Skit and March Activity

Sister Beecher wrote this skit and Sister Beutler put  together the music. They have kindly agreed to allow me to share it with all of you in hopes that somewhere else in the WIM it might be of use.  Thank you! Unfortunately, I cannot open the music that Sister Beutler sent, so if you want it, email her and inquire about how to open it on your computer. melvinandcarol@gmail.com

 If any of you have additional ideas, please email them to me so we can share with others.

Lehi 16^th Ward Roadshow

The Wickedest Man

Entre’ Act:

The Judge in a black cloak, black curly mustache and black eyebrows, slinks across in front of curtains to melodrama type music.  He is holding his cape up to cover part of his face.  Half way across the stage he moves the cape away from his face and laughs wickedly and says:

“I’m looking for the most wicked, terrible, rotten miserable ‘onery man from the Book of Mormon. (wicked laugh).  I need help to do all the evil deeds I have planned.  I need all the help I can get.”

He slinks the rest of the way across the stage and exits.

Music starts and jury people (out in the audience) wearing  black and white stand up waving their letters and move onto the front of the stage.  They all sing song standing in front of the curtain, waving their letters around etc.  (“Hey, I’ve got a bill of sale right here,” from Pete’s Dragon.

“Hey I’ve got a letter right here, it says that they want me. I’ve got a letter that summons me to serve on the jury.  We’ll choose the wickedest man in Book of Mormon history.  Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, I’m glad I didn’t live then, else it might as well have been me.

Hey, I’ve got a letter right here, it says that they want me.  I’ve got a letter that summons me to serve on the jury.  We’ll choose the wickedest man in Book of Mormon history.  Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Oh, I can not wait to see who the guy will be.”

Curtains open.

Two bailiffs come out , one on each side of the stage, saying,

Bailiffs:  “Order in the court, order in the court – cause here comes the judge, here comes the judge.  Take your places cause here comes the judge.

Bailiffs and Jury:  (Jury people move to their seats as they say this and the Jury Foreman is telling everyone where to sit and what to do.  She is a real busy body.) “Order in the court, order in the court – cause here comes the judge, here comes the judge.  Take your places, cause here comes the judge.

The scene is a courtroom.  The jury is seated in the jury box on the left side of the stage.  The podium for the judge is in the center of the stage with a bailiff on either side of him.  The wicked men, Gadianton band, other wicked guys, families and friends are seated on the right.  The wicked men and Gadianton Band are dressed in black and white striped jail bird costumes with their names across the fronts.

Bailiffs: “All arise.”

Everyone stands up.

The judge comes in adjusting his wig and takes his place on the stand and drums his fingers on the front of the podium.

Bailiffs: “Take your places, please.”

Judge: “We are planning to determine who is the wickedest man in the Book of Mormon.  In previous sessions it has been narrowed down to the following:  Please stand as I read your names.  Laman and Lemuel, King Noah, and Amalickiah.  (Friends and neighbors boo as they stand.)  We will first hear the testimony of Laman and Lemuel.”

Bailiffs escort Laman and Lemuel to the front.

Laman:  (bossy) “Come on you dingbat.”

Lemuel:  (whiny) “I’m coming, I’m coming.”

Laman:  “Hey Judge, It’s not my fault I’m bad.”

Lemuel:  “He’s bad.”  (Points to Lemuel.)

Laman:  “You’re bad.”  (Points to Laman.)

Laman and Lemuel: (Shrug shoulders together) “We’re bad.”

They sing: In this life one thing counts, Murmuring in large amounts.  We tried to see just how onery we could be.

We’ll always be the wickedest two-oo.  We’ll always be the wickedest two-oo.  We’ll always be the wickedest two-oo.

Why should we break our backs, stupidly making tracks?   Why should we? We had it all.

We’ll always be the wickedest two-oo.  We’ll always be the wickedest two-oo.  We’ll always be the wickedest two-oo.

Amalickiah, what a schmook, on wickedness he could write a book, only to find how boring it would be.

