“12. Primary,” Selections from the General Handbook (2023).
“12. Primary,” Selections from the General Handbook
12.
Primary
12.1
Purpose and Organization
The Primary organization helps God’s children prepare to return to His presence.
12.1.1
Purposes
Primary helps children:
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Feel their Heavenly Father’s love and learn about His plan of happiness.
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Learn about Jesus Christ and His role in Heavenly Father’s plan.
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Learn and live the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Feel, recognize, and act on the influence of the Holy Ghost.
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Prepare for, make, and keep sacred covenants.
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Participate in God’s work of salvation and exaltation.
12.1.3
Nursery
Nursery helps children 18 months to 3 years feel Heavenly Father’s love and learn about His plan of happiness.
12.1.4
Classes
When there are enough children, they are divided into classes based on their age.
Children generally advance from Primary into Young Women or the deacons quorum in January of the year they turn 12.
12.1.5
Singing Time
Singing time helps children feel Heavenly Father’s love and learn about His plan of happiness. As children sing about gospel principles, the Holy Ghost testifies of their truthfulness.
The Primary presidency and music leader select songs for each month to reinforce gospel principles the children are learning in their classes and at home.
12.1.6
Children’s Sacrament Meeting Presentation
The annual children’s sacrament meeting presentation is held during the last few months of the year.
The Primary presidency and music leader prayerfully plan the presentation. The bishopric gives direction. Children may sing, give talks, and share stories, scriptures, or testimonies.
12.1.7
Temple and Priesthood Preparation Meeting
The Primary presidency plans a Temple and Priesthood Preparation meeting each year. The bishopric gives direction. The meeting is for children age 10. Parents are invited.
12.2
Participating in God’s Work of Salvation and Exaltation
12.2.1
Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ
12.2.1.2
Gospel Learning
Sunday Primary Meetings. A member of the Primary presidency conducts the opening.
The schedule is as follows:
|
Part of Meeting |
Length |
|---|---|
Part of Meeting Opening (prayer, scripture or Article of Faith, and talk—all given by children) | Length 5 minutes |
Part of Meeting Singing time | Length 20 minutes |
Part of Meeting Transition to classes | Length 5 minutes |
Part of Meeting Classes and closing prayer | Length 20 minutes |
Nursery for children ages 18 months to 3 years lasts 50 minutes. Behold Your Little Ones provides a suggested schedule.
12.2.1.3
Service and Activities
Beginning in January of the year they turn 8, children may begin attending Primary activities.
Primary activities are held at times other than Sundays or Monday evenings.
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Primary activities are held two times a month when possible.
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Boys and girls normally meet separately. However, they may combine for certain activities or in locations with few children.
The bishopric ensures that the budget and activities for boys and girls in Primary are sufficient and equitable.
12.2.1.4
Personal Development
In their efforts to become more like the Savior, children—beginning in the year they turn 8—are invited to set goals to grow spiritually, socially, physically, and intellectually (see Luke 2:52).
They can use Personal Development: Children’s Guidebook to set and record goals.
12.3
Ward Primary Leadership
12.3.1
Bishopric
The bishop’s foremost responsibility is for the rising generation in his ward. The bishop may assign a counselor to help in his responsibility for Primary. The bishop or an assigned counselor meets regularly with the Primary president.
The bishop and his counselors regularly attend Primary.
12.3.2
Primary Presidency
The bishop calls and sets apart an adult woman to serve as the ward Primary president.
In a small unit, the Primary president may be the only called leader in Primary. In this case, she works with parents to organize lessons, singing time, and activities. If the unit is large enough, additional callings might be filled in this order: counselors, music leader, teachers and nursery leaders, secretary, and activity leaders.
The Primary presidency helps parents prepare children to enter and progress along the covenant path.
To accomplish this, the Primary president may assign a member of the presidency to help parents prepare their children to be baptized and confirmed. The Primary president may assign another presidency member to help parents with temple and priesthood preparation for their children.
The Primary president has the following additional responsibilities. Her counselors assist her.
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Serve on the ward council.
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Regularly hold Primary presidency meetings and meet with the bishop or his assigned counselor.
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Help plan baptismal services for children of record when asked (see 18.7.2).
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Plan and conduct the opening of Sunday Primary meetings.
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Minister to individual children, teachers, and leaders in Primary.
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Teach Primary leaders and teachers their responsibilities and support them in those responsibilities by orienting them to their callings (see Teaching in the Savior’s Way [2016], 38).
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Oversee the records, reports, budget, and finances of Primary.
12.3.4
Music Leader and Pianist
The music leader and pianist teach children the gospel of Jesus Christ through music during singing time.
If a pianist or piano is not available, leaders may use recordings.
12.3.5
Teachers and Nursery Leaders
The Primary presidency recommends to the bishopric men and women to serve as Primary teachers and nursery leaders. These members are called to teach and minister to specific age-groups of children.
Primary teachers teach from Come, Follow Me (ages 3–11).
Nursery leaders teach from Behold Your Little Ones.
12.3.6
Activity Leaders
Primary activity leaders minister to children as they plan service and activities beginning in January of the year children turn 8 (see 12.2.1.3). Service and activities focus on the work of salvation and exaltation. They are fun and engaging.
12.5
Additional Guidelines and Policies
12.5.1
Safeguarding Children
When adults are interacting with children in Church settings, at least two responsible adults should be present.
All adults who work with children must complete the children and youth protection training within one month of being sustained (ProtectingChildren.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).