Year 03/Lesson 17: An Attitude of Happiness

What You'll Need: scriptures, printed Rosebush picture, GAB 68/GAK 302: The Liahona, GAK 516/GAB 132: Harold B. Lee, coloring/activity page of choice and coloring tools.

Scripture: 2 Nephi 2:25 - Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

Opening Song: Count Your Blessings (LDS Hymn #241)

Lesson:
(show the Rosebush picture and tell the following story...)

One day, two kids were walking down the street together. They passed a garden full of plants and bushes. One child pointed to a bush and said, "It's too bad that rosebushes have thorns."  The other child looked at the same bush and said, "It's so wonderful that thorn-bushes have roses!"

- If the two kids were looking at the same bush why do you think they said two different things?

One child was looking at the beauty of the plant and feeling happy. The other looked at the one thing wrong with the plant and felt sad.  The difference in the way we look at the same situation is called ATTITUDE.

ATTITUDE is how we choose to look at things. Having a GOOD attitude means you look for blessings and good things in everything you see. Having a BAD attitude means you see the bad and hard parts no matter what happens.

In the Book of Mormon we read about some brothers who have very different attitudes.

Nephi and his brothers had obtained the brass plates from Laban and their family (and Ishmaels' family) traveled into the wilderness as God had commanded them. In the wilderness they ran out of food and became very hungry.  Laman and Lemuel began to complain.  Another word for complain is MURMUR.  In 1Nephi 16:20 it says,"And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael did begin to murmur exceedingly, because of their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness...yea, and they were all exceedingly sorrowful, even that they did murmur against the Lord."

Nephi was also very hungry. He had a bow and arrow to shoot food, but his bow was broken.  In verses 21 and 22 Nephi says, "Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, having been afflicted with my brethren because of the loss of my bow...it began to be exceedingly difficult, yea, insomuch that we could obtain no food.  And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did speak much unto my brethren, because they had hardened their hearts again, even unto complaining against the Lord their God."

Nephi's older brothers murmured and complained.  

- How can sitting around and complaining get food for their family? (It can't)

- What do you think Nephi did?

In verse 23 we see what Nephi chose to do. It says, "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make out of wood a bow, and out of a straight stick, an arrow; wherefore, I did arm myself with a bow and an arrow, with a sling and with stones...".

So Nephi built a new bow. He got up and worked hard and then asked the Lord where he should go and hunt for food.  The Lord had given Lehi's family the Liahona,  a small ball (like a compass) which would show them the way to go.

(display The Liahona)

In verses 30 through 32 it says "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did go forth up into the top of the mountain, according to the directions which were given upon the ball. And it came to pass that I did slay wild beasts, insomuch that I did obtain food for our families. And it came to pass that I did return to our tents, bearing the beasts which I had slain; and now when they beheld that I had obtained food, how great was their joy! And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the Lord, and did give thanks unto him."

- How did Nephi act differently to a very hard situation than his brothers?
- Which way solved their problem of having no food?
- Why do you think Nephi's family gave thanks to the Lord once their attitudes changed?

Giving thanks and remembering our blessings is an important part of having a good attitude.  When life gets hard and our trials seem to build up, it can help us to make a list of all of the good things in our lives and all of the blessings. This helps us to remember how blessed we are and sometimes makes our problems seem smaller.

(display Harold B. Lee)

A Latter-day Prophet, Harold B. Lee said, “Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you but on what happens inside of you..."

We can be happy in our daily life if we choose to count our blessings and look at things in a happy way.  It doesn't take away all of the trials or sadness in our lives, but it does help us through the hard times.

- How can we be like Nephi when hard things happen in our lives? (we can ask God for help, get to work and give thanks)

Bear your testimony about times in your life when a positive attitude helped you through a hard time.  Share a time when you turned to God, as Nephi did, and found answers to those problems.

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

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

Activity: Choose from the following activities as they best suit your family.

1. FOR YOUNGER KIDS - Rosebush Coloring Page

 2. FOR YOUNGER KIDS - Count (and Draw) Your Blessings

3. FOR OLDER KIDS - The Power of Being Positive – Scripture Hero Study

OTHER RESOURCES TO REINFORCE LESSON
1. RISE ABOVE THE BLUES Mormon Ad Poster (free to download and print)

2. HAPPY SPIRIT POSTER (printable from Momo Prints Etsy shop)

Like this post? Check out these related articles!

• FAMILY HOME EVENING // Saying "Thank You"
• LDS LIST // 15 Thanksgiving Activities for Kids and Teens
  
• FAMILY HOME EVENING // Manners

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