Ideas for December Week 1 LDS Primary Sharing Time, "Prophets prophesied about the birth of Jesus Christ."
2016 Sharing Time Outline Theme: "I Know the Scriptures Are True"
December 2016 Sharing Time Topic: The Scriptures Teach Me about the Savior’s Birth and Second Coming
December 2016 Scripture: “For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works” (Matthew 16:27).
December 2016 Song: Your Choice
December Week 1 Topic: Prophets prophesied about the birth of Jesus Christ.
Preparation:
Prayerfully study and think about what the specific needs of your primary are and how you can teach them this doctrine.
Sharing Time Instruction:
Begin Sharing Time by placing the word strip, "Prophesy" on the board. Ask the primary children if they know what prophesy is? Read the following quote,
"A prophecy consists of divinely inspired words or writings, which a person receives through revelation from the Holy Ghost... A prophecy may pertain to the past, present, or future. When a person prophesies, he speaks or writes that which God wants him to know, for his own good or the good of others." (Prophecy, Prophesy)
Show the primary children the week's theme poster and invite them to repeat, "Prophets prophesied about the birth of Jesus Christ."
Explain to the primary children that ancient prophets, receive divinely inspired words through revelation from the Holy Ghost. These words were written in the scriptures. They foretold of the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ. This was for the good of others, to know that a Savior would be born.
Explain that you are going to ask for some helpers to help teach the primary about these prophesies of Christ's birth.
Before primary place the following pictures and their scripture cards (you could also attached the scripture cards like gift tags) in five gift bags or boxes: (see scripture references towards bottom of post, printables are all in the free download above)
Picture of Isaiah, Picture of Nephi, Picture of King Benjamin, Picture of Alma and Picture of Samuel
Invite a primary child to come up and chose one of the bags or boxes. Invite them to open it up and pull out the picture that is inside. Have the primary child hold the picture so everyone can see it. Tell the primary children who the prophesy is from and where it can be found in the scriptures. For example, if the primary child chose the picture of Isaiah, explain that the prophet is Isaiah and he lived over 700 years before Christ was born. He lived among the Israelites (where Christ would be born) and his prophesy can be found in the Old Testament. Then read the prophesy, as found in the scriptures. Ask the children what the prophesy is? Then discuss as a primary.
Continue with each gift bag/box, until all of the prophesies have been discussed.
Explain to the primary children to these prophesies can help to strengthen our testimonies of the birth of the Savior, because we can know that the prophesies have been fulfilled. They also helped those who lived before the Savior's birth, to prepare for his coming and know of his birth.
Encourage the primary children to go home and tell their family about one of the prophesies.
Share your testimony of how the prophesies of ancient prophets of the Savior's birth has strengthened your testimony.
Here are each of the scriptures and description of each:
Isaiah 7:14- {Picture of Isaiah} The Prophet is Isaiah, he lived among the Israelites, over 700 years before Christ was born. His prophesy can be found in the Old Testament. Ask the children what his prophesy was? He prophesied of a virgin who would give birth to a son and would call him Immanuel, which means "God with us", symbolizing that the Savior would come to save and redeem the world. (Immanuel)
1 Nephi 11:14-21- {Picture of Nephi} The Prophet is Nephi, he lived in the Americas and prophesied of the Savior's birth, around 600 years before it occurred. His prophesy can be found in the Book of Mormon. Ask the children what his prophesy was? He prophesied of the love our Heavenly Father has for us. He prophesied of a virgin that would be the mortal mother of the Son of God. He spoke of the birth of the Son of the Eternal Father.
Mosiah 3:5,8- {Picture of King Benjamin}The Prophet is King Benjamin, he lived in the Americas and prophesied of the Savior around 120 years before his birth. His prophesies can be found in the Book of Mormon. Ask the children what his prophesies were? He prophesied that the Savior would come to earth. That He would work mighty miracles, such as healing the sick and raising the dead. That his name would be Jesus Christ and that he was the Son of God. His mother's name would be Mary. (Emphasize how neat this very specific prophesy about the Savior is!)
Alma 7:9-10- {Picture of Alma}The Prophet is Alma, he lived in the Americas and prophesied of the Savior's birth around 83 years before the his birth. His prophesies are found in the Book of Mormon. Ask the children what his prophesies were? He prophesied to his people that the coming of the Lord would was coming and he cried repentance unto his people to prepare the way for the Savior. He spoke of the Savior being born of Mary, in Jerusalem, that she was a precious and chosen vessel. (Maybe discuss what a choice spirit daughter of our Heavenly Father Mary must have been, to be chosen to be the mother, of the Savior of the World)
Helaman 14:2-6- {Picture of Samuel} The Prophet is Samuel the Lamanite, he lived in the Americas and prophesied of the Savior's birth around 5 years before the Savior's birth. His prophesies are found in the Book of Mormon. Ask the children what his prophesies were? He prophesied of the signs of the birth of the Savior. He said that within five years, their shall be great lights in the heaven, the night before the Savior comes their will be no darkeness. He also prophesied of a new star that would be a sign. (You could sing the song, "Samuel Prophesies of the Savior's Birth")
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Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope that these ideas were helpful. Below are the other topics for the months as well as more ideas and resources. I'd love for you to check out my Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest pages and see if there's anything on there you like!
What else have the primary children learned this month? Here are links to this month's past sharing times:
ULTIMATE LIST OF SHARING TIME IDEAS
Want more ideas:
Lesson 46: Prophets Foretold the Birth of Jesus Christ (Christmas)
{Ultimate List} of LDS Sharing Time ideas for December 2015
LDS Primary Sharing Time Ideas December 2015 Week 1: Jesus Christ came to earth as promised by the prophets.
Sharing Time December 2013 Week 1: The Prophets foretold that Jesus Christ would come to the Earth.
Sharing Time: What a Joyful Day!
All the Prophets Prophesied of Christ
Stories of Jesus, Tell Them to Me
Click this link for past Sharing Time post: LDS Primary Sharing Time Ideas
***Basic ideas for this sharing time came from the 2016 Outline for Sharing Time, you can find a link here: 2016 Outline for Sharing Time