LDS Escape Room – Personal Progress Activity for Good Works

Shared by Korina M.

“Tonight for Mutual we made a escape room. I didn’t tell the girls tell they were [doing personal progress, too!]. But when they were done they had either finished or started all of the Good Works value experiences for personal progress! Anyways not overly complicated the girls had fun. ”

Editor’s note – an escape room is a room filled with random items that disguise clues. When the clues are solved in order, they lead you to a key that lets you “escape” from the room. Players are given a set time limit to unveil the secret plot which is hidden within the rooms. In this case, the secret is that when finished, young women will be well on their way to completing Good Works for their personal progress.

In this case, two rooms were set up with the ten “right clues” and several “fake clues”. Young women were split into teams so that they could race to see who could solve the clues and escape their room first. A leader was posted in each room to be sure everything went properly and to give clues if the young women got stuck. They used the Leader Instructions (below) to offer assistance if it was needed. Very little instruction should be provided regarding clues. Let them struggle!

“We just used two classrooms and I asked the other leaders to bring random things and we put a few chairs out to things on or under. Honestly my 8 year old came with me and I just handed her things while I was getting the clues ready and she scattered them around. Just don’t forget pens and paper. So I brought the things that went with the clues. But everyone else just brought random things to throw off the girls, like toilet paper, chopsticks, newspapers, tacklebox, snow globe — just whatever — and I put paper under each of the wrong items so they looked like they could also be clues.”

Leader Instructions

All leaders brought like 6 additional random things just to fill the room. My plan was to stick all clues in envelopes I couldn’t find my envelopes so we just folded paper. BUT we put folded papers under almost all objects so do the same with envelopes to throw them. We used 2 rooms next to each other and split the girls so they could race. The first clue we handed to them. Every Clue is numbered so they stay in the right order and just so they didn’t run in and open all envelopes for every wrong answer we added time. A leader was in the room to give a clue and to make sure none were skipped. Also our girls were able to figure out all of them. The 2nd one kind of gave them a pain so I just had them reread it and I would cough when they went over the answer.

After this activity is complete, young women will do the following things. All of the scripture readings are completed during the activity, so just these things are required:

1. For two weeks record in your journal the quiet acts of service your family members and others perform. Acknowledge their service in some meaningful way to complete value experience Good Works #1.

2. Help plan your family’s menus, obtain the food, and prepare part of the meals for two weeks. During that time help your family gather to share mealtimes. Report to your class what you have learned to complete value experience Good Works #2.

3. In your journal list three ways you can comfort others or help them bear their burdens to complete value experience Good Works #3
Choose and complete TWO of the following:

4. Teach a lesson about service in family home evening or in another setting. Use pictures, music, examples, or demonstrations in your lesson.

5. Develop a pattern of service in your life by choosing a family member you can help.

6. Spend at least three hours giving service outside your family. Ask your ward or branch Relief Society president or a community leader for suggestions for service. For example, you might take care of children while parents attend the temple; collect, make, or recondition toys or games for a nursery; accept an assignment to clean the meetinghouse; or perform errands for or read to a homebound person or others in need. Record in your journal the reactions of the person you served and possible goals for future service opportunities.

And also:

7. Pray for a missionary experience. Invite a friend who is not a member of the Church or one who is less active to go with you to a Church meeting or activity. Introduce your friend to others, and make sure he or she is involved. Share your testimony of the gospel, and invite him or her to come again to complete Good Works value experience #7.

For most clues, reading the scripture is the clue and then the object that is the answer.

*******First Clue Matthew 5:13-16 – Candles (you could also use salt, flashlight, light switch)

13 ¶ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

**** Second Clue Matthew 25: 34-40, Mosiah 4:26 – dress a doll (we had clothes next to a doll they had to dress it to get the clue) ( You could also use food, medicine or so on)

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Mosiah 4:26 ( This scripture goes along with the above so combined it – in other words, both scriptures are read although the clue is fouind in the first scripture. Both scriptures should be read to complete the value experience.)

