This story appears here courtesy of TheChurchNews.com. It is not for use by other media.
By Sydney Walker, Church News
This year’s Friend to Friend events for Primary children have focused on the covenant path — the first episode on baptism, the Holy Ghost and the sacrament; the second on the temple.
The third and final Friend to Friend of 2022 will teach children about the first and second great commandments: Love God and love others.
The broadcast, titled “My Heavenly Father Loves Me,” will be available for viewing beginning Saturday, November 5, at 10 a.m. Mountain Time.
Primary General President Susan H. Porter and her counselors, Sister Amy A. Wright and Sister Tracy Y. Browning, invite children and their parents and Primary leaders to watch.
“This is the first Friend to Friend we’ve ever had with a live audience of children,” said President Porter. “With Sister Wright and Sister Browning, we each have the opportunity to interact with them as we discover what the first and second great commandments are. ...
“We start with the children and ask, ‘How do you know Heavenly Father loves you?’ They share with us beautiful ways that they see Heavenly Father loves them. Then they turn around and say, ‘Wow, He loves me so much. What can I do to show my love for Him?’ which leads to these wonderful experiences with Sister Wright and Sister Browning about children recognizing the Spirit and serving others.”
Sister Wright said she hopes children recognize that the Savior, who issued the two great commandments, is “the embodiment of love.”
“This is a wonderful opportunity for our children to connect the covenants they make to their Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ, as they seek ways through the Holy Ghost in which they can minister to others,” she said.
As the discussion on the covenant path continues, Sister Browning said she hopes children understand that they can live their covenants every day in simple ways.
“In the Friend to Friend, we get an opportunity to recognize that children can be a part of the Church by being disciples of Jesus Christ in their family life and as they look around and serve others,” Sister Browning said. “It’s not a complicated process but it’s actually simple for them to do that.”
As parents and leaders invite children to serve, engage them in the gospel and link those experiences back to the promises they have made, children can see the blessings the Savior gives them as they continue to live their covenants, Sister Browning explained.
The Primary General Presidency promised fun, interactive music and special guest puppets. In one activity, children learn through music how the Holy Ghost speaks to them. For the craft activity, children are invited to think about how they can serve and be kind to others and then draw a picture or write about their ideas.
Sister Wright said: “The intent is to engage, not entertain. We hope our precious children walk away realizing participation in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is joyful. This is their church, and they have a role to play.”
As the newest member of the Primary General Presidency, Sister Browning is having her first opportunity to participate in a Friend to Friend.
“Being on camera is not very comfortable for me,” Sister Browning admitted, “but to have the children around and interact with them, to listen to their thoughts and feel their Spirit, it was particularly sweet to have that experience with them. I really enjoyed it.”
How to Watch the Friend to Friend
The event was prerecorded in English. Translated versions will be available in Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, German, Russian, Korean, Japanese, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Videos will be available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org, Gospel Library and Gospel Media in the languages above.
English, Spanish and Portuguese versions will also be available on the Gospel for Kids YouTube channel (El Evangelio para niños in Spanish and Evangelho para Crianças in Portuguese).
The full broadcast and segments will remain available after November 5 to supplement teaching at home or at church.
Copyright 2022 Deseret News Publishing Company.