Encourage understanding: On one side of the board write “Commandments” and the following scripture reference: D&C 89:7–9, 12, 14, 16. On the other side, write “Promises” and the following reference: D&C 89:18–21. Have half of the children read the first set of scriptures and look for commandments the Lord has given us in the Word of Wisdom. Have the other children read the remaining scriptures and look for blessings He has promised us if we obey. Discuss what the commandments and blessings mean.
Encourage application: Invite one child to say, “I will live the Word of Wisdom by ______” and fill in the blank with something he or she will do to live the Word of Wisdom. Then invite another child to repeat the phrase and the first child’s response and then add his or her own response. Ask a third child to repeat the phrase and both of the other children’s responses and then add another response. Repeat as time allows, with each child adding a response.
As we have learned the last couple of weeks, this week is no different. We are given our bodies as a precious gift from a loving Heavenly Father. Heavenly Father wants us to take care of our bodies.
Each day though we are faced with temptations that could harm our bodies so Heavenly Father has given us some information to help us make good choices in what we eat and put into our bodies. This is called the Word of Wisdom.
I have included printables for the ENCOURAGE UNDERSTANDING section so you can have the kids come up and write on the board the different things that they find for each section.
What has the Lord commanded us not to take into our bodies?
The Lord has commanded us to not use wine and strong drinks, meaning those that contain alcohol.
The Lord has also told us that tobacco is harmful to our bodies and our spirits. These are found in things like cigarettes and chewing tabacco.
We have also been told not to use hot drink. The leaders of the Church have told us that this means coffee and tea which both contain harmful ingredients.
We should not use drugs unless they are prescribed by a doctor. Many drugs when not used correctly can do more harm that even alcohol and tobacco.
For this game you'll be playing a "guess what it is" type of game with different clues. Bring in a fly swatter/ sticky darts/ bean bags etc so the kids can guess what the clue matches!
I have included image links for each of the clues. You will need to save/print each. You can also easily create your own clues and cut out images from magazines/grocery ads.
Scatter them on the floor face up (if you would like to talk about the food pyramid you can make one using painter's tape on the floor then put your pictures where they go on the pyramid then play your game.
1) A baked good make from dough. Most of us buy this at the store already sliced and ready to use. Typically used to make a sandwich. (
Bread)
2) A fruit that grows in bunches on a vine. Can be used to make a juice. These are used to make raisins when they are dried. (
Grapes)
3) This dairy product is made using the milk of animals. There are lots of kinds and many of us put it on a lot of things, like pizza! (
Cheese)
4) A vegetable that grows in the ground and is the color orange. It has green leaves at the top. It's a favorite food of rabbits! (
Carrots)
5) A dessert sometimes used for birthdays. A treat usually just for one person. They are sometimes decorated with frosting and sprinkles. (
Cupcakes)
6) This protein comes from a bird and is used in many things. We sometimes eat these at breakfast or decorate them for Easter. (
Eggs)
7) This fruit is a favorite during the summer. You can find them with black and white seeds in them and they are VERY juicy. You eat the red part but not the green! (
Watermelon)
8) This vegetable grows on a stalk and is a bright yellow when it's ready to be picked but you can't see the yellow because it's covered by a green husk. Sometimes in the fall, farmers create mazes with them to go through. (
Corn)
9) This meat is from big bird that can't fly. We usually have it during the month of November. It's a common lunch meat to find on your sandwich. (
Turkey)
10) This is a popular breakfast food. Sometimes people add yummy fruits to it. We can either eat with a bowl and some milk or eat it for a tasty snack. (
Cereal)
The activity above I think is more geared towards Sr. Primary but I'm sure some of the clues you could use in Jr. But I've made up a fun little printable you can use in Jr. Primary.
Bring in some crayons and let the children color the things that are good for their bodies. I have included some "junk" food so you can talk about that a little bit.
Another thing that you can talk about it the
food pyramid. Talk about each section and why each of these are important for our bodies (here's a
great article about why it's important)
As I was looking on LDS.org for different articles for this week. I found this BEAUTY of a quote by President Monson. And I created a poster for you!
Included in the download:
Weekly Theme Poster
Fun activity for Jr Primary
President Monson Quote
For your reference and study:
Introduce the doctrine: Show the children two glasses, one with dirty water and one with clean water. Ask the children which one they would rather drink and why. Tell the children that our minds are like the glasses, and we should put only clean and good things in them. Write the following sentence on the board, and have the children say it with you: “Reading, watching, and listening to wholesome things keeps my mind clean.” Consider teaching the children simple hand actions to help them remember the sentence. For example, for the word reading, put your hands out like you are holding a book; for the word watching, point to your eye; for listening, cup your hand around your ear; and for mind, point to your forehead. Repeat the sentence several times, substituting the actions for the words.
Would you eat a bowl of ice cream if you knew that there was a bug in it? Would you keep eating the ice cream if you discover a bug in your ice cream after you've already started eating?
Encourage understanding: On one side of the board write “Commandments” and the following scripture reference: D&C 89:7–9, 12, 14, 16. On the other side, write “Promises” and the following reference: D&C 89:18–21. Have half of the children read the first set of scriptures and look for commandments the Lord has given us in the Word of Wisdom. Have the other children read the remaining scriptures and look for blessings He has promised us if we obey. Discuss what the commandments and blessings mean.
As I was looking on LDS.org for different articles for this week. I found this BEAUTY of a quote by President Monson. And I created a poster for you!
One day a group of people followed Jesus onto a hill by the sea. Jesus began teaching them how making good choices will help them to be happy. One of the things that he told them is to help teach others by setting a good example. (Read the Matthew Poster together)
As I was thinking about this year's poster and I was thinking of something that has a direction and my husband suggested roads. Roads are full of different directions to go and I loved it. So here we go.
After coming back to his home in Zarahemla from preaching the word of God to the people in the North (he returned because the people rejected the word of God and because the Gadiaton robbers were filling the judgement seats and making laws that were wicked and were laying aside the commandments of God)
A great way to demonstrate the importance of obeying is by playing a game. Because every game has rules.
After the wars with the Lamanites, the prophet Helaman went back to preaching the gospel. After he died the records he kept went to his son, also named Helaman. He became a chief judge. He had two sons whose names were Nephi and Lehi. 
The brothers were safe within the fire and were not harmed. Nephi and Lehi stood and spoke to the Lamanites telling them that it was the power of God that was protecting them in the fire and away from the hands of the Lamanites. The earth then shook and the walls of the prison shook so much that it looked like the prison might fall, but it did not.
I love how in the lesson it has incorporated the map so I've enlarged it and you can get this poster printed for just a few dollars at Staples as an engineer print. What a fun way to share the story and "act" out as you tell it.
