Week 52: The Second Coming

Song: I Believe in Christ (H. 134)

Thought: Four matters are indisputable to Latter-day Saints: (1) The Savior will return to the earth in power and great glory to reign personally during a millennium of righteousness and peace. (2) At the time of His coming there will be a destruction of the wicked and a resurrection of the righteous. (3) No one knows the time of His coming, but (4) the faithful are taught to study the signs of it and to be prepared for it. (Dallin H. Oaks)

Object Lesson:

Show your family a picture of the parable of the Ten Virgins and ask them to tell you what they can about the parable. Have available several pitchers (some with water and some without.) Talk about the things that add oil to our lamps and take turns filling pitchers. Then talk about things that can remove oil from our lamps and take water out. Use this to illustrate to your family how easily the oil can be lost as well as gained.

Video:


Lesson Activity: Have your family create two columns on a sheet of paper and label the columns “Parable of Ten Virgins” and “Second Coming” and individually consider the comparisons the Savior was making. Invite them to write components of the parable in the first column, such as wise virgins, Bridegroom, and oil, and write in the second column what these things represent about the Second Coming. If they need help, share with them “The Parable of the Ten Virgins” (Ensign, Mar. 2009, 48–49; or Liahona, Mar. 2009, 20–21). Discuss together what they learned and what they are inspired to do after studying this parable. (Come, Follow Me)

This Week's Challenge: As a family come up with some family goals and individual goals of things to accomplish or work on in the new year. Encourage your family to have the goals primarily focus on those things that will "fill their lamps."

Week 51: The Birth of Christ

Song: Silent Night (H. 204)

Thought: "Christmas and some of the cherished traditions of the season remind us that we, like the Wise Men of old, should seek the Christ and lay before Him the most precious of gifts: a broken heart and a contrite spirit." —Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Object Lesson: Consider making this simple Manger craft from this month's The Friend magazine. Discuss with your family what a manger is and what the circumstances were in which our Savior came to earth. Relate this to his purpose and the gift that His life, death, and resurrection is in our lives.

Video:

Lesson Activity: Read The Living Christ as a family.

This Week's Challenge: As you celebrate Christmas this week, challenge your family to remember the real reason that we have this holiday. Consider having everyone in your family give a gift to the Savior. Encourage them to be prepared to share with the family what that gift will be on Christmas morning.

Week 50: Sharing the Gospel with Others

Song: I Want to be a Missionary Now (CS. 168)

Thought: If you’re not a full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the time to paint one on your heart—painted, as Paul said, “not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.” (Neil L. Andersen)

Object Lesson: Do you want some cake? Feel free to adapt this concept however would work best in your family!

Video:


Lesson Activity: If your family is old enough to understand the concept of Jeopardy! this is a really fun game you could try out: M&M Jeopardy!

Or for a younger family this sharing time lesson would be wonderful: Being a missionary using the Articles of Faith.

This handout is available here with a link for a printable format.

This Week's Challenge: Follow the link and print out the above handout. Challenge your family to work together on creating a "Gospel-sharing" home this week and always.

Week 49: Service in Church

Song: Love One Another (CS. 136)

Thought: I would hope that we would not lose the real objective of our cherished opportunities to serve. That objective, that eternal goal, is the same spoken of by the Lord and found in the Pearl of Great Price: “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”
May we ever remember that the mantle of membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a cloak of comfort but rather a robe of responsibility. Our duty, in addition to saving ourselves, is to guide others to the celestial kingdom of God. (Thomas S. Monson)

Object Lesson: Bring a magnifying glass to FHE, and ask your family what it is used for. Ask them what the word magnify means to them. Why do they think this word is used to describe how we should serve in our callings (in the phrase “magnify your calling”)? Invite them to read President Henry B. Eyring’s talk “Rise to Your Call” (beginning with the phrase “There is a third thing you need to know”), looking for ways the Lord magnifies us when we serve in a calling. Ask them to share what they find with each other. Share a personal experience in which the Lord magnified you to help you fulfill a calling. (Come, Follow Me)

Video: The following video shows pictures of various people throughout the world serving within the LDS church.

Lesson Activity:
Have your family think of all the people that serve them by magnifying callings within the church. Discuss how they are serving and what the blessings are that your family has received because of that service. Identify a few of them that you would like to give a special thanks to and then write out thank you cards or letters to those individuals. You could even consider putting together a treat of goodies and delivering them as a family this Christmas season.

This Week's Challenge: Encourage your children to not only magnify any callings they are ever privileged to serve in, but to show gratitude and thanks to others for their service in the church. Remind them that the church functions through the service of imperfect members who can use all the love and support that we have to offer them.

Week 48: Christ-Centered Homes

Song: Love is Spoken Here (CS. 190)

Thought: Regardless of your circumstances, you can center your home and your life on the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is the source of true peace in this life.
Be certain that every decision you make, whether temporal or spiritual, is conditioned on what the Savior would have you do. When He is the center of your home, there is peace and serenity. There is a spirit of assurance that pervades the home, and it is felt by all who dwell there.
The fulfillment of this counsel does not rest upon parents alone, although it is their role to lead. Children can be responsible for improving the Christ-centered efforts in the home. It is important for parents to teach children to recognize how their actions affect each individual who lives in the home. Children who are made to feel accountable for their actions, whether righteous or otherwise, grow to become trustworthy citizens in the kingdom of God. (Richard G. Scott)

Object Lesson: The Recipe to a Happy Home
(for full instructions see link)
These are the ingredients for a heavenly home. First, at the very beginning, invite the Holy Ghost to your home to stay.
Crush Temptations and Sin and set them aside outside the bowl.
Blend in one Temple Marriage, one Mother (who loves Dad), one Dad (who loves Mother).
Gradually add Children.
Quickly stir in Living the Gospel: Scripture Study, Prayer, and Meeting Attendance.
Sprinkle liberally with Courtesy and Communication.
Garnish with the Word of Wisdom: Exercise, Proper Diet, and Rest.
Pour Love over everything.
Serve with Unselfishness.

