God's Conversation Hearts - LDS Edition

A YW class in my ward asked me to come talk to them on Divine Nature #2 for Personal Progress. I had worked with my daughters on this value experience within the past 6 months or so, and was sort of excited just to be back in the church building on youth night (it's been a long, long time).

Part of this value experience says, "...Ask your mother or another mother you admire what she thinks are important attributes for being a mother..."

When I talked about these attributes with Shi and Mar, I'm pretty sure I came up with a list like:

patience

endurance

hard working

loving

selfless

teacher

As I studied in preparation to talk with this particular class, I felt prompted to shorten the list:

hope

charity

faith

(see Moroni 10:20-21)

HOPE

(What do I labor for?)

"The word hope is sometimes misunderstood. In our everyday language, the word often has a hint of uncertainty. For example, we may say that we hope for a change in the weather or a visit from a friend. In the language of the gospel, however, the word hope is sure, unwavering, and active... When we have hope, we trust God's promises... The principle of hope extends into the eternities, but it also can sustain you through the everyday challenges of life." True to the Faith, p. 85-86

I read them one of my favorite picture books:

I also shared this post with them.

CHARITY

(Does it really matter?)

"Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me."

Luke 10:38-40

"The story of Mary and Martha illustrates how the gift of charity can be diminished. Within Martha's request for assistance was an unspoken but clear judgment: 'I am right; she is wrong.' Do we judge one another? Do we criticize each other of individual choices, thinking we know better, when in fact we rarely understand another's unique circumstances or individual inspiration?... Judgements rob us of the good part, that pure love of Christ. We also lose sight of that good part when we compare ourselves to others... We just can't do that. We cannot allow ourselves to feel inadequate by focusing on who we aren't instead of who we are!" Bonnie D. Parkin

"Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weaknesses and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other." Elder Marvin J. Ashton

FAITH

(What do I treasure?)

"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou are careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Luke 10:41-42

"When things of the world crowd in, all too often the wrong things take highest priority. Then it is easy to forget the fundamental purpose of life. Satan has a powerful tool to use against good people. It is distraction. He would have good people fill life with 'good things' so there is no room for the essential ones." Elder Richard G. Scott

We talked about how Satan doesn't insist we put HIM first in our loyalty - anything or anyone other than God will do.

"Why did God put the first commandment first? Because he knew that if we truly loved Him we would want to keep all of His other commandments... We must put God in the forefront of everything else in our lives... When we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands of our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities." President Ezra Taft Benson

I told the girls "the rest of the story" (which, really, isn't the rest of the story) of the blogger I had shown them the first post of. I gave a quick recap of her life since becoming pregnant with her 8th child, then asked if they wanted to see some graphic pics she had posted (a reality check). Of course, the girls were all for it. If you want to see (they are graphic), you can go here.

We finished up with this scripture:

"Yea, come unto Christ and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind, and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by His grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God." Moroni 10:32

Since Valentines Day is just around the corner, and since this was a YW class, I wanted to make a handout to remind them about the attributes we had discussed so they could go home and write in their journals about them (a requirement of the value experience).

I tweaked this idea, including some scriptures from the Book of Mormon and Doctrine&Covenants. I also had to adjust the size settings of the outside paper to fit the Sweethearts candy box (v Brachs).

You can access my print-outs here and here.

*2018 UPDATE: I've tweaked this idea yet again. Since we are studying the Book of Mormon this year in Seminary, I wanted to make some of these for my class, but wanted ALL BofM scriptures. You can access that version here. I also noticed that the link explaining how to make the paper covers is no longer available. If I have a few minutes to do a quick tutorial this week, I will post that here as well. (See below)

The girls were great. I worried a little about it feeling too much like a "sit and listen" lesson for a weeknight activity (thus the storybook and blogger posts to add variety), but they participated in the discussion and were very appreciative afterwards, including the two non-member friends attending. The class was on Tuesday, I received a thank you note in the mail on Thursday.
Those are some on-the-ball young women!!

The best thing: I have a renewed determination to put first things first.

As usual, the preparation likely helped me more than the discussion helped the young women.
Have a beautiful day!

Quick basic tutorial for the box covers:

 Using 12x12 paper, I measured the width of the Sweethearts box, then cut strips of that size.

 I then wrapped the paper around the box, leaving some extra paper at the top. I just made creases in the paper as I wrapped it.

I determined that I didn't need the full 12" length of the paper, so cut the excess off, then cut all my strips to the same size.

 Again, while wrapped around the box, I determined where to punch my holes for the ribbon. You want these to be as close to the crease as you can so that the paper won't easily slip off your finished box (mine could have been a bit closer). Once I had one, I quickly marked and punched the rest of strips (I had already made the creases in each strip before punching the holes).

 Then I just wrapped my strips around each box, threaded my ribbon through the holes, then tied it.

Then I just glued/taped on the scripture references.

On this particular set I just used what I had on hand -- regular colored cardstock. I had purchased the ribbon a few years back AFTER Valentines Day so had a little stash. I think they still turned out super cute.