Everyday object lessons

This is specifically how I will teach my 8-11 yr old boys the story of the temptations of Jesus and other concepts about temptation. You can change the lesson to fit your circumstances. My objective for this lesson is to cover some simple concepts
1) Temptation is influence of Satan to choose the wrong behavior. We have the age (over eight) and mental ability (not handicapped) to know right from wrong and are accountable. It is a battle within our heart and mind of whether to choose Satan or choose God.
2) When we choose Satan we choose darkness for our spirit, when we choose God, we choose light and companionship of the Holy Ghost.
3) Tell the simple JST translation story of Jesus’ temptation after the 40 day fast
4) Repeat the scripture many times: get thee behind me Satan

Here’s how I want to do that
On the flannel board have 3 scenes, each one of the 3 different temptations of Jesus. On the wall or door or board have the word temptation and then a line leading to a picture of the Savior and another line with nothing on the end.

Our classroom can go entirely dark, so each boy will have a flashlight to shine on the flannel story or board.

1. Hand out the flashlights very soon after walking in. Give instructions that they are to shine the flashlight on the item that I tell them, or they lose the flashlight and if they flash in someone else’s face, they lose their light. I will probably give them a second chance after awhile, but I’m not going to tell them that! Turn off the lights and ask them to check that the light works. Tell them we have a very special, fun lesson where we get to use the flashlights in the dark, so lets get thru the other things quickly so we have lots of time to use the flashlights.

2. Cover any announcements and other things as needed.

3) Turn off the lights. Shine on the word temptation and discuss the simple definition. When we talk about the battle going on in our heart and mind, then they get to go wild with the light all over the room and we when we say, Get thee behind me Satan, then all the lights shine on the pix of the Savior. One time we will illustrate that choosing Satan’s influence leaves our spirit in darkness and everyone will turn off their light.

4) Have someone read the stories of the temptations of Christ – the Joseph Smith Translation gives a better detail so I will use that. As we get to each one the boys can shine the lights on the flannel board.

5) Reinforce the idea that thru our whole life we will have temptations. Satan will influence us to behave different than we know is right. We must do as Jesus taught us and say to ourselves, Get thee behind me Satan and then have courage and choose God. Use the lights on the words and pix on the board.

6) Find one or two stories that give illustration of temptation and how the choice brought the person more light. And then do step 5 again. Maybe there is a primary song we can sing that goes with this too.

You need 2 pair of scissors for this lesson. One should be dull and maybe toddler type scissors that would only cut paper. The other should be fabric scissors. Also have a piece of heavy duty fabric – like canvas The topic of the lesson would be something about being instruments in the hands of God. Both of these are instruments, and both are tools for cutting. Have someone demonstrate how nearly impossible it is to cut a piece of fabric with the first pair, but how easily the other scissors cuts thru the fabric.

Develop the story in whatever way you need to in describing the difference between the two. One example would be that all people on earth have the capacity to be instruments for God. We can bring joy to others, we can contribute to peace in the family or neighborhood, we can help teach others or tend the earth and animals. Those are all beneficial. The toddler scissors are able to cut paper.

Those who have taken the covenants of baptism or received the priesthood or taken temple covenants are then obligated and called to be a different and very specific kind of instrument. We are preparing the world for the coming of Christ. We must find the sheep who will hear his voice. We must actively use and bless the earth with the proper priesthood power and ordinances.

Then add whatever scriptures and other examples fit your needs.

This is for a lesson on Malachi in the Old Testament and discussing the windows of heaven and that all things belong to God. First I will pass out some legos to each student. Each student is instructed to build a little house with a window in it.

In olden days it was a custom on feast days and weddings and other big celebrations for the rich people to open their upstairs windows and throw gold and silver coins to the people below. Maybe this is where the idea of “windows of heaven pouring down blessings” came from.

As the students build, I will ask them who owns the legos. I can ask for all of them back, or a few back or give them to permission to build something of their own choice, or like now they are building something that I ask for. But either way, they don’t need to feel like they are losing anything because the legos all belong to me.

Ask them to each give 2 bricks back and when they do – give them a handful more in return.

When they finish their houses, make a few two story versions as an illustration of the people opening their upstairs windows.

Continue the discussion and reading the scriptures in Malachi. Discuss how all things belong to God just like the legos belonged to me and then discuss tithing and offerings. Build the lesson from there…….

This was a sharing time in primary. I adapted it a bit for our Family Home Evening. Get a clear bowl or clear glass pitcher and fill with water. Get two oranges. You could draw a face on the orange if you want too. Put the oranges in the pitcher to show that they float. Go the scriptures in Ephesians and read thru the portion on the armour of God. You can include as much or as little of this as you have time for. Have class members come up with things both that strengthen or represent the armour of God, and things that weaken or distress the armour of God. Each time you discuss something that weakens the armour, cut a slice off of the orange peel. Keep going until the whole orange is peeled.

Keep the other orange whole. Float the two a few times during the lesson to see how they are doing. When the whole orange is peeled, the orange without the armour sinks to the bottom.

Both of these lessons are similar so I am putting them together. How the lesson is expounded upon is up to your own creativity……

First you have a balloon and it can be easily popped with a pin.  Contrast that with a rock that cannot be popped by a pin.  This could be temptation, a testimony, faith, just be imaginative.

