Activity: Learning to Recognize and Follow the Spirit

The Holy Ghost can guide us in every part of our lives (see 2 Nephi 32:5). So how do we learn to use this amazing gift?

Set up a short obstacle course using simple items like tables and chairs. Blindfold one participant and invite them to make their way through the course by listening to instructions from another youth, who represents how the Holy Ghost guides us. Have several other youth represent distracting voices to lead the blindfolded youth off course. Repeat this activity if desired, allowing youth to take turns being the seeker and the voices.

As you do this activity, keep these things in mind:

• The Spirit is usually described as a still, small voice, but the person representing the Spirit’s guidance should speak clearly enough to be heard.
• Things that distract us from listening to the Spirit’s guidance are sometimes easy to recognize, and sometimes they are more subtle. Distractions may even imitate spiritual things.

As you plan this activity, please follow the counsel given in chapter 13 of Handbook 2: Administering the Church (2010) and review “Safety Recommendations for Church Activities.”

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

• Instead of setting up an obstacle course, hide an object in the room and have the voice representing the Holy Ghost’s guidance guide the person to the item while others try to distract the person.
• If you have a large group, consider creating more than one obstacle course. Break into smaller groups so more people can participate.
• If anyone in your group is deaf or hard of hearing, consider using appropriate visual cues and distractions instead of voices.

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 did this activity relate to following the Spirit?
• What are some of the “voices” or distractions in your life that might make it hard to feel and recognize the Spirit?
• What can you do this week to reduce these distractions in your life?
• What can you do when you pray for direction but don’t feel any clear guidance from the Spirit? (Acknowledge that sometimes God wants us to use our agency and good judgment to make our own decisions.)

• “What are the roles of the Holy Ghost?” (Come, Follow Me—For Young Women; Come, Follow Me—For Aaronic Priesthood)
• “How do I receive personal revelation?” (Come, Follow Me—For Young Women; Come, Follow Me—For Aaronic Priesthood)
• Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 93–96
• “How Do I Recognize and Understand the Spirit?” Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service (2018), 95–108