Sunday, February 24, 2013

Why Do the Choices I Make Matter?

-Play “Let’s make a Deal” If you've never played it here's a CLIP of the game.


-How did the choices you made affect the outcome of the game?
-How do our choice effect the outcome of our lives?
“Your Heavenly Father loves you and wants you to be happy. The way to do this is to “walk in the paths of virtue” and “cleave unto [your] covenants.” Young women, in a world ever growing in moral pollution, tolerance of evil, exploitation of women, and distortion of roles, you must stand guard of yourself, your family, and all those with whom you associate. You must be guardians of virtue.”- Sis. Dalton

Write these definitions on the board…
            *Virtue-is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. It includes chastity and [moral] purity
            *Guardian- A guardian is someone who protects, shields, and defends
            *A guardian of virtue- guardian of virtue, you will protect, shield, and defend moral purity because the power to create mortal life is a sacred and exalted power and must be safeguarded until you are married.

Being a guardian of virtue means you will always be modest not only in your dress but also in your speech, your actions, and your use of social media. Being a guardian of virtue means you will never text words or images to young men that may cause them to lose the Spirit, lose their priesthood power, or lose their virtue. It means that you understand the importance of chastity because you also understand that your body is a temple and that the sacred powers of procreation are not to be tampered with before marriage. You understand that you possess a sacred power that involves the holy responsibility of bringing other spirits to earth to receive a body in which to house their eternal spirit. This power involves another sacred soul. You are a guardian of something “more precious than rubies.” 8 Be faithful. Be obedient. Prepare now so that you may qualify to receive all the blessings that await you in the Lord’s holy temples.- Sis. Dalton

When I was a young woman, I learned that some decisions need to be made only once. I wrote my list of things I would always do and things I would never do in a small tablet. It included things like obeying the Word of Wisdom, praying daily, paying my tithing, and committing to never miss church. I made those decisions once, and then in the moment of decision, I knew exactly what to do because I had decided beforehand. When my high school friends said, “Just one drink won’t hurt,” I laughed and said, “I decided when I was 12 not to do that.” Making decisions in advance will help you be guardians of virtue. I hope each of you will write a list of things you will always do and things you will never do. Then live your list. –Sis. Dalton

-Have the girls write their own “Always and Never lists”

-Watch the CLIP from Alice in wonderland

Decisions are constantly before us. To make them wisely, courage is needed—the courage to say no, the courage to say yes. Decisions do determine destiny. I plead with you to make a determination right here, right now, not to deviate from the path which will lead to our goal: eternal life with our Father in Heaven. Along that straight and true path there are other goals: missionary service, temple marriage, Church activity, scripture study, prayer, temple work. There are countless worthy goals to reach as we travel through life. Needed is our commitment to reach them. –Pres. Monson


-We (unlike Alice) know which path we want to take. As guardians of virtue we choose the path of righteousness; the path to marriage in the holy temple…the path for “Eternal Bliss”

-Give them the handout with the Bliss chocolates that say “Choose the path to “Eternal Bliss”


Sunday, February 17, 2013

Why Should I Treat My Body Like a Temple?


-Show a picture of a temple. Ask the young women why the temple is so beautiful and how our bodies are like temples of God.
-Ask the girls to think about this question throughout the lesson…“Why should I treat my body like a temple?”
-“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
-What are some of the ways our bodies are like temples?
1)    They are always lit up. We light up in our countenances as we have the spirit with us as our constant companion.
-       Matthew 5:14-16
-       What do you think it means to hide your light under a bushel or to put it on a candlestick?
-       Sharing you individual talents with others and setting a good example will lead people to Christ.
2)    They are clean. As we keep our selves groomed and clean we can reflect the beauty of the temples in our own appearance.
-Show the video “195 Dresses,” 
-Ask the young women to look for blessings that come from dressing modestly. What would they say to someone who asks why modesty is so important?

- QUOTE #1 Your body is God’s sacred creation. Respect it as a gift from God, and do not defile it in any way. Through your dress and appearance, you can show the Lord that you know how precious your body is. You can show that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Prophets of God have always counseled His children to dress modestly. The way you dress is a reflection of what you are on the inside. Your dress and grooming send messages about you to others and influence the way you and others act. When you are well groomed and modestly dressed, you invite the companionship of the Spirit and can exercise a good influence on those around you.- “For the Strength of Youth”
3)    Only the best and highest quality of materials are used to build and decorate the temples. We can choose to follow the word of wisdom and only put good things our bodies.
- QUOTE #2  The Lord has commanded you to take good care of your body. To do this, observe the Word of Wisdom, found in Doctrine and Covenants 89. Eat nutritious food, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. When you do all these things, you remain free from harmful addictions and have control over your life. You gain the blessings of a healthy body, an alert mind, and the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
Never use tobacco products, such as cigarettes, snuff, chewing tobacco, cigars, and pipe tobacco. They are very addictive and will damage your body and shorten your life. Also, do not drink coffee or tea, for these are addictive and harmful.
Any form of alcohol is harmful to your body and spirit. Being under the influence of alcohol weakens your judgment and self-control and could lead you to break the law of chastity or other commandments. Drinking can lead to alcoholism, which destroys individuals and families.
Any drug, chemical, or dangerous practice that is used to produce a sensation or “high” can destroy your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. These include hard drugs, prescription or over-the-counter medications that are abused, and household chemicals.
4)    Only members with a recommend can enter into the temple. We can choose to keep our selves morally clean and save the powers of procreation for within the bonds of marriage. “My body is a temple and you don’t have a recommend.” ;)
-Show the video “I choose to be pure”.
  • Ask the young women to look for blessings that come from being sexually pure?

