FHE

I Can Be Forgiven

2010-11-16T17:56:00.000-08:00

Object Lesson: Poor some salt on a colored plate, explain to your children that when we leave our Heavenly Father's presence we are pure and clean. Throughout our life sometimes we do things that are not right and can leave specks of dirt on our pure spirit. (start to sprinkle pepper on the salt)

If we say we are truly sorry and ask for forgiveness, those speckles can disappear. (as you are talking to your children about forgiveness, take a plastic spoon and rub it back and forth over the carpet, slowly put it on top of the salt and the pepper speckles will start to stick to the spoon from the static.)

What are some ways we can ask for forgiveness? Is it easy to ask for forgiveness we we know we have done something wrong?

What is the way that each of us can return to live with our Heavenly Father? By repentance.

Bear your testimony to your children, give them examples of how repentance has blessed your life.

Picture from The Friend, www.lds.org

Getting Back Into the Groove

2010-11-16T17:46:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, I finally have figured out my password so I can have access to this blog again. Many of you have requested new lessons and giveaways. I will be posting as many lessons over the next few weeks to get caught up. Thank you again for your support of my little pet project!

Learning to Obey the Lord

2009-11-01T15:32:00.000-08:00

FHE Lesson exchange, author unknown

Preparation:
1- Gather items to make banana splits (bananas, chocolate sauce, ice cream, ect)
2- Scriptures

Song:
Nephi's Courage

Lesson:
Turn to 1 Nephi 17-18

Tell the story of Nephi building the boat; One day the Lord told Nephi to build a boat to carry him and his family to the promised land. Nephi didn't know how to make a boat, but he made tools and trusted in the Lord that he would be able to do it.

His brothers Laman and Lemuel didn't believe the Lord told Nephi to build this boat, so they refused to help. Nephi told them that they should repent and obey Heavenly Father because he knew the Lord would help them if they were humble. This made Laman and Lemuel very angry, and they tried to throw Nephi into the sea, but the power of the Lord was with them. The Lord told Nephi to touch Laman and Lemuel, and when he touched them, the Lord shook them so they knew without a doubt, that the Lord was helping Nephi. Nephi then told them to repent and obey the Lord and their parents.

Because they were afraid, Laman and Lemuel repented and helped Nephi build the boat. When Nephi needed help, he asked the Lord, and the Lord helped him and taught him how to build the boat. Finally, the boat was finished.

The family loaded the boat and climbed aboard. For many days the wind blew them towards the promised land. The Laman and Lemuel and Ishmael's sons got angry with Nephi because Nephi told them once again to obey the Lord. They tied Nephi with roped and wouldn't let him go. Because Laman and Lemuel were so wicked, the Liahonna stopped working and they didn't know which way to go.

Lehi, Sariah and Nephi's wife and children begged Laman and Lemuel to untie Nephi, but they would not listen. Because of their wickedness, a storm blew the ship backwards for three days. On the fourth day the storm became very bad, and the ship almost sank. Laman and Lemuel were afraid for their lives, and they knew the Lord was angry with them, so they untied Nephi. Nephi picked up the Liahonna and it worked again, pointing the way towards the promised land.

Nephi prayed and the storm stopped. Then they were able to sail the ship to the promised land following the Liahonna.

Ask you children the following questions:

1- Why did Nephi build the boat?
2- How did Nephi build the boat?
3- What did Laman and Lemuel say to Nephi when they say him building the boat?
4- What happened when they tried to throw Nephi into the sea?
5- Does the Lord protect those who are doing good for him?
6- What did Laman and Lemuel do to Nephi on the ship?
7- What happened when they untied him?

Explain to your children that Heavenly Father blesses us when we do what we are supposed to. Just like he blessed and protected Nephi.

Activity:
Coloring page

Treat:
Make banana split "boats"

Picture The Friend, www.lds.org

Being Honest

2009-10-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

FHE Lesson Swap, author unknown

Preparation:
1- Gather several mirrors of different sizes from around your home.

Objective: In order to be honest, you must first be honest with yourself.

Lesson:
Give each one of your family members a mirror. Ask the the following questions:

As you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you see what I see? How would you like to look?

Read the following poem.
"When you get what you want in your struggle for gain,
and then the world make you king for a day,
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
and see what that man has to say.
It isn't your father or mother or wife,
whose judgement upon you must pass,
the one whose verdict counts most in your life
is staring you back in the glass."

Explain to your children that being truthful with others comes from being honest and truthful with themselves. Tell a personal story of how being honest with yourself made a difference in your life.

Treat:
Mini Turtles
1 package of Rollo's unwrapped
1 bag of mini pretzels
pecan or walnut pieces

Place a sheet of foil on a cookie sheet, lay out pretzels and add a unwrapped Rollo on top. Bake @ 200 degrees in the oven for 2-3 minutes. Immediately take out and press a pecan or walnut piece into the chocolate. Let cool, until set-up and serve.

Trying to Get to Heaven

2009-08-16T18:34:00.000-07:00

Preparation:
1- A bag of marshmellows, large ones
2- Scriptures

Opening Song:
I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus

Scripture:
Ether 1:33

Lesson:
(As you read this story or tell in your own words, begin making a tower out of marshmellows, eventually when it gets tall enough it will fall)

Jared and his brother lived in a place called Babel. Many people who did not worship Heavenly Father and did things that were bad lived there as well. Those people decided that they wanted to get to heaven and the best way for them to do this was to build a tower.

The people began to build this tower one brick at a time. As they built the tower, it made the Lord very angry. The Lord changed the language of every person who worked on the tower. This way they could not understand each other or finish the tower. The tower eventually fell apart b ecause it wasn't finished.

Jared and his brother were good and obeyed the teachings of the Lord. Because of this the Lord spared Jared and his brother and did not change their language.

1- Why was the tower built?
2- How did the Lord feel about this?
3- What happened to those who built the tower?

Heavenly Father blesses his children when we do what we are supposed to and obey him. In order to get to heaven and see Him again, we must obey him.

Treat:
Marshmallow Taffy
1- Wash your hands.
2- Get 2-3 large marshmallows. Small ones work also, but you need to use more and they are harder to work with.
3- Put the marshmallows into your hand and begin to rip them up and push them together.
4- Keep working them in motions that mix and mash at the same time.
5- Keep working it until it is smooth and free of any little lumps from the marshmallows original form.
6- After your mixture is smooth, you can eat it right of your hand

And The Winner Is......

2009-08-16T18:28:00.001-07:00

By a very complex method (drawing names out of a hat) the winners are:

1. "Book of Mormon Family Night" - Amber

2. "Bright Impressions Where the Dinosaurs Roam" - Taunya

3. "52 Weeks of Family Night" - Rhett and Leena

Thank you to all those who entered. Keep looking for future giveaways! :D

CONTEST UPDATE

2009-08-03T12:57:00.000-07:00

I am a little bit behind this week with school starting for myself and my kiddos. Please be patient the drawing will be done this week and the list of winners and prizes will be posted. Sorry for the delay!

My Eternal Family

2009-08-03T12:33:00.000-07:00

Preparation:
Gather Lego's or building blocks, label them with some ways your child can help build an eternal family

service
show love
kind words
learning
help
family prayer
scripture study
church attendance

Scripture:
Moses 1:39

Song:
My Eternal Family
Lesson: Adam and Eve established the first family on this earth. Heavenly Father commanded them to have children and to worship Him. As children were born to Adam and Eve, they taught them the gospel. This is Heavenly Father’s plan for families—He has sent us to earth so that we can learn from our parents and, someday, teach our own children.

Elder Richard G. Scott said, “Through the restored gospel we learn there is an ideal family. It is a family composed of a righteous Melchizedek Priesthood bearer with a righteous wife sealed to him and children born in the covenant or sealed to them” (Ensign, May 2001, 7). When families are sealed in the temple and live worthily, they can be eternal families in the celestial kingdom.

Not all of us have been sealed to our families yet, but we can work toward having an eternal family by doing our best. Elder Scott said, “Do the best you can. We cannot say whether that blessing [temple sealing] will be obtained on this side of the veil [in this life] or beyond it, but the Lord will keep His promises. In His infinite wisdom, He will make possible all you qualify in worthiness to receive” (Ensign, May 2001, 7).

We can do our best to have an eternal family by living worthy of temple blessings and loving, serving, and praying for our families.

Activity:
Using the building blocks help your children to create a strong foundation and build a building upon it. As you build this, ask your children what would happen if one of these blocks were missing or taken away. (It would fall over.) The same can be said if we don't do everything we can to build our strong eternal family. If we are not constantly trying, we can't reach our full potential as a family.

Coloring Page

Treat:
No Bake Cookies I bought jelly beans and other small candies so our could build their own treat
1 3/4 cups white sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in peanut butter, oats, and vanilla. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Let cool until hardened.

Am I My Brother's Keeper?

2009-07-21T21:19:00.001-07:00

Author: Ivy Bonhurst

SONG: Families Can Be Together Forever

A rat looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife
opening a package. What food might it contain? He was aghast to discover that it was a rat trap.

Retreating to the farmyard the rat proclaimed the warning;
“There is a rat trap in the house. A Rat Trap in the HOUSE”

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said,
“Excuse me, Mr. Rat, I can tell that this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.”

The Rat turned to the pig and told him. “ There is rat trap in the house”
“I am so very sorry Mr. Rat,” sympathized the pig, “ but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured that you are in my prayers.”

The Rat turned to the cow. She said “ Like wow, Mr. Rat. A rat trap. Like that really scared big old me.”

So the rat returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's rat trap alone.

That very night a sound was heard thoughout the house, like the sound of a rat trap catching its prey. The farmer wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see that it as a venomous snake whose take the trap had caught.

The Snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital. She returned home with a fever.

Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.

His wife's sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her round the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer's wife did not get well. She died, and so many people came to her funeral that the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide meat for all of them to eat.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that when there is a rat trap in the house, the whole farmyard is at risk.

SCRIPTURE: "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9)

MORAL: The Hand You Pull Up, May be the Hand That Saves You !

ACTIVITY:
Balancing Act
Have someone get down on his or her hands and knees on a towel. Place a glass of water on the person's back, between the shoulder blades so that it will balance by itself. Then, ask the person to remove the glass without spilling it. After thirty seconds, ask someone else if they will help. Sometimes we are placed in a position to help someone who cannot complete a task alone. By being aware of the needs of those around us, we can be instruments in the Lord's hands. --LDS Living, November/December 2007

We Are Here To Accomplish Something

2009-07-21T20:59:00.000-07:00

Scripture: D&C 68.6
"Be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you."

Song:
For Thy Bounteous Blessing, Children Song Book pg21

Lesson:
President Hinkley has told us, "We are here to accomplish something, to bless society with our talents and our learning." Sometimes we are unsure of what our talents maybe.

Read the story Smiles to Share by C.J. Gudmundson, June 2009, Friend.

Ask your children if they have any special talents. Using a piece of posterboard or butcher paper, help your children write or draw pictures of their talents. Explain to them that Heavenly Father gave them these special talents to share with others. Encourage them to use their talents over the next week to bless someone else.

Treat:
Ice cream sundaes

50,000 GIVEAWAY

2009-07-02T21:30:00.001-07:00

In honor of the 50,000 visit to this site, I have decided to give out some FHE FREEBIES! Who doesn't love a freebie?

If you want to be entered into this drawing, please leave your name and e-mail in the comments. The drawings will take place on August 1st, 2009. All winners will be notified by e-mail.

Thank you so much for making my pet project a success!

Jesus Christ Our Savior

2009-06-25T17:48:00.000-07:00

Author: Annalisa Hall
http://ifthouknewest.blogspot.com

Family Activity: (Prepare the word stripes and hid them in the room for the family to find and search the life of Jesus Christ, or paste them around the home in order to follow, optional put a picture from the Gospel Art Kit for each one to teach the children about the Life of Jesus Christ.) Adapted from "Walking Where Jesus Walked," Friend, Feb. 2003, 24

Explain: While Jesus Christ was on the earth, He did many important things. He taught His gospel and showed us how we can return to live with Him and Heavenly Father again. The most important things Jesus did for us were the Atonement and the Resurrection. As you play the game, you will see many of the things that happened in His life.
(1) The shepherds believed the sign of Jesus' birth and went to see Him in Bethlehem.

(See Luke 2:820.)

(2) King Herod sent soldiers to kill all boys two years old or younger. Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus fled to Egypt.

(See Matt. 2:1318.)

(3) Mary and Joseph found young Jesus teaching at the temple in Jerusalem.

(See Luke 2:4152.)

(4) He was baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.

(See Matt. 3:1317.)

(5) Jesus overcame Satan's temptations.

(See Matt. 4:111.)

(6) Jesus was cast out of Nazareth, the city where He grew up.

(See Luke 4:1430.)

(7) Jesus Christ called the Twelve Apostles. They all answered the call and were given the priesthood.

(See Mark 3:1319.)

(8) The Pharisees tried to trick Jesus.

(See Matt. 22:1522.)

(9) He raised Jairus's daughter from the dead.

(See Mark 5:3543.)

(10) He fed 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fishes.

(See Mark 6:3046.)

(11) He calmed the stormy Sea of Galilee.

(See Mark 4:3541.)

(12) He taught the Sermon on the Mount.

(See Matt. 57.)

(13) He walked on the Sea of Galilee.

(See Matt. 14:2233.)

(14) Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

(See John 11:145.)

(15) Jesus cleansed the temple.

(See John 2:1317.)

(16) He performed many miracles.

(See Matt. 9:2735.)

(17) He rode triumphantly into Jerusalem.

(See Luke 19:2838.)

(18) He and the Apostles had the Last Supper.

(See Matt. 26:1730.)

(19) He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and began to suffer for our sins.

(See Matt. 26:3646.)

(20) Jesus was crucified.

(See John 19.)

(21) He is resurrected!

(See Mark 16.)

Showing Family Love

2009-06-23T16:06:00.000-07:00

FHE Lesson Exchange, Author: Margaret in Sandy, UT

Lesson:
Hugs Poem
Author: Shel Silverstein
I will not play at tug o'war.
I'd rather play at hug o'war.
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs,
Where everyone giggles
And rolls on the rug.
Where everyone kisses.
And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins.

Story about a hug
A few years ago, twin girls Brielle and Kyrie were born prematurely to the Jackson family. They were placed in separate incubators to reduce the risk of infection. Kyrie, the larger sister at two pounds three ounces, quickly began gaining weight and calmly slept. But Brielle, who weighed only two pounds at birth, could not keep up with her. Suddenly one day Brielle's condition became critical. The nurse tried everything she could think of to stabilize Brielle. Still Brielle squirmed and fussed as her oxygen intake plummeted and her heart rate soared. Then the nurse remembered a procedure she had heard about. She said to the worried parents, "Let me just try putting Brielle in with her sister to see if that helps." The parents consented, and the nurse slipped the squirming baby into the incubator with the bigger sister. No sooner had the door of the incubator closed than Brielle snuggled up to Kyrie and calmed right down. Within minutes Brielle's blood-oxygen readings were the best they had been since she was born. As she dozed, Kyrie wrapped her tiny arm around her smaller sibling (see Nancy Sheehan, "A Sister's Helping Hand," Reader's Digest, May 1996, 155–56).

The doctors and nurses had tried every medical and scientific device available to help the baby and nothing worked. Nothing could do for the struggling baby what her own sister could do for her. This is what sisters can do for each other. This is what family members can do for each other.

Facts about Hugs
Hugging is good medicine. It transfers energy, and gives the person hugged an emotional boost. You need four hugs a day for survival, eight for maintenance, and twelve for growth. A hug makes you feel good. The skin is the largest organ we have and it needs a great deal of care. A hug can cover a lot of skin and gives the message that you care. It is also a form of communication. It can say things you don't have words for. The nicest thing about a hug is that you usually can't give one without getting one.

---Author Unknown

"Hugging is healthy: it helps the body's immunity system, it keeps you healthier, it cures depression, it reduces stress, it induces sleep, it's invigorating, it's rejuvenating, it has no unpleasant side effects, and hugging is nothing less than a miracle drug.

Hugging is all natural: it is organic, naturally sweet, it has no pesticides, no preservatives, no artificial ingredients, and is 100% wholesome.

Hugging is practically perfect: there are no movable parts, no batteries to replace, no periodic check-ups, has low energy consumption, high energy yield, is inflation-proof, non-fattening, has no monthly payments, no insurance requirements, is theft-proof, non-taxable, non-polluting, and is, of course, fully refundable."

---Sharon Lindsey

Activity
Act out the Hugs poem with the whole family. It is sure to make everyone smile!

Treats
Cookies with Hershey's Hugs on top!

Avoiding Evil

2009-06-20T21:36:00.000-07:00

Author: Marika @ www.completeleeblog.blogspot.com

Object Lesson Games

You will need a spice container (I used a jar of poppy seeds.) and a smooth table for this game. Give each person as many turns as you desire. The object is to slide the jar across the table and get it as close to the edge as possible without it falling off. Next, you need a magnet (I used some from our magnetix toy.) and a small metal object, such as a metal ball, or another magnetix piece. Place the magnet on the table. Give the person the metal object. The goal is to roll or slide the metal object as close as possible to the magnet without getting caught in the magnetic pull and sucked in to the magnet.

The Lesson Learned
In the first game, teach that it is easiest to keep from falling off the table by staying towards the center of the table, just like it is easiest to keep from sin if we keep the Savior as the center of our lives.

The second game demonstrates the way in which Satan works. He will entice you to come a little closer, come a little closer, until you are caught in his magnetic pull and he ensares you. Again the best choice is to draw near to Jesus and stay there. The closer you get to the sin that Satan wants you to do, the easier it is for him to entice you further away from the Lord.

Story
Here's an outline of a little story that demonstrates this principle well. You can add a few embellishments using your own words to make the story a little more realistic and fun. This summary was taken from here. "A stagecoach company owner who was looking for a new driver. He asked how they would approach a dangerous curve. The first two applicants said they would get as close to the edge as possible without toppling over. The final driver said, "I'm going to stay as far from the edge as I can." This man was hired, because the owner trusted him to carry the precious cargo of his wife and children around the curve safely."

Draw near unto Christ
How do we do this? One way is through making the scriptures a strong part of our lives. Here's a scripture trivia game to play. Use masking tape to mark off 3 sections on the floor or table. The first section is worth 2 points, the second 4 points, and the third 6 points. Divide the family into two teams. Team members can choose easy questions or hard questions. Young family members earn 3 points for easy questions. Other family members earn 1 point for easy, 5 points for hard. Once the team member has answered the question, they can earn additional points for their team by tossing a pom pom into one of the marked off sections. (You get to do this even if you miss the question answer.) Play to a certain point amount, certain number of questions, or until you are tired of the game. Here is a site to get some harder questions. Type Book of Mormon trivia questions in to a google or yahoo search and you will get a lot of sites to find more questions. Here are a few easier questions.

The Gadianton ________?
Nephi’s Mother?
The tree of _________?
What were Nephi & Bros supposed to do the first time they went back to Jerusalem?
The B.o.M. contains writings of prophets T/F
What’s the Liahona
Who translated B.o.M.
Jesus visited the Americas T/F
Who cut off arms of Lamanites while tending sheep?
Name one person who got his head cut off?
What is the title of liberty?
What is something that happened in America when Jesus was born?
Name a wicked king
Name a righteous king
Who really took the Lamanites daughters that were dancing?
Tell the story of the brother of Jared
Name the second book in the book of mormon
Name the last book in the book of mormon
Lehi’s youngest son?
4 sons of Mosiah?
Scriptures
Alma 28:13
2 Nephi 28:19-22
Songs
John 14:6 Scripture Song
Teach Me to Walk in the Light

Feast Upon the Word

2009-06-20T21:34:00.000-07:00

Author: Marika @ www.completeleeblog.blogspot.com

Using this recipe, you can have your lesson and treat all in one! Look up the scriptures to fill in the ingredient blanks.

