OT Lesson 5 - Idea

In Lesson 5, I livened up the chart on page 21.  I teach the 12-13 year olds in a small classroom, and I used the whole wall for this chart.  I used four sheets of bright yellow paper, four sheets of blue paper, and 2 sheets of  bright orange paper.  On my computer, I printed the words for each step on 1/2 of each of the yellow and blue sheets of paper (yellow for the steps that lead us to "dwelling with God", and blue for the steps that lead us to "spiritual destruction").  I then cut the papers in half, and used them to form the steps which I stuck to the wall.  I made the arrows out of the orange paper, and printed and cut out the words (that go above the arrows) on white paper.  The kids were very much impressed when they walked in and saw that! (Ray)

OT Lesson 6 - Idea

For Lesson 6, we went outside and measured 150' with a tape measure (I have a 100' tape measure), then visualized how long the ark must have been by multiplying by 3 (HUGE! . . . especially when you consider it was two stories high!).  There was snow on the ground, but that didn't deter the kids any.  This is probably the most dramatic impression that will ever be made on their minds of all the lessons I give them.  I don't think I will ever forget it.  The kids loved it -- even the kids I normally have a really difficult time getting participation from!  We then joked a little about the trials Noah must have had with all those animals, and all the work they must have had to do to take care of them.  I think it is very important (especially for those who teach teenagers) to try to make the lessons as 'real' as possible for them.  They need to be able to visualize and experience what the prophets went through as much as possible. (Ray)

OT Lesson 6 -  A Thought or Two

I spent some time in the beginning explaining cubits and 'did the math" with the class so that they would understand the dimensions of the ark.  I then compared the ark dimensions with those of the Norwegian Star, a new modern cruise ship which my wife and I traveled on two weeks ago celebrating our 31st wedding anniversary.  I ended the attention-getter moment by utilizing the finger tip touching brethren standing in a line example with only ten brothers. (Dale)

OT Lesson 8 -  Idea

The lesson states Abraham's refusal to accept even a thread as a reward from the king of Sodom.  Then it lists questions:  "What might be considered a 'thread' of immorality in today's world? What might be a thread of dishonesty?"

I am going to take several items with me to class, some that would be of value to others, some not.  I am going to place the items on the table along with a piece of thread.  I will ask someone to come to the table and tell them, "If I were to tell you that you could keep anything on this table, which items would you choose?"  I would then have the person place the wanted items in one box, and the unwanted items in another box.  Then I would point out the thread that got left behind (hopefully), talk about it's seeming insignificance, and compare it to Abraham's statement. (Ray)

OT Lesson 22 - Teaching Idea - Samuel 16

I was pondering visual aids (I always try to bring one: today it was a walking stick / staff that we used to talk about Moses bringing forth living water) and I decided when 1 Samuel 16 comes up several weeks from now, I'm going to use a geode as an example of "The Lord looketh on the heart."

My Grandma was and is an amateur rockhound, and when I was little she taught me about "thunder eggs" or geodes.  From the outside they are just lumpy volcanic rocks, but if you split them open just right, they have beutiful crystals or patterns inside.  She gave me a geode that she had split open and polished, and sure enough, it's dirt brown and lumpy on the outside, but inside it's full of blue and white mineral deposits that make it very pretty.  Sometimes when we feel "brown and lumpy" it's important to realize what's inside each of us, and to remember that the Lord knows it.

I may also use the following quote from Marvin J Ashton's talk from Oct 88 General Conference "The Measure of Our Hearts." "When the Lord measures an individual, He does not take a tape measure around the person's head to determine his mental capacity, nor his chest to determine his manliness, but He measures the heart as an indicator of the person's capacity and potential to bless others.  Why the heart? Because the heart is a synonym for one's entire makeup." (Lonnie in Arizona)

OT Lesson 32 - Handout

Ways of Looking at Adversity That May Be Helpful to You - PDF file (DeLynn)