YOUTH GOAL PLANNER. APPLY PRINCIPLES OF REPENTANCE IN YOUR LIFE. Youth can SEARCH AND PONDER these scriptures and write what repentance means to them. Then, study the process of repentance (the steps leading to true repentance). Then, pray for guidance and note how they applied the principles of repentance. Remember repentance starts with knowing forgiveness is possible.
Great for Sunday School – Seminary – Youth Doctrinal Class, Youth Goal activity, and family night
YOUTH GOAL PLANNER
“Apply the Principles of Repentance in Your Life”
SEARCH & PONDER
Isaiah 1:18; Alma 26:22; 34:30-35; Moroni 8:25-26 and Doctrine and Covenants 19:15-20; 58:42-43
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.“
In Mosiah 26:29 we are taught, “Therefore I say unto you, Go; and whosoever transgresseth against me, him shall ye judge according to the sins which he has committed; and if he confess his sins before thee and me, and repenteth in the sincerity of his heart, him shall ye forgive, and I will forgive him also.”
Part 1
What Repentance Means to Me
Why Repentance Is a Joyful Choice
“The fact that we can repent is the good news of the gospel,” Elder Dale G. Renlund explains. He taught that repentance is a choice that will lead us to joy. Too many times we allow our emotions to get in the way of repentance feeling we are not good enough or we have done something that is too big, or it has been too long to receive forgiveness, so why try?” SEE THE “Why Repentance Is a Joyful Choice” VIDEO below to continue . . .
Feeling the Father’s Love
One of the supreme beauties of the gospel of Jesus Christ is how much He and our Father in Heaven love us. They are not far away but ever ready to receive us. They desire our happiness and joy. Sometimes it helps to ask yourself if you were in the position of our Father in Heaven, how would you respond to a person who is sincerely trying to repent? Like any loving parent, you would be eager to forgive and receive them back.
We are taught in Alma 12:24 that this time on earth is a probationary time; a time to prepare to meet God. So, one of the joys of life is to correct mistakes and sins; to learn with each error how to live better, how to grow and become more like our Father in Heaven and one day return to His presence. Repentance is a good thing.
– Fern Law, Youth Leader
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE Repentance Garden. Youth can play in teams or two players to climb to the top. They can choose from a deep container a flower (right choice) or a rock (wrong choice). Read the situation. If a rock, they place their butterfly under the rock (to show the heavy weight of sin), until they say how they can right the wrong. Then, place their butterfly onto a flower, climbing each time until the first to make it to the top wins. READ MORE
YOUTH LESSON ACTIVITY. MY CHANGE OF HEART STEPS 2-sided mobile. Youth can learn from King Benjamin’s counsel (Mosiah 5:2, 5). Steps 1-4 (1) Learn of Christ and the commandments (2) Have faith in His Atonement, (3) Seek forgiveness with His mercy, and (4) Make covenants. READ MORE
MUTUAL NIGHT OR FAMILY NIGHT ACTIVITIES:
TUG AT THE HEARTSTRINGS: Have an evening of poetry reading at someone’s house and feel your heartstrings being tugged. Use soft lights and music to set a relaxed mood. Also, read selected scriptures that show heartfelt emotion. Encourage youth to really think about this and come prepared with their favorite poetry, hymns, or scriptures to read, especially those relating to Jesus and His love for us that brings hope and peace. – Fern Law, Youth Leader
Part 2
I Studied the Process of Repentance and Prayed for Guidance
ETERNAL TRUTH Repent: “Repentance isn’t punishment for sin; it is the way the Savior frees us from sin. To repent means to change—to turn away from sin and toward God. It means to improve and receive forgiveness. This kind of change is not a one-time event; it’s an ongoing process.” – For the Strength of Youth
Point of Safe Return
“Satan will try to make us believe that our sins are not forgiven because we can remember them. . . . God did not promise that we would not remember our sins. Remembering will help us avoid making the same mistakes again. But if we stay true and faithful, the memory of our sins will be softened over time. This will be part of the needed healing and sanctification process.” – Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Apr. 2007 general conference.
Review this DOCTRINAL MASTERY on Repentance and Forgiveness (HERE) explaining how important it is that we know that once we repent God remembers them “no more.”
POST-AND-PRESENT ACTIVITY. ERASER PROMISES steps to repentance pencil & bookmark. Read D&C 58:42 “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.” Youth can learn six steps to achieve this: 1) Recognize I’ve done something wrong. 2. Promise not to do it again, and more leading up to forgiving themselves (eraser promises). READ MORE
YOUTH LESSON ACTIVITY. SUNSHINE REPENTANCE doorknob reminder (Mosiah 27:29). Youth can learn from Alma the Younger’s experience that they can move from darkness into light and feel the warmth and peace that true repentance brings. Then write the eight steps to repentance on the back: recognize, promise, recommit, restitution, feel repentance, prove, forgive, and commit. READ MORE
BRING SUNSHINE INTO YOUR LIFE WORKSHOP:
Have youth share ideas on how they can repent and find happiness. – Fern Law, Youth Leader
Part 3
I applied the Principles of Repentance in My Life
MUTUAL NIGHT OR FAMILY NIGHT ACTIVITIES:
MIGHTY CHANGE OF HEART:
Tell youth: “You can never really change until you change your heart! A changed heart is a repentant heart.” Talk about the mighty change of heart in the Book of Mormon. Have a special skit dramatizing a story in the Book of Mormon, e.g., Alma the Younger. Serve heart-shaped cupcakes or heart-shaped pancakes with strawberry syrup, strawberries, and whipped cream. Make notes on hearts and then stick them on dozens of cars in the church parking lot on Sunday or in the mailbox of a special friend. – Fern Law, Youth Leader
YOUTH GOAL ACTIVITY. IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE! goals in diaper envelope. Tell youth when you present this that they are NOW OLD ENOUGH TO ACHIEVE GOALS. They don’t need to be “babied” around or be a cry “baby” when asked to change. They simply write on the “What to change” card, post them, and achieve! Extra cards might be nice to keep those goals “moving” right along. READ MORE
YOUTH LESSON ACTIVITY. JOYFUL SOUL D&C 18:13 tent-card challenge journal. Youth can memorize “And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!” and write how they will change their thoughts and actions on the card. READ MORE
