Prayer Topics

Sometime this last April, I noticed that my oldest child, then four, was getting very repetitive in his prayers. I reminded him of the purpose of prayer and that we are supposed to offer sincere prayers.

"You shouldn't says the exact same thing at every prayer," I reminded him.

"Well, you and Daddy do!" He replied.

Oops.

Apparently, the entire family could use a Family Home Evening lesson on prayer.

As I studied my Gospel Principles book (the book being used by Priesthood and Relief Society this year), I happened to be reading the lesson on Prayer, chapter 8. Funny how that works out, right? I found it to be an excellent lesson guide for our Family Home Evening lesson. You can prayerfully read that and pull out what you think would be best for your family.

I wanted to share an idea I had while reading this. I had the idea to create a prayer paper for our family. Since my children are all young and don't really read yet, I did pictures. On this paper, I put pictures of things we should pray about. Here is a list from the manual:

• Strength to resist temptations
• Confess sins
• Ask for forgiveness
• Our families
• Our friends
• Our neighbors
• Our crops
• Our animals
• Our daily work
• Other activities
• Protection
• Express love
• Feel closer to Him
• Thank Him
• Strength to live gospel
• Keep on strait and narrow path
• Be righteous in thoughts, words, and actions
• Blessing on food
• Pray before meetings that we may worship in a manner that pleases Him
• Not in manual, but for our prophet

I didn't do a picture for everything here. I put a picture of our immediate family and our extended families. I put pictures of friends and neighbors. I put a picture of our garden and a picture of our dogs. I put a picture of our son playing soccer. I put a picture of a heart for love and a picture of Christ.

We don't look at this before every prayer we ever say. We try to remember to say it before family prayer at night. That way, once a day, our children (ahem--and their parents) are reminded of the things we are to pray about and we can hopefully avoid repetitious prayers.

Another idea for you if you have only younger children is you could make a page of how we should look when we pray. With our young toddlers, we teach them to close their eyes, fold their arms, and bow their heads. Then of course for some prayers you also kneel.

This was a great lesson to read to teach our family about prayer.

Prayer Topics

Fathers

When I was a teacher in primary last year this lesson was given about Fathers. I thought it was fun and the kids loved it.

The Role of Father

Fathers preside over, provide for, and protect the family with love.

Have a bunch of different types of shoes that show the different things fathers participate in (athletic shoes, casual shoes, Sunday shoes, work shoes, and slippers).

Show the family a copy of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" (Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102). Teach and discuss the responsibilities of a father found in paragraph 7 of which reads:

By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.

IDEA: If you have a collection of men that can come and participate in your FHE, that would be great (dad, Grandpa, uncle, home teacher, ect.). Each gentleman would bring a pair of shoes that tells about one of their roles of which they would take about.

IDEA: To show that fathers have many responsibilities, have children stand in the shoes they think are best for a father to wear when exercising, going home teaching, going to church, going to work building roads, and comforting a child in the middle of the night.

IDEA: Have all the boys in the family go get some of their own pairs of shoes and tell the family which shoes represent which sort of activities.

IDEA: Take the statement from the Family Proclamation about fathers and write each work on a separate word strip. Jumble the words. Have the children see if they can unscramble the words to make the correct sentence.

IDEA: If Dad is present, as him to leave and get refreshments ready. Encourage the children to write a note expressing their love for their fathers and to put it in one of his shoes

IDEA: Write the Family Proclamation and/or other statements as though they were “Mad Gab” sentences. See if the family can guess the sentence.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: Read and discuss 1 Nephi 1; 2. Talk about Lehi’s role as a father in his family. Bear testimony that one of the most important responsibilities a father has is to lead his family.

If Dad is present, as him to leave and get refreshments ready. Have the children write a note expressing their love and something they appreciate about their father and have them put the note in one of his shoes.

Have a happy Father's day this month!

