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"Light the Fire in our Hearts"
Mid-Week Activity

WHAT DO WE WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN:

We want all of us to gain a stronger testimony of the gospel.

Preparation and Supplies Needed:

  1. Make the handout (link given at bottom of page - follow instructions) and give to each Young Woman on Sunday.
  2. Obtain one sheet of "Dear to my Heart" Scripture Stickers for each person. You can order them from www.debanae.net
  3. Bring pink crayons, color pencils, or high-lighters to mark the scriptures.
  4. Have the young women bring their scriptures.
  5. Hot Chocolate and Marshmellows.
  6. Be prepared with the introduction. You will want to be sure that you can have this activity where you can build a small fire. It may be in a leader's home or outside somewhere.

Special Note for Leaders from Sister Tanner's talk:

"Thank you for being wonderful leaders. You are the ones who are in a position to influence and bless each young woman. And you do it so well. We love hearing of your successes. We know Heavenly Father has called you to succeed with His precious daughters. We pray for you every day with the prayer of Alma: "Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious . . . ; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our [young women], again unto thee" (Alma 31:35). Now let's look to where that power and wisdom that we need comes from."

ACTIVITY:

  • Have everyone dress warm if you are beginning the activity outside and it is winter and cold. This would be a great way to introduce this.

  • Build a fire and have everyone settle around.

  • Begin by singing a favorite song like "I am a Child of God".

  • Opening Prayer

  • You can find some great information in this talk "Let the Fire of the Covenant Burn in your Hearts" by Sister Susan W. Tanner, the General YW President.

  • Study the talk by Sister Tanner and bring out these points for your introduction:
      "Recently President Hinckley has asked us how we can put fire in the hearts of our people. What do you think he meant by putting fire in our hearts? Fire is powerful and strong. In its negative sense, it can cause great destruction. But it is also equally powerful in its good purposes. It provides light, warmth, and sustenance. Through the ages it has literally sustained life. Fire in our hearts is light, warmth, sustenance, spiritual power, and testimony. In Jeremiah it says, "His word was in mine heart as a burning fire" (Jeremiah 20:9). In ancient America, when the Father testified of His beloved Son to the multitude, it "did cause their hearts to burn" (3 Nephi 11:3). I think "fire in our hearts" describes testimony-conversion that comes by keeping covenants and being blessed with the Spirit.

      Brigham Young also used the symbol of fire to describe testimony. He said, "Let the candle of the Lord be lighted up within you" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 320). As I think of the early Saints of this dispensation, I think of their powerful, blazing testimonies that endured through persecution and hardship. Many of these strong people faithfully moved with the Church from Kirtland to Missouri to Nauvoo and then to Utah. In Nauvoo, as they built a temple, persecutions increased. But the Saints were determined not to leave their city before they received ordinances and made covenants in that holy place. Brigham Young charged them, "Let the fire of the covenant which you made in the House of the Lord, burn in your hearts, like a flame unquenchable" (Journal History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sept. 28, 1846, 5). Herein was the power they derived that strengthened them for the long difficulties ahead. Those covenants burned like unquenchable fire in their hearts.

      Do our young women have burning testimonies in their hearts? Do they know what it means to "make and keep sacred covenants"? Do we as leaders teach them the power and strength and blessings derived from covenant keeping? Do testimonies from covenant keeping burn like an unquenchable fire in their hearts and ours?

      I feel an unquenchable fire in my heart for this great and marvelous work. I hope we understand the significance of the Restoration. Joseph Smith tried to teach a handful of priesthood bearers who were very young in the gospel of its significance. They were gathered together in a small log schoolhouse in Kirtland, Ohio, "to bear testimony of this work. . . . When they got through the Prophet said: 'Brethren I have been very much edified and instructed in your testimonies here tonight, but I want to say to you before the Lord, that you know no more concerning the destinies of this Church and kingdom than a babe upon its mother's lap. You don't comprehend it. . . . It is only a little handfull of Priesthood you see here tonight, but this Church will [grow until it will] fill North and South America-it will fill the world' " (Wilford Woodruff, in Conference Report, Apr. 1898, 57). And as it grows to fill the world, our testimonies should grow to fill our hearts, shall work together for your good"

      If your young women understand the Restoration and feel a flaming testimony in their hearts for this work, they will have the strength of the early Saints to face all of the challenges of their lives. There are six points about the Restoration I would like every young woman to know. They are:

      1. Joseph Smith was the Lord's instrument in restoring His Church upon the earth.
      2. His First Vision and subsequent revelations established basic, fundamental truths.
      3. Under inspiration, Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon.
      4. Priesthood authority and keys were returned to the earth.
      5. Temple ordinances and covenants provide eternal blessings for individuals and families.
      6. Each of us can make and keep covenants.

    SCRIPTURE STICKER ACTIVITY:

    • After you have had the introduction and talked a little bit about "Lighting the Fire in your Heart", go on to the next part of the activity. If you are at a leader's home it will be easy to do around a kitchen table. If you have decided to do your activity outside, simply read the scriptures with the youth and give them the references to take home with their packet of stickers. OR go back to the church to finish your activity. Whatever works best for your situation.

    • We are going to mark some scriptures tonight that will help us get started. As you find the scripture reference in your scriptures, highlight it in pink first and then put the sticker along the top or down the margin of the page.

    • Mark these three scriptures, Jeremiah 20:9, 3 Nephi 11:3, Mosiah 5:2,4 and then follow the instructions that came with your stickers at home with the rest of your stickers.

    CONCLUSION:

    • Talk about how Hot Chocolate warms you on the inside on a cold day and liken it to the things you've talked about tonight.

    • Sing "The Spirit of God like a Fire is burning"

    • Closing Prayer

    REFRESHMENTS:

  • Hot chocolate and Marshmellows.

    Invitation and Handout

  • Download Invitation

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