Choices: LDS Primary Singing Time – Song Visuals, “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” – Primary music leader, family home evening

SINGING TIME. WISE MAN and the FOOLISH MAN song visuals. This Southern folk song reminds us to build our house upon a rock, so when the rains come down and the floods come up the house stands still. The foolish man’s house gets washed away because he built his house upon the sand. You can talk about Jesus Christ as a sure foundation to build upon to make us strong enough to withstand temptations that would drag us down into misery (3 Nephi 14:14-27; Helaman 5:12).

Ways to use Song VISUALS

FOUR WAYS TO GRAB SONG VISUALS AND SINGING

SINGING TIME

SONG VISUALS by Title

SONG VISUALS by Subject

SINGING ACTIVITIES to Motivate Singing

Lyrics

1. The wise man built his house upon the rock,

   The wise man built his house upon the rock,

   The wise man built his house upon the rock,

   And the rains came tumbling down.

2. The rains came down, and the floods came up,

   The rains came down, and the floods came up,

   The rains came down, and the floods came up,

   And the house on the rock stood still.

3. The foolish man built his house upon the sand,

   The foolish man built his house upon the sand,

   The foolish man built his house upon the sand,

   And the rains came tumbling down.

4. The rains came down, and the floods came up,

   The rains came down, and the floods came up,

   The rains came down, and the floods came up,

   And the house on the sand washed away.

IDEAS TO PRESENT THIS SONG:

1. Mount visuals on cardstock and post a stick on the back of each (as shown above) so children/youth can hold and move them around easily. Attach ribbon and beads on the bottom of the cloud to make a rain-like rattling notice when they sing, “The rain came down.”
2. To have children/youth help you teach the song, have them wave their visuals when you get to that part in the song. You may want to rehearse this with them the first time so they will feel comfortable assisting you.
3. Have children/youth positioned with the wise man and his house first, followed by the cloud and floodwaters and then the foolish man and his house.  Ideas From COME FOLLOW ME Lesson Ideas (Book of Mormon Lesson 38): 
   

   3 Nephi 14:24–27

   The Savior wants me to hear and do what He teaches.

   Just hearing the Savior’s words is not enough. Only those who live His teachings can withstand life’s storms.

    

   Sing together “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” (Children’s Songbook, 281).
   DOWNLOAD song visuals for this song (above). Read 3 Nephi 14:24–27. Help the children substitute their names for “the wise man” as they sing. Why did the wise man’s house stay standing during the storm? Review verse 24 to emphasize that he both heard and did what the Savior said.

   Show the children a rock and some sand. Ask them to point to the rock when you describe a choice to follow the Savior and point to the sand when you describe a choice not to follow Him. Testify that when we do what the Savior says, we are strong like a house built on a rock.

   3 Nephi 14:21–27; 15:1

   Spiritual safety comes from hearing and doing what the Savior teaches.

   “Rain” and “floods” come to all of us in life, but we can survive trials if we both hear and do what Jesus teaches.

   • As a class, read 3 Nephi 14:21–27 and 15:1, and ask the children to stand up every time you read the word “doeth.” Why does the Savior emphasize doing His sayings, not just hearing or remembering? Invite the children to draw a picture of verses 24–25 and write on the rock “Jesus” and something Jesus taught us to do. Sing together “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” (Children’s Songbook, 281).
     DOWNLOAD song visuals for this song (above)

   • Invite the children to stand up, and ask them to imagine that one leg represents hearing the Savior’s words and the other represents doing them. Invite them to raise the “doing” leg and balance on the “hearing” leg. What would happen if a strong wind blew through the room? Use this example to illustrate why it is safer to do what the Savior says and not just hear His words.

MORE ACTIVITIES:

More COMMANDMENTS Activities