Everything I Need to Know I learned in Primary
Last Sunday I was released as the Primary President. After 2 years and 2 months, the responsibility for teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the children, ages 18 months to 12 years old, was given to someone else. It has been bittersweet.
I have certainly felt a great deal of relief as I think of the new presidency and the hours they have had to spend organizing classes and schedules for the new year, preparing sharing time, making callings and learning their jobs. Not that I ever minded the work. But I have been free this week to read, clean, bowl, go to lunch with my siblings and watch movies. I woke up this morning and instead of panicking about sharing time, I curled my hair and ironed my skirt. My time seems more my own.
But I have felt tremendous sadness, especially when I see the children on their way to school or playing in the neighborhood. Eight days ago, they were mine to love, to teach and to serve. I know every child by name- all 120+. I know which house is their's. I know what sports they play, what instruments they are learning and what school they attend. I watched as many of them were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I gave them one last hug as some of them left Primary to receive the Aaronic Priesthood or become one of our beautiful Young Women. I wept as they sang about the restored gospel and their Savior Jesus Christ. I prayed earnestly that they would feel the Spirit and know for themselves the joy the gospel brings.
I know I can still be their friend. I will love them forever. But they are not really mine anymore. There is an emptiness in my heart that was once filled by a special call from my Heavenly Father to teach these children. As I sat in the back of Primary today, to watch my Emily give a talk, I missed terribly my call to serve in Primary. But I was also grateful for the lessons I learned while I was there.
God is our Father in Heaven and He knows and loves each of us.
I met almost every week of the last two years with my presidency. As we thought about the children in our care, we were guided to know how we could help them and teach them. I felt the worth of even our most troubled child and I was given the capacity to truly love them as I know our Heavenly Father does.
When we have done our best, the Spirit will take care of the rest.
There were weeks when I had ample time to prepare for Primary. There were weeks when I had no time to prepare. But I prayed that my inability would never impede the children's learning of correct principles and my prayers were answered. Some sharing times were better than others, but not once did I finish a sharing time without having felt the Spirit there, guiding my thoughts and my words. When I had done all that I could, the Spirit filled in the gaps and taught us all that the gospel is true.
Jesus Christ is my Savior.
My favorite hymn is I Know That My Redeemer Lives. It was one of our program songs last year. As I listened to the children sing, the truth of the words were etched into my heart and my testimony was strengthened by their sincerity and simple faith.
Obedience brings true happiness.
You could see it in their faces. The children who had tried to live the gospel each week came into Primary with big, beautiful smiles on their faces. Those who had struggled to come to church, who had fought with their siblings, who had used words they knew they shouldn't at a baseball game... they had a sadness in their eyes. As I talked with them, it was reaffirmed to me that if we want to be happy, we MUST be obedient to God's commandments.
My first Sunday as Primary President, I borrowed an idea from Sister Sydney Reyonolds, who served as the first counselor in the Primary General Presidency. I shared my "testimony on one hand." It seems appropriate to end with it too.
As a child, I attended Primary and felt the assurance of the Holy Ghost that these things were true.
As an adult, I served in Primary and again felt the assurance of the Holy Ghost that these things are true.
It was a blessing and a privilege to serve in Primary.
I have certainly felt a great deal of relief as I think of the new presidency and the hours they have had to spend organizing classes and schedules for the new year, preparing sharing time, making callings and learning their jobs. Not that I ever minded the work. But I have been free this week to read, clean, bowl, go to lunch with my siblings and watch movies. I woke up this morning and instead of panicking about sharing time, I curled my hair and ironed my skirt. My time seems more my own.
But I have felt tremendous sadness, especially when I see the children on their way to school or playing in the neighborhood. Eight days ago, they were mine to love, to teach and to serve. I know every child by name- all 120+. I know which house is their's. I know what sports they play, what instruments they are learning and what school they attend. I watched as many of them were baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I gave them one last hug as some of them left Primary to receive the Aaronic Priesthood or become one of our beautiful Young Women. I wept as they sang about the restored gospel and their Savior Jesus Christ. I prayed earnestly that they would feel the Spirit and know for themselves the joy the gospel brings.
I know I can still be their friend. I will love them forever. But they are not really mine anymore. There is an emptiness in my heart that was once filled by a special call from my Heavenly Father to teach these children. As I sat in the back of Primary today, to watch my Emily give a talk, I missed terribly my call to serve in Primary. But I was also grateful for the lessons I learned while I was there.
God is our Father in Heaven and He knows and loves each of us.
I met almost every week of the last two years with my presidency. As we thought about the children in our care, we were guided to know how we could help them and teach them. I felt the worth of even our most troubled child and I was given the capacity to truly love them as I know our Heavenly Father does.
When we have done our best, the Spirit will take care of the rest.
There were weeks when I had ample time to prepare for Primary. There were weeks when I had no time to prepare. But I prayed that my inability would never impede the children's learning of correct principles and my prayers were answered. Some sharing times were better than others, but not once did I finish a sharing time without having felt the Spirit there, guiding my thoughts and my words. When I had done all that I could, the Spirit filled in the gaps and taught us all that the gospel is true.
Jesus Christ is my Savior.
My favorite hymn is I Know That My Redeemer Lives. It was one of our program songs last year. As I listened to the children sing, the truth of the words were etched into my heart and my testimony was strengthened by their sincerity and simple faith.
Obedience brings true happiness.
You could see it in their faces. The children who had tried to live the gospel each week came into Primary with big, beautiful smiles on their faces. Those who had struggled to come to church, who had fought with their siblings, who had used words they knew they shouldn't at a baseball game... they had a sadness in their eyes. As I talked with them, it was reaffirmed to me that if we want to be happy, we MUST be obedient to God's commandments.
My first Sunday as Primary President, I borrowed an idea from Sister Sydney Reyonolds, who served as the first counselor in the Primary General Presidency. I shared my "testimony on one hand." It seems appropriate to end with it too.
- I know that God is my Father in Heaven and He has a plan for me.
- I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He is my Savior.
- I know that Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ and that he translated the Book of Mormon by the power of God.
- I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's church, restored on the earth with a fullness of truth.
- I know that there is a living prophet today, Gordon B. Hinckley.
As a child, I attended Primary and felt the assurance of the Holy Ghost that these things were true.
As an adult, I served in Primary and again felt the assurance of the Holy Ghost that these things are true.
It was a blessing and a privilege to serve in Primary.
posted by jenn | 1/06/2008
5 Comments:
Great, great post Jenn. I know you have worked hard to be a great Primary President, and that you touched the lives of many children through the years. I have always been impressed with the amount of time and energy you put into your calling. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and testimony.
You make me feel so blessed to have you as part of my family. You are such an amazing example of magnifying one's calling. Thank you for your service, your love, and your testimony.
What a lovely post, Jenn! I can see why you were sad to leave this calling behind, even though it represented so many hours of work on your part.
I can never sing I Know That My Redeemer Lives without crying. I can never listen to children singing a hymn without crying. I don't know why, even though I love the Children's Songbook songs, there is just something special to me when children sing a hymn.
Love this post Jenn. I am learning so much with my calling in Primary and at first I didn't think I would. And you have taught me a lot, just through blogging. Thanks for sharing your testimony and experiences. I know you have reached many kids with all your service.
I'm addicted to reading your blog. As for this post, I'm weeping.
Weeping.
You were an amazing President Jennifer and I'm only sad that I can't hear you teach in Relief Society now. You'll be AMAZING.
Back to reading all four billion of your entries...
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