Video: You can choose to watch one or both. As you watch them encourage your family members to think of themselves as the mother or father in the video as they watch it. After each video, ask them to discuss what the main message is and what additional principles they learned that will help them establish Christ-centered homes.




Lesson Activity:
The Road to a Happy Family is a cute board game that can be enjoyed by all ages of your family.

Divide the family into three groups, and assign each group to read one of the following scripture passages: Mosiah 4:14–15, Alma 53:20–21, 56:47–48. Invite them to make a list of principles in these verses that will help them establish Christ-centered homes. Invite them to share examples of these principles from their own families or other families. (Come, Follow Me)

This Week's Challenge: As Christmas time is here challenge your family to focus this week not only on inviting the Spirit and making your home a Christ-centered home, but on finding ways to make your Christmas celebrations be Christ-centered as well.

Week 47: Education

Song: Seek the Lord Early (CS. 108)

Thought: Education is an important part of our Heavenly Father’s plan to help us become more like Him. Obtaining an education provides understanding and skills that can help us develop self-reliance. Education will also prepare us for greater service in our families, the Church, and the world.

Object Lesson:
Materials: A bowl filled with wheat or other whole grain.
Presentation: Ask what would happen if this grain was left in a dry place. Ask what would happen if it was planted and given water. Discuss.
Give a definition of wisdom (ability to judge what is right or true). Explain that the grain is like knowledge. To become wise, experience and time must be added. Ask what kind of experience can help make knowledge into wisdom (education).
(Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, More Power Tools for Teaching, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1991], p. 102. from Deseret Books' Website)  (The Value of Wisdom)

Video: (There is no video available for this topic)

Lesson Activity: Assign each family member to read individually one of the five paragraphs from the “Education” section of For the Strength of Youth or the statements by President Gordon B. Hinckley and President Thomas S. Monson at the beginning of the talk “Seek Learning: You Have a Work to Do.” Ask them to explain to the family what they read, and discuss why it is important to work diligently now to gain a good education. Invite them to think about and share their goals to gain an education.
If there are family members who have received or are receiving a college education have them share with the family their experiences in preparing for that education and the blessings they have received in their lives because of there education experience.

This Week's Challenge: Talk to your family about the LDS Church's Perpetual Education Fund. As a family decide if there is a way you can help others gain an education. For family members who are currently in school challenge them to set some goals for their education (i.e. improving grades, work ethic, preparing for college). If there are family members in need of more education challenge them to make a plan to receive it.

Week 46: Work Ethic/Financial Responsibility

Song: I Have Work Enough to Do (H. 224)

Thought: Learning to work begins in the home. Help your family by willingly participating in the work necessary to maintain a home. Learn early to handle your money wisely and live within your means. Follow the teachings of the prophets by paying your tithing, avoiding debt, and saving for the future. (For the Strength of Youth: Work and Self-Reliance)

Object Lesson: Plug Into the Power is a good option for highlighting the amount of energy that can and should be put into work and what the outcome will be.

Video:
Review the following statement by Elder Robert D. Hales: “The three most loving words are ‘I love you,’ and the four most caring words … are ‘We can’t afford it.’” Invite your family to watch the video “Becoming Provident Providers.” Ask them to think about and share possible reasons Elder Hales says “We can’t afford it” are the four most caring words. What blessings come from living within our means? How can we follow Sister Hales’s example? How can her example help us when we are tempted to live beyond our means?


Lesson Activity: Using the Work site on LDS.org, choose statements about work that you think will be meaningful to the your family. Give each family member a copy of one of the statements. Invite them to read the statement silently and pass it to the person sitting next to them. Have them continue until everyone has read each of the statements. Invite each person to select one that is especially meaningful to them and share why they finds it meaningful. What do they learn from these statements about the importance of work? How will learning how to work bless them and their families, now and in the future?

Alternatively, consider playing a board game together like "Life" or "Monopoly" and have an ongoing discussion with your family as you play about the role of work in earning money and making wise choices with our finances.

This Week's Challenge: As a family decide if your family could benefit from being focused on increased work ethic (possibly through employment outside the home or simply the work done in and around the home) or if the focus should be more on the financial aspect. If you choose finances, parents should decide what role to include children in the family budget and actually discuss your family's method for budgeting. What works? What doesn't? Communicate with your children about needs verses wants and reiterate the concept of "we can't afford it" being a means of demonstrating caring.