Fathers

Family Home Evening Builds Unity

These are some quotes by President James E. Faust from the June 2003 Ensign. He speaks of how we need to build unity in our families by having consistent and planned family home evenings. If you're like me, you'll read this, feel bad, repent, and then resolve to do better. :)

Go to this link for the full talk.

Family Home Evening Builds Unity

May I suggest ways to strengthen our commitment to God and build unity and love during our family home evenings:


1. Pray. The source of our enormous individual and family strength is no mystery. It is an endowment from God. We need not consume addicting chemicals found in drugs and alcohol to make us capable of meeting life’s problems. We need only draw constantly from the divine power source through humble prayer.


It often takes a seemingly superhuman effort to get everyone together for family home evening. You may not always feel like praying when you finally do get together, but it will pay great dividends if you persevere.


2. Sing or listen to sacred music. Church hymns and children’s songs can invite the Holy Spirit into family home evening. The Lord has said that “the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads” (D&C 25:12).


3. Study the scriptures. All of us need the strength that comes from reading the scriptures. Parents must obtain a knowledge of the standard works to teach them to their children. Those who lead family home evening discussions should be adequately prepared to use the scriptures in the lesson. A child who has been taught from the scriptures has a priceless legacy. We are all fortified when we become acquainted with the heroic figures and stories of the scriptures, such as Daniel in the lions’ den, David and Goliath, Nephi, Helaman and the stripling warriors, and all the others.


4. Work together and serve others. Children need to learn to work. Every household has routine daily chores for which children can be responsible. Meaningful service can be given during family home evenings through well-planned home or community work projects.


5. Focus on developing discipline and obedience. If parents do not discipline their children and teach them to obey, society may have to discipline them in ways neither the parents nor the children will like. If adults do not discipline themselves, setting the proper example for others, the consequences can be devastating for themselves and society. Without discipline and obedience in the home and in our personal lives, unity within a family collapses.


6. Place a high priority on loyalty to each other. The dictionary defines the word loyal as being “faithful to a private person to whom fidelity is due.” If family members are not loyal to each other, they cannot be loyal to themselves.


7. Build self-worth. One of the main problems in society today is that we spend less and less time together. Some, even when they are together, spend an extraordinary amount of time in front of the television, which robs them of personal time for reinforcing feelings of self-worth. Family home evenings give individuals and families important time to talk and listen as parents and children, brothers and sisters, spouses, and friends. Time together is precious—time needed to encourage and to show how to do things. Less time together can result in loneliness, which may produce feelings of being unsupported, untreasured, and inadequate.


8. Develop traditions. Some of the great strength of families can be found in the traditions they have established. Traditions can include making special occasions of the blessing of children, baptisms, ordinations to the priesthood, or birthdays. Traditional activities such as fishing trips or skits on Christmas Eve can help create fond memories of times together. Weekly family home evenings can also be a time for traditions. Home evening groups of any kind can likewise establish traditions by the activities they choose to continue on a regular basis and the way they celebrate special occasions and accomplishments.


9. Do everything in the spirit of love. Elder LeGrand Richards (1886–1983) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shared a tender relationship with his father. Said he: “I walked into my father’s apartment when he was just about 90 … , and as I opened the door, he stood up and walked toward me and took me in his arms and hugged me and kissed me. He always did that. … Taking me in his arms and calling me by my kid name, he said, ‘Grandy, my boy, I love you.’ ”



I wonder if having unplanned and infrequent family home evenings will be enough to fortify ourselves and our children with sufficient moral strength to meet the complexities of our day. Infrequent family scripture study may be inadequate to arm ourselves and our children with the virtue necessary to withstand the moral decay of the environment in which we live. Where in the world will we learn chastity, integrity, honesty, and basic human decency if not at home? These values will, of course, be reinforced at church, but teaching them in family home evening can be particularly consistent and effective. To combat the world’s evil influences, we need the strength that comes from family home evening.

Family Home Evening Builds Unity

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