Family Home Evening Lesson -- Love at Home

Opening Song: Kindness Begins with Me

Opening Prayer:

Lesson:

Scripture: A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you (John 13:34).

Can you guess the answer to this riddle? What is as invisible as the wind and as warm as the sun, can be given away without losing any, grows when it is shared, comes from your heart, and shows on your face?
The answer to the riddle is love. Love is a powerful feeling of affection, concern, and tenderness for another.


Your home in heaven was filled with love. Your Heavenly Father prepared a plan of happiness for you because He loves you. That plan makes it possible for you to become like Him and return to live with Him forever. Your Savior and Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, suffered and gave His life to free you from sin and death. Heavenly Father and Jesus love you. Jesus gave us a commandment to love one another as He loves us. When you love others and show that love by your actions, you are following Him. When you love others, you show that you are a child of Heavenly Father and a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ (see John 13:34–35). You become more like Them.


Your home here on earth is the first and most important place to show love. You can do it in very simple but powerful ways—a smile, a thank you, a hug, a kind word or deed. You can say, “I love you.” Everyone enjoys hearing those words again and again. As you show love for your family, that love will grow, and you will help to make your home a heavenly place.


A home filled with love is a heavenly place.


A person filled with love is following Jesus.

Activity Ideas:

1. Explain to the children that the Savior gave us a commandment to “love one another” (John 13:34). Let them suggest ways that they can show love for the members of their families. Then give each child the name of a family member—Mother, Father, Sister, Brother, Grandma, or Grandpa. Have each class create a new verse, with words and actions, to the song “Oh, How We Love to Stand” (Children’s Songbook, p. 279) by substituting the name given to them for the words to stand in the first line, and creating new words and actions for the rest of that line and the second line of the song. (Example: “Oh, how we love Mother and show her every day—Wash the dishes, sweep the floor, and put the toys away.”) You may need to play the song several times so that the children will feel the rhythm of the phrases. Have each class sing its verse with actions, then teach it to the others.


2. Clear a space in the room and let the younger children sit in a circle. Tell them that there are many ways to love and serve the members of their families. Select one child to stand in the center of the circle. As everyone sings “When We’re Helping” (Children’s Songbook, p. 198), have the child in the center do an action that goes with the song. Explain that even a smile can be an expression of love. Sing “Smiles” (Children’s Songbook, p. 267), and let the children show their biggest frowns and biggest smiles.


3. Bring six hats representing Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, Grandma, and Grandpa. Have the children sit in a circle and pass the hats from head to head while they sing “Here We Are Together” (Children’s Songbook, p. 261). Use the names in the song.


4. Ask an adult member of the ward to share with the children a note or letter they have received from a loved one and tell the children why it was important to them. Explain to the children how nice it is to receive a note of love and appreciation. Have the children create a card from construction paper to give to someone special.


5. Explain that just saying you love someone is not always enough. You must show him that you love him through your actions. Tell the children that there are many opportunities to serve family members every day. Have the children play Family Service Charades. In one bowl, have slips of paper with ideas for service. Have the child whose name you draw from the first bowl pull a slip from the second bowl and act out the service for the other children to guess. Possible service ideas: washing dishes, giving a hug, writing a letter, making a bed, playing a game with a younger child, making cookies, saying a prayer for someone, drawing a picture, smiling, picking up toys, getting the mail, setting the table, reading to a younger child, and washing the car.

Closing Prayer:

Treat: Heart-shaped Rice Krispie Treats

(from "The Friend" magazine)

Family Home Evening Lesson: Goal Setting

Goal Setting
Opening Song
Opening Prayer
Lesson:

• Print off pictures of what your family has done during the year or cut out pictures from magazines that represent things done as a family this year -- things good, hard, memorable, accomplishments by different family members
• Together as a family, make a collage of the pictures and hang it up to remind everyone of all of the wonderful things members of the family did or accomplished this year.
• Discussion Questions: How did you feel when you accomplished these things throughout the year? What did it take to do these things? Why is it important to set goals?
• Read and discuss President Hinkley quotes:
  "Try a little harder to be a little better." — Gordon B. Hinckley
  "The time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." — Gordon B. Hinckley
  "When I say do your best, I mean your very best. You are capable of so much more." — Gordon B. Hinckley
  
• Have each member of the family set some goals for the upcoming year.

Closing Prayer

Treat: Confetti Cake Mix Cookies

Very easy for kids to make!

1 box confetti cake mix--or white cake mix and sprinkles

2 eggs

1/2C oil

Mix altogether, batter will be stiff. Grease cookie sheet. Preheat oven to 350*. Roll cookie dough into small balls and then flatten with bottom of a cup. Don't add sugar or anything on top as these are already really sweet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the edges turn slightly brown. Let cool on sheet for a few minutes before removing to racks.

