Contributed by:
Shellie Griffith2@cox.net (6/23/02)
This game was a lot
of work, because we wanted to make it as authentic as possible. It also required a lot of
help in setting up and running. However it also has had the biggest impact on our youth.
The testimonies that were shared at the
conclusion of Youth Conference showed how incredibly touched our youth were by this
experience. We did this a few years ago and yet the youth still bring this up as their
favorite Youth Conference event. We would do all of the hard work all over again in a
heart beat.
In a nut shell the
Stake Center is transformed into a small community with areas such as a bank, a shopping
mall, a church, a college, a courthouse, an amusement park, a home, a jail, a hospital, an
MTC, a workplace, bishop's office and temple instruction area. Each area was decorated to
look as much like the real thing as possible. For example, the hospital had beds (cots)
for convalescents, nurses, a check in station with paper work to fill out, authentic
looking medical supplies....the college had actual classes taught and a schoolroom
look....etc.... Youth did not see this set up
until play began and were not given any specific directions of the game in advance.
The object of the
Game of Life is to have youth experience in two and a half hours many of the decisions and
consequences that they will have to make during the critical years immediately ahead. They
will play the game in pairs (1 boy and 1 girl wherever possible) They are told to assume
they are at marriageable age and to make decisions based on what they might really do at
this age. Play begins in the chapel where they are given brief instructions and a packet
of materials which contain maps, instructions, fate cards, and a specific amount of money.
Their instructions tell them they begin with only what's in their packet and time. They do
not know when the game will end.
As they leave the
Chapel they are put in pairs and embark on the 'path of life'. Along the way they will
encounter or be accosted by people who will try to pursued them to come to their 'room'
and participate in whatever they are 'hawking' - college, amusement park, workplace,
mission, etc...The kids should soon begin to understand the object of the game and try to
make as may 'good' decisions in the time allotted as possible. Certain 'incentives' will
be offered to attract them to areas where they might waste too much time or to make
decisions that might not be in their best interests (temptations).
They will also be
encouraged to make wise choices by 'hawkers' of areas such as the college , MTC, etc.....
They are given blessing cards for taking time to help a sister with her arms full open the
door or making other good choices. Each packet
will contain three fate cards, which will be opened at three different times during the
game on the signal of a bell. Some of the 'fates' are bad, some are good. They have to do
what the fate card says immediately.
In addition, a 'Mr.
Fate' roams the area and randomly hands out other fate cards. Example: they might inherit
$5,000 (go to the bank to collect), they might get hit by a car and have to go to the
hospital for 10 minutes and pay $5,000 unless they have purchased medical insurance at the
mall. They may break the law and have to appear before the judge who might levy a large
fine or send them to jail (where they will read specific scriptures detailing the virtues
of obeying the law). Couples will have opportunities to do the following: go on a mission
(singly or as a couple); go to college and earn a bachelor's and master's degree; work at
a job to earn money (paid at a rate determined by how much education they have); receive a
civil marriage instruction certificate; purchase luxury items such as trips, a house,
cars, etc.; play at an amusement park; go to Church; purchase medical, auto, life
insurance; save or borrow money.
Each of these
activities will resemble as closely as possible the real life activity. For example, they
can start a savings account or borrow money (signing a promissory note). Interest will be
accrued at an actual rate. To go on a mission they will have to have a Bishop's interview.
They go on a mission by giving a discussion to two people or families and having them sign
a paper saying they taught them the gospel, then go back to the MTC to be released.
Near the end of the
game, Mr. Death will randomly select people and tell them their life is over. Those
individuals are then to go straight to the chapel which has been transformed into Heaven.
They are met by people dressed in white who welcome them to the spirit world and dump the
contents of their packet on the table. If they received any blessing cards or a temple
marriage instruction sheet they may keep those. Everything else (all of the money they
earned, their diploma, anything they purchased, their home and car, etc...) was tossed
into a big trash can. It had a good effect. If they received their temple marriage
instruction sheet, they sit in the choir seats with their partner, if not they sit with
the boys on one side and the girls on the other.
When everyone is
'dead' the game is summed up by a speaker. It is great to have the speaker with you during
the game so he can hear what is said and use these comments in his talk. It was awesome!
We didn't have a clue in planning as to how much of an impact it would have on our youth.
Game of Life
Personal Progress
Youth Conference
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