As of late I have been thinking a lot about service.

How grateful I have been in my life to be surrounded by so many wonderful examples and had so many opportunities to serve myself. 

I was excited as I was wandering around the primary section on LDS.org to find out that next month's primary theme is 

"I will serve God with all my heart, might, mind, and strength."

I decided to create a fun little game based on the outline 

"PROPHETS & APOSTLES SHOW US HOW TO SERVE".

It is a fun and simple matching activity that could either be used in sharing time or in the home!

I selected a few different leaders who exemplified great service from the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Latter Days. 

For each prophet I created two matching cards. 

One card has a picture and name of a leader.

The second has qualities and characteristics for that particular leader specific to their service.

Each card also has a back design (all back designs are the same) that read, "Examples of Service From the Prophets" 

The cards are also color coordinated for younger children who might not know the exact coordinating characteristics. 

Children can take turns flipping over cards in search of matches.

My thought is if this were to be used for a sharing time or FHE, time could be taken after a match is found

 to discuss the leader and how they served as a group using scriptures, stories, etc.

 (see some suggestions below).

You can download the cards by right clicking on the picture and selecting "save image as" 

and then copy and paste the images in a word document 

or download a PDF image by clicking on the links below.

Keep in mind that I created these images as a 5x7 so if you attempt to change the sizing, 

you may run the risk of slightly blurring the image!

Also, I used free LDS images for the pictures, so they aren't the highest quality, 

but when I printed them out as a 5x7, I thought they looked fine! 

JOSEPH SMITH JR.

POSSIBLE DISCUSSION TOPICS

Joseph Smith gave a life of service for the cause of truth (D&C 135: 3)

Joseph Smith understood the importance of missionary work (D&C 84: 62) 

and spent time serving as a missionary in Upper New York and Canada.

He suffered many trials and tribulations in his life so the Gospel of Jesus Christ could be restored.

Joseph Smith Front Matching Cards Download (CLICK HERE)

Joseph Smith Back Matching Cards Download (CLICK HERE)

JESUS CHRIST

POSSIBLE DISCUSSION TOPICS

Jesus Christ taught us that we should always love and serve others (Matthew 22:36-39), even our enemies (1 Nephi 19:9)

Jesus Christ suffered for the sins and salvation of all mankind (Alma 7:11- 13).

Jesus Christ healed the sick and comforted those in need (Mark 1: 40-45)

Jesus Christ Front Matching Cards Download (CLICK HERE)

Jesus Christ Back Matching Cards Download (CLICK HERE)

THOMAS S. MONSON

POSSIBLE DISCUSSION TOPICS

When Thomas S. Monson was a bishop he frequently took the time to visit the widows and those in need.

At the age 31, Thomas S. Monson was called to serve as a Mission President over the Canadian Mission.

Thomas S. Monson also often visited the sick and offered blessings of comfort and healing. 

Thomas S. Monson Front Matching Cards Download (CLICK HERE)

Thomas S. Monson Back Matching Cards Download (CLICK HERE)

MOSES

POSSIBLE DISCUSSION TOPICS

Moses lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt (1 Nephi 17: 24-27)

Moses was a faithful prophet and listened to the Lord in order to best serve the Children of Israel.

Moses Front Matching Cards Download (CLICK HERE)

Moses Back Matching Cards Download (CLICK HERE)

KING BENJAMIN

POSSIBLE DISCUSSION TOPICS

King Benjamin was a great prophet and labored and served his people (Mosiah 2: 12-14)

King Benjamin loved his people and taught them the Gospel and how to serve the Lord (Mosiah 2: 17-18)

King Benjamin taught us that the reason we serve isn't for recognition, but for the Lord (Mosiah 2: 15-16, 19)

King Benjamin Front Matching Cards Download (CLICK HERE)

King Benjamin Back Matching Cards Download (CLICK HERE)

DEAR MISSIONARY: MISSIONARY PRINTS (ELDER)

This week I decided to create some simple 5x7 missionary quotes /sayings.

They could be printed off and sent to your favorite missionary for their study area, 

used as a missionary handout, or printed off and framed!