Feast Upon the Word Cookies

3/4 cup _________“The words of his mouth were smoother than ____” (Ps. 55:21)
1/3 cup _________“Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy ____ and honey” (2 Ne. 26:25)
1 1/2 cups _________“To what purpose cometh there to me … the ____ ____ from a far country?” (Jer. 6:20)
2 _________“As one gathereth ____ that are left, have I gathered all the earth” (Isa. 10:14)
2 cups _________“And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine ____” (1 Kgs. 4:22)
1 teaspoon _________“Take thou also unto thee principal spices … and of sweet ____ half so much” (Ex. 30:23)
1 teaspoon _________“Ye are the ____ of the earth” (Matt. 5:13)
1/2 teaspoon _________“The kingdom of heaven is like unto ____ (Matt. 13:33)
3 cups _________“Nevertheless … ____ for the horse” (D&C 89:17)
1 cup _________“And they gave him … two clusters of ____” (1 Sam. 30:12)

To start, beat the first four ingredients together. Next, mix in the remaining ingredients. Then, drop the cookie dough by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Finally, bake at 350° F for about 15 minutes. Enjoy!

Putting Good Things in Our Minds

2009-06-20T21:30:00.000-07:00

Author: Marika @ www.completeleeblog.blogspot.com

Things that are repeated to us over and over again tend to stick with us. For instance, have family members see if they can complete several ad slogans, like these:

Melts in your mouth, not in your hands........................M&M's
Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce.................McDonalds Big Mac
Yo Quiero......................................................Taco Bell
Mmm, mmm, good.............................................Campbell's Soup
Just do it.....................................................Nike
With a name like _____....it has to be good.................Smuckers
Be all that you can be.......................................U.S. Army
Breakfast of champions............................................Wheaties
It keeps going, and going, and going..............................Energizer

Teach that you must be careful about what goes in to your mind. You should always be prepared to have something good to put in to your mind in case something bad pops in. Music is a good way to do this.

There is a talk by Boyd K. Packer (April 2008) that mentions how the mind is like a stage and how to get rid of bad thoughts. He also suggests music as a means to help. Great article to draw from for this lesson.

Demonstrate the idea of the mind being like a stage by using a small, simply constructed stage and finger puppets. Visually show the family Boyd K. Packer's words by acting it out as you share the idea. Have some puppets designated as bad thoughts, others as pure thoughts. Show how the pure thoughts can oust the bad ones.

Spend time memorizing Church hymns and children's songs here. Memorize scriptures using songs here. (all scripture songs are free)

Sweet Sabbath Day

2009-03-15T10:39:00.000-07:00

FHE lesson exchange, author unknown

Preparation:
1~ Print and color the Sabbath Day Chart.

Scripture:
Mosiah 13:16 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."

Opening Song:
The Commandments pg 112

Lesson:
The Sabbath day is a special day that we can use to become closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus. We have been asked to keep it holy. It can be "sweet" if we use our time to worship Heavenly Father and spend time together as a family. If we remember to keep the Sabbath day holy Heavenly Father will bless us.

During the week we should remember each day to prepare for the Sabbath. We want to think ahead on what we are doing on the Sabbath and what we need to do to prepare. What are some things we can do to prepare for the Sabbath?

*Get a good night's sleep
*Take a bath to be clean
*Get any work that needs to be done ahead of time
*Read and prepare for church lessons
*Run errands and do any shopping that needs to be done

Activity:
For the next 14 weeks as a family use the chart included to try a different activity each Sunday. Read the instructions on the word strip and tear them off as they are completed. Remind your family, "It's sweet to honor the Sabbath day!" Keep a bag of candy near the chart and as each activity is included, pick a treat from the bag and tear a strip off of the chart. Once completed talk with your family about the experiences they had with the activities and how it helped them to honor the Sabbath day.

Treat:
Purchase or bake bread on Saturday to serve n Sunday. The Israelites were told not to gather mana (bread) on Sunday but gather enough on Saturday for that day and Sunday (Exodus 16:19-20) What happened when they gathered mana on Sunday (Exodus 16:22-25). How can this teach us to prepare for the Sabbath day?

Testimony Rootbeer Floats

2009-03-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

FHE Lesson Exchange, author unknown.

President Ezra Taft Benson gave a powerful message about the importance of reading the Book of Mormon. Share it with your family, them liken what he said to the root beer floats. The ice cream is you, the root beer is the Book of Mormon. The more you read or immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, the more your testimony (the foam) will grow.

Lesson:
President Ezra Taft Benson said:
[The Book of Mormon] helps us draw nearer to God. Is there nor something deep in our hearts that longs to draw nearer to God, to be more like Him in our daily walk, to feel His presence with us constantly? If so, then the Book of Mormon will help us do so more than any other book.

It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the straight and narrow path. The scriptures are called "the words of life" (see D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance. (Ensign, Nov. 1986)

Discussion Topics:

1~ What is a testimony?
2~ How do we feel it? What does it feel like?
3~ What are some things that might make a testimony get weak?
4~ How can we help our testimonies to grow?

Treat:
Root beer floats
4 scoops vanilla ice cream
6 to 8 cups root beer

Put ice cream in a glass. Pour root beer on the top and see the foam rise!

Devour The Book of Mormon

2009-03-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

FHE Lesson Exchange, author unknown

Preparation:
1~ Print out clip art, making enough copies for each of your children.

Opening Song:
Book of Mormon Stories

Scripture:
Moroni 10:1,10:4

Lesson:
Many years passed, and Mormon grew old. He hid most of the gold plates in the Hill Cumorah so the Lamanites wouldn't find them and destroy them. He gave a few plates to his son, Moroni so he could finish the record.

There was a great battle, and all of the Nephites were killed except Moroni. Moroni hid so he wouldn't be killed, and he wrote on the gold plates what had happened to his people. He also wrote about things Jesus had taught them- how we should bless the sacrament, baptize and confirm people, and many other things.

Moroni also wrote a promise to the Lamanites and everyone who reads the book. He said that we should read the Book of Mormon and pray to know it is true. He promised us that if we have faith, the Holy Ghost will tell us the Book of Mormon is true. (Read the promise in Moroni 10:3-4)

After Moroni finished writing on the plates, he hid them in a stone box on a hill and covered the box with a big rock. Hundreds of years later, Moroni appeared as an angel to Joseph Smith and showed him where to find the plates.

Questions to discuss:

1~ Who was Moroni?
2~ What did Moroni write on the plates?
3~ What did Moroni do with he plates?
4~ What was the promise he made about the Book of Mormon?
5~ After you read the Book of Mormon, will you try the promise?

Treat:
2 pkgs Lemon Jello (4 serving size)
1 pkg cream cheese
1/2 bag minimarshmallows
Container of Cool Whip
1 can crushed pineapple
1/2 c coconut

Mix 1 box of the Jello with hot and cold water as directed on the package. Pour into 13X9 pan. Pinch of small dobs of cream cheese and drop all over the unset Jello. Drop marshmallows onto the Jello. Chill until set. In a mixing bowl, gently mix whipped topping with pineapple and coconut. Spread this mixture on top of set Jello. Cut into squares, so that they look like little golden plates.

Being An Example

2009-03-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

FHE Lesson Exchange, author unknown

Preparation:
1~ Print out the list of activities from below and cut them into strips. Place them in a zip-lock baggie for the game.

Song:
Come Follow Me CS 114

Scripture:
John 8:12
Mathew 5:16

Lesson:
Read the Story, My Sister, My Example

Based on a true story

When I was about eight years old, I lived in Jamaica. Jamaica can be very hot. I was so excited one day when my aunt invited me to go with her and my cousin to the house of a friend who had a swimming pool. A cool pool on a sunny day sounded great.

My mother said I could go but that I couldn’t swim since she didn’t know who would be there to watch us. I told her I would just put my feet in the pool to get cool.

When I got to the house, my cousin immediately jumped in the pool. Some of our other friends came over and started to swim too. Everyone kept begging me to come in the pool, and finally I gave in. It was so hot outside, and I thought my mom wouldn’t know because my aunt said she wouldn’t tell her.

I knew my aunt was wrong to keep secrets from my mother, but I played with my friends for a while in the pool anyway. I was so scared the whole time about what would happen if my mother knew I had disobeyed her. When we got home, my hair was a little wet, even though I had tried to keep it out of the water. My mom asked me if I had gone swimming, and I lied. I told her no. I felt really bad about it for a really long time, but I didn’t want to get in trouble.

A few years later, when my sister, Briélan, was seven, she was invited to go to the beach with some friends and their parents. My mom told her the same thing she had told me: go and have fun, but don’t go swimming. When my sister got to the beach, her friends’ parents told her she could go ahead and swim. They wouldn’t tell her mother, so it would be OK.

Even though my sister thought my mom would never know, she told her friends’ parents that she would not go swimming because her mother had asked her not to, and she wanted to be obedient. The grown-ups tried to convince her it was OK, but she still said no because she knew she should do what was right, and they were trying to get her to do something wrong.

My sister’s day at the beach was just as hot as mine at the pool, and she wanted to swim just as badly as I did. But my little sister became my big example when she chose to honor our parents by obeying them.

When my mom told me this story about my sister, I told her how I had lied to her. She was thankful that I finally told her the truth. She was very proud of my little sister, who had chosen to obey her, and so was I.

Talk with your children about being a good example to others. Explain what the blessings can be when you do what is right.

Activity:
Play the game "Drama or Draw".
To play: divide into two teams, sitting across from each other. Take turns drawing a word strip from the bad and read it silently. Option One~ DRAMA. Act out the activity. Option Two~ DRAW. Draw the activity. The first team to guess wins a point for their team. Play until the wordstrips run out.

Drama or Draw List
Go to church
Drive reckless
Read the scriptures
Rollerblade across your neighbors yard
Spend tithing money
Do the dishes
Swear
Eat healthy foods
Pay extra on parent’s fast offerings
Be nice to everyone
Share a candy bar
Shovel snow for your neighbor
Pay tithing
Share your testimony
Contribute to the missionary fund
Keep your room clean
Gossip
Read to children
Borrow a pair of sunglasses and won’t return them
Be kind to others
Walk the dog
Do homework
Visit the sick
Watching a bad television show
Dress immodestly
Skip School
Study for a hard test
Smoke
Dress modestly

Treat:
Flap Jacks ~Alisha's recipe~
1 cup Butter (not margarine)
1/2 cup light brown sugar
4 Tablespoons Golden Syrup or Honey
2 cups oats

Melt the butter, brown sugar and golden syrup or honey together. Add oats and pour into an 8x8" pan bake at 350 for 50 - 55 minutes. Let cool for at least an hour before serving as it will be extremely hot! I sometimes melt chocolate and pour it over the top. Or alot of times I will chop up some of my favorite nuts and add them as well as some dried fruit. Berries are the best in my opinion! Plus with the fruit and nuts it is definitely more healthy. These are delish!!

I Will Go and Do

2009-02-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

Families in Zion, some things changed to fit our family

PURPOSE
To help family members better understand the blessings that come from being obedient

MATERIALS
Envelopes for treasure hunt
Story, The King’s Emerald (below)
Paper for clues
A treat for the treasure hunt

SONG SUGGESTION
“Nephi’s Courage” page 120 in Children’s Songbook

LESSON IDEAS
1. Pre-lesson preparation:
a. Prepare and hide the envelopes (see Treasure Hunt Preparation below)
b. Hide the treasure
2. Share the story, The King’s Emerald (below)
a. Ask your family, “Why was Rupert able to find the king’s emerald?” (He
was obedient)
3. Using Book of Mormon Stories (chapter 4) or the Book of Mormon Stories DVD
(or in your own words) tell the story of Nephi and his brothers going back to
Jerusalem to get the plates of brass.
a. Tell your family to listen closely because it will help them solve the
questions for the treasure hunt.
4. Treasure Hunt:
a. Tell your children that they are going to have a chance to find a special
treasure, but the only way is to be obedient like Nephi and follow the
instructions.
b. Explain that there are five envelopes that contain clues. If they answer the
question on the outside of each envelope they can open it and read what’s
inside. Inside each envelope are instructions to able to find the next
envelope. (Parents can adapt the questions and the clues according to the
situation and the age of the children.)
c. Give them Envelope #1.
5. Testify that if we are always obedient to what the Lord asks we shall be happy
and blessed.

STORY
The King’s Emerald
Rupert stood by the side of the road watching an unusual number of people hurry
past. At length he recognized a friend. 'Where are all of you going in such a hurry?' he
asked.
The friend paused, 'Haven't you heard?' he said.
'I've heard nothing,' Rupert answered.
'Well,' continued his friend, 'the King has lost his royal emerald! Yesterday he
attended a wedding of the nobility and wore the emerald on the slender golden chain
around his neck. In some way the emerald became loosened from the chain. Everyone is
searching, for the King has offered a reward of ten pieces of gold to the one who finds it.
Come, we must hurry.
'But I cannot go without asking grandmother,' faltered Rupert.
'Then I cannot wait. I want to find the emerald,' replied his friend.
Rupert hurried back to the cabin at the edge of the woods to seek his
grandmother's permission. 'If I could find it we could leave this hut with its dampness
and buy a piece of land up on the hillside,' he pleaded with grandmother.
But his grandmother shook her head. 'What would the sheep do,' she asked.
'Already they are restless in the pen, waiting to be taken to the pasture and please do not
forget to take them to water when the sun shines high in the heavens.'
Sorrowfully, Rupert took the sheep to the pasture and at noon he led them to the
brook in the woods. There he sat on a large stone by the stream. 'If I could only have had
a chance to look for the King's emerald,' he thought.
Turning his head to gaze down at the sandy bottom of the brook, suddenly he
stared into the water. What was it? It could not be! He leaped into the water, and his
gripping fingers held something that was green with a slender bit of gold chain. 'The
King's emerald!' he shouted. It must have been flung from the chain when the King was
crossing the bridge, on the highway, and the water washed it here. With shining eyes
Rupert ran to his grandmother's hut to tell her of his great find.
'Bless you, my boy,' she said, 'but you never would have found it if you had not
been doing your duty, herding the sheep.'
And Rupert knew that this was the truth (Ensign, Nov 1999, 49).

TREASURE HUNT PREPARATION
Envelope #1:
 On the outside of the envelope – “What was Nephi told to go and do?” (Bring
back the brass plates)
 On the inside – “When we are obedient the Lord will answer our prayers. Look
for your next clue where you usually say your prayers.”
Envelope #2:
 On the outside of the envelope – “Who asked Nephi to go back and get the plates
– Lehi or the Lord?” (The Lord)
 On the inside – “When we are obedient to the Lord and keep the commandments
we will be washed of all our sins. Look for your next clue in a place where our
family washes.”
Envelope #3:
 On the outside of the envelope – “Nephi and his brothers walked back to what
city to get the plates?” (Jerusalem)
 On the inside – “When we are obedient the Lord will guide us wherever we go.
Look for your next clue in the place where you keep your shoes.” (Closet)
Envelope #4
 On the outside of the envelope – “Who came to protect Nephi and Sam when
Laman and Lemuel were hitting them with sticks?” (An angel)
 On the inside – “When we are obedient the Lord will protect us. Look for your
next clue in the book that teaches us about angels.” (The scriptures)
Envelop #5:
 On the outside of the envelope: “How did Nephi’s parents feel when he brought
back the plates?” (Happy)
 On the inside – “Obedience makes us happy. Look in the place that keeps our
food cold and you will find a treat that will make your mouth happy!”

Give Them A Heart Attack

2009-01-29T20:26:00.001-08:00

PREPARATION:
1. Copy and cut the clip art (enough for 5-10 hearts per child)
2. Picture of your family.

OPENING SONG: Love At Home
SCRIPTURE: Mosiah 4:15
"But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another."

LESSON:
Heavenly Father gave each one of us a loving family. Take a look at our family photo. Could you imagine if one member of our family was missing? (Wait for their responses) We are meant to be with the parents, brothers and sisters we have.

Sometimes it is easy to get angry with our family. When we do this a dark cloud is placed over our home. Heavenly Father is sad when we argue, fight, lie, and talk back to our parents. He wants us to have a bright and cheery home and lots of love for each other.

ACTIVITY:
Give each child a stack of hearts. Have them pick a family member to give a heart attack to. On the hearts either draw or write things that that family member has done to show love at home. When you are done, tape all of the hearts to the bedroom doors as a reminder for the week of what they can and have done to make a positive impact on your family.

TREAT:
Vanilla ice cream covered in strawberry or raspberry sauce with mini Hersey Kisses on top.

Follow the Recipe!

2009-01-29T20:21:00.000-08:00

FHE lesson exchange, author Families in Zion
PREPARATION:
A recipe for cookies
Pre-baked cookies (without using a recipe)
Pre-baked cookies (using a recipe)
A set of scriptures

LESSON:
1. Explain that you wanted to make cookies for the group but didn’t have a recipe.
Because of that you had to guess on:
The needed ingredients
The baking temperature
The baking time

2. Show them the cookies you baked without using a recipe (these should not look or
taste good!) Ask if anyone would like to try one.

3. Explain that in life there is something much more important than making cookies.
It is finding true happiness!
Help listeners understand that many people struggle in finding happiness
because they don’t have the ‘recipe’.
Ask, “Where can we find Heavenly Father’s recipe for happiness?”
Hold up a set of scriptures
4. Testify that Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to be happy so He put the
recipe for happiness in the scriptures. You may want to share the following quote:

President Gordon B. Hinckley: “The way of the Lord is the way of
happiness. >Wickedness never was happiness= [Alma 41:10]. Transgression never was happiness. Sin never was happiness. Disobedience never was happiness. The way of happiness is following the way of the Lord. I believe this with all my heart” (Ensign, Aug. 1997, 3).

5. Bring out the pre-baked cookies you made using a recipe.
Hold up the recipe.
Tell them how easy it was to make when you used the recipe.
Allow the group to taste the difference between the cookies!
Testify that happiness is easy when we follow the our Father’s recipe.

Heavenly Father Has Given Us A Plan

2009-01-20T17:47:00.000-08:00

Preparation:
1. Gather scriptures, crayons and paper.
2. Copy/cut clip art.

Scripture:
Alma 32:30 "For behold it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith?...For ye will say I know that this is a good seed."

Opening Song:
Families are Forever

Lesson:
This is a picture of the Brown family. Recently the Brown's adopted a cute puppy named Sasha. As a family, they decided that Sasha needed a dog house. In order to build this dog house the family need to come up with a plan. The plan is important because it gives the family detailed instructions of what is needed to make a big beautiful dog house.
Heavenly Father has also given us a plan to follow. It is called the Plan of Salvation. In Heavenly Father's plan we were part of a council in heaven and given the choice to follow the plan of our Savior and come to this earth to experience life as we now it.

This plan of happiness allows us to have a family and time to learn from that family what is right and what is wrong. We learn through our time here how to exercise our free agency and make choices for ourselves. With this plan, if we make a mistake, Heavenly Father gives us the opportunity to ask for forgiveness and make good on our wrong doing.

When we die, we get to go to the spirit world and spend time with our family and friends that passed on before us. We will wait with them until Jesus Christ is resurrected and we are judged.

Heavenly Father's plan allows us to return to live with him and have our families for eternity.

Activity:
Draw a family photo, share your pictures with each other. At the top of the pictures write "Our family is eternal thanks to the Plan of Salvation" and display in your home.

