Laying on of hands



The Holy Ghost Testifies To Me (pdf file)
 

Family Home Evening Lesson on Gifts of the Spirit from Deseret Book
In Tune With the Holy Ghost
Listen to the Still Small Voice
The Holy Ghost is a Comforter
Whom Will You Follow?



The Holy Ghost Can Help Me by Megan Mills



After explaining that the Holy Ghost talks to us in a still small voice, we played a game similar to Simon Says were the person leading spoke in a quiet voice while the others did the actions the leader asked them to do. We then illustrated how sin and/or Satan can make it hard to listen to the voice by having my husband talk to our son in a loud voice, while I was telling him the right actions to do. Amazingly, he still listened to my voice and I think grasped the concept. (Idea by Wendy James / ga04102007)

By the power of the Holy Ghost
Show the children a small item you will hide for this game. Have one child leave the group for a moment while you hide the item. When the child returns, explain that he or she must listen carefully to find the object. Use a quiet noise, such as lightly tapping a pencil, gently clapping your hands, or humming a song, to show the child which way to turn to look for the hidden object. Gently tap when the child looks in the correct direction. Tap more quickly (or hum louder) as the child moves closer to the hiding place, until the item is found. Repeat the activity, giving another child an opportunity to look for the object, as often as desired.  Explain to the children that they may be guided in their lives by listening to the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost. Remind them that the Holy Ghost does not always speak out loud. Sometimes he gives us ideas or feelings, such as a warm feeling when we do something right or a bad feeling when we do (or want to do) something wrong. We must pay careful attention to know what the Holy Ghost is telling us to do. (Taken from the Primary 2 Manual)
 

Baptism Bags & Holy Ghost Bags

Holy Ghost Handout by Gary

Recognizing the promptings of the Holy Ghost
Seeking the companionship of the Holy Ghost
The Holy Ghost Can Help Me
Treasure Box - Gifts of the Spirit



How the Holy Ghost Helps You
Inviting the Holy Ghost - Set up a small table at the front with a table cloth and dishes, an elegant dinner for 2 kind of thing. I will put a nice invitation on one of the plates and at the beginning I will let them know that I want President Hinckley to come and dine with me. Show them that I made out the invitation and the time is set for some time in the middle of the lesson.  When he doesn't show up I will ask them why he wouldn't come! I wanted him to! I will tell them, "Look! I wrote this out for him! I told him I wanted him here...." They will get that I am still holding the invitation....that he wasn't ever actually invited! I wanted him to come, but the invitation has to be extended, or it just isn't going to do any good. Then go into how idea when inviting the Holy Ghost. (Idea by Misty Cox)
Overlooked Spiritual Gifts



The Gift of the Holy Ghost can help me (Primary Manual 2)



The Voice of the Spirit, February 2001, New Era
To those with pure intent, June 1994, New Era
You're not alone, January-February 1984, New Era



Air Freshener
Bring something that you received as a gift but that is no longer useful because it is broken, worn out, or used up, such as a cracked dish, an old article of clothing, or an empty food box.  Show the children the gift that is no longer useful. Tell them any interesting information about the gift, such as who gave it to you and when or why they gave it to you. Help the children understand that even though this gift was once important to you, it is no longer useful because it is broken, worn out, or used up.  Explain that when you were baptized and confirmed, you received a different kind of gift. This is a very valuable gift, one that cannot wear out or be used up. This priceless gift becomes more valuable as it is used.   What is this gift? When the children have guessed (or you have told them) that this gift is the gift of the Holy Ghost, tell them that they will receive many gifts throughout their lives, but the gift of the Holy Ghost is the most valuable gift they will receive while they are here on the earth. (Taken from the Primary 2 Manual)
Bring a small paper bag and several crayons for each child, and a flashlight. Draw and color a child’s face on a paper bag. Tell the children that because the Holy Ghost is a spirit, He can dwell inside of them. Demonstrate that the flashlight (the Holy Ghost) can fill the bag (our souls) with light and warmth. Say that sometimes it is possible to see the light through the bag. This is like the Holy Ghost brightening our souls and making us happy.  Read and discuss Gal. 5:22–23. Talk about the types of feelings the Spirit brings. Let each child draw and color on her/his paper bag a face showing one of these feelings. (Idea taken from July 1997 Friend Magazine)
Dirty Socks
Get a small transistor radio that takes two AA batteries. Label one of the batteries "faith" and the other "prayer." Explain that the radio represents the Holly Ghost. If you don't have faith and prayer, it is hard to "tune in" to the Holy Ghost (you might turn the dial to show that no signal is coming through). Then install the batteries and tune it to a radio station (you might want to pick a radio station ahead of time that plays appropriate music).  Explain that sometimes our batteries get get low and when they do, it's also harder to tune in. We can recharge our batteries by going to Church, serving in our callings, and attending the temple. Just as there are two batteries that power the radio, we can have the Holy Ghost as our constant companion to call upon the power of God. (Idea by Charlene Moore)
Holy Ghost dwelling in clean places
Holy Ghost is a Comforter
Holy Ghost is like a satellite

