How did the Savior compare gospel truths to familiar objects and experiences?
Jesus
Christ is the Master Teacher. He shared simple stories, parables, and
real-life examples that helped those He taught understand gospel
principles. We can use stories to teach like the Savior as we relate our
personal experiences and relate gospel principles to the world around
us.
I have decided to begin the lesson by showing the following video from lds.org: (It isn't one of the recommended videos from the outline, but it is a really good one!) We will discuss it after watching it. Here is a link to the video:
video: Parable of the Unmerciful Servant 6 minutes, 6 seconds
After the video I have a list of all of the parables the Savior taught and their scripture references printed for the youth to tape into the topical guide of their scriptures, under "parables", if they want to. I am encouraging the kids to bring their paper scriptures to church and use them instead of their electronic versions. I know, I'm a dreamer! Haha! Actually, I have full confidence that they will begin bringing their paper scriptures... Why? Because these kids were all in YM/YW when I was also in a few years ago and they love my cooking as much as anyone else does. Yep! I am willing to bake for cooperation on this. :) I win!!
I printed the list from here:
http://www.rockpaperscriptures.com/parables-of-jesus/
The next part of the lesson is from the lesson outline.
I have decided to begin the lesson by showing the following video from lds.org: (It isn't one of the recommended videos from the outline, but it is a really good one!) We will discuss it after watching it. Here is a link to the video:
video: Parable of the Unmerciful Servant 6 minutes, 6 seconds
After the video I have a list of all of the parables the Savior taught and their scripture references printed for the youth to tape into the topical guide of their scriptures, under "parables", if they want to. I am encouraging the kids to bring their paper scriptures to church and use them instead of their electronic versions. I know, I'm a dreamer! Haha! Actually, I have full confidence that they will begin bringing their paper scriptures... Why? Because these kids were all in YM/YW when I was also in a few years ago and they love my cooking as much as anyone else does. Yep! I am willing to bake for cooperation on this. :) I win!!
I printed the list from here:
http://www.rockpaperscriptures.com/parables-of-jesus/
"Ask each youth to think of one of his or her favorite parables and find
it in the scriptures. If they need suggestions, consider sharing one of
the parables suggested in this outline. Invite the youth to retell their
chosen parables to the class and share why it is meaningful to them."
I am going to start by showing the kids a parable that I studied this summer. It was the Parable of the Unjust Judge also known as the Parable of the Importunate Woman. I did an in-depth study for my own personal questioning and I used a method that I enjoy and helps me as a visual learner. I will explain the parable and the learning I gained from it.
We will then discuss how parables work. Relating everyday items and their uses to religious principles for teaching purposes. Next I have a bag full of everyday items that I gathered from around my home. Each of them will choose an item and write a parable to go with it. I have typed up a simple paper for them to use. I find that even a simple outline really helps! Handing the youth, or even me, a plain, blank sheet of paper with the instructions to write about something can feel overwhelming! A few words and lines on the paper can help get them started.
This part of the lesson comes from the outline.
"Bring to class several everyday objects, such as soap, coins, keys, rocks, or food. Invite the youth to select an object and teach a gospel principle using that object."
After they have chosen an object, I will share with them my object and parable. I am going back into my archives and bringing out the Parable of the Chocolate Chip.
"In 1930, Ruth Wakefield and her husband owned an inn outside of Wakefield, Massachusetts. Built in 1709, the old house was used as a rest stop for travelers to change their horses, pay their tolls, and get something to eat, earning it the name, "The Toll House Inn." The Wakefields kept the tradition of providing travelers with rest and good food through the Great Depression.
Ruth Wakefield was well known for her baking, and often made Butter Drop Do Cookies. Her recipe required baker's chocolate, which melted completely, producing a chocolate cookie. One day in 1937, as she began making the cookies, she realized that she was out of baker's chocolate, but happened to have a Nestle semi-sweet chocolate bar on hand. She chopped it into chunks and put it into the batter, expecting it to melt and disappear into the cookie, producing the familiar chocolate cookie for which she had grown famous.
