I Am a Child of God

Topic:
We are all children of God.

Materials:
Scriptures
Children's Song Book
Pictures of family and friends or pictures of various people from the gospel art kit/book, primary visual aids cutouts, church magazines, LDS image library etc.

Song Suggestion:
I Am a Child of God (Children's Songbook, 2)

Scripture:
Psalm 82.6 "All of you are children of [God]."

Lesson:
We all have mothers and fathers on earth who love us. We also have a Heavenly Father in heaven (clarify for younger children that he is also called God) who loves us. We are all children of Heavenly Father/God.

Activity Ideas:
1) Go around to each person in the room and say their name. Then say "[name] is a child of God."

2) Show pictures of people and ask your child(ren) if each person is a child of God. You can also hand them each picture and have them say "[name] is a child of God".

3) You can make a poster that says I Am a Child of God on top of it. Have your child(ren) put pictures of everyone in their family on the poster.

4) Have your child(ren) draw a picture of themselves and/or their family and write I am a Child of God on top of the page. Display the picture on the fridge or somewhere else in the home.

Closing Remarks:
Emphasize that everyone is a child of God and that God knows and loves each and every one of us.

Treat Time: We always have a treat for FHE. In fact, we make it a big deal so that FHE is something to look forward to.

I Am a Child of God

Consistent FHE

This quote encourages me when I feel like our family home evenings aren't anything special.

"In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes—none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together to create a captivating and beautiful painting.

"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 just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33). Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes."

David A. Bednar, “More Diligent and Concerned at Home,” Ensign, Nov 2009, 17–20, emphasis added

Consistent FHE

The Sacrament

I'm a day late (and I feel the need to say "and a dollar short," just to finish the phrase.) :) So sorry about that, and I missed last month, double sorry. Anyhow, I am back, and hopefully contributing. :)

Goal: To understand the sacrament better

Lesson: Talk about what happened in church yesterday. Let your child(ren) tell you what they remember. Eventually bring up the sacrament. Ask them if they know why we have the sacrament. Remind them it is because of Jesus and it helps us to remember Him. Depending on how old your child is (or his/her level of understanding), go into a little detail about it is because Jesus died and the sacrifice that he made for us; and that the bread reminds us of His body and the water reminds us of his blood. Show pictures of Jesus at appropriate times, and picture of the sacrament being passed (these can be found in the Gospel Art Book). For older children you can even tie it into Easter and the Last Supper.

Activity: Talk about appropriate behavior during the sacrament. Have you and your spouse (or if your children are older let them do this) role play approriate behavior and inappropriate behavior. You can even make reverent bags, or use this lesson for a follow up lesson on how to act all during sacrament meeting.

Closing: Sing a song about Jesus, or a song about the sacrament and remind your children how much Jesus loves them.

The Sacrament

Follow the Signs

Purpose
Show that just like we have road signs to keep us safe on the roads, we have “road of life” signs that will safely return us to our Heavenly Father

Preparation
-prepare road signs: STOP, YEILD, DEAD END, ONE WAY, MERGE (any others you think of)
-prepare word strips: CHOOSE GOOD FRIENDS, SEEK PARENTAL GUIDANCE, STUDY THE GOSPEL, OBEY THE COMMANDMENTS, SERVE WITH LOVE, PRAY WITH PURPOSE.

Lesson
Use President Monson’s talk Come Listen to a Prophet’s Voice: Follow the Signs here

Display Road signs. Focusing on one sign at a time, (1) identify the sign. (2) Why is it used? (3) What should you do when you see it? (4) What would result if you disobeyed it?

Point out that all these signs are used to offer us protection. They warn us of dangers ahead and allow our journey to be safer.

Next display word strips. Focusing on one word strip at a time, (1) ask why we need to do this. (2) What would happen if we ignored this sign? (3) Ask for experiences or give your own

From Pres. Monson’s talk:
1. Choose good friends. Friends help to determine your future. You will tend to be like them and to be found where they choose to go. Remember, the path we follow in this life leads to the path we follow in the next. The friends you choose will either help or hinder your success.
2. Seek parental guidance. Your mother, your father, your family all love you and pray for your eternal happiness.
3. Study the gospel. Develop a yearning to know the Lord, to understand His commandments, and to follow Him. Then shadows of despair are dispelled by rays of hope, sorrow yields to joy, and the feeling of being lost in the crowd of life vanishes with the certain knowledge that our Heavenly Father is mindful of each of us.
4. Obey the commandments. Make up your mind to serve God. Learn His word and follow it.
5. Serve with love. Jesus was the epitome of service. It was said of Him that He “went about doing good.” (See Acts 10:38.) Do we do likewise?
6. Pray with purpose. With God, all things are possible. Remember the prayer of the Prophet Joseph, offered in that grove called sacred. Look around you and see the result of that answered prayer. Prayer is the provider of spiritual strength. Prayer is the passport to peace.

