Have someone walk around the room holding a plate of cookies -- but do not offer one to anyone. If someone asks for a cookie they give them just a piece. Liken this to missionary work or our missionary efforts. We have something wonderful in the Church why don't we share it? Or if we do share it do we just share part?
A good handout afterward could be in the shape of a cookie with a message inside about missionary work.
Take the cover off of a trendy magazine, like People magazine (I used one with Britney Spears on the front page) and tape it to the top of the Ensign cover.
At the beginning of the lesson, you ask the young women what they think the magazine contains? (Celebritites, latest fashions, who's dating who, etc.)
Go on to explain some more detailed things in the magazine. Then describe how you found the most interesting and wonderful article in the magazine. Ask a young woman to read the first paragraph or the title, etc. (I chose the First Presidency message by Gordon B. Hinckley and when the girls heard the first paragraph, they looked at me with shock!)
Then go on to explain that this magazine is actually full of things like Christ, testimony, faith, the commandments, etc., but you never would have guessed because of its outward appearance. Explain that when we dress immodestly, even if we are full of testimony, the light of Christ, faith, etc., that people will not see that. They will judge us based on our clothes because that is how we are presenting ourselves and our beliefs, and they might never know what truly faithful and valiant young women you are if you don't dress appropriately. (Maybe you can word this better than I can! 😉
(You could teach the principles in Matthew 23 -- whitewashed tombs filled with dead men's bones -- by covering a trendy magazine with an Ensign cover.)
Ask the class if the would like some popcorn.
After someone volunteers take out a piece of popcorn chew it up and spit it back into the bag. Shake it up then offer it to the person who wanted it. (they should no longer want it.) Then simply say, "What, it is only one little piece."
Small things can contaminate something that is otherwise good, like a movie, book, song or tv show.
This works best in a larger group, such as Relief Society, rather than a class with just a few members.
Before beginning the lesson, pass out the candy and say "I think we need a little treat before we begin", or whatever you feel is appropriate to let the class know that it is fine to eat the candy at that time. It is also helpful to eat one yourself.
Begin teaching and ignore the candy for a while. At the appropriate time in the lesson, ask how many didn't take a piece of candy, how many ate the one they took, and how many are saving theirs for later.
Relate this to sharing the gospel with others. Some people will simply not be interested, some will take it in right away, and some will "save" what we have told them for later.
Have the class write or tell different temptations that occur in their lives. Write them on the raindrops and explain that just like in a rainstorm, Satan is constantly surrounding us with temptations. Our relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ is like the umbrella. The better shape the umbrella is in, the more it will protect us from Satan and his constant temptations.
Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
3 Nephi 10:4-6
4 O ye people of these great cities which have fallen, who are descendants of Jacob, yea, who are of the house of Israel, how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you.
5 And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not.
6 O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart.
I dirtied the glass by misting it with water and sprinkling it with dust. I placed the glass on an easel on the table.
At the appropriate time in the lesson, I used a glass cleaner wipe to clear away a swath on the glass. The lesson was to visualize the filth (spotting) of the world and accumulation of sin throughout the week. By coming to church and partaking of the spirit and the Sacrament,renewing ourselves (becoming unspotted) we can clean our glass and keep a clear eternal perspective.
The dirty side represented our side and the clean side was that of the Lord's. The glass is always clear, we just need to do our part to clean it up and keep a clear eternal perspective.
D&C 59:9 "And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day;"
The following is from Teaching, No Greater Call, B: Basic Principles of Gospel Teaching--Use Effective Methods, 27: Choosing Effective Methods, page 92:
Set Up Display your refrigerator with the door closed. What you could say: Please listen with your spiritual ears as I describe some of the characteristics of my refrigerator. Inside my fridge I keep the foods I like most of all - fresh vegetables, cheesecakes, oranges, bacon, milk, orange juice, cheese, steaks -- all of which bring lots of joy to my family. I never put anything in the fridge that I don't want to preserve, in other words, everything inside my fridge has some value. But in fact, nothing inside my fridge is of use my family or friends unless I open the door and share it with them. When I open my refrigerator door, something magical happens – the light comes on! I especially find that light useful if it's the middle of the night and I'm hungry for some ice cream or some ice cold water. The light shows me the way to the sustenance I need and the items I enjoy. How is my fridge like missionary work?
What are some ways I can open my refrigerator door, or share the gospel?
Related Quotes from Presidents of the Church: David O McKay "Fathers and mothers, fellow workers, do you fully realize today what it means to assume the responsibility of carrying the message of peace and good will to all men? The world is hungry to hear the truth as never before in its history. We have it. Are we equal to the task--to the responsibility God has placed upon us?" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: David O McKay p.52) Every member of the Church (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: David O McKay p 52) is responsible for opening our refrigerator doors and sharing the bread of life with our neighbors. We must let our "light so shine" so that our friends, business associates, neighbors, and families can share the good things we have inside. (Matthew 5:14-16) Indeed, President McKay said that "There is nothing that can stop the progress of truth excepting only our weakness and failure to do our duty." Teachings of Presidents of the Church: David O McKay p.53) So this morning, let's learn about ways to open our refrigerator doors by studying today's lesson ...
To illustrate the importance of the gospel, display a map.
Ask why we use maps.
Then compare the map to the gospel. Explain that like a map, the gospel of Jesus Christ guides us. It helps us stay on the path that leads to eternal life with our Heavenly Father. (Source: Teaching, No Greater Call, F: Methods of Teaching, Comparisons and Object Lessons)
To teach about nourishing the word of God after it has been planted in our hearts (see Alma 32:28–43), draw pictures of two plants—one that is healthy and has moist, rich soil and one that is unhealthy and has dry, poor soil.
(Source: Teaching, No Greater Call, F: Methods of Teaching, Comparisons and Object Lessons)
(One time when I taught the importance of nourishing a testimony, I brought a fan palm that I hadn't been watering into Relief Society and left it in the hallway. At the appropriate time, I brought in the sickly plant and we discussed what the owner (me) could do to take better care of her plant in the future, and applied it to nourishing the seed.)
