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

Building Our House Upon a Rock

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock" (Matthew 7: 24-27).



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

Lesson:
The Sermon on the Mount
Place a quarter on a pile of sand and a quarter on a rock. When water is poured over them, which quarter will sink? (Sprinkle water like rain over the top of both of them.) What happened? Read Matt. 7: 24-27. At the conclusion of Jesus' sermon on the mount (see GAK 212), he taught that a wise man will do more than just listen to His teachings. A wise man will live His teachings.

Jesus' Teachings are the Rock
Jesus promised that if we were doers of the word, we could build a strong home and family. Discuss the importance of building your home on a strong foundation. How are Jesus' teachings like a rock, or a sure foundation, for our homes and families?

How to Build a Strong Home
Building a home requires tools and hard work. Someday you'll be a mom or dad. How will you build a strong home and family? Label tools in a toolbox with words from the sermon on the mount. Let children choose a tool, then discuss how each teaching of Jesus helps us build a strong family. Testify that families are eternal, and that no matter the weather we will stay together.

Closing song: My Eternal Family
Prayer: Dad

Activity: Pretend to be a grown-up. Shave like Dad (using whipped cream and popsicle stick razors) or paint your fingernails and do your make-up like Mom.

Refreshments: Peanut butter cookies

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

New Year Resolutions

"The message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is that we can and must expect to become better as long as we live" (Pres. Henry B. Eyring, Ensign Nov. 2009).



Opening song: I'm Trying to Be Like Jesus (CS, 78-79)
Prayer: Luke
Scripture: John 13:34

Lesson:
Resolutions & Goal-Setting
Define what a goal is and invite family members to share some examples of goals they have set and what they did to accomplish them. Point out that it helps to write down our goals and tell our family about them. That way they can support us in our goals. Remind children that goals take time, practice and work because they are often difficult to accomplish. (Reference: "Amy's Goal", Friend Jan. 2010)

Jesus Is Our Perfect Example
Our ultimate goal is to become like the Savior. What are some attributes of the Savior? What are some goals we might set to help us become more like the Savior? Invite family members to suggest goals that will help them become more like the Savior. Write down your goals or draw a picture of what you will try to do. Testify that Jesus lived a perfect life and showed us the way to be happy. When we try each day to be like Jesus, we prepare to live with God again.

Jesus Commanded Us to Be Perfect
Pres. Eyring has said, "We believe that through living the gospel of Jesus Christ we can become like the Savior, who is perfect." Read Matt. 5:43-48 and discuss what Jesus meant when He commanded us to be perfect (love everyone, even our enemies). Testify that the Savior loves everyone, including us. Challenge each family member to try to become more like the Savior by showing an increase of love toward others, particularly their family members.

Optional: Share more excerpts from "Our Perfect Example" by Pres. Henry B. Eyring (see Ensign, November 2009).

Closing song: Love One Another (Hymns, 308)
Prayer: Dad

Activity:
Family Memory Box
Decorate a shoe box or coffee can like a time capsule then fill it with memories from the previous year (e.g. include family pictures, souvenirs from family outings, hand prints made by the children, and letters written about each child). You could also include a written statement describing last year's accomplishments and family goals (or resolutions) for the new year. Open the box one year later and enjoy the memories.

Tip: Prepare in advance a fill-in-the-blank form letter for each of your children, then quickly interview them to fill in the blanks with their own answers (see Friend, Jan. 2005).

Our family adds more letters and memorabilia to the box year after year. It has become a fun New Year's Day tradition to open our time capsule and read the letters we have written to ourselves.

Refreshments:
Caramel Popcorn

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

The True Gift of Christmas

"Eternal life is to inherit a place in the celestial kingdom, where we will live in God's presence and continue as families. This gift is made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ" (True to the Faith, pg. 52).



Opening song: Away in a Manger (Hymns, 206)
Prayer: Collin
Scripture: John 8:12

Lesson:
Wisemen Follow a New Star
Turn off the lights and tell the story of the wisemen from the east (see Matthew 2:1-12). Provide paper crowns for the children to wear. Shine a flashlight on the ceiling to represent the new star. (Or, decorate a bedroom ceiling with glow-in-the-dark stars.) Describe how the wisemen followed the star to find baby Jesus. Why did God choose a star to be the sign of Christ's birth? How is Jesus the light of the world?

Wisemen Bring Gifts to Jesus
Use the flashlight to help you walk in the dark to the Christmas tree. Point out the star on the top of the Christmas tree. Explain that it represents the new star that appeared the night Jesus was born. Describe the gifts the wisemen brought to Jesus. What was the significance of these gifts? What gifts can we give to the Savior?

The Gift of Eternal Life
Read John 3:16. What gift did God give to the world? Because God loves us, He sent His Son to be a Savior for us. Explain that the evergreen leaves of the Christmas tree remind us to hope for eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God (D&C 14:7). Write the words "eternal life" on the gift you wrapped. Keep it under the tree to help you remember the gift of life God gave to us through His Son Jesus Christ.

Testify that Jesus is the Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of the world. Because of his atoning sacrifice, we have hope for eternal life.

Activity:
Choose a Favorite Neighborhood Light Display
Drive through your neighborhood to enjoy the Christmas light displays. Choose one house that is your favorite and leave an award certificate for best light display along with some Christmas goodies.

Gift Wrap Games
Provide an inexpensive gift that has been wrapped with multiple layers of wrapping paper. Sit in a circle and take turns rolling two dice. The first person to roll doubles will put on a pair of winter mittens and try to open the gift. Meanwhile, other family members continue to roll the dice. As soon as the next person rolls doubles, the mittens and gift are passed to them. They take a turn to unwrap the gift. Play continues until the gift is entirely unwrapped.

Closing song: Stars Were Gleaming (CS, 37)
Prayer: Mom

Refreshments:
Apricot Spice Cake with Caramel Frosting

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

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