Week 45: Setting Spiritual and Temporal Goals

Song: Today While the Sun Shines (H. 229)

Thought: “I am so thoroughly convinced that if we don’t set goals in our life and learn how to master the techniques of living to reach our goals, we can reach a ripe old age and look back on our life only to see that we reached but a small part of our full potential. When one learns to master the principles of setting a goal, he will then be able to make a great difference in the results he attains in this life.”
–Elder M. Russell Ballard
Talk given to Salt Lake Area young adults, Oct. 18, 1981

Object Lesson: Domino Effect by Kimberly Thurston is an awesome lesson to use for setting goals.

Video:

As you watch the video encourage your family to look for the way that Tyler set and achieved goals. After the video invite them to share their thoughts with the family. Why did Tyler choose to pursue his goal to serve a mission, even though it meant interrupting his goal to play basketball? Ask your family to think of something they are passionate about. Have they ever had to choose between that thing and another worthy goal? What do they learn from Tyler’s example?

Lesson Activity: Have half of your family read President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s story about learning English (from his talk “The Power of a Personal Testimony”), and have the other half read Elder L. Tom Perry’s story about his son practicing high jumping (from his talk “Raising the Bar”). Ask them to summarize their assigned stories for the rest of the family and explain what they learned from the stories about setting goals. Invite them to share any similar stories from their own lives. How will they apply what they learn from these stories to be more effective in setting and achieving their goals? (Come, Follow Me)

This Week's Challenge: Encourage your family to make a list of goals for their lives and to post those goals somewhere that they can see them daily to remind themselves what they are working towards.

Week 44: Finding Answers to Gospel Questions

Song: Search, Ponder, and Pray (CS. 109)

Thought: Part of becoming spiritually self-reliant is learning how to answer our own gospel questions. Revelation often occurs when we earnestly seek answers to sincere questions and have faith in the promise made by the Savior: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). We can find answers to our own gospel questions as we pray, study the scriptures and words of the living prophets, and seek the guidance of the Holy Ghost. (Come, Follow Me)

Object Lesson: Have your family sit in a circle. Using a single die take turns asking yes or no questions and then rolling the dice. If the number is even then the answer is yes, if it is odd then the answer is no. After a few rounds stop and ask your family if this is a very accurate method for getting answers to important questions. Ask them for ideas on how we can receive answers to gospel questions. Talk about how Heavenly Father will answer our questions. Consider sharing the story of the brother of Jared. He had two questions about their journey across the ocean in barges: how would they have air? and how would they have light? Heavenly Father answered both of those questions, but in different ways. (Ether 2:18-25)

Video:

Lesson Activity: Ask your family the following questions: Why does the Lord want us to be a question-asking people? What is the difference between asking questions about the gospel and doubting its truthfulness? Invite them to look for answers to these questions in the section titled “Is It True?” from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s talk “The Reflection in the Water.” What else do they learn from this section of President Uchtdorf’s talk?
Use this handout to help facilitate this lesson on seeking answers to gospel questions.

This Week's Challenge: Encourage each of your family members to think of a question that they have about a gospel topic. Have them write that question down on a piece of paper or post-it note then place that question in their scriptures. Challenge them to spend the next week studying and praying about that topic in search for an answer.

Week 43: Patience

Song: I Want to Live the Gospel (CS. 148)

Thought: Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without being angry, frustrated, or anxious. We can develop patience by seeking to do God’s will and accept His timing, trusting that He will fulfill all of His promises to us. As we learn to be patient in small things, we prepare ourselves to face larger trials with patience. (Come, Follow Me)

Object Lesson: After reading the thought invite your family to share situations in their lives in which they might need patience (such as family life, education and career, marriage, or motherhood). Show several objects that represent times in your life when you had to demonstrate patience (for example, a college diploma, a wedding ring, or a missionary nametag). Have your family guess what the objects have to do with patience, and then share the experiences you had. (Come, Follow Me)

Video:


Lesson Activity: Show your family several Mormonad posters from recent issues of the New Era or Liahona. Divide them into small groups, and invite them to create their own Mormonad on the topic of patience. They could start by finding a scripture on patience and think of a creative way to present it on a poster. Ask them to share their posters with the family and explain what patience means to them. (Come, Follow Me)

This Week's Challenge: Invite the your family to consider how they will live by what they have learned about patience.  For example, they could: Show more patience within your family in the coming week or make a list of quick ways to help control their impatience in a tense situation, such as counting to 10 or singing a hymn.

Week 42: Service

Song: I'm Trying to be Like Jesus (CS. 78)

Thought: As we extend our hands and hearts toward others in Christlike love, something wonderful happens to us. Our own spirits become healed, more refined, and stronger. We become happier, more peaceful, and more receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

Object Lesson: You will need two candles. Light one of the candles and then talk about the brightness of the flame. Ask your family if it will hurt that flame to light another candle. Take the other candle and light it by using the first. Point out to your family that the first candle burns brighter as it is lighting the other candle. Compare the fact that a candle loses nothing by lighting another to what it is like for us when we give service to others.

Video:


Lesson Activity: Have each member of your family use the topical guide of their scriptures to find a scripture about service and the Savior. Invite them to each share their scripture and what they have learned about the service from the example of the Savior.
Talk about ways that your family can do secret acts of service for each other and those around them. Prepare the following secret service activity and help your family to come up with ideas ways to serve.

This Week's Challenge: Challenge your family to complete the secret service activities this week and observe how increased service affects the love felt in your home.

