As a primary presidency we wanted to do an activity with all
the girls and their leaders so we could show our love and appreciation for them
by giving them a chance to just enjoy the activity with their girls... but also
we thought this was a perfect way to train and teach the leaders by setting an example!
So they decided they wanted to make jewelry necklaces... so here is how we put
a gospel focus into our activity.
Attention Getter- I took sticky notes and wrote
words on them that represented things we talk about in the 13th article of
faith (example- virtuous/modest clothing) and also words that that were the
opposite of that (example- immodest clothing). Then I posted them all down the
halls of the church and divided the girls into two groups. I told them I had
written words that represented different things in the 13th article of faith (I
did not tell them there were also ones with opposite words too). Whichever
group could collect the most words would win... 1... 2... 3... GO! They
scrambled away and were back within minutes... having collected all the
words! So I collected both piles from the group and we started to go
through the words, that is when they realized they hadn't noticed what they
picked up. It was great way to grab their attention and teach the 13th article
of faith and what the words mean.
Opening Song-13th article of faith
Opening Prayer- We talked about how important it is
to always begin and end in prayer. We also talked about using the first few
minutes to draw the girls in and the spirit as you focus on a gospel standard,
article of faith, or scripture.
5 petals help us to consider 5 things we would
be wise to never forget...
First
“forget not” to be patient with yourself.
We spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to
others... usually comparing our weaknesses with their strengths. This fools us
into thinking we need to be perfect! And then we don’t ever feel like our
efforts are good enough. We don’t see the good we have done because it seems to
be less than what someone else has done (Have
girls name some examples). Everyone
has strengths and weaknesses. It’s wonderful that you have strengths and it is
part of God’s plan that while we are mortal we have weaknesses. Like “forget me
nots” your successes may seem tiny to you and may go unnoticed by others but
God notices them and they are not small to him.
Second
“forget not” the difference between a good sacrifice and a foolish sacrifice.
There are so many good things to do... But we can’t do all of
them. Our Heavenly Father is pleased when we sacrifice something good for
something far greater with an eternal perspective (Have girls name some examples). Sometimes that may even mean
nurturing small but beautiful “forget me not” flowers instead of a large garden
of exotic blooms.
Third
“forget not” to be happy now.
In “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” Willy Wonka hides a
golden ticket in five of his candy bars and announces that whoever finds one of
his tickets wins a tour of his factory and a life time supply of chocolate.
Written on each golden ticket is this message: “Greetings to you, the lucky
finder of this Golden Ticket … ! Tremendous things are in store for you! Many
wonderful surprises await you! … Mystic and marvelous surprises will delight, …
astonish, and perplex you.”
In this classic children’s story, people all over the world
desperately yearn to find a golden ticket. Some feel that their entire future
happiness depends on whether or not a golden ticket falls into their hands. In
their anxiousness, people begin to forget the simple joy they used to find in a
candy bar. The candy bar itself becomes an utter disappointment if it does not
contain a golden ticket. So many people today are waiting for their own golden
ticket—the ticket that they believe holds the key to their happiness. (Have girls give some examples)
It is good to hope and seek after things that are “virtuous,
lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.” The problem comes when we put our
happiness on hold as we wait for some future event—our golden ticket—to appear.
If we spend our days waiting for fabulous roses, we could
miss the beauty and wonder of the tiny forget-me-nots that are all around us.
Fourth
“forget not” the Why of the gospel.
Sometimes we overlook the
“why” of the gospel just as one might overlook a beautiful, delicate forget
me not. Sometimes we see the gospel as a list of chores to do (Have girls give examples). We just hear and do what were told and
what were supposed to do but sometimes we forget why.
When we understand “why” our Heavenly Father
has given us these things to do, those things no longer feel like chores or
“have to’s” but begin to be joyful and a delight to do.
If we walk through the garden only looking at the things that
need to be done we miss the beauty and blessings that surround us.
Fifth
“forget not” that the Lord loves you.
As a child, when I would look at the little forget-me-nots, I
sometimes felt a little like that flower—small and insignificant. I wondered if
I would be forgotten by my family or by my Heavenly Father.
You are not forgotten.
Wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are
not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how
insignificant you may feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be,
your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an
infinite love.
Just think of it: You are known and remembered by the most
majestic, powerful, and glorious Being in the universe! You are loved by the
King of infinite space and everlasting time!
He who created and knows the stars knows you and your
name—you are the daughters of His kingdom.
God loves you because you are His child. He loves you even
though at times you may feel lonely or make mistakes.
If you will allow His divine love into your life, it can
dress any wound, heal any hurt, and soften any sorrow.
Activity-We then made bottle cap necklaces with real
"forget-me-nots" in them. I ordered the flowers from naturespressed.com and got the
bottle caps, chain necklaces, and epoxy stickers off etsy.
We had
closing prayer and pudding cups with oreo's and gummy worms.
At our next activity days meeting we were able to go over what we had done and talk over the important things that should be taking place when they meet with the girls.
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