Let the Holy Spirit Guide

"I witness that as you gain experience and success in being guided by the Spirit, your confidence in the impressions you feel can become more certain than your dependence on what you see or hear" (Elder Richard G. Scott, “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance,” Ensign Nov. 2009).



Our activity tonight included reading past journal entries. This is Collin's journal entry Nov. 1, 2008, which was about Halloween last year. The drawing includes our Star Wars family costumes and all the candy Collin collected trick-or-treating. His favorite? Bubble gum, of course.

Opening song: The Lord Gave Me a Temple
Prayer: Collin
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (Bible, New Testament)

Lesson:
I have five senses that help me.
Take turns using your five senses to identify different items. For example, use your eyes to find a hidden object (picture of Jesus). Use only your sense of smell to identify a food (peanut butter). Use only your sense of touch to identify an in a bag (toy dinosaur). Use only your ears to identify the source of a mystery sound (squeaky door opening). Use only your sense of taste to identify a food (grape). How do each of our five senses help us? Explain that our senses help us learn about the world around us.

The Holy Ghost helps me.
Another way we can learn something is through the power of the Holy Ghost. When the Holy Ghost testifies to us, we can know the truth even more surely than when we rely on our senses. (See quote from Elder Scott above.) The Holy Ghost speaks to our mind and our heart through feelings and impressions. With practice, we can learn to recognize and trust this still, small voice.

I always want the Holy Ghost to be with me.
Show a photo of Elder Scott and explain that he is a living apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the last general conference, he taught us what we must do to be taught by the Holy Spirit. Invite a family member to eat a grape and a jalapeno pepper at the same time. Can you taste the grape? Why not? Can your other senses be masked too? (Use an oven mitt to mask your sense of touch, plug your nose, wear ear plugs, etc.) Read the following quote from Elder Scott:

"The inspiring influence of the Holy Spirit can be overcome or masked by strong emotions, such as anger, hate, passion, fear, or pride. When such influences are present, it is like trying to savor the delicate flavor of a grape while eating a jalapeño pepper. Both flavors are present, but one completely overpowers the other. In like manner, strong emotions overcome the delicate promptings of the Holy Spirit...

What does Elder Scott say will prevent us from tasting the fruits of the Spirit? (strong emotions, sin, pornography, etc.) What can we do to welcome guidance from the Holy Spirit? (be obedient, exercise faith, have patience, practice listening, be prayerful, be humble, be grateful, etc.)

Testify that the gift of the Holy Ghost is given to us by a loving Heavenly Father. When we keep our mind and body clean, the Holy Spirit is welcome there. Our body can be bright like a temple when we have the light of the Spirit to teach and guide us.

Activity:
Enjoy family journals, scrapbooks and home movies
Set a timer and write in your journals together until time is up. (Younger children can draw a picture.) Then share past experiences that you have recorded in your journals, look at family scrapbooks, or watch home movies. Refer to the story Elder Scott shares about the importance of recording spiritual experiences (see Richard G. Scott, “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance,” Ensign, Nov 2009, 6–9).

Refreshments: Ghost sugar cookies (Happy Halloween!)

Closing song: Let the Holy Spirit Guide
Prayer: Luke



Credits:
Conducting= Luke
Lesson= Mom
Activity= Dad
Treat= Collin

Modesty Matters (Backwards Night)

"The human body is God's sacred creation. Respect your body as a gift from God. Through your dress and appearance, you can show the Lord that you know how precious your body is" (from Modesty, True to the Faith).




Tonight is backwards night! That is, we will reverse the order in which we conduct our family home evening. Our kids love backwards night because the treat and activity come first, i.e. before the lesson. We even read our scripture backwards, which the kids find entertaining.

Closing song: I Love to See the Temple
Prayer: Collin

Activity:
Leaf Memory Game
Go for a nature walk to collect autumn leaves. Be sure to collect at least two of each kind. When you're back home, glue or tape two of each kind to index cards to make a leaf memory game. Play the game together with your family.

Refreshment: Upside-down Pumpkin Pie (see recipe below)

Lesson:
The Lord's Standard of Modesty
Display a copy of "My Gospel Standards". Read and discuss the standards listed below.

• I will dress modestly to show respect to Heavenly Father and myself.
  
• I will only read and watch things that are pleasing to Heavenly Father.
  
