Friend January 2022 “I Am Growing!”

Finding Your Talents

Look for What You Can Do

Friend September 2018 “My Talents” Action rhyme of things little ones find that they can do.

Friend March 2017 “I Want to Play the Flute” Jacob wants to play the flute in the school band, but everyone tries to get him to do something else. He prays about what to do.

Friend March 1985 “First Pick” – A boy’s brother isn’t good at baseball but he is good at baseball strategy and managing.

Friend January 2016 “Behind the Scenes” Tessa wishes she could sing and dance so she could get a part in the play, but she discovers she has other wonderful talents.

Developing Talents

Friend August 2022 “Ready to Ride” Quade doesn’t know how to ride a bike, but he wants to learn so he can ride with his friends. The only problem is that the wobbly bike is very scary. He says a prayer asking for help. After several more attempts, he is riding without help. He keeps practicing and soon he is able to ride with his friends.

Friend June 2020 “My Cooking Goal” Fernanda wanted to get better at cooking so she set a goal in her Children’s Guidebook to cook with her dad. Now she loves cooking. She knows Heavenly Father helped her with her goal because He wants her to grow her talents. (photos included in this true story)

Friend January 2023 “Finding My Talents” Fruean accomplished his goals and gained many new talents.

Friend March 2018 “The Write Choice” Justina had a hard time with reading and writing in school, but her teacher told her, “You can’t always choose what you’re good at. But you can always choose how hard you try.” Justina started putting more effort into trying, and reading and writing became easier and easier. Eventually she became good enough to become a writer.

Friend May 2023 “Cameron the Piano Player” Cameron volunteered to play a couple of songs in the Primary Program even though he didn’t know how to play. He took lessons and practiced really hard and did great at the program and wanted to learn more songs.

Friend September 2017 “A Painting of Christ” Tesla makes a goal to make a painting of Christ for developing talents in her Faith in God booklet. She also decides to give it to her Catholic friend for her first  communion.

Friend January 2020 “A Little Better Every Day” When Sister Joy D. Jones (Primary general president) was young she played the violin. She wanted it to sound pretty, but it squeaked. If she practiced, it sounded better. She made goals to practice a little each day. She encourages children to set goals  to learn a little more each day. She says, “Don’t give up. Jesus will help you.”

Friend July 2020 “Prayers and Planes” Vern prayed every night for a model plane, but it never arrived. He decided to build one himself from an old wood box he found. He realized later that his prayer had been answered, just not the way he expected. Heavenly Father helped him figure out how to build his own. When he grew up, he fixed and flew planes for a living.

Friend September 2020 “Scarf Wars” Chakell was usually good at doing most things, but she struggled with the scarf making project at school. She thought that asking for help meant that she wasn’t smart. Her mom reminded her that everyone needs help in life. After asking and getting help from her teacher, her teacher taught her that she might not be good at making scarfs yet, but learning new things takes practice.

Sharing Talents

Friend June 2018 “A Baptism Song” Elizabeth and her sister sang at a baptism which helped those attending to feel the Spirit.

Friend April 2023 “Reaching for Mars” Michelle went to college to be an engineer. After college she got a job helping launch rockets to explore space! She helped create a robot called a rover to send to Mars. But then she and her husband were called to serve a mission leaders. She would have to leave her job and miss the launch of the Mars rover! But she knew serving the Lord was more important, so they accepted the calling. She bore her testimony that Jesus Christ created worlds without end, and he wants us to learn, grow, and use our talents for good.

Making Mistakes while Performing

Friend February 2022 “Sarah’s Solo” Sarah forgot the words in the middle of her solo, but she started again and did it right this time. Her teacher told her she should be proud that she carried on.

Using Talents to Help Others

Friend October 2018 “The Talents Team”  Short story about Kennedy who won a tv cooking competition and used her talent to teach others and host a fundraiser. Photos included.

Friend October 2018 “Show and Tell” “Before I started kindergarten, I made a goal to learn how to tie my shoes. I practiced every day. Whenever I notice a classmate with untied laces, I offer to help them. I am thankful that I can use my talents to help my friends, like Jesus did. Creighton D., age 5, Indiana, USA”

Friend September 2015 “When I Grow Up…” Artist, Rose Datoc Dall, uses her art talent to share her testimony and inspire others.  November 2015– Man uses science talents to help others

Friend June 2023 “Serving with Art” From a young age, Sister Kristin M. Yee wanted to become an artist. She practiced a lot by volunteering for things. She drew posters for community events. She painted store windows. One time she helped paint sets at an opera house. These experiences taught her that art was a way that she could serve. When she grew up, she became an animation artist for Disney.

Make your own animation by following the directions below.

Serving the Lord with our Talents

Friend March 2020 “Ludovic’s Piano” Ludovic learns to play hymns by ear and plays for his branch during sacrament meeting.

Friend March 2016 “A True pearl” Jetta must go away from home to learn the piano, but when she returns she uses her talent to serve.

Afraid to Share Talents

Friend May 2016 “The Great Fiddling Duo” Lisa is afraid she will mess up in the talent show, so she finds a way to help herself not feel so nervous.

Developing Talents Takes Sacrifice, Practice, and Time

Friend January 2017 “Matt and Mandy” Mandy’s friend wants to be an architect when she grows up, but she isn’t good at math. Her dad told her to keep practicing and eventually she will get good at it.

Friend February 2016 “Savannah the Engineer” Savannah needs to decide whether to sacrifice her time and join an after school science team.

Friend April 1986 “Jill the Jump Rope Genius” Jill can’t jump rope, but she practices and is able to jump in her school field day contest.

Friend January 2016 “Matt & Mandy” Matt learns that things that are hard to do can easier and fun with practice.

Hidden Talents

Friend March 1988 “Invisible Trophy” Susan has talents for loving others and for doing things without being told.

Our Talents are Unique and Special

Friend May 2022 “The Job Test” When Jeffery got the results of his job test, he was shocked that his top result was florist. His friend laughed and said Jeffery liked weird stuff. He did like art and playing the piano, which was different than the other boys. His eyes filled with tears when he told his dad. His dad explained that Heavenly Father gave us our talents, and we are supposed to be different so we can all do different things in life, and that doesn’t make us weird. But we also get to choose what we do with our talents.