Week 41: Christlike Love

Song: Kindness Begins With Me (CS. 145)

Thought: The pure love of Christ, known as charity, is the highest, noblest, and strongest kind of love and the most joyous to the soul (see 1 Nephi 11:23). Jesus Christ is the perfect example of charity. In His mortal ministry, He “went about doing good,” showing tender compassion for the poor, afflicted, and distressed (see Matthew 4:23; Acts 10:38). To obtain Christlike love, we must seek it, pray for it, and follow the example of the Savior in our thoughts, words, and deeds. (Come, Follow Me)

Object Lesson: For this activity you'll need box of Band-aids, poster board and a permanent marker.  Ask your family why we apply bandages or band-aids.  (To help heal wounds) The bandage or band-aid doesn't heal the wound, but it protects the wound while the miracle of healing takes place.  We cannot heal all the hurts that people have.  Sometimes people's bodies get hurt very badly.  We cannot heal them.  Sometimes their feelings and hearts get hurt very badly.  We cannot heal them.  But Jesus wants us to be like a bandage or a band-aid.  He wants our compassion and love to protect a person while He does the healing. On the poster board write in small letters the ideas your family gives you about what hurts them. Write each idea separately and spread them out all over the poster board.  After writing as many ideas as they can come up with, give them all some band- aids.  Before applying a band-aid over one of the wounds written on the poster board ask them to think of something they can say or do that would help the wounded person.  (Don't forget PRAYER!  Even when there seems like there is nothing we can do, we can pray for that person)  The activity is complete when all the wounds talked about are covered with band-aids.  Encourage your family to look for "wounded" people this week that they can love and help. (Idea from Kindergarten Sabbath School Program via Sugardoodle)

Video: The Parable of the Good Samaritan


Lesson Activity: Invite your family to search Luke 10:25–29 and identify the questions the lawyer asked the Savior. Explain that in response to these questions, the Savior gave the parable of the good Samaritan. Assign several of them to represent some of the characters in the parable, and ask them to dramatize the story as you read it together (verses 30–35). Pause occasionally to ask those representing the Levite, the priest, and the Samaritan why they may have acted the way they did, and discuss their answers as a family. Read the Savior’s command to the lawyer in verses 36–37, and invite them to share situations they might face that are similar to the situation in the parable. (Come, Follow Me)

This Week's Challenge: Invite your family to quietly ponder someone in their life who they may have bad feelings for and think of ways they can show more Christlike love toward that person. Encourage them to show charity in their daily lives.

Week 40: Being Christ-Like

Song: More Holiness Give Me (H. 131)

Thought: Jesus Christ set the perfect example for us, and He has commanded us to become as He is. He exemplified characteristics such as faith, hope, charity, patience, humility, purity, diligence, and obedience. As we learn of Him and seek to develop His attributes, we will become the women He and our Heavenly Father would like us to be. (Come, Follow Me)

Object Lesson: Give each family member a copy of the attribute activity on page 126 of Preach My Gospel, and ask them to take a few minutes to complete the self-evaluation. Invite each person to share what they learned from the activity. Invite a few of them to share a Christlike attribute they admire in another family member.

(PDF format for printing)

Video: Being a More Christian Christian (Elder Robert D. Hales)


Lesson Activity: Share with your family the Christlike attributes listed in chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel, “How Do I Develop Christlike Attributes?” Ask your family members to select one of these attributes that they would like to develop. Give them time to learn about the attribute they chose, following the suggestions under the heading “Developing Christlike Attributes” on pages 122–23.  (Come, Follow Me)

This Week's Challenge: Encourage your family to continue studying their chosen attribute during the coming week and share insights from their study at the beginning of next week’s family home evening lesson.

Week 39: Language

Song: Choose the Right Way (CS. 160)

Thought: "...in this long eternal quest to be more like our Savior, may we try to be “perfect” men and women in at least this one way now—by offending not in word, or more positively put, by speaking with a new tongue, the tongue of angels. Our words, like our deeds, should be filled with faith and hope and charity, the three great Christian imperatives so desperately needed in the world today. With such words, spoken under the influence of the Spirit, tears can be dried, hearts can be healed, lives can be elevated, hope can return, confidence can prevail." Elder Holland

Object Lesson: Items needed: Original Oreo cookie (one for each volunteer)
What to do: Have someone volunteer to help you out.  Give them a chocolate Oreo
cookie with white frosting in the middle.  Have them twist off the top. Tell everyone that when good (uplifting, clean, correct....) words are used, it is like eating the white part of the cookie.
Have the volunteer then scrape off the frosting and eat it.  Then have them smile big for your family. There will be no discoloration.
Then tell the family that when they choose to use words that are profane, vulgar, demeaning, .... it is like eating the dark cookie. Have the volunteer eat the chocolate part of the cookie (both sides), then smile big. Their teeth will be stained dark.  Not so attractive! This is like their reputation; like their soul..... It becomes stained and unattractive. (Object Lesson on Profanity by Debra Storm)

Video:


Lesson Activity: Talk to your family about how the things we say affect those around us. Remind them how much power is in our words. As a family decide what words are currently being heard in your home that have the power to uplift and show love. Make a list of these words to display in a prominent place in your home to remind all what language we should be using. Make a separate list of things that are the "trash" words that need to no longer be used in your home. Once the list is complete crumple it up and throw it away. Remind your family that those words/that language has no place in your home and eliminates the Spirit.

