YSA activity Trinidad

Our purpose for the YSA activity for May was developing talents.  The committee decided on group dancing and Karaoke.  It was a hit!  Everyone that attended loved it.  We had 62 in attendance.  

 As soon as people began arriving we played ice breakers. Zip Zap Zop and Human Wave!

·       Zip – Zap – Zop / Group of 12/ Leader starts by pointing to someone in the circle and says, “Zip,” that person then points to a different person and says, “Zap,” that person then points to another person and says, “Zop!”  This continues on and on.  They must say, Zip first, and then Zap, then Zop.  If someone says the wrong word, that person must start over with zip.  Say it faster and faster until only two winners are left. 

·       Movement Wave/ Group gather in a circle of 12 or so. Leader begins by making a movement with an optional sound; then the whole group makes that movement together.  The person on the left of the leader makes a movement with a sound, the whole group makes that movement together.  The third person to the left does the same thing.  Then the leader starts over and does the three movements and it goes all around the circle with everyone doing the three movements and sounds in succession.  Then the next three people choose a movement, have the group do it together and then start back with the leader and do all six movements etc.  This process is repeated until all the people in the circle have added a movement.  The group then does the entire routine together.  By the end, the movement wave should fly around the circle.

The sign-in with the missionaries 

Matthew 25:14-29

Principle: The parable of the talents is applicable to the gifts, blessings and talents we receive in this life. Remember the man in the story represents Jesus who called his servants and gave them talents and abilities.  To one he gave five, to another two, and to the last, one talent.  The man with five talents went forward with faith, resourcefulness and energy doubling the five he was given.  Likewise, the man given two talents applied himself with dedication, effort, and belief that he could accomplish that which had been entrusted to him.  He doubled his two also.  The man given one talent focused on the difficulty of the task, the strictness of the master, the fear of possible failure and took no initiative whatsoever.  He buried his one talent, did nothing to develop or enlarge it and let it sit dormant and unused.  When the Lord returned to his vineyard, he saw the effort of the first two men responding, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

To the third servant he said, “Thou wicked and slothful (lazy) servant….take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents, (for I know he will appreciate, develop, nourish and strengthen it with all his might)….for unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.”  The Lord of the vineyard is asking how much do you recognize, appreciate, work to develop, and sacrifice to strengthen the talents and blessings I give you?  If you do, you will retain the ones you have and be blessed with more.  If you do not, the talents you have will dwindle and die.  Let’s all recommit to learn from this parable to take initiative, be resourceful, faithful, optimistic and diligent in developing the talents the Lord has given us, so that we might be blessed with more.

·       Tonight we will be singing and dancing, developing our talents in an overt way.  However, there are a myriad of quiet, personal, less obvious talents that we should recommit to develop as directed by the Lord and demonstrated in the parable of the talents.

We decided to move the tables and chairs outside for a change.  All the YSA's loved eating and liming outside.

After dinner, we moved inside for the group dancing and did the polka led by Cintra.  Then the Karoake led by Christian began.

Waiting for a turn to sing and enjoying the current performer.

The scriptures speak of dancing as follows: Eccl 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; D&C 136:28 If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. 

Melodies and rhythms were sung and played since early biblical times to express joy, praise, and worship (2 Sam. 6:5).  Music can be a form of prayer. The psalms were probably sung to simple melodies and accompanied by instruments.

Col. 3:16 Have you felt to sing the song of redeeming love?,

Alma 5:26 God’s soul delights in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me.

People in the audience dancing to two singers.

A surprise birthday cake and presentation

Elvis Presley appeared and performed two numbers.

The YSA's really enjoyed this activity!  The feedback both from the response (62) and the YSA assessment meeting afterward (on the Sunday following the activity) was very very positive!

Application:  We should leave this fun activity enjoying fellowship, music and dancing with a renewed determination to develop our talents.  This week may we commit to searching deeply within ourselves; pondering and praying about what talents we have each been given.

 D&C 46:11For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. 

The scriptures tell us to seek for spiritual gifts and since “all things are spiritual unto the Lord, all talents and skills we have been blessed with should be diligently sought and prayed for.  Covet earnestly the best gifts, 1 Cor. 12:31 Desire spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 14:1).  Do not squander that which the Lord has trusted you to develop in your life.