Everyday object lessons

From a story by Bernie Siegel MD

His son came home with a picture from school and it was just a piece of paper with WORDS written all over the front over and over. As he looked at it, it became words or swords and he realized words can be swords. Words have life or death in them.

WORDSWORDSWORDSWORDSWORDSWORDSWORDSWORDS

This lesson comes fromMeridian magazine in the section for Family Home Evening. The article is by C.S. Bezas.
Each person gets a half of a raw potato. The potato represents your brain. Begin to carve a very simple shape (square, circle, star, music note) into the potato and take off the pieces of the potato that are not part of the shape. This carving represents the music that you listen to. It forms and shapes your brain in a very specific way. It helps shape your attitudes, affects learning ability and has an effect on your physical, mental and emotional health. When the shape has been cut, put the potato in some paint and stamp the potato shapes onto paper. If you carved a circle, you won’t stamp out a square. If you are listening to uplifting and positive music, that’s how your brain is going to be shaped and you will reap the benefits and blessings.
You can add things like listening to music, making a stamp poster, discussing the negative or positive benefits of music, talking about the standards in For the Strength of Youth that discuss music.
This topic is wide open and this is a good lesson that can reinforce how the music actually makes brain pathways like the knife carves a potato. For older kids, do a search and get some info about how the brain works or how music affects brain ability.

This lesson is on service. The teacher used ice cream scoops to teach an object lesson. He had two sizes of ice cream scoops and asked “If I were serving up some ice cream, which scoop would you want me to use?” Of course, everyone wanted the big scoop. He then explained that when we serve others, we are offering service to Christ and expressing our love and commitment to him. Holding up the two scoops, he asked “Would you like to serve Christ just a little or a whole lot?”

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.”

This is a talk given by 11 yr old Alex.
The idea was based on a story given in a general conference talk – Oct 99
First you make two paper airplanes. One needs to fly very straight and true. The other needs to look a little battered and fly more in loops. There are patterns out there for making the different types. Then here is the talk: Imagine a plane taking off, the plane is in perfect condition the crew is trained and they have flight plan. If you get on this plane your sure to get to your destination. Now, imagine another plane taking off it doesn’t really have a place to go. It’s not in good shape. Its crew is a bunch of high school kids who have just graduated and have not been properly trained yet. If you get on this plane your almost sure to not reach your destination.

The first plane is god’s plan of happiness. Just like in the plane the church has leaders who are called of god. Just like the flight plan, gods plan of happiness is clearly written out in the scriptures. If we get on this plane, then we will be happy, and reach our destination of living with God again.

The second plane is the world. It has no destination, no plan, no consistent direction or standards. One month the world wants pokemon, next it wants pogs. One year the world wants Harry Potter, next it wants Animorphs. (This lesson is old! Pick popular toys and media of today.) Everthing is subject to the whims of popular culture. The passengers on this plane don’t know where they are going, so they never know if they get there.

If I were a passenger with a specific destination, I would pick the one with trained pilots and a flight plan. I would feel safer and more secure the God’s plan of happiness.

Then read this scripture Eph. 4:11-14

From Diane Hollinger
A story taken from an old diary….
Needed….a watermelon seed (a picture of a watermelon) The Bible, or another book of scripture at my father’s place at meal times, was the order of the day in our home. He would read a chapter aloud and lead the discussion.

But one day as we assembled for our meal, there was no book of scripture but a single watermelon seed. He appeared not to notice the missing book but recalled something he had discussed concerning faith several days ago. We all joined in on the lively discussion.

Then very carefully he picked up the watermelon seed and held it so we could all see it.

“Boys,” he said, still studying the seed. “Do you believe that there is the possibility of several watermelons here in my hand?” We all agreed there was.

“Do you believe that I have the beginnings of a whole wagon load of watermelons here?”

One of the older brothers said that he couldn’t say that, but he’d like to plant the watermelon seed and see. We all agreed with him.

“Boys,” Father said with a twinkle in his brown eyes, “you have the right idea. You have faith that watermelons will come from this seed but with out your work of planting and caring for this seed you will never know for sure. James 2:17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

Everyone needs a survival kit, one to remind them of something beyond the everyday traps we fall into.

• Toothpick
• Rubber band
• Band aid
• Pencil
• Eraser
• Chewing gum
• Mint
• Candy Kiss

Here’s why:

• Toothpick – to remind you to pick out the good qualities in others…Matt 7:1
• Rubber band – to remind you to be flexible, things might not always go the way you want, but it will work out…Romans 8:28
• Band Aid – to remind you to heal hurt feelings, yours or someone else’s…Col 3:12-14
• Pencil – To remind you to list your blessings everyday…Eph1:3
• Eraser – to remind you that everyone makes mistakes, and it’s okay…Gen 50:15-21
• Chewing gum – to remind you to stick with it and you can accomplish anything with Jesus…Phil 4:13
• Mint – to remind you that you are worth a mint to your heavenly father…John 3:16-17
• Candy Kiss – to remind you that everyone needs a kiss or a hug everyday… 1 John 4:7
• Use your imagination to come up with more of these!And send your ideas to me so I can add to the list

Here is an object lesson I heard at education week.

Tonight for family home evening we are making milk shakes.
Get out a blender, fill with ice cream, milk, chocolate sauce or strawberries. Blend up. Then go to the window sill and take a dead fly (that you have planted there) and say, “oh, a dead fly. That would make this good.” Put the fly in the blender and blend again. Then pour a glass and hand to your teenager. When they refuse it. Say “Why, it’s only one tiny fly, it’s can’t hurt anything. All the other things are so good” etc.

So many times we are told we should go see a movie or other forms of entertainment. We ask if it is good. Oh, there’s only one little bad part. You can close your eyes for that. The rest is so good.

Source: Bob Wleszewsli
This is is story taken from the Focus on the Family Plugged In magazine.
It is a struggle to keep our family’s movie viewing habits free of pornography and graphic violence. “The hardest part in this struggle for some parents is saying no when other parents are saying yes. Perhaps this will help. Suppose you pulled up to the drive-thru window of your favorite fast food restaurant and there was a sign that said, Serving E. coli contaminated beef today. Would you order? Of course not. What if ten cars in front of you all got hot burgers? Would it make a difference? You’d quickly hit the gas pedal and head elsewhere. Why should it be any different if it’s E coli entertainment? Yet adults continue to take their children out for toxic nibbles of what Hollywood is eager to serve.”

Source – Lynn G. Robbins
Satan is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. (3Ne. 11: 29). The verb stir sounds like a recipe for disaster: Put tempers on medium heat, stir in a few choice words, and bring to a boil; continue stirring until thick; cool off; let feelings chill for several days; serve cold; lots of leftovers.