A new video of gospel instruction and activities for children around the world, ages 18 months to 11 years, seeks to foster unity and faith in Jesus Christ.
“We are so excited about this event — especially now, when so many children have been at home,” Sister Susan H. Porter of the Primary General Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said during a Friend to Friend broadcast made available on Saturday, February 19, 2022. “Many of the children in the world haven’t been able to attend Primary, so we’re just excited that they’re going to feel connected to each other across the world.”
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
The event, presented by the Primary organization, is currently in English and will eventually be available in 11 additional languages: Spanish, Portuguese, American Sign Language (ASL), Cantonese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin and Russian. Viewers can find it on the Gospel for Kids YouTube channel, SaintsChannel.ChurchofJesusChrist.org, the Latter-day Saints Channel on a connected TV device and the Latter-day Saints Channel mobile app (for iOS and Android).
Latter-day Saint leaders and children participated in the near 30-minute program, which invited children all over the world to join together in singalongs, arts and crafts and messages centered on the Savior Jesus Christ. Child hosts and producers shared messages about following Jesus Christ’s example through ordinances like baptism and covenants and promises like keeping his commandments.
The program featured different hosts for each language. In the English version, 7-year-old Alice Cartwright and 11-year-old Anthony Parker interacted with on-screen guests as well as the Friend to Friend’s virtual audience by walking them through different activities taking place on the vibrant 360-degree rotating set.
The child hosts were joined by each member of the Primary General Presidency, who came to discuss basic teachings of Christianity, including baptism, the Holy Ghost and the sacrament.
As part of the event’s message, Primary General President Camille N. Johnson shared her thoughts about the gift of the Holy Ghost following a video the children watched about baptism.
“The Holy Ghost guides us, comforts us when life is hard and warns us when we’re doing something we shouldn’t,” she said. “Often, it’s a happy or peaceful feeling. The Holy Ghost lets us know that something is true or good by giving us that peaceful feeling.”
Following the visit with President Johnson, the children joined a man named Ben McMurry to learn how to make journals in which they can write stories about their experiences with the Holy Ghost. The program then highlighted some of the journals made by children around the world.
“The sacrament gives us a chance to think about Jesus Christ and to renew the promises we made at baptism,” said Sister Amy A. Wright, a counselor in the Primary General Presidency. “By taking the sacrament, we show that we accept the sacrifice the Savior made when He died for us.”
The Friend to Friend event encourages connection. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, many children feel as if they cannot interact with others or be included in Primary.
“We want them to know how important they are in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Sister Porter said. “We need their testimonies, their service, their strength. They have so much to give. And when they’re baptized into the Church, they are official members, and we can count on them to serve and bless and lift all of us.”
Church leaders said they hope the program will bring joy and happiness to the lives of children inside and outside the faith.
President Johnson concluded the broadcast by saying, “I want you to know that Heavenly Father loves you. He sent you to Earth with a special purpose. As you follow the example of Jesus Christ, you will be blessed with strength to stay on the covenant path, even when it gets hard. And as you make covenants and follow Jesus Christ, you can love and serve others and remind them that they are loved by their Heavenly Father, too.”
“I think it’s pretty cool how they put a spiritual thing into a fun kid’s activity,” said Anthony Parker, one of the child hosts of the event. “And I think it’s really good for other kids out there that don’t really know much about this.”
The Primary organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is for children ages 18 months to 11 years. The Church has a total membership of more than 16 million members worldwide and is in more than 200 nations and territories.