Feel free to print off and use!

(you can download them by right clicking on the picture and selecting "save image as"...you can copy and paste

the images in a word document or download a single 5x7 image PDF by clicking on the links below) 

Act Out of Love 

CLICK HERE

Greatest Duty

CLICK HERE

Preach My Gospel

CLICK HERE

Call Me On A Mission

CLICK HERE

DEAR MISSIONARY: MISSIONARY PRINTS (SISTER)

(you can download them by right clicking on the picture and selecting "save image as"...you can copy and paste

the images in a word document or download a single 5x7 image PDF by clicking on the links below) 

Act Out of Love 

CLICK HERE

Greatest Duty

CLICK HERE

Preach My Gospel

CLICK HERE

Call Me On A Mission

CLICK HERE

The Galilee Song (Frank Andersen)

Deep within my heart, I feel voices whispering to me.
Words that I can’t understand; Meanings I can’t clearly hear!
Calling me to follow close, lest I leave myself behind!
Calling me to walking into evening shadows one more time!

Refrain:

So I leave my boats behind!
Leave them on familiar shores!
Set my heart upon the deep!
Follow you again, my Lord!

2. In my memories, I know how you send familiar rains
falling gently on my days, dancing patterns on my pain!
And I need to learn once more in the fortress of my mind,
to believe in falling rain as I travel deserts dry! Refrain

3. As I gaze into the night down the future of my years,
I’m not sure I want to walk past horizons that I know!
But I feel my spirit called like a stirring deep within,
restless, ’til I live again beyond the fears that close me in! Refrain

Composer: Frank Andersen

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.

Mutual Activity Idea::Called to Serve

THE PURPOSE

Recently, our youth decided to plan a mutual activity based on missionary work.

With the missionary age change, we have had a lot of youth talking about going on missions.

The purpose of the activity was to help the youth feel the spirit 

and prepare them to share the gospel in the future & NOW.

Honestly, it was such an awesome activity --- one I think the youth will remember for a long time.

Thank you Sisters in Zion for the original idea (see here)

I wanted to show some pictures from the night and highlight some of the sweet moments from the night.

I would suggest this activity a hundred times over, 

especially if you have youth who are considering serving a mission. 

(I think it could also be fun for a family home evening!)

INVITATION 

Prior to the activity the young men dropped off invitations to every youth member.

The invitations where very simple (see above on right), and reminded the youth to dress up for the activity.

Having the youth dress up really set the tone for the night.

THE MTC

We began the evening by singing as a group, "Called to Serve".

After a prayer, there was a brief thought on the importance of missionary work 

and then the youth were introduced to the activity...

Each youth member would receive a mission call, missionary tag, companion, and mission schedule.

There would be four rotations throughout the night that each youth missionary would get to experience.

We challenged the young men and young women to think about 

how they could prepare to be missionaries throughout the activity.

After explaining the activity the youth received envelopes with their mission calls.

MISSION CALLS

Prior the activity we had prepared mission calls to various countries within three countinents...

United States, Europe, and South America.

We used these three continents to split the youth into districts.

Once a young men or young women had opened their call, they would go to a designated spot for their district.

 (We hung flags up on the walls with all the different missions so they could easily locate their district).

Once they had found their district, they found the person who had a matching "call".

The person who had the same call became their "companion" for the evening.

(we matched up only sisters with sisters and brothers with brothers)

 The youth decided that they wanted to be able to open up their mission calls as a group.

It was most certainly an exciting experience.

Even though the mission calls were pretend, 

it was fun to see their faces light up as they read where they were going to serve for the evening. 

THE DISTRICT OF EUROPE

THE DISTRICT OF THE UNITED STATES

THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH AMERICA

MISSIONARY ROTATIONS

Each district had a different missionary schedule with rotations at various times.

There were 4 total rotations, each one provided the youth with opportunities 

to learn about different aspects of a mission work.

1. P-DAY: LETTERS & REFERRALS

In the P-Day rotation we talked with the youth about how one of the things 

the missionaries get to do on their Preparation Day is write letters/emails. 

We talked about the importance of writing missionaries and providing support from home.

