Keep the Commandments Primary Song Singing Time Ideas

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print

Your Primary children need to know how they can have safety and peace in their own lives.  And that’s from keeping the commandments. So make sure to teach Keep the Commandments using these Primary singing time ideas.

Camille's Primary Ideas: Keep the Commandments singing time ideas

Drawing a connection to the commandments with the tablets that Moses received provides a wonderful visual!  To teach Keep the Commandments I recommend drawing simple tables on the board and using a quick flip chart.  It’s simple, memorable and effective!

Then make sure to check out all these ways to teach Keep the Commandments in singing time (click on the link to jump to that section):

  1. Draw Tablets
  2. A Children’s Songbook Companion
  3. Handbells
  4. Sharla Dance
  5. Simplified ASL
  6. Shapes
  7. Body Percussion

The History of the Keep the Commandments Song

This information comes from Stories from The Children’s Songbook by Sister Pat Graham.

When Harold B. Lee became the President of the Church, he was asked if he had a message for the world. “Keep the commandments” was the reply he gave at the press conference announcing him as the new prophet.

Barbara McConochie [the author] used those words for the message of this song. Because it was included in the 1985 hymnbook, another version was needed for this book.

Sister McConochie thought of many possible ideas. Since first writing the song, she has coped with many difficulties. She has learned that keeping the commandments doesn’t mean you won’t have problems but rather that you can be strong enough to meet the tests. As she tossed and turned in her bed suffering with tendonitis, she thought of Abraham3:24-25: And we shall prove them here with.” Her new second verse expresses that idea, and she also added an obbligato for voice or instrument…

Sister McConochie taught piano and was ward organist at the age of thirteen. She has been a high-school English teacher and has raised a combined family of nine children.

She said, “If we strive to keep the commandments, life will be sweet to us even in our most dire trials. True peace will come to each individual, family, and nation only as we learn obedience to the laws of our Heavenly Father. . . . Keeping the commandments is the anchor for our safety amidst the storm.

Lyrics and Music for Keep the Commandments

Find the sheet music to Keep the Commandments on the Church’s website.  One of my favorite quotable lines comes from the lyrics in this song, “In this there is safety; in this there is peace.”:

1. Keep the commandments; keep the commandments! In this there is safety; in this there is peace. He will send blessings; He will send blessings. Words of a prophet:

[Chorus] Keep the commandments. In this there is safety and peace.

2. We are His children; we are His children, and we must be tested to show we are true. Hold to His promises; Hold to His promises, Heeding the prophets:

[Chorus] Keep the commandments. In this there is safety and peace.

Keep the Commandments Flip Chart

Find Keep the Commandments lyrics in a printable flip chart format so you can easily post the words in your Primary!

Camille's Primary Ideas: posting words for singing time, singing time flip charts

Keep the Commandments Singing Time Ideas

1. Draw tablets around Keep the Commandments Flipchart

Camille's Primary Ideas: Keep the Commandments singing time ideas using flip charts, tablets and handbells

Draw tablets to resemble the tablets that Moses brought down from the mountain containing the 10 commandments.  It’s super easy to implement and sure to keep your Primary kids engaged!

2. Keep the Commandments Primary Song in "A Children's Songbook Companion"

A Children’s Songbook Companion contains a singing time lesson plan for every single song in the Children’s Songbook including Keep the Commandments.

Camille's Primary Ideas: Keep the Commandments singing time ideas

Download the Free [SONG] Singing Time Printables

These printables are filed on the Resource Library page under Song Title > Keep the Commandments.

 

Get access to this printable
and my entire FREE Resource Library!

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, enter your information then check your inbox for the link to the Resource Library!

3. Keep the Commandments Singing Time with Bells

This handbell chart for Keep the Commandments plays the additional music (also known as the obbligato).  Find more details for using handbells in Primary.

Camille's Primary Ideas: Keep the Commandments handbell chart

These printables are filed on the Resource Library page under Song Title > Keep the Commandments

Merry Bells

Or another handbell option for Keep the Commandments is Merry Bells.  There are several options to choose from:

Make sure to use coupon code CPI for 10% off your order!

Camille's Primary Ideas: New Merry Bells Primary Songs #2 DVD

4. Sharla Dance

Sharla Dance has a demonstration video for teaching Keep the Commandments that you’ll want to check out here:

5. Keep the Commandments Lyrics in simplified ASL

Holly also has videos available for teaching Keep the Commandments.  Check out her explanation video here:

Once you have the signs learned, sign along here:

Then make sure to check out more helpful tips for teaching sign language in singing time!

6. Shapes

Christine shared repetitive patterns found in this song using shapes!  The children must figure out what each shape represents.  Very clever!  She says:

Sing the song through without the pictures showing. Have them guess what the shapes represent. Turn a few over at a time ( I turned over all of the orange triangles then sang it again. That one was obvious to them). Then sing it again. As they learn it turn them back over so they can’t see the pictures.

Camille's Primary Ideas: Keep the Commandments Primary singing time ideas

Then the back side reveals the pattern:

Camille's Primary Ideas: Keep the Commandments Primary singing time ideas

This is how the 2nd verse looks:

Camille's Primary Ideas: Keep the Commandments Primary singing time ideas
Camille's Primary Ideas: Keep the Commandments Primary singing time ideas

7. Body Percussion

This body percussion activity is simple and involves little prep.  The demonstration begins 3 minutes into the video:

Leave your Singing Time Ideas

How will you teach Keep the Commandments in singing time?  Leave a comment with your suggestions!

Check out this quick tutorial video for accessing the Resource Library:

These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Song Title > Keep the Commandments.

Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print

Make singing time easy!

Get it to go!

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!

Camille's Primary Ideas: Singing Time To-Go Membership

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Be prepared in singing time for the entire month – every month!  And all you have to do is print!

Recommended singing time supplies:

Camille's Primary Ideas: Christmas Primary Singing Time Ideas

LDS Primary Christmas Singing Time Ideas

It’s not singing time in December without singing Christmas Primary songs and hymns!  Make sure to sing as many Christmas Primary songs as possible using these Christmas Primary singing time ideas!

Camille's Primary Ideas: Turkey Toss Thanksgiving Primary singing time ideas

Turkey Toss Thanksgiving Primary Singing Time Idea

You need to try this Turkey Toss Thanksgiving Primary singing time idea!  This activity is one your Primary kids will never forget!  With this activity I suggest singing all the Primary songs on thanks in the Children’s Songbook but any songs will work!

Gain access to ALL my free lesson plan printables

    Hundreds of printables organized by song title and category that coincide with my singing time lesson plan posts!

    New Primary Music Leader?

    Sign up to receive emails to get you started in singing time!

    Make singing time easy!

    Get it to-go!

    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!