I typed this up as an outline of a Sunday YW lesson, but it was also easily adapted to our family's FHE lesson the next night. For both the young women and my children, I found that the process of highlighting and subsequently writing the prophet's words on the wall surrounding a picture of President Monson was a very powerful and memorable illustration. Click here for printable version of all images.
Why is it Important to Listen to and Follow the Living Prophets?
Lesson by Lara Goold
CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE VERSION OF THE PICTURES
Suggested Songs:
"We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet," Hymns, page 19
"Latter-day Prophets," Children's Songbook, page 134
"Follow the Prophet," Hymns, page 110
Lesson Purpose: To help the young women to understand what a great blessing it is to have a living prophet on the earth to give us guidance and direction for these latter-days.
Scripture: "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7
PREPARATION:
1. print enough copies of the talk, Believe, Obey, and Endure for every YW (or member of your family)
2. gather pens or pencils for every YW, also chalk and tape
3. Print off large picture of President Monson
4. (optional) print off wallet size pictures of President Monson for each of the YW to tape into their notebooks while they take notes
OPENING PRAYER:
ANALOGY OF THE GARDEN MAZE (see this link for printable version of pictures): Imagine you are in a maze that is made up of tall hedges. The bushes are too thick to see through, too tall to see over, and you can't tell whether you are heading towards a dead-end until you are right there. (SHOW PICTURE OF PEOPLE INSIDE THE MAZE) You start off knowing the approximate direction of where the exit is, but quickly lose your bearings and can't do anything more than wander aimlessly until you find the correct path out. Then you notice a little look-out tower. (SHOW PICTURE OF MAZE FROM THE LOOKOUT) You climb the tower and you can regain your bearings again and plot a path to the exit.
Relate being lost in the maze to being lost in the maze of our lives. Talk about how easy it is to get caught up in the "maze of life" and focus only on what is right in front of us.
ASK: What are some of the concerns that are in your maze of life? (you're looking for answers like a hard physics test, getting into college, boys, friends, etc)
WRITE: Have one of the YW come write on the picture of the people inside of the maze, some of the answers received.
TEACH: There is someone we can look to who has been given the keys to be on the look-out for our day and time. They have the perspective of being able to see all the twists and turns in the maze and give us guidance and direction that will help us to the finish line (eternal life).
SHOW PICTURE OF PRESIDENT MONSON and tape to the top of the chalkboard.
DRAW a simple watchtower underneath the picture and explain that God has given him the authority to see.
BELIEVE, OBEY, and ENDURE:
Hand out a pen and copy of the article to each student: Divide the YW into groups and assign each group a page of the article to read and to circle important messages that President Monson has given to the YW for this day and this time.
HAVE EACH PERSON SHARE SOMETHING THEY'VE CIRCLED IN THE ARTICLE: and ask for a volunteer to come make speech bubbles around the prophet and write in the words of the prophet that the YW shared from the article. If the girls have class journals, have them glue in a wallet size picture of President Monson and reproduce this in their notebooks while you go around the room.
Here are some of the things that our girls came up with: Decisions determine destiny, seminary changes lives, they are a daughter of Heavenly Father, pray for guidance, fan the flame of your testimony, choose to obey, there is a way back!
SHARE A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF FOLLOWING THE PROPHET: and the blessings you received. Bear your testimony about what a remarkable blessing it is to live in a day and a time that there is a living prophet.
CLOSING PRAYER:
HANDOUT (printable version below):
Additional Reading Material:
YW Lesson: Why is it Important to Listen to and Follow the Living Prophet?
**********************
Why is it Important to Listen to and Follow the Living Prophets?
Lesson by Lara Goold
Suggested Songs:
"We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet," Hymns, page 19
"Latter-day Prophets," Children's Songbook, page 134
"Follow the Prophet," Hymns, page 110
Lesson Purpose: To help the young women to understand what a great blessing it is to have a living prophet on the earth to give us guidance and direction for these latter-days.
Scripture: "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7
PREPARATION:
1. print enough copies of the talk, Believe, Obey, and Endure for every YW (or member of your family)
2. gather pens or pencils for every YW, also chalk and tape
3. Print off large picture of President Monson
4. (optional) print off wallet size pictures of President Monson for each of the YW to tape into their notebooks while they take notes
OPENING PRAYER:
ANALOGY OF THE GARDEN MAZE (see this link for printable version of pictures): Imagine you are in a maze that is made up of tall hedges. The bushes are too thick to see through, too tall to see over, and you can't tell whether you are heading towards a dead-end until you are right there. (SHOW PICTURE OF PEOPLE INSIDE THE MAZE) You start off knowing the approximate direction of where the exit is, but quickly lose your bearings and can't do anything more than wander aimlessly until you find the correct path out. Then you notice a little look-out tower. (SHOW PICTURE OF MAZE FROM THE LOOKOUT) You climb the tower and you can regain your bearings again and plot a path to the exit.
Relate being lost in the maze to being lost in the maze of our lives. Talk about how easy it is to get caught up in the "maze of life" and focus only on what is right in front of us.
ASK: What are some of the concerns that are in your maze of life? (you're looking for answers like a hard physics test, getting into college, boys, friends, etc)
WRITE: Have one of the YW come write on the picture of the people inside of the maze, some of the answers received.
TEACH: There is someone we can look to who has been given the keys to be on the look-out for our day and time. They have the perspective of being able to see all the twists and turns in the maze and give us guidance and direction that will help us to the finish line (eternal life).
SHOW PICTURE OF PRESIDENT MONSON and tape to the top of the chalkboard.
DRAW a simple watchtower underneath the picture and explain that God has given him the authority to see.
BELIEVE, OBEY, and ENDURE:
Hand out a pen and copy of the article to each student: Divide the YW into groups and assign each group a page of the article to read and to circle important messages that President Monson has given to the YW for this day and this time.
HAVE EACH PERSON SHARE SOMETHING THEY'VE CIRCLED IN THE ARTICLE: and ask for a volunteer to come make speech bubbles around the prophet and write in the words of the prophet that the YW shared from the article. If the girls have class journals, have them glue in a wallet size picture of President Monson and reproduce this in their notebooks while you go around the room.
VIDEO: watch this video and discuss.
SHARE A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF FOLLOWING THE PROPHET: and the blessings you received. Bear your testimony about what a remarkable blessing it is to live in a day and a time that there is a living prophet.
CLOSING PRAYER:
HANDOUT (printable version below):
Additional Reading Material:
YW Lesson: Why is it Important to Listen to and Follow the Living Prophet?
**********************
