Because I have Been Given Much

Opening Song: Hymn #219: Because I Have been Given Much

Scripture: Mosiah 2:17  And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn ^awisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the ^bservice of your ^cfellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

It is important for children to not only learn about service while they are young, but to actively take part in serving. Whether it be others in your immediate family, a neighbor, friend, relative or even a complete stranger, it is vital to their understanding it's importance. There are many ways you can encourage service. Here is one example we are working on currently in our little family.

In our neighborhood there is a family who is expecting their first child within a couple weeks. They are not currently active in the church. The husband has been out of work for at least two years, maybe longer. They have very little, especially considering the needs of a new baby.

As luck would have it, they are expecting a baby girl. We have two girls and have been blessed with much in way of clothing for our children. So, although we may not be able to help this family out monetarily we can give them some of our childrens clothing. For our FHE activity we went through our overflowing boxes and put together a couple large bags full of clothing. Although we have never met this couple, it gives us great joy and satisfaction know we can serve them. It is wonderful to be able to include our children in this service and to see how willing they are to give to those in need.

Because I have Been Given Much

Thanksgiving

Song: Hymn 94 Come, Ye Thankful People

Scripture: 1 Nephi 13:12-19 Nephi tells of the Gentiles coming to America.

Lesson: Tell the story of the pilgrims coming to America to escape religious persecution. Thanksgiving is a holiday we celebrate because of the gratitude the pilgrims felt for finding a new land where they could worship freely.

Discussion: Each member of the family share something he or she is thankful for.

Activity: Think of a person outside of the family who you are thankful for. Brainstorm some way you can show this person your gratitude for him/her i.e. take cookies to the home teachers, draw a picture and mail it to grandma, write a note to the bishop, rake a neighbor's leaves, etc.

Thanksgiving

Thankful Basket

This is an activity we did last year, and we will be repeating it this year. It is quite a simple way to help teach your children (and remind yourself!) about being thankful for what you have.

November is a logical time of year to do this activity since it is Thanksgiving, but there is never a wrong time to focus on gratitude.

PREPARATION

• Get a basket or some other container
• Cut up small pieces of paper

LESSON

Opening Song Ideas

• A Song of Thanks (Children's Songbook page 20)
• Father, We Thank Thee for the Night (CSB page 8)
• For Health and Strength (CSB page 21)
• For Thy Bounteous Blessings (CSB page 21)
• I am Glad for Many Things (CSB page 151)
• I am Thankful to Be Me (CSB page 11)
• I Thank Thee Dear Father (CSB page 7)
• A Song of Thanks (CSB page 20)
• Thanks to our Father (CSB page 20)
• Thanks to Thee (CSB page 6)
• Thank Thee, Father (CSB page 24)
• Thank Thee for Everything (CSB page 10)
• Count Your Blessings (Hymn number 241)
• Prayer of Thanksgiving (Hymn number 93)

Scripture Ideas

D&C 62:7--I, the Lord, am willing, if any among you desire to ride upon horses, or upon mules, or in chariots, he shall receive this blessing, if he receive it from the hand of the Lord, with a thankful heart in all things.

D&C 78:19--And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.

Thankful Basket

Introduce the Thankful Basket (you could also call it a "Blessing Basket"). Explain that each night, each person is going to tell something they are thankful for. They (or mom or dad if the person is too little) will then write it down on a paper and put it in the basket. 

At Thanksgiving, you can look and see the many things your family has to be grateful for. 

Whenever you first start an activity like this, it can be hard to think of something new after the standard answers have been used up. But you soon find that it is hard to stop thinking of the blessings you have once you start to focus on them.

Thankful Basket