My Joys of Life: April 2014

Our cornfield in the snow

Today was a very busy day. It snowed and snowed all day.

Driving back from School

Piles of snow surround the house

I got to go on a field trip with A today. We went to the Museum of Ancient life at Thanksgiving Point. Apparently they called the school on Friday and asked if they would like to go for free because they needed kids there because KSL was going to be filming a segment there today. So we went, I haven't ridden a school bus for years. It was kind of fun, except for the bloody lip I got when K and A kept wrestling over me on the way home. We had a nice time. I asked A what his favorite part of the day was and he responded, "The sand table of course!, " but of course.

I finally got J to hang to curtain rod in the living room

I've been working on my lesson for YW "Come Unto Christ" for February 2014. I've decided to combine The Purpose of Life and Do Our Choices Make a difference.

Activity 1: I think I will begin by Having all the young women write on 8 post it notes what they think is important to them and then placing them on the chalkboard.

Activity 2: Afterwards I will have each of them look up one of the following scriptures and tell read it to the class and tell the class what it means:

Alma 34:32 For behold, this ^alife is the time for men to ^bprepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of ^cthis life is the day for men to perform their ^dlabors.

Abraham 3: 25 And we will ^aprove them herewith, to see if they will ^bdo all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;

26 And they who ^akeep their first ^bestate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second ^cestate shall have ^dglory added upon their heads for ever and ever.

2Nephi 2:25 ^aAdam ^bfell that men might be; and men ^care, that they might have ^djoy.

D&C138: 56 Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first ^alessons in the world of spirits and were ^bprepared to come forth in the due ^ctime of the Lord to labor in his ^dvineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.

Matthew 10:39
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Discuss with the YW the meaning of these scriptures. What is the Lord's Plan for us, what is the meaning of this life? How does he expect us to accomplish these goals?
Activity 3: Tell Each girl that you have a treasure hidden that they must find. Tell them you will give them a map to find it. Turn out the lights then give each girl the map. Tell them to read the map to find the treasure. Take the map back and turn on the lights. Do they know where the treasure is? Tell the girls the Lord has great treasures in store for them what kind of guidance does he give them to help them find these treasures?
Our Heavenly Father did not launch us on our eternal voyage without providing the means whereby we could receive from Him guidance to ensure our safe return. I speak of prayer. I speak too of the whisperings from that still, small voice; and I do not overlook the holy scriptures, which contain the word of the Lord and the words of the prophets—provided to us to help us successfully cross the finish line. -President Monson
The Lord gives us messages and the world gives us messages, and it is given to us to choose which of these messages we will listen to.
Activty 4 - Have multiple presents sitting in the front of the room. Let some of the girls pick out a present. Inside one is a can a furniture polish which says:"Polish the Table" Inside Another Windex which says "Clean the window", another Candy which says, "Eat the candy", "Give everyone a Hug :)" and so on....Whatever choice they make they have to have the consequence.
Like these gifts, The adversary has many ways of making poor choices look good.
Pres Monson: We read of him in 2 Nephi: “Others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security.”⁴ “Others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell … until he grasps them with his awful chains.”⁵ “And thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.” ⁶When faced with significant choices, how do we decide? Do we succumb to the promise of momentary pleasure? To our urges and passions? To the pressure of our peers? No temptation, no pressure, no enticing can overcome us unless we allow such. If we make the wrong choice, we have no one to blame but ourselves. .....
EMPHASIZE:Pres Monson: We have all made incorrect choices. If we have not already corrected such choices, I assure you that there is a way to do so. The process is called repentance. I plead with you to correct your mistakes. Our Savior died to provide you and me that blessed gift. Although the path is not easy, the promise is real: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”¹⁰ “And I, the Lord, remember them no more.”¹¹ Don’t put your eternal life at risk. If you have sinned, the sooner you begin to make your way back, the sooner you will find the sweet peace and joy that come with the miracle of forgiveness.

Look at the post-its on the chalkboard...if we are going to "Have Joy", "Prepare to Meet God" which of these items do we choose? which are the priority ? Discuss what's on the board and have the girls remove the items that are "non Priority".

“Choose ye this day whom ye will serve but as for me and my house we will serve the lord”