“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
The choices we make about the use of our personal temples will affect us throughout all eternity.
QUOTE# 3  Because the physical body is so central to the Father’s plan of happiness and our spiritual development, we should not be surprised that Lucifer seeks to thwart our progression by enticing us to use our bodies improperly. It is to me one of the ultimate ironies of eternity that the adversary, who is miserable because he has no physical body and therefore cannot progress, seeks to make us miserable “like unto himself” (2 Ne. 2:27) through the improper use of our bodies. The very tool he does not have and cannot use thus is the primary instrument through which he attempts to lure us to spiritual destruction.
QUOTE #4  Our physical bodies indeed are temples of God. Consequently, you and I must carefully consider what we take into our temple, what we put on our temple, what we do to our temple, and what we do with our temple. And we can learn a number of important lessons by comparing the Church’s temples to our physical bodies as temples.

QUOTE #5  “Recollect, brethren and sisters, every one of you, that when evil is suggested to you, when it arises in your hearts, it is through the temporal organization. When you are tempted, buffeted, and step out of the way inadvertently; when you are overtaken in a fault, or commit an overt act unthinkingly; when you are full of evil passion, and wish to yield to it, then stop and let the spirit, which God has put into your tabernacles, take the lead. If you do that, I will promise that you will overcome all evil, and obtain eternal lives. But many, very many, let the spirit yield to the body, and are overcome and destroyed” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1941], 70).


-For my handout I gave all of the girls a daisy. I showed them how beautiful and white the flower was.
-Then I asked “Should let someone pluck out a few pedals?” No. Why not?
-Then I told them that their bodies are like these flowers and they should never let anyone “Pluck one of their peddles out by being immoral.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

WHAT HAPPENED IN MY PREMORTAL LIFE?


-Have the girls share about last time’s challenge…

*Throughout the week notice the divine qualities of someone in your family and share those with them.*

-Ask the young women to think about and share any righteous choices they have made in the past and how those decisions bless their lives now.
-Deciding to get married in the temple
-Having kids

-Then ask them to name a choice they made before they were born. How has this choice affected their lives?

-VIDEO- “We lived with God”

-READ the Bible definition for the War in Heaven

-QUOTE #1  It was my father who taught me about the premortal life. He explained that long ago you and I were born as daughters in our Heavenly Father’s family. We made sacred decisions there that have influenced what we are doing now. When I was younger, my grandfather gave me a blessing. He blessed me that I would “continue my ministry here that I had so nobly performed there.” Now, if I had a ministry in the premortal existence, then so did you. It is not by chance that you were born now, in this season of the world’s history. Each one of you was a valiant and noble woman in your premortal life.- Sis. Carol B. Thomas

-Read aloud “The Family proclamation”

-QUOTE #2  The doctrines of the restored gospel create a wonderful and “unique feminine identity that encourages women to develop their abilities” as true and literal daughters of God. Through serving in the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary organizations—not to mention their private acts of love and service—women have always played and will always play an important part in helping “Bring forth and establish the cause of Zion” - Pres. Uchtdorf 

-VIDEO- “Jesus heals a woman of faith”

-QUOTE #3  There is a saying that big gates move on small hinges. Sisters, your example in seemingly small things will make a big difference in the lives of our young people. The way you dress and groom yourselves, the way you talk, the way you pray, the way you testify, the way you live every day will make the difference. This includes which TV shows you watch, which music you prefer, and how you use the Internet. If you love to go to the temple, the young people who value your example will also love to go. If you adapt your wardrobe to the temple garment and not the other way around, they will know what you consider important, and they will learn from you. - Pres. Uchtdorf

- Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a avirtuous bwoman? for her price is far above rubies.

-QUOTE #4  May I invite you to rise to the great potential within you. But don’t reach beyond your capacity. Don’t set goals beyond your capacity to achieve. Don’t feel guilty or dwell on thoughts of failure. Don’t compare yourself with others. Do the best you can, and the Lord will provide the rest. Have faith and confidence in Him, and you will see miracles happen in your life and the lives of your loved ones. The virtue of your own life will be a light to those who sit in darkness, because you are a living witness of the fulness of the gospel. –Pres. Uchtdorf

* CHALLENGE- Complete Individual Worth value #1 *


Most of my quotes came from
This talk called "Understanding Our True Identity" by Carol B. Thomas
This talk called "The Influence of Righteous Women" by Pres. Uchtdorf

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Who Am I and Who Can I Become?


