Think CELESTIAL

Fun Activities for CHURCH & HOME

Doctrine & Covenants 76 - Describes the celestial kingdom as a place of glory where faithful members will receive glorified bodies and live with God and Christ forever.

“I invite you to adopt the practice of “thinking celestial”! …

Ponder the talk from President Russell M. Nelson, THINK CELESTIAL 

with our LESSON match activities.

ACTIVITY:

CELESTIAL BLESSINGS

Sunshine Show-and-Tell.

Complete the sentences after the word "because..." found in the sun's rays. For example, "When I see the temple I feel Heavenly Father's love because... "I know that in His temple I can make covenants to return to Him."

We obtain the blessings of the celestial kingdom as we are worthy. Everyone will be resurrected but not everyone will enjoy eternal life with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in the celestial kingdom. As we love and serve those around us as Jesus taught we qualify for celestial blessings. 

Spread a little sunshine each day by reminding ourselves and others of these possible celestial blessings.     

ACTIVITY:

CONNECTED KINGDOMS

can help others understand that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all will be resurrected and stand before the Lord to be judged according to the choices we made and the desires of our hearts. We then will receive a place or kingdom to live in. If we are faithful and obedient to God we can inherit the CELESTIAL kingdom and live in the presence of our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ. We can help others receive this same blessing. There are three things we need to do to obtain the Celestial Kingdom:

• be obedient to Gods commandments

• receive the ordinances of salvation

• repent of our sins

The other two kingdoms are also kingdoms of glory but the Celestial Kingdom is where we can be with our families forever and live in the presence of God and Jesus Christ.

ACTIVITY:



The PLAN OF SALVATION Storyboard gives us an overview of Heavenly Father's plan. We lived with our heavenly parents as spirit children. Agency was a gift so we could learn how to choose wisely. We chose to come to earth, gain a physical body, experience joy, peace, temptation, opposition, and all that the adversary would send. These experiences would help us to grow. We soon learn that trials help us become more like our Heavenly Father. We see that we need a Savior. The Atonement of Jesus Christ was essential to the plan so we could be made clean again.

ACTIVITY:



The Plan of Salvation Youth Goal Planner is a useful tool for thinking about our future life and what we want it to look like. As we study the scriptures we see a beautiful future unfold for us if we choose to follow our Savior. He has perfect love for us so we can trust His plan.

POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL DISCUSSIONS:

• Talk about how to PLAN better habits for reading scriptures, saying our prayers, attending our meetings.

• Discuss any PLANS others have that are working for them.

• Ask how we can help each other achieve our GOALS.

ACTIVITY:

There was a young man who was not sure he wanted to serve a mission. His mother wisely asked him to think about what his life would be like 10 years beyond how SERVING a mission or NOT SERVING a mission would make any difference in him as a husband, father, or in his career. The young man took a few weeks thinking about serving and not serving and the impact each might have. He decided it would certainly make him a more responsible person and a better servant of the Lord. He decided to serve a mission.

With the Decisions Determine Destiny planner youth can put themselves in the driver's seat by making responsible decisions.

ACTIVITY:



SET UP THE GAME by taping it to the floor (or table). Have a bottle to spin.

PLAY THE GAME sitting on the floor spinning bottle inside lines. Bottleneck points to one of the signs. Teams choose and read a smile or frown wordstrip. Then, name the consequence for the action read. For example, an Immediate Consequence for "Stay up late" might be, "You are tired the next day." Collect the SMILES and when all are read, the team with the most wins!

Don't miss the story STAYING ON THE NARROW PATH* about a young woman's father who taught her to drive the tractor in a straight line when planting; this way the weeds would not grow (on the crooked lines). Compare this to temptations throwing us off course, changing our life's direction; Think CELESTIAL!

ACTIVITY:

Children and youth can build the poster.

ACTION #1

First say, PRINCESS AND PRINCE Choose the Right Consequences and mount the sign at the bottom of the poster/board. Then take turns mounting the pieces.

ACTION #2

Take turns choosing and reading a card, then place it on the poster/board next to the princess and prince. Each time before reading the card they could say, "I WILL THINK CELESTIAL!" For example, the crown card might read, "I will remember that I am of royal birth as I am Heavenly Father's child."

 

ACTION #3 (to review at the end, if time)

Talk about the valiant choices and the good consequences for each.

ACTIVITY:



Say, “You can’t grow weeds from flower seeds!” Help youth realize that there is a consequence for every action by completing the QUIZ.

   Next to each choice they can write:

#1 The Immediate Consequence,

#2 The Future Consequence, and

#3 The Eternal Consequence of that choice or action.

Example - choices to evaluate with #1, #2, and #3 consequences (above).

