LDS Ideas

FHE on Conversion

2010-11-03T04:42:00.000-07:00

In our world today, each [person] needs his or her own conversion to the truth. Each needs his or her own light, his or her own “steadfast and immovable” faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Conference Talk:
For more information on this topic read “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus,” by Neil L. Andersen, Ensign, May 2010, 108–12.

Thought:
In our world today, each [person] needs his or her own conversion to the truth. Each needs his or her own light, his or her own “steadfast and immovable” faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
(Neil L. Andersen, “Tell Me the Stories of Jesus,” Ensign, May 2010, 108–12.)

Song:
“I Will Follow God’s Plan,” Children’s Songbook, p. 164.

Scripture:
And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
(Alma 5:14)

Lesson:
Show a birth certificate of a family member and ask if they know what it is. Can anyone have two of these? Then show a baptismal certificate and ask how it might be considered a second birth certificate. Invite a member of your family to read John 3:3–7 and ask your family to look for what might have been on Nicodemus’s mind. Ask:

What does it mean to be “born again”? (See Alma 5:14; Mosiah 27:24–29.)
How can a person be born of the water (baptized) but not born of the Sprit?

Share the following by Elder Bruce R. McConkie: “Church members are not born again by the mere fact of baptism alone; rather, after baptism, they must so live as to experience a ‘mighty change’ in their hearts.” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:142.)

Share an experience in your life when you felt a change of heart or spiritual rebirth. Explain that the process of spiritual rebirth happens over time. Testify that the sacrament allows a wonderful time to recommit one’s self to following God. Encourage family members to always seek for a change of heart by becoming a little better each day.
(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The New Testament, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2006], p. 116.)

Story:
The “mighty change” of heart (Alma 5:14) is a process that takes varying amounts of time for different people. Let me tell you about a man I will call Sasha to protect his personal privacy. He is a man in his early forties who describes himself as having previously been a very hard, cynical man.

Sasha’s cynicism came from his background, which he describes in detail:

“I was born in the north of Russia, in a worker’s family in a small town. I spent my childhood and youth in a place where many criminals had been deported, as well as soldiers who had been captured and accused of treason. Cruel and wild morals reigned there.

I learned that a strong man always rules and a weak man always submits. My years of studying in an institute confirmed this statement. Three years of working in a colony of a special regime for dangerous criminals amazed me. I saw and heard unbelievable things. Now it is hard for me to understand how a man could do such things.

I did not wait for help from anybody, and I also did not help anybody, either. I often thought about the question of the meaning of life. What do we live for? I asked everybody about that, but nobody could answer me. People were busy with their own problems.”

One evening two young missionaries met Sasha on the street of a city where he still resides. They asked whether he believed in God. He continues:

“I was confused. I knew from my experience that when someone comes to you in the darkness and asks for ten kopecks, your answer does not matter much, because there is going to be a fight within a
minute or two. Earlier, I had considered religious believers to be mentally sick people, and yet these young men seemed like quite normal people.

I agreed to make an appointment with the missionaries. Oh, I tortured them so much! I asked them many silly, cynical questions, and I even supposed that they were agents of the CIA.

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately!), I had lost my job then and had time to read the Book of Mormon and the Bible all day long. The experience of reading these two books of scripture hour after hour, day after day, completely transformed my life. I found the truth. As I met with these wonderful young men, my cynicism gradually but fully dissolved. In our meetings and through my personal reading of the scriptures day after day, I became a new person, with a new outlook on the world.

Since my baptism and the receiving of the gift of the Holy Ghost, I have committed to our Heavenly Father that I will always try to help lift others throughout the rest of my life. As Alma explained [see Mosiah 18:8-10], when I accepted baptism I promised to be a comfort and a strength to others. And I will.”

Sasha is a dedicated servant of the Lord who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood. He is a man who shows great love to others. He now manages a new private company in his city.

(Howard L. Biddulph, The Morning Breaks: Stories of Conversion and Faith in the Former Soviet Union, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1996].)

Activity:
Give each family member an old magazine or newspaper, a blank piece of paper, and some glue (younger children can be paired with an older family member). Ask each person to think of a word or phrase that describes the changes that can happen after a person has been converted. Have them find and cut out the letters to spell this word in the magazine. Then paste them onto the blank paper. After everyone is done, have them share their words.

Refreshment:

Kleiner

6 eggs
1⁄2 c. butter
1 1⁄2 c. sugar
1⁄2 c. canned milk
1⁄2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
5 c. flour
3 tsp. baking powder
Powdered sugar

Combine eggs, butter, sugar, milk, salt, and vanilla. Then add dry ingredients. Roll dough into a triangle, and cut through dough to make long strips. Cut across strips diagonally to form smaller diamond shapes. Cut a slit in the center of each diamond shape. Pull the bottom corner through the cut in the center to make a twist. Deep fry the twists until light golden brown. Place on paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, or eat plain.

FHE on Service

2010-10-25T17:16:00.000-07:00

may we follow the counsel and example of the prophet and each day seek out those in need.

Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read “Helping Hands, Saving Hands,” by Koichi Aoyagi, Ensign, May 2010, 36–37.

Thought:

May we follow the counsel and example of the prophet and each day seek out those in need. (Koichi Aoyagi, “Helping Hands, Saving Hands,” Ensign, May 2010, 36–37.)

Song:

“Called to Serve,” Children’s Songbook, p. 174.

Scripture:

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:40)

Lesson:

Gather items such as bathrobes, towels, and scarves to make simple costumes for the role-play activity of the good Samaritan. Act out the story of the good Samaritan. You can review the story first in Luke 10:30–37. You will need the following characters: the traveler, a thief (or thieves), a priest, a Levite, a Samaritan, and the innkeeper. (If your family is large, someone could even play the part of the donkey that the traveler rides on.)

When you have finished the role play, tell the family that the Savior told this story in answer to the question, “Who is my neighbor?” What does this story teach us about who our neighbors are? Whom should we serve? Emphasize that our neighbors can be anyone in need, people that we don’t know as well as those on our street and even those in our own home.

Story:

Steven was worried about his mother. She had been sick for several months. His father had put a bed in the living room so that she could watch Father and Steven decorate the Christmas tree and participate in all the Christmas activities. Christmas had been fun even though Mother was sick. She had been so excited about the tree. It had always been her favorite part of Christmas. Sometimes when Steven sat beside her on her bed, she would say, “Steven, just look at that star. Doesn’t it make you happy just to see it? When I wake up in the morning and
open my eyes, there it is. It is like having heaven in our very own house. It reminds me of Jesus, and when I think of him I don’t feel sick anymore.”

Now the holidays were over and Father said they needed to take down the tree on Monday night. Steven worried about what Mother would do without the star to look at every morning. He worried about it all through sacrament meeting. It felt lonesome not to have Mother sitting
next to him on the bench. He worried about it all during Primary. Then during singing time, Sister Pope had the children sing Steven’s favorite song, “I Am like a Star.” That was it! That was Steven’s answer. He could be Mother’s star. He would do and say happy things all day. He would help in every way he could. Mother didn’t need to be sad because the star on the Christmas tree was gone; Steven would be her star instead.

Steven didn’t tell anyone about his plan. On Monday night he was quick to help Father get out the box for the ornaments and was careful taking the ornaments off the tree. He even got out the vacuum and cleaned up the pine needles that dropped off the tree when Father carried it out to the trash.

The next morning the house seemed empty without all the beautiful Christmas decorations. But Steven remembered his plan. He looked for ways to help and serve all day long. He brought Mother her favorite magazine to read. He got her a drink of water when it was time to take her medicine. He read her his favorite picture book. He made his bed and cleaned his room even though Mother couldn’t come upstairs to see it. He sang Primary songs to Mother to help her fall asleep and he played quietly while she was resting.

All week Steven tried hard to be helpful and happy just like a star would be. Sometimes he would hum his favorite song just so he could remember. On Saturday morning, Father sat in the living room with Mother while she ate her breakfast.

Father said, “Do you miss the tree, dear? I know how much you liked looking at the star.”

Mother looked at Steven and smiled. “I don’t miss the star on the Christmas tree. I have my very own star that is shining brightly. My special star makes me smile and reminds me of Jesus. With all this help, I know I will be better soon.”

Steven felt such a warm, good feeling inside he thought he must be glowing just like a real star. Then the Steven Star gave Mother a great big hug.

(Deborah Pace Rowley, Before They Turn Twelve: Helping Children Gain a Testimony of the Lord’s Standards, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2007], p. 90.)

Activity:

Make some star-shaped sugar cookies and deliver them to someone in your ward or neighborhood. You may want to pray as a family to decide who needs to receive a special treat to lift their spirits. Include a note that says, “You are stars to us!” with the cookies. Deliver the plate, ring the doorbell, and run!

Refreshment:

Old-Fashioned Sugar Cookies

1 1⁄2 cups sugar
2⁄3 cup butter or shortening (butter makes a better-tasting cookie)
2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1⁄4 cups flour
2 1⁄2 teaspoons baking powder
1⁄2 teaspoon salt
Decorative toppings

Cream sugar and butter or shortening; add eggs, milk, and vanilla. Sift dry ingredients together and beat into creamed mixture, combining thoroughly. With hands, shape dough into a ball. Wrap and
refrigerate 2 to 3 hours or overnight until dough is easy to handle.

Grease cookie sheets lightly. On lightly floured board, roll one-half or one-third of dough at a time, keeping remaining dough refrigerated. For crisp cookies, roll dough paper-thin. For softer cookies, roll 1⁄8-inch to 1⁄4-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with floured cookie cutter. Reroll trimmings and cut.

Place cookies half an inch apart on cookie sheets. Sprinkle with decorative toppings, if desired. Bake at 375 degrees about 8 minutes or until a very light brown. Remove cookies to racks to cool. Makes about 6 dozen cookies.

(Lion House Classics, [Salt Lake City: Shadow Mountain, 2004], p. 106.)

