Teaching Children to Worship



*Joan Hughes and Helen Hughes offer these suggestions that may be useful.

1. The teaching of reverent worship begins at home. Discuss at home before sacrament how we will take part in the sacrament meeting. We can also provide quiet moments conducive to the Spirit in the home, such as daily devotionals with scripture reading and hymn singing, in addition to Family Home Evening.

2. Music is a vehicle of the Spirit, which children can feel even if they don’t understand the words. Small children like to listen for repeated phrases in the text. We can help them hear the words by whispering upcoming words in the child’s ears. They will hear the words when they are sung. For example, “listen for ‘Jesus shows his smiling face’”. Then watch them smile when the congregation sings those words. When they learn to read, children have a great sense of accomplishment when they can read the hymns. Encourage this when they become teenagers.


3. Read sacrament prayers at home, explaining the meaning in words they can understand. They learn to pray at a very early age, to fold their arms and bow their heads. It may be helpful for older children to try to memorize the prayers. As with the hymns, they will “hear” the words if they know them.


4. Quietly point out scripture stories they are familiar with, whispering a brief summary very reverently in their ears.





Worship services are a great opportunity for children to learn self-control and respect for others. Then as they grow they will gain a deep abiding love for the Savior.

* For more information see Ensign magazine, January 2007, p.24