Write on the board “If a man can control his tongue, he can control ________.” Invite your family to search James 3:2–10 and fill in the blank. Assign each family member to read one of the analogies used by James (horse bit, verses 2–3; ship, verse 4; forest fire, verses 5–6; poison, verses 7–8; pure fountain, verses 10–11). Invite them to prepare to teach the rest of the family what their analogy teaches about controlling their speech. Invite them to share what they can do to control their speech.

This Week's Challenge: Encourage each member of your family to join the No Cussing Club and challenge your family to watch what they say this week and how they say it. See what happens to the Spirit of your home when language and word choice is better controlled!

Week 38: Tithing

Song: I'm Glad to Pay a Tithing (CS. 150)

Thought: Tithing has been established in these latter days as an essential law for members of the Lord’s restored Church. It is one of the basic ways we witness our faith in Him and our obedience to His laws and commandments. Tithing is one of the commandments that qualifies us, by our faith, to enter the temple—the house of the Lord. (Robert D. Hales)

Object Lesson: M&M's and Tithing

Video: Tithing

Lesson Activity: Prepare for the following activity by doing the following: Ask your family to search Malachi 3:8–10 and D&C 64:23 and share the promises made to tithe payers. Ask them to find out what the Lord expects us to pay in tithes by reading D&C 119 (explain that “interest” is our annual “income”). Hand out tithing receipts, and let them explain to each other how to use them. Share how you have been blessed for paying tithing.

Materials Needed: 3 buckets or containers, 3 beanbags or rolled socks to toss into the buckets.  You'll also need  pretend money denominations, blank tithing slips. Each bucket should have a money piece in the bottom to indicate the value of the bucket. Keep secret the value of each bucket.

Play: Give the player three beanbags to toss. When he or she has tossed the three beanbags, total up the dollar value.  At the end of their turn, give that person the amount earned and have them figure out how much tithing they need to pay.  (HINT:  It's best to give the earned amount in things easily divisible by ten, i.e. ten dimes for a dollar, etc., so they can count out ten on their own to figure out which part is owed to tithing.)  Change the money pieces after each turn so that each buckets value remains a secret.  At the end of the game, help each person practice filling out a tithing slip with their amount of tithing. Tithing Toss

This Week's Challenge: Discuss the individual circumstances of your family/family members as far as income is concerned. Identify ways to make it easier to live the law of tithing both individually and as a family. Encourage and support each other to not only be full tithe payers, but to find ways to contribute to the other offerings.

Week 37: Honesty

Song: I Believe in Being Honest (CS. 149)

Thought: Be honest with yourself, others, and God at all times. Being honest means choosing not to lie, steal, cheat, or deceive in any way. When you are honest, you build strength of character that will allow you to be of great service to God and others. You will be blessed with peace of mind and self-respect. You will be trusted by the Lord and will be worthy to enter into His holy temples. (For the Strength of Youth: Honesty and Integrity)

Object Lesson: Get an empty soda bottle. Put it on the table with the lid on it. Have someone come up and try to smash it. Tell them that they can hit it all they want, drop it, etc. and the soda bottle remains intact. Then take the lid off. Have someone come up and try to smash it. It smashes easily. Tell them that the lid is like honesty. It's such a small thing, but when it's fixed tightly, it helps you to withstand the trials that you may face. (Staying Firm)

Video: Honesty: You Better Believe It!


Lesson Activity:
For young children consider this from The Friend:
I Believe in Being Honest
The Book of Mormon tells us about a special group of people who were honest and true to their faith. They were Lamanites who heard the gospel of Jesus Christ, had faith in Him, repented of their sins, and were baptized members of His Church. They called themselves Anti-Nephi-Lehies. Because they learned that it was wrong to fight, they buried their weapons of war in the ground and made a covenant with Heavenly Father that they “never would use weapons again” (Alma 24:18). They kept this covenant and all the commandments so faithfully that they were known for being “perfectly honest and upright in all things” (Alma 27:27).

The Anti-Nephi-Lehies taught their children to be honest. They wanted their sons and daughters to be true to the gospel and righteous in their dealings with each other and with Heavenly Father. Because the example of their parents was so great, the children wanted to be just as honest and just as true to the gospel themselves.

The Book of Mormon says this about the boys when they grew up: “And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted” (Alma 53:20).

These young Anti-Nephi-Lehies became famous as “Helaman’s stripling warriors.” (See Ensign, May 1987, page 16.) Because of their honesty and their spiritual strength, they were a great help to their people.

You can be like the army of Helaman. You can follow the example of the righteous Lamanites and be honest and true.

For older children consider this from Come, Follow Me:
Read to the your family the story about a man stealing corn in Ann M. Dibb’s talk “I Believe in Being Honest and True.” Stop reading just before the little boy says, “Father, there is one way you haven’t looked yet!” Ask them what the little boy might say to his father. Then read his comment. Ask them to discuss choices they face in which they must choose to be honest.

This Week's Challenge: Remind your family of the stories of the Anti-Nephi-Lehi people and the little boy. Challenge them to behave in a way where it could be said of them that they are "perfectly honest and upright in all things." Remind them not to forget that even if it seems like no one is watching, Heavenly Father is always watching us.

