I teach course 12-13 in Sunday school, which follows a different manual than the regular gospel doctrine course. Thus, last year I taught from The Presidents of the Church manual. I began my calling in August, so I only started with President George Albert Smith. I’ve really enjoyed the overview of the prophets’ lives and teachings. I found myself eager to begin anew with Joseph Smith in 2008.
Last week, the Sunday school president told me I wasn’t to teach from that manual in 2008. I was disappointed, until I took a look at the manual I am to teach from: Preparing for Exaltation. It is an excellent manual.
The first two months talk about the various aspects of the plan of salvation (i.e., premortal life, earth life, the spirit world, and the three degrees of glory). Then the remainder of the year discusses various aspects of the gospel that can help us return to live with our Father in Heaven again.
This manual is a wonderful return to basic gospel principles that seems very appropriate for youth just about to embark on their teenage years. I look forward to building my testimony of the basics this year.
Question for you: Do you think 12-13 year olds would want a CD of primary songs? Are they too “cool” for primary songs? I keep thinking of the following songs and how appropriate they would be on a “theme CD” for the entire year:
- I Am a Child of God
- I Lived in Heaven
- I Know My Father Lives
- A Child’s Prayer
- I Pray in Faith
- He Sent His Son
- Did Jesus Really Live Again?
- The Church of Jesus Christ
- I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus
- When He Comes Again
- The Golden Plates
- I Love to See the Temple
- Faith
- Search, Ponder and Pray
- Keep the Commandments
- Dare to Do Right
- I Will Follow God’s Plan
- Teach Me to Walk in the Light
- Families Can Be Together Forever
- Love is Spoken Here
- My Heavenly Father Loves Me
Am I missing any songs?
Gospel Music invites the spirit to testify. Gospel Music takes gospel principles directly to the heart and retains it in the mind. Many of those songs you have listed have been arranged and sung by the Tabernacle Choir, not to mention all the lds artists and instrumentalist. So the answer is no, Gospel Music is never to juvenile for any of us. I have used Primary songs as lullabies and as an invitation to the Spirit for lessons and as a quiet testimony and expression of love to dying parents. The Primary General Presidencies advice is: When in doubt, sing more and talk less. In General Conference we have heard several times that what we need in Church is Good Speaking and less of it and Good Music and more of it. So, go for the music girl!! Love, Peggy