Conclusion
Our Heavily Father loves us so much He has given us a road map and “signs” to be happy, keep safe, and return to live with Him again
bear your testimony of the lesson

Song Suggestions
“Choose the Right Way” CSB pg.160
“Keep the Commandments” CSB pg. 146

Follow the Signs

Baptism

Preparation: On separate squares of cardstock, spell out baptism, giving each letter its own piece of cardstock. Attach each square to a popsicle stick.

Opening song: When I am baptized (pg. 103, children's songbook)

Lesson: Explain to your family that the ordinance of baptism provides many blessings in our lives. Tell them that we can remember these blessings by thinking of the letters that spell the word "baptism".

Have each member of the family hold up a letter as you explain what the letter stands for.
B: Is for beginning. When I am baptized, I bury my old life of sin and begin a new life of following the Lord.
A: Is for atonement of Jesus Christ. It is because of His great sacrifice for us that we are able to be cleansed of our sins when we repent.
P: Is for promises. At baptism, I promise to take upon myself the name of Christ. To keep His commandments and to always remember him.
T: Is for testimony. After I have received a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, I should share it with those around me.
I: Is for inspiration. After I am baptized, I will receive the Holy Ghost. He will inspire me and lead me back to my Heavenly Father if I listen to his counsel.
S: Is for service. I will serve my Heavenly Father and others.
M: is for member. When I am baptized I become a member of Christ's church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Share with your family your feelings the day that you were baptized. Tell them of some experiences you have had when you have enjoyed the blessings of baptism.

Activity: Click here to print a coloring page for your children to help them remember what they learned.

Baptism

Mother's Day

Mothers

Opening Song: “Mother Dear,” (Children’s Songbook, p. 206)

Scripture:
And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it. (Alma 56:48)

Lesson
Have your family take turns sharing favorite memories about their mother (or grandmother or other motherly figure). Have each person give a one-sentence description of his or her mother or grandmother and write/draw these on a piece of paper. If you have them, bring photos of the women in your family.

Questions to ask:
Why do we have mothers? Why are mothers so special? Did Jesus have a mother? How did he treat his mother? How can you (child) show your mother you love her? What was yesterday? (Mothers Day) How can we act like it is Mothers Day all year round?

Activity
Write/draw on same piece of paper (back side, or new piece of paper) something child/husband will do for mother this coming week.

Another activity you can do is to grab a small bean bag, ball or other throwing object and take turns throwing it to different people in the family. Whoever catches it has to tell something they love about Mother, or something nice she has done for them.

Treats: Heart shaped cookies -- or mommy's favorite treat :)

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day

Children Of God

This was another one of those good ideas by my husband. He was sitting in ward conference when it came to him. In Sunday School, we learned about how we can become like God because we are His children. In Priesthood, they were lectured to go home and teach their families what they learn in church :). So he did!

Opening Hymn:

I Am A Child Of God

Scripture:

Hebrews 12:9 or D&C 76: 23-24

Lesson:

My husband got a board book out that was full of pictures of baby animals with their parents.

He pointed to a picture with a mare and foal--pointing to the foal (baby) "What is this?" he asked.

The children responded it was a horse. He then pointed to the foal (baby).

"What is this?" he again asked.

Again, the answer was horse.

"That is right. The baby horse looks like the mommy horse. What do you think the baby horse will be when he grows up? Do you think he will be a dog?"

"No!" came the giggled replies.

"What about a pig. Will the baby horse grow up to be a pig?"

"No!" more giggles.

"No? Then what will it be when it grows up?"

"A horse still!"

"That's right. The baby horse will grow up to be a horse because his mommy and daddy are horses."

He then went through the same exercise with the remaining animals.

Then he held up a picture of Heavenly Father and Jesus together. He talked about what they were like.

"Are you a child of God?" he asked.

"Yes!"

"Then what will you grow up to be? Will you grow up to be a horse? No?...(go through more silly things they won't grow up to be)....that is right. You will grow up to be like our Heavenly Father because you are His child."

This was a great lesson. The children were interested and involved with the pictures and the questions. If you don't have a book with these pictures, you can pull them up on a computer screen or print them off on paper.

Children Of God