#ShareGoodness YW activity

We recently had a very fun mutual night activity that the young women really enjoyed.  They made "Share Goodness" posters for all the young men in our ward, where on each poster was a picture of the young man surrounded by sincere compliments that the young women had written.   They made 27 posters and presented them at the end of church the following Sunday.   

We kept the activity a total secret beforehand, so that the girls had no idea what we were doing and thereby couldn't accidentally ruin the surprise for the boys.    

We completed the following prep work beforehand:

1.  Bought white posterboard, half sheet per boy

2.  got a bunch of colored sharpies

3.  Took and/or collected pictures of all the boys (I took some at mutual, collected some from Facebook, and others from parents)

4.  cut the posterboards in half

 At mutual, we first watched this video:    

Then we introduced the activity by telling them that we were going to "Share Goodness" with the Young Men by making them each a #sharegoodness poster.    We talked about how to think of sincere and specific compliments that would build them up.  We emphasized that they should not focus on physical or frivolous compliments, such as clothing or looks, but on character traits and talents.   Essentially we asked them to think of the kind of compliments they would most like to hear. 

Here is my son's poster:    

We had the Beehives make the Deacons' posters, the Mia Maids made the Teachers', and the Laurels made the Priests'.   On each poster, they hot glued on the picture, wrote the boy's name on top, and then wrote "#sharegoodness" on the bottom.    Then  with different colored sharpies, they went around the room and wrote compliments on each poster.   

To  add variety, we regathered together as a group for the last 15-minutes, so that everyone could write on anyone else's  poster from another age group.    I then took the posters home and, with the help of my daughters and husband, filled in a few compliments on those that needed a little something extra.    For instance, one boy's poster was filled with compliments all about his humor and little else.  I wanted to make sure that he had a few more that would be more meaningful.  Additionally there was one boy that doesn't come often and the girls were less sure what to write on his, so we filled his in with a few more of our own.   

 It was a joy to see the young men's faces when we presented them their posters and I had a couple of young men's parents let me know how meaningful it was to their boys.     

All in all, it was a very rewarding experience for the young women and they definitely felt the joy of sharing goodness and building others up,  and that in and of itself is reward enough.   However, I won't lie.  I think a lot of them are secretly hoping the boys will return the favor someday.   

Developing Christlike Attributes Lesson

This lesson is based on this lesson from the Come Follow Me youth curriculum and the activity is based on pages 115-126  in the Preach My Gospel manual.  I used it in a YW lesson I recently taught and felt like the girls really connected with the concept of it and the visual nature of the lesson.  There is a fair amount of writing required for this lesson, but it could also be easily  used for a FHE lesson for school age children, teens, or adults.  I believe that the success of this lesson depends on them following through with the goals they set and as such  I encouraged everyone to tape their page into their journals and refer back to it often.

Scroll to the bottom of the post to get to the printable version of the lesson, including pictures.  If you prefer only the lesson without pictures, click here.

Overcoming Weaknesses and Developing Christlike Attributes

Materials Needed:  picture of Christ (see below), one copy of activity per person(see below), colored pens or pencils for everyone, pictures of branch and hole on roof (optional)

SONGS:  

"I'm Trying to be Like Jesus," page 78 of Children's Songbook

"Be Thou Humble," page 130 of the Hymn book

HOLE IN ROOF STORY:    (use our real life story or tell your own) 

Tell a story (with included pictures if desired) of a house that has a branch fall on their roof during a storm.  It's not a particularly large branch and it doesn't appeared to have caused any damage.  

But the next time it rains, water starts pouring through their roof, soaking the insulation in the attic, and pouring water into their dining room.  Although the branch didn't seem likely to have done much damage at first glance, unbeknownst  to the owners it had weakened the defenses of their roof enough allow the elements in and cause much greater damage than just a small hole in the roof.   

RELATE:   That like that little branch on the roof,  our little sins can become holes of weakness in our defenses against the “rains and storms of life”.    Talk about how once the roof was repaired, it became a strong point in our roof.   We can do the same with our "little" sins and weaknesses....we can fortify ourselves and diligently work to overcome them and they, like the repaired roof, can actually become our strengths.  

READ ETHER 12:27:  briefly discuss why we have been given weaknesses and how God will strengthen us as we strive to overcome them.

SHOW picture of Christ (see below) and talk about how God is always there to lift us up and to help us in our day-to-day struggles.  

DEVELOPING CHRISTLIKE ATTRIBUTE ACTIVITY

1.  Pass out the activity sheets and multicolored pens and pencils.  

2.  Start off by pointing to  THE GIRL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PAPER.  Explain that she is to represent each of them personally during this lesson.  Encourage everyone to think of potential little “branches” of weaknesses in their lives  and to write at least 5-6 things surrounding the girl on the paper (encourage them to make it colorful) .  Some examples of things they could write:  Not studying the scriptures as diligently as they should, an ongoing irritation at a sibling, or how they're treating their parents, forgetting to say their prayers, etc.   

 

3.  Refer briefly back to Ether 12:27 and talk about how we are now going to talk about a way that we can start making those weaknesses into strengths.

4.  Point out the scriptures that are listed around the edge of the paper.  Have them look up a few of the  scriptures  and each think of a couple attributes of Christ.  

 

5.  Go around the room and have each person share a couple of attributes of Christ that they have found (or thought of on their own.)

6.  HAVE THEM WRITE DOWN THE ATTRIBUTES all around the drawing of Christ on the right side of the paper.  

7.  Have them circle/highlight ONE weakness they'd like to overcome and/or one attribute of Christ that they would like to start working on developing.

