What I learned as a substitute primary teacher

Today I taught as a sub for the CTR 5 primary class.  It's been a few years since I've had much to do with a group of that age, (5-6 years old).  There were 9 children in the class and they were just so sweet and precious.  It was a very wonderful and touching experience.  Our lesson was on repentance.  I taught the steps of repentance which are, 1: feel sorry, 2: ask forgiveness, 3: right the wrong, 4: don't repeat the wrong.  We talked about how a bandage can help us to heal quicker after we get a cut and repentance can help us heal spiritually after we have done something wrong.  We talked about how it feels when we do something wrong and how we can feel better after we repent.  


There were some really funny moments; they got a little side tracked on what happens to a bad guy who murders someone... I had a bit of a challenge getting them back on track but I finally just said, "we're not going to talk about bad guys, we're going to talk about how we can repent".  I told a story about a boy who stole some candy and ate it.  They had a tough time figuring out how they could right the wrong in that case since the candy had already been eaten.  Some suggestions were less than desirable... such as, puking the candy up and washing it and taking it back to the store.  We finally decided they could do some extra chores to earn money to pay for the candy.  


I had them draw a sad face and a happy face on a paper that said, "I feel happy after I repent".  I let them draw whatever they wanted on the other side of the paper, suggesting they draw a picture of someone repenting by saying they were sorry or by praying.  


These are some of the things I learned from them as the lesson went on:  

• They all wanted to know how to spell S-O-R-R-Y and almost all of them put the word sorry on their paper.  
• One little girl said she wanted to write something nice you could say to someone... she wrote "I (heart) you".  
• Another little girl said "when you have a cut you should put Neosporin on it".
• One little boy was so anxious to say the prayer and when he prayed he asked for his Mom to get well... I found out that his mom had been in a car accident.   
• One little boy asked if he could give his picture to one of the girls, I said "yes" and when he gave it to her, she said so sweetly, "thank you".  
• One little girl had so many great answers including, " we can pray when we do something wrong and then Jesus will not remember it any more".  
• Other comments from some of them were that we repent so that we can be with our family forever and so that we can return to live with Heavenly Father.  
• When I read a scripture from 3 Nephi 9:22,  "Therefore, whoso ^arepenteth and cometh unto me ^bas a ^clittle child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have ^dlaid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved."  and before I said anything else one girl said, "that's Jesus Christ".  

Their answers were so honest and innocent and insightful.  The parents of these children are doing a great job teaching them.


When we were ready to finish up and I happened to be kneeling on the floor, one little girl was sitting close in a chair next to me and a very quiet little boy came and stood next to me and just leaned into me... I hugged him and as I started to bear my testimony, I was so overcome with emotion.  I didn't cry at that moment but I could feel so intensely the Saviors love for them and for me.  I told them that Heavenly Father loves them and that Jesus loves them and that Jesus had suffered and died so that we could repent and be happy.  In that moment I just wanted to soak up their sweetness, relish in their innocence and purity.


Just as stated in the scripture from 3 Nephi 9:22 "... whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child"... like these precious little innocent children who surrounded me in that classroom, "him will I receive, for such is the kingdom of God."  Won't it be glorious to live in God's kingdom where all are as pure and perfect as they are!


As their parents came to get them, I tried to tell a few parents how  much I had enjoyed being in their presence and how sweet they are, I just started weeping and couldn't stop.  What a wonderful experience!  How precious they are!!!  I want to be like them someday!!!