Teaching GOOD WORKS

Teaching GOOD WORKS

GOOD WORKS – Invite your Priests to come in flexing their muscles, have them do several poses.  Then they all say we are here to PUMP YOU UP to do your pp.  The Bishop can come with them too.  (Since I did this on a Sunday, I found some pictures, of good looking guys and cut them out and put them on a poster.  They had lots of very big muscles.  And handsome!!  Some lifting weights, some poses, etc. )  We talked about setting goals and accomplishing them.  And how to get PUMPED up.  And to follow through and do their pp. 

(Handout- Make bar bells with a toothpick and lifesavers.  Use little pieces of gumdrops to hold the lifesavers on the ends.)  Have the priest hand them out to the girls.  Tell them they can eat their bar bells after they finish a goal in their pp.  Tell them that one life saver represents ‘good’ and the other end represents ‘works’ and that you want them to have a “Good Work” out in their pp this month.  Doing your pp is doing “Good Works”.

Good Works:  Last Sunday I prepared some word strips with the scripture references found in the PP book for good works and had the girls share the scriptures.  Then we talked about why service is fundamental to the gospel.  I handed each girl a yellow notepad and asked them to finish the 1st value experience in the good works.  The girls were excited and thought it was great.

Next Sunday I am going to share some yellow smiley stickers with them, and ask them to be of service to someone in their family and each time they make a bed or do the dishes or dust or whatever, they are to leave behind a smiley sticker.  I will also share with them a quote on Service to others, maybe the good Samaritan,  not sure on that one just yet.
The following Sunday I am going to share the quote about Jesus washing his disciples dirty, sweaty, stinky feet, instead of their hands, or face. I am going to have the girls either bite a piece of real lemon, or have them suck on a warhead candy.  And then explain that service may be stinky, dirty, inconvenient, ect, but we need to change our attitudes and get the pucker off our faces and turn them into smiles and humble ourselves enough to be a true servant of the Lords.( not quite sure on all the details yet, but it will
give you something to go on.)
> Laura In MN

Subject: Lessons from Geese:
FACT 1:  As each goose flaps its wings it creates an “uplift” for the birds that follow.  By flying in a “V” formation, the whole  flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
LESSON:  People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.

FACT 2:  When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone.  It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
LESSON:  If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go.  We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.

FACT 3:  When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
LESSON: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other’s skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.

FACT 4:  The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
LESSON: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging.  In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater.  The power of encouragement (to stand by one’s heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of another) is the quality of honking we seek.

FACT 5:  When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
LESSON:  If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.

Service
I  made up a “Good Samaritan First Aid Kit” for my kids and it helps us all find ways to serve others.  Here is what is in the kit.

A Lifesaver to sweeten the mood.
A Smile to brighten someone’s day.
A Lollipop to cheer up the sad.
“Chews” to help a friend in need.
A Bearhug to show you care ‘beary’ much.(you can keep a stuffed animal in the kit or give a hug).
See someone mad….Sing a Song to make them feel glad.
A Watch to remind you to spend time with someone who is lonely.
A BandAid to cover a wound of a hurt friend.
A Listening Ear to those who have problems.(Mr. Potato head ear or cut one out on a paper)

The Parable of the Popcorn

Behold at the time of harvest, the ears of corn did bring forth kernels which were dried and prepared forth for the popper’s hand.

And then it was that the popper did take the kernels all of which appeared alike unto him and did apply the oil and the heat.

And it came to pass that when the heat was on some did explode with promise and did magnify themselves a hundred fold and some did burst forth with whiteness which did both gladden the eye and satisfy the taste of the popper and likewise some others did pop but not too much.

But lo there were some that did just lie there and even though the popper’s heat was alike unto all they did bask in the warmth of the oil and kept everything they had for themselves.

And so it came to pass that those which had given of themselves did bring joy and delight to many munchers but those which kept of the warmth and did not burst forth were thrown out with hardness and disgust.

And thus we see that in the beginning all appear alike but when the heat is on some come forth and give their all while others do procrastinate their day of pop, to burn and become as chaff to be discarded and forgotten.