Difference between revisions of "Primary"

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'''“All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children”''' (Isa. 54: 13; 3 Nephi 22:13).
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[[image: Mormon-primary2.jpg|350px|right|alt= Mormon Primary|Mormon Primary]]'''Primary''' is an organization within [http://Mormon.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] that is for the children of the Church between the ages of 18 months and eleven years. On Sundays, Primary meetings are held for a one-hour block, engaging the children in various lessons and activities listed below. The current general president of the Primary is [[Camille N. Johnson]]. Her counselors are [[Susan H. Porter]] and [[Amy Wright|Amy A. Wright]].
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: ~The Primary theme
 
  
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===Objectives===
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<blockquote>
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'''“All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”''' (Isaiah 54:13; 3 Nephi 22:13)
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: —The Primary theme
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</blockquote>
  
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Primary is an organization within [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] that is for the children of the Church between the ages of three and eleven. On Sundays, Primary is held for a two-hour block.  Coleen K. Menlove, former [[Leadership in the Church|Primary General President]], said this about the purpose of the Primary:
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==Purposes of Primary==
  
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:In Primary, we want each child to feel welcome, feel the Spirit, and be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. We teach children about their relationship with Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. We cannot teach of a loving relationship without feeling and demonstrating that same Christlike love" (Coleen K. Menlove, "Primary Is Missionary Work," Open House address, Oct. 2000).
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The purposes of Primary are to help children:
  
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The Church has outlined the following objectives for the Primary:
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* Feel Heavenly Father's love and learn about His plan of happiness.
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* Learn about Jesus Christ and His role in Heavenly Father's plan.
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* Learn and live the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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* Feel, recognize, and act on the influence of the Holy Ghost.
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* Prepare for, make, and keep sacred covenants.
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* Participate in the work of salvation and exaltation
  
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# Teach children that they are children of God and that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love them.
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Parents have the first responsibility to teach their children the gospel and help them live it (see D&C 68:25–28). The bishopric, Primary leaders, and Primary teachers support but do not replace parents in this responsibility. Leaders are sensitive to children who lack family support for gospel living.
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# Help children learn to love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
 
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# Help children prepare to be baptized, to receive the Holy Ghost, and to keep their baptismal covenants.
 
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# Help children grow in their understanding of the gospel plan and provide opportunities for them to live gospel principles.
 
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# Help boys prepare to receive the priesthood and be worthy to use this power to bless and serve others.
 
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# Help girls prepare to be righteous young women, understand the blessings of the priesthood and the temple, and serve others
 
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:(see ''Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders'' [1998], 229).
 
  
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===History===
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<blockquote>
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“The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith.” —President [[Russell M. Nelson]]
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</blockquote>
  
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The primary program started 128 years ago when a member of the Church, Aurelia Spencer Rogers, thought it would be good for the boys in the Church to have their own organization. The purpose was to teach them to be better men. The idea was taken to the President of the Church, John Taylor and he thought an organization would not only be good for boys, but also for the girls in the Church. Just a short time later, the first Primary met. It included 224 boys and girls who were taught obedience, faith in God, prayer, punctuality, and good manners. Today, Primary is an essential part of the Church around the world.
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==History==
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The Primary program started in 1878 when a member of the Church, [[Aurelia Spencer Rogers]], thought it would be good for the boys in the Church to have their own organization. The purpose was to teach them to be better men. The idea was taken to the President of the Church at the time, [[John Taylor]] and he thought an organization would not only be good for boys, but also for the girls in the Church. Just a short time later, the first Primary met. It included 224 boys and girls who were taught obedience, faith in God, prayer, punctuality, and good manners. Today, Primary is an essential part of the Church around the world.  
  
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===Sunday Primary Meetings===
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==The Primary Organization==
 +
Callings within each [[ward]] (congregation) are issued for Primary leadership. A Primary president is called, and through inspiration, she suggests two counselors to the bishopric. Other ward Primary leaders may include a secretary, teachers for the various age groups, and music specialists. Primary leaders are also called on the [[Stake]] level to direct and oversee a group of wards. Again, there will be a stake Primary president and two counselors. Women are mostly called to Primary presidencies. There is a general Primary presidency that oversees all the Primary organizations in the Church.
  
