Choosing Good Friends

A lot has changed since I last blogged.  I am now the 2nd Counselor in the Primary and that along with work and the kids have consumed my life (in a good way)  but I realize my blogging is getting neglected.   So I will do the best I can to update this blog weekly.

As a 2nd Counselor we rotate teaching sharing time on Sundays.   This has actually been such a blessing because it has helped me become more creative at teaching my kids.  One of the lessons I taught was on "Choosing Good Friends".   I searched high and low for a way to really help the children learn how to choose a good friends and there were a lot of different ideas out there, but not exactly what I was looking for.  So I decided to create my own.

1. I asked the children what they wanted in a friend.  Here were some of their answers - someone who is nice, someone who doesn't kick you, someone who loves you, someone who likes your mom (my favorite answer) and someone who won't make fun of you.
2. I found a picture from the church primary book and did some editing to it using photoshop and created a diagram to what they should be looking for in a friend.  The image is attached below.  I left the face off so that they can draw their own face in.

 

I told them when they are choosing their friends do the following:

• Look at their head - Does this person have Clean thoughts and Actions.
• Look at their eyes - Does this friend look for good in others
• Look at their mouth - Make sure they do not use bad words or speak unkind about others.
• Examine their hands - Are their hands found serving others
• Look at their heart - Is it filled with love for our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and others.
• Look at their Legs - Will they be quick to run from evil and temptation
• and Last Look at their Feet - Do they stand for truth and righteousness.

Then look at your self in the Mirror - Are you that same friend?

The kids loved this lesson and it really helped them know what to look for in a friend.  Their favorite part is when I covered up the words and pointed at the parts and they had the chance to tell me everything back.  They loved the challenge plus it helps them always remember what they are looking for in a friend.

* I find this extremely important to teach to your children.  As they grow up they will be faced with challenges we never dreamed of.  How can we help them surround themselves around people who will lift them up in the light of Christ and not bring them down.  We must teach them while they are young to surround themselves around friends with these attributes and to also be that same friend.

After the lesson I ended with this movie given by our Dear prophet President Gordon B. Hinckley and then followed up with my testimony. 

I hope that you enjoy this lesson and share it with your children you won't regret it for a second,

Much Love,
Lyza

Arise and Shine!

Today was such a great day. The highlight of the day was being able to take my 2 beehives Destany and my niece mina to their first young women's conference for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2012.

I remember when I was young how I would go with my mom and sisters to theses meetings. It brought back some sweet memories. Today's memories made me want to cry. The spirit was so strong and it meant so much to me to be able to join my daughter and niece along with the young women of this church and hear messages prepared by the young women's leaders of this church and of our dear prophet Thomas S. Monson.

The messages they shared tonight were to help us improve our life and become closer to our Heavenly Father and brother Jesus Christ. They were messages of love and uplifting words. It's amazing to me how such caring people can dedicate their entire lives to helping our dear young women receive vital messages and tools to be able to keep on a path that will help them stay happy, healthy and in harmony with the savior and his teachings. The main focus on tonight was to remember to live by the youth theme which is

"Arise and Shine forth, that they light may be a standard for the nations"

Doctrine and Covenants 115:5

The light that we need to have is the light of Christ. To arise is to arise from the ground after offering a prayer. To arise in the morning and read the scriptures. To arise and defend our standards and beliefs. We must arise and use our knowledge of knowing right from wrong and NEVER fail in living our personal standards. Which are the standards of the strength for the youth, the Scriptures, the commandments and more. We must stand for right even if we must stand alone.

To have this light we must have knowledge. We must seek learning by study and by faith. Sister Mary Cook the first counselor of the Young women's gave a talk on how it is very important to learn and develop a study pattern. This study pattern that we develop is what is going to be the outcome of how we learn and study new things. We must train our mind and Sacrifice NOW! for the future of the unknown.

What we learn becomes how we raise our children. It determines how we teach our children. A mother will become the most important teacher a child will ever have. We must be knowledgeable and seek and study by faith to make sure we are teaching what our children need to know. As we learn and study the Holy Ghost will enlighten our minds.

Before I end I will end with the 3 signals from the Lords lighthouse shared by the prophet.

1-Believe-

Believe that we are a daughter of God.

Believe in our values and accept and act upon those values.

Have a Testimony

2-Obey-

Obey our parents.

Obey the commandments of our Heavenly Father.

3-Endure-

Take things day-by-day to repent.

"Life by the yard is hard, but Life by the inch is sinch"

We must stay strong and never give up. Effort is required in life but this will be effort we will never regret.

Tesimony

I know that everything I have heard tonight is truly meant for me and everyone alive on this planet. I know that this church is true and that Christ is the Light of this Gospel. I know that our Prophet Thomas S. Monson is a true and living prophet and speaks to God. I know the leaders he has picked are chosen to help us and guide us through these Latter-days. I will make an effort through my life to stand for what I believe in. Even if I must stand alone, because I know though the appearance may be as I am alone I know I will have an army of angels behind me standing for what I believe in. Which is that Christ Lives and is the head of our church. Heavenly Father is our God and that this church is the true living church of Jesus Christ. Most importantly I know Heavenly Father Loves me and wants the best for me and my family and I love him. I will Arise and Shine forth and share his light with all those I come across.