Primary Program

This is the Sunday that I look forward to all year. Especially this year, since Juliette is now a Sunbeam and was able to participate and have her own part.

As a mother, I have come to realize that there is nothing in this world that is more precious than my children. I feel a great responsibility to love, and teach and guide these special spirits back to our Father in Heaven. And thankfully I have the church and the wonderful members of my ward to help me do this.

Like this lovely woman. This is Juliette and her fantastic sunbeam teacher Sister Portnova. She truly loves these children, so they can't help but love her back.



I am especially thankful for priamry. It is such a special time for kids to learn and grow. It is where they really start to learn about Jesus, but they also begin to learn about other gospel principles and concepts too. They learn about commandments and covenants and what they must do to return to live with Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.



This is especially true in the children’s music that they learn and sing. And I didn’t realize this until this year when my daughter became a sunbeam in primary. Not many years ago the primary songs were about manners and being kind and giving. In my Primary days, we sang songs like Give, Said the Little Stream —and it is certainly sweet and motivating but not exactly theologically heavy. But that is not the case anymore. Now children are taught songs that teach gospel principles, songs that remind them of the things they should be dong. Today’s children sing wonderful songs that are more spiritually focused. And what a wonderful thing this is. Because as Pres. J Reuben Clark said, “We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing except prayer.”

This year as the primary children presented their program I was surprised at the beautiful things they taught us through their music. These children learn a hymn from the hymn book each year, and this year it was “Come Follow Me.” They learn songs about knowing that their Savior loves them, about the Holy Ghost as a comforter, and about the plan of Salvation. Elder Boyd K Packer said, “If we will listen, they are teaching the gospel, for the hymns of the Restoration are in fact a course in doctrine.”

I love that my four year old daughter can understand and know about the entire plan of salvation because she learned a song called He sent His Son. I know that these gospel principles she is learning about will stay with her through her entire life. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” I truly believe this. I think that the things we learn in our childhood stay with us. We may not remember specific lessons we were taught in Primary. But I am sure that all of us can remember countless primary songs and the gospel principles they teach. These messages they teach are remembered for years.

I love that Juliette loves to share and sing what she has learned in primary. One of her favorite cd's to listen to is the primary songs. We sing as we work, and play, and travel together. I know that every time we sing the primary songs together it strengthens her understanding and testimony of the gospel.



This year the primary theme is I know my Savior lives. The children have the opportunity to feel and understand the great love that our Savior, Jesus Christ has for them.

One of my favorite primary songs that the children learned this year is I’m trying to Be like Jesus. I can’t help but stop at the primary room door and listen when I hear them singing this wonderful song.

All of the song they sang this year were wonderful. And as I watched the children performing on Sunday, I was truly amazed. It seemed to me that they were not just singing; they were declaring their determination. Jesus Christ was their example. To be like Him was their fixed goal. And their eager looks and their shining eyes convinced me that they have no doubts. They expect to succeed. And they will.



Juliette was amazing. She knew all the words to every song and sang with joy. She didn't hesitate to get up and say her part. She said, "Moses was called by God to lead the people out of Egypt." She also got to sing the Noah verse of Follow the Prophet as a solo with a few other girls in the ward. I am so proud of her.

I hope that she will always remember the simple yet profound principles she learned as a child in primary. The words and melodies of Primary songs may be simple, but the message and the power of each one are clear.