• Bear my testimony

• Date members of other faiths

• Say prayers daily

• Associate with people of questionable moral character

• Smoke a cigarette

• Attend youth church activities only when I feel like it

• Dress modestly

• Tell the truth

ACTIVITY:



Help others learn self-reliance skills. HARVESTING MY DESTINY GARDEN will help others understand that by planting three tiny seeds of thought, they can overcome three bad habits and reap a harvest of good habits that will determine their eternal destiny.

• Write three bad habits you wish to change, lazy, selfish, bad temper.

• Sow a good thought to help counter the bad habit. If the bad habit is "laziness", write "I like to work," or if the habit is "selfishness," write, " I will think of others."

• Another way to rid ourselves of a bad habit is to replace it with a good one. For example, if you say something unkind, immediately apologize. Don't wait a second. Soon the bad temper will be a thing of the past.

• Another, is to put some fun after doing the good habit you are trying to do. Example, brushing your teeth before bed. Brush well, then play your favorite game for ten minutes.

Review the “Building Integrity” article in the New Era, July 1999, page 15. This article of Joseph’s personal integrity and how it helped him make righteous choices even in difficult situations, tells us ways that we can practice integrity (e.g., “Never let anyone persuade you to do something you know is wrong”).

   Joseph is portrayed in his running from the temptation of Potiphar’s wife. “Joseph’s integrity helped him make righteous choices even in difficult situations.” Because he chose to be pure ahead of time, he was able to resist the temptation when it came (Genesis 39:6–13).

ACTIVITY:



With this two-sided mobile youth can learn the four steps King Benjamin's people took to have a change of heart to THINK CELESTIAL!

Also, see Alma 5:14-15 “Have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?”

Four Change of Heart Steps 1-4:

• I will learn about Christ and His commandments.

• I will have faith in Christ and believe in His Atonement.

• I will ask for forgiveness and be forgiven through the Lord’s mercy.

• I will make a covenant to keep the commandments and do good all my days.

ACTIVITY:

The "Hop to it! Agency Actions" planner can help youth ponder the blessings, responsibilities, and consequences of their choices.

President Nelson said, "Any addiction—be it gaming, gambling, debt, drugs, alcohol, anger, pornography, sex, or even food—offends God. Why? Because your obsession becomes your god. You look to it rather than to Him for solace. If you struggle with an addiction, seek the spiritual and professional help you need. Please do not let an obsession rob you of your freedom to follow God’s fabulous plan."

If we allow our bodies to rule over our minds we are in danger. The precious gift of agency that God gave us can make us wise or unwise depending on our choices. President Nelson suggests we THINK CELESTIAL! He said in his talk, "As you focus on thinking celestial, expect to encounter opposition." With agency used wisely by saying "no" to the adversary, we are strengthened and can "HOP TO IT!" 

ACTIVITY:

PATRIARCHAL BLESSING memo and checklist can be used to record parts of your blessing on Messages Memo, e.g. “I was blessed with.” “I was promised.” “What I must do.” Plus, things to do on the Preparation Checklist. Place a flower sticker by each item accomplished, e.g. “Be mature enough to appreciate the blessing.” After the blessing, think of the gifts and talents you have and how they can help you work to realize those blessings. President Thomas S. Monson said, “Your patriarchal blessing is yours and yours alone...Length and language do not a patriarchal blessing make. It is the Spirit that conveys the true meaning. Your blessing is not to be...tucked away...framed or published...it is to be read...loved...followed...Your patriarchal blessing is to you a personal Liahona to chart your course and guide your way.”

ACTIVITY:



Our heavenly parents have made it possible for our families to be together forever. They want us to return to them someday. We can be eternally sealed to our family.

• When parents are married and sealed to each other in God's temple all their children born are automatically sealed.

• When we die, we are separated for a while, but we can have joy knowing we are sealed and will be with our family again someday.

ACTIVITY:



The temple is a sacred place where families are sealed for time and eternity. Here are a few TEMPLE-TALK Discussion Points to consider.

• To go to the temple you need a Temple Recommend obtained from your bishop and stake president. The questions are available to discuss.

• Prepare to enter the temple by establishing good habits. For example: reading your scriptures, morning and evening prayers, keeping your thoughts chaste, etc.. It's worth every challenge to get there; eternally worth it.

ACTIVITY:

Tell children that Heavenly Father has made it possible for our families to be together forever. As we faithfully keep His commandments, we can be sealed in the temple to our families eternally. This makes it possible for us to live in Heavenly Father’s presence again (in the CELESTIAL KINGDOM).

ACTIVITY:



The TENT-CARD helps youth increase their desire to be ready for that sacred experience of a temple marriage by listing HOW they can prepare to enter the Lords House and make covenants.

• Read the quote by Harold B. Lee:

 "Youth should begin today to so order their lives that they will be found worthy at the proper time to go to the House of the Lord and be uplifted and sanctified by the temple ceremony."

