I love that the song “The Church of Jesus Christ” on page 77 in the Children’s Songbook is all about our testimonies and how we can strengthen them. I think it’s important for our Primary children to understand what a testimony is. A basic testimony comprises of simple “I know”, “I believe” or “I testify” statements. A testimony is not a travelogue about our week, a therapy session with a congregation who can’t escape or a sermon opportunity.
Someone in my ward gave a talk recently and said when she was growing up in a small rural branch, she always heard a lady talking about her cows during Fast and Testimony meeting. The lady giving the talk in my ward used to think “I don’t have any cows. I must not have a testimony”. It has stuck in my mind that it’s more important than ever that we teach our Primary children to learn what a simple testimony is, and how we can share it with others. This song is perfect for that.
I created two signs you can hold up, to demonstrate whether the words you are singing are a testimony statement, an “I know” or “I believe”.
The other statements are things we can do to strengthen our testimony, and start with “I will” or “I’ll”.
Ways to use:
– Print the signs – I print out two copies and paste them back to back so I can see what I’m holding, laminate and stick to large popsicle sticks for you to hold up. The children put corresponding hands in the air whilst singing.
– Print out smaller signs for the children and have them hold up the signs that correlate with what they are singing.
– Write the words up on the board under the corresponding signs and point to them as you sing the song.
Here’s the link to the signs:
