Adversity: Lesson Ideas

Dealing With Adversity

Friend February 2020 “Six Ways to Feel Better” When you’re upset, color the face that matches how you feel, or draw a new face. Then color the ideas for feeling better.

Friend April 2019 “Funstuff: Scripture Lifelines” Find the scripture helps on the life preserver that go along with difficulty you may be experiencing.

Friend April 2019 Comfort Cards with scriptures from the Lord

Friend September 2018 “Feelings First-Aid-Kit” Ways to feel better when feeling sad or afraid,

Ensign September 2018“Suicide Prevention” “Help your children create a plan for when they feel sad or upset. An example could be to (1) put words to their feelings by saying, “I am feeling …”; (2) pray to Heavenly Father for help; (3) do something active they enjoy; and (4) if the feelings do not go away, tell an adult about how they feel.”

Friend July 2017 “Family Night Fun” Challenging Changes

Do you ever feel worried when things change? The pioneers faced big changes but still found ways to be happy. You can too!

Focus on what won’t change, like Heavenly Father’s love for you.
You might have some feelings you don’t understand. That’s OK! Talk to a parent or write about your feelings in a journal.
Look for the good things that might come from a big change. For example, if you have to change schools, think about the chance to make new friends.

Also see Journaling as a way to cope with difficulty
Friend June 2016 During adversity you have to keep moving in order to progress forward, like riding a bicycle.

Ensign February 2020 “How Do I Talk to My Kids about Mental Health?” How to talk to children about their distressed emotional thoughts and feelings.

Pray for Help

Ensign August 2019 “Family Study Fun: Pillar Tower of Doom” Life’s obstacles can fill us with hopelessness and impede us from feeling God’s love. Christ can help. Create a tall tower of pillows and sofa cushions (life’s challenges). Sit someone behind the tower and turn off the lights. Shine a flashlight beam (God’s love) at the person behind the tower, with the pillows blocking the light. Invite someone (acting as Christ would) to knock down the pillows to let God’s love shine through.Discussion: Share a time when life was hard, you felt discouraged, and then God’s love reached you when you turned to Him in prayer in the name of Jesus Christ.nbsp;

Finding Help

Friend January 2017

Loneliness

Friend February 2015 “Happy Alone, Happy Together” Ideas on what to do when you want to be alone or when you are lonely.

Sadness & Depression

Friend September 2016

Also see story “A Butterfly for Courtney” Friend September 2016

Anxiety, Stress, & Worry

Friend January 2019 “What’s on Your Mind” Ways to de-stress. Also includes a stress meter.

Friend January 2019 “Friends by Mail”

Worry-Free Sleep

Every night, I read the Friend before sleeping. Whenever I read it, I feel happy and my worries go away. It has helped me when I have worries. Thank you for the Friend!

Jehee C., age 11, Alberta, Canada

Friend May 2017

Friend May 2017 “Worried or Afraid? Here’s Help” Ideas to help with anxiety.

Friend May 2017

Disabilities

Friend March 2019 “Bright Ideas” Remember you are a child of Heavenly Parents and they love you.

Friend March 2019

Finding Peace

Friend August 2016

Friend February 2017

Tender Mercies

Picturing Tender Mercies- Friend November 2015 – Activity and lesson ideas.

Bullying

Friend October 2015

Friend October 2016 “Family Night Fun” Acting out situations where a bully might dare you to do something. Also includes discussion and refreshment ideas.

Grief

Death of Loved One

Friend May 2016 Ideas on how to help family member who is grieving the loss of a loved one

Friend November 2019 “What’s on Your Mind? A child wrote this to the Friend: “Someone I love died, and I miss them a lot. How can I stop hurting so much?” The Friend responds with some comforting advice about feeling grief. Article also includes an activity where scriptures are looked up and matched with the truth they teach.