Every year the Primary organization at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has a summer activity for the kids that are 8 years of age and older in Primary. This year our theme was Boot Camp. The word BOOT stood for Build Our Own Testimony. It was a delightful morning with these youth and leaders and parent volunteers.
Everyone was given a t-shirt and dog tags as they arrived and were welcomed to Boot Camp. Jessie Rayburn, our president, was in charge and wore a whistle and had every intention of acting the role of a drill sergeant. Alas, that is just not in our nature to yell at the kids. These are pictures of the kids arriving, being given their t-shirt and dog tags and mingling till start time.
I was invited to teach one of the stations. It was the Title of Liberty based on the story of Captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon in Alma. I told the story of Captain Moroni by reading from the Book of Mormon, defining the big words, and having the kids focus on what Moroni wanted the Nephites to remember, how he got them to remember, and what Heavenly Father wanted them to remember. We reenacted this story. Then the kids made their own Title of Liberty based on Moroni's Title of Liberty or things they knew Heavenly Father wanted them to remember. After our craft, we returned to our chairs and read about Captain Moroni's characteristics and talked about how they could be characteristics we wanted to develop in us as we try to be good disciples of Jesus Christ. Then we looked at the BOOT = Build Your Own Testimony and talked about how Captain Moroni's story can help us build our own testimonies. 
The other station held while I was teaching Title of Liberty was the Relay Station. Janick Stephenson led this station. They would memorize a scripture while running relay races. Time to use up some energy. Since I was teaching at the same time, I didn't get to observe this one and these photos were taken by others who did get to see this station.
After the 15 minute water break, we held the last two stations. They were also each taught twice, once for each group of kids. I was to help in the First Aid station. This was taught by Jessie Rayburn, our president, and focused on Repentance. She used Robert as the example and the kids each took a Band-Aid out of her first aid kit with a problem on it. They then helped to explain how Robert could repent using the four steps of repentance. The four steps the kids were following were: feel sorry, ask forgiveness, right the wrong and don't repeat. They started calling the feel sorry "guilt gut". They should have no problem remembering that first step. 
The fourth station was an Obstacle Course. We didn't have a sign for this one as it was to be outside in the parking lot. However, we had a little rain so it was moved to the Young Women's room and the foyer on that side of the building. I was helping with the First Aid station so I didn't get to see all of this. The first pictures were taken by someone else. I did sneak away and took a couple of pictures of the end of the obstacle course. There was a blue tarp representing a body of water. The kids were to get across this imaginary body of water without touching the water. The point was they had to have help to do this. They ended up with a skate board and a member of the bishopric helped them balance and pulled them across the water. This was to teach them that we all need help to get through the challenges of our lives. 
That concluded all four stations. Time for lunch and then closing. Lunch was set up by Christian Cash. She is our first counselor in the presidency. Lunch was set to resemble a mess hall. The kids lined up in the hallway. Then they entered the cultural hall and were given a Styrofoam tray. They pass down the chow line and we, the primary presidency, served them their lunch. They had to take what we gave them. Once they got to the table they were free to talk and trade items of food they might not want. They had 30 minutes to eat.
After lunch, I was asked to give a closing sum up of our Boot Camp. I reminded the kids that our theme for the morning was BOOT Camp. I asked them what BOOT stood for. They all knew. So we said it out loud together, Build Our Own Testimony. Then I asked them what they had learned in the four stations that would help them build their testimonies. I had goose bumps as the kids shared what they learned that morning. They got it. They really got it! Then I shared that their testimony was a very important thing. When they face the difficulties that life throws in our path, if we have a firm testimony, belief, it will keep us on solid ground. It will not take away difficult things. It will and does help us to stay strong as we endure well that which we are called to endure. Then I told them what their and my testimony was about: a belief and understanding they are a child of their Heavenly Father, a belief and understanding the Jesus Christ suffered and died to make Atonement for each of us and that Atonement touches us in everything we do, a belief that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true in all its doctrines and principles.
Then we presented each child with a certificate of completion of Boot Camp, and an award based on a candy theme that was unique for each child, and their Title of Liberty. After this we took group pictures.
This was a really good activity. Today at Church, parents were thanking us for the good experience their little ones had Saturday. It was a real privilege to participate and help with this activity. Covid took one year of this away. Last year was a year to start it again and I was not serving in Primary for that one. This year, it was back in a good swing for the event. So happy this turned out well and the kids participated so well.
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