Chapter 17 The Great Plan of Salvation
Principle to Teach: If we want to gain eternal life, we have to understand who God is, and what is His plan for us.
Attention Activity:
Bring three fairly simple puzzles to class. (A website you can try if you don’t have puzzles is http://www.biddingtons.com/content/myartkaprov.html if you scroll down there is a printable paper that you can make your own puzzles out of pictures.) Have three groups or three individuals come up to the front of the class. There is going to be a race to see who can put the puzzle together the fastest. One group gets to look at the puzzle pieces and a picture (or the box) of what the puzzle will look like for 30 second before they start. The second group gets to look at a picture (or the box) for 30 seconds, but they don’t get to look at the pieces. The third group gets to look at nothing for the 30 seconds. After the 30 seconds, let the race begin. Hopefully the group that got to look at the box and the pieces will win. Have the class discuss what the advantages that each group were given might mean in a gospel context. (It really doesn’t matter what answers you get here, just get the class to start talking. You might even call on a few of the quiet people in class to try and get them involved.)
Class Discussion:
After a few answers have been given have students look in the manual on page 211 the first paragraph under the heading “We came to earth to obtain a body…” and find what are the box and pieces that Joseph Smith said we need to study “more than any other” topic. (The answer is in the middle sentence “What is the object of our coming into existence…”) Now is a good time to point out that we are talking about The Great Plan of Salvation. An understanding of the Plan of Salvation is critical. Joseph spends a lot of this chapter talking about life on earth and what we need to do to prepare for the next life. The first thing is mentioned on page 211 3rd paragraph. We came to get a body. The second thing is to “present it pure before God in the celestial kingdom.” Joseph then teaches us how to be able to do that. On page 210 4th paragraph. Have class members look for the reason God instituted laws. (So that we could advance like Him.) Ask, “How have you felt the commandments helping you become a person that is more like God?” “What commandments have been helpful in this process?” An important point in given on page 210 5th paragraph. “What are some of the benefits of living more and more of the commandments?” (Clearer views, greater enjoyment, lost desire for sin, power and glory of God.) “What is the main thing that God is asking us to do then in this great plan? (Make sure to point out that it doesn’t matter where we are in the process of perfection. The answer is the same. We look at where we are, where we want to be, and what we have to do to get there, and then start doing one thing at a time that is necessary to achieve perfection.) Emphasize the last sentence in paragraph 5 “But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment.” Make sure to point out that this is a process and not a time for discouragement, but hope for continual improvement. This might also be a good time to go to page 213 4th paragraph and page 214 1st paragraph. Point out that we can overcome Satan. We are more powerful than his temptations if we have the Holy Ghost guiding us. Again the message is hope, not discouragement that we are not yet perfect.
Ask, “Why was the group that got to look at the box and the picture at such an advantage?” Have class members look on page 212 to find out what the connection is between knowledge and salvation. What knowledge do we need to have, and how do we go about getting it? Ask, “How are you doing at gaining the type of knowledge necessary to gain eternal life? How much time do you dedicate to this type of learning? How much of our time is wasted in things that don’t teach us anything important?”
Application:
“Because the goal is continual improvement, think of one thing that you will do better this week to become exactly like our Father in Heaven.” Have class members write it down and take it with them.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
Lesson #34 Helaman 6-12. The Pride Cycle
The Pride Cycle
Principle to Teach:
If we learn from patterns in the scriptures, then we don't have to suffer through the same mistakes.
Attention Activity:
I would actually use the attention activity in the lesson. There are many fun ways to incorporate it. You can do it like it says in the book or add to it by doing the following. Get three different sizes of paper plates. Put each one inside a different paper bag. Place the bags on the table with the bag with the smallest plate first, then the middle plate, then the largest plate. (Again you are trying to develop a pattern here.) Tell students that you have something in each bag that creates a pattern. Have them try to guess what is next in the pattern. (Of course they won’t be able to tell you. That is the point) Have one student come up and reach in the bag and feel what is in the bag, but don’t look! Have the student reach in each bag. Then have them say what should come next in the sequence. Now talk about the importance of being able to feel or see what is in the bags. The goal is to relate this to the scriptures. There are patterns in the scriptures intended to help us avoid similar consequences. But, we can’t figure them out unless we actually get involved in order to “feel” what the pattern is. Now go into the scriptures to develop the pattern while emphasizing the whole lesson how it takes study and “hands on” scripture experiences to really understand what the pattern is, you can’t just sit by and expect to get it.
Class Discussion:
Again, the manual takes us through where we want to be. I think there are some additional questions and scriptures that really make this lesson interesting and applicable. The first part is that the people are righteous and are blessed. Have students find in Helaman 6:1 what two words describe the righteousness of the people. (Firmness and Steadiness) If necessary define these words for the class. Ask, “Which one do you think is more important in living righteously?” (There is no real right answer. Both are necessary, but it gets the students thinking, just don’t let it turn into an argument.) You can ask, “What are some commandments that it is difficult to be steady in—meaning you continue to do them?” “Which ones might be hard to be firm in—meaning you do them no matter what?” This can be a time for a quick application question. Ask, “What do you think the Lord would tell you to do to be more firm or steady in keeping the commandments?” Now have class members look in verses 9-13 and mark every positive thing that happened to the people.
