The Church has a comprehensive program for teaching children called Primary which was founded in 1878. Its purpose is to teach children the gospel of Jesus Christ and help them learn to live its principles.
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The program is for all children ages 3 to 11 and is held for two hours each Sunday while parents participate in their weekly meetings. Currently over one million children attend Primary worldwide.
Primary is divided into two parts — “sharing time” and individual class instruction. Sharing time allows children to participate in activities and to learn and sing songs that teach gospel principles.
Children also participate in regularly held “activity days,” which provide them with opportunities to interact with each other and have wholesome fun in physical, creative, cultural and service activities. Activity days give children the opportunity to put into action the principles they have been taught during Sunday Primary and in their homes.
Children ages 8 through 11 set personal goals in Faith in God guidebooks to help them live gospel principles, develop testimonies and build friendships. This also helps to prepare them to enter the Young Men and Young Women programs at the age of 12.