Contributed by:  Amanda Perkins amanda@perkins-properties.com

 We will be doing this skit for our New Beginnings in 2005. My mom is really Grandma Chris and she really did join the church in Vermont and has a great testimony of the Prophet. I also had my best friend in high school and college turn away from the church after her mission, because she said she thought she should have a stronger testimony of Joseph Smith after serving a mission. She said she felt like a puppet when she would talk about him, because she didn't really know that much about him. She thought she should feel as strong about him as she does about Jesus. I have thought about this throughout the years, and I think that we are so worried about people thinking we worship Joseph Smith that we sometimes don't teach and talk to our children and study enough about this amazing man. I read on line that this theme was chosen because it is the 200th anniversary of Joseph's birth, so the Young Women's Presidency will be focusing on the Prophet. Hopefully you will like this little skit that I wrote. Please feel free to make any suggestions or comments. I have a CD of beautiful artwork of the prophet by Swindel, that I thought would be good in a slide show too. I also have pictures of Vermont and the Joseph Smith Memorial. I have one song that I know will be good, but if anyone else has ideas for that night let me know.

“A Great and a Marvelous Work”

By Amanda Perkins

Characters                                                                                            Played by:                   

Grandma Chris

Joy

Lauren

Cheri

Vicky (Joy’s Mom)

Group of school girls

Setting: Outside the Seminary building (Joy and Lauren are going to seminary, on the corner there were a group of kids with signs that had anti-Mormon statements on them—one said, “Stop worshiping Prophet Jo” (Cheri is holding this sign)(the other girls are chanting and saying hurtful remarks to those going to seminary)

Lauren: “What in the world?” Isn’t that Cheri holding a sign…?

Joy: “No, it can’t be. She would never do that to us.” She has asked me a few weird questions lately. I think that their youth group at Spring of Life must be preaching against Mormons, because the questions were typical anti.

Lauren:  Yea, she asked me the same questions. I just laughed because we have been friends since we were 3 and she has come to so many church activities. She has to know what they were saying isn’t true. (They walk up to Cheri)

Joy: Cheri, what are you doing?

Cheri: (quickly hides her sign) Oh, I forgot you guys had seminary now.

Lauren: Cheri, how could you do this to us? You are our friend.

Cheri: Well I thought this would get your attention. I have been trying to ask you guys questions that I needed answered. I am very confused. You guys just brushed off my questions, and laughed.

Joy: Well, I guess we just thought you couldn’t really think we believed those things. You have been to Church stuff with us.

Cheri: Yea, well I have been to my church a lot more, and I would like to think that I can trust my Pastor. He has been saying a lot of things about Joseph Smith, and I kind of believe him. Just look at your grandma, Joy. She does worship Joseph Smith!

Phase out school scene/next scene is Grandma Chris’s room

Joy: Hi Grandma! Can we come in and talk with you for a while?

G. Chris: You are asking me if I want someone to talk to, honey. Come on in here.

Cheri: (quietly, looking around at all the Joseph Smith stuff) Well, we didn’t want to interrupt your worship time.

G. Chris: What’s that dear? You’ll have to speak up.

Joy: Grandma—since you know Joseph Smith…

G. Chris: I’m not that old, dear!

Joy: I know Grandma, but it’s like you did. How come you have so much Joseph Smith stuff?

G. Chris: Well, I do know that Joseph Smith is closer to the Savior Jesus Christ than any other man that walked on earth, and because of Joseph, you and I am have the restored gospel in our lives. (Vicky—Joy’s Mom slides in)

Joy: Oh, hi Mom. Grandma is going to explain why she loves Joseph Smith so much.

Vicky: I heard--that’s why I came in. I never tire of hearing grandma’s testimony of the prophet. Go ahead, Mom.

G. Chris: Did you know that I was also born in Vermont where the prophet was born. There is the Joseph Smith Memorial in Sharon Vermont that holds not only the birth of the Prophet, but also the birth of my testimony. When I was just your age, 16 years old, I made the decision to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints after reading and praying about the Book of Mormon. Have you girls studied and prayed about the Book of Mormon?

(Joy and Lauren nod their heads—Cheri remains quiet)

Good! I know you girls have a testimony of this great book. If you believe the book then you believe in the boy that translated the book. And I say boy, because he was only a couple of years older that you girls when he finally received the plates to translate them.

Lauren: I thought he was only 14…

Vicky: He was 14 when he had the vision of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, but had to wait 4 years for the Lord to get him ready for the great and marvelous work he had been called to perform.

G. Chris: Just like your personal progress is set up to help you girls reach your up most potential, and to become more like our Savior Jesus Christ—Joseph Smith had to develop the same qualities of  having Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works, and Integrity. He definitely needed these qualities to handle all that he faced in his powerful but brief life on earth.

Cheri: Was he killed?

Vicky: Yes, he was shot by a mob when he was in his 30’s, after translating the Book of Mormon, organizing our Church, restored the priesthood, moved the church to 4 different locations across the country because of persecution, giving us additional scripture and revelation, and the heavenly ordinances performed in temples today. He built up the beautiful city of Navoo in Illinois, but did not live to see the temple complete.

Cheri: Oh.

G. Chris: Yes, he lived about as long as the Savior did, and I would reckon to say that although I have out lived their lives put together—The Savior and then Joseph have done and sacrificed the most for mankind.

Vicky: I would definitely say that those four years were used by Heavenly Father to prepare him for what lay ahead.

Lauren: Tell us some stories about the prophet Joseph.

G. Chris: Well, let’s see if I can think of a story where he emulated each of the young women values.

Assign one girl to study and write a 1 minute story about when the Prophet Joseph Smith showed:

Faith:

Divine Nature:

Individual Worth:

Knowledge:

Choice and Accountability:

Good Works:

Integrity:

Cheri: Wow! Now I know why you love the Prophet Joseph Smith. I see now that you don’t worship him, but he is a great hero and someone you definitely want to try and be more like--just like you want to be like Jesus. Joseph Smith was for sure an honest man, so when my pastor says he isn’t; I know that he just doesn’t know Joseph Smith like I have come to know him.

Joy: Thanks Grandma, we are glad we have you to answer our questions!

G. Chris: Well Dears, I am glad that you came to me, but remember what Joseph Smith did when he had a question: he read in James 3:5, “If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God” and then he went in that sacred grove of trees and got on his knees. No one can answer you better than your Heavenly Father. So go and put into practice that great and marvelous work that we are so lucky have because of the prophet Joseph.

2005 Theme Index