In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, children should be able to know and recognize the first presidency and apostles of the church. But parents and primary leaders sometimes find it difficult to make learning fun.
Each of these activities is adaptable for children of different ages and these activities are also appropriate for a primary sharing time activity or for a family home evening lesson.
LDS Prophet and Apostle Identification Game - Don't Eat Pete
Using a picture of the first presidency and apostles from the conference issue of the Ensign, families or primary classes can have fun playing "Don't Eat Pete" and learning the names of the general authorities.
One child leaves the room while the others designate one general authority as "Pete." Cover each picture with an M&M or other small treat, then call the child back in the room. One at a time, he or she names a general authority and eats the treat covering him. When he or she picks up the treat covering "Pete," everyone yells "Don't eat Pete!" and the treat goes back. It's now the next child's turn.
Special Family Home Evening or Sharing Time Presentation - Life of a General Authority
Focus on one general authority during a sharing time or a series of special FHE lessons. Present events from the life of that general authority, perhaps having younger kids act out the scenes or depict them on a flannel board as adults tell them.
After having learned about several members of the first presidency and apostles, try playing "Who Am I?" as a group. Children take turns giving clues such as "I was born in [year]. I served a mission in [place.] My career was [occupation]" while others try to guess which general authority they are.
Learning to Identify the General Authorities - "Roll to the Prophet" Physical Activity
Hang pictures of the first presidency and apostles around the room. Large pictures that can be easily seen are best. One at a time, kids take turns following instructions called out by an adult: "skip to Elder Holland," "crab walk to Elder Cook," and "walk backwards to President Monson." (Other children can help and give hints if necessary.)
Teaching Kids the LDS Prophet and Apostles - General Authority Matching
Have children work together or take turns matching pictures of each general authority to his name; younger children could match two pictures together.
Family Home Evening or Primary Activity - Prophet Name Scramble
Older kids can work on a unscrambling the letters of each general authority's name, with or without the aid of pictures.
Younger children who can't yet read and spell well enough can put together pictures of general authorities that are cut up into four or five puzzle pieces.
Naming the LDS General Authorities - Latter-day Leader Musical Chairs
With a chair for each child present (this works even with two children) play a modified musical chairs game. Beforehand, tape a picture of a prophet or apostle underneath every chair. Whenever the music stops, choose a child to look under their chair and name the general authority they see.
As a variation, play traditional musical chairs with one chair fewer than children. When the music stops, the adult leading the game holds up a picture of a general authority and the child left standing tries to name him. They get a small treat and can rejoin the next round of musical chairs.
With a little creativity, Latter-day Saint parents and primary presidencies can think of plenty of fun new ways to help kids learn to identify the first presidency and apostles. Any of these suggestions can be used and adapted to the needs of their children.
Parents can also use the apostle naming game at general conference to help their child stay involved in conference and become familiar with the general authorities.
Jenny Evans - Jenny Evans is a freelance writer and editor specializing in parenting and the family. She is also the Mormonism Topic Editor for ...
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