LOVE

2010-10-12T08:51:00.000-07:00

Love For more information on this topic read “Mother Told Me,” by Bradley D.
Conference Talk:
Foster, Ensign, May 2010, 98–100.
Thought:
In a world where everyone is granted agency, some of our loved ones may stray for a season. But we can never give up. We must always go back for them—we must never stop trying.
(Bradley D. Foster, “Mother Told Me,” Ensign, May 2010, 98–100.) Song:
“Love One Another,” Children’s Songbook, p. 136. Scripture:
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another (1 John 4:11)
Lesson:
Read the words of the hymn, “Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd” (Hymns, no. 221). Ask:
• According to the hymn, what are a shepherd’s responsibilities? • How would you describe a shepherd that fails to care for the flock? Read together Zechariah 11:15–17 and notice how the shepherds of
Zechariah’s day fulfilled their duties. Ask: • Who is the flock these shepherds are supposed to take care of? (The
Lord’s people.) • How do you think the Lord feels about these types of shepherds? • Who are our shepherds today? (Priesthood leaders, parents, etc.) • What could happen if our parents and leaders do not care about us? • What blessings come from parents and leaders who do their best to help
us? • When have you been blessed by the love and caring of your “shepherds”? • How do you think it feels to have the responsibility of a shepherd? Bear your testimony of the joy that comes from serving and caring for those
you love.
(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Old Testament, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2009], p. 245.)
Story:
Years from now when I think about the movie Cast Away I will remember a compelling storyline, some extraordinary special effects, and a remarkable acting performance by Tom Hanks.
But mostly I’ll remember holding hands with Elizabeth.
We went to see the film as a family, which is why I wasn’t sitting by my wife, Anita. We have found that keeping 11-year-old Elizabeth and her 9-year-old brother, Jon, away from each other is the best way to keep them from fighting in the dark. So we sit between them.
Just a few minutes into the movie—and I hope I’m not spoiling this for anyone—there’s a frighteningly realistic plane crash. In fact, it was a little too frightening and a little too realistic for Elizabeth’s taste. She leaned up against me, her head pressed against my shoulder, and reached over and took my hand, squeezing it tightly.
“It’s okay, Sweetie,” I said. “Remember, it’s only a movie. Just close your eyes, and pretty soon it’ll all be over.”
And pretty soon it was. Within a few minutes the scary part was over for Elizabeth, and she was sitting up in her seat, happily independent, her hands busy with popcorn and soda.
It wasn’t long, however, before another scary part came along. Only this wasn’t a scary part for Elizabeth—this was a scary part for me. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been claustrophobic. You want to scare me to death? Put me in a crowded elevator—and then make it stop. So when Tom Hanks started exploring that cave, I started cowering in my seat. Heart pounding. Palms sweating. Afraid to look—afraid not to. And I’m thinking, If there are any spiders or snakes in this cave, I’m outta here. Suddenly I felt a hand reaching out in the darkness—a calm, steady, 11-year-old hand, slightly seasoned with salt and butter-flavored topping. It grabbed onto my hand firmly, squeezing reassuringly, as Elizabeth again leaned up against me, her head again pressed against my shoulder.
“It’s okay, Daddy,” she said. “Remember, it’s only a movie. Just close your eyes, and pretty soon it’ll all be over.”
And pretty soon it was. Only this time, I didn’t let go of Elizabeth’s hand after the scary part was over, and she didn’t let go of mine. We just sat there through the rest of the movie, holding onto each other and helping each other through the film’s subsequent ups and downs.
That’s how Elizabeth and I made it through Cast Away. And it occurs to me that that’s how we all make it through life, too. Although we like to think of ourselves as happily independent and self- reliant, when the scary parts of life come—as they always do, eventually—it’s comforting to be able to lean against family and friends, to hear their reassurance that it’s okay, and to reach out in the darkness to find a calm, reassuring hand.
With or without the butter-flavored topping.

Activity:
Play a favorite board game together.

Refreshment
German Pancake
4 tablespoons butter 4 eggs 2/3 cup flour 1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup milk favorite jam
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Melt butter in a 10-inch cast iron skillet. Pour melted butter into a separate container for use later, leaving a coating of butter on the inside of the skillet. Beat eggs with flour until smooth. Add salt and milk, mixing again until smooth. Pour batter into skillet and drizzle melted butter on batter, covering center area but not the edge. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. (Be sure oven is to temperature. The heat makes the pancake rise.) Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
Slice into wedges, serve with warm jam.

COMMANDMENTS

2010-09-06T14:51:00.000-07:00

Thought:
It is my prayer that each day will find us striving to be more obedient to the laws, ordinances, and commandments of the gospel of Jesus Christ in order that He may more fully bless our lives.
(Bruce A. Carlson, “When the Lord Commands,” Ensign, May 2010, 38–40.) Song:
“Keep the Commandments,” Children’s Songbook, p. 146.
Scripture:
And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.

Lesson:
Have everyone read the scripture (above) aloud together. Ask: What does this scripture tell us?
Tell the family that Heavenly Father has made promises through the scriptures and his prophets that if we are obedient and obey his commandments he will bless us.
Point to the lists below. Tell them that you will read a blessing and they must choose the commandment that best goes with it. Draw a line between the commandment and the blessing.
Commandment
Blessing
1. Tithing 2. Sabbath Day 3. Word of Wisdom 4. Fasting 5. Book of Mormon 6. Baptism 7. The Sacrament
A. Helps us remember our baptismal covenants. When we do this, we should think about how much Jesus loves us. B. Helps us become more humble and receptive to the Spirit.
C. Windows of heaven are opened and blessings are poured out.
D. Takes away our sins. This is necessary for all people to have dome before they can become members in Christ’s church. E. President Benson said that reading this brings peace to our lives.
F. Can help us have a healthier body.
G. Helps us feel spiritually new as we remember the Savior and his sacrifice for us.

I am often reminded of an experience that I had while on a mission in Germany. Once a month we went to the little town of Uelzen, which was a self-sustaining branch. We went there to get their reports and to help them as we could. My companion was assigned to the branch the same time I
was, so this first visit to Uelzen was a new experience for both of us. We took our seats in the first meeting we attended in the front of the hall. The branch president
announced that the meeting would be started by the choir singing such and such a song. I looked about and found no choir up in front, but before I could ask any questions or discover an answer to the problem in my mind as to where the choir was coming from, my companion and I found ourselves the only ones sitting in the audience. The entire congregation, except for my companion and I, had gone up to the front and sang as a choir. It is no wonder we have Saints who can come here and produce a chorus such as we had yesterday.
I found from the reports that they not only all sang together, but they worked together. I found that there was 100 percent membership of the branch paying 100 percent tithing—and that was not just the month that I went there on that one visit, but that was the report I got all the time I was there. Attendance in their meetings was the same. They worked together in everything they did. I discovered also that there were two women in the branch at that time whose husbands had gone to America, and that the branch had agreed together, before these two men left, that they would all work together. They would keep the commandments of the Lord to the best of their ability; they would do all that was required of them without excuse; nothing would stop them from fulfilling the responsibilities given to them. Those who remained in the branch would see to it that the wives of these two men were taken care of, that they would not be in need.
The two men who left for America agreed that they would do likewise in living the commandments of the Lord, and that they would find jobs and work hard and save their money and send for their wives as soon as possible. It was not long until I was transferred from that section of Germany, and then soon after, I was released to come home.
Some twenty years later, after I became the Patriarch to the Church, I had an appointment to give a blessing to a young girl. When she arrived, her mother was with her. I found that the mother was one of those two sisters whose husbands had left Uelzen when I was over there. I had a long talk with this sister and her daughter. The daughter, of course, had grown up from a small child, and her mother told me this story: that one by one, or two at a time, as occasion came, different members of the branch would have the opportunity of leaving and coming to America, until finally, before World War II broke out, there was not one member of the Church left in that branch in Uelzen. They had all come to America safely before the war broke out.
Then she told me also that in the end of the war, when the American soldiers invaded that section of Germany, for some reason unknown to her, the German soldiers set up a resistance in Uelzen which resulted in a four-day battle. The bombings and general destruction were such that there was not a house left in the section where most of the Saints had lived, yet there was not a member of the Church left in Uelzen—a result and reward of unity, working together to keep the commandments of the Lord.
This is a challenge to us, brothers and sisters, that we might do as they did in Uelzen—that we might live the commandments of the Lord as they did.

Activity:
Divide the family into two teams and give each team a piece of paper. Tell them to number from one to ten on their paper. Ask each group to work together and list, in order, as many of the ten commandments as they can. Turn to Exodus 20:1-17 and correct each group’s answers.

Refreshment
Fresh Fruit Platter with Fruit Dip
Celebrate the tastes of summer.

head romaine lettuce small cantaloupe small honeydew melon fresh pineapple
pint basket strawberries
red grape clusters Wash and separate romaine lettuce leaves and place on eight serving plates or 1 large platter. Cut cantaloupe and honeydew melons in half. Remove seeds and cut each melon into eight wedges. Remove peel. Cut pineapple into eight wedges. Remove skin. Arrange all fruit on top of lettuce leaves. Serve with Fresh Fruit Dip. Makes 8 servings.

Fresh Fruit Dip
1 cup sour cream 1 cup packed brown sugar 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Stir together and serve with fresh fruit..

Theme: Family History

2010-08-10T18:27:00.000-07:00

Family History For more information on this topic read “Generations Linked in Love,” by Russell
Conference Talk:
M. Nelson, Ensign, May 2010, 91–94.

Thought:
Our inborn yearnings for family connections are fulfilled when we are linked to our ancestors through sacred ordinances of the temple.

Song:
“Family History,” Children’s Songbook, p. 94.

Scripture:
And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. (Malachi 4:6)

Lesson:
Display some of your family’s journals and ask: • Why are journals important? • Do you think your journal will be more or less valuable ten years from
now? Why? • How valuable do you think your journal will be to your children,
grandchildren, and great-grandchildren? Ask family members to read JS—H 1:1–2. Ask: • What reasons did Joseph Smith give for writing the history of the Church? • When did the writing of the history begin? • Why are you grateful that Joseph recorded his history?

Story:
My father had sent a telegram saying he would meet me in New Zealand at the conclusion of my mission.
I arrived in New Zealand and took a taxi to the mission home. It was winter in the southern hemisphere, and I was very cold. However, meeting my father was such a warm experience that the cold didn't seem to bother. Dad's grandparents were converted and baptized in Christchurch, New Zealand, and immigrated to the United States in the 1870s. They were the only members of their family to join the Church, so we still had lots of relatives in New Zealand.
It was fun looking up and visiting family members, none of whom were yet members of the Church. We had some great discussions and gathered a lot of genealogical and family history information. We visited some cemeteries and made arrangements for more appropriate headstones and had many wonderful and heartwarming experiences. There is a special feeling about visiting graves of ancestors in distant lands. You feel a kinship or linkage that is hard to express.
(John H. Groberg, In the Eye of the Storm,

Activity:
Give your family a writing assignment to record in their journals the events leading to their conversion, or a spiritual experience from their life.

Refreshment
Mini-Cheesecakes
Top these little treats with cherries.
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened 2 eggs, beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla 3⁄4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice (optional) 18 vanilla wafers 1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling
In a large bowl beat together cream cheese, eggs, vanilla, sugar, and lemon juice. Put 18 paper baking cups into muffin tins. Place 1 vanilla wafer in bottom of each cup. Pour batter into muffin tins. Bake at 350° F. for 12 to 15 minutes. When cool, top with cherry pie filling. Makes 18 mini-cheesecakes.

Patience

2010-07-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

Thought:
Patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!
(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Continue in Patience,” Ensign, May 2010, 56–59.)

Song:
“Pioneer Children Sang as they Walked,” Children’s Songbook, p. 214.
Scripture:
For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
(Mosiah 3:19)

Lesson:
Ask your family members if they have ever heard the phrases “hold your horses” or “keep your shirt on.” Ask, What quality is being requested by those phrases? (Patience.)
Have family members read Romans 5:1–5 and look for what Paul taught about patience. Ask:
• How can we have “peace with God”? • What did Paul say helps us learn patience? • Whom should we learn to rely on when faced with tribulation? • What blessing comes to us through the Holy Ghost? Read the following by Elder Neal A. Maxwell: “Patience is tied very closely to faith in our
Heavenly Father. Actually, when we are unduly impatient, we are suggesting that we know what is best—better than does God. Or, at least, we are asserting that our timetable is better than his. Either way we are questioning the reality of God’s omniscience [knowledge].” (Ensign, Oct. 1980, 28.)
Ask: • How can we show our faith in Heavenly Father? • Why is it important to recognize that God knows what is best for us? • How might this knowledge help us get through trials? Testify to your family that patience is one way we come to be more Christlike. Remind
your family that patience gives us the hope that Christ’s Atonement will save us.

