Divine Nature - Your Very Own Happily Ever After

This is a combined class activity that I'm hoping will make a big impact on the girls. I'm going to tape little reminder cards with this quote on it to their doors.
“Be strong and of good courage. You are truly royal spirit daughters of Almighty God. You are princesses, destined to become queens. Your own wondrous story has already begun. Your 'once upon a time' is now. -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I found these cool boxes at http://staging.papermart.co... Although you do have to make your own ring holes. I'll use these as their takeaways with a little tag that says be loyal to the royal within.

We'll open with this short story by Ardeth G. Kapp, former president of the General Young Women's Organization.

Once upon a time there was a little kingdom called Rayad. The tiny people who inhabited this kingdom were call Rayadites. They lived happily, sharing and caring about each other. Life was good to them. There were only a few things they needed to watch out for; for instance, chocolate cake or wearing the color red. If any Rayadite ever ate chocolate cake or wore red, his spirit would become weakened, and he would care less and less about himself and the rules of the kingdom.
Also living in this tiny kingdom was Zynock, an evil person who wanted to destroy the kingdom and all of the people in it. He hated for them to be happy and loving, for that made it harder for him to influence them. He knew what weakened their spirits and made them easier to capture. But Zynock also knew that he could not just offer the Rayadites chocolate cake and have them devour it - they were not that foolish! Nor could he make the most wonderful garment in bright red and expect them to wear it immediately. The Rayadites wanted to be good and strong. They had promised each other that they would help and strengthen each other in time of need. So how could Zynock weaken this people? How could he get them to succumb to him so that he could destroy them and thus the whole kingdom?
"Let's see," he said, "I can't get them to eat chocolate cake right off, but maybe I can get them to develop a taste for chocolate."
That's when chocolate chip cookies were introduced to the kingdom of Rayad. At first the cookies were ignored and scoffed at. Then some commercials and billboards were produced that showed handsome, wonderful-looking Rayadites eating chocolate chip cookies. And nothing happened to them, except they became more popular and sophisticated - at least that's what the message conveyed on the screens and billboards.
It wasn't long before a few Rayadites could be seen eating a chocolate chip cookies every now and then, and they seemed to be doing fine. They were still loving and caring and hadn't changed at all - so it seemed. So more and more Rayadites began eating the cookies. What they didn't realize was that the portion of chocolate chips in each cookie had been doubled. They were getting a double dose of chocolate, disguised in the cookie. You'd hear phrases like these: "That cookie is really good except for a couple of places where it tastes pretty chocolatey. But don't miss the cookie just for those two places. It's too good a cookie, and you can overlook the taste." "I heard that one of our friends has eaten a chocolate chip cookie, and she says it's nothing to be afraid of. It won't ruin your life if you eat it."
That was true: lives didn't seem to be ruined by chocolate chip cookies. Things were pretty much the same as usual. However, some of the teachers and leaders and parents in Rayad suggested avoiding the cookies because tastes for chocolate were being developed.
"Avoid the cookies?" came the cries of surprise. "What for? What's wrong with them? They're not chocolate cake! How stuffy can you get?"
Some who refused to eat the cookies were even laughed at and made fun of. Zynock himself started chuckling. He had no idea his plan would work so well. And Zynock was patient. He didn't care how long it took to destroy Rayad, just so it was destroyed.
Chocolate chip cookies seemed to be moving pretty well. Zynock didn't worry about the words of caution and counsel from the leaders, because his commercials and billboards were so exciting and enticing. He had to make them that way, or the truth of the leaders would have swayed the Rayadites away from the cookies.
Now it came time to introduce a new product of destruction. No, not chocolate cake, not quite yet. Rather, Zynock began advertising spice cake, white cake, yellow cake, carrot cake, any kind of cake but chocolate - but all with chocolate frosting, rich chocolate frosting. More commercials, more billboards, a few songs to hum and sing all day about how wonderful chocolate cake would be, although they're not eating it - yet! Get them thinking about it before they will actually succumb. Then in the kingdom of Rayad, you could hear:
"Have you tried that yellow cake with chocolate frosting?"
"Well, no. Is it good?"
"Oh, yes! Granted, it is chocolatey, but it's not chocolate cake. And it really doesn't have much more chocolate than those cookies we've been eating!"
"But the cake doesn't seem right. I mean, cookies are one thing, but cake?"
"Ah, come on! The important thing is the chocolate, and this is no more than you've already been eating. Everybody's eating it. You can't pass it up and be the only one left out."
In the meantime, the songs were subtly strumming away in the background, singing the praises of chocolate cake. Right, the words were not good, but the beat and the rhythm were so cool that many Rayad's listened just for the music. After all, what can music do?
Zynock began thinking again: "One thing that strengthens those Rayadites is when they are together talking to each other. What can I do about that?" Then he reasoned, "Well, it's all right for them to be together. In fact, maybe there is some way I could use their gatherings and parties for my purposes. Aha! I've got it!"
So parties in Rayad began changing. Instead of the Rayadites talking to each other and playing games so they could get to know one another and share their strengths and talents, a new trend began. Everyone who was anyone had the new kinds of parties.
"Have you been to a party over at our Rayad friend's place yet?"
"No, I haven't."
"You should go. It's really cool!"
"Oh? What do you do?"
"Well, it isn't like any other party you've been to. It's pretty cool. All you do is go and sit down and watch stuff on the screen."
"Stuff on the screen? Like what?"
"Oh, exciting, scary stuff that's pretty good. There are a few scenes showing people eating chocolate cake, but no 'biggy.'"
"People eating chocolate cake? But..."
"Oh, it's not bad, and besides, there's nothing anymore without a little bit of that. It's just fun to get together with your friends."
So Zynock stood back and watched his plot unfold. "Let's see now. They're eating chocolate and they're eating cake. They're listening to songs and watching movies about chocolate cake. They're becoming weaker and weaker, although they're not even aware of it yet because they haven't actually eaten it - yet! They are falling into my trap! They think their leaders and parents are square and stuffy. It's very helpful when their friends tell them what I want them to hear. Friends are my greatest asset!"
"Hey!" says a friend Rayadite, "have you seen the latest movie?"
"No," comes the response. "I thought it was C-rated, for chocolate."
"No, it isn't. It's R-rated for Red. There's no chocolate in it."
And so Zynock continues his plotting - this time a gorgeous garment, but not in red...yet. It's a luscious pink color.

