Object lessons/spiritual thoughts pt. 1

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Here is a compilation of a handful of object lessons/spiritual thoughts I did on my mission. Obviously there are many, many more and if you have some you'd like to share please post a comment below!↓ Tweak these, change them up, make them your own, let the Holy Spirit guide. I hope you, in whatever stage you are in life, can make use of these spiritual thoughts!

Blind guides
Activity:
2 blindfolds
Blindfold two people disorient them (spin around, take to another room/outside, etc) and have one try to tell the other how to get somewhere or do something. The point is to show them that it's difficult and risky. Do this multiple times or until the point is made. Note: this can be dangerous be sure to intervene if necessary.
Thought:
Discuss what happened, what blind guides are, and why we shouldn't listen to them. Discuss Helaman 13 where Samuel the Lamanite talks about false prophets and doctrines in relation to blind guides. Identify blind guides in the world today. Talk about solutions to ridding oneself of these blind guides. Talk about the Spirit.
Share scripture about the Holy Ghost being our guide, our light.
Challenge:
Eliminate the blind guides in their lives, and/or you can challenge them to listen better to the Spirit this coming week. And of course anything else the Spirit may direct.


Oranges(this one is a kid's favorite!)
Activity:
Oranges, empty glass
Bring enough oranges for each person or child to have one. Lead them outside and ask them to destroy it. Smash it, kick it, throw it, whatever it takes and then ask them to bring back their oranges for all to see. Take whatever is left of the oranges and squeeze remaining juice into the cup.
Thought: 
Ask if they think the juice is still good. Have them try it if they are willing. Talk about how although the oranges are destroyed, beat up, bruised, they still produce sweet juice. Talk about trials and opposition and how we sometimes feel like those oranges,but that what matters is what is on the inside. Will we, through our hard times, turn bitter or remain sweet?
You can use any variety of scriptures or stories. We often used the story of Job or 1 Samuel 16:7
Challenge:
Positivity! Challenge them to pray to be positive throughout the week. For kids, challenge them to be nicer to their siblings and parents (remaining sweet).

Beautiful feet
Activity:
paper, scissors colors, sparkles, stickers, etc
Trace everyone's feet and allow time to decorate the traced feet. Cut out if you want
Thought:
Look around at everyone's finished project. Comment on how beautiful the feet are! Share a scripture or two. Have them write one on the decorated feet!
Mosiah 15:14-18
Isaiah 52:7
Mosiah 12:21
3 Nephi 20:40
D&C 128:19
1 Nephi 13:37
Talk about how the most beautiful feet are those that "publish good tidings" or in other words those that do MISSIONARY WORK! Discuss ways to publish good tidings this week.
Challenge:
Do one of the ideas they discussed! (We often gave Mormon.org cards to them and had them give them out)

Glow Sticks (another kid favorite)
Activity:
glow sticks
Give everyone a glow stick without letting them see the packaging. Ask them what it is (common response: A STRAW! haha nope) Have them crack it. Keep cracking until it is completely glowing!
Thought:
Talk about how in order for the light to shine it needed to be broken or cracked. The more it cracked the more light it gave. Discuss trials and how they help is to let our light shine brighter. Maybe even talk about the Refiner's Fire.
some options to share:
"Adversity" in the Guide to the Scriptures
D&C 122:5-8
Anything in 2 Nephi 2
Challenge:
Challenge them to pray to recognize the good from their trials and to find ways to share their light with others.

Random Objects (this is great one for spur of the moment lessons)
Activity:
random objects
Pull out random things from your bag or from things you see in the room.(chap stick, post-it notes, pens, hand sanitizer, candles, etc) the more random, the better. Ask each person to select one and complete the sentence "This ______ is like _______ in the gospel of Jesus Christ because _______" Ex. This hand sanitizer is like the atonement in the gospel of Jesus Christ because, when applied, it makes you clean and pure.
Thought:
Share the story of Alma and Korihor in Alma 30 share verse 44 and talk about how ALL things testify of Christ.
Challenge:
Challenge them to see Christ in all things this week. Ask them to pray to recognize the hand of the Lord in all things.

Light my fire?
Activity:
tea light candles
Give everyone a candle and light one of them. Have the person with the lit candle light the next person's candle with his/her own. Then that person will light the next and so on until all candles are lit.
Thought:
Ask someone what happened to their light when they lit another's. (if done successfully nothing should have happened). Talk about how sharing the light we have may provide light for another without us losing the light we have. Discuss ways they can share their light.
Challenge:
Do one of the things discussed

True Identity
Activity:
Give each person 30 seconds (or less) to tell the group about themselves.
Thought:
Point out the kinds of things we use to describe ourselves (hometown, family members, age, schooling, hobbies, etc) Ask them how they think the Lord would introduce them. Would He tell everyone you like to play basketball or went to college? Ask them how they would want the Lord to introduce them. Bring up the times when God introduces his Son. Matt 3:17. Discuss the 4 titles presented in (you guessed it) "4 Titles" President Uchtdorf Priesthood 2013. Explore areas of improvement
Challenge:
Ask them to do one of the things discussed

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Trust in the Lord (this one makes an impression)
Activity: 
Cylinder tea bag, matches or lighters
Empty the tea out of the bag and cut both ends so they are nice and clean. Stand the tea bag up so it is a cylinder. Place it on the bravest person's hand and light it on fire from the top. (My companion and I would each take a match and light two sides on the top at the same time to insure the fire moved at the same time down the bag). The bag will burn right down to the hand without burning them and will float into the air. For a visual and more detailed description click here 
Thought:
Tell the story in Mark 4 emphasizing verse 38 when the disciples ask, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" Talk about how when we go through trials in the beginning we are like "okay, this is a little hard" but as the trial progresses and figuratively the fire gets closer to our hand we think "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" But we know the Lord will never give us more than we can handle.
Challenge:
Remember this tea bag during trials knowing the Lord is on our side.


-chelsea