Story:
Louise Lake
One afternoon following the start of physical therapy treatment, I was resting in bed. As the sky darkened, there was a warm heavy spring rain. That day, defying the drench of the downpour, a robin came and stood for a moment or two outside my window ledge. The amazing thing was that he was singing his song while the water pelted on him. My eyes drank in this sight. It was like a gift, a new promise of life to me. The rain and darkened skies no longer made it a dreary day.
In those hospital days I saw, as well as was the recipient of, considerate attention, patience, and forbearance. This place became my home. I like to think that nurses, doctors, and other patients felt the same way. . .
One afternoon a pretty brunette nurse said she was planning marriage following her graduation. I asked about her wedding plans. In those days hats were a "must" in fashion, a kind of special frosting for any wedding. I at once took a leap in the light.
"Could I make your 'going-away' wedding hat?" I asked.
She hesitated. I knew she was wondering
(1) what will it look like? and
(2) where can you find the needed muscle power in your fingers and hands?
Quickly I assured her (I was also assuring myself) that in my pre-paralysis years I had attended millinery classes while living in Portland, Oregon. Techniques in making beautiful hats, as well as the styles in high fashion, were part of my stock in trade.
She breathed with relief and said, "I would love that."
Knowing her bridal colors, we combed the yellow pages of the telephone directory for a wholesale millinery outlet. Then I clumsily wrote out a list of materials and she set out to buy them.
Soon I was surrounded with needles, thread, buckram, trimmings, and all the other sewing sprawl. It was good that there were several weeks before the appointed day.
The adventure of hat making began. I struggled with the needle to make the stitches neat and strong. The weakness of my fingers and hands was more in focus. Though it was an exhausting task, the chapeau began to take form. I tired quickly and therefore rested frequently. None of us had realized what solid therapy this self-induced pressure would bring. Then one day it dawned on me that the muscles in my fingers and hands were definitely gaining strength and they could get stronger still!
It was President Heber J. Grant, that great master spirit in the building of the Church, who so beautifully taught this truth from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "That which we persist in doing becomes easier for us to do; not that the nature of the thing itself has changed, but that our power to do is increased."
When the hat, which was by now a hospital conversation piece, was completed, there was wild enthusiasm among the nurses. A line on the right had formed, as each girl took her turn to have a favorite hat made. It took unlimited patience, but the working hours passed quickly. At times the room looked like the backroom of a millinery shop, and three large dresser drawers were full of hat supplies. The nurses and I kept it a secret that I was working for them. The doors would quickly open and close and a nurse would remove her white cap to try on her hat before the mirror. Whenever a supervisor or someone from the administration chanced to be around, the girl would scamper out of there like a chaff in the wind.
During the remainder of the time in the hospital I made fifteen hats. The girls looked tré chic! And the energy investment had paid off for me—not in dollars, for I naturally wouldn't accept money, but in the development of human resources. I was incredibly enriched. I hope many of those nurses have become happy grandmothers by now.

Activity:
Instruct the family that on the word go you are going to start measuring one minute by the clock. They should also try to measure one minute, but without the clock. (Hint: While the time is running, talk to the family and ask them questions. It will make it hard for them to count in their heads when they have to think about what you are saying.)
When they think one minute is up they are to say “Stop.” When the first person says “Stop,” you look at the clock. If they are on time within ten seconds either way, they receive two points. If they are within five seconds they receive five points. If the guess was exactly right, they receive ten points.
Play for five rounds.
Ask what was difficult in this activity. One of the hardest things to do is to wait. Discuss as a family times we have to wait. One time we have to wait is when we pray to Heavenly Father. We have a hard time being quiet and waiting for Heavenly Father to answer us.

Refreshment
Hot Spinach Dip
1 package (10 ounces) frozen creamed spinach, thawed
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese 1⁄4 cupmayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
9 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Mix all ingredients except half the Parmesan cheese. Spread in 9x9-inch pan, and sprinkle other half of Parmesan on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Serve with chips or crackers.

Modesty

2010-07-22T14:56:00.000-07:00

5 tips for successful Family Home Evenings
2. Prioritize. Make Family Home Evening a priority; learn to say no to other activities.
3. Involvement. Involve everyone in the family; help little children take part.
4. Commitment. Be committed and be consistent. Set a designated time and stick to it. Holding Family Home Evening on a weekly basis takes dedication and planning on the part of all family members.
5. Relax and enjoy it. The most important thing your children will remember is the spirit they feel in your family home evenings and activities. Be sure the atmosphere is one of love, understanding, and enjoyment.

Thought:
With all my heart I urge you not to look to contemporary culture for your role models and mentors. Please look to your faithful mothers for a pattern to follow. Model yourselves after them, not after celebrities whose standards are not the Lord’s standards and whose values may not reflect an eternal perspective.
(M. Russell Ballard, “Mothers and Daughters,” Ensign, May 2010, 18–21.) Song:
“The Lord Gave Me a Temple,” Children’s Songbook, p. 153.

Scripture:
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
(1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

Story:
A group of choir students from American Fork, Utah, were traveling in New York City. On Sunday morning many of the students walked through the hotel lobby to board the bus that would take them to a local ward for Church services. A young woman was sitting in the lobby wearing a modest dress. She approached the group.
“Are you LDS?” she asked. When the students responded that they were, she smiled. “Are you going to church?” Again they answered, “Yes.” The young woman explained that she was from another state and was traveling with her school sports team. She was the only member of the Church on her team. That morning she had prayed she would be able to find some way to attend church. She had gone down to the lobby to wait. When the group of LDS youth walked in, she knew her prayer had been answered.

Object Lesson
After you have shared the above story, discuss with your family the following questions:
How did this young woman know that the students she saw were members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Was it how they were dressed? How do people throughout the world know that the young men and women they see are Mormon missionaries? What do our clothes say about us?
Have the family look through several contemporary magazines. Find pictures of
models and try to describe what their clothes are saying about each one. Many of the models in these types of magazines are dressed immodestly. What messages are we sending when we dress immodestly? Possible messages include: “I don’t respect my body as a sacred gift from Heavenly Father.” “I don’t know what the prophet has said about modesty or I don’t care.” “I want you to notice my body first before anything else.”
Point out that the person dressing immodestly isn’t bad; they just haven’t been taught about the importance of modesty or don’t understand what their clothes are saying about them. Dressing immodestly can also make other people feel uncomfortable and embarrassed. When someone dresses immodestly, it is hard to notice anything but the person’s clothes.

Activity:
Have the family imagine they are in a foreign country and want to meet other members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They can’t speak the language, so how could they dress to let others know that they are Mormons? Send each family member to his or her bedroom to change clothes and then stage a fashion show.
The fashion show is even more fun if you hang a piece of fabric across the entrance into the family room and let each “model” enter the room by pushing aside the curtain. Try to guess what identifying articles of clothing family members are wearing. Is someone modeling a CTR ring or a Young Women medallion or an angel Moroni tie tack? Is everyone modest? Are we trying to represent the Church and the Savior as we get dressed every day?

Refreshment:
1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup finely chopped pecans 1⁄2 cup margarine, softened 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened 1 cup powdered sugar 1 8-ounce tub Cool Whip®, thawed and divided 1 6-ounce package instant chocolate pudding 1 6-ounce package instant vanilla pudding 3 cups milk, divided
Chocolate Cream Crunch
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make crust by combining flour, pecans, and margarine in a small bowl. Press into bottom of 9x13-inch pan. Bake 20 minutes. Cool completely on wire rack.
Blend cream cheese and powdered sugar with an electric mixer until fluffy. Fold in 1 cup of the Cool Whip. Blend well and spread over cooled crust. Chill. Combine instant chocolate pudding and 1 1⁄2 cups milk. Mix until smooth. Pour over cream cheese layer. Chill. Pudding will thicken in refrigerator. Repeat with instant vanilla pudding. Chill. Frost with remaining Cool Whip. Cut into 4- inch squares and serve.
Makes 28 squares.

Clues for Quick Cash

2009-06-08T09:36:00.000-07:00

Because of the current economic climate, it's easy to think that there is no way to add to your wealth without getting a full or part-time job outside of your home. But, believe it or not, there are still some relatively easy ways for you and your family to earn extra cash in these difficult times, and many of them you can do from the comfort of your own home.

Sell your wares online. Do you like to make jewelry or sew? Do you paint or do crafts in your free time? There are plenty of online stores, like etsy.com, where you can sell your homemade products. All you need is a valid email address to join. If you are a photographer, in addition to selling your photos on Etsy, there are stock photography websites that will buy your photos. Try fotalia.com, dreamstime.com, shutterstock.com, and bigstockphoto.com.

Pick up extra hours. If you do have a job outside of your home, find out if your company has any overtime or part-time positions that you could pick up after hours or even do from home. If you work shifts, make sure to let your co-workers know that you are interested in picking up extra hours and would be willing to sub for them.

Offer your services to local businesses. If you enjoy bookbinding, go to local stationary stores or boutiques and see if they will sell your products in their store. If you sew or quilt, make yourself known to local fabric and quilting stores as someone willing to do custom jobs from home or at the store. If you're really a master with a sewing machine, you can make prom dresses, wedding dresses, or do alterations. If you don't have a special skill, offer cleaning services.

Reap profits from your garden. You can plant seeds in the winter and transplant the seedlings into individual pea pots when they are several inches tall, or just sell some of your harvested produce at your local farmer's market in the spring, summer, and fall.

Use eBay and Craigslist. Find old furniture and belongings that you no longer need or use and, before you give them away, identify what you can sell online. Make sure you to include a picture of your product and an honest description of its wear and tear.

Become a mystery shopper. Why not get paid to go to the mall or out to eat? Volition.com has a database of legitimate mystery shopping companies, as reported by actual mystery shoppers. Look through their database and make a list of companies that you would like to work for and then apply. It's as simple as that.

Become a substitute teacher. You can earn up to $250 substituting, depending on your area. Check local schools'requirements for substitutes, and remember to look at private schools. Indeed.com is a good database that lists positions and requirements for substitute teachers all over the U.S.

Tutor or teach music lessons. If you are really good at math or English or have a particular musical talent, you can earn money. Advertise where parents are likely to look: at schools, the library, at grocery stores, and in the newspaper.

Offer genealogical services. Lots of people are interested in doing their family historyâ€”in and out of the Churchâ€”but just don't have the time to do it. With tutoring and databases readily available, use your resources and help someone discover their family's story.

Teach a language. Put your mission tongue to use; many people need to learn foreign languages for a variety of reasons, and many prefer to do it conversationally than learning by bits and pieces. If you don't know a foreign language, advertise English assistance in your local newspaper. Plenty of foreigners want to improve their English as well.

