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.
7.29.2013
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.
7.21.2013
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.
7.14.2013
Week 28: The Gift of the Holy Ghost
Song: Let the Holy Spirit Guide (H. 143)
Thought: The ordinance of confirming a new member of the Church and bestowing the gift of the Holy Ghost is both simple and profound. Worthy Melchizedek Priesthood holders place their hands upon the head of an individual and call him or her by name. Then, by the authority of the holy priesthood and in the name of the Savior, the individual is confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and this important phrase is uttered: “Receive the Holy Ghost.”
The simplicity of this ordinance may cause us to overlook its significance. These four words—“Receive the Holy Ghost”—are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction—an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26). The Holy Ghost does not become operative in our lives merely because hands are placed upon our heads and those four important words are spoken. As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to so live that we indeed “receive the Holy Ghost” and its attendant spiritual gifts. “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift” (D&C 88:33).
What should we do to make this authorized admonition to seek for the companionship of the third member of the Godhead an ongoing reality? Let me suggest that we need to (1) sincerely desire to receive the Holy Ghost, (2) appropriately invite the Holy Ghost into our lives, and (3) faithfully obey God’s commandments.
(Elder David A. Bednar: Receive the Holy Ghost)
Object Lesson: This object lesson has to do with the spirit dwelling in a clean place (your body). Take a sock ( an old one preferably one you don't care about getting real muddy), soak the sock in mud, get it real dirty and then put it in a plastic bag. Ask someone if they would mind putting on a sock (of course they haven't seen the sock yet), someone will volunteer. Then take out the muddy sock from the bag and ask them to put it on their clean foot. Hopefully no one will want to do this.
Liken this to the holy spirit not wanting to dwell in an unclean body. How can you put your foot in a dirty sock and expect it to feel ok? You can't ask the spirit to dwell in an unclean body, it absolutely will not. (Dirty Socks by Barb Prescott)
Video: Having the Holy Ghost
Lesson Activity: For younger children consider adapting the activity: “The Liahona and the Holy Ghost” Roller Box from the May 2000 Friend Magazine. You could either follow the instructions as outlined or simply print out the pictures as coloring pages and help them make their own books from the story.
Older family members could participate in the following activity. Show a picture of Lehi and the Liahona (see Gospel Art Book, 68), and ask your family to share what they know about the Liahona. Invite half of them to read 1 Nephi 16:14–29, and invite the other half to read 1 Nephi 18:8–22. Ask them to look for answers to this question: “How is the Liahona like the Holy Ghost?” Invite them to share their thoughts. What does your family learn from the experiences of Lehi’s family that can help them receive the Holy Ghost? As part of this discussion, read together Alma 37:38–46. (Come, Follow Me)
This Week's Challenge: Challenge the members of your family that have been confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost to work this week to receive the Holy Ghost more fully in their lives. For those who have not been confirmed, challenge them to try hard this week to make choices that would make it so that the Spirit can be with them and influence their lives.
Thought: The ordinance of confirming a new member of the Church and bestowing the gift of the Holy Ghost is both simple and profound. Worthy Melchizedek Priesthood holders place their hands upon the head of an individual and call him or her by name. Then, by the authority of the holy priesthood and in the name of the Savior, the individual is confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and this important phrase is uttered: “Receive the Holy Ghost.”
The simplicity of this ordinance may cause us to overlook its significance. These four words—“Receive the Holy Ghost”—are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction—an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26). The Holy Ghost does not become operative in our lives merely because hands are placed upon our heads and those four important words are spoken. As we receive this ordinance, each of us accepts a sacred and ongoing responsibility to desire, to seek, to work, and to so live that we indeed “receive the Holy Ghost” and its attendant spiritual gifts. “For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift” (D&C 88:33).
What should we do to make this authorized admonition to seek for the companionship of the third member of the Godhead an ongoing reality? Let me suggest that we need to (1) sincerely desire to receive the Holy Ghost, (2) appropriately invite the Holy Ghost into our lives, and (3) faithfully obey God’s commandments.
(Elder David A. Bednar: Receive the Holy Ghost)
Object Lesson: This object lesson has to do with the spirit dwelling in a clean place (your body). Take a sock ( an old one preferably one you don't care about getting real muddy), soak the sock in mud, get it real dirty and then put it in a plastic bag. Ask someone if they would mind putting on a sock (of course they haven't seen the sock yet), someone will volunteer. Then take out the muddy sock from the bag and ask them to put it on their clean foot. Hopefully no one will want to do this.
