If you’ve always wanted to take your family on an LDS church history tour, you’re in luck! We just drove 11 days from Utah to Palmyra and I have the complete itinerary. You don’t have to plan a thing! Check it out.

My son is planning on leaving on a mission in a couple of years so we wanted to take the whole family to Palmyra before he leaves. Even though driving 4,800 miles across the country is a big undertaking, it was totally worth it. We made memories that will last for the rest of our lives. Here’s what we did and saw each day of our 11-day trip.

Day one: Driving day

We decided to rent a motorhome for this trip. We could have flown but then you have to rent a car, stay in hotels and eat out for every meal. It cost us about $3,000 to rent the motorhome, $2,000 for gas, $500 for food and about $800 for attractions. So, about $6,300.

After picking up our motorhome, we drove about 6 1/2 hours to a rest area in Laramie, Wyoming. Since we were trying to drive all the way to New York and back in 11 days, we knew we would be driving a lot every day.

Day two: Winter Quarters and driving

After driving another 7 1/2 hours, we arrived at the Mormon Trail Center near Omaha, Nebraska. This is a small visitor’s center with a self-guided tour and a short video. Then we walked across the street to the Pioneer Cemetery and the Winter Quarters Temple. You can also visit the Kanesville Memorial Historic site but we were tired of driving. So, we ate dinner and went to bed.

Day three: Omaha Zoo

The next day, we woke up and headed to the Omaha Zoo. This zoo is definitely worth a visit. It is one of the biggest zoos in the world. This was a great way to break up the driving and do something fun with the kids. We spent the entire day there and everyone loved it. Then, around 5 p.m., we drove another 5 1/2 hours to Nauvoo and arrived around 10 p.m.

Day four: Nauvoo

We camped at the Nauvoo State Park campground. We didn’t have any reservations and there were plenty of spots. They had electricity hookups and warm showers. My kids were excited to get a shower after three days of driving. We woke up early and spent the day in Nauvoo. You could probably spend three our four days in Nauvoo because they have so much to see but this is what we fit in:

• Trail to Hope
• Mansion House
• Sisters in Zion vignette
• Wagon ride
• Carthage Jail
• Scovil Bakery
• Baptisms at the Nauvoo Temple

Keep in mind that there are certain attractions in Nauvoo that you have to get tickets for like the vignettes and the wagon ride. We LOVED Nauvoo and wished we could have stayed longer.

After baptisms, we hopped in our motorhome and drove six hours to a rest stop in Howe, Indiana.

Day five: Kirtland

Since day five fell on a Sunday, we found a church along the four-hour drive to Kirtland. It was a nice break from the drive. Although, we along forgot to bring our church clothes. But they still let us in, ha ha.

We got to Kirtland around 2 p.m. and everything closes at 7 p.m., but thanks to some tender mercies and some really kind senior missionaries, we were able to fit in tours of the Newel K. Whitney store, Kirtland Temple and the Johnson farm. Each tour was so amazing and testimony-building. This is definitely a special place.

Afterwards, we ate some dinner and then drove 1 1/2 hours to Cedar Point. This required us to backtrack a little bit. Normally, we would have done Cedar Point first and then Kirtland, but we had some friends we wanted to visit. So, keep that in mind.

Day six: Cedar Point Six Flags

All of our kids were SOOOO excited to go to Cedar Point. This amusement park has some of the biggest roller coasters in the world! Make sure you buy your tickets online before you go because it is about half the cost. We spent the entire day there until it closed at 8 p.m. This was the highlight for our kids obviously and I had a lot of fun too. Then we drove a couple hours and slept at a rest stop that night.

Day seven: Palmyra

We woke up and drove a few more hours until we finally arrived at Palmyra. This was my favorite place that we visited. It was so touching and faith-building. We saw:

• Sacred Grove/Joseph Smith home
• Hill Cumorah
• Grandin Print Shop (where the Book of Mormon was printed)
• Pizza at Nima’s (so yummy)
• Ice cream at the Grill and Chill (huge portions)

That night we camped at Four Mile Creek Campground and this place was awesome. You can swim in Lake Ontario and take a warm shower. Highly recommend.

Day eight: Niagra Falls

Niagra Falls is a little less than two hours from Palmyra. Since we had a motorhome, we had to park on Goat Island in Lot 3 and walk about a 1/2 mile to the falls. So, keep that in mind. We road the Maid of the Mist to the base of the falls. We got so wet but it was so epic and now I can check that off my bucket list. You don’t have to purchase tickets in advance. Just show up and buy them at the gate. After Niagra, we drove for the rest of the day and slept at a rest stop.

Day nine: Driving

Since we were on our way home at this point, we were motivated to drive as much as we could to get home as soon as we could. We visited some family in South Dakota for a couple of hours to break up the drive. That helped but it was just a grind. A lot of driving. But having a motorhome helps so much. The kids are so much happier. They can get a snack, go to the bathroom and lay down on the bed.

Day ten: Mount Rushmore

The last thing we saw on our trip was Mount Rushmore. Of course, you can take a different route home that will get you there a little bit faster, but we didn’t want to miss out on seeing this awesome monument. After Mount Rushmore, we drove and drove and drove.

Day eleven: Home!

We were pretty exhausted, but after driving 4,800 miles, we finally made it. This was one of the most memorable family trips that we have ever done. Hopefully our kids felt the spirit and will carry that with them as they develop their own testimonies down the road.

LDS Church History Tour tips and tricks

• Screens: All of our kids played their tablets for hours and hours during the drive. It is the only way to survive the drive
• Family: Road trips like this are way more fun with cousins or friends. If you have someone you can go with, all the better. Our kids had so much fun with their cousins.
• Meals: I bought enough food so we didn’t have to eat out at all. It saved us so much money. The only time we ate out was for pizza and ice cream in Palmyra.
• Stamp booklets: Each visitor’s center has these little pamphlets that the kids can get stamped. It’s a fun souvenir and memory of the trip.
• Traveling booklet: I designed a cute traveling reference booklet that gives a summary of each site that you visit. This helped prepare our kids a little better for what they were about to see. You can purchase and print this booklet on my blog.

I hope this blog post helps you as you prepare for your own family’s LDS church history tour. Let me know how it goes in the comments below. Here’s a link to a video I made about our entire trip:

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If you are planning on going on an LDS Church History tour of the historic sites in the United States, you need this booklet. With maps, a checklist and 11 site summary pages, this is the perfect booklet to get everyone in the family excited about church history on your trip.