Become a census taker for the 2010 Census. The U.S. government needs thousands of people to help them update address lists and conduct interviews with people in your community. While most positions require a valid driver's license and use of a vehicle, you will be reimbursed for authorized mileage and other related expenses. Just call 1.866.861.2010 or visit the website at census.gov/2010censusjobs/howtoapply.php for more information.

Get paid to take surveys. Sign up with a paid survey site and complete a member profile. The site will send you an e-mail any time they have a survey that matches your profile. Legitimate survey sites do not require a fee, so make sure that they don't charge you to join the database. Once you have completed the survey (expect to spend about fifteen to twenty minutes per survey), you will be compensated with cash, points that can be redeemed for prizes, sweepstakes entries, or, in some instances, new products to try. Reputable sites include pineconeresearch.com, panelbase.net (a UK company), and americanconsumeropinion.com (rated very well, although they provide fewer opportunities).

Go through this list of suggestions and see what works for your lifestyle. (Be sure to check out the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act currently under consideration before marketing children's products.)

If you try something and it doesn't work, try something else and see what happens. There are countless opportunities to make money, if you are only willing to put forth some extra effort.

Vote for Dinner!

2009-06-08T09:33:00.000-07:00

With the presidential elections just around the corner, here is a great way to teach your kids about the democratic process while creating a meal that everyone can enjoy.
Dinners got out of control a while back. I thought with all the Tupperware around, I could easily let everyone pick their own vegetable, side dish, or fruit, or just save the rest for later in the week. My reasoning was that if everyone had what they wanted, at least they would eat it.

But the requests started coming in for separate main dishes. I justified potatoes, pasta, and even grilled chicken as separate or combinable entrees and sides, using up even more space in the fridge with the leftovers.I was working harder than necessary, the food bill was going up, and we were actually wasting more leftovers than we were using. And the kids were getting used to having their way a little too much.

Then on evening while my husband and I were discussing the heated presidential primaries, the kids said they wanted to vote, too. We explained they'd have to wait a few more years, and noting their disappointment, I tried to think of another way they could participate in a voting experience.

The next day when I was cleaning out another ten Tupperware containers, the light bulb came on, and I instantly knew what the kids could vote on. Dinner would no longer be made-to-order for everyone. Instead, each family member would nominate a "candidate" for each part of the meal--entree, side dish, vegetable, fruit, drink, and dessert. Each of the four kids got to pick one item for each category.

I printed off ballots with pictures next to each item (for the two younger kids), and each child made one poster for one of their chosen items and spent the next three days campaigning for that item. The night before the elections, each child privately filled out a ballot and slipped it in a taped-up shoe box with a slit on top.

The next day I surprised them with the results at dinner and we talked about what everyone had voted for. The kids realized that if one person had voted another way, dinner would have been a little different.

We had this activity again, on the "American Idol" finale night, and we plant to have an extra special dinner vote on the night of November 4 to coincide with the presidential elections.

My Great Idea: The Money Jar

2009-06-08T09:32:00.000-07:00

At first I blamed my eyesight when images on our computer monitor seemed fuzzy. However, when my kids and husband complained about the blurriness, I knew that the problem was our years-old monitor. Our computer was used heavily on a daily basis for work, study, and relaxation. My exasperated impulse was to grab the charge card and order a new monitor online.

Then I paused. I considered our financial balancing act with past medical bills, kids in college, two broken cars, and a son's mission only a few months away. I visualized the debt-logged credit card bill, precariously near its limit. I heard the voices of church leaders repeatedly admonishing us to get out of debt. Yet, a new monitor wasn't a frivolous item; it would benefit our family in practical ways. I felt so trapped--the cycle of debt seemed endless.

Suddenly I remembered a phrase from a book I was reading, "Every household, no matter the circumstances wastes a certain amount of money each and every month, and that is the money you will use to get out of debt." (_Debt-free on Any Income_, by Lyle and Tracy Shamo, Deseret Book, Salt Lake City, 2004, p. 27)

My heart lightened as I thought, "How much wasted money would it take to buy a new computer monitor?"

I excitedly told the family my great idea: We would put a jar on the kitchen table and everyone could contribute spare change or a few dollars towards a new computer monitor. To actually save up to buy something was, unfortunately, a new concept in our home.

We covered a jar with plain paper. We attached a photo from an advertisement of the type of computer monitor we were saving for, including its price. We wrote the starting date on the jar's paper cover. The project was begun by dropping in coins found in the clothes dryer, and change snatched from the car's cup holder.

At dinner we would all try to guess how much was in the jar. That was a great weekly reminder of our goal, and it was fun to see whose guess was the closest. The new money amount would be written on the outside of the jar, so it was easy to track our progress. As the jar filled, its contents were taken to the bank and changed into cash, which was hidden to remove the temptation to use it.

My habits were altered as I refrained from impulse buying at the store, thinking of the new monitor, and I found myself purposely rounding up payments at the checkout so I could stuff the extra money into the jar. My husband regularly emptied his pocket change into the jar.

Two and a half months went by; a new school year was approaching. To my surprise, I saw that in all the back-to-school store ads that computer monitors were on sale! We actually had enough money in our jar to afford one at the current sale price. Coins were changed into bills, and we literally paid cash for our new flat-screen monitor.

Today, our old, glass jar is on the table sporting a new paper wrapper, heavy with cash towards our next goal. Thanks to a blurry computer monitor our family now has a clearer vision of what financial independence looks like.

Family Etiquette Dinner

2009-06-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

Plan a nice, sit-down dinner for your family and make sure everyone participates in the preparation; include rolls, salad, appetizers, a main course, and dessert. Set the table with nice plates, glasses, and silverware if you have them (food dishes are set to the left of a setting; glasses to the right), and instruct your children in common eating etiquette. Some things may seem basic, but remember: your kids probably don't know them! Some habits include:

Unfold (don't shake) your napkin when you sit down, and use it for wiping your mouth and fingers (licking is only acceptable when you are eating meat off the bone, as in ribs).

Work from the outside in with your silverware; the shorter forks are for salads and appetizers, the longer for the main dish. Utensils shouldn't touch the table after use.

Place butter and a roll on your individual plate. Break off bite-sized pieces of the roll and butter them individually; don't butter the whole roll at one time.

Ask for things to be passed to you if you can't reach; stretching over the table is considered bad etiquette.

If you get a bad bite of something (such as gristle from meat or an undetected garlic clove), put the napkin to your mouth and discreetly spit it into the napkin. Don't forget it's there!

Leaving some food leftover is acceptable, but you shouldn't make your plate look like you licked it clean!

If you have to leave during the meal, place your napkin on your chair to signify you will be returning. When finished with the meal, place the napkin folded on the place setting; put your knife and fork together and set to about 4 o'clock on your plate.

You might think some of these traditions are silly, but at the very least your etiquette night will be a fun, cultural experience your family can enjoy together. Your children can also thank you in the future when they know how to behave in circumstances where etiquette is expected!

21 Things to Do before Summer Ends

2009-06-08T09:28:00.000-07:00

Even if money is tight, there are still plenty of ways to have an exciting summer. In fact, the best summer memories are often made up of small, simple pleasures. When the heat's on, don't sweat the big stuff. Take time to sip lemonade, read a good book, and enjoy the beauty of nature. At LDS Living, we've looked, asked, and researched the top twenty-one things to do before summer ends.

1. Take a Hike

Being outdoors is like owning a pet - there's just something healthy about it. It feels great to get back to nature, so while the weather is nice, why not explore some of the wonderful parks, trails, and reserves near your home? Bring a magnifying glass and pair of binoculars for a closer look at insects, birds, and other wildlife.

2. Read a Biography

Books are an easy vacation you can fit under your arm. They are distractions our tired brains love, and there are few things as gripping as a good biography. Many people throughout history have lived lives of achievement and inspiration. So bring a blanket and find some shady trees - they were made for reading good books.

3. Make Real Lemonade

Summer just doesn't seem like summer until you've had a nice cool glass of real lemonade. Try this recipe:

Peel three fat lemons. Cut them into smaller pieces. Drop the pieces into a blender with 1-1/2 cups of sugar and 1-1/2 cups of water. Use the blender to chop until coarse, then strain into a pitcher. Add ice cubes. Adjust as needed.

4. Host a Neighborhood Block Party

Summer is always a season of change, meaning at least one new family will move into the neighborhood. So why not host a potluck block party and give everyone a chance to get to know one another better? You can oftentimes obtain a special permit from your city that allows you to block off the street.

5. Go on a Field Trip

Remember the time you were reading about the art museum that wasn't far from your home? Summer is the perfect time to explore all that your community has to offer. How about visiting an aquarium, aviary, or zoo? Or try your state capitol building.

6. Sleep Outside

Most of us have fallen asleep outdoors a few times in our lives, or at least slept with the window open. Brigham Young once said that summers were meant for sleeping outdoors, and that the fresh air does the mind good. So take a trip back to your school days and enjoy sleeping under the stars.

7. Go to a "Dive-in" Movie

Sometimes you need to take a break from the sticky summer night heat. One great way to spend a summer evening is cooling off while watching a good movie. Many water parks show movies on giant screens while people relax in the pool. Can't find any in your area? Opt for a matinee. A nice cold soda and a dark, cool theater can provide a much-needed break from the hot summer sun.

8. Take a Dip

Studies show that 86 percent of all the swimming you'll do in your life is completed before you're twenty years old. And most of that was done in the summer. Make this the summer of swim. Visit the community pool, or better yet, take a trip to the ocean or a nearby lake. You can do some beachcombing or fishing while you're there!

9. Have a Yard Sale

Yard sales are a great way to get organized and cleaned up before the school year starts. Get your kids involved and let them earn some money. They may not want to give away some of their toys, but they might be interested in selling them. Have a yard sale - and don't forget to sell some of that good lemonade.

10. Eat Homemade Ice Cream at Sunset

Making ice cream is one of the crowning events of any summer - eating it while watching a beautiful sunset makes it even more special. This event needs to be planned and executed as though your summer depends on it. Go all out - get berries, cones, and whipped cream to dress up simpler flavors, which are easier to make and tend to turn out better than complicated flavors. Make it a fun time you'll always remember.

11. Attend a Concert in the Park

Many cities host a series of free concerts during the summer months, often with a wide variety of music from Celtic to bluegrass to classical. So grab a blanket or a lawn chair, pack a picnic, and sit back and enjoy!

12. Go Horseback Riding

Most people don't have the chance to ride horses very often, so saddle up and go on a mini adventure. Even if you're not an experienced rider, there are many businesses that can accommodate beginners. This will be great for kids, too, who tend to enjoy close contact with animals.

13. Visit an Amusement Park

If horseback riding isn't your style, you can always opt for a horse on carousel. Most amusement parks have something for everyone to enjoy. Even if you'd rather not take a spin on the roller coaster, there is sure to be dancing, singing, or some kind of entertainment for you to enjoy.