How to recognize the Spirit - Prepare a “box with socks” by cutting two holes, about three inches (8 cm) in diameter and about six inches (15 cm) apart, in the bottom of a box. The box should be large enough to allow a child to put his or her hands in it, but small enough to be held up for the Primary to see. Line the holes with the cut-off tops of two old socks. Staple these in place, being sure that the staple ends go into the box so they will not scratch anyone. Lining the holes with socks will prevent the child from seeing through the holes. Without letting the children see the item, put a familiar item in the box, close the top, and turn the box on its side. Hold up the box or place it on a table, and ask a child to insert his or her hands through the socks and try to figure out what is inside. Open the top of the box so the Primary children can see what the item is. Repeat the activity with different children and objects. Explain that we can easily identify objects that are familiar to us.  Next, give the children objects that are less familiar. If the child cannot name the object, ask him or her to describe the way it feels.  Compare the box experience with recognizing the promptings of the Holy Ghost. When we are familiar with the Spirit, we know what it feels like and can easily recognize it. However, when we have not had many experiences with the Spirit, we might not easily recognize the Spirit. (Taken from the August 2007 Friend Magazine)
I used one where I held up an empty paper towel tube and talked through it. Then I stuffed the tube with dirty rags (representing sin and other distractions). When I talked through the tube, they couldn't hear me. I talked about the importance of keeping our lives pure and making sure that we take time to listen for the promptings.  (Idea by Katrina McNiven / ga02272007)
Like a candle
Make a maze using chairs and blindfolding a person. Let them try to make their way thru the maze without help. Then have someone guide them thru with their voice. The person guiding them could whisper and help them through. Going thru the maze of life is easier if you have someone - the Holy Ghost - guiding you.
Pager
Seashell - Bring a seashell to class and have each person try and listen to the ocean.  They will have to be quiet and still as they try and hear it.  You could have them talk and try to listen at the same time. Then have others talk as they try to listen. You really have to be attuned to "hear" the sound.  This is also true with the Holy Ghost.  We have to be quiet and still to hear its promptings...but we have to become aware of how the Holy Ghost speaks to us individually.
Take a hard boiled egg (representing ourselves) and explain that we all sin and make mistakes. Take a crayon and make marks on the egg, then explain that after you are baptized all of our sins are washed away. Crack the egg and peel off the hard shell. You have a white (clean/pure) egg. Explain that when you receive the Holy Ghost, it brings you a warm feeling. Cut the egg open and they see the yellow (warm/fuzzy).
The Subtle Difference
Wind Chimes



All about the Gift of the Holy Ghost



A Tiny Little Gift by Mimi Hancock
Guidance by the Spirit by Mimi Hancock
The Holy Ghost speaks softly
 

Holy Ghost Talk Idea
Spiritual Guidance by Michael Meldrum - (great analogy) GPS system being like Holy Ghost

Talk #1
Talk #2
The Holy Ghost Bag



Listening to the Still Small Voice



Holy Ghost Crossword Puzzle
 

One Liners
Quote by Joseph Smith (History of the Church 5:27)

A testimony is a spiritual witness given by the Holy Ghost
After I am baptized, I will be confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost
Don't take the bait by Jeanette Binns
I can recognize the promptings of the Holy Ghost
I invite the promptings of the Holy Ghost when I pray, read the scriptures, keep the commandments, and follow the living prophets
The Gift of the Holy Ghost
The Holy Ghost testifies of Jesus Christ and can teach, guide, warn, protect, and comfort me
The Scriptures Teach me of the Holy Ghost
Wind Chimes
 

How Will the Holy Ghost Help Me to Keep My Baptismal Covenant?
"Stay Calm" by Ray Goldrup, Friend, July 1997
The Best of Friends - The Holy Ghost can be our companion just like in this story.
The Candle Story - Use this example to show that with our "light", all can feel of God's love
The Comforter - There is a cute story about a little girl getting ready to be baptized and worried about a "ghost" being her constant companion.  She learns what a comforter is when she is sent to the closet to get a quilt for her grandmother.  Here's a thought.  A fun project for parents or the primary to do might be for each child or class have a quilt square and put together a comforter and donate it to a homeless shelter.
The Holy Ghost Can Help Me (Friend, July 1997, p.36)
The Liahona and the Holy Ghost - "Keeping Promises" (May 2000 Friend)

The Native American & the Cricket
"Warm Bath" by Annette Fish, taken from the March 1992 Friend