What we did for mutual... "Let the Holy Spirit Guide"

It's been SO HARD to find ideas for youth activities for my teeny tiny branch! Now that I feel like I'm starting to get into the swing of things, I decided to start sharing what we've done each time to help out anyone else planning mutual activities for small groups.

When I'm planning an activity, I try to guess how many people will be there, but the truth is that we could have just one youth or ten. Luckily, our wonderful missionaries and branch presidency are willing to join in on the fun!

Last week, our activity was a classic blindfolded obstacle course. The branch president's wife helped set up chairs in our "multipurpose room" and the youth took turns wearing a blindfold and walking through the course. I tried not to give too many instructions because I like to see what happens naturally in this game.

The rules: 

• One person acts as the "Holy Ghost" and stands behind the ribbon, giving verbal instructions only 
• For an extra challenge, specify that they can only say the words "left," "right," "backwards," and "forwards" 
• Those who know those words in another language can easily differentiate who their "Holy Ghost" is among all the voices in the room because that's the only person speaking Spanish or Chinese 
• The person walking through the course must be blindfolded before entering the room 
• Others are told that they're "allowed" to create distractions (they get really into it) 
• For added intensity, assign one person to be the "adversary" actively trying to discourage those walking through 
• Warning: This can get really intense, so be prepared to step in if it becomes too overwhelming 
• Challenge mode: If the person walking through the course bumps into anything, he or she has to start over 
• Challenge mode: Have multiple people go through the course at once (with or without a separate "Holy Ghost" for each) 

One of my favorite things about this activity is that the spiritual lessons to go along with it are created naturally, as the youth (or YSAs, or even missionaries) interact with one another. You'll notice principles you can point out on your own, but here are two things that I've used when leading the game with different groups.

FIRST: The "Holy Ghost" has to stay behind the ribbon, but the person going through the course can go as close to it or as far from it as they want, even crossing under the line to stand right beside it. All of the distractions and the "adversary" can move around the room however they want, standing right in front of the "Holy Ghost" and trying to mimic its voice or climbing on chairs to whisper in the person's ear.

This is symbolic of how we have to be receptive to the spirit, and how the more we listen and act on its promptings, the easier it is for us to receive additional guidance and filter out negative voices. When we're far from the spirit, it can be hard to tell whether the promptings we receive are of the spirit, but as we draw closer to it and become experienced in obeying, it's easier to discern.

SECOND: Never before have I seen the people doing this actually band together to help each other. Sure, most of the time they were creepily whispering in each other's ears about how they couldn't possibly succeed and the "Holy Ghost" was going to lead them astray, but there was a cool moment where they helped each other too.

Heavenly Father didn't send us to go through the trials of mortality alone - he gave us each other. Sometimes we fall into unexpected traps and get boxed in by the negative distractions in life, and even with the Holy Ghost guiding us, it can be tough to get out. That's why it's important to have friends and family to help us find our way back to the path - or even move a few obstacles if needed.

I love this activity because it's easy, spiritual, and can be adjusted to fit a group of any size, and the youth love it because it's active and fun. Throw in some brownies afterwards, and it's always a winner.

When You're Asked to Do What's Hard

Earlier today, I had lunch with the new missionaries in my branch. We talked about the youth and worked on our summer plan for youth Sunday school and mutual. And I felt so. dang. inadequate.

Lately, I feel that way a lot. I know I'm where Heavenly Father wants me to be, serving in the callings He wants me to perform, but I feel like I'm not good enough. It's been a very humbling year.

One of the quotes I clung to in my last two callings was Elder Maxwell's "God does not begin by asking about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability." And it worked for me then.

I put as much time and effort into my callings as I could, and I saw Heavenly Father move mountains in me. Things didn't go perfectly -- there were activities that flopped, investigators who flaked, friends who fell away from the church and felt they couldn't be friends with me anymore because I gave the church so much of myself, one whole semester when hardly anyone came to institute. But overall, I felt productive. I felt like God was using me to make a difference.

This time... not so much.