14. Attend a Festival

During the summer months, festivals are everywhere. So grab the kids and spend the day learning about the food, crafts, history, music, and dance of another culture. From Greek to Scottish to Polynesian, you're sure to find a great cultural event to attend. Check your local paper for dates and details.

15. Shop at a Farmers' Market

Local farmers' markets are overflowing with fresh, delicious fruits and vegetables. In summer, you're sure to find perfectly ripened tomatoes, sugar-sweet corn, and delicious watermelon. Go to localharvest.org or farmersmarket.com to find a farmers' market near you.

16. Pick Fresh Fruit

You can also enjoy the bounty of summer by going to the farm yourself to gather juicy strawberries or plump blueberries right from the field. Later in the season, try picking peaches or apples from a local orchard. Check pickyourown.org to see if there is a kid-friendly farm in your area.

17. Clean Up a Park

With the kids out of school, it is often hard to keep them busy with productive, meaningful projects. So grab some gloves, some garbage bags, and a rake and head to your neighborhood park. After you finish cleaning up, let the kids spend some time at the park to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

18. Build a Fort

Kids love to have a special place of their own. Let them drape sheets and blankets over some tables, chairs, and piles of couch cushions for a few days, or round up some scrap lumber and cardboard boxes for the perfect outdoor escape.

19. Attend a State or County Fair

A great event for the whole family, local fairs usually have carnival rides, games, food, entertainment, competitions, crafts, and displays. It's the perfect way to celebrate your local culture.

20. Go Stargazing

Warm summer nights are perfect for stargazing. You can make it as simple as admiring the stars in the night sky, or, with a little planning, you can catch meteor showers, locate constellations, and even find out when other planets will be visible. Find a secluded area near your house that has less light pollution so you can enjoy the full glory of the night sky. Go to stardate.org for lots of tips and a weekly calendar of celestial events.

21. Complete a Triathlon

Races are popular and common in the summer, and the days are long enough to give you ample time to prepare. Find a "sprint" triathlon, a form of triathlon that typically includes shorter, more achievable distances for novice racers. Your whole family can participate in the training, making it a summer of health. It can also bring you closer together as you all work towards a common goal! If you can't race, find out how you can assist with one.

Sharing Time: Sensing God's Creations

2009-06-08T09:27:00.001-07:00

This sharing time will involve the children in an activity to help them learn about the beautiful world around them.

Preparation: On ten index cards write a sense word: SMELL, TASTE, TOUCH, HEAR, and SEE (two cards of each word). Place them face down on a table at the front of the room. Post the "sight" pictures somewhere in the room. Gather the other items needed for the sensory activities below.

Be familiar with the scripture Doctrine and Covenants 59:18-20:

Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;

Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.
And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man.

Presentation: Slowly read the scripture D&C 59:18-20. As you read, touch your eye, put your hand on your heart, mime eating, act out putting on clothes, point to your mouth and nose, and make a strong muscle with your arm (see bolded words).

Tell the children that they are going to discover some of the things God created for them by using their senses. Ask the children to name the senses (help them remember all five senses).

Point out the cards on the front table. Have a child come pick a card. Have them complete one of the sensory activities that matches the word they picked. Repeat until all the cards are used or time is up.

Smell: Blindfold the child and have them sniff as you hold something under their nose. Let them guess what it is. (Suggestions: orange, flower, or peanut butter.)

Taste: Blindfold the child and have them open their mouth and taste the item you give them. Let them guess what it is. (Suggestions: apple slice, popcorn, or chocolate.) You may wish to give each child a small portion of one of the items to taste at the end of the lesson.

Touch: Blindfold the child and have them feel an item that you place in their hands. Let them guess what it is. (Suggestions: cotton ball, pinecone, rock, or feather.)

Hear: Blindfold the child. Show the other children a picture of an animal and have them imitate the sound that animal makes. Let the blindfolded child guess what animal it is. (Suggestions: bird, cow, cat, or sheep.)

Sight: Describe something to the child and let them find a picture of it somewhere in the room. (Suggestions: sun, flowers, fish, or river.)

Bear your testimony that Heavenly Father loves us and created the world with many wonderful things in it for our families to use and enjoy.

Sing songs to reinforce the lesson such as, "My Heavenly Father Loves Me," Children's Songbook 228; "I Think the World is Glorious," CS 230; "Two Little Eyes," CS 268; and "I Have Two Ears," CS 269.

Sharing Time: Family Members in the Scriptures

2009-06-08T09:26:00.000-07:00

This sharing time will teach the children about different family members in the scriptures and Church History.

Preparation: Familiarize yourself with the people in this sharing time. If possible, obtain pictures of each of them (Lucy Mack Smith, Mary [the mother of Jesus], Lehi, Alma, Miriam, Mary and Martha, the Brother of Jared, and President Gordon B. Hinckley.)

Presentation: Tell the children that you are thinking of a person in the scriptures or in the history of our church. You are going to give them some clues. When they think they know who it is, they should quietly raise their hand (do not shout out the answer). Continue to give all the clues, then call on someone with their hand up to guess who it is. If they are not correct, ask for other answers. If none of the children know who it is, tell them the answer. If you have a picture, show it to the children.

Option: Cover the picture with a sheet of paper cut into six pieces. Take one piece off with each clue until the picture is fully revealed.

Lucy Mack Smith (see Joseph Smith--History 1:4, and Richard Lloyd Anderson, "The Early Preparation of the Prophet Joseph Smith," Ensign, Dec 2005, 12-17):

1. This person is a mother.

2. She taught her children to read the scriptures.

3. She moved many times. At one time she lived in a log cabin in the state of New York.

4. When one of her sons needed surgery, he asked her to leave the room so she didn't have to see him in pain.

5. Her husband and one of her sons are named Joseph.

6. Her son Joseph became a prophet.

Lehi (see 1 Nephi 1-2, 8, 16):

1. This person is a father.

2. He prayed to Heavenly Father.

3. He had a vision and taught his family the things the Lord wanted them to do.

4. He took his family out of Jerusalem into the wilderness, because the people in the city had become very wicked. They lived in a tent in the wilderness.

5. He found a curious ball that showed him the way to go, it was called the Liahona.

6. One of his sons is named Nephi.

Mary and Martha (see John 11-12, Luke 10):

1. These clues are about two people, they are sisters.

2. They were friends of Jesus, cooked for him, and listened to his words.

3. They had a brother named Lazarus.

4. They sent for Jesus when their brother was very sick, because they had faith and knew Jesus could heal him.

5. They were very sad, because Jesus didn't come in time and their brother died. But after Jesus arrived, He brought Lazarus back to life.

6. One of the sisters anointed Jesus with oil. (Mary)

Brother of Jared (see Ether 1-3):

1. This person is a brother.

2. He was a large and mighty man.

3. He had great faith.

4. He prayed for his family, so the Lord wouldn't confound their languages.

5. He built boats for his family and made stones to light them.

6. He saw the finger of the Lord, then saw the Lord and spoke with Him.

Mary (see Bible Dictionary, page 729):

1. This person is a mother.

2. She had a cousin named Elizabeth.

3. While she was expecting a baby, she went with her husband to Bethlehem to pay their taxes.

4. Shepherds came and visited her when she had the baby.

5. When her son was 12 years old, they went on a trip. Her son became lost. They found him in the temple, teaching the doctors.

6. Her son is Jesus.

Miriam (see Exodus 1:22, 2:3-8; Numbers 26:59, Bible Dictionary, page 733):

1. This person is a sister.

2. Her name means exalted.

3. She had great courage.

4. She watched over her baby brother when her mother hid him in the bulrushes.

5. When the Pharaoh's daughter found her brother and decided to adopt him, this person told Pharaoh's daughter of a woman who could help take care of the baby.

6. Her brother became a prophet named Moses.

Alma (see Mosiah 18, 27, 29):

1. This person is a father.

2. He became a prophet, and the leader of the church after he heard Abinadi preach.

3. He has a son with the same name.

4. His son was an unbeliever and tried to destroy the church.

5. He prayed that his son would learn the truth.

6. An angel visited his son and told him to stop trying to destroy the church. After that, his son became a great missionary and later became the high priest over all the land.

President Hinckley (see Jeffrey R. Holland, "President Gordon B. Hinckley: Stalwart and Brave He Stands," Ensign, June 1995, 5 and Gordon B. Hinckley, "Lessons I Learned as a Boy," New Era, Oct 1998, 4):

1. This person is a brother.

2. He and his brothers and sisters learned to work hard when they were children.

3. He had a brother named Sherman.

4. In the summertime, he and Sherman would sometimes sleep outside in a wagon filled with hay.

5. They would watch the stars, and learned that the North Star never changed. He wanted to pattern his life after the North Star and always be someone his family and others could depend on.

6. He became a prophet and the President of the Church.

Explain that we should love and take care of our families just as these people did. Bear your testimony of the importance of your family.

Sing songs to reinforce the lesson such as, "My Eternal Family," 2009 Outline for Sharing Time, 10-11; "A Happy Family," Children's Songbook 198; "Families Can Be Together Forever," CS 188; and "Love is Spoken Here," CS 190.

Sharing Time: Following His Way

2009-06-08T09:25:00.000-07:00

This sharing time will help children understand that by following Jesus they can return to live with Heavenly Father.

Preparation: Obtain a ball of yarn and the pictures of Jesus Christ mentioned in the presentation. Before sharing time, post the pictures around the room. Tie one end of the yarn to a chair near the back of the room.

Presentation: Ask the children to look around the room and raise their hand if they can see a picture of Christ. Choose a child. Have them take the ball of yarn and string a line from the chair to the picture they found. Place a chair near the picture and tie the yarn to it. Discuss what Jesus is doing in the picture and how the children can follow His example. Sing a song that reinforces the principle, if desired.

Choose additional children and repeat choosing pictures, stringing yarn, discussing principles, and singing until all the pictures have been used.

Jesus Washing the Apostles Feet (Gospel Art Kit #226 or Gospel Art Book #55)

Jesus served his Apostles by washing their feet. (See John 13:14-15.) During Christ's time the people's feet got very dirty from walking on dirt roads, so washing their feet was a kind service. We don't have to wash feet to give service, we can serve in other ways. Children can do things like setting the table, sharing a toy with a younger child, helping set up chairs for Pack Meeting, vacuuming the car, feeding their pets, or many other things.

Song: "I'm Trying to Be like Jesus," Children's Songbook 78.

Boy Jesus in the Temple (Gospel Art Kit #205 or Gospel Art Book #34)

When Jesus was twelve years old he went to the temple and sat "in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers." (See Luke 2:46-47.) Jesus listened and learned from the wise men of the Church. We can go to Primary and Sacrament Meeting and listen and learn.

Jesus' Baptism (Gospel Art Kit #208 or Gospel Art Book #35)

Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist to "fulfill all righteousness." (See Matthew 3:15.) He knew it was a commandment to be baptized, so even though He had no sins, He obeyed this commandment. We can follow Jesus' example by being baptized when we are eight-years-old.

Song: "Baptism," Children's Songbook 100.

Jesus Praying (as a child: Gospel Art Book #33; as an adult: Gospel Art Kit #227 or Gospel Art Book #56)

Jesus taught the people that they should pray to Heavenly Father. He showed them how to do it. (See Matthew 6:5-13.) We should remember to pray to Heavenly Father every day.

Jesus Reading the Scriptures (as an adult: Cover of Teaching, No Greater Call or Ensign, Jul 2002, p. 46; as a child: Ensign, Dec. 2005, p. 44.)

Jesus taught the people that they should search the scriptures because they testify of Him. (See John 5:39.) Jesus went to the synagogue (the church building) and read to the people from the scriptures. (See Like 4:16-17, 20-21.) We should read our scriptures to learn more about Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father.

Song: "Search, Ponder, and Pray," Children's Songbook 109.

Jesus Teaching (Gospel Art Kit #212 or Gospel Art Book #39)

On many, many occasions Jesus taught the gospel to those around Him. (For example, see Matthew 5.) He bore testimony of the truth. We should be good missionaries and teach others the gospel. We should bear our testimonies.

Song: "I Want to Be a Missionary Now," Children's Songbook 168.

Have some of the children start at the first chair, and follow the yarn from picture to picture. Reinforce the idea that we can FOLLOW Jesus Christ's example. Bear your testimony that Jesus shows us the way to return and live with our Heavenly Father.

Photo by Marija Rajkovic

Sharing Time: To be Baptized

2009-06-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

This sharing time will help children learn more about baptism.

Preparation: Obtain a flannel board and cutout pictures of a mother, a father, and two sisters from Primary Visual Aids Cutouts, Set 7-Pioneers and the Restoration; two missionaries from Primary Visual Aids Cutouts, Set 2-People; and a winter scene from Primary Visual Aids Cutouts, Set 3-Nature. Put tape or flannel on the back of each picture.

Make enough copies of the baptism coloring page on page 111 of the Nursery Manual for each Junior Primary child. Write one letter on seven separate sheets of paper to spell B-A-P-T-I-S-M. Post the papers at the front of the room.

Presentation: Using the picture cutouts and the flannel board, tell the following true story:

As a young girl, Christina and her family lived in Uddarp, Sweden. Her father was a mason who built houses, fences, and fireplaces out of stone. There was a forest nearby where her father and older brother, Lars, would hunt for meat for the family. Christina and her mother grew vegetables in their yard. Not far from Christina's home was a large grist mill where grain was ground into flour so they could make bread.

In 1858, when Christina was ten years old, the wife of the miller asked Christina to come stay with them and tend her baby. Even though Christina was young, she was very good with babies and the woman liked her. Christina went to live with the miller's family, but was able to visit her own family often.

Christina liked living at the mill. The townspeople would gather there, and other people would come from many miles away to have their wheat ground. It was a place where everyone enjoyed talking to one another and sharing news. Christina liked sitting and listening to all the things the grownups had to say.

One day Mormon missionaries came to Uddarp and began teaching the restored gospel. People were afraid of this new religion from America. Most of the townspeople did not like the missionaries and would not listen. Christina even heard many people say the missionaries were evil. She believed all the rumors that she heard.

Meanwhile, Christina's family invited the missionaries into their home. The elders taught them about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. They soon came to know that the missionaries were teaching the truth.

After Christina had lived with the family who ran the mill for three years, they moved away. Christina did not want to return home because her family had been listening to the missionaries and had been baptized. She went to work for another lady in the neighborhood whose husband was the blacksmith.

After a few months, her family convinced her to come back home. When the missionaries came to visit, Christina would refuse to listen to them. She did not want to sing or pray with them as her family did. Her parents were very worried about her, but the missionaries told them she was old enough to make this important decision for herself.

One day Christina picked up the Book of Mormon and began looking though the pages. Her sister, Anna, teased her and said, "Be careful, it might burn you." Christina didn't pay much attention to her sister. But as she read, she became more and more interested. She soon felt the book was true.

In December of 1862, two days after Christina's 14th birthday, the missionaries came to her parents' home. Elder Josephson told Christina, "I had a dream last night that I'd caught a fish." He teased her about it and said, "It couldn't possibly be this little girl?" Christina did not laugh at his joke. She was thinking very hard about what Heavenly Father wanted her to do. While her family talked to the elders, Christina went into another room and knelt down and prayed. She asked to know what she should do. Her prayer was answered, and the Holy Ghost made her feel as if she had been "lifted up." She returned to her mother and whispered that she wanted to be baptized. Her family was very pleased.

The next day they walked six miles to the sea where they broke a hole in the ice and Christina was baptized. She felt very happy. She was glad she had found out for herself that the Church is true. ("To Know for Herself," by Shauna Gibby. A true story about Christina Peterson Jeppson.)

Bear testimony of your own decision to be baptized. Help the children understand that Heavenly Father wants them to be baptized and He wants them to know for themselves it is the right thing to do.
Have the younger children color the baptism picture.

Point out the letters at the front of the room to the older children. Explain that baptism is a wonderful blessing. As you point to each letter ask the children to think of other blessings that start with that letter. Have them share their ideas.

Sing baptism songs such as, "Baptism," Children's Songbook 100; "When I Am Baptized," CS 103; "When Jesus Christ Was Baptized," CS 102; and "I Want to Be Baptized," Friend, July 2005, 45.

Photo from LDS.org

Sharing Time: Seeking the Lord

2009-06-08T09:20:00.000-07:00

This sharing time will engage the children in a game to help them learn principles that will strengthen their families.

Preparation: Obtain a small rock, a package of seeds, a bar of soap, and a coin. Familiarize yourself with the scriptures in the lesson below.

Presentation: Tell the children that they are going to learn about some principles of the gospel that will help strengthen them and their family. Explain that after they learn about each principle, they will play a game.

Faith. Tell the children that the Book of Mormon prophet Alma taught that faith is like a seed (see Alma 32:26-32). When we plant a seed, then take care of it and water it, it will grow. When we want to know the truth we "plant" the seed of faith. Then we take care of it by obeying the commandments and seeking the Lord's help. Our faith will grow and we will learn truth.

Ask the children what seek means (remind them of the game "hide and seek" if they need help). Tell them that they have to seek after faith. Show them the package of seeds. Explain that they are going to play a game of hide and seek. Ask one child to leave the room. Ask another child to hide the seeds somewhere in the room. Have the first child return and look for the seeds. Have the other children sing "Faith" (Children's Songbook, p. 96) as he looks. Sing louder when he gets closer and softer when he gets farther away. Once the child finds the seed packet, ask the children how faith can strengthen them or their family.

Prayer. Tell the story of Daniel in the lion's den (see Daniel 6:1-23). Reiterate that Daniel knew it was important to pray, even when others told him he shouldn't do it.

Show the children the small rock. Tell them that some people have a prayer rock they keep on their pillow to remind them to say their prayers every night. Play the hide and seek game again using the rock as the hidden object. Sing "Seek the Lord Early" (Children's Songbook, p. 108) as the child seeks the rock. Once the child finds it, ask the children how prayer can strengthen them or their family.

Repentance. Tell the story of Aaron teaching the Lamanite king. Once the King was converted to the church he was willing to "give away all his sins" to know God (see Alma 22:1-11, 15-18). Help the children understand that giving away your sins means repenting, or not sinning anymore.

Show the children the bar of soap. Explain that repenting cleans our spirit from sin just like soap cleans our bodies from dirt. Play the hide and seek game again using the soap as the hidden object. Sing "I Am a Child of God" (Children's Songbook, p. 1) as the child looks for the soap. Once the child finds it, ask the children how repentance can strengthen them or their family.

Forgiveness. Tell the parable of the unmerciful servant (see Matthew 18:23-35). Explain that God expects us to forgive others.

Show the children the coin. Explain to them that the talents and pence in the story are kinds of money. Play the hide and seek game again using the coin as the hidden object. Sing "How Firm a Foundation" (Hymns, no. 85) as the child seeks the coin. Once the coin has been found, ask the children how forgiving others can strengthen them or their family.

Bear your testimony of these principles of the gospel. Tell the children how they have blessed you and your family. Challenge them to seek these things in their own lives.

Image from LDS.org image library

FHE: Fasting

2009-06-08T09:19:00.000-07:00

Thought:

A few years ago a high-ranking official from China visited Salt Lake City. . . . Fasting and giving the value of the meals not eaten to help the poor captured his attention. . . . He said, "If we all loved each other like this, the world would be a more peaceful place."

(Keith B. McMullin, "God Loves and Helps All of His Children," Ensign, Nov 2008, 75-78.)

Song:

"Because I Have Been Given Much," Hymns, # 219.

Scripture:

Verily, this is fasting and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.

(Doctrine and Covenants 59:14)

Lesson:

Do an activity with your family that involves things that go together, or pairs. As you say the first word or show the first item, have your family fill in the blank with the name of the second item.

"Salt and ________" (pepper)

"Table and _________" (chairs)

"Husband and ________" (wife)

"Shoes and _______" (socks)

Tell your family that Jesus demonstrated the power of "pairing" two important principles. Have your family look for the important pair as they read the story in Mark 9:14-29. Ask:

After Jesus had cast out the evil spirit, what did His disciples ask privately?

What was Jesus' response?

How does prayer make fasting more meaningful?

How does fasting make prayer more meaningful?

Ask family members if they have had an experience with fasting and prayer they would be willing to share. Invite the family to unite in fasting and prayer next fast Sunday.

(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The New Testament, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2006], p. 69.)

Story:

"He Fasted, and He Prayed"

Matthew Cowley

Two boys in New Zealand graduated from a high school down there. The principal came to me and told me this story about one of them.

"This young man came to me one day. He was living in the dormitory. He was what they called the monitor. It wasn't a native high school, but he was a native. He came to me one day, and he said, 'Mr. Hogan, I want to go home for three days.' I said, 'Why, you can't go home, you have a job here. What do you want to go home for?' He said, 'Well, I am preparing to take my matric,' [as they call it down there, matriculation examination for entrance into a university]. He said, 'I want to go home for three days and fast and pray.'

"I was astonished. I excused myself and went to my office and called up one of your members, one of our native members, and I said, 'Listen to me, do you people have in your Church something you call fasting?' He said, 'Yes.' I said, 'What do you do it for?' 'When we want a blessing, we fast and pray.' I said, 'Well, I have read about it in the Bible, but I have never heard of anybody doing it.' I went back to the young man and said, 'You go home for three days.' He went home, and he fasted, and he prayed, and he was the top man in passing his matric examination."

(Jay A. Parry, Jack M. Lyon, Linda Ririe Gundry, editors, Best-Loved Stories of the LDS People, Vol.2, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1999], 63-64.)

Activity:

Divide your family into two teams. Give each team a paper and pencil. Set a timer for a predetermined amount of time (2 or 3 minutes) and have each team write down as many "pairs" as they can think of (like the examples in the lesson). Give one point to each team for items on the list that the other team didn't think of.

Refreshment

Chewy Chex Mix

This treat is a hit with all ages.

8 cups Rice Chex (or the Chex cereal of your choice)

1 cup coconut

1 cup sliced almonds

1 cup chow mein noodles

1â„4 cup butter or margarine

6 cups miniature marshmallows

Combine Chex, coconut, almonds, and noodles in a large bowl. Melt butter over medium heat; blend in marshmallows and stir until melted. Pour over cereal mixture; spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in
an airtight container or individual plastic bags. Makes about 10 cups.

FHE: Virtue

2009-06-08T09:17:00.000-07:00

Thought:

Virtue begins in the heart and in the mind. It is nurtured in the home. It is the accumulation of thousands of small decisions and actions.

(Elaine S. Dalton, "A Return to Virtue," Ensign, Nov 2008, 78-80)

Song:

"Hum Your Favorite Hymn," Children's Songbook, p. 152.

Scripture:

Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

(Doctrine and Covenants 121:45)

Object Lesson:

Materials needed: A beat-up, dirty, rusty hanger; a new unused hanger; and a beautiful delicate article of clothing.

Procedure: Display the hangers and the clothing. Ask on which hanger you should hang the clothing. Discuss why.

Explain that when we allow our bodies or minds to be used in an unrighteous or worldly way our spirituality becomes dirty and rusty. Just as we would not want to hang our best and most delicate clothing on this hanger (hold up the dirty hanger), the Lord does not wish to cloak us with some very sacred, beautiful experiences (temple, priesthood) until our lives are in order and we are ready to receive them. (You may wish to discuss repentance and what could be done to make the hanger ready to be used again.)

(Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, More Power Tools for Teaching, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1991], p.8.)

Story:

When I was about ten years old, we lived in a home surrounded by an orchard. There never seemed to be enough water for the trees. The ditches were always fresh-plowed in the spring, but after the first few irrigating turns, the weeds would spring up in the ditch bottoms and soon they were choked with water grass, June grass, and redroot. One day, in charge of the irrigating turn, I found myself in trouble. As the water moved down the rows choked with weeds, it carried enough leaves and grass and debris to lodge against the weed stocks and flood the water from the ditch. I raced through the puddles, trying to build the banks up a little higher, to keep the water in the channel. As soon as I had one break patched up there would be another one flooding over in another spot.

About that time an older brother came through the lot with a friend of his who was majoring in agriculture. He watched me for a moment, then with a few vigorous strokes of the shovel he cleared the weeds from the dampened ditch bottom and allowed the water to course through the channel he had dug.

"You will waste the whole irrigating turn patching up the banks," he said. "If you want the water to stay on its course, you have to make a place for it to go."

I have learned that thoughts, like water, will follow the course if we make a place for them to go. Otherwise, we may spend all our time frantically patching up the banks and may find that our "turn" is over and that we have wasted the day of our probation.

I want to tell you of one way you can control your thoughts. It is simple. It may seem so elementary that you will think it unimportant. But, if you will, it may help you. . . .

Let me suggest that you choose from among the sacred music of the Church one favorite hymn, one with lyrics that are uplifting and the music reverent. Select one that, when it is properly rendered, makes you feel something akin to inspiration.

Now, go over it in your mind very thoughtfully a few times. Memorize the words and the music. Even though you have had no musical training, even though you do not play an instrument, and even though your voice may leave something to be desired, you can think through a hymn. I suspect you already have a favorite. I have stressed how important it is to know that you can only think of one thing at a time. Use this hymn as your emergency channel. Use this as the place for your thoughts to go. Anytime you find that these shady actors have slipped in from the sideline of your thinking onto the stage of your mind, think through this hymn. "Put the record on," as it were, and then you will begin to know something about controlling your thoughts. "Music is one of the most forceful instruments for governing the mind and spirit of man" (William F. Gladstone). It will change the whole mood on the stage of your mind. Because it is clean and uplifting and reverent, the baser thoughts will leave.

Virtue will not associate with filth, while evil cannot tolerate the presence of good.

At first this simple little procedure may seem to you so trivial as to be unimportant and ineffective. With a little experimenting, you will learn that it is not easy, but it is powerfully effective.

(Boyd K. Packer, Memorable Stories and Parables, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1997], p.78.)

Activity:

Print the following on wordstrips:

Dating

Dress/Appearance

Friendship

Honesty

Language

Movies/Books

Music/Dancing

Sexual Purity

Sabbath Day

Place all wordstrips face down on a display area. Have a family member choose one wordstrip and read it to the family. Talk about choices that must be made in each area and discuss way that each of us can be a righteous example. Repeat for every wordstrip. If questions arise, use For the Strength of Youth as a resource.

(Beth Lefgren and Jennifer Jackson, Building Blocks for Better Lessons, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1998], p. 63.)

Refreshment

Yvoni's Pineapple Cake

1 yellow pudding-in-the-mix cake mix

1/2 cup cream of coconut

1/2 cup pineapple juice

4 eggs

1/3 cup oil

1/2 to 3/4 cup crushed pineapple, drained

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9×13-inch cake pan.* Set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except crushed pineapple. Blend well, then fold in pineapple. Place in prepared pan and bake for 40 to 50 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on rack. Makes about 15 servings. Good topped with whipped cream and pineapple.

*Cake may be baked in any shape pan, such as a bundt cake pan or an angel food cake pan.

FHE: Angels

2009-06-08T09:16:00.000-07:00

Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read "The Ministry of Angels," by Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, Nov 2008, 29-31.

Thought:

In times of special need, [the Lord] sent angels, divine messengers, to bless His children, reassure them that heaven was always very close and that His help was always very near.

(Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Ministry of Angels," Ensign, Nov 2008, 29-31.)

Song:

"Dearest Children, God Is Near You," Hymns, #96 (especially verse 2).

Scripture:

Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?

Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.

(Moroni 7:36-37)

Lesson:

Give each family member a piece of paper and pencil and ask them to draw an angel. Have them show their drawings to the rest of the family and discuss briefly what angels look like. Tell your family that Joseph Smith taught, "An angel of God never has wings." (History of the Church, 3:392.) Have one family member read the section heading and another family member read D&C 129:1-3. Ask:

What are the two kinds of beings spoken of in these verses?

What is the difference between "angels" and "just men made perfect"?

What examples can you think of in scripture of angels appearing? Why did they appear?

Tell your family you will pretend to represent an angel. Stand next to someone and say "poof," as if you suddenly appeared. Invite the person to extend a hand for you to shake. Grasp the person's hand and shake it. Have your family scan D&C 129:4-9 and tell what kind of a being you represent. Move next to another family member and say "poof." Have the person extend a hand to shake yours, and as you go to grab it, miss the clasp. Have your family scan the verses and find the kind of being you represent this time. Move to another person and say "poof." This time when the person extends a hand, stand still and do not extend your hand. Say that you are an angel from the presence of God and that you have a message to share. Again have your family look for the kind of being you represent.

Share the following insights concerning the ministering of angels:

"The veil between heaven and earth usually hides the angels from our sight. Yet often in the early stages of our spiritual development, we may experience unmistakable contact with the angels of the unseen world." (Bruce C. Hafen, Ensign, April 1992, 12.)

"One of the things that will become more important in our lives the longer we live is the reality of angels, their work and their ministry. I refer here not alone to the angel Moroni but also to those more personal ministering angels who are with us and around us, empowered to help us and who do exactly that." (Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, January 1996, 12.)

Invite family members to strive to live so they can better discern the importance of angels in their lives, both seen and unseen.

(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Doctrine and Covenants, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2004], p. 289.)

Story:

[While serving as Mission President in Russia], we saw indications that the Lord's spiritual emissaries had already been there before us, preparing specific people for the coming of the missionaries. For example, the four missionaries who opened Kharkov baptized in their first few weeks a number of converts who had considerable leadership abilities. I took occasion during my first monthly visit to Kharkov to interview a number of these wonderful new converts. I was amazed and humbled to hear so many of them tell me sacred experiences - events that had helped prepare them to recognize and receive the restored gospel - that had happened to them just before the arrival of the
missionaries.

The same was true for members in other cities we visited. In Odessa, as in Kharkov, a large number of choice people, many of whom would be future leaders, were baptized during the first two months. Again, as I interviewed new converts, they volunteered to share the same kind of sacred personal experiences as those discussed above. Similarly remarkable spiritual experiences occurred in Minsk. The pattern of events became so predictable that as each set of missionaries was sent to open a new city, I felt I could promise them that angels were already there. I encouraged them to live close to the Spirit so that the Lord could bring to them those whom he had prepared.

When the Lord's servants are clean, seek to know his will, and learn to recognize and obey his promptings, fearing not to act as he has inspired them to act, he is able to work great miracles through their efforts.

From what I have seen, I am certain that the Lord makes the same promise to missionaries opening new cities in our day that he made to the Apostle Paul and later to the Prophet Joseph Smith: "For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city" (Acts 18:10).

(Howard L. Biddulph, Morning Breaks: Stories of Conversion and Faith in the Former Soviet Union, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1996], p. 102.)

Activity:

Everyone leaves the room except for one person, who hides a small object, such as a coin, key, or thimble. Most of the object needs to be in plain sight. The rest of the family then returns to the room and searches for the object. When someone spots the object, he or she sits down and quietly says, â€œI know where it is.â€ The rest of the family continues to hunt until everyone has found the object.

If the object is difficult to find, the players can ask for help. The person who hid the object then tells the players, based on how close they are to the object, whether they are hot or cold. When everyone has found the hidden object, the person who found it first gets to hide it, and the game continues.

(Max H. Molgard and Allan K. Burgess, The Best of Fun For Family Night, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2003], p. 36.)

Refreshment

Strawberry Heavenly Hash

1 package (3 oz.) vanilla pudding

1 1/2 cups milk

1/2 cup strawberry jam

1 cup cream, whipped

3/4 cup pineapple tidbits

1/2 cup miniature marshmallows

1/4 cup maraschino cherries, well drained and diced

Prepare pudding according to package directions using 1 1/2 cups milk. Pour into a bowl. Chill. Blend strawberry jam into chilled pudding. Gently fold in remaining ingredients. Spoon into dessert dishes. Chill. Garnish with additional whipped cream and a whole maraschino cherry.

Makes 6 servings.

FHE: Arms of Safety

2009-06-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read "Arms of Safety," by Jay E. Jensen, Ensign, Nov 2008, 47-49.

Thought:

"By coming humbly and fully repentant to sacrament meeting and worthily
partaking of the sacrament, we may feel those arms [of safety] again and
again."

(Jay E. Jensen, "Arms of Safety," Ensign, Nov 2008, 47-49)

Song:

"Keep the Commandments," Children's Songbook, p. 146.

Scripture:

But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his
glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love. (2 Nephi 1:13-15)

Lesson:

Have a family member sit in the center of the room, clap his hands once,
and then hold his hands together. Take a thread or string that can break and wrap it once around the hands and tie it. Ask the family member to break the string. Then have them close their eyes and pretend to be asleep. While asleep, wrap the string around the hands many times so it can't be broken. Have someone else read 2 Nephi 1:13 out loud and tell the one whose hands are tied to try to do as the scripture says. When the family member cannot "shake off" the chain, ask your family:

Why can't the chains be broken?

What kind of chains do you think Lehi was referring to?

What does Lehi say chains do to us?