We have several missionaries serving in our ward and created folders for each one.

We had small note cards for the the young men and young women to write notes to them.

It was great for the youth to be able to share their testimonies with the missionaries 

and express their gratitude for their faithful service.

In the P-Day rotation, we also had a table where the youth missionaries could fill out referral cards.

We have seen a lot of miracles in our ward with missionary work, especially among the youth.

It was another great way for them to the youth to participate in the missionary work going on. 

2. RETURNED SISTER MISSIONARY:

The Importance of the Spirit

We had decided that we wanted to have 2 returned missionaries come 

and speak to the youth about their missionary experiences. 

We wanted to invite a sister and an elder.

The youth (especially the young women) loved hearing from a returned sister missionary 

The sister was a returned missionary from the Tucson, Arizona mission where she taught in Spanish.

 She talked about the importance of always having the spirit. 

She explained how the spirit guides missionaries but also how having the spirit NOW could bless the lives of the youth.

 The young men and young women loved hearing her testimony and were captured by her experiences and faith. It was a great way for the youth to recognize how they could prepare for their missions now.

3. RETURNED ELDER MISSIONARY:

Bearing Testimony

The youth also loved hearing from a returned elder who served in the Paris, France mission.

He talked about having the courage to always bear testimony. It was awesome the way he related to the youth. He talked about how often we feel scared to share our testimonies with others.

 He shared a few experiences of how he overcame those feelings on his mission and

 was able to share his testimony and change the lives of others.

 He encouraged the youth to prepare NOW 

by sharing their testimonies with others.

4. MISSIONARY LESSONS:

How to Share the Gospel Now

In the last rotation we gave the youth the opportunity to actually practice missionary work. 

The young men and young women came up with questions as a group that their friends asked them about the church. 

The youth were separated into two companionships where they role-played and practiced answering questions.

 It was a great experience and the youth took it very seriously. 

Sometimes, the questions asked couldn’t always be answered,

 but we explained to the youth the power of their testimony in these situations.

 It was definitely a great experience.

ZONE CONFERENCE

After the rotations, we came together for a quick “Zone Conference”. 

We wrapped up the activity by having a few of the youth share their testimonies.

 They all mentioned how they could not wait to serve missions. 

It was such a powerful experience, and overall the activity turned out to be a real hit.

Scatter Sunshine

This past week for mutual we had a really fun night.

The idea was to create a original activity based on service. 

The young women and men came up with an idea to have a "Service Scavenger Hunt."

The youth were split into teams with 1 leader (about 4-5 per group), 

and given a list of tasks with coordinating point values. 

Here is the list that I created... feel free to use!

The activity turned out to be a blast.

Not only that--- it was a real eye opener. 

At first the kids were in a rush to get from house to house 

(trying to accumulate the maximum amount of points), 

but by the end, they were doing extra tasks at the home...

 just because.

After the activity, we pulled the youth together

 to hear their experiences with the service expedition.

It was awesome to hear how touched the youth were

 to hear things from the people they were serving like, 

"You just made my day..." or  "You have no idea how much this means..."

I think all in all, it was a great reminder of 

the impact the smallest acts of service can produce. 

It was an awesome activity and I would definitely recommend it!

When I Needed A Neighbour (Sydney Carter)

1.  When I needed a neighbour
Were you there, were you there?
When I needed a neighbour
Were you there?
And the creed and the colour
And the name won't matter
Were you there?

2.  I was hungry and thirsty
Were you there, were you there?
I was hungry and thirsty
Were you there?
And the creed and the colour
And the name won't matter
Were you there?

3. I was cold, I was naked
Were you there, were you there?
I was cold, I was naked
Were you there?
And the creed and the colour
And the name won't matter
Were you there?

4.  When I needed a shelter
Were you there, were you there?
When I needed a shelter
Were you there?
And the creed and the colour
And the name won't matter
Were you there?

5.  When I needed a healer
Were you there, were you there?
When I needed a healer
Were you there?
And the creed and the colour
And the name won't matter
Were you there?