Week 36: Guarding Virtue

***It is my belief that the best place for children to learn about guarding virtue and resisting pornography is in the home with their parent's facilitating the discussion. Studies are showing that children as young as 8 are being exposed to pornography either online or through their peers at school. If these conversations are not had in the safe loving environment of our homes, they will be had elsewhere in settings where we have no control over what and how our children are taught. I would encourage each of you to spend some time prayerfully considering the appropriate way to teach this subject in your homes. Keeping the conversation age appropriate, but also understanding that "my children would never do that" is not a valid reason for not having the conversation at all.***

Song: The Lord Gave Me a Temple (CS. 153)

Thought: Virtue is a pattern of thought and behavior based on high moral standards. It includes chastity. We live in a world in which virtue is belittled and attacked. We can guard our virtue by avoiding impure thoughts, language, and actions. Pornography is especially dangerous. As we “put on the whole armour of God” (see Ephesians 6:11–17) and rely on the strength of the Lord, we can protect ourselves against the adversary’s attacks on virtue and keep our thoughts and actions pure. (How do I guard my virtue?)

Object Lesson: Ahead of time bake some chocolate cookies. In some of them add more salt (make sure to keep these ones separate!) Place the salty cookies on a plate and offer them to your family. When they eat them and discover that they are not good discuss with them how Satan will try to make bad things look appealing. Apply this concept to pornography and sexual purity. Talk with your family about how Heavenly Father views each of us and our value as sons and daughters of God. After this discussion offer your family the cookies that are sweet and talk about the difference between wholesome media and entertainment and pornographic/inappropriate forms. Even a little bit of salt can ruin a cookie, just like a "little bit" of swearing, sexual content, or other inappropriate things can ruin a movie and drive away the Spirit.

Video:
 
Show this video “To Look Upon,” and have your family tell you to pause the video each time David could have made a different choice. What happened to King David after this experience? How did it affect his family? Why is looking at pornography so dangerous? Briefly compare the results of King David’s actions and Joseph’s.

Lesson Activity: Invite your family to imagine they had the opportunity to tell a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles about the challenges youth today face regarding pornography. What might they say to him? Give each family member a copy of the six paragraphs from Elder Quentin L. Cook’s talk “Can Ye Feel So Now?” beginning with the phrase “Sexual immorality and impure thoughts.” Ask half of them to look for and share what Elder Cook learned from a 15-year-old young man, and ask the other half to look for and share the counsel Elder Cook gives. What can each of us do to help make our homes “places of refuge” from pornography?

This Week's Challenge: As a family try to identify any weaknesses in the defense of your home and spend time this week shoring up your defenses. Don't forget to talk about things we encounter outside of home and how to resist temptation while out in the world. (Ex: computers, television, movies, music, friends, books, smart phones, tablets, ipods, etc.)

Week 35: Keeping the Commandments

Song: Keep the Commandments (CS. 146)

Thought: “Our lives should be examples of goodness and virtue as we try to emulate His example to the world. Good works by each of us can do credit both to the Savior and His Church. As you are engaged in doing good, being honorable and upright men and women, the Light of Christ will be reflected by your lives.” Elder L. Tom Perry

Object Lesson: It Protects Us or you could adapt this object lesson for your family:
I used a wide shallow bowl full of water. I brought bright blue pebbles and let each girl name a way to break a commandment and drop a pebble and watch the ripple. Then they named a way to resist the temptation of breaking a commandment and dropped a pebble. We talked about how the ripple effect can be both good and bad. It's their decision.  It was an enlightening discussion for them. One of them brought up a particularly bad activity night where one girl acted out and the rest of them followed her. It turned into a way for them to brainstorm ideas of how to turn nights like that into good nights. I was impressed.  (Idea by Stephanie Thomas)

Video: Let Your Light So Shine (This video is available for download, but not to upload directly. Link is listed under "Prepare Yourself Spiritually.")
As you watch this video with your family look for ways that one families example of living the commandments affected the life of someone else.

Lesson Activity: Divide your family into small groups, and give each group a copy of Sister Ann M. Dibb’s talk “Arise and Shine Forth.” Assign each group to read one of the stories told in the talk (the stories of Samson, Daniel, Joanna, and Karen). Ask them to discuss what they learn about the power of example to influence others to obey or disobey the commandments. Invite each group to think of a creative way to share their story and what they learned with the rest of the family. (Come, Follow Me)
To involve young children in this have them be with groups learning about Samson and Daniel. Their job could be to color pictures (such as these below) that they can use to teach about the story.

This Week's Challenge: Invite your family to ponder the influence their example may be having on others, and encourage them to set personal goals to inspire others to keep the commandments by setting a good example.

Week 34: Strengthening Our Families

Song: Love is Spoken Here (CS. 190)

Thought: Strong families require effort. Your family will be blessed as you do your part to strengthen it. Be cheerful, helpful, and considerate of family members. Many problems in the home come from family members speaking and acting selfishly or unkindly. Seek to be a peacemaker rather than to tease, fight, and quarrel. Show love for your family members each day. Share your testimony with your family through words and actions. Your righteous example can make a difference in strengthening your family. (For the Strength of Youth: Family)

Object Lesson: Hold up a single piece of thread and ask one family member to break the thread. Then hold up a piece of yarn or rope and ask that same family member to try to break that piece as well. Discuss the differences between the thread and the yarn/rope. Ask your family for input on what they believe the various individual threads that make up the rope could represent. (Ex: each family member, prayer, scripture study, temple worship, church attendance, FHE, working together, etc.)

