This entire activity is taken from the book, “Young Women Value Activities” written by: Linda Dastrup (1993). I loved this activity so much and remember doing something similar in my youth, so I really wanted to share it here. I believe this hands-on experience can have a great impact on the youth.
This experience is a spiritual opportunity for your young women to recognize the great love their Heavenly Father and Savior have for them. They will begin the journey in what will represent the pre-existence. This is an experience for your girls to learn overcome obstacles and endure to the end as they follow the whisperings of the spirit. They will come to know the great happiness that can be theirs as they prepare to return to our Heavenly Father and Savior.
PREPARATION: You will need to set up three separate rooms to represent the Pre-Existence, Earth Life, and returning to the presence of our Heavenly Father and Savior. Prepare each room before the activity to create an atmosphere that will help the young women feel the impact and importance of this experience.
PRE-EXISTENCE: Hang stars and clouds from the ceiling. Use a few small lamps for lighting. Have two leaders dress in white to create a heavenly feeling. Play soft music as the young women enter the room. Have them sit close together on the floor. When all the girls are seated, sing ‘A Child’s Prayer’ and begin with a prayer.
A leader dressed in white can then share her feelings about the love we felt for each other in the pre-existence. Have her additionally express the desire our Heavenly Father had for us to have a mortal body and to make good choices on earth so we could return to live with Him again. Have the young women share their feelings about the pre-existence.
EARTH LIFE: Invite the young women to experience a “Test of Faith”. They will leave the pre-existence room and enter the next room representing earthly life. Take them one at a time blindfolded to the obstacle course and place their hand on the “iron rod”. Tell them there will be help along the way if they listen. For large groups, take two or three through the course at the same time while others wait in the pre-existence.
Keep the obstacle course simple. For the iron rod, place a 6′ PVC pipe on quilting frames. Along the “iron rod” place boxes on the floor for stumbling blocks. Ring a soft bell occasionally at the end of the course to lead them to their destination. Have a leader walk by their side through the obstacle course. If they ask for help softly give them directions to help them overcome the obstacles. When they reach the bell, remove their blindfold and have them observe the other young women through the journey.
When all of the young women have reached the bell, have them share how they felt. How did they feel when they let go of the iron rod? As they realized someone was there to help them, how did they feel? When the watched others struggled, how did they feel? Discuss how Heavenly Father and our Savior must feel when they see us stumble and fall. They are there for us, if we ask for their help through prayer. The bell is like the Holy Ghost; as we listen and follow the promptings we will be led back to our Heavenly Father’s Presence. ENTER THE FINAL ROOM TOGETHER.
PRESENCE OF THE LORD: Place pictures of the Savior around the room. Ask the young women to think about their relationship with the Savior. Have them ponder on how they would feel in His presence. You can play the song ‘I can only imagine’ while they take the time to think about it. Share the following story and your feelings about the savior. Ask the young women to share their feelings and testimonies.
STORY TO READ:
A man died and was resurrected and waiting in a room to be interviewed. Another man was ahead of him. The door opened, the man entered, and the door was closed. The man on the outside could hear the conversation on the other side of the door. The interviewer began: “I want you to tell me what you know about Jesus Christ.” Well, He was born of Mary in Bethlehem; he lived thirty-three years, spending the last three organizing his church, choosing his Apostles, and giving the gospel to direct our lives.”
The interviewer stopped him and said: “Yes, yes, that’s all true, but I want you to tell me what you know about Jesus Christ.”
The man, a little perplexed, and again began: “Well, he restored the gospel in its fullness to the earth through Joseph Smith, reorganized his church, gave us temples so we could do work to save our dead. He gave us personal ordinances for our salvation and exaltation.” The interviewer again stopped him and said, “All of what you have said to me is true.” The man was invited to leave the room. After he left, the door opened and the second man entered. As he approached the interviewer, he fell upon his knees and cried, “My Lord, My God.”