Sunday Morning

"Christ With Children," by Frances Hook

I teach the 6 year olds at church and today was the long awaited, much practiced Primary Program. What a pleasant, unexpected surprise to hear those kids just BELT out the songs. Usually they're such active goofballs and I thought for they'd be they're goofball selves today, but evidently something of what we've been teaching them has sunk in. They were darling.

You could feel the Spirit so strongly today in sacrament meeting as they said their parts, but especially as they sang. We have an exceptional primary song leader who, for three of the songs, taught the kids different parts and they were able to sing those songs in a round. She also taught them the sign language to "Love Is Spoken Here" and it was so beautiful! Usually they goof around a bit during sunday primary, but today they all did the signing and sang so loud. I had prickles. One of the songs in a round was "I Know My Redeemer Lives," which was a special arrangement accompanied by a flute. The last part was sung with the members of the congregation singing the regular hymn as the kids sang the special arrangement with the flute and everyone just stopped at exactly the right second, with the notes of the flute lilting through the room for another measure. I felt the presence of the Savior right there with us, next to those sweet little children. He was just right there.

I feel blessed to have this gospel in my life and in the lives of my children, guiding them like a lodestar. I spend so much time, it seems, teaching them. While we are having Family Night or scripture time or family prayer, I feel much of the time they are zoning out or arguing or being goofy. But I think a childhood full of these consistent efforts turns into a solid foundation for them. I think they must be learning, despite themselves!

I never thought the primary kids would sound so together or so powerful today--never! They listen and sing with half an ear every sunday--just like my kids listen during Family Home Evening. But those kids today got up and shook the rafters! I could not believe it! The congregation was crying, many of them. I think it will be the same with my kids, in the realm of my home and my teaching: hopefully, they'll surprise me with the power of their convictions someday, when all though their childhood they seemed to be listening with half an ear and being goofy.