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.
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):
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!
Keep the Commandments Singing Time Ideas
1. Draw tablets around Keep the Commandments Flipchart
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.
Download the Free [SONG] Singing Time Printables
These printables are filed on the Resource Library page under Song Title > Keep the Commandments.
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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.
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:
- Play Along DVD Primary Songs #2
- Digital Download Multi-Note Harmony
- Digital Download Single-Note Melody
- Printable Handbell Charts
Make sure to use coupon code CPI for 10% off your order!
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.
Then the back side reveals the pattern:
This is how the 2nd verse looks:
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.