Treat:
Kix Treats
8 cups Kix cereal
1 16 ounce package small marshmallows
1/4 cup butter

Melt butter in the microwave. Add the package of marshmallows and heat for 1 minute 50 seconds. Stir until smooth and the cereal a little at a time until mixed well. Place in a pre-greased pan and press down. Let cool and serve.

Playdoh World

2008-12-29T05:43:00.001-08:00

FHE Lesson Exchange, author unknown

Preparation:
1- Gather different types of Playdoh.
2- Scriptures

Song:
All Things Bright and Beautiful CS231

Scripture:
Palms 82:6

Lesson:
What are we? We are children of our Heavenly Father. we have the potential to become Gods and Goddesses like Him. If we have faith, obey the commandments, follow the prophet, etc., we can become like our Heavenly Father.

Heavenly father has a tremendous amount of power. Read Mosiah 4:9. Heavenly Father has created all things in heaven and on earth including us. To be like Him and to have power such as His is our potential. Have every family member say something that we must do to be worthy to return to Heavenly father and be like Him. Examples are: read, study, ponder the scriptures, love one another, pray constantly, attend church meetings, etc.

If we are righteous, we will be able to become like Heavenly father. If we achieve our full potential, we will have the opportunity to create our own worlds.

Activity;
Use the Playdoh to sculpt things that Heavenly Father has created. Examples maybe: plants, animals, people, trees, homes, etc.

Treat:
3 Minute No-bake Cookies
2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons peanut butter
3 cups quick oats

In large saucepan, combine sugar, butter, milk, cocoa and salt. Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Continue boiling 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla and peanut butter; stirring until peanut butter is melted. Add oats and mix well.
Drop by tablespoonfuls onto waxed paper. Let stand until firm. Store tightly covered.
Makes about 3 dozen.

Christmas Music and Jesus Christ

2008-12-01T11:53:00.000-08:00

FHE lesson exchange, author unknown.

Preparation:
1- Gather Hymnbooks, Children's Songbook and Scriptures.

Opening Prayer

Song:
Skip this for now. You will be singing for the activity.

Lesson:
Read D&C 136:28.

Music is a very important part of worship. It invites the spirit into our hearts. Unfortunately, often we sing songs without really knowing or paying attention to the words. Turn to the Christmas songs in the Hymnbook an Children's Songbook. Allow a family member to pick a favorite song. sing and enjoy the song. Then go through the song verse by verse. Understand what that song is about. Sing and review a song choice for each family member.
Christmas is all about the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Singing and understanding these beautiful songs will help us to focus and keep the true spirit of the holiday season.

Use this discussion to challenge your children to keep the true focus of Christmas this year on Christ and not toys or other things that commercialize the holiday.

Closing Prayer

Treat:
Holiday Peppermint Slices
1 package refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract, divided
red food coloring
green food coloring

Remove dough from the wrapper. Cut the dough into thirds. Combine 1/3 of the dough, 1/8 teaspoon peppermint extract and red food coloring. Beat until tinted. Repeat with the second 1/3 of dough, remaining 1/8 teaspoon of peppermint extract and green food coloring.

To assemble, shape each portion of dough into 8-inch rolls. Place the red beside the green; press together. Add the plain roll on top. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut the dough into 1/4 inch slices and bake 8-9 minutes.

The Gift of the Scriptures

2008-12-01T11:37:00.000-08:00

FHE exchange, author unknown.

Preparation:
1- Gather scriptures, empty box and wrapping paper.
2- Wrap the scriptures in the box.

Opening Prayer

Song:
Search, Ponder and Pray

Activity:
Place the wrapped box under your Christmas tree. Explain to them that there is something wonderful inside. It is a gift from Heavenly Father. This gift will help us to live so that we may return home to him. Give the Children the chance to guess what is inside the box.

Let them unwrap the box and remove the scriptures. The scriptures are stories of our ancestors. Ancestors are people who lived a long time before us. The scriptures also guide us and let us know what Heavenly Father wants us to do. If we listen to his words, learn from the stories, and follow Jesus' example, we will be able to live with our Heavenly Father again.

Read D&C 33:16.

Give every family member the opportunity to share a favorite scripture or scripture story. Have them explain, if they can, why it is their favorite. What was learned? How did it make you want to change your life?

Closing Prayer

Treats:
Cocoa-Walnut Crescents
1 cup margarine/butter
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 2/3 cup flour
1 cup walnuts finely chopped

Beat butter and sugar in a large bowl. Blend in cocoa, vanilla and salt. Mix in flour and walnuts until mixed well. Refrigerate 1 hour. Shape dough into small crescent shapes and cook for 15-18 minutes at 325 degrees.

My Testimony ROCKS!

2008-11-18T16:42:00.001-08:00

FHE lesson exchange, author unknown

Preparation:
1. Copy/Print the Tic-tac-toe board.
2. Gather 10 rocks from the yard.

Opening Song:
The Church of Jesus Christ
pg. 312, Children's Song Book

Scripture:
"And this life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent." John 17:3

Lesson:
Talk about what a testimony is and why it is important to have one. Also talk about the fundamental parts of a testimony - Jesus is our Savior, Joseph Smith restored the gospel, We are children of our Heavenly father who loves us, and whichever other parts you wish to include.

You and your husband share your testimonies with your children. Let them know and understand that you believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Game:
Testimony Tic-tac-toe
1. Get out the game board and give each 2 players 5 rocks.
2. The first player to place 3 rocks in a row wins.
3. The winner must bear their testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ by sharing something they know is true.

Treat:
Testimony Rocks Biscuits
Mix the following ingredients, form them into 3-inch balls, place on a greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart, and bake at 400 degrees for 15-17 minutes.
3/4 c milk
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c butter
1 tsp salt
2 eggs (beaten)
2 tsp baking powder
3 1/4 c grated mozzarella/cheddar cheese

PHAT Turkey

2008-11-12T13:43:00.000-08:00

This idea came to me as a way to celebrate the life of a young girl who loved life and this time of year. Use this turkey to help your children be thankful for all that they have in their lives. Be grateful and thankful for friends, family, loved ones, ect. that may come and go but change us a little along the way. We love and miss you Sid! I have attached Sid's favorite cookies that she would PHAT turkey all of her neighbors with. Hope you enjoy.

I Will Say Thanks

2008-11-10T07:40:00.000-08:00

FHE Lesson exchange, author unknown

Preparation:
1. Copy "Thank Ewe" notes, one for each family member.

Opening Song:
My Heavenly father Loves Me

Scripture:
D&C 78:19
"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."

Lesson:
Share the story of the 10 Lepers in Luke 17:11-19. Ask these questions when finished:

* Why did this man come back to Jesus?
* What did the other men do?
* What should we thank Heavenly Father and Jesus for?
* Whom else should we thank?
* How do you feel when you say "thank you" to someone?
* How do you feel when someone says "thank you" to you?

Just before ending the lesson thank each child for something well they have done during FHE.

Activity:
Help your children learn to express their appreciation for others using the "thank you" cards. Color the card and have your child give it to someone who made a difference in their lives.

Treat:
finger food that your children are thank-ful for; raisins, crackers, marshmallow, etc. before they eat, they must say "thank you".

Title of Liberty

2008-11-10T07:08:00.000-08:00

FHE Lesson exchange, author unknown

Preparation:
1. Copy Title of Liberty Paper. One for each family member.
2. Materials to create your own Title of Liberty Flag

Opening Song:
Choose The Right Way

Lesson:
Tell the story of Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty found in Alma 46. Give each member of your family one of the Title of Liberty papers and have them write or draw something they believe in or stand for.

Activity:
Using the materials around your house, create a Title of Liberty flag to display in your home. Have your children place items or draw what your family stands for: honesty, trustworthy, faithful, ect.

Treat:
Flag Rice Krispie Treats
8 1/2 cups rice krispies
1 large bag of marshmallows
1/4 cup melted butter

Melt butter in a microwave safe bowl. Add marshmallow and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Stir marshmallows and butter until blended add the rice krispies. Mix well. Press into a pan and cool. Cut into rectangles and decorate with frosting to look like flags.

Trials and Challenges

2008-11-04T07:52:00.000-08:00

FHE lesson exchange, author unknown

Preparation:
1. Copy and print out clip art.
2. Cut out Mountain and tape together. Cut along dotted lines and tape on a wall.
3. Cut out boy and all other clip art.

Lesson:

Read 2 Nephi 31:20. Talk about what it means.

Tell this story about a boy that always wanted to climb a mountain. Everyone told him he couldn't do it but he knew he could. So he got some things together and set out to climb the mountain. (Put the boy in the lowest slot.) The boy climbed and climbed and came to a snake (tape the snake next to the boy at the second slot). He was afraid of snakes. He though maybe he should go back home, maybe he couldn't climb the mountain.Do you think he should keep going?

He decided to keep going. He wanted to endure to the end

Continue the story, placing the boy closer to the top at each stop. Use the pictures to tell of the different struggles he has

Band-aid - He fell and skinned his knee
Drink - He got thirsty
Snow - He started getting cold

Finally, the boy made it to the top. He reached his goal even though he had problems. He endured to the end

We can have different struggles in life. What are some things that make it hard for us to do good.

If we try our best, all we can do, then we can return to live with our Heavenly Father.

Reread 2 Nephi 31:20

Bare testimony that when we endure to the end, we will be blessed.

Baptism

2008-11-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

FHE lesson exchange, author unknown.
"Great for a talk on Baptism"

Preparation:
1. Print the letters: B A P T I S M
2. Tape

Use these letters to talk about baptism. For younger children, talk about each letter and let them tape it on the wall. For older children, give them the letter and have them tell all they know about what is written on it, and what it has to do with baptism, for example, "P" - partaking of the sacrament - is what we do to renew our baptismal covenants.

You may want to put them up in a different order, depending on the topic you want to talk about first. You may want to use the "B" first or last though, so you can introduce or conclude with "Baptism"

Talk about the experience when you were baptized. Or tell about when your ancestors first joined the church and their experiences getting baptized.

Bare your testimony about the importance of baptism.

Responsibility: Teaching Our Children The Value of Work

2008-10-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

FHE Lesson Exchange, author unknown

Objective:
To teach our children the value of work and the important role they play in creating a happy and peaceful atmosphere in the home.

Preparation:
1. Before FHE, create a “mess” in the room where you will be holding FHE (i.e. laundry basket with clothes to be folded sitting in middle of the room, random toys on the floor, books/magazines out of place, jackets and shoes piled on the floor.) The idea is that you want it to look like an obvious mess, but be something the family can work together to quickly clean up.
2. Copy/Print clip art for the story.

Scripture:
D&C 88:119

Song:
When We’re Helping - CS 196

Lesson/Discussion:
After singing the opening song and having a prayer, ask the family if they notice anything wrong in the room. Ask a series of questions such as:

Why is the room a mess?
Whose job is it to clean up the mess?

Explain the roles of each person in the family such as Dad works to earn money for our families needs, Mom cares for our home and the kids, children go to school to learn, etc. (Come up with roles that are appropriate for your family situation and the ages of your children.) Explain that each member of the family has responsibilities that help the home and family run smoothly. When someone does not fulfill their responsibilities, it leaves more work for other members of the family and can affect the feeling of love and peace in the home.

Work together to quickly clean up the room and put all items away in their appropriate places before continuing on with the lesson.

Story:
Changing Chores, Friend, May 2005

Activity:
Use the attached recipe or one of your own (preferably one that is simple to prepare.) Put each person in charge of one ingredient and/or one specific job (i.e. stirring, popping corn, turning on the oven for a recipe that requires cooking.) Work together to follow the recipe until it is completed (or until it goes into the oven to cook.) Discuss again the importance of each person doing their part in order for the recipe to turn out right. If even one person does not do their part (perhaps if an ingredient is left out) then the recipe will not turn out correctly. Tie this in to the earlier discussion about doing our part and carrying out our responsibilities.

Refreshment:
Easy Carmel Corn

Reverence

2008-10-02T23:20:00.000-07:00

Author: Tina Felt

Main Idea:
Reverence is a special feeling of love and respect that should be reflected in actions, words, and attitudes.

“Children are not born with the concepts which produce reverence, nor can these concepts be matured in them suddenly…. But by and large, children in their early years and most of them in later years will be just about as reverent as they are trained to be, and no more.”

Opening Song:
Reverently, Quietly

Opening Prayer:

Lesson:
Have you ever thought what it means to be reverent? Reverence is a special feeling of Respect and Love. It is a feeling close to our Heavenly Father. It is caring about others, showing respect for them and being courteous to them. When we love our Heavenly Father, our families, friends, leaders, and teachers, we will respect them. We show our special feeling of love and respect for others by REVERENCE. When we listen to our parents, teachers, and leaders and do what they want us to do because we respect and love them, we are being reverent, as Heavenly Father expects us to be.

Poem: REVERENCE, find it down below. (Have members of the family hold up the different letters as the poem is being recited either by a parent or an older child who can read and take part.)

Our chapel is a sacred place where we should be reverent and show respect to our Heavenly Father. A sacred place is a holy place, a place where Heavenly Father’s spirit may be felt.
Happy and Sad Chapels: Hold up the picture of a sad chapel and ask your children what this is a picture of. Tell them that :
1. This is a picture of a sad chapel.
2. The children in this chapel were very noisy
3. They didn’t sign the songs well at all
4. Some children talked without raising their hands
5. A lot of the children came late
6. There was talking during the prayer
7. The children in this chapel didn’t show love and respect for our Father in Heaven

Hold up the picture of the happy chapel and ask your children what this is a picture of. Tell them that:
1. This is a picture of a happy chapel
2. The children were quiet during their meetings
3. Everyone was reverent
4. All of the children sang their songs well
5. No one whispered to their neighbors
6. The children sat quietly in their chairs
7. The children folded their arms and closed their eyes during the prayer
8. They walked quietly in the halls
9. They showed their Heavenly Father how much they loved and respected Him through their reverent actions.
Which one of these chapels do we have? Let’s all try to make our chapel a happy chapel.

“One of the most Christ-like qualities we ought to develop is reverence, an attitude that shows how we feel about Heavenly Father and the things He has asked us to do… Reverence is more than just being quiet. It is a spiritual communication between us and our Father in Heaven. When we are reverent, we don’t do anything that reflects negatively upon the Lord or His Church.” Vaugh J. Featherstone

Reverence is a special feeling that helps us feel near to Heavenly Father and makes us want to show by our actions, words, and attitudes how much we love him.

Closing Song: Father, I will Reverent Be

Closing Prayer:

Refreshments: Frosted animal cookies with ice cream.

REVERENCE POEM:
Use cards with each letter to spell reverence and have the children hold each card as they give the poem.

R: Reverence is true respect
For Jesus whom we love.
And for this chapel where we meet
To worship him above.

E: Each child should come in quietly
No push, nor jump, nor run,
But be polite and orderly
Until the meetings done.

V: Very softly we should speak
And yet distinct and clear
The soft sweet tones of children
Our Savior likes to hear.

E: Every child should fold his arms
And while the prayer is said
Should close his eyes and listen
And always bow his head.

R: Remember, little children,
Be courteous and true,
Be kind to one another
For, this is reverence too

E: Enter here with happy thoughts
But don’t be rough and loud
For Jesus loves a smiling face
But not a noisy crowd.

N: Neat and tidy we should be
With faces shining bright
And if our thoughts are clean and pure
We’ll always do what’s right.

C: Cleanliness is reverence
Let’s try in all we do
To keep the chapel neat and clean
Now and the whole week through.

E: Everyone should reverent be
In every act and word
When we are in the Savior’s house,
The chapel of the Lord.

Nephi Was Courageous

2008-09-23T22:36:00.001-07:00

FHE Exchange, author unknown

Preparation:
1. Cut/print game pieces for Nephi Game.
2. Make or purchase waffles

Opening Song:
Nephi's Courage

Scripture:
1 Nephi 3:7
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

Lesson:
Using the scriptures re-tell your children the story of Nephi and the brass plates.
1 Nephi: 3-4

Activity:
Play the game "Help Nephi Build His Boat"

Treats:
Wilderness Waffles
Take a waffle and cut it into small triangles. Place the triangles with the larger end on the bottom and the smaller end at the top, they should be on opposite sides so they will stand up. It should look like fire or a t-pee. Serve with warm syrup or powdered sugar.

How Would You Change?

2008-09-23T15:33:00.000-07:00

This video is more for adults and older children 8+ years old. It has an awesome message, thank you to Davidkat99 for putting this together.

Lesson:
Show the following video to your family. After the video ask your children what you can do to make changes and prepare for the second comming of Jesus Christ.

Random Acts of Kindness

2008-09-18T11:25:00.000-07:00

Preparation:
1. Cut pieces of paper into long strips 4"x8 1/2 "
2. Collect Markers
3. Purchase sticky tabs

Opening Song:
If The Savior Stood Beside Me

Scripture:
"By small and simple things are great things brought to pass"
Alma 37:6

Lesson:
To teach children that little random acts of kindness can go a long way.

Ask your children how it feels when someone does something nice for them. Ask them what it would take to make them smile. Read the kindness poem.

Kindness
By Lana Krumwiede

Kindness looks for ways to help.
Kindness lets a friend go first.

Kindness tries to keep the peace.
Kindness never thinks the worst.

Kindness plays with everyone.
Kindness gives a loving touch.

Kindness speak with gentle words.
Kindness never takes too much.

Kindness cares and kindness knows.
Kindness shares and kindness shows.

Activity:
Idea from NeiNei's blog
Have your children help create "Happy Fortunes". They can decorate them with pictures, stickers, etc. Attaching the "read me" stickies on them.

Popular fortunes include:
"you are special"
"someone loves you"
"God loves you"
"you are beautiful"
"you are perfect"
"you are like a rainbow"
"you are pretty like a unicorn"
and so on and so forth.

Once you have your fortunes made, go to a public place and hide them. The idea is to leave them so total strangers can pick them up and get a "Happy Fortune" told to them. Be prepared to see the smiles on their faces. It is awesome!

Family Night Phantom

2008-09-11T10:02:00.000-07:00

Found on The Idea Door, made some changes to fit our family.

My children love to do this is in our ward during the fall months leading up to Halloween. We say a prayer and spend our time decorating the treat bags. My husband will usually talk to our children about little acts of kindness and then off we go to deliver our treats.

The Ugly Truth

2008-09-11T09:25:00.000-07:00

Preparation:

1. Purchase a container of chocolate syrup

2. Print clip art and Mormon Ad to display

3. Prepare Dirt Pie for the treat

4. Have paper towels or baby wipes close by.

Scripture:

Psalm 34:13

Opening Song:

I'm Trying To Be Like Jesus

Lesson:

Object Lesson~

1- Start off with putting your family in a circle. Squirt some chocolate sauce in one childs hand, ask them to grab hold of another member of your families hand. When everyone in the family has chocolate sauce on their hands, explain that this is similar to talking about someone. It can start out as innocent or only telling the truth, but the more people that know, the more the story can get changed and become dirty.

2-Play an old fashioned game of telephone. Tell a member of your family a secret and ask them to spread it along. When the last person has be told, ask them to tell you what they heard. See if it matches with what the starting message was.

Read the story using clip art~

Heather Kirby, “Girlfriends and Gossip,” Friend, Sep 2008, 40–42
(Based on a true story)Let us oft speak kind words to each other (Hymns, no. 232).

“Hurry, Heather, or you’ll miss the bus.” Mom handed me a granola bar. “I guess that’s breakfast.”

“My bus driver won’t let us eat on the bus, but he eats all the time,” I grumbled. “And he doesn’t need to—he’s a big guy!”

Mom frowned. “Heather …”

“Oh.” I blinked. “That wasn’t very nice, was it?”