8.  HURDLES – along the vertical line that goes down the center of the page, have them write down a couple of the challenges they will  face in developing that attribute.  Have them be very specific....  These hurdles could include  fatigue, lack of time, not feeling motivated, etc.

 

9.  In the LARGE ARROWS in the middle of the page, read the scriptures and then write 3 specific ways that they can work on overcoming those hurdles and  start developing that attribute in to make it a strength instead of a weakness.

These should be very SPECIFIC ideas.  Not just I will read the scriptures more often.  But 3 specific and measurable ways that they can improve themselves:  (see example)

1.  I will read at least one page every night before supper.  

2.  If I am not home at supper, I will read it before bed.  

3.  I will place my scriptures on my pillow each morning to help me not to forget.   

10.  At this point their paper should be very colorful and filled with personal and meaningful instructions for developing a Christlike attribute.    Refer once more back to the story of the repaired roof and remind them this activity was their own personal instruction for fortifying the weaknesses in the roofs in their lives.   Encourage them to tape the sheets into their journals and to refer back to them often for encouragement in their quest.  Also encourage them to reread the scriptures and repeat the activity frequently.  

11.  PAPER AIRPLANE—drop an unfolded sheet of paper and point out how it flutters without direction or purpose.  Then, as you fold a piece of paper into an airplane, remind them that changing can sometimes be painful, but when we make the effort and allow ourselves to be pliable enough to be folded and changed, we can make weak things become strong and have enough wind beneath our wings to fly.  Throw the plane and point out the difference now that it has direction and purpose.

CLOSING PRAYER:  

REFRESHMENTS:  Homemade Twix Bars

Developing Christlike Attributes FHE Lesson

Missionary Trivia Game and Letter Writing Activity

I created this letter writing activity and missionary trivia game for a YM/YW combined activity about missionaries.   It turned out well and I think the youth genuinely enjoyed the opportunity to show support to the missionaries in this way. There were some very sweet notes written and I know that the missionaries will be thrilled with their shower of letters.  I'm thinking we might try to do something similar a couple of times a year. 

This activity could also be easily adapted into a FHE lesson. 

Opening prayer:

Opening song:  "Called to Serve" and/or "I Hope they Call Me on a Mission"

Welcome/Brief intro to the night:

Trivia Game (see game below):    I had the trivia questions printed onto two sheets of paper and had the YW president and YM president take turns reading off the questions.   Each correct answer was rewarded with a small piece of candy.   We were pretty liberal with the candy and would reward them for close answers (especially for the ones with very specific numbers for answers).  We had a large group (about 40-50 youth) and I felt like the candy throwing was a good way to keep their attention.  

Short Discussion:  We talked briefly about showing support for missionaries and about the great work they do.  We had intended to also have a convert give a 2-minute spiel about how grateful they were for the missionaries who had found them, but we ran out of time. 

Letter Writing:  (see pictures below) After the trivia game was complete, we talked briefly about supporting the missionaries, then wrote letters to those that were serving from our ward.  We have 9 missionaries currently serving from our ward, so we placed the long tables around the edge of the room, had a picture of each missionary hanging on the wall, then a large envelope with each missionary's name sitting on the table in front of the picture.  I distributed 4 quarter sheets of paper and a pen to each youth and asked that they write letters to 4 of the 9 missionaries. 

Missionary ID game:  (see picture below) I had ward members send me pictures of themselves as missionaries.  I printed  off the pictures  and put their name, their mission, and the years they served ON THE BACK, then hung them up on a wall.  It was great fun trying to identify the old pictures and perfect as a filler for those who finished early. 

Tie Tying (I had this planned as a filler activity, but didn't end up having time for it):  We'd divide into teams and have the girls (with only the boys' verbal instructions) tie a necktie.  Whichever team could do it the fastest would win. 

This was what we hung up on the walls around the room.  The pictures of the missionaries, with a "What can I write?" sheet  (see below) in between each one. 

Here you can see how we set up the tables in front of their pictures.  Large envelopes with each missionary's name were on the table in front of their pictures, so that the youth could place their letters in there as soon as they were done. 

I collected old missionary pictures from ward members and had them hung up on the wall.  It was great fun trying to identify who was who, before looking on the back where I'd labeled them with the name, mission, and years served.   

A glimpse at the letters for one of the missionaries:

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Here is the printable version of the missionary trivia game:
LDS Missionary Trivia Game




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I knew that some of the youth would think that they had nothing to write in their letters, so I hung up the following list of ideas by each table. 

 What can I write to the missionaries? 

Your favorite scripture

A recent missionary experience you’ve had

What you’ve been doing in school lately

How your sports’ season has gone

Ask about their mission

Spiritual insights you’ve had during seminary/Sunday lessons

Ask about who they’re teaching

Talk about current events—baseball playoffs, presidential debate (without getting political)

Share an appropriate joke

Something fun that you’ve done lately

A funny antic that your younger sibling or pet has done

BE POSITIVE!!!!!!

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ADVANCE PREPARATION

Find out the answers to the personalized questions in the Missionary Trivia Game. 

Ask missionary parents for pictures of their missionaries and their current addresses.

Ask ward members for pictures of themselves as missionaries. 

Have sheets of paper cut into quarters.   I figured the smaller size would seem less intimidating to fill than entire sheets of paper. 

Gather enough pens for everyone.

Optional:  Print off some missionary clipart and provide scissors and glue for decorating the letters, for those who feel so inclined. 



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