We’ll always be the wickedest two-oo.  We’ll always be the wickedest two-oo.  We’ll always be the wickedest two-oo.

Take a tip from the King.  His whole life was one big fling.  He says he’s wicked, let me tell you something.

We’ll always be the wickedest two-oo.  We’ll always be the wickedest two-oo.  We’ll always be the wickedest two-oo.

When we see wicked men, knowing it will never end, nothing satisfies us more.

We’ll always be the wickedest two-oo.  We’ll always be the wickedest two-oo.  We’ll always be the wickedest two-oo.

People in the courtroom holler.  “They’re miserable!  They’re rotten!  They’re terrible”, etc.

Friends and neighbors, everyone in Jury sings (Music: “The Stingiest Man” from Scrooge): 

“How could anybody be so wicked, so wicked, so wicked?  How could anybody be so wicked?  He’s the wickedest man in town.”

 Judge hollers:  “Order in the court, order in the court.  Can’t you see we need some order in the court?”  (To the same music, the second time through).

Bailiffs:  Stand up threateningly.  Everyone is quiet. The bailiffs say, “Cool it, Man, Cool it.”

Judge:  “King Noah”

Bailiffs stand and escort King Noah to the front.

King Noah (Takes a drink and burps and throws his plastic wine glass.)  “I used to drink so I’d be happy, but it only made me snappy.  Instead of being priestly, people thought that I was beastly.”

Someone in the court room yells:  “Tell it to the judge.”

Song of King Noah and dancing girls:  (To the music,”If I were a Rich Man” from Fiddler on the roof. (Two girls are sitting beside him feeding him grapes and fanning him until this song.  He gives them jewelry or money every now and then.  They come up with him and he snaps his fingers and more girls come out of the audience.)

“Oh, I am a bad man, Daidle deedle daidle dig guh dig guh deedly daidle dum.  All day long I throw my weight around.  Oh, I am a wicked man.

I don’t keep commandments, Daidle deedle daidle dig guh dig guh deedle daidle dum.  I am such a biddy biddy bad dig guh dig guh deedle daidle man.

I had a big tall castle with rooms by the dozens, all that I could eat or drink. Rings and jewels of priceless stones and gold.  I always wished I had a bubbly personality so all my friends would gather round.  But they just came to see what they could get.  UH!  I used to hide in the closets and down in the basement, for fear someone would take my life.  Drinking, hiccup, until I fell asleep.  I talked my priests into leaving their wives and their children, then they turned their backs on me.  All day long I threw my weight around.  Oh, I am a wicked man.  I don’t keep commandments, Daidle deedle daidle dig guh dig guh deedle daidle dum.

I decreed Abinidi must die, I watched as the flames burned to the sky, I felt low as they rose way up high, Oy, I am a wicked guy.”

Jury and Court room people sing (Tune – “The stingiest man in town” from Scrooge”):  “How could anybody be so wicked, so wicked, so wicked.  How could anybody be so wicked?  He’s the wickedest man in town.”

Judge:  “Order in the court, order in the court, I demand we need some order in the court!  (The wickedest man in Town” second time through.)

Bailiffs stand up threateningly.  Everyone is quiet.  “Hey man, Cool it.”

Judge:  “We will now hear from Amalickiah.”

Bailiffs escort Amalickiah to the front.

Amalickiah:  “Hey Judge, I’m bad.” (he gives a wicked laugh)

Song and dance of Amalickiah:  “Bad”(The Gadianton Band comes and stands behind him on stage and pantomines playing guitars, drums, keyboard etc. to music.  They also do some break dancing with Amalickiah.  They have banner that says, The Gadianton Band.

 “I hated my life – it got to me.  I looked around- what did I see. Na, Na, People with more – much more than me.  I’ll show them all – just watch and see.

It all.  Na.  Na.  It all.  It’d all be – be mine.

I’d destroy the church – liberty.  The leader of our army – he’s history.  Na. Na.   Next the King – His wife devine.  He is dead – she is mine.

Chorus:  So you say, it’s time for judging.  I”ll tell you just what to do.  Now my friends you haven’t heard nothin’.  Just wait till I get through.