Family Home Evening Lesson: Warm Fuzzies

Opening Song: 'Give said the little stream' Childrens Songbook # 236

Opening Prayer: Child

Lesson: Mommy

Ask Child "What things do you like to do for your birthday? Last year the prophet Pres Monson was asked the same question ~ what he would like for his birthday? He answered "Find someone who is having a hard time or is ill or lonely, and do something for him or her.”Isn't this a very nice thing? Why should we serve/help others?Why would the prophet be happy if we go and help others, or visit the sick or lonely?

Activity:Some Children, after hearing Pres Monson say this started a 'warm fuzzies jar' Each time they did something good for another person they were able to put a warm fuzzy in the jar. They kept going until the jar was full.We are going to make a warm fuzzy jar too.Decorate Jar as you desire, have a bowl of pom poms/cotton balls for children to see. Do a service in the house right away and place some 'warm fuzzies' in the jar to get started. Challenge the children to do something nice for someone in the family, neighbour or friend so they can put more pom pom's in the jar

Find Video Here of President Monson's Talk "What have I done for someone today?" You could play this while you do the activity or have children watch while eating the treat.

Closing Song: ' Called to Serve ' Children's Songbook # 174
Closing Prayer: Daddy

Treat:M&M's or any other colourful ball shaped candy. Using a cookie cutter cut circle shapes out of slice of bread. Butter and sprinkle with colourful sprinkles of your choice

(www.nataliesfhespot.blogspot.com)

Strengthening Our Family

Strenthening Our Family
Family Home Evening Lesson

Opening Song: "Here we are together" Children's Songbook # 261
Opening Prayer: Child
Lesson: Mommy

What ways can we make our family strong? (be nice to each other, help around the house, prayers, scripture reading, go to church etc)

If you have gospel picture kit, show pictures of these things, family proclamation.

Why does our family need to work together, why does it need to be strong?

Object Lesson:
Using Oranges/apples or rocks (something that won't blow away) My girls used 2 oranges and they told this lovely (if not cheesy, story they made up :)
"This is the Orange family. They have a mum and dad and 5 kids. They are all nice to each other and like to help. They are kind and listen and go to church and read scriptures. They clean up and like to play together and love their family".

Then they got a hair dryer and blew on the orange. When small problems come (put hairdryer on low setting) the family still stayed together. When big problems came (high setting), the family was still strong and able to work through it.

Next family is the LID family (use plastic bottle lids or something that will blow away)"This is the Lid family. They don't listen to eachother. They seem to fight a lot and don't like to help around the house. The forget to have their scriptures and prayers and can be mean to eachother. They don't look out for each other as best they should"When problems come, even small ones (low setting on hairdryer) their family is blown away. They do not stick together. When big problems come it is even worse.

Which family do we need to be like?
What can we do better in our family to be like the Orange family?
How can we stay strong?

Activity:Make a paper chain or something symbolic of your family being joined together. Show how the more pieces of string or sticks tied together the stronger it becomes.

Closing Song: “Families can be together Forever" Children's Songbook #188
Closing Prayer: Daddy
Treat: Eat Oranges or Apples :)Have one big dessert and some spoons and all 'share' it together

http://nataliesfhespot.blogspot.com/

Family Home Evening: A House of Order

PURPOSE
Commit family members to make your home a "house of order" (D&C 132:8).

FOR THE PARENT

All parents hope to raise happy, healthy children who love the Lord and are willing to serve others. This is one of the heaviest responsibilities that God has given men and women. Our Heavenly Father will help us if we will seek and accept his guidance by praying, studying the scriptures, and following the counsel of his chosen leaders.

The Lord said, "Mine house is a house of order . . . and not a house of confusion." If we pattern our homes according to our Heavenly Father's guidance, we will be better parents. An orderly home is a home where parents preside, direct, and teach; where all have responsibilities and are considerate and thoughtful of each other; and where family members are knit together with love. (See D&C 88:119.)

PREPARATION
1. Have several pieces of paper that can be cut into two-inch strips as needed and a marker of some kind to write on them. You will need three or four strips per family member.
2. Have a piece of colored paper for each family member to make a poster.

SUGGESTED HYMN AND SONG
"Today, While the Sun Shines" [Hymns, no. 229].
"When We're Helping" [The Children’s Songbook, p. 198].

SUGGESTED LESSON
Begin with a game called "Come to Order." Explain that the word order means, among other things, the way in which things are placed or a condition in which everything is in its right place. Line up your family in different orders, such as the following (be sure that the father or family head is the one giving the directions if possible):
1. Line up according to age, from the oldest to the youngest.
2. Line up according to the size of feet, from the littlest to the biggest.
3. Line up according to height, from the tallest to the shortest.
When everyone is seated again, point out that to play this game, someone had to select the order, and the others had to follow that direction. Explain to your family that order comes to a home when everyone understands and carries out his responsibilities. The opposite of order is confusion. Confusion comes when people do not know what is expected of them.