Video:


Lesson Activity: Give sections of Sister Mary N. Cook’s talk “Strengthen Home and Family” to your family, and invite them to look for ways they can help strengthen your home now. Invite them to set some goals based on what they read. (Come, Follow Me) Make sure that their goals are written down and then placed somewhere that they can see them each day as a reminder.

This Week's Challenge: Remind your family of the goals set tonight and encourage them to work hard on keeping those goals. Follow up over the next few weeks to see how following their plans has made a difference.

Week 33: Family History

Song: The Hearts of the Children (CS. 92)

Thought: President Howard W. Hunter taught: “We must accomplish the priesthood temple ordinance work necessary for our own exaltation; then we must do the necessary work for those who did not have the opportunity to accept the gospel in life. Doing work for others is accomplished in two steps: first, by family history research to ascertain our progenitors; and second, by performing the temple ordinances to give them the same opportunities afforded to the living. (The Joy of Redeeming the Dead)

Object Lesson: Start by your family, "Now who REALLY loves chocolate?  I'm not talking about just liking chocolate, who L-O-V-E-S chocolate?"  Have some chocolate sitting on the edge of the table.  Then tell the person that volunteered that the chocolate is theirs, the only thing is....they can't use any of their body to get to the chocolate.  Otherwise, it's theirs!  The person is left not knowing how to get the chocolate.

After a moment, ask your family, "Who would like to feed so-and-so this chocolate in exchange for him/her doing your chores tomorrow?"  Call on someone to come and put the chocolate in the first volunteers mouth.  Thank both volunteers and let them be seated.

Then discuss the above activity a bit further.  Help them realize that the first volunteer (our ancestors) REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want their work done, but they can't.  WHY?  They no longer have a body (which is why they can't use any part of their body to touch the chocolate).  However, worthy members of the church (2nd volunteer) help by attending the temple and doing the work for them.  In exchange for this, the Lord blesses us for our service (clean house, whatever blessings He sees fit....).  (She Really Wants the Chocolate!)

Video: The Spirit of Elijah

Lesson Activity: Ahead of time download the software for indexing on your family computer. Spend some time before FHE familiarizing yourself with it and be ready to teach your family how to use it. During FHE set a timer and see how many names your family can index. This activity can be extended throughout the week if you would like to set up a "competition" among family to see who can index the most names. If you choose to do this make sure you set up some rules and have a time schedule for the computer so that everyone gets a chance to participate who wants to!

Young children may not find this activity of any interest so you may consider the following: Grandma's Trunk or Family History ABC's.

This Week's Challenge: Encourage your family to check out the LDS website: Youth and Family History. Challenge your family members to begin researching your family history and become familiar with all the resources that the LDS church has to offer.

The Spirit of Elijah

Temple marriage is a wonderful blessing we have the opportunity to experience in this life. But, for those of our family who have passed away without receiving that blessing there is a way provided!

Week 32: Temple Marriage

Song: The Family is of God (The Friend, Oct 2008)

Thought: In “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” the First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles proclaim “that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.”  This keynote sentence of the proclamation teaches us much about the doctrinal significance of marriage and emphasizes the primacy of marriage and family in the Father’s plan. Righteous marriage is a commandment and an essential step in the process of creating a loving family relationship that can be perpetuated beyond the grave. (Elder Bednar)

Object Lesson: Give each family member a small triangle with God written on one point, Husband on another, Wife on the third, and the words Sacred Triangle across the front. Have each one write on the back: “I will prepare now to be worthy of participating in the sacred triangle of eternal marriage.”
Refer to the sacred triangle. Erase the lines leading from husband and wife to God, leaving a straight horizontal line. Explain that we must do all we can to prevent a situation in which God is not part of our marriage/future marriage. (YW Manual 3)

Video:


Lesson Activity: Ahead of time prepare or purchase pre-made rice crispy treats. Have your family work together to build a temple out of the treats. Once your temple is built then you can choose to eat it our display it! (Idea from here)
As a family, read D&C 131:1–4 and “The New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage” in True to the Faith (page 98), looking for answers to the question “Why is temple marriage important?” If necessary, help your family define any unfamiliar words or phrases. Ask them to list some things that might keep people from marrying in the temple. What can they do now to make sure they marry in the temple? (Come, Follow Me)

This Week's Challenge: Encourage your family members to display their "sacred triangles" in their rooms to remind them of the goals they have set to prepare for a temple marriage. Challenge them to study the scriptures and words of the prophets on the subject and be prepared to share with others why marriage is so important, especially a temple marriage.

Week 31: The Importance of Families

Song: Families Can Be Together Forever (CS. 188)

Thought: The joining together of a man and a woman to be legally and lawfully wed not only is preparation for future generations to inherit the earth, but it also brings the greatest joy and satisfaction that can be found in this mortal experience. This is especially true when the powers of the priesthood proclaim a marriage to be for time and for all eternity. Children born to such marriages have a security that is found nowhere else. (Becoming Goodly Parents by Elder L. Tom Perry)

Object Lesson: Show your family an orange (whole). Ask them how this orange is similar to a family. After they share their thoughts you could: compare the peel of the orange to the sealing power of the priesthood that binds us together as families. Peel the orange and show how the orange is made up of different sections that are stuck together. Explain that each of the individual sections is unique alone, but when combined as a whole it makes a complete orange. Discuss how our families are more richly blessed by being unified and most importantly, by being sealed for eternity.

