True and Faithful

 

For our first Sunday lesson this month I decided to introduce the new manual we will be using: Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, in a fun way.  I put together a concentration game of dates and numbers that apply to President Smith's life.  The room will be divided into two teams and each member of the team has to try to match the number or date with the correct event.  Encourage each team to work together and help each other.  The point is to get them using their manuals, not to stump them.

All of the facts come from the manual and this month's Ensign magazine.

Here is the list of dates and items in Excel, put each one on an index card with the number on the opposite side.  The first column has the manual page numbers where the answer can be found.  Put the number side out in 2-4x5 grids on the board.  Numbers 1-20 are dates/numbers and Numbers 21-40 are the events.

Here is the list of stories/quotes that go with some of the events from the Ensign in Microsoft Word.  Dates have been removed to hand the items out to have read if desired.  Also is a copy of the events to print out if so desired.

Chapter 24: Reflections on the Mission of Jesus Christ

I haven't had as many opportunities to share handouts as a RS counselor, but this week our teacher is sick and I get to step in.  I am so excited for the Christmas season (even if I am putting lessons together for 3 out of 5 Sundays).  And I LOVE that two of the lessons get to be about Christ!  I don't know who plans the manuals, but this year and next, the December lessons are fantastic!
So for the lesson tomorrow I have 5 quotes and questions.  Here is my lesson plan in Word.
I also am going to use a video with clips of prophets and apostles bearing testimony of Christ.  I LOVE this compilation.  I received a CD as a missionary with the audio for it and just found this video on YouTube.

RS First Sunday

Being in the RS presidency, I get to teach every so often.  July 1st was my Sunday.  I knew this was coming and was completly prepared...that is until the Saturday morning before.  I woke up and the got that unmistakable feeling that everything I had prepared was wrong and I had to start again.  Don't get me wrong, I love having the gift of the Holy Ghost.  I just wish it worked sooner.
Instead of my prepared lesson, I was prompted to turn to the talk "And They Were Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God in Great Glory" given by Ruth Todd at the 2012 BYU Women's Conference.  Here is a video of the talk.  The transcript was not up at the time, so I spent that Saturday morning typing out what I could and compiling it into a lesson.  Here are my notes.
I just loved the reference to the latter-day fist pumpers and had to make a handout for it.

I uploaded this and printed it out as 4x5 pictures via Walmart's 1 hour photo.  I also did a 8x10 for the table.  I think it went well.

RS Christmas Program

For the first Sunday in December, the Relief Society Presidency wanted to give some sort of program to welcome in the Christmas spirit.  I found this program by Judith Hoopes Hamilton: The Women Who Knew Jesus and added they hymns in between each part.  It was a very touching program!