attitude, Reverent Actions.  (See printable Below) Also, prepare the poster "I can Show Respect for the Savior by Being Reverent"

Help them apply the doctrine in their lives: Have some chalk. Plan on asking the children how they can act to show their reverence and love towards the Savior.

Free Printables: (Printing Tip: Click on image to open and then save image to your computer.  You can then print the image from your computer.)

Sharing Time Instruction:

Begin the sharing time by asking the children to listen to the words as the music is played and to think about how they feel about the Savior as the pictures are shown to them. Play the song, "Reverence is Love" and show pictures of the Savior to the children as the song is being played.

When the song is over ask the children to raise their hands if they would like to share how they felt as the song was being played and they were looking at pictures of the Savior.  Allow the children to share their thoughts.  Put the word "RESPECT" on the board.  Ask the children if they know what the word RESPECT means?  Explain that respect means that we deeply admire that person. We look up to them and honor them. So, that means respect is a feeling of love. Write that on the board under the word strip "RESPECT"  Display the poster "I can Show Respect for the Savior by Being Reverent" Have the children repeat the words with you.  Explain that we show Jesus that we honor him or look up to him or LOVE him by being reverent.

Ask the children what the song they listened to said about reverence?  What is Reverence?  Discussion might include: Reverence is more that just sitting quietly. It's Thinking, It's a Feeling, It's Love, It is something we can show by the way we speak and act, etc.

Explain that, Reverence is not just an action it is an attitude.  Explain that when they listened to the song and looked at the pictures they were probably filled with feelings of love and gratitude towards the Savior.  Explain that, that is their attitude, an attitude that is filled with love and appreciation. Because we have this gratitude attitude then we act a certain way to show our love and appreciation for the Savior. Put the word strip "Reverent Attitude" on the Board.  Write under it Feelings and thoughts of Love and Appreciation.

Display the word strip "Reverent Actions" on the board: Ask the primary children to raise their hands and give you some ways that they would show their love of the Savior by being Reverent.  Write their answers on the board under the word strip. Answers could include: Walk Reverently at Church, Listen as someone is teaching and try to feel the Spirit, Sit still in our chairs, Keep our hands and legs to ourselves, Put our papers away, Fold our Arms, Raise our hands if we would like to speak, Sing during singing time, Think about what is being taught, Think about the Savior, dressing modestly, speaking quietly, using kind words etc. You could also have them demonstrate the action as it is said.

Point to the words strips on the board. Explain that Respect is that feeling we have towards the Savior that we look up to him and love him. Because we respect him, we have a reverent attitude, which means our thoughts and feelings about the Savior are love and gratitude for all that he has done for us.  Because we love him and recognize all he has done for us them we should want to show him our love and appreciation.  We do this by acting reverently.

Read the last phrase in the song, "Reverence is Love"; "And when I am rev'rent, I know in my heart
Heav'nly Father and Jesus are near." Explain, to the children that when we show reverence towards the Savior then we will be able to feel the Spirit and have a closer relationship with Jesus and Heavenly Father.

Bear your testimony about the showing our love for the Savior by showing reverence. And how by doing so will help each of us grow closer to our Heavenly Father and the Savior.

Click this link for past Sharing Time post: LDS Primary Sharing Time Ideas 

Other Ideas on Reverence: Reverence Ideas in Primary

***Basic ideas for this sharing time came from the 2014 Sharing Time Outline, you can find a link here: 2014 Sharing Time Outline.

"Reverence Is Love", music and text by Maggie Olauson, b. 1949.