The Lie Monster
 

Story: Tell the story, “The Lie Monster”.   Post the pictures where indicated.

Discussion: Why did Tommy tell his first lie?

Do you think his mommy would have been as mad as he thought?  Or would she have forgiven him?

                             Do you think his mommy was happy Tommy lied?

                             Was it fair to Jimmy to blame it on him?

                             How do you think this made Jimmy feel?

                             What other things did Tommy lie about?  Why?

                             What began to happen to Tommy as he lied?

                             Was the monster easy to get rid of?

 Scripture:             Go back to the 13th article of faith.  Read it aloud and really review first part,
                                     “We believe in being honest, true.....”

 Discussion:         Why would Joseph Smith feel it important to include this phrase in the 13th AOF?

                             Do you think it is important to be honest? Why?

                             Do you know that Heavenly Father knows when you lie?  How do you think it makes Him feel?

                             Do you ever want to make Him feel sad?

                             Do you realize being honest is a commandment?  Heavenly Father wants us to be happy, and we can’t be happy when we lie.

Activity:

                                  1.   Honesty Questions (see below)– give the older people participating, or anyone who can write, a small slip of paper and something to write with. Younger children can use little signs with yes (green) on one side and no (red) on the other.  These should be in your FHE supply kit.  Ask all of the questions on the hand out titled “Honesty Quotient” and have everyone write down their answer (or have the little ones look at the appropriate side).  Their answers are secret, they do not have to disclose.  This activity just makes us think.  Hopefully, all the answers are no!

                   2.   Coloring activity for smaller children – pass out the outline of the monster’s head.  Have everyone make their own "lie monster."  Put out crayons, pencils, markers, glue and "glue items" (noodles, felt, sponge shapes etc,), and pipe cleaners.  Believe me, they will get creative–and the more creative, the better.  After everyone is done, enjoy each others “monsters” and have a good laugh.  Now, explain that they started with only a clean outline.  Ask how to change their "monsters" back into a plain piece of paper.  Usually, that will really stumped them.  Show them with your (which I did mainly with glue items and pencils).  Pulling the noodles off was hard, and tore the paper a little in places.  I erased, but you could always see a little marking.  Show them that not only is getting rid of the lies difficult, but sometimes the lies left scars.  Yes, we could repent and be clean with our Father in Heaven, but we would remember our lies and how yucky we felt when we told them.  Also discuss what happens to our "reputation" after they lie.  Even if we apologized and tell the truth, those around would have a hard time believing us for a while.  Those were the scars.

                   3.   Lie vs. Truth - To help younger children understand a lie versus the truth, here is a simple game.  Everyone sit in a circle.  Give everyone a signal which means lie (we did stomping our feet and hissing) and a signal which means truth (clapping and cheering).  After they get this part, then you show them the difference between a truth and a lie.  For instance say "the sun is yellow or orange."  Then have them do the signal for truth.  Then say "The sun is purple."  They do the signal for lie.  Then you go around the circle and let everyone say both a "lie" and a "truth".   Once you have gotten all the way around, go around as many times as you want, letting people do one or the other, but not both. Each time, reply the appropriate signal!

     4.    Fishing game –using the question strips from the Honesty Questions, cut the questions or situations out and put them on the fish with paper clips.  Then play the fishing game, with the child answering each one as they catch it!

Closing Song:  Keep the commandments (Children's Song Book p. 146)

  Treat: Cookies

  Reminder Activity: Place the reminder card in a place where everyone can see it.

Honesty Questions 
 

The telephone rings; Mary says, “If that’s Bob, tell him I’m not home!” 
Have you ever acted like Mary?

 *** 

Dad overslept.  He was fifteen minutes late for work.  “I got caught in a traffic jam,”
he explained to his boss.  Have you ever acted that way?

*** 

Tommy spilled the cocoa.  “Who did that?” asked Mother.  “I don’t know!”
said Tommy.  Did you ever do something like this?

 ***

“Robbie flipped me with an elastic!” cried Marsha.  “I did not!” lied
Robbie.  Have you ever lied to avoid trouble?

 ***

 “I certainly don’t want this to go any further,” Sister Williams confided to mother. 
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell a soul,” said mother.  Mother could hardly wait to hang up
and tell Sister Bell!  Have you ever betrayed a confidence?

***

 Billy got to school bright and early on Monday.  As he sat down, his teacher started
to hand out a spelling test.  Uh oh!!  Billy forgot about the test.  He decided to look
over Christine’s shoulder.  Have you ever done something like this because you weren’t prepared?

*** 

Dad and Jenny went to the store to buy her some gum.  Dad let Jenny pay for it.  The gum cost 50¢.  Jenny gave the cashier a dollar, but the cashier accidentally gave her 60¢ instead of 50¢.  Jenny decided to keep the extra dime.  Have you ever done something like this?