Mom shook her head. “Sometimes you say unkind things without thinking. You need to be careful.”

On the bus, I looked for my best friend, Amber, at her stop, but only her little sister Rachel got on.
“Where’s Amber?” I asked.

“She’s sick,” Rachel said, lisping. “Can I sit here?”

“I guess,” I said, sliding over. Rachel was always hanging around Amber and me. She was all right, but Amber was my best friend, not her. Rachel was a little different, with her thick glasses and funny way of talking.

At recess, I played dodgeball with my friends, but I missed Amber. Then I noticed the new girl, Megan. She stood at the edge of the playground. I walked up to her. “Do you want to play dodgeball with us?”

After school, when Megan and I got on the same bus, we sat together. I told her about the other kids.

“That’s Carlos. He’s the smartest kid in our grade—but I beat him in reading! Over there are Caitlin and Jessica. They live on my street. And that’s Matt. He plays soccer.”
“Who’s that with the glasses?” Megan asked.

“That’s Rachel. She’s my best friend’s little sister.” I paused. “She has a speech impediment.”

“What?”

“She talks funny. But she’s going to a class to help her.”

“Nice glasses.” Megan snickered. “I’ve never seen them so thick.”

I had a sinking feeling in my stomach. Sure, Rachel sometimes annoyed me when Amber and I were playing, but she was a nice girl. And now Megan was making fun of her.

I changed the subject. We talked about other things, and soon I forgot about Rachel and the sinking feeling I’d had.

The next day, I was happy to see Amber back at school.

“I know how to make dodgeball even better,” she said at recess. “When you get out, you have to sing a silly song and do a dance.” She demonstrated for us.

“I can see that weirdness runs in your family,” Megan said, laughing as she turned to me. She seemed to expect me to laugh too.

“What are you talking about?” Amber asked. “You don’t even know my family.”

Megan smiled, but it wasn’t a nice smile. “Heather said your sister is retarded!”

My mouth fell open.

“Heather is my best friend,” Amber cried. “She wouldn’t say that!”

“Well, she did. Ask her!” Megan smirked.

Everyone looked at me. “I didn’t say that,” I whispered, “but I did say that she talked funny.”

Amber’s face fell. I glanced down, not wanting to see her hurt expression. “I shouldn’t have, though,” I added quickly. “It doesn’t matter. Rachel’s great!”

“My sister’s not retarded,” Amber said to Megan. “But even if she were, it wouldn’t be nice to make fun of her.”

Megan folded her arms. “Fine. Let’s just play.”

As everyone lined up, I turned to Amber. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s OK,” she said. But her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.

After school, Mom asked, “Why so glum, Heather?”

“I think I did something wrong. I was telling a new girl about people, and I said Rachel talked funny. Amber found out, and it made her sad. I don’t know why I said it, Mom. But it wasn’t like I was lying!”

“Oh, Heather.” Mom sat across from me. “Yes, Rachel has a speech impediment. But that doesn’t have to be the first thing you say about her.”

“It’s not even an important thing about Rachel,” I agreed.

“Do you know what gossip is?” Mom asked.

“Not exactly.”

“It’s when you talk about people when they’re not around,” she explained. “It doesn’t matter if the things you say are true or not. They don’t need to be said.”

I thought about that as I went to my room to do homework. When I got there, a hymn popped into my head. I ran and grabbed a hymnbook, opening it to “Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words” (Hymns, no. 232).

I’d always liked the song because in the first verse it has the word heather—like my name. But I realized I should have paid more attention to the part about speaking kind words to—and about—each other. Rachel was a good person, and my friend, and it didn’t matter if she had a speech impediment. I decided that when I talked about a person, I would focus on her good qualities.

Later, at Amber’s house, after we had decided to dress up as movie stars, I noticed Rachel peeking around the door.

“Let’s not forget Rachel,” I said, opening the door and throwing my arm around her. “It’s always more fun with you!”

Rachel beamed at me, and when Amber smiled it lit up her whole face.
“Use language that uplifts, encourages, and compliments others.”

As with the story, sometimes things we may hear or say are true. But when we talk about others, we are still gossiping. Once we say something about someone else it can never be taken back.

Heavenly Father is disappointed in us when we talk about others. He wants us to look for the good in everyone. Gossiping only hurts innocent people because most of the time what is said isn't true.

Treat:
Dirt Pie

1 large bag oreo cookies 1 c. 10x sugar

1/2 stick softened butter 1 (8 oz.) pkg. softened cream cheese

2 boxes instant vanilla pudding 3 1/2 c. milk

1 (12 oz.) container cool whip

Chop Oreo cookies in food processor until cookies look like dirt. Mix butter, cream cheese and sugar together until smooth. Blend pudding, milk and Cool Whip together.
Combine pudding and cream cheese mixture together until lumps are smooth. In 9 X 13 pan, layer cookie mixture then pudding mixture, leaving enough cookie mixture for the top. Decorate with gummy worms on top.

Heavenly Father, Are You Really There?

2008-09-08T16:06:00.000-07:00

Preparation:
1. Collect rocks from the yard, wash them and dry them.
2. Collect paints, markers, stickers, etc.

Song:
I Am A Child of God

Scripture:
"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." (Mark 11:24)

Lesson:
Children's Friend, September 2008; author: Linda Christensen

When Jesus lived on the earth, many people came to listen to His words. They brought their children so Jesus could bless them, but the disciples told them to go away. Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14). Jesus loved the children and blessed them.

The Primary song “A Child’s Prayer” reminds us of that scripture story and teaches us about prayer.

Heavenly Father, are you really there?
And do you hear and answer ev’ry child’s prayer?
Some say that heaven is far away,
But I feel it close around me as I pray.
Heavenly Father, I remember now
Something that Jesus told disciples long ago:
“Suffer the children to come to me.”
Father, in prayer I’m coming now to thee.

Heavenly Father loves you. You are His child. He wants you to pray to Him often—anytime, anywhere. The next verse of this song reminds you to pray.

Pray, he is there;
Speak, he is list’ning.
You are his child;
His love now surrounds you.
He hears your prayer;
He loves the children.
Of such is the kingdom,
The kingdom of heav’n.
Children’s Songbook.

Activity:
Help your children make a prayer rock. Have them decorate it however they would like. Explain that you place it on the floor by your bedside. That way when you get out of bed or go to bed, it will remind you to pray.

Treat:
Warm Chocolate Chip Cookies

God's Power Within You

2008-09-08T11:41:00.001-07:00

FHE Exchange, author unknown

Preparation:
1. Print Goliath and take it to the UPS store or Kinkos to be blown up by 600%. Or you can create your own with a plastic drop cloth or butcher paper.
2. Make the sling using fabric or vinyl. (directions are below)
3. Purchase marshmellows.

Song: Choose the Right

Scripture:
Be Faithful, and yield to no temptation. (D&C 9:13)

Subject:
We face giant temptations, but they can be overcome. President Gordon B. Hinckley names some of these giants and explains how we can defeat them.

Lesson:
Gordon B. Hinckley, "Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice: God's Power Within You," Friend, January 2002
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 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 9 feet tall.

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 unto me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will 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 such [size].

Now, while 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 Sa. 17:33)
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?”

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.

FIVE STONES
Today their are "Goliaths" all around us. They are evil things that may tempt us- alcohol and drugs; inappropriate TV shows and movies; even laziness and selfishness.

President Thomas S. Monson, said: " David went to the brook and carefully selected five smooth stones with which he might meet his enemy...Just as David went to the brook, well might we go to our source of supply-the Lord. What polished stones will you select to defeat [your] Goliath?" President Monson suggests choosing the stones of courage, effort, humility, prayer and love of duty. (see "Meeting Your Goliath," Ensign, Jan. 1987)

We show courage when we do what is right. We show effort when we work hard. We show humility by relying on the Lord, and we pray to ask for His help. We fulfill our duty by keeping our commitments and our baptismal covenants. when we use these five stones and others, like scripture study and family home evening, we can defeat the Goliaths in our lives.

Activity:
Place the large Goliath on the wall. Using the sling shot and marshmellows, let your children take a turn at defeating their Goliaths.

Treat:
Rice Krispies Treats
1 package large marshmellows
1/4 cup butter melted
8 1/2 cups rice krispies

Melt the butter in the microwave. Add the package of marshmellows and cook for 11/2 minutes. Add the rice krispies, press into a pan and serve.

Our Daily Pirates

2008-08-25T20:46:00.001-07:00

Preparation:
1. Copy/print clipart.
2. Label the pirate clip art with things your children are afraid of, make them uncomfortable or things they are faced with on a daily basis and hide them throughout the room.
3. Gather items your children can dress up in as pirates: eye patch, hat, bandana etc.
4. Purchase chocolate coins, candy bracelets, necklaces etc. and place in a treasure box.

Opening Song:
A Child’s Prayer

Scripture:
D&C 90:24

Lesson:
Read the story; “Pirates!” from The Friend: September 2008, author: Kersten Campbell
Ellen sniffed the moist sea air as she leaned over the bow of the great sailing vessel. The Hudson had sailed away from the coast of England just weeks before. Ellen had cried that day as she waved farewell to some of her friends and family in the cheering crowd. But they were tears of joy. Finally, after years of working and praying, her family’s prayers had been answered. They were going to the land of their dreams-America, the land of Zion!

Ellen enjoyed the sea. During the few times she was able to slip away from taking care of her younger brothers and sisters, Ellen liked to lean over the bow of the ship and let her hair blow wild while she searched for dolphins and other sea creatures.

Ellen’s heart sank as she heard a voice behind her. “Ellen! You must come. It’s time for breakfast prayers.”

“Coming,” Ellen grumbled. Stepping back from the ships railing, she tried her best to straighten her hair. “More prayers,” Ellen thought as she hurried toward the hatch that led to the lower part of the ship where her family and all of the Saints ate and slept. Prayers in the morning, prayers at night, prayers by herself, prayers over meals, prayers with the Saints, and prayers with her family. Ellen bit her lip. She didn’t want to be ungrateful for the miracle of sailing to America. But was there such a thing as too many prayers?As Ellen approached her family, who were already kneeling, she wondered if her mother could tell what she was thinking. Ellen knelt down and looked at her mother’s tired face. Life on the ship had not been easy for her mother. She, and many of the other passengers, had experienced terrible seasickness during the recent storm that had rocked the ship for days.

Guiltily, Ellen bowed her head when the leader of their company asked her father to bless the food. She thought of her mother as he asked for a special blessing upon those who were sick. The he thanked the Lord for the food and asked Him to protect the Saints that day.

After breakfast, Ellen was assigned to care for her younger sisters on the deck. She took them to a place that was out of the way so they could watch the sailors rushing around shouting orders at each other. Ellen noticed the captain near the bow of the ship. He was searching the horizon with his looking glass. She wondered what it would be like to be the captain of a great ship. Suddenly, the captain’s face grew pale, and he began to pace back and forth, stopping every few steps to look through his telescope.

“What could have upset the captain so much?” Ellen wondered. “Let’s go look at the ocean.” She whispered to her sisters, taking their hands in hers. At the bow of the ship, Ellen shaded her eyes and scanned the ocean. At first, all she could see was a small black dot on the horizon. But soon she saw what had made the captain’s face grow so pale.A large ship was sailing straight toward them at a fast clip. “Pirates!” whispered a man beside her. She could hear the fear in his voice. Panic ensued as parents began calling to each other to find family members and to take the children below. Ellen stood frozen, watching the men scramble around in search of anything that could be used as a weapon.

“Get those children away from the bow,” yelled a crew member.

Ellen shook herself out of her frozen state and led her sisters down the hatch, but as soon as the children were with her mother, she rushed back up to the deck. She worried about her father. He’d never fought anyone in his life, let alone pirates. She wondered what she could do to help.

The passengers on the Hudson grew silent as the pirate ship sailed closer. Ellen stood next to her father and gasped as the ship came so close she could see the color of the pirates’ hair! She looked up at her father and saw his lips moving in a silent prayer. Feeling frightened, she began her own prayer, asking Heavenly Father to forgive her for her bad attitude that morning.

The two ships sailed side by side for what seemed like an hour. The pirates and the passengers on the Hudson gazed at each other in silence.“What are they doing?” Ellen whispered to her father.

“They’re probably wondering if our ship is worth robbing,” her father whispered.

They waited in silence until suddenly there was a shout from the pirate ship. Ellen could feel her father’s body tense. Then, to Ellen’s surprise, the pirate ship slowly turned around and began sailing away from the Hudson.

Ellen let out the breath she had been holding. Silently, she offered up a prayer of thanks, remembering her father’s prayer for safety that morning.

“The Lord was surely watching over us this day,” her father said, laying a hand on Ellen’s shoulder and watching the pirate ship sail away.

“He surely was,” Ellen thought, and then she smiled, realizing she now knew that there was no such thing as too many prayers.

Tell a personal story of how prayer helped you face something that was uncomfortable or scary. Explain to your children how you remember to pray always for help and guidance throughout your day.

Activity:
Have your children dress up as pirates for the “Pirate Hunt”.
Hide the pirate clip art and the treasure box around the room. Let your children go on a hunt for the pirates that they might face in their daily life. Guide them so they will find the ultimate treasure at the end, the candy box with the treasure clip art on it.

You can also alter this for older children and set-up a scavenger hunt throughout your home with little clues on where to find the next pirate.

Treat:
Candy from the treasure box.

Reverence in Heavenly Father's House

2008-08-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

Preparation:
1. Copy/print clip art.

Opening Song: The Chapel Doors

Lesson:
Story's author unknown
Today we'll learn about some children and how they act in Heavenly Father's house.
1. This is Nan. Nan is only three years old. It is hard to be good when you are only three. Nan tries hard. She puts her toys away, sometimes even before her mother asks her. But sometimes when Nan goes to church, she acts like a kitten. Kittens are soft and usually quiet, so you may wonder what could be wrong- with having a kitten at church. Have you ever watched two kittens together? They are always swatting each other. This was Nan's problem- she didn't always remember to keep her hands to herself. Heavenly Father is happy if we fold our arms and keep our hands to ourselves while we are in His house.

2. This is Jeremy. Usually Jeremy is a good boy. He likes to help his father work in the yard. He mows the grass in the summer and rakes the leaves in the fall. But sometimes when Jeremy goes to church he acts like a big polar bear. Polar bears are soft and furry. If you have ever seen one at the zoo you know that they are heavy and walk PLUNK! PLUNK! PLUNK! Jeremy forgets and lets his feet go PLUNK! PLUNK! as he walks down the chapel aisle. Heavenly Father is happy when we walk with light, quiet feet in His house.

3. This is Diane. Diane is a happy little girl. She helps her mother with the dishes and doesn't even grumble. But sometimes when Diane goes to church she acts like a bird. Birds like to chirp and sing. And Diane loves to sing in church. But sometimes she forgets where she is and sings when it isn't time to sing. Heavenly Father wants us to be happy and to sing when we are in His house. But He wants us to sing only when everyone else is singing or when we are asked to sing a special song.

4. This is Jason. Jason always obeys his parents. He always, remembers to wear his coat when he goes outside if it is cold or stormy. But sometimes when, Jason goes to church he acts like a duck. If you have ever watched a flock of ducks you know that they often stray away and get into places where they, don't belong. Sometimes Jason forgets to stay in his seat and wanders all over the chapel. Heavenly Father is happy if we stay in our places while we are in His house.

5. This is Veronica. Veronica is getting to be a big girl. She is even big enough to make her bed in the morning before she goes to breakfast. But sometimes when Veronica goes to church she acts like a monkey. Sometimes she crawls under the bench, and sometimes she climbs up onto the back of the bench. Heavenly Father is happy when we sit quietly and properly on the benches while we are in His house.

6. This is Kirt. Kirt eats his vegetables and is growing strong. He is even strong enough to help carry groceries into the house. But sometimes when Kirt goes to church he is grumpy. He likes to stay up late on saturday night and watch his favorite show on TV. When he wakes up on Sunday morning, he acts like a lion. He growls at his sister and brother and even growls at his friends at church. Heavenly Father is happy when we are cheerful while we are in His house.
7. This is Nicky. Nicky is a happy girl. She smiles and is pleasant even when she has to tend her little brother, though she would rather be playing with her friends. Always when Nicky goes to church she acts like a butterfly. She gently moves down the aisle and quietly takes her seat. she sings the songs. She thinks of Jesus during the sacrament, and she listens to the speakers. Heavenly father is happy when we are truly reverent in His house.

Heavenly Father is happy when we show love and respect for His house. How can we show respect for our Heavenly Father while we are at church?

Challenge your children to follow what has been discussed next week in church and listen to the speakers, music and their teachers in primary.
Treat:
No Bake Cookies
1 3/4 cups white sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in peanut butter, oats, and vanilla. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Let cool until hardened.

Overcoming Challenges

2008-08-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

FHE exchange, author unknown. "Some items changed to fit the needs of our family."

Preparation:
1. Collect an oyster or pearls, ping pong ball and a jar filled with rice.
2. Gather pencils and paper.
3. Scriptures.
4. Purchase pre-made/refrigerated cookie dough.

Opening Song: Nephi's Courage

Activity: Pass out paper and pencils, have each family member list 5 things that have happened in his/her lifetime. These can be sad or happy, thought-provoking or mundane, funny or serious. Allow anyone who wishes to share their list with the family.
Show an oyster or pearls: Pearls come from oysters. An oyster is a shell fish that loves in the ocean. They have a very hard shell that protects them, but sometimes like a grain of sand can get inside the shell and it causes a lot of pain and discomfort to the oyster. God has given the oyster a way to ease that pain. When a grain of sand gets in there, the oyster oozes out a liquid that coats the grain of sand and then it hardens. The oyster keeps doing this over and over until the grain of sand no longer causes pain. This is how a pearl is made. Something that started out being painful turned into something very beautiful and valuable. In that same way, we can make something negative turn into something positive by having the right attitude.

Place a ping pong ball in a jar and discuss challenges that we might face in our life. As each person mentions one allow them to put a small scoop of rice in the jar. Continue this until the rice is about 2 inches from the top of the jar. The rice will eventually cover the ball. The read D&C 63:47. Put a lid on the jar and gently shake it. The ping pong ball will rise to the top. Just as this ball "overcame" the rice, we can overcome the world.

Go back to the list of experiences that your family made. Name at least one blessing that came from each experience. (Children may need help to identify what is a blessing.) Brainstorm with your kids on ways to turn a negative into a positive.

1. Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire. If you did, what would you have to look forward to?
2. Be thankful when you don't know something. It gives you an opportunity to learn.
3. Be thankful for difficult times. during those times you grow.
4. Be thankful for your limitations. They give you an opportunity to grow.
5. Be thankful for each new challenge. It will build your strength and character.
6. Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you a valuable lesson.
7. Be thankful when you're tired and weary for it means you've made a difference.
8. Be thankful for your troubles. They can become your blessings.

Activity:
Think of someone you know who could use a "lift" in spirit. Make cookies using the pre-made cookie dough. Let your children make a card to go with the plate of cookies and deliver them.

Treat:
Eat the remaining cookies as a family.

Feeling The Holy Ghost

2008-08-16T11:13:00.000-07:00

Preparation:
1. Copy/print the clip art and activity page
2. Gather crayons

Scripture:
D&C 11:12
“Put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good.”

Lesson:
Read the story of Manuel from the Children’s Friend, August 2008. Sunny McClellan Morton, “Next Time I’ll Listen!,” Friend, Aug 2008, 4–5 (Based on a true story)

“Almost finished,” Manuel whispered. He glanced down at the box under his arm. Nearly all the candy was sold. Now his box held an envelope filled with money.