6.
Wherever you travel
I'll be there, I'll be there.
Wherever you travel
I'll be there.
And the creed and the colour
And the name won't matter
I'll be there.

Composer: Sydney Carter (1915-2004)

I Bind My Heart This Tide

I bind my heart this tide
To the Galilean’s side,
To the wounds of Calvary,
To the Christ who died for me.

I bind my soul this day
To the brother far away,
And the brother near at hand,
In this town, and in this land.

I bind my heart to thrall
To the God, the Lord of all,
To the God, the poor man’s Friend,
And the Christ whom He did send.

I bind myself to peace,
To make strife and envy cease,
God, knit Thou sure the cord
Of my thralldom to my Lord!

Text: "Thraldom," from The Tryst, by Lauchlan MacLean Watt (1907)

A Charge To Keep I Have

A charge to keep I have,
a God to glorify,
a never-dying soul to save,
and fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age,
my calling to fulfill;
O may it all my powers engage
to do my Master's will!

Arm me with jealous care,
as in thy sight to live,
and oh, thy servant, Lord,
prepare a strict account to give!

Help me to watch and pray,
and on thyself rely,
assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall forever die.

Text: Charles Wesley (1762)
Tune: BOYLSTON, SM, by Lowell Mason (1832)

Pues Si Vivimos

Pues si vivimos, para El vivimos
y si morimos para El morimos.
Sea que vivamos o que muramos,

Estribillio:

Somos del Senor, somos del Senor.
Somos del Senor, somos del Senor.

En esta vida, frutos hemos de dar.
Las obras buenas son para ofrendar.
Ya sea que demos o que recibamos, (Estribillio)

En la tristeza y en el dolor,
en la belleza y en el amor,
sea que suframos o que gocemos, (Estribillio)

En este mundo, hemos de encontrar
gente que llora y sin consolar.
Sea que ayudemos o que alimentemos, (Estribillio)

Text: Anonymous (st 1); Roberto Escamilla (sts 2, 3, 4)
Tune: Traditional Spanish melody

Lord Whose Love Through Humble Service

Lord, whose love through humble service bore the weight of human need,
who upon the cross, forsaken, offered mercy’s perfect deed:
we, your servants, bring the worship not of voice alone, but heart,
consecrating to your purpose every gift that you impart.

Still your children wander homeless; still the hungry cry for bread;
still the captives long for freedom; still in grief we mourn our dead.
As, O Lord, your deep compassion healed the sick and freed the soul,
use the love your Spirit kindles still to save and make us whole.

As we worship, grant us vision, till your love’s revealing light
in its height and depth and greatness dawns upon our quickened sight,
making known the needs and burdens your compassion bids us bear,
stirring us to tireless striving your abundant life to share.

Called by worship to your service, forth in your dear name we go
to the child, the youth, the aged, love in living deeds to show;
hope and health, good will and comfort, counsel, aid, and peace we give,
that your servants, Lord, in freedom may your mercy know, and live.

Text: Albert F. Bayly (1961)
Tune: BEACH SPRING 87.87 D (attr. to B.F. White, 1844)

Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love

Refrain:

Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,
show us how to serve
the neighbors we have from you.

Kneels at the feet of his friends,
silently washes their feet,
master who acts as a slave to them. (Refrain)

Neighbors are rich and poor,
varied in color and race,
neighbors are near and far away. (Refrain)

These are the ones we should serve,
these are the ones we should love;
all these are neighbors to us and you. (Refrain)

Loving puts us on our knees,
serving as though we are slaves;
this is the way we should live with you. (Refrain)

Kneel at the feet of our friends,
silently washing their feet;
this is the way we should live with you. (Refrain)

Paraphrase of John 13:3-5

Words: Tom Colvin (1969)
Music: Chereponi, Ghana folk song, adapt. Tom Colvin (1969)

Here I Am, Lord (Dan Schutte)

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Refrain:

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them.
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my words to them.
Whom shall I send? (Refrain)

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will send the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
'Til their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send? (Refrain)

Paraphrase of Isaiah 6:8 and 1 Samuel 3.

Composer: Dan Schutte (1981).

See my other blog postings in the Contemporary Catholic series.