"Why Do the Choices I Make Matter?" Lesson and Handout

I am a very kinesthetic learner, so when I teach I like to employ  a variety of different methods of teaching to increase the likelihood that the lesson will actually connect with each of the students.   I often create a simple worksheet to go along with the lesson--not to make it feel like school, but to give them a place to jot down answers and ideas throughout the lesson.  I have found that employing this simple idea has made our discussions more meaningful and made it easier for every person to be involved in the discussion.   Since they've already taken a few moments to write down their ideas, they're less likely to have been caught off-guard or feel put on the spot. 

For an attention getter at the beginning of the class, I taped a large 'V' onto the floor and told them to try to walk down both "paths" at the same time.   They could for a little bit, but eventually the "paths" got far enough apart that they could no longer keep a foot on each path.   They had to choose one or the other.   Then I asked them to go back to the beginning and pick the correct path, without telling them which one was correct.  They acted confused and each picked their own correct way…one of them even walking down the middle of the two.    

We then read this  quote from President Monson:  

Let us not find ourselves as indecisive as is Alice in Lewis Carroll’s classic "Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland."  You will remember that she comes to a crossroads with two paths before her, each stretching onward but in opposite directions. She is confronted by the Cheshire cat, of whom Alice asks, “Which path shall I follow?”
The cat answers, “That depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn’t matter which path you take.”⁷Unlike Alice, we all know where we want to go, and itdoes matter which way we go, for by choosing our path, we choose our destination.

And read this scripture (Matthew 6:24):   

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

We talked about the importance of knowing our path before embarking on it and that while each individual's path in life will vary from the next person's, but  that in the end we should all have the final goal the same--eternal life.

Then they each filled out on the worksheet, some of the goals they had for their lives.

We then read Proverbs 3:5-6:

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall directthy paths." 

We talked in more details about how to make choices and discussed President Monson's three "R"s of choice.

If you have time, you could have the girls write on the illustrated part of the worksheet things that they can do better at to help them reach their ultimate goal of eternal life.

Lastly we talked about the importance for making time to feel God's help and direction in our lives.  I showed them this picture and quote and talked about how easy it is fill our lives with things--not necessarily bad, but in the long run that are completely meaningless.   I encouraged them to allow themselves time to "Be still" and allow God's influence into their lives.  

I ended by bearing testimony of the importance of looking at the big picture, to not getting caught up in the day-to-day fluff and lose sight of what our end goal really is.  I encouraged them to go home and write some of their goals into their journals and what they would do to reach them.

I also emphasized that if we ever were to find ourselves on a wrong path in life, that  through Christ's atonement and the gift of repentance, that we can get back on the right path again.   It's easier to stay on the right path in the first place, but it's NEVER too late to change direction, and that God is always there with his arms outstretched to help us to find our way back again.

Why Do the Choices I Make Matter?

QUOTES ABOUT MAKING CHOICES:  

#1 “As I’ve contemplated the various aspects of choice, I’ve put them into three categories: first, the right of choice; second, the responsibility of choice; and third, the results of choice. I call these the three Rs of choice.  President David O. McKay, ninth President of the Church, said, “Next to the bestowal of life itself, the right to direct that life is God’s greatest gift to man.”1  We know that we had our agency before this world was and that Lucifer attempted to take it from us.

Next, with the right of choice comes the responsibility to choose. We cannot be neutral; there is no middle ground. The Lord knows this; Lucifer knows this. As long as we live upon this earth, Lucifer and his hosts will never abandon the hope of claiming our souls.

I speak of the results of choice. All of our choices have consequences, some of which have little or nothing to do with our eternal salvation and others of which have everything to do with it.   Whether you wear a green T-shirt or a blue one makes no difference in the long run. However, whether you decide to push a key on your computer which will take you to pornography can make all the difference in your life.”  Thomas S Monson


#2  “How do we make correct choices? A choice involves making a conscious decision. To make an intelligent decision we need to evaluate all available facts on both sides of an issue. But that isn’t enough. Making correct decisions involves prayer and inspiration.” 1  James E Faust

#3  “And lastly, we must examine our motives. A good check and balance in decision making is to look at our motives for making our decisions. We should ask ourselves, “Are my motives selfish, or is there charity in the decision I am about to make? Is this decision in keeping with the commandments, both in the spirit and the letter of the law? Is my decision basically right, honorable, and compatible with the golden rule? Have I considered the impact of my decision on others?””  Robert D. Hales


#4  “And we do not need to achieve some minimum level of capacity or goodness before God will help—divine aid can be ours every hour of every day, no matter where we are in the path of obedience….
...beyond desiring His help {though}, we must exert ourselves, repent, and choose God for Him to be able to act in our lives consistent with justice and moral agency. My plea is simply to take responsibility and go to work so that there is something for God to help us with.”   Elder Todd Christofferson

#5  “The Lord has given us a spiritual safety net that can strengthen decision making. That support may come through many means, including a patriarchal blessing, counsel from parents, a father’s blessing, a bishop’s counsel, prayer, temple worship, scripture study, and conversation with faithful friends. However such support comes, it is usually accompanied by the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.”