As the sun beat down on Manuel’s head, he thought of home and his mother and grandmother waiting there. He smiled to think of how happy they were lately. Manuel felt the same happiness, and he knew why—they were all going to be baptized next Sunday.
“Get out of the way!” someone suddenly yelled from behind Manuel. Four boys on bikes raced by as Manuel jumped into the gutter.

Manuel had seen those boys earlier, riding on the opposite sidewalk. A thought had crossed his mind: stay away from those boys. But as they pedaled away, Manuel had relaxed and forgotten about them. Now the feeling returned even stronger. Still, he wanted to finish selling the candy, so he kept going.

Manuel had just sold the last of the candy when the boys returned. One of them grabbed his shoulder as he rode by. The box slipped from under Manuel’s arm, and another boy whizzed past and grabbed it. “No!” Manuel cried. He watched sadly as they carried off his box of hard-earned money.

That evening, Manuel heard a knock at his bedroom door. “Manuel! Please come out!” His mother sounded worried.

“I told you, Mamá, I don’t feel well.”

“But the missionaries are here to see us.”

Manuel got to his feet, took a deep breath, and squared his shoulders.

“Hola, Manuel,” Sister Santos said as Manuel joined his family in the living room.

Usually Manuel listened carefully to the missionaries. But tonight he was thinking about the boys and the box of money. He wished he had run away the first time he had seen them. But how was he supposed to know what to do? Would he ever feel safe walking down the street again? He frowned and started listening to the lesson.

“The Holy Ghost is a messenger from Heavenly Father,” Sister Santos said. “He can guide and inspire our thoughts. He can help us make good choices and warn us of danger.”

Manuel looked up. “What do you mean?”

“Well, have you ever had a strong thought come into your head?” Sister Santos asked. “Maybe it was a prompting to do something. Maybe it just seemed like a great idea.”

Manuel’s eyes widened as he remembered the strong feelings he’d had earlier about getting away from the boys on bikes. “I think it happened today,” he said slowly.

The missionaries looked at him with interest. So did Manuel’s mother and grandmother. He told them about the boys and the stolen box.

“Oh, Manuel, I’m so sorry,” his mother whispered. “That’s why you’ve been so upset this evening. Later I want you to tell me more about those boys. Maybe we can get your money back.”

“I’m sorry too,” Sister Santos said. “But I think you are right. That was probably the Holy Ghost you felt inside.” She paused. “You will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost after your baptism when you are confirmed. That means you will be able to have and feel those messages a lot more often. As you stay worthy, the Holy Ghost can be your constant companion. How do you feel about that?”

A relieved smile crossed Manuel’s face. “Much better!” he said. “I was starting to think I would always be afraid to walk outside. But if the Holy Ghost will warn me again, like He did today, I’ll be fine.” He grinned at his mother. “Because the next time the Holy Ghost speaks to me, I’m going to listen!”

Ask your children if they have ever had a thought, a warm feeling or chills. Tell them that this may be a way that The Holy Ghost is speaking to them. If we listen to the small acts, like the warm feelings or little thoughts, The Holy Ghost is there to protect us.

As a parent tell a story to your children of how The Holy Ghost prompted you to do something in your own life. Example: One morning, I kept getting a though that I needed to go visit Sister Smith. After the 3 time I had this feeling, I decided to get into my car and go to Sister Smith’s. When I got to her home and she opened her door, I could tell that she had been crying. She was given some really bad news and prayed that she would be able to be comforted. If I hadn’t listened to those prompting, Sister Smith would have been left alone to deal with her awful news.

We can be instruments in the Lord’s hands if we all but listen to the promptings of The Holy Ghost.

Activity:
Booklet from www.mormonshare.com
Using the files, make the Holy Ghost booklet with your children. As you make this book, talk about each one of the statements and how they can help your children.

Treat:
Mint Chocolate Brownies
1/3 C Water
1 box Chocolate Brownie Mix w/ syrup pouch
1/3 C Vegetable Oil
2 Eggs
1 C Pecans
1 10oz bag of mint chocolate chips

Frosting:
1 container Vanilla frosting
¼ C crushed mint chocolate chips to sprinkle on top.

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom only of 13x9-inch pan. In medium bowl, stir brownie mix, chocolate syrup, water, oil and eggs using spoon, about 50 strokes or until well blended. Stir in pecans and 1 cup of the chocolate chips (reserve remaining chocolate chips for glaze). Spread batter in pan.
Bake 28 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from side of pan comes out clean or almost clean. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

I Will Go And Do The Things The Lord Commands

2008-08-06T09:25:00.000-07:00

Preparation:
1. Gather plastic swimming pool, straws, sticks, paper and scraps of cloth
2. Copy/print clipart

Song:
Nephi’s Courage

Scripture:
1 Nephi 3:7

Lesson:
Read the interview from Elder Lowell D. Wood of the Seventy. Use the clipart to help with the story.
Rebecca M. Taylor and Lowell D. Wood, “Friend to Friend,” Friend, May 1995, 6
I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded (1 Ne. 3:7).

As a young boy growing up in Cardston, Alberta, Canada, I had to travel two miles to get to school. That was quite a distance to walk, so my parents bought me a little Shetland pony named Brown Bess that I could ride.

Over the next two or three years Bess had some offspring. I had a close friend who didn’t have a pony, so my parents suggested that I give one of Bess’s foals to him. I was happy to do that, because then we were able to ride through the river bottoms and explore them together.

Giving the pony away didn’t make much of an impression on me until many years later, after my friend and I had gone our separate ways. He came for a visit, and in a high priest meeting one Sunday, he shared with the other high priests the story of what I had done for him and what it meant to him. I was touched, and I knew more strongly than ever that friendships are much more important than possessions.

One day when I was quite young, I became unhappy with my mother and father and told them that I was going to run away. My wise parents helped me put together a little pack—a handkerchief with some clothes in it—and let me go. I walked down from the hill a little way from the house, feeling very brave. But the farther I got, the slower I walked. We lived out in the country, and it started to get dark and I started to get hungry. I decided home was pretty good. I turned around and went back home.

I’ve always admired my parents for allowing me to learn that lesson by myself. When my mother tells the story, she describes watching me go and crying. But she wanted to let me have that experience. When I got home, there was no punishment, just a loving welcome. I never needed to try that again, and I gained a greater appreciation for my parents and home.

The experience of Nephi in 1 Nephi chapter 4 has meant a great deal to me. The Lord commanded Lehi to send Laman, Lemuel, Sam, and Nephi to get the brass plates from Laban. After two unsuccessful tries, Laman and Lemuel became discouraged and wanted to quit and return to their families. But Nephi had faith in the Lord, and he desired to obey the Lord’s command. In verse 6, [1 Ne. 4:6] he said, “And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.”

I think that’s a wonderful thing to remember—that there are many times in our lives when we don’t know how to do the things that are asked of us. We may be asked to do things by our parents or our church leaders that we don’t understand, but if we have faith and if we let the Spirit guide us, then we can be successful and have good experiences.

I know that we can do the things that Heavenly Father wants us to do. The Lord has helped me with my calling as a General Authority, and he will help you with your schooling, your friends, your preparation for a mission, or any other worthwhile thing. If you will do what the Lord has asked of you, with faith in him, he will help you to do it.

Ask your children how they can follow the commandments of Jesus Christ.
-By following the prophet, going to church, prayer, etc.

Sometimes Heavenly father may ask us to do things that maybe difficult or we don’t know how to do them. But if we get down on our knees, he is always there to help. He may even send a primary teacher, parent, friend or someone else to help us with our task at hand.

Activity:
Have your children make paper boats (talk about needing to follow directions as Nephi followed the Lord’s directions). As they follow directions (paper bowl stapled in a ‘v’ shape, pieces of cloth attached to stick to make a sail) tell them how Nephi followed the Lord’s directions and was blessed. When the paper boats are made, have the plastic swimming pool filled with 2-3 inches of water. Using the straws for wind, sail the paper boats across the promised land. (idea from Sugardoodle.net)

Treat:
Smore boats
Supplies needed: graham cracker, marshmallows, chocolate covered pretzels or graham sticks, fruit roll-ups
Take graham crackers, melt a marshmallow on top in the mircowave 10-15 sec. Using the fruit roll-up mold a sail, stick it to the pretzel or graham stick and place in the softened marshmellows.

Cleanliness in Our Home

2008-08-05T07:40:00.000-07:00

Preparation:
1. Purchase supplies to make a family job chart. There is one listed in the pictures if you want to print that out. In our family, I made job charts, Olsten Cents and bought some items that our children were wanting to purchase as incentives for the job chart. See pictures.
2. Copy/print graphics
Opening Song:
When Were Helping Were Happy

Scripture:
Doctrine and Covenants 88:119

Lesson:
Discuss how everyone feels when our home is clean. Show picture of the temple and/or chapel. Ask your children if they have ever gone to church to find that the building was dirty and filthy. What would happen if those who were supposed to clean the church forgot? What spirit do you think would be in a place like that? How would you feel having to listen to your Primary teachers when things are messy?
Read Doctrine and Covenants 132:8. Then ask your children the following questions:
1. Why does the Lord require His house to be in order?
2. How can beauty and cleanliness add to order in the Lord's house?
3. How do you think what the Lord is saying can apply to our home?
Story:
The Happy Home, April 4, 2003, author: Jennifer Lieberenz
During family home evening one night, Joey's (g1) family decided to make a list of household jobs. Mom and dad (g2) seemed to be doing most of the work, and that just didn't seem fair. So they thought this would be a good way to have everyone help and learn how to take ccare of the house. And it would be fun!! Everyone would have a responsibility, something they needed to do, or the house would not look good and clean like it did now.

After playing a fun game, everyone sat down and tried to think of jobs that had to be done everyday --(g3) the dishes, laundry, vacuuming, the yard, etc. The dad said, "Okay, here is how this will work. Everyone take a few minutes to think about your schedules -- school work, sports, etc. Then pick a chore that you feel you can do and write it on the paper I gave to you."
Everyone thought and then quietly wrote their choices down. (g4) Since Emily was the youngest, only three, she was able to choose first. She choose the dishes. Then Rachel, eleven, chose vacuuming and laundry. Joey, who was eight, chose the yard. He loved being outside in the fresh air, and dad said he would mow the lawn for him. So the rest seemed pretty easy.

After everyone else picked their chores, they made a job chart(g5), with the jobs on one side and spaces on the other to write in the name of those who picked them. Then mom said, "Now that you have chosen, you will keep your chores for one week. at our next family home evening, we will get together again and see how you did. dad and I will ask for your opinion on how you did, then tell you how we thought it went."
The next day after school, Joey (g1) was excited. He went outside and started his yard work right away. His mom and dad had never entrusted him with such a big shore before!! He pulled a few weeds and threw them in the trash. But then he saw his buddy, Chris, and decided to play until dinnertime. There was always plenty of time to do yard work!

After dinner, he stayed inside and watched TV (g6). He forgot to finish the weeds.

On Wednesday night, Joey's dad (g2) got out of the car and looked around the yard. (g8)The weeds were getting pretty high, there were old newspapers lying around, it looked like someone had thrown some dirt on the driveway, and the trashcans were still down the street. He shook his head, a little disappointed, and started to pull the cans up to the house. But then he remembered what he and mom had talked about. If they did the chores instead of the person assigned, no one would learn how important it is to help out. So he picked up his briefcase and went into the house.

(g7) By Friday, the weeds were higher and the trashcans were still be the street. Joey's dad asked Joey to come outside with him. He asked Joey to close his eyes and imagine what the yard looked like the last Friday (g7). Then he told Joey to open his eyes and asked him to look at how the yard looked at that moment. Joey looked around, frowned, and hung his head.
"Well, it doesn't look very good. As a matter of fact, it looks yucky," Joey said. "It is kind of embarrasing."

"Yep, it is. I am glad you can see that. If you look at the house, it looks kind of sad doesn't it? What happened?" his dad asked.

"I guess I forgot to do my chore, didn't I?"

"Yes, you did. And when you forget to do your part, things don't look quite right. We all have to do the jobs we chose, in order for our house and family to be happy. Would you like me to help you get caught up?"

"Oh, yes!" Joey exclaimed. He and his dad did the whole yard the next morning, and it looked wonderful. It looked like a happy home (g8).

At family home evening, when it was his turn to report, Joey said, "I didn't do a very good job this week. I forgot my chore, and the yard looked real yucky by Friday. Then dad had to help me clean it up. I learned that we all have to do our job to help make our home happy and looking nice. So I have decided that this week, I want to do the yard again. And this time, I will do it right!!"
Joey's dad put his arm around him and everyone smiled (g4).

Activity:
Have everyone help create a family job chart. For my children, we also made Olsten Cents. They were paid 1 Olsten Cent for each day the chores were complete. They could also earn more money throughout the day for behavior and helping mommy. On pay days, they were able to purchase something out of our store with their money. It has taught them an important lesson on the value of money and working for what you want.

Treat:
Smiley Face Cupcakes
Make cupcakes from any box mix. Purchase M&M's, red vines and gum drops. Decorate each cupcake with the items to make a smiley face.

Temples Are a Sign of the True Church

2008-07-31T11:51:00.000-07:00

FHE exchange; author unknown

Purpose: To help family members to know that the Lord has provided temples on the earth when the true church has been on the earth.

Preparation: Sugar Cube Temple Activity
Need: sugar cubes (50 cubes/person), paper plates to build the temples on, Royal
frosting

Opening Song: I Love to See The Temple

Lesson:
Read D&C 124:31
"I command you, all ye my saints, to build a house unto me."

Whenever there have been righteous people upon the earth, the Lord has commanded them to build temples. From the time of Adam to the present day, temples have been places of sacred worship. Temples have been erected in all ages.

MOSES built a tabernacle, a sort of portable temple, in the wilderness for the children of Israel.
SOLOMON built a magnificent temple in Jerusalem.
THE NEPHITES built sacred temples.
JOSEPH SMITH built houses of the Lord in Kirtland and Nauvoo.
LATER PROPHETS have built temples throughout the world.

These temples have all been built under the direction of God.

The Jewish people have looked forward to the return to the earth of the prophet Elijah, as promised by the prophet Malachi. Each year faithful Jews observe a Passover feast at which they leave a door open so that Elijah might come in and celebrate with them.

"It was on the third day of April, 1836," said President Joseph Fielding Smith, "that the Jewish people, in their homes at the Passover feast, opened their doors for Elijah to enter. (However), on that very day Elijah did enter - not in the home of the Jews, but he appeared in the House of the Lord."

Discuss how God's temples throughout history are alike - all houses of the Lord, all have sacred ordinances performed in them, etc. - and how they are different- opened courtyards versus closed buildings, ordinances performed for the living as well as the dead.

Throughout time people have gone to the temple to perform ordinances and prepare themselves for eternity. Everything in the temple points Latter-day saints to Jesus Christ and their eternal life with Him, their Heavenly Father and their family members on the condition of faithfulness to His teachings.

In conclusion, there is a quote from Brother Koelliker that sums up the purpose of the temple. "The purpose of temples is to help us understand where we came from before we were born, why we are here on earth, and where we intend to be after we leave this earthly experience. It's all about the process of helping us try to be more like Jesus Christ."

Craft Project:
Sugar Cube Temples

Instructions: "Glue" the sugar cubes together with the icing. It will take a few hours for the temples to dry completely. Let each person make up their own temple design, or look at a picture to do a modern day temple.

Royal Frosting:
3 egg whites (room temperature) 4 cups Sugar Confectioners
1/2 teas cream of tarter

Beat for 7-10 minutes. It is important to beat the frosting that long. The
frosting will harden so only make one batch at a time. Put the frosting in
sandwich bags, then cut off one corner to use as a decorating bag.

Treat:
Pudding in a Cloud
Instructions: Put whipped topping in a bowl. Make a spot in the middle to add your family's favorite pudding. Chill and serve.

I Love My Family

2008-07-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

Preparation:
Gather pictures of your family and extended family.

Song:
“A Happy Family”

Lesson:
Discuss with your children some of the activities that you have done this week. Ask them if their activities were better when their family was involved.

Have each one of your children name a member of the family. Ask them if they are missing anyone else.

Pull out the pictures of your family and explain that grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins are part of the bigger family unit. Sometimes, we are unable to live close to our families because they live far way or may have died. Regardless of how far waya we are from our families, they can still be our good friends and help us in times of need.

Read the scripture Luke 1:36-44. Tell the story about John the Baptist and how he is the cousin of Jesus Christ.

Often families gather together to celebrate special occasions. Heavenly Father and Jesus have given us the opportunity to gather together with our families forever. When we get married in the temple and live righteously, we can be with our families forever.

Game:
Take the family photos, place them wrong side up on the floor and have your children turn them over one at a time and guess who it is.

Craft:
1-Make a scrapbook page of one of your children’s favorite activities you have done as a family and put it in a place they can all see it.
2-Go to a hobby store and get a wooden house. Have your children help you modge podge various family photos over the wooden house to create a living scrapbook that can be displayed in your home.

Treat:
Smiley face fruit snacks

What Does the Book of Mormon Teach Us?

2008-07-11T09:58:00.000-07:00

Anglefire.com, author: Lisa's Art Page (somethings altered to fit our family better)

Preparation:
Print and cut the answers of what the Book of Mormon does for us into strips and put them on colored paper.

Lesson:
Hide them and have the children find them and bring them up and put them on the board while you read them.

1. It warns us of danger.
2. It tells us to obey God and keep his commandments.
3. It teaches us that the Book of Mormon comes from God.
4. It gives us hope (when the world is full of bad things.)
6. It was written by prophets for to help us come unto Christ.
7. It teaches what people must fight for.
8. It tells that Satan is real and what he does to try to make us do bad things.
9. It tells us how to use our money for good.
10. It tells us of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice and why we take the sacrament.
11. It tells us of the plain and precious truths of the gospel
12. It informs us of the gathering of the house of Israel in the last days.
13. It tells us of how to do missionary work and why.
14. It warns us and teaches us how to be good people.
15. It teaches that the scriptures bless us and are more valuable than money, gold or diamonds.
16. It teaches us how to be happy by doing the things Jesus wants us to do.

Tell the story of Nephi and his brothers trying to obtain the brass plates in your own words or with the help of children's readers. (Don't make family home evening too long for small children. They enjoy hide and seek games, and stories.) You can have them dress and act out the story or make paper figures and put them on Popsicle sticks or back them with flannel so they have a reference.

Show a picture of the prophet. Explain to them how important it is to follow the prophet and listen to his guidance. We have been asked in General conference to read the Book of Mormon as a family. Let them know that you love the prophet, and the Lord, and that you will obey. And tell them you will be reading each day at a certain time.

Strippling Warriors

2008-07-11T09:51:00.000-07:00

LDS.org, Children's Friend: July 1992

Song:
"Army of Heleman"

Lesson:
They did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives (Alma 56:47).

“Stripling Warriors,” Friend, July 1992, 5I can be reverent by showing respect, honor, and love for my parents and family.

The 2,000 faithful young warriors honor their mothers’ teachings and defend their families.
Read: Alma 53:10–21; Alma 56:47–49

Instructions: Remove this page from the magazine, color the figures, and mount them on heavy paper; then cut out the figures and glue pieces of flannel on the backs. Read the scriptures listed, then retell the Book of Mormon story using the figures.

Click to View Larger FormatIllustrated by Beth Whittaker
Optional: Figures may also be enlarged, mounted on cardboard, and affixed to sticks.

What Do I Promise Heavenly Father When I Am Baptized?

2008-07-11T09:44:00.000-07:00

LDS.org, Children's Friend: April 2000

Preparation:
Copy and color the pictures(below)

Scripture:
They are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him (D&C 20:77).

