November 2016: Reverence Is Love and Respect for God
November 2016: Reverence Is Love and Respect for God

November 2016: Reverence Is Love and Respect for God




Week 1: Reverence is love and respect for God.

Introduce the doctrine: Show a picture of a child praying, and explain that the child is showing love and respect for God. Tell the children that you are thinking of a nine-letter word that means love and respect for God. Draw nine blanks on the board, one for each letter in the word reverence, and invite the children to guess letters. As they guess correct letters, write them in the appropriate blanks. You may want to have an older child help you. For younger children, show the picture and ask them how they know the child is being reverent. Have the children say together, “Reverence is love and respect for God.”

Encourage understanding: Ask the children to open their scriptures and read John 14:15. (If the children memorized this verse last year, you may want to ask them to recite it.) Ask the children how we show our love for Jesus Christ. Sing “Reverence Is Love” (CS, 31). Ask the children to put their hand on their heart each time they hear the word “reverence” or “reverent.”

Primary teacher with her hand over her heart

Review: Connecting a doctrine to a physical activity or visual will help the children remember it (see TNGC, 182–83). The second activity in week 1 helps the children remember that reverence is tied to love for God by inviting them to place their hand on their heart. Consider reviewing this doctrine for several months by placing your hand on your heart when you encourage reverence.

Encourage application: Divide the children into small groups, and have them discuss ways they can show reverence for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in one of the following situations: when they are at church, when they pray, and when they are at home or with friends. Younger children could draw pictures of what they could do. Have some of the children share their ideas with the whole group. Encourage them to share their ideas with their families at home.

Week 2: Reverence during the sacramenthelps me to remember Jesus Christ.


Primary class gathered at the sacrament table

When inviting guest speakers to Primary, remind them to keep their message simple so the children will understand. All guest speakers should be approved by the bishopric.

Week 3: I can show reverence for sacred places and things.

Introduce the doctrine: Write “I can show reverence for sacred places and things” on the board, and ask a child to read it to the whole Primary. Ask the children to close their eyes and to raise their hands if they can hear when you drop a coin or button. Tell the children that the church building is a sacred place and that sitting still and listening carefully is one way we can show our reverence. Invite the children to share several other things they can do in church buildings to show reverence.

Encourage understanding: Display a picture of Mosesand the burning bush, and tell the story found inExodus 3:1–10. Read aloud verse 5 and have the children listen for why the Lord asked Moses to take off his shoes. Explain that we do not have to take off our shoes to be reverent, but there are many things we can do to show reverence for sacred places and things.

Encourage application: Display some of the following pictures: a temple or a church building, a home, afamily, someone praying, a child, the scriptures, a group of children, a Primary class, and the sacrament. Hold up a large cloth in front of all the pictures and remove one picture. Take away the cloth and have the children tell you which picture is missing. Show the missing picture and invite the children to share a way they can show reverence or respect for the place or thing in the picture. Repeat with the other pictures.

teacher and children standing

What will the children do to learn? Asking this question as you prepare activities will help the children learn through participation. For example, the third activity in week 3 allows all of the children to participate by discussing, seeing pictures, and sharing ideas.

Week 4: Reverence for God helps me respect and love others.

Encourage understanding: Sing the following songs. After each song, discuss the accompanying questions.

  • “Reverence Is Love” (CS, 31). Repeat the line that says, “When I’m reverent, it shows in my words and my deeds.” Ask: What are some words or phrases that show respect to Heavenly Father or others? What are some things we can do to show respect for others?

  • “Kindness Begins with Me” (CS, 145). Ask: What are some ways we can show kindness to our friends?

  • “I’ll Walk with You” (CS, 140–41). Ask: Who are some of the people who need our kindness? How can we show kindness to them?

two Primary leaders looking at Gospel Art Book

Teach by example how to show love and respect for others (seeTNGC, 18–19). Minister to the teachers in your Primary by offering encouragement and support. Then help the children see how they can love and encourage one another.