Scripture Mastery Darts

We played a new game today. I was trying to think of a new game that would get them excited about scripture mastery and encourage a bit more involvement. What would be better than throwing darts across the room?!

What you need:

• A couple sets of magnetic darts (I used 2 yellow and 1 red)
• A magnetic chalkboard

How to:

1. Draw a large target on the chalkboard with different points for each ring (getting progressively higher as it approaches the center of the target). We used 3 points for the outer ring, then 8 points, then 15, then 50 for a very small bullseye.
2. Divide the class into two teams.
3. A representative from each team comes to the board. Each throws a dart. The one with the higher point value gets to go first. If they're the same, then pick the one who is closest to the center.
   
4. Read a keyword, historical setting, personal application or other scripture mastery clue.
5. Starting with their scriptures closed, both teams have 10 seconds to find the scripture and put their finger on it.
6. After 10 seconds, ask the team whose turn it is if they have it. If so, they get two darts.
   
• If someone on their team can quote it, then they get a 3rd dart (worth double points).
7. If the team didn't get it, then the other team can steal if they have it. The key being that both teams are looking at the same time and all page turning stops after 10 seconds.

It was a lot of fun.

*HINT* - tossing the darts overhand doesn't work! Try tossing it underhand. No points unless it sticks!

Inward Beauty

I brought a mirror to class today. A big one. I walked around the room with the mirror facing the class and asked what they liked about mirrors. One of the suggestions was that it was always honest. When asked what they didn't like about mirrors I received the same response!

We had a couple artists draw John the baptist as the class described him from the scriptures.



Afterward, we took a vote on which to keep. We kept the one on the left as the other had a Mohawk and a hobo sack (too much personal interpretation).

We discussed 1 Samuel 16:7 (Old Testament scripture mastery) and Luke 7:28. The class searched the scriptures to find attributes of John the Baptist, and Mary, the mother of Jesus.

When asked how you would feel towards a young woman who possessed these attributes, the young men agreed on the word "respect".

When asked how you would feel towards a young man who honored his Priesthood by emulating these attributes, the young women agreed, as well, on the word "respect".

All agreed that striving to possess such attributes would result in increased respect from peers.

Doctrines and Principles

I think my class surprised themselves today when they taught the lesson. I'm trying out some new techniques that Bro. Bills is really good at. When preparing a lesson, I write down "What" and "How". "What principle will be taught" and "How will they apply it...or how will they learn it?"

So I wrote down "Doctrine" and let the class teach me what doctrine is. Each time they would make a suggestion or comment, we would discuss how it relates. After they defined doctrine, we moved on to "Principles". We read a couple key passages from our reading and each student extracted a principle that was meaningful to them. Each pulled out different principles based on what the Spirit was trying to teach them...individually.

We spent a little extra time talking about the principle of sacrifice. The class came up with the definition.

Ultimately, they realized that they just taught ME the whole lesson! The core of the lesson was "How to STUDY the scriptures." We found several principles from a few short passages of scripture. Then we picked one out to study further by using the bible dictionary, topical guide and cross references. Awesome class.

Spirtual Performance Enhancing Drugs!

I brought some dumb-bells to class today. Each weighed 27.5 pounds. "Who's strong enough to lift these?", I asked. I was certain one of the football players in the room would rise to the challenge. Perhaps their fear of where I was going with the object lesson contributed to their less than enthusiastic response. Finally, Hannah Brown rolled her eyes, then her sleeves and cranked out a few curls!

Kyle Wall did a few. Nick Beidleman took the weights off the bar and did a few with just the bar.

How do you get physically stronger? You exhaust your muscles. You have to break them down to build them up. Kyle suggested that you can't just do it once, but have to do this repeatedly to achieve the desired results of "guns" as impressive as his. ;-)

So how do we get spiritually stronger? Out came the quote of the week from Kyle: "You take spiritually performance enhancing drugs! (SPEDs)"

YES! These are GOOD drugs! We made of a list of spiritually performance enhancing drugs on the chalkboard and talked about each.

• Counsel with the Lord
• Share the Gospel with others
• STUDY the scriptures
• Be unashamed of the Gospel of Christ! Romans 1:16
• Don't send text messages in church meetings

Have you had your SPEDs today?

Talks I Hope They Heard!

While listening to conference talks this weekend, I find myself thinking "I hope they heard that!" Here's a list of things I hope my students heard:

1. Saturday Morning
• Dallin H. Oaks (Sacrament Meeting 101)
  

  "Young people, sacrament meeting is not a time for whispered conversation on cell phones or for texting persons at other locations. When we partake of the sacrament, we make a sacred covenant that we will always remember the Savior. How sad to see persons obviously violating that covenant in the very meeting where they are making it."
  

2. Saturday Afternoon
• Joseph B. Wirthlin - Instead of getting angry...LAUGH!!!
• David A. Bednar -

  "Prayer becomes more meaningful when we 'Counsel with the Lord in ALL our doings'."
  
  "Lehi's vision came in response to a prayer for others and not as a result of a request for personal edification or guidance."
  

3. Priesthood Session
   
• Richard G. Scott gave us a PPI. He taught us how to treat and interact with daughters of God. Go read it! Then go do it!
  
• Deiter F. Uchtdorf - Stand close together and LIFT where you STAND! Do not wait for a new school, companion, teacher, coach or church calling to start serving! Serve NOW!
• Thomas S. Monson
  

  "LEARN what you should learn!
  DO what you should do!
  BE what you should be!"
  

  
  

Scripture Mastery Football

We played Scripture Mastery Football today.

What you need:

• A Basket
• A beanbag (to toss in the basket)
• Awesome scripture mastery skills!

We divided the class into two teams and started with a coin toss. The team that wins the toss goes first.

The offensive team is given a scripture mastery clue. For example, a keyword, historical background, a role-playing situation where the scripture may be used to help teach, or simply read part or all of the verse or verses.

The offensive team then has 10 seconds to find the correct scripture mastery in their scriptures. After 10 seconds, if they're still turning pages, they forfeit their opportunity and the other team has the chance to "intercept". If the other team has the right scripture (no page fumbling!), then they get the points.

The team who answered correctly and in turn is awarded the "touchdown" and gets 6 points. Then, they can either "GO FOR TWO" by quoting the scripture or get the "EXTRA POINT" by trying to toss the beanbag into the basket from a healthy distance.

It was a lot of fun. There were only a few "Unsportsmanlike Conduct" penalties and luckily, no "Face-masks".