Everyday object lessons

Submitted by Amanda Nelson

The lesson is about trust.  You will need a bunch of building blocks, the wooden kind, not Lego’s or anything that locks together.  You can tape labels  on the blocks that build character like, caring for others, responsibility, fairness, service, being a good friend, truthfulness, etc.  (This is not necessary, but helpful)  Then as a group, build a tower together until its as high as you can build it.  Then have one person try to knock it down.  Ask them to try and do it in one kick or push.  Then tell them that you need to build it again.  Once that is done you can explain that just like trust in a person, it builds over time, but it only takes one kick (lie or broken promise) to destroy it all.  All trust is broken.  It also takes a long time to rebuild that trust once it has been broken.

Start outside when the sun is very bright.  Tell students to stand so they are receiving the most and brightest sun available.  Then everyone moves to a spot that is not so bright, but that you can clearly see the sun is still shining – maybe in the shade of a tree.  Next move indoors but to a room with a window so you can still have the effects of the sunlight but less.  Finally move to a closet or room where it can be entirely dark.  If it is a warm time of year you know the sun is still shining because the building is still warm inside even tho you are in the dark.

This lesson has several applications.  Here are the ones my family came up with:  God’s love represents the sun.

It is our actions that take us out of the light.  God’s love is always there and always the same and always available.  My actions make it so I feel God’s love less.  I move, not God.

We started out in the light.  That is where we all came from – God’s presence.  We should ask for confirmation of this truth and then remember that light and God’s love when we are feeling discouraged and in the dark.

For an object lesson regarding marriage, partnerships, working together, etc. I used a simple clothespin. I showed the class that if I only have one side of the clothespin it does not perform it’s full function. However, with the two sides of the clothespin being bonded together by the Lord the clothespin can perform it’s full function. In relationships if one side is trying to do it all, the relationship will not always work. But by working together with the Lord it is amazing what can be accomplished.
Submitted by Kori Hoyt

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.

Source: J.R. Sharp and Deaunna Evans
We were all excited when he asked the class if anybody wanted some gum. He then passed around a plate with pieces of gum that had already been chewed (ABC) along with pieces of gum still wrapped up “clean and pure”. Well we were all thoroughly disgusted and everyone choose the “clean and pure” gum. He acted surprised and questioned us as to why no chose the ABC gum. Why had we all chose the “clean and pure” gum?

He then gave a wonderful lesson on chastity and encouraged us to keep ourselves “clean and pure” for our future husbands and wives.

gave the lesson in Relief Society last week on Marriage. I invited a sister and her husband to come forward and play “Tug-of-war” with a paper chain which represented civil marriage. It broke when they struggled and they fell away from each other. They then played using a metal chain which represented temple marriage. This time as they struggled the chain did not break and they were pulled closer together

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.”

From Angela Spencer
A Story out of the Friend called Bag of Rocks. This boy named Malcolm collected rocks everytime someone or something made him mad. I brought a bunch of rocks and made a boy stand in front of the room and as I read the story, we loaded him down with rocks, adding suspenders, a coat with many pockets and a backpack. We then discussed at the close of the story, how to unburden ourselves from bad feelings we harbor for others. We took rocks out at every suggestion and this kept the kids completely entertained!!!!

From Angela Spencer
I taught the children the subject “Jesus Christ is my Example” by using 2 object lessons. I first displayed 2 exact plants planted in 2 different containers. One container was beautiful and the plant looked wonderful. The other container was chipped and awful looking and the plant appeared less desirable. I then had the children choose which plant they liked best. Of course, they chose the plant in the nice pot. I then read a story from the Friend called Tin Pot. It told of a boy with disabilities and how his friend Annie learned an important lesson from her Mom concerning how things can look so different on the outside, but still be the same inside. We then, discussed examples Christ did while on the earth to make everyone feel of their Father in Heaven’s love and how the kids could use his examples today.