Teach the meaning behind why our body is a temple as you teach the Primary song, The Lord Gave Me a Temple. All you need for this singing time lesson plan is the board and something to draw with! Make the words come to life with this visual Primary song!
The board is one of the EASIEST and most EFFECTIVE ways to teach a Primary song! And the Church’s Curriculum Department agrees! Check out this post HERE for understanding why the board is a critical teaching tool!
That said, pull out your drawing utensils and let’s get to work! You (or your Primary kids!) will be drawing 1st verse of The Lord Gave Me a Temple.
The Lord Gave Me a Temple Phrases
Optionally, I have these phrases to use in conjunction with drawing. But if you want to keep things real simple, you can easily omit them!
Access these printables at my Resource Library. Instructions for accessing the Resource Library are found at the bottom of this post.
Print these pages and cut on the lines.
Singing Time Idea
As you and the teachers sing, draw a simple outline of a temple using half the board and the title of the song at the top. Post the words as needed.
Hang the first phrase on the board: “The Lord gave me a temple to live within on Earth.” Ask if any of the kids live at the temple and which one. Then ask what this line is talking about [our body is a temple]. Sing the phrase.
Hang the next phrase on the board: “once in heaven I was spirit but I left my home at birth.” Draw a spirit using the other half of the board by drawing the outline of a body using dotted lines. Then sing both phrases together.
Hang the next phrase on the board: “I’ll make my temple brighter.” Ask what this phrase means and how we can make our temple brighter? Draw the children’s answers (i.e. eat healthy foods, exercise, sleep, scripture study, etc.) Sing all the phrases together.
Hang the next phrase on the board: “I’ll keep my spirit free.” Ask how we do this. Draw the children’s answers (i.e. Word of Wisdom items like coffee & drugs, addictions, too much sugar or sleep, etc.), Then draw a circle around each of them and cross them out similar to a “no smoking” sign. Sing all the phrases together.
Hang the next phrase on the board: “My body is the temple my Father gave to me.” Fill in the body by tracing around the dotted lines, add facial features, clothes, etc. Sing all the phrases together.
Added Insight
When I taught this we talked about how we keep our bodies clean through healthy eating, etc. and how using drugs or drinking can put our spirits into bondage and therefore they are not free.We also talked about our spirits and how our bodies house them. And we also talked about how we should treat our bodies with respect the same way we do the temple.Then we talked about how we can enter the temple by keeping the word of wisdom, for one thing, to receive the blessings promised us. And in the end how we will be resurrected in the first resurrection and live with Jesus if we keep ourselves clean and pure.
Bear Testimony
Bear testimony that our bodies are a gift from Heavenly Father to house our spirits.
Demonstration Video
Check out my demonstration video for teaching The Lord Gave Me a Temple in singing time using this lesson plan:
I’d love it if you’d like and subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE!
The Lord Gave Me a Temple Verse 2
Find details for teaching the 2nd verse to The Lord Gave Me a Temple HERE.
Check out this quick tutorial video for accessing the Resource Library:
These printables are filed on the Resource Library page under Song Title > The Lord Gave Me a Temple.
16 thoughts on “The Lord Gave Me a Temple, Verse 1”
I like this idea its simple (which is nice for a change) but fun. I think my primary children will enjoy it! Tthanks and good luck with the new baby!
Wonderful idea! I plan on using it tomorrow! Thanks so much!
Thanks so much…very creative, visual, artistic, in short…a great idea and I definitely will be using it! I am going to actually add to the idea by having word strips to tape onto the board by the picture as we sing each phrase I will point to those phrases and as I feel they are catching onto the song…I can remove the word strips. I think this idea works equally for jun/sen primary because it has visual pictures and words for them to catch onto the song. So thank you very very much.
Great idea. Las Vegas Primary thanks you a million!!!
Thanks so much for this idea, I am definitely using it today! And good luck with your new little one being born soon, you're great!
Thank you thank you thank you! I love this idea and am totally going to use it. I am behind teaching because in the summer no one is ever in town. This is perfect, thank you!
thanks for this!
Saved my bacon today! Thank you!
I have been trying to figure out how to teach this don't. I keep listening to the song in hopes of some inspiration. Thanks for sharing. I think I will use this.
I love your ideas! Thank you so much for sharing!!
Um, you're amazing! Thank you for sharing your ideas; they have helped so much!!
I'm curious; how long does singing time usually last for you? I've used your ideas many times, but I usually have to come prepared with additional songs and material to fill in the time. How do you make one verse last so long?? Or do you fill your time in with the wiggle jar every week?
This is great! Thank you, Camille!
Hi Sherree,
Today for singing time I had 20 minutes in both Jr. and Sr. primaries, we did our scripture song at the beginning of each and put our pennies in the jar which took a couple of minutes. Then for Jr. we sang some wiggle songs for about 5 minutes then I had a little over 10 minutes to work on this song with the kids. They were pretty wiggly but we got through it and the time I had worked perfectly.
In Sr. primary after the scripture song, we delved right into the lesson plan and we had some great discussions on the topic, sang the phrases/song through several times and the kids enjoyed drawing in the chalkboard. It took up the whole time. If I had more time, I would have started removing the word strips from the board and having the kids memorize the various phrases as they were removed.
I suppose it's just teaching style that differs. What I post I usually can barely get through. Usually I'm rushing to finish. Maybe I talk too much but I feel like I don't talk much so I'm not sure. We sing the songs over and over again, breaking between the singing to work on the activity. Sometimes we'll sing a phrase and the kids won't have sung it very well (or at all, or hardly any of them are singing) so we'll repeat the phrase a few times until I feel the quality is to the level I want :). That will usually take up some time.
That's great that you have MORE time! I wish that were my case – I probably need to come and learn from you.
~Camille
Thank you so much. I used it today.
Such a huge hit today with our primary…thank you!!
Thank you for all your hard work! I'm loving the videos, it's a nice touch.