We Can Make Our Home a House of Order
Heavenly Father has said that his house is a house of order. Have someone read Doctrine and Covenants 132:8.

Explain that Heavenly Father gives us directions out of his great love. If we will follow those directions, we will be happy and can accomplish all we should. He would like us to follow this same pattern in our homes so that they may be houses of order also. Through his prophets, the Lord has explained what he expects of parents and children. As always, his directions are given because he loves us and wants us to be happy. The Lord has given responsibilities to both parents and to children. In order to have a loving and happy family, each person must do his part.

Parents Have Responsibilities
Discuss with your family some of the responsibilities Heavenly Father has given parents. Start with the three important ones listed below. As you talk about each one, write each of the headings below on a strip of paper for each parent, and place one of the strips of paper on the floor in front of each parent.

Preside
- What does the word preside mean? (To give direction or take charge.)

To point out how important it is to have someone preside in any group, do the following experiment. Ask each family member to think of his favorite game. When you tell them to start, have all the family members tell, at the same time, how to play their games. After a minute, call the group back to order.

-What happened when everyone gave directions for a different game at the same time? (The result was confusion.)
- Could you tell what all the others were saying?

Point out how much easier it would have been to understand everyone's favorite game if someone had taken charge and called on one person at a time to explain his game.

Explain that Heavenly Father has given parents the job of presiding in the home because they love their children. He knows that they will try to give directions and make decisions that will be the best for their children.

While parents are equal partners in the home, it is the father's responsibility to be the patriarch, or head of the house (see Ephesians 5:23-25). If the father is not present, the mother presides no matter how old the sons are or what priesthood they may hold.

Teach the Gospel
Parents have been told by the Lord to teach their children. Have someone read Mosiah 4:14-15 and Doctrine and Covenants 68:25. Point out that having family home evenings helps you carry out this responsibility.

Be an Example
One of the best ways parents can teach their children is by example. In Jacob 2:35, Jacob points out the effect of bad example. Husbands and wives should show love and respect for each other and for their children by their actions as well as by their words.

Explain that parents are human and sometimes fail to set the proper example at all times. Sometimes parents get tired, feel discouraged, or lose their tempers. But they do love their children and are trying to be good parents though they may make some mistakes.

Children Have Responsibilities Too
Our Heavenly Father has also told us what he expects children to do in the home. Children share with their parents the responsibility of making a happy home and a house of order. Discuss the following responsibilities and make a strip with the words written on it for each child. Place a strip of paper on the floor in front of each child.

Obey
Have someone read Ephesians 6: 1. Explain that parents and children should counsel together in making family rules and decisions. If children understand why a rule is made, it is easier for them to accept that rule. When the family, under the direction of the parents, has made a rule or decision, all are responsible to obey that rule and abide by that decision.

Honor Parents
Discuss how we honor our parents. Explain that honor means to show respect. We honor parents when we follow their teachings and do the things we know they would like us to do. Read Ephesians 6:2-3.

- How could honoring parents help us to "live long on the earth?"

Point out your concern for your children's health and safety. Relate a personal experience of a time when following a parent's advice saved someone from harm, or use the following story:

Jon and Brad were admiring Jon's older brother's new bike.
"What a beauty," said Brad, 'Td give anything to be able to ride it!"
"Bob is only six like us," Jon said, "and he rides his brother's bike all over. You know, my parents have never really said I couldn't ride the bike."
"Neither have my parents, but I know what they'd say if I asked them. They'd say that I should wait until I'm older and big enough."
"Well, our parents don't need to know if we just take a short ride around the school yard."
As they rode around the school yard, they skidded on some gravel and took a painful fall that left them scraped and bruised.
After the accident, both Jon and Brad understood why their parents would not have let them ride the bike had they asked. Following their parents advice would have saved them trouble and pain.

Contribute
Explain that each family member is personally responsible to help make the family happy and strong. Children should contribute by not just taking from the family but by giving to the family as well.

- How can you contribute to the family? (You may want the family members to answer this question to themselves.)

Ask your children to name other ways they can help make your home a house of order. Write each one on a strip of paper, and place it in front of the children to whom it applies.

Conclude the lesson by telling the children how much you love them and how hard you are trying to be a good parent. Children need to hear often that their parents love them so that they will understand that directions, rules, and order in the home come from that love.

Let each family member make a poster of his responsibilities in the family. Have each child paste the strips of paper he has in front of him onto a piece of colored paper, write his name at the top, and decorate it. The poster could then be put up by the child's bed or wherever it could be seen each day as a reminder.

(from www.lightplanet.com)

Family Home Evening Lesson -- Self Reliance

Family Home Evening Lesson
Self Reliance

Opening Song: "I will be valiant" Children's Songbook #162

Opening Prayer

Lesson:

Talk briefly how it is important for families to be able to look after themselves. You could mention food storage, 72 hour kits, growing a garden, knowing your scripture stories, saving money etc.

