Praise to the Man: Verse One

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Praise to the Man  – Verse One
Preparation
  • Print the pictures, and the word pages. Cut each picture page in half lengthwise so one picture is on each half. Put each of the word pages in a page protector. (Optional: cover each word page with a colored paper, and tape the top edges so the colored paper can be flipped up to show the clue.)
  • Items needed: a large picture of Joseph Smith, a dry erase pen or strips of paper, a digital copy of the song “Praise to the Man” (or a CD player and a CD of “Praise to the Man.” The CD hymns with words can be found at most meetinghouse libraries. If a CD is not available, the song can be downloaded from www.lds.org onto a laptop. A microphone can be put next to the laptop speaker so the children can hear the song. Another idea would be to have the adults in the room sing the song.)

Presentation
Explain to the children they are going to learn a new song, and they are going to do two activities to help them remember it. The first activity is to try and guess who the song is about. (Post the pictures on the board and explain that the song is about one of these people. Also post the first seven word pages on the board, in order, but turned over or covered with another sheet of paper.) Explain that the covered pages are lines in the song, and they are clues to who the song is about. One person on the board will be eliminated as each clue is read. (Some of the children may guess the name before the clues are finished, but tell them not to say it out loud.)

The second activity they are going to do is find the correct word in each line. Explain that there will be two orange words on each song page. One of the words is the correct word that is in the song, and the other is a synonym and means the same thing as the correct word. They are going to listen to the song on CD and see if they can figure out which is the correct word.

To begin teaching the verse, turn over the first song page on the board, and explain to the children that the first line in the song is the name of the song – “Praise to the Man.” Point out that this line doesn’t have any orange words in it, but it is a clue. Have a volunteer take off one of the pictures on the board that doesn’t match with this clue. (Emma Smith, because she is not a man.)

Turn over the second song page on the board – “who talked/communed with Jehovah.”

• Who is Jehovah? (Jesus) Which of the people on the board did not talk to or communicate personally with Jesus. (Benjamin Franklin) (Note: We don’t know if President Monson has talked directly with the Savior, but we do know that as His spokesman on the earth, President Monson has received direction from the Savior through revelation. The picture of President Monson is included because he is needed for a clue further on in the song.) (Lorenzo Snow saw and talked with the Savior Jesus Christ in the Salt Lake Temple – see Friend/August 1993)

Once the children have taken off one of the pictures, have them listen to the CD and see which of the orange words is correct. (Whenever they listen to the CD, start it from the beginning. Have the children sing along until they get to the clue they are working on, and then they should just listen.) Have a volunteer cover up the incorrect word with strips of paper or cross it out with a dry erase pen.

Turn over the third song page on the board – “Jesus anointed/appointed that prophet and seer.” Explain that the clue for this line is the words “prophet and seer.”

  • Which person on the board is not considered to be a prophet and seer? (Joseph had a very special role as Jesus’ guardian, but as far as we know he was not considered to be a prophet and seer.)

After the children guess the clue, have them listen to the CD to find out which of the orange words are correct. After they figure out which is correct, explain that one definition of anointing is- a sacred ceremony or process of appointing someone to a position of great responsibility, usually using consecrated oil. (For example, in the scriptures, kings and priests were anointed to their office in ancient times by prophets.)

Explain to the children that the next line in the verse needs to be skipped for now because it would give away who the song is about. Turn over the line that comes after the skipped line – “Kings shall praise/extol him and nations admire/revere.

• Which of these prophets is not well enough known for kings to praise and nations to admire?” (The choice would be either the Brother of Jared or Lorenzo Snow. Have them take off Lorenzo Snow.)
After the children remove a picture, have them listen to the CD for the correct words in the line. (Try to start the CD at this point instead of at the beginning.)

Turn over the next song page on the board – “Hail/salute to the prophet ascended /risen to heaven”.

• What does ascended or risen to heaven mean? It means that the person is no longer living and is in heaven. Which prophet is still living in mortal life? (President Monson) (Note: Moses might be a confusing one for this category because he is not dead but was taken up to heaven in a translated state.)

Turn over the next song page on the board – “Traitors and tyrants/oppressors now fight him in vain/unsuccess.”

• Which prophet did not have traitors and tyrants fighting against him, that we know of? (The Brother of Jared)

After the children remove a picture, have them listen to the CD for the correct words in the line. After they have crossed out the incorrect word, go back to the song line that was skipped, and turn it over -“Blessed to open the last dispensation/gospel period“.

• Dispensation is a period were the gospel is renewed upon the earth. Which prophet opened the last dispensation? (Joseph Smith) Remove the picture of Moses and replace the small picture of Joseph Smith with the large picture. Point out that the children have discovered who the song is about.

Have the children listen to the CD for the correct words in the line. Start the CD from the beginning and remind them to sing all lines, except for the current clue.

