Kigatsuku

As part of our Come, Follow Me study this week, I was reminded of a Primary sharing time given many, many years ago. I'm sure it was the basis of several family night lessons over the years as well. What was the topic? Service, specifically the principle of Kigatsuku, which I learned from Sister Okazaki. Here are just some of the resources we used in these lessons.

First, the talk itself - "Spit and Mud and Kigatsuku" by Chieko N. Okazaki

As we discuss service today, I’d like to teach you an important Japanese word. It’s kigatsuku.

Kigatsuku means “an inner spirit to act without being told what to do.” 

When I was just a little girl, my mother began teaching me to be kigatsuku. When she swept the floor, she would say, “Chieko, what would a kigatsuku girl do now?” Then I’d run and get the dustpan. I recognized my mother’s teaching when I read that wonderful scripture:

“Verily, I say, [you] should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of [your] own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; “For the power is in [you], wherein [you] are [an agent] unto [yourself].” (D&C 58:27–28)

Second, here are some role plays, written out on the back of letter flashcards, which were used to either introduce or reinforce the concept. If you were trying to be a kigatsuku child, how would you act in the following situations?

1. K - You walk into the family room to watch your favorite television show and see your little brother's blocks and cars all over the place.
2. I - You are on your way to a soccer game. You are in a hurry, but as you walk down the street to the playing field, you see an elderly woman drop a bag of groceries.
3. G - Your family is getting ready to go to church. Your father has already left because he had a meeting to attend. The baby is crying and you have several little brothers and sisters who need help getting ready.
4. A - Your Primary teacher wasn't at church on Sunday. Someone said she was home with the flu and was feeling terrible.
5. T - You have been at a friend's house playing and are now very tired. As you walk into your yard at home you see your father working in the garden.
6. S - As you come into the kitchen to get a drink, you see your brother washing the dinner dishes.
7. U - You overhear your younger sister ask your mom for some help with her homework. Your mom just got home and is hurrying to put dinner on the table before your dad gets home too.
8. K - You are walking home with some friends. You see that a dog has knocked over a trash can in a neighbor's yard and has scattered the trash around. The neighbor is away and won't be back for a few days.
9. U - You see a new girl in school and introduce yourself. She asks you where you eat lunch. You had planned to eat lunch with your friends.

Third, discuss the lessons learned from the story of Jesus healing the blind man found in John 9:1-7. Sister Okazaki shared four of them.

1. You don't need an appointment to serve others.
2. Look for the needs of an individual.
3. Perform the service immediately using available resources.
4. Let others participate in service opportunities.

What else would you add for a lesson on service? Here's an idea from My Friend Mesha.