The first section explains the activity. The prop list is for preparation in getting props and directions on where to hide them. The "survival guide" is what you include in the parachutes--it has the clues for each item. You'll want to mix up the clues and print 5 or 6 versions of the clues so your various groups are not following each other around the building! The last part is all the the quotes that are attached to your props to be hidden and found by the youth. We did this as a stake activity, but some of you wards with 50+ kids could easily make it work as a ward activity. Have fun!

Youth are invited to attend a dinner and party at a tropical paradise and to dress appropriately. When they arrive, they gather in one area where they are issued boarding passes and sent to get on the "plane" (in the overflow area). Stewards start the in-flight movie and serve refreshments.

A group of hijackers appears (the stake presidency or Bishopric with Super Soakers!) and explain that they are taking over the plane but don't want to be bothered with passengers, so they will be giving each one a parachute and pushing them out of the plane. Small groups of 10 or so (less if this is a ward activity) are escorted out at a time until the plane is empty.

Each group of 10 told to grab a partner and each partnership is given a parachute. (we used brown grocery bags folded up in half and attached yarn shoulder straps on both sides of the bag so they could be worn by putting both arms through like a backpack). They are told they are being dropped in a desert and have a survival guide in their parachute packs and if they follow its instructions, they will be able to return safely to civilization.

Each pair then goes off to follow clues to various survival items. Everyone's list of clues is in a different order (we made 5 staggered copies of clues) so they must work independently as a team. As each cache of items is found, they are to take one and read the label on it before putting it into their bag.

Note: you may need to put some "do not enter" signs on the cultural hall and other areas of the building. Also, because of cost when we did this for a stake activity we only had one item per pair. You may wish to provide an item for each youth.  Ward youth leaders are stationed throughout the building to offer assistance and answer questions. They are not to volunteer any information unless their offer of help is accepted or asked for. They can only give hints, not interpret the clues.

When each pair has found all eleven items, they are to go to the Relief Society room where they are congratulated on their survival. They sit and listen to reverent music and quietly read copies of the New Era as they wait for everyone to arrive. (This could easily be changed to any activity you want to do while the kids wait. I do remember very few youth read the magazines-most just chatted and the first few had to wait quite a while!)  When the group is back together, the activity is discussed as follows: When you are stranded in the desert like just happened, or in any situation, it is important to know how to survive. Having a survival pack with things such as water, granola bars, a whistle, a blanket, matches, candles, aspirin and a few extras like milk duds or a candy bar can make the difference between life and death. Just as we need certain things for physical survival in this life, we also need things for our spiritual survival. Each survival item you found had a quote on it that explained the spiritual counterpart for survival in this life. (Service, attendance at church, being a good example, being free from sin, showing love to others, reading the scriptures, nourishing your testimony, exercising faith, responsibility, etc.) Explain that in our exercise help was available to them from their adult leaders. Some accepted that help while others passed it by. Until you can return home to our Heavenly Father, you are not left spiritually alone, either. Those same leaders are there to assist, but you must ask for help or listen when it is offered.

A speaker can explain the activity and then go on to talk more about the 11 things presented for spiritual survival during this life and how they can help each youth keep their covenants and reach exaltation. ("We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values we will be prepared to make and keep sacred covenants, receive the ordinances of the temple, and enjoy the blessings of exaltation.) I think the topic our speaker used was "Surviving Spiritually in Today's World."

At the end of the talk, the closing prayer and blessing on the food is given and the youth are taken into the cultural hall for their Tropical Paradise Dinner, as originally promised!

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This is your SURVIVAL GUIDE  You can and will survive if you and your partner work together to find all eleven survival items using the clues given below. Please look for them IN THE ORDER GIVEN AND READ THE LABELS TOGETHER BEFORE GOING ON TO THE NEXT ONE. Do not talk to any other pairs of youth during your search.

1. Don't trash your chances to participate and make a difference in life.
2. Many great testimonies of faith are found in books.
3. One of the primary reasons we have meetings is to organize our efforts and receive strength as a group.
4. This ordinance room has a new kind of water.
5. Scout around for this piece of cloth, which waves in the wind and represents many who have served our country.
6. The father of the ward says to call for help when life gets tough.
7. Small children receive love and warmth here on Sundays.
8. In the end, if you possess a testimony you have won the prize. Look behind door #1, #2, or #3.
9. The responsibility for our membership records lies in this man's office.
10. This room feeds our bodies; the scriptures feed our souls.
11. When the spotlight shines on you, make sure you're at your best.
12. Now that your long trek is over, your rescuers are waiting to offer you relief in-where else?-the Relief Society Room!

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BE A LIGHT AND SHINE AS AN EXAMPLE!