Depending on the age of your child choose as many or few activites from below to show/teach your child - This is a hands on FHE!

Spiritual ~
Share Testimonies with each other. Talk about why it is important to have/develop a testimony
Scriptures - look through scriptures and why it is important for us to know the stories therein

Money ~
Have play money (or real) and get children to put in amounts that is spent on food, house, bills, tithing, etc then show how much is left(teach that it is important to save some money for emergencies (like broken cars, storms, sickness, if daddy loses job etc)

Car ~
Show children where the oil or water or petrol goes in the car, get them to help you. They will enjoy looking at the engine!

Sewing ~
We all need to know how to repair clothes, sew on a button etc. Older children can sew on some scaps of material or a button, younger children could thread beads on string etc

Emotional ~
The need to be happy and be able to move on even when we are sad. Play some games like "If you're happy and you know it" "If you chance to see a frown - turn it upside down" Sit and talk about feelings etc

Food ~
Eat some food storage. Pack 72 hour kits. We have kits with little cereal boxes, muslie bars,chocolate bars, juice box, dried fruit. These go out of date every 6 months so we sit around and eat the contents and pack new ones.

Shelter ~
Build a shelter out of blankets, tarps or set up a small tent. Ask Child if they could make shelter if needed be?

Closing Song: "Dare to do right" Children's Songbook #158

Closing Prayer:

Treat:

Food Storage foods :)

(from The Family Home Evening Spot -- nataliesfhespot.blogspot.com)

FHE-Liberty

Family Home Evening Lesson
“Liberty”

(Taken from “Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty,” Friend, May 1994, 20)

Opening Song: “My Country” (Children’s Song Book # 224)

Opening Prayer: Child

Lesson: Mommy

(This entire lesson is from the “Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty” article. Click on the link to use for your lesson. It is perfect and condenses the story better than I ever could with pictures and all.)

Talk about how the Title of Liberty it is a lot like our Flag. If we live the way were are suppose to and follow what the Lord has asked we can be blessed by the wonderful country that we live in.

You can teach your children about respecting the Flag and put “The Pledge of Allegiance” up in your home for your family to see and practice and learn.


Talk about the 4th of July and the liberty’s that we have in this country and what it means to you and your family.

Activity: Choose any of these fun 4th of July activities from Enchanted Learning.

Closing Song: “My Flag, My Flag” (Children’s Song Book # 225)

Closing Prayer: Daddy

Treat: Make red, white, and blue parfaits by layering blueberries, strawberries, and whip cream in a clear cup or by using red and blue jello with whip cream.

Family Home Evening Lesson Idea

FHE Lesson:

The Sacrament

Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read “Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament,” by Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, Nov 2008, 17–20.

Thought:

The ordinance of the sacrament makes the sacrament meeting the most sacred and important meeting in the Church.

(Dallin H. Oaks, “Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament,” Ensign, Nov 2008, 17–20.)

Song:

“To Think about Jesus,” Children’s Songbook, p.71

Scripture:

And when the disciples had come with bread and wine, he took of the bread and brake and blessed it; and he gave unto the disciples and commanded that they should eat. (3 Nephi 18:3)

Lesson:

Set the timer for three minutes. Have your family name as many stories about Jesus as they can remember. Have one person put a tally mark on a paper for each story named. When the time is up, count the tally marks and praise their good work.

Select two or three of the stories they named, and ask what we can learn from them. (Example: The story of Jesus healing the ten lepers teaches us to show gratitude.)

Invite someone to read D&C 20:77. Ask everyone to listen carefully and find out how many times it tells us to remember Jesus. (Twice.)

Ask another child to read D&C 20:79. Once again, have the family listen to see how many times the verse tells us to remember Jesus. (Twice.)

Remembering Jesus is very important. It helps us to choose the right. Earth life brings many challenges and decisions. Jesus will always help us, if we remember him.

Story:

My introduction to the welfare program came when I was a deacon at twelve years of age. The bishop asked that I take the sacrament to a bedfast brother who longed for this blessing. The morning was sunny, and I didn’t mind missing my Sunday School class to walk the threequarters of a mile distance from the chapel, down the street, across the railroad tracks to the modest residence. I knocked at the kitchen door and heard a feeble voice say, “Come in.”

I entered the kitchen, then moved to the bedside of Brother Edward Wright. When I uncovered the sacrament, he asked if I would place a piece of bread in his shaking hand and press the cup of water to his trembling lips. His gratitude overwhelmed me. The Spirit of the Lord came over me. I stood on sacred ground.

Brother Wright then asked that I sit and stay awhile. He said, “Tommy, this church is divine. The love the members have one for another is an inspiration. Take, for example, our Relief Society president, Sister Balmforth. Do you know what she did one week many years ago? She took her little red wagon, went to members’ homes, and gathered a jar of peaches here, a can of vegetables there, and brought to my cupboard shelves the food that sustained me.” I remember that Brother Wright cried as he told of the experience and described watching the Relief Society president walk away from his home pulling behind her, over the bumpy railroad tracks, the red wagon of mercy.

