The Young Women manual 1 lesson 17 is about the purpose of covenants and ordinances. One of the suggested references for this lesson is “The Power of Covenants” by Elder D. Todd Christofferson. This happens to be the talk I selected in 2009 to share as a general conference visiting teaching message. You can view the original post here. I have adapted it for this lesson with my class of Mia Maids and Laurels.
I’ll begin the lesson by showing my “covenant” visual aid. These are two empty #10 cans that I’ve covered with paper. The top can symbolizes God’s promise to sustain, sanctify, and exalt us. The bottom can is our commitment to serve God and keep His commandments. They are bound together by a ribbon which represents a covenant: a divine agreement between God and man, an accord whose terms are set by God.
I will then explain that there is a great power inherent to making and keeping covenants. They are essential steps to returning to our Heavenly Father, as well as being the source of great moral and spiritual power; “the power to smile through hardships, to convert tribulation into triumph, to “be anxiously engaged in a good cause, … and bring to pass much righteousness”. The flowers inside the cans represent this power.
To make this bouquet of “flower power”, download and print this file. Each “petal” has a point from Elder Christofferson’s talk or a scripture to discuss. Cut the petal strips, then glue the ends together. Punch or cut a 1″ yellow circle, then punch a hole in it’s center with a mini hole punch. Glue the title and 3 main points to the underside of the circle as shown above. Then glue the remaining petals in between.
Take a white chocolate Lindt truffle (YUM!) and attach to 1/2 length of stem wire with florist tape – keeping it especially snug at the top so the truffle doesn’t droop.
Then slide the wire through the hole in the paper daisy and carefully scooch it just underneath the truffle. It’s a tight fit. I put a foam block in the bottom of the can to hold the flowers, and will have each young woman pick one to use as a reference as we continue the lesson.
You can download my lesson plan here.
You can see more details of how to make a candy daisy bouquet here.
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Thank you for this, I love it!!
WOW! I wished I lived closer to you so I could bring you a loaf of bread, jam and a THANK you note! I just got put into Young Women’s a month ago and I have to teach lesson 17 next Sunday. I have been searching for ideas to kind of “jazz” up the lesson as the manuals are quite old. I’m SO excited to give this lesson and love your “object lesson” with the two cans and ribbon symbolic of covenant and the FLOWERS are perfect! Thanks for all of the wonderful information you so abundantly share with us!! It is very much appreciated! I have pinned several things to Pinterest for future activity ideas for my girls and I’m following you on Pinterest as well. BTW…what an adorable family you have, I can tell you have LOTS of fun together! Have a wonderful week!
Kimmie – I wished you lived closer, too, because I would accept your bread and jam with relish! 🙂 Thanks!
I totally made these today for my beehives! They couldn’t say enough about them! Such a cute idea!! I told them to go home and study more about the scriptures and think about what we learned! They loved them! I actually used pipe cleaners as the flower stem because I didn’t have any wire stuff to make the flower! It turned out really cute too!
thanks for sharing such an awesome idea!
Yay!! Thanks for telling me, Brianne!
Kristin–this idea is both cute and fabulous in how it communicates information! I’m so excited that I stopped by today and got to see it, but what I originally wanted was to write and let you know that the thing I like best about my own blog is your comments. Thanks so much for dropping by and leaving them! You’ve been a big encouragement and taught me a lot.
Susan – you are so welcome! I have to admit, I comment for semi-selfish reasons in that I hope you continue posting your great ideas and nicely designed materials. I appreciate you stopping by my blog very much, too. 🙂
Thank you for adapting this to our YW lesson. I think the girls will be thrilled with these. I love things like this. Maybe the lesson will stick in their heads a little longer.
BTW… I saw the previous idea you posted using candy sticks. You switched to the wire stems. Did one hold up better than the other?
I thought the wire stems look a little prettier, but both hold up well!
Great! Thank you!!!
Such a fun idea! When I clicked to print the petals, I could find the 3 main points, but I couldn’t find the remaining 5 points… Are they on another link that I can’t find, or do I just need follow your lead and type in the remaining “petals”? Thank you 🙂
J – try opening the file with a different browser, then downloading to your desktop before printing. All the petals should be filled with text. Hope it works for you!
Hey Kristin!!
I’ve been going crazy about how to present this lesson–and this, my friend, is PERFECT!!
Just wanted to say THANK YOU!
🙂 Claudia
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Thank you for taking the time to share. You’re amazing!
Hi Kristin, I love this so much. I am the 2nd Counselor in our Stake YW Presidency. I am also the 4th Sunday Teacher for my Ward RS, introducing one of the talk from the previous General Conference. I have been given the talk “Claiming The Blessings of Your Covenants” by Sister Linda Reeves 2nd Counselor in the General RS Presidency. I would love to use some of your ideas from this lesson, actually all of it, do you think this would be good for RS women to open up 2014 of a reminder of their covenants? I have about 25 to 35 women.
Penina, I would love to hear how your lesson went as I am giving a lesson on the same talk the first Sunday in March. Any thoughts or ideas you would be willing to share would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for share you’r ideas with us.