The Light of Truth

"Ten virgins...took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom...five of them were wise, and...took oil in their vessels with their lamps."

Opening song: When He Comes Again (CS, 82)
Prayer: Collin

Lesson:
Truth is light
In a dark room, provide different light sources one at at time that are increasingly brighter (e.g., a match, a candle, an oil-burning lamp, a flashlight, a table lamp, then flip the switch to light the entire room). In what ways is truth similar to light? How can we receive more light and truth than we already have?

The wise have oil in their lamps
Explain that in Jesus' day there was no electricity. They used lamps fueled by oil to provide light (see Gospel Art). Read the parable of the ten virgins (see Matt. 25: 1-13 and Gospel Art). What do you think Jesus was trying to teach us? Discuss how we fill our own lamps with oil (or keep our batteries charged), so that we can have light to guide us in these latter days.

How to receive Jesus' light
Why couldn't the five wise women share their oil with the five foolish women? The oil represented things that can't be shared, like faith in God's promises and obedience to God's commandments. Daily scripture study is one way we can fill our lamp with oil, drop by drop, increasing our faith and our capacity to obey.

Testify that the scriptures are the word of God. Daily scripture study brings us closer to God and helps us prepare to live with Him again.

Closing song: Scripture Power
Prayer: Dad

Refreshment:
Serve chocolate pudding in ice-cream cones and top with candy sprinkles.

Activity:
Family Olympics
Choose about four to eight different events that you can hold in your yard or living room. Assign different family members to prepare for one or two events, including getting or making the needed equipment and materials. Award all family members with homemade gold medals at the completion of your Olympic games.

Ideas for Olympic events can be found in FHE Resource Book (see pg. 318-319, "Family Superstars").

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

Topic: Feast Upon the Word

This month we're focusing on the blessings of daily scripture study. We are learning the song "Scripture Power" and memorizing the scripture in 2 Nephi 32:3.

"...feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do."

We'll have four lessons based on teachings from the following resources.

Resources:
Teaching of Jesus= Parable of the Ten Virgins (see Matt. 25)
Children's magazine= Scripture Cookies (see "Bulletin Board", Friend Mar. 2010)
Scripture story= Lehi's Dream (see 1 Nephi 8)
Conference talk= "Safety for the Soul" by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland (see Ensign, Nov. 2009)

"...the Book of Mormon is true, it came forth the way Joseph said it came forth and was given to bring happiness and hope to the faithful in the travail of the latter days."
(Elder Holland)

Challenge:
Trace an outline of an oil lamp onto cardstock. Each day you read the scriptures this month, add a yellow circle sticker to represent an added drop of oil in the lamp.

Love at Home

"All the world is filled with love, when there's love at home." (Hymn 294)

Song: I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus (CS, 78)
Prayer: Mom
Scripture: Exodus 20: 12

Lesson:
Love and Service Go Hand in Hand
Read "The Two Years that Flew" (see Friend Feb. 2010). Talk about what the little sister did to show love to her brother while he was serving a mission. What can YOU do to show love to your family?

Game: My Happy Home
To learn what you can do to show love to your family, play the game "My Happy Home". The first one to fill their home with love (or hearts) wins the game.



Secret Servers
Cut out several red hearts and distribute an envelope full to each family member. Encourage them to secretly serve in the family this week and leave behind a love heart (from "Bulletin Board: Serving with Love," Friend Feb. 2010).

Song: Love at Home (Hymns, 294)
Prayer: Dad

Refreshment:
Heart-shaped sugar cookies

Activity:
Make valentines for friends and neighbors. Learn how to write a poem. Or, make a package for a missionary in your family.

Tip: Melt used crayons into heart shapes and gift them on Valentine's Day with a note that says, "Have a heart." (See instructions at Family Fun magazine.)

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

Love Thy Neighbor (Compassion)

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." (Luke 10:27)



Song: I Know That My Savior Loves Me
Prayer: Luke
Scripture: Exodus 20: 12

Lesson:
Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself
One day a lawyer asked Jesus two important questions. Read Luke 10: 25-29. To answer these questions, Jesus told a parable. Act out the story of the Good Samaritan (see gospel art). Why did Jesus tell this story? What was he trying to teach?

The Value of Compassion
What is compassion? How did the Good Samaritan show compassion? Point out that compassion is a principle listed in the Family Proclamation. How do we show compassion to our family members? How does having compassion strengthen our family?

Jesus Showed Compassion
How did the Savior show compassion? (He fed thousands of hungry people, he healed the sick, and blessed little children.) Testify that Jesus is our perfect example. Compassion is a principle that will strengthen our family and increase the love we feel in our home.