I left that humble home and skipped back to the chapel—the same chapel where, ten years later, I would be sustained as the bishop, presiding over a membership that, more than any other in the Church, needed the welfare program.

Activity:

Play Blind Bell.

1. Blindfold all participants except for one person who hangs a bell around his neck.
2. The person with the bell tries to avoid being caught while everyone else tries to locate and catch him.

The person that catches the person with the bell trades places with him.

Refreshment :

• Cinnamon-Sugar Pull-Apart Rolls
• 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup margarine or butter
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted
• 4 tablespoons Sugar
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon

1. Grease 12-cup bundt cake pan or tube pan, 10×4 inches.
2. Mix 1 1/2 cups of the flour, the sugar, salt and yeast n 3-quart bowl. Heat milk and 1/4 cup margarine in 1-quart saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until very warm (120 degrees F.) Add milk mixture and egg to flour mixture. Beat on low speed until moistened; beat 3 minutes on medium speed. Stir in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.
3. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Shape dough into 24 balls. Dip each ball of dough into the melted margarine, roll them in a cinnamon and sugar mixture. Layer evenly in pan. Cover and let rise in warm place until double, 20 to 30 minutes.
4. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool 2 minutes; invert onto heatproof serving plate.

Serve warm.

Family Home Evening Lesson Idea

Missionary Work

This Sunday, 3/29/09, is FAST SUNDAY and President Allen has designated a special fast for MISSIONARY WORK.

Here are some links for FHE ideas on Missionary Work.

• A Happy Harvest Including a dot-to-dot picture to color and to lace.
• Be A Friend Ideas and a spinning game (Friendship). Can use with Primary 3, lesson 25.
• Let Your Light Shine Sharing Time and Puzzle
• Using the Articles of Faith (story) Share gospel with others.
• Primary 3, lesson 25: I Can Be a Missionary Includes a pattern of a missionary girl and boy.
• Primary 4, lesson 17: Ammon, a Great Servant
• Doctrine & Covenants: Chapter 49 - Missionaries in Other Lands (June 1837-October 1841)
• Primary 2, lesson 11: I Can Tell Others about Jesus Christ Including the scripture stories of: the sons of Mosiah and Ammon teaching King Lamoni.
• Missionaries Publish Peace Finger Puppets of: Alma; Ammon; Aaron; Omner; Himni; Abinadi
• fhe4children I Can Be A Missionary Now; I Hope They Call Me On A Misson; I Can Be a Missionary Now; I Hope They Call Me On A Mission; What Missionaries Do...; Every Member A Missionary

Missionary Family Home Evening

Jonah & the Whale (preschool-schoolage)

Lesson: Read the story of Jonah being swallowed by the whale from the children's Old Testament. Ask questions that help your children to understand that Jonah was swallowed up because he did not want to serve a mission/ or was not obedient. You can use this to talk about the importance of missionary work or the importance of obedience.

Missionary-

Talk about what missionaries do
What can your child do to be a missionary
Ways your child can prepare to serve a mission
Obedience-

What are things the Lord has asked us to do
How can we be obedient
Activity: Missionary Activity- make cookies for non member friends, deliver them as a family. Write your families testimonies in a Book of Mormon to give to the full-time Missionaries. For Preschoolers, let them cut/paste a picture of Jonah and the whale.

Treat: Goldfish Crackers or blue jello made with goldfish crackers.



Belonging to a Family (preschool age children)

Lesson: Show pictures of various families, yours included. Help your child to understand that families are made up of all sorts of people but usually include a Mommy & a Daddy. Talk about the roles that each members of your family play. Ask questions to help your child to understand that each family member is needed, that the family would not be whole without each individual. For older children you may use this opportunity to talk about children being sealed eternally with their parents.

Activity: Make paper chains, each chain representing a member of the family. Close the chain so it makes a full circle- which illustrates that the family would not be whole with out each member.

Treat: Sugar cookie cut outs of children (or gingerbread men). With young children you can let each child decorate their own person.



For the Strength of Youth (preteen- adult children)

Lesson: Read the pamphlet as a family, discussing what the standards are. List each righteous behavior the pamphlet outlines, talk as a family about why the standards are important. Make goals as a family to make the changes necessary so that you are living by the standards the Lord has set. (For Young Women- this counts as a Personal Progress value experience: Choice & Accountability #2)



Follow the Prophet (all ages)

Song: Follow the Prophet, Primary Song Book, Page 120
To help each child remember the prophets in the song, and what each one did, have a "Follow the Prophets" parade. One child is designated as the "prophet." Tape a nametag on their shirt and have them walk around the room holding up a picture/object that represents the prophet. Take turns being the prophet and have the rest of the family follow the person who is prophet while you sing their verse.