The second stage is that they start to become wicked. Have students look in Helaman 6:17,22,25,26,29, and 30 for a word that is repeated in each verse. (Secret) “What are the things that are done in secret? Why would people what to keep things secret? Why is secrecy such a indicator of unrighteousness?” Encourage students to write on this page in their scriptures, “If you have to keep it a secret, it is usually bad.” This is a great time for a youth class to talk about secrecy and the dangers of keeping things secret from their parents. Verse 27 is a great verse to talk about how Satan uses secrets. Satan promised Cain that if would kill Abel it would be a secret. Now Cain is one of the most well known murders of all time. Satan wants us to try to keep things secret because he knows he can get us to do wickedly if he can convince us that no one will know. You can cross reference D&C 1:3 or Alma 39:8 to point out that it is impossible to keep things secret from the Lord. One great way to know that we are in this pattern of starting to fall into sin is if we are trying to do things in secret. If we are, it is usually time to repent!
The third aspect is destruction and suffering. Look in Helaman 11:7-8. What is the purpose of the suffering? Why does God allow us to go through very difficult things? What does this teach us about the character of God?
The fourth aspect is to repent and return to God. The repentance is shown well in Helaman 11:10. Ask, “Why is the fact that they ‘swept away the band of Gadianton’ an indication that they had truly repented?” “What would it have taken to sweep the robbers out of the land?” “How is that similar to what the Lord asks of us when we need to repent?”
Application
There is great application all through this lesson. If you use the plates in the bag activity remember to point out to students that unless you get in and really try to understand this process you can’t apply it to your life and have it make any difference for you. A great way to finish might be to ask students to write down what stage in the process they think they are in. Ask, “How do you stay in the ‘Righteousness and Prosperity’ section of the circle?”
Principle to Teach:
If we learn from patterns in the scriptures, then we don't have to suffer through the same mistakes.
Attention Activity:
I would actually use the attention activity in the lesson. There are many fun ways to incorporate it. You can do it like it says in the book or add to it by doing the following. Get three different sizes of paper plates. Put each one inside a different paper bag. Place the bags on the table with the bag with the smallest plate first, then the middle plate, then the largest plate. (Again you are trying to develop a pattern here.) Tell students that you have something in each bag that creates a pattern. Have them try to guess what is next in the pattern. (Of course they won’t be able to tell you. That is the point) Have one student come up and reach in the bag and feel what is in the bag, but don’t look! Have the student reach in each bag. Then have them say what should come next in the sequence. Now talk about the importance of being able to feel or see what is in the bags. The goal is to relate this to the scriptures. There are patterns in the scriptures intended to help us avoid similar consequences. But, we can’t figure them out unless we actually get involved in order to “feel” what the pattern is. Now go into the scriptures to develop the pattern while emphasizing the whole lesson how it takes study and “hands on” scripture experiences to really understand what the pattern is, you can’t just sit by and expect to get it.
Class Discussion:
Again, the manual takes us through where we want to be. I think there are some additional questions and scriptures that really make this lesson interesting and applicable. The first part is that the people are righteous and are blessed. Have students find in Helaman 6:1 what two words describe the righteousness of the people. (Firmness and Steadiness) If necessary define these words for the class. Ask, “Which one do you think is more important in living righteously?” (There is no real right answer. Both are necessary, but it gets the students thinking, just don’t let it turn into an argument.) You can ask, “What are some commandments that it is difficult to be steady in—meaning you continue to do them?” “Which ones might be hard to be firm in—meaning you do them no matter what?” This can be a time for a quick application question. Ask, “What do you think the Lord would tell you to do to be more firm or steady in keeping the commandments?” Now have class members look in verses 9-13 and mark every positive thing that happened to the people.
The second stage is that they start to become wicked. Have students look in Helaman 6:17,22,25,26,29, and 30 for a word that is repeated in each verse. (Secret) “What are the things that are done in secret? Why would people what to keep things secret? Why is secrecy such a indicator of unrighteousness?” Encourage students to write on this page in their scriptures, “If you have to keep it a secret, it is usually bad.” This is a great time for a youth class to talk about secrecy and the dangers of keeping things secret from their parents. Verse 27 is a great verse to talk about how Satan uses secrets. Satan promised Cain that if would kill Abel it would be a secret. Now Cain is one of the most well known murders of all time. Satan wants us to try to keep things secret because he knows he can get us to do wickedly if he can convince us that no one will know. You can cross reference D&C 1:3 or Alma 39:8 to point out that it is impossible to keep things secret from the Lord. One great way to know that we are in this pattern of starting to fall into sin is if we are trying to do things in secret. If we are, it is usually time to repent!
The third aspect is destruction and suffering. Look in Helaman 11:7-8. What is the purpose of the suffering? Why does God allow us to go through very difficult things? What does this teach us about the character of God?
The fourth aspect is to repent and return to God. The repentance is shown well in Helaman 11:10. Ask, “Why is the fact that they ‘swept away the band of Gadianton’ an indication that they had truly repented?” “What would it have taken to sweep the robbers out of the land?” “How is that similar to what the Lord asks of us when we need to repent?”
Application
There is great application all through this lesson. If you use the plates in the bag activity remember to point out to students that unless you get in and really try to understand this process you can’t apply it to your life and have it make any difference for you. A great way to finish might be to ask students to write down what stage in the process they think they are in. Ask, “How do you stay in the ‘Righteousness and Prosperity’ section of the circle?”
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