Our family is headed on a church history tour from Utah all the way to Palmyra in just a couple of weeks. In preparation, I wanted to put together a booklet that gives a brief summary of each site that we visit. That way, our kids can get a little bit of background before arriving to each site and appreciate it a little bit more. Check it out!

Print and download your reference booklet

This booklet comes as a high-quality downloadable 8.5×11 PDF. There are 14 pages total that contain the following:

• Cover Page
• LDS historic site destination map
• Church history site checklist
• Summary pages for all 11 church history sites

Just click on the link at the end of this blog post to purchase and print your booklet.

Organize your booklet in a binder

The best way to make the most of this traveling booklet is to put the pages in sheet protectors and then put them in a three-ring binder. That way none of the pages will get lost or ripped during the car ride across the country. It also makes it more inviting the read, especially for your little ones. Then you can keep it in a convenient spot in a pocket behind the seat or on the dashboard.

Dive into your booklet

The great thing about this booklet, is that you don’t have to tour across the entire country to enjoy it. Even if you’re just headed to the Mormon Battalion or Carthage Jail, it’s still a great way to learn about these amazing sites that you are visiting.

We are planning on reading each of the summary pages during the drive even though there are a few sites that we won’t be visiting. Each pages gives a small historical background about the each site. Then, you can learn about fun things you can do while visiting the site. And then lastly, there is a section of fun facts about each of these places that you’ll be visiting.

I hope you enjoy this LDS church history tour reference booklet during your trip. I know it’s going to make it an even more memorable one for our family. Let me know how it goes in the comments below.

To purchase and download your booklet, click on the link below:

LDS Church History Tour Booklet

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If you have a son or daughter who is getting their mission call soon, you need this simple Called to Serve LDS missionary banner. It’s perfect for any mission call opening party, farewell or homecoming. Just print, cut, assemble and hang. Check it out!

Missionaries are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who leave their homes for 18 months–2 years to serve others and share the gospel of Jesus Christ worldwide. It’s a big deal in the LDS culture. So this cute LDS missionary banner is a great way to recognize your missionary and celebrate their volunteer service. Check it out!

Print your LDS missionary banner

I designed this cute banner in two different colors: brown and black. This simple and bold design makes it easy to read. The PDF download of this banner includes seven PDF pages for the black banner and seven PDF pages for the brown banner.

To purchase and download your banner, click on the link at the end of this blog post. You can print this banner at home or send it to your local copy store. I recommend printing it on cardstock so it is nice and sturdy.

Cut and assemble your banner

It only took me about 15 minutes to cut and assemble this entire banner. With some scissors cut out each individual letter pennant. Then, punch two holes on the top two corners of each pennant with a hole puncher. Finally, thread some ribbon or string through the holes of each of the pennant so that the letters align in the correct order.

You can also tape the string to the back of each pennant so the letters don’t shift and move around when you’re trying to hang it.

Hang and enjoy your banner

Once your banner is cut and assembled, it’s time to hang it up. I hung mine up on our mantle in front of the fireplace, but you can also hang it up on any wall or railing in a high-traffic area of your home.

I hope you love this LDS missionary banner as much as we do. It’s so exciting so have your son or daughter head out on a mission. This is just a small way to show your support and make this a memorable time in their lives.

Click the link below to purchase and download your banner:

Called to Serve Banner PDF

Let me know how you liked your banner in the comments below and congrats on your new missionary!!

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If you’re a primary teacher, youth leader or even a ministering sister, these LDS scripture nugget wrappers are the perfect gift to motivate anyone to study the scriptures. Just print, wrap and give. Check it out!

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I’ve held a lot of teaching callings in my day. These Hershey’s nugget wrappers are a great way to encourage a love and study of the scriptures. They’re the perfect treat/gift after any lesson. Here’s how to make them.

Gather your scripture nugget supplies

You don’t need very many supplies to make these cute gift bags. You might already have a lot of them at home. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Hershey’s nuggets chocolates (I like to buy a big bag when they go on sale at Costco)
• LDS scripture nugget wrappers printable PDF (see link at end of this post)
• 3×5 resealable cellophane bags
• Stapler
• Scissors
• Tape

Print your scripture nugget wrappers

I designed these cute wrappers small enough that you can wrap them around an individual Hershey’s nugget candy. Each one looks like a tiny Book of Mormon or Bible. They are just adorable. You can mix and match the wrappers with all books of scripture including the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, New Testament, Old Testament, Holy Bible and Pearl of Great Price.

Click the link at the end of this post to print your eight-page PDF with various nugget wrappers and a cute gift tag to go on top.

Assemble your scripture nugget treats

Cut out each individual nugget wrapper that you would like to use. I like to do a variety of different scripture wrappers. But if you’re specifically teaching about the Book of Mormon, you could stick with just one type. Whatever you want.

Then, wrap the label around a Hershey’s nugget chocolate and tape it at the back.

Next, place four wrapped nuggets inside a 3″x5″ resealable cellophane bag. Then cut out a scripture gift tag, fold it in half and staple at the top of the bag.

That’s it! You can make as many as you want. You don’t even have to package them in baggies if you don’t want. Just give individual scripture nuggets to the kids in your primary class, young women or Relief Society. These also pair as awesome ministering gifts.

As promised, below is the link to the PDF printable that you can purchase and buy in order to make these adorable scripture chocolates.

LDS scripture nugget wrappers

Let me know what you think of this fun gift favor idea in the comments below. Thanks for visiting my blog!

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If you are planning girls camp, these LDS girls camp awards are for you. Every girl at camp loves to be remembered and recognized. These fill-in-the-blank printable awards are a great way to end a memorable girls camp. Check it out!

I was on the camp committee this year for my ward and was put in charge of the camp awards. These simple, printable awards are super easy to print and fill out. Our girls really loved getting their awards and it helped create unity and friendship. Here’s how to make them for your next girls camp.

Download and print your LDS girls camp awards

I designed these camp awards with a cute pink forest background and fill-in-the-blank sections for the award name, recipient and date. The printable 8.5×11 PDF includes two awards to a page. When trimmed, the finished size of the award is 5.5″ x 8.5″. I recommend printing these awards on cardstock so they are a bit more sturdy.

You can find the link to purchase, download and print your PDF at the end of this blog post.