Where available, pictures were selected from the Gospel Art Kit, available on lds.org

Adam = Gospel Art Picture 101 or flower
Enoch = Gospel Art Picture 120 or city
Noah = Gospel Art Picture 103 or ark
Abraham = Gospel Art Picture 105 or ram
Moses = Gospel Art Picture 107 or 10 commandments
Samuel = Gospel Art Picture 111 or ear
Jonah = whale
Daniel = Gospel Art Picture 117 or lion

Scripture:
Younger Children:
D&C 1:4 "And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen."
Scripture Story, "Watchmen on the Tower", Friend, August 2001, 39

Older Children:
D&C 21:4-7 "Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all the words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. For by doing these the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory. For thus saith the Lord God: Him have I inspired to move the cause of Zion in mighty power for good, and his diligence I know, and his prayers I have heard."

Read the scripture references listed with the Primary Song "Follow the Prophet" for each of the prophets listed in the song. Discuss what they accomplished during their lifetime and what we can learn from their lives.

Activity:
Activity #1, for children who can read:
Print off a copy of page 38 "Things I can Do to Follow the Apostles" from the August 2001 Friend Magazine for each member of your family. From the same issue, print pages 24-25 "Feat of Prophets". Read through the teachings, experiences, or revelations from prophets ancient and modern. Read each quote and talk about them. On your "things I can do to follow the prophet, list things you can do individually or as a family to follow the prophet.

Activity #2, for young children:
Print off pages 18-19 "Prophets Teach and Warn" from the August 2001 Friend Magazine. As preparation for FHE read through the story about King Benjamin on page 18 and identify the five things he told his people. Also, collect crayons, markers or colored pencils in the colors indicated on the bottom right of page 18 so you can color in the poster on page 19. While you help your children color in the poster, talk to them about who King Benjamin was, and what he taught his people.

Treat: Jacob's Dessert aka Chocolate and Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats.

JACOB'S DESSERT
1 cup sugar
1 cup Karo syrup
1 cup peanut butter
~3 cups rice crispies
1 cup each, butterscotch and chocolate chips

Heat and stir one cup sugar and one cup Karo until just boiling.
Remove from heat and add one cup peanut butter. Stir until peanut
butter is melted and mixture is smooth. Pour over rice crispies to
desired consistency (start with 3 cups and add more if you need it.)
Smash into buttered 9x13 pan.

Melt one cup butterscotch chips and one cup milk chocolate chips together. Stir together until smooth and spread over the top of the rice crispies.

RC Note: When our test cook made this recipe she used 6 cups of rice crispies and said she could have easily used more. We suggest you start with 6 and add more if you'd like.

Another name for this recipe is "Peanut Butter Balls." The difference - instead of smashing the mixture into a 9x13 pan, you shape the mixture into balls. Once balls have set up, dip them in the chocolate topping - if you wish.

Recipe from Sharon, Bridgerland Park 1st Ward, Logan, Utah, USA.

Family Home Evening Lesson Idea

Reminder: March 29th is Fast Sunday

FHE: Fasting
by Shauna Gibby



Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read "God Loves and Helps All of His Children," by Keith B. McMullin, Ensign, Nov 2008, 75-78.

Thought:
A few years ago a high-ranking official from China visited Salt Lake City. . . . Fasting and giving the value of the meals not eaten to help the poor captured his attention. . . . He said, "If we all loved each other like this, the world would be a more peaceful place."
(Keith B. McMullin, "God Loves and Helps All of His Children," Ensign, Nov 2008, 75-78.)


Song:
"Because I Have Been Given Much," Hymns, # 219.
Scripture:

Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.
(Doctrine and Covenants 59:14)
Lesson:
Do an activity with your family that involves things that go together, or pairs. As you say the first word or show the first item, have your family fill in the blank with the name of the second item.

"Salt and ________" (pepper)
"Table and _________" (chairs)
"Husband and ________" (wife)
"Shoes and _______" (socks)

Tell your family that Jesus demonstrated the power of "pairing" two important principles. Have your family look for the important pair as they read the story in Mark 9:14-29. Ask:

After Jesus had cast out the evil spirit, what did His disciples ask privately?
What was Jesus' response?
How does prayer make fasting more meaningful?
How does fasting make prayer more meaningful?

Ask family members if they have had an experience with fasting and prayer they would be willing to share. Invite the family to unite in fasting and prayer next fast Sunday.


(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The New Testament, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2006], p. 69.)


Story:
"He Fasted, and He Prayed"
Matthew Cowley


Two boys in New Zealand graduated from a high school down there. The principal came to me and told me this story about one of them.


