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Manners Dinner

Manners Dinner

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place setting

Purpose

Practice good manners while enjoying a meal with friends. Good manners are a great way to show respect and build healthy relationships.

Description

Plan and host a dinner with your friends. Emphasize good etiquette and encourage everyone to have good manners from start to finish. Here are some tips:

  1. Start by picking who, when, and where. Will this be a dinner with your class? Others in your ward or branch? Once the group is decided, set the date and time and decide who will host the dinner.

  2. Plan your menu. Be sure to consider your guests’ tastes and account for any allergies. It may help to choose something that you’ve made before so you’re familiar with the recipe.

  3. Have your dinner. Set the table appropriately, with the necessary dishes, glasses, utensils, and napkins placed in the correct locations (if needed, look up proper table settings or ask for help with them). Determine how food will be served: guests can fill their plates buffet-style, you can dish up their food for them, or food can be passed around the table.

  4. Have appropriate dinner conversation. You’ll find suggestions in the “More Ideas” section below.

  5. When the dinner is over, the host can clear the table or invite guests to help.

  6. Have fun!

More Ideas

  • Set the table—Do you know how utensils should be placed on a table? What about that bowl or extra spoon? As a group, learn about proper place settings from an expert, book, or video, and then practice with actual utensils and dishes.

  • Practice serving—Manners matter when serving food for a formal dinner. Take on the role of a server instead of a guest and bring food to people at the table. Follow appropriate serving etiquette for your area (for example, presenting food on the diner’s left, and never reaching across a diner).

  • Dinner conversation—Before your dinner, write “conversation starters” on pieces of paper. Put them in containers on each table. Invite participants to use the questions as ideas for their dinner conversation. Here are some ideas to get you started:

  • Bring a date—Host a manners dinner for which everyone brings a date. Remember that appropriate dress, appearance, and language are also part of good manners. Before the dinner, your group may want to review the “Dating” section in For the Strength of Youth.

Discussion

Encourage participants to talk about what they are learning. Discussions can take place before, during, or after the activity. You could ask questions like the following:

  • Why do you think it is important to have good manners?

  • When have you been blessed by treating others with respect?

  • What feelings or impressions do you have about the connection between good manners and positive relationships?

  • How can you apply what you are learning in your life?

Related Resources

Sabbath Day Lessons

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