The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sponsors a Primary organization for children between the ages of 18 months and 12 years. Each week children of the Church receive instruction in their Primary classes and are taught by lay members of the Church. Many of their lessons remind the children that Jesus Christ lives and His teachings are important for them to live better lives. The children begin preparing a presentation early in the year to be made to the general audience in their Ward (congregation) during their Sunday services, known as "Sacrament Meeting." The program is conducted under the direction and guidance of the Primary presidency. The children give opening and closing prayers, read scriptures, give sermons and sing.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
Children of the Nairobi Kenya Stake have been working on these presentations for the past several months. Over 200 children from 15 congregations of the Stake have participated in these programs this year. The theme for 2015 has been “I Know That My Savior Loves Me and That He Lives.”
Children in the Buru Buru area of the Nairobi Stake recently presented an hour long program that included speaking parts and songs enjoyed by the members of the congregation. Each child had an opportunity to give a talk and also participated in singing songs about Jesus Christ. Many of the children quoted their favorite New Testament scripture.
Sister Dorothy Gitonga is the Primary President for the Nairobi Kenya Stake. Sister Gitonga said “It is important for the children to know that the Savior loves them and that He lives.” She continued by saying, “They take this feeling with them into their homes, and their families are strengthened by it.”
Dorothy has been able to teach all four of her own children as they have been in the Primary Program. She has seen how it has helped them make proper decisions that will assist them to live a Christ-centered life. The children come home from Primary and then teach their parents what they have learned. This helps families become stronger and able to withstand the pressures of the world that often pull them away from the teachings of Jesus Christ.
The family is an essential focus of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the family, parents are able to teach the principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church issued a "Proclamation to the World" in 1995 stating, “The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His plan. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work and wholesome recreational activities.” The Primary Organization helps to supplement the teachings given by the parents.
There are over one million children who attend Primary each Sunday in Latter-day Saint congregations throughout the world. Small classes are taught by adult members of the congregation who volunteer their time to teach the children. Many of the teachers comment that "It is fun to be in Primary!” This inspired Church program for children was organized 137 years ago.