Families Can Be Together Forever is a CLASSIC Primary song that EVERY child should know and understand the meaning to! So make sure your Primary child KNOWS this Primary song by using these tried-and-true Families Can Be Together Forever Primary singing time ideas.
I’ve taught singing time for over 15 years. And Families Can Be Together Forever is a Primary song I’ve taught quite often! So you can say I have a little experience when teaching it.
I also know that some Primary music leaders worry about teaching a Primary song all about a perfect eternal family. But there’s so much more to it! Children need to know that they can create their own perfect eternal family one day. And these singing time ideas reinforce that concept.
My favorite method below to teach Families Can Be Together Forever is to combine the stick figure families activity with the family band activity (check out my demonstration video below that combines #1 and #2 activities)! Your Primary children will love writing on the board while leading the music with a family member!
Also make sure to check out these other Families Can Be Together Forever singing time ideas as well (click on the link to jump to that section):
This information comes from Stories from The Children’s Songbook by Sister Pat Graham.
In 1981, while Ruth Muir Gardner was serving as music chairman of the Primary general board, she was asked to help write a sacrament meeting presentation about temples… She began thinking of all the things children should know about temple work and her words became a poem.
Ruth made a melody for her words but was not satisfied with it. She felt this was a very important subject and needed dignified music. She asked her friend,Vanja Yorgason Watkins, [who] was serving on the General Music Committee and called this “a sweet opportunity.”
She prepared many versions, and always felt the song ended too soon. Finally, the idea came to emphasize the last statement, as it bears repeating. She said, “The Lord blessed me as I worked, and I completed the song for the children’s sacrament meeting presentation.”
The song became a favorite and was number 11 on the 1983 Primary survey. Because it is also in the 1985 hymnbook, the song received a new treatment for the Children’s Songbook. It was simplified by the composer and the introduction was deleted.
Author’s Note: One of the gifts of music is that it can provide comfort and assurance. I always think of Michael Sorenson whenever this song is sung.
He was just four years old when he drowned. Michael had been sealed to his parents, and I was grateful to play this beautiful new song about eternal families at his funeral. The message seemed even more personal because the author of the song lived in our ward. Over the years, grandchildren have also sung the song at funerals to honor their grandparents.
Find the sheet music to Families Can Be Together Forever on the Church’s website. Knowing we can be together forever brings so much comfort, especially in times of trial:
I have a fam’ly here on earth. They are so good to me. I want to share my life with them through all eternity.
[Chorus] Fam’lies can be together forever Through Heav’nly Father’s plan. I always want to be with my own family, And the Lord has shown me how I can. The Lord has shown me how I can.
While I am in my early years, I’ll prepare most carefully, So I can marry in God’s temple for eternity.
[Chorus]
You may also want to check out the sing along video for Families Can Be Together Forever. It’s a great way for you to easily become more familiar with it or to show to your Primary during singing time.
Find Families Can Be Together Forever lyrics in a printable flip chart format so you can easily post the words in your Primary!
Or this Families Can Be Together Forever flip chart with pictures is also available to download:
These printables are also filed on the Resource Library page under Song Title > Families Can Be Together Forever.
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Children will do anything for a chance to draw on the board! So let them draw their stick figure family as you sing Families Can Be Together Forever!
Let your Primary lead a family band as you sing Families Can Be Together Forever. All you need are these family band printables, some unsharpened pencils and ANY Primary songs!
Check out this demonstration video for teaching Families Can Be Together Forever in singing time using these 2 lesson plans:
Teach Families Can Be Together Forever using a personal story told by President Nelson. Your Primary children will be enthralled with the story of a family President Nelson helped save with this Families Can Be Together Forever sing-a-story singing time idea.
If you’re in need of a week off without needing to find a sub, let your Primary teach Families Can Be Together Forever by drawing the song then showcasing their drawings to the rest of the Primary!
Challenge your Primary with a temple puzzle as your Primary sings Families Can Be Together Forever! They’ll sing over and over again until the puzzle is complete!
Or use Merry Bells Play-Along chart available on YouTube for Families Can Be Together Forever:
A Children’s Songbook Companion contains a singing time lesson plan for every single song in the Children’s Songbook including Families Can Be Together Forever.
These printables are filed on the Resource Library page under Song Title > Families Can Be Together Forever.
Subscribe to my free newsletter and get instant access to my Resource Library, which includes this file and all of my other free singing time printables!
Click the button below and enter your information to gain access to the Resource Library!
Sharla Dance’s singing time methods for teaching Families Can Be Together Forever include several variations! This one uses a paper plate pattern.
This demonstration begins at 5:55 using rhythm sticks:
This demonstration begins at 14:00 and uses her tell-a-story method of teaching:
Paper plate pattern begins at 0:23.
If you’d rather teach sign language for this song, Holly has wonderful videos! Check them out here:
Then make sure to check out more helpful tips for teaching sign language in singing time!
How are you teaching Families Can Be Together Forever in singing time? Leave a comment with your suggestions and ideas!
These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Song Title > Families Can Be Together Forever.
Singing time just got even easier! With my Singing Time To-Go, all you have to do is print! Be prepared for the entire month – every month!
Be prepared in singing time for the entire month – every month! And all you have to do is print!
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Singing time just got even easier! With my Singing Time To-Go, all you have to do is print! Be prepared for the entire month – every month!
