Year 02/Lesson 26: Our Choices Have Consequences

What You'll Need: scriptures, printed Choices and Consequences poster, a few small stones, paper crown, dice, small markers for game, coloring tools.

Scripture: D&C 130:20–21 - There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

Opening Song: Do What is Right (LDS Hymn #237)

Lesson:

Ask children the following questions:

• What would happen if you chose to stick a pin in a balloon? (it would pop)
• What would happen if you were nice to someone others were mean to? (you could make a new friend and feel good inside)
• What would happen if you chose to stay up late and not get enough sleep? (you would be very cranky and tired the next day. You might not have enough energy to play.)

The things that happen after we make choices are called CONSEQUENCES. (have the children repeat the word once or twice)

Making a choice is like picking up a stick. When you pick up one end of a stick, the other end always comes with it. When you make a choice, a consequence always comes with it.  Some consequences come quickly after you make a choice. Sometimes you may not recognize a consequence until long after you make the choice. But eventually there is always a consequence.


(show choices printed poster)

All choices have consequences...both good and bad. Good choices lead to good consequences and bad choice lead to bad consequences.  Sometimes it's easy to see what happens after we make a good or wrong choice, but other times it's harder to see.  Sometimes it feels like those making bad choices are "winning" or happy.  But, the most important thing to remember is that the good and bad consequences that are most important are the ones in our hearts. 

When we make bad choices we have a hard time feeling close to Heavenly Father, we feel guilty or sad.  When we make good choices our hearts feel happy and we can have the Spirit with us.  Making good choices does not mean you will always win or get everything you want, but it does always mean we will feel good inside and Heavenly Father will be proud of you.

The scriptures and our prophets teach us the consequences of our choices because Heavenly Father wants us to make good choices. I want to tell you a story about Jesus and a time when he was faced with two very hard choices.

After Jesus was baptized, he wanted to be alone to fast and pray so he could feel closer to Heavenly Father. He fasted for forty days and forty nights. That means that he didn’t eat anything for forty days.
• How do you feel when you have not eaten anything for a long time?
• How do you think Jesus felt after fasting for forty days?

Satan thought this would be a good time to tempt Jesus because he would be very hungry and weak from not eating. Satan wanted to tempt Jesus to use his power in the wrong way.

(Bring out the stones and the paper crown.  Ask the children to listen carefully to see what these things have to do with the temptations Satan offered Jesus).

Hold up the stones. Satan first tried to get the Savior to turn the stones into bread. Jesus had so much power he could have turned the stones into bread and he was really really hungry.  But Jesus knew that it was not right to use his power to do this even though he was hungry. Instead he told Satan that food is not as important as doing what is right.
(Hold up the crown)

Satan tried another temptation. Satan said Jesus could have all the rich and powerful kingdoms of the world if he would fall down and worship Satan.  Jesus knew that he should worship only Heavenly Father. He commanded Satan to leave.

We read in Matthew 4:10 what Jesus said to Satan: “Get thee hence, Satan.” That means Jesus told Satan to go away.  Jesus always chose the right because he loved the right and had promised to obey all of Heavenly Father’s commandments.

We are in charge of our own choices. No one can make us do wrong things, because we are free to choose between right and wrong.  Make sure you always choose the right and never do anything you know is wrong because someone else told you to.  Making good choices will make you happy.

Bear your testimony about the choices we make each day and how they affect your spirit.  Share times in your life when you made the right choice and then share the positive consequences which followed. 

(For tips on sharing your testimony please click here.)

Practice Song: If you are teaching your family the JUNE Song of the Month, go over the words and music with your family.

Activity: Choose the Right Board Game

- Print the game onto a sheet of card stock.
- Have children color the game.
- Use buttons, pennies or marshmallows as game pieces and a dice to play the game.

(CTR stands for Chose the Right and WC stands for Wrong Choice)

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