Primary

Reno Nevada Stake Primary - General Handbook

Guidelines updated October 2023

Instructions for Curriculum 2024 to be used for the upcoming year.
	● New for 2024, all Come, Follow Me manuals have been consolidated into one annual resource: Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church.

Children’s Sacrament Meeting Presentation (see General Handbook, 12.2.1.2)
See “Instructions for Singing Time and the Children’s Sacrament Meeting Presentation” in Come, Follow Me—For Primary. The Primary presidencies and music leader prayerfully plan the presentation. The Bishopric gives direction. Children may sing, give talks, and share stories, scriptures, or testimonies.
	● Practices should not take unnecessary time away from Primary classes or families.
	● Visuals, costumes, and media presentations are not appropriate for sacrament meeting.

Service and Activities (see General Handbook, 12.2.1.3)
	● Leaders may choose to plan and hold annual day camps for Primary children ages 8-11. Primary activities, including day camps, do not include overnight stays.

Teachers and Nursery Leaders (see General Handbook 12.3.5)
	● When adults teach children in Church settings, at least two (2) responsible adults should be present. The two adults could be two women, two men, or a married couple.
	● Youth should not teach in Primary, including as substitutes.

Safeguarding Children (see General Handbook 2.5.1)
	● All adults who work with children must complete the children and youth protection training within one month of being sustained. They repeat the training every three years thereafter.
	● This requirement applies to adults serving children and youth (including substitute teachers).

Restroom Safety (see General Handbook 12.5.4)
	● Leaders and teachers should encourage parents to take their children to the restroom before Primary. During Primary, a young child must be taken to the restroom by a parent or legal guardian. Leaders and teachers should not take children into the restroom.

Role-Playing Activities (see General Handbook 12.5.5)
	● Leaders and teachers should be careful when acting out sacred events in Primary. Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost are not portrayed. Children may portray the Savior only in a Nativity scene. For additional guidelines, see20.5.6.

CTR Rings (see General Handbook 12.5.6)
	● When children begin the CTR 4 class, the Primary presidency and their Primary teacher remind them to “choose the right.” These leaders also give each child a green CTR Ring.

Personal Development (see General Handbook 12.2.1.4)
	● In their efforts to become more like the Savior, children—beginning in the year they turn 8—are invited to set goals to grow spiritually, socially, physically, and intellectually. With help from parents, children seek inspiration to discover what to work on. They make plans, act on their plans, and reflect on what they learn. Leaders offer support as needed. However, they should not track the children’s goals or progress.
	● Beginning in the year they turn 8, children are encouraged to complete at least one goal in each of the four areas each year. They can use Personal Development: Children’s Guidebook to set and record goals.

Introducing the Children and Youth Program (see General Handbook 12.5.7)
	● At the beginning of each year, the bishop, one of his counselors, or members of the Primary presidency may visit the home or Primary class of each child who will turn 8 during the year. They introduce children and their parents to the Children and Youth program. Each child receives the emblems of belonging and a copy of Personal Development: Children’s Guidebook.

Planning Sacrament Meeting (see General Handbook 29.2.1.1; 4.2.4; 29.1; 29.2.1.2; 38.1.1)
	● #3 Acknowledgement of presiding authorities or other leaders who are visiting. Presiding authorities and visiting high councilors should be invited to sit on the stand.

Selecting Speakers for Sacrament Meeting (see General Handbook 29.2.1.4)
	● The Bishopric selects speakers for sacrament meeting. Most often they invite ward members, including youth.
	● The bishopric schedules one sacrament meeting each year for a presentation by Primary children.

Prayers in Church (see General Handbook 29.6)
	● Prayers in Church meetings should be brief, simple, and directed by the Spirit. Any baptized Church member may offer an opening prayer or closing prayer.
	● Children who are not baptized may pray in Primary.

Photographs and Video Recordings of Meetings (see General Handbook 29.8)
	● To preserve the sacredness of Church meetings, no one should take photographs or make video recordings of sacrament meetings or stake conference.

