In general conference, living prophets teach me that blessings are promised when I choose the right

by Melanie Day

Prepare in advance: remote control car, six envelopes numbered one to six on the outside.  Put a copy of this car inside each envelope and label the front of each car 1-6.  (The cars have the six following sayings on them. . .)

PRINT:  Page One, Page Two

1. Choose good friends.
2. Seek parental guidance.
3. Study the gospel.
4. Obey the commandments.
5. Serve with love.
6. Pray with purpose.

-Using some large paper, draw a road that twists and turns.  At the end of the road put “Eternal Life”. 

(Have everyone move their chairs to the back wall and sit in a circle for this sharing time.  Emphasize reverence and that your special car won’t work if they aren’t reverent.  If weather permits, you could hold sharing time outside on the grass…it may work better for this sharing time). 
 

Start by asking:
 

* What item helps us find our way when we are lost?  (A map)  Hold up a copy of a conference Ensign. 

(Scratch you head…) Now, how could this be considered (conference Ensign) a map? (It is our road map to safety.  Heavenly Father has blessed us with prophets and apostles who warn us of things to come and reveal God's commandments.)

President Monson has said there is a battle taking place today. In simple terms, it is the struggle between doing right or doing wrong.  Our journey through mortality will at times place us in harm’s way. He has given us six road signs which, when observed and followed, will guide you to safety.  (Have the six different envelopes laid out along the path.  Have a child come up and use the remote control car until they arrive to at the first envelope.  When the child reaches each envelope, stop and talk about each one.
 

Envelope 1 - Choose good friends.

Have a slip of paper in the envelope for the child to read that says: "Friends help to determine your future. You will tend to be like them and to be found where they choose to go. Remember, the path we follow in this life leads to the path we follow in the next. The friends you choose will either help or hinder your success."

Envelope 2 - Seek parental guidance.

Have a slip of paper in the envelope for the child to read that says: "Your mother, your father, your family all love you and pray for your eternal happiness."

Envelope 3 - Study the gospel.

Have a slip of paper in the envelope for the child to read that says: "Develop a yearning to know the Lord, to understand His commandments, and to follow Him. Then shadows of despair are dispelled by rays of hope, sorrow yields to joy, and the feeling of being lost in the crowd of life vanishes with the certain knowledge that our Heavenly Father is mindful of each of us."

Envelope 4 - Obey the commandments.

Have a slip of paper in the envelope for the child to read that says: "Make up your mind to serve God. Learn His word and follow it."
 

Envelope 5 - Serve with love. Jesus was the epitome of service.

Have a slip of paper in the envelope for the child to read that says: "It was said of Him that He “went about doing good.” (See Acts 10:38.) Do we do likewise?"
 

Envelope 6 - Pray with purpose.

Have a slip of paper in the envelope for the child to read that says: "With God, all things are possible. Remember the prayer of the Prophet Joseph, offered in that grove called sacred. Look around you and see the result of that answered prayer. Prayer is the provider of spiritual strength. Prayer is the passport to peace.)"
 

Our Heavenly Father loves all of His children very much and wants us to be happy. If we follow His prophets, we will be. President Gordon B. Hinckley has asked us to do certain things that will make our lives happier. He has asked us to read the scriptures daily, to keep the Sabbath Day holy, to share the gospel with our friends, and to stand for the right. Heavenly Father knows that it isn’t always easy to do what He has the prophet ask us to do. Sometimes we have to make sacrifices to be obedient. But when we follow the prophet and do what Heavenly Father wants us to do, He will bless us and we will find happiness.

SING: “Follow the Prophet” (CS, pp. 110–111).

POEM: Share the following poem holding up the different traffic signs as they are read.

Traffic Sign Clipart: Traffic Signs 1, Traffic Signs 2
 

Traffic Signs
Mary Lou Spencer, “Traffic Signs,” Friend, Jan. 1989, 24–25

When we walk or ride each day,
The traffic signs we must obey.
Sometimes they remind us, too,
Of other things we ought to do.
At a RAILROAD CROSSING look each way;
Remember what your parents say.

NO U TURN—you can’t go back.
Keep running straight; stay on track.

You’ll lose your way if you DETOUR;
The gospel plan is true and sure.

When you’re among CHILDREN AT PLAY,
Watch the things you do and say.

Do not YIELD to Satan’s call,
Or you will be sure to fall!

If you want a happy day,
Don’t forget to STOP and pray.

Missionary MEN AT WORK
Do their duty, never shirk.

WINDING ROAD? Hold to the rod.
It will lead you back to God.

Ask, "How do we know what road leads us back to Heavenly Father?" (Through our prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley.  He is Heavenly Father's voice piece for our time.)

GAME:

Use the following cars to play a matching game (car game pieces).  Color game pieces.  Post them on the board face side down.  You could have one girl and one boy be your helper and represent the girl team and the boy team.  When it is the girls turn, have the girl turn over two car pieces and see if she gets a match.  After turning over one piece, if another girl knows where the other one is, have them raise their hand and they can help her...but no one can help without being called upon by the team leader.  If she gets a match she has to explain how the gospel principle on the front (things our prophets and apostles have asked us to do) can help us to make good choices.  If she doesn't get a match, it becomes the boy's turn.  Both teams go back and forth until there are no more matches.

PRINT:

1st set of cars
2nd set of cars
3rd set of cars
4th set of cars
5th set of cars

OBJECT LESSON:

Hardened Heart - Explain how important it is to stay "soft" and listen to the Holy Ghost.  Help the children learn how they might feel the Holy Ghost.

HANDOUT IDEA:

Car - Have the children color a car to take home to help remind them that they are on the right track!

TESTIMONY: Testify of the importance of following our prophet and leaders.  They help guide us back to our Heavenly Father and encourage us to make good choices.
 

OTHER OPTIONAL ACTIVITY IDEAS:

Blessings and Promises by Lynda Whitlock - This simple handout reinforces the CSMP theme with the teachings the children heard in the October 2006 General Conference.  Using a variation in fonts, even the youngest Primary children can be successful in matching the promise to the blessing. 
Blessing Bingo from Jenny Smith
Blessings Follow Obedience AND click here for more.
Blessings Memory Game
Boulders and Blessing Game by Sunni Olson
Road to a Testimony
 

MY SOURCES:

- “Come Listen to a Prophet’s Voice: Follow the Signs,” Friend, May 2006, 2
- Scriptures
- June 2001 Friend Magazine
- Kid's Sunday School Place (Christian site)
- Traffic Signs, Mary Lou Spencer, “Traffic Signs,” Friend, Jan. 1989, 24–25