"This young man came to me one day. He was living in the dormitory. He was what they called the monitor. It wasn't a native high school, but he was a native. He came to me one day, and he said, 'Mr. Hogan, I want to go home for three days.' I said, 'Why, you can't go home, you have a job here. What do you want to go home for?' He said, 'Well, I am preparing to take my matric,' [as they call it down there, matriculation examination for entrance into a university]. He said, 'I want to go home for three days and fast and pray.'


"I was astonished. I excused myself and went to my office and called up one of your members, one of our native members, and I said, 'Listen to me, do you people have in your Church something you call fasting?' He said, 'Yes.' I said, 'What do you do it for?' 'When we want a blessing, we fast and pray.' I said, 'Well, I have read about it in the Bible, but I have never heard of anybody doing it.' I went back to the young man and said, 'You go home for three days.' He went home, and he fasted, and he prayed, and he was the top man in passing his matric examination."


(Jay A. Parry, Jack M. Lyon, Linda Ririe Gundry, editors, Best-Loved Stories of the LDS People, Vol.2, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1999], 63-64.)


Activity:
Divide your family into two teams. Give each team a paper and pencil. Set a timer for a predetermined amount of time (2 or 3 minutes) and have each team write down as many "pairs" as they can think of (like the examples in the lesson). Give one point to each team for items on the list that the other team didn’t think of.

Refreshment:
Chewy Chex Mix
This treat is a hit with all ages.

• 8 cups Rice Chex (or the Chex cereal of your choice)
• 1 cup coconut
• 1 cup sliced almonds
• 1 cup chow mein noodles
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 6 cups miniature marshmallows
  
  Combine Chex, coconut, almonds, and noodles in a large bowl. Melt butter over medium heat; blend in marshmallows and stir until melted. Pour over cereal mixture; spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in an airtight container or individual plastic bags. Makes about 10 cups.
  (Julie Badger Jensen, The Essential Mormon Cookbook, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2004], p. 130.)

Print this LESSON

Family Home Evening Lesson Idea

FHE Lesson: Prayers

Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read “Pray Always,” by David A. Bednar, Ensign, Nov 2008, 41–44

Song:

“Children All Over the World” Children’s Songbook, p. 16

Scripture:

But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

(2 Nephi 32:9)

Lesson:

Materials needed: A hand eggbeater (or whisk) and an electric mixer.

Procedure: Ask the family if they were to mix up a cake batter, which tool they would rather use. Suggest that they could get the job done with the hand mixer, but it would take a lot more time to get the batter smooth. It would also prove to be very tiring. The electric mixer would be much easier to use. This is because they would be using an additional power source to help with the work.

Point out that oftentimes we try to do things on our own without enlisting the help from our Heavenly Father. He is there for us anytime we are willing to plug into the power source. We will find the burden to be lighter when we seek the guidance and strength of the Lord.

Story:

“Pray for Her”

Anita R. Canfield

I had to fly to Mexico City one Thursday evening to inspect a project site under my design direction. The clients were leaving on Saturday for a two-month tour of their factories in Europe and the Orient, and there were dozens of questions to be resolved with them and the contractors that Friday. It had been a last-minute request on their part, and my trip was going to be an overnight but very intense visit.

I arrived at the hotel around midnight and went immediately to sleep. Around 3:00 in the morning, I was awakened by an excruciating, stabbing pain in my mouth with what would be classified as an extreme dental emergency.

My husband had done some dental work on me earlier in the week in preparation for further work the next week. I was in excruciating pain. I didn’t know what to do. A million dollars’ worth of decisions was resting on me the next day. I had to be clearminded and alert, especially with the language barrier; my Spanish is only adequate and requires great concentration on my part.

My first thought was to call my husband and get the name of a drug that would stop the pain. Then I worried that it wouldn’t be the same dosage or type in Mexico. Then I wondered if the concierge would be able to find someone at 3:00 in the morning to even obtain it. And then, with complete realization, it occurred to me that any drug strong enough to knock out this pain would completely knock me out, and I would be useless the next day. I didn’t know what to do.

Then came the distinct and clear message: “You have faith. You know what to do.”

I climbed out of bed, knelt in prayer, and told the Lord of my situation and all that concerned me, and I asked him to please take away the pain long enough for me to complete my work the next day. Before I said “in the name of Jesus Christ, amen,” the pain vanished. Instantly, in a moment, it was gone. I thanked him and went back to sleep.

The next day I was able to answer the questions, make urgent and very critical decisions, and finish on time to catch my flight home. By the time I was in customs in Los Angeles, the pain was returning. When I landed in Las Vegas several hours later, I had another full-blown dental emergency!

But that is not the whole story. Two days later was fast Sunday. In our monthly family testimony meeting, I told of my experience and my witness of the power of faith and prayer.

My fifteen-year-old son grew amazed. I could see his countenance change. When I finished speaking he asked, “Mom, was this Thursday night?”

“Yes,” I said.

“And was it about 2:00 in the morning?”

I thought about that. It was 3:00 in Mexico, but with the hour time change, I told him it was 2:00 in Las Vegas.

