Because I Have Been Given Much

"We are the Lord's hands...The needs of others are ever present, and each of us can do something to help someone" (President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign November 2009).



Opening Song: Because I Have Been Given Much (Hymns, 219)
Prayer: Dad
Scripture: Acts 20:35

Lesson:
What Have I Done for Someone Today?
Help children learn the proper way to set the kitchen table. (Tip: Provide a placemat with an outline of a plate, glass and utensils.) Then recount the story Pres. Monson shared in general conference about the McConnell family. What question did the father ask his children each night at the dinner table? (Answer: What did you do for someone today?) Share how this tradition inspired the McConnell children to help others throughout their lives.

How Can I Provide Service for Others?
Invite each family member to share one way they can serve others. Then list the examples Pres. Monson shared. (Tip: Younger children can act out a service and invite others to guess what it is; older children can list as many acts of service as they can on paper and earn points for unique answers.) Read Matt. 25: 34-40. Testify that when we serve others we are serving the Lord.

Service Placemats
Talk about what you can do as a family to follow the prophet's counsel and serve others. Decorate placemats and write on each mat the phrase "What have I done for someone today?". Remember to ask yourselves this question each night at dinner, as the prophet counseled us to do.

Challenge
Plan a family service project, or introduce a "warm fuzzy" jar to encourage daily service. That is, place a colorful pom-pom inside a jar each time you give service to represent the warm fuzzy feeling you get when you show kindness to others. Similarly, you can place a piece of straw (or rafia) in a manger each time you give service to ready the manger for the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day (see photo below).

Activity: Decorate the Christmas tree. Have a family sleepover in the living room under the tree and reminisce about Christmases past.

Treat: Leftover pie from Thanksgiving

Closing Song: Have I Done Any Good? (Hymns, 223)
Prayer: Mom



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

Things to Be Thankful For

"Thank the Lord for His restored church. Thank Him for all that it offers you. Thank Him for friends and family. Let a spirit of thanksgiving guide and bless your days and nights" (from Gratitude, True to the Faith).



Opening song: Children All Over the World (CS, 16)
Prayer: Collin
Scripture: 1 Thesselonians 5:16-18

Lesson:
Blastoff Space Explorers!
Read "Matt and Mandy Blastoff" (see Friend, Nov. 2009). Like Matt and Mandy, decorate a large box to look like a rocket ship and pretend to be astronauts. Then explore different rooms in your house (representing different planets) in search of things to be thankful for. Your space mission will include stories and activities from The Friend. (See suggestions below.)

Planet R (Restoration)
Read "Fearless in Sharing the Gospel" and complete the activity that follows. Invite each family member to look up one of the scriptures, then decode the message on the banner to find something to be thankful for. The restoration of the gospel is something to be thankful for!

Planet F (Friends)
Read "The Right Kind of Friend". Find a hidden CTR ring somewhere in the room (and in the Friend magazine), then talk about how important it is to choose good friends. Good friends are something to be thankful for!

Planet H (Home & Family)
Put together the puzzle from "A Happy Home" or complete the activity "Making Your Home a Holy Place". Express appreciation for something that each family member does to make your home a happy place. A happy home where the Spirit of the Lord can be felt is something to be thankful for!

Planet B (Body)
Learn how to communicate a few words in sign language then read "Porter's Terrible Super Day". Learn how to sign a favorite song by watching a video tutorial. Alternatively, read "Jesus Heals a Sick Man" and learn how to transport a person who is hurt or ill (i.e., take turns being carried in a blanket). Having a healthy body is something to be thankful for!

Planet E (Earth)
As you come back to planet Earth, share with your family your favorite creation. The beauty of the Earth is something to be thankful for!

Testify that because God loves us, He has given us many things to be thankful for, such as the gospel, friends, family, a body and this beautiful Earth.

Activity:
Play Dough
Build space ships with Legos or sculpt aliens from Play Dough. (Making homemade play dough is always fun!) Then create planets for them using coffee filters, markers and a spray bottle. Color coffee filters with markers, then spray with water and watch the colors blend. When dry, glue the planet to a black piece of construction paper.

Refreshment: Root Beer floats

Song: For the Beauty of the Earth (Hymns, 92)
Prayer: Dad



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

Don't Ever Forget to Pray

"And thus the Lord caused stones to shine in darkness, to give light unto men, women, and children, that they might not cross the great waters in darkness." (Ether 5:3)



Opening song: Children All Over the World (CS, 16)
Prayer: Luke
Scripture: 1 Thesselonians 5:16-18

Lesson:
Saying Thank You in Many Languages
Learn how to say thank you in a few different languages (refer to song above). Discuss how Heavenly Father understands the language of all of His children. He knows them and loves them. Through prayer we can communicate with our Father in Heaven. We can thank Him for the great blessings we receive.