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All of the children attend what is called "opening exercises." The children start this with a prayer, followed by a scripture, announcements, a song, and talks. At this point half of the primary is sent to classes. The classes are divided by age. From three years old to five children are in the Sunbeam class. From five to eight they are in CTR (Choose the Right) classes, and from eight to eleven they are in Valiant classes. Further divisions are made as necessary depending on how many children are in the primary. For example a primary may have a lot of children in the CTR age group. They would then divide the kids into smaller classes CTR 5 for the five year olds, CTR 6 for the six year olds, and so on.  
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==Sunday Primary Meetings==
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Sunday Primary Meetings changed in January 2019. Prior to this date, children, teachers, and leaders attended a two-hour block filled with an opening meeting, singing time, sharing time, and class time. With the Church-wide change to focus on home-centered, Church-supported gospel learning, the meetings were reduced into a 50-minute meeting that consists of opening prayer, scripture or [[Articles of Faith|Article of Faith]], one talk, 20 minutes of singing time, and 20 minutes of class time. Closing prayer is offered in individual classes. All classes are taught from the Come, Follow Me—For Primary manual. The Primary meets each Sunday. Children ages 18 months to 3 years remain in the Nursery class for 50-minutes.
  
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While the older children are in class, the younger children participate in Sharing Time.
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Teachers are encouraged to keep the lesson focused on what is suggested in the manual, and to teach by the spirit and be aware of the children’s needs. Church curriculum is created for the entire Church, so the same manuals are used all over the world, and according to the same general schedule.
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:Sharing time allows children to participate in activities and to learn and sing songs that teach gospel principles. Sharing time is under the direction of the Primary presidency. This is an opportunity for the presidency to interact with the children and teach them gospel principles. One presentation a month should be a class presentation. At least half of sharing time should be used for singing (from "Sunday Primary: Sharing Time at [http://www.lds.org www.lds.org])
 
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About half way through the block of time, the older children return from classes to have sharing time, and the younger children go to class.  
 
  
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Classes are taught from a manual provided by the Church. All of the lessons provide a summary or purpose of the lesson, followed by preparation for the teacher, activities, discussion questions, stories, and additional activities related to the topic. Teachers are encouraged to keep the lesson focused on what is suggested in the manual, but to teach by the spirit and be aware of the children’s needs.  
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==Changes for Youth Progression and Ordination==
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The [[First Presidency]] announced a new time line for when children and youth complete Primary, move from one class or quorum to the next, and attend the temple for the first time. The changes went into effect in January 2019.  
  
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'''For More Information:'''
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: Children generally advance from Primary into [[Young Women]] or the deacons quorum in January of the year they turn 12.
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Visit [http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,4695-1,00.html Introduction to Primary] on the Church's [http://www.lds.org official website]
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[[Category: Youth and Children]]
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: In addition, young men will be eligible to be ordained to a priesthood office in January of the year they turn 12, 14, and 16, and youth will be eligible to obtain a limited-use temple recommend beginning in January of the year they turn 12—based on their “individual worthiness, readiness, and personal circumstances.”[https://www.lds.org/church/news/age-changes-for-youth-progression-and-ordination-announced?lang=eng]
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==Children’s Sacrament Meeting Presentation==
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The annual children’s sacrament meeting presentation is held during the last few months of the year. The children present what they have learned at home and at church during the year. They help the congregation focus on Heavenly Father, the Savior, and Their teachings.
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==Primary Activities==
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Beginning in January of the year they turn 8, children may begin attending Primary activities. They are held at times other than Sundays or Monday evenings. The activities or service are intended to build testimonies, strengthen families, and provide opportunities to bless others. The activities and service are balanced among four areas of personal growth: spiritual, social, physical, and intellectual.
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*Visit [https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/12-primary?lang=eng&adobe_mc_ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.churchofjesuschrist.org%2Fstudy%2Fmanual%2Fgeneral-handbook%2F12-primary%3Flang%3Deng&adobe_mc_sdid=SDID%3D7464BC4A2032031F-00BAD739D25A14F0%7CMCORGID%3D66C5485451E56AAE0A490D45%2540AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1647554685 Primary on the Church's official website, which was the source for this article]
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*For music used in the Primary, click [http://www.lds.org/cm/display/0,17631,4766-1,00.html here]
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[[Category: Youth and Children]][[Category:Church Callings and Leadership]][[Category:Church Organization]]
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[[es:Primaria]]
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[[fr:Primaire]]
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[[ru:Первоначальное общество]]
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[[it:Primaria]]
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[[zh:初級會]]

Latest revision as of 15:09, 17 March 2022

Mormon Primary
Primary is an organization within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that is for the children of the Church between the ages of 18 months and eleven years. On Sundays, Primary meetings are held for a one-hour block, engaging the children in various lessons and activities listed below. The current general president of the Primary is Camille N. Johnson. Her counselors are Susan H. Porter and Amy A. Wright.

