“FHE Object Lesson: Feel the Power,” New Era, August 2017
FHE Object Lesson
Feel the Power!
If life gives you lemons, you can squeeze the juice, grab some coins, and make a battery!
Electricity is a wonderful thing. It’s hard to think of the world without it! During a power outage, it seems like the entire world stops for a while. It’s easy to see why electric power is important, but there’s another kind of power that is even more important—spiritual power.
President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has taught that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have given us ways to “have access to godly power—power sufficient to deal with the burdens, obstacles, and temptations of our day.” What is the source of this power? As President Nelson taught, “Jesus Christ is the source.”1 How can we have access to the Savior’s power? Here’s an object lesson that will help teach your family that power can come in simple and ordinary ways.
Before you begin, wash the coins with soap and water, rinse, and dry them off. Next, cut nine squares out of the paper towel. Make sure each square is slightly larger than the size of your non-copper coins. Now you’re ready for the lesson!
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Share this quote from President Nelson: “We begin by learning about [the Savior]. … The more we know about the Savior’s ministry and mission—the more we understand His doctrine and what He did for us—the more we know that He can provide the power that we need for our lives.”2
Place a copper coin flat on a table. Explain that it represents our efforts to learn about the Savior. Explain that the other coins can represent studying the scriptures, praying with real intent, and seeking the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.3 Ask your family what other things bring the power of Jesus Christ into their lives.
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Dip a paper towel square in lemon juice, and put it on top of the copper coin. Explain that the lemon juice represents the strength we receive from the Savior. Then place a non-copper coin on top of the saturated paper towel square.
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Continue making a pile of coins, alternating between the copper and non-copper coins, separating each one with a lemon-soaked paper towel square. Don’t put a paper towel square on top of the last coin.
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Now dip your thumb and pointer finger in the lemon juice and hold the coin stack between your fingertips. You should feel a small tingle. If you do, then you’ve just made your own battery!
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If you have the LED bulb, place one wire on either end of the coin stack (with the longer wire on top) and watch it glow with your cool new power source!
How Does It Work?
What you made is called a wet cell battery. The different coins work as electrodes (which collected the electric charge), and the lemon juice served as an electrolyte (which passed the charge from coin to coin). When you held your homemade battery between your wet fingers or touched the LED wires to each end, you completed the circuit. That’s what sent the tingle of electrical current through your fingers or powered the bulb!
Feeling Power Every Day
Just like the stack of coins and lemon juice were able to generate power, the simple choices you make every single day can bring the power of the Savior into your life. President Nelson said, “The gospel of Jesus Christ is filled with His power, which is available to every earnestly seeking daughter or son of God.”
The Savior wants us to come unto Him, know Him, and draw His power into our lives. When we do, “both He and we will rejoice.”4