Video: Families Can Be Together Forever

Lesson Activity: Draw a circle on a large piece of paper. Invite a family member to draw a family inside the circle. Around the circle, write premortal life, mortal life, and postmortal life. Ask a family member to read the third paragraph of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” and look for ways the family fits into each of these parts of the plan of salvation. Invite your family to share their feelings families and why they want to be united with them after this life.

This Week's Challenge: Invite each of the members of your family to prayerfully study "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" this week. Challenge them to look for things that specifically apply to them at this time in their lives.

Families Can Be Together Forever

President Eyring reminds us of the importance of families and what blessings we can receive from being part of a family.

Week 30: Temple Covenants and Ordinances

Song: I Love to See the Temple (CS. 95)

Thought: If our water supply is of questionable quality, for example, we filter the water. Similarly, divine covenants shield us from harm. When we choose to deny ourselves of all ungodliness, 20 we lose nothing of value and gain glory known only to those who obtain eternal life. Keeping a temple covenant is not constraining but enabling. It elevates us beyond limits of our own perspective and power. It is like the difference between plodding through a muddy field and soaring through the skies in a supersonic jet. Keeping a covenant with God is both protective and enabling. (Prepare for the Blessings of the Temple By Elder Russell M. Nelson)

Object Lesson: My Family Can Be Together Forever Through the Saving Ordinances of the Temple. (This is a power point presentation that reviews ordinances and covenants then discusses what we do with them in the temple. Part or all of it can be used to introduce the concepts of this lesson.)

Video: Temples Are a Beacon

Lesson Activity: For younger children this matching game can be fun to try!
 Give each family member a copy of Elder Richard G. Scott’s talk “Temple Worship: The Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need,” and ask them to find the suggestions Elder Scott gives on how to benefit from temple attendance. Invite them to share what they find. Which of these suggestions do they feel apply best to them? Invite them to select one or more that they will follow the next time they attend the temple.

This Week's Challenge: Set a goal as a family for your temple attendance or preparation. Discuss the importance of temple covenants and discuss ways to help each other honor those covenants that have been entered into.

Temples Are A Beacon

Pres. Monson tells the story of a family's desire to go to the temple and the sacrifices they made to get there.

Week 29: The Sacrament

Song: While of These Emblems We Partake (H. 173)

Thought: In the simple and beautiful language of the sacramental prayers those young priests offer, the principal word we hear seems to be remember. In the first and slightly longer prayer offered over the bread, mention is made of a willingness to take upon us the name of the Son of God and to keep the commandments he has given us.
Neither of those phrases is repeated in the blessing on the water, though surely both are assumed and expected. What is stressed in both prayers is that all of this is done in remembrance of Christ. In so participating we witness that we will always remember him, that we may always have his Spirit to be with us (see D&C 20:77, 79). (“This Do in Remembrance of Me” by Jeffrey R. Holland)

Object Lesson: Hand someone a pencil, and ask them to "try to drop it."  Once the person drops the pencil, pick it up and say , "No, maybe my instructions weren't clear.  I said TRY to drop the pencil".  They might act confused, and maybe drop it again if so just repeat the process, but if they hold onto it and do not drop it, then say, "no what I wanted you to do was to TRY and drop it!"  Once the person gets confused or irritated with you, say thank you, and retrieve the pencil.  You can ask another to try the same thing and see if anyone does it any different. When everyone keeps dropping it or holding onto it, tell the the punch line... "There is no such thing as "Try" you either do or you don't." So lets DO what we are asked to do and not give the excuse that "We tried." (Object Lesson from Mormon Share)  We either renew our covenants each week or we don't.  It depends on us.  The sacrament is a wonderful blessing to us.  It gives us the opportunity to become clean each week, as if we were baptized. (Sharing Time Lesson)

Video: The Sacrament Helps Us to Draw Closer to Jesus Christ

Lesson Activity: For younger children consider the following attention activity. Tell the children to listen carefully. If you say something that they should do or think about during the sacrament, they should stand up tall. If you say something they should not do or think about during the sacrament, they should bend over.
Read the following statements one at a time, giving the children time to respond.
1 - Remember that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us. (Stand)
2 - Think about going on a picnic. (Bend)
3 - Remember that Jesus Christ made sick people well. (Stand)
4 - Whisper and talk to your neighbor. (Bend)
5 - Wiggle and move around in your seat. (Bend)
6 - Say a prayer to Heavenly Father. (Stand)
7 - Draw pictures or play with a toy. (Bend)
8 - Remember stories about Jesus Christ. (Stand)
(Sharing Time Lesson)

For older children/adults this activity from Come, Follow Me should help to emphasize how we can make the sacrament more meaningful in our lives.
Invite them to read sections II and III of Elder Dallin H. Oaks’s talk “Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament” Ask them to look for answers to the question “How can I make the sacrament more meaningful to me?” Invite them to write their answers on the board and share something they plan to do to apply the counsel in these talks.

This Week's Challenge: Challenge your family to focus on the covenant we make to "always remember" the Savior. Discuss with them various ways that we can accomplish this in our daily lives. Challenge them to work hard to implement these things each day this week and then be prepared to take the sacrament on Sunday and renew those covenants.

The Sacrament Helps Us to Draw Closer to Jesus Christ

Elder Dallin H. Oaks teaches about the sacrament and bears his witness of the Savior, Jesus Christ.