Enhancing the 1st Sunday Discussion

Enhancing the First Sunday Discussion and Other Discussions/Lessons

Subj: Re: RS: First Sunday discussions

Question:

Sisters, Some of the ward presidencies in our Stake are still struggling with the new format for the First Sunday each month. I would like to find out how it is going for others this year, and any ideas you have that have worked well. I know it is meant to be individualized to the needs of each ward, but just some general idea of how things have gone would be great. We are trying to steer our wards away from a strick "lesson" format made up out of the discussion ideas and then testimonies, into more of a discussion between the sisters and the presidency member in charge for that day, that would then lead into a spiritual testimony bearing time. We hope to see an increase in the spirituality of our sisters, and more of a feeling that they are part of the RS organization rather than passive recipients at our Sunday meetings. Thanks ahead of time, Nina in PA

Answers: 1 2

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I am in a new ward and I have noticed that on these weeks the chairs are set up in a circle in the RS room. Just this small room change seems to allow sisters to participate more openly. The teacher just presents a little opening and then we all participate. They also watch the time in order to allow for testimonies. Deanna alta loma CA

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I discovered something that worked very well quite by accident when the regular teacher's baby was sick and she couldn't teach her lesson at the VERY last second. This was a Teachings for Our Time lesson, but it could be adapted to suit most any lesson. This particular one was on covenants. I divided the sisters into groups, gave each group a scripture reference, and told them to find the covenant it mentioned. Then they were to find out what the Lord promises and what we promise. After about ten or fifteen minutes of searching, they had to report. I wrote it all on the chalkboard as they brought out different points.

This could be used with many different topics, and worked out really well because the sisters were prepared by their research time. One sister even commented that she had learned something about the Sacrament she'd never realized in all her years in the Church. I did make sure to appoint "team captains" that I felt comfortable could lead their groups in the right direction, and I think that helped.

I'm sorry I got so long-winded about this, but it was really neat to see the sisters all so involved in a scriptural discussion that they didn't want to stop. Hope this helps :) Vickie

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