1986
Sharing Time: A Happy Harvest
September 1986

“Sharing Time: A Happy Harvest,” Friend, Sept. 1986, 43

Sharing Time:

A Happy Harvest

By Pat Graham

Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward (D&C 6:33).

Sharing the gospel with someone and helping the person to become a member of the Church can be compared to gardening: First you plant a seed. Then you water the seed and see that it has sunlight. You pull weeds so that the seed can blossom and grow and won’t be crowded out. After much patience and hard work, your garden will ripen and be ready to harvest.

Saying something to a non-member friend that will help your friend want to know more about the gospel is planting a “testimony seed.” Or if someone who knows a little about the Church is closely observing your behavior, your good example is like sunshine and water helping their testimony seed to grow. It may take many people doing many thoughtful things before that seed is finally ripe and ready to harvest. You may never know about the harvest of the seeds you have planted or helped to grow. But “if ye sow good ye shall also reap good,” and you will be happy too.

Instructions

  1. Mount picture on lightweight cardboard.

  2. Connect black numbered dots, then connect red numbered dots. Color picture.

  3. Punch holes with sharp pencil around picture.

  4. Cut piece of yarn 3′ (.9m) long. Wrap one end tightly with tape so that it will go through holes. Lace yarn through holes.

Follow the dots

Illustrated by Shauna Mooney

Sharing Time Ideas

  1. Enlarge picture on poster board. Make separate pieces of fruit.

  2. Choose songs children are learning. Print song title on back of each apple, and let children pick song to sing form the enlarged picture. Songs might include “We Are Sowing” (Hymns, page 216), “The Things I Do” (More Songs for Children, page 18), and “I Want to Be a Missionary Now,” (Friend, October 1984, page 46).

  3. Prepare scripture hunt about planting and harvesting, including Psalms 126:6 [Ps. 126:6]; Hosea 10:12; Matthew 13:18–32 [Matt. 13:18–32] ; Alma 32:28–43; D&C 4:3–5.

  4. Invite a convert to tell ways that members helped him to want to join the Church. Have missionaries tell of happiness they shared as they helped someone understand gospel.

  5. Prepare object lesson to demonstrate parallel between gardening and missionary work (Use package of seeds, soil, water, small gardening tools, etc.).