Choose awards for each girl at camp

On the last day of camp, we gathered the youth camp leaders (YCLs) and they chose the different awards for each of the girls. We tried to think of the different activities we participated in during camp and how each girl stood out in their own unique way. Here’s a list of camp award ideas that might help:

• Happy camper
• Besties
• Light of Christ
• Animal whisperer
• Most fashionable
• Quiet confidence
• True leader
• Crafty critter
• Beyonce
• Handy helper
• Extra miler
• Compassionate camper
• Funniest
• Easy-going
• Stick-with-it
• Soft spoken
• Peace maker
• Spic and span
• Best book
• Extra miler
• Itchy scratchy
• Smiley face
• Best laugh
• Dare devil
• Story teller
• Best swimmer
• Dancing queen
• Social butterfly
• Ray of sunshine
• Good friend
• Happiness hype girl

Try to choose awards that are positive and won’t be construed as an insult such as “Class Clown” or “Loudest”.

Add a candy lei or cute treat

In addition to handing out these cute LDS girls camp awards, I made a candy lei to go with each award. Then, when we handed out the awards, we placed a fun candy lei around their necks. All of the girls LOVED this. If you don’t have time to make candy leis, a candy bar or little treat works too. Here’s how to make your own candy lei. They are actually super easy.

Handing out LDS girls camp awards ended up being the best way to finish off a very memorable girls camp. Each of the girls felt loved and special. It was awesome! Click the link below to download your girls camp award PDF printable.

LDS Girls Camp Award PDF

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If you’re a Latter-day Saint, then you know what a big deal it is to serve a mission. So, here’s one of those LDS missionary gift ideas that you don’t want to pass up. Show your missionary you care with a treat pocket. Check it out!

Missionaries are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who leave their homes for 18 months–2 years to serve others and share the gospel of Jesus Christ worldwide. My husband and I are assigned to prepare these missionaries in our local congregation. I was trying to think of a gift I could give them as they head out on their missions. That’s how I came up with elder and sister treat pockets. Here’s how you can make one today.

#1: Download and print your treat pocket PDF

I designed this cute missionary gift to that it can be easily downloaded and made right at home. You don’t need a fancy cutting machine or anything. It is an 8.5×11 PDF that contains two pages. The first page includes the instructions for the elder treat pocket and the second page includes instructions for the sister treat pocket.

Click on the link at the end of this post to download your PDF.

#2: Gather your supplies

It only took me about 10 minutes to assemble this adorable treat pocket. First, you’ll want to print this PDF on cardstock so that it won’t be flimsy. Here’s all the supplies you’ll need to make this treat pocket:

• Printed PDF on cardstock (see link an end of this post)
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Tape
• Pen

#3: Print, cut and fold your treat pocket

Once printed, cut along the solid line in the middle of the page. Fold the left and right sections along the dotted lines and glue or tape the two flaps together on the back.

Cut 1-inch solid line and fold the flaps down to form a shirt collar. Cut out the tie and glue it just below the folded collar. Then, cut the badge and glue it next to the tie. Fold the bottom 1/4” and tape it to the back to finish the pocket.

#4: Add a note and special surprise

The last and final step is to add your personal touch to this thoughtful gift. Cut out the rectangle on the printed PDF and write a note to your missionary. Insert your note with anything else you think your missionary would like. Here’s a few ideas:

• Favorite candy bar
• Bookmark
• Picture of your family
• Scripture reference card
• Picture of Jesus
• Missionary Lego figurine
• Gospel Study Stickers
• Look unto Christ silicone bracelet
• Book of Mormon timeline bookmark
• Pack of gum
• I believe in Christ sticker
• Called to Serve necklace or Called to Serve tie clip

I hope out of all the LDS missionary gift ideas that you have found on the internet, that this one helped you out a little bit. Here’s a link to download your missionary treat pocket below:

LDS Missionary Treat Pocket PDF

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Getting baptized is a huge day for any Latter-day Saint and it needs to be celebrated! So, give that special family member, friend or ward member these simple LDS baptism gift tags that will remind them of the covenants they are making on their big day. Check it out!

Baptism day is a big day for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can become a member as early as your eighth birthday. So, this gift tag is the perfect way to tell that eight-year-old how much you love them.

Download and print your LDS baptism gift tags

I designed these gift tags in two convenient sizes: large (4.24×5.5) and small (2.77×3.7). You can print these high-quality PDFs at home or send them to your local copy store. I recommend printing them on cardstock so they are more sturdy. To purchase and print these tags, just click on the link at the end of this blog post.

Cut out your tags

This printable download includes four large tags and nine small tags for a total of two pages. The small tags pair well with the regular-sized Kit Kat candy bars you buy at the grocery store. The large tags go well with the eight-pack Kit Kat snack bars.

You can cut out your tags with scissors but I prefer to use a paper cutter. It leaves a cleaner cut and it’s much faster.

Attach the candy bar to the tag

Finally, tie a ribbon around the Kit Kat candy bar. Then punch a hole in the corner of the tag and tie it to the ribbon. Curl the loose ends of the ribbon with the edge of the scissors and you’re done! You can write

You can write a note to the person on the back of the gift tag if you’d like. These LDS baptism gift tags are perfect for primary presidencies or Sunday school teachers who want to give a small gift to the members of their class or primary who are getting baptized that year.

Download and print your tags

Click on the link below to purchase, download and print your LDS baptism gift tags.

Kit Kat Baptism Gift Tag

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Everyone knows who the Boys Scouts of America are. But have you ever considered whether or not your child should participate? As a Latter-day Saint, here’s my unique perspective on the pros and cons of joining this century-old youth organization. Take a look!

After more than 100 years of participation, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints discontinued its relationship with the Boy Scouts of America in 2020. As a life-long member of the church, scouting was a big part of my family’s life. My dad was a scoutmaster for years. So, it was a bit of an adjustment when the announcement came. The question came to my mind, should I still enroll my own kids in scouting?

For several years after the announcement, my boys no longer participated in scouting. However, one day, my neighbor told me about a local scout troop that her son signed up for. Since I still loved scouting and knew how beneficial it could be, I enrolled my second oldest son. We haven’t looked back since. So, here’s a few things I’ve learned since that time and then you can decide if scouting is right for you. Check it out!

What is scouting?

Scouting America (formerly known as Boys Scouts of America) is an organization for youth ages 11 to 18 focusing on character development, leadership and outdoor exploration. It was established in 1910 and has more than one million youth members.

What are the pros of participating in scouts?

I believe the pros of scouting far outweigh the cons. Here are a few things that I have noticed since two of my boys have been enrolled.

Develop lifelong skills: Scouting helps kids learn how to develop essential skills that they will use for the rest of their life such as outdoor survival skills, first aid, time and money management, leadership and teamwork.

Learn how to serve: In order to obtain the highest recognition in scouting, a scout must complete more than 20 hours of service. This helps these boys look beyond themselves.

