The following is excerpted from the Church News. To read the full article, CLICK HERE. 

Baptized and confirmed Primary children are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and as such, bishops, stake presidents and Primary presidencies can invite these children to more fully participate in their meetings.

Primary General President Susan H. Porter said her presidency has thought and pondered on how to help children know what it means to be a covenant child of God, as taught by President Russell M. Nelson. (See Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults with President Nelson, May 2022.)

“We have looked at the meetings that we attend — starting with sacrament meetings and stake conferences — and we have asked ourselves the question, ‘What are we doing in this meeting to nourish everyone?’” President Porter said.

Her concern is that children may feel that their job in sacrament meeting and stake conference is to be quiet so that adults can listen. But children have been invited to those meetings, where they can learn the gospel of Jesus Christ and partake of the sacrament.

Choirs of Primary children can sing in meetings, and Christ-centered Primary songs can also be sung by the congregation. In a recent sacrament meeting, a new bishop announced that the congregation would sing a Primary song because he wanted the children to know that they were a part of this Church. “You belong here,” he said. Many parents teared-up while their children beamed.

Section 29.6 of the General Handbook says any baptized Church member may offer an opening or closing prayer in a Church meeting. This includes newly baptized 8-year-old children. Baptized children can also be invited to give a talk in sacrament meeting.

A May 2024 update to the General Handbook Section 29.2.1.4 makes this more clear, saying: “The bishopric selects speakers for sacrament meeting. Most often they invite ward members, including youth and children.”

President Porter shared the example of hearing a baptized Primary child speak in a sacrament meeting.

To read the full article, CLICK HERE.