Lesson:
Flannel Board Story

10When wicked King Noah condemned Abinadi to death, Alma, a repentant priest, pleaded for the prophet’s life. Furious, Noah tried to have Alma killed, too, but he fled into the wilderness and began teaching the gospel. Those who believed him went to hear him preach near a fountain of pure water in a place called Mormon.

One day Alma said to a large group of believers, “Behold, here are the waters of Mormon … 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;

“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—

“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?

“And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.” (Mosiah 18:8–11.)

We, too, make the same covenants and can feel the same joy when we are baptized. Although she has not yet been baptized, six-year-old Macy Nelson of Gilbert, Arizona, is preparing to keep her covenant of comforting those who stand in need of comfort. She loved Grandma Lolly and Grandpa George very much and did lots of fun things with them. Grandpa George was her special buddy and was a “silly grandpa” who always made her laugh.

When he died in 1997, Macy cried. But then she looked up at her mommy and asked, “Who is going to take care of Grandma?”

“I don’t know,” her mommy replied.

Macy said, “I will.”

Grandma Lolly moved into Macy’s home, and she was happy to give Grandma her room. Macy continues to take care of Grandma with lots of hugs and kisses, and she thanks Heavenly Father that they are a “forever family.”

Color the flannel-board figures, then mount them on heavy paper. Cut them out and use them to retell the story “Covenants at the Waters of Mormon.”

Alma pleading for Abinadi’s life; Alma baptizing; Alma teaching—people clapping hands; Modern girl hugging her grandmother.(Illustrated by Beth Whittaker.)

Captain Moroni

2008-07-11T09:40:00.000-07:00

LDS.org, Children's Friend

Preparation:

Copy and Color flannel board pictures (below)

Scripture:

And it came to pass that thousands did flock unto his standard … in the defence of their freedom (Alma 62:5).

Lesson:
“Captain Moroni,” Friend, Aug. 1992, 5I can be reverent by showing respect, honor, and love for my leaders and friends.

Righteous people rallied around their leader, Captain Moroni, when he waved the standard of liberty.

Read: Alma 60:1, 7; Alma 61:1–3; Alma 62:1–6
Instructions: Remove this page from the magazine, color the figures, and mount them on heavy paper; then cut out the figures and glue pieces of flannel on the backs. Read the scriptures listed, then retell the Book of Mormon story using the figures.

Click to View Larger FormatIllustrated by Beth M. Whittaker
Optional: Figures may also be enlarged, mounted on cardboard, and affixed to sticks.

The Turkey With The Terrible Temper

2008-07-10T21:20:00.001-07:00

FHE Lesson Exchange, author Avon Allen Compton.

Preparation:
Copy the turkey
make feathers the colors as indicated in the story

Song:
"I am Like A Star"

Lesson:
Read the story below.
Once there was a little brown turkey who had a terrible temper. He often flew into rages and ranted around until he was a nuisance in the farm yard. One day he lost his temper about some little thing and got so angry he flew into a rage and went RED as a beet. The other turkeys laughed at him and said:

You're RED, RED

RED as a beet:

Red from your head

To the tip of your feet.

Tom Turkey didn't like anyone or anything so he ran away and hid. He sat and sulked for a long time. When he calmed down and came out of his hiding place he was really RED all over. His head was RED and his neck was RED- he was RED from his head to his feet.

He hurried to the edge of the farm to visit Dr. Owl who was wise and knew all the answers to everything. "You have to learn to control that temper of yours!" hooted Dr. Owl. "if you don't remember in time you will end up being a very sorry turkey."

The next day Tom Turkey was brown again except that he had a red feather in his tail. He was very glad to be brown again, but he still thought it was everybody else's fault that he gotten so angry the day before.

Tom's mother called to him to help with the Monday wash. But Tom got the BLUES as soon as he started working. he moaned and groaned until his mother said he was acting like a baby. You can guess what happened next- he lost his temper again. This time he went BLUE all over! As he was running, the other turkeys yelled:

You're BLUE, BLUE

From your head to your toe,

BLUE all over

wherever you go.

This time Tom Turkey sat and sulked and blamed his mother for losing his temper . By morning he was BROWN again but now he had a blue feather next to the red one in his tail.

You can guess what happened the rest of the week. On Tuesday Tom didn't want to clean up the yard. He said he hated cleaning up with a PURPLE passion. Just as soon as he said that, he was in a rage he turned PURPLE all over. the turkeys shouted:

You're PURPLE, PURPLE

That's all we can see,

You'd better go hide

Under your favorite tree.

Of course Tom Turkey sat and sulked and blamed everything onto everyone else.

On Wednesday morning he was BROWN again but he had a purple tail feather added to his RED and BLUE one. He was beginning to feel ashamed that he couldn't control himself like he wanted to.

He went out for a walk when he saw a big ear of corn that his turkey friend was eating. Tom was GREEN with envy. He thought the farmer had no right to give someone else the cob of corn. And before he knew it, he had turned GREEN all over, and was in another terrible temper tantrum. The turkeys all turned to him and yelled:

You're GREEN, GREEN

GREEN as the grass

Why don't you get wise

And stop all the sass

And of course again, Tom Turkey went to his hiding place to sulk and feel sorry for himself.

On Thursday morning he was BROWN again but now he had a green feather amongst the other brightly colored tail feathers. But something was happening to Tom Turkey. He was really beginning to change. He wanted to keep his temper. He didn't feel like being ashamed of himself. He was determined to try hard and do just that.

Of course all the turkeys like to tease Tom and while they were playing a game of Gobble and Waddle someone called Tom a coward. Before Tom stared to think he had flown into another tantrum. this time his face turned YELLOW and his neck was YELLOW and the turkeys were saying he had a YELLOW streak down his back. They yelled:

You're YELLOW turkey

Just like we said

Why don't you go home

and hide under the bed?

Tom Turkey had turned YELLOW all over because he had forgotten to control his temper. But this time he sat under the tree and thought a long time about everything. He had only himself to blame for his mistakes. He was beginning to realize that he was the only one who could make things better.

When he awoke in the morning he was brown again with a new yellow feather in his tail. He didn't say a word to anyone, he just went about his business and said to himself, "I can do it, if I try hard enough!"

Mother Turkey asked Tom to keep an on the little turkeys while she went to the store on Friday. While she was gone all the baby turkeys ran through the house with muddy feet. When Tom saw what they had done, Tom almost lost his temper. But this time he just held his breath as long as he could. He turned as pale as a ghost, but didn't lose his temper. The turkeys yelled:
You're WHITE, WHITE
But your temper didn't show
Maybe you're changing
We really hope so.

all Saturday and Sunday he kept calm and was tickled pink to think he had gone two days without a terrible temper tantrum. He was still a little brown turkey, and a very happy one too.

He reported back to Dr. Owl on Monday and Tom Turkey thanked him for his help. Dr. Owl told Tom he earned the wright to wear the brightly colored tail and that he should show it off proudly from now on.

So when you go to the farm and see the turkey with his fan shaped tail all unfolded, remember this story about the turkey with the terrible temper.

Treat:
Turkey shaped sugar cookies

Anger

2008-07-10T21:08:00.000-07:00

FHE Lesson Exchange, author unknown.

Song:
"Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam"

Lesson:
Discuss anger and what it is doing in your family. Does your family have a problem with anger? What happens when you react in anger? How can we control anger?

Object lesson #1
MUST BE DONE SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE FAMILY HOME EVENING.

Take a stalk of celery and put it in a glass with some red or blue food coloring. after a few days, the celery stalk will draw up the colored water and the celery will be tinted red or blue.

See how this stalk of celery took on the color of water in which it was standing? Small children are just like that stalk of celery. they take on all the characteristics of the family around them. Is you home colored with anger, yelling sarcasm, and criticism? Or is your home colored in patience, cooperation, soft tones and laughter? Children will absorb examples they receive at home. (note: this object lesson can also be used with sin, pornography, bad movies, music, ect.)

Object Lesson #2
Preparation:
Purchase a can of squeeze cheese or a travel size toothpaste

Have a member of your family squeeze some cheese out of the can. Then ask him/her to put the cheese back into the can. Of course, this is impossible. Angry, sarcastic words, derogatory names or mean comments are very easy to say. But it is difficult and maybe impossible to fix the damage done by angry words.

Treat:
Cheese and Crackers

The Peanut Butter Boy

2008-07-10T20:32:00.000-07:00

FHE Lesson Swap, author unknown.

Preparation:
Copy and laminate Nathan
Peanut Butter
Baby wipes

Song:
"Choose the Right"

Lesson:
This is Nathan. (Display boy)

One day, Nathan's mother told him to take the garbage cans out to the curb so the garbage men could empty them, and to please remember to put the lids on tightly to make sure the dogs didn't get in the trash. Nathan took the cans out, but ran off to play with his friends...never stopping to put the lids on securely. A couple of hours later, Nathan came home. He found papers, watermelon rinds, and other trash all over the yard.

How do you think Nathan felt? Because he disobeyed his mother, Nathan felt unhappy. He knew that by doing something wrong, it was as if he had dirtied his spirit. (smear some peanut butter on the boy.)

Nathan sometimes helped his mother with work around the house. He really tried to be good, but sometimes it was difficult. One time he and his brother both wanted to play with the same toy. They yelled at each other and hit one another. Nathan won because he was bigger, but he had hit his brother and hurt his arm.

What did Nathan do wrong? What do you think happened to Nathan's spirit when he did this? (Smear some more peanut butter on the boy and explain that his spirit doesn't look very good anymore because it has been smudged.)

One day, Nathan left school late. as he was leaving, he noticed how cold it was getting. He saw a scarf hanging on a hook by the door. It would help him keep warm on the way home. Nathan took the scarf. He knew it was not his, but no one saw him take it, and he could return it in the morning.

What was Nathan doing wrong? Because he was borrowing something that belonged to someone else, without asking, he was adding another smudge to his spirit. (Add some more peanut butter.)

The next morning Nathan had to hurry to school, and he forgot the scarf. The teacher told the class that a scarf that belonged to one of the children was missing. She asked if anyone knew where it was. No one said a word. Nathan felt bad because he had taken the scarf and had forgotten to return it. after the other children left, the teacher asked Nathan if he had seen the scarf. Nathan did not want anyone to know what he had done, so he told her he had not seen it.

How did Nathan make his problem bigger? How was Nathan feeling now? By lying, Nathan made himself unhappier. (smear more peanut butter on the boy.)

None of the smears that are on Nathan's spirit are too dirty for Nathan to clean up. How can Nathan feel happier and clean his spirit? (By repenting.)

To clean his spirit, Nathan needs to repent for disobeying his mother. What must Nathan do to repent? (Go through the steps of repentance relating to this mistake. Clean away some of the peanut from the boy.)

What must Nathan do to repent from being unkind to his brother? (Go through the steps of repentance and remove more peanut butter.)

How can Nathan repent for borrowing something without asking? (Go through the steps of repentance and remove more peanut butter.)

What must Nathan do for not telling the truth? (Go through the steps of repentance and remove the remaining peanut butter.)

How do you think Nathan felt after he repented of his mistakes? How did repentance change Nathan's spirit?

When we repent, we free ourselves of sad feelings and we make our spirits clean and pure like they were when we first came to earth when we were born.

Treat:

Peanut Butter Cake
1 package yellow cake mix 1 1/3 cups water
1/3 cup smooth peanut butter 1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs 1 tsp vanilla
chocolate frosting (recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 9 inch round pans and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat cake mix, water, peanut butter, oil, eggs and vanilla for 3 minutes or until smooth. Divide batter evenly into the 2 pans. Bake 25-30 minutes or until cake tests done. Cool cakes and frost.

Chocolate Frosting
2/3 cup unsweetened coco powder 6 T boiling water
1/2 cup butter 3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

In a large bowl, combine cocoa and boiling water and mix well. Add butter and blend for about 30 seconds. add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until frosting is light and fluffy, adding more powdered sugar or boiling water as needed to acquire spreading consistency.

The Prophet is a Teacher

2008-07-09T23:22:00.000-07:00

Author: Mendi Stucki

At general conference we are taught by our prophet and his apostles the things we need to learn. If we listen carefully we will know what our Savior wishes for us to do. General Conference is broadcast all over the world so that everyone in every language can hear what our prophet wants to tell us. He also travels all over the world preaching the gospel to other nations. All around the world people hear our prophets voice and message. Show a picture of the prophet Ezra T. Benson .

At General conference in April 1989, President Benson’s message was to you the children of the church. He said: "Today I desire to teach you what our Heavenly Father wants you to know so that you can learn to do his will and enjoy true happiness. It will help you now and throughout your life." Then he told you that Heavenly Father wants you to read the Book of Mormon, to pray every day, to honor your fathers and mothers, to attend sacrament meeting and Primary, and to choose the right in everything you do. Near the end of his talk, he declared: "God Bless the children of this church. How I love you! How Heavenly Father loves you!" (See Ensign, May 1989, pgs. 81-83)

Our current prophet tells us to develop good friendships, Have self respect for our bodies, stay away from drugs, be honest, look forward to a Temple marriage, and get a good education.
Sing the first two lines of the second verse: In every land, in every tongue, our prophet will be heard; How swiftly round the world his voice reveals the gospel word.!
The prophet testifies of Christ and tells us he will come.

Read: Jacob 4:4-5

Show a picture of the savior. Gordon B. Hinckley’s testimony of the Savior. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the eternal, living God. I believe in Him as the Firstborn of the Father and the Only Begotten of the father in the flesh. I believe in Him as an individual, separate and distinct from his father... I believe that in His mortal life He was the one perfect man to walk the earth. I believe that in his words are to be found that light and truth which, if observed, would save the world and bring exaltation to mankind... I believe that through His atoning sacrifice, the offering of His life on Calvary’s Hill, He expiated the sins of mankind, relieving us from the burden of sin if we follow Him. I believe in the reality and the power of His resurrection... None so great has ever walked the earth. None other has made a comparable sacrifice or granted a comparable blessing. He is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world. I believe in Him. I declare his divinity without equivocation or compromise. I love Him. I speak His name in reverence and wonder. I worship Him as I worship his Father, in spirit and in truth. I thank Him and kneel before His wounded feet and hands and side, amazed at the love he offers me. (ENSIGN, NOV. 1986, pp. 50-51)

Sing the last two verses of the second verse and the first two of the third verse The sacred message that he brings will witness and agree With every prophet called of God throughout earth’s history Hosanna! Let our praise ascend unto the savior’s throne; Rejoice! The prophet has confirmed that by Him we are known.

The prophet holds all the keys to the priesthood and kingdom of God.
Read D&C 27:12

Think of the keys that your mom and dad use to start your car.. These keys start up the engine.. think of the prophet as the engine of your car( he needs keys to keep the church running.... these keys are from Heavenly Father. They help give directions to his church on this earth).. The prophet uses these keys to power our vehicle (and our family) to our destination which is the kingdom of God.

Optional craft:
make paper keys. Tie together with yarn.

See also D&C 65:1-2 He holds the keys of the kingdom, that is the governing power and authority to administer in all spiritual and temporal affairs of the church. By delegation, General Authorities, temple presidents, mission presidents, stake presidents, bishops, and others receive keys pertaining to specific offices in their own areas. Thus through the Presidents authority, salvation becomes available to all people. He holds all the keys to the sealing ordinances of the temple, Only the prophet can grant a cancellation of a sealing. All temples are under his direct supervision..

Sing the last two verses of the song Attend, ye earth! The prophet speaks; come listen and obey. He is the man who holds the keys of priesthood power today. Bear your testimony that you know that there is a living prophet today.

Song:
Follow the prophet last verse.

Idea for a treat:
Prophet Pie. Make any kind of pie and relate it to a prophet.. Explain that although he looks whole on the outside. His responsibilities are divided into many roles. Divide the pie...into equal portions. Other examples. explain that although the prophet is hard and firm in the gospel like the crust he is actually so good on the inside and full of love for everyone.

Love One Another

2008-07-09T23:13:00.000-07:00

Author: Luana Willis

Song: "I'm Trying to be Like Jesus"

Scripture: D&C 82:1

Game: Patience is a Virtue

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE GAME
Print out each of the phrases (chill out, kick back, etc.) on a slip of paper and mix them up. Have two baskets, one labeled "finding patience" and one labeled "losing patience". Each person in the family takes turns describing and acting out what is on one slip of paper, you can say anything but the words on the paper. The other family members shout out the answers. When the right answer is said, decide if itbelongs in the "finding" or "losing" basket, and put it there.

FINDING PATIENCE
chill out
kick back
take it easy
cool your jets
sit tight
cool as a cucumber
hold your horses
keep your shirt on
hang in there
keep your chin up
take a breather
grin and bear it
bounce back
thank your lucky stars
through thick and thin
Rome was not built in a day
the patience of Job
that's the way the cookie crumbles
that's the way the ball bounces
don't jump to conclusions
when the going gets tough the tough get going
hold your tongue
bite your lip
turn the other cheek
let bygones be bygones
whistle while you work
see's the glass as half full
always look on the bright side
patience is a virtue
look at the world through rose colored glasses

LOSING PATIENCE
to have a cow
all bent out of shape
to flip your lid
to go postal
to go through the roof
madder than a wet hen
to pop a vein
clean your clock
punch your lights out
push your buttons
jump down your throat
to chew out
to get an earful
that burns me up
rubs me the wrong way
gets under my skin
get your nose all bent out of shape
rattles my cage
fight tooth and nail
get your pound of flesh
guns blazing
as mad as a hatter
kick up a fuss
get your knickers in a twist
make a mountain out of a mole hill
driving me crazy
I've had it up to here
go through the roof
got under my skin
makes my blood boil

Treat:
Chill Out! Tin Roof Sundaes. (Tin Roof Icecream, chocolate syrup, peanuts, ect.)

Journal Writing

2008-07-09T23:11:00.000-07:00

Author: unknown

Sing: I am glad for many things (CS 151)

Lesson:
When is it time to begin to make a journal? Who might read your journal? How might it benefit them? What can be written in a journal? What would you like to be able to read about in a journal?

Record Keeping Is an Important Principle: Explain that journals are a special way of sharing our lives with our children and grandchildren. President Spencer W. Kimball challenged everyone to keep a journal.

"Get a notebook, my young folks, a journal that will last through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity. Begin today and write in it your goings and comings, your deepest thoughts, your achievements and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies" ("The Angels May Quote from It," New Era, Oct. 1975, p. 5).

Share the story below. "I can remember as a child wanting to know what my mother was really like. … I wanted a mother so much.

"I had had a mother, of course, Mary Black Rawlins, but she had died when I was only nine weeks old, and she was only twenty-six. When my father came home from work one afternoon, he found her lying on the kitchen floor, a victim of heart failure. Those who knew Mother best found it too painful to talk about her, so I never found out much about her.

"Then, when I was seventeen, my father's mother came to visit me. She told me that my mother had known about her heart condition when she had married. She had known that if she had a baby she would probably die. But my mother, undaunted and determined, felt strongly that she should have a baby. She decided that I, the child born to her, was worth life itself. When I learned that, the love I had for my mother swelled, for I knew that she had loved me too, loved me enough to willingly give her life for me.

"It was then that my father brought to me a journal that my mother had written. She had kept it each day for one short year of her life. I had now in my hands one year of my mother's life. She had been a school teacher in Wyoming that year, and through her own words she became for me a real person at last. She cried, she struggled, she laughed, she grumbled, she learned of her heart condition, and I … I shared it all with her!

"That record, that precious, loved record—it's all I have of her. What if she had not kept it?" ("For Your Remembrance: A Presentation on Record Keeping" [audiovisual presentation, 1975 MIA June Conference]).