Reno Nevada Stake Primary - Baptism Guidelines

Guidelines updated October 2023

To promote uniformity and to assist in ensuring baptisms are a sweet and sacred experience for all involved, we would like to make you aware of the following guidelines:
	● Use of the baptismal font and building is to be scheduled through Sister Karen Jones: home 775-324-2033 or cell 775-771-0421, email: wonderweefie@sbcglobal.net. Please notify Sister Jones of any changes made. -- Regarding scheduling baptismal services, “in an effort to support home and church supported observance of the Sabbath Day, the Reno Nevada Stake Presidency requests ward and stake leaders schedule baptisms on a day other than Sunday.” -- Members are encouraged to hold family activities on Monday or at other times. No Church activities, meetings, or baptismal services should be held after 6:00 p.m. on Mondays (see General Handbook, 20.5.3).
	● The individual reserving the building and font will be responsible for ensuring the set-up and cleaning of room(s) reserved.
	● The “Font Specialist” assigned to your ward will be responsible for checking that the font and area are clean before filling the font, which takes approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. There will be extra white towels in both the boy’s and girl’s cabinets for wiping up water for the families if needed.
	● Please set up and take down the chairs in the font area.
	● Return any unused clothing items to cabinets in the bathrooms.
	● Font specialists take used baptismal clothing and towels home for washing. Clothing must be returned and hung up in the Baptism Closet the following day so they will be ready for the next baptism.
	● At the conclusion of the baptism, please verify all doors to the building are locked.
	● The following Church Guidelines are to be followed regarding the font; (see General Handbook, 18.7.4). “For Safety, a responsible adult must be present while a font is being filled and remain until it is drained, cleaned, and secured. The font should be drained immediately after each baptismal service. The doors to the font should be locked when it is not in use.”
Following these guidelines will help prevent accidents, such as children having access to an unattended font. We appreciate your assistance in helping ensure logistical matters are adhered to in facilitating a spiritual experience for baptisms. Sincerely, The Reno Nevada Stake Presidency

Reno Nevada Stake Primary - Scheduling Baptismal Services

Guidelines updated October 2023

In an effort to support home-centered and church-supported observance of the Sabbath Day, the Reno Nevada Stake Presidency requests ward and stake leaders schedule baptisms on a day other than Sunday. Leaders ensure that the number and length of meetings do not create burdens for members or their families. For example, meetings should not make it difficult for families to have time together on the Sabbath day (see General Handbook 29.1). Where possible, leaders should avoid scheduling Sunday meetings other than those in the standard three-hour schedule, leadership meetings in the early mornings, and occasional meetings in the evenings.

Members are encouraged to hold family activities on Monday or at other times. No Church activities, meetings, or baptismal services should be held after 6:00 p.m. on Mondays (see General Handbook, 20.5.3).

The Prophet and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have instructed us that the new Sabbath meeting schedule, “allows more time for a home evening and to study the gospel at home”. In response to the prophet’s counsel, the Reno Nevada Stake has implemented "Sabbath Sacred Time" between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm every Sunday, during which time the Reno Nevada Stake Presidency request that no church meetings or activities be scheduled.

As we prioritize our Sunday time for individual, family, and group gospel study we are promised that the “Sabbath day will truly be a delight” and “we will obtain a deep and lasting conversion” to Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Reno Nevada Stake Primary - Preparation for Baptism

Guidelines updated October 2023

Baptism Resources:

· A special Baptism and Confirmation issue of the Friend magazine is now available

· For Primary - Preparing Children for a Lifetime on God’s Covenant Path

· For Parents – Preparing Your Children for a Lifetime on God’s Covenant Path

· Friend to Friend: Baptism, the Holy Ghost, and the Sacrament

Stake and ward leaders are encouraged to help families access these resources digitally or in print.

Two Months out

Get date approved by a member of the ward Primary presidency. To support home-centered and church-supported observance of the Sabbath Day, the Reno Nevada Stake Presidency requests ward and stake leaders schedule baptisms on a day other than Sunday. Also, the General Handbook (20.5.3) states, “No Church activities, meetings, or baptismal services should be held after 6:00 p.m. on Mondays.”

Your ward Primary presidency will do the following:

· Schedule the building through Sister Karen Jones: h (775) 324-2033,

c (775) 771-0421, or email wonderweefie@sbcglobal.net .

· Coordinate with your ward Font specialist who will be responsible for timely filling the font. This takes 1.5 to 2 hours.

· Ward Primary presidency will be responsible for cleaning and setting-up of chairs and additional rooms used for the baptismal service.

3-4 Weeks out

A baptismal service should be simple , brief, and spiritually uplifting. It may include the following (see General Handb ook (18.7.2):

A Baptismal service may include:

1. Prelude music

2. A brief welcome by the priesthood leader who is conducting the service

3. An opening hymn and prayer

4. One or two short talks on gospel subjects, such as baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost

5. A musical selection

6. The baptism

7. A time of reverence while the people who participated in the baptism change into dry clothes (hymns or Primary songs may be played or sung during this time)

8. The confirmation of 8-year-old members of record; the confirmation of converts if determined by the bishop (see 18.8)

9. Bearing of testimonies by new converts if desired

10. A closing hymn and prayer.

11. Postlude music.

When a child of record is preparing to be baptized, a member of the bishopric and Primary presidency counsel with the family to plan and schedule a baptism service. A member of the bishopric conducts service. If more than one child will be baptized in the same month, they could share a baptismal service (see General Handbook , 18.7.2).

Get approval from your Bishop or presiding leader (see General Handbook 18.7.1; 18.7.1.1; and 18.7.2).

Set up an interview for your child with their Bishop. Schedule this appointment through your ward executive secretary.

One to two weeks out

After receiving approval from your Bishop, print out and copy programs. Blank programs can be obtained from the Primary presidency and copies can be made in the church building library.

The Sunday before the baptism have a member of the Primary presidency help you find the appropriate size baptismal clothing for your child and the baptizing Priesthood holder. This is important to do ahead of time so that we may find the sizes needed.

