Poems for children presentations

Verses written for our children to give in Primary or Sunday School when they were small.

September, 1976

I would like to have lived with Jesus,

And have Him talk to me,

To tell me all that I should do,

And show me what to be.

But since I can’t I read his words

In His scriptures every day,

There, I’ll see what He does

And what he has to say.

(Written for Jamie, age 6, to say for a talk in Sunday School when we gave a family presentation.

May 25, 1986

When ever I think of Jesus

I think of a handsome man

With children all around Him,

Some holding on to his hand.

I think of Him telling stories

And teaching them every day

So they could follow His path

Then help others to find His way.

(Written for Mandie, age 5, to give as a talk.)

July 16, 1978

When I go to Sunday School

And sit with all my friends,

I listen while the payer is said

And softly say Amen.

I watch my teachers carefully

To copy what they do.

And listen to what they teach me

And try to do it too.

(Written for Doug, age 6, to give in Sunday School.)

October 9, 1976

It’s hard for me to understand

Jesus once was a child like me.

I think of Him as a handsome man

Blessing children at His knee.

But Jesus first was a little child

Born in a stall in Bethlehem.

If I learn to be meek and mild,

I can be a child like him.

(Written for Jamie for a Jr. S. S. talk when he was six.)

Teach By Example

How can you teach a child to pray if you do not yourself;

Or teach to read the scriptures leaving yours upon the shelf?

How can you teach a child to smile with scorn upon your brow;

Or the value of hard work if you too fear the plow?

Some try to teach by preaching the way the child should go,

But children seem to follow not what you preach, but show.

So if you want to learn to teach, I’ll show you but a sample.

Just do the things you see me do. Follow my example.

You too are teaching just that way although you may not know it.

Just watch the children watching you. You see, their actions show it.

They smile the way they see you smile. They pray the way you pray.

They follow in the path you make. If you don’t, they won’t stray.

Example

Be careful who you imitate

That you go not askew.

Could be your chosen candidate

Is imitating you.

February 15, 1972

Accept me Lord into thy Kingdom

Let me call thee Father too.

As I become part of thy family

Baptized by the Priesthood true.

I’m thankful for the gift eternal

Passed to me through worthy hands.

The Spirit teaches me the gospel,

As I obey all Thy commands.

Having reached the age of choosing

Help me now to choose the right.

I will do my best to please Thee

As I serve with all my might.

January 30, 1988

We show Jesus that we love Him

By doing what we can

To serve our Heavenly Father,

His son and our fellow man.

When we devote ourselves to others

To help them find the way.

We forget our personal problems

For they just flee away.

When we help others to be happy

We find that same joy too.

For happiness comes in serving

In everything we do.

(Written for Mandie, age 7.)