I Would Like Opinions On An Activity My Kids Did In Primary

peanutgallery · #1 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 03:03 PM

Sorry, I am not an active poster, but I really want to know if others share my opinion.

My kids brought a Christmas tree ornament home. It was a nail with a red ribbon tied around it. They had a little poem that said what it symbolized: the nail is obvious and the ribbon represented his blood.

I found it disturbing. I have been a member my entire life and have always been taught that we , as LDS, don't focus on the way he died. It's why we don't have crosses on our buildings, aren't to wear them as jewelry or have them in our homes. I don't see any difference. The nail represents the way he died just like the cross does.

I can't imagine this activity was in a manual or intruction book approved by the Church for Primary.

Palerider · #2 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Sorry, I am not an active poster, but I really want to know if others share my opinion.

My kids brought a Christmas tree ornament home. It was a nail with a red ribbon tied around it. They had a little poem that said what it symbolized: the nail is obvious and the ribbon represented his blood.

I found it disturbing. I have been a member my entire life and have always been taught that we , as LDS, don't focus on the way he died. It's why we don't have crosses on our buildings, aren't to wear them as jewelry or have them in our homes. I don't see any difference. The nail represents the way he died just like the cross does.

I can't imagine this activity was in a manual or intruction book approved by the Church for Primary.
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all lessons are to be followed in class as well as the activities....there is not suppose to be any outside material brought in.....all material used is suppose to be borrowed from the Material Center.I could go on with more but I won't. I think you all will get my point....

peanutgallery · #3 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 03:48 PM

Quote:

<div class='quotemain'>
Sorry, I am not an active poster, but I really want to know if others share my opinion.

My kids brought a Christmas tree ornament home. It was a nail with a red ribbon tied around it. They had a little poem that said what it symbolized: the nail is obvious and the ribbon represented his blood.

I found it disturbing. I have been a member my entire life and have always been taught that we , as LDS, don't focus on the way he died. It's why we don't have crosses on our buildings, aren't to wear them as jewelry or have them in our homes. I don't see any difference. The nail represents the way he died just like the cross does.

I can't imagine this activity was in a manual or intruction book approved by the Church for Primary.
[/b]

all lessons are to be followed in class as well as the activities....there is not suppose to be any outside material brought in.....all material used is suppose to be borrowed from the Material Center.I could go on with more but I won't. I think you all will get my point....
[/b][/quote]

Yeah.

I agree. I teach RS and I was told that I couldn't use anything in my lesson that I wouldn't find at LDS.org. My dad was given the same instruction when he was called to teach the high priests.

Palerider · #4 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 03:51 PM

Another thing to remember......the person who brought the activity in....is he or she new to the church etc....

peanutgallery · #5 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Another thing to remember......the person who brought the activity in....is he or she new to the church etc....
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No. That's what surprised me the most. She is a lifelong member from a great family. I know them well.

Palerider · #6 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 04:02 PM

Quote:

<div class='quotemain'>
Another thing to remember......the person who brought the activity in....is he or she new to the church etc....
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No. That's what surprised me the most. She is a lifelong member from a great family. I know them well.
[/b][/quote]
they should have had that approved by someone before doing that.....I would say that for any activity or project

CrimsonKairos · #7 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 04:54 PM

Everyone that knows me here won't be surprised by this answer, but I thought the ornament was an awesome idea.

I tire of the contempt for the cross that the majority of LDS members have. It's sadly amusing to see some people squirm at the mere thought of the cross, as if it's evil.

I can't see how an ornament can be bad if it calls to mind the atonement of Christ.

"And I, Nephi, saw that he was lifted up upon the cross and slain for the sins of the world." (1 Ne. 11:33)

"13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.
14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross..." (3 Ne. 27:13-14)

"...Jesus was crucified by sinful men for the sins of the world, yea, for the remission of sins unto the contrite heart." (D&C 21:9)

"I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of the world..." (D&C 35:2)

So could someone please explain to me why a Christmas ornament that symbolizes the atonement on the cross, is a bad thing?

I'm actually surprised at the question: "Was the teacher a new member?" What, are we supposed to ignore the cross in our Church?

Palerider · #8 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 04:58 PM

I don't see where I said to ignore the cross.....I think the question was....the poster who is a Mother with children in primary was wondering or asking if this was a good idea for children...who are primary aged....

rosie321 · #9 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 05:08 PM

Quote:

<div class='quotemain'>
Sorry, I am not an active poster, but I really want to know if others share my opinion.

My kids brought a Christmas tree ornament home. It was a nail with a red ribbon tied around it. They had a little poem that said what it symbolized: the nail is obvious and the ribbon represented his blood.

I found it disturbing. I have been a member my entire life and have always been taught that we , as LDS, don't focus on the way he died. It's why we don't have crosses on our buildings, aren't to wear them as jewelry or have them in our homes. I don't see any difference. The nail represents the way he died just like the cross does.

I can't imagine this activity was in a manual or intruction book approved by the Church for Primary.
[/b]

all lessons are to be followed in class as well as the activities....there is not suppose to be any outside material brought in.....all material used is suppose to be borrowed from the Material Center.I could go on with more but I won't. I think you all will get my point....
[/b][/quote]
This is the struggle I have with the church with all the legalities. People get bent out of shape every time their mind may be pushed outside of the box. The first thing people jump to is the legalities of something and not discover the meaning. The person who brough the nail in wanted to most likely remind people of the gift they were given and what it cost. Its a shame meanings such as that are continually lost behind technicalities. All the technicalities remind me to much of the pharisees and saducees.

In this case the nail may have been too much for a child. But many other faiths show Christ crucified and act out situations. Sin has a price that must be paid. If the nail is a reminder and not traumatic then I don't see where it is a problem.

As far as outside materials it is understandable where there might be some concern over copyrights and messages being shared that are not in tune with the standards set forth. But its a shame that more outside things can't be used. Using only church materials isolates people from the outside world and puts the LDS faith in its own box and makes us look stuck up and arrogant to the outside world. People should be shown how to weed through the things they come in contact with.

Its frustrating that many times the usage of church only materials pushes people to become too legalistic, it doesn't always reach people (I can't say the number of times people sleep in church or tune out what the people are saying), and it puts religion in its own box. I'd rather be shaken up by outside materials and given a challenge. Some things like a nail are just what we need.

If it were not for the crucifixion of Christ "our hope would be in vain"

CrimsonKairos · #10 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 05:25 PM

Okay, if the primary kid is like 3-6 years old, maybe the nail would go over their heads.

But you can't seriously expect me to believe that 8-11 year-old kids who have action figures with guns and swords that depict violence and who watch movies like Ninja Turtles...these same kids are not supposed to be able to handle the awful truth of our Lord's death?

Again, I think this uncomfortable feeling about the ornament isn't about age or propriety, but about a personal disconnect with the cross in LDS religion.