FOR Come Follow Me, Primary and Home, Sunday School, family home evening.
LESSON LIFESAVER Activity
Look-Ahead Decision Drama
ACTIVITY: Look-Ahead Decision Drama
Tell the youth that if they think ahead before temptation comes, they will know what to do. They will know how to stop and say “no” to temptation. Example: Joseph ran from Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:8–10, 12).
ACTIVITY:
Look-Ahead Decision Drama
Tell the youth that if they think before temptation comes, they can make a better decision of how to STOP and say “NO” to temptation. Example: Joseph ran from Potiphar’s wife (Genesis 39:8–10, 12).
See Enrichment activities 1, 2, and 4 in the lesson manual for which the following activity illustrates (HERE Joseph in Egypt).
To Play:
1. Divide the class/family into two teams.
2. A player from the first team draws a STOP or GO wordstrip to act out.
HERE’S HOW
• STOP. If the wordstrip reads “STOP,” pantomime or act out what you would do or say to STOP (run away from the temptation), but don’t say the keywords on the wordstrip. For example, if you say “smoking,” you don’t receive points.
• GO. If the wordstrip reads “GO,” pantomime or act out what you would do or say to GO (keep your heart pure), but don’t say the keywords on the wordstrip. For example, if you say “praying,” you don’t receive points.
SEE IF YOUR TEAM CAN GUESS the action; if correct, award 10 points.
The team with the most points wins.
TO KEEP THE GAME GOING FASTER give each team 30 seconds to act out and guess, otherwise, they have to try again (using the same wordstrip) after the other team takes a turn. The youth may need one minute instead of 30 seconds, and a little coaching to act out their situation/action. They can also call “time out! two times during the game to get 30 seconds from their team to coach them.
THOUGHT TREAT STOP and GO Cookies. Frost cookies red and green, and write STOP on the red and GO on the green with white frosting in a tube. Tell the youth that when we say “No” to temptation and say “Yes” to clean and pure actions, we can stay on the heaven-bound road and be happy (LOOKING AHEAD instead of back).
YOUTH CAN TEACH using this LESSON 16 Joseph in Egypt from the Primary 6 Old Testament manual.
. . . Review the enrichment activities 1,2, and 4, for which the above activity illustrates.
SCRIPTURE CARDS: Help youth Search and Ponder this scripture card by filling in the blanks. PRINT this 5 x 7 scripture card from the pdf included with the above activity. You can punch the two holes on the left and tie a ribbon to attach cards or use two metal rings to connect cards.
Psalm 24:3-5 “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”
. . . DISCUSSION . . .
Help Youth Look Ahead to Avoid Temptation
Look for the Who, What, Why, When, Where, and How QUESTIONS for youth to ponder.
• Just like a MAGNET . . . The closer we get to Satan’s temptations, the easier he can draw us into his power. . . . Or, the more we make righteous choices, the more we are drawn to the Spirit and desire to follow God’s plan for us; His plan of happiness (salvation).
How does this give us the power to control our thoughts and actions?
• Joseph was taken to Egypt and became a trusted servant to Potiphar who was captain of Pharaoh’s guard. (Genesis 39:3-6). Joseph loved and served God, so Potiphar’s fields began to grow and prosper, making Potiphar trust Joseph.
How can we become trustworthy like Joseph?
• Potiphar’s wife began to “cast her eyes upon Joseph” and when the other servants had gone she “caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out” (Gen. 39:7-12). Before leaving Joseph said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” After this Joseph was falsely accused and thrown into prison and eventually became Pharaoh’s servant.
How can we stay faithful to God even—if He allows us to be tempted or treated unfairly by others?
• Our God knows it can be difficult to resist temptation. We are taught in Alma that if we are humble and pray for strength continually we will not be “tempted above that which ye (we) can bear” (Alma 13:28).
What are some difficult temptations you face? Is it eating cookies before dinner, gossiping about someone, or doing something your parents have warned you not to do, etc.)
• You can DECIDE NOW what you will do before you are tempted to do things like smoke, gossip, use alcohol, tell un-clean jokes, listen to suggestive music, watch un-pure flicks/movies or pornography, or tell someone an untruth.
What other things can you decide now TO NOT DO if the temptation comes?
• “If in doubt, do without.” Say “no.” EVIL spelled backwards is LIVE. Living a happy life can come from making good choices. As you are LOOKING AHEAD constantly you will be prepared to turn the word EVIL around to LIVE and resist the temptation.
How does this work? You can: Number 1. Do not put yourself in a tempting situation. Number 2. Look ahead and if you see a temptation coming leave immediately. The longer you linger the easier it will be to fall into Satan’s trap (remember the MAGNET idea above).
More Discussion Questions & Ideas
• Who will help me resist evil? (God, good friends, and family).
• Why should I resist temptation? (desire for peace and happiness).
• When should I say “no” (when the thought comes)?
• Where do I go for inspiration (church, scriptures, uplifting books, and parents)?
Continued Discussions.
• Talk about how virtuous thoughts can help you escape temptations.
• Share blessings that come as you flee from temptation.
BIBLE SCRIPTURES TO UNDERLINE:
• James 1:12
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.”
• 1 Corinthians 10:13
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
• Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.”
• Proverbs 1:10
“If sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”
• Articles of Faith 1:13
“We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”
• D&C 121:34-36
“Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God . . . The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion.”
• Ether 12:27
“If they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”
See Lessons from the Old Testament: Fleeing Temptation (HERE)
YOUTH CAN TEACH
So, please let them teach as it helps them learn the gospel and grow their testimony as they share it.
Use this BRIGHT IDEAS LESSON Planner to plan lesson objectives, activities, and discussions (included with each activity).