Suddenly he was filled with emotion and told me the beginning of the story. He had been awakened at 2:00 in the morning that night with a voice that said, “Your mother is in trouble; pray for her.” He had slipped out of bed, and on his knees, with real intent, had said, “Heavenly Father, my mom has faith. Tell her what to do.”

The Lord heard his prayer and reminded his mother of her faith and that she knew what to do

Activity:

Play “Listen.”

One player is blindfolded and seated near one end of the room. The other players line up and one at a time attempt to pass “it,” without being discovered. Players whom “it” hears passing him drop out. The last player left in the game wins. First player caught is “it” for the new game.

Remind your family that they have to listen, or we may not know the answers to our prayers.

"There has come to you as your birthright something beautiful and sacred and divine. Never forget that. Your Eternal Father is the great Master of the universe. He rules over all, but He also will listen to your prayers as His daughter and hear you as you speak with Him. He will answer your prayers. He will not leave you alone."

Gordon B. Hinckley, "Stay on the High Road," Ensign, May 2004

Refreshment:

Blueberry Pizza
Crust:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup flour
Filling:

1 cup powdered sugar
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups whipped topping
8 ounces blueberry jam
Mix crust ingredients and pat into a well-greased round pizza pan. Bake for 15 minutes at 325 degrees. Let cool.

Beat powdered sugar and cream cheese; fold in whipped topping and spread over crust. Top with jam and chill.

Family Home Evening Lesson Idea

CHURCH HISTORY

by Shauna Gibby

Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read
“The Truth of God Shall Go Forth,”
by M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, Nov 2008, 81–84.

Thought:

Nearly 18 decades have passed since the organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830. We have had 178 years to observe the fulfillment of prophecy and to watch “the truth of God” as it goes “forth boldly, nobly, and independent.”

(M. Russell Ballard, “The Truth of God Shall Go Forth,” Ensign, Nov 2008, 81–84.)

Song:

“The Golden Plates,” Children’s Songbook, p. 86.

Scripture:

The word of the Lord concerning his church, established in the last days for the restoration of his people, as he has spoken by the mouth of his prophets, and for the gathering of his saints to stand upon Mount Zion, which shall be the city of New Jerusalem. Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation.

(Doctrine and Covenants 4:2,4)

Activity:

Write the following words or phrases on separate slips of paper: “Gold plates,” “breastplate,” “sword of Laban,” “Urim and Thummim,” “Liahona,” and “angel.”

Give each family member one or more slips of paper. Have them take turns describing that item to the rest of the family (without saying the word on the slip of paper) until someone guesses what the item is.

(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Doctrine and Covenants, p. 33.)

Lesson:

When each item [in the activity] has been guessed, have your family guess what these items have in common. To find out, read the section heading for D&C 17; D&C 17:1; and the “Testimony of the Three Witnesses” at the beginning of the Book of Mormon. Ask your family how they would feel if they were given an opportunity to see those sacred things.

Story:

Joseph and Oliver were warmly welcomed at the Whitmer home, but it was hard for Mrs. Whitmer to have them there. She had a large family of sons with just one daughter living at home to help with all the housework. The two of them had to prepare all the meals, plant and tend the garden, bake the bread, churn the butter, make and mend the clothing, and do much of the other work on the farm. Mrs. Whitmer did not complain, but she wasn’t sure she could take care of two more people.

One day she felt very discouraged as she went out to milk the cows. Before long she came back to the house filled with joy. When asked why she looked so happy, she replied, “I have seen the messenger.” She went on to say that she had come upon an elderly man out near the barn. Her description of him showed he was the same man . . . that Joseph, Oliver, and David had seen on their journey from Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Whitmer said the man told her that she would be blessed for providing a safe place for Joseph and Oliver to work. Then he took out the golden plates and showed them to her. “They were fastened together with rings on the right side,” she told her family, “so that the pages would turn over from left to right.” The man turned several of the plates, leaf by leaf.

She, Mary Musselman Whitmer, was the first person besides Joseph to actually see the golden plates. Seeing them was her own personal reward for taking care of Joseph and Oliver. But soon other people would see them for a different purpose, to be witnesses to the world.


Refreshment

Old-Time Cinnamon Jumbles

Ingredients
1 cup sugar
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 cups shortening or butter
3 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 1/2 cups buttermilk
3 teaspoons vanilla
6 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt

Directions
1-Mix together I cup sugar and the cinnamon; set aside. In a bowl, cream together shortening or butter, 3 cups sugar, and eggs.
2-Stir in buttermilk and vanilla. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir into creamed mixture; mix well. Chill dough until it thickens.
3- Drop rounded teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheet. Sprinkle generously with sugar-cinnamon mixture
4-. Bake at 400 degrees until lightly browned, about 8 to 10 minutes. Makes approximately 5 dozen cookies.