Ask your family how this demonstration is like the following statement:
"The chains of habit are too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken." (see Elder Marvin J. Ashton, "'Shake Off the Chains with Which Ye Are Bound,'" Ensign, November 1986, p. 13.)

Next have someone read aloud 2 Nephi 1:15 and have your family imagine
being held in the loving arms of the Savior. Ask them what they would rather be surrounded by, the "chains of hell" or the "arms of Christ's love." Have family members ponder these two questions:

What bad habits or other things do I have in my life that bind me and keep me from becoming a
better person?

What must I do to break the chains that bind me?

(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The Book of Mormon, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2003], p. 48.)

Story:

As a young girl I remember standing at the kitchen window of our home and looking down the gravel road toward the east as far as I could see. On each side of the road was tall grass in the summer and deep snow in the winter, and there were only a few houses sprinkled along the way. I used to wonder, "What is out there for me? Where do I belong?" I'm sure you must wonder that sometimes. Things didn't seem too hopeful at that time. School had been very difficult for me. My friends were moving on without me, and I felt dumb. Do you have any idea what that feels like? It's awful.

When I was twelve years old and feeling very discouraged after a long, hard winter, my mom and dad had a plan they worked out at some sacrifice that they hoped would give me hope. They determined to take me with them beyond our gravel road, out across the Canadian border, through the big states of Montana and Idaho, and on to Salt Lake City, Utah, the headquarters of the Church, to attend general conference.

We arrived early on the first day of conference and waited in line, hoping to enter the great domeshaped Tabernacle, which I had seen only in pictures. Finally we found seats in the balcony, where I could look down and actually see the prophet in real life, and hear him speak, a thing I had never dreamed would ever happen to me. The feeling I had at that time was one of hope, and I began to understand about the real road to somewhere. I determined right then to plant my feet on that road, the straight and narrow path leading to the celestial kingdom, and to never ever give up. I have come to know without any question that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the pathway to hope that leads us back to our Heavenly Father and our eternal home.

Listen to our Father's promise to us. He says, "Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love." (D&C 6:20.) And he comforts us, saying, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29.)

Now if we were sitting together on my back porch, I would stop and ask you, "Do you understand the plan of our Heavenly Father and your part in it?" To every young [man and] woman, I plead: Find your own back porch, away from the demanding, loud voices of the world. Learn to listen, not to the crickets, but to the constant whisperings of the Spirit with its messages of hope that will prompt you each step of the way on your road to the celestial kingdom.

(Ardeth Green Kapp, I Walk by Faith, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1987].)

Activity:

Have young children stand on a chair and jump into your arms. Older children can stand on the floor and fall backwards to land in your arms. Help them know that your arms are there to prevent hem from hitting the floor. Relate this to our relationship with our Heavenly Father. His arms are there to prevent us from failing in our stewardships. If we jump in to carry out our responsibilities, He'll be there to help us.

(Mina S. Coletti and Roberta Kling Giesea, The Family Idea Book Two, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1982], p. 91.)

Refreshment

Rocky Road

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

2 (6-ounce) Hershey's® milk chocolate bars with almonds

1 (1-ounce) square unsweetened chocolate

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup toasted pecan halves or almonds

3/4 cup miniature marshmallows

In the top of a double boiler, combine sweetened condensed milk, Hershey's chocolate bars, unsweetened chocolate square, and butter. Stir over low heat until melted. Stir in vanilla. Cool for about 15 minutes. Stir in nuts and marshmallows. Pour into a greased 8×8-inch pan. Let cool until firm.

Cut into squares. Makes 16 pieces.

FHE: Strengthening Others

2009-06-08T09:11:00.000-07:00

Conference Talk:

For more information on this topic read "Returning Home," by Eduardo Gavarret, Ensign, Nov 2008, 98-100.
Thought:
What a tremendous impact we can make in the lives of so many less-active families and of those who are not members of the Church when we accept the Savior's invitation to feed His sheep and help everyone to come unto Christ!

(Eduardo Gavarret, "Returning Home," Ensign, Nov 2008, 98-100.)

Song:
"We'll Bring the World His Truth," Children's Songbook, p. 172.

Scripture:
Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.(Alma 31:35)

Lesson:
Hide the following items in the room before Family Home Evening:

A stuffed sheep. (Any stuffed animal that could be a pet will work.)

A coin

A toy action figure.

Ask your family if they have ever lost something that they loved. Invite them to share what it was and what they did to find it. Explain to your family that Jesus taught parables about three things that had been lost (a sheep, a coin, and a son).

Tell your family that you have hidden three objects representing these three items somewhere in the room. Invite them to search for these three items and to bring them to you as they find them. Ask:

If one of these objects was a favorite of yours, how would you feel when you finally found it?

What would you have done if it hadn't been found?

Can you think of a time when a child was either missing or lost? What effort was made to find and recover that child?

Have your family think of individuals who might be considered "lost" or "prodigal sons" at this time in their lives. What can we do to help those people?

Challenge family members to pray for those individuals and continue to love them.

(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The New Testament, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2006], p. 98-100.)

Story:

Steven R. Covey
After a zone leaders' meeting in the mission field, one of the missionary leaders approached his mission president and expressed appreciation for the meeting and then made a rather strange remark. "For the first time since I have been in the mission field, I can believe and accept your expression of appreciation and affection for me."

"Why would you say that, elder? You have been out here eighteen months. What is it that made you feel this way now?"

"Remember in the meeting when we were talking about that elder in that far-off city, and how his zone leaders gave such a critical report of his rebelliousness and slothfulness?"

"Yes, I remember that."

"Well, I sensed as the report was being given, and as the other elders chipped in their two-bits on this elder, that you sincerely cared for him as a person."

"I do sincerely care for him. I am concerned."

"But it was more than that. As you questioned the zone leaders back and forth, I felt you were really looking for a way to help him, and that you really cared for him, if you know what I mean."

"I'm not sure I do know what you mean. Besides, why would this make such a particular impression upon you?"

"Well, that's the very point. You sincerely do care about us as individuals and want to help us. You see, I am rebellious too - only you don't know it. Whenever I am around you I am always on my guard and trying to make the best impression. But many times I get very rebellious inside myself, and so critical about my companion, about mission rules and about a lot of things. But I just never let on as that elder does.

"So all through these months when you have expressed your affection for me, and when you have congratulated me on my work, inside I kept saying to myself, he doesn't really know me. If he really knew what I was like, he wouldn't say that. But this afternoon when you didn't join in on some of the sarcasm and laughter over this elder's antics, I felt that even if you did know what I was really like, you would still have sincere regard and care for me too. I am so glad I had that experience in the meeting. Otherwise I wouldn't even have the courage to tell you what I've just told you. I would have been too afraid of disappointing you and of opening up too much of myself. But now I feel you would accept me and try to understand and to help."

To the mission president this sobering experience taught him an invaluable principle of human influence - that the way to inspire and preserve the many (the 99) is in the treatment given to the one. Going after the one "lost sheep" results not in neglecting the 99, but in effectively reaching them.

(Leon R. Hartshorn, Powerful Stories from the Lives of Latter-day Saint Men, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1974].)

Activity:
Have your family divide into pairs and sit closely, facing each other. Explain that you want them to play a game called Mirror. Pick one person to be the leader and the other to be the mirror. Tell the leader to slowly move his hands, body and face. The person acting as a mirror will try to do the exact same thing as the leader. As the two move slowly enough and in unison, it will become difficult for an observer to tell the difference between the leader and the mirror. After a time have them switch roles.

Challenge your family to try to "mirror" Jesus by serving others.
(Dennis H. Leavitt and Richard O. Christensen, Scripture Study for Latter-day Saint Families: The New Testament, [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2006], p. 193.)

Refreshment

Mud Slides
4 cups cold milk
2 3-ounce packages chocolate-flavored instant pudding
28 chocolate sandwich cookies, finely crushed, about 3 cups
4 cups Cool Whip, thawed

Pour milk into a 1-quart container with a tight-fitting lid. Add pudding mix, cover tightly, and shake vigorously at least 45 seconds; pour evenly into 6 glasses. Gently stir 2 cups of the cookie crumbs into whipped topping until blended. Spoon evenly over pudding in glasses; sprinkle with remaining cookie crumbs.

Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serves 6.

FHE HOPE

2009-06-08T09:06:00.000-07:00

Conference Talk:
For more information on this topic read "The Infinite Power of Hope," by Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Ensign, Nov 2008, 21-24.

Thoughts:
We learn to cultivate hope the same way we learn to walk, one step at a time.

(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Infinite Power of Hope," Ensign, Nov 2008, 21-24.)

Song:
"Hope of Israel," Hymns, #259

Scripture:
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God. (Psalms 146:5)

Object Lesson:
Read Ether 12:29 together and have family members identify the three important attributes Moroni writes about. (Faith, hope, and charity.) Ask how hope can bring us to Christ.

Story:
Hope for a Discouraged Missionary
As a mission president, I was afforded the privilege of guiding the activities of precious young men and women, missionaries whom the Lord had called. Some had problems, others required motivation; but one came to me in utter despair. He had made his decision to leave the mission field when but at the halfway mark. His bags were packed, his return ticket purchased. He came by to bid me farewell. We talked; we listened; we prayed. There remained hidden the actual reason for his decision to quit.

As we arose from our knees in the quiet of my office, the missionary began to weep almost uncontrollably. Flexing the muscle of his strong right arm, he blurted out, "This is my problem. All through school my muscle power qualified me for honors in football and track, but my mental power was neglected. President Monson, I'm ashamed of my school record. It reveals that 'with effort' I have the capacity to read at but the level of the fourth grade. I can't even read the Book of Mormon. How then can I understand its contents and teach others its truths?"

Activity:
Have your family divide into pairs and sit closely, facing each other. Explain that you want them to play a game called Mirror. Pick one person to be the leader and the other to be the mirror. Tell the leader to slowly move his hands, body and face. The person acting as a mirror will try to do the exact same thing as the leader. As the two move slowly enough and in unison, it will become difficult for an observer to tell the difference between the leader and the mirror. After a time have them switch roles.

Refreshment:
Cox Honey Cookies

1 1/2 cups shortening
2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup honey

4 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup sugar

3 teaspoons cinnamon

In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening, 2 cups sugar, eggs, and honey. Sift together flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Stir into creamed mixture. Combine H cup sugar and 3 teaspoons cinnamon. Form heaping teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and roll each ball in sugar/cinnamon mixture. Place balls on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned. Do not overbake. Makes 3 dozen cookies.

Family Home Evening...

2009-01-31T23:54:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite FHE is when we have a testimony meeting with the kids. We will usually have everyone stand up and say 3 things that they love about each person in the family, this helps our family create a bond with eachother. Sometimes I am really surprised at the comments they say to eachother, this is a time when they are the most honest and sweet with eachother. We usually will allow them a few minutes each to bear testimony about whatever they are feeling at that time in their lives. My kids do not feel real comfortable getting up in front of the ward to bear testimony, so the family setting is much more comfortable.
Eric and I are both so impressed with the love that our children show to eachother, of course when they were younger they did their fare share of arguing, but for the most part they really love each other, and we hear them on a regular basis day to day tell eachother how much they love eachother.