15 FHE Games

2008-07-09T23:08:00.001-07:00

Author: unknown

Game Ideas:

1. Buy several candy bars, enough for the family plus some extra. Put them in a pile in the middle of the circle of chairs so that everyone can see them.Put a pair of dice in a pie plate. Then you just start sending it around the circle. Everyone shakes the dice into the pie plate when it comes to them. You have to roll a double, 7, or 11 in order to choose a candy bar from the pile. When you roll a double, 7, or 11 you can choose a bar from the pile, or you can take a candy from whoever has the one you want. When you take a bar, you should put it under your chair. You can't put it behind your back so that it is totally out of sight, but you can hide it a bit so that some people might forget about the one that you have. It gets fun when you start taking the candy from other people. When all the candy is gone from the pile, or at the end of a designated playing time, whatever candy you do or do not have, is what you get.

2. Pass around a roll of toilet paper. Everyone tears off as much as they 'need'. Then for every square they have to tell something about their day.

3. Draw It Out: Everyone picks a name of a family member and tells no one. Then they have to draw something about the person that will help others guess who it is.

4. The Blanket Game: Divide group into 2 teams. Have each team gather on their own blanket. They must, as a team, turn the blanket over without touching the floor, if they touch the floor they must straighten out the blanket and start over. The first team to accomplish this wins. Size of blanket depends on size of group. If it's a smaller family use crib blankets.

5. Don't Eat Pete: Draw 12 squares on a piece of paper. Place one piece of candy on each square. Choose a person to leave the room while the others decide which square will be "Pete." The person comes back in and begins choosing the candies one by one. If he/she chooses "Pete," everyone yells out "DON'T EAT PETE!!!" and the round is over. Any candy that he has chosen he gets to keep. Replenish the candy and send the next person out...continue until everyone has had a turn.

6. The Snake Game: For this game you will need approx. 20 small treats (M&M's raisins, etc), 20 toothpicks, a die and 1 large treat (candy bar, bag of licorice etc). Set up as per diagram. Players take turns rolling the die. If they roll a 1 or a 6 they win the object at the snake's tail end. If it is a treats the player can eat it, if it is a toothpick, the player keeps it in a pile. Continue until the last toothpick is won. The player with the most toothpicks wins the large reat.

7. Lehi and the Liahona: A person chosen is removed from the room. Another person hides Lehi. Once Lehi is hidden, the Liahona is used to find him. The person removed, comes back and is given the Liahona while the rest of the players sing a song, any song. As the player searching for Lehi gets closer the players sing louder. As the player moves further away, the players sing softer. The person searching, pretends that the Liahona is guiding him/her. To adapt for younger players, saying hot and cold instead of singing can be used.

8. Pig: Players take turns rolling the die and racking up points. They can roll as many times as they want, but if they roll a 1, they lose all their points for that turn. When they elect to stop, they write down their scores and pass the die to the next player. The first player to reach 100 wins.

9. Word of Wisdom Body Building: Glue the following list of scripture references to a sheet of heavy paper, then cut out. Place scripture references in bowl or sack. Draw a simple outline of a body and cut it up by body parts (ie. 2 legs, 2 arms, 2 hands etc. The more detailed the longer the game). You will need one "body puzzle" per person playing. Layout body parts on the table.To play the game: Each player starts with any two body parts. One player draws a reference strip and reads the verse aloud from the scriptures. For each good food mentioned in the scripture, the player takes an additional body part. He must put back a body part for each harmful substance mentioned in the scripture. Players take turns drawing reference strips. The player who first builds a complete body is the winner. If, after all the reference strips have been drawn, no player has completed a body, put all the strips back into the bowl or sack and continue playing. If a player draws a scripture that mentions harmful substances and he has no body parts, the player is not penalized. Below is a list of good and harmful foods that you will find mentioned in the scriptures.Good Foods: Grain, Water, Herbs, Grapes, Loaves, Milk, Honey, Wheat, Venison, Corn, Fruit, Water, Butter, Meat, Honeycomb.Harmful Foods: Wine, Strong drink (alcohol), Tobacco, Poison, Hot drinks (tea and coffee)Scripture References: 1 Kgs. 17:11 Ex. 17:6 Alma 8:21 1 Ne. 4:7 D&C 89:8 Gen 36:9 Isa. 5:22 1 Chr. 21:20 Job 1:13 Hel. 11:13 Ruth 2:2 Gen 27:7 Gen. 18:8 Gen. 40:10 D&C 38:18 D&C 89:7 Mosiah 22:7 Alma 55:30 D&C 89:11 Matt. 14:17 D&C 89:14 Gen. 41:5 Deut. 26:9 Judg. 4:19 Mosiah 11:15 Luke 1:15 Isa. 24:9 Gen. 43:31 Lev. 10:9 D&C 89:9 Judg. 13:4 Luke 24:42 1 Sam. 17:18 D&C 89:10

10. Know your Standard Works: The leader calls out the name of a book from the standard works and the family names the particular works from which it comes. Example: Peter. Answer: New Testament.

11. Guess Who You Are: The names of famous scriptural or church history characters are written on small cards, one on each card. A cards is pinned on the back of each player. By questions that can be answered yes or no, each family member is to guess the name on his/her back.

12. Scripture Shout: Divide into 2 groups. Group 1 picks a scripture that the family knows (maybe use the monthly scriptures for that year in Primary!). Yell out the scripture simultaneously, each individual shouting one assigned word or phrase. The remaining group has to figure out the scripture.

13. Prophets: Use a bean bag to toss to the children. When a child catches it, they must name a prophet (ancient or modern). This can also be done by naming the temples.

14. Scripture Baseball: Prepare ahead signs that say 1st, 2nd, 3rd, Home, Pitcher. Place signs around the room in the shape of a baseball diamond. On index cards write approx.15 questions based on the scriptures with answers referenced. Difficult questions are labelled ³Home Run². Divide into teams, each with a pitcher selected who chooses the first question from the stack and reads it to his first batter. If the batter gives the correct answer, he moves to first base and the next batter is up. If the next question is also answered correctly, batters each move ahead 1 base, etc. until one comes home to SCORE. If a player misses a question, his team is OUT and the other team is UP TO BAT. Team with the highest score wins.

15. Script-Tac-Toe: Provide a large tic-tac-toe pattern on the board. Place a number 1-9 at random in each square. Prepare 1-3 lists of 9scripture-related questions each. Have several questions which only the moderator knows are ³FREE spot² questions. When a team chooses a Free-spot question and answers it correctly, they can place their mark over any one unused number on the board. Divide into Team ³X² and Team ³O². Teams take turns selecting a number from the board and hearing the question. A correct answer gets their mark placed in that numbered square. An incorrect answer allows the opposing team a chance to answer the question for a point. First team to make a Tic-tac-toe in a diagonal or straight line wins the game.

The Names of First Presidency and Quorom of the 12

2008-07-09T23:04:00.000-07:00

Author: Alicia Larsen

I wanted to help my then-4-year-old daughter learn the faces and names of each of the members of the First Presidency and Quorom of the 12 before Conference so that she could pay better attention and hopefully learn more from their words.

After doing this for FHE (it worked GREAT), I then asked my Primary President if I could do this with the Primary kids since I'm the chorister.

With her go-ahead (since this is not published in the Children's Songbook or Friend Magazine) I went ahead and taught this to the kids. It worked great again!
I put down the Brethren's names in order, starting with the First Presidency, then contiuing with the senior apostle down to the most recently called apostle, and put the "lyrics" to the tune of "Ten Little Indians".

From the Distribution Center I ordered the 8 1/2 x 11 pictures of the 15 ($.30 each. You could also just print them off lds.org then enlarge), and hung them in order from a clothesline with clothespins.

Here is how the lyrics turned out (with 3 verses):
"Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, James E. Faust and Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry and David B. Haight, These are Prophets and Apostles.

Neal A. Maxwell, Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks and M. Russell Ballard, Joseph B. Wirthlin and Richard G. Scott, These are Prophets and Apostles.

Robert D. Hales and Jeffrey R. Holland, Henry B. Eyering,
WE'VE SUNG THEM ALL NOW!!(speak that part)
These are our fifteen living Prophets and Apostles."

I also added a few actions on the words:
"These are our 15 living Prophets and Apostles", we held our hands up and out to the sides;
"NEAL A. Maxwell" I had the children KNEEL;
"Henry B. EYERING" I explained that it was easy to remember his name with his face because with his glasses around his eyes, he looked like he had "eye rings", which we motioned in a circular manner around our eyes.

As we sang through the song and the children became more familiar with the names and faces (it works best verse by verse), I invited one child to come up at the end of each run-through and remove a picture after naming who it was. We continued to sing the names until all pictures were gone, and the children learned the song quite well.

If you had extra time or an additional week, it would be fun to mix up the pictures on the floor and have the children put them UP in order while singing the song. This is a very catchy tune, and we had a great time with it.

One note: If you are teaching this for FHE, it might work best to teach one verse each week if you have very young children.

Christmas Bells

2008-07-09T23:02:00.000-07:00

Author: Barbara Pratt

Song: "Christmas Bells"

Lesson:
At this time of year we need to know what the bell and candy cane symbolizes. Show them a bell and a candy cane. Let's pretend we are in a field of sheep. The shepherd has a bell. (Have a bell and ring it.) We are the lost sheep and we hear the rings of the bell. That helps us go back to the fold. We are important to our Heavenly Father and Jesus.

The shepherd has a cane (crook) to help bring the lambs back into the fold. (Show them the candy cane.) (Before hand, take a broom stick and wrap around the end of the stick aluminum foil and make it curve like a crook.) Show them this after you show them the candy cane. We need to remember we need to help (serve) others and be missionaries. (We are our brother's keeper.) How can we help others?

For older children, do the above part and then ask how can we be our brother's keeper? (Be missionaries, serve other, etc.) At this time of year we need to remember what the bell and candy cane symbolizes. What does the bell symbolize? What does the candy cane symbolize? Note: You might want to find a scripture for older children.

Game: This is another version of hide and seek. Remember the sheep (lambs) are lost and they need to hear the shepherds bell so you need to be very quiet - whisper this. Give one small bell to the person being the shepherd. Make some sheep hats for the sheep. For younger children, you might want to show them how to do it. Have the shepherd go to some other part of the house while everyone has there eyes closed (ringing the bell as they hide). Repeat this as many times as you like.

Treat :
Christmas sugar cookies

The Armor of God

2008-07-09T22:58:00.000-07:00

Deseretbook.com, author: Shauna Gibby.

Thought:
We were dressed in our home each morning, not only with hats and raincoats and boots to protect us from physical storm, but even more carefully our parents dressed us each day in the armor of God. As we would kneel in family prayer and listen to our father, a bearer of the priesthood, pour out his soul to the Lord for the protection of his family against fiery darts of the wicked, one more layer was added to our shield of faith.
(L. Tom Perry, "Build Your Shield of Faith," Ensign, May 1974, 98)

Song:
"Keep the Commandments" Children's Songbook, p. 146.

Scripture:
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
(Ephesians 6:11)

Object Lesson:

Show your family a piece of protective equipment that is essential to the safety of the person wearing it, such as a football helmet. Ask them what is likely to happen if the person tried to play a serious football game without a helmet. Have your family identify what kind of serious battle we are in and who we are fighting against.

Ask your family to take turns reading D&C 27:15-18. Invite them to look for ways we can protect ourselves in our war against Satan. Assign someone to be a scribe and have the rest of the family help him or her list on a poster or paper pieces of "armor" the Lord invites us to "put on." Next to each piece of armor, list what the Lord said it represents spiritually.

Your chart may look something like this:
Physical Armor
Loins girt
Breasplate
Feet shod
Shield
Helmet
Sword
Spiritual Armor
Truth
Righteousness
Preparation of the gospel of peace
Faith
Salvation
Spirit

Discuss each piece of armor with the help of the following explanations:
"Loins girt about with truth." Tell your family that to be "girt about" is to have a large belt around you, and that the "loins" are your many vital organs and the sacred procreative parts of your body.
"Breastplate of righteousness." Ask "What important organ does the breastplate cover?" (The heart.)
"Feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace." Ask your family how far they think they could walk without shoes compared to how far they could walk with shoes. Remind them that mortal life is like a long journey to a place we can't really see at this time.
"Shield of faith." Have your family look again at D&C 27:17 and identify what the shield specifically does. (Stop the fiery darts of the wicked.) Ask them why they think Satan's weapon is compared to a dart rather than a large tank or cannon. Invite them to give examples of how others (including Satan) have tried to get them to doubt the truths of the gospel. How has your faith helped you to overcome?
"Helmet of Salvation." A helmet of salvation shall guide our thinking all through our days. How would remembering Christ more regularly help us resist the influence the devil tries to have over us?
"Sword of my Spirit." Ask your family how the sword is different from the other pieces of armor listed. (It is a weapon rather than merely protection.) What are some ways we can receive God's word through the Spirit?
(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter- day Saint Families: The Doctrine and Covenants, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2004], p. 55-6.)

Story:
One day I was made an attractive offer by a group of marines, buddies of mine, as we were about to go on liberty. It wasn't until after we were on our way that I discovered this was not the best company to be in. It was then that I found out the reason they had invited me. It was because they knew of my standards. They knew that I would be sober when it was time to return to the base, and I could guide them back.
We found ourselves in Los Angeles on a streetcar headed toward a dance hall. They had already started to drink a little, and I was ready to part their company. It was here that that protective shield took over and I knew of the prayers of my parents for my welfare. The streetcar stopped and allowed new passengers to come aboard. The new passengers separated me from my buddies and pushed me to the back of the car. It was there that I discovered a nice group of young people standing and seated. Immediately upon finding me in their company, one spoke up and said, "Hi, Marine! We're Mormons. What do you know about our Church?"
I answered, "Plenty," and got off the streetcar with them and went to a ward social.
You see, the shield of faith was there. It was protecting me from the fiery darts of the wicked in order that in a proper time in my life I would be worthy to take an angle into the temple of the Lord and there at its altar be sealed together for time and all eternity.
I know be personal experience the value of having noble parents to build around their children a protective shield of faith of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ. I give you my witness that it works. Should not every child of God be given that opportunity in their lives--to start each day having their fathers blessing their home and giving them that protective shield of faith as they depart from the home to go about their every activity.
(L. Tom Perry, "Build Your Shield of Faith," Ensign, May 1974, 98)

Activity:
Create a cardboard and aluminum foil armor for the smallest person in your family. Assign family members to create certain elements of the armor.
Refreshment:
Angel Fluff
1 9-ounce loaf angel food cake
1 cup whipped cream, whipped until stiff
1 cup half-and-half cream
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup lemon juice
Pineapple Sauce
4 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup sugar
2 ¼ cup pineapple juice
¼ cup lemon juice
In large, attractive, 2-quart serving bowl, break cake into bite-sized pieces. In small bowl of electric mixer or with hand electric mixer, gradually whip half-and-half into a fluffy, thick liquid. Beat sugar gradually into cream mixture, then slowly beat in lemon juice. Pour mixture over cake pieces. Chill for at least 2 hours. Spoon onto dessert plates and serve with Pineapple Sauce. Makes 8 servings.
For Pineapple sauce: In small saucepan, combine cornstarch and sugar; mix well. Add pineapple juice; cook on medium heat, stirring constantly, until clear and thickened, about 5 minutes. Add lemon juice. Remove from heat. Chill.
(Lion House Classics, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2004], p. 101.)
© 2005 Deseret Book Co.

I Am A Child of God

2008-07-09T22:48:00.000-07:00

Light Planet, author unknown.

Preparation:
1. Have two items that have obvious similarities and differences, such as a combination of two of the following: a small rock, a small ball, an orange, or an apple.
2. Bring a family picture with the parents and all the children, including grandparents if possible, or several pictures of family members, so that everyone is represented.
3. On a sheet of paper, write "Our Heavenly Father."
4. Have a chalkboard or poster to write on and some chalk or a marker.
5. Have a card or poster for each family member.
6. For younger children, bring a picture of each family member as a baby.

Song:
"I Am a Child of God"

Scripture:
Malachi 2:10

Suggested Lesson:
Who Are You?
Hold a small rock in your hand, and ask your children:
- What is this?
Hold an orange in your other hand.
- What is this?
Ask your family to name as many ways as they can in which these two objects are different. Then ask them to identify how they are similar.

Hold up the family portrait or the separate pictures of family members, and ask:
- Who are these people? Who is this?
- In what ways are the members of our family different from each other? (Facial characteristics, size, age, talents, and any other ways family members might mention.)
- In what ways are members of our family alike? (Color of hair, eyes, freckles, interests, hopes, desires to learn, or whatever your family members identify. ) Point out that we inherited some of these characteristics from our parents.
- In what way is our family different from other families? (Looks, house we live in, goals, number of family members. )
- In what ways are we like the people in other families? (We enjoy playing, smiling, crying, praying.)

Hold up the paper on which you have written "Our Heavenly Father."
- How are we related to our Heavenly Father? (We are his actual children in the spirit. )

We Belong to Two Families
Place the family portrait(s) beside the piece of paper just discussed. Explain to the family that just as they are members of an earthly family, they are also members of a heavenly family.
Point out that one way we are like each other and like the members of all other families on the earth is that we are all children of God.

Recite the words to the song "I Am a Child of God" [The Children’s Songbook, p. 2]. After each verse ask a child in the family to tell you what words or ideas in the verse they liked best. (See the chart below as an example.) Reviewing the song this way can help your children understand and respond to the words. Listen to their thoughts, and use them later in the lesson.
Verse
Child's Favorite Part
I am a child of God,And he has sent me here,Has given me an earthly homeWith parents kind and dear.
I am a child of God,And so my needs are great;Help me to understand his wordsBefore it grows too late.
I am a child of God,Rich blessings are in store;If I but learn to do his willI'll live with him once more.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,Help me find the way.Teach me all that I must doTo live with him someday.
Kind parents
My needs
Blessings
Live with him
Teach me, walk beside me
Live with him

You might comment, for example, on your own desire to be a kind parent or how one of our needs is to know the truth about God and about blessings that have come by doing his will. Explain to your children that they will always be members of your family and that you will always be their father and mother. Nothing can change that. The same is true of God's family. He will always be our Father. We will always be his children. But to return to him we must live his commandments. That's what the chorus in "I Am a Child of God" means when it states,
"Teach me all that I must doTo live with him someday."

What We Inherit from God
Remind your family that just as we are similar to our earthly parents, we are, as children of God, similar to him. As we can grow up to be like our earthly parents, so we can also grow spiritually to be like our Heavenly Father. (See chapter 2, "Our Heavenly Family," Gospel Principles [PBIC0245], pp. 9-12.

Draw the following chart on a chalkboard or poster, and ask your children for words that describe what our Heavenly Father is like. Some examples are below:
Heavenly Father is—
His children can be—
Loving.Forgiving.Helpful.Wise.Interested in the future.

Your family list may not be exactly like the one illustrated.
Under the heading "His children can be," write the same qualities you list in the left column. Ask for examples of these very qualities that have been observed in family members during the past week.

Our Worth and Our Potential
Explain to your children that because they are God's children, they are worth very much.
- What is it about us which Heavenly Father would love so much? (First of all, he loves us because we are his spirit children; we are his family. Secondly, he loves us because of what we are capable of doing and becoming.)

Remind your children that their worth, like their family membership, is unquestionable.
- What if someone were to tell you that you are not a child of God?

After listening to their answers, reinforce the fact that regardless of what others may say, they are still children of Heavenly Father. Point to the list that you made as you ask the following question:
- What if someone were to tell you that you could not develop these qualities?