I'm trying to be a good leader, teacher, and friend to the youth, but have I really been giving it my all? No. Not like I did before. So of course the miracles aren't the same. I frequently have the thought that I want to improve. I want to give more of myself to these callings. But I'm not sure where to even begin.

When I talk about this with my friends, they sometimes say that some callings are just hard and unpleasant. I believe that (please not primary, never primary), but I'm not willing to give up on this one, writing it off as a "bad experience" or "too hard." I love my little branch. I love the little group of teenagers who are trying to live a better life in the midst of a society that says their morality is immoral.

I don't know where to go from here. I don't know how to begin to do the things that I should be doing. But I do know that I want to do better, and that Heavenly Father asked me to do it because He knows I can.

There has to be a way, if I can just figure out where to start.

Young Women's Value Cards

A few days ago, I came across this post at BCC while searching for inspiration for decorating my young women's classroom. I loved the idea, but of course I wanted to put my own spin on it with a different design and quotes. So, I hopped on Canva, and this is what I came up with. 

I'm not sure what I'm going to use these for, but it was fun to explore my feelings about the young women values and learn a little bit of church history along the way. 

Faith

Jane Manning James was one of the first African Americans to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can read more about Sister James here. 

Elaine Bradley is the drummer for the Neon Trees, a pop rock band based in Utah. You can watch her I'm A Mormon video here. 

Divine Nature 

Eliza R. Snow was the 2nd General Relief Society President of the church, but she's probably best known for her poetry. The first LDS young women's organization was created while Sister Snow served as Relief Society President.

Rosemary Wixom is the current Primary General President and a former member of the Young Women general board. She's given some of my favorite General Conference talks. 

Individual Worth 

Neill F. Marriott is currently the 2nd counselor in the Young Women General Presidency. Sister Marriott joined the church at the age of 22, and she has an awesome Southern accent that's a delight to hear at Conference. 

Chieko Okazaki, a Hawaiian sister of Japanese descent, was the first non-Caucasian woman to serve in an LDS general presidency, and she's one of my heroes. 

Knowledge 

Malala Yousafzai is one of two non-Mormons I chose to quote on these cards, and is also the youngest. Malala is an 18-year-old Pakastani blogger who was shot in the head for blogging about life under the Taliban's rule and promoting education for girls. She's continued her advocacy despite threats against her life, and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. 

Mary N. Cook is a former counselor in the Young Women General Presidency. She was married at the age of 37 and has served with her husband in his callings as a full-time missionary, mission president, and Asia area presidency. You can find a brief biography and a list of her excellent talks here. 

Choice and Accountability 

Barbara B. Smith was the 10th Relief Society General President of the church. She has a fairly lengthy bio on the Church's official website. 

Bonnie Oscarson is the current Young Women General President. Her official bio includes the wonderful line "She doesn't regret any of the sleep she missed while teaching seminary." That's one dedicated lady. 

Good Works 

Who better to represent the value of Good Works than Mother Teresa? It's recently been announced that Mother Teresa will be canonized as a saint in the Catholic church in September 2016. 

Silvia Allred was born and raised in El Salvador, served a mission in Central America, and then attended college in the United States. She has served as a member of the Young Women general board and was a counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency. 

Integrity 

Elmina Taylor was the very first president of the Church's young women organization. She was introduced to the church while working as a schoolteacher as a young woman.

Al Fox is a one of the most well-known Mormon bloggers and writers. She was baptized in 2009, and you can read her conversion story in her own words here. 

Virtue 

Sheri Dew is a former counselor in the Relief Society General Presidency and the CEO of Deseret Book Company. She's also been involved in humanitarian work, sending children's books to impoverished countries.

Ruth May Fox was an early member of the LDS church in England. She later moved to Utah and was an active suffragist. She served as the 3rd General President of the church's Young Women organization, and, of course, wrote the popular hymn "Carry On." You can learn more about Sister Fox in this episode of the podcast Legacy.  

Please feel free to download, use, and share these! 

All credit for the idea belongs to Tracy at BCC.