Because I’m bad, I’m bad, Oh Judge, I’m bad.  You know I’m bad, I’m bad, you know it, I’m bad.  You know I’m bad, I’m bad, Oh, Jury, I’m bad.  Does the whole world have to answer right now.

The word is out, you wouldn’t believe.  You’d think I’d be happy – but I’ve been deceived.  I hate my life.  It’s got to me.  I look around – What do I see?  People with family, friends they can trust.  Coveting, money, power – It’s a bust.

Bailiffs escort Amalickiah to his seat.

Jury and Court room people sing:  How could anybody be so wicked, so wicked, so wicked?  How could anybody be so wicked.  He’s the wickedest man in town. (repeat)

Judge:  “Members of the jury.   What is your decision?”  Drums his fingers and waits with anticipation.  He rubs his hands together.

Jury Foreman song:  “We’re reviewing the situation.(Music from Oliver, “We’re reviewing the situation”)  We have never seen such wickedness before.  (moan)  We’re reviewing the situation.  We must decide among these mean and rotten four.”  (Turns to the jury and pantomimes discussing the verdict with them.  They pantomime telling him what they think. 

While they are pantomiming the Court room people are singing, “It was him, it was him.  It had to be him.  The worst of all by far was him.” (Music from West Side Story).  At the end they all point to one of the four wicked men.

Jury Foreman paces trying to decide.

Jury and Court room people sing:  “How could anybody be so wicked, so wicked, so wicked?  How could anybody be so wicked?  He’s the wickedest man in town.

Jury Foreman:  “We’re reviewing the situation.  We have never seen such wickedness before.  We’re reviewing the situation.  We must decide between these mean and rotten four.”

Court Room people sing. “It was him.  It was him. It had to be him.  The worst of all by far was him.”  At the end they point again to one of the four wicked men.

Bailiffs:  “Are you ready mam?”

Jury Foreman:  Gets ready to speak.  Everyone is absolutely quiet.

Declares: “We have reached a decision.”  (Pauses and looks around.)  “WICKEDNESS NEVER BRINGS HAPPINESS.”

Wicked men: (Stunned!  They light up.) (In unison) “Ahh!  Wickedness never brings happiness?!  This we never did suppose!  All we ever wanted was to be happy.  Maybe we should change.  Gosh could we?  Is it too late to change?”

Judge and Jury Foreman confer.

Jury Foreman:  “It’s never too late to change.”

Finale:

Wicked guys speak at first then sing:

I’ve got a warm little feeling growing inside.  It feels so good!  What could it be?  I’ve got this warm little feeling growing inside.  Is this what it’s like to be happy??

Oh, let’s shake off the chains of sin that drag us down.  We’ll choose the right. We know we can.  And we’ll be happy again.  (Bailiffs take off Laman and Lemuel’s handcuffs)

Wicked men in unison say:  “We never thought we could again.

Everyone else in unison:  “We never thought you would again.

Wicked men:  “But now we know we can – BE HAPPY!”

Judge:  (Slinks up to the front left of stage and takes his cape from front of face.)  “Curses foiled again.”  His wig falls off everybody acts like they recognize him.  The bailiffs handcuff him and take him across front of stage and off on right.

Everybody sings:

I’ve got a warm little feeling growing inside.  It feels so good – brings joy to me.  I’ve got a warm little feeling growing inside.  Oh!  I always want to be happy.

So let’s shake off the chains of sin, that drag us down.  We’ll choose the right, we know we can.  And we’ll be happy again.

We love this feeling growing inside.  It feels so good, the choice is clear.  We love this feeling growing inside.  We’ll choose the right so we can be happy.

So let’s shake off the chains of sin that drag us down.  We’ll choose the right, we know we can.  And we’ll be happy again!  And we’ll be happy again.

The End.

