Use for COME FOLLOW ME Young Women, Young Men, Seminary, Family Home Evening, Primary and Home, or Activity Days
LESSON LIFESAVER Activity
Grateful Heart bookmark and gratitude card
DESCRIPTION: With this “Happiness is a grateful heart!” bookmark youth can be reminded to express gratitude, to give thanks. With the star stationery/card they can write a note of thanks for sending to parents or a relative, a friend, or a leader to express their gratitude.
COUNT BLESSINGS: Also, use the card to write things you are grateful for (if sending it to a person; note why you are grateful for them) / (if sending it to yourself, note your blessings).
TO MAKE Print activity in color or black and white. Fold envelope and glue flaps. Fold the card and glue the “shine brighter because of you” label on the card.
THOUGHT TREAT: Grateful Heart Bread. Make a batch of bread dough, following a simple recipe but adding 1/2 teaspoon red food coloring and 3/4 cup sugar into the dough before adding the flour. Form raised bread dough into heart shapes. Frost with a red frosting glaze (add 3 drops red food coloring and 2-3 tablespoons can (evaporated) milk to a carton of vanilla frosting).
Thought: As youth to enjoy their heart-shaped bread, talk about things that have happened to them this past month that have warmed their hearts.
Appreciation Idea: This bread can be baked and given to the person of their choice to show their heartfelt appreciation.
MUTUAL NIGHT, SEMINARY, OR FAMILY NIGHT ACTIVITIES
EXPRESS GRATITUDE WITH A MIGHTY CHANGE OF HEART MARATHON:
Step 1: Ahead of time, make a large sign inside of a heart: “Mighty Change of Heart Marathon” and write the scripture Alma 5:14 in a large banner with large letters that stretch across the room as follows: “Have you spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts.” Write out thirty situations on slips of paper and place them in a bowl across the room. Post two signs, Christlike and Not Christlike. Place two tape dispensers near the bowl.
Step 2: As the activity begins, discuss this change of heart where we receive the image of God in our countenance (read Alma 5:14 from the banner). Discuss how we can express thanks to Heavenly Father by our actions for what He has done for us. Talk about repentance, which represents a change of heart, so we can have His image in our countenance, finding peace and happiness as we become more Christlike.
Step 3: Divide youth into teams and line up on the other side of the room opposite of the signs and bowl. Have them compete at the word “go” to race across the room, drawing from the bowl a situation, reading it silently, and posting it with a piece of tape under the sign Christlike or Not Christlike. The first team to complete wins!
Step 4: Place chairs near the signs and situations and have a discussion, reading the situations aloud, checking them for accuracy, discussing the actions.
Step 5: Award youth with a Church video that reflects a mighty change of heart. Serve heart-shaped treats, e.g., sandwiches cut out with heart-shaped cookies, Jell-O blocks cookie cutter cut-outs.
Step 6: Give youth the following message written on a large red heart to hang in their room: My Change of Heart: I will learn about Christ and His commandments. I will have faith in Christ and believe in His Atonement. I will ask for forgiveness, and be forgiven through the Lord’s mercy. I will make a covenant to keep the commandments, and do good all my days. – Mosiah 5:2, 5
ALSO SEE ACTIVITY: I Will Express Appreciation – A “Buzz:-illion Thanks! Jot-a-Thought
VIDEO: President Monson “On Gratitude”
VIDEO: Elder Hales Talks about Gratitude – Elder Hales stressed that we should never forget to thank Heavenly Father for the blessings, gifts, and talents He has given to us. (3:35)
Source YW2.42
