David and Goliath: Courage to overcome temptations

FHE Lesson
Digitized and adapted by Lara Goold


Materials needed: Scriptures, tape measure, tape, large marshmallows (or small sponges), small slips of paper or post-it
notes (a couple per family member), pens or pencils

Purpose: The purpose of this lesson is to teach the virtue of courage and to help family members apply this virtue
to overcome challenges and temptations.

Scripture: “Thou comes to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the
name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, who thou hast defiled. ” 1 Samuel 17:45

Opening song(s) and prayer:

“Nephi’s Courage,” Children’s songbook, page 120
“I Will Be Valiant,” Children’s songbook, page 162

Lesson:

Discussion:
Courage. You probably think of someone doing something very brave and daring when you hear
that word—someone fighting battles, exploring dangerous places, or risking his life in some
other way. But what about you? Have you ever shown courage? There will be many times in
your life when you will need courage to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. When you choose the
right when you are tempted to do wrong, or when you defend what you know is true, you are
showing courage.

Define Courage:
“Doing something hard, even though you may feel afraid.” It’s not doing something dangerous
or foolish to show off for someone who may have dared you, but rather it is about choosing the
right however difficult it may be. No matter how many people around you who are choosing the
wrong. No matter what people may say to make fun of you for choosing the right. Explain that
even though we may have courage, we may still be afraid. Our Heavenly Father has promised us
that if we live the commandments and choose the right, he will protect and guide us. This
knowledge will help us when we feel afraid to choose the right.

Tape measure activity:

Measure out against the wall the approximate height of Goliath (nine feet tall) and place a small
piece of tape at that spot (NOTE: our ceilings aren’t that high in our house, so we just marked it
at the point that the ceiling meets the wall). Next measure the approximate height of David (five
feet) and mark it with another piece of tape.

Retell (summary included below):

With the tape marks in place showing the great height difference between David and Goliath,
retell the story of David and Goliath. Take care to emphasize the great odds that David had to
overcome to beat Goliath and how he put his faith in the Lord that he would be helped and
protected.
 Discussion: Do you think that David showed courage? Why was he able to demonstrate
courage? Do you think that the Lord helped David? Why would the Lord help him? How can
we show courage like David?

Modern Day Goliath Activity: Explain that although we will not be called upon to fight a nine-
foot giant, we all have “goliaths” (temptations) that we must overcome. These temptations may
seem very big and difficult to face, just like Goliath was and just like with David, we must show
courage to overcome these temptations and learn to trust in our Heavenly Father. He will help us
to over come our own modern-day “Goliaths”.

Distribute post-it notes (or slips of paper) and writing utensils to each member of the family.
Have each person write down a couple of their own personal “Goliaths” (ideas below). After
they are written down affix them around the Goliath as shown in the picture.

Here are a few ideas for some Modern Day “Goliaths”: Not keeping the Word of Wisdom, not
dressing modestly, forgetting to pray, being too busy to read the scriptures, fighting with
siblings, not listening to parents, forgetting to pay tithing, worrying about what other people
think of you, inappropriate shows or music, being dishonest, cheating, lying, using bad
language, etc.

After Goliath is decorated with all the modern day “goliaths”, take turns hurling marshmallows
at Goliath in an effort to defeat him/them. As each marshmallow is thrown, have the family
member call out a tool that can be used to over come the “goliaths”

Some “stones” to throw at your “Goliaths”: Praying, reading scriptures, bearing testimony,
being a peacemaker, choosing good friends, going to the temple, fasting, following the prophet,
going to church, listening to the Holy Ghost, etc)

Bear Testimony of the blessings that come from trusting in the Lord to help you overcome
your temptations. Be sure to relate any personal experiences you have had putting your trust
in the Lord as you’ve overcome a challenge.

Closing song: “Dare to do Right,” Children’s Songbook, page 158

“Keep the Commandments,” Hymns, page 303

Closing Prayer:

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Here are some pictures of the Modern Day Goliath activity in action:

Refreshments: See below for a yummy recipe

Enrichment: Based on the ages and attention spans of your children, choose one or more of the following enrichment
activities to enhance the message of the lesson. Enrichment activities do not necessarily need to be completed on the
same night as the lesson. We often use them as reinforcement/reminders during the week.

Enrichment ideas :

David and Goliath Scenery Story:

Cut out the

“My Personal Goliaths” chart

Have each child make their own “My Personal Goliaths” chart (below) and make a plan for how
specifically to overcome them. Older kids may want some privacy during this activity, so encourage
them to do it, then write the plan in their journals. Younger kids may want to hang theirs up in their
room.

Design a Badge of Courage:

Together as a family, or assign the task to one person, design a badge of courage to be given out when
members of the family show courage in their daily lives. Try hard to “catch” them being courageous.

Quote:
Display the quote from President Hinckley in a place that people will see it frequently. Talk about the
lesson during the week and encourage your family to continue to work on their Modern Day Goliaths.

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 BYU Mint Brownies
From http://recipeshoebox.blogspot.com

BROWNIE:
1 cup butter
1/2 cup cocoa
2 Tbs. honey
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1-3/4 cups flour
1/2 Tbs. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup chopped walnuts

MINT ICING
5 Tbs. butter
dash of salt
1 Tbs. light corn syrup
2-1/3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. mint extract
1-2 drops green food coloring
3 Tbs. milk

CHOCOLATE PAN FROSTING

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup milk
4 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Directions:
1. Melt butter and mix in with cocoa. Allow to cool. Add honey, eggs, sugar, flour, baking powder, and
salt. Mix well. Add nuts. Pour batter into a greased 9-by-13 baking pan. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes.
Cool.