• I will keep my mind and body sacred and pure.

What does it mean to dress modestly? How does dressing modestly show respect for Heavenly Father? When we are modest, we do not draw attention to ourselves. Instead we invite the companionship of the Spirit and exercise a good influence on those around us.

Avoid Pornography
Read the story "The Best Coach" (see Friend, Oct. 2009). How is the Holy Ghost like a coach? How did the Holy Ghost help Jacob choose the right? If you are reading or watching something (books, magazines, TV, Internet) that starts to make you uncomfortable, what can you do?

Fill Your Mind with Good Things
Just like your body must be filled with healthy foods, your mind must be filled with uplifting thoughts and good memories. What you see and hear stays in your mind for a long time. (Refer to the leaf memory activity above.) When we keep our mind pure, the Holy Ghost can be with us to teach and guide us.

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (Bible, New Testament)
Opening song: The Lord Gave Me a Temple
Prayer: Dad



Recipe: Upside-down Pumpkin Pie
1 can (29oz) Cooked Pumpkin

1 can (12oz) Evaporated Milk

3 Eggs

1 c. Sugar

1t. Salt

3 t. Cinnamon

1 box Yellow Cake Mix
1 c. Sliced Almonds or Chopped Pecans
3/4 c. Melted Butter

Mix the first six ingredients until well blended. Pour into a 9X13 pan. Sprinkle cake mix evenly over the top of the mixture, then sprinkle with nuts. Pour melted butter over everything. Bake 50 min. at 350 degrees. Serve warm and top with homemade whipped cream.

Credits:
Conducting= Luke
Lesson= Dad
Activity= Collin
Treat= Mom

The Word of Wisdom

"People who obey the Word of Wisdom are more receptive to spiritual truths" (Preach My Gospel, pg. 78).




Opening song: The Lord Gave Me a Temple
Prayer: Mom
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (Bible, New Testament)

Lesson:
What is the Word of Wisdom?
The Lord revealed to the prophet Joseph Smith a law of health called the Word of Wisdom. The health of our physical body affects the health of our spirit. The Word of Wisdom teaches us how we can care for our bodies so the Spirit of the Lord may be with us.

Blessings of Obedience
The Word of Wisdom is an example of modern-day revelation (see Doctrine and Covenants, Section 89). This law teaches us that we are to eat healthy foods and avoid harmful substances, including alcohol, tobacco, tea and coffee. It was given to the prophet Joseph Smith in 1833, long before people were fully aware of the harmful effects of these and other drugs. Those who followed the prophet and were obedient to this law received blessings of physical health and spiritual protection.

Daniel Refuses the King's Meat and Wine
Tell the story of Daniel and his friends requesting different foods in the court of King Nebuchadnezzar (see Bible, Daniel 1). Explain that Daniel and his friends refused the king's meat and wine because they knew it would not be good for them (see artwork). What are the similarities between the Word of Wisdom and the law of health that Daniel followed? Discuss the need for additional warnings given to us now.

Testify that we are blessed physically and spiritually for our faith and obedience to God's commandments, including the Word of Wisdom.

Activity:
Carving Oranges
Cut a hole in the top of an orange and scoop out the fruit inside. Then carve a face into the orange peel to make a mini jack-o-lantern. Fill with fruit salad if desired (see recipe below).

Puppet Show
Make finger puppets from used gloves by cutting off the fingertips and dressing them with yarn hair, felt clothing and googly eyes. The puppets can represent Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-nego, King Nebuchadnezzar, the King's servant, etc. Make a small stage out of a box and draw scenery pages to exchange on the back of it. Then use the puppets and stage to re-tell the story above, as well as other stories about these heroic men, e.g., Daniel in the Lion's Den (see Daniel 6) and Three Men in the Fiery Furnace (see Daniel 3).

Refreshment:
Fruit Salad
Mix 3-4 cups of fruit with 1/3 c. brown sugar and 1/2 c. sour cream. Suggested fruits include, strawberries, grapes, apples, pears, oranges and bananas. Serve in orange bowls carved to look like jack-o-lanterns.

Closing song: The Word of Wisdom
Prayer: Collin


P.S. This photo depicts my favorite part of the story. Here Collin is showing Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace with Jesus protecting them. When Collin did this it just made me smile. It looked so cute! And Collin ended the story like this, "When we keep the commandments we'll be protected just like Daniel and his friends." What a sweet little testimony from a little five-year-old boy. Love you Collin.


