The Inspiration Clause

So we’ve been talking some about using “Church Approved” Material and all that means but there is a clause in the Church Handbook that kind of takes the pressure off. It says, in one short sentence, (going off of memory here, not an actual quote) that if you are inspired, for your stewardship, to use material that isn’t approved then that is ok too. For one primary president that meant “Ok then, bring out the _____________________!(fill in the blank with your favorite unapproved primary supplemental material.) But then there are those who are a little more cautious. There are places in primary where it is more safe to rely on inspiration and then there are others where the inspiration should come from church headquarters. For example,

Safe Places to Use the “Inspiration Clause”
-Games, Physical Activities, Primary Activity Days- Ideas like these are very difficult to copyright because of they are not as tangible as graphics or board games. This leaves a lot of room for creativity.
-Incentive Programs – This is a great way to put a personal,ward touch to your primary. They are not lessons, they are rewards. The only limitations that the church suggests in this category is, food or sweets are not to be used as rewards, and that the incentive not be jewelry or something to0 showy, and finally that the incentive program doesn’t exclude anyone.
Bulletin Boards – This is another place to be creative and use inspiration.
The Primary Program – Writing a program just for your own primary almost demands inspiration.
Leadership, Building Moral, Motivating your leaders, – This is not only a safe place to use inspiration it is in most case worth fasting and praying for.

Less Safe places to use the Inspiration Clause
– Primary Lessons – This material has been written and re-written to meet the needs of the young members of the church. You can’t go wrong with the primary children or their parents if you stick by the lesson material.  Recently, one of my friends was very frustrated to have two of her primary children’s parents call and yell at her because the children “mis-understood” the lesson. It is always safest to read it word for word, and provide supplemental material straight from the church magazines when needed.
-Graphics of Christ, Heavenly Father, the Holy Ghost or any person in the gospel for that matter. A cartoon character of Christ, no matter how cute can give the wrong impression to some children.
-Songs – It is always safest to use the songs straight from the Primary Song Book or from the Church Magazines. The Friend Magazine has wonderful songs that can be fun to use in the Primary.
– Sharing time – this one is hard, because teaching in front of a whole group of children of different ages can be scary and there are some wonderful ideas out there. It is a lot easier just to put on a Scripture Cartoon on or even a Disney Movie…..but get comfort by the idea that you are entitled to inspiration for your calling and you can rely on Heavenly Father to give it to you. The best sharing time I’ve ever seen happened recently when a member of the primary presidency shared a personal experience and did an activity in the friend magazine that went with it. You could have heard a pin drop, she had every-one’s attention and the whole thing was very simple and very touching. Look for simple and true and that is where you will find the Spirit. It isn’t necessary to recreate the wheel. We have a lot of good quality material right in the palm of our hands.

At the end of the day, parents want to know that what is being taught in primary or in any other organization is what the church really has to say. It is always safest not to speak for them when it comes to lessons and sharing time or music choices. That said, it makes me so happy to be in cub scouts. I don’t have to rely on inspiration, everything is done for me. It is in black and white and I have learned that if I run the program exactly by the book, the parent’s are happier and so am I. But most of all I’m just happy I have a book at all. Good Luck in your callings may you receive all the inspiration you need to be successful.