Liken this to the holy spirit not wanting to dwell in an unclean body. How can you put your foot in a dirty sock and expect it to feel ok? You can't ask the spirit to dwell in an unclean body, it absolutely will not. (Dirty Socks by Barb Prescott)
Video: Having the Holy Ghost
Lesson Activity: For younger children consider adapting the activity: “The Liahona and the Holy Ghost” Roller Box from the May 2000 Friend Magazine. You could either follow the instructions as outlined or simply print out the pictures as coloring pages and help them make their own books from the story.
Older family members could participate in the following activity. Show a picture of Lehi and the Liahona (see Gospel Art Book, 68), and ask your family to share what they know about the Liahona. Invite half of them to read 1 Nephi 16:14–29, and invite the other half to read 1 Nephi 18:8–22. Ask them to look for answers to this question: “How is the Liahona like the Holy Ghost?” Invite them to share their thoughts. What does your family learn from the experiences of Lehi’s family that can help them receive the Holy Ghost? As part of this discussion, read together Alma 37:38–46. (Come, Follow Me)
This Week's Challenge: Challenge the members of your family that have been confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost to work this week to receive the Holy Ghost more fully in their lives. For those who have not been confirmed, challenge them to try hard this week to make choices that would make it so that the Spirit can be with them and influence their lives.
7.07.2013
Week 27: Baptism
Song: Baptism (CS. 100)
Thought: Through the ordinances of baptism and confirmation, you were born again into a new life. The Savior said to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Just as an infant enters a new existence at birth, you began a new life when you entered into the baptismal covenant. You can grow in spirituality and become more like the Savior by keeping your baptismal covenant, partaking of the sacrament to renew your covenant, and repenting of your
sins. The Apostle Paul taught that when we have been baptized, we “should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). (True to the Faith)
Object Lesson:
YOU WILL NEED:
tarnished pennies (or one per family member)
a pitcher of water
a glass
a shiny penny
vinegar, a tablespoon
paper towels
Have your family look at their dirty, tarnished pennies and then compare it to the shiny penny. Have them drop their pennies into the vinegar and stir for 10 seconds. Talk about how clean and shiny the penny is now. The shiny penny represents how God wants our lives to be. Baptism makes it possible for our sins to be forgiven and our “tarnish” removed. After baptism, we are as clean as a shiny penny.(Tarnished Pennies)
Video: Same Jersey
Lesson Activity:
Younger members of your family may enjoy helping Miguel "Fill the Font" in preparing for his baptism!
Invite your family to read three paragraphs of Elder Robert D. Hales’s talk “The Covenant of Baptism: To Be in the Kingdom and of the Kingdom,” beginning with “At baptism we make a covenant with our Heavenly Father.” Ask them to look for covenants we make when we are baptized, and invite them to write what they find. In what ways should being baptized change our lives? How has it changed the lives of the members of your family who have been baptized?
This week's challenge: If there are members of your family that have yet to be baptized, encourage them to spend the week learning about the covenants they will make and what their responsibilities will be. For those members of your family who have been baptized, encourage them to prayerfully consider their baptismal covenants and be prepared to renew those covenants by taking the sacrament on Sunday.
Thought: Through the ordinances of baptism and confirmation, you were born again into a new life. The Savior said to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Just as an infant enters a new existence at birth, you began a new life when you entered into the baptismal covenant. You can grow in spirituality and become more like the Savior by keeping your baptismal covenant, partaking of the sacrament to renew your covenant, and repenting of your
sins. The Apostle Paul taught that when we have been baptized, we “should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). (True to the Faith)
Object Lesson:
YOU WILL NEED:
tarnished pennies (or one per family member)
a pitcher of water
a glass
a shiny penny
vinegar, a tablespoon
paper towels
Have your family look at their dirty, tarnished pennies and then compare it to the shiny penny. Have them drop their pennies into the vinegar and stir for 10 seconds. Talk about how clean and shiny the penny is now. The shiny penny represents how God wants our lives to be. Baptism makes it possible for our sins to be forgiven and our “tarnish” removed. After baptism, we are as clean as a shiny penny.(Tarnished Pennies)
Video: Same Jersey
Lesson Activity:
Younger members of your family may enjoy helping Miguel "Fill the Font" in preparing for his baptism!