After that we are going to divide into 3 different groups. I have taken segments from Elder Uchtdorf's talk "Your Happily Ever After" to use as inspiration for the girls to create their own skits. We have fairly outgoing dramatic girls so this will probably be the highlight of the night :)

And last but not least We'll have a few Chocolaty treats to go along with the theme of Sister Kapp's story. Chocolate Raspberry Tartlets, YUMMM! Find the recipe at Ghirardelli.com

Faith - Spiritual Time Capsule Scavenger Hunt

This Time Capsule Scavenger Hunt is a combined class activity idea that I am really looking forward to. (Cross my fingers!) We're going to start by showing the YW a number 10 can the Sunday before and explaining that this will be their ten year time capsule. They can bring anything they want to put in it, but it must fit. We're also going to send them home with a scrap-booked  "These are a few of my favorite things" card, just so they can have a record of their current interests.
The quote I am using to decorate the can with is  3 Nephi 13:19-21, Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
We'll use this as a little embellishment!

 Here are some other quotes we are going to use.

by : Gordon B. Hinckley
"In my quiet moments, I think of the future with all of its wonderful possibilities and with all of its terrible temptations. I wonder what will happen to you in the next 10 years. Where will you be? What will you be doing? That will depend on the choices you make, some of which may seem unimportant at the time but which will have tremendous consequences."

by: Dallin H. Oaks
"As we consider various choices, we should remember that it is not enough that something is good. Other choices are better, and still others are best. Even though a particular choice is more costly, its far greater value may make it the best choice of all.

On Wednesday we will split into 3 groups with 3 different sets of clues and rotate through 3 different "Hosts", but before they can go in they have to complete a small service. Each "Host" will speak for about 5 minutes on their topic and then give the kids their questions. Here is an example of the clues and the services the kids will be given:

Tonight you are starting a journey, a hunt to find those people who have truly important information for you. They will help you complete your spiritual time capsule.

The first person you must find has a very strong testimony of the value of reading your scriptures daily and a great LOVE for personal prayer. In fact she recently has “Testified” of this. If you still do not know who this is, head to (address), But before you ring, you must let her know how much she is LOVED! (Use your heart attack kit!)

Time capsule question: How can reading your scriptures and saying your prayers influence your life? Make it better? What are some of your goals in terms of daily habits?


The next person you are trying to find is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet! She has served as a temple worker and truly has the Light of Christ! She can be found by going to (address), But don’t forget to let her know how bright her light shines!  (Make her a gift by putting your candle in the vase. Poor in the cranberries and light it up!)

 Time capsule question: What can you do to work on being more Christlike? What are 5 characteristics you want to develop?

Next your looking for someone who has an eternal perspective! They understand the importance of keeping spiritually fed. See what you can learn from them, but remember don’t forget to thank them for their incredible kindness in sharing with you! (Give them the loaf of Banana Bread!)
Time capsule question: Where do you see yourself in 10 years? 20 years? 50 years?
What are some of your strengths? Which attributes would you like to add to this list?


Now hurry, make haste, go back to the church and find your last and greatest treasure!
At which point the kids will write down their testimonies and seal their cans.

The wording of the clues and the "services" have to be changed for each group so that one "Host" doesn't get three of the same gifts, but this is the basic idea. I can't wait, I think it is going to be so much fun!

Knowlege - Basic Homemaking Skills Relay Race

This week we are working on the value knowledge. I can still remember as a young woman myself learning how to tie a tie, and iron a shirt. Every time I tie a tie for one of my boys I thank the Young Womens leader who taught me that skill. I've also been thinking about how unprepared I was as a homemaker. So, for our class activity I thought it would be really fun to teach the girls basic homemaking skills and then have them do a relay race to complete those skills.   I'm planning on teaching them how to Iron a shirt, Tie a tie, make an egg, replace a button, and get a grease spot out of an article of clothing using dish soap. I work with the Beehives so basically they are just happy to be together, but I think this will make for a good activity. I'm using this Quote to help me along.

Susan W. Tanner, General YW President said in March of 2004, “I believe that one way we can arm our girls spiritually is to help them develop temporal skills or talents. We know that to the Lord all things are spiritual.”
“When we lose the homemakers in a society, we create an emotional homelessness: She quotes Bryce Christensen from The Family in America: “...The number of homeless people on the street does not begin to reveal the scope of homelessness in America. For since when did the word home signify merely physical shelter, or homelessness merely the lack of such shelter? Home [signifies] not only shelter, but also emotional commitment, security, and belonging. Home has connoted not just a necessary roof and a warm radiator, but a place sanctified by the abiding ties of wedlock, parenthood, and family obligation; a place demanding sacrifice and devotion, but promising loving care and warm acceptance.”
“So we must teach homemaking skills, including practical ones such as cooking, sewing, budgeting, and beautifying. We must let young women know that homemaking skills are honorable and can help them spiritually as well as temporally."