Become patriotic and respectful: These youth come to appreciate what it means to be a citizen of the United States of America and show respect for their country. They understand the importance of patriotism and being proud to be an American.

Provides a sense of accomplishment: Twice a year, my boys’ troop holds a Court of Honor to recognize all of the merit badges and rankings they has passed off. I’ve never seen my boys more proud of themselves than when they have accepted their awards for their hard work in front of their peers. It gives them a lot of confidence.

Brings family togetherness: Although scouting is an individual endeavor, as a family we are highly involved. My husband attends most of the campouts and I am constantly helping my boys pass off their rankings and merit badges. We really do get closer as a family thanks to scouting.

What are the cons of participating in scouting

Not any program is perfect and boys scouts is no exception. However, I have found that the cons of scouting are very manageable.

Expensive: Just like participating in a sport or other program, there are fees associated with scouting. With registration fees, scout camps, activities and gear, you’ll probably spend around $700 to $1000 per year.

Time consuming: An active scout troop should be holding one activity per week in addition to monthly camping trips. It is not only time consuming for the scout, it also requires a lot of time from the parents as well.

Tips and tricks to making the most of boy scouts

• Find a good troop: If you want your kids to participate in scouts, finding the right troop is the most important part. My sons are lucky because we have a troop with some amazing leaders who really care about the kids. They are super organized and involved. So, do your research before signing up for just any troop.
• Set realistic goals: The Eagle Scout award is the ultimate goal of every scout, but it takes years to get there. Help you scout set realistic, achievable goals so they don’t get discouraged. Create a timeline so they have something to work towards.
• Actively participate: If you are thinking that you’ll sign your child up for scouting and the leaders will do all of the work, then maybe you shouldn’t do it. Parents need to help A LOT. There is a fine line between doing the work for your child and helping them do it themselves.
• Make it a priority: I see so many kids who are dedicated to their dance team or their basketball team. They make it a priority. The same should be said for scouting. This isn’t a passive program.

I hope these tips will help you as you are researching boy scouts for your own kids. I am super appreciative of all the the scouting program has already done for my kids. It’s a really fantastic program and I think every youth should participate in it.

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It’s time to take a twist this classic TV game show with these fun and easy LDS Family Feud game. Perfect for your next family night, LDS youth activity or Relief Society activity. Everything you need is in one convenient PDF printable. Check it out today!

I loved watching Family Feud when I was younger. That’s why it was so much fun putting together this game. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there are a lot of cultural aspects of my religion that are definitely worth making into survey questions for this game. The questions and responses were funny and entertaining. Check it out!

What is Family Feud?

Family Feud is a game show that began back in 1976. Two families compete to come up with the most popular answers to outrageous questions. Basically, the family with the most points, wins! So, creating a Latter-day Saint version only made sense. Here’s how to play it in your own home.

Download and print your LDS Family Feud game

I designed this game so that is can be completely printed from home. Although there are some Power Point versions of this game, sometimes it’s way easier just to do it the old fashioned way. This download includes:

• Detailed instruction page (8.5×11)
• LDS Family Feud display posters (8.5×11 and 11×17)
• Answer cover strips (8.5×11)
• 25 Survey Questions (all LDS culture related)

Just click on the link at the end of this blog post to purchase, download and print your game.

Set up your game

Hang the LDS Family Feud poster on the wall for everyone to see. Print out the LDS Family Feud question pages (25 total) and the Answer Cover Strips. Cut out the cover strips and tape them over each of the indvidual answers on the posters.

Place a game buzzer or bell on a small table at the front of the room. Line up two sets of five chairs on opposite sides of the room facing each other. Divide the players into teams of five. Write the names of each of the teams on a blackboard or whiteboard at the front of the room to keep score.

Games are played with two teams of up to five people per team. If you have more than 10 players, teams are rotated after each game of five questions. Or games can be played simultaneously in different rooms. Each game takes about 15-20 minutes.

How to play Family Feud (LDS version)

Have the team captain from each team come to the front of the room where the buzzer is on the table.

The host reads the first question (e.g., Name a Book of Mormon prophet) and the first person to hit the buzzer has five seconds to answer what they think is the best answer that is listed number one on question page. Remove the paper from over the item on the list that they answer correctly so they can see what’s already been guessed correctly.

If the person gets #1 on the list, their team has the choice to pass or play the round. When the person does not get #1, the other person in the face-off has five seconds to give an answer to try and get #1. If the second team gets #1, their team has a chance to pass or play the round. If a team chooses to pass on a round, the round is played by the opposing team.

To play a round, go to the next person in line on the team and ask them the same question. They have five seconds to give an answer. Then move on to the next person and repeat until the team either gets the answer or gets three strikes. A team gets a strike if they say an answer that is not on the board. If a team gets three strikes, the opposing team has the opportunity to steal all of the points on the board by guessing one of the remaining answers on the board.

If you want to play a lightning round at the end of the game, you can compile five of the survey questions and ask them separately to two members of the winning team. Give them 20 seconds to answer their questions.

I hope you have as much fun as we did playing this awesome Family Feud game that really tested our knowledge of the LDS culture. Play it with your family, youth groups or Relief Society.

To purchase, download and print your Family Feud game, click on the link below:

LDS Family Feud printable game

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If you’re a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and you have kids, then you are going to LOVE this 21-page General Conference activity packet choc full of fun games and activities. Check it out!

As a members of the LDS church, we gather every October and April to hear our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, members of the quorum of the twelve apostles and other church leaders speak in Salt Lake City. It’s a multi-day conference when members of the church gather for five 2-hour general sessions. The conference talks can get a little boring for the kids though. That’s why this activity packet is just the ticket to keep your kids entertained and listening to the talk at the same time. Check it out!

Print your General Conference activity packet

I designed these printable activity pages so they can easily printed at home. There are 21 PDF 8.5×11 pages that can be easily printed from your home computer or your local copy store. Because printing in color can be expensive, each of these pages are black and white. Plus, it makes it more fun to color each page as well.

You can purchase and download your printable activity packet by clicking on the link at the end of this blog post below.

I have made lots of different general conference printables in the past. But, these general conference activities are unique because there are a variety of new and classic pages of activities that are fun for young and old kids.

