Activity: Building Spiritual Habits

Building spiritual habits of prayer, scripture study, Sabbath observance, and fasting forms a strong foundation for life.

Discuss what it means to build a strong foundation of faith in Jesus Christ. Consider reading Helaman 5:12 or Luke 6:47–49 together and discussing the following questions:

• How can we make sure our testimonies are built on a strong foundation of faith in Jesus Christ?
• How can that foundation help us in our everyday lives?

Use one or more of the following experiments to show the importance of a strong foundation.

• Have two or more youth hold a large sheet of paper or piece of thin fabric above the ground. Invite another youth to place heavy items, such as books or rocks, on top of the paper or fabric. The heavy items represent life’s stresses and responsibilities. See how long it takes before the paper or fabric breaks. Then repeat the activity with youth holding a board or other solid material above the ground.
• Build a human pyramid. See how big you can make it with only a few people on the bottom compared to more people.
• Have youth compete in teams to see who can build the strongest model of a structure with basic materials, such as paper, toothpicks, playing cards, popsicle sticks, and so on.

Compare these foundations to the strength you can find in developing good habits. Consider the following:

• Why do good habits seem harder to develop than bad habits? What are the similarities in how we develop good and bad habits?
• How have you developed daily spiritual habits, and how have these habits helped you?
• How can asking for help from friends and family strengthen your good habits?

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

• Build a stack of papers or a bundle of sticks to show how small, regular habits build spiritual strength.
  
  • One sheet of paper or one stick represents one prayer, one day of scripture study, and so on. By itself, the paper or stick is easily torn or broken. As you keep adding more to represent repeated daily habits, the stack of papers or bundle of sticks becomes stronger.
  • Challenge the group to choose one or more spiritual habits they want to work on in the coming week, such as reading the Book of Mormon or praying daily. Keep in touch with each other during the week, either through a text messaging group or the Circles feature of the Gospel Living app. Do this for one week and when you meet again, share what you felt and learned during the week.

• Find a game or activity that requires each group member to learn something new for the first time, such as a rhythm game or dance. Make it fun, and have the instructor walk through the steps a few times. Then divide into smaller teams and ask them to help each other learn it and practice it. After 15 minutes, let the teams demonstrate what they accomplished. Discuss how learning something new takes repetition, practice, and concentration. Discuss how this pattern relates to creating daily spiritual habits.

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 do the spiritual habits of prayer, scripture study, regular fasting, Sabbath observance, and repenting create a foundation for our lives?
• How can these habits help us cope with everyday life? with larger challenges or trials?
• What will you do tonight or tomorrow to strengthen your spiritual habits?

• “How can I make my prayers more meaningful?” (Come, Follow Me—For Young Women; Come, Follow Me—For Aaronic Priesthood)
• “Why is it important to study the scriptures?” (Come, Follow Me—Young Women; Come, Follow Me—Aaronic Priesthood)
• “Why do we fast?” (Come, Follow Me—For Young Women; Come, Follow Me—For Aaronic Priesthood)
• “Why are we commanded to keep the Sabbath day holy?” (Come, Follow Me—For Young Women; Come, Follow Me—For Aaronic Priesthood)