February Sharing Time - My Body is Created in the Image of God

This week's theme brought back a memory.  One that's resurfaced several times over the years and each time I'm thankful for the knowledge that I have.

When I was in middle school I went to a slumber party and somehow, during the night we ended up in a discussion about what we would be like after we died.  Now, I grew up in northwest Oregon and while I did have some friends who were LDS, there weren't any at the party and we all had different ideas.  The one I remember best and have thought about over and over is that we are almost nothing once we die.  We're alive, but in a formless, bodiless sort of way.  And what do we do?  Nothing.  If we've done what we're supposed to, if we were good, we'll be happy in that state.  The whole teaching is based off the understanding that God is the same way.  He is formless, not human.

I am so thankful for the knowledge that we were created in the image of God, we are like Him and we can become like Him.  Our earth life is only one small part of our existence.  We will be learning and growing for eternity (which I think it pretty darn cool).  This knowledge gives me a great sense of purpose and direction.

Elder Russell M. Nelson said, "God is the Father of our spirits.  He has a glorified, perfected body of flesh and bone.  We lived with Him in heaven before we were born.  And when He created us physically, we were created in the image of God, each with a personal body."

I love the idea of using a mirror to introduce the idea of an image.  It will really drive home the knowledge that, yes, this is your image and when we are taught that we're made in the IMAGE of God, it's literal.  As they are looking at themselves, and after you've asked and talked about what exactly an image is, read Genesis 1:27 and see if they can tell you what it means.  Both just definition and what it means for them in their lives.

I think the dice game could be fun, but I saw another idea I like better.  On Sofia's Primary Ideas, she had a great idea I'd like to tweak just a little bit.  Her idea is to bring up one child, show the rest of the primary a picture of one body part and then have the primary give the child you've brought to the front clues to get them to guess which body part.

I'd like to switch it up just a little bit by making it like the game Hedbanz.  Have you played it?  Instead of showing the rest of the primary a picture of the body part, stick the picture in a headband (it's one that goes across the forehead and would probably be easiest if you either have the game or access to it).  After the child guesses the body part, have them tell you how this body part is a blessing and/or how Heavenly Father would like them to use it.

Part of the purpose I derive from the knowledge that I was created in the image of my Heavenly Father comes from the potential this gives me.  I CAN be like Him.  When I make a mistake, instead of allowing guilt to bring me down, I think about how I can be strong, stand up and continue to try.  I CAN be like Him.  What a blessing it is!

President Monson taught us, "At times many of us let that enemy of achievement - even the culprit "self-defeat" - dwarf our aspirations, smother our dreams, cloud our vision, and impair our lives.  The enemy's voice whispers in our ears, "You can't do it." "You're too young." "You're too old." "You're nobody." This is when we remember that we were created in the image of God.  Reflection on this truth provides a profound sense of strength and power."

Exactly.

I've put together some pictures for a Hedbanz game (or to show the kids without a headband) that you can download if you'd like.  I've also made this handout (included in the download linked to above) so they can think about what they learned during the game and choose a way to use their bodies to serve their Father in Heaven.

Have a great Sharing Time!
Leah