Here’s what it includes:

Classic activity pages

• Favorite ties
• Draw your favorite speaker
• Word search
• Conference crossword puzzles
• Notes
• Conference unscramble
• Coloring page
• Mazes
• Bingo conference squares
• Color by number
• Favorite quote page
• Conference cash
• Matching

New and fun activity pages

• Mentions of Jesus
• Guess the next temple
• Faces of the tabernacle choir
• Poke pictures
• Jesus puzzle
• List of speakers
• Apostles & prophets
• Dot pages

Prep your packet

These activity pages are fairly self-explanatory and simple. But there’s a little bit of prep before your kids start going to town:

You’ll need to cut out the pieces to the Jesus puzzle, the matching game and the conference cash. You can also buy some fun markers and/or pens that your kids can color with. I also bought a simple pocket folder to hold all of the pages in. You can also punch holes in the pages and place them in a 3-ring binder. Whatever you want to do!

• Cut out pieces to the Jesus puzzle, matching game and conference cash
• Buy some fun markers and/or colorful pens to color with
• Place all the pages in a simple pocket folder or punch holes in the pages and place pages in a 3-ring binder
• Buy a push pin for the poke pictures

Start playing!

Once your General Conference activity packet is printed and prepped, it’s time for the fun! You can encourage your kids to finish the packet by giving them one Conference Cash dollar for each page they complete. When they get a certain number of dollars, they can cash them in for a prize or a treat. Many of these activity pages can be fun for teenagers and adults too. It’s fun for the whole family.

I hope this general conference packet is loads of fun for you and your family for LDS general conference. To download your digital download PDF activity pages, click on the link below:

Click here to download your General Conference Activity Packet

If you want to get your younger kids and older kids, primary kids, relief society ladies or Sunday School class excited for general conference weekend, you can give them a general conference notebook a few weeks before. Some other fun general conference traditions with your family members as your enjoy the messages of conference can include a conference snack bar, dollar store fun treats, homemade cinnamon rolls, paper crafts and coloring pages. Enjoy!

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The LDS gold plates are something that members and non-members have been fascinated with for years. So, creating a replica of this amazing book of scripture is a great way to visualize the miraculous nature of this ancient artifact. It was easier than I thought. Check it out!

So, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I work with the youth in our congregation. As part of my calling, I was assigned to give a lesson about how the Book of Mormon came about, including the history of the LDS Gold Plates. It was my first time giving a lesson about this priceless historical record. I thought it would be fun to show them what they might have looked like. They loved it!

History of the Gold Plates

The gold plates are literally plates made of gold that the ancient American prophet Mormon abridged as a record of his people. Joseph Smith, son of Lucy Mack Smith and Joseph Smith Sr., translated the writings on the golden plates into what became the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. It is an ancient record that the angel Moroni allowed Joseph to uncover in a secret place on a prominent hill in Manchester, New York called the Hill Cumorah in 1827.

This new revelation is the keystone of our religion and crucial to our church history as members of the Church of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith’s history and the story of the gold plates is important to Latter-day Saints and demonstrates the power of God in our lives. Although originating in upstate New York, our church headquarters now remains in Salt Lake City however Latter Day Saints live all over the world.

Gather your LDS Gold Plates supplies

I was able to find everything I needed to make these gold plates at my local craft store. But you can also purchase everything you need on Amazon as well. Overall, everything cost me less than $30. Depending on what you already have at home, it might not cost you much at all.

• Wooden box 6″ wide and 8″ long
• Gold foil cardstock pages
• Washi tape (gold)
• Bendable aluminum craft wire (gold)
• Gold metallic craft paint or spray paint
• Four 2″x4″ strips of thin wood
• Wood glue
• Hole punch
• Drill

Step #1: Prep the base of the plates

The base of the plates is what will represent the sealed portion of the gold plates. Start by drilling three holes into the left-hand side of the wooden box and also the bottom of the left side. This will be where the metal rings will be placed at the end. Make sure you drill holes big enough to fit the metal wire. Then, paint your wooden box and the thin wooden strips gold so it looks like gold plates. Finally, cut and place in place the wood strips. There should be four wooden strips placed on the two wide sides of the base. I placed a bunch of heavy books on the strips to hold them in place until they dried.

Step #2: Cut the paper and attach the rings

Cut the gold foil cardstock so it is the same size as the wooden base which is 6×8 inches. These will be place on top of the base. The metal plates or loose pages, such as the plates of Nephi, were like thick paper and were either made of pure gold or a combination of various metals. The foil cardstock gives these pages the appearance of gold. Punch three holes in each piece of cardstock so it matches the holes on the base.

Then, cut three pieces of gold craft wire to about 12-15 inches each. Trim them as needed. Insert each wire through each page of cardstock and then through the wooden base. Bend the wire inside the box so they stay in place. I used wire that wasn’t gold, so I just added gold washi tape to my wire and it turned out pretty good.

Step #3: Add final touches and reformed Egyptian

Your LDS gold plates are almost done. As a final touch, I decided to add four strips of gold Washi tape to the wooden pieces on the sides to make it pop. It made it look even more gold, which I kind of liked. Then, last but not least, I glued one page of reformed Egyptian onto the first loose gold page. It is kind of cool to see what reformed Egyptian actually looked like. The fact that Joseph Smith Jr. actually translated these Egyptian characters is a testament to me that he was indeed a prophet of God.

Click on the link below to down a sample small characters of reformed Egyptian to print and glue to your plates. Then you’re done!

Where are the gold plates now?

If you are interested in seeing the actual Gold Plates, unfortunately that is not possible. Joseph Smith was in possession of the plates for 18 months and then returned the sets of plates to the Angel Moroni after he was done translating the Book of Mormon. However, he was permitted to show the plates to three original witnesses and eventually eight witnesses to testify of them. The three witnesses of the plates were Oliver Cowdery, Martin Harris and David Whitmer.

According to Joseph Smith history, the translation of the Book of Mormon only took three months. The translation process couldn’t have been completed without the use of a seer stone which was included with the plates. Other items included with the gold plates was the sword of Laban. Joseph’s wife, Emma Hale and Oliver Cowdery are just two examples of people who assisted Joseph in the translation.

If you would like to learn more about the LDS Church and the Book of Mormon you can click here to get your own free copy. To learn more about the translation process, the publication of the Book of Mormon and the history of the church and the prophet Joseph Smith, check out “From Darkness unto Light” by LDS historian, Michael Hubbard MacKay.

Let me know what you thought

I hope you have as much as I did making these LDS gold plates. They are a great way to give an object lesson about the Book of Mormon. Since the weight of the plates was about 40-60 pounds, I also filled a duffle bag full of books that weighed about 40 pounds. Everyone in the class tried picking it up and they were really surprised at how heavy it was.

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If you have an LDS baptism coming up for your child, grandchild or neighbor, the three bears of baptism is the perfect gift. It’s simple and reminds that special someone of the covenants they are making on their big day. Check it out.