Song: I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus (CS, 78)
Prayer: Collin

Activity:
Play scripture charades. Write down events from the Savior's life on slips of paper. Act out the stories and invite others to guess what is happening. (Younger children can pretend to be different animals while others try to guess what they are.)

Refreshment: M&M Cookies

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

More Diligent and Concerned at Home

"Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But...our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results." (Elder Bednar, Ensign Nov. 2009)



Song: Love at Home (Hymns, 294)
Prayer: Luke
Scripture: Helaman 5:12

Lesson:
An apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, Elder David A. Bednar, has recently given us counsel about how to strengthen our families. He encouraged us to express love and show it, bear testimony and live it, and be more consistent with family prayer, scripture study and family home evening.

Express Love and Show It
Provide an opportunity for each family member to say something they love about each other. Parents, express your love for each child and tell them how much they contribute to the family.

Bear Testimony and Live It
Parents, take this opportunity to share your testimony with your children. Tell them of things you know to be true. Invite children to do the same, if they wish.

Be Consistent
Read D&C 64:33. Share Elder Bednar's description of the painting that hangs in his office. Describe how family prayer, family scripture study, and regular home evenings with the family have blessed your life. Evaluate how you are doing as a family. Discuss how to become more consistent in doing these important things.

Song: Love Is Spoken Here (CS, 190)
Prayer: Mom

Activity:
Work together to complete a large puzzle.



Refreshment: Apple pie with vanilla ice-cream

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

Happy Family Detectives

"Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ" (from The Family: A Proclamation to the World, paragraph 7)



Song: The Family Is of God
Prayer: Mom
Scripture: Helaman 5:12

Lesson:
Proclamation Principles
Name gospel principles listed in the Family Proclamation that help us build a happy family. Read the story "Detective Mya Heritage" (see Friend Jan. 2010), then do the scripture detectives activity below. Have you "caught" family members living any proclamation principles lately? Share what you've observed with your family.

Scripture Detectives
Cut out the pictures included in the story "Detective Mya Heritage" and glue them to index cards. Save the scriptures listed under each picture and put them in a container. Provide magnifying glasses to help children read the small print. Look up each scripture, then match it with its correct picture. (Younger children can just read the name of the gospel principle, then match it to its picture.) How does living proclamation principles help us have a happy family?

Happy Family Treasure Hunt
Conclude the lesson with a treasure hunt that uses proclamation principles as clues (see "Funstuff: Family Treasure Hunt", Friend, July 2000). Detectives will look for clues around the house and eventually end up in the kitchen where a treat is waiting for them, as well as a photo of their own happy family.

Activity:
Build a house or fort in your living room using blankets, tables, couches and chairs. Gather flashlights, then get inside your tent and read stories from The Friend magazine until it's time for bed.

Song: Love at Home (Hymns, 294)
Prayer: Mom

Refreshment: Blackberry Cobbler

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

What Matters Most Is Family

"I call upon...committed parents...everywhere to hold fast to this great [family] proclamation, to make it a banner not unlike General Moroni’s 'title of liberty,' and to commit ourselves to live by its precepts" (Elder Ballard, Engisn Nov. 2005).



Opening song: The Wise Man and the Foolish Man (CS, 281)
Prayer: Collin
Scripture: Helaman 5:12

Lesson:
The Family Proclamation
What is most important to you? Elder Ballard taught, "What matters most is what lasts longest, and our families are for eternity." Show a copy of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World". Invite family members to tell you what they know about this document. Explain that it was written by living prophets and apostles to help us understand the purpose of families in God's plan. It also tells us what we can do to strengthen and protect our family.

Captain Moroni and the Title of Liberty
A long time ago, there was a righteous man named Moroni (see GAK 312). He was the captain of an army. He loved his country and believed in protecting the freedom of others. Captain Moroni's story is in the Book of Mormon. When an evil man threatened the freedom of his people, Captain Moroni was inspired to tear his coat and make a flag. He wrote on the flag what was most important, or those things worth fighting for. Read Alma 46:11-12 to discover what Moroni wrote on his flag.

What matters most is family, faith and freedom
Because the family proclamation reminds us about what is most important (families and God's plan for us), it is kind of like the title of liberty. The title of liberty was hoisted up on every tower in the land as a reminder to the people. Today the family proclamation hangs on the wall of every home. Read some of the principles of a happy and successful family from the proclamation. Make your own family flag (using an old pillow case or baby towel) with pictures and words that remind you to strengthen and protect your home.

Closing song: My Eternal Family
Prayer: Mom

Activity:
Indoor Snowball Fight
Dry out a bag of extra large marshmallows. Use them as snowballs in an indoor snowball fight. Wearing protective armor like Captain Moroni is optional. Tip: Set a timer. (Because your kids will want to keep doing this all night long!)

Refreshments:
Snowball Rice Krispie Treats (see recipe in Friend, Jan. 2008)

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