Mormon Share > Object Lesson
Object Lesson
Jennifer Smith
September 22, 2004
See how easily this stalk of celery took on the color of water in which it was sitting? Small children are just like that stalk of celery. They take on all the characteristics of the family around them. Is your home colored with anger, yelling, sarcasm, and criticizm? Or is your home colored with patience, cooperation, soft tones and laughter? Children will absorb examples they receive at home. You can…
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Jennifer Smith
September 22, 2004
Build a kite with structure (gospel), tail (balance), wind (a cloud) for trials, and of coarse the most important part…string commandments of Heavenly Father. As long as a kite is attatched to a string, it will fly high up in the sky. You may think that since it is pulling and tugging on the string, that it would go higher if it were set free. But it is not so,…
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Jennifer Smith
September 22, 2004
I taught the children the subject “Jesus Christ is my Example” by using 2 object lessons. I first displayed 2 exact plants planted in 2 different containers. One container was beautiful and the plant looked wonderful. The other container was chipped and awful looking and the plant appeared less desirable. I then had the children choose which plant they liked best. Of course, they chose the plant in the nice…
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Jennifer Smith
September 22, 2004
While the children are out of the room, scatter books, papers, clothing, toys, etc. (that you have brought from home) around the room. (Hopefully, when the children come into the room, they will notice the mess!) You can then talk about the Lord’s house being a “house of order.” Maybe you could have children bring up the items that you have scattered and give ideas for why He might prefer…
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Jennifer Smith
September 22, 2004
Show the seed and read the following story: “The Bible, or another book of scripture at my father’s place at meal times, was the order of the day in our home. He would read a chapter aloud and lead the discussion. “But one day as we assembled for our meal, there was no book of scripture but a single watermelon seed. He appeared not to notice the missing book but…
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Jennifer Smith
September 22, 2004
Decide beforehand which “theory” you are going to test. It could be something simple like theory of gravity, or something else that both you and your audience understand very well. I will use gravity for my example here. You say, “I am going to test the theory of gravity today. I have here some different size and weight of balls and marbles.” Now leave the items and go to the…
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Jennifer Smith
September 22, 2004
Roses that are grown in a hot-house are very beautiful but their scent is weak. Why is that? Hothouse roses don’t have to develop a heavy scent to attract bees in order to flourish. They are fed, watered, and watched over by the gardener, all in ideal conditions. Outdoor roses face much harsher conditions: wind, rain, cold, heat, and bugs. Outside, roses must develop the strong rose scent in order…
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Jennifer Smith
September 22, 2004
At the beginning, tell the class that you need to cut a hole in this paper big enough to put your head through. How difficult will this be? Take the first piece of paper and cut a large hole in it. “Here is the best I could do. I have cut a hole in this paper, but I am not able to put my head through it.” Take the second…
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Jennifer Smith
September 22, 2004
Many students ask the question if God knows how I’ll act in a given situation (temptation or other), isn’t He really responsible for the way I acted in that situation? Does foreordination mean I have no choice in the way I’ll act? Am I predestined to failure? One of my professors at BYU (seems to me it was Joseph McConkie) responded to the question this way: After a discussion on…
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Jennifer Smith
September 22, 2004
As you’re explaining a Gospel principle that you really want others to come to know for themselves, pull out a piece of fruit, such as an apple, and begin eating it while you’re in the midst of your discussion. Continue your discussion as you normally would. Stop occassionally and tell the others how delicious the fruit you’re eating is! Then continue again with your discussion. After stopping and telling the…
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Jennifer Smith
September 22, 2004
The first batch of muffins were light and fluffy and everyone fights for the last one. The second batch seems to be taking a long time to bake and doesn’t look the same as the first. When they cool off they are hard and heavy. It is discovered that the missing ingredient, baking powder, Baking powder is the ingredient that is used in the smallest proportion when making muffins. Yet,…
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Jennifer Smith
September 22, 2004
Invite a student to comb his hair, with the stipulation that he cannot bend his elbows. This is quite a hilarious sight to see them trying to comb hair with straight arms. It’s basically impossible unless the person has very long hair and can bend over very far. Then give the same comb to a neighbor and again with only straight arms, have the neighbor comb the hair. It is…
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