1.16.2016

New Beginnings 2016

When I was first married, I was serving in the Young Women's program for several years.  I was able to write skits for 3 or 4 New Beginnings. This year finds me back in the YW Program. I suggested to the YW presidency that we have a Rock Climbing theme for our New Beginnings.  This afternoon, I wrote this skit for it. (Too bad I will be out of town when it occurs.) It uses the words and scriptures from the Personal Progress booklet.  It's going to be a grand way to remember the importance of having these eight values in our lives...as teenage girls...as newly wed women, middle aged women, or elderly sisters....

Reaching the Summit
New Beginnings Skit
Lake Orion Ward
1/16/2016
Dawn Mercedes Barrett

Scene: A mountain on the white board.  Brenna with a backpack.  Each person along the path will have a “hello, my name is” sticker with their character name on it…and perhaps a prop.

Narrator:  Set the scene: Brenna is a 12 year old…going on an excursion to get to the top of a high summit.  Will she make it? How will she get to the top?  Who will she meet along her way?  What will happen once she gets there? 

(**After each character says their part, they hand Brenna a flag with a value on it. Brenna adds it to the mountain on the board.)

Brenna:  Hi! I’m off for an adventure now that I am not a little kid any more.  See that mountain over there? I want to get to the top.  (In walks Brenna’s Parents.)

Brenna’s Dad:  (Holding Scriptures) Sweetheart, getting to the top of that mountain is going to take time and patience and faith.  You won’t know exactly what obstacles you might encounter.  In the Book of Mormon, Alma said “Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore, if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.”   Brenna, you are a daughter of Heavenly Father, who loves you.  You must have faith in his eternal plan, which centers on the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Brenna’s Mom:  (wearing an apron)   Remember! You have divine qualities from your Heavenly Parents.  While on this journey, take time to develop these traits and share them with those along the path that you come in contact with. Remember what the apostle Peter taught the saints in the early Church:

“Be partakers of the divine nature. … Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity” (2 Peter 1:4–7).



Holy Ghost 
Delivery girl walking by with a messenger bag:
Special Delivery for Miss Brenna!!
Special Delivery for Miss Brenna!!


Brenna:  I’m Brenna!
Opens the padded envelope, takes out the banner and reads the accompanying letter aloud:
“To Miss Brenna
From the Holy Ghost
As you have been baptized and live righteously, I am here for you, always.  I am here to teach you truths and guide you on your path.
Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God (D&C 18:10).  Brenna, you are of infinite worth with your own very special, divine mission.   I can be your constant companion as you strive to fulfill your mission in life.”


Brenna’s Beehive Teacher: (Carrying a church bag)
“It is so nice to travel with you for a portion of your journey, Brenna!  I enjoy the time we have in class as we seek opportunities for learning and growth.  As you progress toward the summit, you will be able to learn about the gospel and spiritual things. Also, study from the best books to learn about the earth of of men.  Remember what the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith in D&C 88:118:
Seek learning, even by study and also by faith.”

Brenna’s YW President:  (Chunky jewelry)
“Brenna, every day you will have to decide what path to take on your journey.  Will you go left? Will you go right? Will you read your scriptures? Will you waste your time?  Will you be kind? Just what path will you choose?  Remember that you are responsible for the consequences of your choices.  So it is very important to choose good over evil, always.  Some of the best advice I can give you, is what Joshua gave to the Children of Israel: 
Choose you this day whom ye will serve; … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).”  I have faith in you Brenna! Keep pressing forward to the summit!


Brenna’s RS President:  (In a skirt)
Welcome, Brenna!!  (Put her arms around her shoulder.)  We are so glad to see you working hard to progress to the summit of that mountain!  As sisters in Zion, we help others and build the kingdom through righteous acts of service to those around us and those far away.  Remember, Jesus Christ served others when he walked among men on earth.  To the Nephites after his Resurrection he counseled:
“Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven (3 Nephi 12:16).”  We can be the Lord’s hands as we serve and lift one another on our path to the summit of the mountain. Keep up the good work!

Brenna:  Whew…I’m getting tired. I think I’ll sit down for a moment to listen to General Conference. Pantomime’s turning on the tv.
Prophet walks in:   (wears a tie holding a For The Strength Of Youth Pamphet…possibly in a tv box?)  We live in a world where people are confused. If you don’t believe me, just turn on the news.  Now is the time to stand up and have the moral courage to make your actions consistent with your knowledge of right and wrong. You have been blessed with the gospel in your life. Now, as you journey on, stand up for truth and righteousness. Don’t be afraid to speak up.  Remember what Job declared in the Old Testament, even when he was going through so many earthly trials…
“Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me (Job 27:5).”

Brenna’s Bishop:  (In a tie)
You are almost to the summit of the mountain, Brenna.  You have learned through your travels to continually learn about yourself and the world around you.  You have served the Lord as you helped others. You have showed the Lord of your love for Him as you kept the commandments.  You have kept your thoughts and actions clean and pure. You are ready to worthily enter the temple.  
“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies (Proverbs 31:10).”

Hands her the Virtue Banner to add to the mountain. 

Brenna:  I made it! I made it to the top! YES!!
Brenna’s Bishop: Yes Brenna, you made it to the summit!  The Mountain of the Lord. The House of the Lord.  The Temple.  (Adds a picture of the temple to the top of the mountain.)  As you go in and make covenants with the Lord, remember, this is just the half way point of your earthly journey.  Mountain climbers know that the summit is not the end goal…the descent is the actual goal.  At times, it can be trickier than the climb up.    You are half way to your celestial home.    You must use all those values and apply them to your life, each day, as you endure to the end and return to your Heavenly Home with your Heavenly Parents.

Narrator:  Each of us is just like Brenna. We have been taught by parents, teachers, leaders, the Holy Ghost and prophets about the plan of Salvation.  We know the Plan of Salvation and Personal Progress helps us to remember the values that we must have to be able to reach the summit…to enter the House of the Lord to make sacred Covenants.   Just as Brenna’s Bishop has reminded us. That is not the end of our earthly journey. Once we attend the temple, we must return regularly.  We must press forward, feasting on the words of Christ as we lovingly help others to reach that summit of the temple too.   Whether going up the mountain, or coming back down, the values of the Personal Progress program will help us be able to return our Heavenly Home.




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