2. Prepare mint icing: Soften butter. Add salt, corn syrup, and powdered sugar. Beat until smooth and
fluffy. Add mint extract and food coloring. Mix. Add milk gradually until the consistency is a little
thinner than cake frosting.

3. Spread mint icing over brownies. Place brownies in the freezer for a short time (~15 minutes) to
stiffen the icing.

4. Prepare chocolate frosting: Melt butter in a medium saucepan over low heat, 2-3 minutes. Stir in
cocoa powder and milk. Bring to a boil, stirring, and then remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar until
frosting is thickened and smooth. Immediately pour and spread warm frosting on top of the layer of
mint frosting. Allow to cool before cutting.

5. Enjoy!

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The
Story
of
David
and
Goliath

excerpted
from
“God’s
Power
within
You”
by
President
Gordon
B.
Hinckley,
Friend,
January
2002,
pg.
2‐3



As you recall, the army of Israel under the leadership of King Saul was engaged in a deadly war with the
army of the Philistines. One army [camped] on one hill, the other on an opposite hill, with a valley in
between. Now, the Philistines had … a great giant of a man named Goliath of Gath. His height was six
cubits and a span. … That would put him somewhere in the neighborhood of nine feet tall. What a
basketball center he might have made!

Clad in his armor, he came down to the valley and called out to the army of Israel:
“Choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.
“If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him,
and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us. …
“I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together” (1 Sam. 17:8–10).

When Saul and the army of Israel looked at this giant and heard his chilling challenge, they were frightened
because they had no one of their own of such [size].

Now, while all of this was going on, Jesse, David’s father, asked his young son to take some food to his
three brothers in the army. When he arrived at the battleground, Goliath came out again, issuing the same
challenge, which David heard. There was fear throughout the army of Israel. David, who was no more than
a boy, said to the king (and I paraphrase his language): “King, why are you so afraid of this giant? I will go
and fight him.”

Saul replied, “Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and
he [is] a man of war [trained] from his youth” (1 Sam. 17:33).

David then persuaded Saul to let him try. He told the king of how he had fought with a lion and a bear to
save his father’s sheep and concluded by saying that the Lord would deliver him out of the hand of the
Philistine. Saul … said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with thee” (1 Sam. 17:37).

Saul then placed armor on David until the boy could scarcely walk. David said to the king, “I cannot wear
this,” and he took the armor off.
He then “took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a
shepherd’s bag which he had … ; and his sling was in his hand” (1 Sam. 17:40).
This stripling of a boy, with only a sling and five stones, and without any armor other than the armor of
faith, went down into the valley to face Goliath.

“And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth. …
“And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves?”

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And Goliath swore at David, saying, “Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to
the beasts of the field.”

Then David spoke these great words: “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a
shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast
defied.

“This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee …
that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” (See 1 Sam. 17:42–46.)

That was brave talk for a boy who stood against a nine-foot giant.

In anger Goliath came at him. Then David, running toward the giant, “put his hand in his bag, and took
thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead;
and he fell upon his face to the earth” (1 Sam. 17:49).

I would like to apply this story to our lives. There are Goliaths all around us, hulking giants with evil
intent to destroy. These are not nine-foot-tall men, but … evil things that may challenge and weaken
and destroy us. Included in these are beer and other liquors and tobacco. Those who market these
products would like to enslave you into their use. There are illegal drugs of various kinds. … This is a
… giant web of evil.

There is pornography [bad pictures and stories in magazines, films, TV shows, and Internet sites]. …
[These] giants … would like to ensnare you. …

But you need not fear if you have the slingshot of truth in your hands. You have been counseled and
taught and advised. You have the stones of virtue and honor and integrity to use against these
enemies. … When they challenge you, you can hit them “between the eyes.” … You can triumph over
them by disciplining yourself to avoid them. You can say to the whole lot of them as David said to
Goliath, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in
the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.”

Victory will be yours. There is not a person in this Church who needs to [surrender] to any of these
forces. You are a child of God. You have His power within you to sustain you. You have the right to
call upon God to protect you. Do not let Goliath frighten you. Stand your ground … , and you will be
triumphant. …

When temptation comes your way, name that boastful, deceitful giant “Goliath!” and do with it as
David did to the Philistine of Gath.

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Cut
out
around
scene,
rock,
and
Goliath.

Laminate,
if
desired.

Using
metal
craft
brads,
attach
the
A
on
David’s
arm,
to

the
A
on
David’s
body.

Same
with
the
B’s
and
the
C’s.

When
finished
it
should
look
like
the
photo
below.

Kids
will
love

winding
up
David’s
arm,
making
the
stone
hit
Goliath,
and
then
making
Goliath
fall
to
the
earth!













































There is not a person in this church who need to surrender to







any of these forces. You are a child of God. You have His 





power within you to sustain you. You have the right to call upon 





God to protect you. Do not let your Goliaths frighten you. 




Stand your ground…., and you will be triumphant.”












































 
 
 
 
 
 President Gordon B . Hinckley
 















For
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FHE
lessons
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For
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FHE
lessons
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For
more
ready‐to‐print
FHE
lessons
visit
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