Christmas: How Can I Share my Testimony that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?

All printouts for this lesson found HERE

1. Introduction

• What are some of your family traditions during the Christmas season?
• What is the best gift you have received?
• What is the most memorable gift you have ever given?

2. Liken the Scriptures

• Pass out "The First Christmas" worksheet found in the link above
• Read Luke 2:1-20 and Matthew 2:1-14
• As you read the Christmas story, have the youth look for gifts that were given on that first Christmas and lessons that we can learn from those who participated in that special night.

3. Learn Together

• I had the youth open up a wrapped box. Inside was one figurine of my little nativity set and the quotes/scriptures found in the link above. These quotes/scriptures will help the youth learn more about them. 
• I numbered the boxes and had them open them in the following order (But you can have them pick randomly if you would like):

1. Mary
2. Joseph
3. The Shepherds
4. The Wise Men

• Discuss what gifts each one of these people or groups. What lessons can we learn from them?

4. Making it Personal

• Unwrap the last package, which is baby Jesus.
• Watch this video titled "He is the Gift" 
• https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-00-1460-he-is-the-gift?lang=eng
• Why is Christ the best gift we have ever received?
• "Because of Him" https://www.lds.org/youth/video/because-of-him?lang=eng

• What can we give to him in return?
• Watch the following videos:
• "The Reason Behind Christmas" https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-11-018-the-reason-behind-christmas?lang=eng&category=christmas-inspirational
• "Wise Men Still Seek Him" https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-12-019-wise-men-still-seek-him?lang=eng&category=christmas-inspirational
• How can we share our testimonies that Jesus is the Son of God?
• "Light the World" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJmAV0gTp_Q

5. Handout

• See printables above
• "At this focal point of all human history, a point illuminated by a new star in the heavens revealed for just such a purpose, probably no other mortal watched—none but a poor young carpenter, a beautiful virgin mother, and silent stabled animals who had not the power to utter the sacredness they had seen. Shepherds would soon arrive and, later, wise men would follow from the East. But first and forever there was just a little family, without toys or trees or tinsel. With a baby - that's how Christmas began." - Elder Jeffery R. Holland 

December: Learn from the Scriptures to Prepare for the Second Coming?

All printables for this lesson available HERE

1. Introduction (See sources at the bottom of this post for great insights into the Second Coming that will aide your class discussions.)

• Display a picture of the Savior's birth and a picture of the Second Coming side by side. (You can use your own or the pictures in the link above.)
• Give each class member two pieces of paper. On one have them write a word that describes the first picture. On the other have them write a word that describes the second picture. Then post their descriptions next to the picture.
• This will give you a good feeling for how the youth in your class feel about the Second Coming. You can discuss their thoughts as you feel inspired to.
• Display the fill in the blank. Give the class time to guess the missing words. If needed, look up the scripture to find the words. Discuss this scripture. 
• Show the comic to the class and discuss how we don't know when the Second Coming will happen.

2. Liken the Scriptures

• Display topic. The whole lesson is likening the scriptures!

3. Learn Together (Pictionary Time!)

• Using the printouts found in the link above, play Pictionary to find out what will happen as signs of the Second Coming and how we can prepare for it.
• I had a timer, just in case the class got stuck on one of them. After the phrase was drawn and guessed, we turned to the scripture and read it. You can use the headings in the link above, if you want to display the guessed cards under the appropriate heading.

4. Making it Personal

• Ask if the class has any questions. Discover the answers together.
• As time permits, have the youth use the Topical Guide and Index to learn more about the Second Coming. (Look up the heading "Jesus Christ, Second Coming")
• Bear your testimony

5. Treat 

• Now and Laters with the quote from Elder Dallin H. Oaks, "What if the day of His coming were tomorrow?... what would we do today? What confessions would we make? What practices would we discontinue? What accounts would we settle? What forgivenesses would we extend? What testimonies would we bear? If we would do those things then, why not now?"

Great Sources:

• http://mothers-who-know.blogspot.com/2012/09/preparing-for-second-coming.html
• https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/04/preparation-for-the-second-coming?lang=eng
• https://www.lds.org/manual/true-to-the-faith/second-coming-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng

December: How can I learn to serve more effectively in the Church?

ALL PRINTOUTS FOUND HERE

1. Introduction

• Ask the youth to list any callings they have had in the Church. Write these on the board.
• What were their responsibilities? What did they find difficult or challenging about the calling? How did the Lord help them?
• Share an experience of your own
• Display topic

2. Likening the Scriptures

• Ask the youth to share any stories from the scriptures where someone was given a difficult assignment and received help from the Lord.
• Pass out the scripture worksheets with pictures. (Print these double sided) Give the class time to read and complete worksheet.
• Have the youth teach the other class members about their scripture.

3. Learn Together

• Pass out talks to each class member. I had half of the class read "Serve" by Elder Cook, and the other half read "The Savior's Call to Serve" by President Monson.
• Invite the youth to look for quotations to share about how to serve faithfully in Church callings. I passed out colored pencils for them to highlight.
• Ask class members to share. Why did they find the quote meaningful?
• After all have shared, ask the class how they can apply what they learned in their callings now and in the future.
• (If you don't think that this activity is suitable for your class, you could pick out the quotes and post them around the room. Then the class will have had time to ponder them and you could discuss the quotes that they liked.)
• Watch video "It's Not about You". (I searched all over for a music video or lyric video. This was as close as I could find. Maybe one day I will just have to create my own music video.)

4. Making it Personal

• Using the worksheet included with the talks, have the youth list a calling that they think would be interesting, challenging, or one they would like to learn more about. If they need ideas, they can use the Ward Callings list (It is a little outdated.) Write these on the board.
• Read D&C 107:99
• Where could you find out what the responsibilities are in the calling you selected? 
• Let the class research using the internet. My class usually bring their phones or tablets, so I decided to incorporate electronics. I also brought a couple of devices that could be used if a class member didn't bring device with internet browsing. (I tried to see if you could find Handbook 2 which lists a lot of calling responsibilities at the distribution center, so you wouldn't need electronic devices. But I couldn't find it anywhere except for lds.org.)

5. Treat

• Oreo Magnifying Glass with quote found in printouts