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The kids were glad that I provided
a list. It helped to jog their memories a little bit.
I had the Mia Maid/Teacher group in with my class, so it was a
bigger group, but I felt impressed to have each and every student
share their answers. It took a little while, but the Spirit
was there, everyone was listening to everyone else, and the kids
shared some really neat things. A couple of girls pulled out
little journals where they had written notes from conference and
referred to those. (These kids are incredible!!) In
fact, this activity ended up taking the entire time!! But I
kept feeling like we needed every person to share. So I went
with it. You gotta go with those feelings. Here is what I
had prepared for the rest of the lesson:
2. Why it's important to
listen to general conference
I was just going to point to the
question on the board and have them come up and write down as many
answers that they could think of - just like the lesson suggested.
Then I was going to hand out some
scripture references and snippets of President Monson's talk, "As
We Gather Once Again." Here were the slips of paper I
was going to hand out:
Read the following scripture. Look in the scripture for
reasons we listen to general conference. If you find something in
your scripture that hasn't been listed on the board yet, go to the
board and write it down. If you find something in your scripture
that's already been listed, go to the board and put an asterisk
next to it.
Mosiah 8:16-18
Read the following scripture. Look in the scripture for
reasons we listen to general conference. If you find something in
your scripture that hasn't been listed on the board yet, go to the
board and write it down. If you find something in your scripture
that's already been listed, go to the board and put an asterisk
next to it.
D&C 1:38
Read the following scripture. Look in the scripture for
reasons we listen to general conference. If you find something in
your scripture that hasn't been listed on the board yet, go to the
board and write it down. If you find something in your scripture
that's already been listed, go to the board and put an asterisk
next to it.
D&C 68:3-4
Read the following portion of President Thomas S. Monson's
talk from April's General Conference, “As We Gather Once Again.”
Look for reasons we listen to general conference. If you find
something in this section of the talk that hasn't been listed on
the board yet, go to the board and write it down. If you find
something in this section that's already been listed, go to the
board and put an asterisk next to it.
My beloved brothers and sisters, as
we gather once again in a general conference of the Church, I
welcome you and express my love to you. We meet each six months to
strengthen one another, to extend encouragement, to provide
comfort, to build faith. We are here to learn. Some of you may be
seeking answers to questions and challenges you are experiencing
in your life. Some are struggling with disappointments or losses.
Each can be enlightened and uplifted and comforted as the Spirit
of the Lord is felt.
Read the following portion of President Thomas S. Monson's
talk from April's General Conference, “As We Gather Once Again.”
Look for reasons we listen to general conference. If you find
something in this section of the talk that hasn't been listed on
the board yet, go to the board and write it down. If you find
something in this section that's already been listed, go to the
board and put an asterisk next to it.
Should there be changes which need
to be made in your life, may you find the incentive and the
courage to do so as you listen to the inspired words which will be
spoken. May each of us resolve anew to live so that we are worthy
sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. May we continue to
oppose evil wherever it is found.
Read the following portion of President Thomas S. Monson's
talk from April's General Conference, “As We Gather Once Again.”
Look for reasons we listen to general conference. If you find
something in this section of the talk that hasn't been listed on
the board yet, go to the board and write it down. If you find
something in this section that's already been listed, go to the
board and put an asterisk next to it.
Now, my brothers and sisters, we
have come to be instructed and inspired. Many messages will be
shared during the next two days. I can assure you that those men
and women who will address you have sought heaven’s help and
direction as they have prepared their messages. They have been
inspired concerning that which they will share with us.
Read the following portion of President Thomas S. Monson's
talk from April's General Conference, “As We Gather Once Again.”
Look for reasons we listen to general conference. If you find
something in this section of the talk that hasn't been listed on
the board yet, go to the board and write it down. If you find
something in this section that's already been listed, go to the
board and put an asterisk next to it.
Our Heavenly Father is
mindful of each of us and our needs. May we be filled with His
Spirit as we partake of the proceedings of this conference. This
is my sincere prayer in the sacred name of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ, amen.