Family Home Evening following the Play

After the Monson’s visit and instruction regarding having a gospel application to activities a cast party was held last Monday night as our Family Home Evening. We sang an opening song, “I am a Child of God” and talked about how President Kimball changed the word “know” to “do” and determined it was not enough to know, but that we needed to do. After an opening prayer a scripture chase was held using the following scriptures from the play, “The Wickedest Man in the Book of Mormon”:

“Murmuring in large amounts” – 1 Nephi 2:11, 3:31, 16:20; II Nephi 1:26, 5:4

“I talked my priests into leaving their wives and their children.” -  Mosiah 19:11

“I decreed Abinidi must die.” Mosiah 13:1, 17:1

“The leader of our army – he’s history.  Next the King – His wife devine.  He is dead – she is mine.” – Alma 47:21-24, 47:35

“Wickedness never brings happiness.” – Alma 41:10

“It’s never too late to change.” – Mosiah 5:7, Helaman 15:7

There probably are some additional scriptures that would have worked as well. Perhaps there are additional scriptures that could have been gleaned from the play.

Next, Elder Beutler gave a lesson using the Apostle Peter as the example of someone who had done many good things, made some poor choices, and then went on to do good things. The idea of doing and not just knowing was tied into the theme and gospel application, and also it’s never to late to change.

GAMES: “Get Out Of My House, You Little Red Hen!” was played with the gospel application of one must listen to the quiet whisperings of the Holy Ghost to do what is needed to return worthily to Heavenly Father.  Please email bkbeecher@gmail.com to get instructions for the game.  We don’t want to give away the secret. “Cat and Mouse” a game using two ties was played with the gospel application of how each person can have a great influence on how things will work out.  To play this game you need at least 8 people,  and can have up to 20 or so.  One tie is the mouse.  It should be a thicker tie. The ties are passed around the circle. Each person in the circle takes their turn putting the tie around their neck and has to tie a knot and bring the end of the tie over two times.  The cat tie is thinner and each person has to put it around their necktie a knot, just bringing the end over one time.  The cat tie chases the mouse tie around the circle.  If the cat tie catches the mouse tie, then whoever is caught with both ties is out of the game.

The closing song was “Book of Mormon Stories” which tied into the idea of reading the Book of Mormon and using the teachings to help us live the commandments.

FOOD:  We served whole wheat pancakes and Sister D’Oliviera brought a Guyanese treat that was especially popular with the YSA before the FHE actually started. At the end of  FHE the promised brownies and ice cream with hot fudge topping were served.

March YSA activity

 The theme for March was reactivation and unity. At our planning meeting, the YSA reps decided on an activity most likely to entice people to come out and join us.  The place was Las Cuevas beach.

 We started with sign-in to keep track of the YSA attendance by unit and contact information for follow-up. 

 We had a YSA baptism while we were there which was awesome! Crystal is being baptized and is shown here with her family and the missionaries.

 A beautiful, calm day for a sacred ordinance.

 After the baptism, we started with some ice breakers and get-to-know-you activities

Principle: If we are going to be unified, and reach out to our less active sisters and brothers, we have to know them.  This activity is going to help us get to know each other better.

• Stand in a circle, toss a ball to someone, using his/her name, plus one activity, description or interest that defines them that starts with the same letter (or sound) as their name and is no more than two words.  Example: (daring Donna, kind considerate Keith, or gentle James)They in turn toss it to someone else, using the next person's name, interest, activity or description, both of which start with the same letter or sound.
• Keep it going, then more balls are introduced and it starts getting crazy.
• Application: It takes time to know someone. How much time have we invested in knowing other YSA’s who are less active and not here with us?  As we come together today, step out of your comfort zone and get to know someone new.

River Crossing

·       Principle  “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” Eph: 2, 18-19 With love and concern for each of our brothers and sisters, we can cross the challenges of this life and be a source of support and strength for each other.  We will joy in the success of the entire group, not just our individual accomplishments! When working with your group you can't forget about each and every person. Just because you have made it to the finish line someone else may not have.

Motto:  "Start as a team and end as a team."