Baptism day is a big day for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can become a member as early as your eighth birthday. So, this gift tag is the perfect way to tell that eight-year-old how much you love them.

Story of the Three Bears of Baptism

This story is actually a talk about baptism that has been circulating in the LDS culture for years. Basically, you talk about thee different bears that represent the promises that you make when you are baptized:

• 1st bear: Bear the name of Jesus Christ
• 2nd bear: Bear one another’s burdens
• 3rd bear: Bear testimony

For complete details on this talk click here.

Print your three bears of baptism gift tag

Whether you’re giving a talk at a baptism or not, this gift tag is perfect gift for that special boy or girl getting baptized. First, you’ll want to download and print your baptism gift tag. The link is at the end of this blog post. I designed this gift tag in three different sizes, so you can pick which one you want the most.

Cut and attach your gift tag

Once I had my gift tags printed, I just got some scissors and cut out the tag that I wanted. You can also cut them with a paper cutter, but scissors were just as easy.

You have several options for bear-themed gifts that you can attach to your tag. Here’s a few ideas:

• Gummy bears
• Giant gummy bear
• Small teddy bear
• Ceramic teddy bear

Whichever gift you choose, just make sure that you attach the gift tag to it. I just used some white ribbon but you can use whatever you want. It turned out so cute!

That’s it! I hope your child, grandchild, niece or nephew will love this Three Bears of Baptism gift. If you would like to purchase and download the gift tag PDF, click on the link below:

Click here to download your Three Bears of Baptism Gift Tag

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If you’re in need of some Relief Society activity ideas, you’re not alone. Here’s a whole slew of fun, engaging ideas that all of the women in your ward or branch will enjoy. Check it out!

The Relief Society is the women’s organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was organized in March 1842. Members of the Relief Society work to “increase their self-reliance, enlarge their talents, expand their knowledge, strengthen families, and reach out to those in need.” This is partly accomplished my holding activities every month. So, here are some ideas to help you plan the next activity in your ward.

Serving, Ministering & Fun

• Treat night (bring fave treat and visit)
• 1,000 Acts of Service Puzzle
• Spring or fall garden party
• LDS Family Feud
• Photo Scavenger Hunt
• Favorite things party ($5 gift to exchange)
• Game Night
• LDS Mad Libs
• January Jam-boree (make jam to give to ministering sisters)
• Foot massage night (have the YW give foot massages to the RS ladies)
• Self Care (lesson, bath salts and chocolate fountain)
• January White Elephant Swap (what to do with that Christmas present you didn’t want or need)
• Winter Picnic (blankets and sandwiches on the gym floor)
• Bread and Jam Social and Workshop
• Hawaiian Luau
• Relief Society Birthday Dinner (Wonder Woman theme)
• Soups for Seniors (divide into groups, deliver freezer meal soups to elderly in ward)
• Progressive Dinner
• Filling Our Lamps Night (three stations – temple work, service, scripture study)
• Birthday Cake in a Bag service project
• Minstering in the 5 love languages (Elders quorum combined, panel of five experts to talk about each love language)
• Happiness in Marriage (panel of three couples to talk about what works in their marriage)
• Scatter Sunshine in a Box Service project (donate sunshine boxes to seniors and widows in the ward)
• Weeding night (break into groups and weed the flowers beds in the ward)
• Getting to “snow” you (speed friendshipping)
• Super Hero cape for local children’s hospital
• Secret Sisters
• Jello Festival (Jello pie-eating contest, Jello mold competition, painting with Jello)
• Relief Society Pen Pals (write letters to a different RS group on the other side of the world)
• Service Auction
• Taste Testing Challenge
• Hygiene Kit Assembly
• Sewing lessons
• How to cut hair
• How to use social media
• How to change a flat tire
• Witch’s night out Halloween Dinner (everyone wear witch hats)
• Cupcake Wars
• New move-in baskets
• In her shoes activity
• Escape Room
• Girls Night Out (invite YW to do pedicures, manicure, braiding, etc)
• Senior Night Tea Party (welcome the incoming graduating seniors, spotlight, tea party food)

Developing talents

• Paint night
• Cross over the line get to know you questions
• Baking night (how to make bread, cinnamon rolls, etc)
• Bring your own craft night
• Swap n’ Shop night (bring an item to swap with someone else)
• Self Protection night (spiritual, physical and internet safety)
• Yoga and smoothies night
• Job Fair (booths around the gym)
• Book Night (PJs, popcorn and discussion)
• House of order night (three 20-min classes on budgeting, organizing and cleaning)
• Self defense
• Skills night (have select sisters teach a skill)
• Missionary memories (members who have served missions talk about the culture, food and experiences where they served)
• Rec Center Night (volleyball, basketball, racquetball, indoor track, gym equipment, rock wall, billiards, ping-pong)
• Swim Party
• Emergency Car Kits
• “Let’s BEE better at ministering” (BEEngo, having a BEE in our bonnets)
• Easter Activity (rock painting, resurrection gardens and Christ art gallery)
• Gardening Night (learn about different gardneing methods)
• Canning Night (learn how to can salsa, peaches or grape juice)
• Couponing and Scone making
• Organizing 101
• Pie Night
• Tie Quilts
• Freezer meals
• Field trip to fire station (learn emergency prep skills from firefighters and learn how to use a fire extinguisher)
• Outdoor survival (how to set up a tent, find clean water, knot tying, etc)
• Community Scavenger Hunt (break into group and find clues as you learn about the history of your community)
• Visit to the local art museum
• Etiquette Night (learn about proper manners during dinner to pass on to your kids, include the Dinnertime Game as an idea

Strengthening testimonies/Spiritual

• A night with the Patriarch (invite the YW as well)
• Vision board journals (notebooks, old magazines, scissors and glue)
• Gratitude journals
• Family History Night (indexing, online resources, etc.)
• General Conference Recap and hot cocoa (bishop could speak)
• Sister Bingo (get-to-know-you game)
• Scripture Escape Room
• Book of Mormon Murder Mystery
• Turn on your Light Dinner (glowing lights at each table with speaker)
• Who are my ancestors? (bring a story about your ancestor)
• Building S’more Memories (guest speaker to talk about their own life, teach how to write own life history, s’mores for dessert)
• Missionary Night (invite the sisters to give tips to sharing the gospel with others)
• Book of Mormon testimony Night (write testimonies in Books of Mormon)
• Light the World Statue Garden (Utah residents only)
• Walk the grounds of the nearby temple and put thank you notes on the cars
• History of Relief Society slide show
• Scripture Balderdash
• Secrets of a Successful FHE
• Teaching our kids and grandkids about pornography
• Book of Mormon cover painting night
• Speakers (Marriage, Health and Fitness, Finance professional, Pornography, Depression, PTSD)
• Virtual tours of church history sites
• Gift for Jesus (prep take-home boxes for under the tree)
• Jesus Activity (learn about the names of Jesus then make a craft with all the names of Jesus on it)
• Religious Outreach Night (learn about the different religions in the world and ideas to reach out to our neighbors, guest speaker possibly)
• Spiritual Preparedness General Conference Prep Night (general conference journals, speaker)
• Consider the Lilies Nature Walk
• Make What Would Jesus Do bracelets
• Scriptures and scones (share your favorite scriptures and make scones)

I hope some of these Relief Society activity ideas will help you as you’re planning for your next activity. Let me know if you have any additional ideas in the comments below.

