Thanksgiving

Opening Song: "Children All Over the World," CS #16

Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 46:32 "Give thanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with."

Story: Katie's Prayer, Friend, Nov 2001

Before getting into bed, Karen and Katie knelt to pray. Karen soon finished and jumped back into bed. Katie was still praying.

Karen fluffed her pillow a few times and curled up under her nice warm quilt. Katie was still praying.

Karen closed her eyes. After a while, she opened her eyes again. Katie was still praying.

Karen adjusted her quilt again and snuggled in. Katie finally finished her prayer.

“What could you possibly be praying about for that long?” Karen asked.

“Well, I was thanking Heavenly Father for all He gave me today.”

Karen sat up. “Really? He gave you that much today?”

“Oh yes!”

“Like what?”

“Well,” Katie said, “when I woke up this morning, I opened the curtains, and the sun warmed my face. I was thankful for sunshine. I got dressed and rushed downstairs for breakfast. When we all knelt for family prayer, I thought, I’m so thankful to have a wonderful family!

“After breakfast, I went for a bike ride. I heard birds singing. I saw flowers of all colors and shapes. I saw the big shady trees up and down our street. I could smell the fresh air. I thought, I’m so thankful for this wonderful world!

“Then I saw my Primary teacher, Sister Smith, in her front yard. She waved and said hello. I felt blessed to have a nice Primary teacher who loves me and teaches me.

“When I got home, Brady was there to wag her tail while I petted her. I was thankful for Brady.

“Tonight at family home evening, Mom and Dad taught us more about Jesus Christ. I’m thankful for them. I’m most thankful for Jesus and all He’s done for me.”

“Wow!” Karen exclaimed. “I never realized how much there is to be thankful for.”

“There’s more,” Katie said. “When Mom reminded us to say our prayers, I was thankful for prayer itself. Not only can I talk to Heavenly Father any time and thank Him for all He’s given me, but I can ask for help with my problems.”

With that, Katie turned off the lamp and snuggled down in her bed.

Suddenly Karen turned the lamp back on.

“What’s wrong?” Katie asked.

“Nothing. I just need to say another prayer. I have a lot to thank Heavenly Father for, too.”

Katie closed her eyes tight and turned toward the wall. She had a feeling that Karen would be praying a long time.

Activity: Thankful Turkey

Make a turkey out of colored paper. Write or draw pictures of things you are thankful for on each feather.

The Atonement

Song: "If The Savior Stood Beside Me" here

Open by telling this story: (Friend, March 2004)

One day Lincoln’s friends told him that they had pretended to put money into the school’s pencil machine. They told the secretary that they didn’t get a pencil, and she gave them one. Lincoln decided to give it a try.

At recess Lincoln sat on a bench and looked at his free pencil. He felt very sad inside. He wanted to do what was right. He told the secretary what he had done and gave her the pencil. Lincoln felt better.

Have you ever done something wrong and wished you could make it right?

In order to return to live with our Heavenly Father, we need to be perfect. But we are not perfect. We all make mistakes, these are called sins.

Give some examples of sins that are appropriate for children: stealing, not obeying parents, hurting others, lying.

Heavenly Father knows that everyone makes mistakes. He loves us and wants us to return to live with Him, so He provided a way for us to become clean again. It is called the Atonement.

Jesus Christ suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane and by giving His life on the cross. Those two things are called the Atonement. Because he did that we can repent. When we repent it means that we are sorry for what we did and we do everything we can to make it right and we try very hard not to make that mistake again. Like Lincoln in the story. He felt sorry that he took a pencil without paying for it, so he told the secretary what he had done and gave the pencil back.

Activity:

Use a bottle of clear water as a representation of a person free from sin. Drop a small amount of food coloring in the water and point out how the color spreads throughout the water. Compare this to sin. Then add a few drops of liquid bleach to clear up the color. Compare this to how repentance cleanses us from sin. (Sharing Time, Friend, April 1998)