Teens Activity: Changing One Step at a Time
Changing bad behaviors isn’t going to happen overnight, no matter how eager we may be to make it happen. The further into sin we are, the more difficult it will be to turn around. It’s important to help youth understand that making significant changes to better our lives needs to be a step-by-step process.
ACTIVITY
Scripture:
“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” (Isaiah 28:10).
Learning is a step-by-step process, whether we’re learning about how to change a tire, or how to turn away from sin. To help youth understand the process a little better, try putting together some ‘Stepwords.’
“Stepwords are pairs of words of equal length which can be changed from one to the other by switching one letter at a time and forming a new word with each letter switch. For example, change black to white by forming these words: black, slack, stack, stalk, stale, shale, whale, while, white. Make certain the words you choose can be changed (some can’t be). Some sample stepwords include dry-wet, heat-cold, east-west, poor-rich, sick-well” (Alma Heaton, The LDS Game Book, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1968], p. 152.)
Ideas:
1. If there are just a few youth, use a chalkboard or dry-erase board and see how many sets of words you can figure out. See if there are different ways to get from dry to wet, or sick to well. Let your youth come up with their own step words and see if you can make them work.
2. If there are lots of youth, split up into teams and see who can finish eat set of words first.
3. You could make a big game of it. Trace a lot (and I do mean a lot!) of footprints. On each of these footprints you’ll start with one word, such as black, and will write the changes on the other footprints until you reach white. Write a few footprints that will take you down a wrong path. It might look like it’ll get you to your end goal, but will become a dead end.
Tape the footprints on the floor in a sort of maze and have the youth try the maze one step at a time (space the youth at least 30 seconds apart, or let them go in teams).
If you have a lot of room (like a gym or cultural hall), use several of the word sets. Once your youth get to the end of one (going from black to white) make the next footprint the beginning of another set.
Lesson Application:
As we make turn away from sin we need to replace bits of the bad habit with bits of good habits (like changing the word one letter at a time). For example, say you have a huge problem with swearing. You could start off by changing the words you use. Make up nonsense words like ‘smag’ to replace the bad word. Begin singing a hymn whenever you feel the urge to swear. As you do this you’ll recognize what situations create that urge, and you can begin to avoid them.
Sometimes we think we have our goal in sight and we’re on the right path, but wind up hitting a dead end. Instead of becoming frustrated, angry, and resentful, we need to learn to turn around, backtrack to where we went wrong, and then start on the right path. We might need to do this several times before we finally make it to our goal.
Other times we might have different choices of how to get to our goal, and each of them will help us make it. Just as we are all different, the path we take may be different than the one our friends will take. We have to do what’s best for our own personalities and ways of living.
End with one more scripture. This one is taken from the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ. I believe it brings Isaiah’s message into better light.
“For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have” (2 Nephi 28:30).
Youth Activity: Give Someone a Heart Attack!
As February is the month we most think about love, I remembered an activity I once put together with the members of the Young Women (an organization for girls 12-17 in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon Church). This activity was designed to help take a step toward helping those who’d become inactive in our church know we loved them.
We gave them a heart attack.
This activity can be done for all sorts of people, not just those you’re hoping to reactivate. It can be done for widows, widowers, church leaders, or other youth members who are having a difficult time.
You’ll need:
Several sheets of white, pink, and red construction paper or cardstock
Scissors
Tape
Pen
A selection of scriptures on love
Stickers (optional)
Save one sheet of paper to write your message. On the other sheets cut lots of different hearts. Make sure they are different sizes and shapes, for variety makes things interesting.
On the full piece of paper you write the message. It can go something like this:
You have just suffered a heart attack!
Do not be concerned.
Just take two of the enclosed medication every few hours until your heart feels lightened.
You are loved!
You are welcome to sign it or leave it anonymous. Play with the words until you have the exact message you want to convey. Be sure to include some scriptures at the end that talk about love. For example:
“I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me” (Proverbs 8:17).
“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16).
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment” (1 John 4:18).
“I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love” (2 Nephi 1:15).
“O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever” (Jacob 3:2).
Feel free to decorate the message and any hearts with stickers and/or little sayings. You could even write some of the scriptures on the bigger hearts.
Last, but certainly not least, put together a little plate of cookies or other treats.
When everything is ready to go head out to your intended ‘victim.’ Sneak up on the porch and as quietly as possible tape some of the hearts to the front door, place others along the front porch, and put the plate and message right in the middle of the porch where it can easily be seen. When it’s all done quickly knock on the door or ring the doorbell and hide! You can either watch your someone get the surprise or quickly get away.
This world can always use more acts of love and kindness. Think of someone you can give a heart attack to this month and do it!
Activity: Thanksgiving Bulletin Board
Though I first thought of doing this as a fun Family Home Evening during the month of November (parents, stay tuned), I also found it made a fun activity for the Young Women (girls 12-18) as well.
If you have someone who normally takes care of your bulletin boards in the church hallways, ask him or her if you could have access to one for a month (just a note, if no one is ‘in charge’ of a bulletin board, consider taking it over. It makes a great activity night).
What you’ll need:
· Construction Paper – if you’re using 8 ½ x 11, use two or three brown sheets, depending on how big you want your trunk. Gather autumn colors for the leaves. I recommend green, red, orange, and yellow. One or two of each should be fine. For a more 3-D look, try using craft foam sheets. You can find these in any craft store.
· Scissors – several pairs
· Dark marker – two or three
· Leaves to trace – unless your girls are able to create leaves on demand.
If creating leaves from air is not a talent anyone in your class possesses, find some leaves. One of two or three kinds will do. Just be sure the leaves are at least two or three inches long. Next, allow the girls to trace and cut out lots and lots of leaves. The more leaves made, the more things everyone will have to think up.
With the brown paper tape the pages together and try to ‘form’ a trunk. Seeing as how my abilities to utilize the technical side of the Internet is sorely lacking, I can only encourage you to use nature as an example. Don’t worry too much about the top of the tree as most of it will be covered by the leaves. Just a hint: draw a few lines up and down the trunk to make it look a little more authentic, and cut the trunk a little bigger on the bottom.
If you have a large group feel free to break up into smaller groups of three or four. Designate one person to write and one at a time have the girls name some one or some thing they are thankful for. Try not to make it too personal (like ‘My dog Socks’). This is something other church members will see. Encourage them to think of what we as members of the LDS Church are grateful for.
When all the leaves have been filled tape them to your tree. Feel free to place some along the bottom, as though they’ve fallen to the ground.
The fantastic thing is the young women, and everyone else who passes by, will be reminded of all they have to be grateful for the entire month long.