“All thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” (Isaiah 54:13; 3 Nephi 22:13)

—The Primary theme

Purposes of Primary

The purposes of Primary are to help children:

  • Feel Heavenly Father's love and learn about His plan of happiness.
  • Learn about Jesus Christ and His role in Heavenly Father's plan.
  • Learn and live the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  • Feel, recognize, and act on the influence of the Holy Ghost.
  • Prepare for, make, and keep sacred covenants.
  • Participate in the work of salvation and exaltation

Parents have the first responsibility to teach their children the gospel and help them live it (see D&C 68:25–28). The bishopric, Primary leaders, and Primary teachers support but do not replace parents in this responsibility. Leaders are sensitive to children who lack family support for gospel living.

“The new home-centered, Church-supported integrated curriculum has the potential to unleash the power of families, as each family follows through conscientiously and carefully to transform their home into a sanctuary of faith.” —President Russell M. Nelson

History

The Primary program started in 1878 when a member of the Church, Aurelia Spencer Rogers, thought it would be good for the boys in the Church to have their own organization. The purpose was to teach them to be better men. The idea was taken to the President of the Church at the time, John Taylor and he thought an organization would not only be good for boys, but also for the girls in the Church. Just a short time later, the first Primary met. It included 224 boys and girls who were taught obedience, faith in God, prayer, punctuality, and good manners. Today, Primary is an essential part of the Church around the world.

The Primary Organization

Callings within each ward (congregation) are issued for Primary leadership. A Primary president is called, and through inspiration, she suggests two counselors to the bishopric. Other ward Primary leaders may include a secretary, teachers for the various age groups, and music specialists. Primary leaders are also called on the Stake level to direct and oversee a group of wards. Again, there will be a stake Primary president and two counselors. Women are mostly called to Primary presidencies. There is a general Primary presidency that oversees all the Primary organizations in the Church.

Sunday Primary Meetings

Sunday Primary Meetings changed in January 2019. Prior to this date, children, teachers, and leaders attended a two-hour block filled with an opening meeting, singing time, sharing time, and class time. With the Church-wide change to focus on home-centered, Church-supported gospel learning, the meetings were reduced into a 50-minute meeting that consists of opening prayer, scripture or Article of Faith, one talk, 20 minutes of singing time, and 20 minutes of class time. Closing prayer is offered in individual classes. All classes are taught from the Come, Follow Me—For Primary manual. The Primary meets each Sunday. Children ages 18 months to 3 years remain in the Nursery class for 50-minutes.

Teachers are encouraged to keep the lesson focused on what is suggested in the manual, and to teach by the spirit and be aware of the children’s needs. Church curriculum is created for the entire Church, so the same manuals are used all over the world, and according to the same general schedule.

Changes for Youth Progression and Ordination

The First Presidency announced a new time line for when children and youth complete Primary, move from one class or quorum to the next, and attend the temple for the first time. The changes went into effect in January 2019.

Children generally advance from Primary into Young Women or the deacons quorum in January of the year they turn 12.
In addition, young men will be eligible to be ordained to a priesthood office in January of the year they turn 12, 14, and 16, and youth will be eligible to obtain a limited-use temple recommend beginning in January of the year they turn 12—based on their “individual worthiness, readiness, and personal circumstances.”[1]

Children’s Sacrament Meeting Presentation

The annual children’s sacrament meeting presentation is held during the last few months of the year. The children present what they have learned at home and at church during the year. They help the congregation focus on Heavenly Father, the Savior, and Their teachings.

Primary Activities

Beginning in January of the year they turn 8, children may begin attending Primary activities. They are held at times other than Sundays or Monday evenings. The activities or service are intended to build testimonies, strengthen families, and provide opportunities to bless others. The activities and service are balanced among four areas of personal growth: spiritual, social, physical, and intellectual.


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