26 And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.

******Third Clue Galatians 6:9–10 – lettuce (“let us”)

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

******Fourth Clue James 1:22–27 — headphones (Glass with a Picture, something with liberty)

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

*****Fifth Clue Mosiah 2:17 – Big church history Book (Book of Mormon)

17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God

***** Sixth Clue 2 weeks dinner menu with grocery list (no repeating meals) And they showed this to a leader for next clue ( We had pens they just wrote it on their clue sheet)

*****Seventh Clue Mosiah 18:7 – 10 (A baptismal picture)

7 And it came to pass after many days there were a goodly number gathered together at the place of Mormon, to hear the words of Alma. Yea, all were gathered together that believed on his word, to hear him. And he did teach them, and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord.

8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?

List 3 ways you can comfort others or help them bear their burdens.

*****Eighth Clue Doctrine and Covenants 58:26–28. Suitcase (really it’s a lot of counting but you can spell anything. Girls will spell out the clue below, letter by letter, that gives the answer “suitcase”.)

26 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.

27 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;

28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

Look to the chalkboard (or paper with the clue)

The numbers were on the chalkboard like this: 106 118 121 137, with lines above them. Each number is a letter.

First Word 106, 118, 121, 137

Second Word 177, 2, 10, 137, 177

Third word- 7, 181

Fourth word- 188

Fifth word- 295, 23, 32, 36, 11, 25, 28, 14

Sixth word- 150, 160, 161

Seventh word – 167, 175,180, 181

Eighth word- 184 ?

Answer: When Going on a vacation you need a? ( Next clue in a suitcase)

*******Ninth Clue Matthew 24:14; 28:19, D&C 88:81. Missionary picture

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come.

Matthew 18:19

19 Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

D&C 88:81

81 Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people and becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor.

List one persons name, who is not a member of the church, you can invite to go to church or an activity.

*******Tenth Clue Everyone in the group take a paper and write a service you will strive to do. Show it to the leader in the room to receive the KEY!

We just had a little lock by the door once they unlocked the lock they could go out.

Escape Room Clues

Clue Number 1 – Matthew 5:13-16

Clue Number 2 – Matthew 25: 34-40 , Mosiah 4:26

Clue Number 3 – Galatians 6:9–10

Clue Number 4 – James 1:22–27

Clue Number 5 – Mosiah 2:17

Clue Number 6 – Make a 2 week dinner menu with grocery list and your leader will have the next clue.

Clue Number 7 – Read Mosiah 18:7–10. Write down 3 ways you can comfort others or help them bear their burdens.

Clue Number 8 – Doctrine and Covenants 58:26–28, Look to the whiteboard for help.

Clue Number 9 – Read Matthew 24:14, Matthew 28:19, D&C 88:81 and then write down one person’s name, who is not a member of the church, you can invite to go to church or an activity.

Number 10 – Everyone in the group take a paper and write a service you will strive to do. Show it to the leader in the room to receive the KEY and escape!

Nichole J “Love this, but I have a question. Can someone explain the number part to me at the end. I noticed the same letters in the phrase are different numbers. How does this part work? Thanks”

Korina M “I just wanted to make sure they actually read the whole scripture. But yes each number is just if you count just the letters you will fall on the right letter”

Nichole J “I sadly don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me. Are there numbers or letters attached to the scriptures? I feel like I am missing something. How do the girls figure out that numbers 106 118 121 137 equal the word WHEN?”

Korina M “Like if you count all the letters not spaces the 106th letter will be a W.”

Nichole J “You’re counting the letters in the scripture Doctrine and Covenants 58:26–28. Oh my, that’s what I was missing. I could not figure what was being counted. I was thinking the alphabet in circles or there was another code card I was missing. Lol thanks”

Elaine “Question: if you give them the clue for number, when they find the light clue #2 would be on the light/flashlight? And so on, right?”

Korina M “Yes the #2 clue was under the candle. The first clue we handed them when they walked in and the answer to that one led to the candle. Then i believe the next clue took them to a doll to dress.”