I Am Grateful for Many Things

By Margaret S. Lifferth

First Counselor in the Primary General Presidency

“And, if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God” (D&C 14:7).

Have you ever received a special gift that made you happy? How did you show gratitude?

This year, we have learned about a wonderful gift that Heavenly Father has given to His children. He gave us His Son and the plan of salvation.

Remember these words from “I Will Follow God’s Plan” (Children’s Songbook, 164–65)?

My life is a gift; my life has a plan.
My life has a purpose; in heav’n it began.
My choice was to come to this lovely home on earth
And seek for God’s light to direct me from birth.

Heavenly Father’s plan includes many gifts. We received a body and were born to a family. With the gift of agency, we can choose between good and evil. Because of our Savior, we will be resurrected, and if we choose good, we will receive the gift of eternal life. We are blessed with prophets, revelation, prayer, scriptures, priesthood, covenants, and temple blessings.

How do we show Heavenly Father that we are grateful for these gifts? Remember the next part of the song?

I will follow God’s plan for me,
Holding fast to his word and his love.
I will work, and I will pray;
I will always walk in his way.

We thank Heavenly Father in our prayers and by the way we live. And as we show our gratitude—

Then I will be happy on earth

And in my home above.

Blessings Gift Box

Color a small box or envelope to represent a wrapped gift. Then cut out the shapes on page F4. On the home shapes, write blessings you receive from your family. On the star shapes, write blessings you receive from the Savior. On the temple shapes, write blessings you receive by being a member of the Church. Think of other blessings to write on the gift shapes. Put all the shapes into the box or envelope. During family home evening, share the shapes and discuss the gifts we receive from Heavenly Father.

Note: If you do not wish to remove pages from the magazine, this activity may be copied, traced, or printed from the Internet at www.lds.org. Click on Gospel Library.

Sharing Time Ideas

This year we have learned about the plan of salvation and its many blessings. Summarize the principles and accompanying blessings that have been taught each month. Remind the children that all over the world, children are living the plan of salvation. If possible, invite a returned missionary to share an experience of children living the gospel with joy. Divide the children into groups of five or six, and seat each group in a circle. Play a game of “Remembering Blessings.” The first child says, “I am thankful for _______ .” The second child says, “I am thankful for (repeats the response of the first child and adds his or her own),” and so on. Pass out paper stars, and have the children draw a blessing. On a point of each star, punch a hole and loop a piece of string through it. Invite the children to share their Christmas ornament with their families.
Tell the story of the birth of the Savior by dividing the Primary into two groups. Provide the following references—Group 1: Hel. 14:1–7; 3 Ne. 1:4–21; Group 2: Luke 2:1–17. Choose a child in each group to read the scripture references as the other children role-play the story. Invite Group 1 to perform the story of Samuel the Lamanite. Invite Group 2 to perform the nativity.