·       Materials

·       1’ x 1’ squares of cardboard (half as many squares as people in the group)

·       2 long pieces of rope, at least 25 feet

·       Several Blindfolds 

Set Up

Create a river by marking two river banks with the rope. Make the river wide enough across (from one rope to the other) to be a challenge for the group to get from one side to the other ((about 25 ft.). Distribute the cardboard squares – 1 piece for every 2 people.

Directions

·       The object of the activity is to get all members of the group safely across the river. They must go as one big group, not multiple smaller ones.

·       Everyone must be on the river before anyone can get off the river, forcing the entire group to be engaged at once.

·       Participants cannot touch the water (ground) and therefore must use rafts (cardboard squares) to cross.

·       The water is filled with piranhas. Therefore if someone loses their balance and touches a hand in the water it gets eaten(must put behind the back)  Same goes for a foot (must hop)

·       If a person completely comes off the raft (not in contact with any square) they are gone and since this is a team exercise everyone must start over!

·        Depending on how the group is doing, you can also be creative and add challenges as the group crosses. For instance you can say a fish jumped up and tail slapped someone in the eyes so now they cannot see(blindfold them).

·       Tell them the river is acidic and when two people share a raft it tipped and now their legs are fused together(tie ankles together).  (with blindfold strips)

·       Use these tools to help take away the natural leaders or more outspoken participants and it forces the others to step up and take on more substantial roles.

·       No scooting or sliding on the squares. This can be a safety issue and it emphasizes individual work versus teamwork.

·       Rafts must be in contact with a human at all times or they will be swept away with the current.

·       Once the group has started the process, your role is to take cardboard squares that are “swept away by the current” and to watch for safety issues. Use this to your advantage as well. The participants will invariably slip up and leave some rafts here or there with no one contacting them, those you should steal.

·       When the first group members get to the other side immediately start to encourage them to hurry and get off the river. Nearly every time the first few people will rush off the rafts leaving them unattended for you to steal and stranding some of their team-mates.

• Participants must stay in constant contact
• Each raft represents a symbol  ( write on the rafts symbols (with a black magic marker) tied to the gospel that will be places of refuge to help them get through the muddy waters of life and back to Heavenly Father safely) like prayer, scriptures, temple attendance, attending church every Sunday, service, fasting etc.
• The tiles can only go forward. They cannot move backwards
• No one can finish until everyone has left the “bank” of the river
• Choose to add challenges like muting individuals, using only 1 arm, eyes closed/blindfolded, no one can talk, others can be "gators" in the river and try to impede those crossing the river, stand in front of the group with arms outstretched to simulate tree they must go around.
• Give group an object that they need to carry with them to safety and discuss what that might represent
• Create situations for them to draw from that are connected directly to their group

Application: With the unity I see increasing; the Lord will be able to perform what the world will think as miraculous. The Saints can accomplish any purpose of the Lord when fully united in righteousness.  Henry B. Eyring

The Great Egg Drop

Principle: If we are going to be unified, we need to have clarity about our common goal.
This problem solving exercise requires separating into small groups with the task of building an egg package that can sustain an eight foot drop. They may not tape up the egg itself.  It must be free floating in the packaging and must be accessible to prove that it sustained the drop.

 A variety of tools and other materials will be provided to the teams. Gather some cardboard, some scissors, the rolls of duct tape in the drawers, some plastic, some of our knives, some newspaper. All of these must be separated ahead of time into seven individual units the size of a grocery bag.  It is for only one egg so we don’t need a large amount of materials.

·       After the packages have been built, each team must also present a 30-second advertisement for their package, highlighting why it’s unique and how it works.

·       At the conclusion of the presentations, each group will have to drop their egg using their package to see if it really works.

·       Aside from teaching the groups to work together and communicate, it also brings them together with the common goal of both winning the egg drop and successfully creating an egg package.

Application: Every idea can be improved upon. Sir Issac Newton, who discovered the laws of gravity, said: “If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Everyone brought their own lunch. We spent the day at the beach and had granola bars and apples for starving folks on the way home.  It was a great activity and helped each and every person realize the great importance of developing unity and reaching out to their less active brothers and sisters.