How to Write a Primary Program

This year as I was writing the Primary Program I felt inspired to keep notes of my process in case it might help someone.  I know that this is late information for someone this year, but perhaps someone, somewhere, sometime may need this.  (And it just might be me next year!)

There are many, many ways to write a program and I'm the first one to tell you that the first source for help is  always Heaven, but I also think that it is beneficial to see how others do things, glean what works for you and get to work.  So after writing 5 programs, here is the process I've found easiest for me.

1. Pray for the guidance of the spirit. I find it helpful to pray vocally and specifically. I pray to know what will touch the congregation, but more importantly what will make a lasting impression for the children.

2. Listen to all of the music to be used for the program. Pay attention for impressions of how the music makes you feel and what direction you want to take. The music will be what makes the program most meaningful.

3. Put the songs in order that you would like them to be presented and if it hasn't already been decided, decide how each song should be presented. (for example, will you use sign language, have a solo part, have a musical instrument, have a single class sing one verse or chorus, have a descant etc. We do this early in the year with the music leaders so they have a say in the presentation and can work on it all year.)

4. Write notes next to the songs (may evolve into possible parts, but don't worry about that at this point) as to how they correlate with the yearly theme. So if the year topic is I Know the Scriptures Are True, you will write how each song connects with that theme.

5. Add scriptures that you want to use. You may want a scripture to go with every song, you may not. Choose your scriptures and add them to your written text.

6. Look at how many children you have in your Primary and decide how many written parts you will need. (In our Primary we assign some children musical parts. If they are singing a special number with their class, that is their part.)

7. Find areas where younger children can give shorter parts and assign those first. For example you can assign Sunbeam teacher to say “We follow the prophet by: “ Then each child can generate his or her own way to follow the prophet. (A visit to the Sunbeam class one Sunday is the easiest way to accomplish that.)

8. Start filling in parts by section (between each song) making the parts lead up to your previously written point of how that song fits within the yearly them. I find it easiest to assign certain classes to each section so I know how many parts to generate in each section and how long to make them (age appropriate). Use the Sharing Time outline text for parts (weekly themes etc.)

9. Leave a large number of the parts open ended so children can share personal experiences (use previously given talks in Primary or other things to help you decide who may have experiences to fit your desired direction). Because I like to have all of the text pre-approved by the bishopric, I always get those written out before submitting to the program. The way I've found the most successful is by letting the child know their assigned topic then making an appointment with them to interview them. I've done this at church, but also at their homes. During the interview I ask questions to help them tell their experience and bring out the points I want made for that section. I then use the notes to write the text myself that way I control length and the direction the part goes.

10. I also find it helpful to fill out a tentative seating chart as I write the program. Writing the program is hard, but I find working things out logistically of where everyone will be, how things will flow etc. is quite painful. So if I do it as I go along, it is much easier and not so much of an after thought so it flows better.

11. Write it and then leave it for a few days. More inspiration will come. Tweak and edit as needed.  I like to have my editing process span a few weeks to a month if possible.

Don't be intimidated! Writing the program is a wonderful experience because you get to be an instrument for the Lord. Relax and rely on the impressions you receive.