Southern Seminary

Lessons · Thu Sep 3, 2026 · Life Preparation

Organizing Tasks and Priorities

Abraham 4–5; Psalm 37:23–24; 1 Corinthians 14:40; Mosiah 4:27

The principle

Having order in our lives helps us follow the example of Jesus Christ.

What the lesson is for

Help students take one overwhelming pile of schoolwork and bring order to it the way the Creation was ordered — light first, big broken into small, and a stop to notice what was good.

Personal study, first ten minutes

Abraham 4:1–25 and 5:1–3

This is the Creation told as a work plan. What did They do first? How did They handle the biggest tasks? And why did They stop to say that it was good?

The deck

Click any card to see it full size.

Card 0: THE ACTIVITY — Trying Harder Will Not Sort This Pile.
Card 0 · THE ACTIVITY Same pieces. Different order.
Card 1: MAKE IT REAL — A World Built One Step At A Time.
Card 1 · MAKE IT REAL Light first. Then everything.

Teacher notes

Supplies, board work and timing. Never printed on the cards.

SUPPLIES: a jigsaw puzzle — 100 pieces is plenty — with the box lid hidden. A recipe or a flat-pack instruction sheet works too. Student prep was to list this week's schoolwork; ask them to have that list out during Card 1. The manual's six-statement self-assessment (very true / somewhat true / untrue) is worth reading aloud if there is time — say out loud that it stays private, and note that the manual warns some students will find it discouraging. Handout: "Organizing and Prioritizing My Schoolwork." Extra passages for the board: Psalm 37:23–24; 1 Corinthians 14:40; Doctrine and Covenants 28:13; 132:8. Third of four Succeed in School lessons (192-195); 195 (procrastination) is still open for a later Life Preparation day.

Journal prompt

The last five minutes. Card 1 hands into this.

Name the one pile of schoolwork that feels like the dumped-out puzzle. Break it into three steps and write them in order — the light first, then the edges. Write which step you will finish tonight, and write one way you will invite Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ to magnify what you are already doing.