-Print off the quote by Pres. Hinckley and have it on display
(“You are second to NONE, you are daughters of God.”)

-Start by sharing the Challenge from the previous week.

-Write the names of the young women on separate slips of paper. Ask each young woman to randomly select one of the papers and identify a Godlike quality that the young woman on her paper possesses. Point out other divine qualities that you have seen in the young women.

-“There has come to you as your birthright something beautiful and sacred and divine. Never forget that. Your Eternal Father is the great Master of the universe. He rules over all, but He also will listen to your prayers as His daughter and hear you as you speak with Him. He will answer your prayers. He will not leave you alone”  -Ensign, May 2004

-Show VIDEO “Our True Identity”

-D&C 18:10- The worth of souls is great

-What is the worth of a soul?
Pres. Monson said, “The worth of a soul is its capacity to become as God.”

-C. S. Lewis wisely said: “It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship. … There are no ordinary people. … Your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses.” 

-“Let me share an experience that is tender and even sacred to me. When I was first called to serve as Young Women general president, I felt terrified and inadequate. I lay awake for many nights worrying, repenting, and crying. After several nights of this, I had a very moving experience. I started thinking about my young women nieces, then about the young women in my neighborhood and ward, then about the young women I saw regularly at the high school, and then I envisioned young women of the Church throughout the world, over half a million of them. The most wonderfully warm feeling began to envelop me and surge through me. I felt such exquisite love for Latter-day Saint young women everywhere, each one of you, and I knew that what I was feeling was our Heavenly Father’s love for you. It was powerful and all-encompassing. For the first time I felt peace because I knew what Heavenly Father wanted me to do. He wanted me to witness to you of His great love for you. And so I testify to you again that I know beyond doubt that Heavenly Father knows you and loves you. You are His special daughter. He has a plan for you, and He will ever be there to lead you, guide you, and walk beside you (see “I Am a Child of God”). I earnestly pray that you will know this and feel this, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”- Susan W. Tanner

-Samuel 16:7- The Lord looks on the Heart

-“The Lord doesn’t care at all if we spend our days working in marble halls or stable stalls. He knows where we are, no matter how humble our circumstances. He will use—in His own way and for His holy purposes—those who incline their hearts to Him. God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior’s example and spend the days of their lives doing good.” –Elder Uctdorf
-Show VIDEO “Your potential, your privilege”

-End with your personal testimony of the young women's great worth and God's love for them.

*CHALLENGE- Throughout the week notice the divine qualities of someone in your family and share those with them.*

For my handout I found these cute little swans that go along with Elder Uctdorf's video. I found them at our local Dollar Tree (6 in a pack!). I just wrapped up a couple of Jolly Ranchers in tissue paper and stuck them inside. I love that it kinda looks like feathers. All I will add to it is a paper around the neck with the Pres. Hinckley quote “You are second to NONE, you are daughters of God.”





Sunday, January 13, 2013

Why is Jesus Important to me?

For anyone who would like to know more about why I live the way I do, or about my church check out this website.

This was my first lesson teaching with the new "Come Follow Me" youth curriculum. I was really nervous but I think it went pretty well! Here is my layout and hand out I used.


"Jesus is the Only Begotten and Beloved Son of God. He is our Creator. He is the Light of the World. He is our Savior from sin and death. This is the most important knowledge on earth, and youcan know this for yourself. We are followers of Jesus Christ. There is no middle ground." - Elder Dallin H. Oaks

-Ask the girls why Jesus is important/ what he means to them. (We went around the room and had everyone share their answers)

A lot of my points are from THIS talk by Dalin H. Oaks

WHAT HAS JESUS DONE FOR ME?

-THE LIFE OF THE WORLD- "He is the life of the world because He is our Creator and because, through His Resurrection, we are all assured that we will live again. And the life He gives us is not merely mortal life. He taught, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28; see also John 17:2)."

-How does this knowledge that we are eternal being changed the way you think or act?
-Share the "He will give you help" VIDEO

-THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD-Jesus also taught, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness” (John 8:12). He also declared, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He is the way and He is the light because His teachings light our path in mortal life and show us the way back to the Father.
-Jesus taught us how to live by His example.
-What have we learned from the way Jesus lived his life on earth?

HE TOOK UPON OUR SINS AND AFFLICTIONS
-Jesus has felt what we have felt. He knows everything we're going through. He can comfort and help us in our times of need
-Mosiah 24:14-15-ease your burdens
-Tell a personal story or two about how you have drawn upon the strength of the Lord in your times of need
-Matthew 11:28-30- Take my yoke upon you

I like to challenge my girls every week. So the challenge this week is to make an effort to act as Jesus would this week, and come next week prepared to share an experience, and how it made you feel.

For my handout I did a little strip of paper with a Werthers candy on it that said "What is Jesus "worth" to you? And I also included the challenge for the week.