• Visualize your future eternal family by placing the right choices on the personalized temple tent card. This card can be placed on a dresser or nightstand.

• Some ideas may include: be morally clean, respect others, pay tithing, practice the law of the fast, be honest, obey the Word of Wisdom, set a good example, have clean speech, have regular prayer, honor parents, carefully choose a worthy companion, obey all of God's commandments.  

ACTIVITY:



Using the "Let's Be Together Forever" wheel, talk about how they can prepare to attend the temple by doing things found on the wheel:

• Obey the commandments

• Love one another

• Obey the Word of Wisdom

• Pay tithing

• Attend Church

• Be honest

Have the children express how they feel about the temple. Ask if any of them have been inside of a temple (open house or sealing). Ask them to express how they felt and what it was like. Help them understand the sacred nature of a temple. 

ACTIVITY:



Ask the youth to memorize "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" paragraph 1. Elder Russell M. Nelson taught, "There is great power in a strong partnership." Partners in marriage can achieve much more than acting alone. A husband and a wife can create an eternal family - an amazing bond of fidelity that strengthens and safeguards a perfect environment where children can grow in love and security.

• Brainstorm what makes a happy partnership in marriage (fidelity, kindness, listening, patience, obedience to God's commandments, compassion, selflessness, etc.)

• Take turns talking about good marriages they have observed in their ward, family, or elsewhere.

• Discuss additional character traits they feel are important in a good marriage.  

ACTIVITY:



• An ORDINANCE is a sacred rite or ceremony. Ordinances consist of acts that have spiritual meanings. Ordinances can also mean God’s laws and statutes. Example of ordinances are, administration to the sick, blessing the sacrament, baptism by immersion, blessing of children, conferring the Holy Ghost, conferring the priesthood, temple ordinances, and marriage.

• A COVENANT is an agreement between God and man, but they do not act as equals in the agreement. God gives the conditions for the covenant, and men agree to do what He asks them to do. God then promises men certain blessings for their obedience. (Explain that whenever it says "man" it means woman also)

• Ask everyone who would like to share express how they feel or felt while participating in covenants and ordinances. 

ACTIVITY:



Keep the Commandments to Create and Perfect an Eternal Family Unit



“Everything we do should have celestial marriage as its focus and purpose. That means we must strive to be sealed to an eternal companion in the temple of God. We must also encourage others to make and keep the covenants that bind a husband and wife together, with their family, in this life and in the world to come.”

“Prepare yourself to take your family to the temple. You will move with them along the path to an eternal family home.” 

– Eternal Families By President Henry B. Eyring First Counselor in the First Presidency

ACTIVITY:



With this CELESTIAL SINGING METER you can help motivate children to sing with more feeling. Practice songs with names written on the stars. Move the stars up the chart as children improve. The brightness of the kingdoms indicate the brightness of their singing behavior. You can make Super Singing Star badges as a reward for their super singing.

• Display this scripture and ask what they think it means. D&C 25:12 "For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads."

• Perhaps choose some of the newer songs or their favorites. 

LYRICS:

. I love to see the temple.

. I’m going there someday

. To feel the Holy Spirit,

. To listen and to pray.

. For the temple is a house of God,

. A place of love and beauty.

. I’ll prepare myself while I am young;

. This is my sacred duty.

. I love to see the temple.

. I’ll go inside someday.

. I’ll cov’nant with my Father;

. I’ll promise to obey.

. For the temple is a holy place

. Where we are sealed together.

. As a child of God, I’ve learned this truth:

. A fam’ly is forever.

Words and music: Janice Kapp Perry, b. 1938

© 1980 by Janice Kapp Perry.

This song may be copied for incidental, noncommercial church or home use.

ACTIVITY:



Ask questions relating to forever families then have children answer the questions using the words from the song. For example: (1) "What do we need to do to be with our family through eternity?" The answer would be "marry in God's temple for eternity." Or "through Heavenly Father's plan." (2) "Who can show us how we can live with our families forever?" The answer would be "the Lord..."

Ask how many siblings they have, what they like to do with their family, how they show love to their parents, or how they serve their siblings. 

ACTIVITY:



IDEAS for teaching this song visual:

1. Explain that our life is a gift and that our life has a plan (illustrated by #2 and 3 below).

2. Show children a map or draw one on the board. Tell them that a map or plan tells us how we can get from place to place. Heavenly Father did not send us to earth without a map of how we would get back. Post the words “Heaven” at the top and “Earth” at the bottom.

3. Show a gift box wrapped with a bow on top. (Have the box large enough to enclose the visuals for this song). Then have children one at a time pull out visuals to hold them up to learn the song (possibly pulling out a verse at a time).