We may start out as a neat individual (bare string) but for every trial we overcome (wax ) (Every time they say some trial the overcome or they overcame a fear they can dip their string into the wax making them a well rounded person with many talents!
Then as they continue to gather these talents and overcome these fear and obstacles that turn into talents they can let their light so shine!
As she mentions things like backbiting, gossip, criticism, anger, jealousy, etc., she should cut one or two strands from the web. Have everyone back up again and you'll see the web fall apart. Throw the ball in and see how much more difficult it is to hold it up.
From the lds-youngwomen Yahoo group
Ask for two volunteers from the class. Tell them that your plant is very thirsty and in need of a drink. Then give them the soda to water it with.
My class was appalled by this, and it was a very effective way to show how different health choices affect our bodies.
After giving it the soda, ask the other volunteer to give the plant the water.
Start off by showing the plain glass jar. Explain how this jar represents each of us.
Then put the jar in the baggie. Then explain how life puts a lot of pressure on us and we go through trials and problems.
Use the hammer to break the glass in the baggie.
Explain how the hammer represents the trials of life. Show the baggie of broken pieces explaining often how we feel we are in "pieces" in our lives.
Then show the beautiful glass figure or decor and explain how if we turn our "pieces" of glass to God or our lives to God we can be made whole.
I presented this object lesson as part of the YW lesson entitled A Change of Heart. As I was setting up the table, the girls got excited when they saw the plate of cookies. And as I expected, they didn't seem to notice the bag of carrots that I set next to it.
When it came time in the lesson, I reminded them of their enthusiasm for the cookies, and then pointed out the carrots. I explained that for many people in the world, the cookies are like worldly desires and the carrots are like church. They are willing to eat the carrots (or go to church), but it's not what they really want or get excited about, even though the carrots hold all kinds of good nutrients and are very good for them.
The cookies, on the other hand, offer almost nothing in way of substance, and yet that is what we desire to eat. I told them that I could probably spend the next hour talking in detail about why they should choose carrots instead of cookies, and I might even be successful in convincing them to pick the carrots, but that no matter what I said, I would not be able to make the carrots look better than the cookies. (Actually, one of the girls said that for me, which drove home the point really well.)
I then explained that when we have a true change of heart, there is a miraculous change that causes carrots and all their nutrients to appear as delicious as the cookies; and the cookies and all their detrimental health qualities to actually become unappealing. This can't happen by a teacher talking to them and telling them about the gospel, it can only happen from the inside, with a true change of heart.
Alma 5:7,12-14,26
7 Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them. ....
Helaman 15:7
7 And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them—
Mosiah 5:2
2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.
We made up a lie and said that it was represented by the first stick of gum and each started chewing. That lie lead to another, and so they had to put the second in their mouths right on top of the first. That one turned into a third...and so on. By the time you have 3 or 4 sticks of gum in your mouth you can't even hardly talk! How do you get rid of it? If you swallow it then it is still with you. You have to repent and get it out of you. Own up. Make it right. It was pretty visual.
From a post at the lds-youngwomen Yahoo Group
Items needed
As our YW come in the room, I put a pebble in their shoe and a DumDum in their mouth and ask them to walk around the room before sitting down. After they are all seated, I ask them to tell me about their walk.
Everyone of them said that the pebble hurt their foot, not ONE of them mentioned how sweet the DumDum is.
(Use this lesson to talk about blessings, gratitude, optimism, trials ~Jenny)
Invite someone in the class to be the "bishop". Have him or her stand next to you while you allocate your income to your expenses. You could do something like this: drop 3 cookies in the trash can for rent, 2 cookies to pay off your credit card bill, 1 cookie for new clothes, 1 cookie for going out to eat with friends, 2 cookies for some extra bills, leaving one cookie left (which should go to the bishop for tithing).
You almost hand the cookie to the bishop, hesitate and say, "Well, I sure would like to go to that concert with my friend (or any other excuse), but I can still pay a part of my tithing."
Then take a bite out of the cookie and hand the bishop a half-eaten cookie. How appetizing it that? By the way, you don't have to throw the cookies away - you could put them on a another plate behind you. Throwing the cookies away is definitely is an attention-getter.
Read Malachi 3:8 "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings."
I brought a comforter from home and talked about how the Holy Ghost is the Comforter.
Then I held up a small wall hanging I had made using the attic windows quilt block and talked about how each of these 'windows' could represent a different role of the the Holy Ghost (Comforter, companion, etc.) and as she grew in the gospel she would learn more roles and open more windows of knowledge.
See John 15:26 - Comforter testifies of Christ, was promised to disciples; see also D&C 21:9. D&C 88:3 - Comforter we receive at baptism is the same that was promised to Jesus' disciples at Jerusalem. D&C 39:6 - Comforter is essential part of Gospel plan, received at baptism (is the baptism of fire), showeth all things, and teaches things that bring peace; see also Moses 6:58-62 D&C 21:9> - Comforter testifies of the mission of Jesus Christ, including atonement and resurrection. Moroni 8:26 - Comforter fills us with hope and perfect love. D&C 31:11 - Comforter will tell us what to do and where to go. D&C 90:11-16 - Comforter helps missionaries, helps us learn languages and things from good books, helps with administration of church
(Source: Christy's Clipart, with some additions by Jenny Smith)
Start with a mason canning jar or a clear vase. Explain that this represents the person being baptized (Johnny).
Hold up a shiny new quarter and explain that this is the Holy Ghost. Drop it into the jar and shake it around. Ask the children if they can hear the Holy Ghost. This represents the Holy Ghost helping us to choose the right.
Add a small scoop of dirt to the jar and explain that Johnny promised his mother he would clean his room before going out to play, but he forgot. Shake the jar again and ask if the children can hear the Holy Ghost still. (They should be able to.)
Keep adding small scoops of dirt and explain the sins that Johnny has done. Soon the children will not be able to hear the Holy Ghost. Explain that when we sin, the Holy Ghost withdraws from us and can't speak to us.
Ask the children how we can make it so we can hear the Holy Ghost again. (Discuss Repentance). Dump the dirt from the jar, wipe off any excess, and put the quarter back in.
Explain that through Jesus Christ's Atonement we can be forgiven of our sins and be completely clean! When we are clean, we are able to hear the Holy Ghost clearly again. Kids love the dirt and listening for the Holy Ghost. This works well at baptisms if you have a tablecloth or something to keep the mess to a minimum.
(Source: Christy's Clipart, with some modification by Jenny Smith)