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, "Give me alight that I may tread safely into the unknown." And the man replied, "Go forth in the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God which shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way."  "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven." (Matthew 5:16)

BE PURE AND FREE FROM SIN!

When you are clean and morally pure, you fear no man - you make right choices. Understanding this principle will help you decide to be pure, to have integrity, to have courage, to have a sense of self-worth-all desirable things; far more desirable, I might add, than the attractively packaged wares Satan sells you with unknown drives and passion, unfelt responses in his or her soul. The Lord has a reward so great and so splendid, far above what Satan can offer.  --Vaughn J. Featherstone

"And I give unto you, who are the first laborers in this last kingdom, a commandment that you assemble yourselves and prepare yourselves and sanctify yourselves; yea, purify your hearts and cleanse your hands and your feet before me, that I may make you clean." (D&C 88:74)

ALWAYS BE WARM AND FRIENDLY, AND SHOW LOVE!

There are no strangers, just friends I have never met. I've never met a person I didn't like. --Will Rogers

In this world of hurried acquaintances and passing nods, find yourself a friend, someone whose heart beats in rhythm with yours. You'll find in such a companionship not only your greatest joy, but your greatest growth. --Paul H. Dunn

"This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you." (John 15:12)

CONSTANTLY NOURISH YOUR SOUL BY READING THE SCRIPTURES!

Learning to love the scriptures is a lot like learning to walk. At first you're unsure - you sometimes stumble, and you don't get anywhere very fast. If you stopped trying to walk just because you fell down a few times, you'd never know the joy of walking. But once you learn how to walk, soon you can run and go places you couldn't before.

Let me tell you how learning to walk is like learning to study the scriptures. When you first begin reading the scriptures, you feel unsure; you'd much rather read something familiar, like a favorite story. But I can tell you from experience that if you will try reading the scriptures every day, just as you keep trying to walk, the scriptures will be as important to you as being able to walk . . ." Ardeth Kapp

"Search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." (John 5:39)

PLANT SEEDS OF FAITH FOR AL YOU MEET!

The fundamental principle of our religion is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Why is it expedient to center confidence, hope, and trust in one solitary figure? Why is faith in Him so necessary to peace of mind in this life and hope in the world to come? My answer to these questions is derived from a lifetime in His service and the confirmation of the Holy Spirit that only Jesus Christ is uniquely qualified to provide hope, confidence, and strength to overcome the world and rise above our human failings. . .By yielding obedience to your faith in God and the laws of the universe, both spiritual and physical, there will come a soul-satisfying security which is priceless.

You will need this anchor as you face a doubting world. --Ezra Taft Benson

 BE A LIFESAVER AND SERVE ONE ANOTHER!

Somebody did a golden deed;
Somebody proved a friend in need;
Somebody sang a beautiful song;
Somebody smiled the whole day long;

Somebody thought, 'This sweet to live;'
Somebody said, 'I'm Glad to give;'
Somebody fought a valiant fight;
Somebody lived to shield the right;

Was that 'somebody' you?

"If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments." (D&C 42:29)

RELIEVE THE HEADACHES OF OTHERS BY BEING RESPONSIBLE!

The Lord does not ask about our ability
Nor our inability
But only about our availability

And if we prove our dependability
The Lord will take care of our capabilities.

"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward."" (D&C 58:26)

 DON'T LET OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE SLIP BY YOU!

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"Verily, I say men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness." (D&C 58:27)

MEETINGS ARE A DUD IF YOU ARE NOT THERE!

There are many who have become inactive because it is hard to live the gospel fully and the world has many other allurements. There is no compulsion in one going to meetings or to praying or to have family home evening, or to live the law of the Sabbath or any of the other of the ten commandments, or the other scores of commandments, but the Lord seems to know what will make people supremely happy and he has outlined a program which will develop and give growth to the people. --Spencer W. Kimball

"And now, behold, I give you a commandment, that when ye are assembled together ye shall instruct and edify each other, that ye may know how to act and direct my church, how to act upon the points of my law and commandments, which I have given." (D&C 43:8)

 BLOW THE WHISTLE ON NEGATIVE INFLUENCES!

If it is not clean, do not think it;
If it is not true, do not speak it;
If it is not good, do not do it.
--Marcus Aurelius

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Cor 3:16)

KEEP YOUR TESTIMONY BURNING BRIGHTLY

Therefore seeing even the Savior, does not leave as deep an impression in the mid as does the testimony of he Holy Ghost to the Spirit. . .the impressions on the soul that come from the Holy Ghost are far more significant than a vision. It is where spirit speaks to spirit that the imprint upon the soul is far more difficult to erase.  --Joseph Fielding Smith

"And now after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!" (D&C 76:22)

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