Here are the notes I took in my
notebook. I was going to add any of the following points if
the kids missed writing them down:
Mosiah 8: 16 - 18 - a prophet can
make past, future, and hidden things known.
- a prophet can work miracles
- a prophet can greatly benefit
others.
D&C 1:38 - the Lord's words are
spoken through the prophet
D&C 68: 3 - 4 - what the
prophets speak are scripture
- prophets are the voice of the
Lord
- prophets bring us salvation
As We Gather Once Again - Paragraph
1 - we are strengthened
- we are encouraged
- we are comforted
- our faith is built
- to learn
- get answers to our questions
- Paragraph 2 - helps us want to
change
- Second-to-last paragraph -
speakers are inspired by the Spirit
about what to share
- Last paragraph - we can feel
the Spirit
3. Challenges of the Youth Today
I did this activity last
August. You can find that lesson plan here.
The lesson plan they gave us last August was a little different,
but you can see what I did last year, if you want. I did
something completely different during the first half, and I did
the following activity for the second half. When I saw they
still suggested that the kids search this recent conference for
answers to challenges that the youth face, I pulled out the
posterboard that I had made last year, but I changed the
challenges and responses to match this most recent conference.
I taped the challenges to the board, and then I was going to hand
out the responses to these challenges to each of the kids.
Then I was going to have them match the answers to the
challenges. When we did this activity last year, it went
really well.
So here are the challenges and the
answers to the challenges that I found in this last conference:
Jane has a lot of problems in
her family life. She feels a lot of sorrow and a lot of worry as a
result of her family members' choices. What can she do to
dissipate the darkness that she feels all around her?
First,
start where you are. The very moment you begin to seek your
Heavenly Father, in that moment, the hope of His light will begin
to awaken, enliven, and ennoble your soul. 5
The darkness may not dissipate all at once, but as surely as night
always gives way to dawn, the light will come.
Second,
turn your heart toward the Lord. Lift up your soul in
prayer and explain to your Heavenly Father what you are feeling.
Acknowledge your shortcomings. Pour out your heart and express
your gratitude. Let
Him know of the trials you are facing. Plead with Him in Christ’s
name for strength and support. Ask that your ears may be opened,
that you may hear His voice. Ask that your eyes may be opened,
that you may see His light.
Third,
walk in the light. God sent His Son to this earth to illuminate
the way and show us how to safely cross the stumbling blocks
placed in our path. He has given us the gospel, which teaches the
way of the disciple. It teaches us the things we must know, do,
and be to walk in His light, following in the footsteps of His
Beloved Son, our Savior.
As we seek to increase our love
for God and strive to love our neighbor, the light of the gospel
will surround and uplift us. The darkness will surely fade,
because it cannot exist in the presence of light. As we draw near
to God, He will draw near to us. 6
And day by day, the hope of God’s light will grow within us,
“brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” 7
- Elder Dieter Uchtdorf, April
2013 General Conference, “The Hope of God's Light”
Lately, John has become a
little lazy about church stuff. He's been slacking off in his
scripture reading and personal prayer, and though he goes to
church, he daydreams and doodles on a piece of paper the whole
time and doesn't participate.
All who strive earnestly to follow
the Christ are called His disciples. Although we recognize
that none of us are perfect, we do not use that fact as an excuse
to lower our expectations, to live beneath our privileges, to
delay the day of our repentance, or to refuse to grow into better,
more perfect, more refined followers of our Master and King.
Janice is often frustrated by
the lack of spirituality in her seminary class. She finds it
difficult to improve her spirituality when others are so
disruptive, and it angers and frustrates her a lot.
As President
Grant said, the Savior’s peace can “blot out our hates.”
Judgment is the Lord’s.
Emma Lou
Thayne’s beloved hymn asks the appropriate questions: “Where
can I turn for peace? Where is my solace when other sources cease
to make me whole?” 23
The answer is the Savior, who is the source and author of peace.
He is the “Prince of Peace.” 24
How do we
stay close to the Savior? Humbling ourselves before God,
praying always, repenting of sins, entering the waters of baptism
with a broken heart and contrite spirit, and becoming true
disciples of Jesus Christ are profound examples of the
righteousness that is rewarded by abiding peace.