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Do the youth in your LDS ward have a hard time teaching a Sunday lesson? If so, you’re not alone. That’s why I created this fun activity to show our youth how to teach a great lesson. It’s called the Teaching Burger and you’re going to love these LDS youth teaching tips. Check it out.

As an LDS youth leader for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I’m in charge of teaching the 12-13-year-old girls. It’s their first time in Young Womens and some of them are a little bit nervous about teaching a lesson on Sunday. So, my advisors and I thought it would be fun to have a teaching activity during the week that would help them prepare to teach. We called it the Teaching Burger and it turned out awesome. Here’s how we did it:

Step #1: Download and print your Teaching Burger activity

I designed this entire activity so that it can be downloaded and printed off at home. It includes 10 printable 8.5×11 pages that includes instructions, review questions and a take-home handout. Just click on the link below to download and print your own copy:

Click here to download the Teaching Burger activity

Step #2: Cut out and attach teaching tips

Included in the printable are seven pictures of different sections to a burger. Cut out each burger section and then tape the corresponding teach tip to the back of each section.

Step #3: Hide your burger sections

Depending on where you hold your activity, you’ll want to hide each section of the burger throughout the church, room or home. I tried to hide each section pretty good because I didn’t want them to find each piece right away.

Step #4: Find the burger sections and discuss the tips

On the evening of the activity, you’ll want to explain the purpose of the activity. I explained to the girls that just like you need the perfect toppings to make a really good burger, you also need the right “toppings” to give an inspiring lesson that will help people draw closer to Christ. Then, you’ll want to tell the girls to find their assigned LDS youth teaching tips. So one girl was in charge of finding a hamburger patty, another a tomato, etc.

Once they had all found their sections, we started with tip #1 (the top of the bun) and each girl read their individual teaching tips in numerical order. After they read their tip, they taped it to the chalk board. After all of the tips were finally read, we had completed a delicious, juicy burger. Make sure you take a moment to expound on each tip and add whatever else you think might be helpful for the girls.

Step #6: Give the quiz

Just to make sure that the girls really understood the LDS youth teaching tips that we talked about, I created a really easy multiple choice quiz. We read the questions aloud and whoever participated got some candy. After reading all of the questions, I really felt like the girls were feeling more confident about giving a lesson.

Step #7: Give everyone a take-home handout

Each of our girls went home with a handout that summarized everything that we had talked about that night. I encouraged them to put it in a place where they won’t lose it. Then, when they have to plan their next lesson, they can look at the handout to remind them the elements that they should include in their lesson. Then, as an added bonus, everyone got to have some Krabby Patty gummy burgers for refreshments. That was definitely a hit.

I hope this LDS youth teaching tips activity will help you with the youth in your ward feel more comfortable with teaching on Sundays. I know it helped our girls! if you didn’t see the link to download the activity, here it is one more time:

Click here to download the Teaching Burger activity

Also, here’s a little YouTube video that I made explaining how to do the activity as well. Cheers!

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If you’re the activity day leader in your ward or branch, you’re probably always trying to think of fun activities for this young age group. Well, never fear. Here’s a wealth of ideas for your LD Primary Activity Days. Check it out!

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I loved my calling as activity day leader. These kids (ages 8-11) are so excited about life and trying new things. There are so many ideas and ways to help these kids grow socially, spiritually, physically and intellectually. Here’s just a few ideas to help you out.

Spiritual activity ideas

Intellectual activity ideas

Physical activity ideas

Social activity ideas

I hope this list of fun LDS Primary Activity Days ideas will give you a few ideas for your own group. Let me know if you have any other fun ideas in the comments below.

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Who doesn’t love shopping, especially when it’s free? That’s why the Young Women in your ward will love throwing a clothing swap. Everyone goes home with more than they came and it’s a great way to socialize and serve others. Throw one in your ward in four steps.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we hold weekly activities with the youth in our congregation ages 12-18 years old. The older girls in our congregation decided that they wanted to host a My Sister’s Closet Clothing Swap for all of the girls and leaders in our ward. It’s was a smashing success! Everyone loved it. Here’s how we did it.

Step #1: Gather your donation items

About three to four weeks in advance, we asked all the girls to drop off donations of clothes, shoes, jewelry and room decor items at one of our leader’s homes. Basically, everyone had the opportunity to de-junk.

Step #2: Sort and display

On the evening of the activity, the leaders took all of the donations and sorted them into the following groups:

• Athletic wear
• Shirts
• Pants
• Dresses
• Shoes
• Room Decor
• Jewelry

Then they folded and displayed the donations on round tables in the applicable groups. We used round tables but if you have portable hanging racks for clothes, that would make it easier to look at all the clothes. You can also use a foldable drying rack to display items as well.

Step #3: Decorations

One of our leaders had these adorable homemade signs that made it look like each table was a mini shop that the girls could visit. The frames were made out of PVC pipe that connected to a base made from plaster of paris inside a bucket. The sign part was sewn out of various types of fabric. If you don’t want to make it yourself, you could also buy a retail market stand but it’s just a little bit pricier.

As an added pop to the decorations, we put balloon centerpieces on each table using a balloon stand kit. They are way cheaper than filling a bunch of balloons with helium and you can re-use the kits over and over.

Step #4: Refreshments

We kept it really simple and just did mini pretzels and cheese dip. It was a hit. You could also do a donut bar or an Italian soda bar. Really the sky is the limit. But it always seems like more people come if they know that there will be food there.