Day of Baptism

1. Baptism families will need to bring their own personal towels to use after coming out of the font and in the changing room.

2. Arrive 30 minutes early to change clothes, take pictures, and greet guests.

3. Help if needed to set up chairs in the rooms that have been reserved (Font, Chapel, Young Women’s room or Relief Society room, etc.,) and take down chairs in the Font area after the baptism.

4. Please hang up wet Baptismal clothing and make sure they are not turned inside out so they can be laundered. Your wards’ Font specialist will take the soiled clothes to launder and return the following day.

5. At the conclusion of the Baptism, it is the Font specialist’s responsibility to verify the building is locked.

Reno Nevada Stake Primary - Font Specialists

Guidelines updated October 2023

Dear Bishops and Primary Presidents of the Reno Nevada Stake,

We have realized under the Baptism Guidelines for the children of record, there is a “gray area” regarding the filling of the font. Our stake presidency has directed us to have the wards take a larger and more supportive role in helping the families with Primary baptisms. Our stake presidency suggests that one or two “font specialists” be assigned to each ward. The font specialist can be a member of the ward Primary presidency, bishopric member over Primary, ward mission leader, etc. This will prevent the baptism family from having added responsibility on this special day with their loved ones. The Church guidelines and font duties are found on this under the Baptismal Guidelines tab.

For access to the stake center, Font Specialists may obtain keys from any member of the stake Primary presidency; Brian Anderson, high council member who presides over Primary; or President Sean Jolley, stake presidency member over Primary.

Another way wards may support families is to provide a sample baptismal agenda two weeks prior to the baptism so the bishop or presiding leader has time to review and approve the agenda. For guidance regarding baptismal service agenda (see, General Handbook 18.7.2).

Regarding scheduling baptismal services, in an effort to support home-centered and church supported observance of the Sabbath Day, the Reno Nevada Stake Presidency requests ward and stake leaders schedule baptisms on a day other than Sunday. Members are encouraged to hold family activities on Monday or at other times. No Church activities, meetings, or baptismal services should be scheduled after 6 p.m. on Monday nights (see General Handbook, 20.5.3).

We love and appreciate each of you and all you do! Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns regarding this.

Sincerely,

The Reno Nevada Stake Primary Presidency

Reno Nevada Stake Primary - Baptism Common Questions

Guidelines updated October 2023

1. What do I wear to the baptism service? Sunday clothes, WHITE under clothing.

2. Where is the baptism and when should I arrive?

	● Golconda Stake Center, 1095 Golconda Drive: Beaumont, Canyon Creek, Hunter, Lake, Peavine Valley & Skyline Wards
	● Tahoe N. Chapel, 7851 N. Kingswood Drive: Tahoe North Ward

Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your service to pick-up your baptismal clothing from your Primary president. Then you can change clothes, take pictures, and greet guests!

3. What do I need to bring with me? Towel, comb, change of dry under clothing, white socks (if desired), bag to take your wet clothes home.

4. Who may come to see me be baptized? Mom and Dad, brothers and sisters, Grandmas and Grandpas, aunts, uncles, friends, teachers, anyone!

5. Can I hold my nose when I go under the water? Yes, the person baptizing you will show you how.

6. What does it mean to be baptized by “immersion”? This means that your whole body is put completely under the water and then brought back up out of the water. Being under the water is a likeness of Jesus’ death and burial. Being brought up out of the water is a likeness of Jesus’ resurrection to a new life, and a likeness of your being born to a new, clean life of righteousness.

7. What happens if some of my hair or one of my toes doesn’t go all the way under the water? You will be immersed (put under the water) a second time.

8. What covenant or promise do I make with Heavenly Father when I am baptized? You promise to always remember Jesus Christ; to keep His commandments; and to take His name upon you. When you promise to take upon yourself the name of Christ, you covenant to become one of his true followers and to always remember to do what He has taught us to do.

9. What does Heavenly Father promise me? That His Spirit (the Holy Ghost) will always be with you. This will help you to feel God’s love, comfort, and peace. The Holy Ghost helps us feel forgiven when we repent. The Holy Ghost will help you to return and live with God again.

10. Why must I be baptized and confirmed only by one who holds the priesthood? Jesus hrist gives people on earth power and authority to baptize and bless in His name. This power is called the priesthood. The person who baptizes you says this special prayer: Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. After your baptism, a priesthood holder will put his hands on your head. He will confirm you a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and bless you to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

11. How can I remember the promises I make at baptism? You can feel close to Jesus Christ as you choose to follow Him each day. By reverently partaking of the Sacrament each Sunday, and by listening to prayers offered over the bread and water you are part of a worldwide group of individuals striving to become more like Jesus Christ. To represent that unity, you will receive several emblems during your time in Primary. Your Bishop at your Baptismal interview will give you a ring and picture of the Temple which will also help you remember the promises you have made at Baptism.

12. What if I have other questions? Please let your mother, father, or Bishop know your questions. You may also contact the Reno Nevada Primary president, Suzy Gonda.