Temples are
where many of these sacred ordinances occur and are also a source
of peaceful refuge from the world. Those who visit temple grounds
or participate in temple open houses also feel this peace.
Josiah
just got his mission call. He's very nervous and not at all sure
that he's prepared.
Search the
scriptures with diligence. Let me provide but one reference which
has immediate application to our lives. In the Book
of Mormon, the 17th chapter of Alma, we read the account of
Alma’s joy as he once more saw the sons of Mosiah and noted
their steadfastness in the cause of truth. The record tells us,
“They had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they
were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the
scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
“But this
is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting;
therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of
revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and
authority of God.” 4
President
Thomas S. Monson, April 2013 General Conference, Priesthood
Session, “Come, All Ye Sons of God”
Jillian's dad has been assigned
by his employer to work in a different country for a very long
time. Jillian is very close to her dad and is depressed and upset
that she won't see him at home every day. She worries that their
relationship will change. She worries about his safety and
comfort. How will she get by without talking to him every day?
She's just really sad.
Brothers and sisters, we need not
falter in hope and good cheer, because God is with us. To His
Saints in our day, the Savior has said, “Be of good cheer, and
do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you”
( D&C
68:6). Trials may come, and we may not understand everything
that happens to us or around us. But if we humbly, quietly trust
in the Lord, He will give us strength and guidance in every
challenge we face. When our only desire is to please Him, we will
be blessed with a deep inner peace.
Janell has had a lot of
problems and drama with her friends lately. She's so tired of it
and so frustrated.
A
girl named Kate, who was experiencing a very difficult trial,
said: “It was so hard. I knew I could make it a springboard for
growth or allow it to be a roadblock. I didn’t want to let it
ruin my life. I tried to be as close to the Lord as possible. I
read my scriptures a lot. I prayed a lot. I wrote in my journal as
often as I could. I kept my testimony vibrant by writing it down.
I went to church and to Young Women every week. I kept close to
caring relatives and especially to my mom, who was the anchor in
our family. I sought out priesthood
blessings from my grandfather and other priesthood holders.”
Mary N.
Cook, First Counselor in the Young Women's Presidency, Young
Women's Conference, “When You Save a Girl, You Save
Generations”
Jeremy doesn't feel that his
testimony is very strong. Sometimes he feels the Spirit, but he
doesn't feel that he has very much gospel knowledge. He's trying
to figure out if he should serve a mission in a couple of years.
In
moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you
have already won, even if that ground is limited. When those
moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not
immediately forthcoming, hold
fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional
knowledge comes. The
size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the
issue—it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you
do have and the truth you already know. I am not asking you to
pretend to faith you do not have. I am
asking you to be true to the
faith you do
have. Furthermore, you have more
faith than you think you do. Please don’t hyperventilate if from
time to time issues arise that need to be examined, understood,
and resolved. They do and they will. In
this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know.
And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith.
Jason has a hard time wanting
to go to mutual on Tuesday nights. He thinks the activities are
kind of lame. He doesn't really have a close relationship to any
of the guys in his priesthood quorum, and he's not really
attracted to any of the girls in his ward.
Be sure to
participate in family, quorum, class, and combined Mutual
activities. Enjoy wholesome fun together. Through these
experiences you will come to respect and appreciate one another’s
spiritual gifts and the eternal, complementary natures of the sons
and daughters of God.
- Elder
Robert D. Hales, April 2013 General Conference,“Stand Strong in
Holy Places”
Here is what
I planned to have the poster looking like when we finished:
Some of the answers can be interchanged, so if your students
don't match up the challenges and answers the way I did, it's not
a huge deal. And that is that! I'm out! |
3 comments:
As a professional educator, and now a Sunday school teacher for the youth, I am so impressed with the time and creativity that you have presented and outlined in these lesson helps. Thank you for sharing.
As a professional educator, and now a Sunday school teacher for the youth, I am so impressed with the time and creativity that you have presented and outlined in these lesson helps. Thank you for sharing.
I really enjoy your lessons. They help me so much in preparing for mine. Thank you for posting!
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