Other helpful tips and tricks

• Gather reusable shopping bags for the girls to put their clothes in
• Donate any extra clothing items to good will
• Play fun background music while the girls are shopping
• Encourage the girls to pick out just one outfit until everyone has had the chance to shop
• Sort according to size if possible
• Tell the girls to keep negative comments about the clothes to a minimum so as not to discourage other girls from choosing certain items

What other ideas do you have for combined Young Women activities? Leave your comments below. Let us know how your clothing swap goes! We hope it’s a smashing success.

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If you’re a youth leader in your ward, here’s a super fun activity idea that combines spiritual with fun and it’s super easy! It’s an LDS Scripture Treasure Hunt and all the clues can be found inside your church building. Check it out!

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we hold weekly activities with the youth in our congregation ages 12-18 years old. We like to focus on four different areas: spiritual, social, physical and intellectual. That’s the awesomeness of this activity. It’s a fun way to incorporate all four areas. It’s kind of like a scripture scavenger hunt without the treasure map. And we have everything you need to get started in one printable. Check it out!

Print your free Scripture Treasure Hunt printable

Everything you need to host your own treasure hunt is included in this comprehensive guide printable below. Just click on the link at the end of this blog post and you’re on your way.

This digital download printable includes detailed instructions on the first page and a list of the scriptures, clues and the location of each of the clues for each of the four teams. It also includes a page of clues for each four teams.

Cut and hide the clues

There are five different clue cards for four different teams. All of the clues lead the teams to a different area but everyone should end up in the Relief Society Room at the end. Print the clue sheets for each team and them cut each clue into strips.

Next, use the instruction sheet to figure out where to hide each of the clues. For example, the first clue for Team Blue is Psalms 6:6. This scripture says:

“I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.”

So … Clue #1 for the Blue Team should lead them to the couch in the lobby of the church. That is where they will find the second scripture, Clue #2, which is Leviticus 26:31. The answer to that clue is a garbage can. So they need to look for Clue #3 on, in or under a garbage can somewhere in the church. You get the idea. All of the scriptures are in the Bible or the Book of Mormon.

Divide your youth into groups and get started

Don’t forget to tell your youth to bring their scriptures. They can also use the scriptures on their phones if they forget. Divide your youth equally into four small groups. You can do less groups if your youth group is smaller.

Give each group Clue #1 and tell them to look up the scripture and figure out where the next clue is hidden. Make sure they know that the scripture clues are all inside the church somewhere. You can give all of the leaders the instruction sheet so if the youth can figure out where a certain clue is, they can help them.

Make sure the kids remember that they need to be reverent in the church and don’t run or yell. I also call other leaders in our area to make sure there weren’t any meetings or other functions happening that night because we basically used the entire church.

Also, remind the youth that if they find a clue for a different team, to just leave it there.

Finish the treasure hunt in the Relief Society room

Everyone’s final clue should lead them to the Relief Society room in the church. You don’t want to give away the final location of the treasure hunt, so try not to set up anything in this room that would tip them off. As they start arriving in the room, you can have quiet music playing and some chairs set up to sit down on.

You can basically make whatever prize you want for the end of the treasure hunt and thank them for their hard work. The first team to finish wins! They sell these really cute treasure boxes on Amazon and you can put a treat or prize inside of there for everyone.

You could also print some tiny strips of paper that say, “Treasure the scriptures” and glue them around some Hershey’s Nuggets. And you could also give them a bookmark for their scriptures.

If this LDS scripture treasure hunt doesn’t take very long, you can take some time at the end for everyone to share their favorite scripture story. Our youth group of latter-day saints really had a lot of fun with this activity. We had our class presidency hide the clues and they got really creative. One of the girls said, “I didn’t think this was going to be very much fun but it ended up being better than I thought.” Well, I’ll take it!

I hope this blog post helps you as you are planning your next LDS youth activity. Here is the link to the download that you can purchase and print at home. No physical product will be mailed to your home. Good luck!

Print your LDS Scripture Treasure Hunt

Even if you don’t work with the youth in your ward, this is a great family home evening activity or for activity days that you can do in your LDS church building. Other similar activity ideas you could plan is a photo scavenger hunt or an Easter scavenger hunt. Perfect for older children or young kids.

Want to learn more about our beliefs?

If you are not a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you can learn more by visiting churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist. Here you can learn more about our beliefs, find a church near you and/or request a copy of the Book of Mormon.

Related link: Start a Friendship Basket with your LDS Young Women group today

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If you’ve never done a Friendship Basket before, you are going to love it. This simple activity is a great way to get to know the girls in your LDS Young Women group, create unity and encourage friendship and service. Here’s how to do it.

When I was in Young Womens about 20+ years ago, we did Friendship Baskets every week and I loved it! Now that I am second counselor in our ward, I was excited to start this fun tradition once again. Plus it doesn’t take very much effort either. So let’s get started.

Gather your Friendship Basket supplies

First, you’ll need to choose the first person who is going to start the basket. I was the first person to start the basket in our group. I went to the Dollar Store and bought several items that showed what my hobbies and interests were. Here’s what I bought:

• Chocolate milk (My favorite drink)
• Lindt chocolate bar (My favorite treat)
• Journal (I love writing)
• Pumpkin ( I love Halloween)
• Cereal (My favorite food)
• Magnet and loofah (I bought those at a yard sale because I love yard sales)

Then I purchased a basket that will be re-used every week. Try to buy a small basket because you don’t want your girls to feel like they have to spend a ton of money filling it every week. Here’s some cute basket options that I found online:

• Collapsible fabric basket
• Small gray shelf tote
• Plastic storage basket

Print your basket instructions

I wrote a cute little poem that doubles as instructions for the Friendship Basket. You can download and print a free PDF of the instructions by clicking on the link below.

Just cut out the instructions and glue them to a colored cardstock and place it in the basket. These instructions should remain in the basket each time a new person receives it. That way, the girl’s mom can read the instructions and understand what is required.

Write names to draw for next time

Make a list of names of all the leaders and young women in your class. Cut the names into strips and put them in a bag. When the time came to present and give away my basket, I took just a couple of minutes and showed everyone the items inside. Then, I reached inside my bag of names and pulled out one name. I gave my basket to her and she was so excited. It was then her responsibility to fill the basket and bring it the next time we meet.

Make sure you don’t put that name back in the bag. Eventually, there will be no names left in the bag and then you start all over again.

What other fun get-to-know you games do you play with the girls in your Young Women group? Leave your comments below.

For those who are unfamiliar with members The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are 15 million strong throughout the world. We encourage the youth in our church to strengthen their relationship with God, Jesus Christ and everyone around us. Visit worshipwithus.org to learn more.

Related link: Free Sacrament reverence booklet

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