Next is the comparison between a raw egg and if you drop it, it flows all over and a hard boiled egg doesn’t fall apart when dropped.  Again, this idea could be worked into different lessons.

This was submitted by Scott Wagner of Roseville, California. It’s alot of big stuff to find and carry and prepare, and I had a difficult time envisioning how it works, but then that’s why I don’t build things! This might be one to be done outside at a camp rather than in the church house. I have just one object lesson that I feel may be unique. Perhaps you’ve seen one similar to this. It requires the following objects that can usually be found around the house or in the garage.

1 5-foot 2×4
1 4-foot 1×1
2 Empty used paint cans or buckets, the kind with a wire carrying handle
1 bolt, 2 washers, and 1 nut
Water
A picture of a man who looks like a bishop, or a picture of the prophet, or whomever you’re using as the object lesson (this will make sense later. A 1-pound weight or something else that weighs about as much
A length of heavy chain with at least 20 links in it.
Lengths of rope

The object lesson works like this. Ahead of time you use the wood and cans to construct a scale. Drill a hole through the 2×4 about 6 inches from the top and through the 1×1 at its center. Then you use the bolt, washers, and nut to make the two pieces of wood into a T-shaped balance. Also drill holes through the ends of the 1×1. Through these holes thread two lengths of rope so as to suspend the two cans or buckets at the same height beneath the balance. Into one bucket you place an amount of water ahead of time and seal it with a lid (just to keep things tidy) but exactly how much depends on the weight of the objects you will put in the other empty can. Here’s why:

The picture of the man represents the Bishop (or the Prophet, or the patriarch in the home — I’ll continue with the Bishop analogy). The Bishop has an incredible responsibility. He must care for and serve the entire Ward (the can filled with water — you can even label it “Ward Family”). He must lift them up, so to speak. He could work with all of his might 80-hours a week and he still couldn’t accomplish this task alone. At this point you put the picture of the bishop in the empty can and demonstrate that the weight of the picture is not sufficient to raise the “Ward Family” can with water in it.

The Bishop has help. He has the priesthood and he has what’s called the mantel of a bishop which give him authority and spiritual help to do the job. At this point you hold up the 1-pound weight. The class will probably assume from its size that it is enough to tip the scale and raise the “Ward Family” can, but when you drop it into the bucket with the picture of the Bishop it does not. Not even the Bishop and his priesthood and mantel are enough to accomplish the work. Then you produce the length of chain. (When I did this I hid the chain until I was ready for it.) You say that the length of chain represents us, the members of the ward family. We are like links in a chain. Only when each of us does our part (through home teaching, visiting teaching, having family home evening, and so forth) can the bishop hope to serve and lift up everyone in the ward. At this point you begin lowering the chain into the can slowly, and only when the very last link falls into the can does the “Ward Family” can finally come up off the ground. (This is why the amount of water you put in the “Ward Family” can depends on the weight and chain you use.)

That’s it. There is a lot of preparation but I found the class really enjoyed it. Just the sight of the wood and cans got them wondering what the lesson would be about.

For this story, tell a story that you have actually experienced or heard (we have all done this!) about driving on a new highway and its unfamiliar. You have a map or even someone giving you directions and for what ever reason, you drive past the exit.This is parable that illustrates the scripture I Cor 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. If we are listening to the spirit, following the council of prophets and scriptures, then there will always be an exit off the highway. If we do not get off the highway at the first exit, and choose to continue in a temptation, then we have ignored the escape, we have chosen the temptation. God is faithful to give us an exit, but he will not take away our free agency to ignore the exit and it will be our own will if we succumb to evil and temptation.

Bring a few combs to the class, or have them use their own combs. If you bring your own, please make sure they are washed and very clean before offering students to use them.
Have students comb their hair, with the stipulation that they cannot bend their elbows. This is quite a hilarious sight to see them trying to comb hair with straight arms. Its basically impossible unless the person has very long hair and can bend over very far. Then give the same comb to a neighbor and again with only straight arms, have the neighbor comb the hair. It is possible for this to happen

You can take this object lesson in several directions. It is the message that there are things we cannot do for ourselves. Another person must do it for us. This can be temple work for the dead, or it can be the savior’s atonement. Develop this idea any way you desire.

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, “Who would like this $20 bill?” Hands started going up. He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you, but first, let me do this.” He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up. He then asked, “Who still wants it?” Still, the hands were up in the air.” “Well,” he continued, “what if I do this?” And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. “Now, who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air. “My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.” “Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstance that come our way.” We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value: dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who love you.” The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but in WHO WE ARE. You are special. Don’t ever forget it.”

Source: New Era magazine – Nov 99, p.44
You need a lazy susan or turntables that go in your cupboard for your spices. Demonstrate in some way how the things in the center spin much slower and don’t fly off like the things on the outside. If you can’t have the demonstration then just have them picture the last time they were on a merry-go-round and have the class discuss what happens to a person in the dead center and what happens to someone on the edge when the merry-go-round is going very fast. The lesson from the New Era is this: You’ll find that when you move away from the teachings of the Savior and the prophets, you find yourself taking risks you know you shouldn’t. And then you can suddenly find yourself far away from the Church. And it can be really hard to get back on the ride again once you’re off. If we stay centered on Him, following the teachings of the Church and the prophets, we won’t be tempted to take the risks that will throw us off the path that leads home.