Aug D Word of Wisdom (Jenkins)

 This lesson is going to focus on the Word of Wisdom, how it came to us through the Prophet Joseph Smith, how we can get instructions through our Prophet President Nelson, and how the Holy Ghost can help us make good choices.

• Talk about good things to put in our bodies. Show the kids pictures of good food from the handout. Draw a picture of your favorite meal or snack. Talk about why there is a "NO" symbol over coffee and tea, cigarettes, and alcohol. Elder Stevenson instructs us to plan in advance what they will do when tempted with alcohol and drugs. "You will find that temptation has less control over you. You will have already made the decision of how you will react and what you will do. You won't need to decide every time." Help the kids choose polite but strong sentences of how to say no.
• Instruct the kids about how to play "cake walk"- Number the papers (before class?) and spread the pictures face down in a circle (I might take out all the chairs before class or stack them in the corner.We could stand at the table to draw.) Everyone start on paper and move counter clockwise when the music starts playing. If a kid needs a job, instruct them to stop and start the music when they want, but after having taken at least three steps (I think I can play the Sacred Music app from my locked phone, using "The Word of Wisdom" song). Pick up the paper you land on and we'll take turns (smallest number can go first), say what the pictures are, and identify if they are good for our bodies. If it's bad for our bodies, say what you rehearsed of how to say no. Then throw that paper with the "NO" item in the garbage.
• March to "Follow the Prophet" and watch the provided video. If the kids are ready to sit for a video, then do so- "The Word of Wisdom", or march around the circle singing the chorus of "Follow the Prophet" and explain that Joseph Smith asked Heavenly Father what the church should do about tobacco after Emma talked to Joseph about the mess left after their meetings. Joseph Smith received the word of wisdom that gave us instructions on good food to eat, not to drink hot drinks, and that tobacco was not good for the body. Joseph Smith told the men what he had learned and the men threw their pipes and tobacco into the fire.
• Making choices and serving themselves. Provide (hand sanitizer and) finger foods like cheese, pretzels, grapes/olives, crackers, and Hi-chews of course, and maybe cupcakes. In cub scouts we learned that healthy snacks have nutrients and junk food does not. When its snack time, fill up on healthy snacks, but a little bit of candy (junk food) is ok, but not to fill up on.
• What does our prophet tell us today? While eating snacks, you could talk about Pres. Nelson and what instructions he has given us today. I put a few video clips together a year or two ago to help teach the song "Stand for the Right." Preview it, it's long. There are some spots that are more entertaining than others. I don't have time to make a new one or refine it. Video Words of the Prophet here. I regret that I didn't keep a record of which clips I used and where to find them. I'm sure they're all from the church website.
• Extra Activity. If by chance you still have time left, you can color the healthy food pictures, even though they've been stepped on. You can talk about how the Spirit helps us know that the scriptures are true, as well as other good books and advice, and how we can pray about anything and the Holy Ghost will help us know the truth.

PDF of enlarged pictures of good and bad food here