Put the last two lines on the board one at time starting with – “Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren.”

• Do you think Joseph Smith is still serving in heaven trying to help us, his brothers and sisters?

Turn over “Death cannot conquer/overcome the hero again.”

• How is Joseph Smith a hero? (See D&C 135:3) He gave his all, including his life, in service to God and his fellow man.

  • Can death overcome him again after he is resurrected?  No, he will never die again.

Play the CD all the way through, and have the children sing the song until they come to the last line, then they should listen for the correct word.

 

Note: If you have already taught this verse, this activity can be used as a review. This was a hard song to prepare and teach. If you find any problems with the presentation, please let me know.


Praise to the Man – Verse Three

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Praise to the Man – Verse Three

Preparation

  • Print the word pages and the pictures. Cut out the pictures. Cut out the word strips if you are doing the drawing activity. Fold up each word strip. Put the word pages into page protectors.
  • Items needed: magnets, chalk and eraser, tape, paper, and pencils or crayons.

 

Presentation (I’ve included two teaching ideas for this verse, and they can be used together or individually.)

Explain to the children they are going to learn another verse of “Praise to the Man”, and it is about Joseph Smith’s rewards in heaven for his faithful service.

Post each word page on the board as you read them to the children. Explain that the chorus is sung after those four lines.

First teaching idea to help introduce and get the children thinking about the verse:

Give each child a paper and pencil, and explain that they are going to create visual aids for the verse. Give each class one of the folded up word strips that contain the lines from the verse. (If you have more than four classes you may need to divide the children into four groups.) Have each child in the group draw a picture of the line they’ve been given. Explain that they need to keep it secret from the other groups which line they are drawing.

When the children are finished drawing, have a random group come to the front and hold up their drawings so everyone can see them. Have the other primary children try to guess which line the class drew. Have the children vote for which line the pictures go with by raising their hands. Circle the one on the board with the most votes. Have the class reveal which line they drew by putting their pictures under the correct line (using magnets or tape). When only two classes are left, have both classes come up and show their pictures. Have the rest of the children vote on which line each group’s pictures go with.

In junior primary, if you are short on time, you can use the pictures that senior primary drew for this activity (if you are on the senior first schedule). Have junior vote for which line each group of pictures goes with. Choose a helper who can read, and give the helper the folded up matching line that goes with the class’s pictures. After the children vote, have the helper reveal which is the correct line by putting the pictures under the correct line.

Sing the verse. You may need to review one line at a time with junior primary, and then sing only that line before reviewing the next line.

Memorizing Activity
Explain that they are now going to memorize the verse. Cover up the words on the first page with the pictures that match each word. Discuss and explain those words if needed. Sing the verse. Continue in this manner until each page is covered with the pictures. Remove the word pages from the page protectors and see if the children can sing the song without the words.

Great – (large great) Great means large amount or wonderful.
Glory – (sun) Glory means the grandeur and blessings of heaven. Joseph Smith will inherit the highest degree of glory, the Celestial Kingdom, which is compared to the glory of the sun.
Endless – (arrow circle) Explain that the circle picture is used to represent the word “endless” because there is no end to a circle.
Priesthood – (Joseph receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood) Power and authority from God.
Ever and ever – (two rings)  Explain that ever and ever means forever, and the picture of the rings is used to represent forever because rings have no end. The two rings are also meant to help them remember to say the word “ever” twice.
Keys – (keys) Keys are the directive and governing powers held by presiding priesthood holders.

Hold – (hand holding a key)

Faithful – (Yellowstone’s Old Faithful) Explain that Old Faithful  is a geyser at Yellowstone National Park, and it got its name because its eruptions are regular and reliable, unlike other geysers in the park whose eruptions are unpredictable. Explain that Joseph Smith was also reliable. He could always be depended on to do what the Lord wanted him to do. He did the Lord’s bidding because he trusted and had faith in the Lord.
True – (blue diamond) Explain that real diamonds have great value and are hard rock-solid. Joseph was also solid; he was committed, and faithful to God. His beliefs were real and genuine, and his actions were always true to those beliefs. (The children can also try to remember the word “true” by thinking of true blue.)

Enter – (open door)
Kingdom – (castle)  Explain that the castle picture is used to depict the word “kingdom” because a castle is part of a king’s kingdom.
Crowned –  (crowns)  The word “crowned” means to confer royal status upon someone. (All those who are righteous, obedient, and faithful become heirs of God.)
Midst – (blue circle with the yellow middle) Explain that in the midst means in the middle of, or surrounded by.

Prophets of Old – (picture of prophets) Joseph, along with the prophets of old, will enter into the celestial kingdom, become heirs of God, and be crowned with glory because of their righteousness and faithful  service.