Ken Alford This information was originally published at http://kenalford.com/semlist/2002/02jan13.htm and sent out as part of Ken Alford’s email list to Seminary teachers.   It’s helpful for teachers who may be struggling with tardiness in the classroom: Punctuality always seems to be a challenge in the church, but it is especially so when you add teenagers and early […]

This idea was posted on Facebook by Thomas Mark OlsenI took his idea and off I went to plan and set up the details for a super fun Scripture Mastery activity.Who knew...Skateboards and Scriptures would be so fun together!!!(On another note, this may be adapted for a party-scavenger hunt clues, etc. Adapt the balloon colors […]

From the Gospel Teaching and Learning Handbook: Correct disorderly or inappropriate behavior. There are some general principles to keep in mind that will help a teacher invite proper order and respect in the classroom. To have order does not always mean having complete silence; nor does it mean that a class cannot be enjoyable and […]

By Scott Knecht One night in graduate school I went to the opening session of a new class. It was a bit of a different schedule - 2 nights a week for 4 hours per night for 4 weeks - so I had to get mentally prepared to endure the length each night. Little did […]

Because our class is large, I had to make up a game that let all of my 6 zones compete against each other for points, but keep a basketball theme and keep everyone interested and participating. This game was fun and successful in my Seminary class, and I am certain the kids would love to […]

From Sharra D on the LDS Seminary Teachers Facebook Group: My class did the Toilet Paper game last week and LOVED it. I got the idea from some ‘minute to win it’ post. I had two rolls of toilet paper hanging on a straight [horizontal] pole at the front of the class. I had about […]

Put “Stuff” in small brown paper bags—1 item per bag, one bag per student plus 1 extra bag. Items can be small things like a pencil, chap stick, a pkg. of Kool-aid or hot chocolate, a scented candle, a comb, a bookmark, a piece of candy, a highlighter, anything from good to ridiculous. I always […]

Submitted by: Teri Peterson Added: March 5, 2008 Duration: 10 to 30 minutes Needed: ? Straws ? 1 cup for holding straws ? Scripture Mastery key words on small strips of paper, about ½ inch by 3 inches Scoring: – Give one point for the first basket made on each turn How To Play: Roll […]

Draw a football field on the board (with about 3” between each 5 yard line. Toss coin to see which team is first and place the ball on the 20 yard line. Ask the first team a question and if they answer correctly, they roll the two dice and move accordingly: #2 Touchdown—6 points #3 […]

Divide into teams. One student comes up and teacher hands him a SM card. He must draw a picture to represent that SM while his team guesses the reference. (Can be timed if needed.) Cannot draw words or numbers, no making sounds or hand gestures. If you want to take this to a new level, […]

Print out the SM (in 90 pts, landscape), then cut and tape into one long line. (Roll it up.) (Or have the students write out the SM on a piece of adding machine tape—which you can buy at Walmart.) Do this 3 more times so you have 4 copies. Divide the room into 4 squares […]

Supplies per group: 1 die,1 pie pan,1 pen,1 piece of paper per student, and scriptures for each student. Game: Sit in a circle with scriptures opened to a pre-selected SM. Student will roll die into pan trying to get a 6, the pan and die continues around the circle with each student rolling the die […]

Each student finds and writes out the SM. As they finish, teacher assigns them a number. When all are done, roll the dice (or choose # from a draw bag) and a candy is given to the number rolled. (This eliminates the “racing” –anyone who finishes has equal chance at the prize.)

Submitted by: Kelly Miller Added: September 23, 2008 Duration: 5-10 minutes The teacher picks a student to start off. The teacher says a SM clue or shows a SM flash card. The student has to say the correct scripture reference. A student rolls the die. Whatever number comes, you count people to the right of […]

I have decided to choose a base theme for the sites and make my life easier. At first I thought that I would have to create modules for each of my custom content types to give each type custom theming. I tried to write a module, and it proved too difficult for me. I just […]

Eleven-year-old Rebecca stared out the bus window but didn’t really see the houses passing by. The after-school bus commotion raged around her but didn’t interrupt her troubled thoughts. If I don’t get an A on the final history report, I won’t get an A in history. That means no honor roll. It’s not fair. I’ve […]

Our stake recently began a new push to get our college-age students attending our singles branch. There are some 500+ single adults in our stake, and about 30 of those attend sacrament meeting in the branch. While some of them do hold callings in home wards, most of them have simply stopped attending church altogether. […]

I happened to stumble on a link to this site:http://backtochurch.com/resources/statistics/ while researching a topic for the girls' camp devotional I helped with this week. What an interesting read! The site, http//BackToChurch.com/ is promoting a Christian "Back to Church" Sunday. It lists a number of extremely interesting statistics from a variety of sources regarding church activity. […]

You've been investigating the LDS Church, and you're flying high! The missionaries are awesome -- they've been helping around the house and sharing spiritual thoughts with you a couple of times a week -- and you love and admire them! You've read the Book of Mormon and felt the Spirit witness of the truthfulness of […]

Prophets are sent to protect and guide the children of Heavenly Father. There has always been safety in following the prophet. In the days of Joseph Smith, many learned this important truth. On April 6, 1830, the day The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formally organized, at least 30 people were in […]

Bishop told me in my PPI Sunday that I am about to be released in a couple of weeks. He even asked me for my ideas on who would make a good replacement. Huh? It was kind of weird. I almost wish he hadn't told me, because now I'm having trouble focusing on the calling. […]

Saturday got off to a slow start, but we got lots done outside. I have the paint to finish up the porches, and we got all the final hardscaping done for the gardens. What a relief to have that finished! We used the leftover shingles from the house as weed barrier -- silly I know, […]

Stake Conference was today. I am trying to find Christ-like things to say about it, but it's pretty difficult, actually. Two of the talks were very good, 5 were okay, and two were downright bad. I did laugh out loud when the Mission President's wife said she thought the next YW value should be guilt! […]

Let every man esteem his brother as himself (D&C 38:24). Deanna’s CTR B teacher held up a picture. “Does anyone know what this is?” Deanna raised her hand. “The temple.” Sister Dench smiled. “That’s right. Do you know which temple it is, Deanna?” “The Denver Temple.” Deanna knew because her mother had hung a picture […]

Elder Rex D. Pinegar spent his “growing-up years in Spanish Fork, Utah, first on a fruit farm, then, later, in a home in the city.” Rex and his twin brother, Max, were the ninth and tenth children in their family. “We grew up respecting our parents. My father was in the insurance business. In those […]

Today has been a long day -- emotionally draining in almost every way. I started out behind. Without Jared here, I was getting the kids ready for school by myself. I tried to get through my scripture reading this morning, but dd needed help with her piano practice. Worked on that, and then it was […]

Talk about how when we only focus on the negative aspects of a person that is all we see, we can't see the good things about them. This is why it is dangerous to talk negatively about a person to others. This might form a wrongful negative opinion of that person in the minds of […]

Friendship Fudge Ingredients: Mix in a gallon ziplock bag: 4 cups powdered sugar 3 ounces of softened cream cheese 1/2 cup softened margarine 1/2 cup cocoa 1 tsp. vanilla Decide ahead of time which five main points you'd like to discuss during your lesson.  Label each ingredient with one of the five points and use […]