Primary Talks from the Heart

When our daughter Madison was three, she agreed to give a talk in Primary. “I get to talk in front of the kids,” she said excitedly, “while you whisper in my ear!” But we knew she wouldn’t need to repeat our words verbatim. Here are a few tips that helped our daughter give her first talk in her own words:

1. Read and discuss. Early in the week, my husband and I read and discussed articles from the Friend with our daughter.

From the information we read together, we organized the talk into six brief sections or main ideas. During the week, we reviewed each section, asking Madison to say, in her own words, what she knew.

2. Use visuals. We found visual aids (a prop and pictures) for her to show during her talk, each illustrating a section’s key point. We also discussed what each represented.

3. Make a review sheet. Using a table format, we made a column with six sections, each showing a simple drawing or scanned image of the visual to be used. In the next column, we wrote the main ideas (usually two or three simple sentences) that Madison had expressed during our preparation that week. By following the pictures on the review sheet, she could easily remember the correct order and what to say. Because we had listed main ideas, we could consistently review the wording with her.

4. Practice. We arranged an advance practice in the Primary room, where Madison learned how to use the microphone and where to place the visuals. If rehearsing at the local meetinghouse is not possible, practice at home, reviewing a final time before church.

By preparing well for her first talk, Madison gained the confidence needed to talk in her own words. Though she still needed me to whisper a few things in her ear, she spoke from her heart and with the Spirit.

Kimberly K. Welling, American Fork 31st Ward, American Fork North Stake

Illustrated by Joe Flores