And Owen really loved the fruit salad...

Credits:
Conducting= Luke
Lesson= Collin
Activity= Mom
Treat= Dad

My Body Is a Temple

"Our bodies are temples, and the Spirit of the Lord should dwell there and shine through" (Elder David A. Bednar, Friend, June 2008).



Opening song: My Heavenly Father Loves Me
Prayer: Luke (age 3)
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (Bible, New Testament)

Lesson:
What is a temple?
Display photographs of a modern-day temple. (See "Questions and Answers about the Temple", Friend, October 2009.) Explain that a temple is literally a house of the Lord, a place where the Lord may come. It is a holy place where we can worship and commune with God.

How is our body like a temple?
Our physical body houses our spirit, and is a place where the Spirit of the Lord may come. Our body is also holy, meaning it is sacred and worthy of respect. Just like the temple, our bodies can be clean and beautiful and bright both inside and out. When we keep our mind and body pure, we qualify for great blessings including the companionship of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple
Read John 2:13-22 and show the accompanying artwork. Jesus worked very hard to keep the temple a clean and sacred place. After doing so, He compared His body to a temple and prophesied it would be destroyed and rebuilt (or resurrected) in three days.

Game
What must we do to keep our body clean like a temple? Play this game to help children learn to care for and respect their physical body. Divide the family into two groups and provide a Mr. Potato Head for each group (minus body parts). Take turns drawing slips of paper from a container that list a variety of items that are either good or bad for the body (see suggestions below). If the item is good for the body, add 1-2 parts to your potato. If the item is bad for the body, do NOT add any body parts. Continue until both teams complete a Mr. Potato Head body.

Challenge
Invite each family member to set health goals for the upcoming month.

Activity:
Family Aerobics
Take turns calling out an exercise the family can do together. Just try to keep it fast-paced, get your heart rate up and have fun! The exercises we did included running, jumping, galloping, skipping and marching across the room. We also showed the kids how to do sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks, cartwheels and headstands. Weight lifting, skipping rope and yoga would also have been fun to try!

Refreshment:
Gingerbread cookies

Closing song: The Lord Gave Me a Temple
Prayer: Dad

Credits:
Conducting= Luke
Lesson= Mom
Activity= Dad
Treat= Collin

Personal Note

Midway into the family aerobics activity, Collin noticed 7 month old baby Owen hadn't had a turn to call out an exercise. I asked Collin what exercise he thought Owen would choose if he could talk. Collin thoughtfully responded, "Crawling!" So we all got down on our hands and knees and crawled across the room and back.

Owen smiled wide and you could tell he was happy we were all at his level. You could tell it made him feel loved. He didn't crawl with us, even though he could have. He just stared and smiled in amazement. And we all just smiled and laughed back at him. It was one of those moments where you could actually feel your family growing closer together. Very sweet.

Also, I'll officially record the health goals each of us set. We will add pom-poms to our jar each time we succeed, the reward being a family outing to the indoor pool. Dad's goal was to exercise more. Mom wants to go to bed earlier, specifically before 11:00 PM. (I really need more sleep.) Collin set a goal to wash his hands after he goes to the bathroom. Luke needed Mom and Dad to help him choose a goal. We went back and forth about whether it should be teeth brushing or watching less TV. Hmmm.....

By the way, the items we listed for our Mr. Potato Head game included fruits, vegetables, grains, milk products, meat/protein, tobacco/cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, caffeine/coffee, modest clothing, sleep, exercise, washing hands, baths, brushing teeth, tattoos, body piercings, extreme hair styles/faux-hawk, good music, good books/scriptures, violent movies, hugs, touching private parts of the body, etc.

This was a good time to introduce these health concepts to Collin (age 5). He just started kindergarten and is about to experience his first "Red Ribbon Week". I want him to learn to say no to drugs, but I felt it should be taught at home first. Also, Collin has become privy to the faux-hawk hairstyle and has repeatedly asked me to help him make his hair look "spiky". I don't really feel comfortable with my five-year-old son wearing a faux-hawk. I'm hoping these discussions about treating our body with respect will cure him of that. We'll see.