After they have answered, read and discuss this statement by Lorenzo Snow: "We are the offspring of God, born with the same faculties and powers as He possesses, capable of enlargement through the experience that we are now passing through in our second estate" (Millennial Star, 3 Dec. 1894, p. 772). Be sure each person knows what the phrase "second estate" means.

Give some practical examples to apply these ideas. For example, when they feel discouraged, encourage your children to look in a mirror and say such things as, "I am a child of God. I can learn and grow. I can be kind to others. I can succeed."

Have each family member make a small card or poster with the following on it to place by his bed:
I am a child of God, and I can become more _______________________.

Explain that each morning before prayer the family member looks at the card and identifies a godly quality he could develop to fill in the missing word, such as loving, forgiving, educated, or accomplished. He should use whatever quality he may feel he needs to develop at the time. Encourage family members to seek the Lord's help in being true to their capacity to become like him. In the evening, they should ponder the chances they had during the day to work on their potential. Challenge each person to examine the experiences he has had each day and share with his Heavenly Father what he, as one of God's children, has learned from them.

If possible, display a picture of each family member as a baby. Let the children try to find their own pictures and identify the others. Tell them about the circumstances surrounding their birth. You may wish to describe your feelings as a parent as your prepared for their coming to your home. Describe how you felt when you saw, held, and loved them for the first time. Then ask them to imagine how Heavenly Father must feel to see them growing and learning.

Share how a knowledge that you are a child of God has helped you to choose the right. A specific example of a righteous choice they would understand would be helpful. You could recall how you were tempted to be unkind and then remembered that you were a child of God and so did a kind thing instead. Use some example from your recent experience so that the child will see the point clearly.

Sing "I Am a Child of God" with your children. Then tell them what the words mean to you.
At bedtime, during different nights of the week, spend some time with each child to share with him your knowledge of his worth to you and to God. Give examples of how Heavenly Father and you have confidence in his ability to succeed in life.

Nephi

2008-07-09T22:47:00.001-07:00

DeseretBook.com, author: Shauna Gibby, 2007

Thought:
Nephi was that rare combination: a great prophet who is also a founder of a nation. As prophet, he succeeded his father Lehi as spiritual leader in ancient America and laid the groundwork for the heights of righteousness later achieved. As ruler of a new nation, he was so beloved of his people that . . . [they] insisted on calling his successors "second Nephi, third Nephi, and so forth." Allen E. Bergin, "Nephi, a Universal Man," Ensign, Sep 1976, 65

Song:
"Nephi's Courage," Children's Songbook, p. 120

Scripture:
And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.
(1 Nephi 3:7)

Lesson:
Play the "favorites" game with your family. Choose a topic such as food, movies, animals, colors, or friends. As family members to tell who or what they favorites are. Ask them why something or someone becomes a favorite. Next, ask if they think the Lord has favorites. Read 1 Nephi 3:4-6 and look for who might be "favored of the Lord." Why does Lehi say that Nephi would be so favored? Read 1 Nephi 17:32 and find who else is "favored" of the Lord. Why do you think the Lord favors the righteous? What can you do to be "favored of the Lord"?
(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter- day Saint Families: The Book of Mormon, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2003], p. 15.)

Story:
After a long and difficult trip through the wilderness, the sons of Lehi finally arrived at Jerusalem. They drew lots to see who would have to go to Laban's home and ask him for the brass plates, which contained the scriptures. Laman was chosen to go. When Laman asked Laban for the plates, Laban told his servants to kill him. Laman had to run for his life.
Laman and Lemuel wanted to give up, but Nephi convinced them to try again. He told them that God would help them, because it was God who had asked them to get the plates.
Laman, Lemuel, Nephi, and Sam thought of all the riches they had left behind in their home. They decided they might be able to trade their riches for the plates. They went back to their home and got their gold and silver and went again to Laban's house.
Laban was such a wicked man that he took their gold and silver and sent his servants to kill all four of the brothers. Once again they had to run for their lives. They hid in a cave outside the city.
Laman and Lemuel were angry, and they began to hit Nephi and Sam with a stick. While they were hitting their brothers, an angel appeared and told them to stop. The angel promised them that they would be able to get the plates if they tried again.
Laman and Lemuel were still afraid, so Nephi told his brothers that he would go back to Laban's house alone and get the plates. Nephi didn't know how he was going to do it, but he planned on trusting in the Lord and listening to the Holy Ghost. Nephi waited until it was dark and then went into the city. As he approached Laban's house, he found King Laban lying on the ground, drunk. The Holy Ghost commanded Nephi to kill Laban and put on his clothes, and Nephi obeyed. When he approached the servant Zoram, who was guarding the plates, Zoram thought Nephi was Laban, and so he gave Nephi the plates.
Zoram walked with Nephi until they were out of the city. When he realized that Nephi was not Laban, Zoram began to run. Nephi captured Zoram and promised him that he would be a free man if he joined their family in the wilderness. Zoram decided he would join them, and he lived with them from then on.
(Allan K. Burgess and Max H. Molgard, Fun For Family Night: The Book of Mormon Edition, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1990], p. 30.)

Activity:
Give each member of the family a sheet of paper and a pencil or pen. Younger children can be assisted by parents or older children.
Tell them you are going to read several things that God has asked us to do. Ask them to write down the two things they think are, or will be, the hardest for them to do. Tell them not to let anyone see what they write.
Read the following items and add some of your own if you desire: Serve a full- time mission; Pay a full tithing; Forgive others even if the don't act as if they are sorry; Keep the Sabbath day holy; Obey their parents; Be unselfish and share with others; Live the Word of Wisdom; Avoid bad language.
Once everyone has written down two things that they feel are most difficult for them, tell the family that you are going to see how well you know each other. Choose one family member and have each person guess one thing that they think this member wrote down. Then have the person read the two things they are written. Each family member that correctly named one of the things receives on point.
Then choose another family member and do the same thing until all members have shared what they wrote on their papers. The person with the most matches wins.
Note: The purpose of this activity is not to single out family members and make them feel discouraged, rather, it is to provide all family members with the opportunity to become better acquainted and to help them, through increased family support, to faithfully keep the commandments. If you feel uncomfortable identifying negative traits, have each family member write down the commandments that he or she feels are the easiest to live.
Discuss when we are asked to do things we feel hard, we can remember how God helped Nephi and we can ask him to help us also. Discuss how the Lord can help them with the commandments that the family members feel are difficult to keep.
(Allan K. Burgess and Max H. Molgard, Fun For Family Night: The Book of Mormon Edition, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1990], p. 29.)

Refreshment:
Sour Cream Poundcake
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
2 ¼ cups sugar
6 eggs
3 cups flour
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon soda
1 cup dairy sour cream
½ teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon lemon extract
½ teaspoon orange extract
Cream butter until soft. Add sugar gradually, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each. Sift together flour, salt, and soda; add to batter alternately with sour cream, beating until smooth. Add flavorings. Prepare fluted (bundt) cake pan by coating generously with vegetable oil spray, then sprinkling with granulated sugar; or grease pan heavily. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until done. Cool cake for 10 minutes; remove from pan.
(Winnifred C. Jardine, Mormon Country Cooking, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1980] p. 269.)
© 2005 Deseret Book Co.

Teach The Children

2008-07-09T22:14:00.000-07:00

HFPE activity, author unknown.

Preparation:
Gather the following items or clip art for the story: star, tree ornament, Christmas tree, bell, candy cane, wreath, holly wreath, gift

Song:
"Stars Were Gleaming"

Scripture:
D&C 88:77-78

Lesson:
Read the story below and have the children participate in holding up the items when they are mentioned in the story.

Just a day before Christmas I had a wonderful visitor. I had just finished my chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed when I heard a noise in the living room. I opened the door and to my surprise, Santa Claus himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree!!

He placed his fingers over his lips so I would not shout out in excitement. "What are you doing?" I started to ask, but the words choked up in my throat as I saw Santa had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone...gone was the eager boisterous soul we all knew.

He then answered me with a simple statement of "Teach the Children." My perplexed expression still showed in the near darkness. "teach them the old meaning of Christmas...the meaning that now days has forgotten." I started to say, "How can I?" When Santa reached into the toy bag and pulled out a brilliant, shiny STAR. Teach the children the star was the heavenly sign of promise long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign that the promise had been fulfilled. It was the great star of the east. The star now reminds of us Gods love for all mankind. The countless shining stars at night-one for each man- now show the burning hope for mankind.

Santa gently laid the star on the fireplace mantle, and drew from the bag a glittering RED CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENT. Teach the children red is the first color of Christmas. It was first used by faithful people to remind them of the blood that was shed for all people by the Savior. Christ gave his life and shed his blood that every man might have Gods gift to all, eternal life. Red is deep, intense, and vivid...it is the greatest color of all. It is a symbol of the gift from God.

"Teach the Children," he said as he was twisting and pulling. Suddenly Santa dislodged a small CHRISTMAS TREE from the depths of the toy bag. He placed it before the mantle and gently hung the ornament on it. The deep green of the fir tree was a perfect background for the ornament. He said, "Here is the second color of Christmas. The color of the tree remains green all year round. This depicts the everlasting hope of mankind. Green is the youthful, hopeful, and abundant color in nature. all needles point heavenward, symbolic of mans returning thoughts towards heaven. The great green tree has been mans best friend. It has sheltered him, warmed him, and made comfort of him."

Santa's eyes were beginning to twinkle no as he stood there. Suddenly I heard a soft tinkling sound. as it grew louder and louder it seemed like a sound from a long time ago. teach the children that the lost sheep are found by the sound of the BELL. The bell means guidance and return, and further signifies that all are precious in the eyes of the Lord.

As the soft sound of the bell faded into the night, Santa drew forth a CANDLE. He placed it on the mantle, and the soft light from it's tiny flame caught a beautiful glow from around the darkened room. Santa whispered, "Teach the children that the candle shows mans thanks for the star of long ago. It's light is the mirror of starlight. Safety has now removed the candles from the tree, but lights replace them for remembrance."

Santa turned the small Christmas tree lights on and picked up a GIFT from under the tree. He pointed to the large bow ribbon and said, "A bow is placed upon the present to remind us of the brotherhood of man. we should remember that the bow is tied as man should be tied, all of us together with good will toward each other. Good will forever is the message of the bow."

Now my mind began to wander as to what else Santa might have in his bag. Instead of reaching in his bag, he slung it over his shoulder and began to reach up to the top of the Christmas tree. I thought he was hungry as he reached for a CANDY CANE placed high on the tree. "teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back the stayed sheep to the fold. The candy cane reminds us how we should be helping hands at Christmas time. The candy cane is a symbol that we are our brother's keepers."

Santa then paused: with all the work he had to do tomorrow, he seemed to realize that he should be on his way. But with a twinkle in his eye he pulled out one more thing. He reached into his bag and brought forth a HOLLY WREATH. He placed it on the door and said, "Please teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the eternal nature of love; it never ceases, stops, or ends. It is made of many things and many colors. It should remind us of all the things of Christmas." As he disappeared up the chimney he said, "Good night, Merry Christmas, and remember, Teach the Children!"

Treat:
Candy Canes
Hot Chocolate

Harried Harriet and the Germinator

2008-07-09T22:03:00.000-07:00

This fun LDS Skit by Kate Myers is great to teach about order and cleanliness. You can use it for any LDS activity including Home, Family, and Personal Enrichment, Young Women, or as part of a Family Home Evening lesson. It's full of laughs too!

Preparation:
· Open and print the skit in the pdf file below. There are five cast members so you will probably want to print a copy for each person.
· Assign people to each part.
· Make handouts, or print copies of the last page of the pdf file, to give out after the skit.

LDS Skit: Harried Harriet and the Germinator (Small PDF file, link below)

Cast:
· Narrator
· Harried Harriet (typical busy mom)
· Germinator (man dressed like a "swamp monster")
· Clean Queen (woman wearing apron, cleaning tools, has duster, rubber gloves, etc.)
· Neat-Nick Organizer (woman dressed in business suit, pencil behind ear, etc.)

Excerpt:
Harriet: "You’ve been very helpful, Clean Queen, but I have to confess that it’s not just getting rid of germs that’s the problem. It’s running kids to all their events, keeping up with schedules, doing all the things I’m supposed to, and never having enough time. Some days I feel so overwhelmed, I just want to hide under the covers!"Clean Queen: "Oh, you poor thing!" (Reaches out and feels her forehead.) "You’ve got a very severe case of O-M-S."Harriet: "Oh no! What’s O-M-S?"Clean Queen: "Overwhelmed-Mother-Syndrome. It’s very contagious. I think you need to talk to my sister."

To print the scit, click on this link:
http://lds.about.com/library/bl/activities/harried_harriet_germinator.pdf

The Journey of 1000 Miles

2008-07-09T21:52:00.000-07:00

From Sugardoodle.net, author: Mary Lou Anderson (changes made from the original idea to be used as a FHE lesson)

Preparation:
2 boxes of toothpicks (500in each box)
Map of the US
Pictures of Nauvoo, Winter Quarters, the pioneer trail, ect.

Song:
"Pioneer Children"

Lesson:
Begin the lesson by asking each child how far they’d ever walked in one day. We then determined how far a mile was by thinking of the distance between 2 familiar businesses in our town. Looking at the US map we pinpointed Nauvoo, Winter Quarters and Salt Lake. I asked them to make a "Pioneer Trail" all around the room using the toothpicks, each representing one mile, remembering that the Pioneers did not necessarily travel in a straight line as they went.

As they worked I began asking some thought provoking questions similar to the following:
• How long would it take YOU to walk 1000 miles if you walked just 2 miles every day?
• Do you like to sleep in your own bed every night? Do you think the pioneer children liked sleeping somewhere different every night?
• What kind of shoes do you think the children wore?
• If there were 10 people in your family and this is how big your wagon was, how often do you think you would get to ride rather than walk? What was in the wagon?
• What do you think they ate for dinner? Where did they get the food? What do you think would happen if the children didn’t like what was served?
• Would you like to wear the same clothes over and over?

Our children counted the toothpicks and mark off each "hundred miles". They soon realized that the pioneer children really did walk and walk and walk and walk and walk and walk……Since they didn’t want to stop until all 1000 toothpicks were in place.

Treat:
Home made bread and jelly.

Temples and Their Work

2008-07-09T21:17:00.001-07:00

Received from FHE Group, author: unknown.

Preparation:
Playdoh or Sugar Cubes

Song: "I Love to see the Temple"

Lesson:
Read the following story by Elder Marion D. Hanks

A group of young members with recommends were going to the Salt Lake Temple to be baptized for the dead. One of them was hesitant because she felt that she didn't really understand what temples were about. Her teacher said, "If you don't feel that you're ready for this experience, maybe you'd be willing to help a young lady in a wheelchair. Would you go with her, help her dress, help her into the font, and take care of her?" The girl said she would.

In helping the young lady in the wheelchair, whom she hadn't even known before, this girl became close to the Spirit of the Lord. She was so touched that she asked for the privilege of doing baptisms herself.

One of the things Heavenly Father requires of us, if we are to return to Him someday, is that we be baptized. If our parents are members, this usually happens when we are eight years of age and are capable of understanding and being responsible.

But many people across the face of the earth have not been baptized because they haven't had a chance to be. So we send missionaries all over the world to teach them the gospel.

And what about the people who have died without a chance to be baptized? Heavenly Father has said that we who are in the world would now must help those who are dead by being baptized for them. So people go to the temple and are baptized for their ancestors or others who could not do it themselves. These people's spirits are still alive; only their bodies have died. The gospel is preached to them in the spirit world, and they may choose to accept or reject the work that is done for them.

One of the wonderful blessings of the temple is that a man and woman may be married there for time and eternity. Then they and any children they have will be sealed, or bound together, forever, as a family if they continue to live righteously.

A man and woman who have not been married in the temple can, if worthy, go to the temple later with their children and be sealed to each other by one with Heavenly Father's authority to perform this sacred act. It is a wonderful thing to see a mother and father kneeling with their children at an altar in the Lord's house, being sealed as a family. They're all dressed in white, and sometimes the younger children are a little bewildered, but they feel the spirit and are excited.

One of the sweetest experiences I had in the temple was working with children who were being sealed to their parents. I once asked a little boy, "What are you doing here in the temple?"

He said, "I came with my parents to be sealed."

I asked, "What does that mean?"

He said, "We will be a family forever."

I said, "That's a wonderful answer. You must have a good family if you want to be with them forever."

His eyes lit up, and he said, "Yes, I do." Children can feel the sacredness and seriousness of the temple.

Heavenly Father is the Father of all the people who have ever lived. He wants all His children to have all of these blessing, but He doesn't force them on anyone. He has established His church and revealed His gospel and restored His priesthood and then said to us who are members of His church, "You are the instruments, or agents, of my love. You are to find my other children who are seeking Me and teach them and help them."

Through His atoning love, Christ provided an opportunity for us to enjoy all these blessings. after the pattern of the Savior, we can help others. That is why we're here. God so loved us that He gave His son. And His Son so loved us that He gave His life. We're here to learn how to love as They do.

That's what the temple is all about. It's a place to learn about Jesus Christ and follow the principles that He taught. Adults can go to the temple and receive what is called an endowment. They learn very simple, basic principles and make covenants about them. These principles are the same ones taught by the life of the Savior--to do the will of Heavenly Father, to serve, to share, and to be totally unselfish with everything we have. We go to the temple not only to do work for the dead but also to rededicate our own lives to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Activity:
Gather the family together to make a temple out of sugar cubes. If you don't want to use sugar cubes, you can use playdoh. Explain as you are constructing the temple some of the reasons why we go to the temple.

Love at Home: Super Siblings

2008-07-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

Adapted from Yahoo FHE Group, author Ivy Bonhurst (some changes were made for our family purposes)

Preparation:
Copy of the “Bullies and Brothers” story (pp. 36-38, Children’s Friend)
Superhero clip art
Bully Clip art
Mason Jar
Jelly Beans
Pad of Paper
Pencil

Song:
“As I Have Loved You”

Lesson:
Read the “Bullies and Brothers” story. Ask the family to take turns holding up the superhero for someone being a super sibling ……….. or the bully picture for when someone in the story is being a “big bully”.

Discuss with your children the following questions:
Have you ever been like a bully to some of your family members?
When have you been more like a hero?
List the type of things you can do to be a hero or a “super sibling” in your family.

Talk about why it is important to be kind to your family and decided to do it. Introduce the “Super Sibling” jar. Explain to your children that for the next week you want them to show kindness to one another. Each time they do a good deed, show kindness or anything else you determine, they get a jellybean in the jar. At the end of the week, if the jar is full, your family can do a fun activity. (ie: movie night, game night, dinner, ect) together.
Game:
Using the pad of paper and pencil, play Pictionary and draw ways that your children can be super siblings in the home.
Ideas-
Making the bed
Doing their chores
No fighting
Leaving a note
Smile
Say kind words

Treat:

Rice Krispy Treats decorated with Red, White and Blue Sprinkles
3 tablespoons margarine or butter
1 (10 oz.) package regular marshmallows
- or -
4 cups mini marshmallows
6 cups Rice Krispies®

Directions
1. Melt margarine in large saucepan over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.2. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.3. Using buttered spatula or waxed paper, press mixture evenly into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cut into 2-inch squares when cool. Best if served the same day. MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:In a large microwave safe bowl, heat margarine and marshmallows at HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.

To Get the story and clip art, click here:
http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/oBt0SIe0m-g-BCH7iFnrmBo7ORClMmmwxZhp5EoDicP50aNglzCqwDGRFHxguaiFSUiA7Ijv6ZQQr92xnpYg9rx_HW7By5NMeKo/Super%20Siblings/bullies%20%26%20brothers%20friend%20story.pdf