Invite your family to read three paragraphs of Elder Robert D. Hales’s talk “The Covenant of Baptism: To Be in the Kingdom and of the Kingdom,” beginning with “At baptism we make a covenant with our Heavenly Father.” Ask them to look for covenants we make when we are baptized, and invite them to write what they find. In what ways should being baptized change our lives? How has it changed the lives of the members of your family who have been baptized?
This week's challenge: If there are members of your family that have yet to be baptized, encourage them to spend the week learning about the covenants they will make and what their responsibilities will be. For those members of your family who have been baptized, encourage them to prayerfully consider their baptismal covenants and be prepared to renew those covenants by taking the sacrament on Sunday.
7.06.2013
The Same Jersey
As you watch this video look for examples of the two young men honoring their baptismal covenants.
7.01.2013
Week 26: Ordinances and Covenants
Song: The Fourth Article of Faith (CS. 124)
Thought: An ordinance is a sacred act, such as baptism, that is performed by the authority of the priesthood. The ordinances of baptism, confirmation, Melchizedek Priesthood ordination (for men), the temple endowment, and temple sealing are required for exaltation for all accountable persons. These are called the saving ordinances. As part of each saving ordinance, the recipient makes covenants with God. (Handbook of Instruction)
Object Lesson: To show that ordinances and covenants are inseparable, display a coin. Then ask which side of the coin is more important. (Neither side is more important.) Ask learners if they can separate the sides of the coin. Then explain that ordinances and covenants are inseparable, just as the two sides of a coin are inseparable. Also point out that ordinances and covenants are necessary for admission into God's presence, just as coins are sometimes needed for admission to events. (Source: Teaching, No Greater Call, F: Methods of Teaching, Comparisons and Object Lessons) [Ordinances and Covenants are Inseparable]
Video: Faith in Power of the Priesthood
Lesson Activity:
Show a picture of the people of Ammon burying their weapons. Ask a family member to briefly tell the story of the people of Ammon and the covenant they made (see Alma 53:10–18; 56:5–8). Why did the people choose to keep their covenants despite the danger they faced? How did their example influence their enemies? How did it influence their children? Invite each family member to share the name of a person who has taught him or her through example about keeping covenants. Ask them to share with the family what they learned from that person.
Get a shoe box or other small cardboard box. Have each family member write on a piece of paper something that has been a "weapon of war" in their life that they are going to now covenant to change.Place each of the papers in the box and then bury the box outside somewhere.
This Week's Challenge: Remind your family of the personal covenants that they have each made in their lives and encourage them to focus on these covenants this week and strive to live them more fully.
Thought: An ordinance is a sacred act, such as baptism, that is performed by the authority of the priesthood. The ordinances of baptism, confirmation, Melchizedek Priesthood ordination (for men), the temple endowment, and temple sealing are required for exaltation for all accountable persons. These are called the saving ordinances. As part of each saving ordinance, the recipient makes covenants with God. (Handbook of Instruction)
Object Lesson: To show that ordinances and covenants are inseparable, display a coin. Then ask which side of the coin is more important. (Neither side is more important.) Ask learners if they can separate the sides of the coin. Then explain that ordinances and covenants are inseparable, just as the two sides of a coin are inseparable. Also point out that ordinances and covenants are necessary for admission into God's presence, just as coins are sometimes needed for admission to events. (Source: Teaching, No Greater Call, F: Methods of Teaching, Comparisons and Object Lessons) [Ordinances and Covenants are Inseparable]
Video: Faith in Power of the Priesthood
Lesson Activity:
Show a picture of the people of Ammon burying their weapons. Ask a family member to briefly tell the story of the people of Ammon and the covenant they made (see Alma 53:10–18; 56:5–8). Why did the people choose to keep their covenants despite the danger they faced? How did their example influence their enemies? How did it influence their children? Invite each family member to share the name of a person who has taught him or her through example about keeping covenants. Ask them to share with the family what they learned from that person.
Get a shoe box or other small cardboard box. Have each family member write on a piece of paper something that has been a "weapon of war" in their life that they are going to now covenant to change.Place each of the papers in the box and then bury the box outside somewhere.
This Week's Challenge: Remind your family of the personal covenants that they have each made in their lives and encourage them to focus on these covenants this week and strive to live them more fully.
Faith in the Power of the Priesthood
As you watch the video listen for what ordinances and covenants are discussed.
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