FHE Idea of the Week

I Am a Child of God

Opening Song:  “I Am a Child of God” (CS, page 2)  

Opening Prayer

Family Business:

Scripture or Testimony:   Psalms 82:6

Lesson: Vicki F. Matsumori, “Sharing Time: I Am a Child of God,” Friend, Mar 2003, 18

All of you are children of the most High (Ps. 82:6). Name some of your favorite Primary songs. Why did you choose those particular songs? You probably enjoy them because they have a good melody or an important message. 

One song that is a favorite for Primary children throughout the world is “I Am a Child of God.” It was written for a Primary conference in 1957 by Sister Naomi W. Randall and Sister Mildred T. Pettit. Sister Randall prayed for help in writing the message. She awoke in the middle of the night with the words of the song in mind. She mailed the words, or lyrics, to Sister Pettit, who lived in California. Sister Pettit put the words to music. 

A few years later, President Spencer W. Kimball, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, suggested changing “Teach me all that I must know” to “Teach me all that I must do.” He said that “to know isn’t enough. … We have to do something.” (Friend, Oct. 1984, 14.) 

In Primary, you learn some important truths when you sing this song. You learn that you really are a child of God. You learn that Heavenly Father has sent you to a home with parents to help you. And, especially, you learn that when you do what is right, you can one day return to live with Heavenly Father. 

Activity: Display pictures of some of the children in your family. Tell how each child is different—and special. Testify of each child’s divine nature.  Make copies of the picture for kids to color.

Discuss various talents and personality traits, such as being good at athletics, music, or art; being friendly; being kind. Have the children stand in a circle. Choose one child to be “It.” The child who is It tosses a beanbag or other item to someone standing in the circle and calls out a talent such as “athletics,” then counts quickly to 10. The child who catches the beanbag must name an athletic talent, such as “playing soccer,” before It reaches 10; if not, he or she becomes It.

Closing Prayer

Treat