Option B

Thank you, Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant, for sharing this well-written, engaging book. It is a treasure for anyone who has faced adversity, loss, change, grief, or disappointment in life.  Rising after adversity and feeling joy in life is possible and Option B was a reminder of this truth.

If you, or someone you know and love, has faced challenges in life,                 read Option B and apply the principles taught. Everyone can benefit, at some level, from the messages in Option B .  Everyone, regardless of the best made life plans, will need to select, "Option B", either in a small way or in a life-changing, gut-wrenching monumental way.

I have gained insight for not only my own life, but for my interactions and  relationships with others. I am living parts of my life differently as a result of this book. I am definitely feeling more joy in my daily  life as I apply the principles shared in Option B.

This was easy to read, well-written, and a book with messages I have already referred to as I teach and speak. This book is not just a "summer read" that will soon be forgotten. Option B will be quoted and referred to for many years to come.

Sheryl Sandberg is a beautiful example of using her paralyzing tragedy and grief to lift others. Adam Grant is spot on in his counsel and perspective. Together, they are a "Dream Team".  Thank you for sharing this important message.

Seminary

This morning, I started my lesson with the following numbers on the chalkboard:

700

4,000

I asked my students what those numbers have to do with them.

They were right in the ball park with their answers.

700 is the average number of missionary applications submitted each week.

4,000 is the approximate number of applications received last week, with a little over half of the applications from young women.

Wow! We are truly living in a blessed time of history.

As often as possible, I point out that Seminary is the best Missionary Preparation class, and in many cases, the ONLY Missionary Preparation class they will have. For the boys, if they choose to serve a mission at 18 years old, they will go straight from Seminary to the MTC (MIssionary Training Center) No more Institute or Missionary Preparation classes during the first year of college.

As one of my students stated, the age change for missions just made a mission feel "real" for him. In other words, a mission is closer than he thinks.

I discussed how this number and the opportunity to serve a mission earlier than anticipated should affect the way they study the scriptures.

This week, we are spending most of our lesson time learning HOW to read and study. We teach that reading the scriptures is a commandment, but all too often, many youth (and adults) are discouraged when they don't understand what they are reading or don't know how to use footnotes, topical guide, etc. 

I used the points at the beginning of the New Testament Student Manual to break down scripture study in to 3 areas:

 Before, During, and After. This is information I know I will need to refer to all year long as I encourage scripture study.

Object Lesson:

The most important aspect of Scripture Study is APPLY.

To illustrate this, I had one of my students come up front and I pinned several bags containing healthy food all over his shirt. I asked how this related to scripture study..the food won't do his body any good on the outside, it needs to be eaten, digested, and become part of him to give him nourishment. This is the same with spiritual food. We must ponder, digest, and make it part of us. As President Eyring taught, we must get the doctrine deep inside our hearts.

Seminary-Avoiding Temptation

Here is where my Cub Scout days pay off. I adapted the "Paper Plate Relay" for a Seminary activity. 

Yesterday, I had the students name the activities in our lives that help us avoid temptation. They named things like: personal prayer, worthily partaking of the Sacrament, daily scripture study, attending Seminary, dressing modestly, choosing uplifting music, movies, TV, media, etc.

I took those items and listed each one on a separate paper plate for today.

(I did this for 2 teams-each had the same things written on paper plates)

The Cultural Hall was set up for a large event for tonight, so our space was limited for the relay race, but we managed and I hope the students will remember what we learned while we were having fun.

Basically, the paper plates are stepping stones. 

The wood floor is temptation.

Staying on the stepping stones helps us avoid temptation and be spiritually strengthened.

Players stand in a straight line.

Before the game starts, each player is standing on a paper plate.

The last player in line is standing on a plate AND holding a plate.

At the word GO, each team needs to move forward only stepping on the paper plates (avoiding the floor, aka temptation)

The only way they can advance is with the extra plate that is at the end, so the last player in line passes the plate forward.

The first player in line places the extra plate on the floor and all players advance one plate forward.

Again this is repeated, with the last player sending the extra plate forward, etc.

When the last player in line crosses the finish line (safety at the end of the day) that team wins.

I likened the path they were walking to a day in their lives.

From start to finish, every day we need each step to help us resist temptation.

I showed them what would happen if we tried to skip a step (it is harder) or if we eliminate a step (can't get to the end of the day safely, etc)

There are so many parallels that can be drawn with this activity such as the need to help each other, team work, communication, etc.

I think they had a good time, and, most importantly, I think they will remember the principle I was trying to reinforce and teach.

This is an INCREDIBLE group of teenagers. Nothing ordinary about them.

Young Women Lesson Handout

Young Women Lesson Idea

"Forgiveness of Self and Others Is A Gift"

I love teaching, especially Children and Teens.

I have Three Areas of Focus when preparing and presenting

a lesson.

Touch the HEART, MIND, and HAND

Touching the Hand means two things:

1) Providing a Hands On Object lesson, and

2) Sending home a tangible reminder of the feelings and

spirit felt while the lesson was being presented.

It is a way to send a piece of the lesson home.

A Handout should not be the focus of the lesson,

yet a reinforcement and a reminder for the student

to apply the lesson in daily life.

When I concentrate on touching the Heart first,

touching the Mind and Hand flow in a natural way.

Usually, there is a quote or story in the lesson that

gives me an idea for a perfect reinforcement Handout.

Here is the way I touched the HAND after the lesson on

Forgiving Yourself....

(Which, by the way, was an AWESOME

lesson and so needed in our culture!)

This is a box of Movie Candy

( I used candy because Forgivness is SWEET!)

wrapped in this adorable paper from Target.

I loved this Pink and White polka-dot wrapping

paper the moment I saw it. When I got it home and realized that

it is reversible, with Blue and White Polka Dots on back...

I was so excited. Two for the price of one!!!

Some of the Young Women I have taught over the years

recently told me that they keep all the ribbon I have

used on various handouts, gifts, and projects.

They have a special box for the pieces of ribbon from me.

From time to time,I see them wearing the ribbons from me

in their hair. their purses, or around their ankles or wrists.

Wow!

Hopefully, the ribbons are another reinforcement of the

feelings felt during a lesson.