Activity: A Christlike Answer to Unkindness

Empower each individual to confront unkindness and bullying by learning and practicing the Savior’s inspired approach.

Start by brainstorming a list of hurtful things people might say or do in person or online. Then have the youth work together to come up with a strategy for dealing with those kinds of situations. Refer the youth to Matthew 5:38–48 and Matthew 7:12.

Once the youth have come up with their strategy, have them try it out by taking turns giving a response to unkind words or actions in a made-up scenario, like the ones they came up with during the brainstorm. See if every youth can come up with something different to say or do in each scenario by using the strategy. Try to practice enough times for it to become natural and easy to do. Then talk afterward about what seemed to work best and why. Discuss how the strategy the youth practiced can help them when they are confronted by people being unkind.

Please adapt activities as necessary to ensure all individuals are able to participate, belong, and contribute.

• Invite parents, school counselors, Family Services or other mental health and social science professionals, or educators familiar with the topic of bullying to visit with your group to offer strategies or to answer youth’s questions.
• Have the youth write open letters to encourage other youth who are dealing with bullying, and give these letters to teachers, counselors, or administrators at local schools to use wherever needed. If appropriate, share in the letters the strategies learned during this activity. (Leaders should read youths’ letters before passing them along to ensure that letters are appropriate and are not superficial.)

Encourage youth to talk about how what they are learning can help them and others grow closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Discussions can take place before, during, or after the activity and should last just a few minutes. You could ask questions like the following:

• How does reacting with love and kindness to unkind behavior help us be Christlike?
• Who should you tell if you or someone you know is being bullied? Why?
• Even while we’re trying to love others that don’t treat us well, what boundaries do we still need to set for our personal safety and to avoid unhealthy situations and relationships?

• Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Merciful Obtain Mercy,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 70, 75–77
• “Bullying—Stop It” (video), ChurchofJesusChrist.org
• “Bullying,” Resources for Teaching Children, ChurchofJesusChrist.org
• Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Ministry of Reconciliation,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 77–79