Talents Sharing Time

Sharing time- Becoming an Instrument in the Hands of God and Sharing Talents
November Week 3 theme- "I Am Thankful for Spiritual Blessings"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ssHsUE-CTg (If internet available, show and listen to one minute of the orchestra playing, “I am a Child of God”. So the children know what a symphony looks and sounds like). Recently, I was able to visit a live orchestra and was amazed that all these different musical instruments with their own unique sounds could produce together something so harmonious, so beautifully blended. The scriptures in Alma say, “…that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.” We are the Lord’s instruments or tools to help build up each other and the church. We use our talents or special gifts from God to create harmony and beauty in the world around us. This keyboard (show keyboard, or you could use a piano if needed) would like to play the last part of a primary song but needs some help finding the correct musical notes to play. I have placed some musical instruments around the room, like a symphony, that can help the piano find the musical notes it needs, its sheet music! We will discover what kind of talented instruments we can be and how we can create spiritual harmony. With each instrument, we will learn about talents and find a few musical notes to put on the board.

 

(Borrow some music instruments that may be found in a symphony and place around the room with labeled numbers 1-6 on small cards and place two or three music note sheets under or next to the instrument. You could also use instrument clipart from the internet, if instruments are not available.)

example:

Sorry I forgot to put a 3X5 card with the number order of the instrument. Use your imagination!

 

(Have Primary child find INSTRUMENT #1 in the room and show the children the instrument or even play it for a second.) clipart option: http://cdn.dailyclipart.net/wp-content/uploads/medium/clipart0162.jpg or http://www.clipartmojo.com/plugins/Clipart/ClipartStock1/piccolo%201.png

INSTRUMENT #1 - Piccolo or French horn

“Happily, we need not all be the same kind of instrument. Just as the instruments in an orchestra differ in size, shape, and sound, we too are different from one another. We have different talents and inclinations, but just as the Piccolo (or whatever instrument) cannot duplicate [or make the same] sound as a piano, neither is it necessary for us to all serve the Lord in exactly the same way.” http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/10/we-are-instruments-in-the-hands-of-god?lang=eng&query="piccolo"

(Have child help put the first three music notes, G(blue),A(orange),G(blue) on the chalkboard)

 (Have Primary child find INSTRUMENT # 2 in the room and show the instrument to the children or play it for a second.) clipart option: http://www.clipart.dk.co.uk/DKImages/arts/image_arts006.jpg

INSTRUMENT #2- Viola or Violin

“An orchestra composed of only violas (or Violins) lacks the depth, the variety, the power of a symphony complete with winds, brass, strings, and percussion. Together, all instruments make a wholeness.”  http://www.lds.org/ensign/1998/07/harmony-among-grown-children?lang=eng&query=symphony. I prefer the symphony more when there are many different instruments playing the song rather than having all violas (or violins). It is a blessing that we have all been given many different talents or spiritual gifts to help each other. It would be kind of boring if we all did the same thing always. We are all a different instrument playing an important part in strengthening each other.

(Have child help put the next two notes music notes, E(green),C(yellow) on the chalkboard)

(Have Primary child find INSTRUMENT # 3 in the room and show the instrument to the children or play it for a second.) clipart option: http://www.aperfectworld.org/clipart/Music/drum03.gif

INSTRUMENT #3- Drum or another instrument that can be passed around and played

So what are the different talents or gifts that we have? How are we different instruments? “Everyone has been blessed with special talents. They are gifts from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Sometimes you may think of music, art, or sports as the only talents that a person may have, but there are other talents that aren’t so obvious.” http://www.lds.org/friend/1989/06/sharing-time-i-have-talents?lang=eng&query="sharing+time%3ai+have+talents Many talents are spiritual talents. Maybe you are good at listening to others and the spirit, being compassionate and kind, being honest with others, trusting in people and God, understanding people, being calm and slow to get angry, etc. “Spiritual gifts are endless in number and infinite in variety” (taken from http://www.lds.org/ensign/2002/02/gifts-of-the-spirit?lang=eng) So what are some of your talents? (pass around the drum and have a few children play as they share a talent)

(Have child help put the next two notes music notes, G(blue), G(blue) on the chalkboard.)

(Have Primary child find INSTRUMENT # 4 in the room and show the instrument to the children or play it for a second.) clipart option; http://musicalmart.net/shop/images/DCL-400_Clarinet.jpg

INSTRUMENT #4 - Clarinet or any instrument

Once we have discovered our talents, we need to develop them. Practice them. What would happen if I had a clarinet and then hid it in my closet and never got it out? Would I get better at playing it? No! I have to practice often and then I would start to see my progress. We have to practice our physical and spiritual talents. “Our talents may only be small at first. But with hard work they can grow. Improving one talent often helps us develop other talents” http://www.lds.org/manual/the-latter-day-saint-woman-basic-manual-for-women-part-a/personal-and-family-development/lesson-27-developing-our-talents?lang=eng&query="developing+our+talents"  After we have discovered and developed our talents, the Lord expects us to use them. If we do not use them, we will lose them” http://www.lds.org/manual/the-latter-day-saint-woman-basic-manual-for-women-part-a/personal-and-family-development/lesson-27-developing-our-talents?lang=eng&query="developing+our+talents"

(Have child help put the next two notes music notes, E(green), A(orange) on the chalkboard.)

(Have Primary child find INSTRUMENT # 5 in the room and show the instrument to the children or play it for a second.) clipart option: http://static.musiciansfriend.com/derivates/19/001/267/085/DV020_Jpg_Jumbo_491224.372_supernatural.jpg

INSTRUMENT #5- Tambourine (or other instrument)

“Symphony and orchestra members must listen to each other’s parts to blend their different instruments so that each part can be heard.” http://www.lds.org/ensign/1998/07/harmony-among-grown-children?lang=eng&query=symphony We, instruments in the hand of God, must listen and show respect other instruments of God, meaning our friends, peers, neighbors, etc. We must find ways to blend in harmony with each other, get along and let everyone be heard. We can also listen and help others discover talents or spiritual gifts, they didn’t know they had.

(Have child help put the next three notes music notes, G(blue), F(brown), E(green) on the chalkboard.)

(Have Primary child find INSTRUMENT # 6 in the room and show the instrument to the children or play it for a second.) clipart option: http://www.musicwithease.com/trumpet-2.gif

INSTRUMENT #6- Trumpet

“You can be powerful instruments in the hands of God to help bring about this great work. … You can do something for another person that no one else ever born can do”  President Faust taught  http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/10/becoming-instruments-in-the-hands-of-god?lang=eng&query="become+instruments Sound your trumpets, share your talents or gifts from God daily in the great symphony of life.

(Have child help put the last two notes music notes, D(purple), C(pink) on the chalkboard.)
 

CONCLUSION:

Now we have all the notes for the piano to finish playing the song. I need a friend to come share your talents with us and help us play the song. Wonder if you can guess what primary song it is? (The keyboard has the notes color coded to match the notes on the board. Quietly assist the child by calling out the colors for the child to play the last line of the song) The song is, “Fun to do” (I used a simplified version and color coded the notes to the best of my ability. Music is NOT my talent!) http://www.frontiernet.net/~vkbrown/fun_to_do.pdf

Sing, “Sharing our talents is fun to do, to do, to do, to do!!” Sharing our talents IS fun! I challenge you to become instruments in the hands of God and bless others with your spiritual gifts. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

   (You can find a copy of the file named "Sharing time- Talents" at my Skydrive: https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=976904c8bfc9a79e&sc=documents&id=976904C8BFC9A79E%21105)