To help the youth recognize how our values influence our choices.
4 Visuals (Color and Black & White)
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SOME DETAILS BELOW
TO MAKE: Print and cut out the Jacob and Esau thumb puppets for each youth. Tape the tab ends to fit their finger.
ACTIVITY: Jacob and Esau thumb puppets
Using the puppets, talk about Jacob, who obeyed the commandments, making thumbs-up choices, and Esau, who sold his birthright for a mess of pottage, making thumbs-down choices (Genesis 25:30–34).
To Play Game: Jacob chose the right, so place a Jacob (thumbs-up) puppet on the right hand and an Esau (thumbs-down) puppet on the left hand of each youth. Read the following actions as children vote thumbs-up for right actions and thumbs-down for wrong choices.
Thumbs Up & Thumbs Down CHOICES: Going to a movie on the Sabbath ➘ Saying a prayer at mealtime ➚ Cheating on a test ➘ Reading the scriptures each day ➚ Being a friend to someone who doesn’t have friends ➚ Complaining when it’s time to help with dinner ➘ Cleaning up after yourself ➚ Doing your chores cheerfully ➚ Smoking ➘ Listening reverently to your teacher ➚ Listening to your little brother or sister ➚ Working hard to get your homework done each day ➚ Going to a friend’s house after school without permission ➘ Forgetting to call your parents when you get to your friend’s house ➘ Making a get-well card for a sick neighbor ➚ Smiling ➚ Sweeping the garage without being asked ➚ Spending money foolishly ➘ Watching a bad movie ➘ Listening to uplifting music ➚ Saying please and thank you ➚ Staying up too late ➘ Eating junk food often ➘ Repenting ➚
The Choices I Make show Me What Is Important to Me and God
Joshua 24:15
“Choose you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
DISCUSSION POINTS (Choices, Scriptures, Jesus Christ)
• Esau and Jacob were twin sons of Isaac and Rebekah. Esau was the firstborn and had the birthright.
• A birthright is usually given to the eldest son in a family. It meant that when the father died the birthright son would inherit most of his father’s possessions and become the leader or patriarch of the family.
• One day, Esau was very hungry. Jacob was making food and Esau asked him for some. Jacob asked Esau to sell him his birthright for a bowl of soup and bread. Esau did not care about his birthright, so he sold it for food (Genesis 25:30-34).
Would You Sell Your Birthright (the right to be recognized as the firstborn)?
See more discussion ideas and scriptures
FOR MORE ACTIVITY DETAILS GO HERE:
Also see the BRIGHT IDEAS lesson planner with this activity (shown).