To her surprise, the chocolate chunks did not disappear, but held their individual shape, producing a creamy texture and a fabulous new taste for the entire cookie.
These new cookies became incredibly popular. Nestle bought the rights to the recipe and in 1939 introduced the Nestle Toll House Real Semi Sweet Chocolate Morsels. The traditional "Chocolate Chip Cookie" was born!
The most popular cookie of all time came about all because a bit of chocolate held its ground and didn't melt when the heat was on.
You, too, can be the chocolate chip. Satan knows your potential. He is constantly trying to mix you into the world and get you to lose your individual worth. Satan knows how to turn up the heat. He thinks that if he does his job well you will melt under the pressure, get lost in the crowd, and lose your understanding of who you really are: a child of God.
He will try to make you think that you can only feel good about yourself if you become part of the world and do what "everyone else" is doing. But you can be like the wonderful chocolate chip. Christ talks about you in the Doctrine and Covenants 132:16 "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."
You can be the chocolate chip. You can choose to be "in the cookie, but not of the cookie." Just as the chocolate chip made the cookie better by retaining its true nature, you can make the world better by retaining your true nature as a follower of Christ. You don't have to be something or someone else. You don't have to melt into the crowd; you can be the chocolate chip! You will get noticed for being different. You will stand out. That is what makes all the difference, and is what makes a chocolate chip cookie so great. What good would it be without the chocolate chips?
Be you. Be different. Be better. Be the chocolate chip!
Of course, I will bring some of my amazingly popular homemade chocolate chip cookies for them to eat! They can eat their cookies while they think about and write their own parables. Then we'll have them share with the class what they have written.
"In 1930, Ruth Wakefield and her husband owned an inn outside of Wakefield, Massachusetts. Built in 1709, the old house was used as a rest stop for travelers to change their horses, pay their tolls, and get something to eat, earning it the name, "The Toll House Inn." The Wakefields kept the tradition of providing travelers with rest and good food through the Great Depression.
Ruth Wakefield was well known for her baking, and often made Butter Drop Do Cookies. Her recipe required baker's chocolate, which melted completely, producing a chocolate cookie. One day in 1937, as she began making the cookies, she realized that she was out of baker's chocolate, but happened to have a Nestle semi-sweet chocolate bar on hand. She chopped it into chunks and put it into the batter, expecting it to melt and disappear into the cookie, producing the familiar chocolate cookie for which she had grown famous.
To her surprise, the chocolate chunks did not disappear, but held their individual shape, producing a creamy texture and a fabulous new taste for the entire cookie.
These new cookies became incredibly popular. Nestle bought the rights to the recipe and in 1939 introduced the Nestle Toll House Real Semi Sweet Chocolate Morsels. The traditional "Chocolate Chip Cookie" was born!
The most popular cookie of all time came about all because a bit of chocolate held its ground and didn't melt when the heat was on.
You, too, can be the chocolate chip. Satan knows your potential. He is constantly trying to mix you into the world and get you to lose your individual worth. Satan knows how to turn up the heat. He thinks that if he does his job well you will melt under the pressure, get lost in the crowd, and lose your understanding of who you really are: a child of God.
He will try to make you think that you can only feel good about yourself if you become part of the world and do what "everyone else" is doing. But you can be like the wonderful chocolate chip. Christ talks about you in the Doctrine and Covenants 132:16 "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world."
You can be the chocolate chip. You can choose to be "in the cookie, but not of the cookie." Just as the chocolate chip made the cookie better by retaining its true nature, you can make the world better by retaining your true nature as a follower of Christ. You don't have to be something or someone else. You don't have to melt into the crowd; you can be the chocolate chip! You will get noticed for being different. You will stand out. That is what makes all the difference, and is what makes a chocolate chip cookie so great. What good would it be without the chocolate chips?
Be you. Be different. Be better. Be the chocolate chip!
I will update this post with their parables after the lesson. I am excited to see what they come up with! Today's youth are so smart! These lessons are perfect for them. I can hardly wait for next Sunday. :)
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