The Jaredites Pray in Faith
The Jaredites lived at a time when many wicked people tried to build a tower to reach heaven. To punish them the Lord confused their language. How would it feel to suddenly not understand the language of your neighbors, friends and family?

Did the Lord change the language of the Jaredite family? Let's tell the story and find out (see Ether 1-6 and artwork). Include actions like building a block tower of Babel (see Genesis 11:1-9), kneeling to pray, building a boat (blankets over the kitchen table), and finding sixteen hidden stones. Turn off the lights and get in your "boat", then shine a flashlight on the stones. Talk about how the Lord touched them and made them shine with light.

Don't Ever Forget to Pray
Recall that there was a time that the Jaredite family forgot to pray. Before they set sail for the promised land, they lived in peace by the sea for four years. They began to take their blessings for granted and forgot to thank the Lord. Eventually, the Lord spoke with the brother of Jared and invited him to repent and pray always.

Testify that when we have a grateful heart and pray in faith, the Lord can perform miracles in our lives.

Activity:
Building a Block Tower of Babel
Challenge your family to build a block tower that touches the ceiling! Use blocks, boxes, non-perishable foods, or whatever you can find to make your tower as tall as possible.

Refreshments:
Lemon bars
(See recipe below.)

Closing song: Don't Ever Forget to Pray (see Friend, April 20o6)
Prayer: Dad



Recipe:
Lemon Squares
Crust:
1 c. butter
1/2 c. powdered sugar (packed)
1/2 t. salt
2 c. flour

Mix well. Spread into bottom of greased 9X13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 min. (until slightly browned).

Filling:
4 eggs
2 c. sugar
1/2 t. powder
1/4 c. flour (packed)
1/4 c. lemon juice

Mix together. Pour over hot crust. Bake an additional 20-25 min. at 350 degrees. Sprinkle with powdered sugar on top while still warm.

Credits:
Conducting: Luke
Lesson: Dad
Activity: Collin
Refreshments: Mom

Gratitude Is an Attitude

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thesselonians 5:16-18).




Opening song: Count Your Blessings (Hymns, 241)
Prayer: Collin
Scripture: 1 Thesselonians 5:16-18

Lesson:
Gratitude Glasses
Hide a variety of objects (representing blessings) inside brown paper lunch bags, such as an apple, a family photo, scriptures, autumn leaves, etc. Talk about how we have many blessings but sometimes forget them, or have a difficult time seeing them. Present a pair of "gratitude glasses" to your family. Explain that when nothing seems to be going right, these glasses can help you find things to be glad about. Take turns wearing the glasses as you open each bag. Discuss each blessing you discover.

The Ten Lepers
Read the Biblical account of the ten lepers healed by Jesus (see Luke 17:11-19 and art work). Why is it important to thank God for the blessings He gives us? How do we show our thanks to God? Play the game below to help you think about your own blessings.

The Leper Wrap Game
Unwrap a roll of toilet paper (representing leper bandages) and use a marker to write the letters in the word G-R-A-T-I-T-U-D-E. Each letter should be written on a tissue square that is far apart from the others. To begin play, the first person wraps an arm or leg in tissue until he finds a letter (and possibly a hidden candy). He then tears the roll of tissue and says something he is grateful for. The roll of tissue is then passed to the next family member. Continue until the tissue is completely gone and you have a family of grateful lepers. Build the word 'gratitude' and remind children that gratitude is an attitude of thankfulness.

Challenge: Stuff the Turkey
Decorate a paper bag turkey. Each day until Thanksgiving, write something you are grateful for and put it inside the turkey. Come Thanksgiving you will have "stuffed" the turkey. Read blessings aloud on Thanksgiving Day and try to guess who wrote what. Also, invite kids to put on the gratitude glasses whenever they start whining or complaining. It will remind them to have an attitude of gratitude!

Activity:
Handmade Thank You Cards
Decorate your own thank you cards with fingerprint turkeys (see photo below). Write a note inside then deliver them to neighbors, friends, family, teachers, and others you wish to thank for the kindness they have shown to you.

Refreshments:
Coconut Cupcakes
Decorate like turkeys using Nutter Butter cookies for the head and fruit leather for colored feathers (see instructions or recipe below).

Closing song: Children All Over the World (CS, 16)
Prayer: Mom



Credits:
Conducting: Luke
Lesson: Collin
Activity: Mom
Refreshments: Dad

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