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| ‘Tis the Season |
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Sep. 13th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
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Look for it sometime between now and November: a podium full of squirming; musical numbers that are part dazed silence, part peek-a-boo, a little crying, and a few gusto-filled hams; [gasp] visual aids in the Chapel; breathy speakers; and the bishopric bumped down into the congregation. That’s right, it’s time for the Primary Program! I will admit to being cold-hearted—I do not generally enjoy the Primary Program in Sacrament Meeting. I get impatient with the long gaps between speakers as they try to get the right kid to the microphone at the right time. Or the programs scripted by adults and then read poorly by the kids. If anything, it is saved by the music, even if the performances are imperfect. That said, I have seen some programs that included very effective moments: the autistic boy most ward members knew only for bursting in on meetings and running wild writing and illustrating his testimony to share, the 11-year olds so eager to leave Primary conducting the music, and the real-life examples kids give of the gospel at play in their life. I hope you enjoy yours this year, and if you are in charge, heaven help you. Personally, I am really looking forward to the kids singing “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet” because there is nothing like hearing six-year-olds enthusiastically muse “And those who reject this glad message, will surely be smitten at last!”
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You must hate Elementary School assemblies where the students perform for parents. ESO: the programs scripted by adults and then read poorly by the kids… In the past few primary programs that I’ve seen, the primary presidency has recorded tidbits from kids’ talks that were relevant to the theme and particularly well-delivered. These tidbits were re-used for the speaking parts of the primary program. It was pretty effective. ESO: Personally, I am really looking forward to the kids singing “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet†because there is nothing like hearing six-year-olds enthusiastically muse “And those who reject this glad message, will surely be smitten at last!†I remember at the end of The Music Man, the town discovers that Professor Harold Hill is a fraud. The town wants to tar & feather him. Someone in town suggests that they actually listen to the band that he was supposed to create. The band assembles, and they play their instruments, and they’re unspeakably bad. But then something happens. The parents begin to stand up and shout, “That’s my boy!” There’s a strong Music Man element to every kid performance. |
Having been one of the adults who “scripted” the Primary Presentation, I can tell you the kids do actually put a lot of time into their parts. When I was in the Primary Presidency in my ward we tried to collect as many talks throughout the year as possible to use in the presentation with the kids who wrote the talks originally reading their own parts. It’s taxing, to be sure, but I think a worthwhile experience for the kids and the parents. Though you wouldn’t believe how some leaders want to go FAR overboard with the presentations. Just be glad there are guidelines as to what is not allowed in a Sacrament meeting. If there hadn’t been, one of our previous presentations would have included a PowerPoint presentation and large posters (about 2′ by 3.5′) for each song. And there’s nothing like trying to color coordinate the wardrobe of 60 kids! So grin and bear it! It’s only about 40 minutes of your life but about 40 grey hairs worth for the Primary leaders! |
DKL–good analog to the Music Man. So if it is only the parents who enjoy it, could we reschedule it as a fireside for the interested only to attend? I know that sounds very curmudgeonly–I know some people LOVE the primary program. And really, I can handle a whole week where I don’t get much from the SM program, but I wonder, why do we do this? Paroled–agreed on the talks–in recent years this has become a widespread practice and I applaud any move toward simplicity. Again I ask: for whom do we do this? It is a hassle for the leaders, near torture for the kids, is this all for the parents? |
I think it is Primary’s version of the final exam. Each year has a different theme or focus. The yearly program is to show “what we have learned” for accountablility. |
ESO, |
I got to participate in Primary yesterday. I think that “We Thank Thee, O God for a Prophet” was perhaps the best song they sung. In my ward the kids are only learning the first verse, avoiding the vengeful language. I’ve previously mused on the quality of the lyrics of Primary songs and I have to say that the new ones are considerably worse than the old ones that I learned. The tunes are both bad and difficult, the lyrics full of words that mean nothing to high-schoolers, not to mention my 5-year old, and the messages sometimes a little creepy. That said, I always enjoy the Primary program and look forward to this year’s edition. |
“And those who reject this glad message, will surely be smitten at last!†In point of fact, you’ve got the lyrics wrong. It is “The wicked who fight against Zion” who will surely be smitten at last. They who reject this glad message simply “shall never such happiness know”. |
ESO – “Again I ask: for whom do we do this? It is a hassle for the leaders, near torture for the kids, is this all for the parents?” This was actually my own mantra while serving in Primary. I have a very “keep it simple” personality and “back to basics” mentality about church. I think some of it is for the parents but a large portion is, in deed, for the children. The experience of participating in a presentation given to a large congregation of adults is one most young children don’t get to have. In our presentation last year the then-president was amazed by the fact that every (well, most) Primary child memorizes the 13 Articles of Faith before graduating. She insisted that the 13 children who memorized their 13AOF first during the year would get to read them during the presentation. My general question was how does this make the presentation better/more spiritual/interesting for the congregation OR better/more spiritual/interesting for the kids? Most non-Primary folk are not too knowledgeable of the themes the Primary has each month but we’ve all heard the 13AOF (and the more “dedicated” of us have them memorized though this doesn’t include myself). All it really did was cause more problems in coordinating an already challenging choreography of kids and add 7 minutes to the program! We received several compliments on the entire presentation from parents but I don’t think anyone was really astounded with the addition of the 13AOF. But the Bishop suggested our president needed to learn from her own experiences so there the 13AOF stayed! With a new president now in place, it will be interesting to see what the Primary Presentation will hold this year… |
JimD–thanks for the correction; I should have looked them up–clearly my memory failed me. It is so odd to me that such an upbeat song ends two verses in such a spiteful manner. |
I am in Primary and enjoy the presentations – they are a nice break from the norm. PPP – did you say that you coordinated dress?? wow – that is over the top and would not work in a poor ward, where you are happy the kids make it in any clothes… |
