On a recent trip to Mexico, Primary Gen. Pres. Patricia P. Pinegar visited with Primary children during Sunday meetings. She was delighted to hear the children reciting the Articles of Faith.
"Even though I couldn't understand all of the words, I could tell which Article of Faith the children were reciting. It was wonderful to see them so eager to raise their hands and repeat the Article of Faith they were studying. When I had an opportunity to speak to them and had someone translate for me, I told them that Primary children all around the world were learning the Articles of Faith just like they were. They were so excited to think that children throughout the world were doing the same thing."During 1995, Primary children throughout the world are, indeed, doing the same thing - focusing on the theme, "The Articles of Faith." Then in September or October during the 1995 Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation, the children will have the opportunity to share with fellow ward or branch members what they have learned.
To discuss this year's theme and its effects in the lives of children and their families, the Church News met with Pres. Pinegar and her counselors, Anne G. Wirthlin and Susan L. Warner. The Primary general officers emphasized the importance of children not only memorizing the Articles of Faith, but also learning their meanings.
"I think children want to understand what we believe," Pres. Pinegar said, "and I think the Articles of Faith are the foundation upon which children can base their faith and testimony, and learn and grow from there."
In speaking of her trip to Mexico, she added: "It wasn't just that the children were repeating the Articles of Faith - which was wonderful - but the teachers and the leaders in Sharing Time were helping them understand what they mean and even how they could use the Articles of Faith in their lives."
Sister Wirthlin added: "I hope Primary teachers and leaders will have the vision that these are not just isolated principles, but they can really lead children to the Savior; they are the principles of the Savior's Church and are principles of righteousness."
A helpful aid to local Primary leaders and teachers in teaching the Articles of Faith to children is the 1995 Children's Sacrament Meeting Presentation and Sharing Time Outline.
The outline explains: "The children should present the program for sacrament meeting, giving the speaking parts in their own words as much as possible. The presentation could include individual talks, panel discussions, individual or group recitations of Articles of Faith, personal experiences, and testimonies.
"A child could give a short personal experience or testimony to summarize each section of the presentation. Music may include the entire Primary chorus, older and younger children's choruses, child soloists, duets, small groups of children, the congregation, or appropriate instrumental accompaniments."
The outline includes 11 suggested themes for the year, such as "What are the Articles of Faith?" "The Articles of Faith can help me understand the Godhead," "The Articles of Faith can help me understand that through priesthood authority the true church of Jesus Christ is on the earth today," "The Articles of Faith can help me live the gospel."
Concerning the presentation, Sister Warner said, "The sacrament meeting presentation isn't a pageant or a road show, but it is a culmination of the learning during the year, so it should be simple and in keeping with the spirit of sacrament meeting."
Concerning the positive effects of this year's theme in a child's family life, Pres. Pinegar and her counselors expressed great hopes. "I hope with all my heart that parents see the Primary as a help for them as they teach their children the gospel of Jesus Christ. We think this is a wonderful year for whole families to review and re-learn the Articles of Faith."
The Primary general officers suggested the following for both parents and local leaders to do to foster discussion in the home concerning the Articles of Faith:
- Encourage the child to talk about the Articles of Faith. Pres. Pinegar noted: "Parents could say, `Tell me what you talked about today in Primary? Tell me which Article of Faith you're talking about,' or a Primary teacher could pin a little note on a child, saying, `Ask what I learned today,' or `Ask me about the first Article of Faith.' "
- Take advantage of family home evening. Sister Wirthlin said: "Family home evening is an opportunity for children to be able to teach. As you think about it, the teacher always learns the most, so a child could have an assignment for family home evening to teach an Article of Faith."
- Encourage discussion during meal times or before bedtime. "In just a few minutes, a parent can share important feelings with a child," Pres. Pinegar noted.
- Encourage children to share what they have learned about the Articles of Faith with their brothers and sisters. In speaking of the benefits of brothers and sisters sharing experiences with each other, Sister Warner said, "As families talk together, children start to see how they will be able to use the Articles of Faith in their own lives."
In speaking of the benefits of teaching children the Articles of Faith when they're young, Sister Warner noted, "The things that we learn when we're young remain with us forever."
In illustrating this, Pres. Pinegar shared the experience of a friend's teenage daughter who had gone to France with a school group. During the visit, the young Americans stayed in the homes of residents. In almost every situation, Pres. Pinegar related, the LDS youth were asked about the Church. The friend's daughter later told her mother, "I didn't know what to say when they asked me about the Church, then all of a sudden I remembered the Articles of Faith that I learned in Primary."
The young woman shared several Articles of Faith with her host family.
Pres. Pinegar emphasized that this year's theme is a wonderful way to review the Articles of Faith and to be able to say, "We believe."